A clearing section includes a counter for measuring a period up to the reset of contents set by means of an operation panel to initial values. If a position discriminating section discriminates that the operation panel is at a first position, the clearing section starts measuring the period by means of the counter from the first entry made to the operation panel. When a count value reaches a predetermined value, the clearing section executes an automatic clear processing to reset the contents set by means of the operation panel to the initial values. On the other hand, the clearing section cancels the execution of the automatic clear processing if the position discriminating section discriminates that the operation panel is at a second position.
A clearing section includes a counter for measuring a period up to the reset of contents set by means of an operation panel to initial values. If a position discriminating section discriminates that the operation panel is at a first position, the clearing section starts measuring the period by means of the counter from the first entry made to the operation panel. When a count value reaches a predetermined value, the clearing section executes an automatic clear processing to reset the contents set by means of the operation panel to the initial values. On the other hand, the clearing section cancels the execution of the automatic clear processing if the position discriminating section discriminates that the operation panel is at a second position.
An image forming method for use in an inkjet head includes a pressure chamber filled with ink, a nozzle which communicates with the pressure chamber and in which a meniscus of the ink is formed, a piezoelectric element which pressurizes the pressure chamber, and a drive circuit which performs an operation of ejecting the ink in a printing state and generates a basic pulse for vibrating the meniscus in a non-printing state. The basic pulse is generated by turning off a voltage applied to the piezoelectric element for substantially the same period as a natural vibration period of the ink. An additional pulse is generated at least once before or after the basic pulse when the basic pulse is generated by the drive circuit in the non-printing state. The additional pulse is generated by turning off the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element.
An image forming apparatus, having: an image carrier configured by a positively charged single-layer electrophotographic photosensitive body; a charging device which is based on a contact charging method for charging a circumferential surface of the image carrier while making contact with the circumferential surface of the image carrier; a developing roller which is disposed so as to oppose the image carrier and carry and convey toner on the circumferential surface; and a voltage application unit which applies a developing bias to the developing roller, wherein the frequency of an AC component of the developing bias applied by the voltage application unit is 2.6 to 4.2 kHz.
G03G 15/02 - Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for laying down a uniform charge, e.g. for sensitising; Corona discharge devices
G03G 15/08 - Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
Pulleys 29a, 29b are provided on both ends of the driven roller 28 as separate components from the driven roller 28, and on both edges in the width direction of the transfer belt 24, ribs 24a, 24b that can be engaged with the outer sides in the axial direction of the pulleys 29a, 29b are provided. If the transfer belt 24 becomes inclined to the left side during movement, the rib 24a on the right edge of the transfer belt 24 will be restricted by the outer side in the axial direction of the pulley 29a provided on the right side end of the driven roller 28, thereby correcting meandering to the left at the position of the driven roller 28.
A sheet feeding unit includes a side warm-air mechanism that blows air toward a side surface of a sheet stack S from a warm-air outlet. The sheet feeding unit controls the lift mechanism so as to perform a sheet separating operation every time a predetermined number of sheets P are fed during a continuous sheet feeding operation.
B65H 1/08 - Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated with means for advancing the pile to present the articles to a separating device
20.
Oxo-titanylphthalocyanine crystal, method for producing the same, and electrophotographic photoreceptor
The invention provides an oxo-titanylphthalocyanine crystal which is stable, is superior in dispersibility in a photoreceptive layer and efficiently contributes to improvements in sensitivity and charge retention rate of an electrophotographic photoreceptor when it is used as a charge generating agent, a method for producing the oxo-titanylphthalocyanine crystal, and an electrophotographic photoreceptor. The oxo-titanylphthalocyanine crystal has predetermined optical characteristics and thermal properties and is produced by a production method including the following steps (a) to (d): (a) a step of dissolving a crude oxo-titanylphthalocyanine crystal in an acid to obtain an oxo-titanylphthalocyanine solution; (b) a step of adding the oxo-titanylphthalocyanine solution dropwise in a poor solvent to obtain a wet cake; (c) a step of washing the wet cake with an alcohol having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and (d) a step of stirring the washed wet cake under heating in a nonaqueous solvent to obtain an oxo-titanylphthalocyanine crystal.
A developer supply mechanism is composed of: a developer supply path one end side of which is opened upward and which guides the developer in substantially a vertical direction; a convex portion that is formed on a wall surface of the developer supply path; a coil spring that is disposed in the developer supply path, stretchable and shrinkable in a longitudinal direction of the developer supply path, pressurized to the convex portion in a natural-length state, stretched toward one end side of the developer supply path when the convex portion is hooked on between pitches by a circumferential-direction rotation, and is given a horizontal-direction movement to leave the convex portion when coming off the convex portion; and a drive portion that is connected to the coil spring at the other end side of the developer supply path and rotates the coil spring in a circumferential direction of the coil spring.
A sheet-conveying device designed to feed a sheet fed thereto through a fixing device toward a discharge unit includes first and second conveyance guides facing each other so as to define a sheet conveyance path and each having a conveying member designed to feed the sheet. The first conveyance guide includes a blower opening facing the sheet conveyance path for blowing air onto the sheet conveyance path, an exhaust opening provided on a downstream side in a sheet feeding direction with respect to the blower opening for removing air that has been blown onto the sheet conveyance path and discharging it outside the device.
A charging unit in an image forming apparatus includes a charging roller that charges a photosensitive drum using a charging bias, an insulating casing surrounding the charging roller, and a metal shield member. The shield member is positioned so as to surround the casing in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the casing.
