Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit configured to heat and fix a measurement image formed by an image forming unit to a sheet, a measurement unit arranged downstream of the fixing unit in a conveyance direction of the sheet and configured to measure color of the fixed measurement image, a conversion unit configured to convert a measurement result of the measurement unit into a measurement result at a predetermined temperature based on conversion setting information set in advance, a setting unit configured to set a mode for generating the conversion setting information, and a generation unit configured to generate the conversion setting information by causing the image forming unit to form the measurement image on the sheet, causing the fixing unit to fix the formed measurement image, and causing the measurement unit to repeatedly measure the fixed measurement image in response to setting of the mode.

Abstract: A detection apparatus includes a transmission member that is provided facing a conveying path on which a medium is conveyed and that transmits light from the medium being conveyed on the conveying path; a detection section that detects the medium or an image on the medium according to the light which is transmitted by the transmission member, wherein the light is received by a light-receiving member of the detection section; and an opposing member provided on an opposite side of the conveying path from the transmission member and having at least one opposing surface that faces the transmission member. In a conveying direction of the medium, a length of the opposing surface is shorter than a length of a detection surface.

Abstract: A method of evaluating electrophotographic overcoatability of a composition is provided. The method includes measuring a color (C1) of a toner image fixed on a sheet, dropping the composition on the toner image, and removing the composition from the toner image. The method further includes measuring a color (C2) of the toner image from which the composition has been removed, and calculating a color difference between the color (C1) of the toner image and the color (C2) of the toner image on which the composition is dropped and from which the composition is removed thereafter.

Abstract: An image inspection device includes an acquiring section that reads an image formed on an image carrying medium using an image forming material and acquires first inspection image information; and a decoloring section that leaves an infrared absorbent on the image carrying medium, and decolors a decolorable composition on the image carrying medium by physical treatment or chemical treatment, wherein the image forming material contains the infrared absorbent having an optical absorption peak in an infrared region, and the image forming material contains the decolorable composition having an optical absorption peak in a visible region in a color-developed state and being decolored by physical treatment or chemical treatment.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that is capable of reducing a sequential variation of graininess and keeping imaging quality. An exposure unit exposes the photoconductor to a light beam to form an electrostatic latent image. A development unit develops the electrostatic latent image with a toner. A change unit changes a height of toner image by changing an exposure spot area of the light beam on the photoconductor. A formation unit forms test patterns corresponding to different exposure spot areas on a recording sheet. A read unit reads the test patterns. A control unit detects graininess of each test pattern based on information about the test patterns read by the read unit, determines an exposure spot area where the graininess becomes good relatively, and controls the height of toner image on the photoconductor by setting the exposure spot area determined so as to be an exposure spot area for image formation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a measurement unit configured to irradiate a measurement image with light, and measure the light reflected from the measurement image, a white reference plate disposed in a position opposite to the measurement unit, a correction unit configured to correct a measurement result of the measurement image, based on a measurement result of the white reference plate acquired by the measurement unit, and a temperature detection unit configured to detect temperature in a vicinity of the measurement unit, wherein the correction unit corrects, in a case where a difference between a temperature detected by the temperature detection unit and a temperature shown when previously measuring the white reference plate is less than a predetermined value, a measurement result of the measurement image using a previous measurement result of the white reference plate without measuring the white reference plate with the measurement unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a reading unit configured to read an original, an image forming unit configured to form an image of the original read by the reading unit on a sheet, a detecting unit configured to detect whether or not the image of the original read by the reading unit includes an irregular part formed by a stray dust particle adhered to the original, and a control unit configured to control, in response to detection of the irregular part by the detecting unit, the image forming unit to make an additional copy of the image of the original including the irregular part.

Abstract: An image output apparatus includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium; a test-threshold acquiring unit that acquires a test threshold that is a pass-fail criterion for the image test for determining whether the test image data passes or fails the image test; a changing unit that changes a density detection mode of at least one of the image forming unit and the image reading apparatus on the basis of the test threshold; a density correcting unit that corrects density used in an image forming process performed by the image forming unit; and a reference-image-data acquiring unit that acquires the reference image data.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including a container which contains plural sheets, an image forming unit which forms an image on each of the sheets supplied from the container, a detecting unit which detects an image density of the image formed on the sheets by the image forming unit, a blowing unit which blows air to the sheet contained in the container, and a blowing control unit which controls the blowing unit based on the image density detected by the detecting unit.

