Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of forming images in mono-color and a plurality of colors includes first and second image forming units and a control unit. The image forming unit includes a rotatable image bearing member, a rotatable developing member that contacts the image bearing member to supply a developer to the surface thereof, and a developer supply member that supplies the developer to the developing member. The control unit switches between an image forming operation of forming an image on the image bearing member surface and a cleaning operation of removing an attached matter on the image bearing member surface with the developing member by controlling a voltage applied to the developing member and a voltage applied to the developer supply member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a development roller configured to supply developer to the photosensitive drum, a transfer roller configured to transfer a developer image formed on the photosensitive drum to a recording material, and a cleaning roller being in contact with the photosensitive drum, configured to clean a part of the recording material adhered to the photosensitive drum, wherein a diameter of the transfer roller is greater than a diameter of the development roller and the diameter of the transfer roller is greater than a diameter of the cleaning roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; an exposing device; a developing device with a developing roller; a development current detector that detects development current between the image carrier and the developing roller; and a hardware processor. Under an image forming condition, the hardware processor causes the exposing device to draw, on the image carrier, a development current-detection pattern that includes a solid image and a halftone image that follows the solid image in an image-conveying direction of the image carrier, causes the developing device to develop the development current-detection pattern, obtains information on a chronological change of the detected development current from the development current detector, and determines whether or not a ghost image due to the solid image occurs based on a temporary drop of the detected development current during development of the halftone image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a development roller configured to supply developer to the photosensitive drum, a transfer roller configured to transfer a developer image formed on the photosensitive drum to a recording material, and a cleaning roller being in contact with the photosensitive drum, configured to clean a part of the recording material adhered to the photosensitive drum, wherein the diameter of the transfer roller is greater than the diameter of the development roller and the diameter of the cleaning roller is greater than the diameter of the development roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus using a contact charging method includes a control unit capable of executing cleaning in a post-rotation step at the end of a job and in an inter-image step during execution of the job. The cleaning involves moving toner adhering to a charging member from the charging member to an image bearing member. The job is a series of operations started by a predetermined start instruction and involving forming an image on one or more recording materials and outputting the one or more recording materials. When an instruction to start the next job is input during execution of cleaning in the post-rotation step, the control unit stops the cleaning in the middle of the execution, starts the next job, and adjusts timing for executing subsequent cleaning on the basis of information relating to the amount of cleaning executed before being stopped in the middle of the execution.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a transfer section including a transfer body that transfers an image onto a sheet in a transfer nip; a belt position correction section that performs operation of correcting misalignment of a position in an axial direction of a transfer belt in the transfer nip; a sheet conveyance member that is provided on the upstream side of the transfer nip in a sheet conveyance direction and conveys the sheet; and a hardware processor that controls the sheet conveyance member so as to displace the sheet along a width direction of the sheet. The hardware processor controls displacement of the sheet conveyance member so as to follow the position in the axial direction of the transfer belt at the transfer nip.

Abstract: This invention provides a composite material for bipolar plates for fuel cells including cemented by a MPC binder and electrically conductive fillers, and a method of manufacturing the same. The resulting bipolar plate achieves low gas permeability, high electrical conductivity, high flexural strength and good corrosion resistance. The flexural strength and corrosion resistance can further be enhanced by the incorporation of macro-reinforcement and a polymer based surface treatment, respectively.

Abstract: Provided is a color image forming process using colorant-containing toners of multiple colors containing colorants respectively having different resistances, wherein each of the colorant-containing toners contains an amorphous resin, a crystalline polyester resin, and a mold release agent, at least the crystalline polyester resin contained in the colorant-containing toner other than the colorant-containing toner containing a colorant having the lowest resistance contains a hybrid crystalline polyester resin formed by bonding a crystalline polyester polymerized segment and an amorphous polymerized segment, and the content of the amorphous polymerized segment in the hybrid crystalline polyester resin contained in the colorant-containing toner other than the colorant-containing toner containing a colorant having the lowest resistance is greater than the content of the amorphous polymerized segment in the crystalline polyester resin contained in the colorant-containing toner containing a colorant having the lowes

