Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an exposure area controller for controlling an exposure area per pixel of an exposure device on the basis of image information and a switching device for switching an amount of exposure so as to decrease an exposure intensity of the exposure device during reference toner image formation and increase the exposure area per pixel of the exposure device when compared with those during normal image formation.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording sheet based on an input image signal includes a halftone processor that applies a halftone process to an input image signal with a predetermined halftone processing period, and an add-on processor that attaches, to the image signal subjected to the halftone process, an add-on signal with an add-on period which is determined according to the halftone process period. The invention enables to suppress an image deterioration and to improve detection accuracy of the add-on signal.

Abstract: A test pattern image stored in advance is printed on a paper sheet. When the printed test pattern image is scanned by a scanning unit, a difference between the density of the scanned test pattern image and absolute density set in advance is detected. An exposure amount of a process unit is adjusted according to the detected density difference.

Abstract: An exposure head includes: a light-emitting element; an image formation optical system that forms an image of light from the light-emitting element; multiple reference elements disposed relative to the light-emitting element; and a control unit that controls the light emission of the light-emitting element and extinguishes the reference elements during a latent image formation operation. The control unit finds the degree of decay of the light-emitting element based on the light amounts of the light-emitting element and the multiple reference elements at a time when the latent image formation operation is not being carried out, and controls the light amount of the light-emitting element during the latent image formation operation based on the degree of decay.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. An exposure component is equipped with a plurality of light emitting elements arrayed along a first direction. An output component is equipped with output ends corresponding to each of the light emitting elements and the output component, when correcting an amount of misalignment in the first direction, outputs drive signals of one line corresponding to a line on a most upstream side of drive signals of plural lines from the output ends that have been shifted by a number corresponding to the amount of misalignment in the first direction. A plurality of connecting wires interconnect each of the output ends and each of the light emitting elements. A judging component is connected to each of the connecting wires, and judges whether or not the drive signals are being normally transmitted through the connecting wire that the judging component has selected.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that performs a shading correction includes a light source that emits a light beam; a light-source drive unit that drives the light source; and a light-quantity-adjustment-amount control unit that performs an adjustment of a light quantity in accordance with a shading correction curve by controlling, for the light-source drive unit, a light-quantity adjustment amount and an increase/decrease cycle of the light-quantity adjustment amount. The increase/decrease cycle is a unit of time within a time period during which the light-quantity adjustment amount increases or decreases.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a first light controller to shift starts of image writing operations of light sources by a first time interval. A test data storage stores, beforehand, test image data having dot columns formed by one-dot images arranged in a row in a sub-scanning direction and at predetermined intervals in a main scanning direction. An operation controller controls an image carrier at a speed so that adjacent dot images in the sub-scanning direction overlap. A second light controller forms electrostatic latent test images on the image carrier based on timing signals with the image carrier moved by the operation controller, and draws electrostatic latent test images with different time intervals. A density measurer measures densities of the developed test images. A time interval adjusting section adjusts the time interval based on the time interval used to draw the electrostatic latent test image having the lowest measured density.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a latent image bearing drum that rotates and on which a latent image is formed; an exposure head having a first light-emitting element that exposes a first region of the latent image bearing drum and a second light-emitting element that exposes a second region of the latent image bearing drum; a storage unit that stores first speed-related information relating to the rotational speed of the first region of the latent image bearing drum and second speed-related information relating to the rotational speed of the second region of the latent image bearing drum; and a light-emission timing adjustment unit that adjusts the timing of the light emission of the first light-emitting element based on the first speed-related information and adjusts the timing of the light emission of the second light-emitting element based on the second speed-related information.

Abstract: A reusable image forming medium, including a substrate; an imaging layer coated on or impregnated into the substrate, wherein an irradiation of the imaging layer produces an image; and a signature material coated on or impregnated into the substrate or the imaging layer, the signature material being detectable by a sensor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first latent image carrier that forms a first latent image, a first charging unit that charges the first latent image carrier, and a first exposure unit that exposes the first latent image carrier to light, forming the first latent image. A first developing unit develops the first latent image with a first liquid developer. A second latent image carrier forms a second latent image. A second charging unit charges the second latent image carrier, which is exposed by a second exposure unit to light, forming the second latent image. A second developing unit develops the second latent image with a second liquid developer. Developed images of the first and second latent image carriers are transferred by a transfer member. A light amount controlling unit adjusts an exposed light amount of the first or the second exposure unit according to image information.

Abstract: A light output device comprises a controller configured to generate a set signal that sets a reference voltage for determining a predetermined value of an output power of the light in a case of power adjustment wherein the output power is changed to a power different from in a case of power accuracy requirement, and a reference voltage generating section configured to generate the reference voltage according to the set signal. The controller in the case of power accuracy requirement puts a set-signal output port in a high-impedance state, while in the case of power adjustment generates the set signal using a predetermined voltage, the set signal alternating between a high level and a low level. The reference voltage generating section in the case of power accuracy requirement generates the reference voltage on a basis of a level shift voltage generated by level shifting the predetermined voltage.

