Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a black image forming section for forming a black image and a first black pattern for a coarse correction of black and optionally a second black pattern for a precise correction of black; a color image forming section for forming a color image optionally a third pattern for a coarse correction of color and optionally a fourth pattern for a precise correction of color; and a control section for allowing at least the first black pattern to be formed and optionally a second black pattern and third and fourth color patterns, and controlling to perform the coarse correction of black for correcting a forming condition of a black image to be formed and to perform optionally a precise correction of black, the coarse and precise correction of color based on the measurement of the formed pattern(s), wherein the control section controls to perform the coarse correction of black but not to perform the precise correction of black and the coarse and precise corrections of color in case

Abstract: The image forming apparatus according to the present invention carries out intake and exhaust so as to generate air flow between a photoconductor drum and a charger in a long side direction of the charger. As a result, it is possible to always exhaust O3, NOx, and the like caused by corona discharge. Therefore, it is possible to always form a high-quality image without deterioration of images caused by charge unevenness.

Abstract: Related is an image forming apparatus by electrophotography having a function of performing adjustment of image quality when performing image formation. The image forming apparatus includes a detection portion for detecting a fixing temperature of a fixing apparatus; a storage portion for storing an application history of a development bias; a count portion for counting a reposed time from a point when an operation of image formation is ended; a determination portion for determining a change range of the development bias immediately before the end of the operation of image formation; and an execution portion for executing adjustment of image quality by setting the development bias based on a determination result from the determination portion when the reposed time or the fixing temperature exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: In an optical discharge apparatus used in an electrographic image forming apparatus, by forming, on a light guiding member, a diffusing reflecting face for reflecting light from an LED lamp towards a photosensitive drum, and by supplementing the amount of light by altering the height of the diffusing reflecting face to the light emitting face and the width of the diffusing reflecting face in accordance with their distance from the light source, the light intensity distribution of the irradiating light that is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum is made uniform. An optical discharge apparatus may include a light guiding member arranged facing a photoreceptor; and a light source, a diffusing reflecting face for reflecting the light from the light source toward the photoreceptor is formed on the light guiding member, and a reflecting member is arranged on an upper face in the vicinity of an end portion of the light guiding member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of executing process control at appropriate timing are provided. A control section of an image forming apparatus carries out control for determining execution time of process control and executing the process control. The control section includes a counting section, a determining section and a process control management section. The counting section counts a number of printed sheets. The determining section determines on what time process control is to be executed form the counted number of printed sheets for each time zone. The process control management section manages the process control executed at an image forming section with the whole of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: It is judged whether a sufficient time for executing all of three correction processings (a high density correction processing, a halftone correction processing, and a registration correction processing) can be secured or not. When the sufficient time cannot be secured, the high density correction processing as an essential correction processing is executed. A history of the halftone correction processing and a history of the registration correction processing are compared with each other. A date of latest execution of the halftone correction processing and a date of latest execution of the registration correction processing are compared with each other to judge whether or not the execution of the halftone correction processing is earlier, and the registration correction processing and the halftone correction processing are executed, respectively.

Abstract: An information-processing server (30) (a) receives an action request with first level private information from a first terminal (20); (b) authenticates the first terminal (20) based on the first level private information; (c) issues authentication information to the first terminal (20); (d) receives from the first terminal (20) second level private information of a higher security level than the first level private information as well as the authentication information; and (e) transmits the second level private information for an action requested, to a second terminal (51) based on the authentication information, in a system including the first terminal (20), the second terminal (51), and the information-processing server (30) mediating between the first terminal (20) and the second terminal (51).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section; a manual setting mode for enabling a user to provide instruction of timing for executing a process control of the image forming section; a cumulative operation information management section for calculating and storing cumulative operation information after the execution of the previous process control; a threshold value setting section for setting, to a threshold value, the cumulative operation information at the point when the instruction is provided in the manual setting mode; and a process control management section for executing a process control and resetting the cumulative operation information at timing when the cumulative operation information reaches the threshold value.

Abstract: A digital color copier includes: a toner concentration storage which, as to a multiple number of developer blocks into which the developer that circulates in the developer device is virtually divided across the image forming width, stores the detected toner concentration of each developer block, detected by the toner concentration detector, separately for every developer block; a toner consumption predictor for predicting the first predicted toner consumption of the toner that is expected to be consumed and/or was consumed from the developer of every developer block during the first circulation, based on the developer's speed of conveyance in the developing device and the print processing speed; a toner concentration estimator for estimating, for every developer block, the toner supply point estimate as the toner concentration at the point where toner is supplied, by subtracting the first predicted toner consumption from the associated detected toner concentration and setting up a toner supply target value of

Abstract: A pixel count section calculates a coverage rate corresponding to toner consumption. A control coefficient value setting section determines, based on the coverage rate, a stop threshold value representing reference concentration for toner replenishment and replenishment extension time. A magnetic permeability sensor measures permeability representing toner concentration in a housing portion. A toner concentration control section starts toner replenishment when an output value from the magnetic permeability sensor varies from a value less than a start threshold value to the start threshold value or above, and stops toner replenishment after lapse of replenishment extension time from the time at which an output value varied from a value greater than the stop threshold value to the stop threshold value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is arranged such that one reference test pattern image expressed in a tone expression is formed on the predetermined image bearing member, the tone expression being different from a tone expression of an image formed in the print modes that carry out a normal print process, and density of the formed reference test pattern image is detected, and subsequently sets of density correction data for the print modes are created based upon the detected density.

