Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080219702 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - A disclosed image forming apparatus includes an image carrier; one or more charging units configured to charge the image carrier in preparation for formation of each of plural latent images corresponding to toner images of different colors; a latent image forming unit configured to expose non-image areas on the charged image carrier to form each of the latent images; and developing units configured to develop the corresponding latent images in sequence with toners of the corresponding colors to form the toner images and thereby to form a color toner image composed of the toner images of the different colors on the image carrier, the toners having polarity opposite to that of the charged image carrier. | 09-11-2008 |
20090041492 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus, which reduces toner spatter and produces a good quality image when forming a toner image using the direct recording method. An image forming part includes: a toner carrier for carrying toner; and toner controlling means, which is disposed between the toner carrier and recording paper on which the toner is made to adhere, and which has a plurality of toner passage holes, the toner controlling means having a control electrode for controlling the passage of toner on the toner carrier side surface in the area around the toner passage hole, and forming a toner image by causing the toner to fly to the recording paper, and the image forming apparatus having liquid applying/humidifying means for either applying a liquid to or humidifying the imaging surface of the recording paper prior to forming a toner image. | 02-12-2009 |
20090074431 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a toner-layer filling-rate lowering unit that causes a toner layer of toner images to be formed on an image carrier so that the toner layer has sufficient optical transparency for exposing and the toner-layer filling rate is set relatively low; and a toner rolling rate adjusting unit that rolls the toner images at a predetermined toner rolling rate in accordance with the toner-layer filling rate when the toner images are transferred to the transferring/fixing unit. | 03-19-2009 |
20090257791 | DEVELOPING UNIT, PROCESSING UNIT, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing unit includes a brush member that includes a base member and a plurality of raisings that are erected on a surface of the base. The brush member traps toner within the raisings and causes a flicker movement in the raisings of the brush so that the toner trapped within the raisings is shaken and flown due to the flicker movement to the surface of a toner carrying member. | 10-15-2009 |
20100061751 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The present invention provides an image forming apparatus, which is able to prevent the adherence of toner on the surface of toner controlling means and around a toner passage hole, and to stably carry out toner passage ON/OFF control when forming an image using the direct recording method. This image forming apparatus includes: a toner carrier; recording medium means; toner controlling means, disposed between the toner carrier and recording medium means, and having a plurality of toner passage holes; and cloud electrode means disposed between the toner carrier and toner controlling means, a toner cloud being formed by applying an AC bias between the toner carrier and cloud electrode means. A control electrode and a common electrode are disposed in toner controlling means, and when the toner of the toner carrier is able to pass through the toner controlling means toward recording medium means, a loop-shaped line of electric force is formed between the recording medium means side and the toner controlling means common electrode, the loop-shaped line by-passing the control electrode. | 03-11-2010 |
20100104319 | DIRECT IMAGE-RECORDING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS EQUIPPED THEREWITH - A direct image-recording device in which a predetermined gap set between an image carrier and a hole forming member can be maintained, and an image forming apparatus provided with the direct image-recording device. In the direct image-recording device including: housing that accommodates an agent; an agent carrier that is rotatably supported by the housing and faces outside from an opening formed in the housing; a sheet-like hole forming member having a plurality of holes formed therein and facing the agent carrier at a predetermined distance therefrom; and a plurality of electrodes, by which the agent flies, provided at the hole forming member correspondingly to each of the plurality of holes and form an electric field causing the agent to fly selectively from the agent carrier toward the hole, a positioning member is provided at the housing so as to cover the agent carrier, the positioning member being configured to hold the hole forming member along the axial direction of the agent carrier by a side wall of the positioning member that has open portions formed in locations at least opposing the plurality of holes formed in the hole forming member, and configured to position the holes relative to the agent carrier so that the relative positions of the agent carrier and the holes are in a predetermined positional relationship. | 04-29-2010 |
20100129107 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND COOLING METHOD USED THEREIN - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including an image carrier and a development device, a transfer unit to transfer an image formed on the image carrier onto a sheet, a fixing device to fix the image on the sheet, a sheet transport unit, a sheet stack portion, an air duct, and a first liquid-cooling device. The first liquid-cooling device includes a first heat receiving member disposed in thermal contact with a first heated portion, a first heat releaser, a first circulation pipe connecting the first heat receiving member and the first heat releaser to circulate a coolant therebetween, a first transport member to transport the coolant through the first circulation pipe, and an airflow generator to generate an airflow with external air to cool the first heat releaser. The air duct guides the air taken in by the airflow generator to a second heated portion. | 05-27-2010 |
