An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer member, a cleaning member, and an image forming unit having a developer carrier. During an image forming job, when a ratio of an amount of toner consumed to a distance that the developer carrier is rotationally driven is greater than a threshold value, the image forming unit forms a first toner supply image for supplying toner to the cleaning member in a predetermined period that is from a time at which a first toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer member to a time at which a second toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer member. When the ratio is less than the threshold value, the image forming unit forms a second toner supply image for supplying toner to the cleaning member in the predetermined period and having a density that is higher than a first toner supply image density.

An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer member, first and second transfer members, and a control unit. The control unit includes a first state where both the first and second transfer members are separated from the intermediate transfer member, a second state where the first transfer member contacts the intermediate transfer member and the second transfer member is separated from the intermediate transfer member, and a third state where both the first and second transfer members contact the intermediate transfer member. The control unit controls the driving member to move the moving unit, controls switch the first state to the second state and thereafter switch the second state to the third state. A rotation speed of the driving member when the second state is switched to the third state is lower than a rotation speed of the driving member when the first state is switched to the second state.

Provided is an intermediate transfer member containing a thermoplastic resin and carbon black. The carbon black has a structure volume of 50 or more and 250 or less, and a content of the carbon black is from 15.0 mass % to 30.0 mass % with respect to the intermediate transfer member. When a region ranging from an inner peripheral surface on a back side with respect to an outer peripheral surface on which a toner image is borne to 10 μm in a thickness direction is defined as an inner peripheral surface region, a value of an L-function indicating dispersibility of the carbon black with respect to the thermoplastic resin in the inner peripheral surface region is 150 nm or less.

A toner set and an image forming method, both of which can print a full-color image that is superior in gradation and color reproducibility of an image including a higher-order color and superior in continuous printing durability. When one color toner selected from the group consisting of the color toners included in the toner set is defined as a first toner and other color toners are defined as second toners, an internal friction angle θ1 (°) of the first toner and an internal friction angle θ2 (°) of each of the second toners satisfy relationships represented by the following formulae (1) and (2), and a first image developed with the first toner and second images developed with the second toners are transferred in this order on a recording medium or a transfer medium to form an image including a higher-order color:

θ1<θ2  Formula (1):

1°≤θ2−θ1≤3°.  Formula (2):

An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, an intermediate transfer body including a surface layer that includes an acrylic resin and a fluorine-containing polyether, first and second transfer units, and an intermediate transfer body cleaning unit that includes a cleaning blade including a tetrahedral amorphous carbon layer disposed on a surface of a contact portion of the cleaning blade, the contact portion being arranged to contact the intermediate transfer body, and removes a residual toner by bringing the cleaning blade into contact with the intermediate transfer body. Linear velocities of the intermediate transfer body and the photosensitive member are adjusted to satisfy a requirement (1): Requirement (1): 0.3≤|Linear velocity of Intermediate transfer body−Linear velocity of Photosensitive member|/Linear velocity of Intermediate transfer body×100≤1.5.

An intermediate transfer unit includes an intermediate transfer belt, a. driving roller, a. tension roller, and a roller supporting frame. The roller supporting frame includes first and second supporting frames, and has a coupling portion formed on it. The coupling portion includes a rotary shaft and a. shall hole. The roller supporting frame shifts from a first state to a second state by rotating the first supporting frame in the forward direction to have the intermediate transfer belt wound around it. The rotary shaft includes a projection. A shaft hole has a restricting wall portion. As the first supporting frame in the second state rotates in the forward direction, the projection makes contact with the restricting wall portion to restrict rotation of the first supporting frame in the forward direction.

An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member that bears a toner image, a transfer unit having an endless belt, a positioning unit that positions the transfer unit, and a secondary transfer member. The secondary transfer member is in touch with the endless belt to form a secondary transfer portion. When the toner image is transferred to the endless belt from the image bearing member, the secondary transfer member transfers the toner image from the endless belt at the secondary transfer portion to a transfer material. The positioning unit includes a first abutting face to position the transfer unit in a conveyance direction and a second abutting face to position the transfer unit in a direction opposite to the conveyance direction. An attaching/detaching direction of the transfer unit is a direction intersecting with a surface of the transfer material to which the toner image is transferred.

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a rotatable endless belt, a plurality of stretching rollers including an inner roller and an upstream roller, an outer member, a guiding member, a sheet-like pressing member, and a coating member. The coating member is disposed on the pressing member so as not to contact the belt and is electrically grounded or electrically conducted to the guiding member. The coating member is formed of a material lower in surface resistivity than the pressing member.

An optical sensor irradiates a control toner image formed on an intermediate transfer belt with light and detects reflection light of the light. A controller executes an abnormality diagnosis mode in a case where change in the phase of a cam is not detected by a phase detection portion until an elapse of a predetermined time or more since a start of output of a driving signal for driving a separation mechanism. In execution of the abnormality diagnosis mode, the controller outputs the driving signal for driving the separation mechanism, and is capable of outputting information about an abnormality of the phase detection portion and information about an abnormality of the separation mechanism and/or a driving unit on a basis of a detection result of the optical sensor that is obtained in a case where the light is radiated from the optical sensor while the driving signal is output.

A process for producing a digital printed heat transfer, the process comprising the steps of: 1) obtaining a substrate having a release layer; 2) applying a primer suitable for electrophotographic toner to the release layer; 3) digitally-printing electrophotographic toner to define a graphic within a defined region of a substrate inclusive of both printed and unprinted areas within that region; 4) digitally printing a tacky viscoelastic binder in registration with the printed areas of the digitally-printed graphic; 5) applying a polyurethane-based powder adhesive to the defined region of said substrate; 6) removing loose powder adhesive that does not adhere to the defined regions of said graphic; and 7) fusing and bonding the adhesive to the digital printed graphic. The binder precisely secures the adhesive powder to the printed graphical areas. The result is then cooled to set the image for use as a heat transfer.