Abstract: In order to achieve at least one of the above-described objects, an image forming apparatus reflecting an aspect of the present invention includes: an image carrier configured to carry and transport a latent image; a charging member configured to be rotatable and disposed in contact with a surface of the image carrier; an acquisition device configured to acquire an electrical characteristic of the charging member; and a processor configured to calculate a range of fluctuation of the electrical characteristic associated with rotation of the charging member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet in accordance with inputted image data, an opening portion configured to allow airflow between an inside and an outside of the image forming apparatus, a detector disposed adjacent to the opening portion and configured to detect a temperature, a fan configured to suction air through the opening and to discharge air from the inside of the image forming unit to cool the image forming unit, a controller configured to control a rotational speed of the fan so as to rotate the fan at a first rotational speed, in an initial state of the image forming apparatus, after actuation of the image forming apparatus, and to rotate the fan at a second rotational speed, less than the first rotational speed, in a stand-by state waiting for the image data to be input after the initial state, and a setting portion configured to set an image forming condition of the image forming unit on the basis of an output of the detector acquired

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes: an electrostatic latent image retainer; an intermediate transfer body; a primary transfer member to transfer toner image retained by the electrostatic latent image retainer to an imaging region of the intermediate transfer body; a secondary transfer member to transfer the transferred toner image from the intermediate transfer body to a transfer medium; a toner forcible discharger to forcibly discharge toner into a non-imaging region of the intermediate transfer body; and a controller to control a volume of the toner to be forcibly discharged. The intermediate transfer body is a multi-layer belt including a base layer and an outermost coating layer. The coating layer contains silicon dioxide. The controller reduces the volume of the toner to be forcibly discharged based on use history information of the intermediate transfer body, compared to the volume at an initial stage of use.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of an exemplary embodiment includes a temperature sensor, a developing unit, a supply unit, and a control unit. The temperature sensor detects a temperature. The developing unit supplies developer to an image carrier and performs development. The supply unit contains developer and supplies the contained developer to the developing unit. The control unit executes developer replacement processing including discharging the developer from the developing unit and supplying the developer contained in the supply unit to the developing unit based on a first ratio which a ratio of a developer supply time during which the supply unit performs supply of the developer for the developing unit and a drive time during which the developing unit is driven and a threshold value obtained based on a detected temperature of a temperature sensor.

Abstract: A developer supply device includes: a device main body having a fixed portion; a developer accommodating member including a stationary portion fixed to the fixed portion, a rotary portion, and a seal member provided on one of an outer circumferential portion of the rotary portion and the stationary portion and being in contact with the other, a developer to be supplied to a developing device being accommodated in the rotary portion; and a motor that rotates the rotary portion, wherein the developer supply device has a first torque mode in which the motor rotates the rotary portion with a first rotational torque and a second torque mode in which the motor rotates the rotary portion with a second rotational torque higher than the first rotational torque when the motor rotates the rotary portion after a preset time or more elapses since the rotary portion stops rotating.

Abstract: A media processing system is arranged to process image receiving media under predetermined physical conditions. The system includes a scheduler arranged to schedule jobs to be processed in the system and to calculate predicted timings (T0) at which media will have to be ready for processing and to indicate the predicted timings on a user interface. The system further includes a buffer in which a supply of media that has been received from a first environment is kept in a specified second environment before being processed. The scheduler is configured to calculate an acclimatization time required for the media to acquire the predetermined physical conditions by being kept in the second environment in the buffer, and to calculate and indicate a predicted timing (T1) at which the media should be present in the sheet buffer at the latest in view of the calculated acclimatization time.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a type of a recording medium is provided. A detection unit detects a characteristic value indicating a physical characteristic of a recording medium. A measurement unit measures a moisture content correlated with a moisture content of the recording medium. A determination unit determines the type of the recording medium based on the moisture content and the characteristic value. The determination unit may correct the characteristic value using the moisture content or correct a rule for determining the type of the recording medium using the moisture content unit, and determines the type of the recording medium in accordance with the corrected characteristic value or the corrected rule.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which forms an image on a recording material includes a transfer unit which transfers a toner image formed on an image bearing member to a recording medium, an applying unit which applies a predetermined current or voltage to the transfer unit, a detection unit which detects a voltage value with respect to the predetermined current applied by the applying unit or a current value with respect to the predetermined voltage applied by the applying unit, an environment detection sensor which detects an environment, and a determination unit which compares a detection result of the detection unit with a predetermined value according to a detection result of the environment detection sensor to determine whether or not predetermined discharge occurs in the transfer unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second feeding units for feeding a recording material while nipping the recording material; a guiding member for guiding the recording material passed through the first feeding unit toward the second feeding unit; a measuring unit for measuring a time required for the recording material to pass from a first point to a second point provided downstream of the first point with respect to a recording material feeding direction; and a discriminating unit for discriminating stiffness of the recording material on the basis of a measurement result of the measuring unit. The guiding member is flexed and is in a non-overlapping state with a virtual line connecting a first nip where the first feeding unit nips the recording material and a second nip where the second feeding unit nips the recording material.