20100183323 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus including a target part to be cooled detachably attachable to the image forming apparatus, a cooling device including a heat receiving part provided to contact the target part to be cooled to receive heat from the target part to be cooled with a cooling medium provided within the heat receiving part, and a contact/separation mechanism to cause the heat receiving part to contact and separate from the target part to be cooled. The contact/separation mechanism includes a pressing unit to press the heat receiving part against the target part to be cooled. A reaction of a pressing force of the heat receiving part applied to the pressing unit when the heat receiving part is pressed against the target part to be cooled is directed onto a predetermined portion of the target part to be cooled. | 07-22-2010 |
20100183342 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE BASED ON DIRECT RECORDING METHOD AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - An image creating apparatus includes a casing that stores therein an agent, an agent carrier rotatably supported by the casing, a hole defining member defining a plurality of holes therein and opposed to the agent carrier, a plurality of spray electrodes provided on the hole defining member respectively corresponding to the holes and forming an electric field for selectively causing the agent to be sprayed from the agent carrier towards the holes, and a positioning member provided on the casing to cover the agent carrier and positioning the hole defining member with respect to the agent carrier so that the agent carrier and the hole defining member are in a predetermined positional relationship. The angle of the positioning member is adjustable relative to the casing about a rotation shaft that is coaxial with the agent carrier. | 07-22-2010 |
20110030927 | COOLING DEVICE - In a cooling device that includes a cooling roller that comprises a hollow tubular member and a cooling medium transport unit for transporting a cooling liquid to the inside of the cooling roller and contacts a sheet-like member to cool down the paper, a turbulence generating unit that generates turbulence in a cooling liquid is disposed near an inner wall of the outer tube. | 02-10-2011 |
20110052247 | Cooling device and image forming device - A cooling device includes a cooling roller having a dual tube structure including an inner tube disposed inside an outer tube, an outside flow passage and an inside flow passage in which a cooling medium flows, and an opening that allows the outside flow passage to communicate with the inside flow passage, a cooling medium transport unit, and a rotating tube joint unit mounted to one end side of the cooling roller. One end of the outer tube is coaxially rotatably fitted to a first fitting section of the rotating tube joint unit. One end of the inner tube is coaxially fitted into and rotatably or fixedly supported to a second fitting section of the rotating tube joint unit, and the other end is coaxially fitted into and rotatably or fixedly supported to a fitting section on the other end of the outer tube. | 03-03-2011 |
20110052248 | COOLING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - A cooling device is disclosed. The cooling device includes a cooling section which is moveably provided with respect to an image forming device body between a first location and a second location, the second location being different from the first location, and which cools surroundings with a cooling medium to be supplied; a cooling medium supply section which is provided at the image forming device body and which cools the cooling medium to supply the cooled cooling medium to the cooling section; and a connecting member which connects the cooling section and the cooling medium supply section to circulate the cooling medium between the cooling section and the cooling medium supply section, wherein the connecting member includes a flexible member and is supported by a guiding member which guides an operation of tracking the connecting member in conjunction with movement of the cooling section. | 03-03-2011 |
20110052249 | COOLING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Disclosed is a cooling device that includes a cooling part that is movably provided between a first position and a second position different from the first position with respect to an image forming apparatus main body and cools a periphery thereof with a cooling medium to be supplied; a cooling medium supply part that is provided in the image forming apparatus main body and cools and supplies the cooling medium to the cooling part; and a connecting member that connects the cooling part to the cooling medium supply part to circulate the cooling medium between the cooling part and the cooling medium supply part; wherein the connecting member is configured to include a flexible member and spirally provided with a moving direction of the cooling part as an axis center. | 03-03-2011 |
20110164896 | Cooling device and image forming apparatus - A cooling device includes a heat receiving unit disposed to contact a surface of a temperature-increasing part the temperature of which increases during an image forming process; a radiation unit transferring heat from a cooling liquid; a tube for circulating the cooling liquid between the heat receiving unit and the radiation unit in a liquid circulation direction; a conveying unit conveying the cooling liquid through the tube; a coupling having an internal flow path and including a first end to which a first part of the tube is connected and a second end to which a second part of the tube is connected; and an outlet for draining the cooling liquid from the tube. At least one of the first part of the tube and the second part of the tube extends to a position lower than the position of the coupling. | 07-07-2011 |
20110170895 | Image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that creates an image and a liquid cooling unit. The liquid cooling unit includes a heat receiving disposed in contact with a temperature rising portion, in the image forming unit, in which a temperature rises due to an image forming operation by the image forming unit, a heat radiating unit that radiates heat of a cooling liquid, a flow passage forming member that allows the cooling liquid to circulate between the heat receiving unit and the heat radiating unit, and a conveying unit that conveys the cooling liquid through the flow passage forming member. The heat radiating unit includes a radiator, and the radiator is disposed at a downstream side of the conveying unit in a cooling liquid flow direction and at an upstream side of the heat receiving unit in the cooling liquid flow direction. | 07-14-2011 |
