Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing member having a cylindrical or annular shape for fixing an image onto a sheet which is in pressure contact with an outer surface thereof; and a heating source for heating the fixing member to a fixing temperature. A duct is provided in a position facing the fixing member with respect to a width direction perpendicular to a circumferential direction of the fixing member and which has an inlet for taking in fine particles generated from the fixing member. A filter member is provided inside the duct and which can trap the fine particles which flow through the duct. An exhaust fan is provided in the duct upstream or downstream from the filter member for generating an air flow going from the inlet to an outlet of the duct. A control section controls the operation of the exhaust fan according to initial burst conditions under which the fine particles are emitted from the fixing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing member having a cylindrical or annular shape for fixing an image onto a sheet which is in pressure contact with an outer surface thereof; and a heating source for heating the fixing member to a fixing temperature. A duct is provided in a position facing the fixing member with respect to a width direction perpendicular to a circumferential direction of the fixing member and which has an inlet for taking in fine particles generated from the fixing member. An exhaust fan is provided inside the duct or in an outlet of the duct for generating an air flow going from the inlet to the outlet of the duct. A first filter member is provided upstream or downstream from the exhaust fan inside the duct and the first filter can trap the fine particles which flow through the duct getting on the air flow.

Abstract: A diagnostic system that provides a service technician with service information during servicing of an image processing apparatus includes at least one counter that is incremented during operation of the image processing apparatus, a pressure detecting unit that detects a pressure at a point in an air flow path on the condition that the at least one counter is reset to zero after initial servicing of the image processing apparatus, a determining unit that determines whether a difference between the detected pressure and a fault threshold pressure is less than a predetermined margin, and a display unit that displays a fault code indicating additional servicing of the image processing apparatus is recommended on the condition that the determining unit determines that the difference between the detected pressure and the predetermined threshold pressure is less than the predetermined margin.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cylindrical or annular fixing member, an outer surface of which is brought into pressure contact with a conveyed sheet to fix an image onto the sheet; and a heating source for heating the fixing member to a specified target temperature. The fixing member includes a cylindrical or annular base material, a rubber layer with elasticity, and an outer layer for aiding release of the sheet. An end portion of the rubber layer and an end portion of the outer layer are each positioned inner than an end portion of the base material with respect to a width direction perpendicular to a circumferential direction on the base material. A filter member capable of trapping ultra fine particles generated from the rubber layer is provided on the base material in a position facing the end portion of the rubber layer along the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet tray, a main body, an ion generating device, a first duct, a second duct, and a fan. The main body is designed to accommodate therein the sheet tray in a state capable of being drawn out toward the front. The ion generating device is disposed on a rear side of the sheet tray in the main body and has an ion generating function. The first and second ducts are disposed in such a manner as to cover the ion generating device and are designed to define a flow path for guiding air taken therein from outside the main body to outside the main body again.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a recording medium, wherein a first gas is generated during image formation, and a fixing unit configured to fix the image onto the recording medium by heat, wherein a second gas is generated during image fixing by heat. A body includes a chamber and an opening through which the first gas and the second gas are guided into the chamber to be mixed into a gas mixture. A fan discharges the gas mixture from the chamber.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including, a first air flow duct for guiding air including flying toner particles created in the image forming apparatus, a second air flow duct having a fan for exhausting cleaned air to an exterior of the image forming apparatus, and a toner particle collecting unit arranged between the first air flow duct and the second air flow duct, the toner particle collecting unit includes a cyclone separator including a cyclone main body, an air flow inlet, and an outlet tube, wherein the cyclone separator centrifuges the toner particles from the air including toner particles and exhausts the cleaned air through the outlet tube, a toner particle collection box, mounted under the cyclone separator, and an air channel section for guiding the cleaned air from the outlet tube to the second air flow duct, wherein the toner particle collecting unit is detachable.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, exhaust fans of a ventilation device and an intake port of an air purifier are provided on side wall portions respectively that are opposite each other in a main casing of the image forming apparatus, and the exhaust fans of the ventilation device are provided in a location higher than the intake port of the air purifier. With this configuration, silicone that is discharged from the exhaust fans of the ventilation device is almost never suctioned into the intake port of the air purifier, such that almost none of this silicone adheres to a discharging electrode of the ion generator, and an ion generating efficiency of the ion generator can be maintained over a long period without dropping.

