Abstract: An electrographic image forming device may use a feedback loop to determine environmental conditions and accordingly set one or more operating parameters. The device may detect a resistance/capacitance characteristic of a feedback loop comprising an interface between a first component and a second component of an image forming unit. The device may detect temperature measurements and humidity measurements that can be used to calculate wet-bulb temperature or other metrics used to characterize ambient environmental conditions. The interface may be one in which a toner image is transferred during image forming device operation. A controller may adjust the resistance/capacitance characteristic in response to wet-bulb temperature in conjunction with measured transfer feedback voltage.

Abstract: The present application is directed to methods of controlling the transfer voltage in a transfer nip formed between the photoconductive member and the transfer member. The methods offset the effects of large transfer current spikes caused when a media sheet enters and exits the transfer nip and account for temperature and humidity operating parameters using wet-bulb temperature measurements to adjust the transfer voltage. The control may include either ramping up or ramping down the transfer voltage. The ramped transfer voltage may include a series of alternating positive and negative steps that generally trend to ramp up or down. The size of the steps may further be adjusted to provide a smooth transition.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrier, a developing unit to develop a latent image on the image carrier with developer including toner and carrier, a developer bearing member, a first detector to detect a toner adhesion amount per unit area of a toner image developed by the developing unit, a second detector to detect humidity, and a controller to calculate an index indicating toner chargeability of the carrier based on detection results of the toner adhesion amount obtained by the first detector and perform a given control process based on calculation results thereof and including a data storage unit to store an algorithm to correct the index to a specific value according to a specific humidity, based on detection results of the humidity obtained by the second detector. The controller corrects the index obtained based on the amount of toner adhesion based on the algorithm.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second image supporting members; first and second developer supporting members for forming a first developer image in a first color and a second developer image in a second color, respectively; first and second transfer members for transferring the first developer image and the second developer image to a medium, respectively; a voltage applying unit for applying a first voltage to one of the first image supporting member and the first transfer member and a second voltage to one of the second image supporting member and the second transfer member. The voltage applying unit is arranged to apply the second voltage greater than the first voltage to one of the second image supporting member and the second transfer member when a printing operation is performed to form an image only in the first color.

Abstract: A system for adjusting a selected operating parameter of an image forming device to control white vector based on selected environmental conditions includes an image forming station having a photoconductive surface with a latent image formed by discharged areas leaving non-discharged areas different from the discharged areas, a sensor mechanism for measuring selected environmental conditions of dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity, a control mechanism for reading the sensor mechanism to adjust the voltage bias of a charging unit by an offset applied to the charging unit based on a wet-bulb temperature value so as to minimize white vector without enabling onset of development of toner background on non-discharged areas, and a memory connected to and accessible by the control mechanism and storing a lookup table of a list of wet-bulb temperature values related to measured dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity values and correlated to a list of voltage bias offsets.

Abstract: A detecting apparatus for detecting information of at least a portion of a stack of sheet media includes an illuminating unit and a detecting unit. The illuminating unit illuminates a side of the stack of sheet media, or a portion thereof with electromagnetic waves. The detecting unit detects electromagnetic waves transmitted through or reflected by the stack of sheet media, or a portion thereof. The detecting apparatus is adapted to compare information of the electromagnetic waves detected by the detecting unit with information about attenuation of electromagnetic waves due to moisture contained in the sheet medium, and detect information of the moisture content of at least a portion of the stack of sheet media.

Abstract: The present invention aims to reduce the time period of the start up operation of an image forming apparatus corresponding to an image forming apparatus operating environment. The present invention provides an image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a toner image forming unit for forming a toner image on the image bearing member; an image condition detection member for detecting an image condition of the image bearing member; a setting unit for setting a plurality of toner image forming conditions determined based on the output of the image condition detection member; an environment detection member for detecting an environment condition of outside air of the image forming apparatus; and a selection unit for selecting the toner image forming conditions set by the setting unit based on the output of the environment detection device from when the power is turned on to when transitioned to an image formable state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer housing that holds a developer; a lubricant supply brush that rotates when in contact with the developer housing, and that supplies a lubricant to a surface of the developer housing; a lubricant that is in contact with the lubricant supply brush; a first voltage supply unit that supplies an AC voltage on which a DC voltage is superimposed to the lubricant supply brush; a determination unit that determines whether or not a usage state of the developer housing is a state at an initial stage; and a controller that controls the first voltage supply unit to supply the AC voltage on which the DC voltage is superimposed to the lubricant supply brush, prior to start of execution of an image forming operation if the determination unit determines that the usage state of the developer housing is the state at the initial stage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing contrast voltage controller to control a developing contrast voltage so as to obtain a desired image density, a transfer condition controller to control transfer conditions for transferring a toner image, an environment sensor to detect an environment, and a correcting coefficient setting unit to refer to a database for pre-registering correcting coefficients to correct the transfer conditions corresponding to the developing contrast voltage and environment and set the correcting coefficients on the basis of the developing contrast voltage controlled by the developing contrast voltage controller and the environment detected by the environment sensor.

