Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a charging unit, an image carrier, an exposing unit, a developing unit, a transfer belt on which the transfer material is placed, a fixing unit that fixes the toner image transferred onto the transfer material, a cleaning unit that cleans up toner attached to the fixing unit, and a control unit that controls printing of the image on the transfer material. The control unit causes the exposing unit to expose a latent image of a first image having an image-area ratio equal to or larger than a predetermined ratio, causes the developing unit to form a toner image of the latent image and to transfer the toner image to the transfer material, and causes the fixing unit to fix the toner image transferred by the transfer belt to the transfer material.

Abstract: A transfer unit, which transfers a toner image formed on at least one image support to a printing medium, and an image forming apparatus employing the same. The transfer unit includes: an intermediate transfer body to the toner image from the image support, which has a curved transfer surface and an ASKER-A hardness of from about 25° to 40°; a transfer member, which has an ASKER-C hardness of from about 45° to 70°, and which contacts the intermediate transfer body, with a printing medium being interposed therebetween, and transfers the toner image from the intermediate transfer body to the printing medium. The transfer unit may further include: a de-electrifying member having a DC power and an AC power concurrently applied thereto, to de-electrify the printing.

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 700 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: An image forming apparatus includes a toner-layer filling-rate lowering unit that causes a toner layer of toner images to be formed on an image carrier so that the toner layer has sufficient optical transparency for exposing and the toner-layer filling rate is set relatively low; and a toner rolling rate adjusting unit that rolls the toner images at a predetermined toner rolling rate in accordance with the toner-layer filling rate when the toner images are transferred to the transferring/fixing unit.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to clean a collecting member without making toner on the collecting member enter a developing device and to reduce deterioration in throughput accompanying the operation of cleaning the collecting member with a simple configuration. A control unit is provided that executes cleaning operation of transferring toner collected by a cleaning roller to a conveyance belt via a photosensitive drum and collecting the toner by a cleaning device. In the cleaning operation, the control unit develops at least a surface part to which the toner is transferred from the cleaning roller, in the surface portion of the photosensitive drum with the toner by the developing device.

Abstract: A first series of control patches is printed with a first marking engine. A second series of control patches is printed with a second marking engine. Relative reflectance values of the patches printed with the first and second marking engines are measured with respective first and second engine response sensors. Based at least on a difference in the measured relative reflectance values of the control patches printed with the first and second marking engines, a relative engine to engine error is determined. The engine to engine error is decomposed into components. Based on the decomposition, adjustment of at least binary values of a digital image is determined so that print density of a first marking engine output substantially matches print density of a second marking engine output.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a charge unit, an exposure unit, an exposure voltage detector, a development unit, and a concentration detector. The exposure voltage detector detects a potential of latent image formed as a test pattern on an image carrier. The concentration detector detects concentration of developed test pattern. The image forming apparatus further includes an exposure power controller, an exposure ratio controller, a charging voltage controller, a development bias voltage controller, and an image forming condition adjustment controller. A suitable image forming condition is computed using test patterns formed by changing combinations of charging voltage, exposure power, and exposure duty. The charging voltage is changed in two levels or more. The exposure power is changed in three levels or more. The exposure duty per unit area is changed in two levels or more.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus is disclosed. The image formation apparatus includes a transfer effectiveness detector that further includes a computing unit for converting a sensor output voltage into a toner adhesion amount, and a transfer effectiveness detecting unit for obtaining transfer effectiveness by comparing a toner adhesion amount Td on a photo conductor with a toner adhesion amount Tb on a middle transfer object. Here, the toner adhesion amount Td is obtained by the computing unit converting an output of a photo conductor image detection unit, and the toner adhesion amount Tb is obtained by the computing unit converting an output of a middle transfer object image detection unit. When the transfer effectiveness detection unit determines that an abnormality is present in the transfer, whether the abnormality is due to decreased development capacity or due to decreased transfer effectiveness can be determined.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image formation unit, a conveying unit and controller. The image formation unit includes a rotating photoreceptor, a latent image formation unit, a developing unit, a first transfer unit, and a second transfer unit. Regardless of forming or not forming on the photoreceptor a belt-shaped image which is not being transferred onto a recording medium, the controller controls the image forming unit such that formation of an image quality adjusting image that is not transferred to the recording medium starts from a predetermined position in a rotational direction of the photoreceptor, and such that the recorded image is formed further downstream in the rotational direction of the photoreceptor than an image quality adjusting image region.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a image forming unit, a measurement unit and a controller. The image carrier includes a central region on which a target image as an object of an image forming is formed and a peripheral region placed outward of the central region. The image forming unit forms a reference image on the peripheral region and the central region, before the image forming is started. Also, the image forming unit forms the target image on the central region based on a preset condition and a third reference image on the peripheral region, during the image forming. The measurement unit measures a physical quantity for the reference images.

