Abstract: A control unit controls a device that executes an image forming process, compares changes of each toner adhesion amount in an image-density-detection pattern image when a developing-bias control condition is changed, with respect to a toner adhesion amount in an image-density-detection pattern image in a normal status, performs a malfunction-occurrence prediction process according to the degree of each change of the densities, and displays the result.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, in which an image forming method is performed, includes an image carrier, an optical writing unit, a developing unit developing a toner image including an output image and a forcible toner consumption image, a transfer unit including an endless moving member to transfer the toner image onto the endless moving member directly or a recording medium carried on the endless moving member, a first remover to remove residual toner from the image carrier after transfer, a toner recycling unit to convey the residual toner to the developing unit, a controller to form the forcible toner consumption image and transfer the forcible toner consumption image onto the surface of the endless moving member, and a second remover to remove the forcible toner consumption image from the endless moving member.

Abstract: A key ring according to embodiments is press-fitted onto a steering shaft (column shaft) at a position that is radially outer side of a fit portion at which multiple shaft members that constitute the steering shaft (column shaft) are fitted to each other, and that is substantially the same as the position of the key ring in the axial direction. When a lock bar is inserted into a lock bar insertion portion formed in an outer periphery of the key ring, the key ring restricts rotation of the steering shaft.

Abstract: A transfer device includes an endless belt, an external roller, and an internal roller. The external roller is arranged outside of the loop of the endless belt and the inner roller is arranged inside of the loop of the endless belt. The endless belt is sandwiched between the external roller and the internal roller. A surface hardness of the external roller and a surface hardness of the internal roller are 50 degrees or more in an asker C scale. A logarithm (LogR) of volume resistivity of the intermediate transfer member is 10.0 or less.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, in which an image forming method is performed, includes an image carrier, an optical writing unit, a developing unit developing a toner image including an output image and a forcible toner consumption image, a transfer unit including an endless moving member to transfer the toner image onto the endless moving member directly or a recording medium carried on the endless moving member, a first remover to remove residual toner from the image carrier after transfer, a toner recycling unit to convey the residual toner to the developing unit, a controller to form the forcible toner consumption image and transfer the forcible toner consumption image onto the surface of the endless moving member, and a second remover to remove the forcible toner consumption image from the endless moving member.

Abstract: A control unit controls a device that executes an image forming process, compares changes of each toner adhesion amount in an image-density-detection pattern image when a developing-bias control condition is changed, with respect to a toner adhesion amount in an image-density-detection pattern image in a normal status, performs a malfunction-occurrence prediction process according to the degree of each change of the densities, and displays the result.

Abstract: The RF tag recycling system for recycling RF tags containing information on goods to which the RF tags are attached includes data storage mediums which are portable by consumers and issued by stores affiliated with the system, at least one RF tag collecting apparatus configured to calculate, when one of the data storage mediums is inserted into the RF collecting apparatus, a reward point value for RF tags put in the RF collecting apparatus, and to update the one of the data storage mediums on the basis of the calculated reward point value. The RF tag recycling system further includes a data processing apparatus configured to accumulate the calculated reward point value received from the RF tag collecting apparatus and to notify one of the stores which is an issuer of the one of the data storage mediums of information on an accumulated reward point value.

Abstract: The optical information verification apparatus includes an image pickup section picking up an image of optical information recorded on a display medium, a measuring section measuring a record state of optical information picked up by the image pickup device in terms of a given evaluation item and outputting a measured value of the record state, a comparing section comparing the measured value output from the measuring section with a given reference value, and outputting a comparison result, and an improving point outputting section converting the comparison result output from the comparing section into an improving point associated with the comparison result, and outputting the improving point.

Abstract: In a server system, a first receiving unit receives a request including a search requirement that a target program should meet and sent from a user operable device through a communication network. A search unit searches the plurality of programs to retrieve information indicative of at least one program. The at least one program meets the search requirement. A first download unit creates a first page of information indicative of the retrieved information and viewable by the user operable device, and downloads the first page of information to the user operable device through the communication network.

Abstract: A transfer device includes an endless belt, an external roller, and an internal roller. The external roller is arranged outside of the loop of the endless belt and the inner roller is arranged inside of the loop of the endless belt. The endless belt is sandwiched between the external roller and the internal roller. A surface hardness of the external roller and a surface hardness of the internal roller are 50 degrees or more in an asker C scale. A logarithm (LogR) of volume resistivity of the intermediate transfer member is 10.0 or less.

