Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit configured to transfer second charged images superposed with one another onto a holding surface of a recording medium on which at least one first charged image has been electrostatically held and a static eliminating unit disposed upstream from the transfer unit in a transport direction of the recording medium and configured to remove static electricity from the recording medium electrostatically holding the at least one first charged image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms developer images on a continuous medium includes a control part that performs a developer image forming on an intermediate transfer body with an interval; a transfer part that transfers developer images to the continuous medium; an interval detection part that detects the interval of positions to which the developer images; and an interval information memory that stores interval information of the interval. Wherein, the control part obtains the interval information from the interval information memory when starting an operation of forming the developer image, and determines a timing of forming the developer images on the intermediate transfer body based on the interval information, and when the interval is detected by the interval detection part, the control part updates the interval information in the interval information memory based on the interval that is detected.

Abstract: A method for the indirect application of printing liquid onto a printing material provides an intermediate carrier, preferably a circulating belt, a liquid conditioning medium including a first substance applied onto the intermediate carrier and a printing liquid, in particular an inkjet ink, including a second substance applied onto the conditioning medium on the intermediate carrier. The printing liquid is situated as droplets or a layer substantially on the conditioning medium and the droplets or the layer form a contact region on their underside with the conditioning medium. The printing liquid is heated, preferably by way of a dryer and the printing liquid is transferred from the intermediate carrier onto the printing material.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a slide member configured to slide with a transfer material in a case that the transfer material is brought into contact with a transfer member, a grounding member configured to be electrically connected to the earth, and a connection member having conductivity and configured to be electrically connected to the slide member. The connection member includes a deforming portion deformed by an electrostatic force acting between the grounding member and the connection member, the slide member is conducted to the grounding member via the connection member in a case that the deforming portion is deformed and abuts on the grounding member, and the slide member is electrically insulated from the grounding member in a case that the deforming portion is separated from the grounding member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the disclosure includes a printing mechanism, a drawing data creating circuit, a medium supply circuit, and a charging circuit. The medium supply circuit performs: a primary supply supplying the printing medium to a specific position; and a secondary supply supplying the printing medium from the specific position to the printing mechanism. When the band-used color fixed as color by the drawing data creating circuit exists, the medium supply circuit starts the primary supply prior to completion of creating all the bands of the drawing data by the drawing data creating circuit. When the band-used color fixed as color by the drawing data creating circuit exists, the charging circuit performs the charging process in a case where the color for use is color, in starting the primary supply.

Abstract: Provided is a heating transport device, including a heating transport roll around which a recording medium to which a toner image is transferred is wound, and that transports the recording medium while heating the toner image to a temperature higher than or equal to a melting temperature of toner, and a cooling roll that forms a nip with the heating transport roll, transports the recording medium, and cools the recording medium such that the temperature of the recording medium is lower than or equal to a heat deformation temperature of the recording medium at a position at which the recording medium separates from the heating transport roll.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including a first image forming unit that forms a first image on a front surface of a transported medium with a developer including toners and non-volatile oils, a removing unit that heats non-volatile oils on the front surface of the medium to remove the oils, a second image forming unit that forms a second image on a back surface of the medium with a developer including toners and non-volatile oils, a removing section that heats non-volatile oils on the back surface of the medium to remove the oils, and a fixing unit that fixes the first image and the second image on the front surface and the back surface of the medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a pre-fixing sheet guide and a toner collection device. The pre-fixing sheet guide is to let a sheet conveyed along it, the sheet with a toner image transferred thereon at a transfer portion to an end part of the sheet. The sheet guide has a width shorter than a maximum printable sheet width. The toner collection device includes an adsorption member (pressure roller) that is disposed in the vicinity of the pre-fixing sheet guide and having a surface exhibiting conductivity, and a potential difference formation mechanism (earth mechanism) configured to form a potential difference between the surface of the adsorption member and the toner.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tandem-type image forming system performing single-sided printing and double-sided printing on a sheet, the image forming system including: a first image forming apparatus; and a second image forming apparatus connected with the first image forming apparatus in series, wherein when the single-sided printing is performed, either the first image forming apparatus or the second image forming apparatus performs printing on a sheet, and when the double-sided printing is performed, both the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus performs the printing on a sheet, the image forming system further including: a control section which controls a sheet-passing image forming apparatus which is either the first image forming apparatus or the second image forming apparatus, and does not perform the printing but performs sheet-passing in the single-sided printing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member for carrying a toner image; an intermediary member for carrying the toner image transferred from the image carrying member; a first transfer member for transferring the toner image from the intermediary member onto a sheet, the first transfer member having a first resistance and being contacted to the intermediary member; a second transfer member for transferring the toner image from the intermediary member onto the sheet, the second transfer member having a second resistance higher than the first resistance and being contacted to the intermediary member at a position downstream of the first transfer member; and a voltage applying source, connected to both of said first and second transfer members, for applying the same voltage to the first and second transfer members to transfer the toner image onto the sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive drum; a transfer belt configured to be charged to an opposite polarity to the surface of the photosensitive drum to electrostatically attract a recording paper sheet and convey the sheet while pressing the sheet against the photosensitive drum, thereby transferring a toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum to the sheet; a fixing section configured to apply heat to the recording paper sheet having the toner image transferred thereto and thus fix the toner image on the sheet; a toner collecting member disposed to face a separating position where the recording paper sheet is separated from the transfer belt and extending in a width direction of the sheet being conveyed, the toner collecting member being electrically grounded; and a thermally conductive member configured to collect heat near the fixing section and conduct the collected heat to the toner collecting member.

