Abstract: A conveying device has a conveying belt configured to convey a sheet. A printing device is configured to print an image on the sheet that is conveyed by the conveying device in a conveying direction. A plurality of sensors is arranged to be spaced away from each other in a main scanning direction that is perpendicular to the conveying direction. The plurality of sensors is configured to emit light to different detection regions on an outer peripheral surface of the conveying belt and to receive light reflected by the conveying belt. A controller is configured to execute a skew-detection-mark printing process of controlling the printing device to print a skew detection mark at positions passing the respective detection regions so that the skew detection mark extends over an end of the sheet in the conveying direction and the outer peripheral surface of the conveying belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes: a formation unit configured to form marks for measurement of a positional deviation on a relatively moving object; an optical sensor having a detection region on the object, and configured to output a light receiving signal depending on existence of the marks within the detection region; a removing unit configured to perform a noise removing process, including a first noise removing process and a second noise removing process which use different removing methods for removing noises included in the light receiving signal so as to generate a noise removing result; and a measurement unit configured to measure a positional deviation amount of image formed by the formation unit, based on the noise removing result.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a print object moving device configured to move a print object in a moving direction relatively to the image forming device, a detector configured to detect images formed on the print object, and a control device configured to control the image forming device to form a first plurality of marks and a second plurality of marks on the print object. The first marks are along the moving direction and the second marks are along the moving direction and to be away from the first marks in a width direction that is perpendicular to the moving direction and the second marks are smaller in number than the first marks. The control device is further configured to control the detector to detect the first marks and the second marks on the print object for detecting deviation in image forming positions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes: a forming unit configured to form an image on a relatively moving object, the image including a mark; a first detection unit configured to detect the mark formed by the forming unit so as to obtain a first detection result; a correction unit configured to execute a correction process in which an image forming condition of the image forming unit is changed based on the first detection result; a setting unit configured to set the correction process not to be executed when a value related to a correction accuracy of the correction unit is lower than a reference value; and a control unit configured to control the correction process based on the setting by the setting unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes: a manual acquiring unit which is configured to receive a user input to acquire a correction value; an image forming unit which is configured to form an image while adjusting at least one of positional deviation and density deviation of the image based on the correction value; and a changing unit which is configured to execute at least one of a first changing process of changing a permissible range of a correction value for positional deviation according to a status of a factor causing a change in a position of an image, and a second changing process of changing a permissible range of a correction value for density deviation according to a status of a factor causing a change in a density of an image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a wireless tag reader is described. The wireless tag reader is configured to be located in a first position to read wireless tags associated with consumables when the consumables are inserted into, stationary in, or removed from the image forming apparatus, and in a second position to read wireless tags outside of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a forming portion, an adjusting portion and a control portion. The forming portion is configured to form an image, while the adjusting portion is configured to execute an adjustment for correcting a pre-selected adjustable image forming condition based on a measurement of an image formed by the forming portion. The control portion is configured to control execution of the adjustment achieved by the adjusting portion. Specifically, the control portion obtains a plurality of kinds of variation values, which individually indicate a different state variation capable of involving a state change in the pre-selected adjustable image forming condition. The control portion calculates a complex evaluation of the current state of the pre-selected adjustable image forming condition based on the plurality of kinds of variation values, and determines a starting time for execution of the adjustment based on the complex evaluation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first determination section which determines at least one of a position and a density of a mark; a correction section which corrects at least one of an image forming position and an image formation density of a formation section; a second determination section which determines whether a related element which affects the determination result by the first determination section satisfies a set condition; and a control section which controls the formation section to form a mark based on a mark element including at least one of: a width in the moving direction of the object; a width in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction; a density; a distance with an adjacent mark in a pattern; and a number of marks in the pattern, which is increased when the second determination section determine that the related element satisfies the set condition.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus body; an image carrier unit that includes: a support member; and an image carrier that is rotatably supported by the support member and directly or indirectly carries images; a positioning part that is provided at the apparatus body and positions the image carrier unit by being abutted against the support member; a plurality of rotating bodies which are provided in the apparatus body; and a control unit that controls driving states of the plurality of rotating bodies, wherein the control unit controls the rotating bodies so that a resultant force of forces applied to the image carrier unit from the plurality of rotating bodies is always applied in a normal direction where the support member is abutted against the positioning part, in a period where the plurality of rotating bodies moves to a normal rotation state from a stopped state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes an exposure section configured to form an electrostatic latent image, a developing section configured to supply developer to the electrostatic latent image to form a developer image, a first carrier configured to rotate while carrying thereon the developer image formed by the developing section, a second carrier configured to interpose a recording medium with the first carrier and configured to indirectly carry the developer image transferred from the first carrier to the recording medium, and a correction section configured to correct a formation position of the electrostatic latent image with using a correction value which is based on a use level of developer corresponding to at least one of an amount of developer and a coverage of developer in the developer image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a belt unit having a driving roller, a driven roller, a driving roller gear; and a belt which is looped around the driving roller and the driven roller; a belt driving gear which is engaged with the driving roller gear; a photosensitive drum which contacts the belt; and a positioning section which contacts a portion of the belt unit to position the belt unit with respect to a moving direction of the belt. The positioning section contacts the portion of the belt unit in a direction of receiving a force with which the photosensitive drum is pressing the belt unit. The belt driving gear is engaged with the driving roller gear such that a force pressing the belt unit from the belt driving gear via the driving roller gear presses the belt unit against the positioning section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of forming devices, a measuring device and a correcting device. In execution of a steady-deviation detection, the correcting device controls the forming devices to form a first pattern and detects a steady deviation amount of the image forming position on a basis of a measurement result of the first pattern. In execution of a varying-deviation detection, the correcting device controls at least one of the forming devices to form a second pattern and detects a varying deviation amount of the image forming position having a cycle on a basis of a measurement result of the second pattern. The correcting device determines necessity of executing the other one of the steady-deviation detection and the varying-deviation detection on the basis of the measurement result in the one of the steady-deviation detection and the varying-deviation detection.