Abstract: A method of printing includes processing a print job stream to identify one or more images to be printed on a first substrate. The first substrate has a substrate attribute, such as paper weight or surface roughness, which is different from that of a second substrate. A marking engine is selected to print the identified images on the selected first substrate. An operating parameter of the marking engine is modified from a set point for the second substrate to a modified set point for the first substrate, to accommodate the substrate attribute of the selected first substrate. The identified images are sent to the selected marking engine to be printed.

Abstract: This invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of shortening the user's print waiting time as much as possible when it is determined that image adjustment is necessary during the image forming operation, and a control method therefor. To accomplish this, in a color image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming stations which form toner images with a plurality of toners on the basis of a job, it is discriminated whether adjustment processing is necessary during a continuous image forming operation based on the job. If it is discriminated that adjustment processing is necessary, it is determined whether each of the image forming stations has a non-operating time enough to execute the discriminated adjustment processing during the image forming operation. The image forming station determined to have a non-operating time enough to execute adjustment processing executes the discriminated adjustment processing during the non-operating time.

Abstract: An image forming device has an imaging unit including: a rotating body; an exposure unit forming an electrostatic latent image on the rotating body; a developing unit developing the latent image using developer to form an image; and a transfer unit transferring the image to a recording medium, a memory storing data on correspondence between first image data, second image data and a first correction amount, the first image data representing a first latent image formed by a first turn of the rotating body, the second image data representing a second latent image formed by a second turn of the rotating body, and the first correction amount used for correcting the second image data so that density of the image on the recording medium closer to density of the second latent image; a correction amount determining unit determining the first correction amount corresponding to the first and second image data based on the data stored in the memory; and a correcting unit correcting the second image data based on the firs

Abstract: Ions generated by the ion generating section are discharged from a paper sheet conveyer belt nozzle and an intermediate transfer belt nozzle, so that (i) a toner image transferred from a photosensitive drum onto an intermediate transfer belt and having yet to be transferred from the intermediate transfer belt onto a recording paper sheet and (ii) a paper sheet conveyer belt are charged. This makes it possible to more appropriately transfer a toner image onto a recording paper sheet from a photosensitive drum in an image forming apparatus, including a conveyer belt for conveying a recording paper sheet, in which a toner image formed on an image carrier is transferred onto an intermediate transfer body and the toner image is transferred from the intermediate transfer body onto a recording material; and to simultaneously prevent an increase in size of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: Adaptive correction techniques are disclosed that adaptively correct aberrations which may arise in systems such as laser printers, for example. For laser printers, calibration data processing results may be detected by a detector that is disposed to correspond physically to the recording medium so that characteristics such as position and intensity of a laser beam at the detector corresponds to that of a laser beam at the recording medium. In this way, aberrations in system performance may be adaptively corrected while the system is performing operational processes.

Abstract: Wear of the photoreceptor drum can be suppressed, and degradation of image quality of recorded images can be suppressed. When instruction information (image information and control information) for instructing formation of a developed image on a plurality of recording sheets S is inputted, driving of the photoreceptor drum 50, the developing device 52 and the transfer roller 56 is controlled such that formation of the developed image on a plurality of the recording sheets S according to the instruction information is continuously performed, and driving of the photoreceptor drum 50, the developing device 52 or the transfer roller 56 is controlled such that, in the course of the continuous image formation, driving of the photoreceptor drum 50, the developing device 52 or the transfer roller 56 is halted at least once.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a plurality of image data acquisition units for respectively acquiring one or more page(s) of image data; a color or monochrome determining unit for determining whether each of the acquired pages is in color or in monochrome; an image forming unit for performing image formation of each page switchably using a monochrome-only image forming function for a monochrome page or a color and monochrome image forming function for a color page and a monochrome page; an image data switching unit for sequentially selecting and arranging the acquired pages of image data one by one so that the image formation of each page is performed in the order of selection; a function selecting unit for selecting either one of the monochrome-only and color and monochrome image forming functions for each of the arranged pages on the basis of the determination result made by the color or monochrome determining unit; and a control unit for controlling the image forming unit so that image formation of

