Abstract: A device and method for determining and applying a transfer voltage in an imaging apparatus is provided. A servo voltage is determined based in part upon a change in an environmental condition. A determination is made whether or not to perform a new transfer servo operation based upon at least one of an amount of time passing since the last transfer servo operation was performed and a comparison of the determined servo voltage and a servo voltage used in a prior transfer servo operation. A transfer servo operation includes charging a photoconductive drum to a charge corresponding to a printing voltage.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, first and second branch paths of a decoloring apparatus are formed downstream in a sheet conveying direction of a reading section in a conveying path. A diverting section is provided at a branch point of the first and second branch paths in the conveying path. A control section determines on the basis of image data whether decoloring processing should be applied to a sheet, diverts, if determining that the decoloring processing should be applied to the sheet, the sheet to the first branch path with the diverting section, and diverts, if determining that the decoloring processing should not be applied to the sheet, the sheet to the second branch path with the diverting section. A decoloring section is provided between the reading section and the branch point in the conveying path and heats the sheet to decolor an image formed with a decolorable color material.

Abstract: In the case of a standard sized sheet, a first controller sets a linear velocity D of an image bearing member at a first velocity and sets a linear velocity S of a toner bearing member so that S/D, which is a ratio of the linear velocity S to the linear velocity D, has a first value and a second controller sets the thickness of the toner layer carried on the toner bearing member at a first layer thickness. In the case of a long sheet, the first controller sets the linear velocity D at a second velocity slower than the first velocity and sets the linear velocity S so that the S/D has a second value larger than the first value and the second controller sets the thickness of the toner layer at a second layer thickness smaller than the first layer thickness.

Abstract: A sensor comprising an optical sensor including a light source and a plurality of light receivers which receive light emitted from the light source and light regularly reflected and diffusely reflected by an object, a database including output data regarding multiple objects of known and different types from the plurality of light receivers when an incident direction of light emitted from the light source forms a first direction to the object and when the incident direction of light emitted from the light source forms a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction, and a processor which controls the light emitted from the light source to illuminate an object of unknown type and specifies the type of the object by matching the output data of the plurality of light receivers to the database.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a nip forming member to contact a surface of an image bearing member to form a transfer nip therebetween, a pressing device, and a nip pressure changing device. The pressing device includes a plurality of elastic members, to produce a contact pressure between the nip forming member and the image bearing member according to a restoring force of at least one of the elastic members upon deformation of the elastic member. The nip pressure changing device changes an amount of elastic deformation of the elastic member between at least two stages to change a nip pressure of the transfer nip. While the contact pressure is produced by one of the elastic members, the nip pressure changing device changes the amount of elastic deformation of a different elastic member, different from the one that produces the contact pressure, to change the nip pressure of the transfer nip.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a photoconductive member, an intermediate transfer belt, a transfer and fixing belt, a fixing and pressing roller, and a heating device. The heating device heats a toner image on the transfer and fixing belt between a first toner image transfer position for transfer from the intermediate transfer belt onto the transfer and fixing belt and a second toner image transfer position for transfer from the transfer and fixing belt onto a sheet in a moving direction of a belt surface of the transfer and fixing belt and, at the same time, heats the sheet conveyed to the second toner image transfer position.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus includes a transfer roller which transfers developer on an image carrier onto a recording medium conveyed along a conveyance path, a supporting frame which is provided at an upstream of a transferring portion where the image carrier and the transfer roller are closest, in the conveyance path, and is provided at a side of the transfer roller with respect to the conveyance path, a flexible guide member which has a thin plate shape, and is attached to the supporting frame at an upstream of the transferring portion in the conveyance path to guide the record medium to the transferring portion, and a inflexible protrusion supporting member which is provided on the supporting frame between the transferring portion and the guide member in the conveyance path, and which protrudes toward the conveyance path to support a trailing edge of the record medium after passing the guide member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion that forms an image on a first image bearing member, a transfer member that transfers the image on the first image bearing member to a second image bearing member, a power supply, a detecting portion that detects a voltage value and a current value, a velocity changing portion, an environment detecting portion, and a controller that determines a transfer voltage value in transferring an image based on a result detected at the detecting portion. An image can be formed at the plurality of velocities. The controller determines a transfer voltage value at a velocity other than the plurality of velocities based on a result detected at the detecting portion and a result detected at the environment detecting portion when the first image bearing member is operated at a predetermined velocity.

