Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form an image on a recording medium and a treatment-liquid application device to apply a treatment liquid to the medium. The application device includes a conveyance roller to convey the medium, an application roller to apply the liquid to the medium, a squeeze roller to spread the liquid on the application roller to form a thin layer of the liquid on the application roller, and a housing member to retain the application roller and the squeeze roller within the housing member and cover outer circumferential surfaces of the application roller and the squeeze roller. The housing member has an opening to contact the application roller with the conveyance roller through the opening and a storage portion to store the liquid. The housing member is rotatable while retaining the application roller and the conveyance roller within the housing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a treatment-liquid application unit applying a treatment liquid from a chamber to a recording medium; a treatment-liquid storage unit to store the liquid; a supply channel member forming a supply channel to supply the liquid from the treatment-liquid storage unit to the chamber; a collection channel member forming a collection channel to collect the liquid from the chamber; and a temporary storage portion disposed in the collection channel to temporarily store the liquid. The temporary storage portion has an internal horizontal cross-sectional area greater than a channel cross-sectional area of the collection channel. The collection channel member has a first channel portion of a channel cross-sectional area smaller than the internal horizontal cross-sectional area of the temporary storage portion. A liquid level of the liquid in the collection channel is maintained in the first channel portion after termination of collecting operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an application device. The application device has an application roller to apply a treatment liquid onto a recording medium before an image is formed on the recording medium. The application roller has a core member serving as a rotation shaft of the application roller and an elastic surface member disposed around the core member. The core member has a plurality of convex ring portions formed along a circumferential direction of the core member around a circumferential surface of the core member and a plurality of concave ring portions formed between the plurality of convex ring portions. The convex ring portions and the concave ring portions are alternately arranged.

Abstract: An inkjet recording device including a line engine including a plurality of recording heads that are aligned in a main scanning direction, in which an arbitrary one of the plurality of recording heads is replaceable. Each of the plurality of recording heads includes a head tank attached on the corresponding one of the plurality of recording heads. The head tank includes a supply port and a discharge port for ink. The head tanks that are adjacent to each other are connected by the respective discharge ports and the supply ports.

Abstract: An inkjet image forming apparatus which is provided with a line engine in which one or more recording heads are aligned in a main scanning direction and which has replacably configured an arbitrary one of the recording heads is disclosed. In the inkjet image forming apparatus, each of the recording heads includes a head tank mounted on the recording head, the head tank including a supply port and a discharge port for ink, the head tanks which are adjacent are mutually connected by a path in which the discharge port and supply port of the respective head tanks are coupled via a coupling unit, a path from the discharge port and a path to the supply port differ in an inner path diameter over the coupling unit, and the inner path diameter on the discharge port side is larger than the inner path diameter on the supply port side.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming device forming an image on a surface of a recording material; a recording material passage; a treatment liquid applicator including a tray containing a treatment liquid, a first roller applying the treatment liquid to the surface of the recording material, and a second roller drawing the treatment liquid from the tray to supply the treatment liquid to the first roller; a liquid level inclination detector detecting whether the surface of the treatment liquid is inclined; a treatment liquid supplying device supplying the treatment liquid to the tray; and a controller connected with liquid level detector and the treatment liquid supplying device. The controller stops the operation of the treatment liquid supplying device when determining according to the detection result of the liquid level detector that the surface of the treatment liquid is inclined in a predetermined amount or more.

Abstract: An inkjet image forming apparatus which is provided with a line engine in which one or more recording heads are aligned in a main scanning direction and which has replacably configured an arbitrary one of the recording heads is disclosed. In the inkjet image forming apparatus, each of the recording heads includes a head tank mounted on the recording head, the head tank including a supply port and a discharge port for ink, the head tanks which are adjacent are mutually connected by a path in which the discharge port and supply port of the respective head tanks are coupled via a coupling unit, a path from the discharge port and a path to the supply port differ in an inner path diameter over the coupling unit, and the inner path diameter on the discharge port side is larger than the inner path diameter on the supply port side.

