Abstract: A grammage detection sensor which detects a grammage of a recording medium using an ultrasonic wave includes a transmitting unit configured to transmit the ultrasonic wave and a receiving unit including a first vibration member configured to receive the ultrasonic wave that is transmitted from the transmitting unit and passes through the recording medium. The receiving unit includes a guide member configured to guide the ultrasonic wave that passes through the recording medium to the first vibration member. A length from a surface of the first vibration member to a plane including an end plane of the guide member along a line that passes through a center of the first vibration member and is perpendicular to the first vibration member is approximately n times of one-half wavelength of the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmitting unit where n is an integer of one or greater.

Abstract: When image forming is to be successively performed on recording sheets having different sizes, an image forming apparatus suitably executes adjustment processing on a fixing apparatus or the like used in the image forming, and maintains image quality as well as suppresses a drop in productivity. To accomplish this, the image forming apparatus specifies the size of a printing material onto which an image is to be performed, and with use of the specified printing material size and the size of printing materials on which images have been formed immediately previously, determines whether it is necessary to execute adjustment processing for maintaining image quality. Specifically, adjustment processing is executed only if the size of the printing material on which an image is to be formed is greater than the size of the printing materials on which images were formed immediately previously.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner image forming device that forms a toner image by using at least one of a plurality of toners that include a color toner and a first transparent toner; an intermediate transfer body to which the toner image is transferred; a second transfer unit that transfers the toner image to a recording medium; and a controller that acquires characteristic information that represents a characteristic of in-plane resistance variation of a currently-used recording medium before the toner image forming device forms the toner image, and if the characteristic information indicates that the in-plane resistance variation of the currently-used recording medium is larger than a predetermined value, controls the toner image forming device so that the toner image forming device forms a transparent toner image in such a way that a color toner image is superimposed on the transparent toner image on the intermediate transfer body.

Abstract: An image-carrier driving unit drives an image carrier. An image forming unit forms an image on the image carrier. A moving-member driving unit drives a moving member that is movable towards and away from the image carrier. A detecting unit detects a position of the moving member at predetermined sampling times while the moving member is moving. A movement control unit performs a feedback control on the moving-member driving unit such that a detection result of the detecting unit follows a target value corresponding to each of the predetermined sampling times when the moving member moves while the image forming unit is forming the image on the image carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a calculating unit configured to specify pieces of thickness information for calculation of a difference between thicknesses of a recording medium among pieces of thickness information each indicating thicknesses of the recording medium and calculate the difference using the specified pieces of thickness information, the pieces of thickness information being obtained as a detection result by sequentially detecting the thicknesses of the recording medium being conveyed; a determining unit configured to determine whether the calculated difference is equal to or larger than a first threshold; and a transfer unit configured to transfer an image onto the recording medium using at least an alternating-current voltage when the difference is equal to or larger than the first threshold.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a light irradiation unit and a reflector. The light irradiation unit irradiates a recording medium conveyed in a conveying direction with laser light along a first direction that is substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction. The reflector reflects first to fourth angular components of a part of the laser light reflected at an irradiation position at which the recording medium is irradiated, such that a first intersection point between the first and third angular components after the reflection and a second intersection point between the second and fourth angular components after the reflection as seen in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction and the first direction are at different positions in a direction of displacement of the recording medium, the direction of displacement crossing the conveying direction. A developing agent on the recording medium is melted by the laser light.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing unit, a shearing unit, a detection unit, and a controller. The fixing unit fixes a toner image in place on a printed surface of a recording medium. The shearing unit is disposed downstream from the fixing unit along the media conveyance path to at least partially shear toner from the fixed toner image, so as to create a shorn image area that exhibits a different image density than that of an intact, unshorn image area on the printed surface of the recording medium. The detection unit is disposed at least partially downstream from the shearing unit along the media conveyance path to measure the image densities of the shorn and unshorn image areas. The controller is operatively connected to the fixing unit and the detection unit to adjust one or more operational parameters according to a difference between the measured image densities.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a paper-type detecting unit includes a paper-type detecting unit that detects a paper type of a sheet to be printed, a fixing unit that sets fixing temperature on the basis of the paper type detected by the paper-type detecting unit and fixes a toner image on the sheet, a paper-type-detection-failure determining unit that determines that the paper-type detecting unit is in failure, a paper-type-during-failure setting unit that sets in advance a paper type having a high frequency of use as a paper type during a failure according to a region, and a printing-during-failure selecting unit which is selectably provided, when the paper-type-detection-failure determining unit determines that the paper-type detecting unit is in failure, whether a printing condition for the paper type set by the paper-type-during-failure setting unit is set or it is determined that the paper type is a paper type of a sheet printed immediately before the failure and a printing condition is continued.

