Abstract: Related is an image forming apparatus by electrophotography having a function of performing adjustment of image quality when performing image formation. The image forming apparatus includes a detection portion for detecting a fixing temperature of a fixing apparatus; a storage portion for storing an application history of a development bias; a count portion for counting a reposed time from a point when an operation of image formation is ended; a determination portion for determining a change range of the development bias immediately before the end of the operation of image formation; and an execution portion for executing adjustment of image quality by setting the development bias based on a determination result from the determination portion when the reposed time or the fixing temperature exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section; a manual setting mode for enabling a user to provide instruction of timing for executing a process control of the image forming section; a cumulative operation information management section for calculating and storing cumulative operation information after the execution of the previous process control; a threshold value setting section for setting, to a threshold value, the cumulative operation information at the point when the instruction is provided in the manual setting mode; and a process control management section for executing a process control and resetting the cumulative operation information at timing when the cumulative operation information reaches the threshold value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, an image forming method, a program, and a recording medium that succeed in reducing recording agent consumption without causing image quality degradation are provided. A modification region processing section detects, out of image data, A locations where a region identification signal provided from a region separation processing section changes from a ground region mode to a character region mode, and vice versa, as the boundary between the ground region and the character region, and thereby specifies a modification region which is continuous with the ground region and overlaps with a part of a periphery of the character region which is contiguous to the ground region. The modification region is assigned color data indicating a color that can be represented by the recording agent for use in ground region formation thereby to generate image data.

Abstract: A digital color copier includes: a toner concentration storage which stores a detected toner concentration of each developer block of multiple developer blocks across an image forming width; a toner consumption predictor for predicting a first predicted toner consumption of toner consumed from developer of every developer block during a first circulation; a toner concentration estimator for estimating, for every developer block, a toner supply point estimate as the toner concentration at a point where toner is supplied, by subtracting the first predicted toner consumption from the associated detected toner concentration and setting up a toner supply target value of the toner to be supplied from a toner supply device to a developing device in accordance with the predicted toner consumption during a second circulation of the developer inside the developing device that follows the first circulation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a black image forming section for forming a black image and a first black pattern for a coarse correction of black and optionally a second black pattern for a precise correction of black; a color image forming section for forming a color image optionally a third pattern for a coarse correction of color and optionally a fourth pattern for a precise correction of color; and a control section for allowing at least the first black pattern to be formed and optionally a second black pattern and third and fourth color patterns, and controlling to perform the coarse correction of black for correcting a forming condition of a black image to be formed and to perform optionally a precise correction of black, the coarse and precise correction of color based on the measurement of the formed pattern(s), wherein the control section controls to perform the coarse correction of black but not to perform the precise correction of black and the coarse and precise corrections of color in case

Abstract: Related is an image forming apparatus by electrophotography having a function of performing adjustment of image quality when performing image formation. The image forming apparatus includes a detection portion for detecting a fixing temperature of a fixing apparatus; a storage portion for storing an application history of a development bias; a count portion for counting a reposed time from a point when an operation of image formation is ended; a determination portion for determining a change range of the development bias immediately before the end of the operation of image formation; and an execution portion for executing adjustment of image quality by setting the development bias based on a determination result from the determination portion when the reposed time or the fixing temperature exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of executing process control at appropriate timing are provided. A control section of an image forming apparatus carries out control for determining execution time of process control and executing the process control. The control section includes a counting section, a determining section and a process control management section. The counting section counts a number of printed sheets. The determining section determines on what time process control is to be executed form the counted number of printed sheets for each time zone. The process control management section manages the process control executed at an image forming section with the whole of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: It is judged whether a sufficient time for executing all of three correction processings (a high density correction processing, a halftone correction processing, and a registration correction processing) can be secured or not. When the sufficient time cannot be secured, the high density correction processing as an essential correction processing is executed. A history of the halftone correction processing and a history of the registration correction processing are compared with each other. A date of latest execution of the halftone correction processing and a date of latest execution of the registration correction processing are compared with each other to judge whether or not the execution of the halftone correction processing is earlier, and the registration correction processing and the halftone correction processing are executed, respectively.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section; a manual setting mode for enabling a user to provide instruction of timing for executing a process control of the image forming section; a cumulative operation information management section for calculating and storing cumulative operation information after the execution of the previous process control; a threshold value setting section for setting, to a threshold value, the cumulative operation information at the point when the instruction is provided in the manual setting mode; and a process control management section for executing a process control and resetting the cumulative operation information at timing when the cumulative operation information reaches the threshold value.

