Abstract: A member moving mechanism according to the present invention includes: a first moving member that moves in a first positive direction and a first negative direction opposite to the first positive direction; a second moving member that moves in a second positive direction that is different from each of the first positive direction and the first negative direction, and in a second negative direction opposite to the second positive direction; a belt member that connects the first moving member and the second moving member; and a belt-member guiding member that controls a moving direction of the belt member, and changes the moving direction of the belt member at least once.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing member for fixing an image onto a sheet in pressure contact with an outer surface thereof; and a heating source for heating the fixing member. 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: an image forming part; a paper dust collecting roller that collects paper dust from a sheet; a conveying roller that is opposed to the paper dust collecting roller and conveys the sheet; a paper dust removing member that contacts the paper dust collecting roller for removing the paper dust therefrom; a supporting member that extends in a width direction of the sheet; a swing shaft for swinging the supporting member; and a pressing member that presses the supporting member for contacting the paper dust removing member with the paper dust collecting roller. The supporting member includes: a guiding surface that contacts the sheet conveyed along the conveying path for guiding the sheet toward the image forming part along the conveying path; and a paper dust receiving part which receives the paper dust removed by the paper dust removing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an outline surrounded by a casing. The casing has an opening. The image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit configured to fix an image formed on a recording medium, and a control unit. The fixing unit includes a heating fixing member. The control unit is configured to control an opening degree of the opening based on temperature of a surface of or in the vicinity of the heating fixing member, so as to prevent emission of a substance by an air current to outside of the casing through the opening, during an image forming operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device, a duct, a first fan, a dust collection part, and a connection portion. The duct communicates with a suction port that is provided in the vicinity of an opening portion of a developing container of the developing device. The first fan generates an airflow in the duct and discharges air that has passed through the suction port and through the duct to the outside of a main body of the apparatus. The dust collection part captures toner that has passed through the duct together with an airflow generated by the first fan. The connection portion is provided at some point along a length of the duct, can store part of toner that passes therethrough together with an airflow, and has a lid portion that is openable and closable with respect to a main body of the connection portion.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus including a fixing part that heats and fixes an unfixed toner image formed on a recording material, onto the recording material, an electric field generation member that forms an electric field in a space in which a component evaporated from a wax flows, the component being generated during the heating and fixing, and a collection member to which a voltage is applied, the collection member electrostatically collecting the component passing through the space in which the electric field has been formed. The image forming apparatus prevents conveyance failures resulting from evaporated components of a release wax adhering to parts within the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a charging device which can suppress the deterioration of a photosensitive member and the occurrence of an image deletion phenomenon on an electrophotographic image due to an electric discharge product having deposited on a charger shutter, even when having been used for a long period of time. The charging device has an image bearing member which bears an image thereon, a charging member which charges the image bearing member, and a shielding member which shields the charging member from the image bearing member, wherein the shielding member includes a specific material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a latent image forming device; a developing device; an electrode which faces to the image carrier; an electric power source, a toner contamination detecting device for detecting toner contamination onto the electrode; an electrode cleaning device for cleaning the electrode; and a controlling section. The control section controls the electric power source to apply at least an alternating current voltage to the electrode so that toner image is rearranged by reciprocally moving toner of the toner image between the image carrier and the electrode control section and allows the electrode cleaning device to clean the electrode when the toner contamination detecting device detects toner contamination on the electrode, and performs the toner rearrangement by the electrode from which the toner contamination is removed.

Abstract: A cooling device having a cooling unit including an air suction port that is disposed at a front surface side of a main body of the cooling device to suck air, and an air exhaust port that is disposed at a rear surface side of the main body of the cooling device to exhaust air, in which the cooling unit transfers heat from a cooling target to air sucked from the air suction port to cool the cooling target, and discharges the heat-transferred air from the air exhaust port.

Abstract: A developing device includes an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a developing member facing the image carrier to supply a developing agent to the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier, a rotary member facing the outer circumference of the image carrier in a non-contact state to collect toner scattered from the developing member, and a gear train to drive the rotary member. An effect that the developing member is subjected to by the driving of the rotary member is minimized, thereby preventing deterioration of image quality. Also, the scattering of the developing agent is effectively prevented by adjusting the drive rotational velocity of the rotary member.