Abstract: An effective image area can be properly corrected in accordance with the quantity of light from an irradiation unit by selecting, as the effective image area, pixels having light quantities more than or equal to a threshold value that allows accurate acquisition of a surface image of a recording medium, on the basis of a light quantity distribution of the light from the irradiation unit. This reduces the influence of mounting accuracy of the irradiation unit, and allows the recording medium to be identified accurately.

Abstract: A recording media deciding apparatus has: a light radiating portion which radiates light having a uniform light amount on a range corresponding to an image capturing range of a first surface of a bundle of recording media; a light detecting portion which captures an image of light emitted from a second surface different from the first surface of the bundle of the recording media; and a controller which decides on a type of the recording media based on an output of the light detecting portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: including: an image forming unit; and a controller. The image forming unit includes: an image bearing member; a charging member; a transfer member; and a cleaning member. The controller selectively applies first and second transfer biases to the transfer member. A first transfer current flows between the image bearing member and the transfer member upon application of the first transfer bias. A second transfer current flows therebetween upon application of the second transfer bias. The controller selectively applies first and second charging biases to the charging member. The image bearing member has a first surface potential upon application of the first charging bias, and a second surface potential upon application of the second charging bias. The controller applies the first charging bias when applying the first transfer bias, and applies the second charging bias when applying the second transfer bias.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including: a print unit; an instruction unit for giving an instruction to start a printing operation; and a print control unit for controlling the printing operation according to the instruction to start the printing operation from the instruction unit, in which, when there is no instruction to start a subsequent printing operation after the executing of the printing operation to the recording medium according to the instruction to start the printing operation from the instruction unit, the print control unit executes a first post-processing operation for completing the printing operation, and the print control unit determines an operation to be performed after the executing of the first post-processing operation based on whether or not the instruction to start the subsequent printing operation is received during the executing of the first post-processing operation.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: an image forming section, a fixing unit, an oscillation mechanism and a controller. The image forming section forms an image on paper. The fixing unit thermally fixes the image on the paper by using a fixing rotating member to pinch and convey the paper. The oscillation mechanism oscillates at least the entire fixing rotating member of the fixing unit in an axis direction thereof. The controller determines an oscillation quantity of the fixing rotating member based on rigidity of the paper in a state where the paper is pinched and conveyed by the fixing rotating member and another rotating member at the same time, and oscillates the fixing rotating member using the oscillation mechanism with the determined oscillation quantity. The controller determines the oscillation quantity of the fixing rotating member to be reduced as rigidity of the paper becomes lower.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt that is stretched by multiple rollers, the intermediate transfer belt transporting a toner image on an outer peripheral surface, a second transfer member that performs second transfer, the second transfer transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt to a recording medium, an opposed member that abuts against an inner peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt, the opposed member being opposed to the second transfer member, and a changing section that changes a width of contact between the intermediate transfer belt and the second transfer member at a second transfer position, on a basis of paper attribute information of the recording medium, the second transfer position being a position where the second transfer member abuts against the opposed member with the intermediate transfer belt being sandwiched between the second transfer member and the opposed member.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a controller that controls a transfer bias supply to cause a transfer bias to increase, between an image carrier and a first rotary body disposed opposite the image carrier, a potential of the first rotary body toward an opposite polarity to a charge polarity of toner of a toner image on the image carrier to be higher than a potential of the image carrier, and to change, on the basis of identified recording medium type, a returning peak value which is one of a peak value of positive polarity and a peak value of negative polarity of the transfer bias and which generates an electric field that causes the toner having moved to the recording medium from the image carrier to return to the image carrier from the recording medium in a transfer nip.

