Abstract: An electrostatic latent image associated with image data is formed on an image carrier. A developer includes a container containing toner a roller facing the image carrier and causing the toner to adhere onto the image carrier to develop the electrostatic image with the toner as a image, and an applier applying the toner to the roller. A controller is operable to receive the image data and to control the roller in correspondence to the image data. The image data includes first image data corresponding to a first image and second image data corresponding to a second image. The first image is formed onto a trailing end portion of the medium. The controller receives the second image data after the formation of the first image. After the formation of the first image and before the formation of the second image, the controller causes the roller to rotate without causing the toner to adhere onto the image carrier.

Abstract: A reference time ts, which corresponds to a period of time a sheet S needs to move passed a detection position P1 where a sheet detection sensor 841 is disposed, is set in advance in accordance with the length of the sheet S. After a time t1 from the start of driving of a gate roller, as the leading edge of the sheet S transported to a nip area N which is between the heater roller 91 and a pressurizing roller 92 arrives at the detection position P1, an output from the sheet detection sensor 841 changes to an L-level. When the transportation of the sheet has been normal, the sensor output returns to an H-level after a reference time ts or a longer time. On the contrary, upon occurrence of a jam J2 that the sheet S has got wrapped around the heater roller 91, the leading edge of the sheet S moves backward, and therefore, a duration tm in which the sensor output is kept at the L-level becomes shorter than the reference time ts.

Abstract: A method for stretching an optical polymer film is described, which comprises allowing a locus L1 of the holding means from a substantial holding Initiation point to a substantial holding release point on one edge of the polymer film, a locus L2 of the holding means from a substantial holding initiation point to a substantial holding release point on the other edge of the polymer film, and a distance W between the two substantial holding release points to satisfy the following equation (1), maintaining the supporting property of the polymer film, stretching the film in the presence of a state in which the volatile content is 5% or more, and then, decreasing the volatile content while shrinking the film: |L2?L1|>0.4W.

Abstract: Of developers 4a, 4b and 4d which are adjacent to each other on a rotary developing unit 4, the downstream-most developer 4d along the direction D4 of rotations of the rotary developing unit 4 is positioned first at a developing position and a patch image is formed. The rotary developing unit 4 then rotates 90 degrees, and the adjacent developer 4a is moved to the developing position. While the developer 4a forms a patch image, a memory of the developer 4b is updated. After this, while rotating the rotary developing unit 4 by 90 degrees each time, patch image formation with and memory update for the respective developers are carried out.

Abstract: The image forming device enables adequate density adjustment control, regardless of which toner cartridge is mounted. The image forming device for conducting image formation by using a toner comprises development means having detachably mounted thereon a development unit for accommodating the toner, discrimination means discriminating whether or not the development unit mounted on the development means is a product of guaranteed quality, and control means that is means controlling the density adjustment processing of the development unit mounted on the development means and serves to execute different control with respect to the density adjustment processing when the development unit was identified as a product of guaranteed quality and when the development unit was not identified as a product of guaranteed quality by the discrimination means.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus has an image supporting body, a developing device on which developing units storing developers of the same color are detachably mounted, and control unit for controlling a printing operation in response to a print request. Further, in the case where the total number of print pages of a first developing unit, which is in use, exceeds the number of calibration pages if executing a print request, when a second developing unit which does not exceed the number of calibration pages exists, the control unit executes the printing operation using the second developing unit, and when the second developing unit does not exist, the control unit executes the printing operation using the first developing unit if the requested print page number does not exceed a predetermined threshold, or executes a calibration operation if the requested print page number exceeds the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer belt having a plurality of layers including a conductive layer, and having a transfer area and a transfer protection area. A CPU sends a control signal to a primary transfer bias generating circuit, and applies a primary transfer bias upon the conductive layer of the intermediate transfer medium through a bias applying member. The CPU changes an output value of the primary transfer bias in accordance with a predetermined bias change condition when a secondary transfer is not ongoing and when a non-image area, in which there is no toner image transferred on the intermediate transfer belt, such as the transfer protection area is passing the primary transfer part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an image supporting body in which a latent image is formed, a developing device which is mounted detachably with a plurality of developing units storing developers of the same color and which can move the developing units to a plurality of positions, and control unit for controlling a printing operation for adhering the developer of the developing unit on a development position onto a latent image of the image supporting body to perform development in response to a print request. Further, after finishing the printing operation using a first developing unit in accordance with a print job, or at the time of starting up the power or of predetermined initialization, the control unit moves a second developing unit used in the next print job to a specified queue position among the plurality of positions, to maintain the second developing unit in a queuing state.

Abstract: The present invention provides a printing device whereby a recording agent cartridge that pertains to recording agent cartridge-related information can easily be identified. The printing device of the present invention stores cartridge identification information including user information on each user allocated to one of the multiple recording agent cartridges. When a print job with user identification information is received via the network (S10), the printing device identifies a recording agent cartridge corresponding to a user of the print job and sets the identified recording agent cartridge to an active recording agent cartridge for executing the print job (S20), based on the user identification information received with the print job and the user information.

