Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method of predicting failure of a fixing device of an image forming apparatus are provided. Based on a plurality of sheet transfer time values of the fixing device, a first characteristic value that is an average value of the plurality of sheet transfer time values, and at least one of a second characteristics value that indicates the variance of the plurality of sheet transfer time values and a third characteristics value that indicates the maximum value of the plurality of sheet transfer time values are calculated. Using a determination result generated based on the first characteristics value and the at least one of the second and third characteristics values, failure of the fixing device is predicted.

Abstract: A halftone correction device for an image forming apparatus including an intermediate transfer belt and performing halftone processes includes: a correction unit that performs halftone correction for each of the halftone processes using correction tables corresponding to the halftone processes; a pattern generation unit that generates on the belt halftone patterns based on at least one of the halftone processes; a measurement unit that measures image densities of the generated halftone patterns; an estimation unit that estimates, from the image densities of the halftone patterns, image densities of halftone patterns corresponding to the other ones of the halftone processes, by applying a relational expression as an estimation equation to patches of the halftone patterns having an equal image area ratio; and a table generation unit that generates the correction tables using target values and the image densities of the halftone patterns of the halftone processes.

Abstract: A conductor connection tool includes a terminal platform base, a conduction fitting accommodated in a fitting recessed part of the terminal platform base. The conduction fitting is formed in a substantially U shape and includes a bottom plate portion, a vertical portion bent vertically upward from one end of the bottom plate portion, and an attachment portion extending from an upper end of the vertical portion in parallel to the bottom plate portion, and having a terminal portion extending in the opposite direction to the attachment portion. A plate spring bent in a substantially V shape with one side serving as an attachment piece to be fixed to the attachment portion of the conduction fitting with the other side serving as a locking piece whose front end is to be brought into pressure contact with the bottom plate portion of the conduction fitting.

Abstract: A management apparatus communicates, via a communication network, with image forming apparatuses, and includes an information reception device that receives, from each of the image forming apparatuses via the network, prediction-use information useful for predicting a latent image carrier surface contamination level due to discharge products generated during charging, a contamination level prediction device that, on the basis of the received prediction-use information, predicts the latent image carrier surface contamination level of the image forming apparatus corresponding to the prediction-use information, and an instruction transmission device that, if the predicted latent image carrier surface contamination level exceeds a predetermined allowable range, transmits an execution instruction to execute a contamination reduction operation of reducing the contamination of the surface of the latent image carrier due to the discharge products to the image forming apparatus corresponding to the latent image carrie

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image carrier that carries a toner image having a length corresponding to at least a circumferential length of the carrier; an image density detector that detects a density of the image; a potential detector that detects, over at least the circumferential length, a surface potential of the carrier before toner adheres thereto; a first image forming device that adjusts the density with a first factor, and forms an image based on a first condition of the first factor; a second image forming device that adjusts the density with a second factor, and forms an image based on a second condition of the second factor; a first determining device that determines the first condition based on uneven density; and a second determining device that determines the second condition based on uneven density and a potential distribution of the surface potential.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier; a developer carrier configured to adhere toner onto the image carrier; an image density detector to detect a density of an image on the image carrier formed by the developer carrier adhering the toner on the image carrier; a rotary member to form an image pattern of which density is detected by the image density detector; and a rotational position detector to detect a rotational position of the rotary member. In the image forming apparatus, the image pattern is generated based on the rotational position detected by the rotational position detector and the rotary member that the rotational position detector detects the rotational position thereof is either the image carrier or the developer carrier.

Abstract: A management apparatus includes: a receiver that receives, via a network, status data based on control system data for stabilizing image forming from an image forming apparatus formed by image forming units; an inference unit that determines abnormality occurrence symptom, and calculates an index of the abnormality occurrence symptom, of the image forming units based on the received status data; a replacement part information acquisition unit that acquires information including a replacement date from a maintenance management system via the network when receiving a diagnosis request from a terminal of a maintenance person; a judgment table generator that calculates weight information of the symptom determination index value; a integrated diagnostic information generator for the image forming units based on the symptom determination index value and the weight information; and a integrated diagnostic information notification unit transmitting the integrated diagnostic value information to the terminal of the ma

Abstract: An extension piece portion is provided at a lower end portion of a screen plate so as to extend from the lower end portion, beyond a gas-passing through hole, to an oil pocket portion. An oil guide portion is provided at respective gas-hitting-side face portions of the screen plate and the extension piece portion so as to guide oil trapped at the above-described face portions into the oil pocket portion. Accordingly, it can be prevented that part of the oil in the middle of dropping down into the oil pocket portion from the screen plate is carried away by the gas flow passing through the gas-passing through hole, so that the efficiency of oil trap can be improved.

Abstract: A rotation measuring mechanism capable of measuring a rotation amount and a displacement amount of a rotary member in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis is provided. An exemplary combination of the rotation measuring mechanism includes a detection target rotating in synchrony with the rotary member and range sensors. Each time the detection target rotates once, each sensor outputs one cycle of a sine wave. The amplitude of the sine wave output from the sensor varies in accordance with the displacement of the detection target together with the rotary member in the direction perpendicular to the axis, thereby obtaining the rotation amount and the displacement amount of the rotary member.