Abstract: A thickness variation detector of a photoconductor includes: a current detection unit that detects a value of current being used for charging a surface of the photoconductor in a state in which a charging unit is in contact with a surface of the photoconductor; and a thickness variation detection unit that detects a thickness variation along a rotation direction of the photoconductor based on the value of current.

Abstract: A surface potential distribution measurement method and device including setting a sample having a surface with a surface potential distribution in a sample installation unit wherein both an electric field intensity formed on the sample surface and a potential bias component of the sample are variable, and scanning the sample surface in a one-dimensional or two-dimensional manner by irradiating a charged particle beam to the sample. The method also includes obtaining a detection signal from charged particles generated by the scanning, to measure the surface potential distribution of the sample by varying the electric field intensity and the potential bias component in order to control a quantity of the detection signal obtained from the charged particles.

Abstract: Provided is an exposure head controller that controls, via pulse width modulation control, the emission quantity of each light emitting element in an exposure head having a light emitting element array formed by arranging a plurality of light emitting elements in a main scanning direction and a sub scanning direction orthogonal thereto, comprising: a data retention unit that retains dot gathering control data showing whether to emit each light emitting element at the starting point side, terminal point side or in the middle of an emission period corresponding to a 1 pixel pitch in the sub scanning direction, or to divide and emit each light emitting element at the starting point side and terminal point side, emission time data showing the emission time of each light emitting element, and skew data showing the skew quantity of each light emitting element; a dot gathering operation circuit provided to each light emitting element and which operates the time in which the light emitting element is to be retained i

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus having an LED array with a plurality of light emitting elements aligned in a main-scanning direction and a convergent lens array for imaging light emitted from the light emitting elements on a photosensitive member. In order to correct density unevenness caused by positioning errors of the lens array, the light quantity emitted from each of the light emitting elements is adjusted such that the total difference from a target value will be closer to zero.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of controlling a light level of a light beam irradiated by a light source are provided. The light source is caused to irradiate the light beam having a light level determined based on a light level correction value for a specific main scanning position. The light level correction value is calculated based on light level change information indicating the change in the light level correction value for the specific main scanning position changes with respect to an initial light level correction value or a preceding light level correction value.

Abstract: A write reference signal generating unit uses horizontal synchronization signals output from BD sensors to generate, for each laser scanning unit of respective image forming units, a main scanning write reference signal for irradiating laser light from a semiconductor laser every other predetermined number of reflective surfaces when photosensitive drums are driven to rotate at a second speed of rotation which is slower than a standard speed of rotation. A phase adjustment unit adjusts the phase of a control signal for driving a polygonal mirror, which is output to a polygon motor of each image forming unit, on the basis of a relative time difference between image write timings of the respective laser scanning units as measured by a time difference measurement unit.

Abstract: A lens array, includes: a plurality of lens substrates which include a plurality of lenses arranged in a first direction; and a support member which supports the plurality of lens substrates arranged in the first direction.

Abstract: An image processing method (300) for converting an original image (601) into a final, pixelated image (610) suitable for printing on a printer arranged to print two-tone images and capable of printing partial area exposed pixels, comprises antialiasing (301) the original image (601) into an intermediate pixelated image (605) comprising greyscale pixels having assigned greyscale values. The method comprises the further-step, of translating (302) the intermediate image (605) into the final, pixelated image (610) by translating the assigned greyscale values into partial exposure values indicative of the amount of desired pixel area for a corresponding pixel or pixels in the final image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising: a latent image carrying member that carries a latent image; a drive unit that drives to rotate the latent image carrying member; an exposure head that includes a first imaging optical system, a first light-emitting element that emits light imaged on the latent image carrying member by the first imaging optical system, a second imaging optical system that is disposed at a different position from that of the first imaging optical system in a rotation direction of the latent image carrying member, and a second light-emitting element that emits light imaged on the latent image carrying member by the second imaging optical system; a storage unit that stores light-emitting timing adjustment information used for adjusting a timing at which the second light-emitting element emits light; and a control unit that determines a first light-emitting timing at which the first light-emitting element emits light and a second light-emitting timing on the basis of the light-emitting timing

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided in which on-surface potential unevenness of an image carrier can be suppressed, and with which an output image having excellent on-surface uniformity of color or the like can be obtained. The image forming apparatus includes: a photoconductive image carrier; charger which charges the image carrier; image exposing unit which exposes an image on a surface of the image carrier after the charging to form a latent electrostatic image; developing unit which develops the latent electrostatic image by adhering toner to the latent electrostatic image to form a toner image; and transfer charger which transfers the obtained toner image to a final supporting member such as plain paper.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a latent image carrier which carries a latent image; an exposure head which exposes the latent image carrier to light emitted from a light emitting element; a driver which rotationally drives the latent image carrier; a light emission controller which controls light emission time of the light emitting element; a rotational angle detector which detects a rotational angle of the latent image carrier; and a memory which stores first light emission time correction information to correct the light emission time in response to an eccentricity of the latent image carrier. The light emission controller permits the light emitting element to emit light at the light emission time corrected on the basis of a detection result of the rotational angle detector and the first light emission time correction information.

