Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a developing unit including an accommodating portion and a developing roller, a notifying portion, and a controller. In a case where a cumulative movement distance obtained by integrating a movement distance of the developing roller in a predetermined section of a surface of the developing roller from initial use of the developing unit is a predetermined first supply discrimination threshold or more, the controller controls the notifying portion so as to provide notification prompting a user to supply a developer.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus, including: an accommodation chamber for developer; a photosensitive drum; notification unit for making a notification to a user, and a control unit for controlling the notification unit. A replenishment container for developer is detachably attached to the accommodation chamber. The notification unit makes a first notification indicating that a developer amount in the accommodation chamber is a first state, a second notification indicating that the developer amount is a second state smaller than in the first state, and a third notification indicating that the developer amount is a third state smaller than in the second state. The image forming apparatus is capable of operating in a first mode and a second mode. The notification unit makes the notifications in an order of the first, second, and third notifications as consumption of the developer progresses.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of performing a supplying operation for supplying toner from a supply container detachably mountable thereto includes an image bearing member, a developing member, a developing container, a detecting portion, a notifying portion, and a controller for carrying out control so as to cause the notifying portion to notify a timing to perform a toner supplying operation when a toner amount detected by the detecting portion is smaller than a threshold. The controller carries out control so as to set the threshold to a first threshold in a case where a print ratio after the last supplying operation is a predetermined print ratio or more and to set the threshold to a second threshold higher than the first threshold in a case where the print ratio is less than the predetermined print ratio.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of cartridges each having an image bearing member and a developer bearing member, an intermediate transfer member onto which a developer images are transferred; a detection unit for outputting information related to reflected light from the developer images on the intermediate transfer member; and a control unit. The plurality of cartridges can be simultaneously installed. Each of the plurality of cartridges has a lifespan. The control unit executes image density control on the basis of a value of image data and the information related to the reflected light, and increases execution frequency of the image density control in a case where a first cartridge having a first lifespan and a second cartridge having a second lifespan different from the first lifespan are simultaneously installed.

Abstract: A precursor composition which can produce a polyimide film with excellent light transmittance, mechanical properties, coefficient of linear thermal expansion and resistance to thermal decomposition; and a polyimide film obtained from the precursor composition. The polyimide precursor composition contains a polyimide precursor with a repeating unit represented by formula (I); an imidazole compound in an amount more than 0.01 mol and 2 mol or less based on one mol of the repeating units of the polyimide precursor, and a solvent. In general formula I, 70 mol.

Abstract: A restricting member includes a blade portion and a supporting portion. A contact portion is provided at the blade portion, and, in a cross section orthogonal to a longitudinal direction, the contact portion includes a first portion extending in a first direction and a second portion extending toward a free end from an end of the first portion and extending in a second direction. When a region demarcated by connecting an intersection point, the end of the first portion, and an end of the second portion by a straight line is defined as a first region, the intersection point being where an imaginary line intersects an extension line of the first portion in the first direction, an area of the first region is smaller on a longitudinal end portion than on a longitudinal central portion of the blade portion.

Abstract: A restricting member includes a blade portion and a supporting portion. A contact portion is provided at the blade portion, and, in a cross section orthogonal to a longitudinal direction, the contact portion includes a first portion extending in a first direction and a second portion extending toward a free end from an end of the first portion and extending in a second direction. When a region demarcated by connecting an intersection point, the end of the first portion, and an end of the second portion by a straight line is defined as a first region, the intersection point being where an imaginary line intersects an extension line of the first portion in the first direction, an area of the first region is smaller on a longitudinal end portion than on a longitudinal central portion of the blade portion.

Abstract: A developing device includes a stirring member including a flexible sheet member having a first sheet portion and a second sheet portion overlapping each other with respect to a thickness direction of the sheet member. With respect to a lateral direction of the sheet member which is a direction from a fixed end fixed to a rotating shaft portion to the free end, a length of the first sheet portion is longer than a length of the second sheet portion, and when the stirring member is rotated, a free end of the first sheet portion is capable of contacting an inner wall surface of a toner accommodation chamber. The sheet member is provided with a through hole penetrating in a thickness direction of the sheet member in a region where the first sheet portion and the second sheet portion overlap each other.

Abstract: A cartridge mountable in an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge includes a development roller, a frame member including a development chamber, a developer containing chamber, and a first opening portion, the developer containing chamber including an inner wall and a second opening portion, a stirring member including a stirring shaft and a sheet, and a conveyance member driven in such a manner that the developer is replenished into the developer containing chamber through the second opening portion, wherein the sheet is rotated in contact with the inner wall in such a manner that, after the sheet is elastically deformed by contact with a portion of the inner wall, at least a part of the elastic deformation is restored, and wherein the conveyance member is being driven at a timing when the sheet passes through the front side.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising an image bearing member, a developer bearing member, a drive unit for driving the image bearing member and the developer bearing member in varied peripheral speeds, a control unit, a developing voltage application unit, a supply member for supplying a developer to the developer bearing member, and, a supply member voltage application unit, wherein the control unit executes a first image forming mode in which a rotational peripheral speed ratio between surface movement speeds of the developer bearing member and the image bearing member is not more than 1 and a second image forming mode in which the rotational peripheral speed ratio is larger than 1, and, the control unit controls the drive unit so that a difference between developing voltage and supply voltage becomes larger in the second image forming mode than in the first image forming mode.

