Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a color toner image forming unit that forms a color toner image on a recording medium; a first colorless transparent toner image forming unit that forms a first colorless transparent toner image on the color toner image; a first fixing unit that fixes the image on the recording medium; a gloss level increasing device that increases a gloss level of the entire image on the recording medium that has been fixed; a second colorless transparent toner image forming unit that forms a second colorless transparent toner image on the image whose gloss level has been increased; and a second fixing unit that fixes the second colorless transparent toner image on the recording medium.

Abstract: An image delete apparatus has a paper feed tray that feeds recording media, a group of sensors containing a double-feed detection sensor that senses double-feed of the recording media and a media sensor that senses thicknesses of the recording media, a folding unit, and an auxiliary carrying path, and includes a collecting unit that folds and collects the recording media.

Abstract: A gloss applicator to apply a gloss to toner by heating and then forcibly cooling a toner image on a recording medium, includes: a plurality of rollers including a heat roller disposed upstream in a conveyance direction of the recording medium bearing the toner image thereon; an endless belt wound around the plurality of rollers and including a taut portion along the conveyance direction of the recording medium; a pressure roller disposed at a position opposite the heat roller sandwiching the endless belt together with the heat roller; a cooling member disposed at an interior surface of the taut portion of the endless belt; and a pair of separating members disposed at both ends of the cooling member and configured to contact and separate the endless belt to and from the cooling member so as to change an area of contact of the cooling member with the endless belt.

Abstract: A recording material cooling device includes: a transporting section that transports a recording material; a heat radiation section that radiates heat of the recording material through the transporting section, the heat radiation section coming into contact with the transporting section; an air current generating section that generates an air current which flows through the heat radiation section; and a pair of passages that are respectively located before and after a zone where the transporting section and the heat radiation section are brought into contact with each other, each of the pair of passages being formed on an outer side of the heat radiation section to flow a portion of the air current.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for carrying a toner image, a transferer supplied with a voltage to transfer a toner image from the member onto a recording material in a transfer portion, heaters with different heating conditions for heating the image transferred onto the material, a refeeder for refeeding the material to the transfer portion to transfer the image onto the material having the image fixed by the heater, a selector for selecting the glossiness of the image after fixing, a device for determining the heater to heat the image from the heaters in accordance with the glossiness selected by the selector, and a device for changing the voltage for transferring the image onto the refed material in accordance with the heater having heated the image on the material prior to the material being refed by the refeeder.

Abstract: A paper sheet humidifying device including a humidifying roller to convey a paper sheet and apply water to the paper sheet; a water supply roller to supply water to the humidifying roller; a water supply plate to contain the water for dipping the water supply roller, and to eject excessive water by overflowing; a water feeding section to feed the water to the water supply plate; a drain tank to receive the water ejected from the water supply plate, the drain tank comprising a drain outlet to eject the received water; a water level sensor to output a signal when a water level in the drain tank reaches a prescribed level; and a controller to execute a control to prevent overflowing of the water from the drain tank based on the signal from the water level sensor.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a decolorizing apparatus includes a control section and a decolorizing section. The control section acquires information that distinguishes a first area, which is an area where an image is formed on a sheet, and the other areas. The decolorizing section decolorizes an image in the first area according to the information acquired by the control section.

Abstract: Disclosed in an image forming apparatus including a conveyance section to convey a paper, a first fixing device to fix a toner on the paper by heat fixing, a first cooling device to cool the paper in which the toner is fixed, a second fixing device to fix the toner on the paper by heat fixing, a second cooling device to cool the paper in which the toner is fixed, a conveyance path switching section to switch a conveyance path of the paper between a first conveyance path and a second conveyance path and a control section to control so as to carry out cooling by operating the second cooling device and not operating the first cooling device when the paper is to be conveyed to the first conveyance path and so as to carry out cooling by operating the first cooling device when the paper is to be conveyed to the second conveyance path.

