Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.

Kyocera Mita Corporation

Kimihiko Kobayashi

Junichi Fukuoka

An inkjet recording apparatus includes a plurality of nozzles, a pressurizing element, a driver, a controller and a control circuit. The pressurizing element is provided for each of the nozzles. The driver drives the pressurizing elements. The controller generates image data indicating whether ink is ejected for each of the nozzles. The control circuit transmits ejection waveform data indicating a signal transmitted to the pressurizing element and the image data. After printing according to the image data transmitted to the driver is completed, in a non-printing state in which there is no image data to be subsequently printed, the control circuit transmits at least one of the image data indicating a blank sheet and the ejection waveform data in which the ink is not ejected, to the driver.

Inkjet recording apparatus

An optical sensor has a light emission section and a light reception section so arranged as to sandwich an opening part of a toner container from both sides when the toner container is attached, and a shutter slides in conjunction with the attachment and detachment of the toner container and has a top surface member opening and closing a toner exhaust port of a cleaning device and a side surface member transmitting and blocking light of the optical sensor. A slit orthogonal to a sliding direction of the shutter is formed at the side surface member of the shutter, and the control section performs detection of attachment and detachment of the toner container based on a waveform pattern of light transmitted through the slits which pattern appears in a signal of the optical sensor.

Image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus includes an accommodating container provided at one end thereof with a toner supply port, a stirring conveying member that conveys toner to the supply port, a rotational driving unit that rotationally drives the stirring conveying member, a current detection unit that detects a driving current, an overload detection section that detects that the stirring conveying member is in an overload state when the driving current is within a range of an excess current, an unevenness determination section that determines whether the toner has been unevenly accumulated at the one end or the other end of the accommodating container, and a cause determination section that determines that a cause of the overload is uneven distribution of the toner when the overload state of the stirring conveying member is detected and being determined that the toner has been unevenly accumulated at the one end or the other end.

Image forming apparatus and toner state determination method thereof

An image forming apparatus includes a developing device, a magnetic permeability detecting part and a developer amount measuring part. The developing device develops an image carrier by a contained developer. The magnetic permeability detecting part detects magnetic permeability of the developer in the developing device. The developer amount measuring part calculates a duty ratio of the magnetic permeability of the developer in the developing device on the basis of detected result of the magnetic permeability detecting part and measures a developer amount in the developing device on the basis of the duty ratio.

Image forming apparatus measuring developer amount in developing device on the basis of duty ratio of magnetic permeability of developer in developing device

An image-forming apparatus includes a power-source part, a fixing device, a power-source switch, a memory part, a fixing motor, and a drive-transmitting part. The power-source part generates and supplies voltage. The fixing device includes a rotating heating body, a heater, and a rotating pressing body. The power-source switch turns off a power source of the image-forming apparatus. The memory part stores recorded data that the power source was turned off due to the operation of the power-source switch. When the recorded data is stored in the memory part, electric power is applied to the fixing motor so as to initiate rotation at a first torque, and when the recorded data is not stored, electric power is applied to the fixing motor so as to initiate rotation at a second torque, which is less than the first torque.

Image-forming apparatus and method for controlling image-forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus includes a waste-toner container, a light sensor having a light-emitting portion and a light-receiving portion, a light-blocking member for covering the light sensor to detect the attachment of the waste-toner container, and a control unit. When the waste-toner container is determined to be full based on the output voltage of the light sensor, a printing operation is stopped or is not started until it is determined that the waste-toner container is removed and then attached, and that the waste-toner container is not full. A method for detecting the fullness of a waste-toner container includes the steps of detecting the fullness of the waste-toner container, prohibiting printing, detecting whether or not the waste-toner container is attached, and permitting printing.

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Osaka, Japan

Kimihiko Kobayashi