Abstract: A heating device includes a heat irradiator configured to heat a sheet on which a liquid is applied and is conveyed in a conveyance direction, an ultraviolet irradiator on a downstream of the heat irradiator in the conveyance direction, the ultraviolet irradiator configured to heat a portion of the sheet, and a circuitry configured to control an output of the heat irradiator and an output of the ultraviolet irradiator based on a thickness of the sheet.

Abstract: A heating device includes a conveyor configured to convey a sheet onto which a liquid is applied in a conveyance direction, an irradiator including a light emitter on an irradiation surface of the irradiator, the light emitter configured to emit light onto the sheet to heat the sheet with the light, a channel plate between the conveyor and the irradiation surface of the irradiator, an airflow generator configured to generate an airflow along the irradiation surface between the irradiation surface of the irradiator and the channel plate, and a suction device configured to suck and discharge the airflow in a direction from the irradiation surface of the irradiator toward the conveyor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an applicator and an irradiator. The applicator is configured to apply a liquid composition containing water or an organic solvent onto a recording medium. The irradiator is configured to irradiate the recording medium with light having a peak wavelength of 300 nm to 450 nm.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transferor, a first detector to detect an image formed on the transferor, a second detector to detect an image formed on a recording medium, and circuitry. The circuitry is configured to generate first gradation correction data based on a detection result obtained by the first detector, generate second gradation correction data based on a detection result obtained by the second detector, and control gradation correction for the image formed on the recording medium using the first and second gradation correction data. Further, the circuitry is configured to prioritize one of the first and second gradation correction data based on at least one of a characteristic of the recording medium and a characteristic of the image in the gradation correction during consecutive printing in which images are consecutively formed on recording media.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image bearer to bear a latent image, a potential sensor having a vibrator driven by a drive frequency to detect a surface potential of the latent image bearer, a developer bearer to bear developer that develops the latent image on the latent image bearer, and a power supply to apply a superimposed voltage obtained by superimposing an alternating voltage on a direct current voltage on the developer bearer. The frequency of the alternating voltage is not a multiple of the drive frequency and is a value obtained by adding a predetermined value to a multiple of the driving frequency.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transferor, a first detector to detect an image formed on the transferor, a second detector to detect an image formed on a recording medium, and circuitry. The circuitry is configured to generate first gradation correction data based on a detection result obtained by the first detector, generate second gradation correction data based on a detection result obtained by the second detector, and control gradation correction for the image formed on the recording medium using the first and second gradation correction data. Further, the circuitry is configured to prioritize one of the first and second gradation correction data based on at least one of a characteristic of the recording medium and a characteristic of the image in the gradation correction during consecutive printing in which images are consecutively formed on recording media.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, an image density detector, and a processor. The processor controls the image forming device to form a first test toner image, and controls the image density detector to detect an image density at the plurality of positions of the first test toner image. The processor adjusts an image forming condition so that the image density detected at each of the plurality of positions becomes a target image density, controls the image forming device to form a second test toner image based on the adjusted image forming condition, controls the image density detector to detect an image density at the plurality of positions of the second test toner image, determines whether a streak exists in the second test toner image based on the detected image densities, and executes a countermeasure to prevent an occurrence of the streak.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a latent image bearer to rotate and bear a latent image, a charging device to charge the a latent image bearer, a developing device to develop the latent image with developer including toner and use a developing voltage including an AC component, and a lubricant applicator to apply lubricant onto a surface of the latent image bearer. An amount of the lubricant applied by the lubricant applicator onto the latent image bearer per centimeter in an axial direction of the latent image bearer is equal to or greater than 0.845 mg for a running distance of 1.0 kilometer of the latent image bearer, and a difference between a largest value and a smallest value of the developing voltage is in a range of 200 V to 400 V.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image bearer to bear a latent image, a potential sensor having a vibrator driven by a drive frequency to detect a surface potential of the latent image bearer, a developer bearer to bear developer that develops the latent image on the latent image bearer, and a power supply to apply a superimposed voltage obtained by superimposing an alternating voltage on a direct current voltage on the developer bearer. The frequency of the alternating voltage is not a multiple of the drive frequency and is a value obtained by adding a predetermined value to a multiple of the driving frequency.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a toner image forming device, a plurality of image density detectors, and a controller. The plurality of image density detectors are disposed at predetermined intervals opposite the image bearer in a width direction of the image bearer. The controller causes the toner image forming device to form toner image patterns having an identical density at the plurality of positions on the image bearer and the plurality of image density detectors detects a density of the toner image patterns. Based on the detected density of the toner image patterns, the controller identifies multiple cyclic fluctuations of the density of the toner image patterns and adjusts an image forming condition based on the multiple cyclic fluctuations of the density of the toner image patterns to decrease an amplitude caused by the multiple cyclic fluctuations of the density of the toner image patterns.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, an image density detector, and a processor. The processor controls the image forming device to form a first test toner image, and controls the image density detector to detect an image density at the plurality of positions of the first test toner image. The processor adjusts an image forming condition so that the image density detected at each of the plurality of positions becomes a target image density, controls the image forming device to form a second test toner image based on the adjusted image forming condition, controls the image density detector to detect an image density at the plurality of positions of the second test toner image, determines whether a streak exists in the second test toner image based on the detected image densities, and executes a countermeasure to prevent an occurrence of the streak.