Abstract: A gloss applicator includes a heater member to be heated by a heat source; an endless belt to rotate while being heated by the heater member; a pressure member that presses against the heater member via the endless belt, thereby forming a nip; a cooling unit to cool the endless belt, wherein a recording medium on which a toner image is formed is conveyed into the nip, the recording medium is further conveyed from the nip while being in contact with the endless belt to be cooled by the cooling unit and separated from the endless belt; a temperature sensor configured to detect a surface temperature of the endless belt, disposed between the separating position of the recording medium and a heating position by the heater member; and a cooling controller to control the cooling unit to vary a cooling amount based on a temperature detected by the temperature sensor.

Abstract: A method of deinking an image-bearing member using an organic solvent includes receiving the image-bearing member. The member has thereon a continuous or discontinuous image layer formed of toner particles that do not include colorant, and colorant particles or molecules. The colorant particles or molecules are arranged in a pattern corresponding to the arrangement of the toner particles. The organic solvent is hydrophobic or oliophilic and the colorant is insoluble in the organic solvent. The hydrophobic or oliophilic organic solvent is applied to the image-bearing member, so that a majority of the toner image layer is dissolved off the image-bearing member and the colorant is removed from the image-bearing member. A deinked reflection density of the image-bearing member in a selected test area from which the toner image layer was dissolved is within 0.15 of an imprinted reflection density of the image-bearing member before deinking.

Abstract: A system is adapted for simulating a textured pattern on a non-textured substrate. The system includes generating at least a first textured description in a controller unit operatively associated with at least one image forming apparatus. The first textured description is combined with at least one image of an original print job to generate a first print job. The first textured description is printed on at least one face of a substrate to provide a perceived first textured substrate. The at least one image is then printed on the perceived first textured substrate.

Abstract: A sheet cooling device includes a fixing device for heat fixing an unfixed image formed on a sheet; and a cooling device for cooling the sheet heated by the fixing device, the cooling device including, a rotatable endless belt contactable with the sheet heated by the fixing device and traveling above the fixing device; and a cooling member for cooling the endless belt to condense water vapor produced by a fixing operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a printing apparatus that performs gloss finish treatment on at least a partial region of paper on which an image has been printed, including a gloss finish treatment adding portion that, when subsequently performing gloss finish treatment on paper, additionally performs gloss finish treatment on a partial region of the paper excluding any gloss-finished region.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including an image carrier, a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier using a developing agent containing a decolorable toner and forming a developing agent image, and a transferring and conveying mechanism and a fixing and decolorizing mechanism. In a decolorizing mode, the image carrier and a transfer member are separated in the transferring and conveying mechanism to secure a conveying path to prevent a transfer material from coming into contact with the image carrier. A decolorable image is decolorized at second temperature higher than first temperature in the fixing and decolorizing mechanism.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor drum, a charging part, an exposure unit, a developing part which feeds a photoreactive toner, a color formation exposure part, a transfer part, a recording medium feeding part, a fixing part, and a control unit part which controls operations of the above elements. The control unit part controls such that a photoreactive toner processed so as not to develop a color is transferred to a recording medium having transferred or fixed thereto a toner image processed so as to develop a color, and a photoreactive toner processed so as not to develop a color is fixed to an image formed on the recording medium, thereby forming a transparent toner coat layer which is a colorless and transparent toner layer.

Abstract: A conductive coating is described, suitable for coating a developer, charge or transfer roller in a developing apparatus to give a charge providing layer. The coating comprises a conductive polymer in a matrix. A roller is also described, suitable for a developing apparatus comprising, from the center to the periphery, a conductive mandrel, a conductive elastic base layer and a charge providing layer.

Abstract: A printing method for producing a textured thin film image (142) upon a receiver (20(R)) is provided. The method may include the steps of a. depositing one or more toner images (50) to form a predetermined adhesive image (50) with more than one level of height; and b. applying and fixing a foil (30) to at least a portion of the adhesive image to create a textured thin film image (142).