Abstract: A recording medium determination apparatus that determines grammage of a recording medium by using an ultrasonic wave includes a transmission unit configured to output an ultrasonic wave having a predetermined frequency, a reception unit configured to receive the ultrasonic wave output from the transmission unit and transmitted through the recording medium and output a received signal, a calculation unit configured to calculate a signal having a peak component according to a cycle of the received signal, and a determination unit configured to determine the grammage of the recording medium based on the signal calculated by the calculation unit.

Abstract: Methods, systems, computer readable media and other means for generating a profile for a particular type of media are provided. The profile represents a set of preferred printing parameters to be used to achieve a target print quality for a reference printing device. The profile may be used by other non-reference printing devices in order to optimize printing for that type of media. For each non-reference printing device, an offset may be established that represents the differences between the non-reference and the reference printing devices. A processor of the non-reference printing device may identify the type of media and the profile for that media and then adjust the printing parameters for the non-reference printing device based on the profile and the offset in order to optimize the print quality. The profile may also include a parameter that is based on a temperature coefficient associated with the type of printer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present disclosure includes: a printing unit configured to perform printing on a recording medium; a multiple-sheet-feed detecting unit configured to detect a multiple sheet feed of the recording medium; an image holding unit configured to hold an image expected to print on the recording medium on which the multiple sheet feed is detected (i.e. the multi-fed medium); and a print control unit configured to control the printing unit. The print control unit is further configured (a) to cancel printing on the multi-fed medium, and (b) to cause the printing unit to print the held image on another recording medium, which (b1) is in transfer after the multi-fed medium, (b2) is nearest in a transferring order to the multi-fed medium, and (b3) has a property same as that of the multi-fed medium.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a discrimination unit discriminates the type of printing medium conveyed to an image forming unit. A comparator compares the type of a printing medium that has been designated and the type of a printing medium that has been discriminated. A setting unit sets a second image forming condition in the image forming unit if it has been determined not to add identification information to image information in accordance with the type of printing medium designated and, moreover, the type of printing medium designated and the type of printing medium discriminated by the discrimination unit do not match. The second image forming condition is different from a first image forming condition that conforms to the type of printing medium discriminated by the discrimination unit.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fixing unit that transports a recording medium as nipped between a pressure rotary member and a heating rotary member, to thereby fix a developer image on the recording medium; temperature detectors that detect temperatures of regions of the pressure rotary member; cooling units that cool the detected regions; and a controller that controls the cooling units to, if a temperature difference between the regions is more than a set temperature difference, execute first cooling for reducing the temperature difference to the set temperature difference or less, and to, if a width of the recording medium perpendicular to a transport direction thereof used in an immediately preceding image formation is equal to or less than a preset width, execute, subsequently to the first cooling, second cooling for cooling the pressure rotary member for a preset time.

Abstract: A fixation device includes a first roller, a second roller facing the first roller, a stretch member configured to travel to pass between the first roller and the second roller, a press member configured to press the stretch member against the first roller, a heater member configured to heat the stretch member, a movement mechanism configured to move at least one of the first roller and the second roller in such directions that the first roller and the second roller come close to each other and are spaced away from each other, and a controller configured, depending on a type of a medium, to change a contact state between the first roller and the second roller by driving the movement mechanism.

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: An image forming apparatus is provided with a storage unit for storing setting information including at least a size of a substitute recording medium, and a processing unit for executing a print instruction by automatically changing a size of a recording medium to be used to the size of the substitute recording medium based on the setting information stored in the storage means, when the size of the recording medium specified by the print instruction is not available.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a removal unit configured to remove developer that was not transferred to a recording material; and a control unit configured to control an image forming unit for supplying developer to the removal unit. The image forming unit is configured to form first developer image, and second developer image whose length in the sub-scanning direction is longer than that of the first developer image, and whose amount of developer per unit area is less than or equal to that of the first developer image, and the control unit is further configured to, based on a predetermined relationship between the recording material type and the supplying image, select a supplying image formed by the image forming unit before or after the developer image transferred to the recording material.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a power control unit, a detecting unit, and a determining unit. The power control unit controls power supply to an operation unit, an engine unit, and a controller unit. The detecting unit detects a size of a sheet held in a sheet holding unit. The determining unit determines, after the printing apparatus is shifted to a power saving state which restricts power supply to the operation unit, the engine unit, and the controller unit, whether a size of a sheet specified in a received job and the detected size match each other. Where the determining unit determines that the detected and specified size of the sheets match each other, the power control unit supplies power to the controller engine units while maintaining the restriction on power supply to the operation unit, and shifts the printing apparatus to the power saving state after the job ends.

