Abstract: An information processing method includes a reading step, an acquisition step, a conversion step, a determination step, and a display control step. In the reading step, first character information on a character of a teaching material is read. In the acquisition step, a read-aloud sound relating to a first user's voice when the first user reads aloud the first character information is acquired. In the conversion step, the read-aloud sound is converted into second character information on a character. In the determination step, based on the first character information and the second character information, a matching point between the first character information and the second character information is determined. In the display control step, when there is the matching point, the matching point is displayed in the first character information in a different display manner from a display manner of the first character information.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, an image forming device, a toner concentration detector, a toner supply device, an image density detector, and a controller including a memory device. At a predetermined timing before image formation is started, the controller adjusts a developing potential to adjust an image density of a detection toner image on the image bearer and drives the toner supply device or the developing device to adjust a toner concentration in the developing device. After the image formation is started, the controller drives the toner supply device to adjust the toner concentration, and, in a predetermined sheet interval, adjusts the target concentration based on the image density of the detection toner image formed in a non-image area of the image bearer. When the toner concentration is higher than the target concentration plus a threshold, the controller suspends image formation and readjusts the developing potential.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image bearer; a developing device containing two-component developer and including a developer bearer, a development voltage source, and a toner concentration detector; a toner supply device to supply toner to the developing device; a transfer device; and a controller to keep a toner concentration in the developer in the developing device at a target toner concentration during image formation. The controller executes forced toner consumption in which the developing device supplies the toner to the latent image bearer the toner at a predetermined forced toner consumption timing, while inhibiting the toner supply device from supplying toner. When the toner concentration falls to a prescribed toner density lower than the target toner concentration, the controller completes the forced toner consumption and executes a post-consumption toner supply operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, an image forming device, a toner concentration detector, a toner supply device, an image density detector, and a controller including a memory device. At a predetermined timing before image formation is started, the controller adjusts a developing potential to adjust an image density of a detection toner image on the image bearer and drives the toner supply device or the developing device to adjust a toner concentration in the developing device. After the image formation is started, the controller drives the toner supply device to adjust the toner concentration, and, in a predetermined sheet interval, adjusts the target concentration based on the image density of the detection toner image formed in a non-image area of the image bearer. When the toner concentration is higher than the target concentration plus a threshold, the controller suspends image formation and readjusts the developing potential.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first electric charging unit having an electric discharge wire to uniformly electrify a surface of the electrostatic latent image bearer, a second electric charging unit having a second electric discharge wire to execute a pre-electric charge removal electric charging process by electrifying the surface of the electrostatic latent image bearer subsequent to a transfer process to transfer a toner image, and a first electric charge removing device to diselectrify the surface of the electrostatic latent image bearer by irradiating it with electric charge removing light subsequent to the pre-electric charge removal electric charging process. The first electric charge removing device is disposed within an electric discharge region of the second electric discharge wire on a downstream side of an extreme upstream edge of the electric discharge region of the second electric discharge wire in a rotational direction of the electrostatic latent image bearer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a system speed of from 400 to 2,000 mm/sec and includes an endless intermediate transfer belt to transfer a sheet-shaped medium bearing an image formed of a toner. The intermediate transfer belt includes a first layer including at least a substrate; a second layer; and an electric resistance controlling material and has a surface resistivity of from 1×108 to 1×1013 ?/?, a volume resistivity of from 1×106 to 1×1012 ?·cm, and a surface roughness not greater than 50 ?m. The toner includes a mother particle which is surface-treated with a fluidizer, comprising a charge controlling agent and at least two external additives which are inorganic particulate materials and particulate polymers formed of polymeric particulate materials or thermosetting resins adhering to the surface of the mother particle.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes multiple image forming units each including a latent image bearer and a developing device, a transfer device to transfer toner images from the latent image bearers onto a surface of endless rotary member, a cleaner to clean the surface of the endless rotary member, and a control unit to execute a forcible toner consumption process to forcibly consume degraded toner stored in applicable one or more developing devices. The forcible toner consumption process includes a step of forming a toner image formed for forced consumption in a non-image region of the latent image bearer with an amount of toner corresponding to a difference between an image area ratio of a developed image and a prescribed threshold when the image area ratio of the developed image is lower than the prescribed threshold.

Abstract: A gloss applier includes a heating roller disposed inside a loop formed by an endless belt to heat the endless belt; a pressing rotary body pressed against the heating roller via the endless belt; a cooler disposed inside the loop formed by the endless belt and downstream from the heating roller in a direction of rotation of the endless belt, the cooler to cool the endless belt as a recording medium in contact with the endless belt is conveyed by the endless belt; a separation roller disposed inside the loop formed by the endless belt and downstream from the cooler in the direction of rotation of the endless belt, the separation roller to separate the recording medium from the endless belt; and a cooler shifter contacting the cooler to move the cooler bidirectionally to cause the cooler to contact and separate from the endless belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes multiple image forming units each including a latent image bearer and a developing device, a transfer device to transfer toner images from the latent image bearers onto a surface of endless rotary member, a cleaner to clean the surface of the endless rotary member, and a control unit to execute a forcible toner consumption process to forcibly consume degraded toner stored in applicable one or more developing devices. The forcible toner consumption process includes a step of forming a toner image formed for forced consumption in a non-image region of the latent image bearer with an amount of toner corresponding to a difference between an image area ratio of a developed image and a prescribed threshold thereof when the image area ratio of the developed image is lower than the prescribed threshold.