Abstract: A control apparatus configured to control an image forming system, in forming a transparent image so as to cover color images fixed on a sheet, applies a transparent toner on an area on which an image can be formed and which is other than an area that a user desires to increase the glossiness thereof.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and method which can take a countermeasure against a tail or the like in consideration of differences of various conditions such as a kind of transfer paper and the like is provided. The apparatus has an image processing portion for extracting an image pattern whose image information has a concentration of 100% and executing a thin-out process for thinning out a predetermined area in the extracted image pattern at a predetermined ratio. The image processing portion or step changes the thin-out process according to the transfer paper kind.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a drum-shaped image carrier; a transfer and separation device which includes a conveyor belt for conveying a transfer material, a transfer roller for supporting the conveyor belt, and a nip regulating roller that is disposed downstream of the transfer roller in a conveyance direction of the transfer material; a transfer region changing section adapted to change a downstream end of the transfer region in a conveyance direction of the transfer material by changing a position of the nip regulating roller; and a transfer pressure changing section which changes a transfer pressure that corresponds to a pressure by the transfer roller against the image carrier, wherein the transfer pressure changing section changes the transfer pressure in correspondence with the change of the downstream end of the transfer region by the transfer region changing section.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided a printing system that includes first and second marking devices for applying images to print media. A first fusing module associated with the first marking device for applying a primary fusing treatment to the images applied to print media by the first marking device. A second fusing module which receives printed media from the first and second marking devices, the secondary fusing module including a fusing device that applies a fusing treatment to the images applied to the printed media. A printing controller having a scheduler for processing print jobs in the first and second marking devices based on fusing requirements of the print media.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet conveying path that conveys a sheet from a paper feeding tray to a secondary transfer position, an image transfer unit that transfers an image onto the sheet conveyed to the secondary transfer position via the sheet conveying path, a detection sensor that optically acquires information concerning a dirty spot on the sheet in a detection position located further on an upstream side than the secondary transfer position in the sheet conveying path, and a CPU that determines, on the basis of the information acquired by the detection sensor, whether a dirty spot is present in a predetermined region of the sheet.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus may compensate for potential printing irregularities caused by creasing of a print medium by detecting a humidity and determining whether the humidity is equal or above a specified threshold. If so, the image formation apparatus may increase a size of an area in which no image is to be formed at a trailing end of side of the print medium on which an image is to be formed. Increasing the size of the non-image area may include shifting an image formation area (e.g., where the image is to be formed) toward a leading end of the print medium and/or scaling the image and the image formation area to be smaller.

Abstract: A transfer device includes: a first transfer unit that transfers a developer image formed on an image carrier to an intermediate transfer member; a second transfer unit that transfers the developer image on the intermediate transfer member to a recording medium; and a control unit that controls at least one of a transfer pressure and a transfer electric field by the first transfer unit in accordance with a type of the recording medium to which the developer image is transferred.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediary transfer member having an elastic layer; a toner image forming portion for forming a toner image for an image to be carried on the intermediary transfer member; a transfer member, which presses the intermediary transfer member, for transferring the toner image for the image from the intermediary transfer member onto a recording material; a pressing mechanism capable of changing pressure applied from the transfer member to the intermediary transfer member; and a controller for controlling the toner image forming portion so that a length of the toner image for the image on the intermediary transfer member with respect to a rotational direction of the intermediary transfer member is decreased with an increase of the pressure.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming portion for forming a transparent image on a sheet by using transparent toner; an obtaining portion for obtaining a size of the sheet on which an image is to be formed; a storing portion for storing image data, for forming the transparent image on an entire image formable area of the sheet with the transparent toner, for each of a plurality of predetermined sheets different in size from each other; and a control portion for controlling the image forming portion so that the transparent image is formed on the sheet on the basis of the image data corresponding to the size of the sheet obtained by the obtaining portion.

