Abstract: A fusing apparatus allows a recording member to pass through between a heat member and a pressure member, to transport and heat the recording member, and thereby fuses a toner image on the recording member. The fusing apparatus includes a temperature detector for detecting a surface temperature of the heat member in a non-contact manner. A surface of the heat member is configured such that a region of the surface all around a cylindrical configuration that faces a temperature detection area of the temperature detector has a higher emissivity than other regions.

Abstract: A fusing apparatus allows a recording member to pass through between a heat member and a pressure member, to transport and heat the recording member, and thereby fuses a toner image on the recording member. The heat member has a release layer, a low emissivity member, and an elastic layer. The release layer is formed on an outermost layer of the heat member. The low emissivity member is provided between the heat source and the release layer so as to abut on the release layer, and is made of a material with a lower emissivity than a material forming the release layer. The elastic layer is provided between the heat source and the low emissivity member. The release layer has infrared transmission properties at wavelengths of 2 to 10 ?m.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a toner image onto a recording paper sheet includes a heating member for heating the recording paper sheet, a pressing member for applying a pressure by forming contact with the heating member, a casing accommodating the heating member and the pressing member, and provided with an exit port for discharging the recording paper sheet, and a closing portion arranged at the exit port for keeping a temperature of the casing. The closing portion has a rotation member, and an opposed member forming a nip region together with the rotation member. A separating unit for changing at least a part of the closing portion from a closed state to an open state.

Abstract: A fixing device fixes a toner image on a recording medium. In the fixing device, a heating unit heats a recording medium. A pressing unit presses a recording medium in pressure contact with the heating unit. The heating unit and the pressing unit are accommodated in a casing. A heat reflecting unit is provided between the heating unit and the casing. An intermediate member is provided between the heating unit and the heat reflecting unit.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a toner image onto a recording paper includes a heating member for heating the recording paper, a pressing member for pressing the heating member by pressure-applying contact, a casing accommodating the heating member and the pressing member, and being provided with an exit port for discharging the recording paper, and a closing unit added to the exit port for keeping a temperature of the casing. The closing unit has a rotation member, and an opposed member forming a nip region together with the rotation member.

Abstract: A potential difference between the photoreceptor and the development roller is set at a value at which the normally charged toner on the development roller can be flown toward the photoreceptor in the development phase at the time of compulsorily consuming the toner, and this potential difference is set at a value at which the flown normally charged toner can be returned to the development roller in the recovery phase.

Abstract: The present invention provides a developing device which is capable of suppressing the generation of a fogging phenomenon and deposition of carrier particles to an electrostatic latent image carrier and developing the electrostatic latent image efficiently, the device comprising a development sleeve and a magnet body onto which the sleeve is fitted, and using a two-component developer. An angular position which indicates the peak value of the magnetic flux density in the normal direction produced by a development pole of the magnet body is shifted downstream from the center position of the development pole in the direction of movement of the surface of a photosensitive member in a development region. The present invention also provides an image forming apparatus which can form high-quality images with reduced noise such as fogging by mounting the developing device.

Abstract: To prevent image defects such as fog and irregularities caused by the accumulation of the oppositely charged toner by flying the toner toward a photoreceptor to compulsorily consume the toner even though the toner is oppositely charged toner having a small charged amount. A potential difference between the photoreceptor and the development roller is set at a value at which the normally charged toner on the development roller can be flown toward the photoreceptor in the development phase at the time of compulsorily consuming the toner, and this potential difference is set at a value at which the flown normally charged toner can be returned to the development roller in the recovery phase.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention is arranged to hold an intermediate transfer belt and a photoconductive drum out of contact with each other. In a non image formation process in a first mode, the intermediate transfer belt and the photoconductive drum are separated from each other upon completion of the image formation, thereby preventing contamination of the photoconductive drum due to back transfer. In a non image formation process in a second mode, the intermediate transfer belt and the photoconductive drum are separated from each other upon completion of the image formation, and then the intermediate transfer belt and the photoconductive drum are contacted with each other again upon completion of secondary transfer of an image. They are driven for a predetermined time with a speed difference therebetween, thereby abrading the surface of the photoconductive drum to refresh it.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus has an electrostatic latent image bearing members, developing device each including developers and capable of developing corresponding electrostatinc latent images on the electrostatic latent image bearing members into visualized developer images, transfer device capable of transferring the developer images to a sheet, a first collecting device each capable of collecting untransferred developer from the electrostatic latent image bearing members, developer supply devices each capable of supplying the developers to the corresponding developing devices, accommodating sections each combined with the corresponding developer supply devices and capable of accommodating the untransferred developer, a collecting and distributing device capable of collecting the untransferred developers collected by the first collecting devices and distributing the collected untransferred developers to the accommodating sections, and a housing capable of retaining the developer supply dev

Abstract: A color printer including, a conductive brush roller to contact a photosensitive drum at a position downstream of a transferring apparatus and upstream of a charging apparatus, wherein at least part of residual toner is collected after temporarily transferring on the photosensitive drum, and the collected toner is expelled onto the photosensitive drum, a charge electrode facing the brush roller at a position other than the contact position of the photosensitive drum and the brush roller, and a power source to apply voltage to the charge electrode, wherein the polarity of the voltage applied from the power source to the charge electrode with respect to the average voltage of the surface of the photosensitive drum after transferring is the same as a charging polarity of the toner at developing.

