Abstract: An image formation apparatus including a photoreceptor, a charger having a charger member for charging the photoreceptor, a latent image write unit for writing an electrostatic latent image onto the photoreceptor charged by the charger, and a developing device having a developer support with a magnetic field production member, for rendering visible the electrostatic latent image written by the latent image write unit with a developer. Further, the charging member of the charger is disposed under effect of a magnetic field produced by the magnetic field production member of the developing device, and the charging member is made of a nonmagnetic material.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus has a photoreceptor 1, a charger 2, a latent image write unit 3, a developing device 4, and a performance maintaining controller 5, wherein the performance maintaining controller 5 executes a performance maintaining initial sequence A for agitating and charging a developer G uniformly to such a degree that aggregating of the developer G in the developing device 4 is at least eliminated under the condition that the image formation apparatus is first used and also executes a performance maintaining sequence B for uniformly agitating and charging the developer G in the developing device 4 at least based on elapsed time since the immediately preceding image formation mode.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus has a photoreceptor 1, a charger 2, a latent image write unit 3, a developing device 4, and a performance maintaining controller 5, wherein the performance maintaining controller 5 executes a performance maintaining initial sequence A for agitating and charging a developer G uniformly to such a degree that aggregating of the developer G in the developing device 4 is at least eliminated under the condition that the image formation apparatus is first used and also executes a performance maintaining sequence B for uniformly agitating and charging the developer G in the developing device 4 at least based on elapsed time since the immediately preceding image formation mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a plurality of image carriers for carrying toner images of different colors respectively, a plurality of primary transferrers which abut against a part of the plurality of image carriers respectively so that the toner images on the image carriers are primarily transferred to the plurality of primary transferrers, a secondary transferrer which abuts against all of the plurality of primary transferrers so that toner images on the primary transferrers are secondarily transferred to the secondary transferrer, and a tertiary transferrer which abuts against the secondary transferrer so that a toner image on the secondary transferrer is tertiarily transferred to a recording medium. In the image forming apparatus, a black toner image is not transferred to at least a primary transferrer located most upstream in the rotating direction of the secondary transferrer with reference to the position where the tertiary transferrer abuts against the secondary transferrer.

Abstract: A transfer device for transferring an image on an image carrier 1 to a recording material 2, the transfer device includes a transferring member 4 adapted to nip and convey the recording material 2 between the transferring member 4 and the image carrier 1, a guard resin layer 5 having a surface microhardness not smaller than surface microhardness corresponding to polyimide, the guard resin layer 5 provided on a surface of the transferring member 4, and an adjustment resistance layer 6 provided as a ground layer of the guard resin layer 5, the adjustment resistance layer 6 adapted to inhibit an accumulation of charge in the guard resin layer 5. Or, the guard resin layer 5 made of an epoxy resin is provided on the surface of the transferring member 4, the adjustment resistance layer 6 having a smooth interface with the guard resin layer 5, the adjustment resistance layer 6 adapted to inhibit accumulation of charge in the guard resin layer.

Abstract: A charging member 2a of a charger 2 is disposed under the effect of a magnetic field produced by a magnetic field production member 4b of a developing device 4 and is made of a nonmagnetic material. The charger 2 comprises the charging member 2a and a removal member 2b disposed in contact with an photoreceptor 1 in the upstream of the charging member 2a, the removal member 2b for removing a deposit on the photoreceptor 1 and the charging member 2a is disposed under the effect of a magnetic field produced by the magnetic field production member 4b of the developing device 4 and is made of a nonmagnetic material. On the other hand, the removal member 2b is disposed under the effect of a magnetic field produced by the magnetic field production member 4b of the developing device 4 and is made of a magnetic material.

Abstract: A transfer device for transferring an image on an image carrier 1 to a recording material 2, the transfer device comprises a transferring member 4 adapted to nip and convey the recording material 2 between the transferring member 4 and the image carrier 1, a guard resin layer 5 having a surface microhardness not smaller than surface microhardness corresponding to polyimide, the guard resin layer 5 provided on a surface of the transferring member 4, and an adjustment resistance layer 6 provided as a ground layer of the guard resin layer 5, the adjustment resistance layer 6 adapted to inhibit an accumulation of charge in the guard resin layer 5. Or, the guard resin layer 5 made of an epoxy resin is provided on the surface of the transferring member 4, the adjustment resistance layer 6 having a smooth interface with the guard resin layer 5, the adjustment resistance layer 6 adapted to inhibit accumulation of charge in the guard resin layer.

Abstract: A developer cartridge includes a cylindrical member in which developer containing at least toner is stocked, a supply port opened in the cylindrical member, and a spiral feeding member which is freely rotatably disposed in the cylindrical member and rotated to feed the developer stocked in the cylindrical member to the supply port. The feeding member is mounted in the cylindrical member after developer is filled in the cylindrical member.

Abstract: A toner image transfer apparatus for transferring a toner image formed on an intermediate transfer belt onto a recording sheet includes an environment sensor and a control panel for detecting or inputting a factor influencing the transfer of the toner image, a calculation unit for determining an initial transfer bias used for the transfer of the toner image on the basis of the above input value, and a transfer unit for inputting a correction value for correcting the initial transfer bias from the control panel and determining the corrected transfer bias on the basis of the correction value to transfer the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt onto the recording sheet by the corrected transfer bias.

Abstract: A rotary developing device which facilitates a positional adjustment of developing units and prevents the developing units from being shifted even when they are used for a long period. Pins protruding from a revolver are inserted into elongated holes formed in developing units so that developing units are held in such a manner that the developing units are movable relative to the revolver. By mounting a spacer between the elongated hole and the pin, the positional adjustment of the photosensitive drum and the tracking roller is completed. Furthermore, a plurality of spacers which differ in thickness are prepared and by merely selectively mounting an appropriate spacer, the position adjustment of the tracking roller is completed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes at least an image carrier and a contact type charging device. The image forming apparatus further includes a control control device that controls the contact type charging device so as to apply DC voltage having the same polarity as the charging polarity of the image carrier to the image carrier at the same time that or before rotation of the image carrier begins and successively applies a voltage in which AC voltage is superimposed on the DC voltage at the same time that or after the DC voltage is applied and at the latest after the rotation of the image carrier begins. Therefore, according to the present invention, electrostatic memory in the image carrier is prevented, so that the occurrence of black stripe or the like corresponding to a contact point of the contact type charging device is prevented, thereby enabling formation of high quality images.

Abstract: A device for rotatably supporting a temperature probe disposed in an oven for heating a material. The probe has one end provided with a plug and another end for insertion into the material for detecting the temperature thereof. The device includes a socket section secured to one of the wall surfaces of the oven chamber, the socket section nonrotatably supporting a contact mechanism which in turn rotatably and disengageably supports the plug while the contact mechanism receives signals from the temperature probe through the plug.