Abstract: A color image forming apparatus is capable of reducing color deviation of an image due to the influence of a variation in load of an intermediate transfer member and of carrying out high speed printing. A control unit for controlling an image forming process on the basis of the size of a recording medium sets, where a recording medium of a size smaller than the longest image length capable of forming a color image is subject to continuous image formation, a first mode for continuously carrying out a development process for forming a latent image and a toner image, and a second mode of incorporating a stop process for stopping the development process in the midst of the development process. This enables reduction of color deviation of an image caused by the influence of a variation in load of an intermediate transfer member and high speed printing also.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus such as digital copying machine can perform an operation to read the original document by an image reader and an operation to output image data stored in an image memory by a printer, independently of each other. A first timer measures a period of time that has elapsed since the suspension of reading of the original document by the image reader. A second timer measures a period of time that has elapsed since the suspension of output of image data stored in the image by the printer. The timers running independently of each other. Therefore even when one of the processes is continuing, if the other process is suspended due to either intentional discontinuation or an error, this other process may be cleared. As a result, an operator who wishes to input a job to the digital copying machine can learn the current status of each job residing in the digital copying machine.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus supervising system includes a problem detecting device in each of image forming apparatuses, which detects a problem to be reported to a central control apparatus as a service person call when the problem occurs in the image forming apparatus. A first copysheet number storing device is employed to store a total number of copysheets having been copied before a current occurrence of the problem occurs in an image forming apparatus. A second copysheet number storing device is also employed to store a number of copysheets having been copied before a last occurrence of the problem. The problem is reported only when a difference between the numbers of copysheets stored in the first copysheet number storing device and the second copysheet number storing device exceeds a predetermined level so that an erroneously detected problem can be avoided from being reported as the service person call.

Abstract: A printing device has a developing unit 11 provided with an OPC drum for carrying out a printing, a toner feeding motor for feeding a toner into the developing unit, and a paper carrying motor for carrying paper to the OPC drum. A toner quantity detecting sensor detects a toner quantity in the developing unit every page as a detected toner quantity and supplies the detected toner quantity as a detected voltage to a control section. When a difference voltage between a predetermined reference voltage and the detected voltage is greater than a predetermined threshold level, the control section selectively stops the paper carrying motor during a stopping time duration determined on the basis of the detected voltage. Furthermore, the control section selectively drives the toner feeding motor during a driving time duration determined in accordance with the detected voltage.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic printing apparatus, a fixing device heat-roller control system configured for specially controlling the heat roller fixing temperature during consecutive dual-sided copying of a large number of sheets. The electrophotographic printing apparatus in particular is adapted for stack-less conveyance from the fixing unit of sheets onto one side of which the copy toner image has been fixed in dual-sided copying, switching the sheets back to image reproduction unit. The fixing unit has a heat roller incorporating an internal heater and a press roller in pressing contact with the heat roller. The fixing device heat-roller control system includes a sensor associated with the heat roller for detecting its superficial temperature, a switching element for supplying/cutting off voltage to the internal heater, and a temperature control unit connected to the sensor and the switching element.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a charging device for charging the photosensitive member, an exposing device for exposing a light including image information to the photosensitive member, and a developing device for supplying a toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on said photosensitive member. The developing means is held by a cartridge removably mountable on a main body of the image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes a memory for memorizing an amount of use of the cartridge, wherein a charging amount of the toner caused by friction in the cartridge when the amount of use of the cartridge is in an initial state is smaller than that when the amount of use of said cartridge is not in an initial state. A judging device compares the amount of use of the cartridge with a predetermined value showing a condition that the amount of use of the cartridge is in the initial state.

Abstract: The main body of a digital copying machine is connected to a finisher. The main body subtracts a certain length of time from the sheet processing time designated by the finisher. Owing to this, even when the finisher is used, printing processing is executed with no need to decrease the processing speed originally provided for the main body of the digital copying machine.

