Abstract: An image forming system which is capable of, when a manual stapling process is to be carried out on sheets, reducing waiting time for a user and decreasing power consumption. The image forming system has an image forming apparatus, which forms images on sheets, and a sheet post-processing apparatus. When the sheet post-processing apparatus is to shift into a power-saving state, a movable stapler is moved to a manual stapling position. When it is detected that sheets have been set into a sheet setting unit in a state in which the image forming apparatus and the sheet post-processing apparatus have shifted into the power-saving state, the image forming apparatus is held in the power-saving state, and the sheet post-processing apparatus is returned from the power-saving state.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus, including: a developing unit which develops, with a developer, an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member based on image data; a replenishing unit which replenishes the developing unit with the developer; a detecting unit which detects presence/absence of the developer in the replenishing unit; a counting unit which counts a number of dots according to the image data; a calculating unit which calculates an integrated value of the number of dots; and a control unit which performs a determination process of determining the presence/absence of the developer based on a detection result of the detecting unit, and which stops an image forming operation in a case where the control unit determines that the developer is present and that the integrated value exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet material binding apparatus capable of shortening a user's waiting time required to bind sheets through a manual operation with a movable stapler. A CPU (162) of a sheet material binding apparatus (50) monitors whether or not an image forming apparatus (1) can execute image formation processing. When the image forming apparatus (1) can execute the image formation processing, the movable stapler is arranged at a standby position close to the image forming apparatus (1). When the image forming apparatus (1) cannot execute the image formation processing, on the other hand, the movable stapler is arranged at a position for performing the manual operation, to thereby bind the sheets through the manual operation immediately.

Abstract: A fan drive apparatus includes a first fan, a second fan configured to form an air flow space, which has an intake side and an exhaust side, in cooperation with the first fan, a first drive circuit and a second drive circuit configured to output drive voltages to drive the first fan and the second fan respectively, a current detection unit configured to detect a drive current for the second drive circuit when the first fan and the second fan are driven, and a control unit configured to control the second drive circuit to change the drive voltage applied to the second fan, and determine a drive voltage so that a variation amount of the drive current detected by the current detection unit with respect to a change of the drive voltage is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus, including: a developing unit which develops, with a developer, an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member based on image data; a replenishing unit which replenishes the developing unit with the developer; a detecting unit which detects presence/absence of the developer in the replenishing unit; a counting unit which counts a number of dots according to the image data; a calculating unit which calculates an integrated value of the number of dots; and a control unit which performs a determination process of determining the presence/absence of the developer based on a detection result of the detecting unit, and which stops an image forming operation in a case where the control unit determines that the developer is present and that the integrated value exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a patch detection sensor for detecting an intermediate transfer belt and image information of toner images transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt, a distance measurement sensor for detecting the distance between a light emitting portion of the patch detection sensor and the surface of the intermediate transfer belt facing the patch detection sensor, and a control unit for correcting the image information detected by the patch detection sensor based on the distance information detected by the distance measurement sensor and controlling image forming conditions so as to correct at least one of density and color misregistration of toner images based on the corrected image information.

Abstract: A fan drive apparatus includes a first fan, a second fan configured to form an air flow space, which has an intake side and an exhaust side, in cooperation with the first fan, a first drive circuit and a second drive circuit configured to output drive voltages to drive the first fan and the second fan respectively, a current detection unit configured to detect a drive current for the second drive circuit when the first fan and the second fan are driven, and a control unit configured to control the second drive circuit to change the drive voltage applied to the second fan, and determine a drive voltage so that a variation amount of the drive current detected by the current detection unit with respect to a change of the drive voltage is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus has first and second heating members and a current control unit which controls a number of waves and each of a first AC current to the first heating member and a second AC current to the second heating member in a positive-negative symmetrical pattern by a unit of predetermined number of half-waves. Regardless of a duty ratio of the first heating member and the second heating member, when the current control unit controls a number of waves so that the second AC current is larger than the first AC current in the first duty ratio, the current control unit controls the number of waves so that the first AC current is larger than the second AC current in a second duty ratio adjacent to the first duty ratio.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a patch detection sensor for detecting an intermediate transfer belt and image information of toner images transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt, a distance measurement sensor for detecting the distance between a light emitting portion of the patch detection sensor and the surface of the intermediate transfer belt facing the patch detection sensor, and a control unit for correcting the image information detected by the patch detection sensor based on the distance information detected by the distance measurement sensor and controlling image forming conditions so as to correct at least one of density and color misregistration of toner images based on the corrected image information.

