Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes: a developer image formation section configured to form plural developer images whose colors are different from each other; a transfer device configured to transfer the plural developer images onto a medium while superimposing the developer images on each other, thereby to form a multi-color developer image on the medium; and a memory configured to store information on priority color settings including plural priority colors and transfer orders of the plural developer images which are predetermined for the respective priority colors. When one of the priority colors is selected, the image formation apparatus transfers the plural developer images sequentially in the transfer order for the priority color setting of the selected priority color.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion capable of mounting a plurality of first image forming units for forming images in different colors or a plurality of second image forming units for forming images in a single color. The first image forming units and the second image forming units are arranged to be exchangeable. The first image forming units retain toner in different colors, and the second image forming units retain toner in the single color. The image forming apparatus further includes a preference control unit for leaving at least one of the second image forming units unused and preferentially using rest of the second image forming units when the first image forming units are exchanged to the second image forming units in a monochrome printing operation.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing toner usage on an output device capable of rendering in five or more colorants includes receiving a print job for rendering a print job. The method includes generating at least one candidate colorant combination using multiple colorants. The method includes determining at least one factor including (i) a toner usage, (ii) a toner cost, and (iii) an accuracy of the at least one candidate colorant combination for rendering a select object of the print job. The method further includes selecting an ideal candidate colorant combination based on a comparison of the at least one factor with one of a second candidate colorant combination and an original CMYK colorant combination.

Abstract: This invention provides a technique of preventing a collision between an original document and a printing material on a conveyance path when an image forming apparatus executes both additional printing on the original document and printing on the printing material. In a case where both additional printing on an original document and printing on a printing material are executed, the image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the invention conveys a read original document to a transfer unit through a conveyance path commonly used for an original document and sheet, and prints an image to be added on the original document. After the original document is conveyed to the transfer unit through the conveyance path, the image forming apparatus feeds a sheet from a sheet feeding unit to the conveyance path, and performs copying on the sheet in the transfer unit.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for carrying an electrostatic latent image, a plurality of developing devices for developing the electrostatic latent image, a supporting member for moving the developing devices sequentially to a developing position opposing the image bearing member, and a detecting device for detecting developer remainder in the developing device. In addition, a determining portion determines the developer remainder. In the developing device in which the detecting operation is effected after the developing operation, the determining portion determines the developer remainder from the information relating to the detected developer remainder. In the developing device of the developing devices for which the detecting operation is effected before the developing operation, the determining portion determines the developer remainder from the information relating to the detected developer remainder and a deduced consumption amount.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium includes a fixing unit configured to fix on a recording medium, a toner image formed on the recording medium, through heating and pressurization and a gloss control unit configured to lower gloss of a surface of the toner image by charging the surface of the toner image fixed onto the recording medium and heating the toner image such that toner contained in the toner image reaches a softening point or higher thereof.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus detects a color deviation amount in a timing when a developing roller separates from or contacts a photosensitive drum to set a difference in peripheral velocities between the photosensitive drum and an intermediate transfer belt or a transfer material conveying belt based on the color deviation amount and information about the use degree of the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming part to form an image with one of a color unerasable developer and a color erasable developer, and a control part to automatically select the color erasable developer when test printing is selected.

Abstract: A toner image forming device includes a first toner image forming section including a charged first image holding member, a first exposing unit that emits light onto the first image holding member to form a latent image thereon, and a first developing unit that develops the latent image by a black toner to form a toner image, a second toner image forming section including a charged second image holding member, a second exposing unit that emits light onto the second image holding member to form a latent image thereon, and a second developing unit that develops the latent image by a toner of color other than black to form a toner image, and a controller that performs control so that the number of toners that the second toner image forming section uses is larger than the number of toners that the first toner image forming section uses.

Abstract: Methods for printing are provided. In one aspect, the method includes providing a primary imaging member having engine pixel locations with a ratio modulated difference of potentials, establishing a first development difference of potential to form a first net development difference of potential between the first development difference of potential and the engine pixel location and providing a first charged toner such that the first toner develops at the engine pixel location according to the first net development difference of potential. Establishing a second development difference of potential that is greater than the first difference of potential proximate the engine pixel location such that a determined amount of second toner develops at the engine pixel locations. Wherein the range of first toner potentials is such that a determined range of ratios of first toner amounts and the determined second toner amount provide ratio modulated differences of potential.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes: a developer image formation section configured to form plural developer images whose colors are different from each other; a transfer device configured to transfer the plural developer images onto a medium while superimposing the developer images on each other, thereby to form a multi-color developer image on the medium; and a memory configured to store information on priority color settings including plural priority colors and transfer orders of the plural developer images which are predetermined for the respective priority colors. When one of the priority colors is selected, the image formation apparatus transfers the plural developer images sequentially in the transfer order for the priority color setting of the selected priority color.

