Abstract: A belt unit is detachably attached to a housing. A holder changes a state of an endless belt by moving a transfer roller between a first state as an endless belt movement state and a second state as a detachment state. The first state allows the endless belt to circulate for image formation, and the second state allows the belt unit to be detached from the housing. The holder moves the transfer roller adjacent supporter independently of the transfer roller and lifts the opening in the endless belt to a prescribed position to expose it to the front side plate.

Abstract: A lubricant supplying device comprises a solid lubricant, a lubricant applicator to scrape and supply the lubricant to a target, and a pressing mechanism to press the solid lubricant against the lubricant applicator. An amount of pressure applied to the solid lubricant by the pressing mechanism increases until one of a thickness of the solid lubricant and a number of printed sheets reaches a prescribed level after the lubricant starts being consumed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transferor, a fixing unit, and a guide. The image carrier carries a toner image. The transferor opposes the image carrier to form a transfer nip and transfers the toner image on the image carrier onto a recording medium at the transfer nip. The fixing unit fixes the toner image on the recording medium. The guide guides the recording medium bearing the toner image from the transferor toward the fixing unit and includes a surface portion directly contacting the recording medium. The surface portion includes a material for charging the recording medium to have a polarity opposite to the polarity of a toner forming the toner image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second belt members, at least one color image carrier, a separate image carrier, a primary transfer member, a secondary transfer mechanism, a direct transfer member, a first image detector to detect positional deviation of transferred images from reference pattern images, and a controller to transfer the reference pattern images formed on the at least one color image carrier and the separate image carrier onto the first belt member or onto the second belt member, convey the reference pattern images to the first image detector, cause the first image detector to detect the reference pattern images, and adjust one or more image forming conditions of the image forming apparatus to prevent positional deviation of the transferred images from the reference pattern images based on detection results obtained by the first image detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes at least one image carrier and a recording medium conveyor forming a transfer nip therebetween, a conveyance member disposed closest to the transfer nip on an upstream side of the transfer nip to convey the recording medium to the transfer nip, and a conveyance control mechanism to deactivate the conveyance member to stop providing a conveyance force to the recording medium after the leading edge of the recording medium has entered the transfer nip and before the trailing edge of the recording medium passes a point of force application and remaining in the inactive state until the recording medium passes the point of force application. The conveyance force remains unapplied to the recording medium from when the conveyance control mechanism deactivates the conveyance member to when the trailing edge of the recording medium passes the transfer nip.

Abstract: A roller device that can be exchangeably used in an image forming apparatus includes a roller, a shaft, and two grip members. The roller is configured to cover the shaft along the rotation axis and have two roller ends from which the two shaft end portions of the shaft are projected outwardly along the rotation axis. A shaft is configured to have a rotation axis at a center thereof and have two shaft end portions. The two grip members are each configured to be rotatably disposed to a respective shaft end portion of the two shaft end portions.

Abstract: A belt unit is detachably attached to a housing. A holder changes a state of an endless belt by moving a transfer roller between a first state as an endless belt movement state and a second state as a detachment state. The first state allows the endless belt to circulate for image formation, and the second state allows the belt unit to be detached from the housing. The holder moves the transfer roller adjacent supporter independently of the transfer roller and lifts the opening in the endless belt to a prescribed position to expose it to the front side plate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism, a transfer mechanism including a first endless belt receiving a toner image formed on an image carrier and a second endless belt receiving the toner image formed on the first endless belt, a first detector to detect a speed of movement of the first endless belt or a toner image transferred at a predetermined position on the first endless belt, a belt speed adjustment unit to adjust a speed of movement of the first endless belt based on results obtained by the first detector, a second detector to detect the toner image transferred at a predetermined position on the second endless belt, and a transfer adjustment unit to adjust a speed of movement of the second endless belt based on results obtained by the second detector.

Abstract: A lubricant supplying device comprises a solid lubricant, a lubricant applicator to scrape and supply the lubricant to a target, and a pressing mechanism to press the solid lubricant against the lubricant applicator. An amount of pressure applied to the solid lubricant by the pressing mechanism increases until one of a thickness of the solid lubricant and a number of printed sheets reaches a prescribed level after the lubricant starts being consumed.

