Kyocera Document Solutions Patente

A cloud application provision system (20) provides a cloud application (32) to be utilized by an electronic device (40). The cloud application provision system (20) manages a tenant to which the electronic device (40) belongs, and the electronic device (40) belonging to the tenant. The cloud application provision system (20) creates, upon receipt of specific information transmitted from the electronic device (40), the tenant in which the electronic device (40) that is a transmission source of the specific information is to be registered, and registers the electronic device (40) that is the transmission source of the specific information, in the tenant created.

An electrophotographic photoreceptor (1) according to the present disclosure is used in an image forming apparatus (100) using a non-magnetic one-component pulverized toner. The electrophotographic photoreceptor (1) includes: an undercoat layer (3) provided on a conductive base (2); and a photosensitive layer (4) in which a charge generating layer (4a) and a charge transporting layer (4b) are stacked in order on the undercoat layer (3). The undercoat layer (3) includes a thermosetting resin including an alkyd resin and a melamine resin, and a titanium oxide particle. The charge transporting layer (4b) includes a binder resin including a polycarbonate resin or a polyarylate resin, and a hole transporting agent including a compound represented by the general formula (1).

An image forming apparatus (1) includes a separation device (15) and a plurality of developing devices (22A to 22D) including a developing device (22D) for monochrome image and a developing device (22A to 22C) for color image. The separation device (15) is configured to switch a state of the image forming apparatus (1) to any one state of: an insertable/removable state where all of the plurality of developing devices (22A to 22D) are arranged at the separation position (P2); a normal printing state where all of the plurality of developing devices (22A to 22D) are arranged at the developing position (P1); and a monochrome printing state where the developing device (22D) for monochrome image is arranged at the developing position (P1) and the developing device (22A to 22C) for color image is arranged at the separation position (P2).

A fixing device (8) includes a fixing belt (81), a sliding member (85), a nip forming member (84), and a pressing member (82). The sliding member (85) is sheet-form and is disposed radially inward of the fixing belt (81) to be adjacent to it such that the inner circumferential surface of the rotating fixing belt (81) makes contact with, while sliding across, the sliding member (85). The nip forming member (84) is disposed radially inward of the fixing belt (81), across the sliding member (85) from the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt (81). The nip forming member (84) has a surface-roughened portion (842) formed on the surface of contact with the sliding member (85). Reduced Peak Height (Rpk) in the surface-roughened portion (842) is 2.5 [µm] or more but less than 500 [µm].

A fixing device (8) includes a fixing belt (81), a sliding member (85), a nip forming member (84), and a pressing member (82). The sliding member (85) is sheet-form and is disposed radially inward of the fixing belt (81) to be adjacent to it such that the inner circumferential surface of the rotating fixing belt (81) makes contact with, while sliding across, the sliding member (85). The nip forming member (84) is disposed radially inward of the fixing belt (81), across the sliding member (85) from the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt (81). The coefficient of static friction between the sliding member (85) and the nip forming member (84) is 0.3 or more.

An intermediate transfer belt is a hard resin belt, and a developer carrying member includes a rotatable development sleeve and a magnet. The development sleeve carries a developer, and a magnetic brush is formed on its surface. In the magnet, a plurality of magnetic poles that are fixed in the development sleeve so as not to rotate and include a main pole disposed in a development region opposite an image carrying member relative to the direction of rotation of the development sleeve are spaced at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction. A horizontal magnetic force gradient in a position where the horizontal magnetic force of the main pole is 0 [mT] is A, |A| ≥ 3.74 is satisfied.

An image forming apparatus (10) according to the present disclosure includes: an image forming portion (3) configured to apply a bias voltage between a first carrier (311, 321, 331, 341) with a surface to be charged and a second carrier (313A, 323A, 333A, 343A) configured to hold toner to be adhered to the first carrier to move the toner from the second carrier to a developing area of the first carrier to develop the developing area of the first carrier; a current detection portion (302) configured to detect a target current that flows between the first carrier and the second carrier during development; a temperature detection portion (8) configured to detect a temperature inside the apparatus; and a cooling control portion (55) configured to execute a predetermined cooling operation based on a detected current that is detected by the current detection portion and a detected temperature that is detected by the temperature detection portion.

