Abstract: At least a part of a positive electrode lead (110) and at least a part of a negative electrode lead (120) are bonded to each other. A plurality of the positive electrode leads (110) and a plurality of the negative electrode leads (120) are folded back from one of a plurality of first battery cells (100a) and a plurality of second battery cells (100b) to the other of the plurality of first battery cells (100a) and the plurality of second battery cells (100b) through the at least a part of the plurality of positive electrode leads (110) and the at least a part of the plurality of negative electrode leads (120).

Abstract: An image forming method for an image forming apparatus having a fixing rotator and a pressure rotator opposite the fixing rotator includes transferring white toner and color toner onto a surface of a metallic sheet. The metallic sheet has a thermal conductivity of 0.34 W/m·K or less as measured by hot-wire method. The transferring process forms an unfixed color toner layer layered on an unfixed white toner layer on the metallic sheet. Further, the method includes conveying the metallic sheet, with the surface on which the white toner layer and the color toner layer being transferred facing the fixing rotator, between the fixing rotator heated and the pressure rotator to fix the white toner layer and the color toner layer onto the metallic sheet.

Abstract: An image forming method for an image forming apparatus having a fixing rotator and a pressure rotator opposite the fixing rotator includes transferring white toner and color toner onto a surface of a metallic sheet having a thermal conductivity of 0.34 W/m·K or less as measured by hot-wire method to form an unfixed color toner layer layered on an unfixed white toner layer on the metallic sheet and conveying the metallic sheet, with the surface on which the white toner layer and the color toner layer are transferred facing the fixing rotator, between the fixing rotator heated and the pressure rotator to fix the white toner layer and the color toner layer onto the metallic sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming device to form images of color toners on corresponding image bearers of at least four image bearers; a transferring device to transfer the color toner images on the image bearers to a transfer medium; and a controller to control the image forming apparatus. The controller performs a compulsory toner consumption processing for the color toners to compulsory consume deteriorated toners. When the compulsory toner consumption processing is performed on three or more toners, compulsory consumption toner images of the color toners are formed on the corresponding image bearers and then transferred to the transfer medium to form a compulsory consumption combined toner image including at least two overlaid image portions, wherein the at least two overlaid image portions are arranged side by side with a space therebetween in a width direction of the transfer medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming device to form images of color toners on corresponding image bearers of at least four image bearers; a transferring device to transfer the color toner images on the image bearers to a transfer medium; and a controller to control the image forming apparatus. The controller performs a compulsory toner consumption processing for the color toners to compulsory consume deteriorated toners. When the compulsory toner consumption processing is performed on three or more toners, compulsory consumption toner images of the color toners are formed on the corresponding image bearers and then transferred to the transfer medium to form a compulsory consumption combined toner image including at least two overlaid image portions, wherein the at least two overlaid image portions are arranged side by side with a space therebetween in a width direction of the transfer medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an intermediate transfer body for carrying a color image, a transferring device for conveying a recording medium while causing the recording medium to bend toward and move along a part of the intermediate transfer body at an upstream side in a direction of conveyance in a transfer region in which a color image on the intermediate transfer body is transferred to the recording medium, and a contact assisting member positioned upstream of the transfer region in the direction of conveyance for maintaining the recording medium and the intermediate transfer body in close contact with each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image is transferred from an image carrier. A transfer roller contacts the intermediate transfer belt, forming a nip for image transfer. The transfer roller causes the toner image to be transferred from the intermediate transfer belt to a recording medium at the nip. A first and a second guide member cooperate to guide the recording medium to the nip. The end of the second guide member is positioned at the intermediate transfer belt side with respect to a line connecting a restriction point included in the first guide member and the inlet of the nip. This configuration causes a port ion of the recording medium rearward of a portion entered the nip to bend in a convex configuration. The recording medium therefore surely remains in close contact with the intermediate transfer belt in a region where pretransfer is apt to occur.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a belt guide member fixedly provided at an upstream side of a nip formed between a roller and a transfer roller so the belt guide member protrudes an image bearing belt such that the belt is substantially parallel with a conveying direction of a transfer medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image is transferred from an image carrier. A transfer roller contacts the intermediate transfer belt, forming a nip for image transfer. The transfer roller causes the toner image to be transferred from the intermediate transfer belt to a recording medium at the nip. A first and a second guide member cooperate to guide the recording medium to the nip. The end of the second guide member is positioned at the intermediate transfer belt side with respect to a line connecting a restriction point included in the first guide member and the inlet of the nip. This configuration causes a portion of the recording medium rearward of a portion entered the nip to bend in a convex configuration. The recording medium therefore surely remains in close contact with the intermediate transfer belt in a region where pretransfer is apt to occur.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image is transferred from an image carrier. A transfer roller contacts the intermediate transfer belt, forming a nip for image transfer. The transfer roller causes the toner image to be transferred from the intermediate transfer belt to a recording medium at the nip. A first and a second guide member cooperate to guide the recording medium to the nip. The end of the second guide member is positioned at the intermediate transfer belt side with respect to a line connecting a restriction point included in the first guide member and the inlet of the nip. This configuration causes a portion of the recording medium rearward of a portion entered the nip to bend in a convex configuration. The recording medium therefore surely remains in close contact with the intermediate transfer belt in a region where pretransfer is apt to occur.