Abstract: A method and a system for operating one or more printers, including: a first database for managing and storing first content within the system; a second database for managing and storing second content within the system; and at least one network connection for connecting the first database and the second database for allowing the first content and the second content to be shared between the first database and the second database; wherein at least one of the first content or the second content include at least one or more printer profiles.

Abstract: An ICC profile includes brief gloss information indicating glossy/matte attribute as attribute information, however, gloss matching cannot be performed with the 2 options. In a case where embedding of glossiness information into the ICC profile is designated, glossiness information is obtained from a color chart placed on an original plate of a color copier, and the obtained glossiness information is described in a private tag of the ICC profile.

Abstract: A recording material detection apparatus having a detecting device configured to detect a surface state of a recording material on the basis of reflected light from a surface of the recording material includes a reference surface to be irradiated with light from a light source, the detecting device includes a light-shielding portion configured to control conditions for detecting information relating to the surface state of the recording material on the basis of the reflected surface from the reference surface, and cover a portion of the reference panel other than the reference surface so as to prevent the light from the light source from being reflected from the portion of the reference panel other than the reference surface and being received by the light-receiving unit.

Abstract: When image forming is to be successively performed on recording sheets having different sizes, an image forming apparatus suitably executes adjustment processing on a fixing apparatus or the like used in the image forming, and maintains image quality as well as suppresses a drop in productivity. To accomplish this, the image forming apparatus specifies the size of a printing material onto which an image is to be performed, and with use of the specified printing material size and the size of printing materials on which images have been formed immediately previously, determines whether it is necessary to execute adjustment processing for maintaining image quality. Specifically, adjustment processing is executed only if the size of the printing material on which an image is to be formed is greater than the size of the printing materials on which images were formed immediately previously.

Abstract: Method of fixing marking particles to sheets having different basis weights in a continuous stream of receiver sheets, includes: providing two fixing members which engage each other to form a nip, at least one of the members being heated; and adjusting at least one parameter including temperature, speed, or pressure in the fixing nip, which will provide a predetermined gloss upon the sheet(s). The method further includes feeding the sheets of the higher basis weight through the nip so that the higher basis weight sheet(s) is fed more times through the nip than the other sheet(s); and applying marking particles to the prepared heavier basis weight sheets and passing them through the nip so that the gloss formed by the marking particles is substantially the same for heavier basis weight sheets as for lighter basis weight sheets.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer tandem type image forming device which has multiple first stage transfer units set parallel and a single power unit which simultaneously applies bias to the multiple first stage transfer units. When executing successive printing or both-sides printing and there is a need to change the bias value of the first stage transfer bias due to a mix of multiple types of recording media, the device is able to hold down electricity consumption, sustain image quality, and form images productively. When executing successive printing or both-sides printing, the application timing of the changed transfer bias due to the detection of a different recording medium to that of the initial medium is placed after the previous first stage transfer of a final color toner image is completed.

Abstract: A sheet measuring apparatus includes a first rotating member including a first peripheral surface portion that contacts a transported sheet; a second rotating member including a second peripheral surface portion that contacts the first peripheral surface portion; a first rotation amount detecting unit that detects a first rotation amount of the first rotating member; a second rotation amount detecting unit that detects a second rotation amount of the second rotating member; a sheet calculation unit that obtains a first rotating member correction value for correcting an error that is superposed on the second rotation amount due to a radius distribution of the first rotating member and that performs calculation related to the transported sheet; a radius distribution calculating unit that calculates a new radius distribution of the first rotating member; and an updating unit that updates the first rotating member correction value to a new first rotating member correction value.

