Abstract: An image forming apparatus, for example, that is capable of accurately writing information into a developing unit or the like having an element is achieved. An image forming apparatus comprises: an attach/detach section to and from which a developing unit having an element into which information can be written and a developer containing section can be attached and detached; a photoconductor on which a latent image can be formed; a writing member for writing information into the element; and an AC voltage supply section for supplying an AC voltage. During a period from a start to an end of an image forming process, the writing member writes information into the element of the developing unit attached to the attach/detach section when the AC voltage supply section is not supplying an AC voltage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, for example, that is capable of accurately writing information into a developing unit or the like having an element is achieved. An image forming apparatus comprises: an attach/detach section to and from which a developing unit having an element into which information can be written and a developer containing section can be attached and detached; a photoconductor on which a latent image can be formed; a writing member for writing information into the element; and an AC voltage supply section for supplying an AC voltage. During a period from a start to an end of an image forming process, the writing member writes information into the element of the developing unit attached to the attach/detach section when the AC voltage supply section is not supplying an AC voltage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, for example, that is capable of accurately writing information into a developing unit or the like having an element is achieved. An image forming apparatus comprises: an attach/detach section to and from which a developing unit having an element into which information can be written and a developer containing section can be attached and detached; a photoconductor on which a latent image can be formed; a writing member for writing information into the element; and an AC voltage supply section for supplying an AC voltage. During a period from a start to an end of an image forming process, the writing member writes information into the element of the developing unit attached to the attach/detach section when the AC voltage supply section is not supplying an AC voltage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a computer system having an efficient communication system are achieved. The image forming apparatus etc. is provided with an antenna that is capable of wirelessly communicating both with the developing-unit element of the developing unit attached to the developing unit attach/detach section and with the photoconductor-unit element of the photoconductor unit attached to the photoconductor unit attach/detach section. Further, when R is an outermost diameter of a path traced by the developing units and r is an outermost diameter of a path traced by the elements when the rotating member is rotated with the developing units attached to the attach/detach sections, then a relationship R>r is satisfied.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with: a moving body provided with a plurality of attach/detach sections, wherein a developing unit is attachable to and detachable from each of the attach/detach sections, and the developing unit has a developer containing section and an element with which communication is possible; a photoconductor on which a latent image can be formed; and an antenna for wirelessly communicating with the element of the developing unit attached to the attach/detach section; wherein a longitudinal direction of the antenna is in a direction of movement of the moving body. Further, during a period from when the developing unit arrives at the opposing position until when it arrives at the detaching position due to movement of the moving body, a writing member writes information into the element of the developing unit.

Abstract: An electrostatic latent image is formed on a rotary image carrier. A developer is provided with at least one developing roller which is separatably abutted on the image carrier at a developing position to supply toner onto the image carrier to make the latent image visible as a toner image. An intermediate transfer member is adapted to temporarily hold the toner image. A transferer applies a transfer bias to primarily transfer the toner image on the image carrier to the intermediate transfer member. A first cleaner is always abutted on the image carrier to remove toner remaining thereon. A second cleaner is separatably abutted on the intermediate transfer member to remove toner remaining thereon. The toner image includes a first toner image which is not to be transferred onto the recording medium and a second toner image which is to be secondarily transferred onto a recording medium. The second cleaner is separated from the intermediate transfer member so as to avoid the first toner image.

Abstract: A recording medium carrier system of an image forming apparatus is constituted by independent units as a paper supply cassette, a paper feed unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a paper ejecting unit. An intermediate transfer unit in the transfer unit is provided with an intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image formed on a photoconductive drum is primarily transferred at a primary transfer position and which secondarily transfers the toner image on a recording medium at a secondary transfer position, and a driving roller for circulating the intermediate transfer belt. The primary transfer position is arranged close to the driving roller.

Abstract: An electrostatic latent image is formed on an image carrier. A developing roller is separatably abutted on the image carrier at a developing position to supply toner onto the image carrier to make the latent image visible as a toner image. The toner image is transferred onto a transfer member. A cleaner is abutted on the image carrier to remove toner remained thereon. A toner supplier supplies toner onto the image carrier while the developing roller is separated from the image carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus etc. with which information can be accurately and efficiently written to an element is achieved. An antenna is provided at a position where, when a predetermined developing unit, of among a plurality of developing units attached to a plurality of attach/detach sections, is performing development of a latent image on a photoconductor, it is in opposition to at least one of the elements of the other developing units that are not performing the development. When the developing unit is positioned at the opposition position and is performing development, the writing member writes information to the element of at least one developing unit of among the developing units attached respectively to the plurality of attach/detach sections.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a computer system having an efficient communication system are achieved. The image forming apparatus etc. is provided with an antenna that is capable of wirelessly communicating both with the developing-unit element of the developing unit attached to the developing unit attach/detach section and with the photoconductor-unit element of the photoconductor unit attached to the photoconductor unit attach/detach section. Further, when R is an outermost diameter of a path traced by the developing units and r is an outermost diameter of a path traced by the elements when the rotating member is rotated with the developing units attached to the attach/detach sections, then a relationship R>r is satisfied.

