Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing roller, a motor, a motor control portion configured to control the motor, a drive switching unit configured to switch between transmission and non-transmission of the rotational driving force of the motor relative to the developing roller, a current detection portion configured to detect a current value of a current to the motor, and an acquisition unit configured to acquire information relating to a rotation amount of the developing roller. The acquisition unit is configured to acquire the information relating to the rotation amount of the developing roller on the basis of a transmission timing at which the rotational driving force is allowed to be transmitted to the developing roller by the drive switching unit and a non-transmission timing at which the rotational driving force is prevented from being transmitting to the developing roller by the drive switching unit.

Abstract: According to one example, an image forming apparatus includes a detection unit that detects temperature information on a temperature of a toner stored in a toner cartridge, an image forming unit that forms a toner image on a sheet with the toner supplied from the toner cartridge, a fixing unit that fixes the toner image formed on the sheet by the image forming unit, and a control unit that controls a fixing temperature in the fixing unit according to the temperature information detected by the detection unit and an accumulated time in which the temperature information is detected.

Abstract: The fixing apparatus includes a first heat generation member to fix an image on a first recording material or a second recording material whose length in a longitudinal direction is shorter than a length in a longitudinal direction of the first recording material, and a second heat generation member whose length in a longitudinal direction is shorter than a length in a longitudinal direction of the first heat generation member, the second heat generation member configured to fix an image on the second recording material, wherein the fixing apparatus performs a first operation in which the second heat generation member generates heat for a certain period while a first rotary member and a second rotary member rotate after the completion of printing on sheets of the second recording material.

Abstract: To provide an image printing apparatus, a reading apparatus, an image printing method, and a printing medium conveyance method, with which occurrence of image unevenness or streaks due to conveyance is prevented, an image sensor reads an image area, so as to detect a conveyance amount of a printing medium. Further, the conveyance amount is corrected according to a distance between the image sensor and the printing medium, which is detected by a height detection sensor, so as to obtain a highly accurate conveyance amount.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit, an image forming unit, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive image data corresponding to a target image to be formed on a sheet, convert the received image data to modified image data corresponding to a modified image that includes the target image and an added margin on at least one side of the target image in a sheet width direction side, control the image forming unit to form the modified image based on the modified image data, and cause the sheet to be conveyed to the image forming unit such that a positioning of the sheet in the sheet width direction overlaps with the target so that a fixing portion of the fixing unit overlaps with the target image in the modified image formed on the sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a counter that counts number of sheets of paper on which printing is performed; a calculator that calculates a coverage rate of each sheet of the paper; a derivation part that derives a reference line to be a replacement indicator for a consumable part based on replacement history information including: number of printed sheets from start of using the consumable part provided in the image forming apparatus until replacement of the consumable part; and an average coverage rate obtained by averaging coverage rates on the sheets of the paper corresponding to the number of printed sheets, and a communicator that provides a notification of arrival of replacement timing of the consumable part based on the reference line.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a detection unit (control unit) configured to detect operation information of the image forming apparatus and a controller (control unit) configured to apply an AC voltage to a charging roller by a charging power source during a non-image-forming operation of the image forming apparatus. The controller is configured to control the duration for which the AC voltage is applied on the basis of the operation information detected by the detection unit.

Abstract: A first high-voltage power supply includes a first transformer configured to generate a voltage to be supplied to a first wire of a charger, and a second high-voltage power supply includes a second transformer configured to generate a voltage to be supplied to a second wire of the charger. The first and second high-voltage power supplies respectively drive the first and second transformers in accordance with pulse signals that are supplied from a CPU and that have the same frequency and phase. The first and second high-voltage power supplies respectively supply, to the first and second wires of the charger, voltages generated by driving the first and second transformers.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit having a photosensitive member on which an image is formed and a developer bearing member, an intermediate transfer member onto which the image is transferred, a transfer member forming a nip portion for transfer of the image on the photosensitive member onto the intermediate transfer member, a transfer unit transferring the image on the intermediate transfer member onto the sheet, a motor rotating the photosensitive member, a motor control unit controlling the motor so the rotation speed of the photosensitive member is a target rotation speed, and a controller that acquires first and second load information of the photosensitive member in a first period where developer bearing member rotates and a second period where developer bearing member is stopped, and controls whether or not to change the target rotation speed based on the first and second load information.

