Abstract: An effective image area can be properly corrected in accordance with the quantity of light from an irradiation unit by selecting, as the effective image area, pixels having light quantities more than or equal to a threshold value that allows accurate acquisition of a surface image of a recording medium, on the basis of a light quantity distribution of the light from the irradiation unit. This reduces the influence of mounting accuracy of the irradiation unit, and allows the recording medium to be identified accurately.

Abstract: A recording material determination apparatus includes a first detection unit configured to detect a characteristic corresponding to a surface condition of a recording material based on a captured image of a surface of the recording material, a second detection unit configured to detect a characteristic corresponding to a grammage of the recording material based on an ultrasonic wave detected via the recording material by irradiating the recording material with an ultrasonic wave, and a conveyance unit configured to convey the recording material. The first detection unit and the second detection unit are located opposite each other with respect to the conveyance unit.

Abstract: An effective image area can be properly corrected in accordance with the quantity of light from an irradiation unit by selecting, as the effective image area, pixels having light quantities more than or equal to a threshold value that allows accurate acquisition of a surface image of a recording medium, on the basis of a light quantity distribution of the light from the irradiation unit. This reduces the influence of mounting accuracy of the irradiation unit, and allows the recording medium to be identified accurately.

Abstract: An effective image area can be properly corrected in accordance with the quantity of light from an irradiation unit by selecting, as the effective image area, pixels having light quantities more than or equal to a threshold value that allows accurate acquisition of a surface image of a recording medium, on the basis of a light quantity distribution of the light from the irradiation unit. This reduces the influence of mounting accuracy of the irradiation unit, and allows the recording medium to be identified accurately.

Abstract: An effective image area can be properly corrected in accordance with the quantity of light from an irradiation unit by selecting, as the effective image area, pixels having light quantities more than or equal to a threshold value that allows accurate acquisition of a surface image of a recording medium, on the basis of a light quantity distribution of the light from the irradiation unit. This reduces the influence of mounting accuracy of the irradiation unit, and allows the recording medium to be identified accurately.

Abstract: An effective image area can be properly corrected in accordance with the quantity of light from an irradiation unit by selecting, as the effective image area, pixels having light quantities more than or equal to a threshold value that allows accurate acquisition of a surface image of a recording medium, on the basis of a light quantity distribution of the light from the irradiation unit. This reduces the influence of mounting accuracy of the irradiation unit, and allows the recording medium to be identified accurately.

Abstract: A recording material determination apparatus includes a first detection unit configured to detect a characteristic corresponding to a surface condition of a recording material based on a captured image of a surface of the recording material, a second detection unit configured to detect a characteristic corresponding to a grammage of the recording material based on an ultrasonic wave detected via the recording material by irradiating the recording material with an ultrasonic wave, and a conveyance unit configured to convey the recording material. The first detection unit and the second detection unit are located opposite each other with respect to the conveyance unit.

Abstract: A recording material determination apparatus includes a first detection unit configured to detect a characteristic corresponding to a surface condition of a recording material based on a captured image of a surface of the recording material, a second detection unit configured to detect a characteristic corresponding to a grammage of the recording material based on an ultrasonic wave detected via the recording material by irradiating the recording material with an ultrasonic wave, and a conveyance unit configured to convey the recording material. The first detection unit and the second detection unit are located opposite each other with respect to the conveyance unit.

Abstract: A recording material determination apparatus includes a first detection unit configured to detect a characteristic corresponding to a surface condition of a recording material based on a captured image of a surface of the recording material, a second detection unit configured to detect a characteristic corresponding to a grammage of the recording material based on an ultrasonic wave detected via the recording material by irradiating the recording material with an ultrasonic wave, and a conveyance unit configured to convey the recording material. The first detection unit and the second detection unit are located opposite each other with respect to the conveyance unit.

Abstract: An effective image area can be properly corrected in accordance with the quantity of light from an irradiation unit by selecting, as the effective image area, pixels having light quantities more than or equal to a threshold value that allows accurate acquisition of a surface image of a recording medium, on the basis of a light quantity distribution of the light from the irradiation unit. This reduces the influence of mounting accuracy of the irradiation unit, and allows the recording medium to be identified accurately.

