Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first electric charging unit having an electric discharge wire to uniformly electrify a surface of the electrostatic latent image bearer, a second electric charging unit having a second electric discharge wire to execute a pre-electric charge removal electric charging process by electrifying the surface of the electrostatic latent image bearer subsequent to a transfer process to transfer a toner image, and a first electric charge removing device to diselectrify the surface of the electrostatic latent image bearer by irradiating it with electric charge removing light subsequent to the pre-electric charge removal electric charging process. The first electric charge removing device is disposed within an electric discharge region of the second electric discharge wire on a downstream side of an extreme upstream edge of the electric discharge region of the second electric discharge wire in a rotational direction of the electrostatic latent image bearer.

Abstract: A seat apparatus for a vehicle includes a first adjustment portion which adjusts a position of a vehicle seat in a front/rear direction, a second adjustment portion which adjusts a position of the vehicle seat in an up/down direction, a third adjustment portion which adjusts a tilt angle of a seatback, and an operation input portion which is operated for performing a forward movement of the vehicle seat and a forward tilting operation of the seatback in an associated manner with each other, the forward movement of the vehicle seat being performed by the first adjustment portion and the forward tilting operation of the seatback being performed by the third adjustment portion, wherein the second adjustment portion starts performing a downward movement of the vehicle seat before the forward tilting operation of the seatback is performed after the operation of the operation input portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first electric charging unit having an electric discharge wire to uniformly electrify a surface of the electrostatic latent image bearer, a second electric charging unit having a second electric discharge wire to execute a pre-electric charge removal electric charging process by electrifying the surface of the electrostatic latent image bearer subsequent to a transfer process to transfer a toner image, and a first electric charge removing device to diselectrify the surface of the electrostatic latent image bearer by irradiating it with electric charge removing light subsequent to the pre-electric charge removal electric charging process. The first electric charge removing device is disposed within an electric discharge region of the second electric discharge wire on a downstream side of an extreme upstream edge of the electric discharge region of the second electric discharge wire in a rotational direction of the electrostatic latent image bearer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes multiple image forming units each including a latent image bearer and a developing device, a transfer device to transfer toner images from the latent image bearers onto a surface of endless rotary member, a cleaner to clean the surface of the endless rotary member, and a control unit to execute a forcible toner consumption process to forcibly consume degraded toner stored in applicable one or more developing devices. The forcible toner consumption process includes a step of forming a toner image formed for forced consumption in a non-image region of the latent image bearer with an amount of toner corresponding to a difference between an image area ratio of a developed image and a prescribed threshold when the image area ratio of the developed image is lower than the prescribed threshold.

Abstract: A storage structure for a vehicle includes a storage part that is movable between a use position and a retracted position and is biased toward the use position; a lock mechanism that locks the storage part in the retracted position; and a button that is provided separately from the storage part and is used to unlock the storage part that is locked by the lock mechanism. The storage part is not moved to the use position by pressing the button from an initial position, and the storage part is moved to the use position by restoring the button from the pressed state to the initial position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes multiple image forming units each including a latent image bearer and a developing device, a transfer device to transfer toner images from the latent image bearers onto a surface of endless rotary member, a cleaner to clean the surface of the endless rotary member, and a control unit to execute a forcible toner consumption process to forcibly consume degraded toner stored in applicable one or more developing devices. The forcible toner consumption process includes a step of forming a toner image formed for forced consumption in a non-image region of the latent image bearer with an amount of toner corresponding to a difference between an image area ratio of a developed image and a prescribed threshold thereof when the image area ratio of the developed image is lower than the prescribed threshold.

Abstract: A seat apparatus for a vehicle includes a first adjustment portion which adjusts a position of a vehicle seat in a front/rear direction, a second adjustment portion which adjusts a position of the vehicle seat in an up/down direction, a third adjustment portion which adjusts a tilt angle of a seatback, and an operation input portion which is operated for performing a forward movement of the vehicle seat and a forward tilting operation of the seatback in an associated manner with each other, the forward movement of the vehicle seat being performed by the first adjustment portion and the forward tilting operation of the seatback being performed by the third adjustment portion, wherein the second adjustment portion starts performing a downward movement of the vehicle seat before the forward tilting operation of the seatback is performed after the operation of the operation input portion.

Abstract: A storage structure for a vehicle includes a storage part that is movable between a use position and a retracted position and is biased toward the use position; a lock mechanism that locks the storage part in the retracted position; and a button that is provided separately from the storage part and is used to unlock the storage part that is locked by the lock mechanism. The storage part is not moved to the use position by pressing the button from an initial position, and the storage part is moved to the use position by restoring the button from the pressed state to the initial position.

