Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image carrier rotatably provided therein for carrying an image on a circumferential surface of the image carrier, at least one exposure device for exposing exposure positions on the circumferential surface of the image carrier with light, a drive device for driving the image carrier to rotate, a first meshing member positioned to rotate coaxially and unitarily with the image carrier, a second meshing member positioned to convey a drive force generated by the drive device to the first meshing member by direct meshing engagement with the first meshing member or a timing belt spanned around the first and second meshing members. The first meshing member has teeth between first and second exposure positions of the exposure positions, the teeth on the first meshing member has a number of teeth which is an integer multiple of a number of teeth on the second meshing member.

Abstract: A cleaning unit cleans residual toner on the surface of a rotatable image carrier. The cleaning unit includes a cleaning blade that is in contact with the image carrier in such a manner that amplitude of a waveform at an edge of the cleaning blade is not greater than 40 &mgr;m with respect to a downstream side of a direction of movement of the image carrier.

Abstract: A cleaning unit is equipped with a cleaning blade that is in contact with a surface of a photosensitive drum and cleans the surface. A peak temperature of a loss tangent (tan &dgr;) is in a range of 2° C. to −30° C. when a sine-wave vibration of 10 Hz is applied to the cleaning blade. Moreover, the cleaning unit lowers a coefficient of static friction of the surface of the photosensitive drum that is to be cleaned.

Abstract: A cleaning unit includes a first blade and a second blade. The first blade is in contact with an image carrier or a paper carrier and removes adhered substances remained on surface of these. The second blade has an abrasive layer that is formed by including abrasive particles in an elastic material and is disposed in the downstream side of the first blade. The second blade is allowed to be in contact with the image carrier 1 or the paper carrier. Volume occupancy of abrasive particles in an area of contact of the second blade with either the image carrier or the paper carrier is not less than 50 percent and not more than 90 percent.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer roller pressed against an image carrier for transferring an image from the image carrier to a recording medium being conveyed via a nip between the transfer roller and the image carrier. The transfer roller is positioned in an angular range of less than ±90° from the top of said image carrier in the direction of rotation of the image carrier. In addition, the transfer roller has a greater diameter at its opposite end portions than at its center portion in the axial direction thereof.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer roller pressed against an image carrier for transferring an image from the image carrier to a recording medium being conveyed via a nip between the transfer roller and the image carrier. The transfer roller is positioned in an angular range of less than ±90° from the top of said image carrier in the direction of rotation of the image carrier. In addition, the transfer roller has a greater diameter at its opposite end portions than at its center portion in the axial direction thereof.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image carrier rotatably provided therein for carrying an image on a circumferential surface of the image carrier, at least one exposure device for exposing exposure positions on the circumferential surface of the image carrier with light, a drive device for driving the image carrier to rotate, a first meshing member positioned to rotate coaxially and unitarily with the image carrier, a second meshing member positioned to convey a drive force generated by the drive device to the first meshing member by direct meshing engagement with the first meshing member or a timing belt spanned around the first and second meshing members. The first meshing member has teeth between first and second exposure positions of the exposure positions, the teeth on the first meshing member has a number of teeth which is an integer multiple of a number of teeth on the second meshing member.

Abstract: A control device to control an image forming apparatus including a rotatable image bearing member, a transfer device that transfers a toner image from the image bearing member to a transfer material by applying a transfer bias, a cleaning device that removes a residual toner from the image bearing member by a cleaning blade, and an image bearing member drive motor that rotates in forward and reverse direction to drive the image bearing member to rotate. The control device controls the image bearing member drive motor to rotate in the reverse direction to brake the image bearing member and then rotate the image bearing member in the reverse direction time after controlling the transfer device to stop application of the transfer bias, and controls the image bearing member drive motor to stop rotating the image bearing member after the image bearing member starts rotating in the reverse direction.

Abstract: A control device to control an image forming apparatus including a rotatable image bearing member, a transfer device that transfers a toner image from the image bearing member to a transfer material by applying a transfer bias, a cleaning device that removes a residual toner from the image bearing member by a cleaning blade, and an image bearing member drive motor that rotates in forward and reverse direction to drive the image bearing member to rotate. The control device controls the image bearing member drive motor to rotate in the reverse direction to brake the image bearing member and then rotate the image bearing member in the reverse direction after controlling the transfer device to stop application of the transfer bias, and controls the image bearing member drive motor to stop rotating the image bearing member after the image bearing member starts rotating in the reverse direction.