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: The image forming apparatus can switch between a color mode, in which an image is formed by sequentially transferring the color toner images formed by developing members in an overlapping manner, and a mono mode, in which an image is formed by using one developing member. The developing member used in the mono mode develops the toner image to be transferred secondly or thereafter in the color mode, the exposure device exposes a non-image portion where the toner image is not formed on the surface of the image carrier at an exposure amount smaller than an exposure amount for an image portion where the toner image is formed, and, in the mono mode, the exposure amount at which the exposure device exposes the non-image portion of the image carrier in the case the image is formed in the mono mode is smaller than the color mode.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus in which one of developing units that respectively contain visible toners of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan other than the developing unit that contains the visible toner of black is replaced by a developing unit that contains a transparent fluorescent toner. Consequently, a document image can be expressed by the visible toner of black and a designated color which falls within a color reproduction range determined by two of the visible toners of yellow, magenta, and cyan, and an additional pattern which is an additional information image for preventing falsification and forgery can be printed on the document image with the use of the transparent fluorescent toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a color toner image forming portion, a transparent toner image forming portion, a heating portion, an obtaining portion that obtains information on an area where a gloss level should partly be increased and an area where the gloss level should partly be decreased in an image, and a controller controls the color toner image forming portion and the transparent toner image forming portion to form the color toner images and a first partial transparent toner image on a recording material, controls the heating portion to heat the color toner images and the first partial transparent toner image on the recording material, controls the transparent toner image forming portion to form a second partial transparent toner image on the recording material, and controls the heating portion to heat the second partial transparent toner image on the recording material based on information obtained by the obtaining portion.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides toners having a tunable gloss level, electrophotographic apparatuses for using such toners as well as processes for making such toners.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a plurality of developing cartridges including respective toner accommodating portions for accommodating toners for forming an image on the image bearing member; a discriminating portion for discriminating color of the toner accommodated in each of the plurality of developing cartridges; a controller capable of controlling an image forming operation in a state in which the developing cartridges, of the plurality of developing cartridges, accommodating the toners of the same color are mounted; and a storing portion for storing lifetime information of the plurality of developing cartridges, respectively. When the developing cartridges accommodating the toners of the same color are mounted, the controller determines the developing cartridge, of the developing cartridges accommodating the toners of the same color, to be used for performing the image forming operation, on the basis of the lifetime information.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus of a rotary type, when a pause is made during continuous image formation, the time taken to restart image formation after the pause is shortened so as to reduce stress on the user. In the image forming apparatus, it is determined beforehand whether the next image formation mode is a color mode or a mono mode, and a developing device to be first used in the next image formation mode is moved to a developing standby position.

Abstract: A system and related method for selectively printing color content of a page with a reduced color gamut are provided. The system includes a detection module, a printing mode module, and a conversion module. The detection module is configured to detect a color object in the page and the printing mode module exists in at least one mode. The conversion module can selectively convert the detected color object to a converted reduced-colorant object in accordance with the existence of the at least one mode of the printing mode module.

Abstract: A method may include the steps of providing a printing assembly that includes a plurality of printing modules that each include a specific toner color, wherein a first printing module is failing and at least one second printing module is functioning; determining a toner use demand for the plurality of printing modules; and swapping the first printing module with the at least one second printing module to facilitate reducing a downtime of the printing apparatus, wherein the first printing module has a toner use demand that is substantially greater than the toner use demand of the at least one second printing module.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which attains a high quality image by suppressing fluctuation in speed of an intermediate transfer belt generated when a leading edge of a recording material having high rigidity such as a thick sheet is brought into contact with the belt in a single color mode. The single color mode is switched between a first single color mode in which a toner image on one photosensitive drum is primarily transferred onto the belt with only the one drum being in contact with the belt, and the toner image on the belt is secondarily transferred onto the recording material, and a second single color mode in which a toner image born on one of drums is primarily transferred onto the belt with the drums being in contact with the belt, and the toner image on the belt is secondarily transferred onto the recording material.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a determination unit determining, based on a pixel value of a prescribed background color area in image data obtained by inputting a printed image, and based on information regarding a color of a toner used in printing the image, whether or not the background color of the image corresponds to the color of the toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a printing section loaded with a first toner group, and a second toner group having a higher chroma value than the first toner group; and a control section which is configured to: convert color information of each part of an image based on image data specified by a print job into values in a prescribed color space; make a first judgment of a toner group proper to the image by comparing the values in the prescribed color space with color reproducible range of previously registered each toner group; make a second judgment of the toner group proper to a recording sheet and/or a printing condition which being specified by the print job, by referring to previously stored correlation information; and determine the toner group to be used for printing the image, based on results of the first and second judgments.