One of a holding portion (221) and a grip portion (222) includes an inner tube portion (2221) that is tubular and extends from an end part thereof in an axial direction toward the other of the holding portion (221) and the grip portion (222) to be located within the outer tube portion (2211). The holding portion (221) is connected to the grip portion (222), via an elastic member (223) disposed within the inner tube portion (2221), so as to be vibratable in the axial direction. The outer tube portion (2211) includes an opening (2211a) that penetrates the outer tube portion (2211) in a radial direction thereof. The inner tube portion (2221) includes a protrusion (2221a) that protrudes from an outer surface of the inner tube portion (2221) so as to be located within the opening (2211a). When the holding portion (221) vibrates, the protrusion (2221a) moves in the axial direction within the opening (2211a).

An image forming apparatus (1) according to an embodiment of the present technology includes a shutter member (15) and a control member (17). The shutter member (15) is provided along a transportation path (14) for a sheet (2), and has an open state in which passage of the sheet (2) is allowed or a closed state in which the passage of the sheet (2) is not allowed. The shutter member (15) enters the open state when subjected to a force of a specified magnitude from the sheet (2) due to an end of the sheet (2) being brought into contact with the shutter member (15). The control member (17) enables control performed to change the specified magnitude.

An image forming apparatus (1) according to an embodiment of the present technology includes a transportation guide (6) and a detector (7). The transportation guide (6) is provided along a curved portion of a transportation path (14) for a sheet (2). The transportation guide (6) has a curved shape and includes openings (19). The detector (7) is provided on an opposite side of the transportation guide (6) from the curved portion, and detects an end (27) of the sheet (2) in a scanning direction. In the image forming apparatus (1), the detector (7) detects an end (27) of a sheet (2) in the scanning direction using the curve-shaped transportation guide (6) including openings (19). This makes it possible to detect the sheet (2) efficiently.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided an ink set, including: a first ink, a second ink, and a third ink. Each of the first ink, the second ink, and the third ink includes resin fine particles, an organic solvent, water, and a surfactant. A ratio of a pigment to a binder included in the first ink is 0 or more and 1.1 or less. A ratio of a pigment to a binder included in the second ink is 1.3 or more and 3.0 or less. Density of the second ink is 0.05 g/cm<3> or more higher than density of the third ink.

A coupling member (1000) includes a first member (1) and a second member (2). The first member (1) includes a plurality of engaging holes (10), and the second member (2) includes a plurality of engaging protrusions (20). The plurality of engaging holes (10) include one pair of first engaging holes (11) and one pair of second engaging holes (12). The plurality of engaging protrusions (20) include one pair of first engaging protrusions (21) and one pair of second engaging protrusions (22). In a state where the first engaging hole (11) and the first engaging protrusion (21) are engaged with each other, the second member (2) is displaced in the circumferential direction with respect to the first member (1), so that the second engaging protrusion (22) reaches a position for engaging the second engaging hole (12).

An inkjet recording apparatus (1) performs cleaning operation for an ink ejection face (52F), in which control proceeds so as to perform first wiping operation to eject ink to the ink ejection face (52F) followed by second wiping operation to supply cleaning liquid to the ink ejection face (52F) performed last to thereby complete the cleaning operation. The wiping speed in the first wiping operation is equal to or more than that in the second wiping operation. The wiping speed Wc [mm/s] for the cleaning liquid in the last, second wiping operation in the cleaning operation relative to the viscosity Vc [mPa·s] of the cleaning liquid satisfies formula (1) below: log Vc ≥ − 4 × Wc + 670 / 1000 <img class="EMIRef" id="5725a114-4f3c-46c1-b4b8-d4f7c7b93b37-ia01" />

An image forming apparatus (1) includes an apparatus body (2), an image carrying member (61), a developing portion (63), and a container (11). The developing portion (63) is supported to be swingable about a rotation shaft (636) relative to the apparatus body (2), and is movable about the rotation shaft (636) between a developing position where the developer carrying member (634) is located close to the image carrying member (61) and a retracted position where the developer carrying member (634) is located away from the image carrying member (61). The container (11) is removably mounted in the apparatus body (2), and stores toner supplied to the developing portion (63). The rotation shaft (636) of the developing portion (63) has a toner inlet portion (636a) through which the toner in the container (11) passes into the developing portion (63).

