Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The apparatus includes first and second photosensitive bodies, first and second exposing units to form electrostatic latent images on the first and second photosensitive bodies respectively charged to a uniform electric potential, a first developing unit to develop an electrostatic latent image of the first photosensitive body by supplying a transparent toner to the electrostatic latent image of the first photosensitive body, and a second developing unit to develop an electrostatic latent image of the second photosensitive body by supplying a color toner to the electrostatic latent image of the second photosensitive body, wherein the first developing unit is a mono-component cleanerless developing unit.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus that includes a photosensitive body, an exposing unit to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive body charged to a uniform electric potential, a first developing unit to develop the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive body by supplying a transparent toner thereto, a transparent toner container in which the transparent toner to be supplied to the first developing unit is accommodated, and a second developing unit to develop the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive body by supplying color toners thereto and having a toner-accommodating unit in which the color toners are accommodated.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes first and second photosensitive bodies, first and second exposing units to form electrostatic latent images on the first and second photosensitive bodies each of which being charged to a uniform electric potential, a first developing unit to develop the electrostatic latent image on the first photosensitive body by supplying a transparent toner thereto, and a second developing unit to develop the electrostatic latent image on the second photosensitive body by supplying color toners thereto, wherein the first developing unit is a developing unit employing a two-component developing technique using a magnetic carrier and a transparent toner.

Abstract: A belt driving control apparatus, the belt driving control apparatus having an endless belt, a driving roller driving the endless belt, a driving motor driving the driving roller, at least one idler roller being dependent on the endless belt, and an encoder attached to one idler roller. The belt driving control apparatus includes a structure where a control target value of the driving motor is set so that an effective speed of the endless belt is constant and the driving motor is drive-controlled so that the control target value is satisfied.

Abstract: A separating unit determines, for an image data, whether there exists black data, and generates density data from the black data when the black data exists, and generates color data from data other than the black data. A multinarizing unit converts the color data into multinary data. A magnification varying unit varies the density data and the color data multinarized, using a cubic function convolution method. A binarizing unit binarizes the color data varied, based on a predetermined threshold. An image forming unit prints the color data binarized and the density data varied, onto a recording medium.

Abstract: An electrostatic latent image is formed on a rotary image carrier. A developer is provided with at least one developing roller which is separatably abutted on the image carrier at a developing position to supply toner onto the image carrier to make the latent image visible as a toner image. An intermediate transfer member is adapted to temporarily hold the toner image. A transferer applies a transfer bias to primarily transfer the toner image on the image carrier to the intermediate transfer member. A first cleaner is always abutted on the image carrier to remove toner remaining thereon. A second cleaner is separatably abutted on the intermediate transfer member to remove toner remaining thereon. The toner image includes a first toner image which is not to be transferred onto the recording medium and a second toner image which is to be secondarily transferred onto a recording medium. The second cleaner is separated from the intermediate transfer member so as to avoid the first toner image.

