A developing device includes a developing roller, a developing case, and a support. The developing roller includes a sleeve and a magnetic field generator. The sleeve is rotatable and includes a hollow shaft at an axial end of the sleeve. The magnetic field generator is irrotationally disposed inside the sleeve and includes a non-rotating shaft at an axial end of the magnetic field generator. The non-rotating shaft penetrates through the hollow shaft and projects outward. The developing case is configured to store developer and rotatably supports the hollow shaft. The support includes a fitting portion into which the non-rotating shaft of the magnetic field generator is irrotationally fitted. The support is supported on the developing case using the fitting portion as a main-positioning portion.

An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment includes a first image forming unit that forms a transparent toner image and a second image forming unit that forms a color toner image. The transparent toner image and the color toner image are transferred onto an intermediate transfer belt. A secondary transfer unit transfers the toner images from the intermediate transfer belt to a recording medium. A control unit controls the first image forming unit and the second image forming unit so that the transparent toner image is formed before the color toner image is formed when the recording medium is a specialty paper having an adhesive.

An optical scanning apparatus includes first and second light sources, a rotatable polygonal mirror, a motor, first and second mirrors, first and second lenses, and a casing. Within a mounting range, a top wall of an accommodating portion is provided with at least one projection projecting toward an opening of the accommodating portion. The projection extends from a first side wall to a second side wall of the accommodating portion. The top wall includes a recess formed opposite from the projection, and is free from a portion projecting toward the opening over a range from the first side wall to the second side wall, other than the projection in the mounting range. A free end portion of the projection is in a position remoter from the opening than a reflecting surface of the rotatable polygonal mirror is with respect to a rotational axis direction of the motor.

An optical scanning apparatus includes first and second light sources, a rotatable polygonal mirror, a motor, first and second mirrors, first and second lenses, and a casing. Within a mounting range, a top wall of an accommodating portion is provided with at least one projection projecting toward an opening of the accommodating portion. The projection extends from a first side wall to a second side wall of the accommodating portion. The top wall includes a recess formed opposite from the projection, and is free from a portion projecting toward the opening over a range from the first side wall to the second side wall, other than the projection in the mounting range. A free end portion of the projection is in a position remoter from the opening than a reflecting surface of the rotatable polygonal mirror is with respect to a rotational axis direction of the motor.

An image forming apparatus includes: a transporter; an image former; a reflective optical sensor; an image density adjuster; and a controller. The image former includes: a photoreceptor; a charger; an exposer; a developer; a transferor; and a fuser. The reflective optical sensor is provided opposite to the photoreceptor across a conveyance path. During image density adjustment, the controller forms a predetermined patch toner image on the photoreceptor, irradiates the patch toner image with light, and control the image density adjuster to adjust image density based on reflected light from the patch toner image. During image forming, the controller causes the reflective optical sensor to emit light on timing that a predetermined leading edge area of the recording area passes, and decides based on reflected light therefrom whether a width in the main scanning direction of a recording medium is longer than a predetermined reference length.

An image forming apparatus includes: a transporter; an image former; a reflective optical sensor; an image density adjuster; and a controller. The image former includes: a photoreceptor; a charger; an exposer; a developer; a transferor; and a fuser. The reflective optical sensor is provided opposite to the photoreceptor across a conveyance path. During image density adjustment, the controller forms a predetermined patch toner image on the photoreceptor, irradiates the patch toner image with light, and control the image density adjuster to adjust image density based on reflected light from the patch toner image. During image forming, the controller causes the reflective optical sensor to emit light on timing that a predetermined leading edge area of the recording area passes, and decides based on reflected light therefrom whether a width in the main scanning direction of a recording medium is longer than a predetermined reference length.

A developing device includes a developing roller, a developing case, and a support. The developing roller includes a sleeve and a magnetic field generator. The sleeve is rotatable and includes a hollow shaft at an axial end of the sleeve. The magnetic field generator is irrotationally disposed inside the sleeve and includes a non-rotating shaft at an axial end of the magnetic field generator. The non-rotating shaft penetrates through the hollow shaft and projects outward. The developing case is configured to store developer and rotatably supports the hollow shaft. The support includes a fitting portion into which the non-rotating shaft of the magnetic field generator is irrotationally fitted. The support is supported on the developing case using the fitting portion as a main-positioning portion.

Shaping a photoconductive drum includes preparing a dispersion having a charge generation composition and dipping an elongated support element into the dispersion. Withdrawing from the dispersion portions of the support element at different speeds results in different thicknesses of charge generation composition on the support element. Faster withdrawal results in thicker charge generation composition than does slower withdrawal. Portions with thicker composition provide denser optical densities compared to thinner composition allowing tailoring the photoconductive drum to compensate for imperfect optical scanning systems. Coating the support element with a charge transport layer occurs next, then curing. Oxidation of the support element may occur prior to application of the charge generation composition. A protective overcoat may also exist over the charge transport layer.

An image forming apparatus includes a detection unit and a control unit. The control unit controls a photoreceptor application unit and a development application unit such that a surface potential of a photoreceptor, which is applied by a photoreceptor application unit, is temporarily lower than a development potential which is applied by a development application unit and controls the photoreceptor application unit or the development application unit based on an adhesion amount of the developer, which is detected by the detection unit.

An image forming apparatus includes a detection unit and a control unit. The control unit controls a photoreceptor application unit and a development application unit such that a surface potential of a photoreceptor, which is applied by a photoreceptor application unit, is temporarily lower than a development potential which is applied by a development application unit and controls the photoreceptor application unit or the development application unit based on an adhesion amount of the developer, which is detected by the detection unit.