Abstract: A detecting apparatus includes: a transmission member that is provided facing a conveying path on which a medium is conveyed and that transmits light from the medium being conveyed on the conveying path; a detecting section that detects the medium or an image on the medium from the light which is transmitted through the transmission member, wherein the light is received by a light-receiving member of the detection section; an opposing member that is provided on an opposite side of the conveying path from the transmission member and has at least a first opposing surface that faces the transmission member; and a guide member provided at a downstream side of the opposing member in the conveying direction, and guides the medium downstream in the conveying path. The opposing surface is closer to the detecting section at a downstream side than at an upstream side thereof in the conveying direction.

Abstract: Printing by determining target color values based on first color outputs, determining current color values based on current color outputs, and calculating color compensation values to compensate for a difference between the target color values and the current color values.

Abstract: An embodiment of this disclosure involves printing color outputs on sheets, reading the color outputs and adjusting a calibration parameter.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a patch-image generating unit that generates a patch image for measuring a color reproduction characteristic and correcting color, the patch image including mixed-color patch sets each including a plurality of patches each formed by overlaying a plurality of color materials so that patches having the same color and the same tone value included in the mixed-color patch sets are arranged away from each other in a circumferential direction of a photosensitive element and a distance between same tone patches, which are two patches having the same color and the same tone value, is close to (N+½) times the length of a period of uneven density which periodically occurs in the circumferential direction of the photosensitive element (N is an integer equal to or greater than 0); and an image forming unit that forms the generated patch image on a recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus uses the difference in time taken for each patch to reach a color sensor, which occurs upon reversing the conveyance direction of a printing material. Due to this difference in time, the temperature of the printing material in detection by the color sensor differs among the respective patches. The error of a colorimetric value due to thermochromism is reduced by placing a patch with a colorimetric value which has a low temperature dependence so as to be detected earlier, and a patch with a colorimetric value which has a high temperature dependence so as to be detected later.

Abstract: A method and device detect printing defects on prints produced by an electrostatic printing device and, in response, place the electrostatic printing device into a diagnostic mode. While in the diagnostic mode, the method and device charge an image bearing surface of the electrostatic printing device to a uniform potential charge and disable all light emitting devices of the electrostatic printing device that could alter the uniform potential charge. Next, this method and device transfer marking material to the image bearing surface to create a test image and print at least one test patch by transferring the test image from the image bearing surface to a sheet of media. This method and device evaluate whether the test patch includes the printing defects and identify whether the light emitting devices of the electrostatic printing device are defective, based on whether the test patch includes printing defects.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing unit, a shearing unit, a detection unit, and a controller. The fixing unit fixes a toner image in place on a printed surface of a recording medium. The shearing unit is disposed downstream from the fixing unit along the media conveyance path to at least partially shear toner from the fixed toner image, so as to create a shorn image area that exhibits a different image density than that of an intact, unshorn image area on the printed surface of the recording medium. The detection unit is disposed at least partially downstream from the shearing unit along the media conveyance path to measure the image densities of the shorn and unshorn image areas. The controller is operatively connected to the fixing unit and the detection unit to adjust one or more operational parameters according to a difference between the measured image densities.

