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: A removal mechanism includes a removing member, an accommodation section, a receiver, and a cooling path. The removing member rubs against an extraneous-matter-adhered member, to which extraneous matter is adhered, so as to remove the extraneous matter therefrom. The accommodation section accommodates therein the extraneous matter removed by the removing member. The receiver receives, at a lower side of the accommodation section, the extraneous matter spilling out and dropping from the accommodation section. The cooling path allows gas so flow therethrough so as to cool the accommodation section from outside thereof. The cooling path is spatially isolated from a passage chamber through which the extraneous matter dropping from the accommodation section toward the receiver passes, an accommodation chamber for the extraneous matter in the accommodation section, and a chamber above the receiver that receives the extraneous matter.

Abstract: A control unit is provided which controls at least one of a first power supply unit (a secondary transfer power supply connected to a secondary transfer roller) and a second power supply unit (high-voltage power supplies connected to a conductive brush and a conductive roller) so that a current supplied to a primary transfer region from a beginning of primary transfer until a beginning of secondary transfer has a magnitude larger than a magnitude of a current supplied to the primary transfer region from a beginning of image formation until the beginning of the primary transfer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member; an intermediary transfer member; a controller; and a cleaning unit. The cleaning unit includes a cleaning member for collecting a residual toner in contact with the intermediary transfer member, a charging member, which is provided downstream of the cleaning member with respect to a movement direction of the intermediary transfer member, for electrically charging the residual toner, and an accommodating member for accommodating the residual toner. The controller is capable of executing an operation in a discharging mode in which the toner is discharged from the charting member onto the intermediary transfer member. When the operation in the discharging mode is executed, the cleaning unit collects the toner, discharged from the charging member on the intermediary transfer member, by the cleaning member and then accommodates the collected toner in the accommodating member.

Abstract: A belt cleaning device includes a collection roller, a cleaning blade, a sealing member, a first thrust mechanism, and a second thrust mechanism. The collection roller collects remaining toner on an intermediate transfer belt. The cleaning blade extends along the collection roller and scrapes off the toner of a surface of the collection roller. The sealing member softly comes into contact with the surface of the collection roller and prevents counterflow of the toner. The first thrust mechanism displaces the collection roller in its rotating shaft direction by a rotational driving force transmitted to the collection roller and the second thrust mechanism thrusts the cleaning blade in the rotating shaft direction of the collection roller in a thrust cycle shorter than that of the collection roller based on the first thrust mechanism.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes; a belt unit detachably mountable to a main assembly, said belt unit including a movable endless belt, a belt supporting roller, a steering unit for swinging the belt to incline relative to the supporting roller by a force produced by movement of the belt in a widthwise direction, and a cleaning unit, supported by the steering unit, for removing and collecting toner from the belt; a toner receiving unit, provided in the assembly, for receiving the toner collected by the cleaning unit; and a path member for guiding the toner collected by the cleaning unit to the toner receiving unit, the path member being supported by the assembly when the belt unit is not mounted, and the path member being supported by the cleaning swingably relative to the toner receiving unit when the belt unit is mounted.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a chassis having an opening, a cover, photosensitive members, an intermediate transfer belt, a primary-transfer member, a secondary-transfer roller, a cleaner device, a waste toner container, which is movable along a predetermined direction to be removably installed in the chassis through the opening and stores residual toner, a connector, and a feed roller, which is arranged within the feeding path to feed the recording sheet in the feeding path. The feed roller is arranged in a position to at least partially fall within a vertical range of the waste toner container and to be aligned with the waste toner container along an axial direction of the second feed roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a chassis having a first opening on a first side, photosensitive members, an intermediate transfer belt arranged to have a surface thereof facing the photosensitive members, 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 photosensitive members across the intermediate transfer belt, a connector, a first feeding path extending in a range between the first feed roller and the secondary-transfer roller, and a second feeding path being formed in clearance between the intermediate transfer belt and the waste toner container to convey a recording sheet being inserted through a sheet inlet and merging into the first feeding path in the vicinity of the first feed roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier removably installed in the apparatus to carry an image; a transfer member contacting with the image carrier to transfer the image onto the transfer member or a recording medium; a contact and separation mechanism causing the transfer member to contact with or separate from the image carrier; and a removable unit removably installed in the apparatus from the same direction as an installation direction of the image carrier to be disposed proximal of the image carrier and the transfer member in the installation direction, and at least partially overlapping the image carrier and the transfer member as viewed in the installation direction. The removable unit interferes with the contact and separation mechanism and is prevented from being installed in the apparatus, when the transfer member is separated from the image carrier by the contact and separation mechanism.

