This patent application is based on and claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119 from Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2012-128123, filed on Jun. 5, 2012 and 2012-227939, filed on Oct. 15, 2012, both in the Japan Patent Office, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
1. Technical Field
Exemplary aspects of the present invention generally relate to an image forming apparatus, such as a copier, a facsimile machine, a printer, or a multi-functional system including a combination thereof, and more particularly to, a moving device assembly that moves a detector toward and away from an opposing member such as an intermediate transfer belt employed in the image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, known image forming apparatuses, such as a copier, a facsimile machine, a printer, and a multi-functional system including a combination thereof form test image patterns on a surface of an intermediate transfer member such as an intermediate transfer belt for detection of the density and the position of a toner image. Such image patterns are detected by a detector.
In order to enhance accuracy of the detector, the detector needs to be disposed near the surface of the intermediate transfer member on which the image patterns are formed. However, if the detector is disposed close to the intermediate transfer member, the surface of the intermediate transfer member may contact and damage a detection surface of the detector upon replacement of the intermediate transfer member.
In view of the above, there is known an image forming apparatus in which the detector is separated from the intermediate transfer member as necessary. Furthermore, in order to facilitate separation of the detector from the intermediate transfer member, the known image forming apparatus includes a moving device that moves the detector in conjunction with movement of a cover provided to the image forming apparatus.
Although advantageous, if the detection surface of the detector is exposed while the detector is separated from the intermediate transfer member and other components, the detection surface of the detector may easily come into contact with technicians replacing the intermediate transfer member and/or contaminated by foreign substances. Contamination of and damage to the detection surface of the detector degrade detection accuracy of the detector.
In view of the foregoing, in an aspect of this disclosure, there is provided an improved moving device assembly including a moving device and a shield. The moving device is movable between a first position and a second position, to move a detector including a detection surface relative to an opposing member disposed opposite the detector. The shield shields the detection surface of the detector. As the moving device is at the first position, the detector is at a proximal position at which the detector is near the opposing member, and as the moving device is at the second position, the detector is at a shield position at which the detector is separated from the opposing member and the detection surface of the detector is shielded by the shield.
According to another aspect, a moving device assembly includes a moving device, a shaft, and a shield. The moving device is movable between a first position and a second position, to move a detector including a detection surface relative to an opposing member disposed opposite the detector. The shield shields the detection surface of the detector. As the moving device is moved from the first position to the second position, the detector is moved from a proximal position at which the detector is near the opposing member to a first retracted position at which the detector is separated from the opposing member and to a second retracted position at which the detector is separated from the opposing member and the detection surface of the detector is shielded by the shield by rotating the detector about the shaft.
According to another aspect, a moving device assembly includes a moving device and a shield. The moving device is movable between a first position and a second position, to move a first member including a detection surface relative to a second member disposed opposite the first member. The shield shields the detection surface of the first member. As the moving device is at the first position, the first member is at a proximal position at which the first member is near the second member, and as the moving device is at the second position, the first member is at a shield position at which the first member is separated from the second member and the detection surface of the first member is shielded by the shield.
The aforementioned and other aspects, features and advantages would be more fully apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, the accompanying drawings and the associated claims.
A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be more readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
A description is now given of illustrative embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that although such terms as first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, it should be understood that such elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections are not limited thereby because such terms are relative, that is, used only to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Thus, for example, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of this disclosure.
In addition, it should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this disclosure. Thus, for example, as used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Moreover, the terms “includes” and/or “including”, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
In describing illustrative embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure of this patent specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that have the same function, operate in a similar manner, and achieve a similar result.
In a later-described comparative example, illustrative embodiment, and alternative example, for the sake of simplicity, the same reference numerals will be given to constituent elements such as parts and materials having the same functions, and redundant descriptions thereof omitted.
Typically, but not necessarily, paper is the medium from which is made a sheet on which an image is to be formed. It should be noted, however, that other printable media are available in sheet form, and accordingly their use here is included. Thus, solely for simplicity, although this Detailed Description section refers to paper, sheets thereof, paper feeder, etc., it should be understood that the sheets, etc., are not limited only to paper, but include other printable media as well.