G03G 15/02 - Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for laying down a uniform charge, e.g. for sensitising; Corona discharge devices
26.
Image forming apparatus with paper cassette having space for receiving roller supporting member
An image forming apparatus has a paper feeding cassette that selectively stores at least first and second kinds of paper sheets having different sizes with respect to a paper feeding direction. Heights of the paper sheets storable in the paper feeding cassette are set in such a manner that the height of the second paper sheets is lower than the height of the first paper sheets. The apparatus also has a paper feeding tray and a structural member that has a mechanism for feeding third paper sheets loaded on the paper feeding tray. The structural member is disposed in a space of the cassette defined by a difference in the heights.
B65H 1/04 - Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated adapted to support articles substantially horizontally, e.g. for separation from top of pile
G03G 15/00 - Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
27.
Image forming apparatus and intermediate transfer unit
An intermediate transfer unit of an image forming apparatus is provided between a plurality of developer containers for containing developer and a plurality of developing devices. The intermediate transfer unit includes an intermediate transfer unit for secondarily transferring primarily transferred developed images from the plurality of image carriers onto a paper, an intermediate transfer unit driving mechanism for driving the intermediate transfer unit, and a housing for supporting the intermediate transfer unit driving mechanism. One end of the housing includes a plurality of developer inlet ports positionally corresponding to the developer supply ports of the developer containers respectively, a plurality of developer outlet ports positionally corresponding to the developer receiving ports of the developing devices respectively, and a plurality of developer supply paths connecting between the developer inlet ports and the developer outlet ports respectively.
An electronic device includes: a connection unit for connecting a card accepting device that outputs a card presence signal when the card for using the electronic device has been inserted and ejects the card by at least control with the electronic device; a detection unit that receives the card presence signal and detects that the card has been inserted into the card accepting device; a notification unit that notifies that the card has been inserted into the card accepting device; an operation key; and a control unit for notifying that the card has been inserted into the card accepting device and instructing the card accepting device to eject the card, if it is determined that the detection unit has detected that the card has been inserted into the card accepting device when no operation of the operation key has been accepted within a preset time after a job is completed.
A document feeding device includes a pressing member that extends in a document conveying space from a document conveying surface of an outer conveying guide member having a counter conveying roller, of two conveying guide members provided in a first document conveying path such as to oppose front and back sides of a document, toward a document conveying surface of an inner conveying guide member. The pressing member extends in a document width direction perpendicular in a document feeding direction with its leading end extending in a conveying space from one of the conveying surfaces toward the other conveying surface. This structure prevents a large displacement of the document even when the document is released from the nip between conveying rollers or passes between the two conveying guide members provided in the document feeding direction.
A sheet feeding unit includes a side warm-air mechanism that blows air toward a side surface of a sheet stack S from a warm-air outlet. The sheet feeding unit controls the lift mechanism so as to perform a sheet separating operation every time a predetermined number of sheets P are fed during a continuous sheet feeding operation.
B65H 1/08 - Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated with means for advancing the pile to present the articles to a separating device
31.
Cleaning device for rotary member, charging device and image forming apparatus including the same
A cleaning element for an image forming apparatus, such as a printer. The cleaning element may include a brush, which may include a support structure and brush filaments extending therefrom. Each of the brush filaments has a tip at the distal end from the support structure and may be configured to contact a surface of a member to be cleaned. An inorganic microparticle may be bonded at or proximate to the tip by a discharge product as an adhesive. Thus, it is possible to provide a cleaning element capable of removing material adhering to the surface of the member to be cleaned. The cleaning element is capable of providing long-term effective cleaning of a member of an image forming apparatus during extended use.
G03G 15/02 - Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for laying down a uniform charge, e.g. for sensitising; Corona discharge devices
32.
Method for processing separation and rupture portion of display label, display label-attached product, and display label attachment structure
A method for processing a separation and rupture portion of a display label is a method for forming, on the display label attached to an attachment target object, the separation and rupture portion for rupturing the display label upon separation of the display label from the attachment target object. This method includes attaching, to the attachment target object, the display label having a back side on which an adhesive layer is formed, and then forming a slit serving as the separation and rupture portion on the display label.
A developing unit includes a unit main body having an internal space defined by a predetermined frame and capable of supplying a developer to the outside while agitating the developer within the internal space, a unit-side cooling duct attached to the unit main body, and a duct connecting member connecting the unit-side cooling duct and an external duct which supplies a cooling gas to the unit-side cooling duct from outside the unit main body. The unit-side cooling duct is structured by a duct piece and a part of the predetermined frame. The duct piece is detachably attached to the unit main body in opposed relation to the part of the predetermined frame, and has an end that is fitted to the duct connecting member.
According to the present invention, a titanyl phthalocyanin crystal excellent in storage stability in organic solvents, a method for preparing the same and an electrophotographic photoconductor using the same are provided. In the titanyl phthalocyanin crystal, the method for preparing such a titanyl phthalocyanin crystal and the electrophotographic photoconductor using the same, the titanyl phthalocyanin crystal is characterized by having the maximum peak at a Bragg angle 2θ±0.2°=27.2° in a CuKα characteristic X-ray diffraction spectrum and one peak within the range of 270 to 400° C. other than a peak accompanied by the vaporization of adsorbed water in a differential scanning calorimetric analysis.
