Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developing container for accommodating the developer; a sleeve for carrying the developer to developing zone for developing a latent image; a developer regulator contacted to the sleeve to regulate a developer layer thickness on the sleeve; a developer feeding member contacted to the sleeve supply the developer to the sleeve; an urging member for urging the sleeve toward the developer regulator; and a moving mechanism for moving the sleeve in a first direction which is a direction in which the urging member urges the sleeve and in a second direction crossing with the first direction. The moving mechanism moves the sleeve in the second direction to reduce or remove press-contact forces applied by the developer regulator and the developer feeding member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an image bearing member on which a latent image is formed; a developer carrying member configured to carry developer; a conductive member paired with one of the developer carrying member and the image bearing member to form a capacitor; a contact-separation member configured to assume a first position for bringing the developer carrying member into contact with the image bearing member and a second position for separating the developer carrying member from the image bearing member; a detecting unit configured to detect a capacitance of the capacitor applied with a voltage; and a control unit configured to detect whether the apparatus is ready for image formation based on a first detected result detected by the detecting unit when the contact-separation member assumes the first position and a second detected result detected by the detecting unit when the contact-separation member assumes the second position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a charge roller for charging the photosensitive drum, a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the charged photosensitive drum with a developer, a first auxiliary charging brush which is located upstream from the charge roller in a movement direction of a surface of the photosensitive drum and applies a voltage of a polarity opposite to a normal polarity of a polarity opposite to a normal polarity of the developer, and a second auxiliary charging brush which is located downstream from the first auxiliary charging brush and upstream from the charge roller and applies a voltage of a polarity identical to the normal polarity of the developer. In the image forming apparatus, the first auxiliary charging brush is supplied with an AC voltage to be improved in recovery performance of a transfer residual developer, and contamination of charging means can be prevented.

Abstract: In adjustment control of a developing device, the number of printed sheets and the toner consumption amount per sheet are calculated. If the accumulated toner consumption amount is smaller than a predetermined amount when a predetermined number of sheets are printed, the developing device is caused to supply a developer in a predetermined amount corresponding to the difference, thereby performing development adjustment of the developing device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a charging roller, a transfer roller, and a toner charging brush, wherein the toner charging brush reciprocates in a longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum. In the image forming apparatus, when a number of rotations per a unit time of the image bearing member is assumed to be “a” and a number of times of reciprocation per unit time of the toner charging brush is assumed to be “b” assuming that R=b/a, R is set to be in a range of 1/25?R?3. However, R=m/n (m and n are integers of 5 or less) is excluded. Consequently, generation of a periodic attachment pattern appearing on the photosensitive drum is eliminated.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device including a developing receptacle for accommodating a developer including a toner and a carrier, and a detector for outputting a signal corresponding to a toner density of the developer within the developer receptacle, a replenishing member for replenishing the toner to the developing receptacle in accordance with an output value from the detector, a first storage unit having a storage region storing information relating to characteristics of the developer, and a controller for controlling a replenishing operation by the replenishing member based on the output value from the detector and the information relating to characteristics of the developer.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a developing apparatus capable of reducing unevenness of density of an image in a longitudinal direction of a photosensitive member. For this purpose, in the present invention, a developing apparatus includes a developer bearing member, and a developer carrying screw placed adjacently to the developer bearing member in parallel with the developer bearing member, and an inclination angle of “a carrying surface facing in a developer carrying direction of a spiral blade of the developer carrying screw” to a shaft of the developer carrying screw is equal to or less than 60 degrees.

