Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a ribbon holding shaft winds an ink ribbon before printing. A ribbon winding shaft winds the ink ribbon after printing to collect the ink ribbon. A feed motor rotationally drives the ribbon holding shaft. A winding motor rotationally drives the ribbon winding shaft. A detection module detects slackness of the ink ribbon stretched between the ribbon holding shaft and the ribbon winding shaft. A ribbon feed control module forward rotates the winding motor to draw out the ink ribbon from the ribbon holding shaft to the printing section and further controls the ribbon winding shaft to wind the ink ribbon. A reverse rotation control module reversely rotates the feed motor to stretch the ink ribbon between the ribbon holding shaft and the ribbon winding shaft if the detection module detects the slackness of the ink ribbon.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a ribbon holding shaft winds an ink ribbon before printing. A ribbon winding shaft winds the ink ribbon after printing to collect the ink ribbon. A feed motor rotationally drives the ribbon holding shaft. A winding motor rotationally drives the ribbon winding shaft. A detection module detects slackness of the ink ribbon stretched between the ribbon holding shaft and the ribbon winding shaft. A ribbon feed control module forward rotates the winding motor to draw out the ink ribbon from the ribbon holding shaft to the printing section and further controls the ribbon winding shaft to wind the ink ribbon. A reverse rotation control module reversely rotates the feed motor to stretch the ink ribbon between the ribbon holding shaft and the ribbon winding shaft if the detection module detects the slackness of the ink ribbon.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a light irradiation unit configured to irradiate light on the surface of a photoconductive member and form an electrostatic latent image, a developing unit configured to form a developer image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductive member, a transfer belt configured to move between a first position where the transfer belt comes into contact with the photoconductive member and a second position where the transfer belt separates from the photoconductive member and transfer the developer image on the photoconductive member onto a sheet, a driving mechanism including a rotating lever and configured to drive the transfer belt between the first position and the second position, a shutter unit configured to open and close a light emission surface of the light irradiation unit, and a power transmission mechanism configured to drive the shutter unit by the torque of the lever.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a toner bottle, accommodation unit, door unit, drive unit and developing unit. The toner bottle stores toner. The accommodation unit accommodates the toner bottle such that the toner bottle lies in the accommodation unit. The door unit covers the toner bottle. The drive unit rotates the toner bottle to supply the toner stored in the toner bottle and renders the toner bottle not to be rotated during a time the door is opened. The developing unit is set in a printable state during a time the toner bottle is detached from the accommodation unit after the door unit is opened. A corresponding method is also described.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photoconductive member; a light irradiation unit located below the photoconductive member and configured to irradiate light on the surface of the photoconductive member and form an electrostatic latent image; a developing unit configured to supply a developer to the photoconductive member and form a developer image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductive member; a transfer belt configured to move between a first position where the transfer belt comes into contact with the photoconductive member and a second position where the transfer belt separates from the photoconductive member and transfer the developer image on the photoconductive member onto a sheet; a driving mechanism including a rotating lever and configured to drive the transfer belt between the first position and the second position; a shutter unit located between the photoconductive member and the light irradiation unit and configured to open and close a light emi

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner bottle, a supply unit that supplies toner from the toner bottle to a downstream side, a door that is openably provided to execute toner replenishment, an opening/closing sensor that senses opening/closing of the door, and a unit that renders the supply unit inoperable if the door is open. If the opening/closing sensor detects the opening of the door, counting of the number of prints is started. Then, the control unit detects whether the door is closed. If the door is still opening, the control unit checks whether the number of prints has reached a predetermined value. If not, the control unit sets the image forming apparatus in a printing state. If yes, the control unit stops the printing operation. If the closing of the door is detected, the control unit resets the count value. Subsequently, the control unit determines whether the initial value of the number of prints, which is set through a control panel at the time of starting the printing operation, is reached.