Abstract: An estimation system provides consumable use estimations, such as for ink or toner, in printing operations. The estimation system uses a classification-based consumable use process to estimate the consumable use. A print job is assigned a classification category according to an arbitrary job category selected for the print job and a job property defined for the print job using job settings. A plurality of classification categories are available. Job costing data for the print job is provided and used to determine consumable use values for each sheet in the print job and a total consumable use. This information is used to verify the correct classification category was assigned and to update historical consumable use information. An estimate is provided using the classification category and the distribution of the consumable use for print jobs in the category.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image formation unit configured to form an image on a sheet at a formation position; a circulatory conveyance path for conveying the sheet with the image formed at the formation position on a first side thereof to the formation position again; a reading unit configured to read the first side of the sheet conveyed through the circulatory conveyance path and output image information; and a conveyance control unit configured to convey the sheet in one conveyance mode out of a plurality of conveyance modes when the reading unit reads the first side of the sheet. A range, in a conveyance direction, of the sheet that can be read by the reading unit while a conveyance speed of the sheet is constant is different for each of the plurality of conveyance modes.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a processor. The processor is configured to set an image position of a reference image in a transport direction of a recording medium to an arbitrary position on a specific page of the recording medium. The reference image is formed using a first color and serves as a reference for an image position of an image of a second color to be formed after the image of the first color is formed. The processor is also configured to adjust the image position for the second color on an adjacent page, located adjacently upstream of the specific page in the transport direction, by using image information of the reference image formed on the specific page.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus stores a plurality of candidate formulas in a memory. Each of the candidate formulas is a formula for calculating a prediction formula for calculating a predicted value of the color misregistration amount based on an external exposure device temperature, which is a temperature of the atmosphere around the exposure device, an external machine temperature, and a heater temperature of a heater which heats the plurality of image forming units. The CPU determines the prediction formula from the plurality of candidate formulas according to the external exposure device temperature, the external machine temperature, and the heater temperature. The CPU calculates the predicted value of the color misregistration amount using the determined predicted formula, and performs a color misregistration correction according to the calculated predicted value.

Abstract: A method for thermally-sensitive coating analysis of a component includes imaging the coated, exposed component over a range of distinct frequencies as selected by a narrowband variable filter; estimating parameters of non-uniformity correction (NUC) for every pixel at every wavelength; constructing a 2D temperature map on a pixel-by-pixel basis using the non-uniformity correction; and mapping the 2D temperature map to a 3D computer aided design (CAD) model.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus that includes a color image former that forms a color image with a plurality of process color toners, a spot color image former that forms a spot color image with a spot color toner, a transfer unit that transfers the formed color image and the formed spot color image onto a recording material, a fixing unit that fixes the transferred color image and the transferred spot color image onto the recording material, and a hardware processor that selects a first mode or a second mode depending on whether or not a type of the recording material and an amount of toner to be attached onto the recording material satisfy a predetermined condition. The number of times of image transfer and fixation onto an identical surface of the recording material is two or more predetermined times in the first mode. The number of times of image transfer and fixation onto an identical surface of the recording material is less than the predetermined times in the second mode.

Abstract: First acquisition processing portion acquires first position and second position in main scanning direction. Second acquisition processing portion acquires, from third specific area having second specific length in sub scanning direction on color image, a plurality of third positions of a plurality of pixels of first color in main scanning direction, second specific length being larger than first specific length that is length in peripheral direction of each of image carriers. First derivation processing portion, based on plurality of third positions, derives first color shift amount that indicates an amount of shifting of pixels of first color in main scanning direction in third specific area. Second derivation processing portion, based on first position, second position, and first color shift amount, derives second color shift amount that indicates an amount of shifting between first color and second color in main scanning direction in first specific area.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a driver, an image forming device, a sensor, and circuitry. The driver drives and rotates the image bearer. The image forming device forms a toner image on the image bearer driven and rotated by the driver. The sensor emits light to the image bearer and receives reflected light. The circuitry controls the driver and the image forming device to form a first toner image with a first color and a second toner image with a second color different from the first color. The circuitry controls the sensor to detect specularly reflected light and diffusely reflected light from the first toner image and the second toner image. The circuitry calculates an amount of misalignment of the first toner image and the second toner image based on a value of the specularly reflected light and a value of the diffusely reflected light.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a changing portion configured to change, based on a detection result of a temperature sensor, response sensitivity in starting of power supply by a determination portion based on a detection result of a human body detection sensor in a case where a human body approaches the human body detection sensor. The changing portion increases the sensitivity in a case where a temperature detected by the temperature sensor is a second temperature lower than a first temperature than in a case where the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is the first temperature.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that is capable of determining whether a measurement image is formed normally. First and second image forming units form first and second images on an image bearing member using first and second color toners. Reflectance of first toner is higher than the image bearing member and is higher than the second toner. A controller controls image forming units to form first and second measurement images superimposed. A correction unit corrects a positional relationship between the first and second images based on a position of the first measurement image detected based on an output timing of a signal indicating that the received light amount is not less than a threshold. A prohibition unit prohibits the correction unit from correcting the positional relationship when a period during which the signal is output is different from a predetermined period.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes: a light source configured to emit laser light; a polygon mirror configured to reflect the laser light; a photoreceptor configured to be exposed to the laser light reflected by the polygon mirror; a motor configured to rotate the polygon mirror; and a controller configured to sense a type of a sheet transported through the image formation apparatus. The image formation apparatus includes as operation modes a first mode in which no sheet type is sensed and a second mode in which a sheet type is sensed. The controller performs different processes for control regarding rotation of the motor in the first and second modes, respectively.