A sheet feeding device has: a sheet accommodating portion that accommodates a sheet stack of a plurality of sheets; a sheet carrying plate that is provided within the sheet accommodating portion and stacks the sheet stack thereon; a pickup roller that contacts an upper face of the sheet stack and dispatches a sheet on an uppermost layer of the sheet stack, an elevator mechanism that displaces the sheet carrying plate between a sheet feeding position in which the upper face of the sheet stack contacts the pickup roller, and a separating position in which the upper face of the sheet stack separates from the pickup roller by a predetermined distance; and a controller that controls an operation of the elevator mechanism such that the sheet carrying plate is lowered to the separating position after a sheet feeding operation for feeding a sheet at the sheet feeding position is completed.
B65H 1/08 - Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated with means for advancing the pile to present the articles to a separating device
37.
Attachment structure of automatic document feeder, and image-reading device and image-forming apparatus including the same
An attachment structure is provided that includes a hinge unit for supporting a document feeder and a hinge attachment for fixing the hinge unit having an engagement pin and a retainment hook.
A paper supply apparatus for conveying paper to an image forming apparatus has a paper accommodating unit to accommodate paper and to be drawn out from an accommodating space in a main body of the image forming apparatus. The apparatus also has a handle to rotate about an axis extending in the width direction of the paper in the paper accommodating unit. The handle includes a first edge that moves toward the paper accommodating unit upon rotation of the handle and a second edge that opposes the first edge. A link on the first edge of the handle releases engagement with the main body when the first edge moves toward the paper accommodating unit. A flapper is disposed on the second edge of the handle and forms a point where a force acts to move the first edge toward the paper accommodating unit.
B65H 1/26 - Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated with auxiliary supports to facilitate introduction or renewal of the pile
B65H 1/30 - Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated with means for replenishing the pile during continuous separation of articles therefrom
An image forming apparatus is provided with an image bearing member for bearing a toner image while rotating, a toner image forming device for forming the toner image on the image bearing member, a neutralizer for neutralizing electric charges on the image bearing member by irradiating light to the charged image bearing member after the toner image formed on the rotating image bearing member is transferred to a transfer material, and a frame for supporting the neutralizer. A first clearance is present between the neutralizer and the frame.
An image forming apparatus that includes: a photoconductive drum; a developing roller that is arranged opposite the photoconductive drum and that carries toner; a detecting portion that detects an occurrence of electrical discharge between the developing roller and the photoconductive drum; a control portion that controls the apparatus, that receives an output of the detecting portion and then recognizes the occurrence of the electrical discharge; a direct voltage applying portion that is connected to the developing roller; and an alternating voltage applying portion is disclosed herein.
G03G 15/09 - Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer using magnetic brush
41.
Toner transferring mechanism, developing apparatus and image forming apparatus therewith
A toner transferring mechanism is provided with: an agitating and transferring member disposed in a housing accommodating toner, and having a blade portion thereof formed in a spiral shape on a circumferential portion of a rotatable shaft portion; and a plurality of scraping members making contact with the agitating and transferring member, and then scraping toner adhering to the agitating and transferring member, the scraping members being arranged in an axial direction of the agitating and transferring member, wherein the scraping members are arranged so that the scraping members adjacent to each other form an interval which is approximate to a spiral pitch of the blade portion of the agitating and transferring member.
A sheet feeding device includes a sheet accommodating portion for accommodating a sheet stack. A sheet carrying plate carries the sheet stack and has an upstream end supported in the sheet accommodating portion for rotation. A pickup roller contacts an upper face of the sheet stack and dispatches an uppermost sheet. An elevator displaces the sheet carrying plate between a feeding position where the upper face of the sheet stack contacts the pickup roller and a separating position where the upper face of the sheet stack is separated from the pickup roller. A first warm air mechanism blows warm air toward a side of the sheet stack in the sheet accommodating portion, the side being parallel to the sheet feeding direction. A controller controls the elevator so that the sheet carrying plate is displaced between the feeding position and the separating position during a warm air blowing operation.
B65H 1/16 - Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated with means for advancing the pile to present the articles to a separating device comprising pneumatic or hydraulic means
43.
Luminescent image reading device and image forming apparatus
The present invention aims at providing an image reading device and an image forming apparatus including a light guiding body having a first emission surface and a second emission surface. A color copy machine includes a luminescence portion including: LEDs composed of a plurality of dot-shaped luminescence members disposed at predetermined intervals in a main scanning direction and/or an elongated luminescence member that is formed to extend in the main scanning direction; and a light guiding body that is disposed between the LEDs and an original, and has a light incidence portion disposed on a side to the LEDs and an emission portion disposed on a side to the original. The emission portion has a first emission surface and a second emission surface that is formed on a different plane from a plane including the first emission surface.
A fixing unit of an image forming apparatus includes a magnetism adjusting unit switching the position of a shielding member between a shielding position where the shielding member is positioned inside the sheet-conveyed region to shield the pass of the magnetism and a retracted position where the shielding member is positioned outside the sheet-conveyed region to permit the pass of the magnetism. The shielding member is provided in a plural number in the axial direction of the movable core. The shielding members have a different length in the axial direction and a different width in a circumferential direction of the movable core, the length and the width corresponding to a plurality of sizes of the sheet in the width direction of the sheet. The magnetism adjusting unit switches each of the shielding members between the shielding position and the retracted position in accordance with the width-direction size of the sheet.