Abstract: An image-forming device such as a full color printer is provided which is designed to correct the speed of a conveyer belt on which print sheets are transported or intervals between image-transferring units for compensating for a shift between colors. The image-forming device has a timer which measures an elapsed time from turning on of the device or release of a sleep mode, a print-off time and a print time and determines a correction value as a function of the times measured by the timer by look-up using a table.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing a toner image and a transfer device for transferring the toner image from the image bearing member onto a transfer material. A charging member contacts a surface of the image bearing member from which residual toner is not removed to electrically charge the image bearing member. The charging member is capable of temporarily collecting the residual toner. A cleaning device applies, to the charging member, a cleaning voltage for returning the toner to the image bearing member. An image forming device forms an electrostatic image on the image bearing member having been charged by the charging device. A developing device develops the electrostatic image on the image bearing member and collects the toner from the image bearing member. A controller controls the cleaning device to vary a cleaning condition of the charging member.

Abstract: An apparatus to identify a replacement of a developing machine comprises a fuse which is disposed at a desired position of the developing machine; a switching part which is disposed at a desired position of a printer body corresponding to the fuse and applies a level of current to the fuse according to a control signal so as to disconnect the fuse; a control unit which outputs a control signal to the switching part so as to check whether the fuse is disconnected when a warming-up operation of a printer is started, and which outputs a control signal to a power controller so as to disconnect the fuse if the fuse is not disconnected and then initializes a printing counter, wherein the developing machine is determined to have been replaced, if the fuse is not disconnected.

Abstract: A liquid image forming apparatus includes a rotation speed detection portion provided at one side of the image drying roller for detecting a rotation speed of said image drying roller. A speed comparison portion determines whether the image drying roller is rotating at normal speed by comparing the rotation speed of the image drying roller, detected by the rotation speed detection portion, with a predetermined range of a reference rotation speed. A controlling portion makes the heating roller heat the image drying roller to a reference temperature to vaporize the liquid carrier absorbed by the image drying roller, when it is determined from a signal from the speed comparison portion that the image drying roller does not maintain the regular speed. Thus, the toner image in a damp state, which is vulnerable to damage due to friction before being dried, can be protected and a quality printed material can be obtained.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device including a pair of rollers to convey a sheet impinged against a nip portion of the pair of rollers. Also included is a driving device which drives the pair of rollers to rotate in either a forward direction or a reverse direction, a sheet detecting device which detects the sheet inserted into the nip portion, and a controller which controls the pair of rollers to rotate in the forward direction after rotating the pair of rollers in the reverse direction by a predetermined amount of rotation, when the sheet is inserted into the nip portion of the pair of rollers.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an unfixed image forming device, a fixing device and a controller and that turns off the power supply to the heating member and rotational driving of the rotational members for a first preset predetermined time period when a continuous image forming completed for continuously forming images on a plurality of recording materials, and subsequently, turns on the power supply to the heating member and rotational driving of the rotational members for a predetermined preset second time period.

Abstract: A method of controlling a power supply to heat sources of a printer and an apparatus for controlling power supply to heat sources of a printer include: a heat generating portion having a plurality of heat sources; a power supply unit; a switching portion having a plurality of switches installed so as to connect or disconnect the power supply from the power supply unit to the individual heat sources; thermal sensors for sensing the temperatures of heat-supplied objects corresponding to the heat sources and generating corresponding temperature signals; and a power supply controller for adjusting the on times of the heat sources so that all periods of power supply to the heat sources do not overlap. Output signals from the thermal sensors for the respective heat sources are used to control the switching portion so that the temperatures of the heat-supplied objects are maintained within the respective preset temperature ranges.

Abstract: An improved EP printer will automatically compensate for printer output darkness shift over the usage life of one or more components of the print engine. In many EP print engines, the printer output darkness without correction will gradually change as the components are used, and typically, the darkness will increase to an extent that is perceptible. The printer output darkness can be controlled using a EP operating point that changes certain operating parameters, such as the laser diode current, the duty cycle of the video data signals driving the laser diode, and other voltage parameters including the charge roller voltage, or the developer bias voltage. It is desirable to make adjustments over the usage life of these components, so as to maintain the initial printer output darkness throughout the life of the major system components.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus operates a counter acting as a print timer in a printing operation. In a case where a counted value reaches a predetermined value, the image recording apparatus sets a waiting state, stops power supply from a high voltage power supply unit according to a predetermined sequence, starts to operate a nonvolatile memory in a cartridge according to a predetermined procedure, reads data from the memory, adds the read data to the counted value of the print timer, and then writes an added result.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a charging unit for charging the image bearing member, an image forming unit for forming an electrostatic image on the image bearing member charged by the charging unit, a developing device for developing the electrostatic image on the image bearing member and for supplying to the image bearing member charging performance enhancing particles which have a polarity opposite from that of the toner, wherein the developing device has a developer carrying member, opposed to the image bearing member, for carrying the toner and charging performance enhancing particles and also which forms an alternating electric field between the developer carrying member and the image bearing member to supply the toner and the charging performance enhancing particles to the image bearing member.