Abstract: A transfer device according to the present invention have a current detector for detecting a value of an upstream current flowing from an intermediate transfer belt into a tension roller, a transfer bias power source for performing control in such a manner as to prevent any further increase in output voltage value even if an output current value becomes lower than a value which should be subjected to a constant-current control in the case where an output signal from the current detector is a signal indicating 3.2 &mgr;A. Consequently, it is possible to suppress the unclearness of the edge of a transfer image caused by the upstream current flowing in a visible image carrying belt upstream of a transfer position such as a nip.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a belt guide member fixedly provided at an upstream side of a nip formed between a roller and a transfer roller so the belt guide member protrudes an image bearing belt such that the belt is substantially parallel with a conveying direction of a transfer medium.

Abstract: A transfer device according to the present invention comprises a current detector for detecting a value of an upstream current flowing from an intermediate transfer belt into a tension roller, a second transfer bias power source for performing control in such a manner as to prevent any further increase in output voltage value even if an output current value becomes lower than a value which should be subjected to a constant-current control in the case where an output signal from the current detector is a signal indicating 3.2 &mgr;A. Consequently, it is possible to suppress the unclearness of the edge of a transfer image caused by the upstream current flowing in a visible image carrying belt upstream of a transfer position such as a nip.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention is of the type causing a toner image transferred by primary transfer to again move via a primary image transfer region before secondary transfer. The apparatus includes an image carrier for carrying the toner image to be transferred by the primary transfer. An intermediate image transfer body transfers the toner image transferred thereto by the primary transfer to a recording medium by secondary transfer. The intermediate image transfer body forms the primary image transfer region in contact with the image carrier. A charge depositing device applies a bias to the primary image transfer region to thereby form an electric field for the primary transfer. When the intermediate image transfer body again conveys the toner image via the primary image transfer region while running idle, an electric field forming device forms an electric field weaker than an electric field assigned to the primary transfer in the primary image transfer region.

Abstract: In an electrostatic image forming apparatus, including a corona discharger located so as to face an image carrier on which a toner image is to be formed. When a paper or similar recording medium is brought between the image carrier and the discharger, the discharger effects corona discharge at the rear of the recording medium so as to charge the medium to a polarity opposite to the polarity of the toner image. The toner image is then transferred from the image carrier to the recording medium. A polarity switcher allows a voltage of substantially the same polarity as the toner to be applied to a discharge wire included in the discharger, and environmental sensing device allows this voltage to be changed based on temperature and humidity conditions. The apparatus is free from defective discharge and defective image transfer ascribable to the deposition of free or isolated toner on the discharger.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which utilizes an intermediate transfer member. Plural toner images, for example of different colors, can be superimposed on the intermediate transfer member, and then can be transferred to a paper sheet. A discharging device is provided for discharging a charge applied to the intermediate transfer member. Further, a value of a voltage provided by this discharging device and/or a voltage provided for a transfer bias is proportional to an actual surface potential on the intermediate transfer member, which is proportional to the number of times toner images have been formed on the intermediate transfer member prior to transfer to the paper sheet.

Abstract: In an electrostatic image forming apparatus, including a corona discharger located so as to face an image carrier on which a toner image is to be formed. When a paper or similar recording medium is brought between the image carrier and the discharger, the discharger effects corona discharge at the rear of the recording medium so as to charge the medium to a polarity opposite to the polarity of the toner image. The toner image is transferred from the image carrier to the recording medium. A polarity switcher allows a voltage of substantially the same polarity as the toner to be applied to a discharge wire included in the discharger. The apparatus is free from defective discharge and defective image transfer ascribable to the deposition of free or isolated toner on the discharger.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a charger to charge an intermediate transfer member uniformly after a toner image is transferred from the intermediate transfer member to a transfer sheet or before a toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer member from an image carrier, and a controller which, when the intermediate transfer member is being charged with the charger, reduces a circumferential speed of the intermediate transfer member to a speed which is slower than when transferring the toner image from the image carrier to the intermediate transfer member. Nonuniformity of charge on the surface of the intermediate transfer member is eliminated and thereby the occurrence of unsatisfactory transfer of the toner image from the image carrier to the intermediate transfer member is avoided and, consequently, the occurrence of an untransferred streak across an image transferred on a transfer sheet is avoided.

Abstract: A device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from a photoconductive element to an intermediate transfer belt and then from the intermediate transfer belt to a sheet or similar recording medium. An electrode member is implemented as a belt drive roller and located at the rear of a portion of the intermediate transfer belt which lies in a position for transferring the toner image from the belt to a sheet. The electrode member has a specific volume resistance of 10.sup.7 .OMEGA.cm to 10.sup.12 .OMEGA.cm.

Abstract: A device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from a photoconductive element to an intermediate transfer belt and then from the intermediate transfer belt to a sheet or similar recording medium. An electrode member is implemented as a belt drive roller and located at the rear of a portion of the intermediate transfer belt which lies in a position for transferring the toner image from the belt to a sheet. The electrode member has a specific volume resistance of 107 &OHgr;cm to 1012 &OHgr;cm.