Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second image forming portions and a belt. The first and second image forming portions include first and second image bearing members, and first and second transferring members, respectively. The belt nips and feeds a recording material. The first image forming portion is disposed upstream of the second image forming portion in a moving direction of the recording material, and a plurality of members including the first and second image bearing members are integrally assembled and are mountable on or dismountable from a main assembly of the image forming apparatus. A film thickness of a surface of the first image bearing member is larger than a film thickness of a surface of the second image bearing member, circumferential speed ratios or contact pressures of rotating components differ, and/or mass ratios of components of respective developers differ.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer device includes an intermediate transfer belt, a plurality of primary transfer rollers, a plurality of pairs of support members, a biasing member, a pair of movable members, and a pair of frame members. The plurality of pairs of support members rotatably support both end parts of respective rotary shafts of the plurality of primary transfer rollers and are pivotable in directions in which the primary transfer rollers approach and separate from the intermediate transfer belt. The pair of movable members makes contact with the support members on both end sides of the rotary shafts of the plurality of primary transfer rollers so as to cause the support members to pivot. In a rotation axis direction of the primary transfer rollers, the movable members are disposed between the pair of frame members and within an extending range of the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet based on original image data; a selection unit configured to determine a non-image region of the sheet to which toner does not attach in a formation of the image by the image forming unit based on the original image data, and select, from the non-image region, a determination region depending on an image defect to be detected; a reading unit configured to read a surface of the sheet; and a control unit configured to obtain read image data by causing the reading unit to read the determination region after the image forming unit has formed the image, and perform detection processing for detecting whether the image defect has occurred based on the read image data.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer belt includes a base layer that has ionic conductivity and is a thickest layer out of multiple layers making up the intermediate transfer belt with respect to the thickness direction of the intermediate transfer belt, and an inner layer having electronic conductivity and a lower electrical resistance than the base layer.

Abstract: An information processing device includes: an image acquirer that acquires an image to print onto a medium; a color converter that converts color in the image acquired by the image acquirer depending on a positional relationship between a white image forming section that forms an image on the medium with white color material and a color image forming section that forms an image on the medium with colored color material; and an image output unit that outputs the image whose color is converted by the color converter.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for use in generating a print job for an offset printing apparatus. The method comprising determining a print job to be printed on the offset printer comprises an odd number of separations, and in response to determining that the print job comprises an odd number of separations, alternating a print order of at least two separations between odd and even pages of the print job.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus provides a configuration capable of suppressing an increase in the resistance of an intermediate transfer belt. The image forming apparatus includes an electrification unit for electrifying an intermediate transfer belt to suppress an increase in resistance of the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a plurality of belt rollers that rotate, a direction in which a rotation axis of each belt rollers extends being a width direction that intersects a transport direction of a medium; a transporting belt that, while wound across the plurality of belt rollers, rotate to transport the medium in the transport direction; a print head that performs printing on the medium transported by the transporting belt; and a control unit that rotates the transporting belt while in a state in which an unrotated state of the transporting belt has continued for a predetermined period. When a rotation position of the transporting belt after application of power and before rotating the transporting belt is referred to as an initial rotation position, in a case in which a rotation of the transporting belt is to be stopped, the control unit stops the transporting belt at a rotation position that is different from the initial rotation position.

Abstract: An information processing device includes: an image acquirer that acquires an image to print onto a medium; a color converter that converts color in the image acquired by the image acquirer depending on a positional relationship between a white image forming section that forms an image on the medium with white color material and a color image forming section that forms an image on the medium with colored color material; and an image output unit that outputs the image whose color is converted by the color converter.

