Abstract: Abnormality diagnosing method in which a highly reliable abnormality diagnosis of an image forming apparatus can be initiated immediately following the delivery of the image forming apparatus to a user.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recording an image using a transfer-type recording mechanism are such that a layer of an intermediate transfer element is removably formed on a surface of an intermediate transfer medium. The intermediate transfer element includes an ultraviolet stabilizer and a powder mixture. The intermediate transfer layer is capable of being dissolved and swelled by applying an ink liquid on the intermediate transfer medium and enables a viscosity of the ink liquid residing thereon to be increased. An image is produced on the intermediate transfer medium by supplying the ink liquid thereon. The image is then transferred to the recording medium, so that a high quality image is produced without any blurring, mixing or penetration of the ink liquid.

Abstract: Abnormality diagnosing method in which a highly reliable abnormality diagnosis of an image forming apparatus can be initiated immediately following the delivery of the image forming apparatus to a user. A plurality of sets of data of a plurality of types of information related to the condition of an image forming apparatus are acquired for a plurality of electronic devices of the same type comprising the image forming apparatus that serves as the subject for appraisal during operation tests following the manufacture of said image forming apparatus. A reference data group containing all of the plurality of sets of data acquired during the operation tests on the plurality of image forming apparatuses is employed as an initial reference data group for determining an index value calculation equation for calculating a condition appraisal index value.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recording an image using a transfer-type recording mechanism are such that a layer of an intermediate transfer element is removably formed on a surface of an intermediate transfer medium. The intermediate transfer element includes an ultraviolet stabilizer and a powder mixture. The intermediate transfer layer is capable of being dissolved and swelled by applying an ink liquid on the intermediate transfer medium and enables a viscosity of the ink liquid residing thereon to be increased. An image is produced on the intermediate transfer medium by supplying the ink liquid thereon. The image is then transferred to the recording medium, so that a high quality image is produced without any blurring, mixing or penetration of the ink liquid.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recording an image using a transfer-type recording mechanism are such that a layer of an intermediate transfer element is removably formed on a surface of an intermediate transfer medium. The intermediate transfer element includes an ultraviolet stabilizer and a powder mixture. The intermediate transfer layer is capable of being dissolved and swelled by applying an ink liquid on the intermediate transfer medium and enables a viscosity of the ink liquid residing thereon to be increased. An image is produced on the intermediate transfer medium by supplying the ink liquid thereon. The image is then transferred to the recording medium, so that a high quality image is produced without any blurring, mixing or penetration of the ink liquid.

Abstract: A method of forming an image includes causing a material, that increases a viscosity of liquid drops by contact with the liquid drops, to adhere to a transfer medium, causing a liquid drop to contact the material according to an image signal such that an image is formed with the liquid drop having been increased in viscosity by contact with the material, and transferring the image to a recording medium. The viscosity of the liquid drop when increased on the transfer medium by contact with the material is set such that the liquid drop adheres to the recording medium without being divided into a part remaining on the transfer medium and another part being transferred to the recording medium. By the above-described image forming method, good image transfer is realized and thereby an image having no blotting is obtained.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recording an image using a transfer-type recording mechanism are such that a layer of an intermediate transfer element is removably formed on a surface of an intermediate transfer medium. The intermediate transfer element includes an ultraviolet stabilizer and a powder mixture. The intermediate transfer layer is capable of being dissolved and swelled by applying an ink liquid on the intermediate transfer medium and enables a viscosity of the ink liquid residing thereon to be increased. An image is produced on the intermediate transfer medium by supplying the ink liquid thereon. The image is then transferred to the recording medium, so that a high quality image is produced without any blurring, mixing or penetration of the ink liquid.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recording an image using a transfer-type recording mechanism are such that a layer of an intermediate transfer element is removably formed on a surface of an intermediate transfer medium. The intermediate transfer element includes an ultraviolet stabilizer and a powder mixture. The intermediate transfer layer is capable of being dissolved and swelled by applying an ink liquid on the intermediate transfer medium and enables a viscosity of the ink liquid residing thereon to be increased. An image is produced on the intermediate transfer medium by supplying the ink liquid thereon. The image is then transferred to the recording medium, so that a high quality image is produced without any blurring, mixing or penetration of the ink liquid.

Abstract: A recording method and apparatus for controlling the condition of a material uniformly and steadily attached to a transfer medium. The recording method comprises the steps of: producing a material that is dissolved or swelled by liquid in advance and increases the viscosity of the liquid on the transfer medium; forming an image on the transfer medium by bringing the liquid into contact with the material; and transferring the image from the transfer medium to a recording medium. The recording method is characterized by the step of producing the material, in which the material is uniformly applied to a surface of the transfer medium.