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and initially with reference to
It is to be noted that the suffixes Y, C, M, and Bk denote colors yellow, cyan, magenta, and black, respectively, and to simplify the description, these suffixes are omitted herein unless otherwise specified. The image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1Bk all have the same configuration, differing only in the color of toner employed.
In
The exposure device 6 includes a light source, a polygon mirror, an f-θ lens, a reflective mirror, and so forth, and illuminates the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 2 with laser light based on image data.
The transfer device 7 serving as a transfer mechanism to transfer a toner image onto a recording medium P is disposed below the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1Bk. The transfer device 7 includes a conveyor belt 8 formed into an endless loop and four transfer rollers 9 disposed inside the looped conveyor belt 8, each facing the photosensitive drums 2. The conveyor belt 8 carries and delivers a recording medium P. The conveyor belt 8 is entrained around and stretched taut by a plurality of support rollers at a predetermined tension.
One of the support rollers serves as a driving roller that rotates, thereby rotating the conveyor belt 8 in the direction of arrow in
A sheet tray 10 storing a stack of recording media P, a sheet feed roller 11, and so forth are disposed at the bottom of the image forming apparatus 100. The recording medium P includes, but is not limited to, thick paper, postcards, envelopes, normal paper, thin paper, coated paper such as coated paper and art paper, and tracing paper. As a recording medium P, an OHP sheet and an OHP film may be used.
In the image forming apparatus 100, the recording medium P fed from the sheet tray 10 is delivered to the transfer nips in the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1Bk, and discharged outside the image forming apparatus 100 via a sheet path R. Upstream from the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1Bk in the sheet path R in the direction of sheet delivery, there is provided a pair of registration rollers 12 serving as timing rollers. Downstream from the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1Bk in the direction of sheet delivery is a fixing device 15 to fix an unfixed toner image transferred on the recording medium P. A pair of sheet output rollers 13 is disposed at the downstream end of the sheet path R in the sheet delivery direction. The pair of sheet output roller 13 outputs the recording medium P outside the image forming apparatus 100, onto a sheet output tray 14 disposed at the upper surface of the image forming apparatus 100. Multiple recording media can be stacked on the sheet output tray 14.
A pattern detector 16 is disposed outside the looped conveyor belt 8, facing the outer circumferential surface of the conveyor belt 8. The pattern detector 16 is a reflective type optical sensor that detects an image pattern to detect an image density and a positional deviation of an image formed on the conveyor belt 8.
With reference to
When an image forming operation is started, the photosensitive drums 2 in the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1Bk are rotated in the clockwise direction by a drive device and charged uniformly with a predetermined polarity by the charging rollers 3. Subsequently, based on image information of a document read by an image reading device, the charged surfaces of the photosensitive drums 2 are illuminated with laser light projected from the exposure device 6. Accordingly, electrostatic latent images are formed on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 2. More specifically, upon exposure of the photosensitive drums 2, the image information is separated into individual color components, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, and laser light based on single color information thus obtained is illuminated. The electrostatic latent images on the photosensitive drums 2 are developed with respective color of toner by the developing devices 4 into visible images, known as toner images.
Upon start of the image forming operation, the conveyor belt 8 starts to rotate in the direction of arrow in
In the meantime, the sheet feed roller 11 starts to rotate, picking up a top sheet of the stack of recording media P and feeding it to the sheet path R. The recording medium P sent to the sheet path R is sent to the conveyor belt 8 by the pair of registration rollers 12 at appropriate timing.
As the recording medium P is carried on the surface of the conveyor belt 8 and passes through the transfer nips while the conveyor belt 8 rotates, the toner images on the photosensitive drums 2 are transferred onto the recording medium P due to the transfer electric field formed in the transfer nips so that the toner images are superimposed one atop the other, thereby forming a composite (full-color) toner image.
Residual toner, not having been transferred, thus remaining on the photosensitive drums 2 are removed by the cleaning blades 5. Subsequently, residual charge remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drums 2 is removed and initialized by a charge remover in preparation for the subsequent imaging cycle.