A sheet feeding device for feeding a sheet-form recording medium includes: a sheet accommodating portion for accommodating a sheet stack constituted by a plurality of sheets of the sheet-form recording medium; and a first warm air unit having a first blowing port for blowing warm air toward an upper face of the sheet stack accommodated in the sheet accommodating portion. The sheet feeding device preferably further includes a second warm air unit having a second blowing port for blowing warm air onto a side face of the sheet stack that is parallel to a sheet feeding direction.
A sheet discharge device includes: a sheet discharge path for discharging a sheet to be discharged; a plurality of sheet discharge trays disposed along the sheet discharge path; a plurality of switching guides disposed in the sheet discharge path corresponding to the sheet discharge trays, and being changed a position between a retracting position for being retracted so that the sheet being conveyed can pass through, and a distributing position for distributing a sheet being conveyed to the sheet discharge tray; and a switching mechanism which changes the position of the switching guide between the retracting position and the distributing position. This switching mechanism includes: a switching piece which interferes with the switching guide to switch the position of the switching guide, one transporting member which moves the switching piece among the plurality of switching guides, and a drive member driving the transporting member.
A connection mechanism connecting a sheet feeding unit, supplying a paper to an image forming apparatus, with the image forming apparatus or other sheet feeding unit, the connection mechanism comprising: a connection member disposed on a frame of the sheet feeding unit and rotatably supported on the frame; and an engaging member disposed on the image forming apparatus or the frame of the other sheet feeding unit, wherein: the connection member is rotated between an engaging position where the connection member engages with the engagement member and a retracting position where the connection member disengages with the engaging member and retracts from the engaging position.
An image reading apparatus includes: a lamp shining light on a target original document to be read; a lamp operating circuit for turning on the lamp; an image sensor receiving light shone from the lamp to the original document and reflected from the original document, for generating image data; a control section outputting a lamp control signal for controlling turning-on and -off of the lamp to the lamp operating circuit; and a lamp control circuit, separate from the control section, outputting a lamp control signal for controlling turning-on and -off of the lamp and, when a main power switch of the apparatus is turned on, permitting the lamp to be turned on before the control section is activated.
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, image formation control section, counter, image formation condition regulation section, controlled printed-paper number storage section, and regulation control section. The image forming unit includes a plurality of functional sections. The counter counts a cumulative printed-paper number in a series of image formation processing. The image formation condition regulation section regulates an image formation condition of at least one of the functional sections. The controlled printed-paper number storage section stores a benchmark printed-paper number and first allowable value to determine the timing of regulating the image creation condition. The first allowable value is set to be less than the benchmark printed-paper number. The regulation control section activates the image creation condition regulation section after the series of image formation processing when the cumulative printed-paper number is equal to or greater than the first allowable value after the series of image formation processing.
An image forming apparatus includes: a radio communication portion that transmits and receives data over radio communication to and from a storage medium in which identification information for user identification is stored; a display input portion that displays a function setting screen and receives a function setting; and a control portion that controls operation of the apparatus and forces the display input portion to perform a display changeover depending on an exposure state of the storage medium if the radio communication portion obtains the identification information from the storage medium.
H04N 1/00 - PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - Details thereof
H04Q 5/22 - Selecting arrangements wherein two or more subscriber stations are connected by the same line to the exchange with indirect connection, i.e. through subordinate switching centre the subordinate centre not permitting interconnection of subscribers connected thereto
51.
Image forming method, image forming apparatus and inkjet head
An image forming method for use in an inkjet head includes a pressure chamber filled with ink, a nozzle which communicates with the pressure chamber and in which a meniscus of the ink is formed, a piezoelectric element which pressurizes the pressure chamber, and a drive circuit which performs an operation of ejecting the ink in a printing state and generates a basic pulse for vibrating the meniscus in a non-printing state. The basic pulse is generated by turning off a voltage applied to the piezoelectric element for substantially the same period as a natural vibration period of the ink. An additional pulse is generated at least once before or after the basic pulse when the basic pulse is generated by the drive circuit in the non-printing state. The additional pulse is generated by turning off the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element.
B65H 31/10 - Pile receivers with movable end support arranged to recede as pile accumulates the articles being piled one above another and applied at the top of the pile
An image forming apparatus includes plural image forming sections for forming toner images of different colors. A patch toner image forming section forms patch toner images side-by-side onto a moving transfer body by using the image forming sections. A spread clock signal output section spreads a clock signal having a predetermined standard frequency at a predetermined spreading ratio and outputs the clock signal. A patch toner image intervals calculating section calculates intervals between the patch toner images on the transfer body based on the number of clock signals outputted from the spread clock signal output section and the standard frequency. A calculation result correcting section counts spread clock signals outputted during a time interval from the spread clock signal output section, and corrects a calculation result given by the patch toner image intervals calculating section based on the result of the counting.
A copy machine is provided which includes: a fluorescent lamp; a mirror group having a plurality of mirrors that forms a light path by reflecting luminous flux from an original once on each of the plurality of mirrors, and is configured so that an imaging-side mirror, which is disposed most to an imaging side on the light path, has a shortest length in a main scanning direction; an imaging lens that forms an image from luminous flux reflected by the mirror group; a reading portion that reads an image on the original based on image formation by the imaging lens, disposed in an imaging position of the imaging lens; and a casing body that houses the fluorescent lamp, the mirror group, the imaging lens, and the reading portion, to be movable in a sub-scanning direction that is orthogonal to the main scanning direction.
