Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080226332 | EXPOSURE APPARATUS AND EXPOSURE METHOD, AND DEVICE MANUFACTURING METHOD - An exposure apparatus includes: a supply port through which a liquid is supplied to an optical path space of exposure light; and a supply passage in which the liquid flows and which is in fluid communication with the supply port. An amount of a predetermined substance mixed into the liquid in the supply passage is set to be not greater than a predetermined value. | 09-18-2008 |
20080317493 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus, including a photoconductor, an exposure device to expose the photoconductor, a dustproofing member arranged more upstream than an exposure position of the exposure device in a moving direction of the photoconductor, and a cover which supports the exposure device and dustproofing member, wherein said cover opens around a pivot shaft which is arranged more upstream than the exposure device in the moving direction of the photoconductor. | 12-25-2008 |
20090041497 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CLEANING DEVICE THEREOF - An image forming apparatus and a cleaning device capable of conveniently cleaning inner components without an additional driving source. The image forming apparatus includes a main body having a main body frame and a moving part provided movably relative to the main body frame, and a compressed air supply unit to compress air by interlocking with movement of the moving part and supply the compressed air to a laser scanning device to clean the laser scanning device. The moving part may be a cover hingedly coupled to the main body frame to open and shield a portion of the main body, or a paper feeding cassette removably mounted to the main body frame. The compressed air supply unit includes a cylinder coupled to the main body frame, and a piston coupled to the moving part. | 02-12-2009 |
20090060562 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member; and an exposure member having a light emitting element, the exposure member exposing the photosensitive member at an exposure position opposed to an opposed position on the photosensitive member to form the electrostatic latent image, the exposure member being movable between the exposure position and a retreated position retreating from the exposure position, wherein the exposure member includes a dust-proof wall protruding more than a light-emitting surface of the exposure member and a positioning member positioning the exposure member with respect to the photosensitive member at the exposure position, and wherein the dust-proof wall and the positioning member are integrally formed. | 03-05-2009 |
20090087209 | Image Forming Device - An image forming device includes a first device body, a second device body having a first side end and a second side end opposite to the first side end, the first side end being rotatably joined with the first device body, the second side end turning around the first side end between an opened state and a closed state, a photoconductive body provided in the first device body, an exposure unit provided to the second device body, the exposure unit having an exposure surface exposing the photoconductive body and form a latent image on the photoconductive body, and an exposure unit turning mechanism that turns the exposure unit between an exposure position where the exposure surface is directed to the photoconductive body in the closed state and an evacuation position where the exposure surface is directed to the first side end in the opened state. | 04-02-2009 |
20090169234 | Photosensitive Cartridge - A photosensitive cartridge includes a housing comprising an opening; a photosensitive drum supported by the housing, an electrostatic latent image being formed on the photosensitive drum; a charger that is supported by the housing and charges the photosensitive drum; a cleaning member that is supported by the housing and catches foreign substances from the photosensitive drum; and a cover that is exposed through the opening so as to be flush with an outer surface of the housing at a periphery of the opening, and catches foreign substances from the cleaning member. | 07-02-2009 |
20090169235 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus body including a driving force transmitting portion and a process cartridge. The process cartridge includes a housing, a photosensitive drum disposed in the housing, a first bearing rotatably supporting an axial end portion of the photosensitive drum, a driving force input portion, which is provided on the axial end portion of the photosensitive drum and is configured to engage the driving force transmitting portion in order to drive the photosensitive drum by a driving force transmitted from the driving force transmitting portion when the driving force transmitting portion is pressed against the driving force input portion, and a second bearing, which rotatably supports the other axial end of the photosensitive drum, and which comprises a first contact portion which contacts the image forming apparatus body when the driving force transmitting portion is pressed against the driving force input portion. | 07-02-2009 |
20090214251 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND FRAME UNIT THEREOF - An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, an exposure unit to form a latent image on the image carrier by light, and a particle entering prevention device to prevent particles from entering an optical path between the exposure unit and the image carrier. The particle entering prevention device includes a particle storage unit disposed in a vicinity of the optical path, to store the particles therein. | 08-27-2009 |
20090245850 | IMAGE EXPOSURE APPARATUS, CLEANING DEVICE OF IMAGE EXPOSURE APPARATUS, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image exposure apparatus is provided and includes: an optical unit that emits light to form an exposure image on a photosensitive material; a casing that houses the optical unit and that has an image exposure window through which the light is allowed to pass for forming the exposure image; a transparent dustproof member at the image exposure window; and a shutter member switched between a shield position for covering a region above the dustproof member, which serves as a passage region of a cleaning member for cleaning a surface of the dustproof member, and an open position for allowing the light to pass through the dustproof member to form an exposure image on a surface of the photosensitive material. When the shutter member is located at the shield position, at least a part of the shutter member goes into the passage region of the cleaning member. | 10-01-2009 |
