Abstract: A plurality of image processing servers in charge of a first-order service individually transmit their server selection information to a plurality of image processing servers in charge of a second-order service, and those in charge of the second-order service individually select one of those in charge of the first-order service as the most preferred server based on the server selection information received therefrom. Similarly, a plurality of image processing servers in charge of a third-order service individually select one of those in charge of the second-order service as the most preferred server based on the server selection information of those in charge of the second-order service received therefrom. Also similarly, an image forming apparatus selects one of a plurality of image processing servers in charge of the final service as the most preferred server based on the server selection information of those in charge of the final service received therefrom.

Abstract: An image processing server in charge of a first image processing operation determines a reference value for a reference item; generates first reference information; calculates its charge; generates first charge information indicating its calculated amount of charge; and transmits the first reference information and the first charge information to the next location, separately from image data obtained by the first image processing operation.

Abstract: An image processing system comprising an image forming apparatus and first and second image processing servers connected to the image forming apparatus via a network, the first image processing server comprising: a first image processor which performs a first image processing operation on target image data received from the image forming apparatus; and a protected area calculator which calculates a protected area to be prohibited from being processed next, which is related to the area processed by the first image processor, and generates image protection information including information of the protected area, and the second image processing server comprising a second image processor which performs a second image processing operation on the areas excluding the protected area whose information is included in the image protection information generated by the protected area calculator.

Abstract: A heating fixation belt is disclosed, comprising an insulating resin layer containing fibers, a heating layer containing an electrically conductive material dispersed in a resin and having a pair of feed electrodes provided on both ends and a releasing layer, which are sequentially provided in that order. An image forming apparatus comprising the heating fixation belt is also disclosed.

Abstract: A heat-producing element for fixing a toner image on an image support, in which the heat-producing element comprises a heat-resistant resin and electrically-conductive fiber having a shape stipulated by conditions 1, 2 and 3. 1. Aspect ratio: 0.025?(A/B)?0.25 2. Diameter of electrically-conductive fiber (A): 0.5 ?m?A?3 0 ?m 3. Length of electrically-conductive fiber (B): 5.

Abstract: This is to provide an image processing apparatus and others capable of ensuring security by shortening the connecting time of an external recording medium when a plurality of jobs including target data pieces encrypted with shared keys and the shared keys encrypted with a user's public key are executed. A job including a target data piece encrypted with a shared key and the shared key encrypted with a user's public key are received and stored in a job storage. To execute the plurality of jobs stored therein, the encrypted shared keys included in the respective jobs are decrypted with a secret key by the external recording medium. After completely obtaining all the plurality of decrypted shared keys, the target data pieces are decrypted with their matching decrypted shared keys, and then the jobs are executed.

Abstract: A heat-producing element for a fixing device to carry out heat-fixing after a toner image having been formed using a pulverized toner is transferred on an image support, a heat-producing element for a fixing device in which a thin-leaf graphite-pulverized material of a volume specific resistance of 10?6 ?·cm to less than 10?2 ?·cm is incorporated in a heat-resistant resin as a conductive material.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a display; a customization portion; a mode setting portion; and a controller that forcibly changes a value set for a first operation mode to a first parameter, still keeps the first parameter after cancellation of the second operation mode, and changes the first parameter according to a user operation, if a second operation mode is employed by the mode setting portion while an operation key for setting a value for the first operation mode is not hidden by the customization portion, meanwhile changes the value set for the first operation mode to a second parameter and changes the second parameter to a third parameter after cancellation of the second operation mode, if the second operation mode is employed by the mode setting portion while an operation key for setting a value for the first operation mode is hidden by the customization portion.

Abstract: An image forming system comprises a calling part for calling up customized information which is operation setting information customized for a specific user, a converter for dividing an operation to be executed in a specific function mode which is installed in a first image forming apparatus and not installed in a second image forming apparatus into a plurality of jobs and changing execution information of the specific function mode to converted execution information described by using combination of pieces of execution information on the plurality of jobs when the specific function mode is included in the customized information, and a controller for executing an operation to implement the same function as that of the specific function mode in the second image forming apparatus by using the converted execution information.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises: a display that displays a first screen including one or more than one first key for setting a mode to execute a function of the apparatus, and then, if one of the first keys is pressed, displays a second screen including one or more than one second key, which is a lower-class screen under the pressed first key; and a customizing portion that hides at least one of the first and the second keys on the first screen, according to a user operation, and wherein if a user changes to non-display, the setting of at least one of the first keys on the first screen, while there exists a second key preliminarily prohibited from being hidden, on the second screen that is a lower-class screen under the first key to be hidden according to the changed setting, the customizing portion doesn't hide the first key.