Abstract: A recording material image capture device includes light sources radiating light to a recording material, an image capture element receiving the light which is reflected on a surface of the recording material, a cover member provided between the image capture element and the recording material so that the reflected light passes through the cover member, a roller pressing the recording material toward the cover member, and an output portion outputting, based on an image captured by the image capture element, a value related to the recording material to which the light is radiated. The roller is a rotating member which rotates along with movement of the recording material, and the roller includes a recess portion which is prevented from contacting with an entire portion corresponding to the image used for determining the recording material, and projecting portions which are brought into contact with the recording material.

Abstract: An approach is provided for pairing a fuser assembly with a media size and for electronically labeling the fuser assembly for use with the media size. The approach involves causing, at least in part, a fuser assembly having a memory to be tagged with an identifier related to a corresponding media size, the identifier being stored in the memory. The approach also involves determining a media size associated with a print job to be run by a printing system. The approach further involves determining the identifier of an installed fuser assembly. The approach additionally involves causing, at least in part, a comparison between the determined media size associated with the print job and the identifier of the installed fuser assembly to determine if a conflict exists.

Abstract: A fixing device for thermally fixing image onto recording sheet by causing recording sheet to pass through fixing nip, while heating electromagnetic induction heating layer provided in heating rotation body by flux generated by flux generator including exciting coil located a distance away from circumferential surface of heating rotation body along width direction of heating rotation body. The flux generator includes: magnetic cores arranged to be separated from each other in width direction, to face heating rotation body via exciting coil; holder holding predetermined magnetic cores, arranged in correspondence with non-paper-pass area of heating rotation body, in displaceable state; displacement unit displacing predetermined magnetic cores in predetermined move unit, which is a unit of one magnetic core or a unit of a predetermined number of consecutively placed magnetic cores; and controller controlling displacement unit to displace predetermined magnetic cores in sequence in predetermined move unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive element; a writing light source; a conveying unit; a light-emitting unit; a detection unit; a writing control unit; and an adjustment unit. The detection unit detects reflected light from a recording medium. The writing control unit controls the writing light source based on operational timing when a signal output from the detection unit turns to a fixed threshold. The adjustment unit acquires information of a gloss level of the recording medium, and adjusts light emission intensity of the light-emitting unit according to the acquired information of the gloss level in such a manner that a signal output from the detection unit when the light-emitting unit irradiates a plain region of the recording medium approximates a certain reference value.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes a primary transfer unit configured to transfer a developer image from an image carrier to an intermediate transfer body, a secondary transfer unit configured to transfer the developer image to a recording medium, a voltage application unit configured to apply a voltage to the secondary transfer unit, a voltage controller configured to control the voltage to be applied to the secondary transfer unit by the voltage application unit, a recording medium type detector configured to detect a type of the recording medium, and a recording medium width detector configured to detect a width of the recording medium in a direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer body. The voltage controller controls the voltage to be applied to the secondary transfer unit, based on the detected recording medium type and the detected recording medium width.

Abstract: A printing system includes a rotatable transport member that transports a receiver on its obverse. A tackdown unit includes an electrode arranged facing the reverse of the transport member. A source responsive to the control system produces a tackdown current, and a charger spaced apart from the transport member facing the obverse thereof selectively deposits charge on the receiver in response to the tackdown current. A non-contact voltmeter arranged facing the receiver on the obverse after the charger measures a resulting voltage. A control system drives a selected voltage or current through the charger using the source and measures a resulting voltage using the non-contact voltmeter. The selected voltage or current and the measured resulting voltage are used to automatically estimate a capacitance of the receiver.