Abstract: An image recording unit is provided with a developing bias voltage output circuit for outputting a developing bias voltage to a developing unit, to thereby cause the developing unit to develop, using toner, an electrostatic latent image, formed on an electrically-charged body, into a visible toner image. A CPU serves to output a developing bias voltage control signal to a developing bias voltage varying circuit. The CPU outputs a developing bias voltage control signal based on manual key operations performed by a user. In response to the developing bias voltage control signal, the developing bias voltage varying circuit controls the developing bias voltage output circuit to change the developing bias voltage to be outputted therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image forming method in which charges are injected into an image bearing member having a charge injecting layer on a surface thereof to thereby charge it to a predetermined polarity and charges of an opposite polarity to the predetermined polarity are imparted to the image bearing member before image formation.

Abstract: An improved electrophotographic printer is provided in which the voltage applied to the charge roller is automatically adjusted to compensate for its changing characteristics over its life span. A high voltage DC power supply includes an output that is connected to the charge roller, and the input side of this high voltage DC power supply is controlled by a microprocessor of the print engine. The print engine controls the output voltage of the high voltage DC power supply by changing the duty cycle of the pulse-width modulated control signal that is supplied to the input of the high voltage DC power supply. A look-up table contains the correct duty cycle for the pulse-width modulated control signal with respect to the number of prints that have been made. The result of the inspection of the look-up table is used by the microprocessor of the print engine to control the correct duty cycle for the pulse-width modulated signal.

Abstract: If density control is executed during continuous printing, not only the throughput of the interrupted job decreases, but also the density difference between images output before and after the printing interruption may become visually conspicuous. In this invention, a command and a status are exchanged with an external device, and the density of the visible image formed by an image forming section is controlled in accordance with a predetermined command received. When the number of visible images formed by the forming section reaches the first predetermined number, a status instructing execution of density control is transmitted to the external device. When no density control is executed upon transmission of the status instructing execution of the density control and the number of visible images formed by the forming section reaches the second predetermined number, density control is executed regardless of the predetermined command.

Abstract: In an electrostatographic process and apparatus a replenishment device adds toner particles to a development station that includes a developer comprising a mixture of toner particles and carrier particles. A reference parameter that is used in control of aim point of toner concentration in the mixture is set to an initial value until about a midlife of the developer is reached. Once the midlife of the developer is reached there are provided programmed step adjustments in the reference value in accordance with further increases in life of the developer to thereby control replenishment of toner particles so that control of charge to mass of the toner particles in the mixture is provided to reduce a tendency of dusting by the toner particles of the mixture due to age of the developer.

Abstract: A method for controlling concentration of a developer in a developing reservoir of a wet printer includes the steps of counting image data output from a system controller to a laser scanning unit to form an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive medium, calculating the amount of a consumed toner supplied from the developing reservoir to the photosensitive belt according to a value counted in the counting step of formation of the electrostatic latent image, and supplying toner from a toner supplying unit into the developing reservoir to refill the amount of the consumed toner calculated in the calculation step. The developer also includes a liquid carrier element. Thus, the ratio of the toner to liquid carrier element in the developing reservoir may be maintained within a predetermined range, without having an additional apparatus for measuring the concentration of the developer.