Abstract: An optical reader is provided. A transport section is capable of transporting a medium which is a reading target in forward and backward directions along a transport path. An optical reading section is installed in the transporting path. The optical reading section optically reads the medium which is transported by the transport section. A control section sets a transport direction of the medium at the time of reading of the medium on the basis of a position of the medium before or when the reading of the medium is started and a reading position of the optical reading section such that a transport distance of the medium until the reading of the medium is completed is shortened, and controls the transport section and the optical reading section.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes an image reader, an image adjuster and an execution controller that causes the image reader to read an adjustment document and causes the image adjuster to adjust image data generated by the image reader. The adjustment document includes line images and parameter images at positions spaced apart in a main scanning direction in a margin area where the line images are not provided. The parameter images indicate parameters used in image adjustment processing. The execution controller judges whether the image data corresponding to predetermined positions in the main scanning direction coincide, selects one of the image data judged to coincide, and causes the image adjuster to perform the image adjustment using the selected image data and the parameter indicated by the image data generated by reading the parameter image at the position in the main scanning direction of the selected image data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus capture bitmapped images of pages of a print job that have been raster image processed by a digital front end of a printing device (while they are being printed by the printing device). The bitmapped images are captured from the printing device's buffer using a computerized device potentially positioned within the printing device. The computerized device collects image data from at least one predetermined area of the bitmapped images of the pages and performs optical character processing on the image data to identify characters and numbers within the bitmapped images. The computerized device processes the characters and numbers into accumulated data for the pages of the print job. Then the computerized device compares the accumulated data to expected data to validate whether the print job printed correctly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus capture bitmapped images of pages of a print job that have been raster image processed while being printed by a printing device and collect electronic image data from at least one predetermined area of the bitmapped images of the pages using a computerized device. In addition, the method and apparatus capture at least one scanned image from the predetermined area of sheets of media printed by the printing device according to the print job, using an optical imaging device operatively connected to the computerized device and compare the scanned image to the electronic image data to validate whether the print job printed correctly.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion for forming a toner image of color toner and transparent toner on a recording material; a heating device for heating the toner image formed on the recording material; an execution portion for executing a mode in which the transparent toner is partly placed in an image formable region of the recording material; and a control portion for controlling, on the basis of an amount of the color toner to be placed in an adjacent region adjacent to a region in which the transparent toner is to be placed, the amount of the transparent toner so that the amount of the transparent toner to be partly placed on the recording material when glossiness in the adjacent region is high is larger than that when the glossiness in the adjacent region is low.

Abstract: An image transfer assembly and method capable of adjusting the registration of an image printed on paper. A first image location being determined on at least one first sheet by measuring for each of at least three corners of a first sheet the distance between the two adjoining edges of the respective corners to a portion of at least one first fiducial mark. For each of the measured first sheet corners the measured portion of the at least one first fiducial mark is closer to that respective corner than any other of the first sheet corners. Then a second image to be transferred is adjusted by changing, relative to at least one second sheet, at least one of a size, shear, position and orientation of the second image based on the determined first image location. The adjusted second image being then printed on the second sheet(s).

Abstract: A host apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a diagnosis method for the image forming apparatus, the diagnosis method including: storing a printing image generated from print data according to a printing command; and generating a diagnosis image for the printing image based on the stored printing image and a defect image corresponding to a predetermined defect of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including: an image forming unit to form an image on paper fed from the selected feed tray; a density sensor to measure a density of the image formed on the paper; and a control unit to control execution of an output paper density adjustment in accordance with a result obtained by forming a test image on the paper by using the image forming unit and by measuring the density of the test image formed on the paper by using the density sensor, wherein the control unit executes the output paper density adjustment by changing the feed tray for feeding the paper, from the feed tray designated in a print job to the substitute feed tray at a predetermined timing while the print job is executed, regardless of the paper setting information related to the substitute feed tray.

Abstract: An image forming method including forming an image of a toner including a wax on a recording medium; fixing the toner image using by an oil-less fixing device; and then forming an overcoat layer on the fixed toner image. When a portion of the fixed toner image having the heaviest toner weight is subjected to an ATR FT-IR analysis, a peak area ratio Ab/Aa falls in a range of 3.0 to 7.0 or a peak area ratio Ab?/Aa? falls in a range of 0.004 to 0.014, wherein Aa represents the area of a peak present in a range of 2896 cm?1 to 2943 cm?1, Ab represents the area of a peak present in a range of 2946 cm?1 to 2979 cm?1, Aa? represents the area of a peak present in a range of 791 cm?1 to 860 cm?1, and Ab? represents the area of a peak present in a range of 2834 cm?1 to 2862 cm?1.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit configured to form an image on the image bearing member, a transfer unit configured to transfer the image on the image bearing member to a recording material, a conveyance unit configured to convey the recording material to the transfer unit, a controller configured to form a test sheet by causing a test image to be formed on the image bearing member such that the test image has a predetermined density and causing the test image to be transferred to the recording material, and a determination unit configured to determine a conveyance speed of the recording material such that a density difference between a density of the test image on the test sheet and the predetermined density is less than or equal to a threshold value.