Abstract: In the case where a sheet on which a transparent toner image is to be formed has high glossiness, the transparent toner image is placed in an image formable area except for the area in which the user wishes to increase the glossiness.

Abstract: A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet fed in a sheet feeding direction including: a tubular flexible fusing member; a heater; a nip member; a resiliently deformable backup member; and an adjustment mechanism. The fusing member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The heater, disposed in the internal space, is configured to radiate radiant heat. The nip member, disposed in the internal space, is configured to receive the radiant heat. The inner peripheral surface makes sliding contact with the nip member. The backup member provides a nip region in cooperation with the fusing member upon nipping the fusing member between the backup member and the nip member. The adjustment mechanism is configured to move the backup member between a first position and a second position different from the first position in the sheet feeding direction to adjust the sheet feeding direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section including a fixing device configured to fix an image on a sheet; an acquiring section configured to acquire setting information of printing target data; a determining section configured to determine a first time on the basis of the setting information acquired by the acquiring section; and an output section configured to output a control signal to the fixing device to set a heat accumulation time of the fixing device to the first time determined by the determining section.

Abstract: A method for controlling an image processing apparatus configured to output image data includes accepting, from a user, selection about whether to permit inputting biometric information, and performing control such that outputting the image data is permitted in a case where the selection for permitting inputting the biometric information is made, and the outputting the image data is prohibited in a case where the selection for permitting inputting the biometric information is not made.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including, a photosensitive body for carrying toner images, a transfer section for nipping the recording sheet at a position facing the photosensitive body and transferring the toner images carried on the photosensitive body onto a recording sheet, a driving section for driving the photosensitive body, and a control section for giving instructions to the driving section to conduct a velocity control to rotate the photosensitive body at a predetermined velocity, wherein the control section sets a gain of velocity control to be greater than normal condition, at a time which is at least one of a time when the recording sheet enters the transfer section, or a time when the recording sheet separates from the transfer section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member; a development device; a speed varying unit that can vary a speed of a developer bearing member; a sensing portion that senses an environmental temperature around the development device; and a controller that can perform a mode in which, compared with a period which an image forming region of the image bearing member passes through the developing region, the rotation speed of the developer bearing member slows down a period which a non-image forming region of the image bearing member passes through the developing region, wherein based on sensing result of the sensing portion, the controller performs the mode when the environmental temperature is higher than a predetermined value, and the controller does not perform the mode when the environmental temperature is lower than the predetermined value.

Abstract: A heating and pressurizing device includes a heating and pressurizing unit that includes a pair of members in contact with each other, at least one of the pair of members being to be heated, and that heats and pressurizes a medium between the pair of members, a change unit that changes a contact pressure between the pair of members by changing a relative position of the pair of members according to a control signal, and a controller that sends the control signal to the change unit and includes a detecting unit that detects a difference between a target distance and an actual distance. The target distance corresponds to a predetermined distance, and the actual distance corresponds to a distance of which the pair of members are positioned after the controller sends a predetermined control signal set as corresponding to the predetermined distance as the control signal to the change unit.

Abstract: A scanner enables full productivity and individual image size detection, without user intervention for mixed size originals in both simplex and duplex scanning modes. The scanner provides high-productivity single pass scanning while preserving the image size for each of the document scanned. In addition, the scanner may support duplex scanning by adding a second image sensor, for example, in the document handler. Methods of scanning are also provided.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit configured to heat and fix a measurement image formed by an image forming unit to a sheet, a measurement unit arranged downstream of the fixing unit in a conveyance direction of the sheet and configured to measure color of the fixed measurement image, a conversion unit configured to convert a measurement result of the measurement unit into a measurement result at a predetermined temperature based on conversion setting information set in advance, a setting unit configured to set a mode for generating the conversion setting information, and a generation unit configured to generate the conversion setting information by causing the image forming unit to form the measurement image on the sheet, causing the fixing unit to fix the formed measurement image, and causing the measurement unit to repeatedly measure the fixed measurement image in response to setting of the mode.

