Abstract: An image forming apparatus is operable in a normal image forming mode and an uneven lubrication detecting mode, and includes: an image carrier; a lubricant applying device that applies lubricant to the image carrier; and a processor that detects uneven lubrication on a surface of the image carrier in the uneven lubrication detecting mode in which an amount of the lubricant applied to the image carrier is increased to exceed an amount of the lubricant applied in image forming.

Abstract: An image forming device that forms a toner image on a photosensitive drum 413, including a lubrication device 200 that applies lubricant to the photosensitive drum 413 and an operation panel 20. The image forming device acquires spring mounting times 108d that indicate lubrication performance of the lubrication device 200, compares the spring mounting times 108d to a threshold value, and when the spring mounting times 108d exceed the threshold value, displays guidance on the operation panel 20 prompting an operation to restore lubrication performance of the lubrication device 200.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrier whose rotational speed changes depending on a printing speed of an image onto a sheet, an applicator that applies a lubricant to a surface of the latent image carrier, and a hardware processor that causes a surface of the applicator to move such that a difference between a first moving speed and a second moving speed is within a certain range, the first moving speed being a speed at which the surface of the latent image carrier moves, the second moving speed being a speed at which the surface of the applicator moves.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photoreceptor; a charging member that charges the photoreceptor; a charging power supply that outputs an AC bias as a charging bias to be applied to the charging member during image formation, and outputs a DC bias as the charging bias during a non-image forming operation, the AC bias being obtained by superimposing an alternating current voltage and a direct current voltage, the image formation forming a latent image, the DC bias being a direct current voltage, the non-image forming operation rotating and driving the photoreceptor; a processor that performs predetermined processing on the photoreceptor; and a controller that controls the charging power supply and the processor such that a value of a potential difference of the photoreceptor before and after being charged by the DC bias is a value equal to or less than a setting value during the non-image forming operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrier whose rotational speed changes depending on a printing speed of an image onto a sheet, an applicator that applies a lubricant to a surface of the latent image carrier, and a hardware processor that causes a surface of the applicator to move such that a difference between a first moving speed and a second moving speed is within a certain range, the first moving speed being a speed at which the surface of the latent image carrier moves, the second moving speed being a speed at which the surface of the applicator moves.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photoreceptor; a charging member that charges the photoreceptor; a charging power supply that outputs an AC bias as a charging bias to be applied to the charging member during image formation, and outputs a DC bias as the charging bias during a non-image forming operation, the AC bias being obtained by superimposing an alternating current voltage and a direct current voltage, the image formation forming a latent image, the DC bias being a direct current voltage, the non-image forming operation rotating and driving the photoreceptor; a processor that performs predetermined processing on the photoreceptor; and a controller that controls the charging power supply and the processor such that a value of a potential difference of the photoreceptor before and after being charged by the DC bias is a value equal to or less than a setting value during the non-image forming operation.

Abstract: A conductive pattern formation method includes: a step of patterning a base member with an ink in which conductive particulates are distributed to form a pattern; a step of making a conductive developer act on the pattern; and a pressurization step of pressurizing the pattern.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes: a fixing belt wound on a plurality of support rollers including a first pressure applying roller; a second pressure applying roller applying a pressure to the first pressure applying roller and thus forming a nip portion N; a tension modifying mechanism adjusting a tension; a contact area adjustment mechanism adjusting a downstream contact area, which is a contact area of the fixing belt in contact with the first pressure applying roller that is located downstream of the nip portion N; a sheet information obtainer; and a controller controlling an operation of the tension modifying mechanism and an operation of the contact area adjustment mechanism. When sheet information indicates embossed paper, the controller adjusts the operation of the tension modifying mechanism and the operation of the contact area adjustment mechanism to reduce a tension exerted to the fixing belt and also reduce the downstream contact area.

Abstract: There is provided a burning method of burning, on a base member, a precursor in which conductive particles are dispersed in a dispersion medium, and the burning method includes: a first pressurization step of pressurizing the precursor heated to a burning temperature or above; and a second pressurization step of pressurizing, after the first pressurization step, the precursor with a pressurization force higher than a pressurization force in the first pressurization step.