Abstract: A data storage device includes a non-volatile memory, a temperature sensor, and temperature calibration circuitry coupled to the temperature sensor. The temperature calibration circuitry is configured to cause memory operations to be performed on storage elements of the non-volatile memory, to determine a temperature metric based on temperature readings from the temperature sensor in response to initiation of the memory operations, and to modify a temperature threshold based on the temperature metric.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediary transfer member, a toner image forming unit, a rotatable transfer member, a cleaning unit, a feeding unit, a feeding portion and an executing portion configured to execute a supplying operation for supplying a supplying toner image to a cleaning portion. The executing portion forms the supplying toner image at a position including a position different from a position where an adjusting toner image for adjusting an image forming condition is formed, with respect to a widthwise direction crossing a movement direction of an intermediary transfer member provided in contact with the rotatable transfer member. The executing portion performs the supplying operation at least one time in a double-sided image forming job and does not perform the supplying operation in a single-sided image forming job.

Abstract: A restoration filter based on a point spread function of an optical system is applied to source image data acquired through photographing using the optical system to acquire restored image data (S13: filter application step). Adjustment of an amplification factor of the difference between source image data and restored image data is performed, and recovered image data is acquired from the difference after adjustment and source image data (S15: gain adjustment step). In the filter application step, a common filter determined regardless of a value of a magnification of an optical zoom of the optical system is used as the restoration filter, and in the gain adjustment step, the amplification factor is determined based on the magnification of the optical zoom of the optical system.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a paper feeding unit which feeds a sheet-shaped recording medium, an image forming unit which forms a toner image on the recording medium fed from the paper feeding unit, a fixing unit which fixes the toner image formed by the image forming unit on the recording medium, a stacking unit which stacks the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing unit, a temperature sensor which detects the surface temperature of the recording mediums stacked on the stacking unit and a control unit which determines, according to the printing information of the recording medium, whether or not to feed a new recording medium from the paper feeding unit when the surface temperature of the recording mediums detected by the temperature sensor is above a threshold temperature.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a voltage applying section configured to apply a transfer bias to a transfer member, and a control section configured to control the voltage applying section to apply a transfer bias in which a first application period for applying a first transfer bias and a second application period for applying a second transfer bias are alternately provided to the transfer member when a first sheet having a small surface smoothness passes through a nip.

Abstract: An embodiment of an image forming apparatus includes a first image forming unit including a photosensitive drum and a fur brush for cleaning toner on the photosensitive drum and a second image forming unit including a photosensitive drum and a fur brush for cleaning toner on the photosensitive drum. In at least one embodiment for image formation, the fur brush in the first image forming unit and the fur brush in the second image forming unit start at different timings.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus prevents a transfer roller from slipping when discharge processing for supplying toner to a contact portion between a photosensitive drum and a cleaning blade is performed. The developing unit performs transfer operation to form band-like toner images on a photosensitive drum to supply a predetermined amount of toner to a contact portion between the photosensitive drum and a cleaning blade without causing the transfer roller to perform transfer operation, so that the predetermined amount of toner is supplied in a plurality of batches.

