Abstract: A printing apparatus according to an embodiment may include: a printing device; a cooling device; an environmental value detector configured to detect an environmental value in or around the printing apparatus; an environmental value storage storing the environmental value detected by the environmental value detector before a current printing operation starts; and a print controller configured, in response to starting the current printing operation, to select one of the environmental value stored in the environmental value storage before the start of the current printing operation and an environmental value detected by the environmental value detector after a start of cooling the printing device by the cooling device in the current printing operation, calculate, based on the selected environmental value, a parameter for the printing device to perform the current printing operation, and cause the printing device to perform the current printing operation based on the calculated parameter.

Abstract: A load controller includes a control device, a switching device, an arc suppression circuit, and a control section. The control device is provided on an electric power supply path between first and second terminals coupled to an alternating-current electric power source, and controls electric power supply to a load provided on the electric power supply path. The switching device is provided on the electric power supply path and is to be in an open state or a closed state. The arc suppression circuit is to suppress discharge at the switching device. The arc suppression circuit is to be set to an enabled state or a limited state. The control section controls operation of the control device, the switching device, and the arc suppression circuit. The control section varies the arc suppression circuit from the limited state to the enabled state after bringing the switching device into the closed state.

Abstract: A printing apparatus according to an embodiment may include: a printing device; a cooling device; an environmental value detector configured to detect an environmental value in or around the printing apparatus; an environmental value storage storing the environmental value detected by the environmental value detector before a current printing operation starts; and a print controller configured, in response to starting the current printing operation, to select one of the environmental value stored in the environmental value storage before the start of the current printing operation and an environmental value detected by the environmental value detector after a start of cooling the printing device by the cooling device in the current printing operation, calculate, based on the selected environmental value, a parameter for the printing device to perform the current printing operation, and cause the printing device to perform the current printing operation based on the calculated parameter.

Abstract: A load controller includes a control device, a switching device, an arc suppression circuit, and a control section. The control device is provided on an electric power supply path between first and second terminals coupled to an alternating-current electric power source, and controls electric power supply to a load provided on the electric power supply path. The switching device is provided on the electric power supply path and is to be in an open state or a closed state. The arc suppression circuit is to suppress discharge at the switching device. The arc suppression circuit is to be set to an enabled state or a limited state. The control section controls operation of the control device, the switching device, and the arc suppression circuit. The control section varies the arc suppression circuit from the limited state to the enabled state after bringing the switching device into the closed state.