After the composite toner image is transferred onto the recording medium P, the recording medium P is transported to the fixing device 15 in which heat and pressure are applied to the recording medium P, thereby fixing the composite toner image on the recording medium P. After the toner image is fixed on the recording medium P, the recording medium P is output onto the sheet output tray 14 by the sheet discharge rollers 13.
The above description pertains to an image forming operation for forming a multiple-color image on a recording medium P. However, the image forming operation is not limited thereto. The image forming apparatus may form a single-color image using one of image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1Bk, or two or three-color image using two or three image forming units.
The image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1Bk serve as pattern image forming devices for forming test image patters for detection on the conveyor belt 8 when adjusting the density and positional deviations of each toner image. More specifically, the image patterns for detection and adjustment of the image density and positional deviations are formed on the photosensitive drums 2 of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1Bk, and transferred onto the conveyor belt 8 at the transfer nips in the similar manner as the image formation and transfer operation described above.
With reference to
The pattern detector 16 is not detachable together with the transfer device 7. Upon removal of the transfer device 7, the pattern detector 16 remains in the image forming apparatus 100. In other words, the pattern detector 16 is movably disposed relative to the transfer device 7 to prevent the pattern detector 16 from coming into contact with the transfer device 7 when removing the transfer device 7 from the image forming apparatus 100.
With reference to
According to the present illustrative embodiment, as illustrated in
More specifically, the pattern detector 16 is held by a retainer 17. The compression spring 21 presses the retainer 17 against the conveyor belt 8 in the direction of arrow in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
According to the present illustrative embodiment, the retainer 17 contacts the belt support 20 to position the pattern detector 16 in place. Alternatively, the retainer 17 may contact the frames 51 of the transfer device 7 to position the pattern detector 16 in place. Preferably, the retainer 17 contacts the belt support 20 because the relative positions of the pattern detector 16 and the conveyor belt 8 are maintained more precisely.
In a case in which there is space above the retainer 17 to accommodate a biasing member, a tension spring may be employed, instead of the compression spring. In other words, one end of the tension spring is attached to the retainer 17, and the other end of the tension spring is attached to the frame of the image forming apparatus 100. In this configuration, the retainer 17 can be biased toward the belt support 20.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
According to the present illustrative embodiment, the cam 27 and the cam follower 28 are provided to both ends of the shaft 23, thereby moving more reliably the pattern detectors 16 as compared with providing the cam 27 and the cam follower 28 at one end of the shaft 23. According to the present illustrative embodiment, the cams 27 and the retainer 17 are connected via the shaft 23, and rotate about the shaft 23. In this configuration, separate rotation shafts for the cams 27 and the retainer 17 are not needed, thereby reducing the size of the apparatus.
Furthermore, the cams 27 rotate in conjunction with movement of the cover 101. According to the present illustrative embodiment, as illustrated in
In the present illustrative embodiment, the connector 29 is provided to one of two cams 27. Alternatively, the connector 29 may be provided to both cams 27, thereby rotating both cams 27 in conjunction with movement of the cover 101.
With reference to
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Next, with reference to
In the state shown in
Upon replacing the transfer device 7, when the cover 101 is pivotally moved in an opening direction in which the cover 101 is opened from the state shown in
First, the first cam surface 27a starts to slidably contact the cam follower 28. The first cam surface 27a slidably contacts the cam follower 28 such that the distance between the center Q of rotation of the cam 27 and the cam surface increases gradually. As a result, the space between the center of rotation of the cam 27 and the cam follower 28 is widened against the force of the compression spring 21. Accordingly, as illustrated in
Subsequently, as illustrated in
According to the present illustrative embodiment, as the cover 101 is opened, the pattern detector 16 near the transfer device 7 is moved from its detection position (i.e., near the transfer device 7, hereinafter referred to as a proximal position) to the first retracted position, and then continuously to the second retracted position by rotating the pattern detector 16 at the first retracted position. With this configuration, upon installation and removal of the transfer device 7, the transfer device 7 is prevented from contacting the pattern detector 16, hence preventing damage to the parts.
As illustrated in
Next, a description is provided of movement of the moving device assembly 200 associated with closure of the cover 101.
