Abstract: A transfer belt, to be used in a state of being in contact with a cleaning member and an image carrier, and to which a developer image is to be transferred from the image carrier, includes a surface layer and a base layer. The surface layer is in contact with the image carrier and the cleaning member. The base layer disposed at a position more apart from the image carrier and the cleaning member than the surface layer. The surface layer is provided with grooves formed by transferring a predetermined mold shape and extending in a first direction along a moving direction of the transfer belt in an operating state. The arithmetic average roughness of the surface layer in a predetermined region is less than or equal to 0.2 ?m.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a specifying unit that specifies a color; an input unit that inputs an image; a converting unit that converts a color in the image, which has a hue within a predetermined range with respect to the specified color, into a color of a predetermined hue and converts a color in the image, which has a hue outside the predetermined range with respect to the color, into black; a printing unit that prints the image subjected to the converted color; and a counting unit that separately counts a number of sheets when the printed image includes the color of the predetermined hue and a number of sheets when the printed image does not include the color of the predetermined hue.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a medium transport path; a first image transport path that is disposed so as to oppose the medium transport path and along which an image to be formed on the medium is transported; an image forming part that forms the image and is disposed adjacent to the first image transport path; and a second image transport path that is disposed so as to oppose the medium transport path, that is located at a distance from the image forming part, and along which an image to be formed on the medium is transported, the second image transport path, the first image transport path, and the medium transport path, together surrounding the image forming part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming part, a canceling processing part, a first switching processing part and a second switching processing part. The canceling processing part is performable an image canceling operation where a toner image formed on an intermediate transferring member is removed from the intermediate transferring member without transferred to a sheet. The first switching processing part is capable of switching a printing mode in the image forming part between a plurality of printing modes having different printing conditions in the image forming part, based on an image data under waiting for printing and a predetermined first switching condition. The second switching processing part is capable of switching the printing mode based on the image data under waiting for printing and a predetermined second switching condition when the image canceling operation is performed.

Abstract: An imaging system includes an image carrier to carry a toner image, and a transfer medium having a transfer surface to receive the toner image from the image carrier. The transfer surface of the transfer medium has a resistance component of 14.6 to 17.7 log ?·cm for an alternating current having a frequency range of 1 mHz to 1 Hz.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first developing roller movable between a first contact position and a first separated position; a second developing roller movable between a second contact position and a second separated position; and a controller. When a sheet interval is shorter than a first interval and is longer than or equal to a second interval, the controller maintains the first developing roller at the first contact position even after the completion of its development for a preceding sheet, controls the first developing roller to start development for a subsequent sheet, moves the second developing roller to the second separated position after the completion of its development for the preceding sheet, moves the second developing roller again to the second contact position, and controls the second developing roller to start development for the subsequent sheet after the second developing roller is moved again to the second contact position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member on which a toner image is formed by a liquid developer containing a toner particle and a carrier liquid, an intermediate transfer belt onto which the toner image is transferred, and a transfer member configured to transfer the toner image from the image bearing member onto the intermediate transfer belt. The transfer member is made of a metal, and the transfer member abuts against the image bearing member with the intermediate transfer belt nipped therebetween.

Abstract: To provide a transfer device including a plurality of transfer rollers, a transfer frame that supports one end of the transfer rollers, and a plurality of wiring members. The plurality of wiring members are wired on the transfer frame, and transfer device-side contact terminals formed at one ends of the wiring members are collectively arranged at one end of the transfer frame. A black wiring member is arranged on a first surface of the transfer frame, and a plurality of color wiring members are arranged on a second surface of the transfer frame.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first plurality of image forming sections that form a first toner image for adjustment and transfer the first toner image for adjustment to a medium; a second plurality of image forming sections that form a second toner image for adjustment and transfer the second toner image for adjustment to the medium; and a detection device configured to detect a misregistration between the first toner image for adjustment transferred to the medium and the second toner image for adjustment transferred to the medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming unit and a second image forming unit to form first toner images and second toner images, respectively, of different colors, a transfer member to transferred received toner images to a position, and a contact/separation unit to switch between first and second modes. Where a first, second, and third image are formed in order on sheets, the mode is switched from the first to the second mode after the transfer member receives the first image to the transfer member and before formation of the second image by the first image forming unit is started if a first image length in a conveyance direction is smaller than a predetermined length. After the sheet receives the first image, the contact/separation unit switches the mode from the first to the second mode if the first image length is greater than the predetermined length.

