Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second image forming portions provided with first and second image bearing members, respectively. A controller controls a first operation in which the image to be transferred to the recording material is formed only in the first image forming portion, a second operation in which the image to be transferred is formed in the first and second image forming portions, and a supplying operation in which a lubricant is attached to the second image bearing member and supplied to a contacting portion of the second image bearing member. In a case that a stopping time exceeds a predetermined threshold when a start instruction of the first operation is input in a stopping state of the first and second image bearing members, the controller controls to execute the supplying operation during a time from when a current start instruction of the first operation is input until a next start instruction of the first or second operation is input.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second image forming portions provided with first and second image bearing member, respectively. A controller controls a first operation in which the image to be transferred to the recording material is formed only in the first image forming portion, a second operation in which the image to be transferred is formed in the first and second image forming portions, and a supplying operation in which a lubricant is attached to the second image bearing member and supplied to a contacting portion of the second image bearing member. In a case that stopping time exceeds a predetermined threshold when a start instruction of the first operation is input in a stopping state of the first and second image bearing members, the controller controls to execute the supplying operation during from a current start instruction of the first operation is input until a next start instruction of the first or second operation is input.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a control unit configured to perform a first collection operation in which toner that has passed a position at which the charging unit and the intermediate transfer member are in contact with each other is moved from the intermediate transfer member to the image bearing member. The control unit is also configured to perform a second collection operation in which toner having been moved from the charging unit to the intermediate transfer member is moved from the intermediate transfer member to the image bearing member. The control unit controls rotation speed of the image bearing member in such a manner that the rotation speed of the image bearing member in the second collection operation is slower than the rotation speed of the image bearing member in the first collection operation.

Abstract: A control unit first drives a photosensitive drum at a normal speed that is faster than a low speed, and the control unit subsequently changes the drive speed of the photosensitive drum from the normal speed to the low speed after a transfer belt is brought into contact with the photosensitive drum that is driven at the normal speed.

Abstract: When executing a job which is a series operations for forming images on a single or a plurality of transfer materials and outputting the transfer material(s), started by a start instruction, a control device switches a polarity of a voltage applied by a first transfer power source in response to a switching of a polarity of a voltage applied by a charging power source, and switches a voltage applied by a second transfer power source from a first voltage to a second voltage which is larger in absolute value than the first voltage.

Abstract: A control unit first drives a photosensitive drum at a normal speed that is faster than a low speed, and the control unit subsequently changes the drive speed of the photosensitive drum from the normal speed to the low speed after a transfer belt is brought into contact with the photosensitive drum that is driven at the normal speed.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a control unit configured to perform a first collection operation in which toner that has passed a position at which the charging unit and the intermediate transfer member are in contact with each other is moved from the intermediate transfer member to the image bearing member. The control unit is also configured to perform a second collection operation in which toner having been moved from the charging unit to the intermediate transfer member is moved from the intermediate transfer member to the image bearing member. The control unit controls rotation speed of the image bearing member in such a manner that the rotation speed of the image bearing member in the second collection operation is slower than the rotation speed of the image bearing member in the first collection operation.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a charge power source and a controller. The charge power source is configured to switch a voltage with the same polarity as an original charging polarity of a toner and a voltage with a polarity opposite to the original charging polarity of the toner and apply the voltages to a charge device. The controller executes a control of switching a polarity of a voltage to be applied from the charge power source to the charge device from the opposite polarity to the same polarity before termination of secondary transfer of all of toner images in a job, and moving both a residual toner charged to the opposite polarity through application of the voltage with the opposite polarity and a residual toner charged to the same polarity through application of the voltage with the same polarity to an image bearing member.