Abstract: Provided are an image forming apparatus and method of controlling same in which when toner replenishment from a toner accommodating unit has been performed satisfactorily, a no-toner indication can be cancelled without taking more time than necessary, and in which the status of the toner accommodating unit can be reported to the user earlier even if a toner accommodating unit that has no toner or that has malfunctioned has been installed. Whether a toner accommodating unit (5) has toner is determined based upon a detection signal from a toner density sensor (46) that detects the toner density of a developer in a developing unit (4). If it is determined that there is no toner in the toner accommodating unit (5) and the toner accommodating unit (5) is replaced, this is detected and a toner density restoration sequence for restoring the density of toner in the developing unit (4) is executed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a developing apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum using a developing agent, including a developing agent carrier for supplying the developing agent to the photosensitive drum to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum, a layer thickness limiting member for limiting the layer thickness of the developing agent carried on a surface of the developing agent carrier, the layer thickness limiting member being disposed with a gap to the developing agent carrier, a sealing member for restricting the developing agent from leaking out of an end in a longitudinal direction of the developing agent carrier, and an elastic member arranged in contact with the developing agent carrier to prevent the gap between the developing agent carrier and the layer thickness limiting member from changing upon bending of the developing agent carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a charging roller, a transfer roller, and a toner charging brush, wherein the toner charging brush reciprocates in a longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum. In the image forming apparatus, when a number of rotations per a unit time of the image bearing member is assumed to be “a” and a number of times of reciprocation per unit time of the toner charging brush is assumed to be “b” assuming that R=b/a, R is set to be in a range of ½?R?3. However, R=m/n (m and n are integers of 5 or less) is excluded. Consequently, generation of a periodic attachment pattern appearing on the photosensitive drum is eliminated.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a charge roller for charging the photosensitive drum, a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the charged photosensitive drum with a developer, a first auxiliary charging brush which is located upstream from the charge roller in a movement direction of a surface of the photosensitive drum and applies a voltage of a polarity opposite to a normal polarity of a polarity opposite to a normal polarity of the developer, and a second auxiliary charging brush which is located downstream from the first auxiliary charging brush and upstream from the charge roller and applies a voltage of a polarity identical to the normal polarity of the developer. In the image forming apparatus, the first auxiliary charging brush is supplied with an AC voltage to be improved in recovery performance of a transfer residual developer, and contamination of charging means can be prevented.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a charge roller for charging the photosensitive drum, a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the charged photosensitive drum with a developer, a first auxiliary charging brush which is located upstream from the charge roller in a movement direction of a surface of the photosensitive drum and applies a voltage of a polarity opposite to a normal polarity of a polarity opposite to a normal polarity of the developer, and a second auxiliary charging brush which is located downstream from the first auxiliary charging brush and upstream from the charge roller and applies a voltage of a polarity identical to the normal polarity of the developer. In the image forming apparatus, the first auxiliary charging brush is supplied with an AC voltage to be improved in recovery performance of a transfer residual developer, and contamination of charging means can be prevented.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus has a developer container containing a developer therein, a developer toner density detecting portion for detecting the permeability of the developer in the developer container to thereby detect toner density, and an engine controller for detecting whether the image forming apparatus has gone wrong, on the basis of the toner density detected by the developer toner density detecting portion. Thereby, it becomes possible to detect the failure of a developing apparatus reliably and early by an inexpensive construction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a developing apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum using a developing agent, including a developing agent carrier for supplying the developing agent to the photosensitive drum to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum, a layer thickness limiting member for limiting the layer thickness of the developing agent carried on a surface of the developing agent carrier, the layer thickness limiting member being disposed with a gap to the developing agent carrier, a sealing member for restricting the developing agent from leaking out of an end in a longitudinal direction of the developing agent carriers and an elastic member arranged in contact with the developing agent carrier to prevent the gap between the developing agent carrier and the layer thickness limiting member from changing upon bending of the developing agent carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a charging roller, a transfer roller, and a toner charging brush, wherein the toner charging brush reciprocates in a longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum. In the image forming apparatus, when a number of rotations per a unit time of the image bearing member is assumed to be “a” and a number of times of reciprocation per unit time of the toner charging brush is assumed to be “b”, assuming that R=b/a, R is set to be in a range of 1/25?R?3. However, R=m/n (m and n are integers of 5 or less) is excluded. Consequently, generation of a periodic attachment pattern appearing on the photosensitive drum is eliminated.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes an image bearing member, a developing device developing an electrostatic image on the member using developer to form a developer image on the member and a developer charger charging residual developer on the member disposed downstream of a transferring position at which the developer image is transferred onto a transfer destination member and upstream of a position at which the electrostatic image is formed on the member with respect to the moving direction of the member. The developer charger is in contact with the member and is movable in the longitudinal direction of the member upon charging the residual developer. L1+d?L2 when L1 is the developing width of the developing device, L2 is the contact width of the developer charger with the member, and d is the width of movement of the developer charger in the longitudinal direction of the member.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of image forming units each having an image bearing member and a developing unit; and a transfer member provided to be able to contact the plurality of image bearing members. The toner used in at least one of the plurality of developing units contains a toner particle group with a particle size of 12.7 ?m or more, a ratio of the toner particle group to the entire toner being 1.0% or less. Accordingly, incomplete transfer can be prevented.

Abstract: Provided are an image forming apparatus and method of controlling same in which when toner replenishment from a toner accommodating unit has been performed satisfactorily, a no-toner indication can be cancelled without taking more time than necessary, and in which the status of the toner accommodating unit can be reported to the user earlier even if a toner accommodating unit that has no toner or that has malfunctioned has been installed. Whether a toner accommodating unit (5) has toner is determined based upon a detection signal from a toner density sensor (46) that detects the toner density of a developer in a developing unit (4). If it is determined that there is no toner in the toner accommodating unit (5) and the toner accommodating unit (5) is replaced, this is detected and a toner density restoration sequence for restoring the density of toner in the developing unit (4) is executed.

Abstract: The developer agitating member has a shaft portion, a spiral rib and an inclined rib protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion and provided in the spiral rib in the axial direction of the shaft portion. As a result, in a developing apparatus, a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus, the developer agitating member can efficiently agitate and convey a developer.

Abstract: In adjustment control of a developing device, the number of printed sheets and the toner consumption amount per sheet are calculated. If the accumulated toner consumption amount is smaller than a predetermined amount when a predetermined number of sheets are printed, the developing device is caused to supply a developer in a predetermined amount corresponding to the difference, thereby performing development adjustment of the developing device.