Abstract: A conductive pattern production device includes: a patterning unit that forms a pattern of a composite ink on a base member; and a burning unit that burns the pattern by high-frequency heating. The composite ink is obtained by mixing a particle material that is a material having a relative permeability of 200 or above or a carbon micro-coil and a conductive ink that has, after the burning, a resistivity of 1 to 2000 ??·cm.

Abstract: A fixing device is equipped with a lower pressure roller, an upper pressure roller and a fixing belt which fix a toner image onto a sheet, by holding and conveying the sheet by a nip portion, and a control unit which controls rotation of the lower pressure roller. The control unit periodically changes a velocity of rotational drive of the lower pressure roller, at a frequency of which a period is shorter than a time needed for the sheet to pass through the nip portion, when the sheet passes through the nip portion.

Abstract: A processing apparatus includes: a light emission unit configured to emit light to a surface of a particle dispersed liquid applied to a base material, the particle dispersed liquid having particles dispersed in a solvent; a reflected light amount monitoring unit configured to detect an amount of the light reflected, and monitor a temporal variation of the detected value; and a condition adjustment unit configured to adjust a condition for a particle securing process, the particle securing process being performed to remove the solvent and secure the particles onto the base material, wherein, when the temporal variation falls within a predetermined range after the value has reached an extreme value, securing of the particles is determined to have been completed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit for forming a toner image and transferring the toner image to a sheet material; a fixing device for fixing the transferred toner image to the sheet material; a measurement device for measuring the gloss of the toner image fixed to the sheet material; a separator for separating the sheet material from the fixing device; and a controller which determines a performance of separating the sheet material from the fixing device based on an output from the measurement device and controls the operation of the separator.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes: a fixing belt wound on a plurality of support rollers including a first pressure applying roller; a second pressure applying roller applying a pressure to the first pressure applying roller and thus forming a nip portion N; a tension modifying mechanism adjusting a tension; a contact area adjustment mechanism adjusting a downstream contact area, which is a contact area of the fixing belt in contact with the first pressure applying roller that is located downstream of the nip portion N; a sheet information obtainer; and a controller controlling an operation of the tension modifying mechanism and an operation of the contact area adjustment mechanism. When sheet information indicates embossed paper, the controller adjusts the operation of the tension modifying mechanism and the operation of the contact area adjustment mechanism to reduce a tension exerted to the fixing belt and also reduce the downstream contact area.

Abstract: A fixing device is equipped with a lower pressure roller, an upper pressure roller and a fixing belt which fix a toner image onto a sheet, by holding and conveying the sheet by a nip portion, and a control unit which controls rotation of the lower pressure roller. The control unit periodically changes a velocity of rotational drive of the lower pressure roller, at a frequency of which a period is shorter than a time needed for the sheet to pass through the nip portion, when the sheet passes through the nip portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit for forming a toner image and transferring the toner image to a sheet material; a fixing device for fixing the transferred toner image to the sheet material; a measurement device for measuring the gloss of the toner image fixed to the sheet material; a separator for separating the sheet material from the fixing device; and a controller which determines a performance of separating the sheet material from the fixing device based on an output from the measurement device and controls the operation of the separator.

Abstract: A conductive pattern production device includes: a patterning unit that forms a pattern of a composite ink on a base member; and a burning unit that burns the pattern by high-frequency heating. The composite ink is obtained by mixing a particle material that is a material having a relative permeability of 200 or above or a carbon micro-coil and a conductive ink that has, after the burning, a resistivity of 1 to 2000 ??·cm.

Abstract: There is provided a burning method of burning, on a base member, a precursor in which conductive particles are dispersed in a dispersion medium, and the burning method includes: a first pressurization step of pressurizing the precursor heated to a burning temperature or above; and a second pressurization step of pressurizing, after the first pressurization step, the precursor with a pressurization force higher than a pressurization force in the first pressurization step.