G03G15/00

Image forming apparatus, image forming system, and image forming method
09727016 · 2017-08-08 · ·

An image forming apparatus that performs printing on continuous paper includes: an image forming unit that forms a toner image on an image carrier; a transfer unit that transfers the toner image on the image carrier to the continuous paper; a cleaning unit that removes toner on a surface of the image carrier downstream of a transfer position; and a control unit that performs toner consumption control to form the toner image on the image carrier, wherein the control unit can perform first control to form a first toner image on the image carrier and transfer the toner image to the continuous paper and second control to form a second toner image on the image carrier and remove toner by the cleaning unit without transferring the toner image to the continuous paper, and can select which of the first control and the second control is operated.

Technique for reducing uneven image density in an image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, an electric current detector, and a controller. The image forming device includes a latent image bearer, a charging rotator, a charging power supply, a latent image writing unit, and a developing unit. The controller (i) determines an uneven electric resistance of the charging rotator in a direction of rotation of the charging rotator, based on a detection result by the electric current detector, (ii) perform, at a predetermined timing, data construction processing to construct change pattern data to change an output value of a voltage from the charging power supply according to a predetermined pattern, based on the uneven electric resistance, and (iii) perform, in a print job to form a toner image in response to an instruction, voltage changing processing to charge the latent image bearer while changing the output value of the voltage, based on the change pattern data.

Image forming apparatus having air cooling system

An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, an image forming device to form an image on a recording medium, a casing to accommodate the image forming device, a sheet discharging port through which the recording medium having the image is discharged from the casing, a sheet stacker to stack the recording medium output through the sheet discharging port and opening on one side of the apparatus body and surrounded by outer walls including an outer wall having the sheet discharging port, an air guide opening disposed within a sheet passing range in a width direction of the recording medium in a sheet conveying path through which the recording medium having the image passes from the image forming device to the sheet discharging port, and an air suction fan to discharge air passing through the air guide opening to an outside of the casing.

Image forming apparatus, image forming cartridge supporter, and image forming unit
11237514 · 2022-02-01 · ·

An image forming apparatus has a body frame and a slide frame. The slide frame is configured to be pulled out from the body frame along a sliding direction. A plurality of image forming cartridges is detachably mounted on the slide frame. A plurality of electrode members is mounted on the slide frame and aligned along the sliding direction so as to correspond to the image forming cartridges. A body-side contact portion of each of the electrode members is electrically connected to the body frame. A cartridge-side contact portion of the electrode member is electrically connected to the image forming cartridge. The image forming cartridge is connected to the body via the corresponding electrode member when the slide frame mounting the image forming cartridges is inserted to the body frame.

Process cartridge, electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit

A process cartridge comprises an electrophotographic photosensitive drum having a photosensitive layer at a peripheral surface thereof, and process means actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The process cartridge also includes a coupling member capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a disengaging angular position in which the coupling member is inclined away from the axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum from the rotational force transmitting angular position.

SHEET PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM
20220269212 · 2022-08-25 ·

A sheet processing includes a first conveyance path, a buffering portion, a second conveyance path, a conveyance roller pair, a supporting portion, a moving member, a regulating portion, and a processing unit. The buffering portion is configured to superimpose a first sheet and a second sheet on each other in a state of being offset from each other in a sheet conveyance direction. An offset amount, by which a leading end of the first sheet in the sheet conveyance direction projects downstream in the sheet conveyance direction with respect to a leading end of the second sheet in the sheet conveyance direction in a state before the first sheet and the second sheet are discharged onto the supporting portion, is larger than a distance from a sheet contact position of the moving member to the regulating portion in the sheet conveyance direction.

DEVICES FOR FURTHER PROCESSING WEB- OR SHEET-TYPE STOCK, PRODUCTION LINE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A PRINTED PRODUCT
20170217226 · 2017-08-03 ·

A device for further processing web- or sheet-type stock comprises a further-processing section, in which stock that is supplied on the input side can be processed into printed products. The further-processing section comprises, in the guide path of a processing line through which the stock has run, at least one first combining device relative to the stock path, which can combine one- or multi-layer stock sections to a bundle; a second combining device which can combine the bundles formed by the first combining device to a bundle stack downstream of the first combining device; and a transverse folding device which is arranged functionally downstream of the second combining device and which transversely forms the bundles or bundle stacks relative to the conveying device on the input side when they exit the second combining device. A device for joining several layers is placed in the guide path, such that it can join several or all of the stock sections combined in the first combining device into a bundle, before they are received by the second combining device and is associated with, are arranged downstream of the first combining device. During production of the products, a combined bundle is stapled before it is combined with one or more other bundles and is then transversely folded. In addition, a longitudinal cutting device is provided in the guide path downstream of the transverse folding device.

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS WITH IMAGE TIMING SIGNAL ADJUSTMENT
20170219983 · 2017-08-03 ·

The image forming apparatus includes a control unit for converting image information into an image signal and output the image signal with reference to a timing signal, a sheet feeding control unit for feeding a recording material, an image forming unit for forming the image on a photosensitive drum based on the image signal output from the control unit, a transmission unit for transmitting a length of the image corresponding to a length of an output period of the image signal, an automatic sheet length detection mechanism for acquiring a length of the recording material in a conveyance direction thereof, and an image control unit for controlling a time interval at which the timing signal is output based on the size of the image and the size of the recording material.

Image forming apparatus including developing device supporting structure having guide groove
11237515 · 2022-02-01 · ·

There is provided an image forming apparatus including a main casing, an opening-closing member configured to open and close an opening on a side of the main casing and to move between an open position and a closed position, a belt unit configured to move between a first position and a second position, a drum unit configured to move between a third position and a fourth position, a developing device unit configured to move in an arrangement direction of developing rollers, and an interlock mechanism configured such that in response to a movement of the opening-closing member from the closed position to the open position, the belt unit moves from the first position to the second position and the drum unit moves from the third position to the fourth position.

DEVICE INCLUDING ROTATOR AND BELT, SUCH AS A FIXING UNIT FOR AN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

A device includes a rotator having a rotation axis, a belt, a nip forming member surrounded by the belt, a first stay surrounded by the belt and extending in a width direction parallel to the rotation axis, a holder holding the nip forming member, and an urging member urging the first stay toward the rotator. The nip forming member is configured to, with the rotator, pinch the belt to form a nip. The first stay includes a first end and a second end. The holder includes a first engaging portion positioned at a first end of the holder, and a second engaging portion positioned at a second end of the holder. The first engaging portion engages the first end of the first stay. The second engaging portion engages the second end of the first stay.