Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming device using a toner that maintains a color-generation state or non-color-generation state owing to color-generation information provided by light, comprising: an image forming unit comprising a developing unit including a photoreceptor and the toner that forms a toner image, a color-generation information providing unit that, based on image data, provides the toner with color-generation information by exposing the toner image to light, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a color-generating unit that allows respective toner to generate the color, a toner temperature regulating unit, and a control unit that controls the toner temperature regulating unit so the temperature of the toner is within a predetermined range, and an image forming method using the same.

Abstract: An electrostatic charging member includes a base material; and an outermost layer that contains a porous filler and a resin and has a gel fraction of at least about 50% and a surface roughness Rz in a range of about 2 ?m to about 20 ?m.

Abstract: The present invention provides an information processing apparatus including: a first control section that, when execution of printing at a printing device connected via a communications section is instructed, performs control to display at a display section a print settings screen for making settings relating to the printing; a calculation section that calculates an estimated value of power consumption that the printing device will consume if the printing is executed on the basis of the settings relating to printing; and a second control section that, when a pre-specified operation is performed at the print settings screen, performs control to display the estimated value of power consumption and display at the display section an energy saving settings screen for making, of the settings relating to printing, settings relating to energy saving.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that is rotatable; a transfer member that is rotatably disposed so as to face the image carrier, the transfer member transferring an image carried by the image carrier to a sheet; a leading end gripping member that is attached to the transfer member, the leading end gripping member gripping a leading end of the sheet in the transport direction on an outer peripheral surface of the transfer member; a trailing end holding member that holds a trailing end of the sheet in the transport direction between the trailing end holding member and the outer peripheral surface of the transfer member; and a controller that changes a distance between the leading end gripping member and the trailing end holding member when holding the sheet on the basis of a length of the sheet in the transport direction.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of producing silica particles, the method including preparing an alkali catalyst solution containing an alkali catalyst in a solvent including an alcohol, at a concentration of from about 0.6 mol/L to about 0.85 mol/L; and supplying tetraalkoxysilane into the alkali catalyst solution, and concurrently supplying an alkali catalyst into the alkali catalyst solution at a rate of from about 0.1 mol to about 0.4 mol per mole of the total amount of supply of the tetraalkoxysilane supplied in one minute.

Abstract: A toner contains a binder resin and a polyalkylene, wherein the following formula is satisfied: 2?A/B?100 where A represents a reflectance at a light-receiving angle of +30° and B represents a reflectance at a light-receiving angle of ?30°, A and B being measured when a solid fixed image formed by the toner is irradiated with incident light at an incident angle of ?45° using a goniophotometer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method that determines toner age in a printing apparatus. The method can include placing an imaging surface cleaner in contact with an imaging surface. The method can include placing a toner patch on the imaging surface. The method can include rotating the imaging surface in a process direction. The method can include measuring a frictional interaction between the imaging surface cleaner and the imaging surface as the toner patch passes the imaging surface cleaner. The method can include determining whether toner should be purged based on the measured frictional interaction. The method can include purging the toner if the toner should be purged.

Abstract: A cleaning member for an image forming apparatus includes a core and an elastic layer helically put on an outer peripheral surface of the core and including a first elastic layer and a second elastic layer, the first elastic layer being the outermost layer and the second elastic layer being located closer to the core than the first elastic layer and having a compression set smaller than that of the first elastic layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying release agent to a fuser roll used in printing a print job is provided. The apparatus has a release agent metering roll supported for contact with a supply of release agent material; a variable speed drive arranged to effect movement of the release agent metering roll in an endless path at different surface velocities; a donor roll supported in contact with the release agent metering roll and the fuser roll, the donor roll arranged to convey release agent material from the release agent metering roll to the fuser roll at various rates depending on a surface velocity of the release agent metering roll; and a controller that controls a velocity of the variable speed drive such that the surface velocity of the release agent metering roll varies relative to a surface velocity of the fuser roll and the engagement and disengagement times at the start and end of the print job. The variable speed drive is operative independently of the fuser roll.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording-medium storing unit including a rotating member, the recording-medium storing unit being capable of being pulled out from an apparatus body; a support surface having an edge portion, the support surface supporting the rotating member when the recording-medium storing unit is pulled out from the apparatus body; and an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium fed from the recording-medium storing unit. The rotating member has a counter surface that faces the edge portion when the rotating member moves beyond the edge portion and drops off the support surface in a certain direction. In the state in which the counter surface faces the edge portion, the counter surface is inclined such that a point on the counter surface approaches the edge-portion side as the point moves in a direction opposite to the certain direction.

Abstract: A photoconductor containing an optional supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, and at least one charge transport layer comprised of at least one charge transport component, and wherein the photogenerating layer contains a hydroxygallium phthalocyanine, a hydroxyaluminum phthalocyanine, a polymeric binder, and a silanol.