Abstract: A paper edge cleaner in which paper is carried along a paper guide by a paper carrying roller. A grinder grinds both sides of the paper parallel to the paper movement to remove burrs from the paper. The paper is supported by a support.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first roller, a second roller, an endless belt, a third roller, a heater, a cooler, and a belt tensioner. The second roller is parallel to the first roller. The endless belt is looped for rotation around the first and second rollers. The third roller is opposite the first roller via the belt. The heater is in at least one of the rollers to heat the roller to in turn heat the belt. The cooler is inside the loop of the belt between the first and second rollers to cool the belt. The first and third rollers press against each other to form a nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed. The belt tensioner is in contact with the belt to tension the belt in a transverse direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the belt.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first roller, a second roller, an endless rotary belt, a third roller, a heater, a belt cooler, and an upstream guide member. The second roller is disposed parallel to the first roller. The endless rotary belt is looped for rotation around the first and second rollers. The third roller is disposed opposite the first roller via the belt. The heater is positioned adjacent to the belt to heat the belt. The first and third rollers press against each other via the belt to form a nip therebetween. The belt cooler is disposed inside the loop of the belt downstream from the first roller and upstream from the second roller for cooling the belt. The belt cooler has a convex contact surface. The upstream guide member is disposed inside the loop of the belt upstream from the contact surface to guide the belt.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fuser member, a stripper member, an endless rotary belt, a heater, a pressure member, and a belt cooler. The stripper member is disposed parallel to the fuser member. The endless rotary belt is looped for rotation around the fuser member and the stripper member in a longitudinal, conveyance direction of the belt. The heater is disposed adjacent to the belt to heat the belt. The pressure member is disposed opposite the fuser member via the belt. The fuser member and the pressure member press against each other via the belt to form a fixing nip therebetween. The recording medium after passage through the nip remains in contact with the belt as the belt moves from the fuser member toward the stripper member, and separates from the belt as the belt passes around the stripper member.

Abstract: A glossing device includes a heater member, a stripper member, an endless rotary belt, a pressure member, and a belt cooler. The heater member is subjected to heating. The stripper member is disposed parallel to the heater member. The endless rotary belt is looped for rotation around the heater member and the stripper member in a longitudinal, conveyance direction of the belt. The pressure member is disposed opposite the heater member via the belt. The heater member and the pressure member press against each other via the belt to form a glossing nip therebetween. The recording medium after passage through the nip remains in contact with the belt as the belt moves from the heater member toward the stripper member, and separates from the belt as the belt passes around the stripper member. The belt cooler is disposed adjacent to the belt to cool the belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form a color toner image using a color toner and a transparent layer using a transparent toner on a sheet of recording media, a sheet conveyance unit to transport the sheet, a 3D display lens forming unit disposed downstream from the image forming unit in a sheet conveyance direction, and a controller. The 3D display lens forming unit includes a shaping member including an uneven portion having predetermined surface unevenness, and a pressure member to press the shaping member against the sheet, forming a shaping nip between the shaping member and the pressure member. The 3D display lens forming unit shapes the transparent layer that is an outermost layer on the sheet into a stereoscopic display lens by transferring the surface unevenness of the uneven portion of the shaping member to the transparent layer formed on the sheet.

Abstract: A glossing device includes a first roller, a second roller, an endless rotary belt, a third roller, a heater, a belt cooler, and a suction mechanism. The second roller is disposed parallel to the first roller. The endless rotary belt is looped for rotation around the first and second rollers. The third roller is disposed opposite the first roller via the belt. The heater is disposed adjacent to the belt to heat the belt. The first and third rollers press against each other via the belt to form a nip therebetween. The belt cooler is disposed inside the loop of the belt downstream from the first roller and upstream from the second roller for cooling the belt. The belt cooler includes at least two mutually spaced cooling elements that together form a gapped contact surface for establishing thermal contact with the belt.

Abstract: A glossing device includes a heat roller, a stripper roller, an endless, rotary glossing belt, a first belt cooler, a pressure member, an endless, rotary cooling belt, and a second belt cooler. The heat roller is subjected to heating. The stripper roller is disposed parallel to the heat roller. The glossing belt is looped for rotation around the heat roller and the stripper roller. The first belt cooler is disposed adjacent to the glossing belt to cool the glossing belt. The pressure member is disposed opposite the heat roller. The cooling belt is looped for rotation around the pressure member. The second belt cooler is disposed adjacent to the cooling belt to cool the cooling belt. The heat roller and the pressure member press against each other via the glossing belt and the cooling belt to form a glossing nip therebetween through which the recording medium is conveyed.

Abstract: A fixing device including a fixing unit that fixes a toner image on a recording material by application of heat and pressure, and a glossing unit that controls a gloss of the toner image fixed on the recording material. The glossing unit includes a heating roller, an endless belt stretched taut over multiple rollers including the heating roller, a pressing roller pressed against the heating roller with the endless belt therebetween to form a nip therebetween, and a separating member that separates the recording material from the endless belt downstream from the nip. The multiple rollers are positioned to maintain the recording material in contact with the endless belt for a predetermined distance downstream from the nip. The separating member is movable along the endless belt downstream from the nip, to control a length of contact between the recording material and the endless belt.

Abstract: A paper edge cleaner in which paper is carried along a paper guide by a paper carrying roller. A grinder grinds both sides of the paper parallel to the paper movement to remove burr from the paper. The paper is supported by a support.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a heating member to heat the fixing member, a pressing member to press against the fixing member with a predetermined pressure, forming a nip where an image is fixed on a recording medium with heat and pressure, a heating controller to cause the heating member to heat the fixing member to a predetermined temperature set in advance and to preheat the fixing member while maintaining the temperature of the fixing member, a recording-medium data receiver to acquire recording-medium data before a fixing process is started, and a preheating-time adjuster to adjust a preheating time during which the heating member preheats the fixing member based on the data acquired by the recording-medium data receiver.