G03G 15/04 - Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for exposing, i.e. imagewise exposure by optically projecting the original image on a photoconductive recording material
An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body provided with an opening, an image forming unit attachable to and detachable from the apparatus main body via the opening, a cover supported pivotally on the apparatus main body so as to cover the opening, and a sheet feeding unit disposed below the opening. The sheet feeding unit includes a sheet storing portion that is supported pivotally on the apparatus main body for stacking sheets thereon, a sheet feeding roller that feeds a sheet toward inside the apparatus main body, and a housing that supports the sheet feeding roller thereon in a rotatable manner. The cover has a housing supporting portion that abuts on the housing from above the housing when the cover is in a closed state.
An information processing system facilitates an operation performed on an information processor when data is to be transmitted from the information processor to a terminal device, and an information processor and a terminal device that can be used for the information processing system are provided.
An image formation apparatus includes a receiving unit that is removably receiving a component, a determination unit that determines the acceptability of the component received in the receiving unit, and a control unit that, if the determination unit does not confirm the acceptability of the component, provides a notification and stops at least a portion of the image forming function at a predetermined time, after providing the notification.
(c) sending a web service request compatible with the manufacturer information to the image forming apparatus by the extended user interface device to inquire whether or not the image forming apparatus is capable of using the extended user interface device.
Image forming system including finisher applying punching processing and staple processing to printed papers, and image forming apparatus having mechanism for printing on both surfaces of paper
An image forming system is given, in advance, unique setting as a behavior to be performed when an error occurs regarding postprocessing. In a case where the postprocessing becomes inexecutable during the operation of the system, the system either cancels the postprocessing to continue printing (Steps S20, S22) or stops printing to generate an error (Step S18), based on the unique setting. A user arbitrarily decides the unique setting, which enables optimum control of the operation that the system should perform when the postprocessing becomes inexecutable.
A drive unit includes a motor being a drive source, a velocity reduction gear for reducing the revolution of the motor, an output shaft for connecting the velocity reduction gear to the rotation shaft of a photosensitive drum, and a velocity detection mechanism including an encoder and sensor members and detecting the revolution of the output shaft. The velocity reduction gear and the velocity detection mechanism are placed in a unit housing including a housing body made of a resin with one end opened and a support plate made of metal closing the opening of the housing body, and the output shaft is rotatably supported by the housing body and the support plate.
H02K 11/00 - Structural association of dynamo-electric machines with electric components or with devices for shielding, monitoring or protection
H02K 23/66 - Structural association with auxiliary electric devices influencing the characteristic of, or controlling, the machine, e.g. with impedances or switches
A developing unit includes a developing roller which rotates about a rotational axis to supply toner to a photoreceptor, the developing roller including: a cylindrical core portion which includes an electric conductor; a first resistive layer which covers a cylindrical surface of the core portion; a second resistive layer which covers the first resistive layer, and has electric-resistivity lower than that of the first resistive layer; and a current leakage control member which prevents leakage of electric current from the core portion toward the second resistive layer through an end of the developing roller along a direction of the rotational axis.
A fixing unit (14) of an image forming apparatus (1) includes a heating member (48) having a first area where a sheet does not come into contact with the heating member (48) and a second area where the sheet comes into contact with the heating member (48). The fixing unit (14) further includes a coil (52) forming a magnetic field, cores (54,56) forming a magnetic path near the coil (52), a nonmagnetic magnetism adjusting member (90) arranged on the magnetic path and having a closed frame, and a switcher (58,60) capable of switching the magnetism adjusting member (90) between a first state where the magnetism adjusting member (90) generates an induction current resulting from the magnetic field to shield the magnetism in the first area, and a second state where the magnetism adjusting member (90) generates no induction current and the magnetism is not shielded in the first area.
An image forming apparatus, including: an exterior portion having a first panel and a second panel that are opened/closed when an internal mechanism for image formation is taken outside; and an opening/closing interlocking device that makes the second panel open/close in connection with an opening/closing operation of the first panel.
A toner cartridge comprising a rotary 2 provided with an agitator 3 that agitates a toner, and a bearing that rotatably supports a shaft tip 6 of the rotary 2, comprises a retainer 10 at the shaft tip 6 of the rotary 2 and at the bearing 7 that inhibits the slipping out, in the axial direction, of the shaft tip 6 of the rotary 2 from the bearing 7.
An image forming apparatus includes a main apparatus body, an image reading block located above the main apparatus body, a sheet output portion provided with a sheet output tray onto which each sheet is ejected upon completion of image forming operation, the sheet output portion being located between the main apparatus body and the image reading block and opening at least frontward to permit retrieval of sheets from the sheet output tray, and a front cover section provided on a front side of the main apparatus body, the front cover section including front openable covering members. The front cover section has a striped portion having a surface in which ridges and furrows are formed and a flat portion having a flat surface. The flat portion includes a first flat portion located in an area adjacent to the sheet output tray.
A developing device is provided for visualizing an electrostatic latent image previously formed on the surface of an image carrier as a toner image. The developing device has a developing roller placed at a position facing the image carrier, carrying a toner on the surface thereof, conveying the toner and flying the conveyed toner onto the surface of the image carrier; and a resin layer coated on the surface of the developing roller. The absolute value of the difference in charge between the toners in the upper and lower layers of the toner layer formed on the developing roller as the toner carried on the developing roller is 6 μC/g or less.
