Abstract: A developer carrying device for carrying a developer in a developer carrying path includes a developer carrying part that carries the developer in the developer carrying path; and a carrying drive part that drives the developer carrying part, wherein the developer carrying part includes: a carrying spiral that is formed by winding a wire rod into a coil shape and is driven by the carrying drive part; and a carrying auxiliary member that is arranged on an inner side of the carrying spiral, and is driven by the carrying drive part and assists carrying of the developer by the carrying spiral.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer image carrier, first and second image forming units and first and second transfer parts that are arranged sandwiching the developer image carrier with the first and second image forming units. One of the first image forming unit and the first transfer part moves away from the develop image carrier so that the one of the first image forming unit and the first transfer part has two different positions (an image forming position and a non-image forming position). The image forming apparatus further comprises a pressing force variable mechanism that increases the second pressing force between the second image forming unit and the second transfer part when the one of the first image forming unit and the first transfer part moves from the image forming position to the non-image forming position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer image carrier, first and second image forming units and first and second transfer parts that are arranged sandwiching the developer image carrier with the first and second image forming units. One of the first image forming unit and the first transfer part moves away from the develop image carrier so that the one of the first image forming unit and the first transfer part has two different positions (an image forming position and a non-image forming position). The image forming apparatus further comprises a pressing force variable mechanism that increases the second pressing force between the second image forming unit and the second transfer part when the one of the first image forming unit and the first transfer part moves from the image forming position to the non-image forming position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer image forming part, an intermediate transfer body, a primary transfer part, a drive mechanism to drive the intermediate transfer body, a medium carrying mechanism, and a drive controller to control an operation of the medium carrying mechanism. The developer image forming part forms a mark developer image. The developer image detection part detects the mark developer image moving on a carrying path that is from a primary transfer position to a secondary transfer position, and the drive controller controls carrying of a medium based on a detection result of the mark developer image by the developer detection part.

Abstract: A drive transmission device includes a first coupling member to be coupled to a drive shaft and including a first contact surface, a second coupling member to be coupled to a driven shaft and including a second contact surface, and an intermediate coupler disposed between the first and second coupling members. The intermediate coupler includes: a first intermediate contact surface opposed to the first contact surface and contacting the first contact surface with a first rolling member interposed in between; and a second intermediate contact surface opposed to the second contact surface and contacting the second contact surface with a second rolling member interposed in between. One of the contact surfaces and a corresponding one of the intermediate contact surfaces are formed point-symmetrically with respect to the center of a corresponding one of the rolling members.

Abstract: A driving device includes a stretched member, and a first rotation member and a second rotation member that support the stretched member in a stretched manner. The first rotation member has a first rotation axis, and the second rotation member has a second rotation axis. The first rotation member includes a plurality of members arranged in an axial direction of the first rotation axis.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer image forming part, an intermediate transfer body, a primary transfer part, a drive mechanism to drive the intermediate transfer body, a medium carrying mechanism, and a drive controller to control an operation of the medium carrying mechanism. The developer image forming part forms a mark developer image. The developer image detection part detects the mark developer image moving on a carrying path that is from a primary transfer position to a secondary transfer position, and the drive controller controls carrying of a medium based on a detection result of the mark developer image by the developer detection part.

Abstract: A drive transmission device includes a first coupling member to be coupled to a drive shaft and including a first contact surface, a second coupling member to be coupled to a driven shaft and including a second contact surface, and an intermediate coupler disposed between the first and second coupling members. The intermediate coupler includes: a first intermediate contact surface opposed to the first contact surface and contacting the first contact surface with a first rolling member interposed in between; and a second intermediate contact surface opposed to the second contact surface and contacting the second contact surface with a second rolling member interposed in between. One of the contact surfaces and a corresponding one of the intermediate contact surfaces are formed point-symmetrically with respect to the center of a corresponding one of the rolling members.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion for forming an image using developer; a transfer unit for transferring the image to a medium transported thereto; a first detection unit disposed at a specific position for detecting the image thus transferred; and a second detection unit disposed to face the first detection unit for detecting a distance to the medium so that the first detection unit detects a detection result of the second detection unit.

Abstract: A driving device includes a stretched member, and a first rotation member and a second rotation member that support the stretched member in a stretched manner. The first rotation member has a first rotation axis, and the second rotation member has a second rotation axis. The first rotation member includes a plurality of members arranged in an axial direction of the first rotation axis.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a non-contacting thermistor (54) disposed in the vicinity of the surface of a heat roller (21) and an upper cover temperature thermistor (60) for detecting the temperature of a pressure roller (22). The calculated surface temperature (T) of the heat roller 21 is calculated based on the detected temperature (T1) detected by the non-contacting thermistor (54), the detected temperature (T2) detected by the upper cover temperature thermistor (60), the distance (L1) from the non-contacting thermistor (54) to the surface of the heat roller (21) and the distance (L2) from the non-contacting thermistor (54) to the upper cover (51).