Abstract: A charging device is provided. A charging device includes a charging section and a discharge product adsorption removal section. The charging section includes a shield case having a shield opening, a discharge electrode, and a rotation shaft which is parallel to a rotation axis of a photoreceptor. The discharge product adsorption removal section has an adsorption layer that adsorbs a discharge product and is disposed downward in a vertical direction of the photoreceptor. The charging section is displaceable about an axial line of the rotation shaft from a position where the shield opening opposes to the photoreceptor to a position where the shield opening opposes to the discharge product adsorption removal section.

Abstract: A corona discharge device (10) comprises a discharge electrode (1) for causing electric discharge, a discharge product removing member (4) provided around the discharge electrode (1), and containing a material capable of removing a discharge product, and a shield plate (3) interposed between the discharge electrode (1) and the discharge product removing member (4), having a through-hole (3a) open toward the discharge electrode (1), and having a surface opposed to the discharge electrode (1) and at least the surface being made of a metallic material. With this, a corona discharge device, a photoreceptor charger, and a method for making a discharge product removing member which realize high trapping efficiency for discharge products and a long life of a discharge product removing filter are provided.

Abstract: A developing device is disclosed which includes a developing tank, a developing roller, a carrying member, and a filter. Rotation of the developing roller causes a first airflow directed from the outside of the developing tank through an air path to the inside of the developing tank. Rotation of the carrying member causes a second airflow directed from below in an upward direction inside the developing tank. Collision between the first airflow and the second airflow causes a third airflow directed from the inside of the developing tank through the filter to the outside of the developing tank and further from the outside through the filter back to the inside of the developing tank. This arrangement prevents not only filter clogging but also a toner leak to the outside of the developing device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a placement tray on which a recording medium is placed and which is attachably and detachably assembled into a housing. The placement tray includes a holding portion having an upwardly concave configuration at one end of the placement tray in an attaching and detaching direction of the placement tray. The holding portion includes at least one air vent for taking air into the housing in a vicinity of at least one of both end portions of the holding portion in a width direction perpendicular to the attaching and detaching direction.

Abstract: A color laser printer is provided with a first exhaust duct for exhausting ozone generated by a charging unit etc. inside a housing to the outside of the housing. The first exhaust duct is therein provided with a catalytic honeycomb filter for ozone gas treatment and an ion emitting unit for emitting negative ions into an atmosphere. Most of an ozone gas component is decomposed and/or absorbed by the catalytic honeycomb filter for ozone gas treatment. Furthermore, the residual ozone gas component is decomposed by the negative ions generated by the ion emitting unit. This arrangement makes it possible to provide a new ozone removal device which is different from an ozone decomposing filter or a heat source.

Abstract: In this invention, the charging units are in the separate construction for the main chargers and for the ozone ducts. When installing the process units, the ozone ducts are placed on the elastic sheets of the duct cases that are fixed to the main frame. The process units are slid while slanting the ozone ducts to the duct cases by the main chargers against the bias force of the elastic sheets. Fluctuation in manufacturing accuracy is absorbed by the elastic sheets and the maintenance efficiency when installing/removing the process units is improved by sliding the process units smoothly. Further, the charging units are supported certainly by the main frame.