Abstract: A position of a stretch roller, where the stretch roller stretches an intermediate transfer belt upstream of and adjacently to a most upstream primary transfer roller in a rotational direction of the intermediate transfer belt, is apart from a photosensitive drum with respect to a primary transfer surface. Further, the most upstream primary transfer roller is larger in outside diameter than other primary transfer rollers, and the most upstream primary transfer roller has a transfer pressure larger than the transfer pressure of the other primary transfer rollers. This arrangement inhibits the most upstream primary transfer roller from deforming and a defective transfer due to waving of the intermediate transfer belt, while inhibiting an increase in size of an apparatus.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus manages information on a consumable item by a management chip and includes a control unit configured to control the management chip, and the management chip includes: a chip-side storage unit whose storage area is made up in units of blocks; a simultaneous writing unit configured to simultaneously write information on the consumable item in units of the blocks in the chip-side storage unit; and a predetermined unit writing unit configured to write information on the consumable item in predetermined units smaller than the block unit in the chip-side storage unit, and the control unit performs control so as to write information on the consumable item by the simultaneous writing unit at timing at which there is time constraint and performs control so at to write information on the consumable item by the predetermined unit writing unit at timing at which there is no time constraint.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes image forming units, secondary transfer units, and first and second detection devices. Each image forming unit includes image forming devices, and a primary intermediate transfer body. Toner images formed by the image forming devices are primarily transferred to the primary intermediate transfer body. The secondary transfer units are provided for the image forming units, respectively. Each secondary transfer unit is configured to secondarily transfer the toner images on a corresponding one of the primary intermediate transfer bodies to a transfer body. The first detection device is configured to detect the toner images downstream of the most downstream secondary transfer position. The second detection device is provided in at least one of the image forming units. The second detection device is configured to detect the toner images between the most downstream primary transfer position in the primary intermediate transfer body and a secondary transfer position.

Abstract: A recording apparatus can convey a recording sheet such as a long sheet with high precision without decreasing productivity even if a back tension occurs during conveyance of the recording sheet. The recording apparatus sets a first acceleration period in which the conveying speed is increased up to a first predetermined speed before a leading end of the roll paper reaches a detecting position of the leading end detecting sensor with the roll paper being nipped by the upstream side nip roller and the conveying belt. Further, the recording apparatus sets a first constant speed period in which the conveying speed is kept constant at the first predetermined speed before the leading end of the roll paper reaches the detecting position until the leading end of the roll paper is nipped by the downstream side nip roller and the conveying belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes photosensitive drums, a transfer belt having an outer surface facing the photosensitive drums, a tension roller in contact with an inner surface of the transfer belt, a cam in contact with the tension roller and movable to a first position to increase the tension to the transfer belt and a second position to decrease the tension to the transfer belt, a support having a supporting surface facing the outer surface of the transfer belt, and a lever mechanically linked to the cam and the support and rotatable from a third position at which the cam is in the first position to a fourth position at which the cam is in the second position. As the lever is moved from the third to the fourth position, the supporting surface is raised against the outer surface of the transfer belt.

