Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transferor, a fixing unit, and a guide. The image carrier carries a toner image. The transferor opposes the image carrier to form a transfer nip and transfers the toner image on the image carrier onto a recording medium at the transfer nip. The fixing unit fixes the toner image on the recording medium. The guide guides the recording medium bearing the toner image from the transferor toward the fixing unit and includes a surface portion directly contacting the recording medium. The surface portion includes a material for charging the recording medium to have a polarity opposite to the polarity of a toner forming the toner image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carriers and a transfer assembly. The transfer assembly includes a plurality of transferees, a supporter, and a plurality of transferee holders. The plurality of transferers is each configured to electrostatically transfer a toner image carried on one of the image carriers onto an intermediate transfer member or a recording medium. The supporter is configured to support the transferers. The transferer holders are each configured to hold one of the transferers. Each of the transferee holders and the transferer held thereby form an integrated individual unit independently attachable to and detachable from the supporter.

Abstract: A neutralization unit for use in an image forming apparatus includes a support member made of an insulating material, an electric-charge removing member made of an electric conductive material, and a rib made of an insulating material. The electric-charge removing member, fixed on the support member, removes electric charge from a back face of the recording medium after a toner image is transferred to a front face of a recording medium at a transfer nip. The electric-charge removing member includes a plurality of exposed areas along a longitudinal direction of the electric-charge removing member. The rib, provided on the support member, has a curved peripheral side and protrudes from a surface of the electric-charge removing member. The back face of the recording medium is contactable at the curved peripheral side of the rib when the recording medium is transported from the transfer nip.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second belt members, at least one color image carrier, a separate image carrier, a primary transfer member, a secondary transfer mechanism, a direct transfer member, a first image detector to detect positional deviation of transferred images from reference pattern images, and a controller to transfer the reference pattern images formed on the at least one color image carrier and the separate image carrier onto the first belt member or onto the second belt member, convey the reference pattern images to the first image detector, cause the first image detector to detect the reference pattern images, and adjust one or more image forming conditions of the image forming apparatus to prevent positional deviation of the transferred images from the reference pattern images based on detection results obtained by the first image detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism, a transfer mechanism including a first endless belt receiving a toner image formed on an image carrier and a second endless belt receiving the toner image formed on the first endless belt, a first detector to detect a speed of movement of the first endless belt or a toner image transferred at a predetermined position on the first endless belt, a belt speed adjustment unit to adjust a speed of movement of the first endless belt based on results obtained by the first detector, a second detector to detect the toner image transferred at a predetermined position on the second endless belt, and a transfer adjustment unit to adjust a speed of movement of the second endless belt based on results obtained by the second detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a belt unit having a support roller, a tension roller, a pair of side frames, a belt, and a guiding mechanism. The pair of side frames are configured to support the support roller and the tension roller. The belt extends across the support roller and the tension roller. The guiding mechanism are configured to guide the tension roller of the belt unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes at least one image carrier and a recording medium conveyor forming a transfer nip therebetween, a conveyance member disposed closest to the transfer nip on an upstream side of the transfer nip to convey the recording medium to the transfer nip, and a conveyance control mechanism to deactivate the conveyance member to stop providing a conveyance force to the recording medium after the leading edge of the recording medium has entered the transfer nip and before the trailing edge of the recording medium passes a point of force application and remaining in the inactive state until the recording medium passes the point of force application. The conveyance force remains unapplied to the recording medium from when the conveyance control mechanism deactivates the conveyance member to when the trailing edge of the recording medium passes the transfer nip.

Abstract: A transfer belt is driven by a plurality of supporting rollers. A unit frame supports the supporting rollers in a rotatable manner. At least one of the supporting rollers includes a cylindrical member having a substantially same outer diameter over an entire length thereof. Each end portion of the cylindrical member in a longitudinal direction is supported by the unit frame via a bearing in a rotatable manner.

Abstract: In a lubricant applying device, a position adjusting member adjusts relative positions of a lubricant and a rotating member. The rotating member rotates while in contact with the lubricant, receives the lubricant, and applies the lubricant to an image carrier in an image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A brake disk mounting surface is ground by bringing it into contact with an annular grinding wheel, while an inner ring having the brake disk mounting surface is rotated around its center axis, in a state where a part of the annular grinding wheel overlaps with a recess over an entire region of the annular grinding wheel in a radial direction, and in a state where a grinding surface of the annular grinding wheel is inclined with respect to the brake disk mounting surface so that a distance between the brake disk mounting surface and the annular grinding wheel grows larger in a direction toward an outer edge of the brake disk mounting surface.