Abstract: A grid wire cleaning mechanism is provided to prevent a reduction in image quality due to the surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier not being uniformly charged as a result of corona products adhering unevenly to the surface of the grid wires to extend the life of the grid wires and grid wire contact member. A first abrading member 71 abrades grid wires 224. A movement device 73 moves the first abrading member 71 in the same direction as the direction of extension of the grid wires 224. A humidity measurement unit 741 measures the humidity near the grid wires 224. The operation control unit 743 operates the movement device 73 when cleaning the grid wires 224, but does not operate the movement device 73 when the humidity measured by the humidity measurement unit 741 exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which adjusts toner density in a developing device according to humidity. However, an image quality may decrease if the humidity changes between the time when a power source is turned off and the time when the power source is turned on. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus includes an absolute humidity calculator and a toner density controller for changing the toner density in the developing device in accordance with a difference between the absolute humidities. A storage controller controls the storing of an absolute humidity in a storage portion; and a toner removal controller controls the removal of residual toner particles from the developing device if a difference between an absolute humidity detected by the humidity detector when the power source is turned on and an absolute humidity stored in the storage portion is more than a predetermined value.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an image according to the present invention includes a coverage rate finder, a developing unit, and a control unit. The coverage rate finder finds the coverage rate of the image. The developing unit holds developer in it and includes a stirring means for stirring the held developer at a stirring speed. The developing unit supplies the stirred developer to a surface of an image carrier. When the apparatus forms the image consecutively on sheets of paper, the control unit changes the stirring speed in proportion to the coverage rate. When the apparatus forms an image with a higher coverage rate consecutively on sheets of paper, the control unit makes the stirring speed higher.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image supporting member; a developer supporting member for attaching developer to a static latent image formed on a surface of the image supporting member; a developer layer forming member for forming a developer layer on the developer supporting member; a developer supply member for supplying developer to the developer supporting member; a developer supporting member voltage applying unit for applying a voltage to the developer supporting member; a developer supplying member voltage applying unit for applying a voltage to the developer supplying member; and a reset operation processing unit for setting a reset mode over a specific period of time, so that a bias difference in the reset mode between the voltage applied with the developer supporting member voltage applying unit and the voltage applied with the developer supplying member voltage applying unit becomes smaller than that in a printing mode.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a recording medium; a fixing unit configured to fix the image onto the recording medium by applying heat and pressure; a re-transport unit configured to re-transport the recording medium which has passed through the fixing unit, to the image forming unit along a re-transport path; a cooling unit provided between the fixing unit and the image forming unit along the re-transport path and configured to cool the recording medium transported by the re-transport unit; a parameter signal output unit configured to output a signal corresponding to a parameter for controlling the cooling unit; and a controller configured to control the cooling unit according to the signal output from the parameter signal output unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes: an intermediate transfer type image forming unit that primarily transfers a toner image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member to an intermediate transfer member and then secondarily transfers the toner image from the intermediate transfer member to a printing medium; and a control unit that controls a moving speed ratio ?V represented by Expression 1 depending on a usage history of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, ? ? ? v ? [ % ] = ? v 2 - v 1 ? v 1 × 100 ( 1 ) where V1 is a moving speed [mm/s] of a surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member; and V2 is a moving speed [mm/s] of a surface of the intermediate transfer member in a moving direction of the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein the electrophotographic photosensitive member comprises a surface layer containing a curable resin on a surface facing to the intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a control method thereof to improve quality of an image in consideration of a change in posture of a print media. The image forming apparatus can include a transferred unit on which a visible image is formed, a transferring unit to form a transfer region through which the visible image is transferred onto a print medium, along with the transferred unit, a bias supplying unit to supply bias to the transferring unit so that a transfer electric field is produced in the transfer region, and a controller to control the bias supplying unit to supply different first to third biases to the transferring unit while at least first to third regions of the print medium pass through the transfer region, respectively.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, which forms a releasing agent absorption toner image on an in-between printed sides area of a moving surface of an image carrier in the duplex printing mode. When the in-between printed sides area of the moving surface enters a transfer position at which a toner image is transferred from the image carrier to a recording medium, the transferring operation of transferring the toner image from the image carrier to a recording medium is interrupted to keep the releasing agent absorption toner image on the in-between printed sides area of the moving surface of the image carrier.

