Oki Data Corporation

Hidetaka Mitsunobu

Takatoku Shimizu

An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body and a replacement unit that is detachable to the apparatus main body. The replacement unit includes a first sensor that detects first environmental information that is an ambient environment of the replacement unit, and a recording part that records the first environmental information as environmental history information, the apparatus main body includes a second sensor that detects second environmental information that is another ambient environment of the apparatus main body, and a control part that controls the replacement unit based on the environmental history information and the second environmental information, when the replacement unit is attached to the apparatus main body, the control part performs a return control based on the environmental history information, which is obtained before the replacement unit is attached, and the second environmental information.

Image forming apparatus performing return control using environmental history information

An image formation apparatus includes: a first image formation unit including a first image carrier and a first charging member that charges the first image carrier, the first image formation unit using a first developer and; a second image formation unit including a second image carrier and a second charging member that charges the second image carrier, the second image formation unit using a second developer; and a controller that determines a first charging voltage correction amount for correcting a charging voltage to be applied to the first charging member according to an amount of usage of the first image carrier, and determines a second charging voltage correction amount for correcting a charging voltage to be applied to the second charging member according to an amount of usage of the second image carrier. The second charging voltage correction amount is larger than the first charging voltage correction amount.

Image formation apparatus and image forming method

An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units. A first image forming unit includes a first image carrier, a first developer carrier that is applied with a first developing voltage, and a first layer-forming member that is applied with a first layer-forming voltage having the same polarity as polarity of the first developing voltage. The second image forming unit includes a second image carrier, a second developer carrier that is applied with a second developing voltage, and a second layer-forming member that is applied with a second layer-forming voltage having the same polarity as polarity of the second developing voltage. An absolute value of the first layer-forming voltage is smaller than an absolute value of the first developing voltage. An absolute value of the second layer-forming voltage is greater than an absolute value of the second developing voltage.

Image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus includes a developer bearing body and first and second supplying members. An image bearing body and the first and second supplying members are disposed around the developer bearing body in this order. The developer bearing member rotates, and supplies a developer material to the image bearing body. The first and second supplying members rotate in contact with the developer bearing body and supply the developer material to the developer bearing body. The image bearing body is upstream of the second supplying member with respect to rotation of the developer bearing body, and the second supplying member is upstream of the first supplying member. The ratio of the circumferential speed of the first supplying member to that of the developer bearing body is larger than that of the circumferential speed of the second supplying member to circumferential speed of the developer bearing body.

An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming unit that uses a first toner for a first toner image and a second image forming unit that uses a second toner for a second toner image, and transfers, a controller that controls the first image forming unit and the second image forming unit, having two control modes, a first print mode in which the first toner image and the second toner image are continuously transferred to the transfer medium; and a second print mode in which the first toner image is transferred thereafter, the transfer medium, on which the first toner image is formed, is passed through the second image forming unit without the second image forming unit performing image transfer. The controller performs control in such a manner that an amount of the first toner in the first print mode is greater than that in the second print mode.

An image forming device includes each of developing devices including an image carrying part, a charging part that charges the image carrying part, a developing part on which a developing voltage is applied and which attaches developer to the image carrying part to develop the electrostatic latent image, and a control part that controls each of the developing devices. The developers are a white developer and other color developers, one of the developing devices using the white developer being defined the white developing device, the others using the other color developers being defined the non-white developing devices, and a developing potential difference of the white developing device is smaller than other developing potential differences of the non-white developing devices, the developing potential difference being defined between the developing voltage and potential of the image carrying part of the each developing device.

Image forming device

An image formation unit includes an image carrier, a developer carrier configured to supply developer to the image carrier to form a developer image on the image carrier, first and second developer supply members configured to supply the developer to the developer carrier, a first developer container room configured to contain therein the developer and accommodating therein the first developer supply member, and a second developer container room configured to contain therein the developer and accommodating therein the second developer supply member.

Image formation unit and image formation apparatus

A cleaning device including a toner conveying mechanism is provided. The toner conveying mechanism includes a conveying member that rotates to convey toner, an elastic member configured to contact a circumference of the conveying member, an image carrying body, and a cleaning member disposed between the elastic member and the image carrying body. The elastic member slidingly contacts the circumference of the rotating conveying member.

Toner conveying mechanism, cleaning device and image forming apparatus

An image forming device and method improves image quality by detecting the density of a pattern and adjusting the voltage applied to a developer supply member if necessary in response to the detected density. The pattern can be a medium duty tone pattern, which is relatively sensitive to environmental changes that can affect image density. The density detection pattern can be produced and detected after every predetermined number of sheets are printed, to maintain an acceptable image density during large print jobs. The pattern is formed on the surface of a transferring unit, which transfers the sheets.

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Tokyo, Japan

Hidetaka Mitsunobu