Abstract: Ions ejected substantially simultaneously from a collision cell after being temporarily held inside the collision cell arrive at an orthogonal acceleration unit through an ion transport optical system. When the ions enter the orthogonal acceleration unit, voltages having a predetermined potential difference are applied to an entrance-side electrode and an exit-side auxiliary electrode, and as a result an electric field having a rising potential gradient along an axis is created in the orthogonal acceleration unit. As ions having low an m/z values and entering the orthogonal acceleration unit first is significantly decelerate, the packet of ions spread in the X-axis direction in accordance with the m/z values are compressed in the X-axis direction after entering the orthogonal acceleration unit. Thus, a mass-to-charge ratio range of ions that are accelerated in the orthogonal acceleration unit is broadened, and a mass spectrum of a broad range of mass-to-charge ratios can be obtained.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an estimation unit corrects ambient temperatures or ambient humidities measured by an environment measurement unit on the basis of conduction states of charging members provided in the one or more image forming units, so as to estimate ambient temperatures or ambient humidities of other photoconductors of which the ambient temperatures or the ambient humidities are not measured. A control unit determines image formation conditions for the image forming units forming images on the photoconductors of which the ambient temperatures or the ambient humidities are not measured, on the basis of the ambient temperatures or the ambient humidities estimated by the estimation unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that includes an imaging device, a transferrer, a rotator, a rotation position sensor, an adhesion amount sensor, a power supply, and a controller. The controller executes a construction process to construct output pattern data to change a voltage output from the power supply, according to a result obtained by detecting a toner adhesion amount of a toner image for density unevenness detection and a detection result from the rotation position sensor obtained when the toner image is formed, and an output change process to execute a predetermined process while changing the voltage according to the detection result and the output pattern data. The controller executes a determination process to determine propriety of an output range of the voltage output from the power supply by the output change process and a data process for a shift to shift the range when a determination result is inappropriate.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus includes a transfer unit, a first detector, a supplying unit, a second detector, and a controller. The transfer unit transfers a toner image onto an object. The first detector detects humidity. The supplying unit supplies, to the transfer unit, a transfer voltage, a setting voltage in a first case, and a setting current in a second case. The second detector detects a current flowing through the transfer unit upon supply of the setting voltage and a voltage across the transfer unit upon supply of the setting current. The controller controls the supplying unit such that, when transfer is performed in the first case, a transfer voltage derived using the setting voltage and the detected current is supplied, and when transfer is performed in the second case, a transfer voltage derived using the setting current and the detected voltage is supplied to the transfer unit.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes an endless belt, a temperature raising portion, a first detecting portion configured to detect the temperature of the endless belt at a widthwise central portion, a controller configured to control energization to the temperature raising portion depending on an output of the first detecting portion, a second detecting portion configured to detect the temperature of the endless belt at a widthwise one end portion, an air blowing portion configured to blow air depending on an output of the second detecting portion to cool the widthwise one end portion of the endless belt, and a discriminating portion configured to discriminate whether or not the endless belt is broken on the basis of the output of the second detecting portion when the air blowing portion is operated while effecting the energization to the temperature raising portion.

Abstract: A control device for an image forming apparatus that transitions to a restricted mode which is a print mode to alternately transition between a printable state to perform a print operation, in which a predetermined print amount is printable, and a sleep state to stop a subsequent print operation for a predetermined sleep time after the print operation is performed, includes a print-operation determiner and a print controller. The print-operation determiner determines, when a print-operation execution request to the image forming apparatus is received in the sleep state, whether the image forming apparatus is to perform the subsequent print operation based on a print amount of the print-operation execution request. The print controller controls the subsequent print operation of the image forming apparatus according to a determination result of the print-operation determiner as to whether the image forming apparatus is to perform the subsequent print operation.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a transfer body, a resistance value measuring unit, and a contact pressure adjusting unit. The transfer body receives a transfer bias and transfers a toner image held on an image carrier which is rotating onto a sheet sandwiched between the transfer body and the image carrier. The resistance value measuring unit measures a resistance value determined by a voltage and a current of the transfer bias. The contact pressure adjusting unit adjusts a contact pressure of the transfer body against the image carrier so that the transfer body will contact the image carrier at a second contact pressure determined based on a first contact pressure. The second contact pressure is equal to or higher than the first contact pressure. The first contact pressure is located at a position at which the resistance value measured by the resistance value measuring unit reaches a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carriers, an intermediate transfer body, a plurality of primary transfer members, a secondary transfer member, a first guide member, and a controller. The first guide member guides a recording medium along a conveying direction. The controller controls a primary transfer bias and a secondary transfer bias. A plurality of the primary transfer members include an upstream side primary transfer member and a downstream side primary transfer member. The controller makes an absolute value of the primary transfer bias applied to the downstream side primary transfer member larger than an absolute value of the primary transfer bias applied to the upstream side primary transfer member. The controller lowers an absolute value of the secondary transfer bias when the recording medium separates from the first guide member.