Abstract: There is provided a color image forming apparatus which is capable of preventing fogging, and decrease of a transfer efficiency of a toner image onto a recording medium when forming a color image, and stably forming a high-definition color image excellent in a color reproducibility. In a color image forming apparatus including a toner image forming section, a transfer section, a fixing section, a recording medium feeding section, and a discharging section, respective color toners which are used in the toner image forming sections are adapted to have different time constants ? from each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes at least two image bearing members, a transferring unit that makes a physical contact with both the image bearing members, and a lubricant applying unit that applies lubricant on the surface of the image bearing members. Images can be selectively formed on any one of the image bearing member. Although an image is being formed on one image bearing member, the transferring is made to come in physical contact with the other image bearing member.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus includes an image forming section that is configured to adopt an intermediate transfer system for three colors of cyan, magenta and yellow, and a direct transfer system for black. A transfer medium is conveyed to a transfer medium convey belt. Cyan, magenta and yellow are intermediately transferred by an intermediate transfer belt and a secondary transfer roller. Black is directly transferred by a black photoconductor body and a transfer roller. Toners of the respective colors are fixed by a fixing device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor, a driving unit which rotation-drives the photoreceptor, an exposure unit which forms a latent image by performing image exposure to the photoreceptor, a plurality of development units which develop a plurality of latent images sequentially formed on the photoreceptor with different color toners respectively, a belt-like intermediate transfer member onto which respective color toner images sequentially developed on the photoreceptor are primarily transferred to be superimposed on each other, at least one load unit which comes in contact with or is separated from the belt-like intermediate transfer member to change a load on the belt-like intermediate transfer member, and a speed control unit which increases/decreases a driving speed of the photoreceptor at a specified timing. Preferably, the belt-like intermediate transfer member is an elastic belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a plurality of image forming units each having at least an electrophotographic photoreceptor, a latent image forming device to form an electrostatic latent image on the electrophotographic photoreceptor, a developing device to develop the electrostatic latent image with toner to form visible toner image on the electrophotographic photoreceptor, a transferring device to transfer the visible toner image onto a toner image receiving member and a cleaning device to remove the toner remaining on the electrophotographic photoreceptor after transferring the visible toner image by the transferring device, wherein the plurality of image forming units are arranged so as to transfer and pile up the visible toner images successively onto said other material to form a toner image, and wherein the toners used in each of the image forming units have different colors and the turbidity of less than 60, and the difference of the turbidity of the toner having the highest turbidity and that

Abstract: In an Image forming apparatus, a light color toner image forming unit that forms a light color toner image on a transfer medium has a first developing device which develops an electrostatic image on a first image bearing member to form the light color toner image on the first image bearing member. A first transfer member electrostatically transfers the light color toner image to the transferring medium member by abutting against the first image bearing member with the transferring member in a first abutting position. A deep color toner image forming unit that forms a deep color toner image on a transferring medium has a second developing device which develops an electrostatic image on a second image bearing member in a second developing portion to form the deep color image on the second image bearing member.

Abstract: A heater assembly heats media substrate in a printing system prior to imprinting a desired image on the substrate. A plate member engages the substrate and communicates thermal energy thereto for the heating. A laminar assembly is adhered to the plate member and includes a trace pattern for converting electrical energy to the thermal energy. A thermal storage member is interposed between the plate member and the trace pattern for distributing thermal energy throughout the thermal storage member. Two thermal fuses are serially connected, one at each end of the trace pattern and disposed relative to the thermal storage member for detecting an undesired temperature increase in the laminar assembly sufficient for opening the fuses and electrically isolating the heater assembly against a consequential thermal run-away causing insulation degradation and an electrical short between the trace pattern and the plate member.

Abstract: A multi color image forming apparatus includes a plurality of stations arranged side by side for forming unique mono-color toner images using mono-color developers each having a different mono-color toner. Each of the plurality of stations includes an image bearing member for bearing a latent image, and a developing device for visualizing the latent image into the mono-color toner image. A conveying device is provided to convey a transfer medium. A transfer device is provided to transfer the mono-color toner images from the image bearing members to the transfer medium. Charge ability of prescribed mono-color toner included in the mono-color developer used in the upstream station is smaller than that used in the downstream station.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus capable of selectively carrying out a color print mode or a monochromatic print mode, the individual print modes are carried out as follows. In the color print mode, images are arranged on an intermediate transfer belt 71 with a first spacing d1(a) suited for the color print mode, the first spacing shorter than a second spacing d2(a). Hence, the second spacing d2(a) may be increased by the amount that the first spacing d1(a) is decreased, so that a sufficient time for the changeover of developers 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K may be afforded. In the monochromatic print mode, on the other hand, adjustment is made to equate the first spacing d1(a) to the second spacing d2(a). This obviates a narrowed sheet spacing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: four image forming units for black, yellow, magenta and cyan respectively, each image forming unit having at least a developing member; and a photosensitive member on which a toner image is formed with either a black toner, a yellow toner, a magenta toner or a cyan toner of each of developing members, and in which the formed toner image is transferred onto a recording material; wherein turbidity of each of the black toner, the yellow toner, the magenta toner and the cyan toner used in each developing member of the four image forming units is less than 60, maximum difference between the turbidities of the black toner, the yellow toner, the magenta toner and the cyan toner is in a range of 5 to 45, the photosensitive member is an amorphous silicon-based photosensitive member, and the black toner has the turbidity of less than 25.

