Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a housing part that is capable of housing a plurality of recording materials in such a manner that one recording material is put on another; a transport part that transports a recording material from the housing part; and a hardware processor that detects a kind of the recording material transported by the transport part, detects an amount of the recording materials housed in the housing part, detects replacement of recording materials housed in the housing part, or addition of recording materials in the housing part, on the basis of a result of the detection by the hardware processor, and, on the basis of a result of the detection by the hardware processor, switches whether or not to execute, by the hardware processor, the kind detection of the recording materials housed in the housing part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a housing part that is capable of housing a plurality of recording materials in such a manner that one recording material is put on another; a transport part that transports a recording material from the housing part; and a hardware processor that detects a kind of the recording material transported by the transport part, detects an amount of the recording materials housed in the housing part, detects replacement of recording materials housed in the housing part, or addition of recording materials in the housing part, on the basis of a result of the detection by the hardware processor, and, on the basis of a result of the detection by the hardware processor, switches whether or not to execute, by the hardware processor, the kind detection of the recording materials housed in the housing part.

Abstract: Provided are a method for producing an EVOH resin having sufficient long-run workability in melt molding and enabling prevention of coloring such as yellowing, an EVOH resin obtained by this method for production, and a laminate obtained from this resin. Additionally, a method for producing an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer resin capable of efficiently drying while inhibiting deterioration of qualities is provided. The method for producing an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer resin of the present invention includes a step of irradiation with an infrared ray for irradiating with an infrared ray an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer or an ethylene-vinyl ester copolymer that is a precursor of the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer.

Abstract: Provided is by the present invention is a method for producing an EVOH resin having sufficient long-run workability in melt molding and enabling prevention of coloring such as yellowing, an EVOH resin obtained by this method for production, and a laminate obtained from this resin. The present invention is a method for producing an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer resin, the method including a step of saponifying an ethylene-vinyl ester copolymer to obtain an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, in which the method is characterized by further including a step of irradiating the ethylene-vinyl ester copolymer or the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer with an infrared ray.

Abstract: Provided is by the present invention is a method for producing an EVOH resin having sufficient long-run workability in melt molding and enabling prevention of coloring such as yellowing, an EVOH resin obtained by this method for production, and a laminate obtained from this resin. The present invention is a method for producing an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer resin, the method including a step of saponifying an ethylene-vinyl ester copolymer to obtain an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, in which the method is characterized by further including a step of irradiating the ethylene-vinyl ester copolymer or the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer with an infrared ray.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the invention includes an image carrier, an exposure device performing exposure for forming a toner image on a surface of the image carrier and having at least a first exposure light source and a second exposure light source, a sensor for detecting specified patterns, which are formed on the image carrier at a specified time with use of the first and second exposure light sources, a storing unit for storing a correlation, which is attained from a detection result by the sensor, between the first and second exposure light sources, and a controller for controlling the first and second exposure light sources based on the correlation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus performs dither processing on image data to form an image subjected to pseudo-halftone processing. The image forming apparatus includes a dither processing unit that performs dither processing on image data, and a dither pattern generation unit that generates a dither matrix for use in the dither processing, in accordance with an output gradation level. The dither matrix has a size of M×N pixels, and has a plurality of halftone dots arranged in a predetermined pattern in accordance with the output gradation level in order to represent a gradation of each color. The plurality of halftone dots are arranged in the dither matrix such that the halftone dots corresponding to at least two colors are substantially identical in color area ratio to each other in the dither matrix irrespective of a relative position with respective to the colors.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a secondary transfer roller that becomes a pressed state to make an intermediate transfer belt perform a transfer process and can move between the pressed state and a separated state, a press and separation driving device for driving the secondary transfer roller to become the pressed state and the separated state, a press and separation detecting device for detecting a pressed or separated state, and a voltage applying portion for applying a voltage between the intermediate transfer belt and the secondary transfer roller. The press and separation detecting device includes a resistor for detecting a current and a determination portion for determining a pressed or separated state in accordance with the detected current.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a structure in which a toner image formed in an electrophotographic process is transferred from an intermediate transfer belt to a member to be transferred. The apparatus includes a secondary transfer roller that becomes a pressure contact state with respect to the intermediate transfer belt to make it perform a transfer process and can move between the pressure contact state and a separated state, and a press and separation driving device for driving the secondary transfer roller to become the pressure contact state and the separated state. The pressure contact state or the separated state of the secondary transfer roller is detected in accordance with a variation of an output of an IDC sensor for detecting a state of a bare surface of the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for outputting an image by a printer or a display is provided, in which color reproducibility in the image output of plural pages becomes uniform. The apparatus comprises an image memory for memorizing image data of all pages of one output job that is given to an output device, decision portion for deciding whether the image data of all pages are data within a color reproduction range of the output device or not. A color compression process is performed for the image data of all pages uniformly only when it is decided that the image data of all pages are not data within the color reproduction range of the output device.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided in which the frequency of undesired delay of the image output can be reduced. The image processing apparatus comprises an image processor for performing a process defined by a parameter on the image data of the received job, a decision portion for deciding a state of the image data of the received job, and a controller for setting a parameter in accordance with the state that is decided by the decision portion if an interval between the received job and the previously received job is longer than a predetermined time, and for setting the parameter that was used in the last job despite the state that is decided by the decision portion if the interval is not longer than the predetermined time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus performs dither processing on image data to form an image subjected to pseudo-halftone processing. The image forming apparatus includes a dither processing unit that performs dither processing on image data, and a dither pattern generation unit that generates a dither matrix for use in the dither processing, in accordance with an output gradation level. The dither matrix has a size of M×N pixels, and has a plurality of halftone dots arranged in a predetermined pattern in accordance with the output gradation level in order to represent a gradation of each color. The plurality of halftone dots are arranged in the dither matrix such that the halftone dots corresponding to at least two colors are substantially identical in color area ratio to each other in the dither matrix irrespective of a relative position with respective to the colors.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a structure in which a toner image formed in an electrophotographic process is transferred from an intermediate transfer belt to a member to be transferred. The apparatus includes a secondary transfer roller that becomes a pressure contact state with respect to the intermediate transfer belt to make it perform a transfer process and can move between the pressure contact state and a separated state, and a press and separation driving device for driving the secondary transfer roller to become the pressure contact state and the separated state. The pressure contact state or the separated state of the secondary transfer roller is detected in accordance with a variation of an output of an IDC sensor for detecting a state of a bare surface of the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a secondary transfer roller that becomes a pressed state to make an intermediate transfer belt perform a transfer process and can move between the pressed state and a separated state, a press and separation driving device for driving the secondary transfer roller to become the pressed state and the separated state, a press and separation detecting device for detecting a pressed or separated state, and a voltage applying portion for applying a voltage between the intermediate transfer belt and the secondary transfer roller. The press and separation detecting device includes a resistor for detecting a current and a determination portion for determining a pressed or separated state in accordance with the detected current.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the invention includes an image carrier, an exposure device performing exposure for forming a toner image on a surface of the image carrier and having at least a first exposure light source and a second exposure light sources a sensor for detecting specified patterns, which are formed on the image carrier at a specified time with use of the first and second exposure light sources, a storing unit for storing a correlation, which is attained from a detection result by the sensor, between the first and second exposure light sources, and a controller for controlling the first and second exposure light sources based on the correlation.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided in which the frequency of undesired delay of the image output can be reduced. The image processing apparatus comprises an image processor for performing a process defined by a parameter on the image data of the received job, a decision portion for deciding a state of the image data of the received job, and a controller for setting a parameter in accordance with the state that is decided by the decision portion if an interval between the received job and the previously received job is longer than a predetermined time, and for setting the parameter that was used in the last job despite the state that is decided by the decision portion if the interval is not longer than the predetermined time.