Abstract: A transportation device for transferring bristles from one location to another location comprises a tube system and a baffle plate comprising conically shaped vents. The baffle plate is arranged at one end of the tube system in order to stop the movement of the bristles transported inside the tube system using airflow. Such a transportation system may be part of a device for automated production of brushes, in particular toothbrushes. A plurality of bristles can be transferred by such transportation system in order to be arranged in a pre-defined bristle pattern corresponding to a bristle field of a brush, in particular a tooth brush.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer belt includes a base layer that has ionic conductivity and is a thickest layer out of multiple layers making up the intermediate transfer belt with respect to the thickness direction of the intermediate transfer belt, and an inner layer having electronic conductivity and a lower electrical resistance than the base layer.

Abstract: A belt unit includes an endless belt, a plurality of support rotators, a pair of supports, and a stopper. The endless belt is wound around the plurality of support rotators. The pair of supports extend in a direction intersecting an axial direction of each of the plurality of support rotators. The pair of supports are disposed opposite to and spaced away from each other, to rotatably support both ends of each of the plurality of support rotators in the axial direction. The stopper is disposed at at least one end of at least one support rotator of the plurality of support rotators and outside from a corresponding one support of the pair of supports in the axial direction, to restrict movement of the corresponding one support in the axial direction.

Abstract: An irradiation device includes: an irradiation unit that is disposed downstream of an ejection unit that ejects droplets, in a movement direction of a medium that is moved relative to the ejection unit so as to form a gap between the irradiation unit and the medium, and that irradiates, with light, droplets that have been ejected from the ejection unit and landed on the medium; and a transparent member that is shaped like a belt, transmits light, and is moved through the gap relative to the irradiation unit.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a heater disposed opposite and heating the fixing rotary body. An opposed body contacts the fixing rotary body with releasable pressure therebetween to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed. A heat shield is interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body and movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body between a home position where the heat shield is disposed opposite the heater indirectly and a shield position where the heat shield is disposed opposite the heater directly to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater. A controller is operatively connected to the heat shield to move the heat shield to the home position when a print job is finished.

Abstract: In a method or system to operate a digital printer for double-side printing to a recording medium with toner particles applied with a liquid developer, the digital printer prints first and second sides of the recording medium in succession. Electrophoretic mobility of toner particles of a first toner image on the first side is reduced after application of said first toner image and before application of the second toner image on the second side of the recording medium. The electrophoretic mobility is reduced by drying the first toner image along a drying route in an airflow generated by a blower such that carrier fluid is thus removed from the first toner image. After the application of the second toner image on the second side of the recording medium, both the first and second toner images are simultaneously fixed.

Abstract: A reflective optical sensor includes a light emitting element to irradiate a target object with a light beam, a light receiving element to receive the light beam reflected by the surface of the target object, a circuit board on which the light emitting element and light receiving element are mounted, a cover element supported on the circuit board to surround the light emitting element and light receiving element, and a light shielding wall provided in the cover element to be a partition between the light emitting element and light receiving element to prevent a part of the light beam from the light emitting element from leaking to the light receiving element. A layer in a certain thickness is formed on the surface of the circuit board along either or both sides of the light shielding wall.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first print engine and a second print engine. The first print engine forms a first image formed of a first toner having a first average diameter. The first image is transferred onto a recording medium. The second print engine forms a second image formed of a second toner having a second average diameter larger than the first average diameter. The second image is transferred onto the first image in registration.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus is capable of changing a state between a first state in which only a first image bearing member and transfer belt contact each other, and a second state in which respective image bearing members are separated from the transfer belt. A second transfer member is located at a first separating portion at which the second transfer member is separated from the image bearing member in the first state, and is located at a second separating position closer to the second image bearing member than the first separating position in the second state to regulate the position of the transfer belt.

Abstract: A Transfer device (10) includes an intermediate transfer belt (41), a plurality of intermediate transfer roller (34A-34D) and a transfer member moving mechanism (20). The transfer member moving mechanism moves the intermediate transfer rollers (34A-34D) between pressing positions causing the intermediate transfer belt (41) to be pressed against respective photoreceptor drums (31A-31D) and separate positions causing the intermediate transfer belt (41) to be separate from the respective photoreceptor drums (31A-31D). The transfer member moving mechanism (20) causes a second pressing position of the intermediate transfer roller for monochrome (34A) in monochromatic image forming to be different from a first pressing position of the intermediate transfer roller for monochrome (34A) in full-color image forming so that an amount of pressing of the intermediate transfer belt (41) by the intermediate transfer roller for monochrome (34A) becomes greater in monochromatic image forming than in full-color image forming.