Abstract: An image carrier deterioration degree evaluating apparatus for evaluating a degree of deterioration of an image carrier of an image forming apparatus, the image carrier deterioration degree evaluating apparatus including: an image deletion detecting unit that detects image deletion by obtaining latent image information written on the image carrier; an image deletion reducing unit that performs a process of reducing image deletion when the image deletion detecting unit detects image deletion, and an image carrier deterioration degree evaluating unit that drives the image deletion detecting unit and the image deletion reducing unit alternately one or more times each, and evaluates a degree of deterioration of the image carrier by using the latent image information obtained one or more times by the image deletion detecting unit.

Abstract: A movable member encoder is used to detect the position of a movable member, and a correction value calculator calculates a correction value corresponding to the amount of displacement of the movable member from a reference position and the integration of the amount of displacement. The correction value calculated by the correction value calculator is then used in correcting a voltage instruction value output from a feed motor controller to a feed motor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier; a developing device; a transfer device; and a fixing device. An electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier is rendered visible as a toner image by depositing the toner by the developing device, and the toner image is transferred by the transfer device and fixed onto a recording medium by the fixing device and output. The apparatus further includes a density fluctuation meter including a rotary position detector, a density fluctuation detector, and a density fluctuation storage; a density fluctuation extractor unit including a first extractor, a second extractor, and a density fluctuation storage; and a control table generator unit including a control table generator and a control table storage, so that based on the control table stored in the control table storage, the voltage to be applied to the developing device is controlled and the toner image is output.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a processor generates a first density variation data based on the surface potential of the pattern in relation to the rotational position of the image bearer and a second density variation data based on the first density variation data and the density of the toner pattern, stores the first density variation data and the second density variation data in a memory, makes a pattern in a predetermined timing, decides whether the first density variation data is changed or not, change the first density variation data based on the decision, controls the toner image forming condition of the toner image forming device based on the first density variation data and the second density variation data.

Abstract: A first feature quantity computing unit that computes a first feature quantity representing an average of a plurality of driving loads recorded by a driving load of a fixing section recording unit of an image forming device that records the driving load acquired by a driving load acquiring unit that acquires the driving load, a second feature quantity computing unit that computes a second feature quantity representing a deviation of the plurality of the driving loads, and a diagnosis unit that performs failure diagnosis including estimation of a cause of a failure of the fixing section using the first feature quantity and the second feature quantity are used.

Abstract: An area calculating unit calculates an image area of a toner image formed on a sheet recording member. A behavior detecting unit detects behavior of the recording member fed out of a conveying nip formed by a pair of conveying members. A thickness obtaining unit obtains thickness information of the recording member. An index calculating unit calculates an index value indicating windability of the recording member with respect to the conveying members based on the image area, the behavior, and the thickness information.

Abstract: The degradation of an electrical storage device 30 such as a capacitor can be determined by a system which is not an external device but is installed in hybrid construction equipment 1 in a state that the electrical storage device 30 such as a capacitor is mounted. To achieve this objective, it is at least checked that the working machine has stopped. Next, when it has been checked that the working machine has stopped, a degradation state determination time control mode is entered, a motor-generator is driven at the prescribed rotational speed and the prescribed torque, and the electrical storage device rises from the prescribed start charging voltage to the prescribed end charging voltage (Step 102).

Abstract: A management device for an image forming apparatus including a status data collection unit where multiple types of status data are received from the image forming apparatus and stored in a status database, a target data creation unit where multiple types of target data are created based upon the multiple types of status data, a first stage determination unit where the multiple types of target data are identified as being above or below reference values set for each type, and a second stage determination unit where a weight value set for each status data type is attached to the determination results of the multiple types of status data of the first stage determination unit and as a whole of the multiple types of status data determined with majority logic for abnormal occurrence prediction.

Abstract: A halftone correction device for an image forming apparatus including an intermediate transfer belt and performing halftone processes includes: a correction unit that performs halftone correction for each of the halftone processes using correction tables corresponding to the halftone processes; a pattern generation unit that generates on the belt halftone patterns based on at least one of the halftone processes; a measurement unit that measures image densities of the generated halftone patterns; an estimation unit that estimates, from the image densities of the halftone patterns, image densities of halftone patterns corresponding to the other ones of the halftone processes, by applying a relational expression as an estimation equation to patches of the halftone patterns having an equal image area ratio; and a table generation unit that generates the correction tables using target values and the image densities of the halftone patterns of the halftone processes.

Abstract: A data collecting unit receives a plurality of types of status data from an image forming apparatus and stores the status data in a status database. A data generating unit generates a plurality of types of target data for determining a maintenance sign, based on the status data. A first determining unit determines whether each of the status data exceeds a predetermined reference value. A second determining unit performs weighted majority decision based on a determination result from the first determining unit and a weight value set for each of the status data, and determines whether there is a maintenance sign taking all the status data into consideration.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a failure prediction unit, an image identification unit, a simulated-image generating unit, and an output unit. The failure prediction unit prepares an index value indicating a condition of the image forming apparatus based on multidimensional signal, obtained by monitoring the image forming apparatus, and compares the index value with a first threshold value to predict a failure mode of the image forming apparatus. The image identification unit identifies types of abnormal images based on the failure mode predicted by the failure prediction unit. An identified abnormal image is predicted to be appear a given time later. The simulated-image generating unit generates a simulated image of the identified abnormal image. The output unit outputs the identified abnormal image as the simulated image.