Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a charging unit configured to charge a surface of an image bearing member utilizing discharge generated by applying a voltage containing an alternating current component to a charging member disposed in contact with or close to the image bearing member, so that a latent electrostatic image is formed on the image bearing member; a developing unit configured to develop the latent electrostatic image formed on the image bearing member using a toner; a cleaning unit configured to clean the surface of the image bearing member using a blade; a protecting agent applying unit configured to rub and scrape a protecting agent by a brush roller and apply the protecting agent to the surface of the image bearing member; and a protecting agent charging member configured to charge the protecting agent, the member being disposed between the protecting agent applying unit and the charging unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing liquid applicator to apply a fixing liquid to a recording medium before a toner image is transferred on the recording medium, a transfer device to transfer a toner image from a toner image bearing member onto the recording medium applied with the fixing liquid, and a fixing device to fixe the toner image on the recording medium by heating. The fixing liquid applicator includes an application member disposed opposing a face of the recording medium on which the toner image is transferred to apply to the recording medium the fixing liquid borne on a surface of the application member, a supply unit to supply the fixing liquid to the application member, and a sealing device to form along with the application member a sealed space in which the supply unit and the fixing liquid to be supplied to the application member are sealed.

Abstract: A protective agent for an image bearing member of an image forming apparatus. The protective agent is applied onto a surface of the image bearing member and includes a hydrophobic organic compound (A), an inorganic fine particle (B), and an inorganic lubricant (C).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a fixing liquid applicator to apply a fixing liquid to a recording medium, a transfer device to transfer a toner image from a toner image bearing member onto the recording medium to which the fixing liquid is applied while the toner image is in contact with the fixing liquid, and a fixing device to fix the toner image on the recording medium by heating the toner image and the fixing liquid. The fixing liquid comprises a plasticizer having a function to swell and soften a toner.

Abstract: A protecting layer is formed on a surface of an image carrier with a protecting agent that contains at least an organic compound having melting property of which penetration at 25° C. ranges from 3 millimeters to 30 millimeters, and organic compound particles having thermal decomposition property of which a weight average particle size ranges from 2 micrometers to 20 micrometers. A melting temperature of the organic compound is lower than a decomposition temperature of the organic compound particles, and a volume ratio of the organic compound to the organic compound particles ranges from 99/1 to 50/50.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a conveyance unit to convey a transfer medium, a first image forming unit to form a monochrome image transferred at a first transfer position onto the transfer medium, and a second image forming unit disposed downstream from the first image forming unit in a direction of conveyance of the transfer medium, including an intermediate transfer body to form a multi-colored toner image on the intermediate transfer body. The multi-colored toner image is transferred onto the transfer medium at a second transfer position. The conveyance unit is separated from the intermediate transfer body at the second transfer position in a monochrome mode to form the monochrome image using only the first image forming unit, and contacts the intermediate transfer body at the second transfer position in a full-color mode to form a full-color image using both the first and second image forming units.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image formation unit that forms a black toner image, and a detachable second image formation unit that forms a color toner image. A first toner supply unit is provided to supply the black toner to the first image formation unit. A second toner supply unit is provided to supply one of a black and component color toner to the first and second image formation units in accordance with a color mode. A first conveyance path is provided to convey the black toner to the first image formation unit. A second conveyance path is also provided to convey the component color toner stored in the second toner container section to the second image formation unit. The second toner supply unit is selectively connected to one of the first and second conveyance paths in accordance with the color mode.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a latent image bearing member; a charging device charging the surface of the latent image bearing member; a latent image forming device forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the latent image bearing member; a developing device supplying toner to the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image; a cover film supplying device supplying a cover film to the surface of the latent image bearing member at a cover film supplying position located on an upstream side from the development position so that the toner image is formed on the cover film covering the surface of the latent image bearing member; and a cover film separating device separating the cover film bearing the toner image thereon from the surface of the image bearing member before the cover film bearing the toner image thereon reaches the cover film supplying position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a latent image carrier, a charger to evenly charge a surface of the latent image carrier, a writing device to irradiate a charged surface of the latent image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image, a writing device control unit to control the writing device, a developing device to develop the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image, a transfer device to transfer the toner image onto a transferred member, and a pre-transfer irradiating device to irradiate the charged surface of the latent image carrier during a period after development and before transfer. The writing device control unit controls the writing device based on a target image signal A and an image signal B output a single rotation of the latent image carrier after output of the target image signal A in a sub-scanning direction.