Abstract: A storage structure for a vehicle includes a storage part that is movable between a use position and a retracted position and is biased toward the use position; a lock mechanism that locks the storage part in the retracted position; and a button that is provided separately from the storage part and is used to unlock the storage part that is locked by the lock mechanism. The storage part is not moved to the use position by pressing the button from an initial position, and the storage part is moved to the use position by restoring the button from the pressed state to the initial position.

Abstract: A storage structure for a vehicle includes a storage part that is movable between a use position and a retracted position and is biased toward the use position; a lock mechanism that locks the storage part in the retracted position; and a button that is provided separately from the storage part and is used to unlock the storage part that is locked by the lock mechanism. The storage part is not moved to the use position by pressing the button from an initial position, and the storage part is moved to the use position by restoring the button from the pressed state to the initial position.

Abstract: A control unit controls a device that executes an image forming process, compares changes of each toner adhesion amount in an image-density-detection pattern image when a developing-bias control condition is changed, with respect to a toner adhesion amount in an image-density-detection pattern image in a normal status, performs a malfunction-occurrence prediction process according to the degree of each change of the densities, and displays the result.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium conveyed from a sheet feeding unit to obtain an image with photographic quality, at least a part of the recording medium has a transparent portion. When an image obtained by reversing an original image is transferred onto the transparent part, sheet-delivery rollers are operable in a direction in which a pressure onto the recording medium is reduced immediately after fixing of the image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that includes an image bearing member to bear a latent electrostatic image, a charging device to charge a surface of the image bearing member, an irradiating device to irradiate the surface of the image bearing member to form the latent electrostatic image thereon, a developing device to develop the latent electrostatic image, an optional cleaning unit to clean the surface of the image bearing member, a transfer device to transfer the developed image to an opaque medium, an optional cleaning device to clean a surface of the transfer device, a fixing device to fix the transferred image on the opaque medium, and an attachment device to attach the fixed image to a transparent medium after the opaque medium is overlaid with the transparent medium, and recording media for use in the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A pair of registration rollers align a leading edge of a recording medium having a transparent section and a non-transparent section. A boundary sensor detects a boundary between the transparent section and the non-transparent section. The boundary sensor is provided on a downstream side of a direction of conveying the recording medium by the registration rollers.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus that includes process units for different colors and a lifetime management device that manages lifetime information on each unit of the image forming apparatus. The lifetime management device counts the number of prints produced by the image forming apparatus with respect to each of photoconductor units and developing units in the process units, and measures an operation amount unique to the respective units. Based on the number of prints, service life of each unit and operation amount, the lifetime management device calculates the remaining lifetime of each unit.

Abstract: In an image forming system, a lifetime management device calculates remaining lifetime of process units, a transfer unit, a secondary transfer unit, a belt cleaning unit and a fixing unit mounted on an image forming apparatus based on an operation amount thereof and a predetermined lifetime index. Based on the remaining lifetime and a predetermined replacement index, the lifetime management device determines whether any unit needs to be replaced, and, if any, transmits a replacement request signal to an external information processor together with a signal indicating remaining lifetime of other units via a communication line.

Abstract: Process units, a transfer unit, a belt cleaning unit, a secondary transfer unit and a fixing unit each include a storage unit that stores therein information on the operation amount thereof measured by a controller as operation record with respect to each unit. The controller updates the information stored in the storage unit after each time the controller measures the operation amount. The controller calculates remaining lifetime of the units based on the operation amount and a predetermined lifetime index.

Abstract: A recording medium is conveyed through a conveyer path. A recording-medium selecting unit selects either one of a non-transparent recording medium and a transparent recording medium, and conveys a selected recording medium to the conveyer path. An image selecting unit selects an image to be formed on the recording medium from among an original image and a reversed image obtained by reversing the original image. A control unit controls, based on a control signal, the recording-medium selecting unit and the image selecting unit.

Abstract: A sheet processing method including superimposing a transparent sheet having a mirror image thereon on a non-transparent sheet so that a surface of the transparent sheet having the mirror image faces the non-transparent sheet with an adhesive medium therebetween. An image forming apparatus includes an image forming means for forming a mirror image on a transparent sheet, and a heating and pressing means for applying heat and pressure to the transparent sheet and a non-transparent sheet on which the transparent sheet is superimposed so that a surface of the transparent sheet having the mirror image faces the non-transparent sheet. The non-transparent sheet includes a heat-sensitive adhesive layer including an adhesive medium including a thermoplastic resin and a solid plasticizer, on a surface facing the surface of the transparent sheet having the mirror image.

Abstract: A control unit controls a device that executes an image forming process, compares changes of each toner adhesion amount in an image-density-detection pattern image when a developing-bias control condition is changed, with respect to a toner adhesion amount in an image-density-detection pattern image in a normal status, performs a malfunction-occurrence prediction process according to the degree of each change of the densities, and displays the result.