Abstract: A replaceable unit to participate in an image forming job of an image forming apparatus includes a storage unit to store therein a driving condition corresponding to an operation environment, a detecting unit to monitor the operation environment, a controlling unit to detect a corresponding driving condition from the storage unit if the detecting unit detects the driving environment, and an interface unit to provide a main body of the image forming apparatus with the detected corresponding driving condition. Accordingly, the replaceable unit can be driven under optimum driving conditions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is configured such that a developer image is transferred by a transfer section from an image bearing body onto a recording medium. The image forming apparatus includes a memory, an apparatus usage information obtaining section, and a transfer voltage correcting section. The memory stores correction values for a transfer voltage, the correction values corresponding to changes in an operation status of the image forming apparatus. The apparatus usage information obtaining section obtains information on the operation status. The transfer voltage correcting section corrects the transfer voltage based on the correction values and the information on the operation status.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including an image forming section which forms image on a recording sheet based on image data, plural trays which accommodate the sheets to be supplied to the image forming section, a humidity detecting unit which detects humidity inside the paper tray, a dehumidifying device which dehumidify inside the paper tray, and a control section which controls the dehumidifying device and management of jobs, and controls the image forming section to execute the jobs, wherein if the humidity inside the paper tray to be used for a first priority job is higher than a predetermined value, the control section suspends execution of the first priority job, and the control section controls the image forming section to execute a reserved job which is executable from among reserved jobs with low priority order, before executing the first priority job.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor, a cleaning unit, an exposing unit, a developing unit, and a control section. On a circumferential surface thereof, the photoreceptor has an image area to have contact with a record medium in an image forming process, and a non-image area. The cleaning unit has a blade in contact with the image and non-image areas. The exposing unit forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface by irradiating the surface along a fast scanning direction with light modulated according to image data supplied by the control section. The data includes primary image data for modulating light to irradiate the image area with. The developing unit develops the latent image by applying developer to the surface. The control section performs an image addition processing in which secondary image data for modulating light to irradiate the non-image area with is added to the primary image data.

Abstract: A first calculating unit calculates an allocation time required for forming a patch pattern. A second calculating unit calculates a maximum patch-pattern length of the patch pattern that can be formed within the allocation time based on the number of patch patterns that can be formed within the allocation time. A setting unit calculates a difference between an environmental temperature around the image forming apparatus and an environmental temperature at which the image forming condition stored in the storing unit is set, and newly sets an image forming condition for the patch patterns based on a result of comparing the difference with a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a control method thereof are provided. The image forming apparatus includes: an image carrying body which includes a surface on which a developer which corresponds to printing data is applied; a transferring unit which receives transferring electric power to form a transferring area which transfers the developer to a transferring target body; a power supply unit which applies transferring electric power to the transferring unit; and a control unit which controls the power supply unit to apply first transferring electric power or second transferring electric power based on the amount of the developer in a unit section on a surface of the image carrying body. Thus, the present general inventive concept provides an image forming apparatus and a control method thereof for improving a printing image quality.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is operable to form an image on a recording medium. An image carrier is adapted such that a toner image is formed thereon by developing an electrostatic latent image. An intermediate transfer member is adapted such that the toner image is primarily transferred thereto. In a transfer device, a roller member is adapted to come in contact with the intermediate transfer member. A first bias voltage applier is operable to provide a transfer voltage, thereby applying a first bias voltage between the roller member and the intermediate transfer member to secondarily transfer the toner image onto the recording medium in order to obtain the image. A charge eliminator is disposed in the vicinity of the roller member. A second bias voltage applier is operable to apply a second bias voltage to the charge eliminator to eliminate charges on the recording medium which has been subjected to the application of the first bias voltage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which is free from occurrence of image noise due to the bleed phenomenon even without providing any contact-and-separation mechanism for the transfer member includes a control device which counts stop time elapsing from a stop to a restart of the image carrier, calculates an avoidance sheet count corresponding to the stop time at a restart of the image carrier, and makes a toner image carried on only part of the image carrier that has been out of the nip against the transfer member during the stop of the image carrier until the avoidance sheet count is reached after the restart of the image carrier.

