Abstract: In a rotary type image developing apparatus that has a rotary rack accommodating a plurality of developer units and drives the rotary rack to rotate in a predetermined rotational direction so as to bring a targeted one of the developer units to a developing position, each developer unit includes a toner storage in which a first slope is disposed. As the rotary rack rotates, toner that remains upstream of a toner supply opening in a toner flowing direction in the toner storage is guided by a slope surface of the first slope, which enables the toner to be smoothly supplied to a developing chamber. Thus, even when the toner gets low, the toner can be efficiently supplied from the toner storage to the developing chamber with the aid of the first slope.

Abstract: One of aspects of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer member rotating at a first circumferential speed, and an image carrier capable of having a plurality of toner images formed thereon in turn, each of the toner images having a color different from one another, for transferring the toner images onto the intermediate transfer member, the image carrier rotating at a second circumferential speed. At least one of the first and second circumferential speeds are adjustable in accordance with a driving mode selected from a group consisting of a monochrome mode and a color mode. Also, a first difference between the first and second circumferential speeds in the monochrome mode is greater than a second difference between the first and second circumferential speeds in the color mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus with a charging member that allows easy removal of smears from an image forming drum. The apparatus removes smears from the image forming drum by placing a different portion of the charging member in contact with the drum. The apparatus uses a cam or a solenoid to press on the charging member to cause a different portion of the charging member to come into contact with the image forming drum.

Abstract: Applied voltage to the contact charging sheet 71 has been controlled in the following various ways: a) the voltage at the photosensitive layer 10 at a point of time whereat it has passed the contact charging sheet 71 is caused to interlock with grid voltage so as not to exceed predetermined voltage to be electrified by the Scorotron charger 2; b) the applied voltage is caused to interlock with the output from the transfer unit 5 so that there is no portion which reaches the Scorotron charger 2 while the potential polarity has been reversed at the transfer unit 5; c) reduction in the film thickness of the photosensitive layer 10 is corrected in consideration of the cumulative number of sheets for image formation; d) the size of printing sheet is added; e) at the time of termination, a portion of the photosensitive layer 10, into which current has flowed at the transfer unit 5, is caused to stop always after passing the contact charging sheet 71; f) the contact charging sheet 71 is cleaned by means of AC compon

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an exposure in an image forming apparatus includes an exposure unit which varys the illumination from an exposure light source in accordance to photoreceptor sensitivity and projects the light reflected onto a photoreceptor, and a light reducing filter adjusting a quantity of light to be projected according to the sensitivity of the photoreceptor. The neutral-density filter may be employed as the reducing filter. Preferably, this filter is movable between a first position in a path of the reflected light and a second position out of the path. The photoreceptor having a thicker photosensitive layer may be used to its long life period.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is connectable to an external device through a communication line, and includes an image forming device for forming an image on paper and a device for setting specified set conditions in the image forming device. The image forming apparatus performs image forming operation corresponding to the set conditions, and further includes a receiving device for receiving a control signal from the communication line and a transmission device for transmitting the set conditions through the communication line in response to reception of the control signal.

Abstract: A control system of image forming apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of image forming apparatus and a control unit connected to each of the image forming apparatus through a communication line, and each of the image forming apparatus includes a data transmitting device for transmitting information related to a consumption amount of consumable products to the control unit through the communication line, and the control unit includes a receiving device receiving the information transmitted from the image forming apparatus and determines a stock amount of the consumable products which a user of the image forming apparatus has on the basis of the information received by the receiving device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which a light amount of an irradiation lamp for exposure or voltage value of a developing bias applied to a developing electrode is adjusted based upon density value of test toner images formed on the surface of the photosensitive member for preventing the occurrence of toner fogging.

Abstract: A control system of image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a plurality of image forming apparatus and a control unit connected to each of said image forming apparatus through a communication line.Each of said image forming apparatus includes a detecting device for detecting contents of maintenance work for the image forming apparatus, and a transmitting device for transmitting the work data showing the detected results by the detecting device to the control unit through the communication line. The control unit includes a receiving device for receiving the work data transmitted from one of the image forming apparatus and a memory for storing the received work data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus wherein the copying operation is performed not only in an automatic density specifying mode but also in a manual density specifying mode according to select by an operator. When the ratio of the frequency of select of the manual density specifying mode to the frequency of select of the automatic density specifying mode has exceeded a predetermined value, the image forming apparatus is adapted to execute an image adjustment process by detecting the state of components, for example, charge wires for the purpose of adjusting the density of copy images formed in the automatic density specifying mode.

Abstract: A control system of image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes image forming apparatus and a portable maintenance device connectable thereto. The image forming apparatus transmits first condition data indicating conditions of the apparatus to the portable maintenance device when the portable maintenance device is connected thereto, and the portable maintenance device receives the condition data from the image forming apparatus when it is connected to the image forming apparatus. Also, the portable maintenance device can be input second condition data indicating conditions of the image forming apparatus, and displays at least one piece of stored guide information on the basis of the first and second condition data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming hardcopy images by electrophotographic process using a developing device for toner developing and chargers for charging and discharging by corona discharge, the image forming apparatus having cleaners for removing toner adhering to a charge wire of each charger, each cleaner is operated when a predetermined amount of toner has been supplied to the developing device. In another example, each cleaner is operated when a toner accommodating bottle becomes empty and is detached from the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising a charging section for uniformly charging a surface of a photoconductive body; an image forming section for forming an image on the photoconductive body charged by the charging section; a detecting section for detecting an influx current flowing to the photoconductive body when the photoconductive body is charged by the charging section; and a control section for controlling the image forming section so as to stabilize a quality of images formed by the image forming section.

Abstract: An electrophotographic copying machine adapted to provide a copied image for preparing a master plate for a thermal type stencil printing machine as well as a copied image for other, ordinary use. The copying machine includes an image forming device including a photosensitive member defining a photoconductive layer on a surface thereof, a charging device for charging the surface of the photosensitive member, an exposure device for illuminating an original image and forming on the photosensitive member an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original image, and a developing device for causing a charged toner to electrostatically and selectively adhere to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member.

Abstract: An electrophotographic copying machine capable of producing successively a plurality of identical copies from one electrostatic latent image formed on a photoreceptor carrier, which machine comprises a charge eraser for preventing an electrostatic discharge from ocurring between the photoreceptor drum and a copying paper at a starting point of separation where the copying paper separates from the photoreceptor carrier after a toner image has been transferred onto the copying paper. The charge eraser is arranged so as to confront the separation point.