Abstract: This is a toner control system for use in a cleaning station of a xerographic marking apparatus. A sensor is located in the air conduits of the system to measure airflow throughout the system. The sensor is in contact with a controller that is configured to adjust the blower speed to normal conditions (i.e. sea level and clean filter conditions) as the flow rate is reduced due to normal apparatus use. The system has an air blower(s), a filter(s), air conduits, a sensor(s) and a controller(s) in communication with the sensor(s).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is an image forming apparatus that prints an image on a recording paper, and is provided with an ion generating means that is attached at an outer side of the image forming apparatus main unit, and generates and emits ions, and an emission direction varying means that varies an emission direction of ions from the ion generating means in response to whether the image forming apparatus is operating or in standby.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which forms an image on a recording sheet includes a housing having an exhaust outlet and an image forming unit disposed in the housing and configured to form an image on a recording sheet. A duct in the housing may have an inlet at a first end in the housing, and communicate with the exhaust outlet at a second end in the housing. The image forming apparatus includes an exhaust fan disposed between the exhaust outlet and the duct, and being configured to cause air entering the duct from the inlet to go toward the exhaust outlet; a first filter disposed in the duct to cover the inlet and being configured to remove dust suspended in the air, and a second filter disposed in the duct downstream from the first filter in a direction of airflow and being configured to remove dust suspended in the air.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an optical writing device. The optical writing device includes an optical writing unit that emits laser light beams toward image carriers, an outer case that accommodates the optical writing unit, and air supplying devices that supply air into the outer case. The outer case includes openings through which the laser light beams pass. Another image forming apparatus includes an optical writing device that emits laser light beams toward image carriers to form latent images thereon, partition members that are interposed between the image carriers and the optical writing device and that have openings elongating along a scanning direction of the optical writing device, and shutter mechanisms including shutter members to open and close the openings. The laser light beams are emitted from the optical writing device toward the image carriers through the openings.

Abstract: A cooling system for an electrical component, comprises: a substrate having a mounting surface on which an electrical component is mounted; an air sucking section that takes in air for cooling the electrical component; a first guide member comprising a first guide surface that leads the air taken into the air sucking section in such a direction as to be separated from the mounting surface of the substrate; and a second guide member comprising a second guide surface that leads, to the mounting surface of the substrate, the air led to the first guide surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a post-processing unit, a transport unit, a filter and a suctioning/exhausting unit. The post-processing unit is disposed adjacent to the main body. The post-processing unit performs predetermined post-processing on a recording medium on which an image is formed in the main body. The transport unit transports the recording medium from the main body to the post-processing unit. The suctioning/exhausting unit suctions air in the transport unit and exhausts the suctioned air through the filter to an outside of the main body.

Abstract: A color multifunction printer of the present invention includes a volatile chemical substance catching device, provided in an exhaust duct provided above a fixing unit, which generates an electric field in an atmosphere with use of an electric-field generating and catching member, which attracts volatile chemical substances contained in the atmosphere to a surface of the electric-field generating and catching member by the action of the electric field, and which catches the volatile chemical substances. This makes it possible to realize a volatile chemical substance catching device and an electronic apparatus that hardly suffer from aged deterioration in performance and can catch volatile chemical compounds such as VOCs and odors over a long period of time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recoding-medium stacking portion, a recording-medium ejecting portion and a auctioning/exhausting unit. The recording-medium ejecting portion ejects a recording medium on which an image is formed, to the recording-medium stacking portion. The suctioning/exhausting unit suctions air in a vicinity of the recording-medium ejecting portion. The suctioning/exhausting unit exhausts the suctioned air though a filter to an outside of a main body of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A developing unit for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of a latent image bearing member rotating in one direction with a developer by mixing electrostatically chargeable toner and magnetic carrier, includes: a developing roller; a carrier collecting roller; a cooling portion including a forced draft duct for airflow from a fan and disposed on the bottom side of the developing vessel; a suctioning portion including a suctioning duct for airflow from suctioning ports disposed on the lower side of the carrier collecting roller, disposed under the forced draft duct; a filter for removing the scattering toner from air including the scattering toner suctioned from the suctioning ports; and, an exhaust portion including an airflow exhaust duct for discharging the air passed through the filter and the forced draft duct to an exhaust port.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printing machine of the type in which an electrostatic latent image recorded on a charge retentive surface is developed with toner particles to form a visible image thereof, including: a housing having a supply of toner and developer therein; a donor member for transporting toner from the housing to a development zone; a first manifold, adjacent to the donor member, having an air stream for removing toner emission; a second manifold, adjacent to the donor member, having an air stream for removing toner emission; and a cyclone separator system, connected to the first manifold and the second manifold, for separating the toner from the air stream and returning toner particles of a predefined size back into the housing.

