G03G15/00

FAILURE PREDICTION SERVER, FAILURE PREDICTION SYSTEM, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
20230053552 · 2023-02-23 · ·

According to at least one embodiment, a failure prediction server includes an interface, a memory, and a processor. The interface is configured to communicate with equipment including a component that deteriorates over time. The memory is configured to store measurement data acquired from the equipment. The processor is configured to set a monitoring start condition for failure prediction in the corresponding equipment based on the measurement data acquired as initial data from the equipment, accumulate the measurement data acquired from the equipment in the memory after the monitoring start condition is satisfied, and predict a failure of the component based on the measurement data accumulated in the memory.

HOUSING STRUCTURE AND PROCESSING DEVICE EQUIPPED WITH HOUSING STRUCTURE

A housing structure includes an upper housing at an upper side of a device housing, a lower housing at a lower side of the device housing, and a positioner that positions the upper housing on the lower housing. One side surface of the device housing has an opening extending astride the lower housing and the upper housing when the upper housing is positioned on the lower housing. The positioner includes a reference positioning element that is provided toward any one of four corners of a connection area between the lower housing and the upper housing and that has a reference hole provided in one of or each of the lower housing and the upper housing and a positioning reference pin fitted in the reference hole, an anti-rotation element that is provided toward another corner of the four corners excluding the corner near where the reference positioning element is provided and that has an anti-rotation pin provided at one of the lower housing and the upper housing and an anti-rotation hole that is provided in the other one of the lower housing and the upper housing, receives the anti-rotation pin, and suppresses rotation of the upper housing relative to the lower housing about the reference positioning element, and position regulation elements that are respectively provided toward corners, of the four corners, located at opposite sides of the opening such that the one side surface having the opening is interposed between the corners. The position regulation elements individually have position regulation pins provided at one of the lower housing and the upper housing and position regulation holes that are provided in the other one of the lower housing and the upper housing, receive the position regulation pins, and positionally regulate the corners located at the opposite sides of the opening.

Process cartridge including frame having photosensitive drum, drum coupling and flanged fixed to photosensitive drum

The image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge having a photosensitive drum and a drum drive input member; a developing cartridge configured to be movably mounted to the drum cartridge, the developing cartridge comprising a developing roller disposed so as to face the photosensitive drum and a developing drive input member; a drum drive transmission member configured to engage with the drum drive input member and configured to transmit drum driving force to the drum drive input member while permitting a positional gap of the drum drive input member within a predetermined range; and a developing drive transmission member configured to engage with the developing drive input member and configured to transmit developing driving force to the developing drive input member while permitting a positional gap of the developing drive input member within a predetermined range.

ENVELOPE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM

An envelope processing apparatus for enclosing an enclosure into an envelope conveyed to an enclosing position includes a conveyance roller that conveys the envelope to the enclosing position. A first envelope length calculator calculates a first envelope length of the envelope in an envelope conveyance direction in which the envelope is conveyed in a close state in which a flap of the envelope closes. A flap opener opens the flap while the conveyance roller conveys the envelope. A second envelope length calculator calculates a second envelope length of the envelope in the envelope conveyance direction in an open state in which the flap opens. A controller calculates a flap length of the flap in the envelope conveyance direction based on the first envelope length and the second envelope length. The controller controls enclosing of the enclosure into the envelope based on the flap length.

Image forming apparatus capable of sheet position correction
11586129 · 2023-02-21 · ·

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion to form an image on an image bearing member, and a transfer portion to transfer the image on a first image position on the image bearing member to a sheet. In addition, a controller determines a second image position, on the image bearing member, of an image to be transferred onto a second surface of a sheet re-conveyed to an adjustment portion by a reverse and re-conveyance portion based on a detected side edge position, of a trailing part of the sheet being conveyed with a first end as the leading edge. The trailing part of the sheet is positioned on a trailing edge side further than a center position, in the sheet conveyance direction, of the sheet, and the controller determines a shift amount based on the second image position and detected side edge position of the sheet, which has been re-conveyed, being conveyed with the second end as the leading edge.

RECTIFYING DEVICE, COATING APPARATUS, COATING METHOD, AND PHOTOCONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING METHOD

A rectifying device includes: a first flow channel member that has an annular first flow channel through which a fluid flows in an axial direction, the first flow channel being provided between an inner peripheral wall and an outer peripheral wall; a second flow channel member that has a second flow channel between the inner peripheral wall and the outer peripheral wall, the second flow channel being provided upstream of the first flow channel in a flowing direction of the fluid and being connected with the first flow channel along an entire circumference; an inflow section that is provided at the second flow channel member and that allows the fluid to flow into a circumferential area of the second flow channel located away from the first flow channel in the axial direction; a first guide wall that is provided within the second flow channel at a position located away from the inflow section in a circumferential direction and that guides the fluid flowing toward a first side in the circumferential direction through the second flow channel toward the first flow channel; and a second guide wall that is provided within the second flow channel at a position adjacent to the first guide wall in the circumferential direction, the second guide wall guiding the fluid flowing toward a second side in the circumferential direction through the second flow channel toward the first flow channel and being disposed in a direction intersecting the first guide wall.

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
20220365458 · 2022-11-17 ·

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form a toner image on a recording material, a fixing unit configured to fix the toner image formed on the recording material by the image forming unit to the recording material, and a controller configured to cause the image forming unit to form an image on a basis of image information, the controller being configured to cause the image forming unit to form the image in which a first toner image and a second toner image is superimposed on each other on the recording material, the first toner image being a toner image corresponding to the image information, the second toner image being constituted by a pattern having anisotropy such that glossiness of the image changes depending on a direction in which the image is viewed.

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
20220365465 · 2022-11-17 ·

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a transfer unit, a power supply, and a reader. A test chart is formed by transferring test images to a recording material while applying test voltages from the power supply to the transfer unit. A transfer voltage to be applied to the transfer unit during transfer is set based on the read test images. A reference image is formed on the test chart. The reader reads the test chart by scanning the test chart from a first position to a second position that falls within the test images. The first position falls within a boundary of the recording material on which the test chart is formed and falls outside the test images. Based on the reference image, the result of the reader reading the test chart is obtained by scanning the test chart from the first position to the second position.

PRINTING SYSTEM, METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM
20220365472 · 2022-11-17 ·

A printing system includes a printing unit configured to print an image on a sheet, a receiving unit configured to receive an adjustment value from a user, first and second adjustment units, and a control unit. The first adjustment unit conveys the sheet on which the image is printed by the printing unit to a reading apparatus, and performs a first adjustment based on an image read by the reading apparatus. The second adjustment unit performs a second adjustment based on the adjustment value received by the receiving unit. The control unit prevents the first adjustment from being performed for a sheet of a size where the first adjustment is not properly performed among sheets for the printing unit to print an image on. The control unit does not prevent the second adjustment from being performed for the sheet of the size where the first adjustment is not properly performed.

DENSITY ACQUISITION ASSISTANCE TECHNIQUE FOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
20220365471 · 2022-11-17 ·

An apparatus comprising a first control unit that executes density correction processing on image data and generates an image signal, an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium on the basis of the image signal, and a second control unit that controls the image forming unit. The first control unit includes a specifying unit that transmits specifying information relating to the density correction processing to the second control unit. The second control unit includes an acquisition unit that acquires a parameter relating to the image forming apparatus, and an estimation unit that estimates a plurality of image densities corresponding to tone levels identified by the specifying information transmitted from the first control unit on the basis of the parameter acquired by the acquisition unit and transmits the plurality of image densities to the first control unit.