20090274478 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND SENSING DEVICE THEREOF - An image forming apparatus and a sensing device thereof. The sensing device includes a sensor, and a cleaning unit adapted to be operated by a moving printing medium and used to clean the sensor. The sensing device is operable according to delivery of a printing medium, to remove pollutants attached to the sensor. | 11-05-2009 |
20090290898 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING PARTICULATE MATTER DEPOSITION ON CONTACT SURFACES - An element, or elements, of a collection chamber which may remove excess deposition of particulate matter without interrupting or otherwise disturbing the normal operation of the device are provided. These elements may oscillate within a collection chamber and substantially remove any particulate matter which may be deposited, and accumulate, within the collection chamber over time. Such an oscillation and removal of undesirably deposited particulate matter may be performed without substantially interfering with the ability of particulate matter to travel through the chamber or space. The element or elements may comprises but are not limited to, one or more plastic wiping elements, or one or more spring-like wire form structures. Additionally, one or more post processing systems and methods, for final disposal, transformation, or processing of the particulate matter which travels through the collection chamber may be provided. | 11-26-2009 |
20090297205 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND PHOTOELECTROGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge attachable to and detachable from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a first unit having an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a second unit including a developing roller configured to develop a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a sheet member which is disposed along the developing roller in a lengthwise direction of the developing roller and contacts the electrophotographic photosensitive member to restrain scattering of developer, wherein a contact portion of the sheet member that contacts the electrophotographic photosensitive member is roughened by a roughening process. | 12-03-2009 |
20090311001 | Wiping Assembly In An Image Forming Device - The invention provides a wiping assembly in an image forming device, to clean at least one sensor lens in the image forming device. The wiping assembly includes a bracket to move between a first position and a second position across the sensor lens. Further, the wiping assembly includes a wiper to clean the sensor lens. The wiper is located between the bracket and a sensor housing, which supports the sensor lens. The wiping assembly includes a spring to actuate the movement of the bracket between the first position and the second position. The movement of the bracket is actuated by the movement of a print media tray and/or the movement of a toner cartridge. | 12-17-2009 |
20100003049 | Image developing apparatus and image forming apparatus using the apparatus - An image developing apparatus includes an upper case; a lower case disposed on a lower side of the upper case, and internally housing a developing agent, and having an opening. A photoconductive drum is disposed on the upper case for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof. A charging roller is disposed on one side of an outer circumference of the photoconductive drum for charging the photoconductive drum. A developing roller having one part is exposed through the opening of the lower case to cooperate with the photoconductive drum for developing the electrostatic latent image. A scattering preventing unit disposed between the photoconductive drum and the developing roller, to prevent scattering of the developing agent supplied by the developing roller. The scattering preventing unit includes a blocking curtain which covers a part of the opening and having one side in contact with the outer circumference of the photoconductive drum. A fixing bracket is provided for supporting the blocking curtain. | 01-07-2010 |
20100129108 | Image Forming Apparatus and Method of Controlling Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: a belt having a carrying surface that carries a recording sheet; a photosensitive body disposed opposite to the carrying surface of the belt; a transferring member which is disposed opposite to the photosensitive body such that the carrying surface of the belt is disposed between the transferring member and the photosensitive body, and a transferring bias is applied to the transferring member; a cleaning member arranged adjacent to an outer peripheral surface of the belt; and a control unit for controlling a voltage that is applied to the cleaning member. The control unit causes a first voltage to be applied to the cleaning member during a first mode. The control unit causes a second voltage, different from the first voltage, to be applied to the cleaning member during a second mode. | 05-27-2010 |
20100166451 | TONER DUST FILTER - A printer ( | 07-01-2010 |
20100278552 | CARRIER BEAD COLLECTION ASSEMBLY FOR A XEROGRAPHIC PRINTER - A carrier bead collection assembly in a xerographic printer is disclosed. The carrier bead collection assembly may include a tray defining a cavity for retention of carrier beads, wherein the tray is located below a slot in a media transport surface in the xerographic printer and is removable so that is may be cleaned, and a magnet that is disposed beneath the tray, wherein the magnet attracts carrier beads that reside on the media transport surface such that as a result of the attraction, the carrier beads come to rest in the tray. | 11-04-2010 |
20100329727 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus having a cleaner for cleaning a surface of a dust-proof glass disposed on a housing of a laser scanning unit for irradiating a photosensitive member with a laser modulated in accordance with image data. The cleaner is supported by a frame of the image forming apparatus body such that the cleaner is movable while keeping in contact with the dust-proof glass and such that the cleaner stays in a stand-by position while keeping out of contact with the dust-proof glass and the housing of the laser scanning unit. | 12-30-2010 |