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: This invention provides a color print control method of acquiring an optimum profile by a simple profile acquisition process in consideration of the clustering configuration. According to the color print control method of this invention, a printer manager (15) manages a combination of color printers as a virtual printer. A color setting manager (17) manages a color profile used for color matching in association with the virtual printer and output paper. A job controller (11) controls to accept a print job, whose destination is the managed virtual printer and which contains color matching settings, cause a rendering unit (18) to render the print job, acquire a profile for each virtual printer, and cause a color management processor (16) to perform color matching.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer unit includes first to third movement controllers. When a first image carrier is used, the first movement controller moves a first moving member to a first position. When the first image carrier is not used, the first movement controller moves the first moving member to a second position. When second image carriers are used, the third movement controller moves a third moving member to a fifth position. When the second image carriers are not used, the third movement controller moves the third moving member to a sixth position. When any of the first and second image carriers is used, the second movement controller moves a second moving member to a third position. When the first and second image carriers are not used, the second movement controller moves the second moving member to a fourth position.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus includes a supporting member, supporting developing devices, for moving the supporting member sequentially to a developing position; a detector for detecting at a position different from the developing position information relating to a developer remainder in the developing device; deducing means for deducing a developer consumption from image information. As to the developing device for which the detection is effected after the developing operation therefor, determining device determines the remainder from the information detected by the detector. As to the developing device for which the detection is effected before the developing operation therefor, the determining means determines the remainder from the information detected by the detector and the consumption amount deduced by the deducing means.

Abstract: A method and system modify a rasterized digital image to reduce registration artifacts, the image having a black plane and a color plane by determining if a pixel is part of a connected black region and if the pixel is part of a connected color region. It is determined if the pixel is part of a connected black region and a connected color region that are contiguous. A dilation operation is performed on the color plane value of the pixel if the pixel is part of a connected black region and a connected color region that are contiguous.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which can achieve reduction in printing time, suppression of developer consumption, and implementation of silence. An image forming apparatus capable of forming a color image on an image carrier with use of developers of a plurality of different developing colors, including a plurality of developing devices respectively housing the developers of different colors, and a control section for controlling operation of the developing devices based on inputted image data, wherein the control section includes a concentration ratio recognition section for recognizing a concentration ratio of the respective colors for image data of every sheet from the image data, and controls so as to spare at least one color developer among the developers in response to the concentration ratio of respective colors recognized by the concentration ratio recognition section.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a first photoconductor drum for use in at least in a monochrome printing mode is located upstream, in a direction of transport of a medium, of a plurality of second photoconductor drums for use in a color printing mode. A transfer bias for each of transfer members is regulated in such a manner that a transfer bias applied in the monochrome printing mode between a second photoconductor drum located adjacently downstream of the first photoconductor drum and the corresponding transfer member is larger than that applied in the color printing mode. A developing bias for each of the development rollers is regulated in such a manner that an absolute value of a developing bias voltage applied to a development roller corresponding to the first photoconductor drum in the monochrome printing mode is smaller than that applied in the color printing mode.

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: 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: 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: 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 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: 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: The present application is directed to methods and devices for moving a cartridge between engaged and disengaged positions in an image forming device. The image forming device may include a bias control arm movable between first and second positions. When the bias control arm is in one of the first and second positions, a biasing force on the cartridge is reduced and the cartridge moves to the disengaged position. When the bias control arm is in the other of the first and second positions, a biasing force on the cartridge is increased and the cartridge is moved to the engaged position. In one embodiment, the bias control arm moves in a first direction, and the cartridge moves in a second direction different than the first direction.