Abstract: A vehicle slide door temporary setting jig includes a door position holding mechanism for holding a slide door in a desired angular position relative to a vehicle body. The door position holding mechanism has an end extension of one link lever of a linkage projecting beyond an associated link pin, an arcuate guide member pivoted to the free end of an attachment frame and configured to define a path of movement of a tip end portion of the end extension as the link lever turns about the link pin, and a resilient member acting between the free end of the attachment frame and the arcuate guide member and resiliently urging the arcuate guide member against the tip end portion of the end extension.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming method is disclosed. In the method electrostatic latent image is developed by a non-magnetic single-component developing system, in which a non-magnetic single-component developer is conveyed by a developer carrying member, the developer carrying member is contacted with a developer layer regulation member for regulating an amount of the developer at the surface of the developer carrying member, and a binder resin of the developer comprises a vinyl polymer having an acid value of from about 5 to about 30 mgKOH/g and a ratio of hydroxyl group value/acid values from about 0.3 to about 0.8.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes: a job input unit receiving job inputs of performing image formation from image data; a job registration unit registering the jobs of performing image formation from the image data together with priorities in an order of execution of the jobs and link information showing a link relationship between the jobs; a job management unit managing the order of execution of the registered jobs; a priority change unit performing a priority change in response to a priority change request for the registered jobs; and an image formation unit executing the jobs according to the order of execution, wherein the priority change unit changes a priority or priorities of another job or the other jobs in a link relationship with a job on which a priority change has been performed to the same priority as the job on which a priority change has been performed.

Abstract: A method is provided which enables to know a location of copied document data without the use of a server or others. Document data that is data used for reconstructing a document is managed by combining, in one document object, the document data along with relationship information for identifying other document data generated by reproducing the document data. Likewise, when a reproduction process is performed, the other document data is managed by combining, in one document object, the other document data along with relationship information for identifying the reproduction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that prints and edits a document includes a user identification portion, a print management portion that records print management information indicating a user who performs abort operation of printing, an edit management portion that records edit management information, a determination portion that determines, based on the print management information, whether or not the user is a print suspended operator who has performed the abort operation previously, a page extraction portion that, when the print suspended operator performs reprinting operation for giving instructions to print the document that has been updated, extracts pages of the document which were printed successfully when printing of the document was suspended and have been updated thereafter, and a print controller that controls the image forming apparatus such that the image forming apparatus prints at least unprinted pages of the document and the pages extracted by the page extraction portion.

Abstract: This is to provide an image processing apparatus and others capable of ensuring security by shortening the connecting time of an external recording medium when a plurality of jobs including target data pieces encrypted with shared keys and the shared keys encrypted with a user's public key are executed. A job including a target data piece encrypted with a shared key and the shared key encrypted with a user's public key are received and stored in a job storage. To execute the plurality of jobs stored therein, the encrypted shared keys included in the respective jobs are decrypted with a secret key by the external recording medium. After completely obtaining all the plurality of decrypted shared keys, the target data pieces are decrypted with their matching decrypted shared keys, and then the jobs are executed.

Abstract: An electrostatic image developing toner is disclosed, comprising a resin and a colorant, wherein the toner contains at least one iminocarboxylic acid or its salt in an amount of from 26 to 388 ppm by mass.

Abstract: A job execution system comprises a job execution apparatus, an image data storage portion which is installed either outside or inside the job execution apparatus and stores image data in each box, a group information storing portion which is installed either outside or inside the job execution apparatus and stores group information preset for each group to which the user belongs in association with the box, a group information acquisition portion which is installed to the job execution apparatus and acquires the group information associated with the box when the box in which the image data is stored is designated by the user, and a controller which operates the job execution apparatus in conformity to the acquired group information.

Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing an electrostatic charge image developing toner exhibiting reduced variation in charging amount among manufacturing lots, which is capable of generating no fog, and acquiring high density print images. Disclosed is a method of manufacturing an electrostatic charge image developing toner, possessing the step of washing toner mother particles having been formed in an aqueous medium with washing water, wherein the washing water has a total dissolution component amount of at least 0.05 mg/liter and less than 0.5 mg/liter.

Abstract: A method of decolorizing a colored effluent comprising (i) a colored substance; and (ii) a polyvalent carboxylic acid or a polyvalent aminocarboxylic acid, the method including the steps of: (a) controlling a hydrogen ion exponent (pH) of the colored effluent to be in a range in which two or more carboxylic acid groups in the polyvalent carboxylic acid or the polyvalent aminocarboxylic acid does not dissociate; (b) adding an inorganic metal salt to the colored effluent so as to allow the inorganic metal salt to react with the colored substance to form a precipitation in the colored effluent, and (c) eliminating the precipitation from the colored effluent.