Abstract: A host apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a diagnosis method for the image forming apparatus, the diagnosis method including: storing a printing image generated from print data according to a printing command; and generating a diagnosis image for the printing image based on the stored printing image and a defect image corresponding to a predetermined defect of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form a measurement image on a recording sheet by using a color material, a fixing unit configured to fix the measurement image onto the recording sheet by heating the measurement image, a measurement unit configured to measure color values of the measurement image fixed on the recording sheet downstream of the fixing unit in a sheet conveyance direction of the recording sheet, a pressing member configured to press the recording sheet, on which the measurement image is formed, against the measurement unit, a selection unit configured to select a mode from among a first mode, in which the measurement image is measured with the pressing member pressing the recording sheet against the measurement unit, and a second mode, in which the measurement image is measured without the pressing member pressing the recording sheet against the measurement unit.

Abstract: A print device with a surface identifying function includes a feed roller assembly, a print assembly, and a printed surface identifying assembly. The feed roller assembly feeds the paper into the print device when receiving a printing task. The printed surface identifying assembly identifies whether one or both surfaces of a sheet of paper have already been printed, generates and sends a result to a processing unit. The processing unit determines whether the paper is available for printing according to the result, and control the print assembly not to perform the printing task and the feed roller assembly to take the paper out of the print device when the paper is unavailable for printing. A printing method is also provided.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus inspects a printed product by positioning a reading target image of the printed product relative to a reference image and collating the reading target image with the reference image includes a positioning unit configured to perform positioning processing for the reference image and the reading target image with a first precision, and a detection unit configured to detect an image defect candidate area by collating the reading target image with the reference image, which have been positioned by the positioning unit. The positioning unit newly performs the positioning processing for the reference image and the reading target image in the image defect candidate area with a second precision that is higher than the first precision. The detection unit detects an image defect by collating the reading target image with the reference image in an area having been newly subjected to the positioning processing using the second precision.

Abstract: A printing device configured to print a diagnostic plot, the diagnostic plot including a cockle pattern, a main media advance pattern, and a secondary media advance pattern, wherein the cockle pattern, main media advance pattern, and secondary media advance pattern are for providing feedback and for adjusting printing characteristics associated with the printing device. A method of adjusting vacuum levels in a vacuum system of a printing device including generating a diagnostic plot on media; the diagnostic plot including a cockle pattern, a main media advance pattern, and a secondary media advance pattern, and accepting adjustments to printing parameters on the printing device based on printing defects displayed on the diagnostic plot.

Abstract: If a print misregistration amount on a sheet is larger than a predetermined threshold before determining whether a printed image is appropriate or not, an abnormal status of the image printed on the sheet is detected without correcting image data for inspection. A control method for controlling a detecting apparatus for inspecting a print status of an image printed on a sheet by a printing apparatus includes detecting, in a case where it is determined that a print misregistration amount of the image printed on the sheet with respect to the sheet is larger than a predetermined threshold, an abnormality of the print status of the image read by a reading unit without performing correction.

Abstract: There are provided an image reader with high resolution capability for images in a high density range and an image forming apparatus. An image reader 2 comprises a reflected light reading unit (11, 12, 13, 14, 10) for irradiating a surface to be read of an original sheet with a light and reading the amount of the reflected light and a transmitted light reading unit (15, 12, 13, 14, 10) for irradiating the original sheet with a light and reading the amount of the transmitted light, and calculates the density of an image of the original sheet based on the amount of the reflected light read by the reflected light reading unit and the amount of the transmitted light read by the transmitted light reading unit.