G03G 15/09 - Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer using magnetic brush
A holding device for holding a cooling fan comprising: a duct having a hollow in which a cooling fan is to be fitted; a stopper portion which keeps one operative end of the cooling fan from further moving to hold the cooling fan at a fitting position; and a plurality of elastic wall segments formed in a cooling fan insertion end of a wall of the duct; wherein each of some of the plurality of elastic wall segments is formed with a locking claw for keeping the other operative end of the cooling fan from moving. With this construction, the cooling fan 31 can be more surely mounted in a duct. Consequently, vibration reduction effect and sound reduction effect with respect to the cooling fan is improved.
An image forming apparatus is provided with an apparatus main body, a cover member openably and closably mounted on the apparatus main body, and an engaging portion. The cover member includes an outer cover and an inner cover which are independently opened and closed, and the inner cover is positioned by being pushed by the outer cover when the cover member is closed. The engaging portion is provided in the apparatus main body for temporarily holding the inner cover in the apparatus main body.
A fixing device comprises a thermally fixing roller, a belt, and pushing means which pushes the belt toward the thermally fixing roller. A nipping region is formed between the belt and the thermally fixing roller. A maximum pressure is produced in an upstream end region of the thermally fixing roller in the direction of rotation in the nipping region, another maximum pressure is produced in a downstream end region thereof in the direction of rotation in the nipping region, and a pressure is produced in an intermediate region, which pressure being not higher than the maximum pressure in the upstream end region and not higher than the another maximum pressure in the downstream end region.
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.
G03G 15/00 - Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
73.
Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, and computer-readable recording medium storing image processing program for creating a copy prevention pattern that allows a copying machine with a copy guard function to read a special dot pattern
An image area detecting portion detects an area (image area) in a sheet subjected to printing where characters and images take up. A pattern creating portion creates a copy prevention pattern in such a manner that a latent image is embedded only to a detected image area with respect to a mask pattern into which a dot pattern is incorporated. A print image creating portion superimposes the generated copy prevention pattern and the document image to each other. When the printed object is read in a copying machine having a copy guard function, detection of the dot pattern can be performed without being interfered by a latent image since only a mask pattern is printed in an area corresponding to a reading start position.
An image forming apparatus includes a first sheet conveying passage that conveys a sheet through an image forming section. A sheet-discharging roller is on an outlet side of the first sheet conveying passage and can rotate in opposite directions. A second sheet conveying passage has an inlet connected to the first sheet conveying passage downstream from the image forming section and an outlet connected to the first sheet conveying passage upstream from the image forming section. A controller controls double-sided printing by causing the sheet-discharging roller to rotate forward to advance the sheet outside the sheet-discharging roller, and then to rotate in reverse to execute a switchback for transporting the sheet to the inlet side of the second sheet conveying passage and then to return the sheet to the upstream of the image forming section. An assisting mechanism adjusts a posture of the sheet to assist the switchback.
B65H 39/10 - Associating articles from a single source, e.g. to form a writing pad
75.
Image forming apparatus and method in which printing time is shortened and printing engine is not driven unnecessarily, and recording medium storing program for same
Embodiments relate to an image forming apparatus including a print job input unit; an image data storing unit that stores the image data by dividing the image data into a band basis; a job managing unit that outputs a primary sheet supply numerical order of the band and an image data delivery numerical order of the band; an image data output control unit that acquires the image data on the band basis from the image data storing unit, outputs primary sheet supply permission information and delivery permission information to a print engine control unit, and outputs the image data to the printing engine; and the printing engine control unit that outputs the primary sheet supply permission information and the delivery permission information to the printing engine, and controls the primary sheet supply and the delivery of the image data.
An image processing device 100 includes a mode selection processing portion 50 capable of selecting a desired operational mode, a program registration processing portion 51 for storing in a program memory portion 57 the selected operational mode as a piece of program information, a program selection processing portion 52 capable of selecting a desired piece of program information from a plurality of pieces of program information stored in the program memory portion 57, a program call processing portion 53 for setting the operational mode on the basis of the piece of program information selected by the program selection processing portion 52, and a program information search processing portion 54 for searching a piece of program information from the plurality of pieces of program information stored in the program memory portion 57 on the basis of a piece of search key information corresponding to an individual operational mode.
A toner container is mounted to an image forming apparatus in a state of containing toners. The toner container includes: a container body for containing toners; and an agitating unit provided in the container body for agitating the toners. The agitating unit includes: a cylindrical member having a cylindrical peripheral wall and rotating about an axis of cylinder; an opening formed in the cylindrical peripheral wall for allowing the toners to pass through; and a conveying section for conveying the toners in a direction of the axis of the cylindrical member.
A paper feeder comprising an actuator and a sensor mounted on a main body, the actuator being capable of contacting an upper surface of a sheet placed on a bottom plate provided in a sheet tray as the bottom plate is raised, thereby allowing the sensor to detect that the sheet is present. The paper feeder further comprises a through bore formed in the bottom plate for receiving the actuator when a sheet is absent from the sheet tray, so that the sensor may detect that the sheet is absent, and a push-out guide provided on peripheries of the through bore for contacting the actuator in the through bore as the sheet tray is pulled out, thereby pushing the actuator upward out of the through bore.
B65H 1/18 - Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated with means for advancing the pile to present the articles to a separating device controlled by height of pile
79.