Abstract: An image forming unit includes an image supporter configured to be rotatable, and an amount detecting unit configured to rotate with a predetermined period to detect an amount of remaining developer. A rotation period of the amount detecting unit is an integral multiple of a rotation period of the image supporter.

Abstract: An image forming unit includes an image supporter configured to be rotatable, and an amount detecting unit configured to rotate with a predetermined period to detect an amount of remaining developer. A rotation period of the amount detecting unit is an integral multiple of a rotation period of the image supporter.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion for forming an image using developer; a transfer unit for transferring the image to a medium transported thereto; a first detection unit disposed at a specific position for detecting the image thus transferred; and a second detection unit disposed to face the first detection unit for detecting a distance to the medium so that the first detection unit detects a detection result of the second detection unit.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a non-contacting thermistor (54) disposed in the vicinity of the surface of a heat roller (21) and an upper cover temperature thermistor (60) for detecting the temperature of a pressure roller (22). The calculated surface temperature (T) of the heat roller 21 is calculated based on the detected temperature (T1) detected by the non-contacting thermistor (54), the detected temperature (T2) detected by the upper cover temperature thermistor (60), the distance (L1) from the non-contacting thermistor (54) to the surface of the heat roller (21) and the distance (L2) from the non-contacting thermistor (54) to the upper cover (51).

Abstract: A fixing device includes a non-contacting thermistor (54) disposed in the vicinity of the surface of a heat roller (21) and an upper cover temperature thermistor (60) for detecting the temperature of a pressure roller (22). The calculated surface temperature (T) of the heat roller 21 is calculated based on the detected temperature (T1) detected by the non-contacting thermistor (54), the detected temperature (T2) detected by the upper cover temperature thermistor (60), the distance (L1) from the non-contacting thermistor (54) to the surface of the heat roller (21) and the distance (L2) from the non-contacting thermistor (54) to the upper cover (51).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms a toner image on a toner image bearing body and the toner image is transferred onto a recording medium. An image forming section forms the toner image on the toner image bearing body, which may be a transfer belt. A reading section optically reads the toner image formed on the image bearing body. A covering section is provided between the reading section and the toner image bearing body. The covering section can move between an opening position, where the covering section covers the reading section, and a closing position, where the covering section does not cover the reading section. A drive mechanism drives the covering section to move between the opening position and the closing position. An adjustment section adjusts the reading section when the covering section is at the closing position. The covering section includes a reflection member attached thereto.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a non-contacting thermistor (54) disposed in the vicinity of the surface of a heat roller (21) and an upper cover temperature thermistor (60) for detecting the temperature of a pressure roller (22). The calculated surface temperature (T) of the heat roller 21 is calculated based on the detected temperature (T1) detected by the non-contacting thermistor (54), the detected temperature (T2) detected by the upper cover temperature thermistor (60), the distance (L1) from the non-contacting thermistor (54) to the surface of the heat roller (21) and the distance (L2) from the non-contacting thermistor (54) to the upper cover (51).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms a toner image on an image bearing body and the toner image is transferred onto a recording medium. An image forming section forms a toner image on a toner image bearing body such as transfer belt. A reading section optically reads the toner image formed on said image bearing body. A covering section is provided between the reading section and the toner image bearing body. The covering section can move between an opening position where said covering section covers said reading section and a closing position where said covering section does not cover said reading section. A drive mechanism drives the covering section to move between the opening position and the closing position. An adjustment section adjusts the reading section when the covering section is at the closing position. The covering section includes a reflection member attached thereto.

Abstract: A toner cartridge detachably is attached to an image forming apparatus. The toner cartridge includes a toner chamber that holds toner therein and a toner-agitating mechanism that agitates the toner in the toner chamber. The mechanism includes a crank shaft that includes a first crank pin and a second crank pin, the crank shaft being rotatably supported in the toner chamber. A rod has a first end rotatably coupled to the second crank pin and a second end slidably inserted in a guide path provided above the toner chamber. The second end has a permanent magnet or a magnetic flux sensitive element attached thereto. The rod moves upward and downward when the crank shaft is driven in rotation. A detection mechanism on the image apparatus side detects the magnetic flux or the permanent magnet.