Abstract: A material conveyor, included in a transfer device of an image forming apparatus and configured to use position control of rotary bodies, includes a first rotary body and a second rotary body disposed opposing each other in an opposing region through which a material is conveyable, and a contact and separation device configured to cause at least a surface, of at least one of the first rotary body and the second rotary body to move, between a separated position and a contact position. The contact and separation device is configured to cause the at least the surface to move from the separated position to the contact position, at a first speed, and then to move at a second speed slower than the first speed. A method of position control includes moving at least the surface at different speeds or based on a distance relative to a threshold distance.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus, which is capable of detecting a color misregistration amount with high accuracy even when a density characteristic thereof is changed. The image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units configured to form toner images of different colors on a predetermined intermediate transfer belt, and a density sensor configured to measure densities of the toner images formed on the intermediate transfer belt. The image forming apparatus determines a density target depending on a measurement result of a density correction image, which is formed by the plurality of image forming units, from the density sensor. The image forming apparatus causes the plurality of image forming units to form position detection images so that the position detection images have densities corresponding to the density target.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a light source unit and an image reading unit. The light source unit radiates white light containing a light having a first spectrum and a light having a second spectrum. The image reading unit generates image data in accordance with light reflected from the original document. The reflected light contains the light having the first spectrum and the light having the second spectrum. The image reading unit determines a correction value for calibrating a light amount of the light having the first spectrum as a ratio of a calibration reference value to a reflection light amount of the light having the first spectrum from a calibration document advance-prepared for calibration of the light having the second spectrum. The calibration reference value is set as a reference reflection light amount of the light having the first spectrum.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a printer device and an adjustment part. The printer device includes: an image formation unit that forms a toner image on a medium with toners including a regular toner and a special toner; and a fixation unit that performs a predetermined number of fixation operations of fusing the toner image on the medium. The adjustment part causes the printer device to print a first sample image using the special toner at various density levels, and receives a first setting for the density level of the special toner based on the printed first sample image. The printer device forms the toner image on the medium based on the first setting received, and fixes the toner image on the medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor, a light source, and circuitry that receives: first image data including first pixels each indicating image density or one of turning on and off the light source; and tag data indicating an attribute of each first pixels. The circuitry sets specific data to identify a first target pixel subjected to change out of the first pixels, converts the first image data into second image data having a higher resolution than that of the first image data, and controls the light source according to the second image data to form an image. In conversion, the circuitry identifies a second target pixel corresponding to the first target pixel out of second pixels of the second image data according to the specific data and the tag data, and changes the second target pixel into a pixel to turn on the light source.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier; a charging device; an electrostatic image forming device that forms an electrostatic image; a developing device including a container that stores an electrostatic image developer containing a brilliant toner containing a substantially flake shape metal pigment, a developing member that is disposed so as to face, with a gap width, the image carrier and that develops the electrostatic image to form a toner image, and a voltage application unit, the apparatus satisfying 0.6×10?13C/particle?Q?3.0×10?13 C/particle??Formula (1): 150 g/m2 g/m2?M?300 g/m2??Formula (2): 0.8?M/L?1.4??Formula (3): where Q represents a charge amount per particle [C/particle] of the brilliant toner, M represents an amount [g/m2] of the electrostatic image developer carried by the developing member, and L represents the gap width [?m].