Abstract: Provided is a toner set including a brilliant toner containing a brilliant pigment and at least one kind of color toner containing a colorant, in which a ratio (G? A/G?B) of G?A to G?B satisfies a relationship of 1?G?A/G?B?10, when a storage modulus in 120° C. of the brilliant toner is G?A and a storage modulus in 120° C. of the color toner is G?B.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes photosensitive drums, drive motors for driving the photosensitive drums, a motor control unit for controlling operations of the drive motors, and a printer control unit. The printer control unit stops rotations of the photosensitive drums at reference positions after a print job is finished. After prescribed time elapses from the end of the print job, microscale driving of the photosensitive drums is performed for a microscale driving time period. Then, drive amounts by the drive motors during the microscale driving are calculated. At the start of a next print job, activation timing of each of the drive motors is adjusted in accordance with the drive amount so as to reduce a variation generated due to the microscale driving.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises: an imaging unit including imaging subunits that are arranged in a vertical direction, each of the imaging subunits forming a toner image of a different color; an intermediate transfer belt having a running surface that runs vertically along the imaging subunits, and on which the toner images are primary-transferred and superposed; a secondary transfer unit secondary-transferring the toner images on the intermediate transfer belt to the recording sheet; and an ejection unit having an outlet and a conveyance path extending vertically, the ejection unit conveying, to the outlet via the conveyance path, the recording sheet on which the toner images have been secondary-transferred, wherein when viewed from a front of the image forming apparatus, the imaging unit is arranged behind the intermediate transfer belt, and the conveyance path is arranged in front of the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus is capable of changing a state between a first state in which only a first image bearing member and transfer belt contact each other, and a second state in which respective image bearing members are separated from the transfer belt. A second transfer member is located at a first separating portion at which the second transfer member is separated from the image bearing member in the first state, and is located at a second separating portion closer to the second image bearing member than the first separating portion in the second state to regulate the position of the transfer belt.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a plurality of transfer members and a switch section. The switch section, in a first state, causes the transfer members to be pressed against a plurality of image bearing members. The switch section, in a second state, causes a transfer member opposed to a first image bearing member to be pressed against the first image bearing member, and causes a transfer member opposed to a second image bearing member to be separated from the second image bearing member. In the first state, toner images of different colors are transferred from the image bearing members to an intermediate transfer belt and superimposed together. In the second state, a single-color toner image is transferred from the first image bearing member to the intermediate transfer belt. The switch section changes a pressing force of the transfer member to the first image bearing member between the first and second states.

Abstract: Provided is a small sized belt conveying apparatus provided with a separating unit configured to move a transfer member and an image forming apparatus provided with the belt transfer apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a drive unit configured to transmit a drive force from a drive source provided in an apparatus body, and a drive transmitting unit configured to transmit the drive force branched and transmitted from the drive unit. The separating unit is configured to move the transfer member by a drive force transmitted by the drive transmitting unit via the drive unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and an auto color registration method thereof. The automatic color registration method of the image forming apparatus, the method includes transferring a plurality of first patterns synchronized with a phase of an image receptor, detecting the transferred first patterns, and performing an automatic color registration (ACR) by controlling a driving speed of the image receptor based on the detected first pattern. With this, the apparatus and method controls a driving speed of an image receptor by using a pattern synchronized with a phase of the image receptor and improves accuracy of the ACR.