Abstract: A connection detection device is mounted on an apparatus which has a circuit board with connectors and load circuits connected to the circuit board via each of the connectors. The connection detection device that detects a connection state between the circuit board and the load circuits includes a plurality of serial connection circuits in which pull-down resistors are connected in series with each of the connection detection signal lines wired to a predetermined contact of the connectors of the circuit board, wherein the pull-down resistors have different resistance values, a pull-up resistor connected to a parallel connection circuit in which the plurality of serial connection circuits are connected in parallel, a detection unit to detect voltage values of a connection point between the pull-up resistor and the parallel connection circuit, and a determination unit to determine the connection state between the circuit board and the load circuits by the detected voltage value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a water content determination apparatus that can precisely determining a water content in a medium regardless of an environment where the image forming apparatus is installed. The water content determination apparatus has a detection device that outputs a first signal while the medium is absent in an electrostatic capacitance region formed in a path where the medium is conveyed and outputs a second signal while the medium is present in the electrostatic capacitance region. The temperature in the image forming apparatus is determined based on the first signal. The water content in the medium is determined based on the second signal and the temperature determined by the temperature determination device.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus has a first heating member and a second heating member provided in a heating portion, and a current control unit which controls an AC current to be supplied to the heating portion, The current control unit executes a wave number control, on the AC current supplied to the heating portion, in a unit of predetermined number of half-waves so that an AC current to the first heating member is supplied in a positive-negative symmetrical pattern in the unit of predetermined number of half-waves; an AC current to the second heating member is supplied in a positive-negative symmetrical pattern in the unit of predetermined number of half waves; AC currents to the first and second heating members are supplied in a positive-negative symmetrical pattern in total in the unit of predetermined number of half-waves and the current control unit increases the duty ratio alternately for the first heating member and the second heating member.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus has a first heating member and a second heating member provided in a heating portion, and a current control unit which controls an AC current to be supplied to the heating portion. The current control unit executes a wave number control, on the AC current supplied to the heating portion, in a unit of predetermined number of half-waves so that an AC current to the first heating member is supplied in a positive-negative symmetrical pattern in the unit of predetermined number of half-waves; an AC current to the second heating member is supplied in a positive-negative symmetrical pattern in the unit of predetermined number of half-waves; AC currents to the first and second heating members are supplied in a positive-negative symmetrical pattern in total in the unit of predetermined number of half-waves and the current control unit increases the duty ratio alternately for the first heating member and the second heating member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which the intensity of a light beam used to form a latent image is switched in response to a change in resolution. A laser emits a light beam for forming a latent image on a photosensitive drum. A polygon mirror scans the emitted light beam. BD sensors detect the scanned beam. A timing controller selects the preferable timing from a storage device table according to the intensity of the light beam or the resolution when controlling the light emission timing of the lasers in response to a detection of timing of the detected light beam.

Abstract: A water content determination apparatus which are capable of precisely determining water content contained in a medium regardless of an environment where an image forming apparatus is installed. The water content determination apparatus. A signal in accordance with presence or absence of a medium in an electrostatic capacitance region formed on a paper path is outputted where the medium for image forming is conveyed. Temperature in the water content determination apparatus is determined based on an output signal of the detection device in absence of the medium passing in the electrostatic capacitance region. Water content contained in the medium is determined based on the output signal of the detection device in absence of the medium passing in the electrostatic capacitance region, the output signal of the detection device in presence of the medium passing in the electrostatic capacitance region, and the temperature determined by the temperature determination device.

Abstract: The invention provides a fixing apparatus fixing apparatus having a heating portion for heat fixing an unfixed developer borne on a recording material, including: a first heating member and a second heating member provided in the heating portion; and a current control unit which controls an AC current to be supplied to the heating portion; wherein the current control unit executes a wave number control, on the AC current supplied to the heating portion, in a unit of N half-waves in such a manner that: an AC current to the first heating member is supplied in a positive-negative symmetrical pattern in the unit of N half-waves; an AC current to the second heating member is supplied in a positive-negative symmetrical pattern in the unit of N half-waves; and AC currents to the first and second heating members are supplied in a positive-negative symmetrical pattern in total in the unit of N half-waves.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which the intensity of a light beam used to form a latent image is switched in response to a change in resolution. A laser emits a light beam for forming a latent image on a photosensitive drum. A polygon mirror scans the emitted light beam. BD sensors detect the scanned beam. A timing controller selects the preferable timing from a storage device table according to the intensity of the light beam or the resolution when controlling the light emission timing of the lasers in response to a detection of timing of the detected light beam.