20110064450 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus using same - A fixing device includes a heating source; a heating member heated by the heating source; a pressing member contacting the heating member to form a fixing nip therebetween, at which an unfixed image of toner on a recording sheet is fixed to the recording sheet; a first charging member located at an entrance of the fixing device, from which the recording sheet bearing the unfixed toner image enters the fixing device, so as to face the unfixed toner image. The first charging member is not contacted with the heating member and pressing member, and has a charge with a polarity opposite to a polarity of a charge of the toner to collect floating particles of the toner. | 03-17-2011 |
20110222899 | CHARGING DEVICE - The present invention provides a charging device which can suppress the deterioration of a photosensitive member and the occurrence of an image deletion phenomenon on an electrophotographic image due to an electric discharge product having deposited on a charger shutter, even when having been used for a long period of time. The charging device has an image bearing member which bears an image thereon, a charging member which charges the image bearing member, and a shielding member which shields the charging member from the image bearing member, wherein the shielding member includes a specific material. | 09-15-2011 |
20110222900 | CHARGING DEVICE - A corona charger conventionally includes a sheet-like shutter and a holding member configured to hold an end of the shutter, and the replacement of a charging electrode is difficult. To solve this problem, the holding member configured to hold the end of the shutter is set to be movable along the longitudinal direction of a shield to a winding member of the shutter more than a supporting member configured to replaceably support the charging electrode. | 09-15-2011 |
20110222901 | CHARGING DEVICE - A charging device has a corona charger including a grid, the corona charger being configured to charge a photosensitive member. The device also has a sheet-like shutter configured to open and close an opening of the corona charger in the longitudinal direction, a winding member configured to wind the shutter while holding one end of the shutter, a holding member configured to hold the other end of the shutter and move in the longitudinal direction of the opening, and a protective member configured to protect a portion of a surface of the shutter facing the grid, the portion being adjacent to the holding member. | 09-15-2011 |
20110243597 | DUAL FUNCTION CHARGING DEVICE AND CHARGE PATTERNING DEVICE CLEANER - A printing apparatus includes a charging device and a photoreceptor adjacent the charging device. The charging device transfers a charge to the photoreceptor. Also, a charge patterning device is adjacent the photoreceptor. The patterning device patterns the charge on the photoreceptor to form a latent image charge. Additionally, an automated cleaning device is adjacent the charging device. The charge patterning device periodically moves by the charging device and the charge patterning device to simultaneously clean the charging device and the charge patterning device. | 10-06-2011 |
20110243598 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - There is provided an image forming apparatus capable of minimizing the adhesion of a mold release wax vaporized at the time of heating a toner image to components excluding a fixing device inside the image forming apparatus. The mold release wax vaporized at the time of heating and fixing a toner image to a recording material is collected by a collection member, which is provided between a nip portion forming member and the frame of the fixing device, and kept at a temperature between the melting point and the sublimation point of the mold release wax. | 10-06-2011 |
20110262178 | MEMBER MOVING MECHANISM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A member moving mechanism according to the present invention includes: a first moving member that moves in a first positive direction and a first negative direction opposite to the first positive direction; a second moving member that moves in a second positive direction that is different from each of the first positive direction and the first negative direction, and in a second negative direction opposite to the second positive direction; a belt member that connects the first moving member and the second moving member; and a belt-member guiding member that controls a moving direction of the belt member, and changes the moving direction of the belt member at least once. | 10-27-2011 |
20110274458 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The image forming apparatus including a fixing part that heats and fixes an unfixed toner image formed on a recording material, onto the recording material, an electric field generation member that forms an electric field in a space in which a component evaporated from a wax flows, the component being generated during the heating and fixing, and a collection member to which a voltage is applied, the collection member electrostatically collecting the component passing through the space in which the electric field has been formed. The image forming apparatus prevents conveyance failures resulting from evaporated components of a release wax adhering to parts within the image forming apparatus. | 11-10-2011 |
20110286760 | LASER SCANNER WINDOW CLEANER - A cleaning pad that is part of a printer developer customer replaceable unit cleans a laser aperture each time the customer replacement unit is removed and/or replaced. The pad is located on an inboard end of the customer replaceable unit such that when inserted into the printer it wipes any accumulated toner from the surface of the laser aperture. Also, in developer units that include a light proof cover that retracts at the time of insertion, the wiper is situated so that it cleans the aperture in the process of retracting. | 11-24-2011 |
20110286761 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, an optical unit provided below the photosensitive drum and including a cover glass for transmitting light emitted toward the photosensitive drum, and a cleaning member configured to clean a surface of the cover glass. The cleaning member includes a cleaning sheet configured to move foreign substances on the surface, and a wiping member configured to wipe foreign substances from the surface. The cleaning sheet and the wiping member move in contact with the surface of the cover glass when the cleaning member cleans the surface. The wiping member moves in contact with a portion of the surface of the cover glass after the cleaning sheet moves in contact with the portion. Accordingly, the cover glass can be reliably cleaned even when an unexpectedly large number of foreign substances that vary in particle size and shape adhere to the cover glass. | 11-24-2011 |