Abstract: An Active Ozone Scrubber includes a low profile thick film device. The low profile thick film device is composed of films layered upon each other and built on a ceramic substrate. Each layer is screened upon the next with the active elements strategically placed in order to develop corona when energized. When activated, the corona developed within the channels of the upper layer creates heat and accelerates the chemical reaction with the ozone, thereby reducing the amount of ozone generated by a conventional charge/discharge system before it is exhausted by a machine into the environment.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing module which develops a toner image on a printing medium, a fixing module which fixes the toner image onto the printing medium, and a toner neutralization module arranged on a travel path of the printing medium between the developing module and the fixing module to electrically neutralize the toner image on the printing medium.

Abstract: A sensor device includes: a member that has an aperture facing a target measuring position through which a target to be measured passes; a sensor that is provided in an opposing relation to the target measuring position, and that measures a physical quantity of the target at a sensor surface facing the aperture; and a moving member that reciprocates a movement in a predetermined direction, and includes: a cleaning unit that cleans the sensor surface by contacting the sensor surface while the moving member moves to at least one of an outward movement and a return reciprocal movement; an applying portion that applies to the moving member a force in one direction of the reciprocation movement; and a manipulation portion that is moved by an operator against the force applied by the applying portion in an direction opposite to that of a direction of the force.

Abstract: A developing device is provided that includes a developing container, a developing roller, a developer supplying roller, a sheet member, a communication hole, and a filter member. The communication hole is provided so as to be connected to an enclosed space defined by an inner wall of the developing container defining a smaller one of spaces provided by dividing the developing container by a plane including a rotation axis of the developer supplying roller and a rotational axis of the developing roller, a phantom plane which is included in the plane and extends from a surface of the developer supplying roller to the inner wall of the developer container, the sheet member, a surface of the developing roller, and a surface of the developer supplying roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body of the image forming apparatus; at least one image forming unit disposed in the main body; a light scanning unit that is disposed in the main body and scans light to form an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive medium of the at least one image forming unit; a window open-closing shutter that is disposed to slidably move on a surface of the light scanning unit from which light emits, and moves between an open position where a light moving path is opened and a blocking position where the light moving path is blocked; a shutter operating lever that is disposed in the main body, and activates the window open-closing shutter to be positioned at either of the open position and the blocking position; and a pressure member that is disposed in the main body and presses the shutter operating lever.

Abstract: A developing container configured to contain developer, the developing container including: a filter member which covers a communicating hole through which an inside and an outside of the developing container are communicated with each other; a fixing area where the filter member is fixed to the developing container; and a vibration regulating portion configured to regulate vibrations of the filter member on an inner side of the fixing area, wherein the filter member is configured to allow passage of air and regulate passage of the developer, and wherein the vibration regulating portion is provided so as to be hit by the filter member if the filter member is vibrated, in order to regulate the vibrations of the filter member.

Abstract: A multiple-output power supply unit includes: a transformer including: a primary winding; and a secondary winding which has a first node and a second node and which generates a secondary-side voltage at the secondary winding; first output terminal to output a first voltage corresponding to the secondary-side voltage; a first constant voltage element; a current limiting resistor; a second constant voltage element; a second output terminal to output a second voltage different from the first voltage; a current generation circuit provided between the first node and the ground so as to cause a predetermined current to flow between the first node and the ground; a transformer driver circuit connected to the primary winding so as to drive the transformer; and a secondary-side voltage control circuit that controls the transformer driver circuit so as to generate the secondary-side voltage having a predetermined value at the first node.

Abstract: A process cartridge attachable to and detachable from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a first unit having an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a second unit including a developing roller configured to develop a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a sheet member which is disposed along the developing roller in a lengthwise direction of the developing roller and contacts the electrophotographic photosensitive member to restrain scattering of developer, wherein a contact portion of the sheet member that contacts the electrophotographic photosensitive member is roughened by a roughening process.

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: Provided is an imaging unit, including: a developing unit having a developing roller and a first abutting member; a photosensitive unit having a photosensitive drum and a second abutting member, a gap between the photosensitive drum and the developing roller being set constant by bringing the first abutting member into abutting contact with the second abutting member; a cleaner configured to be disposed in a space between the first and the second abutting members in a separate state where the first abutting member is spaced away from the second abutting member; and a displacement unit configured to displace the cleaner from the space as the first abutting member is brought close to the second abutting member. In the displacement, the displacement unit causes the cleaner to slide on an abutting surface of at least one of the first and the second abutting members.