Abstract: In an MFP, when a count of printed sheets of paper exceeds a predetermined count, a controller reads, from internal counters, a frequency of a stabilization process executed in return, a frequency of a stabilization process executed automatically in printing, a frequency of a stabilization process executed manually based on a user's instruction, and a frequency of return, respectively. When the frequency of the stabilization process executed automatically is small while the frequency of the stabilization process executed manually is large, the controller raises a frequency level of execution of the stabilization process. When the frequency of the stabilization process executed manually is small, the controller lowers the frequency level of execution of the stabilization process.

Abstract: It is desirable to reduce disturbance of an unfixed toner image by suppressing vibration of the trailing end of a recording medium, and to thereby stabilize the quality of a formed image. In a first control time period based on the leading edge of the recording medium as a reference, a driving unit is controlled in accordance with detection of a loop. On the other hand, in a control time period after the first control time period, a target speed is determined from a drive speed of the driving unit in the first control time period, and the driving unit is controlled by the determined target speed.

Abstract: A charging device includes a charging member disposed so as to rotate in contact with a surface of an image carrier to charge the image carrier surface, a bias voltage applying unit that applies a bias voltage to the charging member, the bias voltage having an AC voltage superimposed on a DC voltage, a DC current detector that detects a DC current flowing between the image carrier and the charging member, a filter that extracts only a specific component from the DC current detected by the DC current detector, and a controller that controls at least one of an AC voltage and an AC current to be applied to the charging member in accordance with an amount of variation of the specific component extracted from the DC current by the filter.

Abstract: Developing bias is set as follows. An electric field intensity between a developing roller and a photoconductor is set to cause normally-charged toner to fly in an image area and not to cause the toner to fly in a background area. Thus, the normally-charged toner does not fly in the background area. The normally-charged toner caused to fly is therefore unlikely to flick low-charged toner and oppositely-charged toner. The low-charged toner and the oppositely-charged toner will not adhere to the background area and cause image fogging. Accordingly, an image forming apparatus can be provided to prevent the low-charged toner and the oppositely-charged toner from adhering to the background area of an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor and to avoid the occurrence of image fogging in the background area on a printed material.

Abstract: To provide an image forming apparatus: in which a toner image is formed on an image carrier using a toner supplied from a developing roller to which a controlled bias voltage is applied; the toner image is primarily transferred onto an intermediate transfer member; the toner image is secondarily transferred onto a recording sheet using a transfer voltage applied to the secondary transfer roller; and the bias voltage is applied to the secondary transfer roller as a cleaning voltage necessary for cleaning the secondary transfer roller; and the toner adhered to a circumferential surface of the secondary transfer roller is reversely transferred onto the intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: A method for controlling blade interference in a single blade or multi-blade xerographic cleaner based on a look-up table for environmental conditions and blade age. Temperature and humidity sensors and a blade age counter are used to provide information to a controller, which adjusts the blade interference through a stepper motor based on the preloaded table. This allows lower blade load in most conditions over life, compared to the known method of setting the initial load high enough to cover these stress factors at worse case levels. The look-up table is empirically determined for a give blade material and xerographic system, e.g., photoreceptor, toner, etc. It takes into account the variation in blade load itself as a function of the environment and blade age.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus of controlling a charge voltage including the steps of applying, charging, detecting, and determining. The applying step applies an application voltage having a direct-current voltage and an alternating-current voltage superimposed onto the direct-current voltage to a charge-applying member to charge a charge carrier. The changing step charges the alternating-current voltage of the application voltage. The detecting step detects an alternating current flowing through the charge carrier when the charge-applying member applies the application voltage to the charge carrier. The determining step determines a value of the alternating-current voltage of the application voltage based on at least two alternating currents detected by the alternating-current detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which predicts VL fluctuations of a photosensitive drum in consideration of a double-sided print mode, and performs an image formation control based on the prediction, and thus always obtains a stable density image. The image forming apparatus performs an appropriate image formation control by controlling an image forming condition based on a photosensitive member rotation time, a photosensitive member stop time, a temperature of an atmospheric environment, an absolute humidity of the atmospheric environment, and whether an image formation that precedes a subsequent image formation is performed in single-sided printing or double-sided printing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a developing unit for attaching developer to a static latent image formed through charging and exposing to form a developer image; an image supporting member for supporting the developer image formed with the developing unit; a removing member disposed to abut against the image supporting member for removing developer; a drive unit for driving the image supporting member; a drive control unit for controlling the drive unit; and a fixing unit for fixing the developer image to a medium. It is configured such that the drive control unit controls the drive unit to temporarily stop before developer is discharged.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which predicts VL fluctuates of a photosensitive drum, taking a rotation speed of the photosensitive drum during image formation into consideration, and controls the image formation based on the prediction, for always obtaining an image of a stable density. The image forming apparatus performs appropriate image formation control by controlling image forming conditions based on a photosensitive member rotation time, a photosensitive member stop time, a temperature of the environment, an absolute humidity of the environment, and the rotation speed of the photosensitive member.

