Abstract: A system includes an optical transmitter package comprising an optical transmitter to generate optical transmission signals based on electrical transmission signals. The system also includes an optical receiver package comprising an optical receiver to generate electrical reception signals based on optical reception signals. The system further includes a printed circuit board (PCB) on which the optical transmitter package and the optical receiver package are mounted. The PCB includes a heat generating circuit component. The optical transmitter package can be mounted to the PCB to subjected to less heat from the heat generating circuit component than the optical receiver package.

Abstract: A method of registering a wireless device located in premises in a wireless network which is constructed in the premises. The method includes receiving a light signal, which includes network identification information of the wireless network constructed in the premises from at least one illumination device installed in the premises, and registering the wireless device in the wireless network constructed in the premises, by using the network identification information of the wireless network included in the received light signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a visible light communication system including a transmission device, including multiple light emitting units emitting light of different colors and mapping transmission data to a chromaticity point, calculating luminescence of each of the light emitting units, generating a preamble signal for channel matrix estimation, and emitting light based on the preamble signal and calculated luminescence amount. A reception device of the visible light communication system includes multiple light receiving units and estimates a channel matrix based on a corresponding optical signal when an optical signal corresponding to the preamble signal is received in each light receiving unit, compensates the optical signal corresponding to the chromaticity point for a propagation path based on the estimated channel matrix, detects a chromaticity point on the chromaticity coordinates based on a signal after the propagation path compensation, and demodulates the transmission data.

Abstract: Provided is an optical receiver including a first delay interferometer, a second delay interferometer, and an input light splitting portion for inputting modulated light. The first delay interferometer includes a first light splitting portion for splitting the input light into first light and second light, a first reflecting portion and a second reflecting portion for causing the first light and the second light to return to the first light splitting portion. The second delay interferometer includes a second light splitting portion for splitting the input light into third light and fourth light, a third reflecting portion and a fourth reflecting portion for causing the third light and the fourth light to return to the second light splitting portion. A region between the first light splitting portion and the second reflecting portion intersects with a region between the second light splitting portion and the fourth reflecting portion.

Abstract: In a developing cartridge, a first supporting member is attached to a housing and has a first developing supporting portion and a driving-force-receiving-member supporting portion, the first developing supporting portion being configured to rotatably support a first part of a rotational shaft, the driving-force-receiving-member supporting portion being configured to rotatably support a driving-force-receiving member. The second supporting member is attached to the housing and has a second developing supporting portion and a detection-rotational-body supporting portion, the second developing supporting portion being configured to rotatably support a second part of the rotational shaft, the detection-rotational-body supporting portion being configured to rotatably support a detection rotational body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of distinguishing whether paper material retained in a sheet conveying path is an original or a recording material. An image forming apparatus includes an image reading unit that reads an original, a photosensitive drum that forms an image on a recording sheet, and a main motor and a double-sided-printing drive motor which convey the original and the recording sheet. Paper sheet sensors detect an occurrence of a jam of the original or the recording sheet. When a paper jam is detected, a CPU controls a display section to display a plurality of sheets retained in a conveying path, in a manner distinguishing between the original and the recording material.

Abstract: For each of N imaginary regions divided at predetermined intervals in the direction of the rotation shaft of a developer roller (12), the amount of toner consumed when an image is formed is previously calculated. Then, the same amount of toner as a toner consumption amount calculated for each imaginary region is supplied to a development device (2) earlier by a time in which the toner supplied from a toner hopper (5) is transported to each imaginary region than at the time of the development. Thus, it is possible to maintain a toner concentration within the development device within a predetermined range without the toner being dispersed and an image formation speed being reduced even if an image having a high print rate is formed.

Abstract: According to embodiments, an image forming apparatus has a sensor that scans a sheet to detect an identifier on the sheet, which indicates the presence, and orientation, of a form on the sheet, a memory that holds a reference pattern of the identifier, a control section that is configured to compare the identifier detected by the sensor and the reference pattern and determine the orientation of the form, and an image forming unit that form an image on the sheet. The image forming unit is configured to form the image so that the orientation of the image conforms to the orientation of the form.