Abstract: A negative bias circuit outputs a DC voltage of a negative polarity. A positive bias circuit outputs a DC voltage of a positive polarity. The DC voltage of the positive polarity is used, for example, as a transfer voltage, and the DC voltage of the negative polarity is used as a cleaning voltage for cleaning toner. A cycle of the clock signal in a period during which the DC voltage of the first polarity is output is longer than a cycle of the clock signal in the period during which the voltage supplied to the load transits from the DC voltage of the first polarity to the DC voltage of the first polarity.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a semiconductive transfer member which carries charged toner; a first cleaner disposed in contact with the transfer member to electrostatically remove the toner on the transfer member; a second cleaner disposed downstream of the first cleaner along a moving direction of the transfer member to electrostatically remove the toner on the transfer member; and a voltage applicator which applies a bias voltage to the first cleaner, the bias voltage having an opposite polarity to a polarity of the toner. The bias voltage to be applied by the voltage applicator to the first cleaner is higher than a voltage which allows the first cleaner to remove maximum amount of the toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an endless belt, a steering mechanism adapted to correct deviation of the belt, a cleaning blade adapted to abut the belt so as to clean the belt, a timer adapted to clock the time necessary for the steering mechanism to correct the deviation of the belt, an adjuster adapted to adjust the abutting state between the belt and the cleaning blade by making the amount of toner supplied to the belt larger than a predetermined amount, and a controller adapted to control the operation of the adjuster. The controller controls the operation of the adjuster based on the time clocked by the timer.

Abstract: A belt device includes: a belt that passes through a plurality of image forming units, each of the image forming units including a transfer member and an image carrier as a pair, the transfer member moves in a direction to contact with the belt and in a direction so as to be separated from the belt; a cleaning unit cleans an outer periphery of the belt after the belt passes through all the image forming units; and a pressing member is disposed between the cleaning unit and the image forming unit located on the most upstream side and that presses the outer periphery of the belt, wherein when the transfer member of at least one of the image forming units moves to be separated from the belt, the transfer member of the rest of the image forming units and the pressing member support the belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member configured to be forwardly and reversely rotatable; a cleaning blade configured to make contact with the image bearing member and scrape toner remaining on the image bearing member; a toner retention section defined on an upstream side of the cleaning blade in a forward rotational direction of the image bearing member, the toner retention section being configured to retain toner scraped by the cleaning blade; a driving section configured to rotationally drive the image bearing member; and a control section configured to control the driving section to reversely rotate the image bearing member by a distance greater than a distance from a position where the image bearing member and the cleaning blade make contact with each other to an upper surface position of toner retained in the toner retention section, at a time when an image formation process is not performed.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a housing, a cleaning member, a contact member, a torque limiter, and an urging member. The housing has an opening that opposes an image carrier and a waste toner receiver. The cleaning member includes a rotation member that is rotated in a forward rotation direction. The cleaning member is positioned near the opening in the housing and removes residual toner from the surface of the image carrier. The contact member is positioned so as to be in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the rotation member. The torque limiter is located on a rotation shaft of the rotation member and is capable of rotating independently of the rotation shaft when a torque that is greater than or equal to a predetermined torque is applied to the torque limiter. The urging member applies an urging force to the torque limiter in a reverse rotation direction.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus restrains the scattering of toners in an intermediate transfer member cleaning apparatus thereby to restrain the scattering toners from dirtying the inside of the apparatus. A cleaning container has an anti-scatter portion that enters into a fur brush. The anti-scatter portion blocks a bias roller from a space outside the cleaning apparatus.