Abstract: In an image processing section, a foam toner signal generator generates a foam toner signal corresponding to a foam toner amount to be transferred to a three-dimensional print designation region discriminated at a three-dimensional print region discriminator, and a foam toner interpolation signal generator generates a foam toner interpolation signal corresponding to a foam toner amount to be transferred to an image region equal to or greater than a constant area in an ordinary print region discriminated at the three-dimensional print region discriminator. Foam toner of a predetermined amount corresponding to the foam toner signal is transferred to the three-dimensional print region, and foam toner of an amount that is less (of a lower height) than the predetermined amount and corresponds to the foam toner interpolation signal is transferred to the ordinary print region.

Abstract: An electrographic printing machine including: a first photoconductive member; an imaging device for recording a first latent image on the first photoconductive member to form a first developed image; a first developer unit for developing the first latent image; a second photoconductive member, closely adjacent to the first photoconductive member in a transfer region; a second imaging device for recording a second latent image on the second photoconductive member; a second developer unit for developing the second latent image to form a second developed image; a first transfer station for transferring the second developed image on the second photoconductive member to the first photoconductive member; and a second transfer station for transferring developed images on the first photoconductive member to a recording substrate.

Abstract: In the present invention, in an image forming apparatus for laminating images by using an intermediate transferring body, it is sensed that all toner images corresponding to image data for the same sheet material are formed on the intermediate transferring body in an arbitrary order, and the toner images are transferred onto the sheet material, regardless of the colors of the toner images held by the toner image holding section. Therefore, number of sheets output per unit time can be increased.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus and a image quality control system capable of detecting uneven angular speed of a photoreceptor drum easily and reducing color drift significantly simply by adjusting rotational phase of each image carrier is provided.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus and method forms an image on a recording medium and includes a toner applying step for applying fusible powder toner to a recording medium to form a toner image, a semi-fixing step for semi-fixing the toner image, an ink applying step for applying liquid ink containing a coloring to the recording medium to form an ink image, and a thermal fixing step for thermally fixing an image formed by the toner applying step and the ink applying step.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: four image forming units for black, yellow, magenta and cyan respectively, each image forming unit having at least a developing member; and a photosensitive member on which a toner image is formed with either a black toner, a yellow toner, a magenta toner or a cyan toner of each of developing members, and in which the formed toner image is transferred onto a recording material; wherein turbidity of each of the black toner, the yellow toner, the magenta toner and the cyan toner used in each developing member of the four image forming units is less than 60, maximum difference between the turbidities of the black toner, the yellow toner, the magenta toner and the cyan toner is in a range of 5 to 45, the photosensitive member is an amorphous silicon-based photosensitive member, and the black toner has the turbidity of less than 25.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus is equipped with a first photosensitive member, a plurality of first developing devices, a second photosensitive member, and a second developing device. In the image forming apparatus, toner images on the first photosensitive member and the second photosensitive member are transferred onto a transfer medium while one is superimposed on the other, whereby it is possible to form a high quality image using deep-color and light-color toners of the same hue and to prevent a deterioration in gradation property.

Abstract: In the present invention, in an image forming apparatus for laminating images by using an intermediate transferring body, it is sensed that all toner images corresponding to image data for the same sheet material are formed on the intermediate transferring body in an arbitrary order, and the toner images are transferred onto the sheet material, regardless of the colors of the toner images held by the toner image holding section. Therefore, number of sheets output per unit time can be increased.

Abstract: The color image formation apparatus of the invention can include an image formation unit that is placed diagonally in relation to the vertical direction, a largest paper-feed tray that is placed below the image formation unit and feeds paper to image formation sections of the image formation unit, and a small-size paper-feed tray, placed below the image formation unit and above the largest paper-feed tray, which feeds paper to the image formation sections of the image formation unit.