Abstract: An image forming apparatus using a contact charging method includes a control unit capable of executing cleaning in a post-rotation step at the end of a job and in an inter-image step during execution of the job. The cleaning involves moving toner adhering to a charging member from the charging member to an image bearing member. The job is a series of operations started by a predetermined start instruction and involving forming an image on one or more recording materials and outputting the one or more recording materials. When an instruction to start the next job is input during execution of cleaning in the post-rotation step, the control unit stops the cleaning in the middle of the execution, starts the next job, and adjusts timing for executing subsequent cleaning on the basis of information. relating to the amount of cleaning executed before being stopped in the middle of the execution.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer bearing member bearing a developer on a surface in a developing operation, a regulating member configured to regulate layer thickness of the developer borne on the developer bearing member, a development chamber provided with the developer bearing member and the regulating member and having an opening, a storage chamber to store the developer, and a conveying member to convey the developer stored in the storage chamber to the development chamber through the opening. When the developing operation is performed, a bottom section of the development chamber is located above a bottom section of the storage chamber in a vertical direction, and a contact region of the developer bearing member in contact with the regulating member is located directly above the opening in the vertical direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum for bearing a developer, a charging roller that comes into contact with the photosensitive drum at a different velocity and that charges the photosensitive drum, a transfer roller that transfers a developer image on the photosensitive drum to a recording material, and a developing sleeve that supplies a developer to the photosensitive drum and that recovers a developer on the photosensitive drum after transfer. A detecting device detects information relating to injection charging, and a controller controls an amount of the fogging developer during image formation according to information detected by the detecting device while suppressing the amount of the developer recovered in the developing sleeve.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer storage portion, a developing roller, a magnetic force generating portion, and an image carrying member. The magnetic force generating portion is provided in the developing roller and generates a magnetic force for keeping the developer on an outer circumferential surface of the developing roller. The image carrying member is disposed to face the developing roller across a predetermined developing gap, is rotationally driven, receives the toner from the developer supplied to the developing gap by the developing roller, and keeps a toner image on an outer circumferential surface of the image carrying member. The image forming apparatus, during non image formation, supplies a more amount of developer to the developing gap than an amount of developer for developing supplied to the developing gap during image formation such that the outer circumferential surface of the image carrying member is cleaned.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing, a developing roller, a shaft, a tubular member, an elastic member, and a gear. The tubular member is rotatable about the shaft and is movable from a first position and a second position. The tubular member at the second position is farther from an outer surface of the casing in an axial direction than at the first position. The gear is rotatable about the shaft from a first rotational position to a second rotational position. In case where the gear is at the first rotational position, the gear engages with the tubular member and the tubular member is rotatable together with the gear at the first position. In a case where the gear is at the second rotational position, the engagement of the gear with the tubular member is released and the tubular member stops rotating at the second position.

Abstract: An electrostatic-image developing toner includes toner particles each including a polyester resin and a styrene (meth)acrylic resin. In a micro-compression test where a load of 0.2 mN is applied to the toner particles at a loading rate of 0.098 mN/sec, the median of a distribution of the ratios (%) of deformations of the toner particles to the diameters of the toner particles is 8.0 or more and 18.0 or less, and a variation in the distribution of the ratios of deformations of the toner particles to the diameters of the toner particles is 0.02 or more and 0.40 or less.

Abstract: What is provided is an image forming apparatus in which longitudinal end portions of a developer bearing region or longitudinal end portions of an opening are respectively located outside longitudinal end portions of a transfer bias applicable region.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus configured such that developer remaining on an image bearing member without being transferred to a recording material is moved from the image bearing member to a developer bearing member and then recovered in a developer storage portion 35. When forming a second image on a rear surface of the recording material having a surface on which a first image is fixed with a fixing device, a second potential difference between surface potential of the image bearing member after charging with a charging member when forming the second image and potential of the developer bearing member is less than a first potential difference when forming a first image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cartridge including an image bearing member, and a developer bearing member that bears a developer. A lubricant of a polarity opposite to a polarity of the developer is coated on the developer bearing member, with the lubricant being a resin. If the cartridge is new, a discharging operation of discharging the lubricant from a surface of the developer bearing member onto the image bearing member is performed.