Abstract: A method of measuring a total amount of latent image charge includes: scanning a sample with a charged particle beam, the sample having a charge distribution on a surface of the sample, the charge distribution being caused by forming an electrostatic latent image by exposure; measuring a state of a surface charge distribution on the sample based on a detection signal obtained by the scanning; obtaining an electric potential at a potential saddle point, the potential saddle point being formed by the surface charge distribution of the sample; obtaining an electrostatic latent image area, the electrostatic latent image being formed by the surface charge distribution of the sample; and performing a calculation using the electric potential at the potential saddle point and the electrostatic latent image area to measure a total amount of electric charge of the electrostatic latent image.

Abstract: A method for calibrating specialty toner, the method includes providing a substrate; depositing an invariant or substantially invariant laydown of a color toner on the substrate; depositing a varying laydown of the specialty toner; fusing the color toner and specialty toner to the substrate; measuring a color response signal of the substrate, color toner, and specialty toner; calculating a color response curve as function of the varying laydown of the specialty toner; comparing the color response curve to a target color response curve; and modifying printing parameters of the specialty toner to set the color response curve equal to or substantially equal to the target color response curve.

Abstract: An induction heating fusing device and an image forming apparatuses that may control even a very small current region by tracking a resonance frequency to perform PWM control and phase control without considering a deviation of a part constant or a temperature change are provided. The induction heating fusing device includes: a serial resonance circuit having an induction coil and a condenser; a phase comparator, a phase controller, a resonance frequency tracking oscillator, and a PWM (pulse width modulation) signal generator. The phase comparator compares a phase of a pulse outputted by the PWM signal generator with a phase of current flowing through the induction coil, outputs a comparison result obtained by the comparing to the phase controller when controlling the phase, and outputs the comparison result to the resonance frequency tracking oscillator when performing PWM control.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit. The fixing unit performs a fixing process selectively using a first fixing energy and a second fixing energy. The first fixing energy is used for a transparent recording medium having thereon an image and a light-shielding layer superposed on the image, the light-shielding layer being substantially impervious to light. The second fixing energy is used for a transparent recording medium having the image thereon but not having the light-shielding layer thereon. The first fixing energy is lower than the second fixing energy.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a power control method thereof, the power control method of an image forming apparatus which includes a finisher to perform at least one of finishing jobs including arranging, sorting, grouping, folding, stapling, binding, and punching a print medium which is ejected after an image is formed thereon, the power control method including: determining whether or not a power mode of the image forming apparatus meets requirements for entering a power save mode in which power supplied to a part of elements of the image forming apparatus is shut off; determining whether or not the image forming apparatus has an ongoing job if the requirements for entering the power save mode are met; and entering the image forming apparatus in the power save mode while the power supply to the finisher is maintained if the image forming apparatus has the ongoing job.

Abstract: A constant current-type high-voltage power supply apparatus which is used in an image forming apparatus includes a leakage current detection unit that detects a leakage current leaked from at least one output terminal of the constant current-type high-voltage power supply apparatus and outputs the detected leakage current, a direct current voltage output unit that outputs different direct current (DC) voltages according to whether the leakage current detected by the leakage current detection unit is input, and a power control unit that controls power supply to the constant current-type high-voltage power supply apparatus according to the output DC voltage.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus that is operable by AC power and DC power. The image processing apparatus includes a fixing heater section for heating a recording sheet having toner transferred thereon so as to fuse the toner onto the sheet and a plurality of electronic circuits. An AC power supply circuit section receives AC power from an AC power supply line. A DC power supply circuit section receives DC power from a DC power supply line. A power supply unit supplies the AC power received by the AC power supply circuit section to the fixing heater section, and the DC power received by the DC power supply circuit section to the plurality of electronic circuits.

Abstract: A processing apparatus that an uninterruptible power supply system supplies power to and carries out a process. The processing apparatus includes an electric energy amount determination part that determines, based on a charged amount of electric energy in the uninterruptible power supply system, an amount of maximum electric energy that the uninterruptible power supply system can supply; and a function selection part that selects, depending on the amount of maximum electric energy, functions that can be used for carrying out the process.

