Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second image bearing members and first and second developing members. The controller controls to execute first and second controls based on image information in a case that the first developing member is separated from the first image bearing member when an operation in which the image is sequentially transferred to a transferred member from the first and second image bearing members is terminated. The first developing member is started to separate from the first image bearing member in the first control after an end of an image forming area on the first image bearing member in a moving direction passes through the first transfer position, and in the second control after the end of the image forming area on the first image bearing member in the moving direction passes through the developing position and before the end of the image forming area reaches the first transfer position.

Abstract: A first gear is arranged at an end of a first roller and rotatable together with the first roller. A second roller nips a sheet with the first roller and conveys the sheet to a print engine. The second roller is movable to change a distance between an axis of the first roller and an axis of the second roller. A second gear is arranged at an end of the second roller and rotatable together with the second roller. An urging member urges the second roller toward the first roller. A drive gear has gear teeth. The drive gear is rotatable by receiving driving force from a motor. A first drive transmission part transmits driving force from the drive gear to the first gear not through the second gear. A second drive transmission part transmits driving force from the drive gear to the second gear not through the first gear.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a photosensitive member unit including a photosensitive member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and a developing unit including a developer carrying member configured to carry a developer toward a position for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member with the developer. A moving mechanism moves a shutter member from a shielding position to an open position in conjunction with pressurization of the developing unit mounted to the apparatus body in a pressurizing direction so that a transition is made from a state in which a developer receiving portion is shielded to a state in which the developer receiving portion is opened after the developing unit is guided in a mounting direction and then mounted to the apparatus body.

Abstract: An grounding structure of an equipment includes a coil spring provided between a first member of an equipment side and a second member, which includes a metal plate member, of a ground side, wherein the first member and the second member are disposed opposite to each other, one end of the coil spring is brought into press contact with the first member, and the other end of the coil spring is brought into press contact with the second member. An engraved groove is formed at an abutting point of the second member with the coil spring, and is formed such that at least a part of a convex burr part generated along an end edge of the engraved groove abuts the other end of the coil spring.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a frame; a photosensitive drum that is supported by the frame; a developing unit that is rotatable around a rotating shaft supported by the frame and includes a developing frame having a toner receiving port and a developing roller; a toner cartridge that has a toner supply port; and a seal member that positioned a circumference of the toner receiving port and is deformable, wherein the seal member has a communication opening, which communicates between the toner receiving port and the toner supply port in a state where the toner cartridge is mounted to the frame, and the seal member has a first end and a second end, wherein when the developing unit rotates to approach the toner cartridge, the first end of the seal member and the second end of the seal member are configured to be compressed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a frame; a photosensitive drum that is supported by the frame; a developing unit that is rotatable around a rotating shaft supported by the frame and includes a developing frame having a toner receiving port and a developing roller; a toner cartridge that has a toner supply port; and a seal member that positioned a circumference of the toner receiving port and is deformable, wherein the seal member has a communication opening, which communicates between the toner receiving port and the toner supply port in a state where the toner cartridge is mounted to the frame, and the seal member has a first end and a second end, wherein when the developing unit rotates to approach the toner cartridge, the first end of the seal member and the second end of the seal member are configured to be compressed.

Abstract: A development rotating member for liquid development includes a base material, an elastic layer that is provided on the base material, and a surface layer that is provided on the elastic layer and contains a polyimide resin, wherein a JIS-A hardness of the development rotating member is in a range of 40 degrees to 80 degrees.

Abstract: An endless belt for fixing includes a base layer made of nickel, wherein the base layer includes a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer provided between the first layer and the second layer, and a toner parting layer provided on the base layer, wherein a content rate of an element for enhancing hardness in the first layer and the second layer is lower than that in the third layer.

Abstract: A toner drum drive assembly is configured to engage a drive mechanism of a printer. The assembly includes a support portion defining an axis, and a drive projection extending axially from the support portion. The drive projection includes three radially outwardly and circumferentially extending arm portions, with each arm portion having an end. The drive projection defines three undercuts, and each undercut is positioned axially between the support portion and a respective arm portion end.