20110311263 | DEVELOPING DEVICE TO PREVENT SCATTERING OF TONER - A developing device includes a developing roller that carries a developer and faces an image carrier, a housing that supports the developing roller and supplies the developer to the developing roller, and a pressure reducing part that exists downstream of an opposite position to the image carrier in a rotation direction of the developing roller, and is formed in a wall of the housing located downstream of an airflow generated in a gap between the developer on the developing roller and an inner wall of the housing. | 12-22-2011 |
20120014709 | ELECTROGRAPHIC PRINTING APPARATUS - In an electrographic printing apparatus, a charge image carrier has charge images generated thereon of images to be printed. A developer station develops the charge images into an image film with carrier fluid and embedded toner images. A transfer unit receives the image film from the charge image carrier and transfers the image film onto a printing substrate. A fixing station fixes the image film on the printing substrate. A carrier fluid recovery device is arranged between the fixing station and the transfer unit, and recovers carrier fluid from carrier fluid vapor occurring in the fixing station and supplies the recovered carrier fluid to the transfer unit. | 01-19-2012 |
20120027449 | Image Forming Device - An image forming device, comprising: an endless belt stretched by a plurality of rollers; and a detection sensor located to face one of the plurality of rollers while sandwiching the endless belt between the detection sensor and the one of the plurality of rollers, the detection sensor reading information formed on the endless belt through use of reflection of light. A recessed part is formed, to catch foreign particles, on the one of the plurality of rollers at a position which is shifted in an axis direction of the one of the plurality of rollers with respect to a detection area on the endless belt to which light from the detection sensor is irradiated | 02-02-2012 |
20120027450 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier unit that includes an image carrier that is to be rotated about a rotational driving shaft; a charging unit; an exposing unit including a light source substrate and a lens array; a developing unit; a transfer unit; and a fixing unit. The image carrier unit can be pulled out along the rotational driving shaft of the image carrier. The exposing unit is movable between a contacting position, at which the exposing unit abuts on a contacting surface of the image carrier unit to be positioned relative to the image carrier, and a retracted position, at which the exposing unit is away from the image carrier unit. At the contacting position, the contacting surface is closer to the exposing unit in an optical axial direction than a surface of the lens array is. | 02-02-2012 |
20120027451 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes: a photoreceptor drum that is provided along a paper path of transfer paper; a discharging unit including a light emitting body that emits discharging light, the discharging unit eliminating electrical charge on a surface of the photoreceptor drum; a blast unit that is provided to blow air toward the discharging unit; and a air duct that is provided in the vicinity of the light emitting body, and is configured such that the air from the blast unit toward the discharging unit is configured to blow to a side of the paper path through the air duct. | 02-02-2012 |
20120039623 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a conveyance belt which conveys a recording sheet via a position opposing the image carrier, a belt cleaner which removes adhered matters on the conveyance belt, a driving unit which drives the image carrier and the conveyance belt, a bias applying unit which applies a cleaning bias to the belt cleaner, and a controller which controls the driving unit and the bias applying unit such that when the image carrier is driven at a first speed, the cleaning bias is applied to the belt cleaner, and when the image carrier is driven at a second speed slower than the first speed, the cleaning bias is not applied to the belt cleaner. | 02-16-2012 |
20120076527 | Image Forming Device - An image forming device is provided, which includes an interlocking mechanism that causes a cleaning unit to clean with a cleaning surface thereof a detection surface of a detection sensor for reading each detection pattern formed on an outer surface of a sheet-feeding endless belt, in conjunction with movement of a drawer, which holds a plurality of process cartridges, between an attachment position where a photoconductive drum included in each process cartridge faces an up-facing side of the outer surface of the endless belt and a replacement position where at least one of the process cartridges is outside a main body housing of the image forming device. | 03-29-2012 |
20120099885 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING TONER RECEIVER - According to one embodiment, a toner receiver includes a tray that is located below a path through which a supply port of a supply container passes if the supply container mounted to a main body is removed from the main body, and includes a first surface close to the supply port and a toner sump recessed from the first surface; and a toner guard that includes an upper surface including a same height as the first surface and causes toner spilled from the supply port to pass from the first surface to the toner sump. | 04-26-2012 |
20120099886 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS WITH CLEANING UNIT - An image forming apparatus includes a cleaning unit to cover/uncover and/or clean a transparent window of a light scanning unit in linkage with operation of a drive device that causes a photoconductor and a developing roller to come into contact with each other or to be spaced apart from each other, thereby assuring enhanced reliability in cleaning operation. | 04-26-2012 |