Abstract: A method for adjusting gloss appearance of images using a printer, includes: receiving a gloss selection input; correlating the gloss selection to a toner density setpoint value; adjusting one or more actuator controls such that the printer is configured to print using the toner density setpoint value; and rendering an image on a substrate using the one or more adjusted actuator controls. A printer configured to adjust gloss appearance of images is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems herein provide for calibration of a production printing system that accommodates a plurality of different print paper types, including new paper types with no ICC profiles or optical density curves on file. One exemplary method includes printing test patches of primary colors on a first print medium, measuring colors of the test patches printed on the first print medium to determine an optical density of the first print medium, and comparing the optical density of the first print medium to a plurality of optical density curves to identify a comparable optical density curve of a different print medium. The comparable optical density curve is one of a plurality of optical density curves installed on the production printing system. The method further includes automatically selecting the comparable optical density curve to calibrate the production printing system to the different print medium for use in printing to the first print medium.

Abstract: Methods and systems herein provide for printing a plurality of variations of a test image utilizing different values of a print quality parameter for print quality analysis of a printer. A print quality parameter is selected that modifies a print quality of the printer when printing a test image. A range of values for the print quality parameter is defined to utilize when printing the test image. A plurality of variations of the test image are printed based on the range of values defined for the print quality parameter, which allows for an analysis of the print quality of the printer by the user.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of an embodiment includes a sensor, a reversing section, an image forming section, and a controller. The sensor reads a sheet side on which an image is to be formed before formation of the image. The reversing section reverses sides of the sheet being conveyed. The image forming section forms the image and a predetermined mark on the same side of the sheet. The controller acquires image data read by the sensor. If the image data contains the mark, the controller causes the reversing section to reverse the sides of the sheet and also causes the image forming section to form the image on a side that becomes a side targeted for printing after the reversion.

Abstract: An image inspection device includes an acquiring section that reads an image formed on an image carrying medium using an image forming material and acquires first inspection image information; and a decoloring section that leaves an infrared absorbent on the image carrying medium, and decolors a decolorable composition on the image carrying medium by physical treatment or chemical treatment, wherein the image forming material contains the infrared absorbent having an optical absorption peak in an infrared region, and the image forming material contains the decolorable composition having an optical absorption peak in a visible region in a color-developed state and being decolored by physical treatment or chemical treatment.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: a decolorable first developer decolorized by being heated to a certain decolorizing temperature or higher and fixed by being heated to a first fixing temperature lower than the decolorizing temperature; a non-decolorable second developer being fixed at a second fixing temperature higher than the certain decolorizing temperature; a conveying unit to determine a sheet printed by trial printing as a sheet for final printing, the sheet being provided with a first developer image, the conveying unit feeding the sheet for final printing toward a transferring unit to transfer a second developer image on the first developer image on the sheet for final printing; and a controller having a trial printing mode in which the first and second developer images are heated and pressed simultaneously at the second fixing temperature on the sheet for final printing.

Abstract: According to the embodiments of the invention, the problem to be solved is whether errors have occurred for color sensors for calibrating density and color or their corresponding reference plates. At step S103, it is determined whether the difference is larger than a predefined threshold. If so, the sensors are determined abnormal; otherwise, it is normal. At step S111, color sensors 50a, b, c, and d read the density of recording medium 11 on at least one of its coordinates, compares the readings of sensors determined abnormal with that of sensors determined normal, and determines whether the difference obtained at step S112 is within the predefined threshold. At step S114, for color sensors determined abnormal at step S103, an abnormity alarm message is displayed on a UI as shown in FIG. 8 or sent to the user via e-mail.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion that forms an image on a recording sheet, a transport path that transports the recording sheet with the image formed thereon by the image forming portion, a coating portion that performs a coating process that forms a coating film on the recording sheet that is being transported on the transport path, and a reading portion that reads a calibration chart on the recording sheet that is being transported on the transport path. The coating portion is disposed on the upstream side in a recording sheet transport direction of the reading portion on the transport path, a calibration process is performed for an image formed by the image forming portion, and the calibration chart is formed on the recording sheet by the image forming portion in order to perform the calibration process.