Abstract: A recording apparatus can apply an appropriate amount of setting agent, which is in the form of powder, to an intermediate transfer member. The setting agent is provided to a plurality of depressions formed on an application roller and transferred onto the intermediate transfer member, or formed on the intermediate transfer member, which moves the setting agent to a position where a visible image is formed by applying the droplets of a liquid onto the setting agent. The setting agent increases the viscosity of droplets of the liquid for forming the visible image to be transferred to a recording medium. The visible image formed on the setting agent is transferred onto the recording medium.

Abstract: A method of forming an image includes causing a material, that increases a viscosity of liquid drops by contact with the liquid drops, to adhere to a transfer medium, causing a liquid drop to contact the material according to an image signal such that an image is formed with the liquid drop having been increased in viscosity by contact with the material, and transferring the image to a recording medium. The viscosity of the liquid drop when increased on the transfer medium by contact with the material is set such that the liquid drop adheres to the recording medium without being divided into a part remaining on the transfer medium and another part being transferred to the recording medium. By the above-described image forming method, good image transfer is realized and thereby an image having no blotting is obtained.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus separately corrects an intensity of each of color component images used for forming a multicolor image. The multicolor image is formed by superimposing a plurality of color component images on a printing paper. Each of the color component images is formed by one of color toners. Color patterns having a gradation are printed by using each of the color toners. A color sensor is provided at a position in which each of the color patterns is read, the color sensor being sensitive to a color of each of the color toners. The color sensor outputs output signals corresponding to each of the color patterns. The intensity of each of the color component images is corrected in accordance with the corresponding output signals of the color sensor. A mixture of colors in each of the color component images is detected, and the intensity of the corresponding color component image is corrected so as to maintain a desired color balance.

Abstract: A developing system of the type using a two-component developer and capable of reproducing image densities and halftone images stably with no regard to changes in ambient conditions and aging. At least two toner image patterns each having a different toner density are formed on a photoconductive element. The amounts of toner deposited on the individual patterns are sensed by a photosensor, while the supply of toner to a developer and the dynamic range of a latent image are controlled in combination in response to the output of the photosensor.

Abstract: A digital color copying machine preparing an image reproducing copy by applying color separation to an original image of an original and processing color component signals for each of the separated colors into recording information. With such a digital signal processing, the color copying machine of the present invention can increase the speed and efficiency of multiple copies and can provide a symmetric copy mode, a swap or inverting copy mode and a multiple image copy mode.

Abstract: A digital color copying machine preparing an image reproducing copy by applying color separation to an original image of an original and processing color component signals for each of the separated colors into recording information. With such a digital signal processing, the color copying machine of the present invention can increase the speed and efficiency of multiple copies and can provide a symmetric copy mode, a swap or inverting copy mode and a multiple image copy mode.

Abstract: A digital color copying machine preparing an image reproducing copy by applying color separation to an original image of an original and processing color component signals for each of the separated colors into recording information. With such a digital signal processing, the color copying machine of the present invention can increase the speed and efficiency of multiple copies and can provide a symmetric copy mode, a swap or inverting copy mode and a multiple image copy mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing speed setting unit for selectively setting the fixing speed in accordance with a desired mode of operation, a fixing unit for fixing a reproduced image of an original formed on a image forming medium at a variable fixing speed in accordance with the fixing speed setting unit, and a scanning unit provided with opto-electrical elements arranged in one line extended laterally to a predetermined scanning direction for optically receving an image of the original through the opto-electrical elements. The opto-electrical elements are carrying out a scanning operation in the predetermined scanning direction with varied scanning speed by changing a sweep spacing of an image data with averaging every N line of the image data in accordance with the operation mode with using every N-1 lines of the image data to reproduce the image of the original on the image forming medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the type producing a single composite color image on a paper which is transported by a belt by transferring image components of different colors to the paper in register with each other. The apparatus reduces with a simple construction the positional deviation of the image components which occurs in an intended direction of paper transport. Recording devices individually adapted for black, cyan, magenta and yellow are arranged side by side. Pattern images for measurement each being associated with a respective one of those colors are formed on the belt. A timing at which each of the pattern images arrives is sensed and counted. The count is compared with a reference value to calculate an amount of deviation. Write start timing signals each being associated with a particular color are generated which are individually variable on the basis of the deviation calculated.

Abstract: A method of processing information on color images wherein light rays produced by irradiating a color document are split into light rays of two different wavelengths. The two types of light rays obtained in this way are converted into more than four types of output signals which are developed in different colors in accordance with the volumes of light and/or the wavelengths.

Abstract: An image transfer system includes an image bearing member made of a photoconductive layer and an electrically conductive backing layer, a current detector connected between the backing layer and ground, a transfer corona unit for applying corona ions to a back side of a transfer sheet brought into contact with the exposed surface of the photoconductive layer on which a toner image is carried, a power supply for applying power to the corona unit, and a controller for controlling the power supply in response to a current level detected by the current detector. This system maintains the image transfer efficiency substantially at a constant level irrespective of the condition of transfer sheet used, and in particular to the water content of the sheet.