Abstract: In this invention, the charging units are in the separate construction for the main chargers and for the ozone ducts. When installing the process units, the ozone ducts are placed on the elastic sheets of the duct cases that are fixed to the main frame. The process units are slid while slanting the ozone ducts to the duct cases by the main chargers against the bias force of the elastic sheets. Fluctuation in manufacturing accuracy is absorbed by the elastic sheets and the maintenance efficiency when installing/removing the process units is improved by sliding the process units smoothly. Further, the charging units are supported certainly by the main frame.

Abstract: An isolating wall is provided for isolating, from a space outside the isolation wall, a space including: a photosensitive drum; a developing unit; a charging device; a transfer device; and a fixing device. With this configuration, the space in which powder toner (toner which is not fixed on a recording material by the fixing device) is present is isolated from the space outside the isolation wall. Thus, in an image forming apparatus using powder developer, this configuration makes it possible to (i) prevent the floating toner from going out of the image forming apparatus, or (ii) prevent the floating toner from deteriorating a function of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided which is capable of preventing the heat radiated from a high-voltage power source board from raising the temperature around the high-voltage power source board to a high temperature. A cooling fan is disposed opposite to the side of the high-voltage power source board where electronic components are disposed, as well as substantially in parallel with the high-voltage power source board; the cooling fan blows air upon the high-voltage power source board; and a heat-radiating component disposed on the high-voltage power source board, such as a transistor and a transformer, is located one-sidedly near the cooling fan, so that they can be efficiently cooled.

Abstract: An ozone exhaust system in an image forming apparatus having a multiple number of process printing units, includes: exhaust ducts for exhausting ozone arising in the process printing units. In the ozone exhaust system, the exhaust ducts are mainly constituted of process printing unit's side exhaust ducts provided respectively along multiple charger cases and a main exhaust duct to which the process printing unit's side exhaust ducts are connected, and the process printing unit's side exhaust ducts are constructed so that the air current that flows into the charger cases and the air current that flows from the process printing unit's side exhaust ducts into the main exhaust duct are directed in the same direction.

Abstract: An image forming device includes marking material dispensers for disposing an image on an imaging drum surface. The image forming device further includes plural particle removal devices comprising first and second particle removal devices coupled to a vacuum source. The first particle removal device includes a first vacuum port positioned as close as possible to an included image transfer site. The second particle removal device includes a second vacuum port positioned as close as possible to the marking material dispensers. The first and second vacuum ports are positioned proximate to the imaging drum surface to provide respective first and second air flows.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image including: a photoreceptor; a charging apparatus for charging the photoreceptor; and exposure apparatus for exposing an image onto the charged photoreceptor and forming an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor; a development apparatus for developing the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor; and a plural kinds of air flow paths for discharging air out of the apparatus by ventilating the air in an axial direction of the photoreceptor; wherein air flow directions in the plural kinds of air flow paths are made to be one and the same direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes: a plurality of image making units each having a charger; a transfer unit, a fixing unit configured to fix the multicolor developer image transferred by the transfer unit on a transfer medium. An exhaust air passage portion overlaps with at least a part of the at least one image making unit in a first direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a filter structure manufacturable through fewer steps and at lower cost by using inexpensive materials and general techniques for processing while maintaining accuracy of the production of clearances that determines filtering performance and a method of manufacturing the filter structure. The filter structure according to the present invention comprises a base plate, a first intermediate layer, a second intermediate layer and a cover. The first intermediate layer has a first flow channel and a second flow channel with predetermined widths and depths, and the second intermediate layer has a third flow channel with a predetermined width and depth. The third flow channel communicates with the first flow channel and also with the second flow channel, and the maximum depth of the third flow channel is smaller than the minimum depths of the first flow channel and the second flow channel.