Abstract: A printing device is provided with an imager to capture an output image of the paper after it is printed on. The output image is compared to an input image representing the image being printed to detect any artifacts in the output image and to determine the type of the artifacts. The types of the artifacts include effects caused by dirty drum, low or missing toner, dirty or wrinkled paper, etc. The printing device performs a responsive action based on the type of artifacts detected, including displaying a diagnostic message, stopping the printing, rejecting the sheet, re-printing, printing subsequent pages with a corrective action, etc. Further, another imager is provided to capture an image of the paper before it is printed on, and the image is analyzed to detect artifacts of the input paper, including dirty or wrinkled paper, wrong paper size, paper skew or misalignment, etc.

Abstract: Methods, software, circuits and apparatuses for detecting a malfunction in an imaging device. The methods generally comprise orienting an image at an angle on an image detecting device; detecting the image; determining an error in the image; and correlating the error to a malfunction in the imaging device. Software instructions can be adapted to determine an orientation angle of an image; analyze the image to detect an error; and calculate a location of a malfunction in the imaging device. The circuits generally include a memory element; logic configured to calculate the orientation of an image; a processor configured to analyze the image and locate a fault; and logic configured to determine a location of the fault in the image and correlate the fault to a malfunction in an imaging device. The present invention advantageously provides a lower cost technique for detecting a malfunction in a high resolution imaging device.

Abstract: A diagnostic method for color stability in an image printing system includes printing a test pattern onto output media; measuring, during the printing of the test pattern, an image of the test pattern on an image transfer surface using one or more image transfer surface sensors to obtain one or more image transfer surface signals; measuring a printed image of the test pattern on the output media using a printed image sensor to obtain a printed image signal; calculating correlation functions for the one or more image transfer surface signals and the printed image signal; and analyzing the correlation functions for the one or more image transfer surface signals and the printed image signal to identify a subsystem in the image printing system that causes variations in color within the plurality of prints of the test pattern.

Abstract: This invention provides a color print control method of acquiring an optimum profile by a simple profile acquisition process in consideration of the clustering configuration. According to the color print control method of this invention, a printer manager (15) manages a combination of color printers as a virtual printer. A color setting manager (17) manages a color profile used for color matching in association with the virtual printer and output paper. A job controller (11) controls to accept a print job, whose destination is the managed virtual printer and which contains color matching settings, cause a rendering unit (18) to render the print job, acquire a profile for each virtual printer, and cause a color management processor (16) to perform color matching.

Abstract: A special color specification area is subjected to inspection processing assuring that the special color specification area is higher in color reproducibility than an area other than the special color specification area.

Abstract: Methods and systems supply used marking material to a printing device marking material supply container. The used marking material was previously used in a printing process and was previously removed from one or more photoreceptors. The methods/systems feed the used marking material from the material supply container to a photoreceptor within the printing device and transfer the used marking material to a sheet of media in a printing process performed by the printing device that produces “proof prints.” These proof prints are printed sheets that are used to verify content and/or layout of printed material. The proof prints are not required to comply with any print quality or print durability standard. The methods/systems also fuse (using a heating element within the printing device) the used marking material to the sheet of media at a reduced temperature that is insufficient to comply with any print quality or print durability standard.

Abstract: A method and system for synchronizing variations in components or subsystems in an image printing system is provided. The method includes identifying a plurality of image quality defects printed by the image printing system by a controller, said image quality defects each occurring with an associated frequency and each being associated with a component or subsystem of the image printing system; determining a phase difference of the image quality defects by the controller; and adjusting operation of each component or subsystem associated with the image quality defects, such that image quality defects are in phase.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for performing color registration on template media having template markings thereon.

Abstract: A method and device detect printing defects on prints produced by an electrostatic printing device and, in response, place the electrostatic printing device into a diagnostic mode. While in the diagnostic mode, the method and device charges an image bearing surface of the electrostatic printing device to a uniform potential charge and disables all light emitting devices of the electrostatic printing device that could alter the uniform potential charge. Next, this method and device transfer marking material to the image bearing surface to create a test image and print at least one test patch by transferring the test image from the image bearing surface to a sheet of media. This method and device evaluate whether the test patch includes the printing defects and identify whether said light emitting devices of the electrostatic printing device is defective, based on whether said test patch includes printing defects.