Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Corporation

Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.

Yuji Kumagai

Toshiki Takiguchi

Hiroyuki Murai

Masato Kuze

Norio Tomita

Hiroshi Kido

Hirokazu Yamauchi

Shinji Makimura

Kazuhiro Matsuyama

Yoshikazu Harada

Masaki Amemiya

Akira Nakajo

Takenori Ohtoshi

Kiyoshi Sasoh

Shingo Masumoto

A set of adjustment pattern images includes first adjustment pattern images and second adjustment pattern images to be formed on a first side and a second side of a recording sheet, respectively, by an image forming apparatus. The set of adjustment pattern images is employed to adjust an image forming position by the image forming apparatus such that an image forming position of the first adjustment pattern images is aligned with an image forming position of the second adjustment pattern images. The set of adjustment pattern images includes at least two first adjustment pattern images that are spaced from each other and at least two second adjustment pattern images that are spaced from each other, and the first adjustment pattern images on the first side and the second adjustment pattern images on the second side are arranged alternately with each other.

Image forming apparatus, image adjustment method for the image forming apparatus, and adjustment pattern image

In a registration step, the temperature near a polygon mirror () is detected by a first temperature sensor (), and the internal ambient temperature of an image forming apparatus () is detected by a second temperature sensor (). Also, a registration adjustment value of each color is determined and stored in a memory (). In a printing step, the registration adjustment value (A) of each color determined in the registration step is corrected based on a change in the temperature near the polygon mirror () and a change in the internal ambient temperature of the image forming apparatus (). Furthermore, the write timing of an electrostatic latent image onto each photosensitive drum () by an optical scanning device () is controlled. Then, the position of the electrostatic latent image on each photosensitive drum () is shifted by an amount corresponding to the corrected registration adjustment value.

Registration adjustment method for image forming apparatus and image forming apparatus

In an image forming method, an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of a photoreceptor is developed into a developer image with a developer, and a printing paper transported on a transfer belt is brought into contact with the surface of the photoreceptor so as to transfer the developer image onto the printing paper. The printing paper is transported in a proper transport direction, in which a projection generated in one direction on the printing paper as a result of cutting the printing paper in a printing paper manufacturing process does not face a surface of the transfer belt at a leading edge of the printing paper being transported on the transfer belt. In this way, even in the presence of the projection generated when the printing paper is cut, the printing paper naturally strips off from the surface of the photoreceptor, thereby preventing toner contamination caused by a striping claw in contact with the leading edge of the printing paper.

Image forming method and image forming apparatus

A charging device includes a long electrode, a cleaning member, a timing device, a drive source, a load measuring device, and a control device. The drive source moves the cleaning member in the outward direction for a first time period after the outward passage time and then reverses the cleaning member in the homeward position. The load measuring device measures driving load imposed on the drive source while the cleaning member is being moved. The control device controls motion of the drive source to turn the cleaning member from the outward direction to the homeward direction at a predetermined objective point near the second end, based on sum of driving loads imposed on the drive source while the cleaning member is being moved from the first point to a second point located along the outward direction.

Charging device

An image forming apparatus for executing image forming process on a page by page basis including: a toner image forming section for producing a visible image formed of toner as a toner image on an image carrier; a transfer section which performs a transfer process for transferring the formed toner image onto a recording medium; a cleaning section which removes toner remaining on the image carrier after the transfer process; a waste toner storing section in which the removed toner is accumulated; and a waste toner amount detecting section which detects an amount of the toner accumulated in the waste toner storing section on the basis of at least three detection levels.

Image forming apparatus and waste toner warning method

A ballast for an electrodeless discharge lamp includes a high frequency power supply that supplies a high frequency electric power to an induction coil for operating the lamp. A dimmer controller generates a control signal in response to a dimmer command designating a varying dimming ratio. The control signal defines a first period Ton in which the power supply is controlled to apply a coil voltage of a first level Vto the induction coil for operating the lamp. The first period is followed by a second period Toff in which the power supply is controlled to apply the coil voltage of a second level Vthat is lower than the first level and fails to sustain the lamp. The control signal defines, between the second period and the first period, a starting period Tst in which the coil voltage increases continuously for smooth transition from an off-condition to an on-condition of the lamp.

Dimmable ballast for an electrodeless discharge lamp

A power source device includes a high frequency power source having a pair of switching elements and converting a DC voltage into an AC high frequency voltage to be supplied to a load, a driving transformer having, wound on a magnetic core, a primary winding and a pair of secondary windings connected respectively in series to each of control terminals of the pair of the switching elements, and a driving device for driving the two switching elements by applying a voltage to the primary winding of the driving transformer. The secondary windings are wound on the core to be separated in every turn at equal intervals and not to be intimately close to each other, for remarkable improvement in the degree of variability in the efficiency of circuit forming the power source device.

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Yamatokoriyama, Japan

Yuji Kumagai