Abstract: A recording medium conveyance failure occurrence predicting apparatus predicts an occurrence of a conveyance failure of a recording medium conveyed in a conveyance path in an image forming apparatus including a recording medium conveyance member that conveys the recording medium while moving and contacting the recording medium, and a separation portion where the recording medium is separated from the recording medium conveyance member. The recording medium conveyance failure occurrence predicting apparatus includes a recording medium abnormal separation detecting unit that detects an abnormal separation of the recording medium from the recording medium conveyance member, and a determining unit that predicts an occurrence of a conveyance failure of the recording medium in the separation portion based on a detection result of the recording medium abnormal separation detecting unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a plurality of light generators, an image transfer mechanism, a plurality of image forming cartridges corresponding to the plurality of light generators, and a housing including slots corresponding to the light generators. Each image forming cartridge has a photosensitive drum with an exposure position and a transfer position. The exposure position is facing a corresponding light generator and the transfer position is substantially diametrically opposed to the exposure position. The slots are positioned to allow light beams emitted from said light generators to pass therethrough onto the respective exposure positions. The housing is configured to house the plurality of light generators one above another.

Abstract: An abnormality determining apparatus includes an information storing device that stores information, an information obtaining device that obtains information of a detection subject, a receiving device that receives abnormality presence/absence information indicative of the presence or absence of an abnormality in the detection subject detected by a user, a normal group data set constructing device that constructs a normal group data set that is a collection of normal data indicating that the detection subject is in a normal state based on the abnormality presence/absence information received by the receiving device and based on the information obtained by the information obtaining device during a preset period, and a determining device that determines the presence or absence of an abnormality in the detection subject by performing calculations based on the normal group data set stored in the information storing device and based on the information obtained by the information obtaining device.

Abstract: A developing device of the present invention is operable with a two-ingredient type developer by mixing and agitating toner grains and carrier grains to thereby electrify the toner grains. At least the carrier grains are sealed in a space formed in the developing device until the developing device starts being used while the toner grains are introduced in the developing device at the start of use.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming cartridges removably mounted to an apparatus body one above the other is disclosed. Structural members each partition off a space between nearby image forming cartridges mounted to the apparatus body. The apparatus is capable of obviating banding ascribable to the vibration of the cartridges.

Abstract: A charging device includes a case that surrounds a charging unit and has plural ventilating sections, a gas separating unit that varies a component ratio of the air near an opposed portion of a photosensitive member and the charging unit, and a gas electrolyzing unit that electrolyzes moisture of the area near the opposed portion. The gas separating unit has a nitrogen enriching unit that includes a nitrogen enriching film set in a ventilating section and a pressurizing chamber for forming a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the case and supplies a nitrogen enriched air to the inside of the case or an oxygen enriching unit that includes an oxygen enriching film set in another ventilating section and a depressurizing chamber for forming a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the case and exhausts an oxygen enriched air to the outside of the case.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed that is able to improve transfer efficiency and image quality. The image forming apparatus includes an organic photo-conductor with latent images formed thereon, and a developing unit for developing the latent images. The organic photo-conductor has surface friction coefficient less than or equal to 0.3. The developing unit develops the latent images while transporting a two-composition developing agent including a toner T and a carrier C by a traveling wave electric field.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is capable of specifying the type of an occurring abnormality to a certain extent while avoiding the increasingly complicated control that is caused when a plurality of abnormalities is detected individually according to the presence of their respective causes. A normal group data set, which is a collection of normal value combinations relating to grouped information constituted by a plurality of information of differing types, is stored in RAM or ROM serving as information storage means of a control unit. At least two or more sets of grouped information, comprising first grouped information constituted by a plurality of different types of information, and second grouped information constituted by a plurality of information in a different combination to that of the first grouped information, are obtained from the RAM, the ROM, various sensors, and an operation display unit.

Abstract: An abnormality determining apparatus is capable of avoiding mistaken determinations due to the normal value of information obtained by an information obtaining unit differing according to the content of specific information such as the operating mode setting, and deterioration of the determination precision due to a change in the user of a detection subject. The abnormality determining apparatus comprises an information storage unit for storing normal index information serving as an index of a normal state of the detection subject, an information obtaining unit for obtaining a plurality of types of information, and an abnormality determining unit for determining the presence of an abnormality in the detection subject on the basis of the normal index information stored in the information storage unit, and the information obtained by the information obtaining unit. The information storage unit stores a plurality of normal index information having different values.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming cartridges arranged one above another and configured to form an image on a medium. The apparatus also include a transfer belt support unit, including a transfer belt, hingedly attached to the image forming apparatus at a lower end position of the transfer belt support unit and movable between a first position covering the plurality of the image cartridges and a second position uncovering the plurality of the image forming cartridges. Each of the image forming cartridges is configured to be mounted to or dismounted from the image forming apparatus when the transfer belt support unit is in the second position.