Abstract: An optical sensor includes an irradiation system including a semiconductor laser having plural light-emitting parts; and at least one photodetector that detects an amount of light which is emitted from the irradiation system and reflected on a sheet-like object.

Abstract: An aspect is a medium detection device to detect a slack of a medium to be introduced into a fixation device in an image formation apparatus. The fixation device is detachable from a part of the image formation apparatus other than the fixation device. The medium detection device includes a lever support provided at the fixation device, a lever supported by the lever support such that the lever moves or displaces when the lever comes in contact with slack medium, a sensor support provided at the part of the image formation apparatus other than the fixation device, and a sensor supported by the sensor support and configured to detect the movement or the displacement of the lever.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing a 3-D display device is disclosed. The system includes a lenticular image former capable of generating a color lenticular image from a plurality of two dimensional color images, and an electrophotographic printing apparatus configured to receive the color lenticular image from the lenticular image former and to print a CMYK half tone color lenticular image on a surface of a polymeric lenticular lens medium using a powder type toner such that each color when it is printed on the surface of the lenticular lens medium has a printing density of at least 1.0.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller, a database, an image carrier, a transfer unit, a fixing device including a temperature detector and a first drive device, a speed changer, and an electric-current detector. The controller calculates a toner adhesion amount of a recording medium, identifies a type of the recording medium, detects a temperature of the fixing device, determines a moisture content of the recording medium, calculates a reaction force of the recording medium, calculates a toner adhesion force, compares the reaction force and the toner adhesion force, determines a fixing nip angle, drives the first drive device to set the fixing device to the fixing nip angle, determines a target feed speed of the recording medium, and drives the speed changer to change a feed speed of the recording medium to match the target speed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member to bear an electrostatic latent image on its surface, a developing device to develop the electrostatic latent image using toner to form a toner image, a transfer device to transfer the toner image onto a recording medium, a fixing device to fix the toner image, a first detector to detect at least glossiness of a surface of the recording medium, a second detector to detect at least a space between asperities on the surface of the recording medium, and a controller to control an amount of toner when forming the toner image. The controller adjusts the amount of toner based on the glossiness of the recording medium detected by the first detector and the space between the asperities detected by the second detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image carrier, a plurality of forming devices, a detecting device configured to perform a steady-deviation detection for detecting steady positional deviation and a varying-deviation detection for detecting varying positional deviation having a cycle, and a correcting device configured to perform a steady-deviation correction for correcting the steady positional deviation and a varying-deviation correction for correcting the varying positional deviation. The detecting device forms, during the steady-deviation detection, a steady-deviation detection pattern in a state where the varying deviation correction is selectively disabled. The steady-deviation detection pattern has a plurality of measuring points arranged in a longitudinal direction. The detecting device, during the steady-deviation detection, measures positional deviation amount at each measuring point, and detects the steady positional deviation based on the measurement result.