Abstract: An electrophotographic imaging device having a method of printing which includes determining whether a duty cycle state in the imaging device has changed; selecting one of a full toner density calibration and a partial toner density calibration based on the determining; performing the one of the full toner density calibration and the partial toner density calibration; identifying a toner density to be applied during printing as a result of the performing; developing a toned image having a toner density equal to the toner density identified; and printing the toned image on a media sheet, wherein the full toner density calibration is skipped upon at least a determination that the duty cycle state has remained the same.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, when images are formed on a plurality of sheets, a controller controls an image forming unit to form a measurement image between an image which is to be transferred to a first sheet of the plurality of sheets and an image which is to be transferred to a second sheet of the plurality of sheets, controls a sensor to measure the measurement image, determines a feedback condition based on a length of each of the plurality of sheets in a conveyance direction, and controls an image forming condition based on a result of measurement performed by the sensor and the determined feedback condition, wherein the image which is to be transferred to the second sheet of the plurality of sheets is adjacent to the image which is to be transferred to the first sheet of the plurality of sheets on an image bearing member.

Abstract: A roller usable in an image fixing device for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a first elastic layer; a second elastic layer provided closer to a center of the roller than the first elastic layer, the second elastic layer having a thermal conductivity in a thickness direction higher than that of the first elastic layer; a third elastic layer provided between the first elastic layer and the second elastic layer, wherein an indentation elastic modulus EIT1 of the first elastic layer, an indentation elastic modulus EIT2 of the second elastic layer, and an indentation elastic modulus of the third elastic layer satisfy E1T1<E1T3<E1T2.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a mounting portion that detachably mounts either one of a fixing portion and another fixing portion. Each fixing portion includes a first rotatable member and a second rotatable member that, together, form a nip for fixing a toner image on a sheet, and a memory. A rubbing rotatable member executes a rubbing process of rubbing a surface of the first rotatable member, and a moving mechanism moves the rubbing rotatable member between a rubbing position, in which the rubbing rotatable member is in contact with the first rotatable member, and a stand-by position, in which the rubbing rotatable member is separated from the first rotatable member. In addition, a controller stores information corresponding to an execution frequency of the rubbing process designated by an operator through an operating panel, in the memory of the fixing portion that has been mounted in the mounting portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus determines a toner density erroneous detection state based on a patch image density in patch detection auto toner replenishing and, when the toner density erroneous detection state is determined, offsets a target toner density by the amount of erroneous detection so that the actual toner density becomes a desired toner density.

Abstract: An information processing device includes: a receiver that receives a job that is a unit of processing of predetermined processing, an effective period of the job, and a shutdown command which sets a power supply of the device itself to a shutdown state; and a controller that, when the shutdown command is received by the receiver and no job has been received by the receiver and accumulated, performs control to set the power supply to the shutdown state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a human-body detection unit, an instruction receiver, and a controller. The controller determines whether an adjustment process is to be performed in accordance with a result of a determination, at an end of an image forming process, as to whether a human body is detected. The controller executes the adjustment process when the image forming process is terminated where the human-body detection unit does not detect a human body. The controller starts the image forming process before the adjustment process is executed where a human body is detected and the image forming instruction is received within a predetermined period. The controller executes the adjustment process when the predetermined period has elapsed while the image forming instruction is not received after the end of the image forming process where the human-body detection unit detects a human body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image carrier, a first exposure part that forms a first electrostatic latent image in dot units on the first image carrier, a first development part that develops the first electrostatic latent image of the first image carrier using a first developer, and a controller that forms an inclined first band pattern of which bands incline with respect to a main scanning line direction on the first image carrier with the first exposure part and the first development part.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer body includes a surface layer, an elastic layer, and a heat-insulating layer contiguously in the mentioned order, and the surface layer, the elastic layer, and the heat-insulating layer satisfy the following Equations 1 to 4: (C1+C2)×?t?Q??Equation 1: 100 MPa?E1?1,000 MPa??Equation 2: 0.5 MPa?E2?50 MPa??Equation 3: ?3?0.13 W/m·K??1??2.