20110188880 | Cooling device and image forming apparatus including the same - Of a cooling device that is for use in an image forming apparatus and that includes: a heat receiving unit that receives heat from a cooling target and that is disposed to come into and away from contact with the cooling target; a heat radiating unit that radiates the heat received by the heat receiving unit; a heat conductive member disposed on at least one of a surface of the heat receiving unit on the side facing the cooling target and a surface of the cooling target on the side facing the heat receiving unit; and a protection member that is disposed on the heat conductive member to protect the heat conductive member, the protection member is substantially incompatible with binder resin of toner for use in the image forming apparatus. | 08-04-2011 |
20120061057 | Cooling device and image forming apparatus - A liquid-cooling-type cooling device includes a circulatory path for coolant that cools a temperature rise portion; a heat absorbing unit that absorbs a heat from the temperature rise portion by the coolant; a heat radiating unit that radiate the heat from the coolant; a pump that circulates the coolant; and a plurality of liquid-contacting metal portions that comes into contact with the coolant, each of the liquid-contacting metal portions being made of a metal material. At least one of the liquid-contacting metal portions is grounded. | 03-15-2012 |
20120070180 | COOLING DEVICE, COOLING METHOD, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cooling device to cool an apparatus includes a heat receiver to receive heat from a hot portion of the apparatus using a coolant while contacting the hot portion, a heat releaser to cool the heat-received coolant to release the heat from the hot portion to outside the apparatus, the heat releaser having a variable-speed fan of multiple operation speed modes including an off mode, a coolant circulation system through which the coolant is circulated between the heat receiver and the heat releaser, a variable-speed pump to move the coolant through the coolant circulation system, whose operation speed modes include an off mode and relate to a coolant flow rate of the pump, a temperature sensor to detect a temperature in the hot portion, and a controller to control the operation modes of the fan and the pump in accordance with the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. | 03-22-2012 |
20120227927 | COOLING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cooling device includes a heat receiving unit arranged to contact with a cooling target to receive heat of the cooling target; a heat radiating unit configured to radiate heat of coolant; a tank configured to store therein the coolant; a circulating path configured to circulate the coolant through the heat receiving unit, the heat radiating unit, and the tank; a pump configured to transfer the coolant in the circulating path; and a liquid transfer detecting unit configured to detect liquid transfer of the coolant. The liquid transfer detecting unit includes a detector arranged above a liquid level of the coolant stored in the tank at a position where the coolant having flowed into the tank is hit when the coolant is transferred. The detector is arranged so as to be visible from the outside of the tank. | 09-13-2012 |
20120263491 | COOLING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A cooling device using a liquid coolant, including a heat receiving part separatably contactable to a target to be cooled detachably installable in an image forming apparatus, a heat releasing part to release heat from the liquid coolant, a circulation channel through which the liquid coolant is circulated between the heat receiving part and the heat releasing part, and a pump operatively connected to the circulation channel to convey the liquid coolant through the circulation channel. The circulation channel has a flexible part and a metal part continuous with the flexible part. | 10-18-2012 |
20120315069 | COOLING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A cooling device including at least two cooling members to cool a recording medium passing thereover, a coolant circulation unit to circulate a coolant, and tubing that connects the coolant circulation unit to the cooling members and through which the coolant circulates. Each of the cooling members includes a heat-absorbing surface that directly contacts the recording medium or indirectly contacts the recording medium via a thermal transmission member, an internal channel provided within each of the cooling members through which the coolant circulates, and a channel inlet and outlet formed at downstream and upstream ends of each of the cooling members in a direction of conveyance of the recording medium, respectively. One of an interval and a thermal insulator is provided between the cooling members. | 12-13-2012 |
20130259512 | COOLING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cooling device includes a cooling member including a circulation passage for liquid coolant, and a cooling surface being directly or indirectly made to contact with a recording material being conveyed to cool the recording material. The circulation passage includes multiple passage sections arranged crossing to a conveying direction of the recording material, and a folded passage section to guide the liquid coolant from one of the multiple passage sections to another one of the multiple passage sections while changing a flowing direction of the liquid coolant. The folded passage section is disposed outside of an image forming area of the recording material on the cooling surface of the cooling member. | 10-03-2013 |
20140064775 | COOLING DEVICE HAVING A TURBULENCE GENERATING UNIT - In a cooling device that includes a cooling roller that comprises a hollow tubular member and a cooling medium transport unit for transporting a cooling liquid to the inside of the cooling roller and contacts a sheet-like member to cool down the paper, a turbulence generating unit that generates turbulence in a cooling liquid is disposed near an inner wall of the outer tube. | 03-06-2014 |
20140219677 | COOLING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A cooling device including at least two cooling members to cool a recording medium passing thereover, a coolant circulation unit to circulate a coolant, and tubing that connects the coolant circulation unit to the cooling members and through which the coolant circulates. Each of the cooling members includes a heat-absorbing surface that directly contacts the recording medium or indirectly contacts the recording medium via a thermal transmission member, an internal channel provided within each of the cooling members through which the coolant circulates, and a channel inlet and outlet formed at downstream and upstream ends of each of the cooling members in a direction of conveyance of the recording medium, respectively. One of an interval and a thermal insulator is provided between the cooling members. | 08-07-2014 |