Abstract: A process cartridge of the present invention is removably mounted to the body of an image forming apparatus and includes an image carrier and a developing device configured to develop a latent image formed on the image carrier. A cartridge body, forming major part of the process cartridge, is applicable to a developer of any kind stored in the developing device and is mounted to the apparatus body with an identification member indicative of the kind of the developer fitted thereon. With this configuration, the process cartridge can be surely replaced without any mistake and reduces costs necessary for production, inventory control and delivery.

Abstract: In a cleaning device cleans off toners from a surface of an image carrier and a collection roller. The toners have a roundness of 0.96 degrees to 1.00 degrees. The cleaning device includes a brush roller that cleans toners from the image carrier, the collection roller that cleans toners from the brush roller, and a cleaning unit that cleans toner from the collection roller. The cleaning unit includes a blade that abuts a surface of the collection roller; a vibrating unit that vibrates the blade; and an oscillating unit that oscillates the vibrating unit. The cleaning unit cleans off toners by a vibration of a portion of the blade in which portion the blade member contacts with the collection roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a casing, an image forming unit, and an air conditioning device. The image forming unit includes a case accommodating at least a photoconductive element therein and formed with an opening for image transfer via which the photoconductive element is partly exposed to the outside. The opening is the only opening that might allow substances harmful to image formation into the case when the image forming unit is mounted to the casing. The air conditioning device removes the harmful substances flowing into the image forming unit from the outside.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming cartridges removably mounted to an apparatus body one above the other is disclosed. Structural members each partition off a space between nearby image forming cartridges mounted to the apparatus body. The apparatus is capable of obviating banding ascribable to the vibration of the cartridges.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a movable body to be charged and a charger including a charging member that contacts or adjoins the body to be charged and applies a voltage, including an AC component, to the charging member for thereby charging the body. A protection substance for protecting the surface of the body from deterioration ascribable to charging is caused to exist on the body. The number of particular elements, contained in the protection substance and detected by an X-ray photon spectral analyzer (XPS) in a zone where the charging member charges the body, is held in a particular ratio to the total number of all elements constituting the outermost surface of the body and also detected by the XPS.

Abstract: A cleaning device of the present invention is configured to remove toner left on an image carrier after the transfer of a toner image from the image carrier to a recording medium. A rotatable cleaning roller contacts the image carrier for removing the toner left on the image carrier. A rotatable brush roller is positioned upstream of the cleaning roller in the direction of rotation of the image carrier and rubs against the surface of the image carrier and that of the cleaning roller. The cleaning device is free from defective cleaning despite the use of spherical, dry toner grains capable of forming high-quality toner images.

Abstract: A method of forming an image, including emitting a plurality of light beams from a plurality of vertically arranged light emitting devices; passing the plurality of light beams through corresponding slots of a vertical stay; receiving the plurality of light beams which have passed through the corresponding slots of the vertical stay by a plurality of photosensitive surfaces contained in a corresponding plurality of vertically arranged detachable cartridges, thereby forming a plurality of latent images; developing the plurality of latent images into a corresponding plurality of different colored toner images using different colored toner contained in the plurality of detachable cartridges; and transferring each of the plurality of different colored toner images onto a medium by moving the medium in a vertical direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having a plurality of image forming cartridges arranged one above another and configured to form an image on a medium; a plurality of optical writing devices arranged one above another respectively corresponding to the plurality of image forming cartridges and configured to emit light beams to the plurality of image forming cartridges so as to form the image on the medium; and a vertical stay disposed between the plurality of image forming cartridges and optical writing devices and including slots configured to allow the light beams emitted from the plurality of optical writing devices to pass therethrough to the plurality of image forming cartridges.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming cartridges removably mounted to an apparatus body one above the other is disclosed. Structural members each partition off a space between nearby image forming cartridges mounted to the apparatus body. The apparatus is capable of obviating banding ascribable to the vibration of the cartridges.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming cartridges removably mounted to an apparatus body one above the other is disclosed. Structural members each partition off a space between nearby image forming cartridges mounted to the apparatus body. The apparatus is capable of obviating banding ascribable to the vibration of the cartridges.