Provided is an image forming apparatus, including: an image bearing member; an exposure unit; a developing member which is rotatable at a rotation speed different from the image bearing member; a developer supply member; a developing voltage-applying unit; a supply voltage-applying unit; and a control unit. The control unit controls execution of: an image forming operation in which a developer image is formed by supplying developer on the image bearing member; and a cleaning operation which removes a substance adhered to the image bearing member using the developing member. In the cleaning operation, the control unit controls the developing voltage-applying unit or the supply voltage-applying unit so that the cleaning force using the developing member becomes stronger than that in the image forming operation.

An image forming method includes supplying powder having metallic luster on a resin image arranged on a recording medium, wherein a color value of the resin image and a color value of the powder on the recording medium satisfy the following Equation (1):

{(L*.sub.p−L*.sub.i−40).sup.2+(a*.sub.p−a*.sub.i).sup.2+(b*.sub.p−b*.sub.i).sup.2}.sup.1/2≤20  (1)

wherein L*.sub.p, a*.sub.p, and b*.sub.p represent color values of the powder, and
L*.sub.i, a*.sub.i, and b*.sub.i represent color values of the resin image on the recording medium.

An image forming apparatus includes a controller configured to identify a selected sheet size setting as defined by a dimension in the width direction and a dimension in the conveyance direction, set a cooling threshold at a first threshold if the selected sheet size setting is a first size having a dimension in the width direction larger than a predetermined dimension, and a dimension in the conveyance direction larger than the dimension in the width direction, and set the cooling threshold at a second threshold lower than the first threshold if the selected sheet size setting is a second size having a dimension in the width direction that is the same as the dimension in the width direction of the first size, and a dimension in the conveyance direction smaller than the dimension in the width direction.

An image forming apparatus is to supply paper sheets on which images are formed to a post-processing apparatus to pressure-bind binding areas of paper sheets bundled. The image forming apparatus includes a conveyor, an image forming device, and a controller. The conveyor conveys a paper sheet. The image forming device discharges liquid ink to the paper sheet conveyed by the conveyor. The controller repeatedly executes a process of: causing the conveyor to convey the paper sheet to a position facing the image forming device; causing the image forming device to discharge the liquid ink to form an image on the paper sheet; and causing the conveyor to convey the paper sheet on which the image has been formed toward the post-processing apparatus. The controller further causes the image forming device to apply the liquid ink to a binding area of at least one of the paper sheets.

An image forming apparatus, having a housing, a drawer, and a cartridge, is provided. The drawer is movable between an inner position and an outer position. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a drum cover. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction. The drum cover is movable with respect to the photosensitive drum between a first position and a second position. The drawer includes a guide, a stopper, and a contacting portion. The guide guides the cartridge in a second direction, when the cartridge is being attached to the drawer. The stopper stops the cartridge from separating from the guide in a third direction. The contacting portion contacts the drum cover and move the drum cover from the first position to the second position in a state where the cartridge is being guided by the guide.

An image forming device includes: an image former that executes image forming processing to form an image on a sheet; a primary controller; a secondary controller that controls the image former; a sensor that detects a state of the image former and transmits sensor data indicating the state to the secondary controller; a first transmission path between the secondary controller and the primary controller; and a second transmission path different from the first transmission path. The primary controller instructs the secondary controller to execute the image forming processing. Data related to the execution of the image forming processing is transmitted through the first transmission path. The secondary controller generates diagnostic data for failure diagnostics from the sensor data and life prediction relating to the image forming device and transmits the diagnostic data to the primary controller via the second transmission path.

An image forming apparatus that is capable of specifying a failed portion while preventing delay of an image forming operation appropriately. An image forming unit forms an image on a recording material. A detection unit detects an abnormality. A controller determines a type of an abnormality detected by the detection unit. The controller controls, in a case where the abnormality is detected by the detection unit, a start timing of failure diagnosis that specifies a failed portion that causes the abnormality according to the determined type of the abnormality.

An image forming apparatus includes a developing roller, a motor, a motor control portion configured to control the motor, a drive switching unit configured to switch between transmission and non-transmission of the rotational driving force of the motor relative to the developing roller, a current detection portion configured to detect a current value of a current to the motor, and an acquisition unit configured to acquire information relating to a rotation amount of the developing roller. The acquisition unit is configured to acquire the information relating to the rotation amount of the developing roller on the basis of a transmission timing at which the rotational driving force is allowed to be transmitted to the developing roller by the drive switching unit and a non-transmission timing at which the rotational driving force is prevented from being transmitting to the developing roller by the drive switching unit.

A heating device includes a heating unit that heats a member to be heated, which is transported, as a result of a contact portion of the heating unit being in contact with the member to be heated, a heat pipe that is disposed on a portion of the heating unit different from the contact portion in such a manner as to extend in a widthwise direction crossing a transport direction of the member to be heated and that includes a crimped portion formed at a first end of the heat pipe, a rotating body that rotates in such a manner as to press the member to be heated against the contact portion of the heating unit, and a power input unit that is disposed on a second end side of the heat pipe and that inputs a rotational force at least to the rotating body.

When a sheet jam is detected, a processor may perform the following process. In a case where a sheet is spanning a first conveyance path and a drawer unit, the processor maintains a lock unit in a locked state by supplying power to the lock unit via the drawer unit from a power supply without depending on whether a door is in an open state or a closed state. In a case where a sheet is not spanning the first conveyance path and the drawer unit, the processor controls supplying and disconnecting of power to the drawer unit from the power supply in accordance with whether the door is in a closed state or an open state.