Abstract: Accurate communication with a developing unit etc. having an element is to be achieved. An image forming apparatus is provided with: a moving body provided with a plurality of attach/detach sections, wherein a developing unit is attachable to and detachable from each of the attach/detach sections, and the developing unit has a developer containing section and an element with which communication is possible; a photoconductor on which a latent image can be formed; and an antenna for wirelessly communicating with the element of the developing unit attached to the attach/detach section; wherein a longitudinal direction of the antenna is in a direction of movement of the moving body. Further, during a period from when the developing unit arrives at the opposing position until when it arrives at the detaching position due to movement of the moving body, a writing member writes information into the element of the developing unit.

Abstract: A recording medium carrier system of an image forming apparatus is constituted by independent units as a paper supply cassette, a paper feed unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a paper ejecting unit. An intermediate transfer unit in the transfer unit is provided with an intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image formed on a photoconductive drum is primarily transferred at a primary transfer position and which secondarily transfers the toner image on a recording medium at a secondary transfer position, and a driving roller for circulating the intermediate transfer belt. The primary transfer position is arranged close to the driving roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, for example, that is capable of accurately writing information into a developing unit or the like having an element is achieved. An image forming apparatus comprises: an attach/detach section to and from which a developing unit having an element into which information can be written and a developer containing section can be attached and detached; a photoconductor on which a latent image can be formed; a writing member for writing information into the element; and an AC voltage supply section for supplying an AC voltage. During a period from a start to an end of an image forming process, the writing member writes information into the element of the developing unit attached to the attach/detach section when the AC voltage supply section is not supplying an AC voltage.

Abstract: An electrostatic latent image is formed on a rotary image carrier. A developer is provided with at least one developing roller which is separatably abutted on the image carrier at a developing position to supply toner onto the image carrier to make the latent image visible as a toner image. An intermediate transfer member is adapted to temporarily hold the toner image. A transferer applies a transfer bias to primarily transfer the toner image on the image carrier to the intermediate transfer member. A first cleaner is always abutted on the image carrier to remove toner remaining thereon. A second cleaner is separatably abutted on the intermediate transfer member to remove toner remaining thereon. The toner image includes a first toner image which is not to be transferred onto the recording medium and a second toner image which is to be secondarily transferred onto a recording medium. The second cleaner is separated from the intermediate transfer member so as to avoid the first toner image.

Abstract: A recording medium carrier system of an image forming apparatus is constituted by independent units as a paper supply cassette, a paper feed unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a paper ejecting unit. An intermediate transfer unit in the transfer unit is provided with an intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image formed on a photoconductive drum is primarily transferred at a primary transfer position and which secondarily transfers the toner image on a recording medium at a secondary transfer position, and a driving roller for circulating the intermediate transfer belt. The primary transfer position is arranged close to the driving roller.

Abstract: An electrostatic latent image is formed on an image carrier. A developing roller is separatably abutted on the image carder at a developing position to supply toner onto the image carrier to make the latent image visible as a toner image. The toner image is transferred onto a transfer member. A cleaner is abutted on the image carrier to remove toner remained thereon. A toner supplier supplies toner onto the image carrier while the developing roller is separated from the image carrier.

Abstract: A latent image is formed on a photoreceptor. Each of a plurality of toner carriers carries toner of a single color to be transferred onto the photoreceptor to make the latent image visible. Each of the toner carriers is fixed at a predetermined distance from a surface of the photoreceptor. A first bias supplier supplies a first bias required to transfer the toner to the photoreceptor to one of the toner carriers which is subjected to a developing operation. A second bias supplier supplies a second bias which is not enough to transfer the toner to the photoreceptor to the other toner carriers which are not subjected to the developing operation.

Abstract: A recording medium carrier system of an image forming apparatus is constituted by independent units as a paper supply cassette, a paper feed unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a paper ejecting unit. An intermediate transfer unit in the transfer unit is provided with an intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image formed on a photoconductive drum is primarily transferred at a primary transfer position and which secondarily transfers the toner image on a recording medium at a secondary transfer position, and a driving roller for circulating the intermediate transfer belt. The primary transfer position is arranged close to the driving roller.

Abstract: A recording medium carrier system of an image forming apparatus is constituted by independent units as a paper supply cassette, a paper feed unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a paper ejecting unit. An intermediate transfer unit in the transfer unit is provided with an intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image formed on a photoconductive drum is primarily transferred at a primary transfer position and which secondarily transfers the toner image on a recording medium at a secondary transfer position, and a driving roller for circulating the intermediate transfer belt. The primary transfer position is arranged close to the driving roller.

Abstract: A toner comprising: a plurality of mother particles; and a plurality of external additive particles to be attached to the mother particles, the external additive particles including external additive particles attached to the mother particle and external additive particles liberated from the mother particles, wherein an inclination (particle sizes of the external additives/particle sizes of the mother particles) of an approximation straight line obtained by approximating distribution of particle sizes of the external additives with respect to the particle sizes of the mother particles by a least-square method is not larger than 0.6. Also, disclosed is an image forming apparatus using the toner.