Abstract: The present invention provides a driving force transmission mechanism for an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge. The transmission mechanism includes a photosensitive drum driving component (10) and an image forming apparatus driving head (20). The driving component (10) includes a drum shaft (3) which axially projects from an end of a photosensitive drum (1) and a boss (4) which axially projects from an end surface of the drum shaft (3). A tooth (5a) is obliquely arranged on a side wall (4b) of the boss and projects in a radial direction. The driving head (20) includes a recess (11) with a twisted-surface and matching with the boss (4), the recess has a polygonal cross section with a twisted corner section. The process cartridge includes the driving component. The photosensitive drum driving component is easy to manufacture and is not easy to be damaged when using for a long time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus configured to apply a necessary amount of a lubricant to an image bearing member while preventing the lubricant from being excessively consumed. An intermediate transfer belt drive motor controlled by a PID controller drives an intermediate transfer belt. A brush rotation controller for controlling an application brush drive motor detects fluctuation in a frictional force between a cleaning blade and the intermediate transfer belt, and controls the application brush drive motor such that an amount of lubricant to be applied is an amount corresponding to the detected fluctuation in the frictional force.

Abstract: A development device includes a developer container; a rotary cylindrical developer carrier including an outer electrode including multiple electrode portions arranged in a circumferential direction of the developer carrier, an inner electrode provided on an inner circumferential side of the developer carrier from the outer electrode, an insulation layer disposed between the outer electrode and the inner electrode, and a surface layer; and a bias power source to apply a first bias voltage and a second bias voltage to the inner electrode and the outer electrode, respectively. The first bias power source causes an electrical potential difference that changes with time between the inner electrode and the outer electrode to cause the developer to hop on a circumferential surface of the developer carrier. At least one of the first bias voltage and the second bias voltage has a cyclic waveform in which pulse-on time is reduced.

Abstract: A carrier for use in a two-component developer for developing an electrostatic latent image is provided. The carrier includes a particulate magnetic core; and a cover layer located on a surface of the particulate magnetic core and including a resin and a particulate electroconductive material. The carrier has a BET specific surface area of from 0.8 to 1.6 m2/g.

Abstract: A developer carrying member is provided which can maintain a high image quality over a long period of time even where a highly triboelectrically chargeable developer is used. The developer carrying member has a substrate and a surface layer. The surface layer is a cured product of a resin composition containing a binder resin, conductive particles, a quaternary phosphonium salt and an azo metal complex compound, the binder resin has in the molecular structure at least one structure selected from the group consisting of an —NH2 group, an ?NH group and an —NH— linkage, and the azo metal complex compound is a compound represented by the formula (1) as defined in the specification.

Abstract: A developing cartridge having a first side plate and a second side plate spaced opposite from the first side plate, a developer carrying member rotatably supported between the side plates, a developer supplying member rotatably supported between the side plates, a input member to which driving force is input rotatably supported by the first side plate, a primary developing gear to which the driving force is transferred provided on the developer carrying member at the first side plate, a secondary developing gear to which the driving force is transferred provided on the developer carrying member at the second side plate, and a supply gear to which the driving force is transferred provided on the developer supplying member at the second side plate, wherein the input member and the supply gear are arranged so that their projections in the direction of the rotation axis of the developer supplying member overlap.

Abstract: A development device includes a case, a developer carrier, an antiscattering part and a movement mechanism. The case has a supply port supplying developer to an image carrier in which an electrostatic latent image is formed. The developer carrier is rotatably positioned in the case, and develops the electrostatic latent image through the supply port by the developer. The antiscattering part prevents the developer from scattering from the supply port. The movement mechanism makes the developer carrier movable, in the case, between a developing position adjacent to the supply port and a housing position at a depth side from the developing position with respect to the supply port. The antiscattering part is moved, in conjunction with movement of the developer carrier, between an opening position adjacent to the developing position and a withdrawal position far from the opening position, while separating from the developer carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: an electrostatic latent image bearing member; an electrostatic latent image forming unit configured to form an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image bearing member; and a developing unit containing a toner and configured to develop the electrostatic latent image with the toner to thereby form a visible image, wherein the developing unit is a contact type one-component developing unit which includes a toner bearing member being in contact with the electrostatic latent image bearing member, wherein a contact pressure between the electrostatic latent image bearing member and the toner bearing member is 2.0×104 N/m2 to 7.5×104 N/m2, wherein the toner contains a binder resin and a releasing agent, and wherein an extracted amount of the releasing agent extracted with hexane from the toner is 10 mg/g to 25 mg/g.