Abstract: A developing device for developing with developer an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member includes a developer carrying member; a developing chamber in which the developer carrying member is provided; a developer accommodating chamber, for accommodating developer to be fed to the developing chamber; a shaft rotatably supported in the accommodating chamber; a developer feeding member, mounted on the shaft; a light transmitting member for permitting light to pass into the accommodating chamber to detect an amount of the developer in the accommodating chamber; and a developer scattering preventing member provided on an inner wall of the accommodating chamber so as to overlap with the light transmitting member with respect to an axial direction of the shaft as seen in a direction perpendicular to the developer scattering preventing member, an upper end of the developer scattering preventing member being located below the light transmitting member.

Abstract: A developing device includes a toner storage area containing toner, a developing portion in which a developing roller is installed, and a housing including a toner supply window to connect the toner storage area and the developing portion. A pair of rails is disposed on the toner supply window to extend in a lengthwise direction of the developing roller, and a blocking member including a blocking portion is provided to open and close the toner supply window when the blocking member is removed from and inserted into the pair of rails from outside of the housing, respectively.

Abstract: A toner image formed on an image bearing member is transferred onto a recording material so as to overflow from an edge portion of the recording material, thereby enabling the toner image to be formed so as to extend to the edge portion of the recording material. To suppress the deposition of the toner in the edge portion of the recording material, a cleaning member for cleaning the edge portion of the recording material obtained after the fixing is provided. In order to make a trailing edge of the recording material come into contact with the cleaning member, the recording material which has passed through a fixing apparatus is temporarily switched back, thereby allowing the trailing edge portion of the recording material to collide with the cleaning member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main body having a pinch roller; a supporting member configured to support a plurality of cartridges; and a cleaning unit provided on the supporting member. The supporting member is movable, relative to the main body, between an internal position located inside the main body and an external position located outside the main body. The cleaning unit includes: a paper dust roller for removing paper dust from recording sheets; a paper dust removing member for removing the paper dust; and a storing section for string the paper dust. The paper dust roller is movable relative to the supporting member and positioning of the paper dust roller relative to the pinch roller is independent of positioning of the supporting member relative to the main body.

Abstract: A process cartridge attachable to and detachable from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a first unit having an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a second unit including a developing roller configured to develop a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a sheet member which is disposed along the developing roller in a lengthwise direction of the developing roller and contacts the electrophotographic photosensitive member to restrain scattering of developer, wherein a contact portion of the sheet member that contacts the electrophotographic photosensitive member is roughened by a roughening process.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a cleaner for cleaning a surface of a dust-proof glass disposed on a housing of a laser scanning unit for irradiating a photosensitive member with a laser modulated in accordance with image data. The cleaner is supported by a frame of the image forming apparatus body such that the cleaner is movable while keeping in contact with the dust-proof glass and such that the cleaner stays in a stand-by position while keeping out of contact with the dust-proof glass and the housing of the laser scanning unit.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide a method and a system that can include a combined UV radiation and ozone treatment for reducing contamination built-up on surfaces of image members within a printing system.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a belt having a carrying surface that carries a recording sheet; a photosensitive body disposed opposite to the carrying surface of the belt; a transferring member which is disposed opposite to the photosensitive body such that the carrying surface of the belt is disposed between the transferring member and the photosensitive body, and a transferring bias is applied to the transferring member; a cleaning member arranged adjacent to an outer peripheral surface of the belt; and a control unit for controlling a voltage that is applied to the cleaning member. The control unit causes a first voltage to be applied to the cleaning member during a first mode. The control unit causes a second voltage, different from the first voltage, to be applied to the cleaning member during a second mode.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum capable of bearing an electrostatic image, a development device having a developing sleeve capable of bearing a developer and a developer container capable of storing a magnetic toner, and a CPU controlling operation to discharge a developer having polarity opposite to a normally charged polarity to the photosensitive drum by enlarging a restoration electric field to force the developer having a normally charged polarity from the photosensitive drum to the development sleeve during image forming is not performed compared to that during normal image forming is performed, based on a weighted value (p×K) on an edge portion pixel number p of an edge portion of an output image.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating source; a heating member heated by the heating source; a pressing member contacting the heating member to form a fixing nip therebetween, at which an unfixed image of toner on a recording sheet is fixed to the recording sheet; a first charging member located at an entrance of the fixing device, from which the recording sheet bearing the unfixed toner image enters the fixing device, so as to face the unfixed toner image. The first charging member is not contacted with the heating member and pressing member, and has a charge with a polarity opposite to a polarity of a charge of the toner to collect floating particles of the toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a charging member; a blast port that is provided in almost parallel with a longitudinal direction of the charging member; an air inlet that is provided on one of end sides in the longitudinal direction of the charging member; and a guiding passage that guides, to the blast port, the outside air taken in through the air inlet. A first guiding member is provided in the closest position to an air inlet side of the guiding passage. A second guiding member is provided in almost parallel with the longitudinal direction of the charging member in the guiding passage. A third guiding member is provided on the blast port side from the second guiding member in almost parallel with the longitudinal direction of the charging member in the guiding passage.