A pretreatment liquid is used for pretreating a medium on which an image is recorded using a water-based ink. The pretreatment liquid contains core-shell particles having a 2-ethylhexyl acrylate as a core and a benzyl methacrylate as a shell, polyester microparticles, a water-soluble organic solvent, and water. A mass ratio of the core-shell particles to the polyester microparticles is 0.3 or more and 3.0 or less.

A sheet drying apparatus (10) includes a conveyance portion (20), a drying portion (40), and a control portion (90). The conveyance portion (20) conveys a sheet (P) on which an image has been formed with ink containing moisture. The drying portion (40) has a heater (43) that heats the sheet (P), and includes a heating unit (41) that can be raised and lowered between a heating position for heating the sheet (P) with a heater (43) and a retracted position away from the conveyance portion (20), and a unit ascent-descent mechanism (87) that raises and lowers the heating unit (41). When a jam of the sheet (P) is detected between the conveyance portion (20) and the heating unit (41), the control portion (90) turns off the supply of power to the heater (43), stops the conveyance portion (20), arranges the heating unit (41) at the heating position until the temperature in the heating unit (41) falls below a first temperature, and, after the temperature in the heating unit (41) falls below the first temperature, raises the heating unit (41) from the heating position to the retraction position.

An inkjet recording apparatus (1) includes a recording head (52), an ink container (81), an ink feed portion (8), a driving mechanism (70), a timer (78), a home position detection portion (77), and a control portion (7). The ink feed portion (8) includes a subsidiary tank (83, 85)), an ink flow passage (89, 94, 98), and a syringe pump (88) having a cylinder (881) and a piston (882). When performing a purging operation using the syringe pump (88), the control portion (7) performs a pressing operation by pressing the piston (882) at the home position with a previously determined set pressing amount and then, using the timer (78), counts the movement time after starting a pulling operation until the piston (882) reaches the home position. If the movement time is shorter than a threshold value, it is judged that a fault is present in the ink feed portion (8).

A sheet conveying device includes a pickup roller (24), a conveying member (25), a separation roller (26), and a lowering processing portion (56). The pickup roller (24) rotates in a first direction (D1) capable of conveying a sheet lifted by a lift portion (22) in a conveying direction (D10). The conveying member (25) rotates in a second direction (D2) capable of conveying the sheet conveyed by the pickup roller (24) in the conveying direction (D10). The separation roller (26) forms, together with the conveying member (25), a sheet feed nip portion (26A) therebetween, and rotates in a fourth direction (D4) opposite to a third direction (D3) capable of conveying the sheet in the conveying direction (D10). The lowering processing portion (56) lowers the lift portion (22) after the leading edge in the conveying direction (D10) of the sheet has passed through the sheet feed nip portion (26A).

An image forming apparatus (10) includes an image forming device (20) and an operation controller (61). The image forming device (20) includes a plurality of toner containers (90) for each same color fitted therein and does printing. The image forming device (20) includes, for the plurality of toner containers (90), respective removal restricting devices (44) that restrict removal of the respective associated toner containers (90). The operation controller (61) manages an in-use container which is, among the plurality of toner containers (90), the toner container (90) used for execution of the printing, allows the removal restricting device (44) for the in-use container to restrict the removal of the in-use container during the execution of the printing, and lifts, during the execution of the printing, restriction imposed by the other removal restricting devices (44) on the removal of the toner containers (90) other than the in-use container.

A control apparatus (5) causes a display device (3b) to display one preview page image or at least some of a plurality of preview page images indicating an image read from one abnormality-sensed document sheet or all of a plurality of abnormality-sensed document sheets before a data output process is executed after a consecutive image acquisition process in a consecutive reading job comes to an end in a case where an abnormal state in which an abnormality is sensed in the middle of execution of the consecutive image acquisition process of the consecutive reading job occurs. The control apparatus (5) causes the display device (3b) to display inquiry information for inquiring one instruction of a plurality of candidates including continuation of the consecutive reading job and cancellation of the consecutive reading job. The control apparatus (5) causes an image processing apparatus (10) to execute a process compliant with an instruction of a response to the inquiry information.

