# US 2025/0085654 A1 · Drive transmitter, drive device, and image forming apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0085654 A1 - Document ID: US20250085654A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/800,455 - Filed: 2024-08-12 - Published: 2025-03-13 - Earliest claimed: 2023-09-11 - Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Inventors: Naoki MATSUDA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250085654A1 ## CPC - G03G 15/5004: {Power supply control, e.g. power-saving mode, automatic power turn-off} - G03G 15/0889: {for agitation or stirring} - G03G 15/0891: {for conveying or circulating developer, e.g. augers} - G03G 15/757: {Drive mechanisms for photosensitive medium, e.g. gears} - G03G 15/80: {Details relating to power supplies, circuits boards, electrical connections} - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract An image forming apparatus includes a developing device, a drive source, an electromagnetic clutch, and circuitry. The developing device includes a developer and a rotator to convey or stir the developer. The drive source generates a driving force to drive the rotator. The electromagnetic clutch transmits the driving force of the drive source to the rotator of the developing device. The circuitry controls current to be supplied to the electromagnetic clutch and changes a value of the current supplied to the electromagnetic clutch in accordance with a fluidity of the developer in the developing device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus comprising: a developing device including: a developer; and a rotator to convey or stir the developer; a drive source to generate a driving force to drive the rotator; an electromagnetic clutch to transmit the driving force of the drive source to the rotator of the developing device; and circuitry configured to: control current to be supplied to the electromagnetic clutch; and change a value of the current supplied to the electromagnetic clutch in accordance with a fluidity of the developer in the developing device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry changes the value of the current supplied to the electromagnetic clutch based on an operation stop time of the developing device during which an operation of the developing device is stopped. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the circuitry increases the value of the current supplied to the electromagnetic clutch when the operation stop time of the developing device exceeds a threshold. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature-humidity sensor to detect at least one of a temperature and a humidity in the image forming apparatus, wherein the circuitry changes the value of the current supplied to the electromagnetic clutch based on a detection of the temperature or the humidity by the temperature-humidity sensor. ### Claim 5 An image forming apparatus comprising: a developing device including: a developer; and a rotator to convey or stir the developer; a drive source to generate a driving force to drive the rotator; an electromagnetic clutch to transmit the driving force of the drive source to the rotator of the developing device; a winder to wind a protection sheet in the developing device; a drive transmission device to transmit, via the electromagnetic clutch, the driving force of the drive source to the winder to wind the protection sheet; and circuitry configured to: set a first value of a current supplied to the electromagnetic clutch during a developing operation of the developing device; and set a second value of the current supplied to the electromagnetic clutch when the winder winds the protection sheet, the second value larger than the first value. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a winder to wind a protection sheet in the developing device; and a drive transmission device to transmit, via the electromagnetic clutch, the driving force of the drive source to the winder to wind the protection sheet, wherein the circuitry is further configured to: set a first value of the current supplied to the electromagnetic clutch during a developing operation of the developing device; and set a second value of the current supplied to the electromagnetic clutch when the winder winds the protection sheet, the second value larger than the first value. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the winder releases the protection sheet after the winder completes winding the protection sheet. ### Claim 8 An image forming apparatus comprising: an electromagnetic clutch including an electromagnetic coil; a drive source to drive the electromagnetic clutch; a helical gear coaxial with the electromagnetic clutch and assembled to the electromagnetic clutch, the helical gear to generate a thrust force to move the helical gear toward the electromagnetic coil of the electromagnetic clutch; and circuitry configured to gradually change a value of a current supplied to the electromagnetic clutch when the electromagnetic clutch is switched between on and off. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to gradually change the value of the current supplied to the electromagnetic clutch when the electromagnetic clutch is switched between on and off. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a helical gear coaxial with the electromagnetic clutch and assembled to the electromagnetic clutch, wherein the electromagnetic clutch includes an electromagnetic coil, and the helical gear generates a thrust force toward the electromagnetic coil of the electromagnetic clutch. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to: gradually change the value of the current supplied to the electromagnetic clutch when the electromagnetic clutch is switched between on and off; and adjust a fluctuation amount per unit time of the value of the current supplied to the electromagnetic clutch to be equal to or smaller than a threshold when the electromagnetic clutch is switched between on and off. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry controls a pulse width modulation to change the value of the current supplied to the electromagnetic clutch. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a photoconductor; a photoconductor-drive transmitter to transmit the driving force of the driving source to the photoconductor; and a developing-drive transmitter to transmit the driving force of the driving source to the rotator of the developing device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a photoconductor; and a driver to drive the photoconductor and the developing device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the winder releases the protection sheet after the winder completes winding the protection sheet. ### Claim 16 (depends on 5) The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the circuitry is further configured to gradually change a value of the current supplied to the electromagnetic clutch when the electromagnetic clutch is switched between on and off. ### Claim 17 (depends on 5) The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a helical gear coaxial with the electromagnetic clutch and assembled to the electromagnetic clutch, wherein the electromagnetic clutch includes an electromagnetic coil, and the helical gear generates a thrust force toward the electromagnetic coil of the electromagnetic clutch. ### Claim 18 (depends on 5) The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the circuitry controls a pulse width modulation to change a value of the current supplied to the electromagnetic clutch. ### Claim 19 (depends on 8) The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the circuitry controls a pulse width modulation to change the value of the current supplied to the electromagnetic clutch.