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

Abstract: A technique of shortening the adjustment time of image forming conditions in accordance with the use status of each apparatus without degrading the image quality is disclosed. In a color image forming apparatus which has an adjustment unit that adjusts image forming parameters for setting image forming conditions, and which forms an image on a printing medium using the adjusted image forming parameters, the use log of the color image forming apparatus is collected, and at least one image forming parameter is selected in correspondence with the collected use log as an image forming parameter to be adjusted by the adjustment unit in next adjustment, by referring to a storage unit which stores, in correspondence with the use log, at least one image forming parameter to be adjusted by the adjustment unit.

Abstract: An image forming device has image forming units 3-6, a transfer belt 7, a position detection unit 19, a concentration sensor 23, and an adjustment unit. A toner image is formed on the surfaces of the image forming units 3-6, and transferred onto the transfer belt 7. The position detection unit 19 detects a predetermined position on the surface of the transfer belt 7. On the predetermined position, the concentration sensor 23 detects first information relating to the color of the surface of the transfer belt 7. The concentration sensor 23 detects second information relating to the color of the pattern image that is formed on the predetermined position. The adjustment unit adjusts toner concentration at the time of forming an image based on the first information and the second information detected by the concentration sensor 23.

Abstract: This invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of shortening the user's print waiting time as much as possible when it is determined that image adjustment is necessary during the image forming operation, and a control method therefor. To accomplish this, in a color image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming stations which form toner images with a plurality of toners on the basis of a job, it is discriminated whether adjustment processing is necessary during a continuous image forming operation based on the job. If it is discriminated that adjustment processing is necessary, it is determined whether each of the image forming stations has a non-operating time enough to execute the discriminated adjustment processing during the image forming operation. The image forming station determined to have a non-operating time enough to execute adjustment processing executes the discriminated adjustment processing during the non-operating time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of suppressing occurrences of image defects and maintaining the image density constant while improving the development ability. The image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum on which an electrostatic latent image is carried, a developing sleeve on which developer is carried, an AC high-voltage drive circuit, an AC transformer, a DC high-voltage circuit, a p-p voltage detection circuit, and a CPU. The p-p voltage detection circuit converts a peak-to-peak voltage across a capacitor into a DC voltage which is taken out as a capacity detection signal. Based on the capacity detection signal output from the p-p voltage detection circuit, the CPU changes an image formation condition, e.g., a set value of a developing bias voltage.

Abstract: Closed-loop printing registration systems (e.g., printers), devices, components and methods are provided. In one embodiment, a printer reproduces continuously and sequentially on a sheet of paper invisible ink landmarks that mimic registration information provided initially by permanent invisible ink markers, disposed on a platform or platen. According to one embodiment, once the first row of invisible ink landmarks has been printed on a sheet of paper, the first and subsequent rows of invisible ink landmarks provide a basis for continuous registration and alignment of sheet of the paper as it is being printed upon and advanced through the printer.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided. An input image processor or NIC inputs a job containing image data and property information of the image data. An MFP controller stores the input job in a first memory. An image processing/RIP unit processes the image data in accordance with the property information. The MFP controller stores the job processed by the image processing/RIP unit in a second memory. An output image processor outputs the job in accordance with the property information. The MFP controller sets saving of the jobs in the first and second memories and, in outputting the saved job, indicates an enable/disable state of change of the property information in accordance with the saving method and receives change of the property information.

