Abstract: An image forming apparatus in an embodiment includes an image carrying body, a transfer body, a first mechanism, a sensor, and a second mechanism. The image carrying body carries an image of a developer. The image of the developer is transferred onto the transfer body from the image carrying body. The first mechanism separates the transfer body from the image carrying body. The sensor detects a state of the surface of the transfer body. The second mechanism separates the sensor from the transfer body in association with the first mechanism.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in an embodiment includes an image carrying body, a transfer body, a first mechanism, a sensor, and a second mechanism. The image carrying body carries an image of a developer. The image of the developer is transferred onto the transfer body from the image carrying body. The first mechanism separates the transfer body from the image carrying body. The sensor detects a state of the surface of the transfer body. The second mechanism separates the sensor from the transfer body in association with the first mechanism.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a transfer unit body, a transfer counter roller, a transfer belt, a side cover, a transfer roller, a shaft end member, and a holding member. The side cover is opened and closed with respect to the apparatus body. The transfer roller is supported by the side cover, moves between an abutting position at which the transfer roller comes into contact with the transfer belt and interposes the transfer belt along with the transfer counter roller and a separate position at which the transfer roller is separated from the transfer belt. The shaft end member is provided at a shaft end of the transfer roller. The holding member is provided in the transfer unit body, holds the shaft end member at the abutting position, and opens the shaft end member at the separate position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotating body that regulates a movement of a transfer roller in a direction along a rotating shaft of the transfer roller. The rotating body includes a first portion located at a first distance from the rotating shaft of the transfer roller in a direction intersecting the rotating shaft of the transfer roller and a second portion located at a second distance that is nearer than the first distance. The rotating body takes a first position for supporting the transfer roller in a separating position by making the first portion abut on the cover in a state where the side cover is closed. The rotating body takes a second position where the second portion is directed to the cover and the transfer roller is in an abutting position in a state where the side cover is closed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an main body, a processing unit, and a pressing member. The main body includes a transfer belt wound around a plurality of rollers. The processing unit can be inserted into and removed from the main body. The processing unit includes a drum that faces the transfer belt in a state of being inserted into the main body. The processing unit forms an image on the surface of the drum. The pressing member is provided on the main body and includes a contacted portion and a contacting portion. The contacted portion comes into contact with the processing unit when the processing unit is inserted into and removed from the main body. The contacting portion comes contact with the transfer belt due to contact with the processing unit to push the transfer belt in a direction away from the processing unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotating belt in a main body. A roller is supported by a support shaft that moves the roller into contact with the rotating belt and away from the rotating belt. A pressing part in the main body is configured to press the support shaft so that the roller presses against the rotating belt. A lever is provided that when moved causes the pressing part to move between a first position, pressing the support shaft, and a second position, away from the support shaft. A openable and closable cover covers the main body and rotates about a first axis. An engagement part is fixed to the cover and moves with rotation of the cover. The engagement part engages the lever when the cover is closed and releases the lever when the cover is opened.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes photosensitive drums, a transfer belt having an outer surface facing the photosensitive drums, a tension roller in contact with an inner surface of the transfer belt, a cam in contact with the tension roller and movable to a first position to increase the tension to the transfer belt and a second position to decrease the tension to the transfer belt, a support having a supporting surface facing the outer surface of the transfer belt, and a lever mechanically linked to the cam and the support and rotatable from a third position at which the cam is in the first position to a fourth position at which the cam is in the second position. As the lever is moved from the third to the fourth position, the supporting surface is raised against the outer surface of the transfer belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes photosensitive drums, a transfer belt having an outer surface facing the photosensitive drums, a tension roller in contact with an inner surface of the transfer belt, a cam in contact with the tension roller and movable to a first position to increase the tension to the transfer belt and a second position to decrease the tension to the transfer belt, a support having a supporting surface facing the outer surface of the transfer belt, and a lever mechanically linked to the cam and the support and rotatable from a third position at which the cam is in the first position to a fourth position at which the cam is in the second position. As the lever is moved from the third to the fourth position, the supporting surface is raised against the outer surface of the transfer belt.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a transfer belt unit includes a transfer belt, a transfer roller, a switching member and a holding member. The transfer belt is wound into an endless shape. The transfer roller is arranged at the inside of the transfer belt to face a photoconductor. The switching member can switch the transfer belt between a transfer position where the transfer belt abuts against the photoconductor and a separation position where the transfer belt is away from the photoconductor. The holding member separates the transfer belt from the photoconductor in conjunction with the switching member.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming section and a transfer roller. A support body supports the image carrier in a main body opposite to the transfer roller. A holding member positioned in the support body holds the transfer roller. The holding member includes at least one groove in a portion of the holding member that holds the transfer roller. At least one conductive member is positioned in, and protruding from, the at least one groove so that a part of the conductive member makes electrical contact with the transfer roller when the transfer roller is held in the holding member. A power supply section applies transfer bias between the image carrier and the transfer roller through the conductive member.