Abstract: A developer includes a developer carrying body that carries a two-component developer having a magnetic toner and a carrier. A toner carrying body opposes the developer carrying body and receives toner from the developer carrying body. An image carrying body develops an electrostatic latent image by toner carried on the toner carrying body. A first magnetic member is inside the developer carrying body and opposes a surface of the toner carrying body. A second magnetic member is inside the toner carrying body and opposes the surface of the developer carrying body. The second magnetic member is magnetized to an opposite polarity to the first magnetic member and generates a magnetic force at least on the surface of the toner carrying body in a range of 25 mT to 40 mT in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the toner carrying body.

Abstract: A conductive coating is described, suitable for coating a developer, charge or transfer roller in a developing apparatus to give a charge providing layer. The coating comprises a conductive polymer in a matrix. A roller is also described, suitable for a developing apparatus comprising, from the center to the periphery, a conductive mandrel, a conductive elastic base layer and a charge providing layer.

Abstract: A developing device that is provided in an image forming device that forms an image includes an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a developer carrier that is configured to form a developer image on a surface of the image carrier by attaching developer on the electrostatic latent image; and a contact member that is configured to contact the developer carrier. The contact member contacts the developer carrier and exerts a contact pressure per unit area thereon, the contact pressure per unit area being based on charging characteristics of the developer being used.

Abstract: A development device includes a toner carrier including first and second groups of electrodes, a toner supplier, and an electrical field generator. The electrical field generator includes a positive-phase pulse voltage generation circuit, a negative-phase pulse voltage generation circuit, a first DC power source for supplying a bias for setting a peak value of pulse voltages, a second DC power source to output a variable voltage having a polarity identical to a polarity of toner charge, a first diode having an anode connected to a lower potential side of the first DC power source and a cathode connected to an output terminal of the positive-phase pulse voltage generation circuit, and a second diode having an anode connected to the lower potential side of the first DC power source and a cathode connected to an output terminal of the negative-phase pulse voltage generation circuit.

Abstract: An electrostatic charge image developing toner includes toner particles that contain a colorant, a binder resin and a release agent, and an external additive, in which the external additive contains inorganic particles including an aliphatic alcohol having 5 or more carbon atoms and a melting point of 20° C. or lower on the surfaces thereof.

Abstract: A polyester resin for a toner is a polycondensate of a carboxylic acid component and an alcohol component including rosin diol that is represented by the following formula (1) and has an alicyclic structure (alicyclic alcohol), wherein R1 and R2 each independently represents hydrogen or a methyl group, L1 represents a divalent linking group having an alicyclic structure, L2 and L3 each independently represents a divalent linking group selected from a group consisting of a carbonyl group, a carboxyl group, an ether group, a sulfonyl group, a chain-like alkylene group which may have a substituent, a cyclic alkylene group, a phenylene group, and combinations thereof, and A1 and A2 represent a rosin ester group, provided that a divalent linking group having the alicyclic structure represented by L1 may be a divalent linking group having an alicyclic structure formed through linking with any of R1, R2, L2 or L3.

Abstract: An electrostatic charge image developing toner includes toner particles containing a colorant, a binder resin, and a release agent, and an external additive, wherein the external additive includes particles having oil-treated surfaces and composite particles containing silica and titania, and the toner has a content ratio of titania with respect to silica on the surface of the toner, as measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, of equal to or less than 5 atomic %.