Abstract: Provided are a transfer roller cleaning apparatus that has a supply roller that is immersed in the carrier liquid in a carrier liquid vessel; a cleaning roller that is rubbed and rotated on the supply roller and the transfer roller, and supplies the carrier liquid received from the supply roller to a surface of the transfer roller; and a carrier liquid circulation device which includes the carrier liquid vessel, supplies the carrier liquid in a storage tank to the carrier liquid vessel using a pump, and sends the carrier liquid overflowed from the carrier liquid vessel back to the storage tank via an overflow liquid recovery path, so as to constitute a carrier liquid circulation path and an electronic photograph printer configured by providing the same.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a rotatable image bearing member; a toner image forming portion; a transfer member; a cleaning blade, provided downstream of the transfer member and upstream of the toner image forming portion with respect to a rotational direction of the image bearing member; a discharging member, provided downstream of the cleaning blade and upstream of the toner image forming portion with respect to the rotational direction; and a thin plate-like member provided downstream of the discharging member and upstream of the toner image forming portion with respect to the rotational direction. An end of the thin plate-like member is contacted to a surface of the image bearing member toward an upstream side with respect to the rotational direction.

Abstract: A transfer unit includes: a transfer belt mounted over a plurality of rollers to run to transfer toner images on a plurality of image carriers to a front side of the transfer belt; transfer rollers provided for the respective image carriers to give a transfer potential to the transfer belt to transfer the toner images thereto; a drive mechanism configured to move only the transfer rollers for formation of a multicolor image into and out of contact with the transfer belt; a cleaning member contactable with a back side of the transfer belt to clean the back side; and a shifting mechanism configured to, upon contact of the transfer rollers with the transfer belt, shift the cleaning member into contact with the back side of the transfer belt and, upon departure of the transfer rollers from the transfer belt, shift the cleaning member out of contact with the back side.

Abstract: A belt cleaning device is a device for an endless belt which has a bearing surface for bearing a toner image, and includes a cleaning unit and a toner rubbing portion. The cleaning unit is arranged to face the bearing surface and removes residual toner remaining on the bearing surface. The toner rubbing portion is arranged to face the bearing surface at a side upstream of the cleaning unit in a rotating direction of the belt and charges the residual toner by rubbing the residual toner. The toner rubbing portion includes brush bristles whose tips are faced toward the bearing surface and which are charged when rubbing the residual toner. The brush bristles include first bristle-like bodies to be positively charged and second bristle-like bodies to be negatively charged. The first and second bristle-like bodies are alternately arranged in a predetermined first direction.

Abstract: A belt device incorporatable in an image forming apparatus includes an endless belt, multiple belt tension rollers disposed in contact with an inner surface of the endless belt, a rotary cleaning member to contact a belt wound area of the endless belt facing an opposing roller to form a cleaning nip between the rotary cleaning member and the endless belt and rotate the rotary cleaning member in a direction opposite the belt moving direction within the cleaning nip, and a voltage applier. The cleaning nip is formed by offsetting a center of the cleaning nip upstream from a center of the belt wound area of the endless belt in the belt moving direction and by at least contacting the rotary cleaning member in a range from the belt wound area to a tensioned belt area located upstream from the belt wound area in the belt moving direction.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a first cleaning section and a second cleaning section. The first cleaning section applies, to a first collecting roller, a voltage for electrostatically attaching toner oppositely charged at a first foamed roller to the first collecting roller from the first foamed roller. The second cleaning section applies, to a second collecting roller, a voltage for electrostatically attaching toner oppositely charged at a second foamed roller to the second collecting roller from the second foamed roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is configured to perform a collecting operation for moving the attached matter held on a holding roller onto the photosensitive drum and collecting the attached matter by a collecting unit. A bias control unit for controlling a bias applied to the holding roller is configured to: during an image forming operation, apply a first bias for moving the matter onto the holding roller; and during the collecting operation, apply a second bias for moving the attached matter onto the photosensitive drum. A speed control unit is configured to: control the holding roller to rotate at a first rotating speed during the image forming operation; and in a progress of the collecting operation, control the holding roller to rotate at a second rotating speed for a first period after the bias control unit applies the second bias to the holding roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt, a driving source commonly and rotationally driving the intermediate transfer belt and a second image carrier, a first cleaning blade rubbing at a first rubbing position, and a second cleaning blade rubbing a second image rubbing position. The image forming apparatus includes a lubricant supplying portion capable of supplying lubricant to the first or second rubbing position, a load detecting portion detecting a driving load of the driving source, and a control portion capable of executing a lubricant supplying mode of supplying lubricant to either one of the first and second rubbing positions on a basis of processing contents of a most recent predetermined number of times of image forming operations in a case where the driving load detected by the load detecting portion exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: An image device includes: a cleaning member; a first case; a second case; a storage member; and a conveying unit. The storage member is provided outside of the second case and stores residual toner removed by the cleaning member. The first case includes a first case side coupling part. The second case includes an elastic member and a second case side coupling part. The second case side coupling part is coupled to the first case side coupling part through the elastic member. The elastic member allows the second case to move relative to the first case in a predetermined direction. The conveying unit includes a conveying unit side coupling part. The conveying unit side coupling part is coupled to the first case side coupling part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first image forming unit for a monochrome printing including a first photosensitive member for black, a first charging member and a first collection member; a second image forming unit for a multi-color printing including a second photosensitive member for a color, a second charging member and a second collection member; and a control device configured to, at the color printing mode, apply a first charging bias to the second charging member and apply a first bias having a reverse polarity to a charged polarity of developer to the first and second collection members, and at the monochrome printing mode, apply a second charging bias to the second charging member, apply a second bias having the reverse polarity to the first collection member and apply a third bias to the second collection member.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a moving surface for transferring a developed toner image during an image transfer operation, a sensing unit for detecting the amount of residual toner remaining on the moving surface after the image transfer operation, and a cleaning unit for selectively cleaning the residual toner from the moving surface. A controller coupled to the sensing unit and the cleaning unit selectively adjusts an operating characteristic of the cleaning unit based on the amount of residual toner detected by the sensing unit.