Abstract: After at least one toner image is transferred to a medium to which an image is transferred from at least one of a plurality of image forming stations used, at least one toner image is transferred from at least one of the rest of the image forming stations, and this transfer operation is repeated a plurality of times to transfer toner images to the medium to which an image is transferred. In this manner, the toner images on the medium to which an image is transferred are formed using a desired number of color toner including a transparent toner. In addition, the order in which the transparent toner is transferred from the image forming station that is used for the transparent toner and toner other than the transparent toner is transferred from image forming stations in which the transparent toner is not used can be freely or automatically selected.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and an image forming method are provided that realize both the use of a decolorizing toner and a non-decolorizing toner and miniaturization of the apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first print engine and a second print engine. The first print engine forms a first image formed of a first toner having a first average diameter. The first image is transferred onto a recording medium. The second print engine forms a second image formed of a second toner having a second average diameter larger than the first average diameter. The second image is transferred onto the first image in registration.

Abstract: A transfer device of the invention includes an endless belt forming a loop-shaped path of movement passing over between a drive roller and an idle roller, a plurality of image bearing members disposed at positions along a direction of movement of the endless belt, and a plurality of transfer members disposed at positions on respective downstream sides of the plurality of image bearing members so as to oppose a plurality of respective image bearing members across the endless belt. The image bearing member disposed on the most upstream side in the direction of movement of the endless belt has a zone of contact in common with the opposed transfer member in the direction of movement of the endless belt. Whereas the other image bearing members do not have any zone of contact in common with the opposing respective transfer members in the direction of movement of the endless belt.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, in which color toner images are primarily transferred to an intermediate transfer medium, and then secondarily transferred to a recording sheet at a secondary transfer nip, a secondary transfer current output device applies a transfer current to the transfer nip while determining the transfer current based on area ratios of the toner images using an algorithm. When determining the transfer current, the secondary transfer current output device estimates the target value of a transfer current needed for transferring one of the toner images to be not lower than that needed for transferring another toner image, which is primarily transferred next to the one of the toner images, and the target value of a transfer current needed for transferring a first toner image, which is primarily transferred firstly, to be lower than that needed for transferring a last toner image, which is primarily transferred lastly.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes multiple image bearing members, toner image forming devices, and a transfer unit. The transfer unit includes an intermediate transfer belt entrained about a plurality of rollers and onto which toner images are transferred from the image bearing members, a reference member to position the transfer unit in place, a frame to hold the plurality of rollers a certain distance from the reference member, and a moving device including a holding member to hold movably one of the rollers relative to the frame to change the position of the roller between a multiple color mode for forming a multiple color image and a single color mode for forming a single color image so that the intermediate transfer belt contacts and separates from the image bearing member. As the holding member contacts the reference member, the intermediate transfer belt contacts the image bearing members.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming unit configured to form a white developer image on a recording medium using a white developer, at least one second image forming unit configured to form at least one single-color developer image on the recording medium using at least one single-color developer other than the white developer, and a fixing unit configured to fix the white developer image and the at least one single-color developer image to the recording medium so as to form a white image and at least one single-color image. A haze value of the white image is higher than a haze value of each of the at least one single-color image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transport part which includes a transport belt to transport a printing medium, an image forming part which transfers a toner to form a color image, and a controller which controls the image forming part to form a test image for color registration of the image forming part on the transport belt while an image is formed for a plurality of printing media. Thus, both a test image and a plurality of printed media are formed during a single printing process.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus that reads an original and forms an image of the original that has been read, a skew amount of the original is calculated when the original has been read and a shift amount of each color of image data in image formation is obtained from a storage unit. A color shift correction amount for correcting color shift in an output image is calculated based on the calculated skew amount and the stored shift amount of each color, and the color shift is corrected based on that color shift correction amount.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: image forming sections that form toner images with charged toners of respective colors on respective surfaces of image retainers; a transfer accepting body to whose surface the toner images are transferred electrostatically; transfer members that transfer the toner images to the transfer accepting body; a first charge applying section that switches, according to an instruction, between a first mode of applying the charge to all the transfer members and a second mode of applying the charge to apart of the transfer members; and a second charge applying section that applies, when the charge is applied in the second mode, a charge having the same polarity as that of the charged toners, to the transfer accepting body surface, at an applying point upstream from where the toner images are transferred to the transfer accepting body in a moving direction of the transfer accepting body.