Abstract: A computer implemented method of determining a latent image from an observed image is disclosed. The method comprises implementing a plurality of image processing operations within a single optimization framework, wherein the single optimization framework comprises solving a linear minimization expression. The method further comprises mapping the linear minimization expression onto at least one non-linear solver. Further, the method comprises using the non-linear solver, iteratively solving the linear minimization expression in order to extract the latent image from the observed image, wherein the linear minimization expression comprises: a data term, and a regularization term, and wherein the regularization term comprises a plurality of non-linear image priors.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus that can correct variation in printing agent residual quantity and can extend the period being able to support full color printing based on original image data. A printing agent residual quantity detecting part detects printing agent residual quantity. A color scheme selection tendency management part manages an amount of the printing agent. A remaining number calculation part computes printable number of sheets for each color. Adjustment request screen generating part generates, when variation of the printable number of sheets for each color is greater than or equals to a fixed quantity, a printing agent using amount adjustment requesting screen for accepting the conversion condition to correct the variation. An image processing part performs color balance conversion of the image data. A printing part prints the image data performed the color balance conversion.

Abstract: A print control apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store therein a plurality of surface-effect selection tables for respective pieces of recording medium information on a recording medium. Different types of same surface effects are registered in each of the surface-effect selection tables. The print control apparatus also includes a determining unit configured to determine a surface-effect selection table corresponding to a piece of recording medium information from the storage unit; an image data generating unit configured to generate image data based on the determined surface-effect selection table and based on gloss-control plane data in which a type of a surface effect to be applied to the recording medium and an area of the recording medium to which the surface effect is to be applied are specified; and an output unit configured to output the image data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first toner image forming unit including a rotatable photosensitive drum and a charger and configured to form a first toner image on the drum, the charger being supplied with a DC voltage to charge; a movable intermediary transfer member supplied with a transferring current for transferring the first image from the drum onto the transfer member, the transfer member carrying a second toner image at a position upstream of the transfer portion; and a switching portion for switching a mode from a first mode in which a maximum toner deposition amount of the second image fed to the transfer portion and a transfer current supplied to the transfer member are set at respective standard levels to a second mode in which the toner deposition amount and the transferring current are set at respective predetermined levels which are different from the standard levels.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a control unit configured to control execution of monochromatic calibration and multi-color calibration, and a registration unit configured to register paper types of paper to be used at time of execution of the monochromatic calibration, a monochromatic target value set for each of the paper types used for the monochromatic calibration, paper types of paper to be used at time of execution of multi-color calibration, and a multi-color target value set for each of the paper types used for the multi-color calibration. The image processing apparatus executes the multi-color calibration, after executing the monochromatic calibration, via the control unit by using paper of a paper type selected from common paper types out of the registered paper types and the monochromatic target value and the multi-color target value set for the selected paper type.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first detection unit including a first light receiving element arranged in a direction of normal reflected light reflected from a first positional deviation correction pattern, a second detection unit including a second light receiving element arranged in a different direction of normal reflected light reflected from a second positional deviation correction pattern, and a control unit configured to correct a positional deviation based on a value calculated from a first detection result detected by the first detection unit and a second detection result detected by the second detection unit.

Abstract: An image forming system according to an embodiment comprises a data creation section configured to create document data, and a print instruction section configured to send instructions to print the document data. The image forming section further comprises a printing mode determination section configured to determine a printing mode of the document data based on property information of the document data, and a selection section configured to select for printing the document data with one of a non-erasable image forming section and an erasable image forming section based on the determined printing mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a noncontact heating device, a pressurizing and heating mechanism, and a control unit. The control unit switches an operation of the pressurizing and heating mechanism based on gloss level information of a recording medium. According to the image forming apparatus, assuming that a temperature of the recording medium after noncontact heating is T1, a temperature of the recording medium after pressurizing and heating is T2 and a toner concentration after noncontact heating is Tc1 when the gloss level information shows high gloss, and assuming that a temperature of the recording medium after noncontact heating is T3 and a toner concentration after noncontact heating is Tc2 when the gloss level information shows low gloss, the conditions of T1<T2, T1<T3, and Tc1<Tc2 are satisfied.

Abstract: An external additive for toner that contains a resin particle and two or more kinds of particulates having different compositions present on the resin particle.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus configures a normal transfer potential in a yellow primary transfer unit, and configures a transfer potential which does not cause any retransfer phenomenon of a yellow measurement image in image carriers located on the downstream side of the yellow primary transfer unit. When a color difference obtained from a reference density and a density of a measurement image on an intermediate transfer belt becomes equal to or larger than a prescribed value, the image forming apparatus determines that multinary-color density adjustment is required.