A control apparatus (5) executes first control when a first abnormal state in which an abnormality is sensed in the middle of execution of a consecutive image acquisition process of a consecutive reading job with a first operation mode selected occurs. The control apparatus (5) executes second control when a second abnormal state in which the abnormality is sensed in the middle of execution of the consecutive image acquisition process of the consecutive reading job with a second operation mode selected occurs. The first control includes causing, by the control apparatus (5), an image processing apparatus (10) to suspend the consecutive image acquisition process. The second control includes causing, by the control apparatus (5), the image processing apparatus (10) to continue the consecutive image acquisition process of the consecutive reading job to an end.

A second processor (5a) is capable of communicating with a first processor (6a) and an external apparatus and executes a download to receive a plurality of pieces of candidate firmware and a plurality of pieces of identification data from the external apparatus. When the download is executed, the second processor (5a) transmits the plurality of respective pieces of identification data. The first processor (6a) transmits a plurality of respective responses indicating whether or not the plurality of respective pieces of identification data are targets for updating pieces of implemented firmware. In a case where the plurality of responses includes positive responses indicating the targets, the second processor (5a) transmits pieces of target firmware corresponding to the positive responses among the plurality of pieces of candidate firmware. The first processor (6a) updates firmware corresponding to the target firmware to the target firmware.

An information processing system (100) includes an acquisition unit (101), a communication unit (102), and a processing unit (103). The acquisition unit (101) acquires type information indicating a type of a wireless tag (71) included in a consumable product (toner cartridge) used in an image processing apparatus (10). The communication unit (102) communicates with the wireless tag (71). The processing unit (103) executes, at a timing when a response time according to type information has elapsed since the processing unit (103) sent a command to the wireless tag (71), a determination process of determining whether or not the consumable product is a genuine product on the basis of whether or not response information is received from the wireless tag (71).

A sheet feed control system (100) includes an acquisition part (91), a first detection part (92), and a control part (94). The acquisition part (91) acquires a size of a sheet to be conveyed. The first detection part (92) detects a jam of the sheet. The control part (94) performs, in a case where the jam is detected, either first feed control or second feed control in accordance with the size of the sheet. The first feed control is control to convey the sheet to a position to fit inside a drawer unit (5) including a conveyance path for the sheet and being capable of being pulled out in a direction that intersects with a conveyance direction of the sheet from an apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus (10). The second feed control is control to convey the sheet to a position to fit outside the drawer unit (5).

A sheet detecting device (25) detects each sheet fed by a feeding process at a detection position on a downstream side of a feeding rotating body (22) in a sheet feeding direction. A timing device (8e) measures an elapsed time from a time when the feeding process for each sheet is started to a time when each sheet is detected by the sheet detecting device (25). A processing device (81) derives a target feeding time required for a target sheet to be fed from an initial reference position to the detection position based on a target measurement time measured by the timing device (8e) for the target sheet fed by the feeding process. The processing device (81) counts a delay count that is a number of times the target feeding time exceeds a delay determination time. The processing device (81) determines a deterioration state of a feeding mechanism (20) based on the delay count.

A sheet conveying device (20) includes a pair of conveying rollers (21) and shutter members (30, 31). The shutter member (30, 31) has a body portion (32) with a substantially equal radius to a driving roller (21a) and a regulating portion (33) protruding radially outward from the outer circumferential edge of the body portion (32) to regulate the leading end of a sheet (S). The regulating portion (33) has a contact surface (33a) struck by the leading end of the sheet (S) and a locking portion (33b) formed at the boundary between the body portion (32) and the contact surface 33a and locking the leading end of the sheet S. N pairs of shutter members (30, 31) (where n is an integer of two or more) are disposed symmetrically left to right from inward to outward along the sheet width direction, and the m th pair of shutter members (31) (where m is an integer of one or more but n-1 or less) from inward along the sheet width direction has the locking portion (33b) formed radially outward compared to the (m+1)th pair of shutter members (30) adjacent outward along the sheet width direction.