Abstract: A humidity detecting device includes a humidity sensor, which detects humidity using a change in an impedance by humidity, and which generates a humidity detection signal according to application of an AC voltage, a detecting unit that detects the impedance of the humidity sensor based on the humidity detection signal, a switching unit that switches a frequency of the AC voltage to at least a first frequency and a second frequency, the humidity sensor being a first impedance at the first frequency and a second impedance at the second frequency, a temperature sensor that detects ambient temperature of the humidity sensor, a calculating unit that calculates a difference and/or a change rate between the first impedance and the second impedance, a discriminating unit that discriminates the humidity sensor based on the difference and/or the change rate, and a control unit that performs processing corresponding to the discriminated humidity sensor.

Abstract: A toner kit including a color toner containing a first binder resin and a coloring agent; transparent and colorless resin particulates comprising a second binder resin, wherein the half effusion temperature of the color toner and the half effusion temperature of the transparent and colorless resin particulates measured by a flow tester satisfy the following relationship: (the half effusion temperature of the color toner measured by the flow tester)?(the half effusion temperature of the transparent and colorless particulates measured by the flow tester)>30° C.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer bias set up section and a developing bias set up section. The transfer bias set up section sets a transfer bias applied to each transfer member so that the transfer bias applied to a transfer member corresponding to a photosensitive member on the most downstream side is greater than a transfer bias applied to a transfer member other than this transfer member. The developing bias set up section sets a developing bias applied to each developing member to a first developing bias in a single-side printing mode, and sets up the developing bias applied to each developing member in formation of an image on a first surface and in formation of another image on a second surface to a second developing bias lower than the first developing bias when the image formed on the second surface is a color image.

Abstract: Color measurements of color samples are estimated by a system and method wherein an area coverage of a color sample is computed, the color sample is printed, a color of the printed color sample, such as a set of reflectance values, is measured at a first temperature, and a color of the printed color sample is estimated at a second temperature lower than the first temperature, the estimation being based on the area coverage and a thermochromatic model which represents relationships between measured colors of printed color samples at the first and second temperatures.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fuser cooling fan control is provided. An image forming apparatus so configured comprises a fixing unit, a cooling fan for cooling the fixing unit, a detecting sensor for measuring ambient temperature and humidity of the image forming apparatus, and a controller for recognizing ambient temperature and humidity change from the measurement provided by the detecting sensor. The controller controls operation of the cooling fan according to the temperature and humidity change detected. The controller delays operation of the cooling fan by an amount of time if the ambient temperature and/or humidity is below a reference temperature and humidity level.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus can improve an accuracy of conveyance of a recording medium with a simple structure and prevent a reverse flow of mist so as to stably form a high-quality image. A conveyance belt (21) conveys a recording medium (12) by attracting the recording medium by an electrostatic force generated by electric charges applied thereto. A recording head (7) discharges droplets of a recording liquid toward the recording medium (12). An amount of electric charges induced on a surface of the recording medium (12), which has been conveyed to a recording position where the droplets of the recording liquid are discharged from the recording head (7) toward the recording medium (12), is adjusted in accordance with a resistance value of the recording medium (12).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrier, a latent image forming unit to form an electrostatic latent image on the latent image carrier, at least one developing device disposed to contact the latent image carrier to develop the latent image with developer stored therein, a cooling mechanism including at least one cooling device disposed close to the developing device to cool the developing device, a developer amount detector electrically connected to the developing device to detect an amount of the developer remaining in the developing device, and a cooling mechanism controller connected to the cooling mechanism to change a cooling power of the cooling mechanism according to a detection result generated by the developer amount detector. The developing device includes a rotary member whose shaft is rotationally supported by at least one bearing and is not to be supplied with new developer while any developer remains therein.