Abstract: A developing device that is provided in an image forming device that forms an image includes an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a developer carrier that forms a developer image on a surface of the image carrier by attaching a developer on the electrostatic latent image; a supplying member that supplies the developer to the developer carrier by contacting the developer carrier, and that scrapes the developer remaining on the surface of the developer carrier from the developer carrier, and a deformation amount between the developer carrier and the supplying member is individually configured corresponding to a location where the developing device is provided in the image forming device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes developing units designed to have an appropriate developer storage capacity in consideration of developer consumption, and improved convenience of use. The image forming apparatus also includes an image carrier, and plural developing units arranged along a rotating direction of the image carrier to supply developers to the image carrier. The plural developing units include a first developing unit having the largest developer storage capacity and a second developing unit having the second largest developer storage capacity after the first developing unit.

Abstract: A conductive coating is described, suitable for coating a developer, charge or transfer roller in a developing apparatus to give a charge providing layer. The coating comprises a conductive polymer in a matrix. A roller is also described, suitable for a developing apparatus comprising, from the center to the periphery, a conductive mandrel, a conductive elastic base layer and a charge providing layer.

Abstract: A developing roller which shows an excellent environmental performance and is free from occurrence of toner filming and toner leakage is provided. The developing roller 10 comprises a shaft 1, an elastic layer 2 supported on the outer periphery of the shaft 1, and a single surface layer 3 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the elastic layer 2. The elastic layer 2 comprises a polyurethane foam and the surface layer 3 comprises an aqueous polyurethane resin as a major component and further a water-dispersible silica and/or an aqueous silicone acrylic graft polymer. As the aqueous polyurethane resin, a UV curing resin may be preferably used.

Abstract: The present invention provides a conductive roller having a toner transport part composed of a vulcanized rubber composition at least on an outermost layer thereof. The vulcanized rubber composition contains a rubber component (A), highly conductive carbon black (B) having a particle diameter not less than 18 nm and less than 80 nm, an inorganic filler (C) consisting of not less than one kind of a metal oxide selected from among a group of titanium oxide, alumina, and silica. A total of a content of the highly conductive carbon black (B) and a content of the inorganic filler (C) for 100 parts by mass of the rubber component (A) is not less than 10 parts by mass nor more than 60 parts by mass.

Abstract: The present invention provides a developer carrying member capable of maintaining excellent charge imparting property even under long-term use. The present invention relates to a developer carrying member including a substrate and a resin layer, wherein the resin layer includes an acrylic resin having three specific structural units and electroconductive particles.

Abstract: An developer bearer conveys developer to a developing station under influence of an electric field created by an electric flux line. The developer bearer includes plural kinds of electrodes that receive different voltages from each other and collectively creates the electric flux line. The plural kinds of electrodes are arranged on different layers in a normal line of the developer bearer. The developer bearer includes an insulation layer that insulates the plural kinds of electrodes.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to develop an electrostatic latent image using conductive particles, such as carbon and metal particles with a low resistance value, without treating the surface with insulation membrane or other insulators that generate impurities in the conductive material printed by the imaging system.

Abstract: An electrostatic charge image developing toner includes: a polyester resin containing a graft copolymer, the graft copolymer being formed with a polyester skeleton as a main chain and block copolymers containing a styrene-based polymer block and a crystalline acrylate-based polymer block. The styrene-based polymer block is grafted onto the polyester skeleton.

Abstract: A developing unit includable in a process cartridge and in an image forming apparatus includes a developer bearing member including a magnetic field generator and a nonmagnetic hollow member, a developer container, an agitation/conveyance member, and a developer regulating member. The magnetic field generator has first and second magnetic poles to generate respective magnetic forces for removing the developer from the developer bearing member after the developer passes the development region. A developer-releasing region releases the developer from the developer bearing member using a release force. The developer is disposed higher than a surface of the developer in the developer storing chamber. A component of a magnetic flux density of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator in a direction normal to the developer-releasing region is directed to a same direction as the first and second magnetic poles across the developer-releasing region without forming a local maximum point.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes developing units designed to have an appropriate developer storage capacity in consideration of developer consumption, and improved convenience of use. The image forming apparatus also includes an image carrier, and plural developing units arranged along a rotating direction of the image carrier to supply developers to the image carrier. The plural developing units include a first developing unit having the largest developer storage capacity and a second developing unit having the second largest developer storage capacity after the first developing unit.

