Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a process unit, a latent image writer, a power source, and a controller. The process unit is detachably attachable relative to the image forming apparatus and includes, as a single integrated unit, a latent image bearing member to bear a latent image on a surface thereof, a charging device to charge the surface of the latent image bearing member, and a development device to develop the latent image with toner. The controller causes the power source to output a charging bias at a predetermined target level supplied to the charging device. The process unit includes a first storage device to store correction information for calculating the predetermined target level of the charging bias in accordance with a combination of the latent image bearing member and the charging device. The controller corrects the predetermined target level based on the correction information in the first storage device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor to form an electrostatic latent image, a special color developing device to develop the latent image with a special color toner other than standard color toners to form a special color toner image, an adhesion amount adjuster to adjust a special color toner adhesion amount by changing an application bias between the photoconductor and a developing sleeve of the special color developing device, a setting unit to set brightness of the special color toner, and a developing-performance adjuster to adjust a developing performance of the special color developing device according to a setting value of the brightness set by the setting unit. The developing-performance adjuster adjusts the developing performance of the special color developing device to a developing performance different from a developing performance set to each of standard color developing devices in adjustment of densities of the standard color toners.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image bearer, a lubricant dispenser to apply lubricant to the first image bearer, and a controller to adjust a spatial interval during image formation between successive recording media on each of which an image is formed, according to a total amount of toner attached to the first image bearer for each of the successive recording media, to apply the lubricant to the first image bearer.

Abstract: The image forming method comprising: forming a toner image on an image carrier; transferring the toner image formed on the image carrier onto a recording medium; and transforming the toner image on the image carrier into a semi-film by applying a pressure. And the image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; a toner image forming unit configured to form a toner image on the image carrier; a transfer unit configured to transfer the toner image formed on the image carrier onto a recording medium; and a toner image transforming unit configured to transfer the toner image on the image carrier into a semi-film by applying a pressure to the toner image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrier to carry a latent image on a surface thereof, a developing device to develop the latent image with toner to form a toner image on the surface of the latent image carrier, a transfer unit to transfer the toner image onto a recording medium, and a controller. The controller executes an image density adjustment control of adjusting a developing bias to obtain a target image density. The controller further executes a forced toner consumption control of forcibly consuming the toner contained in the developing device by attaching the toner to the latent image carrier to form a toner pattern on the surface of the latent image carrier. The controller executes the forced toner consumption control to forcibly consume a smaller amount of toner in response to a higher developing bias as adjusted by the image density adjustment control.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a process unit, a latent image writer, a power source, and a controller. The process unit is detachably attachable relative to the image forming apparatus and includes, as a single integrated unit, a latent image bearing member to bear a latent image on a surface thereof, a charging device to charge the surface of the latent image bearing member, and a development device to develop the latent image with toner. The controller causes the power source to output a charging bias at a predetermined target level supplied to the charging device. The process unit includes a first storage device to store correction information for calculating the predetermined target level of the charging bias in accordance with a combination of the latent image bearing member and the charging device. The controller corrects the predetermined target level based on the correction information in the first storage device.

Abstract: A protective layer forming device, including: a powdery image bearer protecting agent formed of a granulated product containing a fatty acid metal salt and an inorganic lubricant; and a roller-shaped protecting agent supplying member configured to supply the powdery image bearer protecting agent to a surface of an image bearer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image bearing member, a charging unit, a charging power source, a latent image writing unit, a development unit, a transfer unit, a toner detector, and a controller. The controller causes a background fog pattern to be formed on a surface of the latent image bearing member. In addition to the background fog pattern, the controller causes a latent image to be developed to form a toner image used for position identification on the surface of the latent image bearing member. The controller identifies a time when the toner image used for position identification has entered a detection range of the toner detector based on a change in outputs of the toner detector to determine a time when each of sections of the background fog pattern enters the detection range based on the identified time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrier, a charging device, a latent image forming device, a developing device, a transfer device, a toner amount detector, and a control circuit to execute an imaging condition determination process. The control circuit obtains a linear approximation formula of a developing potential and an amount of toner according to an exposure potential of the patch pattern and a detected amount of toner to calculate a developing gamma and a developing start voltage according to a gradient of the linear approximation formula, determines target charging potential, exposure potential and developing bias according to the developing gamma and the developing start voltage, determines an amount of a background potential to be corrected according to a difference between the developing start voltage and a target developing start voltage obtained according to environmental information, and corrects the target charging potential.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrier to carry a latent image on a surface thereof, a developing device to develop the latent image with toner to form a toner image on the surface of the latent image carrier, a transfer unit to transfer the toner image onto a recording medium, and a controller. The controller executes an image density adjustment control of adjusting a developing bias to obtain a target image density. The controller further executes a forced toner consumption control of forcibly consuming the toner contained in the developing device by attaching the toner to the latent image carrier to form a toner pattern on the surface of the latent image carrier. The controller executes the forced toner consumption control to forcibly consume a smaller amount of toner in response to a higher developing bias as adjusted by the image density adjustment control.