Abstract: A document feeding and reading unit and an image forming apparatus capable of reducing errors in magnification copying when the change in the diameter of drive motors results from heating. The document feeding and reading unit reads a document image while transporting a document sheet. At least one transport mechanism, including at least one drive roller and driven roller brought into slidable contact with a drive roller, transports the document sheet while holding the document between the drive roller and the driven roller. A detector measures the temperature at a location of the document feeding and reading unit. A controller controls the rotation speed of the drive roller based on temperature information acquired by the temperature detector. The document feeding and reading unit can be suitably incorporated into an image forming apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention reduces delay in supplying heat to fixing nip when sheet passes therethrough and overcomes disadvantages like uneven gloss in page and fixing faults by including temperature detector 83 detecting temperatures of fixing member including heat application roller and fixing belt, leading end detector 85 detecting timing leading end of sheet passes through predetermined position upstream in conveyance path from fixing position by distance portion of fixing belt having been in position heated by heat application part 81 travels to fixing position, and temperature controller 87 performing normal temperature control being on-off control of heat application part 81 based on detected temperature until sheet passes through, keeping heat application part 81 on until detected temperature reaches switching temperature if it exceeds switching temperature and heat application part 81 is off before detection when the sheet passes through and resuming normal temperature control when it reaches predetermin

Abstract: An electrostatic charging apparatus, includes: an endless-shaped electrostatic charging belt having electrical conductivity, the electrostatic charging belt being arranged in a state of having a predetermined contact zone being in contact with a moving to-be-charged body and moving in the same direction as a moving direction of the to-be-charged body; and plural electrode members including at least a first electrode member and a second electrode member, the plural electrode members being provided inside the electrostatic charging belt, and the first and second electrode members being provided on both sides of the contact zone of the electrostatic charging belt in the moving direction thereof so as to press the electrostatic charging belt against the to-be-charged body and forming gaps that permit electric discharge between the to-be-charged body and the electrostatic charging belt, the gaps being adjacent to the respective sides of the contact zone of the electrostatic charging belt.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus according to the present invention transfers a toner image that is formed upon an image forming body by way of an image forming operation to a print paper P when the print paper (P) is conveyed toward a fixing device (8) via a transfer material (40) in a belt shape and a transfer roller (41a) having an electrode that applies a bias electric potential upon the print paper (P).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer container that holds a two-component developer, a toner concentration detector that detects toner concentration in the developer, a toner supplying unit configured to supply new toner to a developing unit, a toner supply controlling unit that compares an output of the toner concentration detector and a toner concentration reference value Vtref to control the toner supplying unit. The image forming apparatus detects an output of the toner concentration sensor with respect to a plurality of linear velocities, and calculates linear velocity shift amounts ?Vt1=(Vt1?Vt0) and ?Vt2=(Vt2?Vt0) to be reflected in a toner supply control parameter.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a coil; a rotatable image heating member capable of generating heat by a magnetic flux generated by the coil to heat an image; a temperature detecting member for detecting a temperature of the image heating member; electric power supply control means for controlling electric power supply to the coil in accordance with an output of the temperature detecting member; and an execution portion for executing a stand-by mode operation in which the image heating member is at rest, and the apparatus waits for input of an image formation signal while the electric power supply control means carries out its power supply control operation such that temperature of a part of the image heating member which is detected by the temperature detecting member is at a predetermined stand-by temperature, wherein in the stand-by mode, along no longitudinal line on said image heating member, the temperature of said image heating member exceeds Curie temperature on an entirety of the longitudinal lin

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a process including at least a developing section and an image bearing body. A calculating section calculates a number of the dots formed on the image bearing body. A rotation calculating section calculates a number of rotations of the image bearing body for forming the number of dots on the image bearing body in accordance with the print data. A controller makes a decision to determine whether the number of dots formed on the image bearing body is larger than a first reference when the number of rotations is larger than a second reference. If the answer is YES, then the controller forms a developer image formed of dots equivalent to a difference between the first reference and the number of dots. Then, the developer image is discarded.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, which includes: an image forming unit; a fixing unit having a heating part; a rotary drive unit; a driving force transmission unit including a displacement part displaceable to a transmitting position where rotation of the rotary drive unit is transmitted to the fixing unit and a non-transmitting position where the rotation of the rotary drive unit is not transmitted to the fixing unit; a cover configured to cover the heating part; a lock unit configured to selectively lock the cover; and a link unit configured to link the lock unit with the displacement part so that the lock unit locks the cover when the displacement part is displaced to the transmitting position and unlocks the cover when the displacement part is displaced to the non-transmitting position.