Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form a measurement image on a sheet along a main scanning direction, a fixing unit configured to fix the measurement image onto the sheet, a first calculation unit configured to cause a measuring unit to output a measured value at a predetermined point of measurement on the measurement image, a feeding unit to rotate the sheet 90 degrees and feed the sheet, the sheet to pass through the fixing unit again, and the measuring unit to output measured values at a plurality of points of measurement, and calculate a first correction coefficient from first and second measured values at the point of measurement, a correction unit configured to correct the measured values with the first correction coefficient, and a second calculation unit configured to calculate a second correction coefficient for correcting an unevenness in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: A control device includes an acquiring unit acquiring code image data expressing a code image having dots arranged in an array that expresses information; a generating unit extracting the dots from the code image and generating patch image data expressing patch images having the dots orderly arranged in different densities; an image-formation control unit controlling an image forming unit so as to form the patch images based on the patch image data in accordance with a preset image forming condition by using an invisible toner; a measuring unit measuring densities of the patch images; and a changing unit changing the image forming condition if at least one measured density is outside a density range set according to a corresponding dot density based on a correspondence relationship between the measured densities and densities of the dots, so that all of the measured densities are set within the corresponding density ranges.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, an image forming unit to form a multi-gradation image on the image carrier, a density detector to detect density of the multi-gradation image, a gradation characteristic data generator to generate gradation characteristic data, and a gradation corrector to correct image data of the multi-gradation image. The gradation characteristic data generator forms a gradation correction pattern on the image carrier via the image forming unit. The gradation correction pattern is a continuous gradation pattern including a first pattern having gradation levels from a maximum gradation level to a minimum gradation level and a second pattern having gradation levels from the minimum gradation level to the maximum gradation level.

Abstract: A method and system collects diagnostic data for use in diagnosing existing and potential image quality issues related to a printer. Document cover sheets and/or electronic versions of the cover sheets are routinely collected, even when there has been no reported image quality issue, to preserve a historical record of the output of the printer over an extended time period. The historical record of the images on the routinely collected cover sheets and/or electronic versions of the cover sheets include data useful in diagnosing existing and potential image quality issues related to substantive pages of the documents processed by the printer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit and a controller. The image forming unit forms an image on each medium with a metallic toner. The controller controls the image forming unit such that, in the formation of an image on each medium of plural media different in reflectance, the metallic toner has a toner weight according to the medium.

Abstract: An embodiment of this disclosure involves printing color outputs on sheets, reading the color outputs and adjusting a calibration parameter.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording material; a cause ascertaining unit that ascertains a cause of a streaked image that is generated in the image that is formed on the recording material by the image forming unit; and an outputting unit that outputs information regarding the cause ascertained by the cause ascertaining unit.

Abstract: An offset image that can occur at a time when reading images printed on both sides of a sheet is automatically removed by a simple operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes an image forming unit configured to form a reference pattern and a test pattern on a sheet, a measurement unit configured to detect the reference pattern formed on the sheet and to measure the test pattern formed on the sheet, and a control unit configured to control a measurement timing of the test pattern by the measurement unit according to a detection interval between two reference patterns detected by the measurement unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including: an image forming unit to form an image on paper fed from the selected feed tray; a density sensor to measure a density of the image formed on the paper; and a control unit to control execution of an output paper density adjustment in accordance with a result obtained by forming a test image on the paper by using the image forming unit and by measuring the density of the test image formed on the paper by using the density sensor, wherein the control unit executes the output paper density adjustment by changing the feed tray for feeding the paper, from the feed tray designated in a print job to the substitute feed tray at a predetermined timing while the print job is executed, regardless of the paper setting information related to the substitute feed tray.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms a pattern image on a first printing medium and creates a first image processing condition for adjusting a tone characteristic based on a first luminance value. When performing the calibration using a second printing medium different from the first printing medium, the apparatus corrects, based on a luminance value of a background region of the second printing medium, a second luminance value output in accordance with light reflected by the second printing medium, and creates the first image processing condition based on the corrected second luminance value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to from a measurement image on a recording paper by a color material, a fixing unit configured to fix the measurement image onto the recording paper by heating, a measurement unit configured to measure the measurement image fixed onto the recording paper downstream of the fixing unit in a conveyance direction of the recording paper, and a control unit configured to perform control such that a period of time from when the recording paper passes through the fixing unit until the measurement unit measures color of the measurement image is longer than a period of time from when the recording paper passes through the fixing unit until the measurement unit measures density of the measurement image.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a sensor section which the printed sheets fed from an image forming section pass through or by in a first direction one by one, irradiates each of the passing printed sheets with light elongated in a second direction different, thereby sensing densities of the each of passing printed sheets, on a pixel basis. Further, a control section integrates densities of respectively corresponding line portions in respective non-image areas of sheets of the printed sheets, based on the densities obtained by the sensor section, each of the line portion extending substantially in the first direction and including pixels on substantially a same position in the second direction, thereby obtaining integrated density values, and predicts, based on the obtained integrated density values, that a noise will occur on a printed sheet to be made by the image forming section later on.