Abstract: A development device is operable in multiple different speed modes and includes a developer bearer to carry developer, a developer regulator to adjust an amount of developer carried on the developer bearer, and multiple developer conveyance members disposed facing the developer bearer to transport developer in a longitudinal direction to circulate developer inside the development device. The multiple developer conveyance members including a first developer conveyance member to supply developer to the developer bearer and a second developer conveyance member to transport developer collected from the developer bearer. The development device executes developer amount balance adjustment in which a driving velocity of at least the multiple developer conveyance members is increased from a driving velocity in a lower-speed mode for a predetermined period after image development in the lower speed mode is completed and before image development in a higher speed mode is started.

Abstract: A development device includes a developer container, a developer carrier, exposed partly from a casing, facing a latent image carrier in a development area, a magnetic field generator inside the developer carrier, having multiple magnetic poles including a conveyance pole to convey the developer downstream from the development area to a developer release portion, a developer agitator, and a developer regulator. A predetermined gap is kept between an outer surface of the developer carrier and an inner wall of the casing downstream from an opening of the casing, upstream from a developer release portion, in a direction in which the developer carrier rotates. Multiple recesses are formed in the outer surface of the developer carrier at a pitch in a circumferential direction shorter than half a width of a magnetic flux density of the developer conveyance pole in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the developer carrier.

Abstract: A development device including a developer container, a developer bearer, a magnetic field generator, a developer agitator to supply the developer to the developer bearer, and a developer regulator to adjust a layer thickness of the developer carried on the developer bearer. Multiple oval recesses oblique to the axial direction of the developer bearer are formed in the outer circumferential surface of the developer bearer and arranged in a circumferential direction and the axial direction thereof. An upstream inner wall of the recess in the rotational direction of the developer bearer applies a force to the developer as the developer bearer rotates, and an angle between a long axis of the recess and the axial direction is set so that the force applied by the upstream inner wall of the recess has a component in a direction substantially identical to the developer conveyance direction of the developer agitator.

Abstract: The image forming method comprising: forming a toner image on an image carrier; transferring the toner image formed on the image carrier onto a recording medium; and transforming the toner image on the image carrier into a semi-film by applying a pressure. And the image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; a toner image forming unit configured to form a toner image on the image carrier; a transfer unit configured to transfer the toner image formed on the image carrier onto a recording medium; and a toner image transforming unit configured to transfer the toner image on the image carrier into a semi-film by applying a pressure to the toner image.

Abstract: A developing unit includable in a process cartridge and in an image forming apparatus includes a developer bearing member including a magnetic field generator and a nonmagnetic hollow member, a developer container, an agitation/conveyance member, and a developer regulating member. The magnetic field generator has first and second magnetic poles to generate respective magnetic forces for removing the developer from the developer bearing member after the developer passes the development region. A developer-releasing region releases the developer from the developer bearing member using a release force. The developer is disposed higher than a surface of the developer in the developer storing chamber. A component of a magnetic flux density of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator in a direction normal to the developer-releasing region is directed to a same direction as the first and second magnetic poles across the developer-releasing region without forming a local maximum point.

Abstract: There is provided a separation member for separating a first conveying path formed by a first conveying member from a second conveying path formed by a second conveying member. There is also provided an opposed member facing a magnetic pole H4 at an upstream side of two magnetic poles H4 and H6 that forms a developer-releasing magnetic pole H5.

Abstract: A developing unit includable in a process cartridge and in an image forming apparatus includes a developer bearing member including a magnetic field generator and a nonmagnetic hollow member, a developer container, an agitation/conveyance member, a developer regulating member to regulate the thickness of a layer of the two-component developer. The magnetic field generator has first and second magnetic poles to generate respective magnetic forces for removing the developer from the developer bearing member after the developer passes the development region. The second magnetic pole generates a magnetic force to attract the developer to form a magnetic brush on the developer bearing member. The developer regulating member includes a magnetic member outwardly disposed on an exterior perimeter surface of the developer bearing member upstream from the developer regulating member, and one planar surface of the magnetic member faces the second magnetic pole across an effective development region.

Abstract: A development device including a developer container, a developer bearer, a magnetic field generator, a developer agitator to supply the developer to the developer bearer, and a developer regulator to adjust a layer thickness of the developer carried on the developer bearer. Multiple oval recesses oblique to the axial direction of the developer bearer are formed in the outer circumferential surface of the developer bearer and arranged in a circumferential direction and the axial direction thereof. An upstream inner wall of the recess in the rotational direction of the developer bearer applies a force to the developer as the developer bearer rotates, and an angle between a long axis of the recess and the axial direction is set so that the force applied by the upstream inner wall of the recess has a component in a direction substantially identical to the developer conveyance direction of the developer agitator.

Abstract: A development device includes a developer container, a developer carrier, exposed partly from a casing, facing a latent image carrier in a development area, a magnetic field generator inside the developer carrier, having multiple magnetic poles including a conveyance pole to convey the developer downstream from the development area to a developer release portion, a developer agitator, and a developer regulator. A predetermined gap is kept between an outer surface of the developer carrier and an inner wall of the casing downstream from an opening of the casing, upstream from a developer release portion, in a direction in which the developer carrier rotates. Multiple recesses are formed in the outer surface of the developer carrier at a pitch in a circumferential direction shorter than half a width of a magnetic flux density of the developer conveyance pole in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the developer carrier.

Abstract: There is provided a separation member for separating a first conveying path formed by a first conveying member from a second conveying path formed by a second conveying member. There is also provided an opposed member facing a magnetic pole H4 at an upstream side of two magnetic poles H4 and H6 that forms a developer-releasing magnetic pole H5.