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner bottle, a supply unit that supplies toner from the toner bottle to a downstream side, a door that is openably provided to execute toner replenishment, an opening/closing sensor that senses opening/closing of the door, and a unit that renders the supply unit inoperable if the door is open. If the opening/closing sensor detects the opening of the door, counting of the number of prints is started. Then, the control unit detects whether the door is closed. If the door is still opening, the control unit checks whether the number of prints has reached a predetermined value. If not, the control unit sets the image forming apparatus in a printing state. If yes, the control unit stops the printing operation. If the closing of the door is detected, the control unit resets the count value. Subsequently, the control unit determines whether the initial value of the number of prints, which is set through a control panel at the time of starting the printing operation, is reached.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner bottle, a supply unit that supplies toner from the toner bottle to a downstream side, a door that is openably provided to execute toner replenishment, an opening/closing sensor that senses opening/closing of the door, and a unit that renders the supply unit inoperable if the door is open. If the opening/closing sensor detects the opening of the door, counting of the number of prints is started. Then, the control unit detects whether the door is closed. If the door is still opening, the control unit checks whether the number of prints has reached a predetermined value. If not, the control unit sets the image forming apparatus in a printing state. If yes, the control unit stops the printing operation. If the closing of the door is detected, the control unit resets the count value. Subsequently, the control unit determines whether the initial value of the number of prints, which is set through a control panel at the time of starting the printing operation, is reached.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner bottle, a supply unit that supplies toner from the toner bottle to a downstream side, a door that is openably provided to execute toner replenishment, an opening/closing sensor that senses opening/closing of the door, and a unit that renders the supply unit inoperable if the door is open. If the opening/closing sensor detects the opening of the door, counting of the number of prints is started. Then, the control unit detects whether the door is closed. If the door is still opening, the control unit checks whether the number of prints has reached a predetermined value. If not, the control unit sets the image forming apparatus in a printing state. If yes, the control unit stops the printing operation. If the closing of the door is detected, the control unit resets the count value. Subsequently, the control unit determines whether the initial value of the number of prints, which is set through a control panel at the time of starting the printing operation, is reached.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner bottle, a supply unit that supplies toner from the toner bottle to a downstream side, a door that is openably provided to execute toner replenishment, an opening/closing sensor that senses opening/closing of the door, and a unit that renders the supply unit inoperable if the door is open. If the opening/closing sensor detects the opening of the door, counting of the number of prints is started. Then, the control unit detects whether the door is closed. If the door is still opening, the control unit checks whether the number of prints has reached a predetermined value. If not, the control unit sets the image forming apparatus in a printing state. If yes, the control unit stops the printing operation. If the closing of the door is detected, the control unit resets the count value. Subsequently, the control unit determines whether the initial value of the number of prints, which is set through a control panel at the time of starting the printing operation, is reached.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner bottle, a supply unit that supplies toner from the toner bottle to a downstream side, a door that is openably provided to execute toner replenishment, an opening/closing sensor that senses opening/closing of the door, and a unit that renders the supply unit inoperable if the door is open. If the opening/closing sensor detects the opening of the door, counting of the number of prints started. Then, the control unit detects, whether the door is closed. If the door is still opening, the control unit checks whether the number of prints, has reached a predetermined value. If not, the control unit sets the image forming apparatus in a printing state. If yes, the control unit stops the printing operation. If the closing of the door is detected, the control unit resets the count value. Subsequently, the control unit determines whether the initial value of the number of prints, which is set through a control panel at the time of starting the printing operation, is reached.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes: a pressing roller for pressing a sheet of paper on which an unfixed developer is prepared; a fixing roller including a conductive roller and a releasing layer coating the conductive roller, the releasing layer facilitating removal of adhered developer, the fixing roller rotating with the sheet of paper being sandwiched between the fixing roller and the pressing roller to fix the developer to the sheet of paper with heat; an auxiliary member being for eliminating electricity a substantial circle member, engaged with the outer surface of said fixing roller, and having at least one protruding portion penetrating the releasing layer to contact and electrically connect to the surface of the conductive roller; and an member set at ground potential for electrically contact the auxiliary member to the ground potential.