Abstract: In order to prevent generation of image noise by controlling creep of a movable member having flexibility an image forming apparatus for forming images in a recording medium includes a movable member having flexibility, a detection section for detecting temperature of the movable member directly, and a control section for executing control so that when image forming is not conducted, the movable member is temporarily operated at predefined intervals if a temperature detected by the detection section is equal to or above a specified temperature, and the movable member is not operated if a temperature detected by the detection section is below the specified temperature.

Abstract: To provide an image forming apparatus that prevents generation of image noise by recovering a movable member having flexibility from creep deformation. The image forming apparatus for forming images on a recording medium comprises a movable member having flexibility, a detection section for detecting temperature of the movable member directly, a storage section for storing the temperature detected by the detection section when the apparatus is powered off, and a control section for changing a duration of time during which the movable member is in a preparatory operation corresponding to the detected temperature read from the storage section when the apparatus is powered on.

Abstract: To provide an image forming apparatus that prevents generation of image noise by controlling creep of a movable member having flexibility. The image forming apparatus for forming images on a recording medium comprises a movable member having flexibility, a detection section for detecting temperature of the movable member directly, and a control section for executing control so that when image forming is not conducted, the movable member is temporarily operated at predefined intervals if a temperature detected by the detection section is equal to or above a specified temperature, and the movable member is not operated if a temperature detected by the detection section is below the specified temperature.

Abstract: It is intended to provide an image forming apparatus that surely notifies a user of unit replacement timing and strongly urges the user to replace units without additional apparatus being applied thereto. A color printer 1 detects remaining life of each replaceable unit. When a certain replaceable unit nearly reaches its replacement timing, the color printer 1 indicates that fact in an operation panel 75. When the remaining life lowers improvement prohibiting level, in other words, when the unit reaches its replacement timing, the color printer 1 indicates a name of the unit to be replaced and necessity of replacement in the operation panel 75 and prohibits image improvement operation. That is, an image is formed without image quality improvement operation. Thereby, image quality deteriorates. Image deterioration can surely notify a user of replacement timing of the unit and urge the user to replace the unit with a new one.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus with a charging member that allows easy removal of smears from an image forming drum. The apparatus removes smears from the image forming drum by placing a different portion of the charging member in contact with the drum. The apparatus uses a cam or a solenoid to press on the charging member to cause a different portion of the charging member to come into contact with the image forming drum.

Abstract: A fixed frame includes a photosensitive drum and a developing unit, and a movable frame is openable with respect to the fixed frame. The developing unit, which has two pairs of protrusions thereon, is detachably mounted to the fixed frame by engaging the protrusions with two pairs of guides provided on the fixed frame. One pair of guides includes a portion for momentarily catching one pair of the protrusions as the developing unit is being mounted to the apparatus, and each of the other pair of guides includes a inclined portion having the shape of an arc centered on the momentarily catching portion, whereby an impact to the developing unit is alleviated. The developing unit has a shutter which moves to a position for covering a peripheral surface of a developing sleeve when the developing unit is being dismounted, and which retracts from the developing sleeve covering position and moves to a position for covering the photosensitive drum when the developing unit is being mounted.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a developing unit which is removably installed in a body of the image forming apparatus, a shutter covering a developing region of the photosensitive member when the developing unit is removed from the body of the image forming apparatus and a cleaning member capable of cleaning the surface of the photosensitive member in accordance with rotation of the photosensitive member by making contact with the photosensitive member in conjunction with the shutter covering operation, but which does not contact the photosensitive member when the shutter is open. During a control operation, foreign matter such as used developer adhered to the photosensitive member is removed when the photosensitive member is rotated with the shutter closed.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus comprising a main assembly and an imaging cartridge detachable from the main assembly. The imaging cartridge includes a first unit and a second unit, both of which are separable form each other, a toner image carrier provided in the first unit, and a charging device provided in the second unit for transferring a toner image on the toner image carrier onto a copy sheet, wherein the charging device includes a charging roller. The present invention also provides an imaging cartridge detachable from the main assembly of an image forming apparatus. The imaging cartridge comprises a first unit and a second unit wherein the second unit is separable from the first unit, a toner image carrier provided in the first unit, and a charging device provided in the second unit for transferring a toner image on the toner image carrier onto a copy sheet.

Abstract: A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrostatic latent image support member comprises a developer supplying member for supplying a developer to the electrostatic latent image support member, a developer containing portion containing the developer to be supplied to the developer supplying member, a conveying member provided in the developer containing portion for conveying the developer above the bottom part of the developer containing portion to the developer supplying member with the developer in the bottom part of the developer containing portion being left, and an agitating member provided in the developer containing portion for agitating in the developer containing portion the developer remaining in the bottom part of the developer containing portion without being conveyed by the conveying member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising a laser beam radiating unit utilized as a light source, and an optical system that the surface of an original reflects a laser beam radiated from the radiating unit to project an image reflected from the original onto a photosensitive member. In this apparatus, an image is formed selectively in a print mode so that an image results from turning on and off the laser beam, in a copy mode that a copy of an original results from exposure of the photosensitive member to the laser beam reflected from the surface of an original or in a composite mode that a composite image is formed of a copy of an original and an image resulting from turning on and off the laser beam. Further, this apparatus comprises a projection lens unit for projecting an image reflected from an original onto the photosensitive member.