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a latent image bearer to rotate and bear a latent image, a charging device to charge the a latent image bearer, a developing device to develop the latent image with developer including toner and use a developing voltage including an AC component, and a lubricant applicator to apply lubricant onto a surface of the latent image bearer. An amount of the lubricant applied by the lubricant applicator onto the latent image bearer per centimeter in an axial direction of the latent image bearer is equal to or greater than 0.845 mg for a running distance of 1.0 kilometer of the latent image bearer, and a difference between a largest value and a smallest value of the developing voltage is in a range of 200 V to 400 V.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a toner image forming device, a plurality of image density detectors, and a controller. The plurality of image density detectors are disposed at predetermined intervals opposite the image bearer in a width direction of the image bearer. The controller causes the toner image forming device to form toner image patterns having an identical density at the plurality of positions on the image bearer and the plurality of image density detectors detects a density of the toner image patterns. Based on the detected density of the toner image patterns, the controller identifies multiple cyclic fluctuations of the density of the toner image patterns and adjusts an image forming condition based on the multiple cyclic fluctuations of the density of the toner image patterns to decrease an amplitude caused by the multiple cyclic fluctuations of the density of the toner image patterns.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, an image forming device, a toner concentration detector, a toner supply device, an image density detector, and a controller including a memory device. At a predetermined timing before image formation is started, the controller adjusts a developing potential to adjust an image density of a detection toner image on the image bearer and drives the toner supply device or the developing device to adjust a toner concentration in the developing device. After the image formation is started, the controller drives the toner supply device to adjust the toner concentration, and, in a predetermined sheet interval, adjusts the target concentration based on the image density of the detection toner image formed in a non-image area of the image bearer. When the toner concentration is higher than the target concentration plus a threshold, the controller suspends image formation and readjusts the developing potential.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming device to form images of color toners on corresponding image bearers of at least four image bearers; a transferring device to transfer the color toner images on the image bearers to a transfer medium; and a controller to control the image forming apparatus. The controller performs a compulsory toner consumption processing for the color toners to compulsory consume deteriorated toners. When the compulsory toner consumption processing is performed on three or more toners, compulsory consumption toner images of the color toners are formed on the corresponding image bearers and then transferred to the transfer medium to form a compulsory consumption combined toner image including at least two overlaid image portions, wherein the at least two overlaid image portions are arranged side by side with a space therebetween in a width direction of the transfer medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first electric charging unit having an electric discharge wire to uniformly electrify a surface of the electrostatic latent image bearer, a second electric charging unit having a second electric discharge wire to execute a pre-electric charge removal electric charging process by electrifying the surface of the electrostatic latent image bearer subsequent to a transfer process to transfer a toner image, and a first electric charge removing device to diselectrify the surface of the electrostatic latent image bearer by irradiating it with electric charge removing light subsequent to the pre-electric charge removal electric charging process. The first electric charge removing device is disposed within an electric discharge region of the second electric discharge wire on a downstream side of an extreme upstream edge of the electric discharge region of the second electric discharge wire in a rotational direction of the electrostatic latent image bearer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image bearer; a developing device containing two-component developer and including a developer bearer, a development voltage source, and a toner concentration detector; a toner supply device to supply toner to the developing device; a transfer device; and a controller to keep a toner concentration in the developer in the developing device at a target toner concentration during image formation. The controller executes forced toner consumption in which the developing device supplies the toner to the latent image bearer the toner at a predetermined forced toner consumption timing, while inhibiting the toner supply device from supplying toner. When the toner concentration falls to a prescribed toner density lower than the target toner concentration, the controller completes the forced toner consumption and executes a post-consumption toner supply operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, an image forming device, a toner concentration detector, a toner supply device, an image density detector, and a controller including a memory device. At a predetermined timing before image formation is started, the controller adjusts a developing potential to adjust an image density of a detection toner image on the image bearer and drives the toner supply device or the developing device to adjust a toner concentration in the developing device. After the image formation is started, the controller drives the toner supply device to adjust the toner concentration, and, in a predetermined sheet interval, adjusts the target concentration based on the image density of the detection toner image formed in a non-image area of the image bearer. When the toner concentration is higher than the target concentration plus a threshold, the controller suspends image formation and readjusts the developing potential.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming device to form images of color toners on corresponding image bearers of at least four image bearers; a transferring device to transfer the color toner images on the image bearers to a transfer medium; and a controller to control the image forming apparatus. The controller performs a compulsory toner consumption processing for the color toners to compulsory consume deteriorated toners. When the compulsory toner consumption processing is performed on three or more toners, compulsory consumption toner images of the color toners are formed on the corresponding image bearers and then transferred to the transfer medium to form a compulsory consumption combined toner image including at least two overlaid image portions, wherein the at least two overlaid image portions are arranged side by side with a space therebetween in a width direction of the transfer medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image bearer; a developing device containing two-component developer and including a developer bearer, a development voltage source, and a toner concentration detector; a toner supply device to supply toner to the developing device; a transfer device; and a controller to keep a toner concentration in the developer in the developing device at a target toner concentration during image formation. The controller executes forced toner consumption in which the developing device supplies the toner to the latent image bearer the toner at a predetermined forced toner consumption timing, while inhibiting the toner supply device from supplying toner. When the toner concentration falls to a prescribed toner density lower than the target toner concentration, the controller completes the forced toner consumption and executes a post-consumption toner supply operation.