Abstract: A developing roller has a mandrel, an elastic layer and a cover layer as a surface layer. The cover layer includes a silicon oxide film containing a carbon atom chemically bonded to a silicon atom. In the silicon oxide film, the proportion of the total number of the elements of silicon, oxygen, carbon and hydrogen to the number of all detected elements, as detected with a high-frequency glow discharge light-emission surface analysis method, is 90% or more. The silicon oxide film has an abundance ratio of an oxygen atom chemically bonded to a silicon atom to silicon atoms, (O/Si), of 0.65 or more but 1.95 or less and an abundance ratio of a carbon atom chemically bonded to a silicon atom to silicon atoms, (C/Si), of 0.05 or more but 1.65 or less, and has a ratio of the maximum value to the minimum value of the (C/Si) in a thickness direction of the cover layer, of 1.50 to 33.00.

Abstract: A developer supply device, including a developer holding body having a cylindrical developer holding surface so that the developer holding surface moves in a direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction and a developer held on the developer holding surface is carried to a developer supply position; a developer amount limiting member that limits an amount of the developer held on the developer holding surface by contacting the developer holding surface on an upstream side in a moving direction of the developer holding surface with respect to the developer supply position; and a carrying substrate that carries the developer to the developer holding body through a traveling electric field, wherein the carrying substrate faces the developer holding surface at a developer holding position, and wherein a position to which the developer scraped off the developer holding surface falls is different from the developer holding position.

Abstract: A developer includes particles of developer base material containing a binder resin and external additive added to surfaces of the particles of developer base material. A loose bulk density is not smaller than 0.300 g/ml but not larger than 0.420 g/ml, and a release rate of the external additive from the particles of developer base material is not lower than 5% but not higher than 15%.

Abstract: A developing apparatus is accommodated within a laser printer. The developing apparatus includes a developing casing and a toner electric field transport body. The toner electric field transport body includes a transport wiring substrate and a transport-substrate support member. A plurality of transport electrodes are provided on the transport wiring substrate. The transport wiring substrate is supported by the transport-substrate support member in a state in which the transport wiring substrate is deformed in a tubular shape. In some examples, a tensile fixing means may fix the transport wiring substrate to the transport-substrate support member. Further, the transport wiring substrate is supported by the transport-substrate support member such that margin areas of the transport wiring substrate, which are opposite end portions of the transport wiring substrate with respect to a sub-scanning direction and in which the transport electrodes are not formed, are separated from a toner transport path.

Abstract: A developing apparatus for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member with a developer includes a first developer carrying member for carrying and feeding the developer by rotation thereof about a rotation axis which is at a fixed position; a second developer carrying member for carrying and feeding the developer by rotation thereof, the second developer carrying member having a rotation axis which is swingable relative to the first developer carrying member; a supporting member for supporting the second developer carrying member swingably about the first developer carrying member; a driving device for applying a driving force to the first developer carrying member; and a driving belt for transmitting the driving force applied to the first developer carrying member to the second developer carrying member.

Abstract: A coupling unit includes two constant velocity joints arranged in series in the shaft direction. The coupling unit couples a driven shaft and a drive shaft. Each constant velocity joint includes a ball non-retaining member and a ball retaining member. The ball non-retaining member has an annular space with one opened end and a plurality of track grooves extending in the shaft direction on an external wall surface of the annular space at a constant interval in a circumferential direction. The ball retaining member has a portion that engages with the annular space of the ball non-retaining member, and that retains a ball that slides along each of the track grooves formed in the ball non-retaining member.

Abstract: A developing apparatus is described. The developing apparatus includes a transport member including a plurality of electrodes forming a traveling wave electric field by successively applied voltages and a casing storing a toner transported by the transport member, wherein the activity of the toner based on the following measuring method shown in (1) to (3) is not more than 2.