Abstract: A digital color copier includes: a toner concentration storage which, as to a multiple number of developer blocks into which the developer that circulates in the developer device is virtually divided across the image forming width, stores the detected toner concentration of each developer block, detected by the toner concentration detector, separately for every developer block; a toner consumption predictor for predicting the first predicted toner consumption of the toner that is expected to be consumed and/or was consumed from the developer of every developer block during the first circulation, based on the developer's speed of conveyance in the developing device and the print processing speed; a toner concentration estimator for estimating, for every developer block, the toner supply point estimate as the toner concentration at the point where toner is supplied, by subtracting the first predicted toner consumption from the associated detected toner concentration and setting up a toner supply target value of

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, an image forming method, a program, and a recording medium that succeed in reducing recording agent consumption without causing image quality degradation are provided. A modification region processing section detects, out of image data, A locations where a region identification signal provided from a region separation processing section changes from a ground region mode to a character region mode, and vice versa, as the boundary between the ground region and the character region, and thereby specifies a modification region which is continuous with the ground region and overlaps with a part of a periphery of the character region which is contiguous to the ground region. The modification region is assigned color data indicating a color that can be represented by the recording agent for use in ground region formation thereby to generate image data.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a pixel count portion that accumulates pixel count values for each pixel obtained by multiplying the input signal levels of a multilevel image by weighting coefficients, a toner consumption calculating portion that calculates toner consumption of each color from the pixel count sum value, an average toner consumption calculating portion that calculates average toner consumption per page based on the total amount of toner consumption and total number of pages printed subsequent to shipment, and a remaining toner calculating portion that calculates the amount of remaining toner from the total toner consumption based on the sum total of divided regions since the most recent time that a toner cartridge was exchanged, are provided, and a control portion executes a toner saving mode when the amount of remaining toner calculated by the remaining toner calculating portion reaches not more than a predetermined value set in advance.

Abstract: Carbon substrate carrying an organic polymer containing aliphatic amino groups on its side chain, for a lithium ion rechargeable battery, the carbon substrate showing a high initial charge-discharge efficiency and discharge capacitance.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to obtain, in an accurate and stable manner, an image density at a tone rise point in a low-density region in order to form a stable image.

Abstract: A high density detecting toner pattern is formed on a photosensitive body and a high density correction is effected by comparing a value detected by a reflection sensor with a high density reference value so as to maintain an image density at a specific level. An image density correcting section adopts a result of the preceding high density correction as the high density reference value, and compares the same with a result of a current high density correction. The image density correcting section effects the half-tone density correction only when a difference reaches or exceeds a preset difference reference value by forming a half-tone density detecting toner pattern on the photosensitive body and comparing a value detected by the reflection sensor with a half-tone reference value. Consequently, it has become possible to provide an image forming apparatus which can maintain a density output of an entire image at a specific level for any kind of images including solid, line, and half-tone, etc.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which each test image formed in a plurality of image forming sections is transferred onto a transfer carrier belt by transfer means respectively provided corresponding to the plurality of image forming sections, and the transfer state is detected to control the image forming conditions, wherein the transfer condition of the respective transfer means is different when the test image is transferred onto the transfer medium and when the test images already formed and transferred in other image forming sections pass through the transfer means.

Abstract: A test patch image is formed and the density thereof is detected to maintain the image quality at a constant level. One of the image forming conditions, for example, the developing bias voltage of the developing unit inside the image forming apparatus that serves as a density controller, and is controlled in accordance with the detection result. Here, a humidity sensor for detecting the environmental change, that is, the humidity, is provided inside the apparatus, and the reference value of the toner mixing ratio is changed and corrected while the developing unit is operating when the humidity sensor detects a change in humidity. However, the toner mixing ratio is maintained and neither changed nor corrected when the density of the test patch image remains at the same level, so that the developing bias voltage is not corrected.

Abstract: A sound absorbing component contains a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin expanded body having a percentage of void being not less than 50 vol %, and a resin molded body. An air layer is provided between the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin expanded body and the resin molded body. This sound absorbing component can effectively absorb the sound especially in the frequency region of 500 to 3000 Hz corresponding to the exterior noise problematic in automobiles, even if it is lightweight and thin.

Abstract: The static latent image formed on the photoreceptor which has been charged, by exposing it to light, is developed through four colors of developing units, i.e., yellow, magenta, cyan and black, forming toner images on the photoreceptor. These toner images are transferred to the transfer drum. Before forming the toner images, a device is provided to correct the measurement value of toner density obtained using the light emitter and photosensor into an exact value. Based on the reflected light from a white-coated area formed on the transfer drum, two levels of the intensities of emitted light are determined. The intensity of received light is compared to the standard value so that the output value from the photosensor corresponding to the toner density is made to approximate the standard value.

Abstract: A method for producing a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin molded article laminated with a skin material comprises the steps of: providing a mold assembly including a first mold and a second mold; preheating a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin sheet; preheating a skin material; supplying the preheated sheet and skin material to between the molds; drawing the preheated skin material under reduced pressure so as to bring the skin material into close contact with a cavity face of the second mold; and moving the molds so as to attain a closed state thereby laminating the sheet and skin material together.