Abstract: A rotating body for use in an image forming apparatus has an outer surface in which one or more grooves are formed. The one or more grooves are oriented at an angle greater than 0° and less than 90° with respect to a longitudinal direction of the rotating body.

Abstract: A toner container detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus body. The toner container includes a recovery container body in which at least one inflow port is formed for inflow of a toner recovered after image formation, and at least one rotating member that is rotatably provided to convey the recovered toner, which flows from the inflow port into the recovery container body, to a downstream side in a recovery toner conveyance direction. The rotating member includes a screw member and a spiral screw member. A discharge port, which is formed at the downstream side in the recovery toner conveyance direction, discharges the recovered toner in the recovery container body. A cover member, which is arranged to be detachably attachable to the recovery container body and has a bearing portion fitted to a downstream end in the recovery toner conveyance direction of the rotating member, covers the discharge port.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a rotatable image bearing member to bear a toner image on a surface thereof, a nip forming member to contact the surface of the image bearing member, and a bias output device to output a bias current to alternately form a transfer-direction electric field to transfer toner charged with a normal polarity in a toner image formed on the image bearing member to move therefrom to a recording medium and a return-direction electric field to return the toner from the recording medium to the image bearing member. A transition time T1 from a first time at which a current for forming the transfer-direction electric field reaches its maximum (It) to a second time at which a current for forming the return-direction electric field reaches its maximum (Ir) is longer than a transition time T2 from the second time to the first time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit having a plurality of photoconductor drums arranged in tandem; an intermediate transfer belt arranged opposite to the photoconductor drums and configured to receive developer images formed on the photoconductor drums and to transfer the developer images onto a recording sheet; a cleaning unit comprising a cleaning member positioned in contact with the intermediate transfer belt and configured to collect substance adhering to the intermediate transfer belt, and a receptacle configured to store the substance collected by the cleaning member, wherein the cleaning unit is arranged on the same side as the image forming unit with respect to the intermediate transfer belt; and a support member configured to support the image forming unit and the cleaning unit and to be pulled out from a main body.

Abstract: Supply distribution of toner bands is varied in accordance with an image rate. Provided is image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit; a movable image bearing member; a movable conveying belt; a transfer member; a power supply; a first blade member; a second blade member; and an execution unit.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: a photosensitive drum; a first roller; a second roller; an intermediate transfer belt; a transfer roller; a cleaner; a waste toner accommodating portion; and a paper guide. The intermediate transfer belt is looped around the first roller and the second roller to circularly move in a moving direction. The intermediate transfer belt contacts the photosensitive drum. The transfer roller is disposed opposite to the first roller with respect to the intermediate transfer belt. The cleaner collects waste toner on the intermediate transfer belt. The cleaner is disposed upstream of the photosensitive drum in the moving direction and downstream of the transfer roller in the moving direction. The waste toner accommodating portion accommodates the waste toner collected by the cleaner. The paper guide guides a recording medium and disposed between the cleaner and the waste toner accommodating portion.

