Abstract: Clutch mechanism includes support plate, input element to which driving force is input, output element configured to rotate upon receiving driving force, first elastic member configured to bias output element toward support plate, first member including sliding arm inserted through through-hole of support plate and first slide surface, and second member configured to accommodate first member and including second slide surface. Insertion of the sliding arm into through-hole prevents rotation of first member with respect to support plate but allows first member to approach and move away from support plate. Output element moves apart from input element to cut off driving force when second member is in first rotational position. When second member rotates to second rotational position, output element outputs driving force transmitted from input element.

Abstract: Electrographic printing wherein raised information, with a distinct tactile feel, can be printed by electrographic techniques. Such electrographic printing comprises the steps of forming a desired print image, electrographically, on a receiver member utilizing standard size marking particles; and in an area of the formed print image, where desired tactile feel, raised information is to be formed, selectively forming such tactile feel, raised information utilizing marking particles of a substantially larger size than the standard size marking particles of the desired print image.

Abstract: Provided are an image forming apparatus and a method for print control which can carry out printing using appropriate toners without selecting an apparatus to be used from apparatuses loaded with different toner groups depending on a print object. In an image forming apparatus provided with an image forming section including photoreceptor drums, writing units to form electrostatic latent images on the photoreceptor drums, and development devices to carry out development by feeding toners to the latent image, there are loaded, as the toners, a first toner group (for example, normal toners) containing three colors of CMY; a second toner group (for example, Vivid toners) containing three colors of CMY with a wider color reproduction area than the first toner group; and a K (black) toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided and includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on an image carrier with a transparent material and a coloring material; a controller that controls an order of an image forming with the transparent material and an image forming with the coloring material to be different between in an image portion and in a non-image portion in an image forming region on the image carrier; and a transferring unit that transfers the image formed on the image carrier onto a recording medium.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion configured to selectively form a toner image on an image bearing member using a developing device including a decolorizable toner or a developing device including an undecolorizable toner, a transfer portion configured to transfer the toner image, which is formed on the image bearing member, onto a transfer material, and a fixing portion configured to fix the toner image, which is transferred by the transfer portion, on the transfer material. The undecolorizable toner has at least a fixing temperature range in a range equal to or higher than a fixing temperature lower limit of the decolorizable toner and lower than decoloring temperature of the decolorizable toner.

Abstract: A set of toners including yellow, cyan, magenta, and black toner, each of which containing a binder resin containing a crystalline resin and a non-crystalline resin, a releasing agent, and a corresponding coloring agent, wherein the following relationship is satisfied: 0.8<EBk/EFc<0.95, where EBk represents the amount of heat of melting (mJ/mg) for the black toner and EFc represents the average amount of heat of melting (mJ/mg) of the yellow toner, magenta toner, and cyan toner from 50° C. to 100° C. at the first temperature rising in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

Abstract: A method and system for printing image documents using a variety of toners where some toners using a multi-development station having two or more development stations. These toners are co-printed prior to fixing, on the receiver by the multi-development station.

Abstract: Systems and methods of producing image products using printing are provided. The printed image products can include stereoscopic and/or color shifting images. These images can be formed by a sequential application of a base image, a clear toner layer and a barrier image layer in a single pass through a printer. The barrier image layer can include opaque barriers (for stereoscopic or color shifting images) or can include translucent or transparent barriers (for color shifting images).