20120107011 | REDUCING CONTAMINATION BY REGULATING FLOW - Apparatus for retaining a contaminating substance in a working volume containing a gas includes a movable surface disposed adjacent to the working volume. A barrier is spaced apart from the surface ahead of the working volume in the direction of motion of the surface so that a gap is defined between the barrier and the surface. The gap is selected so that a stream of gas is carried by the moving surface through the gap into the working volume and the contaminating substance in the working volume is urged away from the gap, thereby reducing flow of the contaminating substance through the gap. | 05-03-2012 |
20120195622 | Paper Particle Removing Device, and Image Formation Device Provided with Paper Particle Removing Device - A paper particle removing device is provided with a paper particle removing roller configured to contact a printing sheet to capture paper particles on the printing sheet, a scraping member arranged adjacent to the paper particle removing roller and configured to contact the paper particle removing roller to scrape the paper particles, a paper particle container arranged on a scraping member side with respect to a position where the scraping member contacts the paper particle removing roller, and configured to collect the paper particles scraped by the scraping member, and a negatively-charged member arranged on the scraping member side with respect to a position where the paper particle removing roller contacts the scraping member and having a relative tendency in a triboelectric series to be negatively charged relative to the paper particles, the negatively-charged member inducing the paper particles scraped by the scraping member toward the paper particle container. | 08-02-2012 |
20120251158 | OPTICAL SCANNING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - If an open-close lid is opened to perform cleaning for wiping the dirt off reflection surfaces of a polygon mirror, a service staff has difficulty in cleaning the reflection surfaces of the polygon mirror since the polygon mirror is located inside a housing. To respond to such an issue, a positional relationship between an installation position of the polygon mirror and an opening is set such that at least one of the reflection surfaces of the polygon mirror is exposed to the outside of the housing. | 10-04-2012 |
20130084096 | Image Forming Apparatus Having Cleaning Unit Movably Provided on Photosensitive Member Unit - An image forming apparatus includes: a main body having a pinch roller; a supporting member configured to support a plurality of cartridges; and a cleaning unit provided on the supporting member. The supporting member is movable, relative to the main body, between an internal position located inside the main body and an external position located outside the main body. The cleaning unit includes: a paper dust roller for removing paper dust from recording sheets; a paper dust removing member for removing the paper dust; and a storing section for string the paper dust. The paper dust roller is movable relative to the supporting member and positioning of the paper dust roller relative to the pinch roller is independent of positioning of the supporting member relative to the main body. | 04-04-2013 |
20130156460 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND PHOTOELECTROGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge attachable to and detachable from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a first unit having an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a second unit including a developing roller configured to develop a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a sheet member which is disposed along the developing roller in a lengthwise direction of the developing roller and contacts the electrophotographic photosensitive member to restrain scattering of developer, wherein a contact portion of the sheet member that contacts the electrophotographic photosensitive member is roughened by a roughening process. | 06-20-2013 |
20130164022 | DEVELOPING CONTAINER, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME, DEVELOPING DEVICE USING THE SAME, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing container configured to contain developer, the developing container including: a filter member which covers a communicating hole through which an inside and an outside of the developing container are communicated with each other; a fixing area where the filter member is fixed to the developing container; and a vibration regulating portion configured to regulate vibrations of the filter member on an inner side of the fixing area, wherein the filter member is configured to allow passage of air and regulate passage of the developer, and wherein the vibration regulating portion is provided so as to be hit by the filter member if the filter member is vibrated, in order to regulate the vibrations of the filter member. | 06-27-2013 |
20130170853 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a main body of the image forming apparatus; at least one image forming unit disposed in the main body; a light scanning unit that is disposed in the main body and scans light to form an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive medium of the at least one image forming unit; a window open-closing shutter that is disposed to slidably move on a surface of the light scanning unit from which light emits, and moves between an open position where a light moving path is opened and a blocking position where the light moving path is blocked; a shutter operating lever that is disposed in the main body, and activates the window open-closing shutter to be positioned at either of the open position and the blocking position; and a pressure member that is disposed in the main body and presses the shutter operating lever. | 07-04-2013 |
20130183061 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a developing module which develops a toner image on a printing medium, a fixing module which fixes the toner image onto the printing medium, and a toner neutralization module arranged on a travel path of the printing medium between the developing module and the fixing module to electrically neutralize the toner image on the printing medium. | 07-18-2013 |
20130243472 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a developing device, a duct, a first fan, a dust collection part, and a connection portion. The duct communicates with a suction port that is provided in the vicinity of an opening portion of a developing container of the developing device. The first fan generates an airflow in the duct and discharges air that has passed through the suction port and through the duct to the outside of a main body of the apparatus. The dust collection part captures toner that has passed through the duct together with an airflow generated by the first fan. The connection portion is provided at some point along a length of the duct, can store part of toner that passes therethrough together with an airflow, and has a lid portion that is openable and closable with respect to a main body of the connection portion. | 09-19-2013 |