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner bottle that contains toner, a supply unit that supplies toner from the toner bottle to a downstream side, a door that is openably provided on the image forming apparatus in order to execute toner replenishment (replacement of the toner bottle), opening/closing sensing means that senses opening/closing of the door, and means that renders the supply unit inoperable if the door is open. When the door is opened, the supply unit is rendered inoperable. If the opening/closing sensing means detects the opening of the door, the counting of the number of prints by the image forming apparatus is started. Then, the control unit detects, by the opening/closing sensing means, whether the door is closed. If the door is still opening, the control unit checks whether the number of prints, which is counted from the time of opening of the door, has reached a predetermined value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes: a pressing roller for pressing a sheet of paper on which an unfixed developer is prepared; a fixing roller including a conductive roller and a releasing layer coating the conductive roller, the releasing layer facilitating removal of adhered developer, the fixing roller rotating with the sheet of paper being sandwiched between the fixing roller and the pressing roller to fix the developer to the sheet of paper with heat; an auxiliary member being for eliminating electricity a substantial circle member, engaged with the outer surface of said fixing roller, and having at least one protruding portion penetrating the releasing layer to contact and electrically connect to the surface of the conductive roller; and an member set at ground potential for electrically contact the auxiliary member to the ground potential.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes the image forming unit to form an image on the first surface of a medium, the guide member that is curved to become convex to the first surface of the medium that has passed through the image forming unit and the conveying mechanism to convey the medium that has an image formed in the image forming unit toward the discharge unit while making the medium curved along the guide member. Further, the image forming apparatus has a controller to control a conveying speed by the conveying mechanism at the downstream side from the guide member along the conveying direction of a medium so that it becomes slower than that at the upper streamside from the guide member.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes the image forming unit to form an image on the first surface of a medium, the guide member that is curved to become convex to the first surface of the medium that has passed through the image forming unit and the conveying mechanism to convey the medium that has an image formed in the image forming unit toward the discharge unit while making the medium curved along the guide member. Further, the image forming apparatus has a controller to control a conveying speed by the conveying mechanism at the downstream side from the guide member along the conveying direction of a medium so that it becomes slower than that at the upper streamside from the guide member.

Abstract: A device of this invention has a hollow heat roller (1), the surface of which has a coat of a metal layer, an excitation coil which is arranged in the heat roller (1) and generates a magnetic flux in the heat roller (1) to heat it by induction, and a press roller (2) which is in contact with the heat roller (1) under a predetermined pressure. The excitation coil has at least two maximal heating portions (42, 43) in the circumferential direction of the heat roller (1). The excitation coil is located to form one maximal heating portion (42) within the range of ±30° along the circumferential direction from the position of a nip (41) where the heat roller (1) contacts the press roller (2). With this structure, since heat accumulates in the heat roller (1) to keep it warm, the warm-up time can be shortened.

Abstract: A fixing device in an image forming apparatus having various functions such as print data reception, FAX transmission/reception, and the like, has a member to be heated (1), an excitation coil (2) which is arranged in the vicinity of the member to be heated (1), and heats the member to be heated (1) by induction upon receiving a current, an induction heating control circuit (7) for controlling current supply to the excitation control (2), and a main body control circuit (14) for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus main body. The induction heating control circuit (7) has a central processing unit (9) independently of the main body control circuit (14). The main body control circuit 14 can control the excitation control 92) by supplying a heating ON/OFF signal to the central processing unit without directly controlling current supply to the excitation coil (2).

Abstract: An intelligent image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises an image reading unit for reading image data of a document, an image forming unit for forming a copied image based on the image data read by the image reading unit, an encoding unit for converting the image data into a signal which is transmissible through a facsimile channel, a console panel with numerical keys for inputting numeric data such as the number of copies and facsimile numbers, and a control unit for counting the number of input numeric data items and supplying the image data read by the image reading unit to one of the image forming unit and encoding unit.