The present invention includes a compressor for generating compressed air for separating a sheet from a fixing portion. By using the compressed air generated by the compressor, an image forming portion, more specifically, for example, a charger, is cleaned.

A cartridge is configured to be attachable to a main body of an image forming apparatus and configured to receive toner supplied from a supply container. The cartridge includes a supply port configured to receive the toner supplied from the supply container, a shutter member configured to cover the supply port, and a locking member. The locking member is moved from a lock position to an unlock position to allow movement of the shutter member by using electric power supplied from the main body.

An image forming apparatus includes: an image former that forms an image on a continuous paper; a fixing unit that includes a pair of rotatable members and that nips the continuous paper between the rotatable members to convey the paper and fix the image formed on the paper by the image former; a conveying member different from the rotatable members; and a hardware processor. The image forming apparatus performs a paper conveying mode in which the image former does not form an image and at least the conveying member conveys the continuous paper. In the paper conveying mode, the hardware processor determines to press the rotatable members against each other or to separate the rotatable members from each other according to a predetermined criterion and, based on the determination, conveys the continuous paper while keeping the rotatable members pressed against each other or separated from each other.

A selenium drum capable of continuously supplying powder, comprising a photosensitive drum, a cleaning scraper, a carbon powder bin and a waste powder bin, and further comprising a carbon powder storage bin and a waste powder storage bin; a first isolating mechanism is arranged between the carbon powder storage bin and the carbon powder bin, and a second isolating mechanism is arranged between the waste powder storage bin and the waste powder bin. Also provided is an image forming device having the selenium drum capable of continuously supplying powder. The selenium drum capable of continuously supplying powder and the image forming device having the same enable a user to drive a cleaning of the waste powder bin via gravity or hands when filling with carbon powder.

An image forming apparatus includes a first side plate, a second side plate and a sheet feeding unit. The first and second side plates are opposite to each other. The sheet feeding unit is attached between the first and second side plates. The sheet feeding unit has a feed frame, a pickup roller, a feed roller, a separation member and a weight member. The feed frame has a first side wall supported by the first side plate in a facing manner and a second side wall supported by the second side plate in a facing manner. The pickup roller and the feed roller are supported in the feed frame. The separation member forms a nip and separates the sheet at the nip. The weight member is disposed above the feed roller in the feed frame and configured to damp vibration of the feed frame.

A drive transmission device (6) includes a first drive train (62) and a second drive train (63). The first drive train (62) includes a first gear (621), a second gear (622), a rotary shaft (623), and one-way clutches (624). The second drive train (63) includes a third gear (631), a fourth gear (632), a rotary shaft (633), and an electromagnetic clutch (634). The third gear (631) engages the first gear (621) and the fourth gear (632) engages the second gear (622). A rotational speed of a pickup roller (12) is switched by switching on/off the electromagnetic clutch (634) to change a transmission path of driving force.

A drive transmission device (6) includes a first drive train (62) and a second drive train (63). The first drive train (62) includes a first gear (621), a second gear (622), a rotary shaft (623), and one-way clutches (624). The second drive train (63) includes a third gear (631), a fourth gear (632), a rotary shaft (633), and an electromagnetic clutch (634). The third gear (631) engages the first gear (621) and the fourth gear (632) engages the second gear (622). A rotational speed of a pickup roller (12) is switched by switching on/off the electromagnetic clutch (634) to change a transmission path of driving force.

An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier that carries and transports a latent image; a charging member that is arranged to be in contact with a surface of the image carrier; a developing device that supplies toner to the image carrier and forms a toner image; a density detection unit that detects a density of the toner image; a pattern detection unit that detects a predetermined density variation pattern based on a detection result of the density detection unit according to the toner image; and a determination unit that determines a state of the charging member based on the number of the predetermined density variation patterns detected within a predetermined period of time.

In 3-D printing a platen moves toward an intermediate transfer belt (ITB) to have a sheet positioned on the platen contact the ITB to electrostatically transfer a layer of different materials to the sheet, and then the platen moves to a stabilization station to join the layer to the sheet. This processing is repeated to have the sheet repeatedly contact the ITB (with intervening stabilization at the stabilization station) to successively form layers of the materials on the sheet. The freestanding stack is fed to a platform to successively form a 3-D structure of freestanding stacks of the layers. Heat and/or pressure and/or light are applied to the 3-D structure to bond the freestanding stacks to one another through the sheets of collapsible media on the platform.

In 3-D printing a platen moves toward an intermediate transfer belt (ITB) to have a sheet positioned on the platen contact the ITB to electrostatically transfer a layer of different materials to the sheet, and then the platen moves to a stabilization station to join the layer to the sheet. This processing is repeated to have the sheet repeatedly contact the ITB (with intervening stabilization at the stabilization station) to successively form layers of the materials on the sheet. The freestanding stack is fed to a platform to successively form a 3-D structure of freestanding stacks of the layers. Heat and/or pressure and/or light are applied to the 3-D structure to bond the freestanding stacks to one another through the sheets of collapsible media on the platform.