20130287427 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING A CLEANING UNIT TO CLEAN AN OPTICAL SENSOR UNIT - An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive unit to form an visible image, a printing medium storage unit to store a printing medium, a pickup device to pick up the printing medium from the printing medium storage unit, a developing unit to develop the electrostatic latent image of the photosensitive unit into a visual image, an optical sensor to inspect the visual image, and a cleaning unit to clean a light window arranged at the optical sensor according to a control of the pickup device. | 10-31-2013 |
20130322916 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an outer housing, a cover openeably/closably mounted at the outer housing, an optical scanning device including a light transmissive member configured to transmit laser light, a cleaning member configured to clean the light transmissive member, and an interlocking mechanism. The interlocking mechanism moves the cleaning member in conjunction with opening/closing of the cover. | 12-05-2013 |
20140086616 | FIXING APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus includes: first and second rotatable member configured to heat-fix, at a nip therebetween, an unfixed toner image formed on a sheet by using a toner containing a parting agent; a casing, configured to accommodate the first and second rotatable member, including a sheet introducing opening and a sheet discharging opening; and a suppressing portion configured to suppress diffusion, toward the sheet discharging opening, of particles having a predetermined diameter resulting from a parting agent in the neighborhood of the sheet introducing opening, wherein the suppressing portion is provided in a position of 0.5 mm or more and 3.5 mm or less from a surface of the first rotatable member in a space in the casing from the sheet introducing opening to the sheet discharging opening. | 03-27-2014 |
20140086617 | FIXING APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus includes: first and second rotatable members configured to heat-fix, at a nip therebetween, a toner image of toner containing a parting agent formed on a sheet; a casing, configured to accommodate the first and second rotatable member, including a sheet introducing opening and a sheet discharging opening; and a suppressing member configured to suppress diffusion, toward the sheet discharging opening, of particles having a predetermined diameter resulting from a parting agent in the neighborhood of the sheet introducing opening. The suppressing member is provided in the neighborhood of the sheet introducing opening so as to block between the casing and the first rotatable member. | 03-27-2014 |
20140119768 | OPTICAL SCANNER AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - An optical scanner includes a plurality of automatic cleaning units which automatically cleans dust-proof glasses. The automatic cleaning units include screw shafts threadedly coupled to holding units that hold cleaning members. When the holding members are moved by rotationally driving the screw shafts of the automatic cleaning units at the same time, the height of the cleaning member of at least one of the automatic cleaning units with respect to the dust-proof glasses becomes different from the height of the cleaning members of the remaining automatic cleaning units with respect to the dust-proof glasses. | 05-01-2014 |
20140140720 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a rotatable fixing member configured to heat and fix, onto a recording material, a toner image formed on the recording material, a restriction member configured to restrict movement of the rotatable fixing member in a generatrix direction of the rotatable fixing member, and a capture member configured to capture a component vaporized by heat. The capture member is arranged to face a curved surface portion of the rotatable fixing member and is positioned by the restriction member. | 05-22-2014 |
20140140721 | PARTICLE ADHESION PREVENTING MEMBER, ELECTRIC FIELD FORMING MEMBER, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A particle adhesion preventing member used for an image forming apparatus that forms an image using charged toner, and configured to prevent adhesion of the charged toner, includes a conductive member, and an insulating member that is attached to the conductive member, including a porous member made of an ethylene propylene diene ternary copolymer having a density of 0.01 g/cm | 05-22-2014 |
20140147163 | METHOD FOR BIAS MEMBER CHARGING A PHOTORECEPTOR - A bias charge member is pulsed into contact with a photoreceptor at high frequency as a mean to reduce contamination and wearing on both the bias charge member and photoreceptor. | 05-29-2014 |
20140178092 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device includes a hollow, open-sided stationary heat roller, a flexible fuser belt, a fuser pad, a rotatable pressure member, a reinforcing member, and a sealing mechanism. The heat roller defines an elongated longitudinal side opening that opens into a hollow interior thereof. The fuser belt is looped for rotation around the heat roller to transfer heat radially outward from the roller circumference. The fuser pad is held substantially stationary along the roller opening outward from the roller interior and inward from the loop of the fuser belt. The pressure member is pressed against the fuser pad through the fuser belt to form a fixing nip. The reinforcing member is disposed within the roller interior to thrust against the fuser pad through the roller opening. The sealing mechanism is disposed on the roller opening to prevent foreign matter from entering the roller interior through the roller opening. | 06-26-2014 |