Abstract: In one example of the disclosure, account data that is indicative of marking agent credits attributed to a printer is stored. The printer is a printer connected to a supply of marking agent. A marking agent credit is to authorize consumption of a credit amount of marking agent from the supply according to a subscription. A print job is received from a sponsor computing device. The account data is adjusted to add credits in an adjustment amount that is a function of marking agent consumption to print the job. The job is sent to the printer for printing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion configured to form a toner image. The image forming portion includes: a photosensitive body; a charging device; an exposure device; a toner supply device; and a transfer device. A continuously printed amount, which has been attained by the image forming portion while the image forming portion has formed toner images continuously with a time interval between every two successive image-forming timings having a length shorter than or equal to a prescribed length, is determined. A charging voltage to be applied to the charging device is set based on a sum of a reference charging voltage and a correction value, the reference charging voltage being determined based on a target surface potential of the photosensitive body, the correction value being determined based on the continuously printed amount.

Abstract: A decoloring apparatus includes an erasing unit configured to generate heat so as to erase an image formed on a sheet with an erasable material, a sheet storing unit to store one or more sheets, each having the image formed thereon with the erasable material, a sheet conveying unit configured to convey the sheets from the sheet storing unit to the erasing unit, a quantity sensor configured to detect a quantity of the sheets stored in the sheet storing unit, and a control unit configured to determine whether or not the detected quantity is greater than a predetermined value, and control the sheet conveying unit to convey the sheets and the erasing unit to generate heat, when the detected quantity is determined to be greater than the predetermined value.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a charger charges a surface of an image carrier by discharge in a wide-angle. A charging bias voltage application section applies a charging bias voltage to the charger. An exposing device forms an electrostatic latent image in a charged image carrier. A toner carrier causes toner to adhere to the electrostatic latent image formed in the image carrier. A developing bias voltage application section applies the developing bias voltage to the toner carrier. In addition, the developing bias voltage application section changes the charging bias voltage in one step and changes the developing bias voltage applied to the toner carrier in multiple steps.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a clock supply circuit supplying a signal at a first clock frequency or a second clock frequency lower than the first frequency, a first CPU performing image data processing based on the signal, and a second CPU measuring time based on the signal to determine execution timing of each process performed in control processing. The image forming apparatus includes a load determination unit determining whether a load of the image data processing is higher than a reference level, and a control unit that switches the frequency to the first frequency when the load is higher than the reference level, and to the second frequency when the load is not higher. When the frequency switching occurs, the second CPU changes a method for measuring time. The second CPU completes one process before the switching and starts the next one after the switching.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a single-layer type photosensitive layer including phthalocyanine or a derivative thereof and an electron transport material. The electron transport material includes at least one first compound represented by formula (1) or (2) shown below and at least one second compound represented by formula (3), (4), or (5) shown below. A total amount of the at least one first compound and the at least one second compound is no less than 60 parts by mass and no greater than 120 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the binder resin. An amount of the at least one first compound is no less than 35 parts by mass and no greater than 80 parts by mass. An amount of the at least one second compound is no less than 25 parts by mass and no greater than 40 parts by mass.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a mounting information holding circuit, an abnormality determination circuit, and a mounting execution circuit. The abnormality determination circuit determines whether or not a predetermined abnormality determination condition is met based on mounting information related to already-executed mounting held in the mounting information holding circuit when a hard disk drive is inaccessible. The mounting execution circuit sets a power supply of the hard disk drive in ON state after once setting in OFF state, and then executes mounting of the hard disk drive after the setting in ON state when the abnormality determination circuit determines that the abnormality determination condition is not met.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor, an exposure unit having a plurality of light emitting elements that are configured to emit light corresponding to an image to be formed towards the photoreceptor, a developing unit containing toner that is transferred to the photoreceptor therefrom, and a control unit configured to control a potential of the developing unit. The control unit is configured to control the potential of the developing unit, such that the toner is selectively transferred to a region of the photoreceptor that has received light of an intensity that is greater than a predetermined value. The predetermined value is equal to or greater than 40% and equal to or smaller than 60% of an average peak intensity of the plurality of the light emitting elements that are driven with a maximum current value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrier; a charger; a charging power supply; a latent image writer to write; a developing device; a rotary attitude sensor; a controller to perform a data formulating process to formulate a change pattern data and a bias changing process to cause the charging power supply to change the charging bias output based on readings from the rotary attitude sensor and the change pattern data, during a print job; and a surface potential sensor to detect a surface potential of the latent image carrier. In the data formulating process, the controller formulates the change pattern data based on the surface potential of the latent image carrier detected by the surface potential sensor, while the charging power supply outputting a constant charging bias, and based on readings from the rotary attitude sensor while the surface potential is being detected.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable fuser member a heater, a rotatable pressure member, a thermometer, and a feedback controller. The rotatable fuser member is subjected to heating. The heater heats the fuser member to a heating temperature. The rotatable pressure member is disposed opposite the fuser member. The fuser member and the pressure member are pressed against each other to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which the recording medium is conveyed, so as to fix the toner image in place under heat and pressure. The thermometer is disposed adjacent to the pressure member to detect an operational temperature of the pressure member. The feedback controller is operatively connected with the thermometer to control the heating temperature according to the detected operational temperature, so that the recording medium exhibits a substantially constant post-fixing temperature downstream from the fixing nip regardless of the heat capacity of the recording medium.