Abstract: A laser beam scanning apparatus includes plural laser beam sources for emitting laser beams modulated by a picture signal and having different characteristics from each other, a beam composition device for composing the beams emitted from the sources to form one laser beam, a deflecting device for deflecting the composite beam in a main scanning direction, and a beam splitter for splitting the deflected beam on the basis of the characteristic thereof. The apparatus further includes a beam-selecting device for selecting the beam in correspondence with the characteristic of the beam split by the splitter so as to transmit the beam with a specified characteristic and reflect the beam with a characteristic different from that of the transmitted beam.

Abstract: A blade for cleaning an image holding member of an image forming unit is urged so as to contact the image holding member, and a member for obstructing the blade from contacting the image holding member by urged strength is arranged to release the obstruction. The member is further arranged so as to regulate returning action to the state of obstruction after the obstruction is released. Accordingly, when the blade is released from the state of obstruction by the obstruction member, the blade comes in contact with the image holding member by the urged strength and afterward it is kept in the state of contact since the obstructing function of the obstruction member is regulated.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive member; a developing device; a developer accommodating device for accommodating the developer to be supplied to the developing device, the accommodating device having a housing of which a first and second windows made of transparent members are arranged at a ceiling and a bottom; a cleaning device for periodically cleaning the first and second windows; and a detecting device having a light emitting device arranged outside the housing and confronting with one of the windows, and a light receiving device arranged outside the housing and confronting with the other of the windows. Light emitted from the light emitting device is illuminated through the light emitting device. The light receiving device receives the light emitted from the light emitting device to detect an amount of the developer in the housing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising a laser beam radiating unit utilized as a light source, and an optical system that the surface of an original reflects a laser beam radiated from the radiating unit to project an image reflected form the original onto a photosensitive member. In this apparatus, an image is formed selectively in a print mode that an image results from turning on and off the laser beam, in a copy made that a copy of an original results form exposure of the photosensitive member to the laser beam reflected from the surface of an original or in a composite mode that a composite image is formed of a copy of an original and an image resulting from turning on and off the laser beam. Also, this apparatus comprises a reflecting member which is provided on an original supporting table and extends in the sub scanning direction, and a sensor for detecting the laser beam reflected from the reflecting member.

Abstract: There is disclosed a corona discharger comprising a discharge wire for producing a corona discharge, a voltage source for applying a predetermined voltage to the discharge wire, an electrically conductive back plate being provided on the opposite side of the discharge wire to a member to be electrified, and an electrically conductive side plate being provided close to the member to be electrified. In the corona discharger, an opening for discharging ozone produced by said corona discharge is formed between said side plate and said back plate, and respective electric potentials of the side plate and the back plate are set so that a difference between respective electric potentials of the side plate and the discharge wire becomes lower than a difference between respective electric potentials of the back plate and the discharge wire.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a laser beam radiating unit utilized as a light source, and an optical system that the surface of an original reflects a laser beam radiated from the radiating unit to project an image reflected from the original onto a photosensitive member. In this apparatus, an image is formed selectively in a print mode that an image results from turning on and off the laser beam, in a copy mode that a copy of an original results from exposure of the photosensitive member to the laser beam reflected from the surface of an original or in a composite mode that a composite image is formed of a copy of an original and an image resulting from turning on and off the laser beam. Also, this apparatus comprises a reflector for directing the laser beam to the photosensitive member, and the reflector is automatically set at the reflecting position when the original cover is open or the print mode is selected.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising a laser beam radiating unit utilized as a light source, and an optical system that the surface of an original reflects a laser beam radiated from the radiating unit to project a image reflected from the original onto a photosensitive member. In this apparatus, an image is formed selectively in a print mode that an image results from turning on and off the laser beam, in a copy mode that a copy of an original results from exposure of the photosensitive member to the laser beam reflected from the surface of an original or in a composite mode that a composite image is formed of a copy of an original and an image resulting from turning on and off the laser beam. Further, this apparatus comprises a transporting unit for transporting a sheet on which a latent image formed on the photosensitive member is transferred onto the original glass, so that a sheet once discharged from the main body can be reused as an original.

Abstract: A laser beam scanning device including a plurality of laser beam sources for emitting laser beams having properties different from each other, respectively such that each of the laser beams is modulated by an image signal, a deflection member for simultaneously deflecting the laser beams emitted by the laser beam sources, a light detecting member for detecting one of the laser beams such that modulation of the laser beams emitted by the laser beam sources is started in response to a signal outputted from the light detecting member and an optical member which is disposed on an optical path from the deflection member to the light detecting member and optically selects only the one of the laser beams so as to irradiate the one of the laser beams onto the light detecting member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising a laser beam radiating unit utilized as a light source, and an optical system that the surface of an original reflects a laser beam radiated from the radiating unit to project an image reflected from the original onto a photosensitive member. In this apparatus, an image is formed selectively in a print mode that an image results from turning on and off the laser beam, in a copy mode that a copy of an original results from exposure of the photosensitive member to the laser beam reflected from the surface of an original or in a composite mode that a composite image is formed of a copy of an original and an image resulting from turning on and off the laser beam. Further, this apparatus comprises a sensor for receiving the laser beam reflected from the surface of an original, and the image of an original and composite image are read by the sensor.