Abstract: A detecting unit detects output-prohibit area information indicating an output-prohibit area from image data. An identifying unit identifies the output-prohibit area in the image data based on the output-prohibit area information detected by the detecting unit. A masking unit performs a masking on the output-prohibit area identified by the identifying unit. A rearranging unit rearranges an image of an area other than the output-prohibit area over the output-prohibit area on which the masking is performed by the masking unit. An outputting unit outputs image data obtained by rearranging the image by the rearranging unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of developing devices. Each developing devices performs an electrophotographic process to form an image. The image forming apparatus comprises a first developing device and a second developing device. The first developing device holds a black developer containing a first black coloring agent. The second developing device holds a gray developer. The gray developer contains a second black coloring agent and a coloring agent of a chromatic color. The chromatic color is a complementary color to the second black coloring agent.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes a driving source configured to supply a rotational driving force in a predetermined direction, a particular developing unit having a developing roller and accommodating particular color developer, a first gear configured to receive the driving force of the driving source, a second gear configured to transmit the driving force to the developing roller, a particular intermediate gear configured to be engaged with the first and the second gears. A rotational center of the particular intermediate gear is arranged on an upstream side in a moving direction of teeth of the second gear, and a translation member is configured to linearly move between a first position where the particular intermediate gear engages with the first and second gears, and a second position where the particular intermediate gear disengages from the particular intermediate gear.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotation driving source, a black developing unit, a color developing unit, a first gear, a second gear, a development drive transmission mechanism and a switching mechanism. The development drive transmission mechanism includes a first intermediate gear and a second intermediate gear. The switching mechanism includes a linear cam member configured to move linearly and to move the first intermediate gear and the second intermediate gear such that: in the first mode, the first gear engages the first intermediate gear and the second gear engages the second intermediate gear; in the second mode, the first gear engages the first intermediate gear and the second gear is disengaged from the second intermediate gear; in the third mode, the first gear is disengaged from the first intermediate gear.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, there is a method of forming a toner. The method can include blending two or more colorants to form a sample toner and forming a sample color specimen including a printed image comprising the sample toner. The method can further include comparing spectral distribution curves of the sample color specimen with that of a target color specimen including a target color and repeating the disclosed steps until acquiring a desired spectral match between the sample toner and the target color.

Abstract: In a color misalignment detection method, an alignment pattern is obtained by designating a plurality of lines having line width and line intervals formed by superposing a line image of a black color as a reference color and a line image of a color other than the reference color, for example, a cyan line image, as one patch, and continuously forming these patches by shifting the relative position between the line images of the two colors by an optional quantity. An alignment pattern detection sensor has a light emitting diode and a photodiode. These elements are arranged along the scanning direction of the alignment pattern such that the photodiode can only receive diffused reflected light of reflected light from the alignment pattern. A spot shape of the light emitting diode and a spot shape of the photodiode are both formed in a square shape.

Abstract: A color image forming machine is provided having a plurality of xerographic marking engines, each forming associated color separations that are combined to produce a color print image. Each marking engine includes two independently controlled developers using toners of the same color and strength of color but with different fused gloss characteristics, in that one of the toners will produce a print with a comparatively lower gloss and the other will produce a print with a comparatively higher gloss, thereby providing a greater control over the range of the gloss of the output print.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, which is configured to form an image with developer of a plurality of colors on a sheet-type recording medium by a non-magnetic single component developing method. The image forming apparatus includes a first color developing unit which is configured to perform developing of a first color by a jumping developing method, and a second color developing unit which is configured to perform developing of the second color by a contact developing method.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes developing units designed to have an appropriate developer storage capacity in consideration of developer consumption, and improved convenience of use. The image forming apparatus also includes an image carrier, and plural developing units arranged along a rotating direction of the image carrier to supply developers to the image carrier. The plural developing units include a first developing unit having the largest developer storage capacity and a second developing unit having the second largest developer storage capacity after the first developing unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an alternative printing unit. The alternative printing unit performs alternative printing of a black image by mixing images of color materials of three colors of cyan, yellow, and magenta. The alternative printing unit includes a color material amount control unit that controls amounts of the respective color materials, which form the images of the color materials of the three colors, so as to be smaller than those at a time of normal printing.

Abstract: A method and system for printing image documents using a variety of toners where some toners using a multi-development station having two or more development stations. These toners are co-printed prior to fixing, on the receiver by the multi-development station.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second image forming units. The first image forming unit forms a first image on a surface of a recording medium which has ratios of reflecting incident light. The second image forming unit forms a second image on the surface. The ratios of the recording medium are equal to or greater than a threshold value in all of a specular direction and a specific direction other than the specular direction. The first image has a ratio of reflecting the incident light in the specular direction being equal to or greater than the threshold value and a ratio of reflecting the incident light in the specific direction being less than the threshold value. The second image has the ratios of reflecting the incident light in the specular direction and in the specific direction being less than the threshold value.

