Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a transmitter, a receiver, a comparison circuit, and a control unit. The transmitter transmits an ultrasonic wave to a conveyance path through which a sheet is conveyed. The receiver faces the transmitter with the conveyance path in between, and receives the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the transmitter. The comparison circuit compares a level signal indicating a reception level of the ultrasonic wave received by the receiver with a threshold signal for determining whether or not the sheet is double-fed in the conveyance path, and outputs a comparison result signal according to the comparison result. The control unit determines whether or not there is a possibility of a defect in the double feed detection function of detecting double feed based on the comparison result signal and the level signal.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a transmitter, a receiver, a comparison circuit, and a control unit. The transmitter transmits an ultrasonic wave to a conveyance path through which a sheet is conveyed. The receiver faces the transmitter with the conveyance path in between, and receives the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the transmitter. The comparison circuit compares a level signal indicating a reception level of the ultrasonic wave received by the receiver with a threshold signal for determining whether or not the sheet is double-fed in the conveyance path, and outputs a comparison result signal according to the comparison result. The control unit determines whether or not there is a possibility of a defect in the double feed detection function of detecting double feed based on the comparison result signal and the level signal.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a start control device includes a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory stores management information which includes a system preparation time required to complete preparation of a system from starting the system and a fusing preparation time required to complete preparation of a fuser from starting heating of the fuser. A start command is received via the interface. The processor controls a timing of starting the system and a timing of starting the heating of the fuser to equalize a first timing at which the preparation of the system is completed and a second timing at which the preparation of the fuser is completed, based on the start command and the management information.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a start control device includes a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory stores management information which includes a system preparation time required to complete preparation of a system from starting the system and a fusing preparation time required to complete preparation of a fuser from starting heating of the fuser. A start command is received via the interface. The processor controls a timing of starting the system and a timing of starting the heating of the fuser to equalize a first timing at which the preparation of the system is completed and a second timing at which the preparation of the fuser is completed, based on the start command and the management information.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fixing device includes a heat roller, a heat generating body, and a controller. The heat roller heats a conveyed sheet. The heat generating body generates heat with electric power in the heat roller. The controller applies thinning control to electric energy supplied to the heat generating body in processing for heating the heat roller.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fixing device includes a heat roller, a heat generating body, and a controller. The heat roller heats a conveyed sheet. The heat generating body generates heat with electric power in the heat roller. The controller applies thinning control to electric energy supplied to the heat generating body in processing for heating the heat roller.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fixing device includes a heat roller, a heat generating body, and a controller. The heat roller heats a conveyed sheet. The heat generating body generates heat with electric power in the heat roller. The controller applies thinning control to electric energy supplied to the heat generating body in processing for heating the heat roller.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a motor driving control device including a motor driver, a storage device, and a control section. The motor driver supplies a motor driving current for driving a motor to the motor. The storage device stores a first data table in which temperature around the motor, a current value of the motor driving current set to prevent the motor from stepping out at the temperature, and a driving voltage set in the motor driver in order to cause the motor driver to output the motor driving current having the current value are associated with one another for each temperature around the motor. The control section controls the motor driver to output the motor driving current having a predetermined current value associated with the temperature around the motor in the first data table.

Abstract: A toner having: a peak temperature before fixation T1a of about 40° C. or more; and a peak temperature after fixation T1b that is lower than T1a by from about 10° C. to about 35° C.: T1a being a peak temperature of an endothermic peak occurring at the lowest temperature in a range of from 0° C. to 100° C. and obtained at a first warming-up step of a differential scanning calorimetry measurement that uses a toner before fixation as a sample; T1b being a peak temperature of an endothermic peak occurring at the lowest temperature within a range of from 0° C. to 100° C. and obtained at a first warming-up step of a differential scanning calorimetry measurement that uses a toner after fixation as a sample; and the toner after fixation being contained in a fixed image transferred from a transferring member and fixed on a recording medium, a maximum width of an image defect formed after conducting a folding test of the fixed image being 0.30 mm or less.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a motor driving control device including a motor driver, a storage device, and a control section. The motor driver supplies a motor driving current for driving a motor to the motor. The storage device stores a first data table in which temperature around the motor, a current value of the motor driving current set to prevent the motor from stepping out at the temperature, and a driving voltage set in the motor driver in order to cause the motor driver to output the motor driving current having the current value are associated with one another for each temperature around the motor. The control section controls the motor driver to output the motor driving current having a predetermined current value associated with the temperature around the motor in the first data table.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a printing apparatus includes: an image reading unit configured to optically read an original document; a setting unit configured to set a printing mode; and a controller configured to execute, on the basis of the printing mode set by the setting unit, a multi mode for continuously printing image data of the original document read by the image reading unit in a first printing mode and a second printing mode different from the first printing mode.