Abstract: A novel image forming apparatus including a seamless belt-shaped moving member positioned adjacent to an image bearing member. Also included is a bias voltage applying roller positioned at a rear face side of the seamless belt-shaped moving member, and a cleaning blade for cleaning a surface of the seamless belt-shaped moving member. Further, a transfer-convey device configured to transfer a toner image on the image bearing member onto a transfer member is included. A toner-line forming device is configured to form a toner-line which is divided into a plurality of toner-line segments when developed, each of which is written to an individual non-image area between successive image areas on the image bearing member and transferred onto the seamless belt-shaped moving member.

Abstract: In an image processing device, an image scanner reads a document located at a reading position and generates first image data representative of the document. The first image data are once written to an image memory. A printer prints out the first image data on a paper brought to an outputting position. A conveyor conveys the document, ready by the scanner, from the reading position to the outputting position. An image processing unit outputs, based on the first image data, second image data necessary for an image to be formed on the document brought to the outputting position.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus of the type including a movable belt and a cleaning blade for cleaning the belt, a toner image on the form of an exclusive line is formed on an image carrier between sheets and the transferred to the belt so as to feed toner to the edge of the cleaning blade. The toner prevents the edge of the cleaning blade from being turned over by the belt. The toner is fed to the cleaning blade in amounts different in the widthwise direction of the belt and can therefore be controlled in amount in the above direction.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus of the type including a movable belt and a cleaning blade for cleaning the belt, a toner image in the form of an exclusive line is formed on an image carrier between sheets and then transferred to the belt so as to feed toner to the edge of the cleaning blade. The toner prevents the edge of the cleaning blade from being turned over by the belt. The toner is fed to the cleaning blade in amounts different in the widthwise direction of the belt and can therefore be controlled in amount in the above direction.

Abstract: A system for making various kinds of examination papers and marking answers written in the papers is disclosed The system has a data base at which data representing a number of questions are registered, and a paper making apparatus for producing an examination paper by using the question data of the data base. When a desired number of questions is entered on a number designating device, a question making device randomly selects, among the questions registered at the data base, the desired number of questions and writes them in a question storage to thereby make questions. A paper outputting device forms an image representing the questions on a sheet to thereby produce an examination paper. In addition, the system is capable of automatically marking such examination papers.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus of the type developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier by using toner having a softening point of 80.degree. C. or below and transferring the resulting toner image to a sheet, a sheet separator separates, after the image transfer, the sheet from the surface of the image carrier while making sliding contact therewith at an edge portion thereof. The edge portion has a tip contacting the surface of the image carrier and has a particular radius of curvature.

Abstract: A system for making various kinds of examination papers and marking answers written in the papers is disclosed. The system has a data base at which data representing a number of questions are registered, and a paper making apparatus for producing an examination paper by using the question data of the data base. When a desired number of questions is entered on a number designating device, a question making device randomly selects, among the questions registered at the data base, the desired number of questions and writes them in a question storage to thereby make questions. A paper outputting device forms an image representing the questions on a sheet to thereby produce an examination paper. In addition, the system is capable of automatically marking such examination papers.

Abstract: A cleaning device for an image forming apparatus in which a shock generation device is provided for imparting an impact force to a cleaning blade in an axial direction of a photoconductive member in order to prevent an edge portion of the cleaning blade from accumulating debris such as minute paper powder and toner, and thereby maintain a high quality image. The cleaning device can be controlled so that operation of the shock generation device for providing an impact force to the cleaning blade starts simultaneously as revolution of a photoconductive member starts, such that the foreign materials are effectively removed from a cleaning blade.

Abstract: A copier, facsimile transceiver, printer or similar electrophotographic image forming apparatus uses a toner cartridge whose volume decreases when released a toner. A cartridge collecting section for collecting toner cartridges is lower in height than the cartridge when the cartridge is filled with a toner. The cartridge has top plate, a bottom plate and sides which are implemented by an elastic member or a film-like member. The cartridge collecting section, a waste toner tank and a photoconductive element storing section are constructed into a unit which is removable from the apparatus body.

Abstract: An image transfer unit for an image recording apparatus which comprises a plurality of photoconductor units on which a toner image is formed, a dielectric transfer belt which circulates along and in contact with the plurality of photoconductor units, a record paper conveyed by the transfer belt, at least one transfer charger for transferring the toner image from each of the photoconductor units to the record paper in such a way that a plurality of toner images are superposed on each other one by one. The electric conductive member is disposed behind and in the vicinity of the transfer belt.