Abstract: A rotor support structure includes: an operable unit including a rotor and a casing rotatably supporting the rotor; a support member includes a support member main body configured to accommodate therein the operable unit, and an attachment part to attach the support member main body to a base; and a press part configured, when the support member with the operable unit accommodated therein is attached to the base, to press the operable unit to hold the operable unit in the support member main body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a fixing unit including a heating rotational body, and configured to perform heat-fixing by putting a sheet having an unfixed-image formed thereon in contact with the heating rotational body; and a mechanism including a plate-like water droplet guiding member and a condensation collection container, and configured to receive water droplets at an upper surface of the water droplet guiding member, guide the water droplets towards the condensation collection container, and collect the water droplets at the condensation collection container, the water droplets generated above the fixing unit by condensation of water vapor that rises from the sheet during the heat-fixing and falling therefrom. When viewing the image forming apparatus from above in a vertical direction, the condensation collection container is disposed outside a sheet passing region in a sheet width direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main body having a pinch roller; a supporting member configured to support a plurality of cartridges; and a cleaning unit provided on the supporting member. The supporting member is movable, relative to the main body, between an internal position located inside the main body and an external position located outside the main body. The cleaning unit includes: a paper dust roller for removing paper dust from recording sheets; a paper dust removing member for removing the paper dust; and a storing section for string the paper dust. The paper dust roller is movable relative to the supporting member and positioning of the paper dust roller relative to the pinch roller is independent of positioning of the supporting member relative to the main body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a roller pair, a paper dust collecting member, a scraping member, and a paper dust receiver. The paper dust collecting member can be drawn out from the apparatus main body and is disposed along an axis direction of the roller pair so as to collect paper dust adhered to one roller of the roller pair. The scraping member scrapes off paper dust adhered to the paper dust collecting member when the paper dust collecting member is moved in a draw-out direction. The paper dust receiver is disposed below the scraping member so as to receive the paper dust scraped off by the scraping member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a lubricant applying member located opposite a contact portion of a cleaning blade with an image bearing member below in the vertical direction, an opposed position of the lubricant applying member opposite the contact portion of the cleaning blade with the image bearing member below in the vertical direction being located upstream of a contact position of the lubricant applying member with a cleaning member in the rotational direction of the lubricant applying member, and a carrying member configured to carry the toner removed from the lubricant applying member, the carrying member being disposed at a position on a tangent to an outer circumference of the lubricant applying member at a contact position with the cleaning member and on a vertical line extending from a contact position of the lubricant applying member with a solid lubricant member.

Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning a cleaning subject, having: a first cleaning member that rotates in a predetermined direction, thereby removing toner from the cleaning subject; a first collecting member that collects the toner removed by the first cleaning member; and a second collecting member that is positioned downstream from the first collecting member in the predetermined direction and collects the toner removed by the first cleaning member, in which, a potential difference of the first collecting member relative to the first cleaning member is opposite in polarity to a potential difference of the second collecting member relative to the first cleaning member, the first collecting member has a potential equal in polarity to that of the first cleaning member, and the potential of the first collecting member is greater in magnitude than the potential of the first cleaning member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a chassis having a first opening on a first side, a cover, movable between an open position and a closed position, a plurality of photosensitive members, an intermediate transfer belt, a plurality of primary transfer members, a secondary transfer roller, a first feed roller, a cleaner device, a waste toner container, which is removably installed in the chassis through the first opening and settled in a position opposite from the plurality of photosensitive members across the intermediate transfer belt, to store residual toner collected by the cleaner device, a connector, a first feeding path, a second feeding path, and a second feed roller. The second feed roller is rotatably supported by the cover and movable along with the cover to yield the first opening to the waste toner container when the cover is in the open position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a chassis, photosensitive members, an intermediate transfer belt including a first plane and a second plane, a waste toner container, a first feeding path extending between a first feed roller and a secondary-transfer roller, a second feeding path being a path for a recording sheet inserted through a sheet inlet, a second feed roller arranged in an overlapping position to at least partially overlap with the waste toner container when viewed along a horizontal plane and in a position out of a course of the waste toner container being installed in and removed from the chassis. The second plane of the intermediate transfer belt extends downwardly in an inclined angle with respect to the first plane. The waste toner container is movable along the second plane of the intermediate transfer belt to be settled in the chassis.