Abstract: A developer having low-temperature fixability and storage stability, and capable of prolonging the service life is provided. A toner includes a coloring agent, an amorphous polyester, a crystal line polyester, ester wax containing multiple ester compounds, each having a carbon number selected from 32 to 54, and hydrophobic silica having an average primary particle diameter of 8 to 35 nm. When the ion intensity ratio of each ester compound having a different carbon number is expressed as percentage, the content (a) of the ester compound having a carbon number of (Cn) showing the maximum intensity ratio is from 20 to 55% by weight of the entire ester wax, the sum (g) of the content (e) of the ester compound having a carbon number of (Cn+2) and the content (f) of the ester compound having a carbon number of (Cn+4) satisfies the following formula: 0.065?g/a?0.200.

Abstract: According to one example of the present application, there is provided a toner for developing an electrostatic charge image, containing: a toner particle containing a binder resin; a particle adhering to a surface of the toner particle; and an elastomer particle containing one or more kinds of oil, wherein a volume particle size distribution index GSDT (D50T/D16T) on a small diameter side of the toner particle and a volume particle size distribution index GSDE (D50E/D16E) on a small diameter side of the elastomer particle satisfy Formula (1): GSDE/GSDT?1.

Abstract: This invention provides a composite material for bipolar plates for fuel cells including cemented by a MPC binder and electrically conductive fillers, and a method of manufacturing the same. The resulting bipolar plate achieves low gas permeability, high electrical conductivity, high flexural strength and good corrosion resistance. The flexural strength and corrosion resistance can further be enhanced by the incorporation of macro-reinforcement and a polymer based surface treatment, respectively.

Abstract: A chip attached to and electrically connected with a printed conductive surface, whereby the chip is heated to a temperature, which is lower than what the chip can stand without being damaged by the heat, the heated chip is then pressed against the printed conductive surface with a pressing force, whereby a combination of said temperature and said pressing force is sufficient to at least partly melt the material of at least one of the printed conductive surface, the contact point on the chip, or both, thereby attaching and electrically connecting the chip to the printed conductive surface.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus includes a cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging roller that is disposed in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive member and applies a direct current voltage to charge the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a driving force transmission that transmits a driving force which causes rotation so that contact portions of the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the charging roller move in the same direction and the peripheral speed of the charging roller is higher than the peripheral speed of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein the undercoat layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member contains metal oxide and the undercoat layer has a volume resistivity of 1×107 ?·cm or more and 1×1014 ?·cm or less.

Abstract: A toner is prepared by wet granulation methods, including a monoester wax having carbon atoms of from 36 to 46 on average as a release agent. The toner has a DSC endothermic energy amount (?H1) originating from the wax of from 10 to 12 mJ/mg and a DSC endothermic energy amount (?H2) originating from the wax of from 0.6 to 0.9 times as much as ?H1 after a part of the wax is separated by hexane extraction from the toner. The hexane extraction includes mixing 1 g of the toner in 7 ml of n-hexane to prepare a mixture; stirring the mixture at 120 rpm for 1 min by a pot mill to prepare a dispersion; and subjecting the dispersion to suction filtration.

Abstract: A control unit changes the polarity of a potential of an intermediate transfer member in a primary transfer portion by changing the polarity of voltage to be applied to a secondary transfer member, and applies first voltage in a first step of forming an image on a recording material by transferring a toner image. A detection device detects the presence/absence of the recording material at a timing when a rear end of the toner image reaches a second position which is upstream of a secondary transfer portion on a conveyance path of the toner image. The control unit determines a timing to switch the voltage to be applied to the secondary transfer member from the first voltage to second voltage having polarity opposite to that of the first voltage, based on the detection result by the detection device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing roller and a photosensitive drum configured to rotate about a first axis, and has a peripheral surface. The developing roller is configured to contact the photosensitive drum and is configured to supply developer to the photosensitive drum by rotating about a second axis positioned lower than the first axis in a vertical direction to form a visible image on the peripheral surface. Extraneous matter on the peripheral surface is recovered only by the developing roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, which executes, after an image forming operation is stopped, a cleaning operation in which toner that remains on an intermediate transfer belt is transferred to a photosensitive drum and is removed by a cleaning blade while the image forming apparatus causes the intermediate transfer belt to move for circulation, causes a charging roller or a laser scanner to change the surface potential of the photosensitive drum such that the toner to be transferred from the intermediate transfer belt to the photosensitive drum is part of the toner that is to remain on the intermediate transfer belt, when the cleaning operation is executed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first toner image bearing member, a second drum, an intermediary transfer member, or belt, a secondary transfer member, a toner charging member, and a controller for controlling an operation in a single-color image forming mode and an operation in a multi-color image forming mode. The controller effects, in a post-processing operation after the operation in the single-color image forming mode in which the toner image is formed on the first drum is ended, control such that a separation state between the drum and belt is switched to a contact state between the image bearing member and belt and then the toner deposited on the toner charging member is collected onto the second drum via the belt and then is collected by a cleaning device provided for the second drum.