Abstract: In a multifunction digital printing apparatus, such as a copier-printer, image data from print jobs are intermingled with image data from copy jobs, such as originating from a digital scanner. Further, scanner-only functions such as electronic filing and sending facsimiles can be performed without need for printing hardware. An auditing device can decrement a user's account on a per-sheet basis regardless of whether a requested job requires the use of the scanner or printing hardware or both.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus for forming an image through an electrophotographic process, the apparatus having an electrophotographic photosensitive member; charging device for charging the photosensitive member; exposure device for exposing the photosensitive member to light information to form an electrostatic latent image; a color developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image with color toner; a black developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image with black toner; control device for controlling an image forming operation condition to change an image quality; first integrating device for integrating an amount of color image output; second integrating device for integrating an amount of black image output; wherein the control device is responsive to a predetermined output of the first integrating device and to a predetermined output of the second integrating device which is different from the predetermined output of the first integrating device, and wherein the control

Abstract: An image forming apparatus supervisory system is provided. The image forming apparatus supervisory system includes an image forming apparatus and a control device. The image forming apparatus has an input unit for inputting an identification code and a transmission unit for transmitting the identification code. The control device is connected to the image forming apparatus, and has a reception unit for receiving the identification code and a transmission unit for transmitting to the image forming apparatus a signal for informing the image forming apparatus of a permitted number of time an image can be formed in response to receipt of the identification code. Upon receipt of the signal from the control device, the image forming apparatus permits forming an image the permitted number of times.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with print request controls for accepting a print request relevant to a job from an operator on condition that use of an image forming section is permitted by permission controls. The image forming apparatus is also provided with print controls for making the image forming section execute image formation relevant to the above job according to instructions by the print request controls. The image forming apparatus is further provided with inhibition controls for inhibiting acceptance of a print request relevant to a job different from the above job by the print request controls, regardless of the presence or absence of permission by the permission controls after accepting the print request relevant to the above job by the print request controls. Thereby, it is possible to prevent another person from opportunistically using the apparatus even when the operator forgets to cancel the permission of use of the image forming section by the permission controls.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus for forming a visible image by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier, transferring the visible image onto an intermediate transfer body, and then transferring the visible image onto a recording medium, a density sensor detects a patch formed on the intermediate transfer body, and corrects the measurement timing of the density sensor on the basis of the detected position of the patch. The density sensor then detects the density of a toner image for density correction to execute density control. With this control, density control can be done after any mechanical error between the intermediate transfer body and density sensor is corrected, thus improving the density control precision.

Abstract: An image forming system wherein a predetermined monitor signal is applied to a transfer roll for estimating a resistance value of the transfer roll between one sheet of recording paper passing through the contact portion between a photosensitive drum and the transfer roll and the next sheet of recording paper being introduced into the contact portion and the transfer bias applied to the transfer roll is updated in response to the estimated resistance value. In the image forming system, if the time between one sheet of recording paper passing through the contact portion and the next sheet of recording paper being introduced into the contact portion is less than a predetermined time, updating of the transfer bias is inhibited, and further if updating of the transfer bias is inhibited successively a predetermined threshold value of the number of times or more, introduction of the next sheet of recording paper is delayed a predetermined time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a blade for removing a developer left on a photoconductive drum. In addition, a low density pattern is formed on at least a part of the photoconductive drum based on a duration the photoconductive drum is driven.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for adjusting density in electrophotographic printing are disclosed. A toner mark is printed at a predetermined location on each of sheets of a continuous stationery. A toner mark sensor is provided to detect density of the toner mark printed on each of the sheets. A controller performs density control based on a result from detecting density of toner mark printed on every other page of the sheets.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a memory for storing image information. The image information stored in the memory can be printed onto both surfaces of paper sheets. A resupplying path guide sheets having information printed on a first surface thereof to a printer for subsequent printing on a second surface of the sheets. The resupplying path includes at least one standby position for suspending the sheets. Further, the total number of sheets introduced into the resupplying path can be controlled to ensure that no collision of sheets occurs. Further, such an operation can be intermitted by a further printing operation, and such a process can be executed prior to outputting sheets to a finishing device.

Abstract: An image forming device includes an optical system for forming an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive body by exposure of an original in light, a development system for developing the electrostatic latent image, and a control system for controlling the optical system and the development system. The control system detects the concentration of a toner in a developing agent tank, calculating a difference between the detected toner concentration and a predetermined toner concentration, replenishing the toner to the developing agent tank until the detected toner concentration makes a recovery to the predetermined toner concentration, clocking a time period for the recovery and controlling at least one of the amount of the exposure light and the amount of the toner adhering to a photosensitive body based on the clocked time period for the recovery.