Abstract: A developing device for transferring toner particles to a photoconductor comprises a container for holding a developer of non-magnetic toner particles and hard magnetic carrier particles, a first developer roller which is at least partially arranged in said container and features a non-magnetic jacket tube and a magnetic core, the jacket tube and the magnetic core each being arranged so as to be rotatable about corresponding rotational axes, and at least a second developer roller which is arranged adjacent to the first developer roller in such a manner that carrier particles with toner particles adhering to them and being carried along by rotation of the first developer roller, contact the second developer roller in order to transfer the toner particles in a contacting manner to the second developer roller, said second developer roller being supported so as to be rotatable about a corresponding rotational axis.

Abstract: Each transport electrode has its longitudinal direction intersecting with a sub-scanning direction. Transport electrodes are disposed in parallel with each other and are arrayed along the sub-scanning direction. A transport-electrode electricity supply wiring section is connected to root portions of the transport electrodes. The root portions are one end portions of the transport electrodes with respect to the longitudinal direction. Toner transport guide members are disposed to cover the transport-electrode electricity supply wiring section and opposite end portions of the transport electrodes; i.e., the root portions and distal end portions.

Abstract: A development device includes a toner carrier having a plurality of long outside electrodes provided at intervals in a first predetermined depth position from a toner carrying surface, and a longitudinal direction of each outside electrode crossing a toner carrying direction, an inside electrode provided at least in a portion between the long outside electrodes in a second predetermined depth position deeper than the first predetermined depth, and an insulation layer between a layer having the outside electrodes and a layer having the inside electrode; and a voltage applier configured to apply a voltage which hops toners on the toner carrying surface to the inside electrode and the outside electrodes.

Abstract: A development roller, including a development sleeve disposed near a photo conductive drum, a magnetic roller disposed in the development sleeve, and a supplying device configured to supply a developer including a toner and a magnetic carrier to the photo conductive drum uniformly, the development sleeve having an outer surface on which the developer including the toner and the magnetic carrier is adsorbed by a magnetic force of the magnetic roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, an adhesion processing device, an adhesion device, and a fixing device. The image forming device forms an image on a light-transmitting medium with image formation toner. The adhesion processing device sets whether or not to make the light-transmitting medium contact a light-reflecting medium for each of multiple areas of the image. The adhesion device adheres adhesive toner to an area of the light-transmitting medium. The fixing device aligns the light-reflecting medium with the light-transmitting medium such that the light-reflecting medium contacts a surface of the light-transmitting medium to which the adhesive toner adheres and fixes the light-reflecting medium to the light-transmitting medium.

Abstract: A developing device includes a non-magnetic rotatable sleeve of a developer bearer to bear developer and a development electric field generator to generate a development electric field between the image bearer and the developer bearer by applying a development bias to the developer bearer. The developing bias is an AC bias generating an AC electric field therebetween. The magnetic carrier includes a plurality of fine particles each covered by a covering layer made of prescribed material having a volume resistivity equal to or more than 1012 [?·cm] having a prescribed particle diameter equal to or less than 100 [nm]. Each of the a plurality of fine particles has a total volume resistivity equal to or less than 105 [?·cm].

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a resin-coated ferrite carrier comprising a carrier core material having a small particle size, a high sphericity and surface uniformity, and a low standard deviation, a process for producing the carrier, and an electrophotographic developer comprising the resin-coated ferrite carrier and having a high image quality and excellent durability. For achieving the above object, there is provided a resin-coated carrier for an electrophotographic developer characterized by comprising spherical ferrite particles having an average particle size of 20 to 50 ?m, a surface uniformity of 90% or more, an average sphericity of 1 to 1.3 and a sphericity standard deviation of 0.15 or less, a process for producing the carrier, and an electrophotographic developer comprising the resin-coated carrier.

Abstract: There is provided an image formation device including a developer holding body having a developer holding surface; and a developer supply unit to supply the developer to a position facing the developer holding surface by carrying the developer in a developer transport direction intersecting with the main scanning direction through use of effect of an electric field. The developer supply unit includes a plurality of carrying electrodes each of which is formed to have a longer side extending along the main scanning direction. The carrying electrodes are arranged along the developer transport direction to carry the developer when a drive voltage is applied to the carrying electrodes. The developer supply unit has a developer carrying area formed such that, in the main scanning direction, the developer carrying area becomes narrower from an upstream side in the developer transport direction toward the position along the developer transport direction.