Abstract: An image forming method includes charging an image holding member; forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the image holding member; developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image holding member with a toner or an electrostatic image developer to form a toner image; transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the image holding member onto a surface of a transfer-receiving material; fixing the toner image by pressurization without heating; feeding at least one photoreactive component to the toner or toner image; and irradiating the toner image with ultraviolet rays, wherein the toner satisfies the relationship of the following relational expression (1): TB(30)?100<TA(30)??(1) wherein TB (30) and TA (30) are defined in the specification.

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

Abstract: Wax management systems are provided. In one aspect a wax management system has print positioning system having an input to receive a fused toner print having a toner image with a viewing surface that has first portions with wax globules and second portions without wax globules and a print positioning apparatus that arranges the print for wiping by a wiping system having a wiping surface that wipes the viewing surface to move at least some of the wax from the wax globules onto the second portion. A wax management device controller determines when fused toner print is at a temperature where the toner image is below a glass transition temperature of the toner and the wax is below a melting temperature for the wax and to position the print for wiping. The controller causes the wiping system to wipe the print after the controller makes the determination.

Abstract: In one aspect a method for operating a printer is provided in which a toner image is formed on a receiver using a toner having a polymeric binder and a wax. A contact surface is used to apply heat and pressure to heat the toner at least to a glass transition temperature for the toner and to heat the wax to at least an incorporated melting temperature. The toner image is allowed to cool below a glass transition temperature of the toner to form a fused toner image having a viewing surface and the wax is allowed to cool below the melting temperature for the wax so that after cooling the viewing surface has first portions with wax globules and second portions without wax globules. The viewing surface is wiped to move at least some of the wax from the wax globules in the first portions onto the second portions.

Abstract: Printers are provided having wax management systems. In one aspect, a printer has a print engine provides a toner image on a receiver using a toner having a binder polymer and a wax and a fuser having a contact surface that heats the toner at least to a glass transition temperature for the toner and the wax at least to an incorporated melting temperature to cause at least some of the wax to separate from the toner. A controller allows the toner image to cool to form a fused toner image having a viewing surface and the wax to cool to form first portions of the viewing surface with wax globules and second portions without wax globules. A wiping system wipes the viewing surface to move at least some of the wax from the wax globules onto the second portion when the toner image and wax are cooled.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming section which transfers a toner image according to image data onto a recording sheet, a first fixing section which fixes the toner image with heat of the first fixing roller, a clear layer forming section which forms a clear layer on the toner image which the first fixing section has fixed, a second fixing section which fixes the clear layer with heat of the second fixing roller and a control section which controls the clear layer forming section to increase the thickness of the clear layer in a recording sheet area corresponding to a fixed area during the second revolution of the first fixing roller on the recording sheet, compared with a recording sheet area corresponding to a fixed area during the first revolution thereof.

Abstract: A fixed image gloss control system outputs a warm pressure-fixed image having a low gloss level. The image is alterable to change the low gloss level to a high gloss level or an intermediate gloss level. The fixing system includes a pressure roll and a fixing roll that together form a fixing nip. The pressure roll has a polyurethane contact surface. A polishing mechanism may polish the fused image to achieve a desired gloss level.

Abstract: A cooling device is disclosed. The cooling device includes a cooling section which is moveably provided with respect to an image forming device body between a first location and a second location, the second location being different from the first location, and which cools surroundings with a cooling medium to be supplied; a cooling medium supply section which is provided at the image forming device body and which cools the cooling medium to supply the cooled cooling medium to the cooling section; and a connecting member which connects the cooling section and the cooling medium supply section to circulate the cooling medium between the cooling section and the cooling medium supply section, wherein the connecting member includes a flexible member and is supported by a guiding member which guides an operation of tracking the connecting member in conjunction with movement of the cooling section.

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

Abstract: Apparatus for bending a receiver having an image side and a non-image side in a bend area having a bend axis. Toner is deposited on the image side of the receiver in the bend area. A device compresses the deposited toner to form a toner film using a heated anvil and a selectively-cooled quencher that stretch and cooled the toner in the bend area below its Tg to form a toner film disposed over the surface of the receiver in the bend area. A heater reheats the bend area of the receiver so that temperature of the toner in the bend area rises above its Tg, so that the toner contracts and the receiver bends at the bend axis.