20140193171 | FIXING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A fixing unit includes: a fixing member which defines a fixing nip, where the fixing member fixes a toner image transferred onto a recording medium by applying heat and pressure to the toner image on the recording medium, and the recording medium passes through the fixing nip; a housing in which the fixing member is disposed, where the housing includes an entrance part, via which the recording medium enters therein, and a discharge part, via which the recording medium is discharged therefrom; and a blocking part disposed on the housing and toward an image surface of the recording medium to which the toner image is transferred, where the blocking part blocks nanodusts, which are generated while the toner image is being fixed to the recording medium, from being discharged to an outside of the housing. | 07-10-2014 |
20140205310 | DEVELOPMENT DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A development device includes a sheet member, a support member, and a vibration applying device. The sheet member is disposed between a developer carrier and a blade to receive a developer falling from the developer carrier toward the blade. The developer carrier is disposed to face to an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and configured to supply the developer to the image carrier in a facing area to the image carrier. The blade is configured to regulate an amount of the developer carried on the developer carrier. The support member holds the sheet member. The vibration applying device applies vibration to the sheet member. The sheet member is stretchable and flexible and is stretched over the support member. | 07-24-2014 |
20140205311 | DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A developing device includes a contact member and a developing adhesion member. The contact member is provided to an air releasing part communicating an inside and an outside of a developer case storing a developer containing a toner, in a condition being contactable with an agitating member agitating and conveying the developer in the developing case. The developing adhesion member is supported by the contact member and is configured to collect the developer within air flowing from the inside to the outside of the developing case and to receive vibration caused by agitating and conveying operations of the agitating member through the contact member. | 07-24-2014 |
20140294428 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a dustproof shutter, a lock lever, a shutter lever and an elastic member. The dustproof shutter is openably/closably supported in a case so as to protect an exposure device. The lock lever is configured to lock a cover openably/closably provided in the case, and to be movable in an opening direction of the cover. The shutter lever is provided at a position coming into contact with the lock lever and the dustproof shutter when the cover is closed. The elastic member biases the shutter lever toward the lock lever. The shutter lever moves between a first position to open the dustproof shutter when the cover is locked and a second position to move the lock lever in the opening direction of the cover by a biasing force of the elastic member and closing the dustproof shutter when the cover is unlocked. | 10-02-2014 |
20140334840 | DRIVING FORCE TRANSMITTING DEVICE AND OPTICAL UNIT - The driving force transmitting device | 11-13-2014 |
20140348534 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a roller pair, a paper dust collecting member, a scraping member, and a paper dust receiver. The paper dust collecting member can be drawn out from the apparatus main body and is disposed along an axis direction of the roller pair so as to collect paper dust adhered to one roller of the roller pair. The scraping member scrapes off paper dust adhered to the paper dust collecting member when the paper dust collecting member is moved in a draw-out direction. The paper dust receiver is disposed below the scraping member so as to receive the paper dust scraped off by the scraping member. | 11-27-2014 |
20140356016 | Toner Cartridge having a Shutter with Bypassing Actuation - A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes an outlet port positioned on the front of a housing for transferring toner from a reservoir to a developer unit. The toner cartridge includes an engagement member having a first engagement surface and a second engagement surface. The first engagement surface is positioned proximate the rear of the housing to receive an actuation force from an actuation feature of an image forming device. The second engagement surface is positioned proximate the front of the housing below the outlet port to engage a shutter on an inlet port of the developer unit. The engagement member is movable from a first position to a second position upon receiving the actuation force. As the engagement member moves from the first position to the second position, the second engagement surface protrudes from the front of the housing to engage the shutter of the developer unit. | 12-04-2014 |
20140356017 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a unit supporting member for supporting the image forming unit, and an exposure device, wherein the unit supporting member includes a first contact supporting portion for supporting the image forming unit, and a second contact supporting portion disposed on a downstream side of the first contact supporting portion in a taking out direction of the image forming unit with a step portion. The image forming unit includes a first contact supported portion contacting and being supported by the first contact supporting portion, a second contact supported portion contacting and being supported by the second contact supporting portion, and a cleaner for cleaning the exposure device. Because the cleaner cleans the exposure device when the image forming unit is taken out from the unit supporting member, light from the exposure device is surely radiated to an image carrier surface. | 12-04-2014 |
20140363193 | AIR-BEARING PHOTORECEPTOR BACKER BAR FOR ELIMINATING TRANSFER STREAKS - An apparatus for eliminating transfer streaks in a printing system is provided and comprises a hollow transfer backer bar including sealed ends. The transfer backer bar further includes a plurality of holes with the holes spaced along the photoreceptor supporting surface of the transfer backer bar. Air pressure can be applied within a hollow transfer backer bar thereby creating an air flow outward through the holes. The air flow contacts the underside of a photoreceptor and floats the photoreceptor on a thin cushion of air flow during transfer of an image to paper. | 12-11-2014 |