Abstract: A transfer device includes: a transfer section for transferring a toner image on an image carrier onto a sheet passing through a nip portion which is formed between the transfer section and the image carrier; an application section for applying a voltage to the transfer section; and a control section for controlling the application section, wherein the control section controls the application section to apply a voltage having an opposite polarity to a transfer polarity to the transfer section since a leading edge of the sheet in a conveyance direction advances into the nip portion until a predetermined non image area of the sheet has passed through the nip portion, and then switch to apply a voltage having the transfer polarity from the voltage having the opposite polarity to the transfer section while a non image area of the sheet passes through the nip portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an informing portion that issues information; a storing portion that stores sheets; a sheet detecting portion that detects presence or absence of the sheets in the storing portion; a determination portion that determines a type of the sheets stored in the storing portion; and a control portion that causes the informing portion to issue a predetermined information in a case where the absence of the sheets is undetected by the sheet detecting portion and a change of the type of the sheets is determined by the determination portion.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for forming images on recording media of different sizes are provided. The image forming procedure may include reading setting information which includes the size of a substitute recording medium for each user from a memory and, when the size of the recording medium specified by the print instruction is not available, executing a print instruction by automatically changing the size of a recording medium to be used to the size of the substitute recording medium based on the setting information. Additional computer-readable storage media storing image forming procedures are also provided.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device that has: a fixing roller heated by induction and a pressing roller brought into press-contact with the fixing roller to fix a toner image borne on a paper sheet conveyed toward the fixing device by a conveyor unit. When a paper sheet having a width smaller than a width of a maximum-width recording medium that can be passed through the fixing device is passed through the fixing device, a non-paper passing region is formed at each end portion of each of the fixing and pressing rollers. Sirocco fans cool the non-paper passing region at a part of an outer peripheral surface of the pressing roller. The pressing roller is disposed opposed to the outer side of the main body of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressing member, a heating member, a movement mechanism, and a control unit. The fixing member fixes a toner image onto a recording material. The pressing member is pressed against an outer circumferential surface of the fixing member to form a fixing pressure part between the pressing member and the fixing member. The heating member heats the outer circumferential surface of the fixing member. The movement mechanism moves the heating member to contact with and be apart from the fixing member. The control unit controls the movement mechanism to move the heating member relatively apart from the fixing member after a predetermined time elapses after a trailing end of a recording material in a transport direction thereof passes through the fixing pressure part each time when a recording material passes through the fixing pressure part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, an endless intermediate transfer member having a transport surface and being tensioned to transport a developer image, transferred from the image carrier to the intermediate transfer member, from a first transfer position to a second transfer position, a first transfer member that brings the intermediate transfer member in contact with the image carrier and transfers a developer image present on the image carrier to the intermediate transfer member at the first transfer position, a second transfer member that transfers the developer image to a recording medium at the second transfer position, a position adjusting member that adjusts a position of the transport surface of the intermediate transfer member downstream of the first transfer position, and a controller that controls the position adjusting member responsively to a type of the recoding medium to which the second transfer member transfers the developer image.

Abstract: A printer is provided comprising substrate transport apparatus for moving substrates along a substrate path through the printer; a fuser assembly comprising a heat transfer member including a belt and a heater to heat the belt, a backup member adapted to engage the belt so as to define a fusing nip with the belt, and a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of a portion of the backup member; and a controller coupled to the temperature sensor. Based on signals generated by the temperature sensor, the controller determines whether a substrate moving along the substrate path has been contacted by the backup member portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of accurately computing power consumption thereof. First power consumption consumed by a fixing device of the image forming apparatus until the fixing device becomes a state capable of fixing a toner image onto a sheet is computed, second power consumption that includes power consumption consumed by the fixing device to fix the toner image onto the sheet and power consumption consumed by conveyance of the sheet is computed according to at least a sheet type, and third power consumption consumed by an exposure unit of the image forming apparatus to expose a photosensitive member of the image forming apparatus to light is computed according to an image to be formed. Then, a sum of the first to third power consumptions is computed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a bias controller that controls a first application unit that applies a bias to a transfer member. The bias controller applies a reverse bias to the transfer member when a first region passes through a nip part. Then, when a second region passes through the nip part, the bias controller applies a fixed first forward bias to the transfer member. When a third region passes through the nip part, in order to implement the control the bias controller applies a variable second forward bias to the transfer member. The first forward bias is set at a predetermined value or above and increases a potential of the transfer member 46 to a level at which a toner image is transferred in the second region when the second region passes through the nip part.

Abstract: By providing a step in a pressing member for pressing a recording material P to a reading surface of an image-pickup unit, surface images in a tight contact area and a non-tight-contact area are picked up. By identifying the type of the recording material P based on the two surface images, the accuracy of identifying the recording material is improved without using a plurality of sensors.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member, a transfer unit, a pre-heating unit, a fixing unit, a first temperature sensor, and a first heat controller. The image carrying member carries a toner image. The transfer unit transfers the toner image carried on the image carrying member to a recording medium transported to a transfer position. The pre-heating unit selectively heats the recording medium before the recording medium is transported to the transfer position. The fixing unit fixes the toner image on the recording medium. The first temperature sensor detects temperature of the recording medium as the recording medium passes through the pre-heating unit. The first heat controller changes an amount of heat energy to be applied to the recording medium per unit area of the recording medium by the pre-heating unit. The first heat controller is controlled based on a detection result of the first temperature sensor.