Abstract: The timing of obtaining an output value for use in a determination of a recording medium is generated from a received ultrasonic wave and a waveform generated by delaying the ultrasonic wave, whereby it is possible to reduce an influence of a reflection wave from the peripheral members and an influence of a change in the environment to improve the accuracy of determination of the recoding medium.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable first nip formation member, a rotatable second nip formation member, a first heater, a second heater, and a controller. The second nip formation member is provided under the first nip formation member to contact the first nip formation member to form a fixing nip portion between the first nip formation member and the second nip formation member. The first heater heats the first nip formation member. The second heater heats the second nip formation member. The controller supplies a portion of power to the second heater and the remainder of power to the first heater when a plurality of sheets having a sheet weight not greater than about 100 g/m2 passes through the fixing nip portion continuously.

Abstract: An arrangement which is capable of copying a clear toner image formed by a clear toner. In the image forming apparatus, a scanner section of an MFP reads an original. A CPU of the MFP determines whether or not position information indicative of a position where a clear-toner image formed by a clear toner is formed is contained in an image of the original read by the scanner section. When the CPU determines that the position information indicative of the position where the clear-toner image is formed is contained in the image of the original, the CPU forms the image of the original and the clear-toner image based on the position information.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment includes: an image carrier; a transfer device which transfers a toner image formed on the image carrier onto a recording medium; a resistance measuring device which causes a current to flow through the recording medium before transferring the toner image and measures the resistance of the recording medium; and a setting unit which sets a condition of the transfer on the basis of the measurement result of the resistance of the recording medium. The resistance measuring device includes an electric shock prevention member which prevents the current from flowing to a user through the recording medium during the measurement of the resistance of the recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming unit, a second image forming unit. In combined processing to perform two types of processing including one-sided image formation and two-sided image formation, if the one-sided image formation is performed, an image is formed on one side of the sheet by the second image forming unit.

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 transfer device includes a transfer device, a facing member, and a prepressing member. The transfer member transfers a toner image, which is carried on an intermediate transfer member, to a recording medium. The facing member is disposed so as to be in pressed contact with the transfer member with the intermediate transfer member therebetween. The prepressing member is disposed so as to be in pressed contact with the transfer member with the intermediate transfer member therebetween at a position that is upstream of a contact section in which the facing member is in pressed contact with the transfer member and that is immediately behind a position at which the toner image starts to come into contact with the recording medium. A pressure applied by the prepressing member is lower than a pressure with which the facing member is in pressed contact with the transfer member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transfer member and a cleaning member. The image forming apparatus: determines whether the electric resistance of a recording medium is low or high; applies a first transfer bias to the transfer member if the electric resistance is low; applies a second transfer bias to the transfer member if the electric resistance is high; applies a first cleaning bias to the cleaning member if the electric resistance is low; and applies a second cleaning bias to the cleaning member so that a potential difference between a portion of a surface of the image carrier against which the cleaning member is rubbed and the cleaning member becomes smaller than that in a case of applying the first cleaning bias if the electric resistance is high.

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: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, an image carrier carrying a developer image, a transfer unit for transferring the developer image to a recording medium, a voltage supplying unit for supplying a transfer voltage to the transfer unit, a transfer current measuring unit for measuring a transfer current value when a prescribed voltage is applied while no recording medium exists in the transfer unit, a resistor serially coupled between the transfer current measuring unit and the transfer unit, a memory unit for memorizing electrical character information of the recording medium, and a controller for controlling the transfer voltage where the developer is transferred to the recording medium, based on a consequence measured by the transfer current measuring unit, a recording medium width in association with the recording medium type, the electrical character information, and a resistance value of the resistor, to adjust a secondary transfer current value.