Abstract: An electrostatic charge image developing toner includes a binder resin that contains an amorphous polyester resin and a colorant. The toner satisfies the following expressions: 20 ?S/cm???150 ?S/cm, and 0.01%<Cm/(Cc+Co)×100<0.1%, where ? represents the conductivity of a supernatant solution when 0.1 g of the toner is dissolved in 30 ml of tetrahydrofuran, Cm represents the content (% by mass) of metal elements Al, Mg, and Fe, Cc represents the content (% by mass) of carbon, and Co represents the content (% by mass) of oxygen.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of developing units configured to develop latent images formed on a plurality of photosensitive members by exposure units; an image carrier, on which the developed images formed on the plurality of photosensitive members are transferred; a sensor configured to irradiate the image carrier with light, and detect an amount of reflected light; and a patch detection unit configured to detect a position of a patch image, formed on the image carrier, based on the amount of reflected light detected by the sensor. The patch image has a first region and a second region formed on the same photosensitive member, the second region is formed to be adjacent to the first region, and a density of the second region is lower than that of the first region.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes image carriers that carry toner images; an intermediate transfer body that is brought into contact with the image carriers to carry the images before transferring them to a recording material; first transfer devices that include first transfer members and form first-transfer electric fields for transferring the images on the image carriers to the intermediate transfer body; a second transfer device that includes a second transfer member and forms a second-transfer electric field for transferring the images transferred to the intermediate transfer body to the recording material; and an adjusting device that adjusts an electric field to be formed in a second transfer area to a cleaning electric field, which is of the same polarity as and a lower intensity than the second-transfer electric field, when the images on the intermediate transfer body passes through the second transfer area without a recording material passing therethrough.

Abstract: A image forming apparatus includes a developing roller and a photosensitive drum configured to rotate about a first axis, and has a peripheral surface. The developing roller is configured to contact the photosensitive drum and is configured to supply developer to the photosensitive drum by rotating about a second axis positioned lower than the first axis in a vertical direction to form a visible image on the peripheral surface. Extraneous matter on the peripheral surface is recovered only by the developing roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member that bears a developer image, a transfer apparatus that transfers the developer image, a charge apparatus, an exposure apparatus that exposes the surface of the image bearing member with light to form a latent image, and a developing apparatus that collects and supplies the developer to the latent image to form the developer image, in which an image formation area is divided into an image part and a non-image part where the developer image is not formed, the exposure apparatus exposes the non-image part with light at an exposure amount lower than an exposure amount with respect to the image part, and the charging apparatus charges the image bearing member and the exposure apparatus exposes the image part and the non-image part with light in a state in which the developer remains on the image bearing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus 100 includes: a common voltage-applying unit 8 that applies a voltage to charging-assistant members 7Y, 7M, and 7C of a plurality of image forming portions PY, PM, and PC; and a control unit 110, at the start of applying a voltage to the charging-assistant members of the plurality of image forming portions by the voltage-applying unit 8, switches the absolute value of the applied voltage from a smaller first value to a larger second value when images are formed by the plurality of image forming portions.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a heated drum within a continuous web printer includes operating an actuator to rotate a drum that is heated to a first temperature. The drum rotates in a process direction of a media web contacting the drum and heats the media web as the media web moves over a portion of the drum. The method also includes stopping movement of the media web, heating the drum to a second temperature that is greater than the first temperature, and operating the actuator to rotate the drum against a portion of the stopped media web to transfer ink from the drum to the portion of the stopped media web.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and method are provided. The image forming apparatus includes a communication interface unit that receives printing data, an image forming unit that performs an ordinary printing to form an image on printing paper based on the printing data, a paper supplying unit that provides the printing paper to the image forming unit along with a paper supplying route, a determination unit that determines whether a functional printing may be performed on the paper supplying route in an interval section between sheets of the printing paper, and a controller that controls the image forming unit to perform a functional printing, wherein the ordinary printing is a printing performed on one or more sheets of printing paper, and the functional printing is a printing performed in an interval section between the sheets of printing paper.

