Patent ID: 8843004
Filing Date: 2014-09-23
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a controller which controls an image forming unit configured to form a toner image on a recording member, an area calculating unit configured to calculate an image area of the toner image, a pair of conveying members configured to form a conveying nip for conveying the recording member when the toner image is being formed or after the toner image is formed, a lubricant application member that selectively applies a lubricant to at least one of the conveying members; a behavior detecting unit configured to detect behavior of the recording member being fed out of the conveying nip, a thickness obtaining unit configured to obtain thickness information of the recording member, a width obtaining unit configured to obtain width information of the recording member, a stiffness obtaining unit configured to obtain bending stiffness of the recording member based on the thickness information and the width information of the recording member, an index calculating unit configured to calculate an index value, indicating windability of the recording member with respect to the conveying members, for each combination of bending stiffness and image area, wherein the recording member winds around one of the conveying members, based on at least the image area, the behavior and the bending stiffness of the recording member, a wearing determining unit configured to determine wearing of the conveying members based on the index value; a predicting unit that compares the index value with a preliminary threshold value, and also with a notified threshold that is larger than the preliminary threshold value, to predict whether the recording member whose thickness information is obtained causes winding with respect to the conveying members; and a control unit that