Abstract: A belt conveyor unit includes a plurality of rollers around which a belt is entrained, including a first roller, a second roller disposed opposite the first roller via the belt, and a third roller other than the first roller and the second roller, and a belt alignment device including a shaft moving device to tilt a rotary shaft of the third roller upon receiving a moving force of the belt moving in a width direction of the belt in an axial direction of the rotary shaft to adjust displacement of the belt. The shaft moving device includes an axial-direction displacement member including a slanted surface that moves to a first side in the width direction of the belt along the rotary shaft upon receiving the moving force of the belt, and a fixation member to contact the slanted surface from the first side in the width direction of the belt.

Abstract: An operator guidance system includes a detection unit, a control unit, and an operation indicator. The detection unit is disposed in an image forming apparatus to output a combination of detection signals, and includes one or more media sensors, and one or more opening sensors. The one or more media sensors are disposed along a media conveyance path to output a media detection signal. The one or more opening sensors are disposed adjacent to an openable structure to output an opening detection signal. The control unit is connected to the detection unit to determine guidance to be provided to an operator based on the combination of detection signals, and includes a memory and a controller. The operation indicator is connected to the control unit to indicate the identified operation to the operator.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carriers that carries toner images, a belt that is supported by a plurality of rollers including a support roller and an opposing roller, a transfer roller disposed opposed to the opposing roller via the belt, and a bending roller that bends the belt from outside toward inside and is disposed downstream from the opposing roller and upstream from support roller. The belt is stretched between the support roller and the bending roller in a first area. The plurality of image carriers contacts the belt in a second area other than the first area. A surface of the belt in the first area is parallel to that of the belt in the second area.

Abstract: A transfer unit includes a belt member, a bending roller, a transfer section, and a bias application unit. The belt member is extended between rollers and has a movable surface on which a toner image is transferred from an image carrier. The bending roller externally contacts the surface of the belt member to bend the belt member and rotates in conjunction with the belt member. The transfer section includes one of the rollers and a surface moving member. The surface moving member rotates at least one full turn while cleaning is performed on the surface moving member and the bending roller. A surface moving speed of the bending roller is equal to or greater than a surface moving speed of the surface moving member. A circumferential length L1 of the surface moving member and a circumferential length L2 of the bending roller satisfy L1?L2.

Abstract: An operator guidance system includes a detection unit, a control unit, and an operation indicator. The detection unit is disposed in an image forming apparatus to output a combination of detection signals, and includes one or more media sensors, and one or more opening sensors. The one or more media sensors are disposed along a media conveyance path to output a media detection signal. The one or more opening sensors are disposed adjacent to an openable structure to output an opening detection signal. The control unit is connected to the detection unit to determine guidance to be provided to an operator based on the combination of detection signals, and includes a memory and a controller. The operation indicator is connected to the control unit to indicate the identified operation to the operator.

Abstract: By using a black-image forming device, an abrasive pattern is formed on a sheet conveying belt so that toner is input to a contact section where a cleaning blade is in contact with the sheet conveying belt. After the toner is input to the contact section where the cleaning blade is in contact with the sheet conveying belt and then the sheet conveying belt makes one or more revolutions, a process control is performed in which Y, M, and C toner patterns and B toner pattern are transferred onto the sheet conveying belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image carrier, a second image carrier, an intermediate transfer member disposed facing the second image carrier, a conveyance belt to transport a transfer sheet, disposed facing both the first image carrier and the intermediate transfer member, a first transfer member to transfer a first toner image formed on the first image carrier onto the transfer sheet, a second transfer member to transfer a second toner image formed on the second image carrier onto the intermediate transfer member, and a third transfer member disposed downstream from the second image carrier in a rotation direction of the intermediate transfer member, to transfer the second toner image from the intermediate transfer member onto the transfer sheet transported by the conveyance belt. The first image carrier and the intermediate transfer member inflect the conveyance belt at a first inflection angle and a second inflection angle, respectively.

Abstract: A belt unit including an endless belt that is stretched over a plurality of rollers, a drive roller, and a tension roller. The belt unit also includes a cleaning apparatus which includes a rotary unit and a cleaning member configured to clean a surface of the endless belt. The tension roller is arranged at a position opposing the cleaning apparatus and configured to transmit a driving force to the rotary unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner image carrying member, an image transfer device, a fixing device, a registration unit, a guide member, an upstream-side transportation unit, and a downstream-side transportation unit. The image transfer device transfers a toner image from the toner image carrying member to a recording medium. The fixing device fixes the toner image. The registration unit transports the recording medium. The guide member guides the recording medium. The upstream-side transportation unit includes an upstream-side transportation member, disposed at an upstream side in the transport direction of the recording medium. The downstream-side transportation unit includes the downstream-side transportation member, disposed at a downstream side in the transport direction of the recording medium. The upstream-side transportation unit includes an upstream-side positioning member to position the guide member to the upstream-side transportation member.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a moving member is provided with a first engagement member. A lever is provided with a second engagement member to engage and disengage the first engagement member provided in the moving member. The lever moves between a predetermined first position and a second position different from the first position to move the moving member in such a manner that when the lever is at the first position, a transfer member reaches a contact position at which the transfer member is pressed against an image carrier via a belt, and when the lever is at the second position, the transfer member reaches a separation position at which the transfer member separates from the image carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt, a photosensitive belt, a primary transfer roller, a secondary-transfer opposing roller, and a secondary transfer roller. The photosensitive belt comes into contact with a surface of the intermediate transfer belt to form a primary transfer nip. The secondary-transfer opposing roller comes into contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer belt to form a secondary transfer nip. The closest distance between a surface of the photosensitive belt and that of the primary transfer roller is greater than the thickness of the intermediate transfer belt. A toner image on the intermediate transfer belt is transferred onto a recording sheet at the secondary transfer nip while a transfer bias is applied to the secondary transfer roller.