Abstract: An intermediate image transfer type, tandem color image forming apparatus of the present invention includes four photoconductive drums assigned to black, yellow, magenta and cyan, respectively. In a black mode, the drums assigned to the colors other than black are released from an intermediate image transfer belt. As soon as the trailing edge of a black toner image is transferred to the intermediate image transfer belt, the above drums are again brought into contact with the belt. The drums and intermediate image transfer belt therefore wear little despite contact thereof and deteriorate little despite pressure acting therebetween.

Abstract: The color image forming apparatus 1 of the present invention has two intermediate transfer media. With at least two of color images (Y+M+C+K) layered previously, the other remaining images are further layered thereon by a between-intermediate-transfer-media transfer device, and a color image is formed on a transfer material by a transfer material transfer device. The time required until the color image is outputted is shortened. Particularly, an image of single black can be outputted in a shortest time in image formation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member and a transferring member for transferring a toner image on the image bearing member onto a recording material in a transferring portion of the image forming apparatus. When the recording material is not present in the transferring portion, a voltage is applied to the transferring member, and on the basis of an electric current then flowing in the transferring member, a voltage applied to the transferring member, when a non-image portion of the image bearing member is in the transferring portion, is controlled.

Abstract: A method of printing utilizing a plurality of printers, each capable of printing an image on a same side of a web, the method comprising: printing, by a first printer, of first images, separated by spaces, along a first side of a web; and printing, by a second printer, of second images at spaced positions within the spaces between the first images on the first side.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including developing units which develop latent images formed on image carriers for colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black using toners of the corresponding colors, transfer units which transfer toner images in the respective colors formed on the image carriers onto the same transfer body, and a fixing unit which fixes the toner images, and toner preferably used in the image forming apparatus. The developing unit performs development using toner in which, out of five materials of silica, titania, barium sulfate, fine polymer particles, and a lubricant, materials not including either fine polymer particles or barium sulfate are fixed as an external additive, in order to avoid poor transfer and toner filming, improve the cleaning properties, and form an excellent image.

Abstract: A quadruple-tandem type image forming apparatus in which four units of an image forming unit are disposed, and toner images are transferred to a transfer material sequentially, wherein supposing that surface potentials of a photosensitive body in each image forming unit are V0a, V0b, V0c, V0d from upstream in a moving direction of a transfer material toward downstream, development bias voltages in each image forming unit are VBa, VBb, VBc, VBd, and electrification quantities of a toner in each developing unit in each image forming unit are qa. qb, qc, qd, the relations of V0a≧V0b≧V0c≧V0d, VBa≧VBb≧VBc≧VBd, and qa≧qb≧qc≧qd (wherein V0a>V0d, VBa>VBd, qa>qd) are fulfilled.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus includes recording medium arranged along a conveying path to form electrostatic latent images. The apparatus also includes developing units installed in a neighborhood of the recording medium to feed developers having different lightness to the respective electrostatic latent images formed on the recording medium and form developed images. The apparatus further includes transfer units to multiple-transfer developed images formed on the recording medium sequentially on a material to be transferred which is conveyed along the conveying path. The apparatus also includes collectors to collect residual developers on the recording medium after passing the respective transfer units. The developing unit having the developer with lowest lightness compared with the developing unit having the developer with highest lightness according to the CIE color specification system is installed in a neighborhood of the recording medium arranged on a downstream side of the conveying path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a plurality of developing devices, a plurality of developing device assemblies, and a controller. At least one developing device is provided for each type of toner to form multi-color images. Each developing device assembly carries a plurality of developing devices. The controller switches the developing devices carried by one of the developing device assemblies, while the developing devices carried by another developing device assembly are operating.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus is equipped with a first photosensitive member, a plurality of first developing devices, a second photosensitive member, and a second developing device. In the image forming apparatus, toner images on the first photosensitive member and the second photosensitive member are transferred onto a transfer medium while one is superimposed on the other, whereby it is possible to form a high quality image using deep-color and light-color toners of the same hue and to prevent a deterioration in gradation property.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes developing units of a plurality of colors, at a developing position, to develop electrostatic latent images, a rotation member for retaining the developing units of the plurality of colors along a rotating direction, and rotating to sequentially move the developing units to the developing position, an intermediate transfer member for sequentially superposing and transferring the developer images formed on an image carrier, and transferring the superposed and transferred developer images together to an image-transferred member, and a plurality of recovery devices retained on the rotation member, between the developing units of the plurality of colors, for recovering developers after the transfer of the developer images to the intermediate transfer member, and making the recovered developers return to the developing units of the same colors as the colors of the developers.