Abstract: A printer includes a printing unit that prints an image on a print medium, a sensor that measures an internal temperature, and a controller that stops printing by the printing unit based on the measured internal temperature and a predetermined temperature. The controller starts the printing based on a remaining printing volume.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an acquisition unit for independently acquiring image correction information on every page, the image correction information being independently preset for every page on which an image is to be formed; and a control unit for correcting an image forming condition for every page based on the image correction information acquired by the acquisition unit and controlling the image forming apparatus to form the image on a sheet based on the corrected image forming condition.

Abstract: A novel power supply control device includes an external power supply unit that generates external driving power from external power source, a storing power supplying unit that generates stored driving power from stored power source, a selection unit that selects either the external driving power or the stored driving power, a power mode switching unit that switches between a normal mode and an energy saving mode that consumes less power consumption than the normal mode, a determination unit that determines whether or not current time is within a peak power shift time zone in which usage of the external power is suppressed, and a controlling unit that instructs the selection unit to select the stored power as the driving power and instructs the power mode switching unit to switch power mode to the energy saving mode immediately after finishing an operation during the power peak shift time zone.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a fixing device and a control section. The fixing device is provided with a fixing roller for conveying a sheet. The control section changes the rotation speed of the fixing roller based on a shrinkage rate of the sheet before and after the passing of the sheet through the fixing device. The control section changes, according to the shrinkage rate, the rotation speed of the fixing roller in the second and the following fixing processing carried out by the fixing device in a case in which the same sheet passes through the fixing device more than twice.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a developing device, a control section and a cleaner. The developing device stores decolorable toner and develops a latent image formed on a photoconductor with the decolorable toner. The control section forms a predetermined toner image on the photoconductor by the developing device after driving the developing device without adhering the decolorable toner on the photoconductor. The cleaner collects the toner image.

Abstract: Image forming apparatus includes: image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet, and controller for controlling the image forming unit. The controller includes process modules to carry out: counting process for performing counting in accordance with the number of sheets printed by the image forming unit; first bias applying process for setting a developing bias to be applied to the developer carrier to a first bias if a count value in the counting process has not reached a predetermined threshold value; bias changing process for changing the developing bias to a second bias whose absolute value is smaller than that of the first bias if the count value has reached the threshold value; and delaying process for causing an execution timing of the bias changing process to be delayed if the number of sheets printed in a unit of time is not smaller than a reference number.