Abstract: A humidity detector includes a humidity sensor; a voltage dividing resistance that converts a current analog signal of the humidity sensor to a voltage analog signal indicating a voltage value corresponding to a resistance value of the humidity sensor; a switcher that alternately applies first voltage and second voltage to the humidity sensor, the first voltage causing current to flow in a first direction, the second voltage causing current to flow in a second direction different from the first direction through the voltage dividing resistance; and an ASIC having a first detection mode for determining humidity in accordance with a first voltage value detected while the first voltage is being applied and a second detection mode for determining humidity in accordance with a second voltage value detected while the second voltage is being applied.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a recording medium. The image forming apparatus includes an optical sensor disposed on a conveyance path of the recording medium. The optical sensor is configured to detect position information of the recording medium conveyed along the conveyance path. A sensor cover is disposed between the optical sensor and the recording medium whose position information is detected by the optical sensor. The sensor cover is configured to guide the recording medium. The sensor cover has a first side facing the optical sensor. The sensor cover includes an electrically conductive surface on the first side. The electrically conductive surface is electrically connected to a main body of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a recording medium. The image forming apparatus includes an optical sensor disposed on a conveyance path of the recording medium. The optical sensor is configured to detect position information of the recording medium conveyed along the conveyance path. A sensor cover is disposed between the optical sensor and the recording medium whose position information is detected by the optical sensor. The sensor cover is configured to guide the recording medium. The sensor cover has a first side facing the optical sensor. The sensor cover includes an electrically conductive surface on the first side. The electrically conductive surface is electrically connected to a main body of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes a fixing unit that heats a medium having a developer image thereon while moving the medium to fix a developer image onto the medium, a motor that provides the fixing unit with a driving force to be used to move the medium, and a controller that determines whether the driving force provided by the motor is being transmitted to the fixing unit.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes a fixing unit that heats a medium having a developer image thereon while moving the medium to fix a developer image onto the medium, a motor that provides the fixing unit with a driving force to be used to move the medium, and a controller that determines whether the driving force provided by the motor is being transmitted to the fixing unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second image supporting members; first and second developer supporting members for forming a first developer image in a first color and a second developer image in a second color, respectively; first and second transfer members for transferring the first developer image and the second developer image to a medium, respectively; a voltage applying unit for applying a first voltage to one of the first image supporting member and the first transfer member and a second voltage to one of the second image supporting member and the second transfer member. The voltage applying unit is arranged to apply the second voltage greater than the first voltage to one of the second image supporting member and the second transfer member when a printing operation is performed to form an image only in the first color.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which multiple image forming units for forming a developer image arranged along a prescribed medium feeding path are disposed in a manner to contact and face a belt component, the image forming apparatus includes an image formation driving unit for driving said multiple image forming units; a belt component driving unit for driving said belt component; and a drive control unit for supplying a drive command to said belt component driving unit and said image formation driving unit, said drive control unit sequentially initiating the driving of said image forming units from said image forming unit located downstream in the medium feeding path, after initiating the driving of said belt component drive unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device for thermally fixing the image on the recording medium; a medium type detection unit for detecting a type of recording medium; a temperature adjusting unit for adjusting a temperature of the fixing device according to the type of recording medium; and a storage unit for storing data indicating the type of recording medium. The temperature adjusting unit sets a target temperature according to the type of recording medium stored in the storage unit and starts heating the fixing device. After the temperature adjusting unit sets the target temperature and starts heating the fixing device, the temperature adjusting unit determines whether to change the target temperature according to a comparison result between a type of recording medium newly detected by the medium type detection unit and the type of recording medium indicated by the data stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second image supporting members; first and second developer supporting members for forming a first developer image in a first color and a second developer image in a second color, respectively; first and second transfer members for transferring the first developer image and the second developer image to a medium, respectively; a voltage applying unit for applying a first voltage to one of the first image supporting member and the first transfer member and a second voltage to one of the second image supporting member and the second transfer member. The voltage applying unit is arranged to apply the second voltage greater than the first voltage to one of the second image supporting member and the second transfer member when a printing operation is performed to form an image only in the first color.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms an image during conveyance of a medium. The image forming apparatus includes a conveying unit for conveying a medium, and a reverse voltage applying unit for applying to the medium a voltage with polarity opposite to a voltage applied to the medium when the conveying unit conveys the medium. An image processing apparatus includes a conveying unit for conveying an original document; a reading unit for reading an image on the original document during conveyance of the document; and a reverse voltage applying unit for applying to the medium a voltage with polarity opposite to a voltage applied to the medium when the conveying unit conveys the medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device for thermally fixing the image on the recording medium; a medium type detection unit for detecting a type of recording medium; a temperature adjusting unit for adjusting a temperature of the fixing device according to the type of recording medium; and a storage unit for storing data indicating the type of recording medium. The temperature adjusting unit sets a target temperature according to the type of recording medium stored in the storage unit and starts heating the fixing device. After the temperature adjusting unit sets the target temperature and starts heating the fixing device, the temperature adjusting unit determines whether to change the target temperature according to a comparison result between a type of recording medium newly detected by the medium type detection unit and the type of recording medium indicated by the data stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: A medium contraction amount calculating unit calculates a medium length contraction amount in a fixing process of a recording medium in first printing from a medium length before the fixing process and a medium length after the fixing process. A write timing setting unit has medium contraction amount distributing means which center-distributes time corresponding to the medium length contraction amount to print start timing and print end timing in the next and subsequent printing and sets image write timing in the next and subsequent printing of the recording medium on the basis of the distribution by the medium contraction amount distributing means. When the same image is printed onto both surfaces or onto the same surface, the positional change of the same image can be made inconspicuous.

Abstract: A medium contraction amount calculating unit calculates a medium length contraction amount in a fixing process of a recording medium in first printing from a medium length before the fixing process and a medium length after the fixing process. A write timing setting unit has medium contraction amount distributing means which center-distributes time corresponding to the medium length contraction amount to print start timing and print end timing in the next and subsequent printing and sets image write timing in the next and subsequent printing of the recording medium on the basis of the distribution by the medium contraction amount distributing means. When the same image is printed onto both surfaces or onto the same surface, the positional change of the same image can be made inconspicuous.

Abstract: An image forming section forms images, which are transferred onto a primary medium. A medium cassette holds a stack of print medium. A remaining-medium detector detects the number of pages of remaining print medium held in the medium cassette. The image on the primary medium are transferred onto a print medium fed from the medium cassette. A controller changes a timing at which the image forming section forms the images, the timing being changed in accordance with the number of pages of remaining print medium. The timing is changed in such a way that the images are formed at greater distance intervals on the primary medium when the number of pages of the medium cassette in the medium cassette is equal to or less than a reference value than when the number of pages of the medium cassette in the medium cassette is more than the reference value.

Abstract: An image forming section forms images, which are transferred onto a primary medium. A medium cassette holds a stack of print medium. A remaining-medium detector detects the number of pages of remaining print medium held in the medium cassette. The image on the primary medium are transferred onto a print medium fed from the medium cassette. A controller changes a timing at which the image forming section forms the images, the timing being changed in accordance with the number of pages of remaining print medium. The timing is changed in such a way that the images are formed at greater distance intervals on the primary medium when the number of pages of the medium cassette in the medium cassette is equal to or less than a reference value than when the number of pages of the medium cassette in the medium cassette is more than the reference value.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a plurality of print engine aligned in a advance direction in which a transporting member transports a recording medium. A first one of the plurality of image-forming sections records a first detection pattern on the transporting member and a second one of the plurality of image-forming sections records a second detection pattern on the first detection pattern. A color shift detecting section detects the amount of color shift between the first and second ones of the print engines by measuring an intensity of light reflected by the first and second detection patterns. Based on the amount of color shift, a correcting section corrects a position of the image recorded on the recording medium. The detection pattern may be of different configurations, depending on the direction in which color shift occurs, i.e., traverse, advance, and oblique directions.