Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes an image bearer to bear a toner image; a transfer member to transfer the toner image; a transfer bias applicator to apply a transfer bias to the transfer member, the transfer bias applicator including a direct current voltage source to apply a direct current transfer bias constituted by a direct current voltage to the transfer member; and a superimposed voltage source to apply a superimposed transfer bias in which an alternating current voltage is superimposed on a direct current voltage to the transfer member; and a controller to switch between a direct current transfer mode during which the direct current transfer bias is applied to transfer the toner image and a superimposed transfer mode during which the superimposed transfer bias is applied to transfer the toner image while the direct current voltage source and the superimposed voltage source are off.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an image forming unit for forming a toner image and a toner pattern comprising toner not to be transferred onto a recording medium for adjustment of a density of toner on a surface of the image bearing member, a nip forming member contacting the surface of the image bearing member to form a transfer nip therebetween, a transfer bias applicator for applying a transfer bias in which an alternating current component and a direct current component are superimposed to transfer the toner image onto the recording medium in the transfer nip, a first cleaning device to mechanically remove toner remaining on the image bearing member after passing through the transfer nip. The transfer bias applicator applies a charge eliminating bias to remove charge from toner in the toner pattern when the toner pattern passes through the transfer nip.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a transfer device includes: an image carrier from which an image is transferred onto a transfer medium using electrostatic toner, the image carrier being applied with a direct current voltage superimposed with an alternating current (AC) voltage as a transfer bias. An output voltage of a power source for applying the voltage is controlled so that a current level of a direct current component output from the power source is kept at a specified current level.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a calculating unit configured to specify pieces of thickness information for calculation of a difference between thicknesses of a recording medium among pieces of thickness information each indicating thicknesses of the recording medium and calculate the difference using the specified pieces of thickness information, the pieces of thickness information being obtained as a detection result by sequentially detecting the thicknesses of the recording medium being conveyed; a determining unit configured to determine whether the calculated difference is equal to or larger than a first threshold; and a transfer unit configured to transfer an image onto the recording medium using at least an alternating-current voltage when the difference is equal to or larger than the first threshold.

Abstract: A cooling duct structure for a battery unit includes a cooling duct which is located above the battery unit, and extends toward an upper portion of an auxiliary mounting space. The cooling duct is separated into an upper duct and a lower duct in a middle portion thereof. The lower duct is fixedly connected to the battery unit, and can be mounted on the vehicle together with the battery unit. The upper duct and the lower duct, which are separated from each other, can be connected to each other when the battery unit is fixed to and mounted on the vehicle.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer bias generator including a transfer bias supply that supplies a transfer bias to a transfer nip formed between an image carrier and a first rotary body, and a controller that detects a toner adhesion amount at a predetermined region of the image carrier located immediately upstream from the transfer nip and having a predetermined length in a moving direction of the image carrier. The transfer bias generator outputs at least an alternating current component under one of constant voltage control and constant current control and changes a target output value of the alternating current component according to the toner adhesion amount detected by the controller.

Abstract: A reception unit sequentially receives input of voltage values indicating an AC input voltage from an AC power supply. A ROM stores a power control table in which a power control parameter corresponding to the AC power supply voltage is matched with each group of the voltage values indicating the same AC power supply voltage. A decision unit determines to which group the received voltage values belong among the plurality of groups, whenever the reception unit receives the input of the voltage value and decides the group, to which a predetermined number of voltage values belongs among the plurality of voltage values sequentially received by the reception unit, among the plurality of groups using the determination result. A power control unit controls power supply according to the power control parameter matched with the decided group.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a porous thin foil at least comprising a process for folding a first metallic plate having a large elongation percentage in half and putting a second metallic plate having a small elongation percentage between the folds of the folded first metallic plate, a process for cold-rolling a laminate of the folded first metallic plate and the second metallic plate put between the folds of the folded first metallic plate, and a process for separating a porous thin foil formed from the second metallic plate from the first metallic plate.The porous thin foil thus formed has numerous elongate fissures extending perpendicular to the direction of rolling, and hence the porous thin foil has a fibrous construction.