Abstract: An image forming system includes a first image forming apparatus and a second image forming apparatus, the first image forming apparatus including: a first image forming section which performs image formation on a sheet; a first fixing section which performs image fixation on the sheet on which the first image forming section performs the image formation; and a first control section which makes, when the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus perform the image formation and the image fixation on different sides of a sheet to perform double-sided printing, thereby performing tandem outputting, a tandem-outputting target fixing temperature of the first fixing section lower than a first fiducial temperature which is a non-tandem-outputting target fixing temperature of the first fixing section for when the first image forming performs the image formation and the image fixation alone.

Abstract: A printing system includes a printing unit performing printing on a sheet, a conveyance mechanism, a control unit, and a selection unit causing a user to select any one of a plurality of methods whose maximum numbers of sheets existing in the conveyance mechanism at the same time are different from each other. The control unit controls the printing unit and the conveyance mechanism to perform double-side printing processing depending on any one of the methods. The control unit performs double-side printing processing in accordance with the method selected by the selection unit.

Abstract: When a size of a reversing unit is smaller than that of a printing medium, errors can be detected without adding any other mechanism, and if such errors are not caused by a paper jam, the printing can be continued. A printing apparatus is provided with: an reversing unit provided with an reversing roller; a sensor ; and a control unit configured to, if when the detecting unit detects a load equal to or more than a predetermined value, a conveyance amount of the printing medium after the sensor has detected the fore end is longer than a threshold value that is a distance from a position of the fore end at the time of being detected by the sensor to a position of the fore end at the time of exiting from the conveyance path of the reversing unit, perform control to continue conveyance.

Abstract: An image forming device, comprising: a sheet-like medium accommodation unit; a supply member that carries a sheet-like medium; a pair of separation members that separate the sheet-like medium one by one; an image formation unit; a carrying path; a re-carrying unit to move inversely the sheet-like medium whose top face has been subjected to printing; a moving mechanism to move the supply member close to or away from the sheet-like medium and to move the pair of separation members close to or away from each other so that a path for the inversely carried sheet-like medium is formed; and a control unit to control the moving mechanism such that, when back-face printing is performed, the supply member is in a state of being moved away from the sheet-like medium and the pair of separation members are in a state of being moved away from each other.