Abstract: The present invention, for example, forms a test pattern image on the surface of a photosensitive member at predetermined periodicity and detects the density of said test pattern image. If the detected density value of the test pattern image is other than said target value, the charging voltage is preferentially adjusted to maintain a stable toner density. When the adjusted charging voltage attains either an upper limit or a lower limit, the toner density is adjusted.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus of the type including a movable belt and a cleaning blade for cleaning the belt, a toner image on the form of an exclusive line is formed on an image carrier between sheets and the transferred to the belt so as to feed toner to the edge of the cleaning blade. The toner prevents the edge of the cleaning blade from being turned over by the belt. The toner is fed to the cleaning blade in amounts different in the widthwise direction of the belt and can therefore be controlled in amount in the above direction.

Abstract: The differences in the detected values of temperature and humidity between the time at which the suspension of operation begins and the time at which operation is restored are sought, and the differences are compared with their respective prescribed thresholds. If the difference in temperature is less than the threshold and the difference in relative humidity is less than the threshold, as an example, it is determined that the environmental change during the period of suspension of operation is less than the threshold, and the copying machine is made ready immediately without performing image stabilizing control. On the other hand, where the difference in temperature equals or exceeds the threshold, or where the difference in relative humidity equals or exceeds the threshold, it is determined that the environmental change during the period of suspension of operation equals or exceeds the threshold, whereupon image stabilizing control is executed and the image forming operation parameters are set.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating and cutting individual images from a web containing a plurality of images, the web having a magnetic media capable of retaining magnetically recorded data. The apparatus comprising a reader for reading magnetically recorded data contained on the magnetic media which provides information relating to the location of the images thereon; and a mechanism responsive to the information read by the reader and for performing an operation to the web in accordance with the information.

Abstract: A copying machine includes a memory unit capable of storing a plurality of jobs, a printing processing unit for executing one of the job stored in the memory unit to form an image, and a control unit for controlling the printing processing unit to provide a wait operation for starting executing a job stored in the memory unit when a predetermined time period elapses after the completion of the execution of another job by the printing processing unit is detected. This allows a user-friendly copying machine which manages a plurality of jobs, wherein a set of output sheets for an output job can readily be removed from the sheet discharging tray.

Abstract: The invention provides an image forming apparatus such as a coin-operated copy machine, which has an upper limit value to the number of copies which are authorized to be made and which also copies both sides of originals fed to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus is configured so that its intermediate tray, which temporarily stores sheets copied on their first side, is empty at the end of a copy cycle and despite the image forming apparatus being fed more double-sided originals to copy than are authorized to be copied. The image forming apparatus compares the upper limit value of the number of copies authorized to be made to the number of single-sided copies already made in the current copying cycle and begins copying the second side of the originals onto sheets from the intermediate tray when the upper limit value equals a constant K plus twice the number of images formed.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus which comprises a photosensitive unit 15 having a photosensitive body 14 and a device for acting on the photosensitive body 14, the photosensitive unit 15 being disposed detachably in the main body of the apparatus, and a main body controller 36 for controlling the operation of components for performing the image formation operation using the photosensitive body 14, the main body controller 36 having a main memory 40 for storing predetermined items. A recyclable substance is used for the photosensitive body 14 and the photosensitive unit 15 is provided with an auxiliary memory 17. The serial number of the main body of the apparatus and the total number of print sheets of paper counted since the main body of the apparatus was a new product are stored in the main memory 40 and the auxiliary memory 17. The cumulative number of print sheets of paper the photosensitive body 14 has printed is further stored in the auxiliary memory 17.

Abstract: A host computer does not instruct to initiate calibration immediately when calibration is requested by a printer. The host computer instructs to initiate calibration at time which is designated by an operator. As for the execution time of calibration to be designated, time right after calibration is requested, and time when a printing job is completed are included. Further, when automatic determination for determining execution time of calibration is designated, the execution time is determined on the basis of state of a printing job to be executed, or state of a printing job in progress. As for the state of a printing job, there are the number of remaining pages of the printing job, color printing or monochromatic printing, whether image data is included or not, for example. Accordingly, depending upon the state of the printing job, an optimized execution time of calibration is determined.