Abstract: A method of forming a clear toner overcoat or a colored toner image on a substrate is disclosed. The overcoat or colored image provides antibacterial and antifungal protection. The method includes providing a source of toner having a mixture of polymer agent and a silver salt biocide including a silver sulfate biocide having a concentration range of 0.0005 to 10 weight %, applying the clear toner or colored toner in an image wise fashion to a substrate, and fixing the clear or colored toner to the substrate whereby an effective coating or image is formed that provides antibacterial and antifungal protection.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide methods for treating a xerographic printed substrate with an enzyme solution to increase the surface free energy of the substrate. Other exemplary embodiments provide methods for making an adhesive medium with an enzyme-treated substrate.

Abstract: A fixing device including a fixing unit that fixes a toner image on a recording material by application of heat and pressure, and a glossing unit that controls a gloss of the toner image fixed on the recording material. The glossing unit includes a heating roller, an endless belt stretched taut over multiple rollers including the heating roller, a pressing roller pressed against the heating roller with the endless belt therebetween to form a nip therebetween, and a separating member that separates the recording material from the endless belt downstream from the nip. The multiple rollers are positioned to maintain the recording material in contact with the endless belt for a predetermined distance downstream from the nip. The separating member is movable along the endless belt downstream from the nip, to control a length of contact between the recording material and the endless belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transparent image forming unit configured to form a transparent toner image on a recording material, a fixing unit configured to fix the transparent toner image formed on the recording material, an acquisition unit configured to acquire a region where a mark visually recognizable due to a glossiness difference is to be formed, and a control unit configured to control the transparent image forming unit such that the transparent toner image formed in the region acquired by the acquisition unit is formed in a predetermined pattern in which a first portion having first glossiness after fixing and a second portion having second glossiness after fixing that is different from the first glossiness are at least alternately disposed.

Abstract: In the case where a sheet on which a transparent toner image is to be formed has low glossiness, when the transparent toner image is formed in an area in which a user wishes to partly lower the glossiness, the glossiness in the area in which the user wishes to lower the glossiness is increased. For that reason, a print as desired by the user cannot be obtained by fixing the transparent toner image in an area corresponding to the area in which the user wishes to lower the glossiness. In the case where the sheet to be subjected to printing is judged as low glossy paper, the transparent toner image is placed in an image formable area except for the area in which the user wishes to lower the glossiness.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes: a first heater, having a nip through which a sheet passes, for heating toner image on the sheet; a second heater, having a nip through which the sheet passes, capable of heating the toner image on the sheet having passed through the first heater; a changer for changing the feeding speed of the sheet of the second image heater; two detectors for detecting the amount of slack of the sheet at one and the other ends of the sheet when the sheet is nipped by both of the nips; an adjuster adjusting the distance between the first and second heaters at the one and the other ends; and a portion for executing a correction mode when the amounts of slack detected by the detectors are different from each other, so that after the adjuster reduces the distance, the feeding speed is controlled.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a first development unit configured to form a first image on a recording medium with a first developer, a second development unit configured to form a second image on the recording medium with at least one of a plurality of second developers that are different from the first developer, and a print control unit configured to select the at least one of the plurality of second developers for forming the second image. The second developers are transparent developers, and the second image is a transparent image.

