An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image, an intermediate transfer member for a measuring image, a measurement unit that measures the measuring image, a conversion unit that converts a measurement result of the measuring image on a basis of a conversion condition, a determination unit that determines an image forming condition on a basis of the converted measurement result, and an update unit that updates the conversion condition while forming and measuring first measuring images, converting the measurement results of the first measuring images, determining a measuring image forming condition on a basis of the converted measurement results, forming second measuring images on a basis of the measuring image forming condition, obtaining measuring results of the second measuring images output from another measuring unit, and updating the conversion condition on a basis of the measurement results of the second measuring images.

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 image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit configured to form an image pattern on a medium, a predetermined image repeatedly appearing in a first cycle in a sub scanning direction in the image pattern; a density detector configured to optically detect a density of the image pattern in the sub scanning direction; a cyclic image detector configured to detect a feature image having a second cycle corresponding to the first cycle in accordance with a result of the detection; and a state determining unit configured to determine whether a cycle depending on an outer circumference of a rotary member included in the image forming apparatus corresponds to the second cycle when the feature image is detected by the cyclic image detector, and determine that a state of the rotary member has deteriorated when the cycle depending on the outer circumference is determined to correspond to the second cycle.

There is provided an image forming apparatus including: an intermediate transfer belt; a photosensitive drum; a primary transfer member; a secondary transfer member; a first backup member; a first power supply electrically connected to the primary transfer member and to the secondary transfer member; and a first resistor electrically connected to the first power supply and to the primary transfer member. A first current route, in which the first resistor, the primary transfer member, and the photosensitive drum are connected in series in that order, is connected to the first power supply and to a basis potential. A second current route, in which the secondary transfer member and the first backup member are connected in series, is connected to the first power supply and to the basis potential. The first current route is connected in parallel to the second current route.

A belt device includes a movable belt, a detection target, an optical detector, and a cleaner. The belt is looped around a plurality of supporting members. The detection target is disposed extending along a direction of belt movement on at least one side of the belt in a width direction of the belt intersecting with the don of belt movement. The optical detector detects the detection target. The cleaner is attached to at least one of the plurality of supporting members to clean the detection target.

A belt device includes a belt member, a detected unit, a window, an optical detector, and a regulation member. The belt member is movable in a direction of belt movement. The detected unit disposed on at least one side of the belt in a width direction of the belt intersecting with the direction of belt movement and extending in the direction of belt movement. The window transmits detection light emitted toward the detected unit and reflected light from the detected unit. The optical detector detects the detected unit. The regulation member is disposed on at least one side in a width direction of the window to keep the detected unit away from the window.

An image forming apparatus including an image bearing member, an image forming portion, a transfer portion, a moving portion, a re-conveyance portion, a detection portion, a detection portion, and a control portion is provided. The moving portion is configured to move a sheet in a width direction. The re-conveyance portion is configured to invert the sheet bearing a toner image transferred onto a first surface thereof and convey the sheet to the transfer portion again. The control portion is configured to control the image forming portion to form the toner image for the first surface on a first image position and a toner image for a second surface on a second image position and control the moving portion to move the sheet to a position corresponding to the first image position or the second image position. The first and second image positions are displaced from each other.

An imaging system includes a transfer roller, a bias application device, and a controller. The transfer roller forms a transfer nip region between the transfer roller and a transfer belt, and the transfer roller transfers toner images carried on the transfer belt, onto media conveyed through the transfer nip region, during a print job. The bias application device applies a bias to the transfer roller. The controller controls the bias application device to apply a first bias to the transfer roller so that the toner image is transferred to a first medium during the printing job, apply a second bias having a polarity opposite to the first bias to the transfer roller between the first medium and a second medium following the first medium, and apply a third bias having the same polarity as the first bias to the transfer roller between the first medium and the second medium.

An image forming apparatus capable of providing a management apparatus with data that can be utilized for data analysis other than detection of signs of abnormality while keeping down costs required to build and maintain a communication environment. The image forming apparatus has a sensor. In the image forming apparatus, second data for use in detecting a sign of abnormality is generated based on first data comprised of measured values obtained by the sensor. The second data is transmitted directly or indirectly to the management apparatus that detects the sign of abnormality. Wherein, the second data is data that indicates characteristics of the image forming apparatus and has a smaller data amount that that of the first data.

A method includes forming a second set of printing dots on a photosensitive member by a printing dot applicator corresponding to image data of second portions of the image adjacent to first portions of the image. The second set of printing dots are formed on the photosensitive member after the first set of printing dots have been transferred from the photosensitive member. Thus, a merging of adjacent printing dots due to an electrical interaction there between on the photosensitive member is reduced.