Abstract: Interlocked with an operation in which a feeding cassette is drawn out from a main body of a device, a restriction rib moves to a permissive position from a restrictive position, and interlocked with an operation in which the feeding cassette is inserted into the main body of the device, the restriction rib moves to the restrictive position from the permissive position.

Abstract: A pickup roller is moved to a retracted position by rotating a feeding motor in reverse by a first predetermined amount and is moved to a contact position by rotating the feeding motor forward by a second predetermined amount.

Abstract: A feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of appropriately detecting sheets stacked on a stacking plate are provided. The feeding apparatus includes a sheet contact portion configured to make contact with a sheet stacked on a stacker. The sheet contact portion is arranged between a position where a feed roller makes contact with the sheet and a position where a conveyance roller makes contact with the sheet, in a feeding direction, and within an area of the feed roller in an axial direction of the feed roller.

Abstract: A feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of reducing malfunctions due to wear of a portion where a sheet surface detection member makes contact with a sheet, and stably providing favorable feeding performance are provided. The feeding apparatus includes a holder configured to hold a first lever and a feed roller. The first lever includes a sheet contact portion configured to make contact with a sheet stacked on a sheet stacker. The feed roller, the first lever, and the holder are configured to be integrally detachable from a main body of the feeding apparatus.

Abstract: The speed at which transfer-material enters a transfer region is controlled to prevent a phenomenon in which a toner image on an intermediate transfer belt is scraped by the leading edge of the transfer-material when the toner image is transferred onto the transfer-material. While the conveying speed of the transfer-material in a transfer nip coincides with the speed of the intermediate transfer belt, the transfer-material is conveyed at a speed lower than the peripheral speed of the intermediate transfer belt when the leading edge of the transfer-material comes into contact with the intermediate transfer belt, and the conveying speed of the transfer-material is increased by the time when the transfer-material enters the transfer nip.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a unit, which is detachably attachable to a main body of the apparatus and has a portion to be detected, and a detecting device which detects the portion to be detected in the unit. It is determined that the unit is in an unused state since both of a first state in which the portion to be detected is detected by the detecting device and a second state in which the portion to be detected is not detected by the detecting device are confirmed, and thereafter, the first state or the second state is maintained. Furthermore, there is provided a restricting member which inhibits the first state or the second state from being maintained.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a unit, which is detachably attachable to a main body of the apparatus and has a portion to be detected, and a detecting device which detects the portion to be detected in the unit. It is determined that the unit is in an unused state since both of a first state in which the portion to be detected is detected by the detecting device and a second state in which the portion to be detected is not detected by the detecting device are confirmed, and thereafter, the first state or the second state is maintained. Furthermore, there is provided a restricting member which inhibits the first state or the second state from being maintained.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a unit, which is detachably attachable to a main body of the apparatus and has a portion to be detected, and a detecting device which detects the portion to be detected in the unit. It is determined that the unit is in an unused state since both of a first state in which the portion to be detected is detected by the detecting device and a second state in which the portion to be detected is not detected by the detecting device are confirmed, and thereafter, the first state or the second state is maintained. Furthermore, there is provided a restricting member which inhibits the first state or the second state from being maintained.

Abstract: In a constitution for detecting a position of a transfer member on the basis of a detection result of a current passing between the transfer member and an image bearing member, the positional detection is performed after a contacting and separating operation of the transfer member is carried out. By the contacting and separating operation of the transfer member, the image bearing member located out of a normal position is pressed to the normal position by the transfer member. After the image bearing member is pressed to the normal position, a position of the transfer member is detected.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus, includes a conveyor belt for bearing a recording material, capable of suppressing an image blur caused by a separating discharge at the separation of the recording material from the conveyor belt. To fix record materials on a transportation belt, the recording material is charged by a adhering member to electrically adhere the recording material to the conveyor belt. When the recording material is separated from the conveyor belt, a separating discharge occurs between the recording material and the conveyor belt, as the recording material is charged. In order to reduce the faulty of the toner image on the recording material caused by the separating discharge, the voltage applied to the adhering member is controlled for example according to a current which the recording material receives at the transfer position to mutually cancel the charge received at the transfer position by the adhering member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a unit, which is detachably attachable to a main body of the apparatus and has a portion to be detected, and a detecting device which detects the portion to be detected in the unit. It is determined that the unit is in an unused state since both of a first state in which the portion to be detected is detected by the detecting device and a second state in which the portion to be detected is not detected by the detecting device are confirmed, and thereafter, the first state or the second state is maintained. Furthermore, there is provided a restricting member which inhibits the first state or the second state from being maintained.

Abstract: The speed at which transfer-material enters a transfer region is controlled to prevent a phenomenon in which a toner image on an intermediate transfer belt is scraped by the leading edge of the transfer-material when the toner image is transferred onto the transfer-material. While the conveying speed of the transfer-material in a transfer nip coincides with the speed of the intermediate transfer belt, the transfer-material is conveyed at a speed lower than the peripheral speed of the intermediate transfer belt when the leading edge of the transfer-material comes into contact with the intermediate transfer belt, and the conveying speed of the transfer-material is increased by the time when the transfer-material enters the transfer nip.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image bearing members for forming toner images, a plurality of driven members respectively acting on the plurality of image bearing members, wherein, the plurality of image bearing members including plural first image bearing members and a second image bearing member which is different from the plural first image bearing members. In a first mode, the toner image is formed on each of the plural first image bearing members and the second image bearing member. In a second mode, the toner image is not formed on the plural first image bearing members and the toner image is formed on the second image bearing member, a first drive device which drives the plural first image bearing members, and a second drive device which drives the second image bearing member, the driven member which acts on the second image bearing member and at least one of the driven members which act on the plural first image bearing members.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus, includes a conveyor belt for bearing a recording material, capable of suppressing an image blur caused by a separating discharge at the separation of the recording material from the conveyor belt. To fix record materials on a transportation belt, the recording material is charged by a adhering member to electrically adhere the recording material to the conveyor belt. When the recording material is separated from the conveyor belt, a separating discharge occurs between the recording material and the conveyor belt, as the recording material is charged. In order to reduce the faulty of the toner image on the recording material caused by the separating discharge, the voltage applied to the adhering member is controlled for example according to a current which the recording material receives at the transfer position to mutually cancel the charge received at the transfer position by the adhering member.

Abstract: In a constitution for detecting a position of a transfer member on the basis of a detection result of a current passing between the transfer member and an image bearing member, the positional detection is performed after a contacting and separating operation of the transfer member is carried out. By the contacting and separating operation of the transfer member, the image bearing member located out of a normal position is pressed to the normal position by the transfer member. After the image bearing member is pressed to the normal position, a position of the transfer member is detected.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes plurality of image bearing members for forming toner images, plurality of driven members respectively acting on the plurality of image bearing members, wherein, the plurality of image bearing members including plural first image bearing members and a second image bearing member which is different from the plural first image bearing members, and in a first mode, the toner image is formed on each of the plural first image bearing members and the second image bearing member, and in a second mode, the toner image is not formed on the plural first image bearing members and the toner image is formed on the second image bearing member, a first drive device which drives the plural first image bearing members, and a second drive device which drives the second image bearing member, the driven member which acts on the second image bearing member and at least one of the driven members which act on the plural first image bearing members.