Abstract: A toner having: a peak temperature before fixation T1a of about 40° C. or more; and a peak temperature after fixation T1b that is lower than T1a by from about 10° C. to about 35° C.: T1a being a peak temperature of an endothermic peak occurring at the lowest temperature in a range of from 0° C. to 100° C. and obtained at a first warming-up step of a differential scanning calorimetry measurement that uses a toner before fixation as a sample; T1b being a peak temperature of an endothermic peak occurring at the lowest temperature within a range of from 0° C. to 100° C. and obtained at a first warming-up step of a differential scanning calorimetry measurement that uses a toner after fixation as a sample; and the toner after fixation being contained in a fixed image transferred from a transferring member and fixed on a recording medium, a maximum width of an image defect formed after conducting a folding test of the fixed image being 0.30 mm or less.

Abstract: An electrophotographic toner contains at least a binder resin and a colorant, and log10{[Cu]/[C]} satisfies the following equation (1): ?5.0?log10{[Cu]/[C]}??3.5 ??(1) in which, [C] represents a carbon content (%) and [Cu] represents a copper content (%), measured with fluorescent X-ray. An electrophotographic developer containing the toner, a method for producing the toner, and a method for forming an image by using the toner are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a toner for developing electrostatic charged images comprising toner mother particles containing a binder resin and a colorant, and an external additive, wherein: the average of shape factors SF1 of the toner mother particles represented by the following Formula (1) is 140 or less; the external additive contains higher alcohol particles having a volume-average particle diameter of 1 to 12 ?m; and the content of the higher alcohol particles having a diameter equal to or less than the volume-average particle diameter of the toner mother particles is in a range of 0.15 to 2.5 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the toner mother particles. In addition, the invention provides a developer for developing electrostatic charged images comprising the toner. Further, the invention provides an image forming method using the toner.

Abstract: An electrophotographic toner contains at least a binder resin and a colorant, and log10{[Cu]/[C]} satisfies the following equation (1): ?5.0?log10{[Cu]/[C]}??3.5 ??(1) in which, [C] represents a carbon content (%) and [Cu] represents a copper content (%), measured with fluorescent X-ray. An electrophotographic developer containing the toner, a method for producing the toner, and a method for forming an image by using the toner are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a toner for developing electrostatic charged images comprising toner mother particles containing a binder resin and a colorant, and an external additive, wherein: the average of shape factors SF1 of the toner mother particles represented by the following Formula (1) is 140 or less; the external additive contains higher alcohol particles having a volume-average particle diameter of 1 to 12 ?m; and the content of the higher alcohol particles having a diameter equal to or less than the volume-average particle diameter of the toner mother particles is in a range of 0.15 to 2.5 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the toner mother particles. In addition, the invention provides a developer for developing electrostatic charged images comprising the toner. Further, the invention provides an image forming method using the toner.

Abstract: An image formation method which remarkably extends developer life while providing size reduction and high speed coloring. Also, a replenishing toner and a method of producing the same, and a toner cartridge. In the image formation method, conducting image formation by an image formation apparatus having a plurality of xerography units, the developer apparatus of at least one xerography unit has a developer recovering mechanism appropriately replenishing a replenishing toner composed of a toner and a carrier into the developer apparatus and recovering an excess portion of a developer from the equipment. The above-mentioned replenishing toner has a carrier content in the range of 5 to 40% by weight, the above-mentioned carrier is a carrier coated with a resin having a specific composition, and/or the above-mentioned toner is in a specific shape. The replenishing toner may be produced using the above-mentioned recovered developer.

Abstract: A carrier for the development of an electrostatic latent image, comprising a core material and a resin coating the core material therewith, wherein the coating resin comprises a copolymer of at least four kinds of monomers including: (1) a monomer containing a carboxyl group; (2) an acrylic acid alkylester monomer or methacrylic acid alkylester monomer, containing a C1-C3 linear alkyl group; (3) an acrylic acid alkylester monomer or methacrylic acid alkylester monomer, containing a C4-C10 linear alkyl group or C3-C10 branched alkyl group; and (4) a monomer containing fluorine. Also disclosed is a two-component developer for the development of an electrostatic latent image, comprising a toner and the carrier.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic developer and a process for forming an image, an electrophotographic toner used therein contains spherical toner parent particles and two or more kinds of inorganic particles having different average particle diameters, at least one kind of the inorganic fine particles being spherical particles having an average primary particle diameter of about 80 to 300 nm, and the inorganic particles containing the spherical particles being attached to the toner parent particles to provide a structure satisfying the following conditions (1) and (2): (1) the spherical particles have a coverage on a surface of the toner parent particles of about 20% or more; and (2) a proportion of the inorganic particles that are separated from the toner parent particles upon dispersing the toner in an aqueous solution is about 35% or less of a total addition amount of the inorganic particles.

Abstract: An image formation method which remarkably extends developer life while providing size reduction and high speed coloring. Also, a replenishing toner and a method of producing the same, and a toner cartridge. In the image formation method, conducting image formation by an image formation apparatus having a plurality of xerography units, the developer apparatus of at least one xerography unit has a developer recovering mechanism appropriately replenishing a replenishing toner composed of a toner and a carrier into the developer apparatus and recovering an excess portion of a developer from the equipment. The above-mentioned replenishing toner has a carrier content in the range of 5 to 40% by weight, the above-mentioned carrier is a carrier coated with a resin having a specific composition, and/or the above-mentioned toner is in a specific shape. The replenishing toner may be produced using the above-mentioned recovered developer.