Abstract: An image forming device, has an image carrier on which a latent image is formed, and a development device to which a plurality of development units for containing developer with the same color are detachably installed, and development is performed by attaching the developer of the development unit on the latent image of the image carrier. And the image forming device further has calibration control unit for forming the latent image of a predetermined patch pattern on the image carrier, developing the image by the developer of the development unit, detecting the developed patch pattern and deciding control parameters, and the calibration control unit performs calibration by only a part of the development units or by one development unit out of the plurality of development units.

Abstract: In a case where there are developers belonging to Life Rank 1 representing a service life substantially as long as that of a fresh developer (Step S501), and the developers includes one which is ready to print (Step S502), it is determined that image formation can be performed without performing a preparatory operation (Step S506). In a case where there is no print-ready developer but a developer which requires an agitation operation of rotating a developing roller by a predetermined quantity (Step S503), the agitation operation is performed on the developer (Step S504) so as to make the developer in a print-ready state. In a case where the developer cannot be made print-ready by the agitation operation, a density control operation for adjusting operating conditions of an apparatus is performed (Step S505). Thus is obviated an unnecessary operation. The developer subjected to a predetermined print preparatory process is used in a printing operation so that an image of good quality may be formed.

Abstract: A novel polarizing plate is disclosed. The polarizing plate comprises a polyvinyl alcohol based polarizer, a protective film comprising a saturated alicyclic structure-containing thermoplastic polymer, and an adhesive layer comprising a water-soluble polymer between the protective film and the polarizer wherein the surface of the protective film contacting with the adhesive layer is subjected to a surface treatment.

Abstract: Prior to execution of a printing operation, a print preparatory operation is conducted collectively on all developer cartridges mounted to a developing unit, thereby bringing all the developer cartridges into a printable state. Therefore, even if a residual amount of toner in the cartridge runs too low to continue the printing operation performed using one of plural cartridges mounted to the developing unit, the printing operation is allowed to continue by switching the cartridge to the next cartridge. Hence, a large volume of monochromatic prints may be produced in an efficient manner.

Abstract: An image formation device has an image carrier and a development device (50) into which development units housing toner are detachably installed. The development units have storage device storing color and toner amount remaining information. And the image formation device operates in monochrome printing mode when development units of the same color are installed. The image formation device has display unit (95) to display the toner remaining amount in development units, and control unit which acquires color and toner amount remaining information in the storage device, and executes control to enable switching between a separate remaining amount display mode (95A, 95C) to separately display on the display unit the toner amount remaining in each of installed development units corresponding to installation positions, and a total remaining amount display mode (95B, 95D) to display on the display unit the total toner amount remaining in installed development units of the same color.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a plurality of development cartridges which develop the electrostatic latent image with toner to form a toner image to be transferred to a recording sheet, and a changeover unit which changes the development cartridges so that any one of the development cartridges is moved so as to face a surface of the carrier for development. At least two of the development cartridges contain the same color toners. The changeover unit repeatedly changes the development cartridges before an expiration of lifetime of one of the development cartridges which is positioned so as to face the carrier for the development.

Abstract: The apparatus is brought into a printable state by selecting one print preparatory process from first and second print preparatory processes and conducting the selected print preparatory process prior to the execution of the printing operation. That is, the printing operation by means of the cartridge is enabled by conducting a print preparatory process desired by a user. Specifically, the print preparatory process is selected and conducted according to the user's desire (to produce a large volume of prints, to reduce the length of time required to become printable, or such). Therefore, the printing in the above specific color can be efficiently performed in a manner conforming to the user's desire.

Abstract: Prior to execution of a printing operation and in parallel with a warm-up operation of the apparatus, a print preparatory operation is conducted only on selected cartridges of cartridges mounted to a developing unit, thereby bringing the cartridge into a printable state. Therefore, even if the residual amount of toner in one of the selected cartridges runs short, the printing operation is allowed to continue by switching this cartridge to the next selected cartridge.

Abstract: Prior to the execution of a printing operation, a print preparatory operation is conducted only on a developer cartridge 4Ka out of the developer cartridges mounted to the developing unit thereby bringing the cartridge into a printable state. Therefore, the print preparatory operation is completed when the print preparatory operation on one (equivalent to a “priority cartridge” of the invention) of the developer cartridges mounted to the developing unit is terminated. Hence, the apparatus may be placed in the printable state in a short time so that the print preparatory operation is prevented from compelling a user to wait needlessly long and that waiting time of a user may be shortened.

Abstract: When the remaining toner amount within a developer is relatively large, a control target value of a toner amount is set to Ttgt1 and a lower limit value of a toner amount which can regarded proper is set to TL1. When the density of a patch image formed under a predetermined condition is smaller than a minimum guaranteed density Dma, it is determined abnormality has occurred in the apparatus. Since the characteristic of toner within the developer changes as the remaining toner amount decreases, the control target value is changed to Ttgt2 and the lower limit value is set to TL2 in light of this. In this fashion, regardless of whether the toner characteristic has changed, abnormality in the apparatus is detected without fail.

Abstract: The present invention provides a highly-reliable image-forming apparatus. The image-forming apparatus includes an image carrier and a plurality of holders. A latent image is formed on the image carrier. The plurality of holders detachably hold a plurality of developing devices. The developing devices develop the latent image formed on the image carrier with toner of differing colors. The image carrier includes inspecting device capable of performing an inspection of whether or not the developing device is attached to the holder, and a nonvolatile rewritable storage region which stores detachment data for the developing device.