Abstract: A toner for electrophotography contains a binder resin and a colorant, the toner for electrophotography has a tensile fracture strength of 10-1400 (N/m2) under 10 kg/cm2 compression, and a loose apparent density of 0.10-0.50 (g/cm3).

Abstract: A multi-color printer (and a method therefor) includes a drum-shaped photosensitive body for black toner, a belt-shaped toner carrier for non-black color toner, a first transferring unit for transferring a color-toner image formed on the belt-shaped toner carrier to a medium, a second transferring unit for transferring a black toner image formed on the drum-shaped photosensitive body, the drum-shaped photosensitive body being disposed near the belt-shaped toner carrier, and a fusing unit for fusing to the medium the black toner image and the color toner image transferred to the paper.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus in which multiple photoconductors for corresponding developers of different colors are disposed along a transfer belt or paper conveyance belt, the photoconductors are disposed at intervals that are each an integer multiple of the outer circumference length of the driving roller that drives the transfer belt or paper conveyance belt, and the distance between at least one pair of photoconductors is made different from the distances between the other pairs of photoconductors. As a result, in comparison with when all of the photoconductors are disposed at equal intervals, the degree of freedom in arranging the multiple image forming units that each include an photoconductor can be increased, while color shift among the developed images of the difference colors on the transfer belt or the like is prevented.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus of the present invention comprises: an intermediate transfer member being driven to rotate by a driving roller; a plural image forming units for forming superposed toner images on the intermediate transfer member, the plural image forming units being located below the intermediate transfer belt; a transfer member for transferring the superposed toner images formed on the intermediate transfer member onto a sheet of paper in a transfer area; and a pair of rotatable conveyance rollers for conveying the paper to the transfer area in synchronization with the superposed toner images on the intermediate transfer member, wherein a first distance from a image forming position, for the image forming unit located most-downstream in the plural image forming units relative to the movement of the intermediate transfer member, to the transfer area is longer than a second distance from a nipping area formed by the pair of conveyance rollers to the transfer area.

Abstract: The color image formation apparatus of the invention can include an image formation unit that is placed diagonally in relation to the vertical direction, a largest paper-feed tray that is placed below the image formation unit and feeds paper to image formation sections of the image formation unit, and a small-size paper-feed tray, placed below the image formation unit and above the largest paper-feed tray, which feeds paper to the image formation sections of the image formation unit.

Abstract: The color image forming apparatus of the present invention has a plurality of recording medium arranged along a conveying path for forming electrostatic latent images, a plurality of developing units installed respectively in the neighborhood of the plurality of recording medium for feeding developers having different lightness to the respective electrostatic latent images formed on the plurality of recording medium and forming developed images, a plurality of transfer units for multiple-transferring the developed images formed respectively on the plurality of recording medium sequentially on a material to be transferred which is conveyed along the conveying path, and a plurality of collectors for collecting the respective residual developers on the plurality of recording medium after passing the transfer units in the plurality of developing units respectively, and among the plurality of developing units, the developing unit having the developer with lowest lightness compared with the developing unit having t

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus in accordance with the present invention including an intermediate transfer member having a movable surface. The apparatus also includes plural image forming units for forming toner images on the intermediate transfer member at each of image-forming positions, and a transfer roller for transferring the toner images formed on the intermediate transfer member onto a sheet, the transfer roller having a circumferential length equal to the distance between the adjacent image forming positions.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus and method includes a plurality of recording medium arranged along a conveying path for forming electrostatic latent images, a plurality of developing units installed respectively in the neighborhood of the plurality of recording medium for feeding developers having different lightness to the respective electrostatic latent images formed on the plurality of recording medium and forming developed images a plurality of transfer units for multiple-transferring the developed images formed respectively on the plurality of recording medium sequentially on a material to be transferred which is conveyed along the conveying path, and a plurality of collectors for collecting the respective residual developers on the plurality of recording medium after passing the transfer units in the plurality of developing units respectively.

