Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a job acquirer that acquires a print job; a photoconductor including a surface on which a toner image is to be formed; an electrifying member that electrifies the photoconductor; an exposure member that exposes the photoconductor; a developing member that supplies toner to the photoconductor; a cleaner that cleans the photoconductor; and a controller connected to the job acquirer to control the image forming apparatus, wherein the controller computes a first non-toner region that is provided on the surface of the photoconductor when the toner image is formed on the photoconductor, the first non-toner region not containing toner in a longitudinal direction of the surface of the photoconductor, and the controller causes the exposure member and the developing member to form the toner image on the photoconductor and to form a set of toner patches in the first non-toner region.

Abstract: A developing device, includes: a developing sleeve supported rotatably, the developing sleeve having a hollow, substantially cylindrical shape; a magnet part having a substantially columnar shape, the magnet part having magnetic poles disposed side by side around an axis, the magnet part being disposed substantially coaxially with the developing sleeve inside the developing sleeve; a rod fastened to the magnet part, the rod extending from one end in an extending direction of the axis of the magnet part, the rod being pulled out from one axial end of the developing sleeve; and a holder attached to a portion of the rod pulled out from the developing sleeve, the holder being fastened to a fastening target, the holder maintaining the rod, the holder regulating rotation of the magnet part, wherein adjustment of the holder in fastening position enables disposition and holding of the rod at an optional position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a job acquirer that acquires a print job; a photoconductor including a surface on which a toner image is to be formed; an electrifying member that electrifies the photoconductor; an exposure member that exposes the photoconductor; a developing member that supplies toner to the photoconductor; a cleaner that cleans the photoconductor; and a controller connected to the job acquirer to control the image forming apparatus, wherein the controller computes a first non-toner region that is provided on the surface of the photoconductor when the toner image is formed on the photoconductor, the first non-toner region not containing toner in a longitudinal direction of the surface of the photoconductor, and the controller causes the exposure member and the developing member to form the toner image on the photoconductor and to form a set of toner patches in the first non-toner region.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrying member and first and second conveyance members. The first conveyance member conveys a developer in a first direction through a first conveyance path to the developer carrying member. The second conveyance member conveys the developer in a second direction through a second conveyance path included in a circulation path along with the first conveyance path. The second conveyance member has a helical second screw around a second shaft. The second conveyance path includes a developer replenishing port and a developer discharge port. The second screw is approximately constant in diameter in a second section being a portion extending a predetermined distance from an end of the discharge port in the second direction when viewed in a top view. The second screw conveys the developer at a lower speed in the second section than on an upstream side with respect to the second section.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: a charging unit configured to apply charging bias voltage to a charging member and charge a surface of an image carrying body; an exposure unit configured to expose the surface of the image carrying body, and form an electrostatic latent image; a developing unit configured to apply developing bias voltage to a developer carrying body, and develop the electrostatic latent image; and a control unit configured to control timing to start applying the developing bias voltage relative to timing to start applying the charging bias voltage, wherein the control unit performs control such that the larger an absolute value of the charging bias voltage is, the shorter an interval from timing to start applying the charging bias voltage to timing to start applying the developing bias voltage becomes, and such that the smaller the absolute value is, the longer the interval becomes.

Abstract: There are provided a developing device including a developing roller to develop an image carrier by use of a two-component developer and a developing bias power source, and an image forming apparatus using the developing device. The developing device further includes a variable resistance unit provided on a bias apply path to apply a bias from the developing power source to the developing roller, and a resistance controller to control a resistance value of the variable resistance unit based on a charge amount signal indicating a toner's charge amount in a developer layer on the developing roller. The resistance controller provides a low mode to lower the resistance of the variable resistance unit and a high mode to enhance the resistance. The low mode is set if the toner charge amount is low, and the high mode is set if the toner charge amount is high.

Abstract: A damage amount determination device, which is used for an image forming device that forms an image on paper, includes an information acquisition unit that acquires information related to whiteness of the paper used for printing and a damage amount determination unit that determines an amount of damage, which is caused by the paper to a predetermined component of the image forming device when the paper passes through the predetermined component, based on the information related to the whiteness.

Abstract: A developing apparatus that develops an electrostatic latent image on an image supporting body using developer including toner and carrier includes a circulation path where the developer circulates, a discharge path connected to the circulation path through which some of the developer passes, and a first recycle path connected to the discharge path and allowing some of the developer flowing into the discharge path to return to the circulation path. The discharge path includes a discharge opening for discharging the developer flowing into the discharge path, and a first return opening for connecting to the first recycle path. The first return opening is located on an upper side in a vertical direction with respect to the discharge opening and located on an upstream side in a pass-through direction of the developer flowing into the discharge path.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: a charging unit configured to apply charging bias voltage to a charging member and charge a surface of an image carrying body; an exposure unit configured to expose the surface of the image carrying body, and form an electrostatic latent image; a developing unit configured to apply developing bias voltage to a developer carrying body, and develop the electrostatic latent image; and a control unit configured to control timing to start applying the developing bias voltage relative to timing to start applying the charging bias voltage, wherein the control unit performs control such that the larger an absolute value of the charging bias voltage is, the shorter an interval from timing to start applying the charging bias voltage to timing to start applying the developing bias voltage becomes, and such that the smaller the absolute value is, the longer the interval becomes.