Abstract: A surface-potential distribution measuring apparatus includes an electron gun, an electron-beam optical system, an electron-emission panel, a detector, and a control system. The electron-beam optical system is located between the electron gun and a sample, and focuses a beam of electrons emitted from the electron gun to the surface of the sample. The electron-emission panel is located near the sample to be collided with at least part of the electrons via the sample, and emits secondary electrons corresponding to the number of collided electrons. The detector detects at least part of the secondary electrons. The control system obtains potential distribution on the surface of the sample based on a detection result obtained by the detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a process including at least a developing section and an image bearing body. A calculating section calculates a number of the dots formed on the image bearing body. A rotation calculating section calculates a number of rotations of the image bearing body for forming the number of dots on the image bearing body in accordance with the print data. A controller makes a decision to determine whether the number of dots formed on the image bearing body is larger than a first reference when the number of rotations is larger than a second reference. If the answer is YES, then the controller forms a developer image formed of dots equivalent to a difference between the first reference and the number of dots. Then, the developer image is discarded.

Abstract: A color image printer includes a print engine (13) for effecting a laser scanning exposure and a test print managing section (51) for managing control for outputting a test print through the print engine for use in image quality adjustment. The test print (TP) includes a plurality of sets of horizontal stripe test patterns having a plurality of horizontal lines extending in the main scanning direction and a plurality of sets of vertical stripe test patterns having a plurality of vertical lines extending in the sub scanning direction. The horizontal stripe test patterns and the vertical stripe test patterns are arranged in alternation. And, the horizontal lines are formed with a gradation value set in advance for each horizontal stripe test pattern. The vertical lines are formed with a gradation value set in advance for each vertical stripe test pattern.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a control unit to control a latent image support with a target rate; a first unit to detect patterns; plural parts to be detected revolving with the support; a second unit to detect passing of the part; a first generating unit to obtain an amplitude and a phase of fluctuation and a pattern for canceling out the fluctuation from the amplitude and the phase; a second generating unit to perform a process to obtain an amplitude and a phase of fluctuation while the support rotates once or more, perform the process again, calculate a change in the amplitude and phase, and generate another pattern for canceling out the change; and a correcting unit to correct the target rate by superimposing the patterns with the target rate.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus, an image formation method, an image formation program, and a recording medium are disclosed. The image formation apparatus includes a first driving source for driving a feed roller and a fixing unit, a second driving source for driving at least one of plural photo conductors and a middle transfer belt, and a third driving source for driving the photo conductors other than the photo conductor driven by the second driving source. The image formation apparatus further includes a temperature detecting unit for determining whether temperature of the fixing unit is greater than a predetermined threshold value, and a control unit for driving the driving sources in different sequences according to a result of the determination.

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: This invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of shortening the user's print waiting time as much as possible when it is determined that image adjustment is necessary during the image forming operation, and a control method therefor. To accomplish this, in a color image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming stations which form toner images with a plurality of toners on the basis of a job, it is discriminated whether adjustment processing is necessary during a continuous image forming operation based on the job. If it is discriminated that adjustment processing is necessary, it is determined whether each of the image forming stations has a non-operating time enough to execute the discriminated adjustment processing during the image forming operation. The image forming station determined to have a non-operating time enough to execute adjustment processing executes the discriminated adjustment processing during the non-operating time.

Abstract: A driving control device for use in an image forming apparatus includes a control unit that analyzes any one of a speed variation pattern and a thickness variation pattern of an endless belt member of the image forming apparatus per at least one rotation of the endless belt member while endlessly moving the endless belt member by a driving rotating unit, and starts to execute, based on a result of analysis, a driving-speed-control-pattern updating process to update a driving speed control pattern of the driving rotating unit per at least one rotation of the endless belt member, after a power of an image forming apparatus is turned on and within a preparation period in which a predetermined preparation process is completed so that an image forming operation can be started based on an image formation command from an operator.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of observing toner amount limitation with reliability even when two types of developers which have the same have and have different densities is provided. After an inputted image signal is subjected to color conversion processing to make the toner amount limitation, at least one color signal of the converted color signals is converted into signals for a dark color toner and a light color toner by light and dark separation using a single light and dark separation look-up table. Thereafter, the toner amount is determined again for each pixel. In the case where the toner amount exceeds a predetermined value, the light and dark separation of at least one color is made until the toner amount is the predetermined value or less by using another light and dark separation look-up table.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided capable of preventing fog from happening and obtaining more stable image density, which includes an image carrier; a charging section for charging surface of the image carrier; an exposing section for forming an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier; a developing section for making developer adhere to the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier so as to form a visible image; a transferring section to transfer the visible image onto a transfer member; a density detecting section to detect a density of the visible image; a development voltage setting section to set a development; a charge voltage setting section to set a difference between the charge voltage and the development into a value in a predetermined range; and an exposure quantity setting section to set an appointed exposure quantity with respect to the charge voltage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising: a latent image support for supporting a latent image and a developing device configured to us toner to develop the latent image on said latent image support, the estimated average halftone granularity of the toner imager after developing being 0.25 or less.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a history storage portion for storing the usage history involving the number of prints of the image forming apparatus, and a processing time controller for changing the time of the pre-processing operation before or the time of the post-processing operation after a printing process of the printing portion, based on the stored usage history so as to exclude the influence of the unfixed developer on the printing process.