Abstract: It is intended to provide an image forming apparatus capable of conducting charge adjustment of post-transfer residual toner appropriately by securing a contact area of a temporarily-collecting member and an electrode, without applying excessive deformation load to the temporarily-collecting member. There are arranged a brush roller for temporarily collecting post-transfer residual toner, and an electrode of which inwardly-curved face being in contact with the brush roller in a toner charge apparatus. Thereby, charged-in-opposite-polarity toner, out of post-transfer residual toner, is collected by the brush roller, polarity of the toner is reversed to original polarity, and then, returned to a photosensitive drum. The inner face of the electrode, i.e., a contact face of the electrode and the brush roller is formed in an inwardly-curved face. Thereby, a large contact area and light pushing force of the electrode to the brush roller can go together.

Abstract: It is intended to provide an image forming apparatus capable of conducting charge adjustment of post-transfer residual toner appropriately by securing a contact area of a temporarily-collecting member and an electrode, without applying excessive deformation load to the temporarily-collecting member. There are arranged a brush roller for temporarily collecting post-transfer residual toner, and an electrode of which inwardly-curved face being in contact with the brush roller in a toner charge apparatus. Thereby, charged-in-opposite-polarity toner, out of post-transfer residual toner, is collected by the brush roller, polarity of the toner is reversed to original polarity, and then, returned to a photosensitive drum. The inner face of the electrode, i.e., a contact face of the electrode and the brush roller is formed in an inwardly-curved face. Thereby, a large contact area and light pushing force of the electrode to the brush roller can go together.

Abstract: The color printer of the invention comprises a conductive brush roller contacting with a photosensitive drum at a position downstream of a transferring apparatus and upstream of a charging apparatus, collecting at least part of residual toner after transferring on the photosensitive drum temporarily, and expelling the collected toner onto the photosensitive drum, a charge electrode facing the brush roller at a position other than the contact position of the photosensitive drum and brush roller, and a power source for applying voltage to the charge electrode. The polarity of the voltage applied from the power source to the charge electrode with respect to the average voltage of the surface of the photosensitive drum after transferring is the same as a charging polarity of the toner at developing.

Abstract: An optical shutter drive period detector detects a drive period of each optical shutter element. Based on the detected drive period, an optical shutter drive voltage control device sets an optical shutter driving voltage which is applied to an optical shutter driver. Furthermore, an optical shutter open period controller sets an optical shutter open period corresponding to the set optical shutter driving voltage and to a tone level of a pixel to be exposed and the optical shutter open period is input to the optical shutter driver as data for changing an optical shutter open period. Based on the optical shutter driving voltage and the optical shutter open period changing data, the optical shutter driver drives each optical shutter element of an optical shutter array, an electrostatic latent image is formed on a surface of a photosensitive drum, and the electrostatic latent image is developed by a developer, transferred by a transfer/separation charger onto a recording sheet and discharged.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, such as a printer or photocopier, has a cleaning device for cleaning an image carrier. The efficiency with which the cleaning device cleans the image carrier is varied in dependence upon the image forming conditions, to thereby reduce wear on both the cleaning device and the image carrier. In one embodiment, cleaning efficiency is varied by changing the contact pressure between a cleaning blade and the image carrier. In a color apparatus with multiple image-forming units, the image forming conditions relate to whether the image to be formed is monochrome, composite color or simul-color.

Abstract: A device for measuring toner concentration of developer housed in a developing system, which developer comprising toner and carrier. The device has a transparent detection window facing the interior of the developing system, which transparent detection window comprising a first transparent plate member and a second transparent plate member being in contact with the first transparent plate member. The first transparent plate member is made of a material which becomes charged, through its contact with the second transparent plate member, with the opposite polarity from the charge polarity of the toner and the second transparent plate member is made of a material which becomes charged, through its contact with the carrier, with the same polarity from the charge polarity of the toner, so that the second transparent plate member strongly repels the toner having the same polarity charge and adherence of the toner to the second transparent plate member is reliably prevented.

Abstract: A developer supplying container of cylindrical shape which is connectable in a direction of its rotational axis. The container having a developer sending aperture on a base, a developer receiving aperture on the opposite base, and a connecting member to detachably connect the container to a second container having the same construction as the former container. The developer accommodated in the former container is transported to the second container through the developer sending aperture of the former container and a developer receiving aperture of the second container, and supplied to the developing device with the developer accommodated in the second container. When the developer accommodated in the former container is exhausted, only the former container should be replaced.