Abstract: One embodiment of an image correction method is an image correction method for correcting image forming condition(s). The image correction method includes forming, on photoreceptor(s), correction test pattern(s) having continuously varying toner gradation; wherein a single correction test pattern in which density is varied in sequence from high to low in paper transport direction(s) is formed as a result of controlling exposing unit laser power(s) while photoreceptor charging potential(s) is/are held constant, or while develop bias(es) is/are held constant, or while photoreceptor charging potential(s) is/are held constant and develop bias(es) is/are held constant. In such case, total length(s) in paper transport direction(s) of such correction test pattern(s) is/are less than or equal to circumference(s) of photoreceptor(s).

Abstract: A small domain generation section generates a plurality of small domains in a multi-valued image transmitted from an intermediate tone correction section. Each domain is constituted of a plurality of pixels. Counting means counts a signal input value of each pixel. Weighting calculation means corrects each signal input value of the “pixels subjection to toner quantity equivalent value calculation” with reference to the signal input value of the small domain, and reads out a weighting coefficient from the weighting coefficient table based on the modified signal input value. The weighting calculation means multiplies the signal input value by the coefficient so as to convert the signal input value into a toner quantity equivalent value. Accumulating means calculates toner quantity equivalent values for all of the pixels of the multi-valued image.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus according to the present invention carries out intake and exhaust so as to generate air flow between a photoconductor drum and a charger in a long side direction of the charger. As a result, it is possible to always exhaust O3, NOx, and the like caused by corona discharge. Therefore, it is possible to always form a high-quality image without deterioration of images caused by charge unevenness.

Abstract: In a case where the density correction condition of an image output section is satisfied while a job is being executed, density correction means performs density correction while the job is being executed or after the execution of the job. On this occasion, if there is a job on standby for printing in an image memory, this job is executed in the image formation condition (i.e. a correction amount stored in a current correction amount storing section) determined before the density correction. In the meanwhile, a job which is stored after the density correction is executed in a latest image formation condition (i.e. a correction amount stored in a latest correction amount storing section) which is figured out by the aforesaid density correction.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an image forming apparatus that digitally performs image processing and correction processing of image information, and calculates toner consumption by performing a pixel count of an input multilevel image, includes a counting portion that counts, pixel by pixel, the input signal levels of an input multilevel image; a weighting coefficient table that stores weighting coefficients corresponding to the input signal levels; a weighting calculation portion that obtains weighting coefficients corresponding to the input signal levels from the weighting coefficient table and performs weighting of each pixel when counting the input signal levels with the counting portion; and a rewriting portion that rewrites the weighting coefficients stored in the weighting coefficient table; in which a process control is performed when the calculated toner consumption reaches a predetermined value.

Abstract: In an optical discharge apparatus used in an electrographic image forming apparatus, by forming, on a light guiding member, a diffusing reflecting face for reflecting light from an LED lamp towards a photosensitive drum, and by supplementing the amount of light by altering the height of the diffusing reflecting face to the light emitting face and the width of the diffusing reflecting face in accordance with their distance from the light source, the light intensity distribution of the irradiating light that is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum is made uniform.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is arranged such that one reference test pattern image expressed in a tone expression is formed on the predetermined image bearing member, the tone expression being different from a tone expression of an image formed in the print modes that carry out a normal print process, and density of the formed reference test pattern image is detected, and subsequently sets of density correction data for the print modes are created based upon the detected density.

Abstract: One embodiment of an image correction method is an image correction method for correcting image forming condition(s), the image correction method comprising forming, on photoreceptor(s), correction test pattern(s) having continuously varying toner gradation; wherein a single correction test pattern in which density is varied in sequence from high to low in paper transport direction(s) is formed as a result of controlling exposing unit laser power(s) while photoreceptor charging potential(s) is/are held constant, or while develop bias(es) is/are held constant, or while photoreceptor charging potential(s) is/are held constant and develop bias(es) is/are held constant. In such case, total length(s) in paper transport direction(s) of such correction test pattern(s) is/are less than or equal to circumference(s) of photoreceptor(s).

Abstract: Before replacement of constituent parts of an image density sensor or of other image forming units, the image density of a formed test toner patch image is detected by the image density sensor and conditions for image formation are controlled. After replacement of the constituent parts, the image density sensor detects the image density of a test toner patch image which is formed based on the controlled conditions for image formation. The optical output and/or the optical sensitivity is adjusted so that a detected value becomes a predetermined reference value, to calibrate the image density sensor. With this image formation controlling method, the image density sensor can be calibrated easily and precisely, the image density of a toner pattern image can be held proper and a stable high-quality image can be obtained.