Abstract: A sheet-fed duplex and a sheet-fed duplex multi-color printer which is compact, using an electrophotographic printing system. For a long image to be printed on both faces of a sheet of paper, the printer enables producing printed matter at high efficiency and high precision, and yet when printing front and rear faces of a sheet of paper in succession the printer is able to prevent a printing face of the sheet of paper printed on upstream in its conveyance direction from becoming soiled by toner transferred from a printing face of the sheet of paper printed on downstream in its conveyance direction.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a computer implemented method of printing data is provided, the method comprising identifying whether a single- or a double-sided printer is operatively connected to the computer, identifying whether single- or double sided media is installed in the printer, and selecting a mode of operation for the printer based on whether it is identified as a single- or a double-sided printer and whether single- or double-sided media is identified as being installed therein. Variations are provided.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for determining printer component velocity variations by analyzing multiple page test patterns. A test pattern, such as ladder chart targets, is produced that extends across multiple pages. Corresponding page sync signals are recorded and used to maintain phase coherence when analyzing scanned images associated with the multiple pages. An algorithm determines the ladder rung positions and the average photoreceptor velocity between each ladder rung on each scanned image for each page. Interpolation is used for proper phase alignment of the velocity data that spans multiple pages. The long assembly of phase coherent velocity data is then analyzed in one embodiment to determine its frequency content and to estimate the photoreceptor motion quality error sources. Based upon these estimated error sources, a trouble condition or pending maintenance problem with the printer is able to be indentified.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises: an acquisition unit configured to analyze an input print job and acquires information of a sheet to be used in printing; and a printing unit configured to print the input print job by performing paper feed from an inserter controlled by another connected printing apparatus, if the information acquired by the acquisition unit indicates that a sheet to be used in printing is stored in a manual insertion paper feed unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a duplex automatic document feeding (DADF) function, and a control method thereof includes a DADF unit to feed a document along a duplex path, an image scanning unit to scan the document and output scan data, a storage unit to temporarily store the output scan data, and a controller to control the DADF unit to re-scan a first side of the document using the duplex path, if a full memory error occurs while the first side of the document is scanned.

Abstract: A toner image can properly be transferred onto the second side of a paper sheet without being influenced by the toner image on the first side. There are provided a detection unit 20 for detecting overlap of the toner images on the first side and the second side of the paper sheet based on image data, and a transfer output adjustment unit 22 which changes a transfer voltage output for the second side in an area with the overlap of the toner images depending on the toner adhering amount of the first side.

Abstract: A method of operating a printer produces duplex images with improved throughput. The method monitors the position of an area of pressure roller that carries release agent and synchronizes a media transport to insert a media sheet into a nip formed with the pressure roller so the release agent on the pressure roller exits the nip as the leading edge of the media sheet enters the nip. The circumference of the pressure roller is an integral number times the length of the media sheet plus inter-document gap.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image bearing members; a rotatable intermediary transfer member for carrying toner images transferred from the plurality of image bearing members in contact with the plurality of image bearing members; a transfer member for press-contacting to the intermediary transfer member to form a transfer portion, at which the toner images on the intermediary transfer member are to be transferred onto a recording material; and a control portion for controlling an image forming operation so that, during execution of a continuous image forming mode in which images are formed on a plurality of recording materials conveyed with a preset minimum interval, a recording material passes through the transfer portion and thereafter transfer of a toner image to be formed on a subsequent recording material from an image bearing member, located upstream of the transfer portion and most downstream of the plurality of image bearing members with respect to a rotational direction of the

Abstract: A method of synchronizing the timing of a plurality of physically coupled print engines wherein the receiving sheet is inverted between a first and a second print engine including determining any change in the speed of the master print engine relative to the speed at original set up and adjusting the timing parameters within the slave print engines based on the speed of the master engine.

Abstract: A printer according to the present invention is a so-called tandem-type printer, and has a configuration that a motor gear is directly connected to an M-photoconductor driving gear and an idler gear is directly connected to a Y-photoconductor driving gear and the M-photoconductor driving gear. A diameter of the Y and M photoconductors driving gear, a distance between transfer sections of the Y and M photoconductors, a motor gear input angle, and an idler input angle are set so that an absolute value of a value obtained by subtracting 1 from an ideal amplitude ratio, which indicates a ratio of an ideal amplitude of an eccentric component of the Y-photoconductor driving gear to an actual amplitude of an eccentric component of the M-photoconductor driving gear, is equal to or less than a maximum allowable amplitude ratio.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, which forms a releasing agent absorption toner image on an in-between printed sides area of a moving surface of an image carrier in the duplex printing mode. When the in-between printed sides area of the moving surface enters a transfer position at which a toner image is transferred from the image carrier to a recording medium, the transferring operation of transferring the toner image from the image carrier to a recording medium is interrupted to keep the releasing agent absorption toner image on the in-between printed sides area of the moving surface of the image carrier.