Abstract: Image forming apparatus in which surface electric potentials of a plurality of surface areas are detected by charging a photoconductor with a different applied bias for each predetermined timing and exposing a plurality of surface areas of the photoconductor by scanning the photoconductor with an optical beam, while changing an exposure intensity of the optical beam for each of the surface areas of the photoconductor. Then, the applied bias necessary for obtaining a predetermined electric potential of a dark section and the exposure intensity of the optical beam necessary for obtaining a predetermined electric potential of a bright section are controlled, on the basis of the surface electric potentials that are detected respectively from the different applied biases and the different exposure intensities. Thereby, the adjustment time can be made shorter than the conventional case.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of keeping reproducibility and gradation in balance and outputting high-quality images. A primary electrostatic charger charges a photosensitive drum. A polygon scanner irradiates the drum with a laser beam to form an electrostatic latent image on the drum. A developing device develops the latent image into a toner image by applying a developing bias to the drum. In performing development by the developing device at a preset environmental contrast potential, a CPU determines a required contrast potential for obtaining a target maximum density. The CPU compares between the environmental contrast potential and the required contrast potential. Further, the CPU sets an upper limit value for a set contrast potential to be set to the developing device according to the result of the comparison, and sets an output level of the laser light to be output from the developing device.

Abstract: An image forming system, in which a method of detecting a misregistration of a color image is performed, includes multiple image carriers, an optical writing unit, a transfer member extended by a drive roller and at least one driven roller, a rotation detector, a roller driving unit, a belt controller, an image detector configured to detect the images formed on the surface of the transfer member and obtain detection data, and a controller configured to calculate an amount of misregistration and correct relative misregistration of a scanning line between the image carriers based on a result of the calculation. In the image forming system, a distance from a transfer position to a detection position is an integer multiple of a travel distance of the transfer member during one revolution of the at least one driven roller.

Abstract: Image forming apparatus in which surface electric potentials of a plurality of surface areas are detected by charging a photoconductor with a different applied bias for each predetermined timing and exposing a plurality of surface areas of the photoconductor by scanning the photoconductor with an optical beam, while changing an exposure intensity of the optical beam for each of the surface areas of the photoconductor. Then, the applied bias necessary for obtaining a predetermined electric potential of a dark section and the exposure intensity of the optical beam necessary for obtaining a predetermined electric potential of a bright section are controlled, on the basis of the surface electric potentials that are detected respectively from the different applied biases and the different exposure intensities. Thereby, the adjustment time can be made shorter than the conventional case.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus which is capable of quickly performing measurements required for obtaining a proper image density. The image forming apparatus having a plurality of image forming apparatuses performs an image density adjustment control process by carrying out a maximum density control process at a reference image forming speed, and carrying out a density gradation control process at each of the plurality of image forming speeds. Image forming conditions for carrying out the density gradation control process at speeds other than the reference image forming speed are determined by performing operation on image forming conditions determined by the maximum density control process carried out at the reference image forming speed.

Abstract: A control section sets the transfer bias level applied between a transfer roller and a photosensitive drum in the printer to a “ghost generation level.” The control section forms a test pattern on the recording medium by applying a transfer bias set to the ghost generation level in order to transfer a toner image onto the recording medium. A density sensor detects the density of the toner image deposited in a non-image-forming region when the test pattern is formed. The control section estimates a transfer bias level, at which ghosts will not occur, based on the ghost generation level and the density level of the toner image in the non-image-forming region, and sets this estimated value as the transfer bias level for forming images.