Abstract: There are provided a developing device comprising a developing roller to develop an image carrier by use of a two-component developer and a developing bias power source, and an image forming apparatus using the developing device. The developing device further includes a variable resistance unit provided on a bias apply path to apply a bias from the developing power source to the developing roller, and a resistance controller to control a resistance value of the variable resistance unit based on a charge amount signal indicating a toner's charge amount in a developer layer on the developing roller. The resistance controller provides a low mode to lower the resistance of the variable resistance unit and a high mode to enhance the resistance. The low mode is set if the toner charge amount is low, and the high mode is set if the toner charge amount is high.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrying member and first and second conveyance members. The first conveyance member conveys a developer in a first direction through a first conveyance path to the developer carrying member. The second conveyance member conveys the developer in a second direction through a second conveyance path included in a circulation path along with the first conveyance path. The second conveyance member has a helical second screw around a second shaft. The second conveyance path includes a developer replenishing port and a developer discharge port. The second screw is approximately constant in diameter in a second section being a portion extending a predetermined distance from an end of the discharge port in the second direction when viewed in a top view. The second screw conveys the developer at a lower speed in the second section than on an upstream side with respect to the second section.

Abstract: A fitting structure for fitting a plate-form member to a fitting destination member such that a position of the plate-form member relative to a target member is adjustable, the fitting structure has an adjustment pin inserted, in a fashion movable in a position adjustment direction, in an adjustment hole formed in the plate-form member; and a screw member for fastening the plate-form member to the fitting destination member, wherein a direction of a force of the screw member that acts upon the plate-form member when the screw member is in a position where the screw member fastens the plate-form member points from a side where a gap formed between the adjustment pin and the adjustment hole is smaller to a side where the gap is larger.

Abstract: A developing apparatus that develops an electrostatic latent image on an image supporting body, using developer including toner and carrier, includes: a circulation path where the developer circulates; a discharge path which is connected to the circulation path and through which some of the developer passes; and a first recycle path connected to the discharge path and allowing some of the developer flowing into the discharge path to return to the circulation path, wherein the discharge path is provided with: a discharge opening for discharging the developer flowing into the discharge path; and a first return opening for connecting to the first recycle path, and the first return opening is located on an upper side in a vertical direction with respect to the discharge opening and located on an upstream side in a pass-through direction of the developer flowing into the discharge path.

Abstract: A damage amount determination device, which is used for an image forming device that forms an image on paper, includes an information acquisition unit that acquires information related to whiteness of the paper used for printing and a damage amount determination unit that determines an amount of damage, which is caused by the paper to a predetermined component of the image forming device when the paper passes through the predetermined component, based on the information related to the whiteness.

Abstract: A fitting structure for fitting a plate-form member to a fitting destination member such that a position of the plate-form member relative to a target member is adjustable, the fitting structure has an adjustment pin inserted, in a fashion movable in a position adjustment direction, in an adjustment hole formed in the plate-form member; and a screw member for fastening the plate-form member to the fitting destination member, wherein a direction of a force of the screw member that acts upon the plate-form member when the screw member is in a position where the screw member fastens the plate-form member points from a side where a gap formed between the adjustment pin and the adjustment hole is smaller to a side where the gap is larger.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: sensor detecting light intensity and output voltage based on the light intensity; data acquisition part setting reference voltages for the sensor to detect light intensity of bare surface of intermediate transfer member, acquiring, at set reference voltage, voltage output by the sensor on the bare surface as detection data; storage storing the detection data corresponding to the reference voltages; judgment part judging whether to perform image density correction processing; voltage calibration part adjusting output level at light intensity detection; density acquisition part forming toner pattern, and acquiring density data of the toner pattern by causing the sensor having adjusted output level to detect its light intensity; density data correction part reading one piece of detection data referring to output level, and correcting the density data based on the detection data; and image density correction part performing the processing based on the density data.

Abstract: A toner image is formed on an image carrier using a toner supplied from a developing roller to which a controlled bias voltage is applied; the toner image is primarily transferred onto an intermediate transfer member; the toner image is secondarily transferred onto a recording sheet using a transfer voltage applied to the secondary transfer roller; and the bias voltage is applied to the secondary transfer roller as a cleaning voltage necessary for cleaning the secondary transfer roller; and the toner adhered to a circumferential surface of the secondary transfer roller is reversely transferred onto the intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: sensor detecting light intensity and output voltage based on the light intensity; data acquisition part setting reference voltages for the sensor to detect light intensity of bare surface of intermediate transfer member, acquiring, at set reference voltage, voltage output by the sensor on the bare surface as detection data; storage storing the detection data corresponding to the reference voltages; judgment part judging whether to perform image density correction processing; voltage calibration part adjusting output level at light intensity detection; density acquisition part forming toner pattern, and acquiring density data of the toner pattern by causing the sensor having adjusted output level to detect its light intensity; density data correction part reading one piece of detection data referring to output level, and correcting the density data based on the detection data; and image density correction part performing the processing based on the density data.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus comprises an intermediate transfer member having a hard release layer on the surface that receives a primarily transferred toner image from a latent image-supporting member on the hard release layer and secondarily transfers the toner image to an image-receiving medium, wherein, when the difference ??sd between the dispersion-force component of surface free energy of the intermediate transfer member surface ?sd(itm) and the dispersion-force component of surface free energy of the latent image-supporting member surface ?sd(pc) is defined by the following Formula: ??sd=?sd(pc)??sd(itm), ??sd is 5 mN/m or less.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus, including: a latent-image supporting member, and an intermediate transfer member that supports a toner image primarily-transferred thereon from the latent-image supporting member, secondarily-transfers the supported toner image onto an image receiving medium, and has a hard releasing layer on the surface thereof, and a ratio Rv (Vbt/Vpc) between a surface moving speed Vbt of the intermediate transfer member and a peripheral speed Vpc of the latent-image supporting member satisfies the following relational expression: ?5×10?6×Hu+1.0087?Rv??5×10?6×Hu+1.0167 wherein Hu is a universal hardness (N/mm2) of the surface of the intermediate transfer member, and is set to 220 N/mm2 or more.