Abstract: An image forming unit forms a plurality of measurement images based on a plurality of process conditions. A measurement unit measures the density of each of the plurality of measurement images. A determination unit uses a first determination mode or a second determination mode. In the first determination mode, a process condition is determined from a first measurement result higher than target density and a second measurement result lower than the target density, from among a plurality of measurement results. In the second determination mode, the process condition is determined from measurement results lower than the target density.

Abstract: Systems and methods consistent with some embodiments presented provide methods for print resource management. In some embodiments of methods for print resource management print data comprising PDL data may be parsed to identify reusable resources in the print data. The reusable resources may be converted to a common internal format and stored. In some embodiments, reusable resources may be rendered to obtain a rendered version of the reusable resource, which may be stored. In some embodiments, the stored rendered version or a rendered form of the stored formatted version of the reusable resource may be used in a bitmap image for a page whenever the reusable resource is referenced during the creation of the bitmap image for the page.

Abstract: A method for high-speed multi-color printing includes at least one high-resolution sensor array (23), wherein an output of the high-resolution sensor array is transmitted to a controller (19); at least one low-resolution sensor array (24); wherein the controller calculates a correction for stitch; wherein the controller, based on the calculated correction, adjusts a timing of image data provided to individual print elements comprising print stations (12) to aligned an output of the print elements; and wherein the low-resolution sensor array provides full page viewing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of inspecting printed matter as a recording sheet on which an image including a copy forgery-inhibited pattern has been printed. An image is printed on a sheet based on print image data. Scanned image data is acquired by reading the printed sheet. Reference data is created by excluding image data representative of image portions which cannot be read from the print image data. It is determined whether or not the printed sheet is free from defective printing by comparing the scanned image data and the reference data.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a light source, a light receiving unit, a generation unit, a white reference member, a color reference member, and a processing unit. The light source emits light to a recording medium on which an image is formed. The light receiving unit receives light reflected by the recording medium. The generation unit generates a light intensity value from the light received by the light receiving unit. The white reference member is used for color calibration for a white balance. The color reference member is used for color calibration to calibrate a predetermined color. The processing unit derives a correlation formula representing variation in characteristics of the white reference member, based on a light intensity value generated when light is emitted to the color reference member from the light source.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image forming section that forms a patch image T on a recording material P, a fixing unit that fixes the patch image, a spectral color measurement device that irradiates light onto the patch image T that was fixed by the fixing unit, and measures reflected light from the patch image, a white reference plate disposed facing the spectral color measurement device; and a control unit that controls a density or a chromaticity of an image based on a result obtained by measuring the patch image and a result obtained by measuring the white reference plate by means of the spectral color measurement device. It is thereby possible to improve the color measurement accuracy of a color measurement device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a forming unit configured to form a detection patch on a recording material and a detecting unit configured to detect the detection patch on the recording material being conveyed at a first conveying speed. After the detecting unit detects the detection patch, the recording material with the detected detection patch is conveyed at a second conveying speed higher than the first conveying speed.

Abstract: A method for calibrating specialty toner, the method includes providing a substrate; depositing an invariant or substantially invariant laydown of a color toner on the substrate; depositing a varying laydown of the specialty toner; fusing the color toner and specialty toner to the substrate; measuring a color response signal of the substrate, color toner, and specialty toner; calculating a color response curve as function of the varying laydown of the specialty toner; comparing the color response curve to a target color response curve; and modifying printing parameters of the specialty toner to set the color response curve equal to or substantially equal to the target color response curve.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a detection unit configured to irradiate a patch image formed on a recording material with light, and detect light intensities at a plurality of wavelengths in the light reflected from the patch image; and a determination unit configured to determine that a patch image for which the detection unit is detecting light intensities has transitioned from a first patch image to a second patch image, wherein the determination unit is further configured to determine that the patch image for which the detection unit is detecting has transitioned, in a case where a light intensity at a wavelength for identification of a patch image to be identified, has varied by an amount greater than a first threshold corresponding to that wavelength for identification.

