Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a plurality of light sources to emit light to a target to be read from a plurality of different irradiation positions; an illumination controller to sequentially and alternately turn on or off the plurality of light sources with a blinking cycle not perceptible to the human eye; an image capturing device to photoelectrically convert, pixel by pixel, reflected light of the light emitted to the target from the plurality of light sources to capture a plurality of read images; a memory to store one or more read images of the plurality of read images being captured; and a synthesizer to synthesize preset regions of the plurality of read images using the one or more read images stored in the memory to generate a synthesized read image representing the target, the preset region of each of the plurality of read images having an image level change caused by reflected light that is smaller than a threshold.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a plurality of light sources to emit light to a target to be read from a plurality of different irradiation positions; an illumination controller to sequentially and alternately turn on or off the plurality of light sources with a blinking cycle not perceptible to the human eye; an image capturing device to photoelectrically convert, pixel by pixel, reflected light of the light emitted to the target from the plurality of light sources to capture a plurality of read images; a memory to store one or more read images of the plurality of read images being captured; and a synthesizer to synthesize preset regions of the plurality of read images using the one or more read images stored in the memory to generate a synthesized read image representing the target, the preset region of each of the plurality of read images having an image level change caused by reflected light that is smaller than a threshold.

Abstract: A fixing control device includes an image detection unit that determines presence of an image in each of areas obtained by division of an image formation region in which the image is formed, a heater selection unit that selects from heaters of a fixing device heaters at positions corresponding to areas in which the presence of the image is determined, a heating amount computation unit that computes a heating amount of a heating area heated by each of the selected heaters in a fixing region corresponding to the image formation region, a change amount computation unit that computes an amount of change of the heating amount between adjoining ones of the heating areas, and a heating amount correction unit that corrects one of the heating amounts of the adjoining heating areas so that the amount of change after the correction is less than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A fixing control device includes an image detection unit that determines presence of an image in each of areas obtained by division of an image formation region in which the image is formed, a heater selection unit that selects from heaters of a fixing device heaters at positions corresponding to areas in which the presence of the image is determined, a heating amount computation unit that computes a heating amount of a heating area heated by each of the selected heaters in a fixing region corresponding to the image formation region, a change amount computation unit that computes an amount of change of the heating amount between adjoining ones of the heating areas, and a heating amount correction unit that corrects one of the heating amounts of the adjoining heating areas so that the amount of change after the correction is less than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: an endless transport belt in which a plurality of through holes are formed, the transport belt circulating to carry sheets; a recording head with a plurality of nozzles through which ink droplets are discharged, the nozzles being arranged in a width direction of the transport belt. The image forming device performs preliminary discharge of ink droplets in which the ink droplets discharged through the nozzles pass through the through holes. The image forming device further includes: a sensor that detects an element to be detected formed on the transport belt when the transport belt circulates; and a preliminary discharge control unit that controls timings of discharge of ink droplets through the nozzles in the preliminary discharge based on a plurality of results of detecting the elements to be detected given from the sensor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head having nozzles to form an image by squirting droplets onto a recording medium, a transfer member transferring the recording medium and having holes which allows passage of droplets squirted by the recording head for non-printing discharge, an area detecting unit to detect a plurality of non-printing discharge areas that are areas between adjacent recording media, and a non-printing discharge instructing unit to cause the nozzles to perform non-printing discharge such that all the nozzles perform non-printing discharge at least once in the non-printing discharge areas.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head having nozzles to form an image by squirting droplets onto a recording medium, a transfer member transferring the recording medium and having holes which allows passage of droplets squirted by the recording head for non-printing discharge, an area detecting unit to detect a plurality of non-printing discharge areas that are areas between adjacent recording media, and a non-printing discharge instructing unit to cause the nozzles to perform non-printing discharge such that all the nozzles perform non-printing discharge at least once in the non-printing discharge areas.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: an endless transport belt in which a plurality of through holes are formed, the transport belt circulating to carry sheets; a recording head with a plurality of nozzles through which ink droplets are discharged, the nozzles being arranged in a width direction of the transport belt. The image forming device performs preliminary discharge of ink droplets in which the ink droplets discharged through the nozzles pass through the through holes. The image forming device further includes: a sensor that detects an element to be detected formed on the transport belt when the transport belt circulates; and a preliminary discharge control unit that controls timings of discharge of ink droplets through the nozzles in the preliminary discharge based on a plurality of results of detecting the elements to be detected given from the sensor.