Abstract: A printer includes laser beam detecting sensors for detecting a laser beams at two positions in the main scanning direction. Write clock generating circuits measure a number of counts of a predetermined clock during a period since one of the laser beam detecting sensors detects each of the beams until another sensor detects the beam. A write clock frequency adjusting circuit takes the number of counts for one laser beam as a reference value and adjusts write clock frequencies of other laser beams so as to coincide with the reference 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 image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of components that form image forming means and should be mounted or dismounted in a preselected order. Following one of the components with respect to the preselected order cannot be dismounted from the apparatus until preceding one of the same has been dismounted. The components are mounted to the apparatus in the reverse order. The components unremovable from the apparatus and positioned above the removable components in a preselected dismounting direction are retractable.

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 image forming device is provides, which comprises a body to be scanned that moves in a sub-scanning direction; a writing means for scanning the body in a main scanning direction with a light beam according to image information to form a reference image on the body and repeating the scanning plural times to form plural images; and a second body on which the plural images are overlaid to form a color image. The writing means starts writing the reference image at a start time ty1 when a main scanning synchronizing signal is firstly generated by the writing means after a time tx1 when a predetermined time has lapsed from detection of an image forming start signal of the sub-scanning direction for the reference image. A start time for an image other than the reference image is changed depending on the start time of the reference image.

Abstract: A two-station type color image forming apparatus of the present invention includes intermediate members configured to support only a developing device or the developing device and image forming means other than an image carrier. The intermediate members are selectively locked to or unlocked from the body of the image forming apparatus. Members constituting the image forming means each can be simply replaced alone in accordance with its life.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus has photo conductor drums, and upstream developing rollers and downstream developing rollers that are brought into contact with respective photo conductor drums based on a changeover. The developing rollers develop latent images into visual images. A time required to change over a developing unit from one developing unit to the other developing unit is set as follows. A changeover time T2 from the downstream developing rollers to the upstream developing rollers respectively is set shorter than a changeover time T1 from the upstream developing rollers to the downstream developing rollers.

Abstract: A powder composition containing a powder of a modified polymer having a recurring unit containing at least one carboxyl group, the carboxyl groups of part of the recurring units being in the form of a salt with an aliphatic amine having at least 6 carbon atoms, and a powder of a surfactant. The powder composition is used for forming an image on a printing medium, in which method the composition is applied over a surface of a transfer medium to form a layer of the powder. An image of a liquid ink capable of dissolving or swelling the powder is then formed on the layer so that the viscosity of the liquid ink increases when contacted with the powder. The image on the transfer medium is contacted with the printing medium so that the image is transferred to the printing medium.

Abstract: An ink-jet image recording apparatus including a sheet feed mechanism feeding a recording sheet along a sheet feed path; an ink-jet recording head provided in the sheet feet path so as to record an image on the recording sheet transported through the sheet feed path, by projecting ink droplets to the recording sheet; and an ink viscosity adjusting mechanism provided in the sheet feet path and providing a substance layer on the recording sheet at an upstream side of the recording head, such that the recording head records the image through the substance layer. The ink viscosity adjusting mechanism further removes the substance layer from the recording sheet at a downstream side of the recording head after the image is recorded.

Abstract: An image forming system and method form temporarily attached color particles corresponding to an image on an intermediate image transfer device. The color particles are temporarily attached to the intermediate image transfer device by supplying energy, such as optical or thermal energy, corresponding to image signals, where the source of energy is located on the reverse side of the intermediate image transfer device from the side on which the particles are temporarily attached. Finally, an adhesion device transfers the color particles corresponding to the image from the intermediate image transfer device to a printing sheet and fuses the image into the printing sheet.

Abstract: An optical box for positioning and fixing respective optical components is provided and functions as a housing thereof. A support stand for positioning and mounting the respective optical components, respectively, is formed separately from the optical box, and is loaded in the optical box.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of components that form image forming means and should be mounted or dismounted in a preselected order. Following one of the components with respect to the preselected order cannot be dismounted from the apparatus until preceding one of the same has been dismounted. The components are mounted to the apparatus in the reverse order. The components unremovable from the apparatus and positioned above the removable components in a preselected dismounting direction are retractable.

Abstract: In a multicolor image forming apparatus, a first and a second image forming unit are arranged along an intermediate transfer belt and spaced from each other by a predetermined distance. The first image forming unit includes a single photoconductive drum, a developing device for developing a latent image formed on the drum with toner of first color, and a developing device for developing it with toner of second color. The second image forming unit includes a single photoconductive drum, a developing device for developing a latent image formed on the drum with toner of third color, and a developing device for developing it with black toner.

Abstract: A method of recording an image on a recording paper by ink-droplets includes the step of covering a surface of the recording paper by a substance that increases, when contacted with an ink droplet, the viscosity of the ink by causes a swelling or melting, and apply an ink droplet for forming an ink image. After the ink image is formed on the recording paper, the substance is removed from the surface of the recording paper. Further, a method of forming a viscous image on an intermediate medium and transferring the viscous image to a recording sheet is also disclosed.

Abstract: In a belt apparatus used for image formation structured such that processing unit used for image formation are placed around a belt extended between at least two rollers and at least one of the processing unit acts on a roller so as to impart a rotational load thereto, it is possible to avoid a reduction in the image quality of a transfer image on the belt caused by the roller that supports the belt receiving variations in the load due to the movement towards or away from the belt of a cleaning blade. A drive source is connected to the roller to which directly receiving the load variation making this roller the drive roller for the belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided which can selectively drive a plurality of developing units by a simple structure accommodated in a small space. Two image stations are arranged along a direction of movement of an intermediate transfer belt. Each of the image stations is provided with a plurality of developing units arranged around a photosensitive drum. A developing unit driving system drives the plurality of developing units. A switching mechanism switches a transmission path of a power generated by the developing unit driving system so that the power is selectively transmitted to one of the developing units.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units each including a single image carrier, a single writing device and a plurality of developing means each including a single developing roller for developing a latent image formed on the image carrier by the writing device with a developer to thereby produce a toner image. The image forming units are spaced by a preselected distance along the same surface of an intermediate image transfer belt to which the toner image is to be transferred from the image carrier. A selecting device causes the developing means to selectively perform development. A single bias power source applies a bias voltage for development to the developing means. A bias switching device applies the bias voltage output from the bias power source to one of the developing means selected by the selecting device according to the outputs of sensors respectively included in the image forming units.

Abstract: A method of recording an image on a recording paper by ink-droplets includes the step of covering a surface of the recording paper by a substance that increases, when contacted with an ink droplet, the viscosity of the ink by causes a swelling or melting, and apply an ink droplet for forming an ink image. After the ink image is formed on the recording paper, the substance is removed from the surface of the recording paper. Further, a method of forming a viscous image on an intermediate medium and transferring the viscous image to a recording sheet is also disclosed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from an image carrier to a sheet-like recording medium by way of an intermediate transfer body is disclosed. A position on the intermediate transfer body where image formation should start is determined in accordance with the frequency of use of each of a plurality of regions defined on the intermediate transfer body. Specifically, one of the regions minimizing the sum of the frequencies of use of the regions is selected as the above position. The intermediate transfer body can therefore be evenly used over its entire circumference. While the intermediate transfer body is in a stand-by state, it is intermittently driven so as to be free from deformation.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus including first and second image formation sections each of which can form an image with at least two colors. A mark is provided on the intermediate transfer belt. This mark indicates a particular position on the belt. A belt mark sensor detects the mark on the belt. A timing instruction signal with which a timing of image formation is instructed to the first and second image formation sections is initialized each time the mark on the belt is detected.