Abstract: A transfer device, which transfers an image onto a recording medium directly or indirectly and is included in an image forming apparatus, includes an endless belt member extended between a drive roller rotated and a driven roller and configured to receive the image from the image carrier part onto either a surface thereof or the recording medium carried on the surface thereof while moving according to rotations of the drive roller, and a rotation speed detector configured to detect a rotation speed of the driven roller. An image detector is provided either to the transfer device or to the image forming apparatus to detect the image formed on the endless belt member directly or the recording medium carried on the endless belt member, and disposed facing the driven roller in a circumferential direction of the endless belt member.

Abstract: A powder container includes a first container to contain powder falling from an opening located in an upper portion of the powder container, a second container that contains the powder and is located in the first container, on a route through which the powder that falls from the opening, a powder transport mechanism to transport the powder from the first container to the second container, and a detection mechanism to detect whether or not the first container is completely or nearly filled with the powder based on a load to the powder transport mechanism.

Abstract: A turnable transfer unit, including a transfer member forming a transfer nip while contacting an image bearer installed in an image forming apparatus; and a pressurizer pressurizing the transfer member to the image bearer, wherein the turnable transfer unit further includes a turnable lever member, including an engaging part engaging with a positioning part of the image forming apparatus; and a contact part contacting an opening and closing body openable and closable in the image forming apparatus, wherein the lever member turns in conjunction with a closing operation of the opening and closing body to position the transfer unit in the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt, a photosensitive belt, a primary transfer roller, a secondary-transfer opposing roller, and a secondary transfer roller. The photosensitive belt comes into contact with a surface of the intermediate transfer belt to form a primary transfer nip. The secondary-transfer opposing roller comes into contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer roller to form a secondary transfer nip. The closest distance between a surface of the photosensitive belt and that of the primary transfer roller is greater than the thickness of the intermediate transfer belt. A toner image on the intermediate transfer belt is transferred onto a recording sheet at the secondary transfer nip while a transfer bias is applied to the secondary transfer roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt, a photosensitive belt, a primary transfer roller, a secondary-transfer opposing roller, and a secondary transfer roller. The photosensitive belt comes into contact with a surface of the intermediate transfer belt to form a primary transfer nip. The secondary-transfer opposing roller comes into contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer belt to form a secondary transfer nip. The closest distance between a surface of the photosensitive belt and that of the primary transfer roller is greater than the thickness of the intermediate transfer belt. A toner image on the intermediate transfer belt is transferred onto a recording sheet at the secondary transfer nip while a transfer bias is applied to the secondary transfer roller.

Abstract: By using a black-image forming device, an abrasive pattern is formed on a sheet conveying belt so that toner is input to a contact section where a cleaning blade is in contact with the sheet conveying belt. After the toner is input to the contact section where the cleaning blade is in contact with the sheet conveying belt and then the sheet conveying belt makes one or more revolutions, a process control is performed in which Y, M, and C tone patterns and B tone pattern are transferred onto the sheet conveying belt.

Abstract: A plurality of supporting rollers over which the endless belt member is supported includes at least a driving roller that drives the endless belt member and a driven roller that is driven by a rotation of the endless belt member. A detecting unit detects a plurality of marks provided on the driven roller at a predetermined position. A control unit controls a speed at which a driving unit drives the endless belt member based on a result of detecting the marks. The driven roller functions as a tension roller that applies a tension to the endless belt member. The detecting unit is held by the tension roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image carrier, a second image carrier, an intermediate transfer member disposed facing the second image carrier, a conveyance belt to transport a transfer sheet, disposed facing both the first image carrier and the intermediate transfer member, a first transfer member to transfer a first toner image formed on the first image carrier onto the transfer sheet, a second transfer member to transfer a second toner image formed on the second image carrier onto the intermediate transfer member, and a third transfer member disposed downstream from the second image carrier in a rotation direction of the intermediate transfer member, to transfer the second toner image from the intermediate transfer member onto the transfer sheet transported by the conveyance belt. The first image carrier and the intermediate transfer member inflect the conveyance belt at a first inflection angle and a second inflection angle, respectively.

Abstract: A belt member faces a plurality of carrying bodies that respectively carry toner images or developers. A plurality of facing members respectively faces the carrying bodies via the belt member. A detaching unit brings at least one of the facing members to face a corresponding carrying body and detaches other facing members from other carrying bodies. A contacting member contacts the belt member to detach the belt member from the other carrying bodies when the detaching unit detaches the other facing members from the other carrying bodies.