Abstract: A color image forming method, including: forming electrostatic latent image on electrostatic latent image bearing member; developing the image to form visible image with at least two toners containing releasing agent and selected from black, magenta, cyan and yellow toners; transferring the visible image to recording medium; fixing the transferred image thereon with fixing member having no releasing agent on surface thereof; and forming overcoat layer on the fixed image by polymerizing overcoat composition, wherein when lightness—L1, chromaticity—a1 and chromaticity—b1 according to L*a*b* color system of the fixed image formed with the at least two toners and lightness—L2, chromaticity—a2 and chromaticity-b2 of the fixed image after the overcoat composition is dropped at 0.4 mg/cm2 from height of 10 mm above the fixed image and the overcoat composition is removed after 10 seconds have passed are applied to the following formula (1), color difference ?E* is 3.0 to 30.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus that forms an electrostatic latent image for detection on a photosensitive member by light irradiation and performs color-misregistration correction control on the basis of detection of a change in detection current due to the detecting electrostatic latent image passing through a processing unit disposed close to the periphery of the photosensitive member, the intensity of at least one of the apply voltage of the processing unit and the output of the light irradiation unit is set higher than that during normal image formation.

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.

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 which includes a color detection unit that emits a light to a color material and a reference plate on a printing material and detects the reflected light and corrects an amount of the color material upon image forming based on a detection result, comprises: a storage unit that stores, in advance, the detection result of each of the color material and the reference plate detected; and a blot detection unit that estimates the detection result for the reference plate based on a relationship between a stored reference value of each of the color material and the reference plate and the detection result of the color material, and if a difference between the estimated detection result and the detection result of the reference plate is larger than a predetermined value, detects presence of a blot.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming part that forms an image on a print medium with a color colorant, a clear coat agent application part that applies a clear coat agent to the print medium passed through the image forming part, and a clear coat agent application amount determination part that determines an application amount of the clear coat agent.

Abstract: A color space converter converts data points from one color space to another color space using a lookup table. Color space converters may be used in any device that involves image processing, such as displays and printers. An interface receives an input value in a first color space. A controller access a lookup table stored in memory to determine an upper bound and a lower bound of a subset of the color space. An output value is interpolated between the upper bound and the lower bound using interpolation values. The interpolation values of the last subset in any dimension of the color space are modified by a scale factor to approximate ideal values.

Abstract: When a recording agent amount limiting process is carried out, a color reproduction range is narrowed, and therefore gradation properties of dark areas are deteriorated and information originally held by an image is sometimes undesirably lost. By obtaining (401) a colorant amount for each target pixel of input color image data, calculating (402) a colorant amount of a peripheral area of the target pixel, and correcting (400) a density range of the input color image data based on the colorant amount of the target pixel and the colorant amount of the peripheral area of the target pixel, amounts of recording agent are limited and reductions in image quality are prevented.

Abstract: An acquisition unit acquires output data including first image data including first clear toner plane data and second image data including color plane data and second clear toner plane data. When the output data includes the first image data, a first output unit outputs first print data including first identification information representing an instruction to form an image on a first recording medium to which clear toner has not been applied to an image forming unit. When the output image includes the first image data and the second image data, a second output unit outputs second print data including second identification information representing an image formation instruction for a second recording medium to which the clear toner has been applied. When the output data does not include the first image data but includes the second image data, the second output unit outputs third print data including the first identification information.

Abstract: A method for color registration includes determining if color registration is necessary, and if color registration is necessary, rotating an image forming medium and setting an optimum luminance of a registration sensor with respect to a rotating surface of the image forming medium, confirming an area with an undesirable surface condition on the image forming medium using luminance detected with respect to the rotating surface of the image forming medium during the setting of the optimum luminance, forming a preset mark for color registration adjustment excluding the area confirmed to have an undesirable surface condition, and carrying out color registration adjustment using the optimum luminance set with respect to the formed mark.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, apparatus are provided that include a color data conversion subsystem configured to convert color data in order to produce device-dependent output color separation data. The color data conversion subsystem has been configured by gamut mapping including providing a gamut in a hue-based color space and applying color distance adjustments to the hue-based color space. A hue dependent lightness preservation operation can also be part of the subsystem.