Abstract: A restricting member includes a blade portion and a supporting portion. A contact portion is provided at the blade portion, and, in a cross section orthogonal to a longitudinal direction, the contact portion includes a first portion extending in a first direction and a second portion extending toward a free end from an end of the first portion and extending in a second direction. When a region demarcated by connecting an intersection point, the end of the first portion, and an end of the second portion by a straight line is defined as a first region, the intersection point being where an imaginary line intersects an extension line of the first portion in the first direction, an area of the first region is smaller on a longitudinal end portion than on a longitudinal central portion of the blade portion.

Abstract: The power storage device is provided with a cell stack body formed by alternately arranging a plurality of secondary cells and a plurality of buffer plates. Each of the buffer plates has a non-deformable section and a deformable section that is elastically deformed according to a volume change in the secondary cell. The non-deformable section has a through hole in which the deformable section is fitted. The deformable section is formed thicker than the non-deformable section.

Abstract: A developing device includes a frame having an accommodation chamber where a developer is accommodated, and a replenishing port replenishing a developer to the accommodation chamber from outside; and a stirring member stirring the developer in the accommodation chamber, the stirring member including a rotating shaft portion rotatably supported by the frame and a sheet member having one end fixed to the rotating shaft portion and another end as a free end and being rotatable with the rotating shaft portion. When the stirring member is rotated, the free end of the sheet member is capable of contacting an inner wall surface of the accommodation chamber in which the replenishing port is formed, and a through hole penetrating in a thickness direction of the sheet member is provided in a region of the sheet member that comes into contact with the inner wall surface of the accommodation chamber.

Abstract: A developing device includes a frame having an accommodation chamber where a developer is accommodated, and a replenishing port replenishing a developer to the accommodation chamber from outside, and a stirring member stirring the developer in the accommodation chamber. The stirring member includes a rotating shaft portion rotatably supported by the frame and a sheet member having one end fixed to the rotating shaft portion and another end as a free end and being rotatable with the rotating shaft portion. When the stirring member is rotated, the free end of the sheet member is capable of contacting an inner wall surface of the accommodation chamber in which the replenishing port is formed, and a through hole penetrating in a thickness direction of the sheet member is provided in a region of the sheet member that comes into contact with the inner wall surface of the accommodation chamber.

Abstract: A cartridge mountable in an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge includes a development roller, a frame member including a development chamber, a developer containing chamber, and a first opening portion, the developer containing chamber including an inner wall and a second opening portion, a stirring member including a stirring shaft and a sheet, and a conveyance member driven in such a manner that the developer is replenished into the developer containing chamber through the second opening portion, wherein the sheet is rotated in contact with the inner wall in such a manner that, after the sheet is elastically deformed by contact with a portion of the inner wall, at least a part of the elastic deformation is restored, and wherein the conveyance member is being driven at a timing when the sheet passes through the front side.

Abstract: A cartridge mountable in an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge includes a development roller, a frame member including a development chamber, a developer containing chamber, and a first opening portion, the developer containing chamber including an inner wall and a second opening portion, a stirring member including a stirring shaft and a sheet, and a conveyance member driven in such a manner that the developer is replenished into the developer containing chamber through the second opening portion, wherein the sheet is rotated in contact with the inner wall in such a manner that, after the sheet is elastically deformed by contact with a portion of the inner wall, at least a part of the elastic deformation is restored, and wherein the conveyance member is being driven at a timing when the sheet passes through the front side.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery according to an embodiment includes an electrode assembly, a nonaqueous electrolyte, and a prismatic battery case accommodating the electrode assembly and the nonaqueous electrolyte. The mass energy density of the secondary battery is not less than 200 Wh/kg. The nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery further includes a non-cellular elastic sheet disposed between the electrode assembly and the battery case. The ratio (A/B) of the thickness (A) of the elastic sheet at 100% SOC to the thickness (B) of the elastic sheet at 0% SOC is 0.05 to 0.3.

Abstract: A cartridge mountable in an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge includes a development roller, a frame member including a development chamber, a developer containing chamber, and a first opening portion, the developer containing chamber including an inner wall and a second opening portion, a stirring member including a stirring shaft and a sheet, and a conveyance member driven in such a manner that the developer is replenished into the developer containing chamber through the second opening portion, wherein the sheet is rotated in contact with the inner wall in such a manner that, after the sheet is elastically deformed by contact with a portion of the inner wall, at least a part of the elastic deformation is restored, and wherein the conveyance member is being driven at a timing when the sheet passes through the front side.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a detection member configured to detect a conveyance state of a recording medium, a control unit configured to sequentially execute a first operation for continuously executing a rotation operation of an image bearing member and an intermediate transfer member without stopping them when the detection member detects a failure, and a second operation for stopping the rotation operation of the image bearing member when the surface of the image bearing member is moved by a predetermined distance through the rotation operation of the image bearing member after the failure is detected.

Abstract: Provided are an image bearing member, a developer bearing member, and a cleaning member. A fixation layer, including at least one of an organosilicon polymer and inorganic particles, is provided on a surface of the developer borne on the developer bearing member, and a fixation percentage of the fixation layer is 85% or greater. The image bearing member and the developer bearing member are rotationally driven such that, a surface of the image bearing member and a surface of the developer bearing member move in opposite directions from each other at a contact portion where the image bearing member and the developer bearing member are in contact with each other.