As the cover 101 is pivotally moved to close after replacement of the transfer device 7 is completed, the cam 27 in the state shown in
As the cam 27 rotates in the counterclockwise direction from the state shown in
According to the present illustrative embodiment, a series of movement associated with closure of the cover 101 described above enables the pattern detector 16 to rotate and return from the second retracted position (the shield position) to the first retracted position, and furthermore, from the first retracted position to the vicinity of the transfer device 7, hence returning to the detection position (the proximal position).
As illustrated in
Preferably, the cleaning member 33 is made of material that charges the detection surface 16a of the pattern detector 16 to the same polarity as the charge polarity of toner when contacting the detection surface 16a. In this case, repulsive force against the toner is generated on the detection surface 16a after cleaning so that the toner is repelled by the detection surface 16a and hence prevented from sticking thereto. The detection surface 16a is protected from contamination more reliably.
According to the present illustrative embodiment, opening of the cover 101 is not limited to the time when the transfer device 7 is replaced. For example, the cover 101 may be opened upon replacement of a waste toner bin and removal of jammed paper in the image forming apparatus. In a case in which the cover 101 is allowed to be opened and closed for a variety of reasons, the number of the opening and closure of the cover 101 increases, hence increasing the number of cleaning of the pattern detector 16. In this configuration, contamination and damage to the detection surface 16a of the pattern detector 16 are prevented more effectively, hence preventing degradation of image quality.
Furthermore, as illustrated in
With this configuration, when the pattern detector 16 is contaminated, users, technicians, and the like are notified of contamination and encouraged to clean the pattern detector 16 (to open the cover 101), thereby keeping the pattern detector 16 clean.
With reference to
According to the foregoing embodiment illustrated in
With reference to
First, as illustrated in
Subsequently, as illustrated in
When closing the cover 101, the cam 27 and the retainer 17 operate in reverse order as to when the cover 101 is opened, returning from the state shown in
It is to be noted that in the illustrative embodiment illustrated in
According to the present illustrative embodiment, as the pattern detector 16 is returned to the detection position near the conveyor belt 8, the tension of the tension spring 25 causes the retainer 17 to rotate to follow rotation of the cam 27. However, if the retainer 17 is not rotated smoothly, the retainer 17 (contact target) separates from the tab 30 (contact member) and fails to follow rotation of the cam 27. More specifically, with the cleaning member 33, load generated by the pattern detector 16 slidably contacting the cleaning member 33 becomes resistance to the rotation of the retainer 17. Thus, the retainer 17 may fail to follow the rotation of the cam 27. In a case in which the retainer 17 does not return to the detection position at appropriate time, or the retainer 17 returns to the detection position late, as illustrated in
In view of the above, the retainer 17 may be provided with an auxiliary member 41 to support returning movement of the retainer 17.
More specifically, as illustrated in
According to an illustrative embodiment illustrated in
With reference to
As illustrated in
When returning the pattern detector 16 from the second retracted position (shield position) to the detection position (proximal position), the auxiliary member 41 normally operates in reverse order as to when the pattern detector 16 moves from the detection position to the second retraction position described above.
In a case in which the retainer 17 fails to follow the rotation of the cam 27 and there is a delay in the returning movement of the retainer 17 when returning the pattern detector 16 to the detection position (proximal position), the contact surface 43a of the auxiliary member 41 contacts the projection 39 as illustrated in
In a case in which the tab 30 separates from the contact target of the retainer 17 while the pattern detector 16 returns to the detection position (proximal position), the auxiliary member 41 contacts the projection 39. Consequently, the engaging portion 43 of the auxiliary member 41 is hooked to the projection 39, and the auxiliary member 41 is pulled as the cam 27 rotates, pushing the projection 39 in the direction in which the pattern detector 16 is returned to the detection position (proximal position). As a result, the retainer 17 follows rotation of the cam 27 and successfully contacts the desired position of the transfer device 7.
According to the illustrative embodiments described above, the detection surface of the pattern detector is covered and protected from contamination and damage by moving the pattern detector to the shield position. Hence, optimum detection accuracy of the pattern detector 16 can be maintained reliably, thereby preventing degradation of image quality.