Abstract: When attachment of an unused photoconductor unit is detected, a mode is executed in which, during non-image formation, a first current flowing in a charging roller is detected when a photoconductor is re-charged without irradiation of light by a pre-exposure device after being charged and passing through a transfer position during non-image formation, and a second current flowing in the charging roller is detected when the photoconductor is re-charged with irradiation of light by the pre-exposure device after being charged and passing through the transfer position, and a current supplied to an LED lamp during image formation is controlled in accordance with detection results.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a light emitting unit that emits light, a document reading unit, an image forming unit, a decoloring unit, and a control unit. The document reading unit generates image data from an original document that is irradiated with light from the light emitting unit. The image forming unit forms an image on a sheet based on the image data generated by the document reading unit, wherein the image is formed of a decolorable material that is decolored when heated to a predetermined temperature or higher. The decoloring unit decolors the image on the sheet using heating. The control unit controls a light intensity of the light emitted from the light emitting unit based on a temperature of the decoloring unit.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes: a calculation section which calculates, based on print data, a distribution of a developer density that is a developer quantity per unit region to be transferred to a transfer object in an image formation; a correction section which performs a correction of the print data according to the distribution of the developer density calculated by the calculation section to additionally transfer a low chroma developer image to the transfer object in the image formation together with a developer image to be formed based on the print data, chroma of the low chroma developer image being lower than chroma of the developer image based on the print data; and an image formation section which performs the image formation based on the print data after the correction performed by the correction section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a charging member configured to charge a photoreceptor, a power supply configured to provide charging power to the charging member, a measurement unit configured to measure a current provided to the charging member, and a controller configured to search for a current saturation point of the charging member using the current value measured by the measurement unit in a state in which fixed direct current (DC) power and varied alternating current (AC) power are supplied to the charging member, and control the power supply to perform a charging operation with only DC power corresponding to the searched current saturation point.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a first temperature sensor inside a space between frames, a second temperature sensor outside the space between the frames, and a controller that, in a case where a first temperature by the first temperature sensor is higher than an inside threshold temperature, and a second temperature by the second temperature sensor is higher than an outside threshold temperature, performs simplex image formation at a first speed when simplex image formation is specified, and performs duplex image formation at a second speed lower than the first speed when duplex image formation is specified, and in at least one of a case where the first temperature is equal to or less than the inside threshold temperature and a case where the second temperature is equal to or less than the outside threshold temperature, performs image formation at the first speed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer; a transfer device; a transfer bias power source; and a controller to control the transfer bias power source. The transfer bias power source outputs the voltage that alternates between a transfer-directional voltage and a return-directional voltage. The transfer-directional voltage having a polarity transfers the toner image from a side of the image bearer to a side of the recording medium. The return-directional voltage has an opposite polarity to the polarity of the transfer-directional voltage. The controller reduces a frequency of the output voltage as a value of a ratio of A to B decreases while changing the value of the ratio of A to B. In this case, A is a time period of application of the return-directional voltage within one cycle of the output voltage, and B is a time period of the one cycle of the output voltage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer bias output device and an information receiving device. The transfer bias output device outputs a transfer bias including a superimposed bias composed of an AC bias superimposed on a DC bias to form a transfer electric field in a transfer nip between an image bearing member bearing a toner image and a nip forming member, to transfer the toner image onto a recording medium in the transfer nip. A controller operatively connected to the information receiving device and the transfer bias output device causes the transfer bias output device to change a target output of a peak-to-peak voltage of the AC bias based on information received by the information receiving device that affects transfer of the toner image and to reduce a target output of the DC bias as the target output value of the peak-to-peak voltage of the AC bias increases.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an exposure part forming an electrostatic latent image on a charge region, a developer carrier developing the electrostatic latent image into two types of development images (printing developer image and no-printing developer image), a supply member supplying developer to the developer carrier, a first detection part detecting a first physical quantity correlating to the density of the no-printing developer image, a setting part performing a setting, based on the first physical quantity, for a development voltage applied to the developer carrier or a supply voltage applied to the supply member, a second detection part detecting a second physical quantity correlating to a number of rotations after the print of the printing developer image starts, a correction part correcting, based on the second physical quantity, the development voltage or the supply voltage set by the setting part, and a power source part applying the development voltage to the developer carrier and applie