Image forming apparatus with improved pressure control
An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a fixing/pressurizing roller pair that nips a transfer sheet and transports to fix toner on the transfer sheet; a pressure control unit that controls a pressure demonstrated by the fixing/pressurizing roller pair in consideration of the type of the transfer sheet; a transfer sheet compatibility determining unit that determines whether or not the pressure set by the pressure control unit is compatible with the transfer sheet to be inserted between the fixing/pressurizing roller pair; and a control unit that performs a process to cause to notify a user of incompatibility and/or a process to forbid printing if the transfer sheet compatibility determining unit determines that the pressure set by the pressure control unit is not compatible with the transfer sheet.
An image forming apparatus includes a determining section for determining if a value indicative of a size of the background portion in the background pattern is smaller than a predetermined threshold value; and a background pattern correcting section which corrects the background portion and the latent image portion, when the determining section determines that the value is smaller than the threshold value, so that the value indicative of the size of the background portion becomes equal to or larger than the threshold value, and which forms a background pattern having a corrected background portion in which a copy prohibiting pattern is embedded, wherein the image forming section forms on a sheet the background pattern when the determining section determines that the value is smaller than the threshold value, and forms on the sheet the background pattern when the value is equal to or larger than the threshold value.
A cleaning device cleans a toner forming surface of a rotating image bearing member. The cleaning device includes: a cleaning member for cleaning the image forming surface, the cleaning member having a first length in a width direction which is perpendicular to a rotational direction of the image bearing member, and being capable of coming in contact with and separating from the image forming surface; and a solid lubricating member which comes in contact with the cleaning member to give a lubricity to the image forming surface through the cleaning member, the solid lubricating member having a second length in the width direction which is shorter than the first length.
A sheet feeder is provided with a storing section for storing transfer sheets, a feed roller for feeding the transfer sheets stored in the storing section one by one from the uppermost one; a separation roller arranged to face the feed roller; a transport roller arranged downstream of the feed roller in a transport direction; and a transfer sheet guide for guiding the transfer sheet to the transport roller, wherein the transfer sheet guide includes a guide face formed to extend from the storing section along the transport direction of the transfer sheet on or in a vicinity of an extension of a line tangent to the feed roller and the transport roller on the side of transporting the transfer sheet, the guide face being formed in an area between the storing section and the separation roller.
The paper feeding cassette 10 has the cassette frame 10 for loading and storing paper, and the width-wise cursor 20 which is disposed in the cassette frame 10 and movably carries out the positioning of paper in the paper-width direction intersecting at right angles with the paper feeding direction, and can be pulled out from a machine main body. Provided are the plurality of engagement holes 14 formed in the cassette frame 10 corresponding to a paper width, the through-holes 23 formed through the width-wise cursor 20, and the lock pins 40 which engage with the engagement holes 14 via the through-holes 23 to prevent the width-wise cursor 20 from deviating in the paper-width direction.
G03G 15/09 - Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer using magnetic brush
86.
Development device and image forming apparatus provided therewith
The first direct-current bias power supply applying the first direct-current bias Vdc1 and the first alternating-current bias power supply applying the first alternating-current bias Vac1 are connected to a development roller. The second direct-current bias power supply applying the second direct-current bias Vdc2 and the second alternating-current bias power supply applying the second alternating-current bias Vac2 are connected to a magnetic roller. The peak-to-peak value Vpp of the first alternating-current bias Vac1 applied to the development roller remains the same, and the second alternating-current bias Vac2 that is in phase with the first alternating-current bias Vac1 and that has a peak-to-peak value of a predetermined value or above is applied to the magnetic roller. Thus, the potential difference between the peak voltage of the development bias on the opposite polarity side to the polarity of the toner and the peak voltage of a supply bias is set at a predetermined value or below.
G03G 15/09 - Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer using magnetic brush
G03G 15/08 - Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
87.
Sheet-feeding device and image forming apparatus provided with the same
A sheet-feeding device includes a sheet-feeding cassette with a sheet holding surface for holding a sheet. A side wall extends up from the sheet holding surface. A sheet-restricting plate is in the cassette on a downstream side in the sheet-feeding direction for setting a position of the sheet in a width direction perpendicular to the sheet-feeding direction. A cassette accommodating section accommodates the sheet-feeding cassette drawably in a direction parallel to the sheet-feeding direction. A projection is on an upstream side in the sheet-feeding direction from the position of the sheet-restricting plate. The projection is formed by partially projecting the side wall of the cassette upward. A height of the projection exceeds a maximum height of a sheet stack that can be accommodated in the cassette, and a height of parts of the side wall other than the projection is lower than the maximum height of the sheet stack.
An endless belt is provided with an endless belt body and a meandering prevention member in the form of a flat bar. The belt body includes a folded trace extending in the width direction thereof. The meandering prevention member is attached on one widthwise end of a circumferential surface of the belt body such that one widthwise end of the folded trace is covered thereby and the opposite longitudinal ends of the meandering prevention member abut each other in a rotating direction of the belt body. An abutting portion at the opposite ends of the meandering prevention member is arranged at a position displaced from the folded trace by a specified distance in the rotating direction of the belt body.
A paper feeder cassette includes a bottom part, a pair of support plates that moves relative to the bottom part and supports the both lateral sides of the sheets of paper in a paper width direction perpendicular to a paper transporting direction, and a paper disposition plate that is disposed above the bottom part and disposes the sheet of paper thereon and includes an edge portion provided along a direction approximately perpendicular to the paper transporting direction on the downstream side of the pair of the support plates in the paper transporting direction and a contact avoidance portion for preventing the sheets of paper from making contact with the edge portion when disposition of the sheets of paper are performed by sliding the sheets of paper along the paper transporting direction.