Abstract: The RF tag recycling system for recycling RF tags containing information on goods to which the RF tags are attached includes data storage mediums which are portable by consumers and issued by stores affiliated with the system, at least one RF tag collecting apparatus configured to calculate, when one of the data storage mediums is inserted into the RF collecting apparatus, a reward point value for RF tags put in the RF collecting apparatus, and to update the one of the data storage mediums on the basis of the calculated reward point value. The RF tag recycling system further includes a data processing apparatus configured to accumulate the calculated reward point value received from the RF tag collecting apparatus and to notify one of the stores which is an issuer of the one of the data storage mediums of information on an accumulated reward point value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which respective color visible images on tandem-arrayed plural photoconductor drums are sequentially overlay-transferred onto an intermediate transfer belt by application of a primary transfer voltage by intermediate transfer rollers, then the images are transferred at a time from the belt onto a print sheet by application of a secondary transfer voltage by a paper transfer roller. The same primary transfer voltage is applied to the respective color intermediate transfer rollers from one power source. In the intermediate transfer belt, a relative dielectric constant, a surface resistance and a volume resistance are controlled such that potential charged by initial transfer is attenuated to ? or lower than the transfer voltage before a belt position of the initial transfer arrives at a next transfer position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a color image forming device for forming toner images of a plurality of colors on a medium, and is for improving second transfer efficiency from an intermediate transfer body to the medium. The device has image forming units (12-1 to 12-4) for forming the toner images of the plurality of colors on at least one image bearing body (14-1 to 14-4) by a plurality of developing units (22-1 to 22-4) respectively accommodating toner of different colors; an intermediate transfer body (24); primary transfer means (38-1 to 38-4) for primary transferring the toner images of the plurality of colors onto the intermediate transfer body sequentially for the respective colors; and secondary transfer means (45) for secondary transferring the toner images of the plurality of colors on the intermediate transfer body onto the medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which respective color visible images on tandem-arrayed plural photoconductor drums are sequentially overlay-transferred onto an intermediate transfer belt by application of a primary transfer voltage by intermediate transfer rollers, then the images are transferred at a time from the belt onto a print sheet by application of a secondary transfer voltage by a paper transfer roller. The same primary transfer voltage is applied to the respective color intermediate transfer rollers from one power source. In the intermediate transfer belt, a relative dielectric constant, a surface resistance and a volume resistance are controlled such that potential charged by initial transfer is attenuated to ? or lower than the transfer voltage before a belt position of the initial transfer arrives at a next transfer position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus or method which uses plural image forming units to form visible images of different colors by making developers of different colors adhere to image holders such as photosensitive drums electrostatically. In this apparatus or method, intermediate transfer electrode members such as intermediate transfer rollers are opposite to the image holders of the image forming units with a belt transfer member between them and voltage is applied to transfer images electrostatically from the image forming units to the belt transfer member in sequence in a way that the transferred images on the belt overlap each other. Each of the intermediate transfer electrode members is located on the belt surface away from a point (transfer nip) at which a corresponding image holder contacts the belt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a color image forming device for forming toner images of a plurality of colors on a medium, and is for improving second transfer efficiency from an intermediate transfer body to the medium. The device has image forming units (12-1 to 12-4) for forming the toner images of the plurality of colors on at least one image bearing body (14-1 to 14-4) by a plurality of developing units (22-1 to 22-4) respectively accommodating toner of different colors; an intermediate transfer body (24); primary transfer means (38-1 to 38-4) for primary transferring the toner images of the plurality of colors onto the intermediate transfer body sequentially for the respective colors; and secondary transfer means (45) for secondary transferring the toner images of the plurality of colors on the intermediate transfer body onto the medium.

Abstract: It is an exemplified object of the present invention to provide a developer, a development device and its elements, and an image-forming device that can more stably form a high-quality image by a relatively inexpensive and easy means. A noncontact-type development method according to the present invention utilizes a nonmagnetic and single component toner having a volume average particle diameter D (&mgr;m) and an average specific charge q/m (&mgr;C/g), a development roller having a ten-point average surface roughness Rz (&mgr;m), and a blade keeping in contact with the development roller at a blade line pressure Pb (gf/cm). In order to stably form a uniform toner layer dt (&mgr;m) on the development roller, the following relationship is to be met: dt=1.8×{q/m×Rz/(Pb−1)}½×D±0.25 D, and 1.5 D≦dt≦3.5 D.

Abstract: It is an exemplified object of the present invention to provide a development device, development roller and blade used in the development device, and development roller and image-forming device having the development roller and blade, which can form a high-quality image in a cost-efficient manner. To achieve this object, the inventive development roller includes a shaft, a base material that coats a periphery of the shaft, and is made of a resistance body, and a layered coating provided on a periphery of the base material, where the layered coating includes two or more layers, a coating layer provided inside an outermost coating layer has a higher charging capability to a developing agent than at least the outermost coating layer.

Abstract: A charge amount controlling roller serving as a charge amount controlling member is placed to face to a developing roller and is disposed on an upstream side, in a rotation direction of the developing roller, of a developing position at which a photosensitive drum and the developing roller face to each other. The charge amount controlling roller is biased with a voltage having the same polarity as that of non-latent-image portions on the photosensitive drum with respect to the developing roller, thereby reducing extraordinarily charged developing agents, or high charged, low charged, reverse charged toners otherwise causing image defects such as fogs.

Abstract: It is an exemplified object of the present invention to provide a development device, development roller and blade used in the development device, and development roller and image-forming device having the development roller and blade, which can form a high-quality image by a cost-efficient means. To achieve this object, the inventive development roller comprises a shaft, a base material that coats a periphery of the shaft, and is made of a resistance body, and a layered coating provided on a periphery of the base material, where the layered coating includes two or more layers, a coating layer provided inside an outermost coating layer has a higher charging capability to a developing agent than at least the outermost coating layer.