Abstract: In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a printing system is described. The printing system includes multiple print engines to form printed marks on a substrate. Each print engine prints non-sequential pages of a print job. A sensor of the printing system detects, for each page, a trailing edge gap size and a leading edge gap size. A controller of the printing system, based on a difference between trailing edge gap sizes and leading edge gap sizes for a set of pages of a print job, adjusts a printing operation to equalize subsequent trailing edge gap sizes and leading edge gap sizes.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer section, a guide section, and a plate material. The transfer section transfers an image to a recording material. The guide section guides the recording material toward the transfer section. The plate material is provided on the guide section, and is more easily elastically deformable than the guide section. The plate material guides the recording material, which is transported to the plate material, along a plate surface of the plate material. The plate material is thinner on a downstream side in a transport direction than on an upstream side.

Abstract: A system and method for printing includes a transfer belt configured to transfer toner from a photoconductive drum of a toner-based printer to a paper. A transfer platen positions at least a portion of the transfer belt to be in proximity to a photoconductive drum. For color printing, a transfer platen is associated with a corresponding photoconductive drum for each distinct color of toner. The transfer platen is shaped to improve the transfer of toner from the photoconductive drum to the transfer belt. The transfer platen is substantially fixed in a non-rotatable position. The transfer platen includes electrically conductive foam. The transfer platen includes a low friction conductive top layer over the electrically conductive foam.

Abstract: A position of a stretch roller, where the stretch roller stretches an intermediate transfer belt upstream of and adjacently to a most upstream primary transfer roller in a rotational direction of the intermediate transfer belt, is apart from a photosensitive drum with respect to a primary transfer surface. Further, the most upstream primary transfer roller is larger in outside diameter than other primary transfer rollers, and the most upstream primary transfer roller has a transfer pressure larger than the transfer pressure of the other primary transfer rollers. This arrangement inhibits the most upstream primary transfer roller from deforming and a defective transfer due to waving of the intermediate transfer belt, while inhibiting an increase in size of an apparatus.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus manages information on a consumable item by a management chip and includes a control unit configured to control the management chip, and the management chip includes: a chip-side storage unit whose storage area is made up in units of blocks; a simultaneous writing unit configured to simultaneously write information on the consumable item in units of the blocks in the chip-side storage unit; and a predetermined unit writing unit configured to write information on the consumable item in predetermined units smaller than the block unit in the chip-side storage unit, and the control unit performs control so as to write information on the consumable item by the simultaneous writing unit at timing at which there is time constraint and performs control so at to write information on the consumable item by the predetermined unit writing unit at timing at which there is no time constraint.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an endless belt; an image bearing member that bears a toner image and contacts with the outer circumferential surface of the belt at a transfer position for transferring the toner image to the belt, the transfer position being disposed downstream; a transfer roller configured to transfer the toner image from the image bearing to the belt and contact with an inner circumferential surface of the belt at a contact position, the contact position not overlapping with the transfer position as viewed from the thickness direction of the belt; a biasing member that biases the transfer roller toward the inner circumferential surface of the belt, and a position of the transfer roller is set to a balanced position between a biasing force by the transfer roller pressing the inner circumferential surface of the belt and the drag received by the transfer roller from the belt.

Abstract: If an inputted job requires switching from a single-color mode to a multicolor mode, an image forming apparatus switches from the single-color mode to the multicolor mode during a relatively long processing waiting time out of processing waiting times between preceding pages and succeeding pages, before a page in the job for forming a multicolor image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first photoconductor and a second photoconductor; an image carrier onto which a toner image formed on the first photoconductor and a toner image formed on the second photoconductor are transferred; and a controller that, when the toner image formed on the first photoconductor is transferred onto the image carrier, rotates the second photoconductor while keeping the second photoconductor spaced apart from the image carrier.