A developing device uses a two-component developer including at least carriers and toners. The toners are supplied to an image bearing member bearing an electrostatic latent image so that a toner image is developed from the electrostatic latent image. The developing device has a developing roller arranged to oppose the image bearing member; and a magnetic roller arranged to oppose the developing roller. The magnetic roller retains the two-component developer to supply toners to the developing roller. The developing roller and the magnetic roller are rotationally driven in directions to be opposite from one another at an opposed position, and a magnetic pole of the magnetic roller and a magnetic pole of the developing roller have magnetic polarities different from one another at the opposed position. A surface roughness of the magnetic roller is greater than a surface roughness of the developing roller.
G03G 15/09 - Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer using magnetic brush
G03G 15/08 - Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
92.
Image density correction method and image forming apparatus using the same
In an image density correction method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an image density correction is carried out by obtaining an actual toner amount through obtaining a density of a between-sheet patch image having been formed during continuous printing, reconstructing relational characteristics in which the actual toner amount is associated with each variation in developing biases, by considering that the actual toner amount and a reference toner amount are to be made in agreement, when a determination that the actual toner amount disagrees with the reference toner amount is made, and resetting a developing bias for realizing the reference toner amount based on the reconstructed relational characteristics and the reference toner amount. By this means, a high quality image can be obtained by suppressing color fluctuations with printing efficiency maintained at a high level even if large color fluctuations occur during continuous printing.
An image forming apparatus is configured to control the density of an output image based on an inherent gamma characteristic of the apparatus. The apparatus includes a patch image forming unit that forms patch images having multiple gradation values, a measuring unit that measures the density or lightness of each patch image, a sample point arrangement unit that arranges sample points representative of measured density or lightness values in a descending or ascending order of the gradation values, an inflection point region detecting unit that detects any specific inflection point region, a straight line region detecting unit that detects any specific straight line region, an interpolating unit that interpolates by adding and/or deleting a specific sample point depending upon whether (i) an inflection point region is detected, (ii) a straight line region is detected, or (iii) neither an inflection point region nor a straight line region is detected.
A traction-drive type driving-force transmission mechanism includes a sun roller having a first central axis about which the sun roller is rotatable. Shafts are provided and each has a second central axis aligned parallel to the first central axis. Planetary rollers are arranged rotatably along an outer peripheral surface of the sun roller and are supported respectively by the shafts. A guide member guides each shaft displaceably in a radial direction of the sun roller while maintaining the parallel relationship between the first and second central axes. A pressing member presses each planetary roller against the outer peripheral surface of the sun roller so that a driving force can be transmitted by a traction force between the sun roller and each of the planetary rollers.
F16H 15/48 - Gearings for conveying rotary motion with variable gear ratio, or for reversing rotary motion, by friction between rotary members with members having orbital motion
An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus cabinet having a bottom face opposed to a floor surface and a front face for operating the apparatus, a plurality of foot members disposed on the bottom face for supporting the apparatus on the floor surface in a movable manner, and a shield member for shielding a gap formed between the bottom face and the floor surface at least at the side of the front face of the apparatus.
A sheet conveying apparatus includes: a sheet conveyance path designed so as to include nonlinear portions; a first conveyance roller pair which is provided at predetermined positions of the sheet conveyance path and which has a conveyance width capable of nipping and conveying a sheet having the minimum size sheet passing width among sheets to be passed through the sheet conveying apparatus; a guide plate which is placed in a downstream side or an upstream side of the first conveyance roller pair in a sheet conveyance direction and has a curved guide surface; and a plurality of guide ribs which are extended on the guide surface in the sheet conveyance direction and are provided in a sheet passing width direction of the sheet in a region corresponding to the conveyance width of the first conveyance roller pair.
Provided is an operation control program causing a computer built in an image formation device to function as: a service unit which judges an operation service requested by a user, selects one or more job scenarios prepared in advance as constituent elements of the job, and builds a job corresponding to the operation by using the job scenario(s); and a job execution unit which executes processes indicated by each of the job scenarios constituting the job built by the service unit.
An intermediate transfer unit of an image forming apparatus is provided between a plurality of developer containers for containing developer and a plurality of developing devices. The intermediate transfer unit includes an intermediate transfer unit for secondarily transferring primarily transferred developed images from the plurality of image carriers onto a paper, an intermediate transfer unit driving mechanism for driving the intermediate transfer unit, and a housing for supporting the intermediate transfer unit driving mechanism. One end of the housing includes a plurality of developer inlet ports positionally corresponding to the developer supply ports of the developer containers respectively, a plurality of developer outlet ports positionally corresponding to the developer receiving ports of the developing devices respectively, and a plurality of developer supply paths connecting between the developer inlet ports and the developer outlet ports respectively.
An optical unit assembly is provided with an optical system including an optical component for irradiating a target object with light and receiving the reflected light, a casing for accommodating the optical system, a supporting frame for supporting a part of the casing, and a height adjusting member having a supporting surface for supporting another part of the casing and placed between the supporting frame and the casing. The height adjusting mechanism is slidable between the supporting frame and the casing with a supported state of the casing by the supporting frame substantially maintained, and the supporting surface includes at least a first supporting surface set at a specified first height position and a second supporting surface set at a second height position different from the first height position.
where Dt denotes the volume average particle diameter of the toner, pv denotes the intrinsic resistance value of a developing roller surface, Ra denotes the arithmetic average roughness of the developing roller surface.
G03G 15/09 - Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer using magnetic brush