Abstract: An image scanner section is disposed above a printer section. The image scanner section is supported by the printer section in such a manner as to be pivotable about a pivotal axis. The printer section has a lower housing having a substantially rectangular shape as viewed from above. The image scanner section has an upper housing having a substantially rectangular shape as viewed from above. The upper housing and the lower housing are configured such that a second upper corner portion, which is a corner portion of the upper housing, projects beyond a second lower corner portion, which is a corner portion of the lower housing and is located just under the second upper corner portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of preventing the image formation unit from being attached to a guide member for the image formation unit mistakenly, including an apparatus body; an image carrier including a rotary shaft; an exposure device configured to form a latent image through exposure of a surface of the image carrier and retractable from an exposure position; an image formation unit disposed detachably from the apparatus body; and a guide member to guide the exposure device to the exposure position. In the optimal apparatus, the guide member is used both to guide the image formation unit to the apparatus body and to guide the exposure device to the exposure position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include a moving unit configured to support a cartridge and to slide in a generally horizontal direction between multiple positions. For example, the positions may include a position where the moving unit is located inside the main body and a position where the moving unit is located outside the main body. Additionally or alternatively, the moving unit may also move between one interior position and another interior position located below the one interior position. The moving unit may be configured to electrically connect electrical contacts between the moving unit and a main body of the image forming apparatus based on its movement. In one example, the moving unit may include two electrical contacts disposed in the sliding direction of the unit, the electrical contacts configured to connect with electrical contacts of the main body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a photosensitive drum, a charger for uniformly charging a surface of the drum, an optical head for irradiating the surface of the drum with light to change a charging state of the drum surface, and a developing device for causing a toner to adhere on the surface of the drum in accordance with the charging state. The charger has a grid with two wire fixing portions each provided with two grooves, a first discharge wire fitted in one of the two grooves of each wire fixing portion, and a second discharge wire fitted in the other of the two grooves of each wire fixing portion. The two grooves of each wire fixing portion are arranged relative to the grid so that the first and second discharge wires are arranged parallel to one another along a substantial center in a width direction of the grid.

Abstract: An image carrier includes a tubular image carrier body to carry an image on an outer circumferential surface thereof, a shaft disposed inside the image carrier body, a first flange mounted on the shaft, and a second flange spaced apart from the first flange in an axial direction of the image carrier and mounted on the shaft. Each of the first flange and the second flange includes a through-hole contacting the shaft, a first engagement portion to engage a lateral end of the image carrier body in the axial direction of the image carrier, and a second engagement portion, constituting at least a part of the through-hole, to engage the shaft. The second engagement portion is disposed inboard from the first engagement portion in the axial direction of the image carrier.

Abstract: A moving device includes a rotary member rotatably supported by a frame of the image forming apparatus to move a latent image forming device between a first position at which the latent image forming device forms a latent image on a latent image bearing member and a second position at which the latent image forming device is separated from the latent image bearing member, a biasing member for biasing the rotary member, and a restriction member for restricting rotation of the rotary member in a state in which the latent image forming device is at the first position. A direction of the force of the biasing member is changed from a stopping direction in which rotation of the rotary member is stopped to a direction opposite the stopping direction while the rotary member is rotated to move the latent image forming device from the second position to the first position.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a metal plate, an endless belt, a rotating body, and a stay. The metal plate has a main part comprising a first end portion, a second end portion, and a center portion positioned therebetween and having rigidity higher than that of the first end portion and the second end portion. The endless belt has an inner peripheral surface configured to be in sliding contact with the metal plate. The main part is aligned with the rotating body in a direction from the metal plate to the rotating body. The stay is disposed opposite to the nip region with respect to the metal plate. The stay and the main part of the metal plate are deformable upon application of the load to the stay such that the main part provides a convex shape protruding toward the rotating body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a structure having an image formation device to form an image, a cover pivotally attached to the structure around a rotary shaft, and an opening angle restricting device to restrict an opening angle of the cover regarding the structure. The opening angle restricting device includes a pivotable cover rotation restriction member coaxially arranged with the rotary shaft to contact a downstream side of the pivotable cover in a cover opening direction at its first end to restrict the rotation of the pivotable cover in the opening direction.