Abstract: A electrophotographic image forming device using an organic photoreceptor, includes a plurality of image forming units each including at least: an electrostatic latent image former; a developer; a lubricant supplier; and a cleaner including a cleaning blade and a cleaning assist brush, wherein at least one combination composed of two adjacent image forming units including toners having different colors satisfies the following formula (1) if a ratio of a circumferential speed of the cleaning assist brush with respect to a circumferential speed of an organic photoreceptor included in an image forming unit A is represented by ?1 and a ratio of a circumferential speed of the cleaning assist brush with respect to a circumferential speed of an organic photoreceptor included in an image forming unit B is represented by ?2.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes (a) a plurality of image forming unit arranged along a transfer medium, each of which is arranged movable between a lower position and an upper position; (b) an estrangement controller to move each of the image forming units between these positions; (c) a print mode management part to determine a designated print mode; (d) an image forming part to select one or more of the image forming units corresponding to the designated print mode, and to form an image to be transferred to the transfer medium by using the selected image forming units; and (e) a correction process part that performs a correction process.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including a casing which includes one side wall extending in a vertical direction and has a first opening; and a discharge portion which receives a recording medium having a developer image formed thereon, and a cassette which accommodates recording media and is removably mounted to the casing. The casing further includes a tray which is disposed near the one side wall and receives a recording medium to be transported into the casing through the first opening. The tray is rotatable between a first position where the tray is bent so as to cover at least part of the one side wall and the discharge portion and a second position where the tray extends so as to be separated from the one side wall and receives a recording medium to be supplied into the casing through the first opening.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer unit, which is supported by an image forming apparatus, includes a moving mechanism which is capable of moving to an abutting position at which a first transfer member abuts against an intermediate transfer belt and a separating position at which the first transfer member is separated from the intermediate transfer belt; and a changing mechanism which changes a biasing force for abutting a second transfer member against the intermediate transfer belt. The biasing force is changed such that the biasing force when the first transfer member is at the separating position becomes weaker than the biasing force when the first transfer member is at the abutting position.

Abstract: A solid lubricant to be applied onto an image carrier of an image forming apparatus of an electrophotographic system, includes a metal soap and resin particles, and the resin particles have a particle main body constituted by a rigid resin other than fluorine-based resins, and fluorine atoms carried on the surface of the particle main body.

Abstract: A transaction card construction and computer-implemented methods for a transaction card are described. The transaction card has vector formatted visible information lasered onto its surface. In some embodiments, systems and methods are disclosed for enabling the sourcing of visible information using a scalable vector format. The systems and methods may receive a request to add a first plurality of visible information to a transaction card and capture an image of the first plurality of visible information. The systems and methods may also map the image to a bounding box and convert the mapped image into vector format. In addition, the systems and methods may provide the converted image to a laser machine.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a transfer belt unit includes a transfer belt, a transfer roller, a switching member and a holding member. The transfer belt is wound into an endless shape. The transfer roller is arranged at the inside of the transfer belt to face a photoconductor. The switching member can switch the transfer belt between a transfer position where the transfer belt abuts against the photoconductor and a separation position where the transfer belt is away from the photoconductor. The holding member separates the transfer belt from the photoconductor in conjunction with the switching member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image bearing member, a second image bearing member, an intermediate transfer belt, a first primary transfer member, a second primary transfer member, a secondary transfer outer member, a pre-secondary transfer stretch roller, a driving roller, and an execution portion. The execution portion is configured to execute a first monochromatic mode in which a bias smaller than the primary transfer bias applied to the first primary transfer member in a case where a toner image is formed on the first image bearing member is applied to the first primary transfer member, and the primary transfer bias applied to the second primary transfer member in a case where a toner image is formed on the second image bearing member is applied to the second primary transfer member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a latent image forming device, a developer, an intermediate transfer belt, a second transfer device, a cleaner, an abutting angle adjuster and a hardware processor. The intermediate transfer belt supports and carries a toner image which is transferred from the image carrier by primary transfer. The second transfer device performs secondary transfer to transfer the toner image transferred on the intermediate transfer belt to a recording medium. The cleaner abuts the intermediate transfer belt to remove toner attached to a surface of the intermediate transfer belt. The abutting angle adjuster adjusts an abutting angle between the cleaner and the intermediate transfer belt. The hardware processor controls the abutting angle adjuster to maintain the abutting angle at a predetermined angle.