Abstract: Methods for printing are provided. In one aspect a primary imaging member having a pattern of engine pixel locations with image modulated differences of potential of a first polarity and with first toner having a first toner difference of potential of a second polarity is moved to a second development station. A second development difference of potential of the first polarity at the second development station forms a second net development difference of the second development difference of potential less any image modulated difference of potential at the individual engine pixel location and less any difference of potential relative to ground of any first toner at the individual engine pixel location. The second development difference of potential is less than the first development difference of potential so that second toner that is different from the first toner, is developed onto the first toner using the second net development difference of potential.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image-forming material that contains a colored pigment and a second image-forming material that contains the colored pigment having a concentration lower than that of the first image-forming material, a first image forming unit that forms a code image representing encoded information on a recording medium using the second image-forming material, and a second image forming unit that forms a non-code image at a position other than the position of the code image on the recording medium using an image-forming material other than the second image-forming material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, and a process cartridge removably mounted to the apparatus body. The process cartridge includes a photosensitive cartridge including a photosensitive member, and a developing cartridge including a developer carrying member, which is contactable with the photosensitive member, and which carries developer. The image forming apparatus further includes a first pressing member that presses the photosensitive cartridge in a first direction with respect to a positioning portion that is provided on the apparatus body, and a separating member that includes a second pressing member that acts in a second direction and thereby causes the developer carrying member to separate from the photosensitive member. The first direction and the second direction are substantially the same.

Abstract: In order to output a print with high gloss uniformity, a transparent toner is consumed in a large amount. For that reason, when a constitution of a color developing device and a constitution of a transparent developing device are made substantially identical, a charge amount of the transparent toner is lowered with continuous image formation. In a state in which the transparent toner is not sufficiently charged, an electrostatic image formed on a photosensitive member cannot be sufficiently developed with the toner. Therefore, a triboelectric chargeability of the transparent toner by a developer carrying member provided in the transparent developing device is made higher than a triboelectric chargeability of a color toner by a developer carrying member provided in the color developing device.

Abstract: A method and system for printing documents with one or more embedded security features is provided. Security features are embedded in the document by co-printing magnetic and non-magnetic toner on a receiver before fixation by a fixing station. The combination of magnetic and non-magnetic toners in the image results in image elements that easily show alteration or are undetectable by visual means.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which transfers clear toner and at least one of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black color toner onto a recording medium to form an image based on image information and image classification information, the apparatus including a clear priority determiner configured to determine a clear priority based on the image classification information; a toner adherence amount determiner determining amounts of the color toners and the clear toner to be adhered to the recording medium based on the image information and the clear priority; and a toner transferer transferring the color toners and the clear toner onto the recording medium in amounts determined by the toner adherence amount determiner.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus that includes an image carrier, a charging unit, a latent-image forming unit that forms a latent image for each color by exposing the surface of the image carrier charged by the charging unit, and a plurality of developing units that sequentially develops latent images formed on the image carrier with toners of different colors including at least cyan, yellow, and magenta, to form a color toner image on a single unit of the image carrier, the developing units further develops the latent images with toners of blue, green, and red, such that the toner images of different colors are not superimposed on a same position.

Abstract: Systems and methods of producing image products using printing are provided. The printed image products can include stereoscopic and/or color shifting images. These images can be formed by a sequential application of a base image, a clear toner layer and a barrier image layer in a single pass through a printer. The barrier image layer can include opaque barriers (for stereoscopic or color shifting images) or can include translucent or transparent barriers (for color shifting images).

Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for minimizing dot visibility in color marking devices capable of dot-on-dot printing. The present method achieves minimum dot visibility for a given dispersed-dot screen by performing a CMYK to CMYKRGB conversion which uses less visible dots as much as possible before more visible dots are introduced. The output color dot coverages are calculated sequentially to minimize the coverage of more visible dots in a decreasing order of brightness. Resulting images have noticeably reduced halftone graininess, particularly in the mid to darker tone areas. The present method is also computationally efficient.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first rotating unit, an image carrier, an electrostatic latent image forming unit, a third rotating unit, an intermediate transfer body, first and second transfer units, and the following elements. A developing device includes a rotating body, a second rotating unit, plural developing units. A supply unit supplies a bias to a developer carrying member of each developing unit. A setting unit sets the bias to a first condition to develop the latent image of a first color at least while the latent image is being located at the developing position, and sets the bias to a second condition to suppress transferring of the toner in the subsequent developing unit to the image carrier after the second rotating unit starts rotating the rotating body from a waiting position and before stopping rotating the rotating body and locates the subsequent developing unit at the developing position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming unit for forming a color developer image using color developer; a second image forming unit for forming a transparent developer image using transparent developer; a transfer unit for transferring the transparent developer image and the color developer image to a medium; a fixing unit for fixing the transparent developer image and the color developer image; and a control unit for controlling the first image forming unit and the second image forming unit according to a gloss printing operation when the gloss printing operation is selected.