Abstract: A developer contains a toner having an external additive deposited thereon. The developer is used with an image-forming apparatus including an image carrier including a surface layer in which fluoropolymer resin particles are dispersed and a cleaning member disposed in contact with an outer surface of the image carrier. The external additive is a nonspherical external additive whose volume average particle size is smaller than the average particle size of exposed portions of the fluoropolymer resin particles in the surface layer of the image carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a belt cleaner including a scraping blade and roller pairs each including an elastic roller and a metal roller, the roller pairs including a first roller pair including a first elastic roller as a cleaning roller contacting a belt while rotating in a rotational tangential direction opposite to a belt traveling direction at a contact portion with the belt, and one or more second roller pairs each including a second elastic roller contacting an adjacent metal roller of a roller pair adjacent to the second roller pair while rotating at a circumferential velocity lower than that of the adjacent metal roller in a rotational tangential direction opposite to that of the adjacent metal roller at a contact portion with the adjacent metal roller, the scraping blade contacting an outer circumferential surface of a specific metal roller of the one or more second roller pairs.

Abstract: A fur brush roller electrically absorbs and removes a transferred remaining toner on a surface of an image carrier through bias voltage impression. This fur brush roller includes: a foundation cloth, conductive yarns, and insulation yarns. The insulation yarns are subjected to crimp-texturizing processing. The conductive yarns and the insulation yarns are alternately pile-woven to the foundation cloth.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a control method include a photosensitive unit having a photosensitive drum, an exposure unit to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum, a developing unit to form a toner image by sequentially supplying a plurality of color toners to the electrostatic latent images formed on the photosensitive drum, an intermediate transfer unit having an intermediate transfer belt to perform a first transfer of the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum in a sequential manner by color, a transfer roller configured to perform a second transfer of the toner image on a printing medium , a transfer belt cleaning unit to perform a cleaning task to remove a waste toner that remains on the intermediate transfer belt after the second transfer is performed, and a control unit to start performing idling of the intermediate transfer belt when an exposure with respect to one page toner image is completed and the first transfer is in progress, and to start the second transfer b

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an image forming apparatus and a control method thereof. In the image forming apparatus, an intermediate transfer member is provided with a position identification mark, to enable sensing of a position of the intermediate transfer member after a cleaning unit is completely spaced apart from the intermediate transfer member. An image formation/transfer position can be controlled in response to a sensing signal of the position identification mark, so that respective colors of developer images may be formed and transferred to the same position on the intermediate transfer member in a state in which contact between the cleaning unit and the intermediate transfer member is released. This minimizes and/or prevents color discrepancy between the respective colors of developer images.

Abstract: A method controls the timing of conveying a recording material to a conveyance belt so that a leading edge position of the recording material overlaps with a separation assisting toner image transferred on the conveyance belt in advance to prevent failure of recording material detachment from the conveyance belt.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image forming apparatus that has a developing unit, an intermediate transfer body, and a transfer roller and may prevent contamination of the transfer roller and a printing medium by the toner remaining in a test pattern forming area of the intermediate transfer body. The image forming apparatus includes a developing unit to allow an image to be formed by a developing agent, an intermediate transfer body provided with an image forming area and a test pattern forming area, the image being transferred from the developing unit to the image forming area and the test pattern forming area, and a transfer roller allowing the image to be transferred from the image forming area to a printing medium, wherein a maximum transfer length of the transfer roller is less than a maximum image forming length of the developing unit.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes first to third cleaning members that clean a surface of an endless belt that is looped over rollers including a driving roller. The first cleaning member is brought into contact with and separated from the surface at a predetermined timing. The second cleaning member is disposed upstream of the first cleaning member and downstream of the driving roller in a movement direction of the endless belt. The second cleaning member is in contact with the endless belt so as to prevent a tension variation of the endless belt caused by the first cleaning member from affecting the driving roller. The third cleaning member is disposed downstream of the first cleaning member. A contact state in which the third cleaning member is in contact with the endless belt is switched from a first contact state to a second contact state so as to reduce the tension variation.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, to provide a lubrication effect for an abutment portion of a transfer belt and a belt cleaning blade, when a control toner image is supplied, the control toner image is supplied to the abutment portion even when it is not necessary, thereby consuming a large amount of toner. In the image forming apparatus, the control unit changes a toner amount of the control toner image reaching the abutment portion of a photosensitive member and a photosensitive member cleaning blade and the toner amount thereof reaching the abutment portion of a transfer belt and a belt cleaning blade, based on a detection result of an environment detection unit.