Abstract: A test pattern image is formed on a photosensitive drum, and the density of the test pattern image is detected by a sensor. The grid voltage Vg of an electrifying charger and the toner concentration T/C in a developer are adjusted according to the detection result so that a target image density can be obtained. Every time a specified number of copies are made in a multiple copying operation, the adjusting target value of the toner concentration T/C is lowered by one step, and the adjusting target value of the grid voltage Vg is heightened by one step.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a printing machine including a member for storing a latent image thereon of a document is provided. The printing machine is adapted to produce a printed copy of the document on a substrate. The apparatus adjusts the printed copy output rate thereof. The apparatus includes a latent image generating device for generating the latent image of the document. The latent image generating device has a switch for initiating the generating the latent image of the document. The apparatus further includes an adjustable timer for setting an elapsed time between sequential generations of the latent image of the document and a controller for controlling the printed copy output rate of the printing machine. The controller is adapted to provide for a plurality of printed copy output rates based on the time elapsed between sequential generations of the latent image of the document.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device for forming an image on a recording material, a high voltage electric power source for driving the image forming device, a storing device for storing information related to image formation, and an information inputting/outputting device for inputting the information into the storing device, or outputting it therefrom, by accessing the storing device. The inputting/outputting device accesses the storing device when the high voltage electric power source is not in operation.

Abstract: A method for managing recording sheet jams in an image-forming apparatus includes detecting a current jam in the image-forming apparatus, storing a number of image formation operations performed by the image-forming apparatus when the current jam is detected, and a first determining step for determining whether the current jam is a true jam or a false jam based on a number of image formation operations obtained for a previous jam and a number of image formation operations for the current jam.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a latent image forming unit to form an electrostatic latent image on a charged image carrier, a developing device to form a developer image by developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier by a developer and a charge removing unit to discharge the image carrier before transferring the developer image and reduce the electrostatic adsorbing power of the developer image to the image carrier. The charge removing unit includes a charge removing light source to apply the charge removing light to the image carrier and the developer image and the charge removing charger to remove the charge by discharging the image carrier and able to control the discharge output. The charge removing unit is controlled to be adjusted a charge removing capacity.

Abstract: A method and system for determining that problems exist in a business office device such as a copier, printer, facsimile machine, or scanner by analyzing the user settings of the business office device. If the user settings deviate from the default settings by a predetermined amount, there is a probability that the default settings are improper, parameters need to be changed within the business office device, or defective components within the business office device need to be changed. The analysis of the user settings is triggered after a predetermined time period expires, after a predetermined number of jobs are performed, or alternatively after a predetermined combination of jobs and elapsed time occurs. After a problem is found to exist with the default settings, the business office device communicates with a diagnostic service center via a connectionless-mode of communication such as by an Internet electronic mail message.

Abstract: When an electrophotographic printer is manufactured, the initial electrical resistance of its transfer roller is measured and a corresponding value is stored in a memory device in the printer. During operation, the printer's control program estimates the resistance of the transfer roller from the stored value, taking aging into account, then measures the actual resistance of the transfer roller, and infers ambient conditions from the difference between the estimated and actual resistance values. The electrophotographic printer is controlled according to the inferred ambient conditions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forming has a resume device to resume a situation when the power supply was turned off. Further, a timer is provided to count a period after the power supply was turned off. A controller inhibits operation of the resume device when the timer counts up a predetermined period. Further, an interrupting device is provided, and when the image forming apparatus is in a predetermined state such as paper empty, the image forming apparatus is operated according to the image forming information entered by the interrupting device. In a different way, an image forming apparatus has a switching device to turn off manually the power supply. After the power supply was turned off with the auto-power-off function, if the power supply is turned on manually, data on image forming saved in a memory are cleared. Thus, a new user can start a copy job readily, while the secrecy of image data of a previous user can be maintained.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus of the type including a movable belt and a cleaning blade for cleaning the belt, a toner image in the form of an exclusive line is formed on an image carrier between sheets and then transferred to the belt so as to feed toner to the edge of the cleaning blade. The toner prevents the edge of the cleaning blade from being turned over by the belt. The toner is fed to the cleaning blade in amounts different in the widthwise direction of the belt and can therefore be controlled in amount in the above direction.