Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus, a fixing device, a varnish image forming apparatus, an image reading portion, and a controller. The controller corrects first image data depending on first detection image data on a toner image formed on a first recording material and read by the image reading portion, and then depending on the corrected first image data, a toner image is formed on a second recording material subsequent to the first recording material. The controller corrects second image data depending on second detection image data on a varnish image read by the image reading portion, and then depending on the corrected second image data, a varnish image is formed on the second recording material.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus, a varnish applying apparatus, and a controller. A toner image formed on a recording material by the image forming apparatus on the basis of inputted first image data is a first toner image, and an image formed on the recording material by the varnish applying apparatus on the basis of inputted second image data is a varnish image. In a case that the varnish image is formed in a non-image region where the first toner image is not formed, before the varnish image is formed, a second toner image is formed with monochromatic toner by the image forming apparatus on a portion of the non-image region where the varnish image is formed.

Abstract: An image forming system including an image forming apparatus, a varnish applying apparatus, an input unit, a first image processing unit, and a second image processing unit. The image forming apparatus forms a toner image on a recording material on the basis of image data obtained by subjecting first image data to data change processing. The varnish applying apparatus forms a varnish image on the recording material on the basis of image data obtained by subjecting second image data to the data change processing.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming unit, a varnish applying unit, a conveying unit, an irradiation unit, and a controller. The controller controls conveyance of a recording material so that a conveying speed of the recording material in a case that varnish is applied to the recording material with a toner image is formed is slower than a conveying speed of the recording material in a case that varnish is applied to the recording material with no toner image. The controller controls irradiation of the varnish with light so that intensity of the light with which the varnish is irradiated in a case that the varnish is applied to the recording material with the toner image is lower than intensity of the light with which the varnish is irradiated in a case that the varnish is applied to the recording material with no toner image.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming unit including a first photosensitive member, a first developing unit, a second photosensitive member, a second developing unit, a third photosensitive member, a third developing unit, a fourth photosensitive member, and a fourth developing unit, a varnish applying unit; an irradiation unit; and a controller configured to control image formation by the image forming unit to form a black image, on which the varnish is superimposed, with the yellow toner, the magenta toner, and the cyan toner.

Abstract: A cleaning blade includes an elastic material, a first surface, a second surface and an end surface. The end surface includes a first region and a second region provided on opposite sides of the first region. The elastic material of the cleaning blade has indentation elastic modulus E0 [MPa] of 3 or more and 20 or less, and indentation elastic modulus E1 [MPa] of the end surface in the first region is (E0+1) or more and 40 or less. Dynamic hardness DH1 [mN/?m2] of the first region is 0.10 or more and 0.20 or less, dynamic hardness DH2 [mN/?m2] of the second region is 0.15 or more and 0.50 or less, and a difference (DH2?DH1) is 0.05 [mN/?m2] or more. A difference in thickness between the end surface in the first region and the end surface in the second region is 25 ?m or less.

Abstract: A cleaning blade, which is to be brought into contact with a surface of a photosensitive drum, satisfies the following condition. First, the cleaning blade having a free length of 8 mm is brought into contact with an opposed object for measurement having a plurality of measurement recesses each having a partially spherical shape with a depth of 0.7 ?m and a radius of 15 ?m on a surface so that a linear pressure is 0.196 N/cm and 0.490 N/cm, and a contact angle with respect to the opposed object for measurement is 25°. In this case, a contact width of the cleaning blade in each of the measurement recesses is 4 ?m or more and 8 ?m or less when the linear pressure is 0.196 N/cm and is 4 ?m or more and 13.5 ?m or less when the linear pressure is 0.490 N/cm.

Abstract: A cleaning blade includes an elastic material, a first surface, a second surface and an end surface. The end surface includes a first region and a second region provided on opposite sides of the first region. The elastic material of the cleaning blade has indentation elastic modulus E0 [MPa] of 3 or more and 20 or less, and indentation elastic modulus E1 [MPa] of the end surface in the first region is (E0+1) or more and 40 or less. Dynamic hardness DH1 [mM/?m2] of the first region is 0.10 or more and 0.20 or less, dynamic hardness DH2 [mM/?m2] of the second region is 0.15 or more and 0.50 or less, and a difference (DH2?DH1) is 0.05 [mM/?m2] or more. A difference in thickness between the end surface in the first region and the end surface in the second region is 25 ?m or less.

Abstract: A cleaning blade, which is to be brought into contact with a surface of a photosensitive drum, satisfies the following condition. First, the cleaning blade having a free length of 8 mm is brought into contact with an opposed object for measurement having a plurality of measurement recesses each having a partially spherical shape with a depth of 0.7 ?m and a radius of 15 ?m on a surface so that a linear pressure is 0.196 N/cm and 0.490 N/cm, and a contact angle with respect to the opposed object for measurement is 25°. In this case, a contact width of the cleaning blade in each of the measurement recesses is 4 ?m or more and 8 ?m or less when the linear pressure is 0.196 N/cm and is 4 ?m or more and 13.5 ?m or less when the linear pressure is 0.490 N/cm.