Abstract: Hard imaging devices, humidity control systems and hard imaging methods are described. According to one arrangement, a hard imaging device includes an imaging member comprising a surface and a writing assembly configured to form latent images upon the surface of the imaging member. The hard imaging device also includes a development assembly configured to provide a marking agent to the surface of the imaging member to develop the latent images to form developed images, a transfer assembly configured to transfer the developed images from the surface of the imaging member to media to form a plurality of hard images, and a humidity control system configured to control humidity within a region of the hard imaging device which is adjacent to the surface of the imaging member during the forming and the development of the latent images. Other structure and methods are described.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus which includes a developer to develop an image and a developer contact medium of which a surface contacts the developer, wherein asperities with a density of about 4×108 to about 200×108 pcs/cm2 are formed to form roughness on the surface of the developer contact medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: an image carrier; an exposure section, having a light emitting surface which is positioned above the image carrier, to focus the light rays on the surface of the image carrier; a cleaning section, having a cleaning member, to make the cleaning member to come into contact with the light emitting surface and to move the cleaning member on the light emitting surface, so that the cleaning member removes dust particles accumulated on the light emitting surface, wherein the cleaning section makes the cleaning member to move to an outside of an end portion of the light emitting surface; and a dust receiving section, mounted under the outside of the end portion of the light emitting surface, to receive the dust particles removed from the light emitting surface by the cleaning section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes plural image holders that hold an image; plural development devices that produce an image on the plural image holders; an intermediate transfer body supported by plural support members; plural first transfer devices that transfer images that are present on the plural image holders to the intermediate transfer body; a second transfer device that transfers a composite image from the intermediate transfer body onto a recording medium; a fixing device that fixes the composite image onto the recording medium; an ejection device that ejects the recording medium having the composite image transferred thereto out of the image forming apparatus main body; and a recording medium stacking part where ejected recording media are stacked.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor, an exposure device to expose the photoconductor, a dustproofing member arranged more upstream than an exposure position of the exposure device in a moving direction of the photoconductor, and a cover which supports the exposure device and dustproofing member. The cover opens around a pivot shaft which is arranged more upstream than the exposure device in the moving direction of the photoconductor.

Abstract: If an open-close lid is opened to perform cleaning for wiping the dirt off reflection surfaces of a polygon mirror, a service staff has difficulty in cleaning the reflection surfaces of the polygon mirror since the polygon mirror is located inside a housing. To respond to such an issue, a positional relationship between an installation position of the polygon mirror and an opening is set such that at least one of the reflection surfaces of the polygon mirror is exposed to the outside of the housing.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; an exposure head provided along a longitudinal direction of the image carrier, and exposing the image carrier; a housing holding the exposure head; an opening portion formed in the housing, and opening toward a position through which the image carrier and the exposure head face each other; a receiving portion provided in the housing; and a cleaning member having one and different ends, and including: a cleaning portion provided on a one end side where the one end is located, and cleaning a light-emitting face of the exposure head by moving while keeping in contact with the light-emitting face; and a guiding portion coming in contact with the receiving portion and guiding the cleaning portion toward a space between the image carrier and the exposure head when the cleaning portion is inserted into an interior of the housing through the opening portion.

Abstract: When a toner image larger than a recording material is formed on an image bearing member, and the toner image is transferred onto the recording material as widely as possible to form an image without margins, a toner in a vicinity of an end portion of the recording material adheres to the recording material while remaining unfixed. In order to suppress the adhesion of the toner to the end portion of the recording material, the recording material is passed through a cleaning unit for the end portion of the recording material after fixation. In the cleaning unit, the recording material is sent askew. By being conveyed while an edge of the end portion of the recording material is rubbed against a cleaning member, the recording material becomes less subject to the adhesion of the toner at the end portion thereof.

Abstract: Toner is removed from a skive mount in a dry electrophotographic printer. An end block is disposed at one end of the rotatable development member, and a skive mount disposed adjacent to the development member connects a skive to the end block. A timing device measures time intervals of printer operation. A process-control time interval and a cleaning time interval that is a non-negative multiple of the process-control time interval are selected. Prints are made until the process-control time interval elapses. A process-control patch is produced in a process-control frame. Once the cleaning interval has elapsed, in the process-control frame, a backup bar is lifted lift away from the photoreceptor, then, after a selected time delay, brought into physical contact with at least one point on the end block, so that toner is removed from the skive mount.

