Abstract: An image formation method for forming an image containing an embossed portion of an expandable material on a recording medium, comprising converting height information about an embossed image which is the image of the embossed portion to the same density information as one used to indicate a density of a non-embossed image which is not raised, and controlling an amount of the expandable material formed on the recording medium according to the converted density information.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises an image generating unit for generating an image from image data for an image containing an embossed part formed on a medium, the image generated by the image generating unit being different in form of the embossed part or neighborhood thereof from the image formed on the medium, and a display control unit for displaying the image generated by the image generating unit on a display apparatus.

Abstract: An image formation method for forming an image containing an embossed portion of an expandable material on a recording medium, comprising converting height information about an embossed image which is the image of the embossed portion to the same density information as one used to indicate a density of a non-embossed image which is not raised, and controlling an amount of the expandable material formed on the recording medium according to the converted density information.

Abstract: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image with the normal toner and forming an image with the special toner, which makes it possible to perform appropriate fixing of a toner to be used according to characteristics of the toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier and a first developing unit for forming an image on the image carrier using at least one type of first developer to which a second developing unit for forming an image using at least one type of second developer which differs from the first developer is installable. The apparatus includes a developing unit determination part for determining the type of developing unit of the image forming apparatus, and an announcement part for announcing to the user that, when the second developing unit is not installed and an image formation instruction for instructing the formation of an image obtained by using the second developer is inputted, the image formation instruction cannot be made to effect a response.

Abstract: In an image processing section, a foam toner signal generator generates a foam toner signal corresponding to a foam toner amount to be transferred to a three-dimensional print designation region discriminated at a three-dimensional print region discriminator, and a foam toner interpolation signal generator generates a foam toner interpolation signal corresponding to a foam toner amount to be transferred to an image region equal to or greater than a constant area in an ordinary print region discriminated at the three-dimensional print region discriminator. Foam toner of a predetermined amount corresponding to the foam toner signal is transferred to the three-dimensional print region, and foam toner of an amount that is less (of a lower height) than the predetermined amount and corresponds to the foam toner interpolation signal is transferred to the ordinary print region.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus in which, if the image forming apparatus using only a normal toner is modified to be capable of forming an image formed of a special toner, an appropriate image can be formed in accordance with the characteristics of the special toner.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus for forming a three dimensional print image on a recording medium by an image of three dimensional printing material and an image of color material in accordance with image data, comprises a designation unit for designating a three dimensional print region using three dimensional printing material and a non-three dimensional print region, with regard to the image data; and an image processing unit for performing different color conversions on the image data depending on the three dimensional print region and the non-three dimensional print region designated by the designation unit.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image forming method or the like is provided which is capable of forming a three-dimensional white image or black-and-white image or even a three-dimensional color image with ease and at low costs. The three-dimensional image forming method includes, for example, a first step of forming an unfoamed-toner image consisting of at least a foamable toner on paper as an image forming object by using an electrophotographic system or the like, a second step of forming a three-dimensional foamed-toner image by subjecting to heat treatment the unfoamed-toner image formed on the image forming object and foaming and fixing the foamable toner, and a third step of forming an ink image consisting of an ink on the image forming object with the foamed-toner image formed thereon by using an ink jet system.

Abstract: There is provided a fixing device of an image forming apparatus in which a high quality image can be obtained through a small amount of release agent and toner offset can be prevented for a long period of time without fail. The fixing device includes a pair of fixing rotating bodies being brought into press contact with each other and being rotated, and a release agent application unit for applying a release agent onto a surface of the fixing rotating body, and makes a toner image formed on a recording material by an electrophotographic process pass through a press contact portion of the pair of fixing rotating bodies so that the toner image is fixed. The fixing device further includes a wax agent application unit for applying a wax agent onto the surface of the fixing rotating body.

Abstract: A roll for a rolling mill capable of an on-line control of the width thereof. The roll includes a drive roll connected to a mill motor and a hollow driven roll driven by the drive roll while being axially slidable with respect to the drive roll. A screw shaft is screwed to the inside of the hollow driven roll in such a manner that an end-to-end contact of the driven roll with the drive roll is obtained. A clutch is provided for a selective locking of the screw shaft, which is unlocked during a normal rolling process, so that the screw shaft is rotated together with the drive roll and the driven roll by a rotation of the mill motor. When adjusting the roll width, the clutch is operated so that the screw shaft is locked, and as a result, a rotation of the mill motor causes a mutual axial movement of the drive roll and driven roll to thus adjust the roll width. A means is also provided for a centering of the roll at the pass line of the material, after the adjustment of the roll width.

Abstract: A developing system for an electrostatic image reproduction machine comprising a mono-component developer having toner particles of selected diameters dispersed therein; container for holding the developer; a developer sleeve for receiving a quantity of the developer from the container; a restriction member for forming a thin layer of the developer on the sleeve; a device for impacting an electric charge to the developer layer; and a latent image retainer for selectively receiving the electrically charged layer for forming a visible image. The developer satisfies the expression d.sub.75 /d.sub.25 .ltoreq.d.sub.50 /40+1.2 where d.sub.25, d.sub.50 and d.sub.75 represent diameters of toner particles when the percentage by volume or by weight of toner particles of that diameter as compared to the total volume or weight of the developer is 25%, 50% and 75%, respectively. A developer and method for making the developer are also described.

Abstract: A one-component developing apparatus includes a developer carrier disposed in opposition to an electrostatic latent image receiving member, and a toner amount restricting member pressed so as to be in contact with the developer carrier. Wherein the toner amount restricting member includes a support member nade of a plate spring having tensile strength not smaller than 15 kgf/mm.sup.2 and yield strength not smaller than 10 kgf/mm.sup.2, and a soft elastic member disposed on the support member at a portion thereof to be pressed into contact with the developer carrier, the soft elastic member being attached on the support member so as to project from a forward end of the support member, whereby a thin layer of developer is formed on the developer carrier by the toner amount restricting member and charged so that the thin layer of toner is made adhere on an electrostatic latent image to make the electrostatic latent image visible.

Abstract: Apparatus for developing a latent image on a photo-sensitive drum which apparatus uses as a developing agent microcapsule toner magnetic particles wherein regulation member contacts the surface of developing agent carrier, or sleeve, under pressure for regulating the thickness of a uniform thin layer of the particles deposited on the sleeve and the contact pressure of the regulation member on the sleeve is not more than 20 g/cm. Preferably, the toner particles have a residual magnetic level not more than 4 emu/g and a magnetic holding force not more than 90 Oe.

Abstract: A device for developing an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive layer. The developing device comprises a doner roll for supporting a uniform layer of single-component developing material adjacent to the photoconductive layer. The doner roll is disposed as to create a space gap between the photoconductive layer and the doner roll. The doner roll is made of semiconductive material having a specific resistance ranging from 10.sup.6 to 10.sup.12 .OMEGA.cm. An electrical bias potential is applied across the gap, thereby establishing a field for transferring the developing material from the doner roll to the photoconductive layer.