Abstract: A technology for controlling the generation of damages of a photoconductive surface caused due to the attachment of a carrier to a photoconductor in an image forming apparatus using a two-component developing agent is provided. An image forming apparatus is configured to include an intermediate transfer body having prescribed elasticity on a transfer surface onto which a toner image is transferred; plural image carriers which transfer a toner image onto the transfer surface and which are disposed along a movement direction of the transfer surface of the intermediate transfer body; plural development sections which form toner images having a different color from each other with respect to the plural image carriers by using a two-component developing agent made of a toner and a carrier; and developing agent replenishment sections which replenish a toner and a carrier in the development sections.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of developing devices. Each developing devices performs an electrophotographic process to form an image. The image forming apparatus comprises a first developing device and a second developing device. The first developing device holds a black developer containing a first black coloring agent. The second developing device holds a gray developer. The gray developer contains a second black coloring agent and a coloring agent of a chromatic color. The chromatic color is a complementary color to the second black coloring agent.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is capable of printing a position-coding pattern. A first print engine prints a position-coding pattern and holds a first developer material therein. A plurality of second print engines each print a corresponding image in accordance with print data, the image being different from the position-coding pattern, each of the second print engines holding a corresponding second developer material therein. The first developer material is charged to a first average amount of charge and has a first distribution of amount of charge. The second developer material is charged to a second average amount of charge and has a second distribution of amount of charge, such that the first average amount of charge is larger than the second average amount of charge, and that the first distribution of amount of charge has a smaller standard deviation than the second distribution of amount of charge.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there are provided a developing section storing a color erasable developing agent that includes capsule colorant particles with a core in which a color developable compound, a color developing agent, and a color erasing agent are contained, and a developing section storing a binder resin-containing transparent developing agent. A transparent developing agent image is transferred to a region capable of covering a color erasable developing agent image and the resulting image is fixed.

Abstract: An approach is provided for managing the processing of print data at a printing device based upon available consumable resources. A printing device includes a print process configured to determine consumable resources that are currently available at the printing device. The print process is further configured to determine which print data is to be processed based upon the consumable resources currently available at the printing device and the consumable resources required to completely process each of the print data. Print data that can be completely processed using the currently available consumable resources are selected for processing. The print process may also be configured to cause a notification to be provided to a client device to indicate the consumable resources currently available at a printing device and/or that insufficient consumable resources were available to process particular print data and to recommend other consumable resources to process the particular print data.

Abstract: The invention provides an image formation apparatus having at least a first toner image-forming unit that forms a first toner image which directly contacts a surface of a recording medium, a second toner image-forming unit that forms a second toner image which is disposed on the first toner image without directly contacting the recording medium, and a fixing unit. The invention further provides a printed item having at least a recording medium, a first toner image directly contacting a surface of the recording medium, and a second toner image residing on the first toner image without directly contacting the recording medium. A contact angle ?1 of the first toner and the first toner image with respect to an aqueous de-inking solution, is smaller than a contact angle ?2 of the second toner and the second toner image with respect to the aqueous de-inking solution.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a detaching and pressing mechanism for releasing developing rollers of developer cartridges mounted in a drum unit from photosensitive drums and pressing the developing rollers on the photosensitive drums. The detaching and pressing mechanism includes a pair of translation cam members, intermediate members provided on the translation cam members, cam holders for holding the translation cam members in such a manner as to be linearly movable in an anteroposterior direction, and a synchronous movement mechanism for allowing the pair of translation cam members to linearly move in synchronization.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forming a color image on a recording material mounts black and non-black process cartridges including a photosensitive drum and a developing roller and includes a driving source; first and second clutches connecting and disconnecting the driving source and the developing roller of the black and non-black cartridges, respectively; first and second members actable on the first and second clutches, respectively, each for switching between operation and non-operation states for respectively transmitting and not transmitting a driving force to the developing rollers; and a switching member, movable by the driving force of the driving source and actable on the first and second members for switching among first, second, and third modes, for respectively transmitting the driving force to the developing rollers of all of the process cartridges, to any one of the developing rollers, and only to the developing roller of the black process cartridge.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first image forming unit including an image carrier and a developer carrier which is in contact with the image carrier at a first pressure, and which carries a first developer; and a second image forming unit including an image carrier, and a developer carrier which is in contact with the image carrier at a second pressure greater than the first pressure and which carries a second developer.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a main casing, a photosensitive drum unit and a developing device unit. The photosensitive drum unit includes a plurality of photosensitive drums juxtaposed in a first direction orthogonal to an axis of each photosensitive drum. The developing device unit includes a plurality of developing devices disposed in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of photosensitive drums and a supporting member. Each developing device includes a developing roller having a shaft extending in a second direction parallel to the axis of each photosensitive drum. The supporting member supports the developing devices to be movable between a first position for supplying toner to corresponding photosensitive drums and a second position retracted from the first position. The developing device unit is detachable from the main casing by moving the developing devices to the second position and drawing the supporting member.