Abstract: A treatment-liquid application device includes a treatment-liquid container, a liquid supply unit, a liquid chamber unit, a treatment-liquid carrier, a transport unit, a treatment-liquid applicator, and a partition. The partition is disposed in an area of the chamber unit defined by an imaginary entry plane, an imaginary exit plane, a carrying surface of the carrier, and a bottom face of the chamber unit. The entry plane includes an entry line at which the carrying surface enters treatment liquid in the chamber unit, and vertically extends from the entry line. The exit plane includes an exit line at which the carrying surface exits from the liquid in the chamber unit, and vertically extends from the exit line. The partition extends in a longitudinal direction of the carrier and has an edge portion adjacent to the carrying surface.

Abstract: An inkjet recording device including a line engine including a plurality of recording heads that are aligned in a main scanning direction, in which an arbitrary one of the plurality of recording heads is replaceable. Each of the plurality of recording heads includes a head tank attached on the corresponding one of the plurality of recording heads. The head tank includes a supply port and a discharge port for ink. The head tanks that are adjacent to each other are connected by the respective discharge ports and the supply ports.

Abstract: A treatment-liquid application device includes a treatment-liquid container, a liquid supply unit, a liquid chamber unit, a treatment-liquid carrier, a transport unit, a treatment-liquid applicator, and a partition. The partition is disposed in an area of the chamber unit defined by an imaginary entry plane, an imaginary exit plane, a carrying surface of the carrier, and a bottom face of the chamber unit. The entry plane includes an entry line at which the carrying surface enters treatment liquid in the chamber unit, and vertically extends from the entry line. The exit plane includes an exit line at which the carrying surface exits from the liquid in the chamber unit, and vertically extends from the exit line. The partition extends in a longitudinal direction of the carrier and has an edge portion adjacent to the carrying surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming device forming an image on a surface of a recording material; a recording material passage; a treatment liquid applicator including a tray containing a treatment liquid, a first roller applying the treatment liquid to the surface of the recording material, and a second roller drawing the treatment liquid from the tray to supply the treatment liquid to the first roller; a liquid level inclination detector detecting whether the surface of the treatment liquid is inclined; a treatment liquid supplying device supplying the treatment liquid to the tray; and a controller connected with liquid level detector and the treatment liquid supplying device. The controller stops the operation of the treatment liquid supplying device when determining according to the detection result of the liquid level detector that the surface of the treatment liquid is inclined in a predetermined amount or more.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an application device. The application device has an application roller to apply a treatment liquid onto a recording medium before an image is formed on the recording medium. The application roller has a core member serving as a rotation shaft of the application roller and an elastic surface member disposed around the core member. The core member has a plurality of convex ring portions formed along a circumferential direction of the core member around a circumferential surface of the core member and a plurality of concave ring portions formed between the plurality of convex ring portions. The convex ring portions and the concave ring portions are alternately arranged.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form an image on a recording medium and a treatment-liquid application device to apply a treatment liquid to the medium. The application device includes a conveyance roller to convey the medium, an application roller to apply the liquid to the medium, a squeeze roller to spread the liquid on the application roller to form a thin layer of the liquid on the application roller, and a housing member to retain the application roller and the squeeze roller within the housing member and cover outer circumferential surfaces of the application roller and the squeeze roller. The housing member has an opening to contact the application roller with the conveyance roller through the opening and a storage portion to store the liquid. The housing member is rotatable while retaining the application roller and the conveyance roller within the housing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a treatment-liquid application unit applying a treatment liquid from a chamber to a recording medium; a treatment-liquid storage unit to store the liquid; a supply channel member forming a supply channel to supply the liquid from the treatment-liquid storage unit to the chamber; a collection channel member forming a collection channel to collect the liquid from the chamber; and a temporary storage portion disposed in the collection channel to temporarily store the liquid. The temporary storage portion has an internal horizontal cross-sectional area greater than a channel cross-sectional area of the collection channel. The collection channel member has a first channel portion of a channel cross-sectional area smaller than the internal horizontal cross-sectional area of the temporary storage portion. A liquid level of the liquid in the collection channel is maintained in the first channel portion after termination of collecting operation.