Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an extraction unit configured to extract an image for position detection from job image data; a first image forming unit configured to form the image for position detection on a recording medium; a second image forming unit disposed on a downstream in a feeding direction of the recording medium relative to the first image forming unit; a first detection unit configured to detect the image for position detection formed by the first image forming unit; and a determining unit configured to determine a correction amount of an image forming position of the second image forming unit based on a position of the image for position detection that is detected by the detection unit and a position of the image for position detection in the image data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an extraction unit configured to extract an image for position detection from job image data; a first image forming unit configured to form the image for position detection on a recording medium; a second image forming unit disposed on a downstream in a feeding direction of the recording medium relative to the first image forming unit; a first detection unit configured to detect the image for position detection formed by the first image forming unit; and a determining unit configured to determine a correction amount of an image forming position of the second image forming unit based on a position of the image for position detection that is detected by the detection unit and a position of the image for position detection in the image data.

Abstract: An ejection device includes: ejection portions that eject liquids; supply portions that supply the liquids to the ejection portions respectively; a common pressure applying mechanism that applies pressure onto the liquids at the supply portions; and a pressure difference generating mechanism that generates a relative pressure difference between the ejection portions for the liquids to be supplied from the supply portions to the ejection portions.

Abstract: An ejection device includes: ejection portions that eject liquids; supply portions that supply the liquids to the ejection portions respectively; a common pressure applying mechanism that applies pressure onto the liquids at the supply portions; and a pressure difference generating mechanism that generates a relative pressure difference between the ejection portions for the liquids to be supplied from the supply portions to the ejection portions.

Abstract: Provided is a wiping device including: an impregnated member that is impregnated with a liquid, has a contact surface having lengths which are longer than that of a nozzle-formed surface in a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction of the nozzle-formed surface of an ejecting head that ejects an ejection liquid, and causes the contact surface to come into contact with the nozzle-formed surface such that the nozzle-formed surface is wetted; and a wiping member that wipes the nozzle-formed surface wetted by the impregnated member.

Abstract: Provided is a wiping device including: an impregnated member that is impregnated with a liquid, has a contact surface having lengths which are longer than that of a nozzle-formed surface in a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction of the nozzle-formed surface of an ejecting head that ejects an ejection liquid, and causes the contact surface to come into contact with the nozzle-formed surface such that the nozzle-formed surface is wetted; and a wiping member that wipes the nozzle-formed surface wetted by the impregnated member.

Abstract: A liquid supply controller includes a liquid circulation controller that includes supply and recovery units of a liquid droplet discharge unit, and that circulates liquid according to a differential pressure between the supply unit and the recovery unit, a back pressure setting unit that sets a back pressure that is a discharge pressure based on supply and recovery pressures set by the liquid circulation controller, a circulation amount obtaining unit that obtains a flow rate of the liquid circulated; a judging unit that judges whether or not the obtained flow rate is a proper value, and a differential pressure adjusting unit that adjusts the differential pressure while maintaining the back pressure within an allowable range when it is judged that the flow rate is not the proper value.

Abstract: A liquid supply mechanism includes: a supply pathway that supplies liquid to a plurality of ejection sections each ejecting the liquid from nozzles; a branching path that is branched off from the supply pathway and through which the liquid circulates; a buffer unit that is disposed in the branching path and that lessens pressure fluctuations occurred in the liquid in the branching path; and a changing unit that changes a pathway to the buffer unit so that the changing unit shuts the pathway to the buffer unit during maintenance for discharging the liquid from the nozzles of the ejection sections. The liquid discharged during the maintenance is greater in quantity than the liquid discharged during normal operation.

Abstract: A liquid supply mechanism includes: a supply pathway that supplies liquid to a plurality of ejection sections each ejecting the liquid from nozzles; a branching path that is branched off from the supply pathway and through which the liquid circulates; a buffer unit that is disposed in the branching path and that lessens pressure fluctuations occurred in the liquid in the branching path; and a changing unit that changes a pathway to the buffer unit so that the changing unit shuts the pathway to the buffer unit during maintenance for discharging the liquid from the nozzles of the ejection sections. The liquid discharged during the maintenance is greater in quantity than the liquid discharged during normal operation.

Abstract: A liquid supply controller includes a liquid circulation controller that includes supply and recovery units of a liquid droplet discharge unit, and that circulates liquid according to a differential pressure between the supply unit and the recovery unit, a back pressure setting unit that sets a back pressure that is a discharge pressure based on supply and recovery pressures set by the liquid circulation controller, a circulation amount obtaining unit that obtains a flow rate of the liquid circulated; a judging unit that judges whether or not the obtained flow rate is a proper value, and a differential pressure adjusting unit that adjusts the differential pressure while maintaining the back pressure within an allowable range when it is judged that the flow rate is not the proper value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a supply unit that supplies liquid recipient particles to receive liquid; a conveyance unit that conveys the liquid recipient particles supplied by the supply unit; a discharge unit that discharges liquid droplets to the liquid recipient particles conveyed by the conveyance unit; a humidity reducing unit that reduces relative humidity inside or around the supply unit; and a humidity increasing unit, on a downstream side of the supply unit, that increases relative humidity around at least one of the liquid recipient particles conveyed by the conveyance unit and the discharge unit.