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing belt of a multi-layer structure, a toner image forming device, a nip forming device, a transfer power source, an environment-condition detector, and a controller. The toner image forming device forms a toner image on a surface of the image bearing belt. The transfer power source outputs a transfer bias including a superimposed voltage, in which a direct current voltage is superimposed on an alternating current voltage to transfer the toner image from the image bearing belt onto a recording medium at a transfer nip. The environment-condition detector detects an environment condition. The controller controls the transfer bias output from the transfer power source to perform a bias switching process to switch the transfer bias between a transfer bias including the superimposed voltage and a transfer bias including a direct current voltage based on a detected result of the environment-condition detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, an image forming device provided in the apparatus body and forming an image on a surface of a recording medium, a cooler to cool the image forming device, a temperature detector to detect a temperature around the apparatus body, and a controller including a computing part to count a driving period of the image forming device and a memory to store a computed value obtained by the computing part as a counter value. The controller controls driving of the image forming device and driving of the cooler based on a detected temperature obtained by the temperature detector and the counter value. The controller adjusts the driving of the image forming device irrespective of the counter value to a regular driving speed when the detected temperature is lower than a reference temperature.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member, a developer carrying member configured to carry developer to be supplied to the image carrying member, a transfer member configured to transfer a developer image formed on the image carrying member to a sheet passing between the image carrying member and the transfer member, a detector configured to detect a temperature, and a control device. The control device is configured to change, in response to a sheet interval, a developing bias to be applied to the developer carrying member from a first developing bias to a second developing bias at a changing rate based on a temperature detected by the detector, the changing rate being an amount of change in the developing bias per unit time based on the temperature.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has: an image supporting member; a charger in proximity to the image supporting member; a power source unit configured to apply charging voltages to the charger sequentially, the charging voltages including alternating voltages having different peak-to-peak voltages, respectively; an amperometric detector configured to detect values of alternating currents flowing in the charger during application of the charging voltages; and a processor configured to carry out a first charging voltage determination process or a second charging voltage determination process requiring a shorter time than the first charging voltage determination process selectively based on a detection result of the amperometric detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a determiner for determining whether to execute a first image formation in an acquisition mode, in which an image forming operation is carried out using an acquired timing, or a second image formation in a non-acquisition mode, in which the image forming operation is carried out using exposure timing acquired in a previous acquisition mode. The determiner makes the determination on the basis of a current output of a temperature sensor and a previous output of the temperature sensor. When the determiner determines the execution of the first image formation, driving speeds of a first driver and a second driver are set, before the execution of the operation in the acquisition mode, on the basis of the current output of the temperature sensor, and the operation in the acquisition mode and the image formation are carried out using the driving speeds currently set.

Abstract: Provided is a power supply unit that quickly stabilizes a voltage to be applied to a developer carrier. The power supply unit, which applies a voltage to a developer carrier, includes a DC power supply portion, an AC power supply portion, a current detecting portion for detecting current input to the developer carrier, a voltage correcting portion for decreasing at least one of voltage levels of the DC voltage and the AC voltage more as the current detected by the current detecting portion becomes larger, and a development control portion for starting application of one of the DC voltage and the AC voltage as a first voltage at a first time point, and starting application of the other of the DC voltage and the AC voltage as a second voltage at a second time point that is a predetermined time after the first time point.

Abstract: An integrated circuit chip configured to be connected to an image forming apparatus having a light source, a photosensitive member, and a light receiver includes a synchronizing signal output circuit, a data output circuit, an OR circuit, a chip-side communicator, first and second wiring lines. The synchronizing signal output circuit is configured to output a synchronizing signal for lighting the light source. The data output circuit is configured to output an image data signal for lighting the light source. The OR circuit is configured to output a lighting signal that is a logical sum of the synchronizing signal and the image data signal. The chip-side communicator is configured to transmit the lighting signal to the image forming apparatus. The first wiring line connects the synchronizing signal output circuit with the OR circuit. The second wiring line connects the data output circuit with the OR circuit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member; a toner image forming unit; a belt member; a transfer member; a transfer voltage source for generating a voltage applied to the transfer member; an obtaining portion for obtaining information on an electric resistance of the belt member; a detecting member for optically detecting a test toner image formed on the image bearing member and transferred on the belt member; and an executing portion for executing, on the basis of a detection result of the test toner image by the detecting member, an adjusting operation for adjusting an image forming condition of the toner image forming unit. The executing portion sets, on the basis of the information, a voltage applied to the transfer member when the test toner image is transferred onto the belt member in the adjusting operation.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a plurality of cleaners. The plurality of cleaners includes at least a first cleaner, a second cleaner, and a third cleaner arranged next to each other in a traveling direction of a cleaning target. The first cleaner is disposed at an extreme upstream end of the traveling direction and supplied with a first voltage having a same polarity as a polarity of a normally-charged toner. The cleaners, other than the first cleaner, disposed downstream from the first cleaner, is supplied with a second voltage having a polarity opposite the polarity of the normally-charged toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main assembly; an image bearing member; a transfer member cooperative with the image bearing member to form a transfer portion; a voltage source for applying a voltage to the transfer member; a heater for heating the sheet having a transferred toner image; a detector for detecting a value relating to an amount of water vapor in the main assembly; and a control unit for executing a moisture removing control for reducing an amount of water vapor produced in the main assembly, by heating the sheet by the heater on the basis of the amount of change, caused by passage of the sheet in an image forming operation, of the value detected by the detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a movable image-bearing member, a sensor opposed to the image-bearing member, a shutter member arranged between the image-bearing member and the sensor and capable of moving between an open position and a closed position, a rotatable cam configured to move the shutter member, and an execution portion configured to selectively execute a first mode in which the shutter member is opened or closed by rotating the cam within a first phase range and a second mode in which the shutter member is vibrated by rotating the cam at least through a second phase range different from the first phase range.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including a containing unit that contains a developer including toner and forms an image based on image data by using the toner, a supply unit that supplies the toner into the containing unit, a consumption amount calculation unit that calculates, based on information related to a density of an image corresponding to the image data, a consumption amount in the containing unit, a detection unit that detects a toner density of the developer in the containing unit, a correction amount calculation unit that calculates, based on the information and the toner density detected by the detection unit, a correction amount by which the consumption amount is corrected, and a controller that controls the supply unit based on the consumption amount and the correction amount calculated by the correction amount calculation unit.