According to the illustrative embodiments described above, the cleaning member is provided to clean the detection surface of the pattern detector. With this configuration, the detection surface is cleaned when the detection surface is contaminated, thereby maintaining optimum detection accuracy as well.
Furthermore, according to the illustrative embodiments, the operation associated with moving the pattern detector to the shield position (opening the cover) can move the pattern detector to the cleaning potion at which the detection surface of the pattern detector is cleaned by the cleaning member. In other words, a single operation can enable the pattern detector to be covered and cleaned, thereby enhancing operability. Because covering and cleaning of the detection surface requires only a single operation, downsizing and cost reduction can be achieved.
According to the illustrative embodiments described above, the cover provided to the frame of the image forming apparatus serves as an operation device for moving the pattern detector, hence requiring no additional operation device for moving the pattern detector. Simplification, downsizing, and cost reduction of the image forming apparatus are achieved, which are desired for the apparatus. Opening the cover 101 enables the pattern detector 16 to retract automatically from the transfer device 7 so that upon replacement of the transfer device 7, the pattern detector 16 is prevented from staying at the detection position. With this configuration, the pattern detector is prevented from getting damaged upon replacement of the transfer device reliably.
It is to be noted that the operation device for moving the pattern detector is not limited to the cover. For example, the operation device may include a movable lever that moves between a first position and a second position. The lever at the first position, for example, may bring the pattern detector to the detection position (proximal position), and the lever at the second position brings the pattern detector to the retracted position (shield position).
According to the illustrative embodiments, the moving device assembly is applied to the pattern detector for detecting the image patterns on the conveyor belt that delivers a recording medium. The moving device assembly may be applied to other devices such as a detector disposed opposite a rotary member including, but not limited to, an intermediate transfer belt and a photosensitive drum to detect image patterns formed thereon.
With reference to
According to the present illustrative embodiment illustrated in
The recording medium is fed from the sheet tray 10 by the sheet feed roller 11. In
According to the present illustrative embodiment, when adjusting the density and the position of an image, similar to the foregoing embodiments, image patterns are formed on the photosensitive drums 2 of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1Bk, and then transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 80 across from each of the primary transfer rollers 81. As the intermediate transfer belt 80 rotates and the image patterns formed on the intermediate transfer belt 80 arrive at a position across from the pattern detector 16, the pattern detector 16 detects the image patterns, and the position and the density thereof are adjusted based on the detection result provided by the pattern detector 16.
As illustrated in
The moving device assembly of the present disclosure can be applied to the image forming apparatus described above, and the moving device assembly can move the pattern detector to the shield position, thereby preventing contamination of and damage to the detection surface of the pattern detector and hence maintaining an optimum detection accuracy of the pattern detector.
In addition to detecting the image pattern on the intermediate transfer belt and the conveyor belt, the pattern detector may detect abrasion of the surface of the intermediate transfer belt and the conveyor belt, or the surface of abrasion of the rotary member such as the photosensitive drums.
The moving device assembly of the present disclosure may be used to separate a detector including a detection surface from an opposing member different from the above-described rotary member. The detector to be separated from the opposing member by the moving device assembly of the illustrative embodiments may be disposed such that the detector does not contact the opposing member when the detector is at the proximal position relative to the opposing member.
According to an aspect of the disclosure, a moving device assembly (e.g., the moving device assembly 200) includes a moving device (e.g., the cover 101) and a shield (the shield 40). The moving device is movable between a first position and a second position, to move a detector (e.g., the detector 16) including a detection surface relative to an opposing member (e.g., the conveyor belt 8). The shield shields the detection surface of the detector. In a case in which the moving device is at the first position, the detector is at a proximal position at which the detector is near the opposing member, and as the moving device is at the second position, the detector is at a shield position at which the detector is separated from the opposing member and the detection surface of the detector is shielded by the shield.