Abstract: A protective layer forming device including an image-bearing member protecting agent which contains a fatty acid metal salt and an inorganic lubricant, a protecting agent supply member configured to apply a surface of the image bearing member with the image-bearing member protecting agent, and a leveling member configured to level off the image-bearing member protecting agent applied on the surface of the image bearing member, wherein the leveling member serves as a cleaning blade having a ridge part with an obtuse angle, which comes into contact with the surface of the image bearing member in a direction counter to the rotation of the image bearing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a charging unit configured to charge a surface of an image bearing member utilizing discharge generated by applying a voltage containing an alternating current component to a charging member disposed in contact with or close to the image bearing member, so that a latent electrostatic image is formed on the image bearing member; a developing unit configured to develop the latent electrostatic image formed on the image bearing member using a toner; a cleaning unit configured to clean the surface of the image bearing member using a blade; a protecting agent applying unit configured to rub and scrape a protecting agent by a brush roller and apply the protecting agent to the surface of the image bearing member; and a protecting agent charging member configured to charge the protecting agent, the member being disposed between the protecting agent applying unit and the charging unit.

Abstract: An automobile is equipped with a gear type transmission having a first torque transfer path between input and output shafts formed by mesh type clutches and a second torque transfer path between input and output shafts formed by transfer torque variable systems, and actuators for selecting the torque transfer path. When a wheel slips while the automobile is driving using the first torque transfer path, the actuators are controlled so that at least part of the torque being transferred via the first torque transfer path is instead transferred via the second torque transfer path.

Abstract: A protective agent for an image bearing member of an image forming apparatus. The protective agent is applied onto a surface of the image bearing member and includes a hydrophobic organic compound (A), an inorganic fine particle (B), and an inorganic lubricant (C).

Abstract: At the time of shifting from one gear train among a plurality of gear trains to another gear train, a transmission for controlling a transfer torque variable mechanism and supplementing torque during shifting, during a period of transferring at least a part of torque of an engine by the transfer torque variable means, controls so as to generate engine torque larger than engine torque before the period at least once and carries out shifting.

Abstract: A protecting layer is formed on a surface of an image carrier with a protecting agent that contains at least an organic compound having melting property of which penetration at 25° C. ranges from 3 millimeters to 30 millimeters, and organic compound particles having thermal decomposition property of which a weight average particle size ranges from 2 micrometers to 20 micrometers. A melting temperature of the organic compound is lower than a decomposition temperature of the organic compound particles, and a volume ratio of the organic compound to the organic compound particles ranges from 99/1 to 50/50.

Abstract: To provide a small-sized and lightweight gearshift operating device that is capable of performing a gearshift operation in a short time at low power consumption, a guide slit having a plurality of slits 41 parallel with the shift fork shafts and a plurality of slant slits 42 concentrated to a neutral point 43 from them is employed to guide a follower 33. The follower 33 is operated along the guide slit, thus the number of times of starting and stopping operations of the motor for the shift operation is reduced, and the load of the actuator for the selection operation is reduced.

Abstract: A large gearshift shock that occurs if a renewed gearshift operation is forcibly carried out in order to meet a new gearshift request made through a driver's operating an accelerator pedal or a signal from an operation lever during a current gearshift operation. Gearshift response lag occurs due to an attempt to avoid the large gearshift shock. To solve these problems, a control system for a gear type transmission is mounted. The control system is provided with a renewed gearshift disabling period, during which any renewed gearshift request to a third predetermined gearshift position made during a gearshift operation from a first predetermined gearshift position to a second predetermined gearshift position is disabled.

Abstract: A clutch structure of a mechanical automatic transmission capable of suppressing the occurrence of vibration by preventing the pressing force of a clutch from being interfered with a thrust force generated by helical gears, wherein a pressing device pressing a disk in a direction opposite to the axial thrust force generated by the engagement of the first gear with the second gear is formed of a disk pressing device and a counterforce imparting pressing device pressing a clutch hub in a direction opposite to the thrust force.

Abstract: The thrust load of the friction transfer mechanism is adjusted with an electric actuator, the thrust load of said friction transfer mechanism is be increased with a fixed inclination, at the first stage from the time control is started to the time the predetermined time elapses, the inclination of the thrust load of said friction transfer mechanism is set to the inclination smaller than that of the thrust load of said friction transfer mechanism at said first stage, at the second stage where said friction transfer mechanism moves further to the predetermined position, and the thrust load of said friction transfer mechanism may be increased with the inclination larger than that of the thrust load of said friction transfer mechanism at said second stage, at the third stage where the predetermined time elapses further.

Abstract: When torque transmission through the transmitting torque variable mechanism (e.g., an assist clutch) is changed to torque transmission through a meshing gearing after the gearshift, a controlled variable per unit time when the transmitting torque variable mechanism is released is determined or varied according to the vehicle operating condition after a gearshift has been completed. A degraded gearshift feel as a result of axle vibration at the end of the gearshift can thereby be suppressed.