Abstract: A process unit includes an image carrier having a surface which includes a main surface and a projection portion, and a cleaning member to remove developer on the surface of the image carrier. The projection portion is provided at least at one end portion of the main surface and includes a rising surface rising up from the main surface. The cleaning member is in contact with the main surface, the rising surface, and a border between the main surface and the rising surface.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor is removably installed and used in a device main unit of an electrophotography application device so as to form a process cartridge. The device main unit includes a driving-side power transmission portion. The photoreceptor includes a photosensitive drum including a cylindrical conductive base having a photosensitive layer containing a photoconductive material. A flange is fitted to the photosensitive drum. The flange includes a driven-side driving force transmission portion that has a cylindrical member and engaging protrusions. The flange transmits to the photosensitive drum a rotational driving force from the driving-side power transmission portion. A center of the cylindrical member is disposed on a central axis of the photosensitive drum. The protrusions are parallel to the central axis at positions on the outer periphery of the cylindrical member that trisect the cylindrical member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a charging member which has a low compression set and which can suppress the generation of image defects. A layer of an unvulcanized rubber composition including an unvulcanized acrylonitrile butadiene rubber and N,N?-methylenebis(1,4-phenylene)dimaleimide is vulcanized.

Abstract: A developer conveying device includes a housing, a developer conveyance path and a conveying member. The developer conveyance path extends between the pair of wall portions of the housing. The conveying member conveys developer from one wall portion toward the other. The conveying member includes a spiral member, shaft portions, a rib member, a supporting member and a projecting portion. The spiral member is formed by connecting spiral pieces in a conveying direction of the developer and includes a hollow interior formed by the connected spiral pieces. The rib member extends in the conveying direction and bridges adjacent ones of the spiral pieces of the spiral member. The supporting member connects an end part of the rib member in the conveying direction and the shaft portion. The projecting portion projects from the end part of the rib member more toward the wall portion than the supporting member.

Abstract: A toner supplying device includes a toner storing portion for storing toner, a toner feeding path in which the toner fed from the toner storing portion is to be fed, and a toner feeding member for feeding the toner in the toner feeding path. An executing portion executes an operation in a filling mode in which the toner is filled in the toner feeding path by intermittently driving the toner feeding member in a preparatory period before image formation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner case, a driving mechanism and an installed part. The toner case includes a container main body, a rotating member and a transmission coupling. The container main body is provided with a discharge port configured to discharge a toner. The rotating member is installed into the container main body. The transmission coupling is connected with the rotating member. The driving mechanism includes a drive coupling and a drive unit. The drive coupling is detachably connected with the transmission coupling. The toner case has a lever supported onto the container main body. The driving mechanism has a movement mechanism which works in accordance with the operation of the lever, in a state of installing the toner case into the installed part, to move the drive coupling from a disconnecting position to a connecting position with the transmission coupling.

Abstract: A development device includes a developer bearer to carry developer thereon and receive a development bias and a developer regulator to adjust an amount of developer carried on the developer bearer. Multiple recesses recessed from a reference surface area are formed in a surface of the developer bearer, the developer bearer includes a conductive base in which the recesses are formed, and the conductive base in the reference surface area is coated with an insulative surface layer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a control method enhancing ACR (Auto Color Registration) performance by optimizing ACR patterns are provided. The apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, an exposure unit to radiate the drum to form an latent image, a developing unit supplying color toner corresponding to the latent image, and a transfer belt to which the toner image is transferred. A pattern generating unit forms a latent image corresponding to a predetermined ACR pattern on the drum to form the ACR pattern on the transfer belt, and allowing amounts of gap changes of sub patterns, which form the ACR pattern, to have an average value of about 0, the gap change of sub patterns caused by an AC component generated from a rotation of the drum. A pattern detecting unit detects a pattern formed on the transfer belt, and an ACR executing unit calculates offsets to correct errors.

Abstract: A separator includes a front edge disposed opposite an outer circumferential surface of an endless belt. The front edge contacts and separates a recording medium from the endless belt. A separation plate mounts the front edge. A contact plate projects from the separation plate in an axial direction of the endless belt and contacts a belt holder that supports the endless belt. A bracket projects from the separation plate in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the contact plate projects from the separation plate. The bracket includes a notch that engages the belt holder. The contact plate contacting the belt holder and the notch of the bracket engaging the belt holder produce an interval between the front edge of the separator and the outer circumferential surface of the endless belt.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt and an opposed rotary body contacting an outer circumferential surface of the belt. A nip formation pad contacting a first part of an inner circumferential surface of the belt presses against the opposed rotary body via the belt to form a fixing nip between the belt and the opposed rotary body through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A heat conductor disposed opposite a second part of the inner circumferential surface of the belt not contacted by the nip formation pad is interposed between a heater and the belt to conduct heat from the heater to the belt. A reflector disposed inside the loop formed by the belt reflects light from the heater toward the heat conductor. The reflector and the heat conductor surround the heater.