Abstract: A device for folding sheets of a medium into a booklet is provided. The device includes a frame; a cam mechanism attached to the frame; a lever attached to the frame, the lever being actuated by the cam mechanism; a first scissor arm attached to the frame, the first scissor arm being actuated by the lever; a pair of first rolls, one of the first rolls being movable by the first scissor arm; a second scissor arm attached to the frame, the second scissor arm being actuated by the lever; a pair of second rolls, one of the second rolls being movable by the second scissor arm; a crease blade for contacting the sheets to create a crease in the sheets; and a controller that controls a position of the crease blade, a gap between the pair of first rolls, and a gap between the pair of second rolls.

Abstract: The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to layer(s) that are useful in imaging apparatus members and components, for use in electrophotography, including digital, apparatuses. More particularly, the present embodiments provide the negatively charged electrophotographic imaging members with a novel cross-linked charge blocking undercoat layer, which is created to comprise of a binary composition of melamine and formaldehyde or a triple composition consisting of a hydroxyl functional acrylic polyol binder and a methylolation of melamine-formaldehyde, and methods for making the same. The charge blocking layer provides stabilized cyclic photo-electrical properties, enhanced mechanical adhesion bonding, and improved copy print out quality for service life extension.

Abstract: A voltage level translator circuit has a digital logic circuit having a digital logic signal at least one high-voltage capacitor having a first and second connection, wherein one of the first and second connections is electrically coupled to the digital logic signal, and a cross-coupled inverter pair having, the output of at least one inverter of the pair electrically coupled to the other connection of the at least one high-voltage capacitor.

Abstract: Provided is a toner wherein when a solid image formed by the toner is irradiated with incident light at an incident angle of ?45° using a goniophotometer, a ratio (A/B) of a reflectance A at a light-receiving angle of +30° to a reflectance B at a light-receiving angle of ?30° is about 2 or more and about 100 or less.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid droplet circulation control apparatus including: a first circulation controller that sets a first circulation mode in which liquid is circulated with pressure control by driving a supply side pressure generator and a return side pressure generator, the supply side pressure generator supplying the liquid to the liquid droplet ejector and the return side pressure generator returning the liquid from the liquid droplet ejector; a second circulation controller that sets a second circulation mode in which the liquid is circulated by driving the supply side pressure generator and/or the return side pressure generator, such that the liquid is made to bypass at least the liquid droplet ejector; a selector that selects one or other circulation modes; and a setting unit that sets a circulation path of the liquid based on the selected circulation mode.

Abstract: A vertical cavity surface emitting laser including a substrate, a first semiconductor multilayer film reflector formed on the substrate, an active region formed on the first semiconductor multilayer film reflector, a second semiconductor multilayer film reflector formed on the active region, an electrode formed on the second semiconductor multilayer film reflector, a light absorption layer, and a light transmission layer. In the electrode, a light emitting aperture is formed. The light absorption layer is formed in a peripheral region of the light emitting aperture, and absorbs emitted light. The light transmission layer is composed of a material which the emitted light can pass through, and formed in a central region of the light emitting aperture. Thicknesses of the light absorption layer and the light transmission layer are selected so that phases of light from the light absorption layer and from the light transmission layer are adjusted.

Abstract: A print image processing apparatus, includes N image processing circuits; a selection unit that estimates, every N pages, a necessary time corresponding to each of (i) a page-based parallel method for allocating image processing of the N pages to the image processing circuits in units of pages to perform the image processing of the N pages in parallel, and (ii) a paginal-object-based parallel method for allocating image processing of each single page to the image processing circuits in units of objects to perform the image processing of the objects of each single page in parallel, and selects one of the page-based parallel method and the paginal-object-based parallel method such that the estimated necessary time corresponding to the selected one of the parallel methods is shorter than the estimated necessary time; and an allocation unit that allocates image processing of the N pages to the N image processing circuit, respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) and method (200) that evaluates printing apparatus cleaner performance. The method can be performed in a printing apparatus that can include an intermediate transfer belt (150), an intermediate transfer belt sensor (155), a developer (115), a photoreceptor (110), and a photoreceptor cleaner (120). The method can include placing (220) marking material on the photoreceptor using the developer. The method can include cleaning (230) the marking material on the photoreceptor using the photoreceptor cleaner. The method can include transferring (240) the marking material to the intermediate transfer belt. The method can include sensing (250) marking material on the intermediate transfer belt using the intermediate transfer belt sensor.

Abstract: A photoconductor that includes a backing layer, a supporting substrate thereover, a photogenerating layer, and at least one charge transport layer of at least one charge transport component, and wherein the backing layer is in contact with the supporting substrate on the reverse side thereof, and the outermost layer of the backing layer is comprised of a polyurethane comprised of a dendritic polyester polyol and a polyisocyanate.