According to an aspect of the disclosure, the moving device assembly includes a retainer (e.g., the retainer 17), a cam follower (e.g., the cam follower 28), a cam (e.g., the cam 27), a contact member (e.g., the tab 30), and a biasing member (e.g., the compression spring 21). The retainer includes a contact target (e.g., the projection 31) to hold the detector. The retainer is rotatably supported by a shaft (e.g., the shaft 23) and movable relative to the opposing member. The cam follower is fixed to a component (e.g., the frame of the image forming apparatus) other than the retainer. The cam is rotated by the moving device to slidably contact the cam follower so as to separate the retainer from the opposing member and move the detector to the shield position. The contact member rotates together with the cam and contacts the contact target to rotate the retainer to move the detector to the shield position. The biasing member biases the retainer to move the detector to the proximal position.
According to an aspect of the disclosure, the cam includes a first cam surface (e.g., the first cam surface 27a) and a second cam surface (e.g., the second cam surface 27b) continuously formed with the first cam surface. A distance between a center (the center Q) of rotation of the cam and the first cam surface increases gradually.
According to an aspect of the disclosure, the cam (e.g., the cam 27) and the retainer (e.g., the retainer 17) are connected via the shaft (e.g., the shaft 23), and the cam and the retainer are rotatable about the shaft.
According to an aspect of the disclosure, the moving device assembly includes also a retainer guide (e.g., the pair of guide members 32) that guides the retainer in directions in which the retainer approaches and separates from the opposing member.
According to an aspect of the disclosure, the moving device assembly includes also a belt support (the belt support 20). The opposing member includes a belt formed into an endless loop, and a surface thereof opposite a surface facing the detector is supported by the belt support. The biasing member biases the retainer against the belt support.
According to an aspect of the disclosure, the moving device assembly includes also an auxiliary member (e.g., the auxiliary member 41) to pressingly contact the retainer to move the detector to the proximal position upon moving the detector to the proximal position.
According to an aspect of the disclosure, the moving device assembly includes an auxiliary member guide (e.g., the guide member 45) to guide the auxiliary member. The auxiliary member moves in conjunction with rotation of the cam, and the auxiliary member guide guides the auxiliary member as the auxiliary member moves.
According to an aspect of the disclosure, while the contact member (e.g., the tab 30) is in contact with the contact target (e.g., the projection 31) of the retainer (e.g., the retainer 17), a contact surface (e.g., the contact surface 43a) of the auxiliary member that contacts the retainer is spaced apart a certain distance (e.g., the distance E) from the retainer. When the contact member separates from the contact target of the retainer while the detector is moved to the proximal position, the auxiliary member pressingly contacts the retainer.
According to an aspect of the disclosure, the moving member includes an openable cover (e.g., the cover 101) that covers a housing of an image forming apparatus (e.g., the image forming apparatus 100). When opening the cover, the detector is moved from the proximal position to the shield position, and when closing the cover, the detector is moved from the shield position to the proximal position.
According to an aspect of the disclosure, the moving device assembly includes a cleaning device (e.g., the cleaning device 33) to clean the detection surface of the detector. While the moving device is at the second position, the detector is at the shield position and the cleaning device cleans the detection surface of the detector. The cleaning device is formed of a material that charges the detector to the same polarity as that of toner by contacting the detector.
According to an aspect of the disclosure, the moving device assembly includes a contamination detector (e.g., the contamination detector 34) to detect contamination of the detection surface of the detector, and a reporting device (e.g., the reporting device 35) to report contamination detected by the contamination detector.
According to an aspect of the disclosure, an image forming apparatus (e.g., the image forming apparatus 100) includes the moving device assembly (e.g., the moving device assembly 200).
The image forming apparatus includes, but is not limited to, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, an ink-jet image forming apparatus, and any other types of image forming apparatuses.
According to an aspect of this disclosure, the present invention is employed in the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes, but is not limited to, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a copier, a printer, a facsimile machine, and a multi-functional system.
Furthermore, it is to be understood that elements and/or features of different illustrative embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of this disclosure and appended claims. In addition, the number of constituent elements, locations, shapes and so forth of the constituent elements are not limited to any of the structure for performing the methodology illustrated in the drawings.
Example embodiments being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such exemplary variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2012-128123 | Jun 2012 | JP | national |
2012-227939 | Oct 2012 | JP | national |
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