Abstract: An improved image forming apparatus is described which can inhibit the quality of printed images from being degraded. A control unit performs a steering operation to shift an intermediate transfer belt toward a target belt position by controlling the inclination angle of a steering roller. Also, a memory stores the inclination angle of the steering roller in association with the operational states of rotary members facing the intermediate transfer belt. The control unit updates the values stored in the memory with an update value. When the result of detecting the belt edges indicate that the intermediate transfer belt falls in a predetermined range around the target belt position during the steering operation, the control unit determines the update value on the basis of the steering duration time and the inclination angle of the steering roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing an image, a developing device for developing with a toner an electrostatic image formed on the image bearing member, and a detecting portion for detecting environmental information. In addition, a storing portion stores the environmental information, and a controller controls an image forming condition on the basis of the environmental information detected in a last detection and current detection. The controller controls the image forming condition so that a change amount per unit time of the image forming condition when the developing device is driven is made larger than a change amount per unit time of the image forming condition when the developing device is stopped.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller and an imaging unit having a developing device to develop a latent image on a surface of a latent image carrier with toner. When control target value of control parameters that influence a developing ability of the imaging unit becomes inappropriate, the controller performs target value correction processing of correcting the control target value to bring the control target value close to an appropriate value for stabilizing a development density of the imaging unit. In the target value correction processing, the controller corrects a control target value of a second control parameter having a response speed, obtained when the developing ability is changed by the correction, faster than a first control parameter, correct the control target value of the first control parameter, and then turn the control target value of the second control parameter back to the original value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developing part, a storing part and an adjusting part. The image carrier includes a surface. An electrostatic latent image formed on the surface is developed by a toner, and then, a toner image is formed on the surface. The developing part contains the toner supplied from a toner cartridge and supplies the toner to the image carrier. The storing part stores information relating to a replacement rate when a first toner in the developing part is replaced by a second toner, in a case where kinds of the first toner contained in the developing part and the second toner being supplied from the toner cartridge are different. The adjusting part adjusts density of the toner image on the basis of the replacement rate when a toner cartridge containing the first toner is replaced by another toner cartridge containing the second toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member to bear a latent image on a surface thereof, a developing unit to develop the latent image on the image bearing member with toner, a driving unit to drive the developing device, a storage unit to store a cumulative travel distance of the developing roller at predetermined timing, a total travel distance of the developing unit, and control conditions for the developing unit, a controller to obtain a difference between the total travel distance of the developing roller and the cumulative travel distance up to a predetermined point in time in image forming operation and to instruct intermittent printing in which continuous printing is limited to a certain number of pages in a predetermined time period when the difference is equal to or greater than a threshold travel distance, and an operation unit in which the control conditions are set.

Abstract: A print data generating device includes an image orientation selecting portion and a print data generating portion. The image orientation selecting portion may select one image orientation of an image to be printed from several image orientations by using partial image data. The print data generating portion may generate print data for printing the image according to the one image orientation. Each image orientation may be with respect to a conveying direction. Each partial image data may correspond to a respective image orientation, a respective partial image, and a respective portion of the image to be printed. Each partial image may be printed in an area defined by a particular distance determined from a corresponding edge of the printing medium. The particular distance may be based on a distance between a location of a downstream roller and a location of a most-upstream nozzle for a printer in the conveying direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming part configured to form images on both sides of a recording medium based on image data using developers; a storing part configured to store developer using amount information for obtaining using amounts of the developers not causing bleed-through of the developers when the image forming part forms the images on both sides of the recording medium, the developer using amount information including plural items of developer using amount information separately set for respective colors of the image data; and a control part configured to cause the image forming part to use the developers and reduce using amounts of the developers when determining, based on the plural items of developer using amount information separately set for respective colors of the image data, to reduce the using amounts of the developers.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit configured to transfer a toner image onto a recording medium; a power supply unit configured to output one of an alternating-current-based voltage including at least an alternating-current voltage and a direct-current voltage to the transfer unit; and a power supply control unit configured to cause the power supply unit to start switching to the alternating-current-based voltage a first time after the power supply unit stops outputting the direct-current voltage in the case that output of the power supply unit is switched to the alternating-current-based voltage, and cause the power supply unit to start switching to the direct-current voltage a second time after the power supply unit stops outputting the alternating-current-based voltage in the case that output of the power supply unit is switched to the direct-current voltage. The second time is longer than the first time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a image forming unit; an image bearing member having a surface to bear a toner image and a test pattern; the surface having a first time-surface positioned identical to the test pattern, an integer multiple of revolutions upstream or downstream from the test pattern in a surface movement direction, and a second time-surface positioned different from the test pattern, shorter than one revolution upstream or downstream from the test pattern; a reflection light detector to detect the amount of light reflected from the test pattern and the first and second time-surfaces of the image bearing member; and a controller to control the image forming unit based on the detection result and determine whether to execute a first-surface control to detect at least the first time-surface or a second-surface control to detect only the second time-surface based on use condition of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer; a charger to charge the image bearer; an electrostatic latent image former to form an electrostatic latent image on the image bearer; an image developer to develop the electrostatic latent image with a toner to form a visual toner image; a transferer to transfer the toner image on a transfer material; a toner concentration calculator to calculate a concentration of the toner; and an optical detector. At least a toner patch image is formed on the image bearer with an irradiation quantity set such that an irradiated part potential is larger than a developing condition, the toner patch image is read by the optical detector, and the charging condition is corrected on the basis of a difference between a toner concentration of the toner patch image and a target toner concentration.

