Abstract: A method for treating a plurality of magnetic recording media with ultraviolet radiation. Each of the magnetic recording media has a magnetic film, a protective film, and a lubricant film on a non-magnetic substrate. The method includes first irradiating all of the magnetic recording media with ultraviolet radiation and then irradiating a group of the magnetic recording media with ultraviolet radiation, which includes less than all of the magnetic recording media.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units that are arranged in parallel so as to be opposed to an intermediate transfer belt or a transfer carriage belt. A black image forming unit that forms a black toner image is arranged at a downstream end or upstream end in the running direction of the intermediate transfer belt or the transfer carriage belt with respect to the other image forming units. The black image forming unit is configured so that its lubricant supplying unit contains a larger amount of lubricant.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a charging device to charge a surface of the image carrier, disposed across a predetermined gap from the image carrier, a latent image forming device, a developing device to develop a latent image formed on the image carrier into a toner image, a transfer unit to transfer the toner image from the image carrier onto a recording medium, a cleaning member to clean the image carrier after the toner image is transferred therefrom, a lubricant application member to lubricate the image carrier, a polarity adjustor to adjust polarities of the toner and lubricant adhering to the image carrier to be identical to a polarity of a charging bias. The polarity adjustor is disposed facing the image carrier, upstream from the charging device and downstream from the transfer unit in a direction in which the image carrier rotates.

Abstract: A method for treating a plurality of magnetic recording media with ultraviolet radiation. Each of the magnetic recording media has a magnetic film, a protective film, and a lubricant film on a non-magnetic substrate. The method includes first irradiating all of the magnetic recording media with ultraviolet radiation and then irradiating a group of the magnetic recording media with ultraviolet radiation, which includes less than all of the magnetic recording media.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating a magnetic recording medium having a magnetic film, a protective film, and a lubricant film on a non-magnetic substrate, with UV radiation. The method includes holding the medium with a resin while irradiating the medium with UV radiation. The apparatus includes a UV irradiation part for irradiating the medium by a UV lamp and a holding part made of resin.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for treating multiple magnetic recording media with ultraviolet radiation from a UV lamp stored in an UV lamp house. The media are stored in a cassette and are individually placed in the UV lamp house for irradiation. Each of the media has a magnetic film, a protective film, and a lubricant film on a non-magnetic substrate. A curtain shields the inside of the UV lamp house from air exterior to the UV lamp house while the media are inserted and removed respectively into and from the UV lamp house. The cassette is set at a distance from the curtain that is within the range of 6 mm to 13 mm while the media are irradiated in the UV lamp house.

Abstract: A lubricant applicator rotatable at multiple different linear velocities, including a rotatable lubricant applying member to scrape a lubricant and to apply the lubricant to a surface of an image carrier rotatable at multiple different linear velocities. Any given linear velocity of the lubricant applying member satisfies a relation of n1/N1>n2/N2> . . . nx/Nx, where N1, N2, . . . Nx (N1<N2< . . . Nx) are the multiple different linear velocities of the image carrier, and n1, n2, . . . nx are multiple linear velocities of the lubricant applying member corresponding to the multiple linear velocities of the image carrier.

Abstract: A cleaning unit, which can be incorporated in a process cartridge removably installable in an image forming apparatus, includes a lubricant applicator to apply lubricant to an image carrier, a first blade disposed upstream from the lubricant applicator in a direction of rotation of the image carrier with its distal end held in contact with the image carrier to remove residual toner remaining on the image carrier, a second blade disposed downstream from the lubricant applicator in the direction of rotation of the image carrier with its distal end held in contact with the image carrier to regulate the amount of lubricant applied to the image carrier, a temperature measuring member to measure a temperature of or near the second blade, a heater, and a temperature controller to control the heater to heat the second blade so that the measured temperature falls within a given set temperature range.

Abstract: A waste toner conveying device includes a first conveying path configured to convey waste toner having paper powder at a low mixed ratio, which is stored in a first cleaning device, outside the first cleaning device, a second conveying path configured to convey second waste toner having a paper powder at a high mixed ration, which is stored in a second cleaning device, outside the second cleaning device, and at least one forwarding path configured to convey the first waste toner conveyed from the first cleaning device through the first conveying path and the second waste toner conveyed from the second cleaning device through the second conveying path are conveyed to a waste toner storage device. The at least one forwarding path is configured to convey the first waste toner conveyed from the first cleaning device through the first conveying path to the waste toner storage device via the second conveying path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units that are arranged in parallel so as to be opposed to an intermediate transfer belt or a transfer carriage belt. A black image forming unit that forms a black toner image is arranged at a downstream end or upstream end in the running direction of the intermediate transfer belt or the transfer carriage belt with respect to the other image forming units. The black image forming unit is configured so that its lubricant supplying unit contains a larger amount of lubricant.

