Abstract: A collecting device includes a collecting path for a developer, at least one transport member that is disposed in the collecting path and that transports the developer by rotating, a driving unit that drives, by receiving electric power, the transport member in such a manner that the transport member rotates, a detecting unit that detects a load applied to the driving unit due to transportation of the developer, and a control unit that controls the driving unit based on the load detected by the detecting unit.

Abstract: A muffling member for an image forming apparatus includes a thermoplastic member disposed in a photoconductor drum and having a substantially hollow cylindrical shape. The thermoplastic member has a slit-shaped opening at a certain position in a circumferential direction of the thermoplastic member. The thermoplastic member also has a second opening at least at a certain position along the slit-shaped opening, the second opening having an opening width greater than an opening width of the slit-shaped opening.

Abstract: A muffling member for an image forming apparatus includes a thermoplastic member disposed in a photoconductor drum and having a substantially hollow cylindrical shape. The thermoplastic member has a slit-shaped opening at a certain position in a circumferential direction of the thermoplastic member. The thermoplastic member also has a second opening at least at a certain position along the slit-shaped opening, the second opening having an opening width greater than an opening width of the slit-shaped opening.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a cleaning member that cleans the image carrier, an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording material, and a controller that controls the image forming unit based on at least one of physical property information and dimension information of the cleaning member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image processing unit and a switching unit. The image processing unit includes: a charging unit that is provided to face an image carrier and applies a direct current voltage on which an alternating voltage of a first frequency is superimposed to charge the image carrier; an electrostatic latent image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the charged image carrier with light scanning based on image information; a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image; and a transfer unit that transfers the developed image to a recording medium. When an image density based on the image information is greater than or equal to a specific image density, the switching unit switches a frequency of the alternating voltage at least during charging performed by the charging unit to a second frequency different from the first frequency.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a cleaning member that cleans the image carrier, an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording material, and a controller that controls the image forming unit based on at least one of physical property information and dimension information of the cleaning member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image processing unit and a switching unit. The image processing unit includes: a charging unit that is provided to face an image carrier and applies a direct current voltage on which an alternating voltage of a first frequency is superimposed to charge the image carrier; an electrostatic latent image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the charged image carrier with light scanning based on image information; a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image; and a transfer unit that transfers the developed image to a recording medium. When an image density based on the image information is greater than or equal to a specific image density, the switching unit switches a frequency of the alternating voltage at least during charging performed by the charging unit to a second frequency different from the first frequency.

Abstract: A support member is supported in a cylinder included in an image carrier and includes a separation-space-defining portion that is arranged at a certain position in a circumferential direction and extends in an axial direction of the cylinder so that the support member has an arc shape; and a groove-defining portion having a groove depth that changes along the axial direction. A bottom plate of the groove-defining portion is elastically deformed so that the support member presses an inner peripheral surface of the cylinder at least at both ends in the axial direction and is thereby supported in the cylinder.

Abstract: A support member supported in a cylinder includes six or more contact portions that are in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the cylinder. The support member is arc-shaped and has a gap extending in an axial direction of the cylinder. When the support member is viewed in the axial direction, a groove is formed in the support member such that the groove and the gap are on opposite sides of a center of the cylinder, and the contact portions are symmetrical with respect to a straight line that passes through the centers of the gap and the cylinder. Of the contact portions on one side of the straight line, the farthest contact portions are separated from each other by approximately 90 degrees or more, and the adjacent contact portions are separated from each other by approximately 20 degrees or more in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A support member is supported in a cylinder included in an image carrier and includes a separation-space-defining portion that is arranged at a certain position in a circumferential direction and extends in an axial direction of the cylinder so that the support member has an arc shape; and a groove-defining portion having a groove depth that changes along the axial direction. A bottom plate of the groove-defining portion is elastically deformed so that the support member presses an inner peripheral surface of the cylinder at least at both ends in the axial direction and is thereby supported in the cylinder.

Abstract: A support member supported in a cylinder included in an image carrier includes a separation-space-defining portion that is arranged at a certain position in a circumferential direction and extends in an axial direction of the cylinder so that the support member has an arc shape; and a groove-defining portion that extends in the axial direction. An outer diameter of the support member in a central region in the axial direction is smaller than an outer diameter of the support member at both ends in the axial direction. In a state in which the support member is supported in the cylinder, the groove-defining portion is elastically deformed such that elastic restoring force generated in the central region is greater than elastic restoring force generated at the ends.

