Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units, an exposure device, and circuitry. Each image forming unit includes an image bearer, a charger, and a developer bearer. The circuitry acquires an image-density cycle fluctuation in a visible image for each image forming unit and performs image-density fluctuation-reduction control to cyclically change image forming conditions to reduce the image-density cycle fluctuation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a density deviation detector, and processing circuitry. The circuitry performs a density deviation adjustment mode to: cause the image forming device to form a first image pattern having a uniform image density in the width direction on a surface of an image bearer; cause the detector to detect a first image density deviation in the width direction in the first pattern; adjust the first deviation based on a detection result of the first pattern; cause the image forming device to form a second image pattern on a surface of the image bearer after adjustment of the first deviation; cause the detector to detect a second image density deviation in the width direction in the second pattern; and correct a light intensity sensitivity in adjusting the second deviation, based on a detection result of the second pattern.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention is a method for manufacturing an electronic component, the method including: a first step of applying a metal paste containing metal particles onto a polymer compact in a prescribed pattern to form a metal paste layer; a second step of sintering the metal particles to form metal wiring; a third step of applying a solder paste containing solder particles and a resin component onto the metal wiring to form a solder paste layer; a fourth step of disposing an electronic element on the solder paste layer; and a fifth step of heating the solder paste layer so as to form a solder layer bonding the metal wiring and the electronic element, and so as to form a resin layer covering at least a portion of the solder layer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a density deviation detector, and processing circuitry. The circuitry performs a density deviation adjustment mode to: cause the image forming device to form a first image pattern having a uniform image density in the width direction on a surface of an image bearer; cause the detector to detect a first image density deviation in the width direction in the first pattern; adjust the first deviation based on a detection result of the first pattern; cause the image forming device to form a second image pattern on a surface of the image bearer after adjustment of the first deviation; cause the detector to detect a second image density deviation in the width direction in the second pattern; and correct a light intensity sensitivity in adjusting the second deviation, based on a detection result of the second pattern.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image bearer to bear a latent image, a potential sensor having a vibrator driven by a drive frequency to detect a surface potential of the latent image bearer, a developer bearer to bear developer that develops the latent image on the latent image bearer, and a power supply to apply a superimposed voltage obtained by superimposing an alternating voltage on a direct current voltage on the developer bearer. The frequency of the alternating voltage is not a multiple of the drive frequency and is a value obtained by adding a predetermined value to a multiple of the driving frequency.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, an image density detector, and a processor. The processor controls the image forming device to form a first test toner image, and controls the image density detector to detect an image density at the plurality of positions of the first test toner image. The processor adjusts an image forming condition so that the image density detected at each of the plurality of positions becomes a target image density, controls the image forming device to form a second test toner image based on the adjusted image forming condition, controls the image density detector to detect an image density at the plurality of positions of the second test toner image, determines whether a streak exists in the second test toner image based on the detected image densities, and executes a countermeasure to prevent an occurrence of the streak.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image bearer to bear a latent image, a potential sensor having a vibrator driven by a drive frequency to detect a surface potential of the latent image bearer, a developer bearer to bear developer that develops the latent image on the latent image bearer, and a power supply to apply a superimposed voltage obtained by superimposing an alternating voltage on a direct current voltage on the developer bearer. The frequency of the alternating voltage is not a multiple of the drive frequency and is a value obtained by adding a predetermined value to a multiple of the driving frequency.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a toner image forming device, a plurality of image density detectors, and a controller. The plurality of image density detectors are disposed at predetermined intervals opposite the image bearer in a width direction of the image bearer. The controller causes the toner image forming device to form toner image patterns having an identical density at the plurality of positions on the image bearer and the plurality of image density detectors detects a density of the toner image patterns. Based on the detected density of the toner image patterns, the controller identifies multiple cyclic fluctuations of the density of the toner image patterns and adjusts an image forming condition based on the multiple cyclic fluctuations of the density of the toner image patterns to decrease an amplitude caused by the multiple cyclic fluctuations of the density of the toner image patterns.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, an image density detector, and a processor. The processor controls the image forming device to form a first test toner image, and controls the image density detector to detect an image density at the plurality of positions of the first test toner image. The processor adjusts an image forming condition so that the image density detected at each of the plurality of positions becomes a target image density, controls the image forming device to form a second test toner image based on the adjusted image forming condition, controls the image density detector to detect an image density at the plurality of positions of the second test toner image, determines whether a streak exists in the second test toner image based on the detected image densities, and executes a countermeasure to prevent an occurrence of the streak.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a toner image forming device, a plurality of image density detectors, and a controller. The plurality of image density detectors are disposed at predetermined intervals opposite the image bearer in a width direction of the image bearer. The controller causes the toner image forming device to form toner image patterns having an identical density at the plurality of positions on the image bearer and the plurality of image density detectors detects a density of the toner image patterns. Based on the detected density of the toner image patterns, the controller identifies multiple cyclic fluctuations of the density of the toner image patterns and adjusts an image forming condition based on the multiple cyclic fluctuations of the density of the toner image patterns to decrease an amplitude caused by the multiple cyclic fluctuations of the density of the toner image patterns.