Abstract: An image formation device is provided with an endless belt wound around a driving roller and a driven roller, a driving helical gear integrally provided at an axial end of the driving roller and rotating integrally with the driving roller. The driving helical gear applies a rotational force and an axial force to the driving roller. A plurality of guiding ribs are provided to an inner surface of the endless belt, while a regulating portion is provided at least one of the driving roller and the driven roller. The regulating portion has a regulation surface. When the endless belt moves obliquely in a direction in which the driving helical gear applies the axial force to the driving roller, side surfaces of the guiding ribs contact the regulating surface and prevent the oblique movement of the endless belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a forming unit configured to form a mark on a carrier; a light emitting unit configured to emit light toward a surface of the carrier; a light receiving unit configured to receive reflected light from the surface of the carrier and from the mark and configured to output a light reception signal corresponding to a amount of the received reflected light; a detecting unit configured to detect a position of the mark on the carrier on a basis of a signal wave contained in the light reception signal; and a modification unit configured to modify the detected position of the mark by a modification amount corresponding to a difference in a waveform of the signal wave corresponding to the mark so as to reduce an error between the detected position and an actual position.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes an image bearing member, a data providing unit, an image-forming unit, a detecting unit, a first calculating unit, a determining unit, and a second calculating unit. The image bearing member has a surface moving at a surface speed. The data providing unit provides pattern data indicative of a target test pattern to be formed on a target position of the surface in response to a test instruction. The image-forming unit forms an actual test pattern on an actual position of the surface in accordance with the pattern data provided from the data providing unit, and configure to form an image in response to an image-forming instruction. The detecting unit detects the actual position. The first calculating unit calculates a deviation of the actual position from the target position. The determining unit performs a first determination of whether the surface speed when the data providing unit receives the test instruction is stable or unstable.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sensor having a light emitting section for irradiating a detection area and a light receiving section for outputting a light sensitive signal indicative of the amount of the light received from the detection area. A sensor adjustment section adjusts the sensitivity of the sensor by varying the set value of an adjustable characteristic value associated with the sensitivity, based on explorative measurement of the adjustable characteristic value corresponding to a predetermined reference level of the light sensitive signal. If an estimation section estimates that the amount of a leakage current generated on the light receiving section is larger than a reference amount, a mitigation section mitigates the influence of the leakage current on the explorative measurement, by at least one of adjustment of the light receiving section for reduction of the leakage current and modification of the predetermined reference level.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a control device obtains an amount of toner in a first area and an amount of toner in a second area. The first area is defined on a conveying member that is in contact with a photosensitive member. The transfer of toner is assured in the first area of the conveying member, but is not assured in the second area. The control device determines a toner condition based on a difference in the amount of toner between the first area and the second area. When the difference in the amount of toner is larger, the control device determines that the toner is in a deteriorated condition. When the difference in the amount of toner is smaller, the control device determines that the toner is not in the deteriorated condition.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which may include a forming unit configured to form a mark for image adjustment, a conveyor member configured to convey the mark formed by the forming unit and a detecting unit configured to detect the mark conveyed by the conveyor member. Further, the image forming apparatus may include a removing unit configured to remove the mark conveyed by the conveyor member, from the conveyor member; and a control device. According to aspects of the disclosure, after the forming unit has formed a mark for image adjustment, the control device may be configured to determine whether the mark has been removed from the conveyor member and based on the determination of whether the mark has been removed from the conveyor member, begin printing of print data even when the mark has not been completely removed from the conveyor member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a moving body which moves in a moving direction; a plurality of formation units which are provided to oppose the moving body, respectively, and align in an alignment direction, and which sequentially form images directly on the moving body or an image forming medium transported on the moving body; a detection section which outputs a detection signal corresponding to a position of a mark which is formed directly on the moving body or the image forming medium by each of the formation units; and a measurement section which specifies a positional relationship between marks formed by at least two formation units based on the detection signal from the detection section, and which measures a deviation angle between the moving direction of the moving body and the alignment direction of the formation units based on the specified positional relationship.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes an image-forming unit, a sensor, a calculating unit, and an extracting unit. The image-forming unit forms a plurality of marks on an object. The sensor detects a light reflected on the object, the reflected light including a plurality of waveforms. The calculating unit calculates a first value of each waveform in a predetermined evaluation index, a second value of a basic waveform corresponding to an ideal mark in the predetermined evaluation index, and a matching rate of each waveform with the basic waveform based on both each first value and the second value. The extracting unit extracts, from the plurality of waveforms, waveforms whose matching rates satisfy a predetermined condition.