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

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet feeding unit configured to feed a recording sheet, a transfer unit configured to transfer a toner image to the recording sheet fed by the sheet feeding unit, a fixing unit configured to heat the toner image transferred to the recording sheet by the transfer unit, a gloss imparting unit configured to impart gloss to an arbitrary region of the recording sheet heated by the fixing unit, a calculation unit configured to calculate a shrinkage ratio of the recording sheet shrunk through heating by the fixing unit, and a correction unit configured to correct the region to which gloss is imparted by the gloss imparting unit according to the shrinkage ratio calculated by the calculation unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a fixing device having a first nip to fix toner to a recording medium; a conveyance device provided at a position downstream from the fixing device in a direction of conveyance of the recording medium to convey the recording medium further downstream; a guide member provided along a conveyance path of the recording medium between the fixing device and the conveyance device to contact and convey the recording medium from the fixing device to the conveyance device, the guide member having multiple through-holes formed therein and penetrating from a front surface of the guide member facing the conveyance path of the recording medium to a back surface of the guide member; and an airflow generator to generate an airflow through the multiple through-holes.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed, including: a toner image forming unit which forms a toner image on a surface of a transfer material, the toner image being an image formed of toner, the toner containing wax; a fixing device which fixes the toner image using a fixing member on which a mold release agent including oil is applied; and a surface processing device which processes the fixed surface of the transfer material, on which surface the toner image is fixed using the fixing member on which the mold release agent including the oil is applied, wherein the surface processing device further includes a discharging unit which generates a discharge on or near the fixed surface of the transfer material, on which surface the fixed toner image is formed.

Abstract: An image glossing apparatus including a recording sheet feeder feeding a recording sheet bearing a toner image; a glossing device including a heater heating a glossing portion of the toner image to gloss the portion; a glossiness information obtaining device obtaining position information on the position of the glossing portion; and a position detector including a tip detector detecting tip of the fed recording sheet, and a distance measuring device measuring the moving distance of the recording sheet after the tip of the recording sheet is detected. The position detector detects the position of a portion of the recording sheet facing the heater based on the information on the tip of the recording sheet and the information on the moving distance of the recording sheet. When the portion of the recording sheet facing the heater is the glossing portion, the heater heats the portion to gloss the glossing portion.

Abstract: A glossing device includes a heater member, a stripper member, an endless rotary belt, a pressure member, and a belt cooler. The heater member is subjected to heating. The stripper member is disposed parallel to the heater member. The endless rotary belt is looped for rotation around the heater member and the stripper member in a longitudinal, conveyance direction of the belt. The pressure member is disposed opposite the heater member via the belt. The heater member and the pressure member press against each other via the belt to form a glossing nip therebetween. The recording medium after passage through the nip remains in contact with the belt as the belt moves from the heater member toward the stripper member, and separates from the belt as the belt passes around the stripper member. The belt cooler is disposed adjacent to the belt to cool the belt.

Abstract: A glossing device includes a first roller, a second roller, an endless rotary belt, a third roller, a heater, a belt cooler, and a suction mechanism. The second roller is disposed parallel to the first roller. The endless rotary belt is looped for rotation around the first and second rollers. The third roller is disposed opposite the first roller via the belt. The heater is disposed adjacent to the belt to heat the belt. The first and third rollers press against each other via the belt to form a nip therebetween. The belt cooler is disposed inside the loop of the belt downstream from the first roller and upstream from the second roller for cooling the belt. The belt cooler includes at least two mutually spaced cooling elements that together form a gapped contact surface for establishing thermal contact with the belt.

Abstract: A glossing device includes a heat roller, a stripper roller, an endless, rotary glossing belt, a first belt cooler, a pressure member, an endless, rotary cooling belt, and a second belt cooler. The heat roller is subjected to heating. The stripper roller is disposed parallel to the heat roller. The glossing belt is looped for rotation around the heat roller and the stripper roller. The first belt cooler is disposed adjacent to the glossing belt to cool the glossing belt. The pressure member is disposed opposite the heat roller. The cooling belt is looped for rotation around the pressure member. The second belt cooler is disposed adjacent to the cooling belt to cool the cooling belt. The heat roller and the pressure member press against each other via the glossing belt and the cooling belt to form a glossing nip therebetween through which the recording medium is conveyed.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first roller, a second roller, an endless rotary belt, a third roller, a heater, a belt cooler, and an upstream guide member. The second roller is disposed parallel to the first roller. The endless rotary belt is looped for rotation around the first and second rollers. The third roller is disposed opposite the first roller via the belt. The heater is positioned adjacent to the belt to heat the belt. The first and third rollers press against each other via the belt to form a nip therebetween. The belt cooler is disposed inside the loop of the belt downstream from the first roller and upstream from the second roller for cooling the belt. The belt cooler has a convex contact surface. The upstream guide member is disposed inside the loop of the belt upstream from the contact surface to guide the belt.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus that outputs color information to an image forming apparatus that forms a toner image on a sheet using color toner and transparent toner, the color information representing a toner image to be formed on the sheet by the image forming apparatus, including: an extracting unit that extracts a characteristic region from input image data; a first calculating unit that creates, based on the image data, first color information on a toner image corresponding to the color toner; a second calculating unit that calculates second color information by which a prescribed amount of the transparent toner is applied to the characteristic region extracted by the extracting unit; and an outputting unit that outputs the first and second color information calculated by the first and second calculating units to the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including multiple colored toner image forming units to form multiple colored toner images on a rotatable body, a transfer device to collectively transfer the multiple colored toner images onto a recording medium from the rotatable body, a fixing device to fix the multiple colored toner images onto the recording medium, and a light-colored toner image forming unit to form a light-colored toner image as a bottommost layer of a resultant full-color toner image formed on the rotatable body. The multiple colored toner images are sequentially superimposed on the light-colored toner image formed as the bottommost layer of the resultant full-color toner image formed on the rotatable body. A condition for forming the light-colored toner image by the light-colored toner image forming unit is set such that the light-colored toner image is not transferred onto the recording medium from the rotatable body by the transfer device.

Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a film; a film conveying device; a heating device, contactable to a film surface opposite from another film surface where the film is contactable to the recording material, for selectively heating the recording material via the film in a heating region with respect to a direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the recording material; a recording material conveying device for conveying the recording material toward a film contact portion; and a control device for controlling, when a plurality of recording materials are heated by the heating device, the recording material conveying device to convey the recording materials toward the film contact portion so that a heating region of the recording material is contacted to the film and so that at least a part of a region of the recording material other than the heating region overlaps another recording material.

Abstract: A cooling device including at least two cooling members to cool a recording medium passing thereover, a coolant circulation unit to circulate a coolant, and tubing that connects the coolant circulation unit to the cooling members and through which the coolant circulates. Each of the cooling members includes a heat-absorbing surface that directly contacts the recording medium or indirectly contacts the recording medium via a thermal transmission member, an internal channel provided within each of the cooling members through which the coolant circulates, and a channel inlet and outlet formed at downstream and upstream ends of each of the cooling members in a direction of conveyance of the recording medium, respectively. One of an interval and a thermal insulator is provided between the cooling members.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is described. A sheet is transported from a sheet cooling unit 50, turned downwards in a U-turn through a U-shaped transportation guide member 61, and transported to a sheet reversing conveyance unit 60 which is located below the sheet cooling unit 50. The sheet reversing conveyance unit 60 reverses the sheet through a U-shaped reversing guide member 63 and transports the sheet to a main conveyance unit 40 which is on the upstream side of an image forming unit 10.

Abstract: A gloss applicator, disposed downstream from a fusing device for fusing a non-fused image on a recording medium, includes a pair of pressure units, an endless belt, and a belt suction unit. The pair of pressure units define a gloss nip therebetween through which the recording medium is passed to enhance glossiness of the fused image. The endless belt, disposed in one of the pressure units in an extended loop configuration, transports the recording medium thereon. An outer face of the endless belt can contact the fused image on the recording medium. The belt suction unit, disposed inside the endless belt loop, exerts suction on the endless belt to locally deform a given portion of the endless belt and separate the recording medium from the endless belt at the given portion as a separation position.

Abstract: A printer driver in a host computer (PC/WS) instructs an image input/output apparatus to perform clear toner printing in which color-toner data printed by using a plurality of color toners and clear-toner data printed by using a clear toner are printed in a superimposed relation. Upon accepting an instruction for a test print of the clear toner printing, the printer driver defines a first color and a second color, which differ from each other and which are discernible relative to colors designated in the color-toner data, and issues a printing instruction to the image input/output apparatus such that a portion designated in the clear-toner data where the clear toner is coated by the clear toner printing is printed in the first color, and a portion designated in the clear-toner data where the clear toner is not coated by the clear toner printing is printed in the second color.