Abstract: In a lubricant applying device, a position adjusting member adjusts relative positions of a lubricant and a rotating member. The rotating member rotates while in contact with the lubricant, receives the lubricant, and applies the lubricant to an image carrier in an image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transferor, a fixing unit, and a guide. The image carrier carries a toner image. The transferor opposes the image carrier to form a transfer nip and transfers the toner image on the image carrier onto a recording medium at the transfer nip. The fixing unit fixes the toner image on the recording medium. The guide guides the recording medium bearing the toner image from the transferor toward the fixing unit and includes a surface portion directly contacting the recording medium. The surface portion includes a material for charging the recording medium to have a polarity opposite to the polarity of a toner forming the toner image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carriers and a transfer assembly. The transfer assembly includes a plurality of transferees, a supporter, and a plurality of transferee holders. The plurality of transferers is each configured to electrostatically transfer a toner image carried on one of the image carriers onto an intermediate transfer member or a recording medium. The supporter is configured to support the transferers. The transferer holders are each configured to hold one of the transferers. Each of the transferee holders and the transferer held thereby form an integrated individual unit independently attachable to and detachable from the supporter.

Abstract: A neutralization unit for use in an image forming apparatus includes a support member made of an insulating material, an electric-charge removing member made of an electric conductive material, and a rib made of an insulating material. The electric-charge removing member, fixed on the support member, removes electric charge from a back face of the recording medium after a toner image is transferred to a front face of a recording medium at a transfer nip. The electric-charge removing member includes a plurality of exposed areas along a longitudinal direction of the electric-charge removing member. The rib, provided on the support member, has a curved peripheral side and protrudes from a surface of the electric-charge removing member. The back face of the recording medium is contactable at the curved peripheral side of the rib when the recording medium is transported from the transfer nip.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second belt members, at least one color image carrier, a separate image carrier, a primary transfer member, a secondary transfer mechanism, a direct transfer member, a first image detector to detect positional deviation of transferred images from reference pattern images, and a controller to transfer the reference pattern images formed on the at least one color image carrier and the separate image carrier onto the first belt member or onto the second belt member, convey the reference pattern images to the first image detector, cause the first image detector to detect the reference pattern images, and adjust one or more image forming conditions of the image forming apparatus to prevent positional deviation of the transferred images from the reference pattern images based on detection results obtained by the first image detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism, a transfer mechanism including a first endless belt receiving a toner image formed on an image carrier and a second endless belt receiving the toner image formed on the first endless belt, a first detector to detect a speed of movement of the first endless belt or a toner image transferred at a predetermined position on the first endless belt, a belt speed adjustment unit to adjust a speed of movement of the first endless belt based on results obtained by the first detector, a second detector to detect the toner image transferred at a predetermined position on the second endless belt, and a transfer adjustment unit to adjust a speed of movement of the second endless belt based on results obtained by the second detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a belt unit having a support roller, a tension roller, a pair of side frames, a belt, and a guiding mechanism. The pair of side frames are configured to support the support roller and the tension roller. The belt extends across the support roller and the tension roller. The guiding mechanism are configured to guide the tension roller of the belt unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes at least one image carrier and a recording medium conveyor forming a transfer nip therebetween, a conveyance member disposed closest to the transfer nip on an upstream side of the transfer nip to convey the recording medium to the transfer nip, and a conveyance control mechanism to deactivate the conveyance member to stop providing a conveyance force to the recording medium after the leading edge of the recording medium has entered the transfer nip and before the trailing edge of the recording medium passes a point of force application and remaining in the inactive state until the recording medium passes the point of force application. The conveyance force remains unapplied to the recording medium from when the conveyance control mechanism deactivates the conveyance member to when the trailing edge of the recording medium passes the transfer nip.

Abstract: A transfer belt is driven by a plurality of supporting rollers. A unit frame supports the supporting rollers in a rotatable manner. At least one of the supporting rollers includes a cylindrical member having a substantially same outer diameter over an entire length thereof. Each end portion of the cylindrical member in a longitudinal direction is supported by the unit frame via a bearing in a rotatable manner.

Abstract: In a lubricant applying device, a position adjusting member adjusts relative positions of a lubricant and a rotating member. The rotating member rotates while in contact with the lubricant, receives the lubricant, and applies the lubricant to an image carrier in an image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A carrier and a dummy toner are stored in a developing unit of a process cartridge in a brand new status. A plurality of process cartridges corresponding to a plurality of color toners is used in common. The color toners are respectively supplied to the developing unit from toner supply units after the process cartridges in the brand new status are installed in installation sections in a main unit of an image forming apparatus.