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming section and a transfer roller. A support body supports the image carrier in a main body opposite to the transfer roller. A holding member positioned in the support body holds the transfer roller. The holding member includes at least one groove in a portion of the holding member that holds the transfer roller. At least one conductive member is positioned in, and protruding from, the at least one groove so that a part of the conductive member makes electrical contact with the transfer roller when the transfer roller is held in the holding member. A power supply section applies transfer bias between the image carrier and the transfer roller through the conductive member.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises an image forming section configured to form an image on an image carrier, a transfer roller configured to transfer the image formed on the image carrier to an image receiving medium, a support body configured to support the image carrier in a main body opposite to the transfer roller, a holding member arranged in the support body to hold two end parts of the transfer roller and having a conductive member that makes electrical contact with the transfer roller when the transfer roller is mounted in the holding member, and a power supply section configured to apply transfer bias to the image carrier and to the transfer roller through the conductive member.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a belt to which a toner image formed with toner added with lubricant is transferred; a blade configured to be arranged in a belt width direction of the belt to scrape against the belt surface; a case configured to include room for housing waste toner scraped off by the blade; a conveyance section configured to convey the waste toner towards two end parts in the belt width direction in the room of the case; and an elastic section configured to flick the waste toner conveyed to the two end parts by the conveyance section towards the blade through elastic force.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a belt to which a toner image formed with toner added with lubricant is transferred; a blade configured to be arranged in a belt width direction of the belt to scrape against the belt surface; a case configured to include room for housing waste toner scraped off by the blade; a conveyance section configured to convey the waste toner towards two end parts in the belt width direction in the room of the case; and an elastic section configured to flick the waste toner conveyed to the two end parts by the conveyance section towards the blade through elastic force.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a transfer roller, a first resilient member configured to urge the transfer roller in the direction toward a recording medium carrying path, a pair of sliding members configured to support both ends of the transfer roller independently from each other, a pair of transfer roller holding members configured to support the respective sliding members so as to be capable of sliding and rotate about a center of rotation independently from each other, and a carrying guide configured to rotate about the center of rotation, be urged in the direction toward the transfer roller holding members by a second resilient member, and be restricted from rotating by the sliding members.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a coupling arm that moves, when a release handle is pulled up, in association with the movement of the release handle and separates a secondary transfer roller from a secondary-transfer-roller positioning member. The image forming apparatus includes a pivoting arm having a push-down spatula that moves, when the release handle is pulled up, in association with the movement of the release handle and separates the secondary transfer roller from the secondary-transfer-roller positioning member. The coupling arm or the pivoting arm transmits force applied to the release handle to the secondary transfer roller using leverage to thereby separate the secondary transfer roller from the secondary-transfer-roller positioning member and release the secondary transfer roller.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a transfer roller, a first resilient member configured to urge the transfer roller in the direction toward a recording medium carrying path, a pair of sliding members configured to support both ends of the transfer roller independently from each other, a pair of transfer roller holding members configured to support the respective sliding members so as to be capable of sliding and rotate about a center of rotation independently from each other, and a carrying guide configured to rotate about the center of rotation, be urged in the direction toward the transfer roller holding members by a second resilient member, and be restricted from rotating by the sliding members.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a horizontal carrying mechanism that collects a waste developer in the horizontal direction, relay carrying mechanisms that carry the waste developer collected by the horizontal carrying mechanism to a desired position, a vertical carrying mechanism that carries the waste developer, which is carried by the relay carrying mechanisms, in the vertical upward direction, and a relay carrying mechanism that feeds the waste developer carried by the vertical carrying mechanism into a storage case. A waste developer flow rate of a waste-developer carrying mechanism at a post stage is equal to or larger than a waste developer flow rate of a waste-developer carrying mechanism at a pre-stage thereof.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a rotating member to heat a toner on a sheet; a heater to heat the rotating member; a power controller to maintain temperature of the rotating member in a first mode after the temperature reaches the target temperature, and configured to raise the temperature to the target temperature in a second mode after the temperature falls under the target temperature; a waste toner container to store a waste toner; an agitator to agitate the waste toner in the waste toner container; an driver to rotate the agitator a number of times in a drive if the heat controller stops to raise the temperature in the second mode; a counter to count a number of the drives; and an agitation controller to set the number of times in the drive based on the number of the drives.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a coupling arm that moves, when a releasing handle is pulled up, in association with the movement of the release handle and separates a secondary transfer roller from a secondary-transfer-roller positioning member. The image forming apparatus includes a pivoting arm having a push-down spatula that moves, when the release handle is pulled up, in association with the movement of the release handle and separates the secondary transfer roller from the secondary-transfer-roller positioning member. The coupling arm or the pivoting arm transmits force applied to the release handle to the secondary transfer roller using leverage to thereby separate the secondary transfer roller from the secondary-transfer-roller positioning member and release the secondary transfer roller.