Abstract: A method for determining a location on an image bearing surface of an image printing system where a toner image is to be printed is provided. The method comprises generating a first signal from a detector that is configured to detect a reference mark on the image bearing surface, and a second signal from a clock system that counts incremental movements of the image bearing surface, determining a first value that correlates the first signal and the second signal, where the first value corresponds to a value of the second signal at a start of characterization of the image bearing surface, and determining a second value using the first value, where the second value provides the location on the image bearing surface where the toner image is to be printed.

Abstract: A feeding device includes a conveying roller that conveys a sheet downstream when the conveying roller rotates forward. A first guide member guides the conveyed sheet toward the conveying roller. A second guide member guides the sheet when the conveying roller rotates in reverse. A rotating member is positioned between the first guide member and the conveying roller, and has a support shaft and a pressing portion. The rotating member rotates about the support shaft between a first supported state where the rotating member is separated from the second guide member, and a second supported state where the rotating member is closer to the second guide member. In the first supported state, the sheet is conveyed from the first guide member to the conveying roller. A trailing end of the sheet moves toward the second guide member when the rotating member transitions from the first to the second supported state.

Abstract: A tandem type color image forming apparatus, which can continuously form color images each containing two or more colors, including: a signal creating section having, for each color, two or more image area setting counters for generating an image valid area signal to set a starting position and a width of an image formation area in a sub-scanning direction; and a control section for executing color image formation control on a predetermined face of paper, based on an image top signal for controlling writing of an image on an image carrier and the image valid area signal for each color, wherein the control section sets each of the outputs of the image area setting counters independently according to a preset image formation mode, and selects and controls one of the image area setting counters for each image formation of each color.

Abstract: An image forming method of forming images on both sides of a recording sheet; comprising the steps of: fixing a first toner image on a first surface a recording sheet; and fixing a second toner image on a second surface of the recording sheet; wherein in two-component developer includes toner particles each containing a binder resin having a glass transition temperature Tg° C. and a colorant and carrier particles in each on which magnetic powder is dispersed in a binder resin including a phenol formaldehyde obtained by a polymerization process, and the first toner image is fixed with first heat in such a way that the surface temperature of the first surface of the recording sheet is a temperature in a range of Tg° C. or more and lower than 100° C.

Abstract: A method for forming a color image that allows a color image forming device to detect print chromaticity by an actually used print medium and automatically perform an optimal color balance adjustment in consideration of the chromaticity of the print medium. At a first step of the method, it is determined whether a feeder is selected for a subsequent printing operation. If selected, the process proceeds to a second step. If not selected, it is determined that the printing operation is not performed for some time and the process is completed without color balance adjustment. At the second step, a print medium for printing a test pattern is fed from the feeder selected for a subsequent printing operation, which is determined at the first step. A color sensor detects the chromaticity of the test pattern transferred and fused on the print medium, and the color balance is then adjusted.

Abstract: In a method or device for simultaneous double-sided printing of a recording medium, the first toner image having toner charged with a first polarity is generated on a first transfer belt and a second toner image having toner also charged with the first polarity is generated on a second transfer belt. A charge shifting device is provided along with a recharging device. At least one of the charge shifting device and the recharging device has a corotron. With the charge shifting device, the charge of the first toner image is shifted to a second polarity opposite to the first polarity and with the recharging device the second toner image with the first polarity is recharged. The recording medium is passed between the first and the second transfer belts.