Abstract: A control method for a control apparatus includes obtaining an amount of a recording material applied on a first area of a sheet and an amount of a recording material applied on a second area of the sheet on the basis of image data recorded on the sheet stacked on a stacking unit; and performing control, in a case where a plurality of sheets are stacked on the stacking unit, so that a difference between a total amount of the recording material applied on the first area of the sheets and a total amount of the recording material applied on the second area of the sheets does not exceed a predetermined value on the basis of the obtained amount of the recording material. With this method, a limit of the number of stacked sheets is relieved while stability of the stacked sheets is maintained.

Abstract: A fusing device for an image forming apparatus that heats an infused image on a printing medium by an electromagnetic induction heating method includes a heated member having a metallic layer; a plurality of main cores disposed to be spaced apart a predetermined distance from a surface of the heated member, the plurality of main cores arranged to be spaced apart a predetermined interval from each other in a length direction of the heated member; and a main coil wound to surround the plurality of main cores.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a control method thereof to improve quality of an image in consideration of a change in posture of a print media. The image forming apparatus can include a transferred unit on which a visible image is formed, a transferring unit to form a transfer region through which the visible image is transferred onto a print medium, along with the transferred unit, a bias supplying unit to supply bias to the transferring unit so that a transfer electric field is produced in the transfer region, and a controller to control the bias supplying unit to supply different first to third biases to the transferring unit while at least first to third regions of the print medium pass through the transfer region, respectively.

Abstract: A dual mode media registration transport and media pre-transfer baffle arrangement within a printer enables printing onto normal and heavy weight media materials. In a first mode, the arrangement allows normal media to enter pre-transfer baffles with the normal “S” shape, which allows all performance specifications to be maintained. To accommodate heavy weight media, the registration transport and pre-transfer baffles are moved into a second mode position which straightens the media path and enables heavy weight media to enter the pre-transfer area. Thus, enabling the printing of these materials which could not be processed through the “S” shape baffle arrangement.

Abstract: Apparatuses useful for printing and methods of are provided.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has at least one tray for feeding or discharging a sheet, and includes an input tray ID holding unit which holds an input tray ID that is optionally input so as to identify the tray, an initial tray ID holding unit which holds an initial tray ID set beforehand so as to identify the tray, a tray ID comparing unit which compares the input tray ID and the initial tray ID, and a tray ID allocating unit which allocates a new tray ID to the tray to which the initial tray ID is allocated, when the input tray ID and the initial tray ID are found overlapped as a result of the comparison by the tray ID comparing unit.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming station for forming a transparent image on a recording material with transparent toner; a selecting portion for selecting one of image forming modes including a first image forming mode for forming a transparent image having a high glossiness and a second image forming mode for forming a transparent image having a glossiness lower than that in the first image forming mode; and a setting portion for setting a toner amount, per unit area, of the transparent image in accordance with the image forming mode selected by the selecting portion.

Abstract: An image recording device includes a first detecting unit, a recording unit, and a control unit. The first detecting unit detects a position of a perforation pre-formed in a recording sheet. The recording unit records an image on the recording sheet based on printing data. The control unit is configured to imaginarily divide the recording sheet into a first region including a portion where the perforation is pre-formed, and a second region excluding the first region based on the position of the perforation detected by the first detecting unit. The control unit prohibits the recording unit from recording the image on the first region and controls the recording unit to record the image at least partially on the second region.

Abstract: When image forming is to be successively performed on recording sheets having different sizes, an image forming apparatus suitably executes adjustment processing on a fixing apparatus or the like used in the image forming, and maintains image quality as well as suppresses a drop in productivity. To accomplish this, the image forming apparatus specifies the size of a printing material onto which an image is to be performed, and with use of the specified printing material size and the size of printing materials on which images have been formed immediately previously, determines whether it is necessary to execute adjustment processing for maintaining image quality. Specifically, adjustment processing is executed only if the size of the printing material on which an image is to be formed is greater than the size of the printing materials on which images were formed immediately previously.