Abstract: Methods and systems may provide for identifying a thermal management setting in a computing system, and comparing the thermal management setting to valid configuration information. In addition, the thermal management setting may be modified if it does not comply with the valid configuration information, wherein the modification can cause the thermal management setting to comply with the valid configuration information. Additionally, a threat risk notification can be initiated in order to notify users of the non-compliance.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a separation plate, an arm member, an axial member, a support bracket, and a temperature sensor. The separation plate is disposed spaced apart from a peripheral surface of a heating rotating body by a predetermined clearance distance K2. The separation plate separates a recording medium having passed through between the heating rotating body and a pressing roller from the heating rotating body. The arm member holds the temperature sensor by using one end portion thereof. The axial member extends in parallel to a rotating shaft of the heating rotating body and rotatably supports the other end portion of the arm member. The support bracket supports the separation plate. The support bracket is provided with a sensor abutting portion that abuts the temperature sensor held by the arm member to restrict a clearance distance between the temperature sensor and the heating rotating body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member; an electrostatic image forming unit; a developing unit; an intermediary transfer member; a rotatable secondary transfer member; a constant voltage element; a voltage source; and a controller. The apparatus is operable in a lowering mode in which a secondary transfer electric field in a trailing end region of a recording material passing through a secondary transfer position with respect to a recording material feeding direction is made lower than the secondary transfer electric field in a region from a leading end to the trailing end region of the recording material. The controller sets a toner image distance so as to be longer than the toner image distance when the operation in the lowering mode is not performed to prevent a toner image from being primary-transferred in a period in which the secondary transfer electric field is lowered.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a manual operating unit, at least a part of which being exposed to an outside of the apparatus body and a part of which included inside the apparatus body being exposed to the outside by manually operating from the outside, a condensation part to which moist air in the apparatus body contacts to dew-condense to a water droplet, and a recovery container part containing the water droplet generated by the condensation part and being disposed on an inner surface of the manual operating unit included inside the apparatus body.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus include an image bearer; a cleaning device to clean a surface of the image bearer; an air-blowing device to blow outside air; a temperature/humidity detector to detect temperature and humidity outside of the image-forming apparatus; and a controller to determine absolute humidity from detected temperature and humidity. Based on the absolute humidity, a waiting time from a time when a previous image-forming operation ends until the air-blowing device stops, in a stand-by state of an image-forming operation, and an unused time from a time when the air-blowing device stops until the air-blowing device resumes, the controller determines whether or not a polishing operation of the image bearer by the cleaning device after the air-blowing device is unused is executed in starting the operation of the blowing device.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, provided is an image forming apparatus including a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and a control unit. The control unit determines whether an environment of the apparatus is a dew condensation environment, based on a temperature of the apparatus detected by the temperature sensor and humidity in the apparatus detected by the humidity sensor. The control unit turns ON a dew condensation preventing heater when determining that the environment of the apparatus is the dew condensation environment in a case where a main power source of the apparatus is in an OFF state or the apparatus is in a power saving mode.