Patent classifications
G03G15/1615
Image forming apparatus having detachable cartridges and image forming system
An image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording material and includes an apparatus body, a first process cartridge including a first photosensitive member and a first developing roller to supply first toner to the first photosensitive member, with the first process cartridge being detachably attached to the apparatus body, and a toner cartridge to accommodate the first toner and detachably attached to the apparatus body independently from the first process cartridge. A second process cartridge includes a second photosensitive member and a second developing roller to supply second toner to the second photosensitive member, with the second process cartridge being detachably attached to the apparatus body and configured not to be replenished with the second toner in a state where the second process cartridge is attached to the apparatus body.
IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
A power supply is configured to apply voltage to a power feed roller. An elastic blade of a roller cleaning unit clean a surface of the power feed roller at a position different from an abutting position of the power feed roller and a secondary transfer outer roller. A control unit is configured to execute a secondary transfer cleaning mode at a timing when a transfer of a toner image in a secondary transfer portion is not performed. In the secondary transfer cleaning mode, a voltage of only one of the positive and negative polarities is applied to the power feed roller while the secondary transfer outer roller and the power feed roller are rotated.
DRIVE COUPLER ACTUATION VIA REPLACEABLE UNIT INSERTION IN AN IMAGE FORMING DEVICE
An assembly for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a drive coupler movable along an axial direction between a retracted position and an extended position. In the retracted position the drive coupler is disengaged from a drive interface of a first replaceable unit when the first replaceable unit is installed in the image forming device. In the extended position the drive coupler is engaged with the drive interface of the first replaceable unit when the first replaceable unit is installed in the image forming device for providing a rotational force to the drive interface of the first replaceable unit. A lever is operatively connected to the drive coupler such that the lever causes the drive coupler to move from the retracted position to the extended position upon the lever receiving an actuation force from insertion of a second replaceable unit that is toward the drive coupler along the axial direction.
IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
An image forming apparatus includes a first image bearing member, a second image bearing member, an intermediate transfer belt, a first primary transfer member, a second primary transfer member, a secondary transfer outer member, a pre-secondary transfer stretch roller, a driving roller, and an execution portion. The execution portion is configured to execute a first monochromatic mode in which a bias smaller than the primary transfer bias applied to the first primary transfer member in a case where a toner image is formed on the first image bearing member is applied to the first primary transfer member, and the primary transfer bias applied to the second primary transfer member in a case where a toner image is formed on the second image bearing member is applied to the second primary transfer member.
Image forming apparatus that sets speeds of driving sources
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a toner image forming unit, an intermediary transfer member, a first driving source, a second driving portion, a speed instruction value changing portion, an executing portion for executing an operation in a detecting mode in a first detection period in a first state and in a second detection period in a second state larger in frictional force than in the first state, and a setting portion. In each of the first and second detection periods, the speed instruction value of the second driving source is set at a fixed value and the speed instruction value of the first driving source is successively changed to different values, and the setting portion sets the speed instruction value of the first driving source used during the image formation on the basis of a detection result in the detecting mode.
Image forming apparatus capable of supressing degradation in workability at the time of transfer belt replacement
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit and a belt conveyance apparatus. The belt conveyance apparatus includes a transfer belt, a tension roller, a movement mechanism, and a drive unit. A toner image on an image bearing member is transferred to the transfer belt in tension from the tension roller. The movement mechanism moves the tension roller to apply tension to, and release tension from, the transfer belt. The drive unit is disposed in a width direction and drives the transfer belt. The movement mechanism includes an attachment portion disposed on a side opposite the drive unit in the width direction and to which a handle member that operates the movement mechanism is detachably attached. The movement mechanism is configured such that the belt conveyance apparatus is attached to an image forming apparatus body in a state in which the handle member is detached from the attachment portion.
Remanufactured Toner Cartridge and Method
A remanufactured toner cartridge and related method includes a modified driven gear that is associated with an internal seal removal mechanism. The driven gear is modified so that driving rotational force from a printer is not transmitted to the seal removal mechanism during a post test of the remanufactured cartridge. When the post test is complete a fixing member, which may include a pin, is used to return the modified driven gear to an operational configuration so that when the cartridge is subsequently installed in a printer, driving rotational force from the printer is transmitted to the removal mechanism to remove the internal toner seal, thereby permitting cartridge operation.
IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS THAT CONTROLS POSTURE OF INTERMEDIATE TRANSFER MEMBER AND IMAGE FORMATION POSITION BASED ON RESULTS OF DETECTION OF PREDETERMINED PORTION OF INTERMEDIATE TRANSFER MEMBER
An image forming apparatus transfers toner images of respective colors, formed on photosensitive drums, onto an intermediate transfer belt conveyed in a predetermined direction to thereby form a color toner image. A steering roller tilts the intermediate transfer belt in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. A first sensor detects a position of a belt lateral end of the belt, and when controlling driving of the steering roller based on a detection result of the first sensor, a controller performs predetermined filtering on the detection result, to thereby control the driving of the steering roller according to the detection result subjected to the predetermined filtering.
MONOCHROME IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
A control portion controls a change mechanism so as to pass through a third stretched form in switching a stretched form of a belt member from a second stretched form to a first stretched form. The first stretched form is a stretched form enabling a toner image to be transferred from a photosensitive drum to the belt member by positioning a transfer member at a first position and a separation roller at a second position. The second stretched form is a stretched form of separating each of the transfer member and the separation roller from a transfer surface toward an opposite side of the photosensitive drum. The third stretched form is a stretched form in which the transfer member is positioned at the first position, and the separation roller is positioned at a third position away from the transfer surface toward the opposite side of the photosensitive drum.
TRANSFER UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
A belt unit, for use in an image forming apparatus, includes an endless belt that moves in a movement direction, a transfer member, a collecting member, a storage container, and a conveyance member. The conveyance member conveys toner in a conveyance direction, rotates about a rotational axis extending in a rotational axis direction, includes a shaft and a conveyance portion provided on a shaft outer surface, and has a helical shape having a helical axis extending in the rotational axis direction. The conveyance member further includes a protruding portion protruding from the shaft outer surface in a direction crossing the conveyance member rotational axis, which has a shape different from the helical shape, and which is provided on a shaft portion downstream of the conveyance portion in the conveyance direction. The rotational axis direction is a direction crossing both the endless belt movement direction and a transfer member longitudinal direction.