Abstract: A detecting unit detects output-prohibit area information indicating an output-prohibit area from image data. An identifying unit identifies the output-prohibit area in the image data based on the output-prohibit area information detected by the detecting unit. A masking unit performs a masking on the output-prohibit area identified by the identifying unit. A rearranging unit rearranges an image of an area other than the output-prohibit area over the output-prohibit area on which the masking is performed by the masking unit. An outputting unit outputs image data obtained by rearranging the image by the rearranging unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: plural image holding members arranged in parallel to hold toner images of different colors on surfaces thereof, respectively; an exposing device exposing the image holding members to form electrostatic latent images of the different colors on the surfaces, respectively; a developing device developing the electrostatic latent images to form toner images of the different colors, respectively; plural transfer members disposed to face the image holding members and transferring the toner images to a recording medium with an application of a transfer bias; a transport member transporting a recording medium to the image holding members; a calculation unit that calculates a correction value of an exposure time point; and a control unit controlling the exposure time point on the basis of the correction value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a primary transfer device that primarily transfers a first image from a first image bearer onto a first belt unit at a primary transfer position, a secondary transfer device that secondarily transfers the first image from the first belt unit onto a printing medium at a secondary transfer position, and a direct transfer device that directly transfers a second image from a second image bearer onto the printing medium at a direct transfer position. A second belt unit is rotatably suspended by plural second rollers and carries and conveys the printing medium through the direct transfer position and the secondary transfer position. An interval between the direct transfer position and the secondary transfer position is prescribed natural number times of a circumference of one of the plural second rollers, which fluctuates a velocity of the second belt unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for correcting color registration errors in a printing device comprising a plurality of print engines driven by a single pixel frequency clock. In some embodiments, the print engines can include a reference print engine and one or more non-reference print engines. An adjusted resolution may be computed for color data sent to each non-reference engine to offset color registration errors attributable to the non-reference engine. The adjusted resolution is computed using calibration information for the non-reference print engines relative to the reference engine, and resolution information for color data processed by the first reference engine. The resolution of color data processed by each non-reference print engine is adjusted according to the computed adjusted resolution for the non-reference engine and sent to the print engines for printing.

Abstract: A tandem-type image forming apparatus in which a photoreceptor for black is controlled to be contacted to an intermediate transfer member and the photoreceptors for colors are controlled to be separated from the intermediate transfer member in a case of forming a black and white image, is disclosed, including a current control part which controls so that in the case of forming the black and white image, when the intermediate transfer member is driven, a value of a current flowing to the motor is equal to the value of the current in the case of forming the color image. The current control part controls the value of the current by controlling a rotational velocity of the photoreceptor for black.

Abstract: A method of registering a print between print stages in a printing system is provided. The method comprises: printing a first part of a digital image on a substrate with a first print engine, wherein the first part of the digital image includes a plurality of reference features; scanning image content on the substrate as it is readied for the second print engine; determining the actual positions of the reference features; using the actual positions of the reference features to determine desired adjustments for the second part of the digital image; applying electronic registration according to the desired adjustments to modify image content of the second print to be aligned with content already on the substrate; and printing a second part of the digital image on the substrate.

Abstract: Restriction information on a total colorant amount for a medium is obtained. Patches at grid points in a color space corresponding to a plurality of colorants at which the total colorant amount falls within a restriction represented by the restriction information, and a patch at a point surrounded by the patches are generated. Color values are obtained by measuring the colors of the patches printed on the medium. It is determined based on a color prediction value between the grid points whether the measured color values are appropriate, and if so, a color value at a grid point at which the total colorant amount exceeds the restriction is estimated based on the measured color values. A color separation table is created based on the measured color values and the estimated value.

