Abstract: A wet-type image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a toner developer layer, and a toner amount detection unit. The toner amount detection unit includes a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit. The wavelength characteristics of a light emission intensity of the light-emitting unit and light reception sensitivity of the toner amount detection unit are set such that an intensity of detection sensitivity of the toner amount detection unit in accordance with a product of a light emission intensity of the light-emitting unit and light reception sensitivity of the light-receiving unit is greater in a wavelength region in which a characteristic value based on a product of a transmittance of the toner developer layer and a reflectivity of the image carrier as a reference for an emission light wavelength is included in a predetermined range, than in other wavelength regions.

Abstract: Methods for operating a toner printer are provided. In one method a toner image is printed according to first printing instructions. An amount of toner in a target area of the toner image is determined and second printing instructions are generated causing the toner printer to print at least one subsequent toner image based upon the determined amount of first toner.

Abstract: Techniques related to color analysis are disclosed herein. In an example, substrate locations on a printed pattern are selected based on a set of measurements related to substrate-height. Further, color of the printed pattern is determined at the selected locations.

Abstract: In a color misalignment detection method, an alignment pattern is obtained by designating a plurality of lines having line width and line intervals formed by superposing a line image of a black color as a reference color and a line image of a color other than the reference color, for example, a cyan line image, as one patch, and continuously forming these patches by shifting the relative position between the line images of the two colors by an optional quantity. An alignment pattern detection sensor has a light emitting diode and a photodiode. These elements are arranged along the scanning direction of the alignment pattern such that the photodiode can only receive diffused reflected light of reflected light from the alignment pattern. A spot shape of the light emitting diode and a spot shape of the photodiode are both formed in a square shape.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing use of customer documents in maintaining image quality or image quality consistency of printing devices are provided. The system may include a marking engine constructed to print images on an image bearing surface of the print device; one or more color measuring devices for measured toner images formed on the image bearing surface corresponding to the one or more relevant pages, and an image analyzer configured to generate reference images and to compare measured image data with the reference images. The image analyzer may also be configured to analyze input image data for a document and to identify one or more relevant pages of the document that may provide information regarding the state of the printing system to generated reference image data. Comparisons between the color separations of the reference image data and measured image data images may be realized for determining defects.

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

Abstract: A system and method control a consistent color quality of overlay colors and single separations of color. The method determines a first error for a first separation of a first color, wherein the first error has a first sign. The method identifies a second error for a second separation of a second color, wherein the second color is a different color than the first color, wherein the second error is based on an actual density value for toner particles printed transferred from the second separation, wherein the second error has a second sign. The method compares the first sign of the first error and the second sign of the second error. The method converges the actual density value of the second separation to a target position when the first sign is a different sign than the second sign.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image carrier that carries a first latent image. A first charging section charges the first image carrier. A first exposure section exposes the first image carrier charged by the first charging section. A first developing section develops the first latent image formed on the first image carrier in the first exposure section using a first liquid developer containing a carrier and first toner particles. A first primary transfer section transfers a first image developed in the first developing section onto a transfer medium. A second image carrier carries a second latent image. A second charging section charges the second image carrier. A second exposure section exposes the second image carrier charged by the second charging section.

Abstract: A color registration apparatus that independently forms images of predetermined respective colors and compensates a mis-registration between the overlapped images of respective colors employed in an image forming apparatus of forming a color image by overlapping the images of respective colors, includes a detecting unit to detect a contour form and positional information of respective color patterns formed on an image transfer path by the image forming apparatus proportional to a corresponding format of a printing medium where the color image will be transferred, and a controller to compensate a mis-registration between the overlapped images of respective colors through based on data detected by the detecting unit.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus which is capable of preventing images read from a double-sided original from suffering an in-surface color irregularity on each of images read from the respective opposite sides of a double-sided original and a color difference between the front and reverse. A CCD line sensor reads a front-side original image. An image processing ASIC calculates shading correction data for performing shading correction on original image data read from the original image by the CCD line sensor, based on read luminance values obtained by the CCD line sensor by reading a plurality of halftone gradation patches thereon on a correction chart. The shading correction data calculated by the image processing ASIC is corrected based on read luminance values associated, respectively, with at least two of the gradation patches.