20140376951 | DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE INCORPORATING SAME - A developing device includes a developer bearer to carry by rotation developer to a development range facing a latent image bearer, a developer container to contain developer and having a pressure-release vent to discharge air from the developer container to outside the developing device, and a filter provided to the pressure-release vent to inhibit developer from being discharged through the pressure-release vent. The filter includes a porous fluoroplastic film. | 12-25-2014 |
20150086234 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes first and second rollers forming an image fixing nip, said second roller being disposed below said first roller; a casing accommodating said first and second rollers and having a sheet introduction opening and a sheet discharge opening; a suppression portion provided at a position, away by not less than 0.5 mm and not more than 3.5 mm, from a surface of the first roller in a space from said sheet introduction opening to said sheet discharge opening and configured to suppress scattering of particles of predetermined particle sizes resulting from parting material adjacent said sheet introduction opening; and a substantially closed chamber provided above said casing and having an entrance for permitting entering of said particles guided to a outside of said casing by said suppression portion to stagnate the particles. | 03-26-2015 |
20150104212 | CLEANING DEVICE, DEVICE TO BE CLEANED, CLEANING MEMBER, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cleaning device includes a cleaning member that includes a cleaning portion that cleans a light transmission member, which has a substantially elongated shape and which transmits light, and a support portion that supports the cleaning portion and a wall portion that is disposed on one end side of the light transmission member in a longitudinal direction of the light transmission member and that has a surface that is formed along a direction that intersects the longitudinal direction of the light transmission member. The cleaning member and the wall portion each have a configuration in which when an end of the cleaning member makes contact with the wall portion and is pressed, the support portion is bent in a convex manner toward a side opposite to a side on which the light transmission member is disposed. | 04-16-2015 |
20150147082 | LASER PRINT CARTRIDGE WITH REMOVABLE PAPER CLEANING ASSEMBLY - An improved laser print cartridge having a reduced defect rate. The improved laser print cartridge includes a printing assembly, a primary cleaning assembly, and a paper cleaning assembly. The printing assembly includes a drum, a primary charge roller, and a toner roller for applying toner to printer paper. The primary cleaning assembly includes a wiper blade for removing large debris particles from the drum into a large particle receiving volume. The paper cleaning assembly provides a wicking flange for removing smaller particles of debris not removed by the wiper blade. As such, the wicking flange is positioned in between the wiper blade and the primary charge roller and is mounted to the wiper blade. A cleaning portion of the wicking flange is pressed against the drum and either absorbs the debris or wipes the debris into a small particle receiving volume delineated by the drum, wicking flange, and wiper blade. | 05-28-2015 |
20150331382 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body and a movable member configured to move with respect to the main body while supporting an image bearing member and a developer bearing member. The movable member is movable to a position located inside the main body, where the two bearing members is in an image formable state, and a position located outside the main body, where a cartridge including the developer bearing member is detachable from the movable member. The apparatus further includes an exposure device configured to expose the image bearing member via a light transmission member, and a cleaning member configured to clean a surface of the light transmission member opposed to the movable member. The cleaning member is provided on the movable member and is movable to a contact position for contacting the light transmission member and a noncontact position when the movable member moves. | 11-19-2015 |
20150346640 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a main housing, a drum unit, a developing unit, a toner container, and a paper conveyance unit. The drum unit includes a photosensitive drum. The developing unit includes a developer roller that develops a toner image on the photosensitive drum. The toner container contains toner. The paper conveyance unit is openable and closable. The image forming apparatus includes a toner leakage preventing member that is removably attached to the housing so as to extend through a space formed between the paper conveyance unit and each of the drum unit and the developing unit. | 12-03-2015 |
20160026145 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD - Disclosed herein are an image forming apparatus and method that determines whether a photo sensor used for color registration is contaminated and a contamination level thereof so as to automatically clean the photo sensor. The image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer medium onto which images having different colors are to be overlapped and transferred, a photo sensor which emits light to receive light reflected by the intermediate transfer medium, a cleaning unit which cleans the photo sensor, and a control unit which controls the cleaning unit to clean the photo sensor based on an amount of light received by the photo sensor meeting a contamination indicating threshold. | 01-28-2016 |
20160033923 | LOW PROFILE LIGHT SCANNING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS THEREWITH - A light scanning device includes a housing, a plurality of permeable members, a plurality of cleaning members, a plurality of cleaning holders, a linear member, and a driving unit. The plurality of permeable members close the respective plurality of the emission ports. The plurality of cleaning holders extend over the plurality of the permeable members adjacent to one another. The plurality of the cleaning holders each have a holding unit that holds at least the two cleaning members. The linear member is connected to the plurality of the cleaning holders. The driving unit causes the linear member to run circularly. The cleaning members each slide on the corresponding permeable member in association with the linear member running circularly. The cleaning holders each connected to the linear member at a center of the holding unit in an extending direction of the holding unit. | 02-04-2016 |