Abstract: A support member supported in a cylinder includes six or more contact portions that are in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the cylinder. The support member is arc-shaped and has a gap extending in an axial direction of the cylinder. When the support member is viewed in the axial direction, a groove is formed in the support member such that the groove and the gap are on opposite sides of a center of the cylinder, and the contact portions are symmetrical with respect to a straight line that passes through the centers of the gap and the cylinder. Of the contact portions on one side of the straight line, the farthest contact portions are separated from each other by approximately 90 degrees or more, and the adjacent contact portions are separated from each other by approximately 20 degrees or more in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A contact member is fitted in a cylindrical body that is substantially cylindrical and configurates an image carrier, and is supported by the cylindrical body while being in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body at contact portions provided in three areas in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical body. All angles formed by two of straight lines passing through the contact portions and an axial center of the cylindrical body are more than about 90 degrees in a state in which the contact member is supported within the cylindrical body, when viewed from an axial direction of the cylindrical body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photoreceptor that includes a conductive substrate and an organic layer which includes a photoreceptive layer; a charging member that charges the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor; an electrostatic latent image forming unit; a developing unit; a transfer unit; and a cleaning member that performs cleaning on the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor, wherein a contact area of the electrophotographic photoreceptor with the cleaning member in an axis direction of the electrophotographic photoreceptor is wider than a contact area thereof with the charging member, and d, d?, d? and d?max, which each are values with respect to the total film thickness of the organic layer at the respective portions as defined in the present specification, satisfy expressions 0.97?d?/d?1.03, 0.97?d?/d?1.1 and 1.03?d?max/d?1.1 at each of both of the end portions in the axis direction of the electrophotographic photoreceptor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an application unit that applies to a holding unit a voltage that generates a potential difference between the holding unit and a photoconductor member such that a toner image is developed on the photoconductor member. The potential difference causes toner included in a two-component developer, held by the holding unit, to be transferred from the holding unit to the photoconductor member. A controller controls the application unit, subsequent to an expiration of an image quality assurance period throughout which a predetermined image quality is assured, such that the potential of the holding unit is decreased according to a decrease of a thickness of a photosensitive film.

Abstract: A contact member is fitted in a cylindrical body that is substantially cylindrical and configurates an image carrier, and is supported by the cylindrical body while being in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body at contact portions provided in three areas in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical body. All angles formed by two of straight lines passing through the contact portions and an axial center of the cylindrical body are more than about 90 degrees in a state in which the contact member is supported within the cylindrical body, when viewed from an axial direction of the cylindrical body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an application unit that applies to a holding unit a voltage that generates a potential difference between the holding unit and a photoconductor member such that a toner image is developed on the photoconductor member, the potential difference causing toner included in a two-component developer, held by the holding unit, to transfer from the holding unit to the photoconductor member, and a controller that controls the application unit, subsequent to an expiration of an image quality assurance period throughout which a predetermined image quality is assured, such that the potential of the holding unit is decreased in step with wear of the photoconductor member.

Abstract: An image forming device includes an image holding member and a charging unit. In a case in which an AC current, while being increased, is supplied to the charging unit in a state in which a DC voltage value and an AC voltage value applied to the charging unit are maintained, or a case in which a DC voltage, while being increased, is supplied to the charging unit in a state in which the AC voltage value applied to the charging unit is maintained, a current detection unit detects DC current values. An inflection point derivation unit derives an inflection point of a correlation line representing an correlation between the detected DC current values and the supply amounts. An execution unit executes pre-specified processing when a characteristic value of the derived inflection point reaches a pre-specified value.

Abstract: An image forming device includes an image holding member and a charging unit. In a case in which an AC current, while being increased, is supplied to the charging unit in a state in which a DC voltage value and an AC voltage value applied to the charging unit are maintained, or a case in which a DC voltage, while being increased, is supplied to the charging unit in a state in which the AC voltage value applied to the charging unit is maintained, a current detection unit detects DC current values. An inflection point derivation unit derives an inflection point of a correlation line representing an correlation between the detected DC current values and the supply amounts. An execution unit executes pre-specified processing when a characteristic value of the derived inflection point reaches a pre-specified value.