Abstract: An image forming device includes an image forming unit that forms an image including at least one of a user-requested image and a test image onto a recording medium, a controller that controls the image forming unit to form a test image including a mixed color on the recording medium, a transporting path that transports the recording medium on which the test image is formed by the image forming unit, an image detecting unit disposed at the transporting path that detects the test image formed on the recording medium, and a calibration unit that performs a color calibration process based upon the test image detected by the image detecting unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which an image quality priority mode in which image density adjustment or image gradation control is effected to thereby give priority to the quality of an output image, and a speed priority mode in which gradation control is partly effected or is not effected to thereby output the output image within a short time can be selected by a user. A mode selection screen for selecting an image forming mode is displayed on the operating panel of the image forming apparatus. The image quality priority mode giving priority to the quality of image and the speed priority mode giving priority to speed are selectively displayed. When the user selects the image quality priority mode, and image control parameter is renewed immediately before image forming by image control, and the image forming is effected by the use of the renewed image control parameter, and when the speed priority mode is selected, at least part of the image control is not effected, but the image forming is effected.

Abstract: Even when an image signal is converted into an image signal with a limited amount of toner adhesion, the gradation is prevented from changing rapidly near the limiting value and therefore the image quality is prevented from deteriorating. An amount-of-adhesion converting circuit 301 converts image data for each color plane into first amount-of-toner-adhesion data. On the basis of a preset amount-of-toner-adhesion threshold value table, an amount-of-toner-adhesion reduction computing circuit 303 converts the first amount-of-toner-adhesion data for each color plane into second amount-of-toner-adhesion data with a limited amount of toner adhesion. Then, an image signal converting circuit 304 converts the second amount-of-toner-adhesion data into an image signal. In such a method, since parameters in the amount-of-toner-adhesion threshold value table are set arbitrarily, a rapid change in gradation can be suppressed near the limiting value.

Abstract: A sensor module is able to sense at least one aspect of objects produced by a plurality of object sources. Since one sensor module or set of sensor elements is used to examine output from the plurality of object sources, sensor to sensor variation is removed as a source of error. In a multi-engine document processor, information from the sensor module is used to adjust process actuators, adjust image data and/or generate scheduling constraints to improve output consistency. For example, facing pages of a document are rendered only on marking engines operating within a predetermined tolerance of one another. Image data may be altered so that related images are within the measured capabilities of a plurality of marking engines. System actuators, such as xerographic actuators, of selected marking engines are adjusted to improve output consistency between marking engines.

Abstract: A method for generating a calibration product for an image producing device. The image producing device includes a plurality of toner stations and a transfer medium. Each toner station is configured to deposit an associated toner onto the transfer medium to thereby generate the calibration product. The method includes depositing a first toner from a first toner station onto the transfer medium while moving the transfer medium from a first position relative to the plurality of toner stations to a second position. The method further includes depositing a second toner from a second toner station onto the transfer medium while continuing to deposit the first toner onto the transfer medium while moving the transfer medium from the second position to a third position.

Abstract: Color imaging methods and systems are provided where each color separation image is to be registered in a composite manner under a variety of machine conditions. Registration sensors are provided to register the color separations under a variety of machine conditions while accounting for the different types of registration sensors used. A controller calibrates the registration sensors automatically based on set-up data and, using the calibrated sensors, controls the output of the image data for one or more of the color separation images to reduce or eliminate image registration offsets. The registration sensors are calibrated by directly measuring set-up marks during set-up. Each registration sensor outputs a feedback to the controller during set-up to account for phenomenon caused by variation in toner concentration or sensor susceptibility. The registration sensors provide a plurality of set-up sensor feedback values, one for each of at least four colors and one for a bare photoreceptor belt.

Abstract: A stapler made with an upside down structure and used in downside up position in which loading of the cartridge is easily attained, is provided. The stapler comprises a base plate 21 which is fixed on a top board 13, a bracket 30 which is rotatably attached to an arm board portion 25 of the base plate 21, a stapler body 40 which is attached to the bracket 30 and a stopper 70 which fixes the stapler body 40 in its downside up posture.

Abstract: A method of calibrating an electrophotographic machine having an image bearing surface includes depositing a toner patch on the image-bearing surface. The toner patch has a nominal coverage that varies substantially continuously from end to end. Light is emitted onto a selected one of the areas of the toner patch. An amount of light that is reflected off of the selected one area of the toner patch is measured. The emitting and measuring steps are repeated for each of a plurality of different areas of the toner patch. At least one electrophotographic condition is adjusted. The adjusting is dependent upon the measuring steps.

Abstract: A photosensor includes a light emitting device, a light receiving device for receiving a side beam from said light emitting device, and a light diffusing member disposed between a side surface of said light emitting device and said light receiving device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating and cutting individual images from a web containing a plurality of images, the web having a magnetic media capable of retaining magnetically recorded data. The apparatus comprising a reader for reading magnetically recorded data contained on the magnetic media which provides information relating to the location of the images thereon; and a mechanism responsive to the information read by the reader and for performing an operation to the web in accordance with the information.