Abstract: When executing a job which is a series operations for forming images on a single or a plurality of transfer materials and outputting the transfer material(s), started by a start instruction, a control device switches a polarity of a voltage applied by a first transfer power source in response to a switching of a polarity of a voltage applied by a charging power source, and switches a voltage applied by a second transfer power source from a first voltage to a second voltage which is larger in absolute value than the first voltage.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a charge power source and a controller, wherein he charge power source is configured to switch a voltage with the same polarity as an original charging polarity of a toner and a voltage with a polarity opposite to the original charging polarity of the toner and apply the voltages to a charge device, and the controller executes a control of switching a polarity of a voltage to be applied from the charge power source to the charge device from the opposite polarity to the same polarity before termination of secondary transfer of all of toner images in a job, and moving both a residual toner charged to the opposite polarity through application of the voltage with the opposite polarity and a residual toner charged to the same polarity through application of the voltage with the same polarity to an image bearing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member for bearing a toner image; a belt for conveying the toner image; and a transfer device for rubbing the belt, and a surface of the transfer device, which is brought into contact with the belt includes linear concave portions or linear convex portions. The image forming apparatus of the present invention prevents a friction force between the belt and the transfer device rubbing the belt from increasing and brings a transfer member into a stable contact with the belt for conveying the toner image, thereby suppressing increase in drive torque of the belt which rubs the transfer device and suppressing occurrence of image failure.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a process unit arranged in the vicinity of the circumference of each photosensitive member and the process unit is configured to act on the photosensitive member in forming a toner image thereon. The image forming apparatus detects a time period since a laser beam emission unit emits a laser beam to the photosensitive member to form an electrostatic latent image for detection until the formed electrostatic latent image for detection or a toner image based on the electrostatic latent image for detection reaches the process unit, and performs color misregistration correction control based on the result of detection. In this case, a control unit at least decreases the light amount of a pre-exposure LED when the electrostatic latent image for detection passes through a position facing the pre-exposure LED.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a process unit arranged in the vicinity of the circumference of each photosensitive member and the process unit is configured to act on the photosensitive member in forming a toner image thereon. The image forming apparatus detects a time period since a laser beam emission unit emits a laser beam to the photosensitive member to form an electrostatic latent image for detection until the formed electrostatic latent image for detection or a toner image based on the electrostatic latent image for detection reaches the process unit, and performs color misregistration correction control based on the result of detection. In this case, a control unit at least decreases the light amount of a pre-exposure LED when the electrostatic latent image for detection passes through a position facing the pre-exposure LED.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a process unit arranged in the vicinity of the circumference of each photosensitive member and the process unit is configured to act on the photosensitive member in forming a toner image thereon. The image forming apparatus detects a time period since a laser beam emission unit emits a laser beam to the photosensitive member to form an electrostatic latent image for detection until the formed electrostatic latent image for detection or a toner image based on the electrostatic latent image for detection reaches the process unit, and performs color misregistration correction control based on the result of detection. In this case, a control unit at least decreases the light amount of a pre-exposure LED when the electrostatic latent image for detection passes through a position facing the pre-exposure LED.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a process unit arranged in the vicinity of the circumference of each photosensitive member and the process unit is configured to act on the photosensitive member in forming a toner image thereon. The image forming apparatus detects a time period since a laser beam emission unit emits a laser beam to the photosensitive member to form an electrostatic latent image for detection until the formed electrostatic latent image for detection or a toner image based on the electrostatic latent image for detection reaches the process unit, and performs color misregistration correction control based on the result of detection. In this case, a control unit at least decreases the light amount of a pre-exposure LED when the electrostatic latent image for detection passes through a position facing the pre-exposure LED.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member for bearing a toner image; a belt for conveying the toner image; and a transfer device for rubbing the belt, and a surface of the transfer device, which is brought into contact with the belt includes linear concave portions or linear convex portions. The image forming apparatus of the present invention prevents a friction force between the belt and the transfer device rubbing the belt from increasing and brings a transfer member into a stable contact with the belt for conveying the toner image, thereby suppressing increase in drive torque of the belt which rubs the transfer device and suppressing occurrence of image failure.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member for bearing a toner image; a belt for conveying the toner image; and a transfer device for rubbing the belt, and a surface of the transfer device, which is brought into contact with the belt includes linear concave portions or linear convex portions. The image forming apparatus of the present invention prevents a friction force between the belt and the transfer device rubbing the belt from increasing and brings a transfer member into a stable contact with the belt for conveying the toner image, thereby suppressing increase in drive torque of the belt which rubs the transfer device and suppressing occurrence of image failure.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for carrying a toner image, a movable intermediary transfer member for receiving the toner image from the image bearing member, a primary transfer member for primary transfer of the toner image from the image bearing member onto the intermediary transfer member, a secondary transfer member for being supplied with a voltage and for secondary transfer of the toner image from the intermediary transfer member onto a transfer material, and a first toner charging member. A first charging member rubs a surface of the intermediary transfer member with movement thereof, and a second charging member moves in contact with the intermediary transfer member, thereby transferring toner remaining on the intermediary transfer member after the secondary transfer back to the image bearing member from the intermediary transfer member simultaneously with the primary transfer at the primary transfer station.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming image on a recording medium includes a photosensitive member, a motor, a belt, and a drive member to rotate the belt, the drive member including a driven coupling. The apparatus also includes a drive coupling to rotate by a driving force generated by the motor, the drive coupling being movable in an axial direction to take an engagement position at which the driving force is transmittable to the driven coupling, and a release position. The apparatus further includes a transfer member to transfer a toner image onto the recording medium or the belt, a voltage application unit to apply a voltage to the transfer member, and a control unit to cause the voltage application unit to apply the voltage to the transfer member after the drive coupling moves to the engagement position and the driving force is transmitted to the driven coupling.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing a toner image; an endless rotatable intermediary transfer belt onto which the toner image is to be transferred from the image bearing member; a transfer device disposed at a position in which the transfer device opposes the image bearing member through the intermediary transfer belt, the transfer device including a sheet member surface-contacted to an inner surface of the intermediary transfer belt and including an urging member for urging the sheet member toward the intermediary transfer belt; and a primary transfer voltage source for applying a voltage to the sheet member.