Abstract: A set of adjustment pattern images includes first adjustment pattern images and second adjustment pattern images to be formed on a first side and a second side of a recording sheet, respectively, by an image forming apparatus. The set of adjustment pattern images is employed to adjust an image forming position by the image forming apparatus such that an image forming position of the first adjustment pattern images is aligned with an image forming position of the second adjustment pattern images. The set of adjustment pattern images includes at least two first adjustment pattern images that are spaced from each other and at least two second adjustment pattern images that are spaced from each other, and the first adjustment pattern images on the first side and the second adjustment pattern images on the second side are arranged alternately with each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form a measurement image on a recording sheet by using a color material, a fixing unit configured to fix the measurement image onto the recording sheet by heating the measurement image, a measurement unit configured to measure color values of the measurement image fixed on the recording sheet downstream of the fixing unit in a sheet conveyance direction of the recording sheet, a pressing member configured to press the recording sheet, on which the measurement image is formed, against the measurement unit, a selection unit configured to select a mode from among a first mode, in which the measurement image is measured with the pressing member pressing the recording sheet against the measurement unit, and a second mode, in which the measurement image is measured without the pressing member pressing the recording sheet against the measurement unit.

Abstract: A system and method for determining top of form while printing on continuous feed media. In one embodiment, a computer-readable storage device is encoded with instructions that when executed cause a processor to: 1) cause a selected printer to produce a print on continuous feed media; 2) determine, based on a compensation factor that accounts for movement of the continuous feed media through the printer in excess of a length of the data of the print, the distance to advance the continuous feed media such that a succeeding print starts at a top of form location of the continuous feed media; and 3) cause the selected printer to advance the continuous feed media in accordance with the determined distance to advance such that the succeeding print starts at the top of form location of the continuous feed media.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus executes banding correction at a level determined according to variation of the density characteristic of the image forming apparatus to achieve a high quality image. In the image forming apparatus, a banding correction unit acquires information about a cause of density variation that may occur in a sub scanning direction of a rotation member, which is used for forming a toner image on an image carrier based on input image information and sets, based on the acquired information, the level of the density correction, which is determined according to the density variation cause information.

Abstract: A spectral characteristic acquisition device includes a member configured to have a plurality of openings arrayed in a predetermined direction, each of the plurality of openings inclined with respect to the predetermined direction, the plurality of openings being configured to pass light beams from a plurality of positions on an object therethrough, a spectrally dispersing part configured to spectrally disperse the light beams having passed through the plurality of openings in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction, and a plurality of one-dimensional image capturing parts provided at a predetermined interval in a plurality of lines and configured to be irradiated with the light beams having been spectrally dispersed by the spectrally dispersing part, a plurality of pixels of the plurality of one-dimensional image capturing parts being arrayed in a direction parallel to the predetermined direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of an embodiment includes a sensor, a reversing section, an image forming section, and a controller. The sensor reads a sheet side on which an image is to be formed before formation of the image. The reversing section reverses sides of the sheet being conveyed. The image forming section forms the image and a predetermined mark on the same side of the sheet. The controller acquires image data read by the sensor. If the image data contains the mark, the controller causes the reversing section to reverse the sides of the sheet and also causes the image forming section to form the image on a side that becomes a side targeted for printing after the reversion.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus for forming an image using coloring materials of a plurality of colors. The image forming apparatus includes a regular reflection light measuring unit configured to measure regular reflection light of an image formed by a coloring material of a color with which a difference in diffused reflection light between a non-image part and an image part on a recording medium is relatively small compared to a difference in specular reflection light of the coloring materials of the plurality of colors at an angle by which a quantity of received light to be measured by a light receiving unit becomes stable in a case where distance between the light receiving unit and a measurement surface varies and a glossiness determining unit configured to determine glossiness based on the intensity of regular reflection light measured by the regular reflection light measuring unit.

Abstract: An image stabilization control system directed to an electrophotographic process is provided. The image stabilization control system includes a color measuring unit for measuring the color of a toner image after being fixed on a medium. The color measuring unit has an SCE color measuring function of measuring a component excluding specular reflection out of reflected light produced by light emitted from a light source being reflected at the toner image and an SCI color measuring function of measuring the reflected light including the specular reflection. A control value for a fixing step in the electrophotographic process is adjusted based on a first component attributed to a glossiness difference in chrominance, and a control value for a step other than the fixing step in the electrophotographic process is adjusted based on a second component attributed to another factor in the chrominance.