Abstract: A developer collecting device includes a housing provided with an opening opposed to a developer carrying member, a collecting member provided along an edge of the opening at a downstream end of the opening in a transporting direction in which the developer carrying member transports the developer, a sealing member provided along an edge of the opening at an upstream end of the opening in the transporting direction, a suction path that extends along a longitudinal direction of the housing and that is connected to a suction unit for sucking the developer into the housing, a developer transporting unit that is provided between the opening and the suction path and that transports the developer collected in the housing, a filter member disposed between the developer transporting unit and the suction path, and a hood member disposed between the opening and the filter member and separated from the filter member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising: a photosensitive drum having a circumferential surface, on which a developer image is formed; a transfer member configured to transfer the developer image from the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum to a recording medium conveyed along the conveying path in a conveying direction; a collecting member; and a motor capable of performing a forward rotation and a reverse rotation; wherein, based on a timing when a portion of the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum faces an upstream side edge of the developer image on the recording medium in the conveying direction, a time elapsed until the motor is stopped to change from performing the forward rotation to the reverse rotation is longer than a time elapsed until the portion of the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum that faced the upstream side edge of the developer image faces the collecting member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and an image forming method therefor. The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming part, which forms printed and alternate printed images including different developing agents to a recording medium; and a controller which controls the image forming part to form a the printed and alternate printed images according to a comparison of number of pages of a print job and a reference number of pages, and a whether the images of the print job are of a single color.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer member that retains developer; a housing provided with a removing member that removes the developer and having an intake opening that is opposed to the transfer member, the developer removed by the removing member being taken into the housing through the intake opening; a guiding pipe connected to the housing and having a suction hole through which the developer is sucked and an outlet through which the developer is discharged; and a suction member that applies a suction force to an inner space of the housing through the guiding pipe. A capturing area for capturing the developer that flows through a flow channel from the suction hole to the outlet is provided in the flow channel. A cross section of the capturing area in a radial direction of the flow channel is larger than that of other areas.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive member that is configured to carry a developer image; a developing roller that is configured to supply developer to the photosensitive member; a transfer member that is configured to transfer the developer image carried on the photosensitive member to a transfer medium; and a control unit that is configured to execute a collection mode upon receiving a printing instruction for executing a printing operation but before initiating the printing operation, wherein the control unit in the collection mode is configured to: discharge the developer of one or more circumferences of the developing roller, which has been carried on the developing roller, to the photosensitive member; and collect the discharged developer by the developing roller.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearing body provided so as to face a latent image bearing body. The developer bearing body rotates to supply a developer to the latent image bearing body. A developer supplying member is provided so as to contact the developer bearing body. The developer supplying member rotates to supply a developer to the developer bearing body. A developer recovery member is provided so as to contact a surface of the developer bearing body that moves from a position facing the latent image bearing body to a position in contact with the developer supplying member by a rotation of the developer bearing body. The developer recovery member rotates to recover the developer from the developer bearing body. The developer recovery member is constituted by a brush roller.

Abstract: A developing device in an image forming apparatus includes: a first developer carrier that rotates in a same direction as a rotating direction of an image carrier of the image forming apparatus so as to supply developer to the image carrier; and a second developer carrier that rotates in a direction opposite to the rotating direction of the image carrier so as to supply the developer to the image carrier. The developing device simultaneously performs a refreshing operation of performing replacement of the developer and a filming removal operation of causing the image carrier to rotate idle while forming an image for use in the refreshing operation and causing the first and second developer carriers to rotate in their respective rotating directions.