Abstract: A print data generating apparatus to generate print data used for printing in a printing apparatus based on image data representing an image to be printed on a recording medium is provided. The print data generating apparatus comprises a data inputting system, by which application color setting data is inputted in the print data generating apparatus, a color substituting system, in which color information of each of the pixels configuring the image data is substituted with color information of an application color to print each of the pixels configuring the image data based on the application color setting data, and a print data generating system, in which print data to be used for printing is generated based on the image data wherein the color information of each of the pixels is substituted with the color information of the application color in the color substituting system.

Abstract: In a rotary-type image forming apparatus, rotation of a rotary is temporarily stopped at a position where a coupling member and a drive transmission member are engageable with each other, and a developing roller is set in a rotating state. Subsequently, the rotary is rotated so as to bring the developing roller into contact with a surface of a photosensitive drum.

Abstract: Restriction information on a total colorant amount for a medium is obtained. Patches at grid points in a color space corresponding to a plurality of colorants at which the total colorant amount falls within a restriction represented by the restriction information, and a patch at a point surrounded by the patches are generated. Color values are obtained by measuring the colors of the patches printed on the medium. It is determined based on a color prediction value between the grid points whether the measured color values are appropriate, and if so, a color value at a grid point at which the total colorant amount exceeds the restriction is estimated based on the measured color values. A color separation table is created based on the measured color values and the estimated value.

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 color printing control device outputs color material reduction processed data generated by applying a color material reduction process to each pixel of bitmaps converted to color material colors to be used in printing, when it is judged that the color material reduction printing mode is specified. The color material reduction process includes chroma conversion that reduces chroma and under-color removal/black generation that replaces at least a portion of achromatic components generated by overlaying of a plurality of color materials.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion capable of mounting a plurality of first image forming units for forming images in different colors or a plurality of second image forming units for forming images in a single color. The first image forming units and the second image forming units are arranged to be exchangeable. The first image forming units retain toner in different colors, and the second image forming units retain toner in the single color. The image forming apparatus further includes a preference control unit for leaving at least one of the second image forming units unused and preferentially using rest of the second image forming units when the first image forming units are exchanged to the second image forming units in a monochrome printing operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a color toner image forming portion, a transparent toner image forming portion, a heating portion, an obtaining portion that obtains information on an area where a gloss level should partly be increased and an area where the gloss level should partly be decreased in an image, and a controller controls the color toner image forming portion and the transparent toner image forming portion to form the color toner images and a first partial transparent toner image on a recording material, controls the heating portion to heat the color toner images and the first partial transparent toner image on the recording material, controls the transparent toner image forming portion to form a second partial transparent toner image on the recording material, and controls the heating portion to heat the second partial transparent toner image on the recording material based on information obtained by the obtaining portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including toner image forming means for forming a having chromatic toner image a transparent toner image; fixing means for heating and fixing the non-transparent toner image and the transparent toner image on recording material; glossiness detecting means for detecting a glossiness of an area in which the non-transparent toner image and the transparent toner image are overlaid and fixed; control means for controlling an amount of the transparent toner, per unit area, on the recording material on the basis of a result of detection by the detecting means.

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 has: a photosensitive drum onto which images are formed; and a primary transfer roller which sequentially forms the color images onto the photosensitive drum by using a plurality of developing devices having different color developers and transfers the color images formed on the drum onto a transfer member or a recording medium. Order of forming the images onto an image bearing member on a photosensitive member is switched based on a use amount of each of the plurality of developing devices.

Abstract: In a method or control device for controlling an electrophotographic printer or copier that has at least two developer stations, during a print operation print data is used to determine which developer stations are needed for printing of the data. In the event it is established that a developer station was not need or will not be needed for a predetermined time span, the developer station is shifted into a standby state in which at least one part of mechanical actuators of the developer station is stopped.

Abstract: A method of forming an image with a plurality of colors of developer, the method including generating color printing data corresponding to colors, sensing remainders of the plurality of colors of developer, converting the color printing data into mono printing data for a reference color corresponding to color density of each color printing data if at least one of colors of developer is insufficient, and printing the mono printing data.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus in which one of developing units that respectively contain visible toners of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan other than the developing unit that contains the visible toner of black is replaced by a developing unit that contains a transparent fluorescent toner. Consequently, a document image can be expressed by the visible toner of black and a designated color which falls within a color reproduction range determined by two of the visible toners of yellow, magenta, and cyan, and an additional pattern which is an additional information image for preventing falsification and forgery can be printed on the document image with the use of the transparent fluorescent toner.