A timing device (8e) measures an elapsed time from a time when a feeding process for each sheet is started to a time when each sheet is detected by a sheet detecting device (25). A processing device (81) acquires size information representing a size of a stack of sheets. The processing device (81), in a case in which a target measurement time measured by the timing device (8e) for a target sheet fed by the feeding process is not shorter than a preset reference feeding time, derives a feeding delay time of the target sheet by a size correction process that corrects a difference between the target measurement time and the reference feeding time in accordance with the size information.

An image forming apparatus (100) includes a main body (MB), a container (2) and a cover (3). The container (2) includes a supply port (20), a shutter (21) and a seal member (22) which seals a gap between an outer edge portion of the supply port (20) and the shutter (21). The image forming apparatus (100) includes a shutter opening/closing mechanism (OC). The shutter (21) includes a shutter engagement portion (211), and the shutter opening/closing mechanism (OC) includes a first engagement portion (11). When the cover (3) reaches a closed position, the first engagement portion (11) makes contact with the shutter engagement portion (211) from the inner side of the main body (MB) to cause the shutter (21) to slide from a blocking position toward an opening position.

An image forming apparatus (100) includes a main body (1), a container (2), an outer cover (3) and an inner cover (4) which is supported turnably around a second axis (A2) with respect to the outer cover (3). The inner cover (4) sandwiches the container (2) between the outer cover (3) and an upper part (41) located above the second axis (A2). After the inner cover (4) enters the main body (1), by pressing the inner cover (4) toward an outer side, the upper part (41) of the inner cover (4) is turned around the second axis (A2) to approach the container (2). The inner cover (4) includes an engagement portion (40) in a lower part located below the second axis (A2). In a state where the inner cover (4) is not pressed toward the outer side, the container (2) engages with the engagement portion (40).

An image forming apparatus (100) includes a plurality of containers (2), a plurality of first actuators (6), a second actuator (7), a plurality of first biasing members (8) and a second biasing member (9). In a state where each of the first actuators (6) is in a first non-fitting position, the first actuator (6) presses the second actuator (7) to cause the second actuator (7) to remain in a second non-fitting position whereas in a state where each of the first actuators (6) is in a first fitting position, the first actuator (6) releases the pressing of the second actuator (7). The biasing force of one of the first biasing members (8) is greater than the biasing force of the second biasing member (9).

An image forming apparatus (100) includes an image carrying member (1a-1d), a charging device (1a-2d), an exposure device (5), a developing device (3a-3d), an intermediate transfer belt (8), a cleaning brush (23), an image density sensor (50), and a control portion (90). The control portion (90) is capable of executing a cleaning performance determination mode for determining cleaning performance of the cleaning brush (23). The cleaning performance determination mode includes: a reference image formation process of forming a reference image (C1-K1) on the intermediate transfer belt (8); and a first bare-surface-measurement process of detecting a reference-image (C1-K1) formation area, using the image density sensor (50), after the intermediate transfer belt (8) has rotated once. When a fluctuation range of an output waveform of the image density sensor (50) in the first bare surface measurement process is equal to or less than a threshold value, it is determined that the cleaning performance of the cleaning brush (23) is normal.

Magnetic one-component toner includes a toner base particle containing at least a binder resin and a magnetic powder and an external additive attached to its surface. The binder resin contains an amorphous polyester resin and a crystalline polyester resin containing an aliphatic diol with a carbon number of 3 or more but 9 or less. The amount of crystalline polyester resin added is 5 mass% or less relative to the amorphous polyester resin. Let Tg1 be the glass transition point measured using a differential scanning calorimeter when temperature is first raised and let Tg2 be the glass transition point measured when, after the Tg1 measurement, temperature is lowered and raised again, then Tg(45) and Tg(25), which are the values of Tg1 measured after standing still at 45°C and 25°C, respectively, for 100 hours, satisfy 0 < Tg2 - Tg(45) < 5 and 4 < Tg2 - Tg(25) < 10.

An ink is an ink for non-absorbent recording media. The ink includes: a silicone surfactant; a binder; and water. The ink has a pH of 6.5 or more and 9.0 or less at 25°C. In this ink, by blending the binder, an image with high adhesion to the non-absorbent recording medium can be formed and high rubfastness in the image formed on the non-absorbent recording medium can be achieved. Further, in this ink, by blending the silicone surfactant and setting the pH at 25°C to 6.5 or more and 9.0 or less, high wet-spreadability on the non-absorbent recording medium is achieved.