Abstract: A color laser printer is provided with a first exhaust duct for exhausting ozone generated by a charging unit etc. inside a housing to the outside of the housing. The first exhaust duct is therein provided with a catalytic honeycomb filter for ozone gas treatment and an ion emitting unit for emitting negative ions into an atmosphere. Most of an ozone gas component is decomposed and/or absorbed by the catalytic honeycomb filter for ozone gas treatment. Furthermore, the residual ozone gas component is decomposed by the negative ions generated by the ion emitting unit. This arrangement makes it possible to provide a new ozone removal device which is different from an ozone decomposing filter or a heat source.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first air flow channel that has an air inlet, an exhaust outlet and filters. As air in the image forming apparatus is externally discharged along the first air flow channel, byproducts generated in the image forming apparatus are removed by the filters. The image forming apparatus also includes a second air flow channel, which also has an air inlet, an exhaust outlet and a filter for removing byproducts. With this configuration, the byproducts generated in the image forming apparatus can be re-collected.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus that uses a charging unit to charge a photosensitive drum, forms an electrostatic latent image by carrying out image exposure according to image information, and transfers to a paper the electrostatic latent image by developing the electrostatic latent image into a visible image using a developer so that the image information is presented, an exhaust duct 33 for exhausting air that contains ozone produced within a drum unit 30, which includes a photosensitive drum 3 and a charging unit 5, and a duct 32 for taking in air, which draws in fresh air, are provided within the drum unit 30 so that ventilation of the drum unit 30 can be carried out with excellent efficiency.

Abstract: A low-voltage power source circuit board is provided downstream in relation to the flow of air introduced through an intake hole and exhausted by a power source fan. Heat sinks are provided on the low-voltage power source circuit board on electronic parts that generate a large amount of heat, the plate surfaces of the heat sinks being arranged along the direction of airflow, thereby minimizing their resistance to the airflow. Air including heat generated from these electronic parts is exhausted by the power source fan without the air heating the high-voltage power source circuit board or engine circuit board that are disposed upstream in relation to the direction of airflow.

Abstract: A developing unit for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of a latent image bearing member rotating in one direction with a developer by mixing electrostatically chargeable toner and magnetic carrier, includes: a developing roller; a carrier collecting roller; a cooling portion including a forced draft duct for airflow from a fan and disposed on the bottom side of the developing vessel; a suctioning portion including a suctioning duct for airflow from suctioning ports disposed on the lower side of the carrier collecting roller, disposed under the forced draft duct; a filter for removing the scattering toner from air including the scattering toner suctioned from the suctioning ports; and, an exhaust portion including an airflow exhaust duct for discharging the air passed through the filter and the forced draft duct to an exhaust port.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which forms an image on a recording sheet includes a housing having an exhaust outlet and an image forming unit disposed in the housing and configured to form an image on a recording sheet. A duct in the housing may have an inlet at a first end in the housing, and communicate with the exhaust outlet at a second end in the housing. The image forming apparatus includes an exhaust fan disposed between the exhaust outlet and the duct, and being configured to cause air entering the duct from the inlet to go toward the exhaust outlet; a first filter disposed in the duct to cover the inlet and being configured to remove dust suspended in the air, and a second filter disposed in the duct downstream from the first filter in a direction of airflow and being configured to remove dust suspended in the air.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, an image heating unit, an air circulating unit, and a filter. The air circulating unit circulates air around the image heating unit. The filter absorbs a volatile organic substance in an air circulation path defined by the air circulating unit.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus which includes a recording head, and forms an image by ejecting printing liquid including a volatile organic compound (VOC) from the recording head onto a recording medium, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus includes a volatile organic compound decomposer for decomposing the volatile organic compound.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photoconductor driven by gears, a developing roller, an agitator. The process cartridge is mounted on an image forming apparatus that forms an image with toner. The process cartridge includes an air inlet and an air outlet on a side plate thereof. The gears are arranged along a path between the air inlet and the air outlet.

Abstract: A gas purifying apparatus oxidatively decomposes and discharges impurities such as flammable hydrocarbons (CmH2n) contained in gas generated from a toner by fixing an image. An image forming apparatus having a gas purifying apparatus, and a method of purifying gas of the image forming apparatus are also provided. The gas purifying apparatus comprises a fan unit for ventilating air, a heating unit for heating the air ventilated by the fan unit, a catalytic unit for facilitating oxidative decomposition of impurities contained in the air, and an ozone generation unit located upstream of the heating unit and the catalytic unit in the air flow direction. By providing the ozone generation unit for facilitating the oxidative decomposition reaction by the catalytic unit for impurities contained in gas generated by fixing an image, the gas purifying rate can be improved and by minimizing the reaction area of catalyst oxidizing impurities, and reducing the manufacturing costs.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus main body; a sheet feeding cassette attached to the apparatus main body so as to be pulled out to an outside; a cover that covers, with an internal space in between, a portion of the apparatus main body different from a portion where the sheet feeding cassette is attached; a handle portion formed on a front face side in a pull-out direction of the sheet feeding cassette so as to open for enabling a user to insert a fingertip therein; an air channel formed in the sheet cassette and allowing an opening of the handle portion and the internal space inside the cover to communicate with each other; and an air blower that sends outside air inside the apparatus main body by way of the opening, the air channel, and the internal space.