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing belt of a multi-layer structure, a toner image forming device, a nip forming device, a transfer power source, an environment-condition detector, and a controller. The toner image forming device forms a toner image on a surface of the image bearing belt. The transfer power source outputs a transfer bias including a superimposed voltage, in which a direct current voltage is superimposed on an alternating current voltage to transfer the toner image from the image bearing belt onto a recording medium at a transfer nip. The environment-condition detector detects an environment condition. The controller controls the transfer bias output from the transfer power source to perform a bias switching process to switch the transfer bias between a transfer bias including the superimposed voltage and a transfer bias including a direct current voltage based on a detected result of the environment-condition detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image bearer; a charger; an exposure device; a developing device; a potential detector to detect a surface potential at a detection position between an exposure position and a development position on the latent image bearer in a direction of rotation of the latent image bearer; and a potential controller to determine an image forming condition. The potential controller includes a potential calculator to calculate an exposed area potential based on a detected potential smaller in charging polarity than a potential threshold, out of the detected surface potential, and a threshold determiner to set the potential threshold between the exposed area potential and an unexposed area potential of the latent image bearer based on at least one of a change in the unexposed area potential, a change with time of the latent image bearer, and a change in an ambient condition.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a developing device to develop with developer a latent image formed on the image bearer, a developer container to contain developer, a temporary reservoir to temporarily store developer supplied from the developer container and having an outlet to discharge the temporarily stored developer to the developing device, a first conveyance device to transport developer from the developer container to the temporary reservoir, a second conveyance device to transport developer from the temporary reservoir to the developing device, a first developer amount detector to detect an amount of developer in the temporary reservoir, and a controller to control driving of the first conveyance device based on a detection result generated by the first developer amount detector and data relating to driving of the second conveyance device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an endless belt-shaped image bearer that is rotatably supported and entrained around rollers; a transfer member positioned to contact an outer surface of the image bearer; a transfer device to transfer a toner image conveyed while being carried on the outer surface of the image bearer onto a transfer medium conveyed between the image bearer and the transfer member; a toner image sensor to detect the toner image transferred onto the transfer medium; and a conveyance speed controller to fine-tune a conveyance speed of the transfer medium. Based on fine-tuning data of the conveyance speed controller, a detection result of the toner image sensor is corrected and image forming conditions are corrected based on the corrected detection result.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing belt of a multi-layer structure, a toner image forming device, a nip forming device a transfer power source, an environment-condition detector, and a controller. The toner image forming device forms a toner image on a surface of the image bearing belt. The transfer power source outputs a transfer bias including a superimposed voltage, in which a direct current voltage is superimposed on an alternating current voltage to transfer the toner image from the image bearing belt onto a recording medium at a transfer nip. The environment-condition detector detects an environment condition. The controller controls the transfer bias output from the transfer power source to perform a bias switching process to switch the transfer bias between a transfer bias including the superimposed voltage and a transfer bias including a direct current voltage based on a detected result of the environment-condition detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image bearer; a charger; an exposure device; a developing device; a potential detector to detect a surface potential at a detection position between an exposure position and a development position on the latent image bearer in a direction of rotation of the latent image bearer; and a potential controller to determine an image forming condition. The potential controller includes a potential calculator to calculate an exposed area potential based on a detected potential smaller in charging polarity than a potential threshold, out of the detected surface potential, and a threshold determiner to set the potential threshold between the exposed area potential and an unexposed area potential of the latent image bearer based on at least one of a change in the unexposed area potential, a change with time of the latent image bearer, and a change in an ambient condition.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an endless belt-shaped image bearer that is rotatably supported and entrained around rollers; a transfer member positioned to contact an outer surface of the image bearer; a transfer device to transfer a toner image conveyed while being carried on the outer surface of the image bearer onto a transfer medium conveyed between the image bearer and the transfer member; a toner image sensor to detect the toner image transferred onto the transfer medium; and a conveyance speed controller to fine-tune a conveyance speed of the transfer medium. Based on fine-tuning data of the conveyance speed controller, a detection result of the toner image sensor is corrected and image forming conditions are corrected based on the corrected detection result.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a toner image forming unit, a detector, and a controller to adjust an image forming condition based on a detection result by the detector. During a non-printing period, multiple toner patterns are formed in an end and center portions of the image bearer in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the image bearer moves, and a smaller number of toner patterns selected from the multiple toner patterns are formed in a non-image area, in the end portion of the image bearer, during a printing period. The controller determines a target density X of the smaller number of toner patterns by X=H (a mean detected density of the multiple toner patterns formed in the end portion)×J (a predetermined reference value)/I (a mean detected density of the multiple toner patterns formed in the end portion and in the center portion).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a image forming unit; an image bearing member having a surface to bear a toner image and a test pattern; the surface having a first time-surface positioned identical to the test pattern, an integer multiple of revolutions upstream or downstream from the test pattern in a surface movement direction, and a second time-surface positioned different from the test pattern, shorter than one revolution upstream or downstream from the test pattern; a reflection light detector to detect the amount of light reflected from the test pattern and the first and second time-surfaces of the image bearing member; and a controller to control the image forming unit based on the detection result and determine whether to execute a first-surface control to detect at least the first time-surface or a second-surface control to detect only the second time-surface based on use condition of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller configured to control a toner-image forming device to form a toner patch; and a detector configured to detect the toner patch on the image carrier. During a non-printing period, the controller causes a toner-image forming device to form toner patches, causes the detector to detect densities of the toner patches, and adjusts an image-forming condition of the toner-image forming device based on detected densities. During a printing period, the controller causes the toner-image forming device to form an output image in an image area and form fewer toner patches in a non-image area, causes the detector to detect densities of the fewer toner patches, and adjusts the image-forming condition of the toner-image forming device based on detected densities. The fewer toner patches are selected from and fewer than the plurality of toner patches formed during the non-printing period.