Abstract: A simple and economical method and apparatus for identifying the toner installed in a multi-toner printer by identifying the toner holder installed in the printer is disclosed. Additionally, the multi-toner printer is controlled based on the toner holder installed and a job selection. A toner identification apparatus comprising a toner identification module, a display device, and an input device, identifies the toner holder installed in a multi-toner printer by producing and identifying a unique voltage identification signal for the installed toner holder. A job selection algorithm determines whether the installed toner holder is the correct toner holder for a specified job selection. Additionally, if the toner holder installed in the multi-toner printer contains MICR toner, the job selection algorithm mandates a security procedure that must be carried out in order for printing to be allowed.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus capable of reliably forming an image with density gradation, one which does not have a low-quality appearance. The estimated average halftone granularity of the toner image after developing but before electrostatic transfer was set at 0.25 or less. The average halftone granularity was found by measuring the granularity of a toner image at locations of different average brightness by means of newly proposed formula, and averaging the measured values for which the average brightness is 40 to 80. The estimated average halftone granularity was obtained by estimating the average halftone granularity of the toner image on a photoreceptor by means of a newly proposed method.

Abstract: One embodiment of an image correction method is an image correction method for correcting image forming condition(s). The image correction method includes forming, on photoreceptor(s), correction test pattern(s) having continuously varying toner gradation; wherein a single correction test pattern in which density is varied in sequence from high to low in paper transport direction(s) is formed as a result of controlling exposing unit laser power(s) while photoreceptor charging potential(s) is/are held constant, or while develop bias(es) is/are held constant, or while photoreceptor charging potential(s) is/are held constant and develop bias(es) is/are held constant. In such case, total length(s) in paper transport direction(s) of such correction test pattern(s) is/are less than or equal to circumference(s) of photoreceptor(s).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member having a surface layer; an electrostatic image forming device for forming an electrostatic image on the surface layer; a developing device, containing at least toner and a carrier, for developing the electrostatic image; a density measuring device for measuring a density of the developed electrostatic image; a layer thickness measuring device for measuring a thickness of the surface layer; and an adjusting device for adjusting toner content in the developing device. The adjusting device adjusts the toner content on the basis of an output of the layer thickness measuring device.

Abstract: A control system and method of predicting how a machine will respond to occasional or periodic service, and adjusting the machine accordingly to account for the change in machine behavior due to the service, mitigates transients in machine performance. A prediction of the service effect is fed forward to the existing control system just prior to the occurrence of service in order to compensate for the service effect. This prediction is continually updated and refined using subsequent measurements of the effect of service on machine performance. More specifically, a controller monitors the process output variables indicative of the machine performance and adjusts machine inputs to achieve a desired level of machine performance. The controller monitors the process output variables indicative of the machine performance prior to, during, and immediately after the service and adjusts the machine inputs to compensate for the transients.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a latent carrier and a charging device. The charging device is configured to charge a surface of the latent carrier. An exposure device is configured to expose a surface of the latent carrier for forming a latent image thereon. A transfer device is provided to transfer a developed toner image on the latent carrier to a recording medium. The image forming apparatus includes a developing device having a pooling portion configured to pool a two-component developer and an agitating device configured to agitate developer in the pool portion. A developer carrier replenishes developer to the latent carrier. A first measurement device and a second measurement device are configured to measure developer characteristics wherein the first and second measurement devices compare their respective outputs to measure a deterioration rate of the developer.

Abstract: A method of controlling the solid developed mass per unit area and the tone reproduction curve in a printing machine by reading data from a sensor, comparing the data to an acceptable range of data values, where the data is not within the acceptable range of data values, updating a plurality of control actuators, determining whether the discharge ratio is within an acceptable range of discharge ratio values, where the discharge ratio is within the acceptable range of discharge ratio values, applying new control actuators to a power supply in the printing machine, and where the discharge ratio is not within the acceptable range of discharge ratio values, adjusting raster output scanner exposure per an exposure formula.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus capable of reliably forming an image with density gradation, one which does not have a low-quality appearance. The estimated average halftone granularity of the toner image after developing but before electrostatic transfer was set at 0.25 or less. The average halftone granularity was found by measuring the granularity of a toner image at locations of different average brightness by means of newly proposed formula, and averaging the measured values for which the average brightness is 40 to 80. The estimated average halftone granularity was obtained by estimating the average halftone granularity of the toner image on a photoreceptor by means of a newly proposed method.