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 photosensitive drum, an optical unit provided below the photosensitive drum and including a cover glass for transmitting light emitted toward the photosensitive drum, and a cleaning member configured to clean a surface of the cover glass. The cleaning member includes a cleaning sheet configured to move foreign substances on the surface, and a wiping member configured to wipe foreign substances from the surface. The cleaning sheet and the wiping member move in contact with the surface of the cover glass when the cleaning member cleans the surface. The wiping member moves in contact with a portion of the surface of the cover glass after the cleaning sheet moves in contact with the portion. Accordingly, the cover glass can be reliably cleaned even when an unexpectedly large number of foreign substances that vary in particle size and shape adhere to the cover glass.

Abstract: The invention provides a wiping assembly in an image forming device, to clean at least one sensor lens in the image forming device. The wiping assembly includes a bracket to move between a first position and a second position across the sensor lens. Further, the wiping assembly includes a wiper to clean the sensor lens. The wiper is located between the bracket and a sensor housing, which supports the sensor lens. The wiping assembly includes a spring to actuate the movement of the bracket between the first position and the second position. The movement of the bracket is actuated by the movement of a print media tray and/or the movement of a toner cartridge.

Abstract: A paper particle removing device is provided with a paper particle removing roller configured to contact a printing sheet to capture paper particles on the printing sheet, a scraping member arranged adjacent to the paper particle removing roller and configured to contact the paper particle removing roller to scrape the paper particles, a paper particle container arranged on a scraping member side with respect to a position where the scraping member contacts the paper particle removing roller, and configured to collect the paper particles scraped by the scraping member, and a negatively-charged member arranged on the scraping member side with respect to a position where the paper particle removing roller contacts the scraping member and having a relative tendency in a triboelectric series to be negatively charged relative to the paper particles, the negatively-charged member inducing the paper particles scraped by the scraping member toward the paper particle container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor, a light scanning unit to irradiate light corresponding to image information, to the photoconductor so as to form an electrostatic latent image, and a developing unit arranged adjacent to an optical path of the light emitted from the light scanning unit and serving to feed developer to the photoconductor on which the electrostatic latent image is formed so as to form a visible image.

Abstract: To provide an image forming apparatus which can prevent malfunction of the open/close control of a shutter due to erroneous detection of the toner on the transfer belt when the opening and closing of the shutter is detected from the output from an optical sensor. The separation/contact assembly for moving a cleaning member into and out of contact includes an arm rotationally supported on a pivot, an abutment part fixed to the body frame so as to limit the rotation of the arm and a spring for pressing the arm in the clockwise direction. The cleaning member is attached at the distal end of the arm. The cleaning member cleans the transfer belt surface when the shutter is closed, so that the cleaned transfer belt surface can be always detected when the shutter is open.

Abstract: A control unit separately drives an image carrier driving unit that drives an image carrier motor, a developing roller driving unit that drives a developing roller motor, a developer stirring member driving unit that drives a developer stirring member motor, and a fan driving unit that drives a fan motor. The control unit causes the fan driving unit to operate if the image carrier driving unit or the developer stirring member driving unit is operating.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a laser scanner configured to irradiate a photoconductive drum with light and having a cover glass transmitting the light, a laser shutter movable between a closed position, where the laser shutter blocks an optical path of the light emitted from the laser scanner through the cover glass toward the photoconductive drum, and an open position, where the laser shutter opens the optical path, and a cleaning member with which the cover glass is cleaned, the cleaning member being supported by the laser shutter in such a manner as to be movable along the laser shutter.

Abstract: A processing method of waste toner which is collected from an image forming device generated when an electrophotography image is formed, including: adding citrus oil to the waste toner.

Abstract: A separator hanger has a body with forward and rearward portions and a central portion interconnecting the forward and rearward portions. The rearward portion has side wing sections extending laterally in opposite directions beyond opposite side edges of the central portion with respective elements thereon adapted to extend through first slots in a packaging insert. The rearward portion also has a tail section between the side wing sections with an element thereon adapted to extend through a second slot in the packaging insert located between and offset from the first slots. Such elements provide the rearward portion in a threaded relationship with the packaging insert so as to detachably attach the rearward portion thereto. The forward portion is adapted to anchor the body to one portion of a device so as to thereby constrain the packaging insert to a position clear of another portion of the device located nearby the packaging insert.