Abstract: After a predetermined period elapses since the start of use of a photosensitive member, if a calculated value calculated from a detection current between a charging unit and a photosensitive member is out of a predetermined range, a determining unit does not perform determination using a currently calculated value and, if the calculated value is within the predetermined range, the determining unit performs determination using the currently calculated value.

Abstract: After a predetermined period elapses since the start of use of a photosensitive member, if a calculated value calculated from a detection current between a charging unit and a photosensitive member is out of a predetermined range, a determining unit does not perform determination using a currently calculated value and, if the calculated value is within the predetermined range, the determining unit performs determination using the currently calculated value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a power source applying voltage to a charging roller to charge a photosensitive drum; a toner-image forming unit forming a toner image on the photosensitive drum; a detecting member which detects a DC current to be flowed from the charging roller to the photosensitive drum; a driving source driving the photosensitive drum at a predetermined speed; and an execution unit executing a detection mode to detect the DC current with the detecting member when the voltage is applied in a state in which the photosensitive drum is rotated, in a period except a period during which the toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum, the execution unit setting a speed of the driving source when the detection mode is executed at a second speed faster than a first speed that is fastest in the period during which the toner image is formed.

Abstract: After an image formation operation, an ending operation, by which an interposed toner layer is formed on a photosensitive drum and the photosensitive drum is stopped in a state where the interposed toner layer is interposed between the photosensitive drum and an intermediate transfer belt, is executed. In a case where a signal for starting the image formation operation is input after the photosensitive drum is stopped without executing the ending operation, a control circuit is able to execute, before executing the image formation operation, a recovery operation by which predetermined toner in a band shape is formed on the photosensitive drum, the predetermined toner is supplied to a contact part of the photosensitive drum and a blade, and the photosensitive drum is caused to rotate for a predetermined time or more.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a power source applying voltage to a charging roller to charge a photosensitive drum; a toner-image forming unit forming a toner image on the photosensitive drum; a detecting member which detects a DC current to be flowed from the charging roller to the photosensitive drum; a driving source driving the photosensitive drum at a predetermined speed; and an execution unit executing a detection mode to detect the DC current with the detecting member when the voltage is applied in a state in which the photosensitive drum is rotated, in a period except a period during which the toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum, the execution unit setting a speed of the driving source when the detection mode is executed at a second speed faster than a first speed that is fastest in the period during which the toner image is formed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, such as a printer or photocopier, has a cleaning device for cleaning an image carrier. The efficiency with which the cleaning device cleans the image carrier is varied in dependence upon the image forming conditions, to thereby reduce wear on both the cleaning device and the image carrier. In one embodiment, cleaning efficiency is varied by changing the contact pressure between a cleaning blade and the image carrier. In a color apparatus with multiple image-forming units, the image forming conditions relate to whether the image to be formed is monochrome, composite color or simul-color.

Abstract: The ceramic insert made from a silicon nitride ceramic material and formed with a recess for fastening in the center of its rake face. The recess has a surface roughness Rmax not exceeding 4 .mu.m. The angle between a side face of the recess and a centerline perpendicular to the rake face of the insert is 50-70 degrees. The ratio of the diameter of the recess to the diameter of a circle inscribing the perimeter of the rake face is 30-85%. The recess has a flat or curved bottom. The connecting portion between the side face and the bottom of the recess forms a smoothly curved surface.

Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning residual toner on a toner image carrier. The cleaning device includes a blade that comes into contact with the toner image carrier at an acute angle with respect to an immediate downstream portion of the toner image carrier at a toner removal area where the blade scrapes off residual toner from the toner image carrier. A collecting device moves in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the toner image carrier at the toner removal area and collects the residual toner scraped off by the blade member.

Abstract: A cleaning device for removing residual toner on the image bearing member includes a cleaning blade contacting with the surface of the image bearing member and sealing members provided on both end portions of the image bearing member and confronting the cleaning edge of the cleaning blade with a gap. The gap meets the following condition when the average particle diameter per unit volume of the toner used is between 4 .mu.m and 15 .mu.m and the level of condensation is between 5% and 40%, if the width and length of the gap between the cleaning edge and the sealing member are W and L, respectively:0<(W/L)<0.4.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a cleaning blade employed in the image forming apparatus which is operable to form an electrostatic latent image on an image carrying member, develop the latent image with toner into a visible toner image, transfer the toner image onto a record member and fix the same, and having an edge pressed against the image carrying member with a predetermined pressure for removing residual toner on the image carrying member after the transfer. A degree of toluene swelling of the cleaning blade is in a range from 20% to 100%, and the cleaning blade has an impact resilience in a range from 10% to 65%, a Young's modulus in a range from 30 to 120 kg/cm.sup.2, and a 300%-modulus in a range from 100 to 600 kg/cm.sup.2.

Abstract: A developing unit which accommodates black toner is operated for developing process by black toner only at a proper time when color image forming operation is not performed by other developing units which accommodate other colored toners. Then, a cleaning blade is actuated without conducting transfer process of the developed image onto a transfer material, and residual toner is removed from the photoconductor.