Abstract: A width of an untreated section in a drum blade is shorter than a width of an untreated section in an intermediate transfer member blade in an image forming apparatus using a blade, ends of which a treatment with high hardness is applied to, for both cleaning blades in a drum and an intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: A cleaning device and an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing staying of toner in a brush and reducing stress on a brush by discharge products are provided. A cleaning device includes upstream and downstream cleaning brushes and a cleaning roller, which respectively contact the surface of a secondary transfer belt, and first to third bias applying sections. The first bias applying section applies a bias voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the normal toner to the upstream cleaning brush. The second bias applying section applies a bias voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the normal toner and set to be not less than the absolute value of the bias voltage applied to the upstream cleaning brush, to the downstream cleaning brush. The third bias applying section applies a bias voltage having the same polarity as that of the normal toner to the cleaning roller.

Abstract: In an apparatus which forms an adjustment toner image outside an image area in a direction orthogonal to a moving direction of an image bearing member, a toner change amount of the adjustment toner image which is directly transferred onto and adheres to a transfer roller without interposing a recording medium differs depending on a transfer electric field. Since the transfer electric field is in a direction for reversing a charging polarity of the toner, when the transfer electric field is large, the toner charge amount of the adjustment toner image is reduced. Therefore, in case that the transfer electric field is large, the cleaning electric field is set small. Thereby the toner of the adjustment toner image can be sufficiently cleaned off by an electrostatic cleaning member irrespective of the transfer voltage, and contamination on a back side of a recording material can be avoided.

Abstract: A toner cartridge, a main casing accommodates therein toner and is formed with an opening which provides communication between an interior and an exterior of the main casing. A shutter is movable along the main casing by an external driving force applied in a force direction between a closed position at which the shutter closes the opening and an open position at which the shutter opens the opening. A toner seal is formed with a seal opening opposing the opening of the main casing, and interposed between the main casing and the shutter when the shutter is positioned at the closed position. A guide portion is configured to guide a movement of the shutter in an inclined direction inclined with respect to the force direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is configured to form an image by using photosensitive drums. The image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, an endless belt, a drawing member which rotatably supports cartridges, and is movable to a mounting position at which the photosensitive drums oppose the endless belt and to a separation position at which the photosensitive drums are further spaced from the endless belt than at the mounting position, and a cleaning unit including a first housing having a collecting member which is configured to contact the endless belt to collect developer on the endless belt and a second housing having an accommodating part which is configured to accommodate the developer collected by the collecting member. The first housing is provided to the apparatus main body and the second housing is provided to the drawing member.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium includes an image carrier for carrying a toner image corresponding to an image to be formed on the recording medium, a cleaning device including a cleaning member for cleaning the image carrier by removing residual toner remaining on an image-carrying face, and a bias-applying unit for applying a first bias for removing residual toner charged to a first polarity by electrostatic force from the image carrier such that the cleaning member captures residual toner, and expelling the residual toner charged to a second polarity, which is an opposite polarity to the first polarity, by electrostatic force from the cleaning member toward the image carrier, between the image carrier and the cleaning member.

Abstract: A cleaner is provided. The cleaner includes at least two cleaning brush members to electrostatically remove residual toner on an object; a memory; a voltage applicator to apply a voltage to the cleaning brush members based on the setup voltage values stored in the memory; a current detector to detect the amounts of currents flowing through contact portions of the object with the cleaning brush members; and a setup voltage changing device to change the setup voltage values based on the amounts of currents detected by the current detector. The setup voltage changing device performs change of the setup voltage values for the cleaning brush members at a time.