Abstract: A recording material determination apparatus includes a first detection unit configured to detect a characteristic corresponding to a surface condition of a recording material based on a captured image of a surface of the recording material, a second detection unit configured to detect a characteristic corresponding to a grammage of the recording material based on an ultrasonic wave detected via the recording material by irradiating the recording material with an ultrasonic wave, and a conveyance unit configured to convey the recording material. The first detection unit and the second detection unit are located opposite each other with respect to the conveyance unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, and a transfer member, wherein an image on the image bearing member is transferred to a member to be transferred by applying a voltage to the transfer member, and wherein the transfer member has an ion conductor part having an antioxidant. Variation in resistivity accompanying a change in applied voltage is thereby reduced, whereby sufficiently high transferring efficiency can be maintained during a durability test.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus has a flexible rotatable member; a slidable member for sliding contact with an inner surface of the rotatable member; a back-up member for forming a nip with the slidable member with the rotatable member interposed therebetween, wherein a projection extended along a longitudinal direction of the rotatable member, and provided on such a portion of a sliding surface of the slidable member as is downstream of a center of the sliding surface with respect to a recording material feeding direction in which the recording material is fed, and wherein the projection is effective to provide a maximum pressure in a distribution, with respect to the recording material feeding direction, of pressure applied to the nip.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating and image formed on a recording material, includes a flexible rotatable member: a slidable member for sliding contact with an inner surface of the rotatable member; a back-up member for forming a nip with the slidable member with the rotatable member interposed therebetween, wherein the nip is effective to nip and feed the recording material, and the image is heated by heat supplied from the rotatable member; wherein a projection extended along a longitudinal direction of the rotatable member and provided on such a portion of a sliding surface of the slidable member as is downstream of a center of the sliding surface with respect to a recording material feeding direction in which the recording material is fed, and wherein the projection is effective to provide a maximum pressure in a distribution, with respect to the recording material feeding direction, of pressure applied to the nip.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a detected-current-controlled voltage charging device for charging a transfer material before a toner image is transferred to the transfer material by a transfer device. A current is produced when a voltage is applied to the charger device before the toner image is transferred. The voltage applied to the transferring device when the image-formed portion of the transferring material passes a transferring part is controlled on the basis of a current produced by a predetermined voltage applied to the transfer device when a leading edge portion of the transferring material passes the transferring part, and the predetermined voltage is controlled on the basis of the output from the current detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, and a transfer member, wherein an image on the image bearing member is transferred to a member to be transferred by applying a voltage to the transfer member, and wherein the transfer member has an ion conductor part having an antioxidant. Variation in resistivity accompanying a change in applied voltage is thereby reduced, whereby sufficiently high transferring efficiency can be maintained during a durability test.

Abstract: A thermal transfer sheet of the present invention comprises a substrate, a peeling layer and a colorant layer, the peeling layer and the colorant layer being disposed on one side of the substrate in this order when viewing from the substrate, wherein an applied amount of the peeling layer is in a range of 1.5 to 5.0 g/m2, an applied amount of the colorant layer is not more than half the applied amount of the peeling layer, the peeling layer has a melt viscosity in a range of 10 to 300 cP at 100° C., and the colorant layer contains at least one thermoplastic resin selected from the group consisting of ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers(EAA), ionomer, styrene-butadiene rubbers(SBR), and nitrile-butadiene rubbers(NBR) at a proportion in a range of 10 to 60% by weight. The thermal transfer sheet can print an image having a quality appearance with no void and nick and an excellent wear resistance on a receiving sheet having a low smoothness, in particular a rough paper.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing body bearing a toner image thereon, transferring blade for transferring the toner image on the image bearing body to a transferring material, and charging roller having a voltage applied thereto to thereby charge the transferring material before the transfer by the transferring blade. The voltage applied to the charging roller is controlled on the basis of a current produced when the leading edge portion of the transferring material is charged by the charging roller.

Abstract: A thermal transfer sheet for printing a printed matter having a metallic luster comprises of a substrate, a deposition anchor layer, a metal deposition layer and an adhesive layer. The deposition anchor layer, the metal deposition layer and the adhesive layer are formed in this order on one surface of the substrate. The deposition anchor layer contains a linear polymer having a glass transition temperature of not less than 130° C. by an amount of not less than 40 weight % of a total weight of the deposition anchor layer to thereby preventing the metal deposition layer from clouding due to high heat of a thermal head.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermal transfer sheet including a thermally transferable ink layer on one surface of a substrate film, wherein said ink layer contains a coloring agent, and a decoloring agent that prevents thermal color-developing paper from color development or makes the color, once developed thereby, invisible; a thermal transfer sheet including on one surface of a substrate film a first thermally transferable ink layer containing a decoloring agent that prevents thermal color-developing paper from color development or makes the color, once developed thereby, invisible, wherein at least one second thermal transfer ink layer is interposed between said ink layer and said substrate film; and a thermal transfer recording method that uses these thermal transfer sheets.