Abstract: A slide member for a fixing device includes a fluororesin layer having a slide surface dotted with recesses. The recesses in the slide surface are arranged in an array having parallel hexagons as unit cells.

Abstract: A fixing device may include an endless fixing belt, a facing member facing an outer surface of the fixing belt, a nip member configured to contact an inner surface of the fixing belt to form a nip portion where the fixing belt and the facing member are in contact with each other, and a heat source device configured to heat the nip portion inside the fixing belt. The nip member includes a heat transfer member which is provided at a position corresponding to a portion of the nip portion when seen from a side view, and a heat insulating member which is a portion of the nip member except for the heat transfer member, and is made of a material having thermal conductivity lower than that of the heat transfer member.

Abstract: An erasing apparatus comprises a detection section configured to detect whether or not a sheet is set in a sheet supplying section, and a storage section configured to store processing information identifying one or more processes to be carried out on the sheet by the erasing apparatus. The erasing apparatus further comprises a control section configured to control a power supply of a heating element of an erasing section to be on when the detection section detects that a sheet is set in the sheet supplying section and when the one or more processes identified in the processing information includes erasing processing, and control the power supply of the heating element to be off when the detection section detects that a sheet is set in the sheet supplying section and when the one or more processes identified in the processing information does not include erasing processing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has rotatable members for rotatably retaining respective ones of flanges mounted to opposite ends of a roll sheet, and placement stages on which the roll sheet is to be placed and on which respective ones of the rotatable members are mounted. Racks are mounted to respective ones of the placement stages for undergoing movement to move the placement stages relative one another to vary a distance between the placement stages. A pinion is arranged between the racks for undergoing rotation to move the racks, and a potentiometer whose resistance value varies in accordance with a distance between the placement stages undergoing movement with rotation of the pinion is provided. An A/D converter outputs a value based on a resistance value of the potentiometer. A calculation device calculates a width of the roll sheet based on the value output from the A/D converter. A memory stores the calculated width of the roll sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording-medium storing unit including a rotating member, the recording-medium storing unit being capable of being pulled out from an apparatus body; a support surface having an edge portion, the support surface supporting the rotating member when the recording-medium storing unit is pulled out from the apparatus body; and an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium fed from the recording-medium storing unit. The rotating member has a counter surface that faces the edge portion when the rotating member moves beyond the edge portion and drops off the support surface in a certain direction. In the state in which the counter surface faces the edge portion, the counter surface is inclined such that a point on the counter surface approaches the edge-portion side as the point moves in a direction opposite to the certain direction.

Abstract: A recording medium storage cassette includes a recording medium loading plate and a rear end cursor. The rear end cursor aligns rear end positions of recording media. The rear end cursor includes a cursor main body portion, an abutting portion that abuts rear ends of the recording media, a lock portion having a protrusion for engaging with a rack, and a biasing member disposed between the abutting portion and the lock portion so as to bias the abutting portion and the lock portion in a direction away from each other.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: a secondary transfer roller configured to secondarily transfer a toner image transferred to an intermediate transfer belt, to a transfer paper; separating plates; and a power supply circuit configured to apply bias voltages to the separating plates. The separating plates are configured to separate the transfer paper from the intermediate transfer belt when the bias voltages are applied to the separating plates. The separating plates include two or more separating plates installed along a direction perpendicular to the transfer paper conveying direction. The bias voltages are applied to the separating plates independently of each other depending on a toner amount distribution of the toner image transferred to the transfer paper, in the direction perpendicular to the transfer paper conveying direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer member that transfers a toner image to a surface of a recording medium, a transport member that transports the recording medium, with the surface of the recording medium on which the toner image has been transferred by the transfer member facing down, a fixing member that fixes the toner image onto the recording medium while nipping and transporting the recording medium, and a guide member that contacts a back side of the recording medium to guide the recording medium toward the fixing member, the guide member having a clearance part, the clearance part being formed in a portion that guides an outer side portion of a width direction of the recording medium, the clearance part being so shaped as to be clear of the back side of the recording medium.