Abstract: A developing unit includes: a developer carrier; a toner supplying member having a porous surface layer; a toner storage storing therein toner; a stirring member that is rotated to stir the toner; a toner amount detecting unit that detects an amount of the toner; a toner supplying unit that supplies new toner to the toner storage based on a detection result; and a toner removing member that removes the toner carried in the porous surface layer, wherein the toner removing member is arranged in a separable and contactable manner from and with the porous surface layer, and the developing unit has a stirring mode in which the toner removing member is brought into contact with the porous surface layer, and the toner supplying member is rotated while the stirring member is rotated to stir the toner.

Abstract: Systems and methods of reproducing images onto surfaces are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes an image file that digitally produces a planar surface normal to a surface of a master model. The planar surfaces are referenced to a coordinate system of the master model through a series of points. A tracker surfacing system, comprising a tracking instrument, generates and emits a signal as the tracking instrument crosses the planar surface. An output device is actuated by the tracking device as it crosses the planar surface, reproducing the series of points as an image onto a surface, including a flat, curved or compound surface. Both the spatial position and orientation of the output device are detected and adjustments are made so that the image is precisely applied to intended locations on the surface being imaged.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a developing roller, a toner supply roller, and a charging member. The toner supply roller supplies single-component non-magnetic toner to the developing roller for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum. In a toner cleaning mode, the toner supply roller removes the toner from the developing roller. To this effect, the charging member charges up the toner held on the developing roller. A bias circuit and a controller are further provided, wherein the bias circuit applies bias voltages to the developing roller, supply roller, and charging member, and the controller controls the bias circuit to produce the bias voltages such that a potential difference between the charging member and the supply roller is greater than a potential difference between the developing roller and the supply roller in the toner cleaning mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carriers, a latent image forming unit, and a plurality of developing units. Each of the developing unit forms an image to have a color difference of equal to or less than about five with respect to an initial unicolor image formed by using a toner not containing a reversely-transferred toner of another color when a toner contained in a toner container is consumed by about 70%.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is configured to execute the steps including: a step of controlling a photosensitive drum and a developing roller such that the developing roller rotates in a predetermined direction and the photosensitive drum rotates in a reverse direction; and a step of controlling the photosensitive drum and the developing roller such that the developing roller stops and the photosensitive drum rotates in the reverse direction, so as to reduce toner filming.

Abstract: A method for selectively removing magnetically attractable toner particles from an image-forming device and an image-forming device for performing the same are provided. The image-forming device includes a cleaning magnet system, configured to provide an activatable second magnetic field. The method includes a step of switching the image-forming device into a cleaning mode, the cleaning mode including the steps of stopping the toner supply to the image-recording medium, rotating the rotatable sleeve in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, such that the magnetically attractable toner particles are transported out of the developing zone towards the cleaning magnet system, and activating the second magnetic field so as to remove the transported magnetically attractable toner particles from the rotating rotatable sleeve of the developing element.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a photosensitive member; a charging member; a developer carrier; a transfer member; a charging control unit that applies a charging bias having the same polarity as a charged polarity of the developers to the charging member; and a transfer control unit that applies a transfer bias having a reverse polarity to the charged polarity of the developers to the transfer member, wherein when the transfer control unit sets the absolute value of the transfer bias to a first value, the charging control unit sets an absolute value of the charging bias to a third value, and wherein when the transfer control unit sets the absolute value of the transfer bias to a second value, the charging control unit sets the absolute value of the charging bias to a fourth value smaller than the third value.

Abstract: A chip attached to and electrically connected with a printed conductive surface, whereby the chip is heated to a temperature, which is lower than what the chip can stand without being damaged by the heat, the heated chip is then pressed against the printed conductive surface with a pressing force, whereby a combination of said temperature and said pressing force is sufficient to at least partly melt the material of at least one of the printed conductive surface, the contact point on the chip, or both, thereby attaching and electrically connecting the chip to the printed conductive surface.