Abstract: A method of processing an antifriction bearing unit for a wheel, the antifriction bearing unit including an outer race, an inner race, a plurality of rolling elements and a flange portion for directly or indirectly mounting a brake disk provided to one of the outer and inner races, the method includes: assembling the outer and inner races and the rolling element together; after assembling, placing the one of the outer and inner race in position incapably of circumferential rotation; grinding the flange portion by bring the flange portion into contact with a grindstone which is rotated while the other of the outer and inner race is left free.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism for forming an image, at least one guide member arranged in parallel, and a belt unit to be inserted into and removed from the image forming apparatus. The belt unit includes a belt, at least two rotating supports, a supporting frame, a cover, and at least one guided member. The belt is formed in an endless belt shape and transfers the image formed by the image forming mechanism. The belt is looped over the rotating supports which are rotatably supported by the supporting frame. The cover covers an outer circumferential surface of the belt. The guided member is disposed on an outer surface of the cover, engages with the guide member, and is slidably moved along the guide member when the belt unit is inserted into and removed from the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: One end of a rotational shaft of a supporting rotational body attached with a rotational member is rotatably supported. The rotational member is sandwiched by a supporting frame that rotatably supports supporting rotational bodies spanned with an annular belt and fixing members fixed to the supporting frame. Thus, the one end of the rotational shaft is supported by the supporting frame and the fixing members at, at least two points. A mark detector is fixed to the fixing members, and the fixing members are fixed to the supporting frame at, at least two points. Accordingly, erroneous detection of a rotational angular speed or a rotational angular displacement of a supporting rotational body due to vibration of the supporting rotational body can be suppressed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carriers and a transfer assembly. The transfer assembly includes a plurality of transferees, a supporter, and a plurality of transferee holders. The plurality of transferers is each configured to electrostatically transfer a toner image carried on one of the image carriers onto an intermediate transfer member or a recording medium. The supporter is configured to support the transferers. The transferer holders are each configured to hold one of the transferers. Each of the transferee holders and the transferer held thereby form an integrated individual unit independently attachable to and detachable from the supporter.

Abstract: A surface moving body includes an endless surface that is capable of making an endless movement. A surface-moving-body drive mechanism includes a driving source of a driving force for moving the surface moving body and a drive transmission mechanism for transmitting the driving force from the driving source to the surface moving body. At least a part of the surface-moving-body drive mechanism is arranged in a surface-moving-body occupying space surrounded by two surfaces defined by ends of the endless surface in a width direction orthogonal to a surface moving direction of the endless surface and the endless surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and corresponding method, the apparatus including at least one image bearing member configured to bear an image, an intermediate transfer member configured to transfer the image formed on the at least one image bearing member, a roller configured to support the intermediate transfer member with tension, a cleaning unit disposed opposite to the roller and configured to remove residual toner from the intermediate transfer member, and is detachably disposed opposite to the roller, a holder configured to accommodate the roller, and a positioning member detachably mounted on the holder and configured to position the cleaning unit to a positioning reference.

Abstract: A transfer belt is driven by a plurality of supporting rollers. A unit frame supports the supporting rollers in a rotatable manner. At least one of the supporting rollers includes a cylindrical member having a substantially same outer diameter over an entire length thereof. Each end portion of the cylindrical member in a longitudinal direction is supported by the unit frame via a bearing in a rotatable manner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a guiding unit. This guiding unit is located between a transferring unit and a fixing unit and includes a guiding part. The guiding part guides a recording sheet from the transferring unit to the fixing unit with a side opposite to the surface of the recording sheet contacting with the guiding part. The guiding part has a greater height at end portions than at a central portion thereof.

Abstract: A method of processing an antifriction bearing unit for a wheel, the anti friction bearing unit including an outer race, an inner race, a plurality of rolling elements and a flange portion for directly or indirectly mounting a brake disk provided to one of the outer and inner races, the method includes: assembling the outer and inner races and the rolling element together; after assembling, placing the one of the outer and inner race in position incapably of circumferential rotation; grinding the flange portion by bring the flange portion into contact with a grindstone which is rotated while the other of the outer and inner race is left free.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a belt unit having a support roller, a tension roller, a pair of side frames, a belt, and a guiding mechanism. The pair of side frames are configured to support the support roller and the tension roller. The belt extends across the support roller and the tension roller. The guiding mechanism are configured to guide the tension roller of the belt unit.