Abstract: To remove also VOC gas generated from the discharged sheets, an image forming apparatus comprises an image forming unit which forms an image on a sheet; a tray on which sheets on which images are formed by the image forming unit are stacked; a suction device which sucks air from the surrounding space of sheets stacked up on the tray; and a VOC removing unit which removes VOC contained in the air sucked by the sucking device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes an image bearing member; a charging device for charging the image bearing member; an air path portion for guiding both ozone produced by charging the image bearing member and volatile organic compounds produced in the image forming apparatus toward the outside atmosphere; a catalyst filter provided in the air path portion; and an activated carbon filter provided in the air path portion. The catalyst filter and the activated carbon filter are disposed in the air path portion in series. The catalyst filter is disposed upstream of the activated carbon filter with respect to a direction of flow in the air path portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a branch section that branches a cooling wind from a cooling fan into branched cooling winds and a wind guide path that guides the branched cooling winds branched by the branch section to cooling targets to be cooled, respectively, and exhausts the branched cooling winds. The wind guide path includes a first wind guide path that guides one of the branched cooling winds to a first cooling target at which a predetermined gas is mixed into the one of the branched cooling winds, and exhausts the one of the branched cooling winds and a second wind guide path that guides another one of the branched cooling winds to a second cooling target at which the predetermined gas is not mixed into another one of the branched cooling winds and exhausts another one of the branched cooling winds.

Abstract: A charging device includes a case that surrounds a charging unit and has plural ventilating sections, a gas separating unit that varies a component ratio of the air near an opposed portion of a photosensitive member and the charging unit, and a gas electrolyzing unit that electrolyzes moisture of the area near the opposed portion. The gas separating unit has a nitrogen enriching unit that includes a nitrogen enriching film set in a ventilating section and a pressurizing chamber for forming a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the case and supplies a nitrogen enriched air to the inside of the case or an oxygen enriching unit that includes an oxygen enriching film set in another ventilating section and a depressurizing chamber for forming a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the case and exhausts an oxygen enriched air to the outside of the case.

Abstract: An electrostatic latent image is formed on an image carrier. A plurality of development cartridges include toner and are adapted to face the image carrier at a development position, respectively. The development cartridges cause the toner to adhere onto the image carrier to develop the electrostatic latent image as a toner image. A development device is configured to be rotatable around an rotational axis thereof. The development device houses the plurality of development cartridges around the rotational axis. A duct includes an inlet port through which air in the vicinity of the development position is sucked and an outlet port from which the sucked air is exhausted to the outside of the image forming apparatus. The duct covers an outer peripheral surface of the development device.

Abstract: An oxidation catalyst unit for judging a life span of an oxidation catalyst and a wet-type electrophotographic image forming apparatus having the oxidation catalyst unit, and a method of judging the life span of the oxidation catalyst. The oxidation catalyst unit includes a duct unit, a fan motor, a heater, an oxidation catalyst filter, and a temperature sensing unit. The temperature sensing unit senses upper and lower atmospheric temperatures of the oxidation catalyst filter. A controller of the wet-type electrophotographic image forming apparatus having the oxidation catalyst unit then compares data on the upper and lower atmosphere temperatures sensed by the temperature sensing unit with input reference data to judge the life span of the oxidation catalyst.

Abstract: A liquid-type image forming apparatus has a printing engine including a developing unit and a transferring unit and a fixing member. The apparatus includes a carrier vapor-processing device having an oxidation catalyst carrier that accelerates oxidation of carrier vapors occurring in the fixing member. A temperature sensor detects a temperature of the oxidation catalyst carrier. A control member compares information measured by the temperature sensor, and compares the information with predetermined reference values. The printing operation of the printing engine is controlled according to the result of the comparison.