Abstract: A method and device for estimating toner concentration in a two-component developer consisting of toner and carrier for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and an image forming apparatus equipped with such device. The above method and device calculate an amount of toner charge from data detected by a transferred toner amount sensor, compensate the toner charge based on environmental humidity data and cumulative use period data of the image forming apparatus, and estimate toner concentration. The image forming apparatus equipped with the above device exerts control to predict toner consumption from the estimated toner concentration, supply toner to a developing unit according to the predicted toner consumption, and maintain the toner concentration in the developer at predetermined concentration.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided in which the frequency of undesired delay of the image output can be reduced. The image processing apparatus comprises an image processor for performing a process defined by a parameter on the image data of the received job, a decision portion for deciding a state of the image data of the received job, and a controller for setting a parameter in accordance with the state that is decided by the decision portion if an interval between the received job and the previously received job is longer than a predetermined time, and for setting the parameter that was used in the last job despite the state that is decided by the decision portion if the interval is not longer than the predetermined time.

Abstract: A method and device for estimating toner concentration in a two-component developer consisting of toner and carrier for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and an image forming apparatus equipped with such device. The above method and device calculate an amount of toner charge from data detected by a transferred toner amount sensor, compensate the toner charge based on environmental humidity data and cumulative use period data of the image forming apparatus, and estimate toner concentration. The image forming apparatus equipped with the above device exerts control to predict toner consumption from the estimated toner concentration, supply toner to a developing unit according to the predicted toner consumption, and maintain the toner concentration in the developer at predetermined concentration.

Abstract: An apparatus, a method and a system for image processing with a color correction device are provided in which the number of times of automatic execution of calibration is reduced and the performance of an image output apparatus is used adequately. The apparatus includes a color space conversion portion 110 for converting input image data D1 into data D1s of a standard color space and a reproduction range decision portion 111 for deciding whether the input image data D1s that were converted into the standard color space are within a reference range of a color reproduction in an image output. If it is decided that the input image data are out of the reference range, the calibration is performed so that the color reproduction range is made close to the reference range.