Abstract: A controller for controlling an image heating device which includes first and second rollers for heating therebetween a toner image on a sheet, a first rubbing roller for rubbing the first roller, and a second rubbing roller for rubbing the second roller, said controller including a counter configured to count a number of heated sheets; a first executing portion configured to execute rubbing by the first rubbing roller in accordance with an output of the counter; a second executing portion configured to execute rubbing by the second rubbing roller in accordance with an output of the counter; an acquiring portion execution instructions of an image glossiness improving mode operation provided by an operator; and a determination portion configured to determine which roller or rollers of the first second rollers is to be rubbed in accordance with an output of the counter, when the acquiring portion acquires the execution instructions.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing device including rollers which form a nip therebetween to fix a toner image on a sheet; a reciprocating mechanism, including a motor, for reciprocating the fixing device within a predetermined range by moving the fixing device in a longitudinal direction thereof for each passages of a predetermined number of sheets through the nip; and a controller for controlling the motor so that a drive time of the motor per the predetermined number of the sheets is longer in a first range including a point at which a moving direction of the fixing device reverses than in a second range in which the moving direction of the fixing device does not reverse.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include: a heating unit including a heating member that is heated by a heat source and a backup member that forms a nip portion; a feeding unit; and a control unit configured to control the heat source and the feeding unit, wherein the control unit controls the feeding unit such that each of a plurality of recording sheets is fed to the nip portion, wherein some of the plurality of the recording sheets are sequentially conveyed at a second interval to each other, wherein a first recording sheet of the some of the plurality of the recording sheets is fed to have a first interval with respect to a previously conveyed recording sheet, and wherein the control unit increases the output of the heat source on a timing when a front end of the first recording sheet reaches a periphery of the nip portion.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a conveyor configured to convey a sheet along a conveyance path; a driving device configured to drive the conveyor; a printing device configured to print an image on the sheet conveyed by the conveyor; and a controller. The controller executes a first processing in which, when a first indicator reaches a preset first value, the controller suppresses rise of a temperature in the printing apparatus. The first indicator is a value that changes based on an increase in the number of sheets printed by the printing device. The controller further executes a second processing in which the controller reduces frequency of execution of the first processing when the number of printings performed by the printing device within a set specific period is equal to or greater than a set reference number.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of conditioning a fusing member having a top-release layer. The method includes heating the top-release layer to at least the melting temperature of the top-release layer while rotating the fusing member and while no pressure member engages the top-release layer, and cooling the top-release layer to less than the melting temperature of the top-release layer while rotating the fusing member. Other methods and devices are disclosed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a count section configured to count time during which no image forming is performed and a control section configured to allow heating of a heat generating section at temperature for decolorizing after the time counted by the count section reaches the a predetermined threshold time.