Abstract: After at least one toner image is transferred to a medium to which an image is transferred from at least one of a plurality of image forming stations used, at least one toner image is transferred from at least one of the rest of the image forming stations, and this transfer operation is repeated a plurality of times to transfer toner images to the medium to which an image is transferred. In this manner, the toner images on the medium to which an image is transferred are formed using a desired number of color toner including a transparent toner. In addition, the order in which the transparent toner is transferred from the image forming station that is used for the transparent toner and toner other than the transparent toner is transferred from image forming stations in which the transparent toner is not used can be freely or automatically selected.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carrier rollers placed on an inner circumferential side of an annular conveying path so as to face the annular conveying path and so as to be juxtaposed in a sheet conveying direction along the annular conveying path. Opposed rollers are provided on the outer circumferential side of the annular conveying path. Imaging sections for forming intrinsic color images on surfaces of the respective image carrier rollers are provided. A sheet is introduced to the annular conveying path and is conveyed along the sheet conveying direction sequentially through nip sections of the rollers, while the images formed on the surfaces of the respective image carrier rollers by the imaging sections are transferred one by one onto the sheet. The sheet with the images transferred thereon is released from the annular conveying path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, forming a color image by successively superposing color images, formed on image carriers of corresponding image forming parts arranged along a rotational direction of an endless moving member, onto the endless moving member or a recording medium conveyed thereby, includes a first part causing a color registration pattern to be created on the endless moving member or the recording medium; a second part obtaining a color registration pattern signal by detecting the color registration pattern; a third part changing image formation timing in the image forming parts based on the color registration pattern signal; and a fourth part causing the endless moving member to rotate in forward and reverse directions after the creation of the color registration pattern. The second part obtains the color registration pattern signal by detecting the color registration pattern during each of the forward and reverse rotations of the endless moving member.

Abstract: A tandem-type electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes multiple color image forming units using a dry toner, a first black image forming unit using the dry toner, and a second black image forming unit using a wet toner and performs an image formation with the dry toner in a first printing mode and an image formation with the wet toner in a second printing mode. The image formed in the second printing mode with the wet toner is fixed to a recording medium at a temperature lower than the image formed in the first printing mode with the dry toner. Each of the image forming units corresponds to a process cartridge that is removably installable in the tandem-type electrophotographic image forming apparatus and including an image carrier and other image forming components integrally therein.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus operates in a marginless print mode in which the toner image is formed on a first region on a first image bearing member corresponding to a sheet size and a second region on the first image bearing member outside the first region. Reverse-transfer efficiency TR1 and reverse-transfer efficiency TR2 satisfy TR1<TR2. TR1 is a percentage of a mass/area, of toner back-transferred from the sheet onto the second image bearing member by a second transfer member to a mass/area, of toner transferred from the first region onto the sheet by a first transfer member. TR2 is a percentage of a mass/area, of toner back-transferred from a sheet feeder onto the second image bearing member by a second transferring means to a mass/area, of the toner transferred from the second region onto the sheet feeder by the first transfer member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has: a photosensitive drum onto which images are formed; and a primary transfer roller which sequentially forms the color images onto the photosensitive drum by using a plurality of developing devices having different color developers and transfers the color images formed on the drum onto a transfer member or a recording medium. Order of forming the images onto an image bearing member on a photosensitive member is switched based on a use amount of each of the plurality of developing devices.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a nip forming member and a transfer bias output device that outputs a transfer bias to form a transfer electric field in a transfer nip between the nip forming member and an intermediate transfer member. Upon transfer of a composite toner image including a particular toner image onto a recording medium in the transfer nip, the transfer bias output device outputs the transfer bias including a first superimposed bias in which a direct current (DC) component is superimposed on an alternating current (AC) component. Upon transfer of the composite toner image without the particular toner image onto the recording medium in the transfer nip, the transfer bias output device outputs one of the transfer bias including a second superimposed bias having a peak-to-peak value of the AC component smaller than that of the first superimposed bias and the transfer bias including only the DC component.