Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a cleaner, and a controller. The image carrier holds an image on a surface thereof. The cleaner cleans the surface of the image carrier. The controller forms, at timing at which a developer is fed to the cleaner, a feeder image that feeds the developer to the cleaner. The feeder image includes toner whose amount is smaller on a downstream side than on an upstream side in a travel direction of the image carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a cleaner, and a controller. The image carrier holds an image on a surface thereof. The cleaner cleans the surface of the image carrier. The controller forms, at timing at which a developer is fed to the cleaner, a feeder image that feeds the developer to the cleaner. The feeder image includes toner whose amount is smaller on a downstream side than on an upstream side in a travel direction of the image carrier.

Abstract: A developing device includes a first developer holder and a second developer holder. The first developer holder is disposed so as to face an image holding member and rotates so as to move in a direction opposite to a direction of movement of the image holding member at a first facing portion. The second developer holder is disposed downstream from the first developer holder in the direction of movement of the image holding member so as to face the image holding member and rotates so as to move in the same direction as the image holding member moves at a second facing portion. A value obtained by dividing an amount of developer per unit area held on the first developer holder by a shortest distance between the image holding member and the first developer holder is approximately in a range from 1.00×103 kg/m3 to 1.60×103 kg/m3.

Abstract: A power control system includes an image forming apparatus, a power calculating unit, and a condition controller. The image forming apparatus operates using power, forms an image corresponding to image information in a first operation mode, and enters a second operation mode in which power consumption is smaller than the first operation mode when the image forming apparatus satisfies a specific transition condition. The power calculating unit calculates power supplied from a power supplying unit. The condition controller controls the specific transition condition for the image forming apparatus in accordance with the power calculated by the power calculating unit.

Abstract: A transfer device includes an endless intermediate transfer belt that moves circularly, a first rotating body pressed into contact with the inner surface of the belt, and a second rotating body disposed at a position facing the first rotating body to contact with the outer surface of the belt. The belt includes a first pressing section that is in contact with the second rotating body due to a first pressure from the first rotating body such that a toner image that has been first-transferred to the outer surface of the belt is second-transferred onto a recording medium that passes between the belt and the second rotating body and a second pressing section that is in contact with the second rotating body due to a second pressure smaller than the first pressure on the upstream side of the first pressing section in the belt movement direction.

Abstract: A rotation shaft coupling structure includes a roller drive shaft including a recessed portion having an internal thread; a rotation roller including a coupling member housing the recessed portion of the roller drive shaft; and a coupling shaft extending through the rotation roller in the axial direction. The coupling shaft includes a threaded portion at a first end portion thereof, the threaded portion mating with the internal thread of the recessed portion, and the coupling shaft couples the roller drive shaft and the rotation roller to each other. The first end portion of the coupling shaft in the axial direction is joined to the roller drive shaft and the rotation roller in the coupling member of the rotation roller, and a second end portion of the coupling shaft in the axial direction is a free end that allows the coupling shaft to extend and contract in the axial direction.

Abstract: A transfer device includes an endless intermediate transfer belt that moves circularly, a first rotating body pressed into contact with the inner surface of the belt, and a second rotating body disposed at a position facing the first rotating body to contact with the outer surface of the belt. The belt includes a first pressing section that is in contact with the second rotating body due to a first pressure from the first rotating body such that a toner image that has been first-transferred to the outer surface of the belt is second-transferred onto a recording medium that passes between the belt and the second rotating body and a second pressing section that is in contact with the second rotating body due to a second pressure smaller than the first pressure on the upstream side of the first pressing section in the belt movement direction.

Abstract: A drive includes a driving shaft that includes a distal end portion having a screw hole at a distal end and being inserted into a hollow portion from a first end of a driving roller in a rotation-axis direction, and that transmits a rotational driving force to the driving roller through a fit portion; a spring washer arranged at a second end of the driving roller opposite to the first end in the rotation-axis direction; and a screw rod that has an external thread which is screwed into the screw hole, that is inserted into the spring washer and inserted into the hollow portion from the second end, and that pinches the driving roller between the screw rod and the fit portion of the driving shaft in the rotation-axis direction through the spring washer when the external thread is screwed into the screw hole.

Abstract: A developing device includes a first developer holder and a second developer holder. The first developer holder is disposed so as to face an image holding member and rotates so as to move in a direction opposite to a direction of movement of the image holding member at a first facing portion. The second developer holder is disposed downstream from the first developer holder in the direction of movement of the image holding member so as to face the image holding member and rotates so as to move in the same direction as the image holding member moves at a second facing portion. A value obtained by dividing an amount of developer per unit area held on the first developer holder by a shortest distance between the image holding member and the first developer holder is approximately in a range from 1.00×103 kg/m3 to 1.60×103 kg/m3.

Abstract: A power control system includes an image forming apparatus, a power calculating unit, and a condition controller. The image forming apparatus operates using power, forms an image corresponding to image information in a first operation mode, and enters a second operation mode in which power consumption is smaller than the first operation mode when the image forming apparatus satisfies a specific transition condition. The power calculating unit calculates power supplied from a power supplying unit. The condition controller controls the specific transition condition for the image forming apparatus in accordance with the power calculated by the power calculating unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer member onto a front side of which an image is transferred, a rotary member around which the transfer member is wrapped, a guide member provided at an end portion of an axial direction of the rotary member, a regulating member, a first reference mark, a second reference mark, a first detector, a second detector, and a controller. The regulating member is located on a reverse side of the transfer member, and restricts skew of the transfer member by contacting the guide member. The first and second reference marks are on edge sides of the transfer member in the axial direction of the rotary member. The first and second detectors detect the first and second reference marks, respectively. The controller controls alignment of the image on the transfer member in accordance with a detection result of the first and second detectors.

Abstract: A drive includes a driving shaft that includes a distal end portion having a screw hole at a distal end and being inserted into a hollow portion from a first end of a driving roller in a rotation-axis direction, and that transmits a rotational driving force to the driving roller through a fit portion; a spring washer arranged at a second end of the driving roller opposite to the first end in the rotation-axis direction; and a screw rod that has an external thread which is screwed into the screw hole, that is inserted into the spring washer and inserted into the hollow portion from the second end, and that pinches the driving roller between the screw rod and the fit portion of the driving shaft in the rotation-axis direction through the spring washer when the external thread is screwed into the screw hole.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer member onto a front side of which an image is transferred, a rotary member around which the transfer member is wrapped, a guide member provided at an end portion of an axial direction of the rotary member, a regulating member, a first reference mark, a second reference mark, a first detector, a second detector, and a controller. The regulating member is located on a reverse side of the transfer member, and restricts skew of the transfer member by contacting the guide member. The first and second reference marks are on edge sides of the transfer member in the axial direction of the rotary member. The first and second detectors detect the first and second reference marks, respectively. The controller controls alignment of the image on the transfer member in accordance with a detection result of the first and second detectors.

Abstract: A double-sided image forming method is disclosed which comprising; a first image primary transfer step (A) for transferring a first image (T1) carried by a first image carrier (1) to a first intermediate transfer member (2); a second image primary transfer step (B) for transferring a second image (T2) carried by a second image carrier (3) to a second intermediate transfer member (4); and a secondary image transfer step (C) for secondarily transferring the primarily transferred images (T1) and (T2) from the respective intermediate transfer members (2) and (4) to both sides of recording material (5), in the area where the first intermediate transfer material (2) and the second intermediate transfer material (4) come into contact with or in proximity to each other.