Abstract: An image forming method including: forming a liquid receiving particle layer on an intermediate transfer member using a liquid receiving particle that is capable of receiving a recording liquid including a recording material; forming an image of the recording material on a surface of the liquid receiving particle layer by applying a liquid droplet of the recording liquid to the liquid receiving particle layer on the basis of image data and holding the recording material on the surface of the liquid receiving particle layer on the intermediate transfer member; applying a transfer auxiliary liquid in at least a portion of a formation range of the image; and transferring the liquid receiving particle layer to which the recording liquid is applied to a transfer receiving member from the intermediate transfer member, such that the image is interposed between the transfer receiving member and the liquid receiving particle layer is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid droplet ejecting device including a liquid droplet ejecting head; a liquid storage unit that stores a liquid; a first flow path and a second flow path that connect the liquid droplet ejecting head and the liquid storage unit, the second flow path connecting with the first flow path in the liquid droplet ejecting head; a bypass flow path connected with the first flow path and the second flow path; a liquid feed unit provided between the liquid storage unit and a connecting portion of the bypass flow path and the first flow path, and circulating the liquid in the liquid droplet ejecting head and the liquid storage unit, and a pressure control unit provided at the bypass flow path, and controlling pressure of the liquid flowing through the bypass flow path from the first flow path side to the second flow path side.

Abstract: A droplet discharge apparatus includes a droplet discharge head which discharges droplets; a liquid retention unit which is configured such that a liquid surface of a liquid retained in the liquid retention unit is located below the droplet discharge head, the liquid retention unit including an atmosphere open port; a liquid channel which couples the droplet discharge head and the liquid retention unit; a liquid tank in which the liquid is retained, the liquid tank being sealed; a liquid inflow channel which couples the liquid retention unit and the liquid tank, an inflow port of the liquid inflow channel in the liquid retention unit being located below the atmosphere open port; a liquid sending channel which couples the liquid tank and the droplet discharge head; and a pump which sending the liquid in the liquid tank to the droplet discharge head.

Abstract: A droplet discharge apparatus includes a droplet discharge head which discharges droplets; a liquid retention unit which is configured such that a liquid surface of a liquid retained in the liquid retention unit is located below the droplet discharge head, the liquid retention unit including an atmosphere open port; a liquid channel which couples the droplet discharge head and the liquid retention unit; a liquid tank in which the liquid is retained, the liquid tank being sealed; a liquid inflow channel which couples the liquid retention unit and the liquid tank, an inflow port of the liquid inflow channel in the liquid retention unit being located below the atmosphere open port; a liquid sending channel which couples the liquid tank and the droplet discharge head; and a pump which sending the liquid in the liquid tank to the droplet discharge head.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid droplet ejecting device including a liquid droplet ejecting head; a liquid storage unit that stores a liquid; a first flow path and a second flow path that connect the liquid droplet ejecting head and the liquid storage unit, the second flow path connecting with the first flow path in the liquid droplet ejecting head; a bypass flow path connected with the first flow path and the second flow path; a liquid feed unit provided between the liquid storage unit and a connecting portion of the bypass flow path and the first flow path, and circulating the liquid in the liquid droplet ejecting head and the liquid storage unit, and a pressure control unit provided at the bypass flow path, and controlling pressure of the liquid flowing through the bypass flow path from the first flow path side to the second flow path side.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a supply unit that supplies liquid recipient particles to receive liquid; a conveyance unit that conveys the liquid recipient particles supplied by the supply unit; a discharge unit that discharges liquid droplets to the liquid recipient particles conveyed by the conveyance unit; a humidity reducing unit that reduces relative humidity inside or around the supply unit; and a humidity increasing unit, on a downstream side of the supply unit, that increases relative humidity around at least one of the liquid recipient particles conveyed by the conveyance unit and the discharge unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid droplet ejecting device including a liquid droplet ejecting head; a liquid storage unit that stores a liquid; a first flow path and a second flow path that connect the liquid droplet ejecting head and the liquid storage unit, the second flow path connecting with the first flow path in the liquid droplet ejecting head; a bypass flow path connected with the first flow path and the second flow path; a liquid feed unit provided between the liquid storage unit and a connecting portion of the bypass flow path and the first flow path, and circulating the liquid in the liquid droplet ejecting head and the liquid storage unit, and a pressure control unit provided at the bypass flow path, and controlling pressure of the liquid flowing through the bypass flow path from the first flow path side to the second flow path side.

Abstract: A droplet discharge apparatus includes a droplet discharge head which discharges droplets; a liquid retention unit which is configured such that a liquid surface of a liquid retained in the liquid retention unit is located below the droplet discharge head, the liquid retention unit including an atmosphere open port; a liquid channel which couples the droplet discharge head and the liquid retention unit; a liquid tank in which the liquid is retained, the liquid tank being sealed; a liquid inflow channel which couples the liquid retention unit and the liquid tank, an inflow port of the liquid inflow channel in the liquid retention unit being located below the atmosphere open port; a liquid sending channel which couples the liquid tank and the droplet discharge head; and a pump which sending the liquid in the liquid tank to the droplet discharge head.

Abstract: An image forming method including: forming a liquid receiving particle layer on an intermediate transfer member using a liquid receiving particle that is capable of receiving a recording liquid including a recording material; forming an image of the recording material on a surface of the liquid receiving particle layer by applying a liquid droplet of the recording liquid to the liquid receiving particle layer on the basis of image data and holding the recording material on the surface of the liquid receiving particle layer on the intermediate transfer member; applying a transfer auxiliary liquid in at least a portion of a formation range of the image; and transferring the liquid receiving particle layer to which the recording liquid is applied to a transfer receiving member from the intermediate transfer member, such that the image is interposed between the transfer receiving member and the liquid receiving particle layer is provided.