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 an image bearing member for bearing a toner image, a rotatable endless belt, a first driving member for rotationally driving the endless belt and in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the endless belt, and a second driving member for rotationally driving the endless belt and in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the endless belt. In addition, a tension detecting unit detects a state of tension of the endless belt and a controller controls a rotational speed of the second driving member. A driving force applied from the second driving member to the endless belt is smaller than a driving force applied from the first driving member to the endless belt, and the tension detecting unit includes a metal roller contacting the inner peripheral surface of the endless belt and detects the tension by movement of the metal roller which follows the endless belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an automatic acquiring unit which is configured to form a mark for detecting at least one of positional deviation and density deviation and acquire an amount of deviation by measuring the mark, an image forming unit which is configured to form an image while adjusting at least one of positional deviation and density deviation based on a correction value specified by the amount of deviation, and an output unit which is configured to execute at least one of a pattern printing process and a notifying process when an amount of deviation within a permissible range is not acquired by the automatic acquiring unit. The pattern printing process includes printing a pattern image for specifying a correction value on a recording sheet. The notifying process includes making notification for prompting execution of the pattern printing process.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming information processor to process image forming information and an image forming unit to form an image on a recording medium by forming a toner image using colored-toner and a toner image using glossy toner based on the image forming information processed by the image forming information processor. The image forming unit forms a glossy image on the recording medium based on glossy toner image forming information, in which the glossy image is formable on the recording medium using the colored-toner toner image alone, or a glossy image is formed on the recording medium by forming a colored-toner toner image using colored-toner based on the colored-toner image forming information, and then forming the glossy toner image on the colored-toner toner image as a top layer of the glossy image based on the glossy toner image forming information.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes the following elements. An image forming unit forms an image by using plural predetermined colors. An index forming unit causes the image forming unit to form two or more consecutive image correcting indexes of one type by using an identical color, the image correcting indexes being used for correcting misregistration of an image to be formed. The image correcting indexes are sequentially transferred to an image carrier. A detector includes a light source emitting light to the image correcting indexes and a light receiver receiving light reflected by the image carrier and the image correcting indexes to generate a detection signal. A position specifying unit specifies a position between two consecutive image correcting indexes by using the detection signal. A misregistration correcting unit corrects misregistration of an image to be formed by using the specified position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes the following elements. An image forming unit forms an image by using plural predetermined colors. An index forming unit causes the image forming unit to form three or more consecutive image correcting indexes of one type by using an identical color, the image correcting indexes being used for correcting misregistration of an image to be formed. The image correcting indexes are sequentially transferred to an image carrier. A detector includes a light source emitting light to the image correcting indexes and a light receiver receiving light reflected by the image carrier and the image correcting indexes to generate a detection signal. A position specifying unit specifies a position of an image correcting index located at the center of three consecutive image correcting indexes by using the detection signal. A misregistration correcting unit corrects misregistration of an image to be formed by using the specified position.

Abstract: A printing apparatus capable of processing a print job and forming an image on a recording sheet based on the print job is provided. The printing apparatus includes a first determining system to examine an image-forming condition of the printing apparatus and determine as to whether the printing apparatus is under a condition of lowered image-forming quality, a second determining system to examine attribute of the print job and determine based on the attribute as to whether the print job meets restrictive requirement, by which the print job is restricted from being executed, when the printing apparatus is under the condition of lowered image-forming quality, and a restricting system to restrict execution of the print job at least partially when the second determining system determines that the print job meets the restrictive requirement.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a first image forming unit, a second image forming unit and a processing unit. The first image forming unit forms an image using an erasable image forming material. The second image forming unit forms an image using an inerasable image forming material. The processing unit forms an image to be printed using an erasable image forming material with the first image forming unit, and forms a specific pattern for duplication prevention using an inerasable image forming material with the second image forming unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming part that forms an image on a print medium with a color colorant, a clear coat agent application part that applies a clear coat agent to the print medium passed through the image forming part, and a clear coat agent application amount determination part that determines an application amount of the clear coat agent.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that applies clear toner to an image to be formed based on image data being input and image information regarding the image data when forming the image, the image forming apparatus including a subject detection unit that detects a subject included in the image data based on the image information, the subject including plural pixels; and a setting unit that sets a first maximum value for amounts of the clear toner, each amount being an amount of the clear toner to be applied to a corresponding pixel included in the subject, based on a detection result of the subject.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus which can suppress degradation of an image quality in a recording material save mode processing and obtain an effect of consumption amount reduction of recording material desired by a user at low costs. A recording material consumption amount at the time of applying first color conversion processing unit is predicted corresponding to inputted image data. The setting of a second color conversion processing is changed from a prediction value and a target value of the recording material consumption amount.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming device including an engine unit that performs image processing; an engine control unit that controls the engine unit; and a controller that generates items of starting information. The controller transmits a first item of the starting information indicating a cause of the starting process, and transmits a second item of the starting information when a content of the second item of the starting information is fixed. A time period required for fixing the second item of the starting information depends on the cause of the starting process. The engine control unit obtains the second item of the starting information, based on the first item of the starting information and timing information obtained in advance that indicates a timing at which the second item of the starting information is expected to be fixed.