Abstract: A method for measuring Side 1 to Side 2 image on paper misregistration includes using a series of lines printed on both sides of a substrate, such as, paper. The paper is passed in front of an in-line spectrophotometer or densitometer. The amount of image “show through” is measured and correlated to an amount of misregistration.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holding member, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, a transport unit, a transfer-performance-detection toner image forming unit, a density detection unit, and a selector. A toner image is held on the image holding member. The transfer unit transfers the toner image onto a recording medium. The fixing unit fixes the toner image onto the recording medium. The transport unit reverses the recording medium onto which the toner image has been fixed, and transports the reversed recording medium back to the transfer unit. The transfer-performance-detection toner image forming unit forms plural transfer-performance-detection toner images with different transfer settings of the transfer unit. The density detection unit detects densities of plural transfer-performance-detection toner images. The selector selects a transfer setting of the transfer unit in accordance with a detection result obtained by the density detection unit.

Abstract: An image forming device includes an image forming section, a CPU and memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the CPU, cause the image forming device to provide functions including a data acquisition section, a mismatch correction section and a control section. The data acquisition section is configured to acquire a variation in factor that causes a mismatch of a parameter. The control section is configured to estimate an amount of mismatch of the parameter based on the variation and to send a request for measuring the amount of mismatch to the mismatch correction section when the estimated amount is equal to or larger than a reference value. The control section is also configured to alter at least one of calculation factors used for estimating the amount of mismatch and the reference value according to the measured amount.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: detection means for detecting position information indicating a scanning position; interval prediction means for predicting a first scanning line interval indicating a distance in the sub-scanning direction between the scanning line of interest and a succeeding scanning line to be scanned after the scanning line of interest; interval calculation means for calculating, by using the position information held by the holding means, a second scanning line interval indicating a distance in the sub-scanning direction between the scanning line of interest and the scanned scanning line; and rate calculation means for calculating a correction rate on an exposure amount for the scanning line of interest so that a predicted density calculated using the first scanning line interval and the second scanning line interval matches with a predicted density calculated using a predetermined reference scanning line interval.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form a measurement image on a sheet along a main scanning direction, a fixing unit configured to fix the measurement image onto the sheet, a first calculation unit configured to cause a measuring unit to output a measured value at a predetermined point of measurement on the measurement image, a feeding unit to rotate the sheet 90 degrees and feed the sheet, the sheet to pass through the fixing unit again, and the measuring unit to output measured values at a plurality of points of measurement, and calculate a first correction coefficient from first and second measured values at the point of measurement, a correction unit configured to correct the measured values with the first correction coefficient, and a second calculation unit configured to calculate a second correction coefficient for correcting an unevenness in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: According to the embodiments of the invention, the problem to be solved is whether errors have occurred for color sensors for calibrating density and color or their corresponding reference plates. At step S103, it is determined whether the difference is larger than a predefined threshold. If so, the sensors are determined abnormal; otherwise, it is normal. At step S111, color sensors 50a, b, c, and d read the density of recording medium 11 on at least one of its coordinates, compares the readings of sensors determined abnormal with that of sensors determined normal, and determines whether the difference obtained at step S112 is within the predefined threshold. At step S114, for color sensors determined abnormal at step S103, an abnormity alarm message is displayed on a UI as shown in FIG. 8 or sent to the user via e-mail.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus capable of determining a height of a toner image formed on an image bearing member with high accuracy includes detecting a two-dimensional reflection image corresponding to a reflection image of a beam from the toner image formed on the image bearing member, identifying a representative position based on the detected two-dimensional reflection image, and determining the height of the toner image based on the identified representative position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes an image forming unit configured to form a reference pattern and a test pattern on a sheet, a measurement unit configured to detect the reference pattern formed on the sheet and to measure the test pattern formed on the sheet, and a control unit configured to control a measurement timing of the test pattern by the measurement unit according to a detection interval between two reference patterns detected by the measurement unit.

Abstract: The printing apparatus discharges, to a discharge unit, the sheet bearing the image printed by the print operation. The printing apparatus controls to execute sample printing according to accept a sample printing request during the print operation, and discharge a page obtained by the sample printing to a discharge destination different from the discharge unit. The printing apparatus discharges, to a second discharge location different from a first discharge location, a sheet subsequent to the sheet discharged to the first discharge location, according to accept the sample printing request during a print operation during which the sheet discharge unit discharges a sheet to the first discharge location of the discharge unit.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including a container which contains plural sheets, an image forming unit which forms an image on each of the sheets supplied from the container, a detecting unit which detects an image density of the image formed on the sheets by the image forming unit, a blowing unit which blows air to the sheet contained in the container, and a blowing control unit which controls the blowing unit based on the image density detected by the detecting unit.