Abstract: The color image forming apparatus of the present invention has a plurality of recording medium arranged along a conveying path for forming electrostatic latent images, a plurality of developing units installed respectively in the neighborhood of the plurality of recording medium for feeding developers having different lightness to the respective electrostatic latent images formed on the plurality of recording medium and forming developed images, a plurality of transfer units for multiple-transferring the developed images formed respectively on the plurality of recording medium sequentially on a material to be transferred which is conveyed along the conveying path, and a plurality of collectors for collecting the respective residual developers on the plurality of recording medium after passing the transfer units in the plurality of developing units respectively, and among the plurality of developing units, the developing unit having the developer with lowest lightness compared with the developing unit having t

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of a tandem method includes a conveying member configured to provide to a recording member a conveying force in a sub-scanning direction, a plurality of image carriers configured to contact the conveying member with an equal interval between contacting portions of the plurality of image carriers and the conveying member, a contact force adjusting mechanism configured to freely adjust a contact force of the conveying member to the plurality of image carriers between a predetermined contact force and a decreased contact force, a plurality of toner image forming devices configured to form toner images of a predetermined pattern on the plurality of image carriers respectively. A length of the pattern in the sub-scanning direction is set shorter than a length of the equal interval.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product is disclosed for printing one or more color separation images for screen printing, wherein each color separation image has a plurality of toner layers resulting in desirable density. A method for screen print film generation, comprises the steps of producing a plurality of separations using a software application program; and applying a plurality of toner layers using said plurality of separations. A system that provides screen print film generation comprises a printer wherein said printer is operative to apply a plurality of toner layers. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable media, said computer program product comprising program logic comprising: producing means for enabling a computer to produce a plurality of separations; and applying means for enabling the computer to apply a plurality of toner layers using said plurality of separations.

Abstract: A developing system is provided for forming a full-color image, which includes (i) a first developing device which is equipped with a developer-supporting member having a mean crest distance (Sm) of 20-200 &mgr;m on its surface and satisfying the following relation: 0.5-30, (ii) a second developing device which is equipped with a developer-supporting member having a mean crest distance (Sm) of 20-200 &mgr;m on its surface and satisfying the following relation: d4, Ra=0.5-3.0, wherein tan &dgr; (50° C.) of the black toner is not more than 1.0, and a first ratio of tan &dgr; and a first ratio tan 6 represented by (tan 8 (150° C.) of the first color toner (tan 8 (150° C.) of the black toner satisfies the following relation: I the first ratio of tan 8s 1.35.

Abstract: An inline electrophotographic color printer having a developing section configured to receive a plurality of removable color toner cartridges and an intermediate transfer device is configured to receive color toner from the color toner cartridges. A feed tray receptacle is configured to receive a finished product medium feed tray containing finished product medium onto which an electrophotographic color image can be printed. A finished product medium feed path is configured to move finished product medium from the feed tray past the intermediate transfer device to allow toner from the intermediate transfer device to be transferred to the finished product medium. The feed tray receptacle is positioned below the intermediate transfer device, and the finished product medium feed path is configured to pass finished product medium past the intermediate transfer device in a substantially vertical direction.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus of the present invention has an intermediate transfer member having a movable surface, a plural image forming units for forming superposed toner images on the intermediate transfer member at a predetermined image forming pitch, and a transfer member for transferring the superposed toner images formed on the intermediate transfer member onto a sheet of paper, wherein the peripheral length of the intermediate transfer member is a non-integral multiple of the image forming pitch.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus capable of reducing the total printing time and having an excellent cost performance. In the four developments and primary transfer by the toner of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black for forming one sheet of color image, the development and primary transfer of the toner of the last color, black, is performed at a different speed from that of the toner of the other colors. Furthermore, the secondary transfer and fixation are performed at the same speed as of the development and primary transfer of the toner of the last color, black.