Abstract: A cleaning unit, which can be incorporated in a process cartridge removably installable in an image forming apparatus, includes a lubricant applicator to apply lubricant to an image carrier, a first blade disposed upstream from the lubricant applicator in a direction of rotation of the image carrier with its distal end held in contact with the image carrier to remove residual toner remaining on the image carrier, a second blade disposed downstream from the lubricant applicator in the direction of rotation of the image carrier with its distal end held in contact with the image carrier to regulate the amount of lubricant applied to the image carrier, a temperature measuring member to measure a temperature of or near the second blade, a heater, and a temperature controller to control the heater to heat the second blade so that the measured temperature falls within a given set temperature range.

Abstract: A lubricant applicator rotatable at multiple different linear velocities, including a rotatable lubricant applying member to scrape a lubricant and to apply the lubricant to a surface of an image carrier rotatable at multiple different linear velocities. Any given linear velocity of the lubricant applying member satisfies a relation of n1/N1>n2/N2> . . . nx/Nx, where N1, N2, . . . Nx (N1<N2< . . . Nx) are the multiple different linear velocities of the image carrier, and n1, n2, . . . nx are multiple linear velocities of the lubricant applying member corresponding to the multiple linear velocities of the image carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a charging device to charge a surface of the image carrier, disposed across a predetermined gap from the image carrier, a latent image forming device, a developing device to develop a latent image formed on the image carrier into a toner image, a transfer unit to transfer the toner image from the image carrier onto a recording medium, a cleaning member to clean the image carrier after the toner image is transferred therefrom, a lubricant application member to lubricate the image carrier, a polarity adjustor to adjust polarities of the toner and lubricant adhering to the image carrier to be identical to a polarity of a charging bias. The polarity adjustor is disposed facing the image carrier, upstream from the charging device and downstream from the transfer unit in a direction in which the image carrier rotates.

Abstract: A waste toner conveying device includes a first conveying path configured to convey waste toner having paper powder at a low mixed ratio, which is stored in a first cleaning device, outside the first cleaning device, a second conveying path configured to convey second waste toner having a paper powder at a high mixed ration, which is stored in a second cleaning device, outside the second cleaning device, and at least one forwarding path configured to convey the first waste toner conveyed from the first cleaning device through the first conveying path and the second waste toner conveyed from the second cleaning device through the second conveying path are conveyed to a waste toner storage device. The at least one forwarding path is configured to convey the first waste toner conveyed from the first cleaning device through the first conveying path to the waste toner storage device via the second conveying path.

Abstract: A toner replenishing device includes a toner conveyance path for connecting a toner storing device with a developing device, a toner conveying device for conveying the toner from the toner storing device to the developing device along the toner conveyance path, and an air supplying device connected to the toner conveyance path vie an air supply path for supplying the toner storing device with air from a bottom of the toner storing device so as to agitate the toner pooling in the toner storing device.

Abstract: A toner replenishing device includes a toner conveyance path for connecting a toner storing device with a developing device, a toner conveying device for conveying the toner from the toner storing device to the developing device along the toner conveyance path, and an air supplying device connected to the toner conveyance path vie an air supply path for supplying the toner storing device with air from a bottom of the toner storing device so as to agitate the toner pooling in the toner storing device.

Abstract: A toner replenishing device includes a toner conveyance path for connecting a toner storing device with a developing device, a toner conveying device for conveying the toner from the toner storing device to the developing device along the toner conveyance path, and an air supplying device connected to the toner conveyance path vie an air supply path for supplying the toner storing device with air from a bottom of the toner storing device so as to agitate the toner pooling in the toner storing device.

Abstract: A toner replenishing device includes a toner conveyance path for connecting a toner storing device with a developing device, a toner conveying device for conveying the toner from the toner storing device to the developing device along the toner conveyance path, and an air supplying device connected to the toner conveyance path vie an air supply path for supplying the toner storing device with air from a bottom of the toner storing device so as to agitate the toner pooling in the toner storing device.

Abstract: A toner replenishing device includes a toner conveyance path for connecting a toner storing device with a developing device, a toner conveying device for conveying the toner from the toner storing device to the developing device along the toner conveyance path, and an air supplying device connected to the toner conveyance path vie an air supply path for supplying the toner storing device with air from a bottom of the toner storing device so as to agitate the toner pooling in the toner storing device.

Abstract: A toner replenishing device includes a toner conveyance path for connecting a toner storing device with a developing device, a toner conveying device for conveying the toner from the toner storing device to the developing device along the toner conveyance path, and an air supplying device connected to the toner conveyance path vie an air supply path for supplying the toner storing device with air from a bottom of the toner storing device so as to agitate the toner pooling in the toner storing device.