Abstract: When a colorimeter is colorimetrically measuring a test pattern, a control unit controls a motor such that the colorimeter and a facing member are closer to each other. A recording material on which the test pattern has been formed is brought into contact with the colorimeter. Even when the colorimeter is not colorimetrically measuring the test pattern, the control unit controls the motor such that the colorimeter and the facing member are closer to each other. The recording material on which the test pattern has been formed is brought into contact with the colorimeter.

Abstract: Toner sensor modules are provided. In one aspect, a toner sensor module has a first light source emitting a first light, a first light sensor that generates a sensed light signal that is indicative of a sensed light, and a frame. The frame positions the light source to illuminate a target area from a first side a plane that is normal to the target area so that illuminated portions of any toner particles at the target area direct a reflected a portion of the first light into the first side and positioning the first light sensor on the first side of the plane to which toner particles at the target area direct the reflected portion of the first light.

Abstract: A printer includes an ink reservoir that includes yellow ink, cyan ink, and magenta ink. The printer includes an ink dispenser that employs a yellow distribution setting to increase the drop volume of yellow ink droplets and lower the drop frequency of the yellow ink droplets on the media with respect to the cyan ink droplets and/or magenta ink droplets to control the lightfastness of the print on the media.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a conveying unit, reading unit, detecting unit, and control unit. The conveying unit conveys two sheets of the original one by one. The reading unit reads a sheet passing past a reading position. The detecting unit detects a sheet passing past a detection position upstream of the reading position in a conveying direction. The control unit controls the reading unit to start a reading process when a leading edge of sheet reaching a position upstream of the reading position by a first distance, controls the reading unit to stop the reading process when a trailing edge of sheet reaching a position downstream of the reading position by a second distance, determines an interspace between the trailing edge of sheet and a leading edge of a subsequently-conveyed sheet, and updates the first distance and the second distance based on the interspace.

Abstract: The printing apparatus discharges, to a discharge unit, the sheet bearing the image printed by the print operation. The printing apparatus controls to execute sample printing according to accept a sample printing request during the print operation, and discharge a page obtained by the sample printing to a discharge destination different from the discharge unit. The printing apparatus discharges, to a second discharge location different from a first discharge location, a sheet subsequent to the sheet discharged to the first discharge location, according to accept the sample printing request during a print operation during which the sheet discharge unit discharges a sheet to the first discharge location of the discharge unit.

Abstract: A method of printing on a sheet of paper comprises drawing a first sheet of paper from a first paper source into a printer having an optical scanner and a print head, scanning a first face of the first sheet to determine the presence or absence of print thereon. In response to detecting print on the first face, the print head is caused to print an obstruction on the first face. In response to detecting no print on the first face, the print head is caused to print new matter on the first face. The method enables a printer to accept used paper while eliminating confusion over which face contains the new matter.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a printing unit configured to print an input print job including a plurality of pages, wherein, if it is determined that a remaining amount of a recording agent in a cartridge is less than or equal to a threshold value, the printing unit prints a portion of print data in the print job, temporarily stops printing, and displays a toner out message on a display unit to prompt a user to replace the cartridge, and repeats, if the user does not replace the cartridge after the toner out message is displayed, printing a portion of print data in the print job that is different from the print data that the printing unit has already printed, temporarily stopping printing, and displaying on the display unit the toner out message.

Abstract: A special color specification area is subjected to inspection processing assuring that the special color specification area is higher in color reproducibility than an area other than the special color specification area.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed that generate a screen capture image together with processing selectable options for a user. The screen capture image is saved to a memory of the system and the selectable options are chosen to communicate with an external device and/or helpdesk where information related to the screen can be analyzed or diagnosed for technical issues.

Abstract: A print device with a surface identifying function includes a feed roller assembly, a print assembly, and a printed surface identifying assembly. The feed roller assembly feeds the paper into the print device when receiving a printing task. The printed surface identifying assembly identifies whether one or both surfaces of a sheet of paper have already been printed, generates and sends a result to a processing unit. The processing unit determines whether the paper is available for printing according to the result, and control the print assembly not to perform the printing task and the feed roller assembly to take the paper out of the print device when the paper is unavailable for printing. A printing method is also provided.