According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a plurality of parts, an acquisition unit, and a control unit. The plurality of parts are used in the image forming process and are replaced according to the degree of use. The acquisition unit acquires, for each of the parts, use-related information that is information indicating the degree of use of the plurality of parts. The control unit determines the replacement timing of the part using the plurality of pieces of use-related information acquired by the acquisition unit and the determination condition regarding the replacement timing of the part.

An image forming apparatus includes a paper discharging tray and a paper detection part disposed at an upstream end of the paper discharging tray in a paper discharge direction. The paper detection part includes a base end member provided rotatably around a first axis extending in a direction perpendicular to a paper discharge direction and a tip member pivoted to the base end member to rotate around a second axis parallel to the first axis, and extending downwardly to incline toward an upstream side of the paper discharge direction in a state where the base end member is not subjected to pressure from the paper being discharged. The base end member is disposed to face a discharge opening when being at the reference position, and the image forming apparatus stops discharging paper from the discharge opening when the base end member rotates by a predetermined threshold or more with respect to the reference position.

An image forming apparatus is operable in a normal image forming mode and an uneven lubrication detecting mode, and includes: an image carrier; a lubricant applying device that applies lubricant to the image carrier; and a processor that detects uneven lubrication on a surface of the image carrier in the uneven lubrication detecting mode in which an amount of the lubricant applied to the image carrier is increased to exceed an amount of the lubricant applied in image forming.

An inclined flange roller is located outward of an end portion of a tension roller in the belt width direction. The inclined flange roller includes a flange surface capable of being in contact with the edge portion of a belt in a region in which the belt is wound around the tension roller and a roller surface capable of being in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the belt between the flange surface and an end portion of the tension roller in the belt width direction.

A method for scheduling a reload of a supply material in a printing system including a print engine capable of printing at a settable print velocity while using the supply material, a control unit for controlling a print job queue comprising at least one print job scheduled to be printed by means of a scheduling scheme while using the supply material, a supply material input holder for holding the supply material, and a user interface for interacting with a user of the printing system. The method includes determining a plurality of moments in time that the supply material input holder is empty, and simultaneously scheduling for each determined moment in time of the plurality of moments in time a reload event of reloading the supply material input holder with the supply material in the scheduling scheme. The plurality of moments in time is determined by taking into account the total planned usage of the supply material from the supply material input holder according to print job specifications of the at least one print job scheduled in the print job queue and a capacity of the supply material input holder with respect to the properties of the supply material, and each of the determined moments in time is established on the basis of the settable print velocity of the printing system with respect to the at least one print job in the print job queue.

A system and method for applying lubricant to a surface, such as a heating surface of a fuser member. The system includes lubricant conduit for carrying pressurized lubricant toward a spraying assembly. A heating element surrounds the lubricant conduit and heats the pressurized lubricant before it arrives at the spraying assembly. The system also includes a pair of double O-ring sealing assemblies for sealingly coupling a lubricant tube to the system.

A sheet feeder includes a manual feeding tray to stack a sheet, the tray being openable and closable to a main body by rotation about a rotation axis in a direction perpendicular to a sheet feeding direction; a sheet width regulating member provided in the manual feeding tray to regulate a side edge of the sheet in a sheet width direction and to have a variable regulating width; an auxiliary tray that does not move with an opening/closing operation of the manual feeding tray and stacks the sheet with the manual feeding tray; a sheet width regulating member provided in the auxiliary tray to regulate the side edge of the sheet and to have a variable regulating width; a link member interlocking the regulating members; and a feeding roller provided in the main body to individually feed the sheet stacked over the manual feeding tray and the auxiliary tray.

An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section configured to form a toner image on a sheet having a paste component; and an end pressing section provided on an upstream side of the image forming section in a sheet conveyance direction, and configured to exert a pressure on an end portion of the sheet while moving from a center toward an end of the sheet in a sheet width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction.

The present invention can provide a liquid developer that can accommodate faster process speeds by image forming apparatuses, in which the liquid developer contains a toner particle comprising a polyester resin, and a carrier liquid having a vinyl ether compound. The liquid developer further contains a polymer compound having a structural unit represented by formula (1) in either of the toner particle or the carrier liquid. ##STR00001##

An image forming apparatus has a developing portion; a toner storing container; and a supply path capable of supplying toner to the developing portion from the toner storing container, where the toner storing container is attachably and detachably provided to the supply path, and the toner storing container has a screw-like conveying member configured to convey the toner; a discharge portion configured to discharge the toner toward the supply path; and a first cleaning member arranged at an end portion of the conveying member and configured to clean the discharge portion by scraping the toner on the discharge portion based on a rotation of the conveying member.