Abstract: A photoconductor unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing and a photoconductive drum rotatably mounted on the housing. The photoconductive drum has an outer surface. A cap is detachably mounted on the housing. A lubricant supply is positioned to provide a lubricant material to the outer surface of the photoconductive drum. The lubricant supply is mounted on the cap such that detachment of the cap from the housing separates the lubricant supply from the housing permitting replacement of the lubricant supply independent of the photoconductive drum.

Abstract: A pressure measurement device includes a platen, a pressure sensor, a signal acquisition section, and a data processing section. The pressure sensor includes a plurality of pressure-sensitive points arranged on the platen. The signal acquisition section is configured to acquire measurement data that is obtained when a measurement object in contact with a surface of the platen passes over the pressure sensor a plurality of times. The measurement object moves relative to the platen and along a circular orbit on the platen. The data processing section is configured to calculate periods in each of which the measurement object passes over the pressure sensor and to acquire period data for each of the periods from the measurement data.

Abstract: An image forming method forms a color toner image and a white toner image using an image forming apparatus having a plurality of developing machines. The color toner image is formed using a color developer containing a first carrier and at least one color toner selected from a yellow toner, a magenta toner, and a cyan toner. The white toner image is formed using a white developer containing a second carrier and a white toner containing at least titanium oxide as a pigment. Formula (1): Iw<Ic??(1) is satisfied. Ic (?A) is a dynamic current value of the first carrier at 100 V and Iw (?A) is a dynamic current value of the second carrier at 100 V.

Abstract: A transfer roller is provided and includes a support body, a foaming elastic layer that is disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the support body, and a surface resin layer that contains polyimide or polyamide-imide and covers an outer circumferential surface of the foaming elastic layer, in which circumferential lengths of both end portions of the surface resin layer in a roller axial direction is shorter than that of a center portion of the surface resin layer in the roller axial direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member having first and second areas at different positions at an axial end of the photosensitive member, the first and second areas not overlapping an image area in an axial direction of the photosensitive member; a detecting unit that detects an image; and a forming unit that forms a transfer-object image in the image area, the transfer-object image being transferred to a transfer area of continuous-form paper, the forming unit further forming first and second images in the first and second areas of the photosensitive member, respectively, the first image not being transferred to the transfer area but being detected by the detecting unit for use in an operation of controlling conditions for image formation, the second image not being transferred to the transfer area and not being used in the operation of controlling the conditions for image formation.

Abstract: A voltage maintenance element is connected to a contact member that contacts a primary transfer surface area of an intermediate transfer belt to which toner images are transferred from a plurality of image carriers between stretch members, in such a way as to prevent the electric potential of the intermediate transfer belt from varying between respective image forming stations.

Abstract: A positional relationship between a photosensitive drum and an intermediate transfer belt during a period from the start of the driving of the photosensitive drum to the start of image formation, or during a period of the end of the image formation to the stop of the driving of the photosensitive drum enters a separating state in a case where the image formation is executed when the process speed is a first speed, and enters a contacting state in a case where the image formation is executed when the process speed is a second speed.