An inkjet recording apparatus (1) forms an image with a first ink and a second ink. A first minimum film-forming temperature of a first binder contained in the first ink is equal to or more than a second minimum film-forming temperature of a second binder contained in the second ink. The inkjet recording apparatus (1) includes a first ejection head (3), a first drying section (4), a second ejection head (5), and a second drying section (6). The first ejection head (3) ejects the first ink onto a recording medium. The first drying section (4) dries the first ink ejected onto the recording medium by the first ejection head (3) at a first drying temperature that is equal to or more than the second minimum film-forming temperature and equal to or less than the first minimum film-forming temperature. The second ejection head ejects the second ink onto the first ink dried by the first drying section (4). The second drying section (6) dries the second ink ejected onto the first ink by the second ejection head (5) at a second drying temperature that is equal to or more than the first minimum film-forming temperature and equal to or less than 80°C.

A maintenance device (30) includes a cap (72), a recovery part (94), an air pump (95), and a supply part (92). The cap (72) is provided for an inkjet head (12) and configured to be attached to a nozzle surface (14F) of the inkjet head (12). The recovery part (94) has a vent port (94H) opened to an atmosphere and is configured to recover air (A) from the cap (72). The air pump (95) is configured to suck the air (A) from the recovery part (94). The supply part (92) is provided for the cap (72) and configured to store a humidifying medium (WM), generate a humidified air (WA) by passing air (A) supplied from the air pump (95) through the humidifying medium (WM), and supply the humidified air (WA) to the cap (72).

A printing device (4) is disposed above a sheet storing portion (2). A heat exchange unit (6b) is disposed adjacent to a cooling target, which is a part of the printing device (4), and exchanges heat between the cooling target and refrigerant liquid. A heat exchange area tray (60) is disposed in an area spanning the entire heat exchange unit (6b) in plan view between the sheet storing portion (2) and the heat exchange unit (6b), and can receive liquid falling from above.

An ink set includes: a first ink; a second ink; and a third ink. Each of the first ink, the second ink, and the third ink includes a binder, an organic solvent, water, and a surfactant, and the binder included in the first ink includes at least one of an acrylic resin or a polyolefin resin. The binder included in each of the second ink and the third ink includes a urethane resin, An absolute value of a difference between surface tension of the first ink and surface tension of the second ink is 2.0 mN/m or less. An absolute value of a difference between the surface tension of the first ink and surface tension of the third ink is 2.0 mN/m or less.

A document conveying device (1) includes a roller holder (27), a cover portion (29), a pair of wall portions (31, 32), a hook portion (33), and a linking portion (36). The roller holder (27) rotatably supports a pickup roller (25) and is provided so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft (26A) of a sheet feed roller (26). The cover portion (29) is provided so as to be openable and closable relative to a document guide portion (28). The pair of wall portions (31, 32) face each other in the axial direction of the rotation shaft (26A) with the cover portion (29) interposed therebetween. The hook portion (33) is provided at one end portion of the cover portion (29) in the axial direction so as to be capable of advancing and retracting along the axial direction, and engages with an upper surface portion (31A, 32A) of the wall portion (31, 32). The linking portion (36) rotates the roller holder (27) in conjunction with the advancing and retracting of the hook portion (33).

A document reading device (10) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a pick-up roller (45), a sensor (143), an operation section (115), and a sheet feeding controller (130). The pick-up roller (45) draws out a plurality of sheets one by one from a sheet table (11) on which the plurality of sheets are loaded. The sensor detects presence or absence of the sheet. The operation section (115) receives an operation of a user. The sheet feeding controller (130) controls drive to raise the pick-up roller (45) on the basis of a detection result of the sensor and an operation instruction from the operation section (115).

A sheet feeding device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a pick-up roller (31), a sensor (32), and a sheet feeding controller (130). The pick-up roller (31) draws out a plurality of sheets one by one from a sheet table (11) on which the plurality of sheets are loaded. The sensor (32) detects presence or absence of the sheet. The sheet feeding controller (130) controls drive to raise the pick-up roller (31) on the basis of a detection result of the sensor (32).