Abstract: A hybrid single pass, multi-pass full color printing system is provided and includes (a) a moveable intermediate transfer belt (ITB) mounted within a machine frame and having a path of movement; (b) a plurality of single pass image output modules mounted along the path of movement, each having imaging devices including an image carrying member and a single developer housing containing a single color developer for forming an image in a single pass on the image carrying member for transfer onto the ITB; and (c) at least one single pass, multi-pass image output module mounted along the path of movement and having imaging devices including an image bearing member and a plural number of selectable developer housings, and each of the selectable developer housings containing a single spot color developer for forming spot color images in single passes and in multiple passes on the image bearing member for transfer onto the ITB.

Abstract: An imaging system may include first and second imaging assemblies for synchronously imaging on both sides of a receiver material using directed charged particle or aerosol toner printing methods. The imaging assemblies may in turn each include an imaging member and an intermediate transfer member, and the intermediate transfer member may be a split intermediate transfer member. The imaging system may also use flexible aperture print arrays.

Abstract: An image-forming device capable of image-forming on both sides of at least one sheet member, the device including an image-forming unit configured to form an image on the at least one sheet member, a sheet member supplying unit configured to supply the at least one sheet member, an image processing unit configured to process print job information, and an image-forming control unit configured to control, according to the print job information transmitted from the image data processing unit, image-forming operations on the at least one sheet member, wherein, in the event that a defect occurs in the at least one sheet member being supplied from the sheet member supplying unit during image formation on both sides of the at least one sheet member, the image-forming control unit transmits to the image data processing unit the print job information corresponding to the at least one sheet member at which a defect occurred.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearing member, a developer supplying conveyer, a developer receiving conveyer and a developer agitating conveyer. The developer supplying conveyer or the developer receiving conveyer has at least one dividing position. The dividing position is a position at which the conveying direction of the developer reverses, and a position which is arranged so that if the dividing position is projected to the developer bearing member along a plane which is perpendicular to the widthwise direction of the developer bearing member, the projected position on the developer bearing member is within an area in which the developer is borne on the developer bearing member.

Abstract: A printing system includes two image-forming units, each containing an image medium on which a powder image may be formed and an intermediate medium contactable with the image medium for transferring the powder image. Both intermediate media together form a nip for substantially simultaneously printing the powder images on two separate sides of a receiving medium. A toner is used for the formation of the powder images. The toner has a flowability, measured using an API flowability tester, of 6 or higher. A method is also provided for selecting the toner that is suitable for the printing system.

Abstract: A neutralizing mechanism is provided on at least one conveying path proximal member installed on a conveying path of a sheet material in a vicinity of a transfer position, and is grounded by using a conducting material. The neutralizing mechanism includes a neutralizing circuit that includes a resistor and a ground switch electrically connected in parallel to each other. The ground switch is turned off at least at a time of applying the transfer bias to prevent a leakage of a transfer current, and turned on for a predetermined time at a time other than the time of applying the transfer bias to earth and remove a static electricity from the conveying path proximal member.

Abstract: In an image transferring apparatus of the invention, a transfer roller which comes in press contact with a sheet sent through a sheet conveyance path and transfers a toner image formed by an image forming section onto the sheet is constructed to be capable of being pulled out from a main body frame, and after pulling from the main body frame, when it is again mounted to the main body frame, it can be easily mounted to the main body frame without receiving a reaction force caused by a pressing force to bring the transfer roller into press contact with the sheet.

Abstract: A medium feeding device is adapted to be attached to a recording apparatus to feed a recording medium thereto or adapted to be attached to a liquid ejecting apparatus to feed a target medium thereto A first tray is provided with a hopper adapted to support the recording medium or the target medium which is to be automatically fed to the recording apparatus or the liquid ejecting apparatus by a feeding roller. A second tray is arranged above the first tray and adapted to support the recording medium or the target medium which is to be manually fed to the recording apparatus or the liquid ejecting apparatus. The second tray includes a tray body and an extensible member which is retractably extended from the tray body toward the feeding roller.

Abstract: An imaging system may use electrophotographic processes to synchronously image on both sides of a receiver material, such as in a single pass of the receiver material through the imaging system. The system may include intermediate transfer members, which may be split rollers or non-split rollers. The intermediate transfer members may hold one image, or they may be 2-up or greater rollers that hold multiple images.