Abstract: Provided is a transport device including a first transport section that is driven at a first transport speed and transports a recording medium interposed therein, a second transport section that is driven at a speed different from the first transport speed, is located at a downstream of the first transport section in a transport direction, and transports the recording medium interposed therein, a detection section that detects variations in a driving load of the second transport section before and after the recording medium is discharged from the first transport section, and a derivation section that derives a thickness of the recording medium based on the variations.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a first unit which contacts a surface of a fixing roller to heat the fixing roller, and a second unit which forms a fixing nip portion together with the fixing roller. A first opposing portion is provided between a shaft of the fixing roller and the first unit, such that a distance between the first opposing portion and the first unit when a pressure during a fixing processing for an image is applied to a contact region between the fixing roller and the first unit is more than 0 mm and 2 mm or less. A second opposing portion is provided between the shaft of the fixing roller and the second unit, such that a distance between the second opposing portion and the second unit when the pressure is applied to the fixing nip portion is more than 0 mm and 2 mm or less.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a charging member, a charging voltage source, an exposure device, a developing device, a developing voltage source, a transfer member, a transfer voltage source, a detecting member, a setting portion for setting, a transfer voltage applied to the transfer member on the basis of a detection result of the detecting member, and an adjusting portion for increasing a potential difference between the potential of the photosensitive member charged and the developing voltage so as to be large when an absolute value of the transfer voltage set by the setting portion is a first threshold or more and an absolute value of the current flowing at the time of application of the transfer voltage to the transfer member is a second threshold or less.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a recording medium. The image forming apparatus includes an optical sensor disposed on a conveyance path of the recording medium. The optical sensor is configured to detect position information of the recording medium conveyed along the conveyance path. A sensor cover is disposed between the optical sensor and the recording medium whose position information is detected by the optical sensor. The sensor cover is configured to guide the recording medium. The sensor cover has a first side facing the optical sensor. The sensor cover includes an electrically conductive surface on the first side. The electrically conductive surface is electrically connected to a main body of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: The motor that drives a reverse unit, and a CPU configured to switch an image formation mode between a full color mode for forming an image using image forming stations and a black and white mode for forming an image using the image forming station are provided. If the image is formed on a first recording material supplied by a sheet feeding roller pair and subsequently an image is formed on a second recording material supplied by a sheet refeeding unit, the motor continuously drives the reverse unit. If the image formation mode for the first recording material is different from the image formation mode for the second recording material, the CPU switches the image formation mode to the full color mode, and forms the images on the first recording material and the second recording material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an opening, an openable member, and a movable member for supporting cartridges in a state in which the cartridges are arranged in an arranging direction, movable in the arranging direction while passing through the opening between an inside position and an outside position in a direction crossing the arranging direction and a longitudinal direction. When the movable member is positioned at the inside position, adjacent two cartridges of the cartridges are in an overlapping state as seen in a direction perpendicular to the arranging direction and the longitudinal direction. When the movable member is moved from the inside position to the outside position and then one of the adjacent two cartridges is dismounted from the movable member, the one of the adjacent two cartridges is moved relative to the movable member so as to be prevented from interfering with the other cartridge.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that adjusts the electric current supplied from a second transfer member to suppress acceleration of abrasion of a photoconductor drum while maintaining the second transfer efficiency at a desired level.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer condition setting device to set a patch image transfer condition under which multiple patch images of respective component colors are transferred from an image bearer onto a recording medium conveyor. The transfer condition setting device sets a prescribed transfer condition that decreases a difference in transfer efficiency of toner between the respective component colors when the multiple patch images of respective component colors are transferred onto the recording medium conveyor below a difference in transfer efficiency of toner between the multiple component colors caused when transferred under the same transfer condition as a multicolor toner image is transferred onto a recording medium. A correcting device corrects an image forming condition to reduce an amount of misalignment caused in the multiple component colors of the multicolor toner image based on times of outputs from a patch image position sensor.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including plural image forming portions that form an image on a recording medium, and a transport unit that transports the recording medium to at least one image forming portion selected among the plural image forming portions, wherein the transport unit includes plural transport paths that are different at least in an image forming portion, to which the recording medium is transported, among the plural image forming portions, and in an order of the recording medium transported to each image forming portion constituting the image forming portion to which the recording medium is transported.

Abstract: A voltage maintenance element is connected to a contact member that contacts a primary transfer surface area of an intermediate transfer belt to which toner images are transferred from a plurality of image carriers between stretch members, in such a way as to prevent the electric potential of the intermediate transfer belt from varying between respective image forming stations.

Abstract: To provide a display device including a touch sensor, in which input feeling can be obtained and deterioration of image quality is suppressed. The display device includes a touch sensor portion, a display panel, an elastic member, and a support. The touch sensor portion is provided over the display panel. The support is provided below the display panel. The elastic member is provided between the display panel and the support. The elastic member is provided in part of the periphery of a pixel region included in the display panel or in the entire periphery.