Abstract: A method and system for printing documents with one or more embedded security features is provided. Security features are embedded in the document by co-printing magnetic and non-magnetic toner on a receiver before fixation by a fixing station. The combination of magnetic and non-magnetic toners in the image results in image elements that easily show alteration or are undetectable by visual means.

Abstract: Systems and methods of producing image products using printing are provided. The image products are produced by sequentially applying a base image, a first clear toner and a second clear toner. The first clear toner forms one or more lenses, and the first and second clear toners have different indexes of refraction. The image products produced by the systems and methods can be lenticular image products that display different images depending upon a viewing angle.

Abstract: In the image forming method, at least one color toner image and a transparent toner image are formed using a color developer including a color toner and a carrier and contained in a first developing device, and a second developer including a transparent toner and a carrier and contained in a second developing device. A supplementary developer is supplied at least to the second developing device while discharging excess of the developer in the developing device. The transparent toner includes a lubricant and has a viscoelastic property such that a loss tangent (tan ?), which is defined as a ratio (G?/G?) of loss modulus (G?) to storage modulus (G?), has a peak at a temperature of from 80° C. to 160° C. and the peak has a height of not less than 3.

Abstract: In the image forming method, a color toner image and a transparent toner image are formed using a first developing device containing a first developer including color toner and carrier, and a second developing device containing a second developer including transparent toner and carrier. At least the second developing device includes a developer bearing member bearing the second developer for developing an electrostatic image; a developer supplying passage supplying the developer to the developer bearing member while feeding the developer in a first direction; and a developer feeding passage separated from the developer supplying passage at a central portion thereof and feeding the developer used for development in a direction parallel to the first direction. The transparent toner includes a resin and a lubricant and has viscoelastic property such that loss tangent has a peak with height of not less than 3 at a temperature of from 80° C. to 160° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus 1 including a photosensitive member 2 on which an electrostatic latent image is formed according to an image signal, a development mechanism 5 for forming a toner image by developing the electrostatic latent images, and a transfer body 60 for transferring the toner image. The development mechanism 5 includes a plurality of developing units 51-54 holding different kinds of toners. A second work of adhesion between the photosensitive member 2 and a second toner to be transferred to the transfer body second is larger than a first and a third work of adhesions between the photosensitive member 2 and a first and a third toners to be transferred to the transfer body first and third.

Abstract: The developing agent is selected to have a distribution of adhesive force to the surface of an image carrier, which is configured such that the ratio of the developing agent having an adhesive force which is not less than 2.5 times as high as an average value of a distribution of adhesive force is 3% by weight or less based on an entire weight of the developing agent.

Abstract: A method for producing an electrophotographic toner including forming a toner base particle by emulsifying or dispersing a solution or dispersion of a toner material comprising a colorant, and any one of a binder resin and a binder resin precursor in an aqueous medium, and adding crystalline organic fine particles having an acid value of 20 mgKOH/g to 80 mgKOH/g into the aqueous medium, before, during or after the forming so as to attach the crystalline organic fine particles onto a surface of the toner base particle.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of developing devices. Each developing devices performs an electrophotographic process to form an image. The image forming apparatus comprises a first developing device and a second developing device. The first developing device holds a black developer containing a first black coloring agent. The second developing device holds a gray developer. The gray developer contains a second black coloring agent and a coloring agent of a chromatic color. The chromatic color is a complementary color to the second black coloring agent.

Abstract: A tandem-type electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes multiple color image forming units using a dry toner, a first black image forming unit using the dry toner, and a second black image forming unit using a wet toner and performs an image formation with the dry toner in a first printing mode and an image formation with the wet toner in a second printing mode. The image formed in the second printing mode with the wet toner is fixed to a recording medium at a temperature lower than the image formed in the first printing mode with the dry toner. Each of the image forming units corresponds to a process cartridge that is removably installable in the tandem-type electrophotographic image forming apparatus and including an image carrier and other image forming components integrally therein.