Abstract: A first and second printing engine are disposed with an intermediate transport belt in U-shaped arrangement. The method employs printing sheets serially on one side in the first engine inverting the sheet and transporting the sheets through about 180° change in direction without rotation. The commonality of the leading edge is thus maintained before and after inverting. The sheet is then fed to the second engine for duplex printing on the second side of the sheet. The second engine may have a media sheet input rotation for simplex printing serially with the duplex printing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image carrying belt, a second image carrying belt, a first transfer unit, a second transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a controller. Each of the first and second image carrying belt carries a toner image on their respective surface. The first and second transfer unit transfer the toner image from the respective first and second image carrying belt to a first and second face of a recording medium, respectively. The fixing unit receives the recording medium directly from the second image carrying belt and fixes the toner image on the respective first and second face of the recording medium. The controller variably controls a transport speed of the second image carrying belt depending on types of the recording medium when the second image carrying belt transports the recording medium from the second transfer unit to the fixing unit.

Abstract: An image-to-sheet closed loop registration system tracking the image drum position and/or velocity and coordinating movement of the sheet into the transfer nip based on such information.

Abstract: An imaging system may include first and second imaging assemblies for synchronously imaging on both sides of a receiver material using directed charged particle or aerosol toner printing methods. The imaging assemblies may in turn each include an imaging member and an intermediate transfer member, and the intermediate transfer member may be a split intermediate transfer member. The imaging system may also use flexible aperture print arrays.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus capable of image forming on both surfaces of a sheet, having a first transfer portion which transfers an image formed at an image forming unit to a first surface of the sheet, and a second transfer portion which transfers an image formed at the image forming unit to a second surface of the sheet, wherein the sheet on the first surface of which the image is formed at the first transfer portion is conveyed to the second transfer portion while keeping a front of the image to a front in a conveying direction, and the sheet is conveyed while keeping an end portion in a width direction of the sheet conveyed through the first transfer portion and the end portion in the width direction of the sheet conveyed through the second transfer portion on same end portion side relative to the sheet conveying direction.

Abstract: A toner including toner particles including a resin, a colorant, a wax, and a charge controlling agent, and an external additive, wherein the toner satisfies the relationships (1) 0.15×Q?2?T?0.15×Q?0.15, and (2) 1.0?T?2.5, wherein Q represents the charge of the toner in units of ?C/g, and T represents the torque of the toner in units of mN·m determined by a method using a cone-shaped rotor while controlling a space ratio of the toner at 58%. A developer including the toner and a carrier. An image forming apparatus including an image bearing member, a transfer device, a fixing device and a double side image forming unit, and using the toner, wherein the receiving material includes moisture in an amount of not greater than 5% by weight after the toner image on the first side is fixed.

Abstract: In an information processing apparatus when the body pages are set to start from the back side of the cover, the cover is printed on the first side of the first sheet, the first page of the body is printed on the second side of the first sheet, and the second and subsequent pages of the body are printed on both sides of the second and subsequent sheets. When the body pages are set to start from a sheet different from the cover, the cover is printed on the first side of the first sheet, only a background image of the cover is printed on the second side of the first sheet, which is the back side of the cover, and the body pages are printed on both sides of the second and subsequent sheets.

Abstract: An imaging system may use pulsed dc voltages to synchronously image on both sides of a receiver material, such as during a single pass of the receiver material through the imaging system. The imaging system may use electrophotographic processes to image on the receiver material. Alternatively, the imaging system may use directed charged particle or aerosol toner development processes to image on the receiver material.

Abstract: A modular copying system including combinations of printer, scanner, and system controller modules formed as independent frames. The scanner module includes devices for image reading, first data I/O and first synchronizing signal generation; the printer module includes devices for image forming, second data I/O and second synchronizing signal generation; and the system control module includes devices for third data I/O and system control. The modules are added or removed according to user requirements and the system is capable of accommodating up to seven modules. The modules are stacked in a vertical direction and arranging devices ensure proper module alignment. Once the modules are aligned and assembled in the system, communications between each module is accomplished via light wave, electric wave, or sonic wave transmission and reception. As a result, system interconnection is reduced, system noise is reduced and various connecting cables are eliminated.