Abstract: A first beam splitter splits each laser beam into a first beam and a second beam. A deflecting unit deflects a direction of the second beam. A second beam splitter splits the second beam into multiple split beams. A first photoelectric converting unit measures intensity of the first beam and outputs first voltage. A second photoelectric converting unit measures intensity of each split beam and outputs second voltage. A control unit updates a driving-current correction value using the first voltage and the second voltage, corrects a driving current, and controls intensity of the laser beam based on corrected driving current.

Abstract: Provided is a line head including: a light emitting device array in which N (N is an integer of 2 or more) light emitting device groups including a plurality of light emitting devices is arranged; an output unit which sequentially outputs driving signals for driving the light emitting devices of the light emitting device groups to the light emitting device groups; and a delay unit which delays input timings when the driving signals output from the output unit are input to the light emitting devices, wherein the delay unit delays the input timings of the 1 to (N?1)th driving signals output from the output unit to the input timings of the Nth driving signals output from the output unit, and allows the light emitting devices of the different light emitting device groups simultaneously to emit light.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having an exposing unit for exposing a photosensitive body to form an latent image, a developing unit for forming a developer image corresponding to the latent image, a carrier body moved through a portion opposite to the photosensitive body onto which the developer image formed on the photosensitive body is transferred, a mark forming unit for controlling the exposing unit to form a mark on a surface of the carrier body, light a sensor for sensing light reflected by the carrier body, an edge detector for sensing an edge of the mark on the carrier body based on output of the light sensor and a deciding unit for deciding a positional relation between a focal point of the exposing unit and the surface of the photosensitive body based on the edge detected by the edge detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit which comprises a cartridge having a toner therein to form an image and a controller to control the image forming unit to increase a density of the image to be formed, if it is determined that a standard of the cartridge does not meet a usage requirement.

Abstract: A developing method includes the steps of setting a resist substrate on a turntable, the resist substrate including a substrate, an inorganic resist layer formed on the substrate, and a latent image formed by exposure to light; discharging developer to a developer application position on an upper surface of the inorganic resist layer while rotating the turntable, the developer application position being away from the center of the resist substrate; irradiating a monitor position on the upper surface of the inorganic resist layer with laser light, the monitor position being different from the developer application position; and continuously discharging the developer, while detecting the amounts of zeroth order light and first order light reflected by the upper surface of the inorganic resist layer and monitoring the light amount ratio of the first order light to the zeroth order light, until the light amount ratio becomes a predetermined value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which performs exposure for “n” lines in one scan by scanning “n” light rays from “n” light sources in a main scanning direction of an image carrier, where “n” is an integer greater than 1, including: a laser driving section; and a control section which, corresponding to density unevenness generated in an adjoining section of a nth exposure in a Nth scan and a first exposure in a N+1th scan, determines a correction value of exposure amount to resolve the density unevenness for the nth exposure amount in the Nth scan and the first exposure amount in the N+1th scan, along with that, determines a correction value of each exposure amount for the “n” lines, based on the correction values of the first and nth exposure amount.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises: a latent image carrier which carries an electrostatic latent image; a developing unit which visualizes with toner the electrostatic latent image carried by the latent image carrier and forms a toner image; an intermediate transfer medium to which the toner image is transferred from the latent image carrier and which rotates and transports the toner image to a predetermined transfer position and transfers the toner image to a recording medium; a cleaner which abuts on the surface of the intermediate transfer medium and removes toner which adheres to the surface of the intermediate transfer medium after the transfer to the recording medium; and a controller which, assuming that the direction which is orthogonal to the travel direction in which the intermediate transfer medium moves is a width direction, executes toner accumulating processing during which predetermined toner images are formed as end patch images in end areas of the surface of the intermediate transfer medium

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, and a method of controlling same, the image forming apparatus including an image carrying body; a light exposing unit which emits a light toward the image carrying body according to a light exposing signal; a light sensor which is disposed to a side of the image carrying body to receive a part of the emitted light; and a control unit which detects a biased amount in a sub scanning direction of the emitted light of the light exposing unit based on a sensing result of the light sensor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming part for forming a toner image on an image bearing body based on an image signal, and a density detection part for detecting a density of the toner image on the image bearing body, such that it is determined whether a normal image formed by the image forming part has a density detection area which should be detected, and if it is determined that the density detection area is present, image forming conditions are controlled based on a detection result of the density detection area.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a detection unit configured to cause a light emitting device to emit light, to cause a light receiving device to receive the light reflected by an object, and to produce a detection signal having a varying signal level responsive to an intensity of the received reflected light, a color misalignment correction unit configured to correct color misalignment resulting from positional misalignment between the developer images of respective colors on a transfer body by controlling an exposure unit in response to detected data indicative of the developer images detected in the detection signal, and an adjustment unit configured to identify a plurality of peak positions in the detection signal detected with respect to a single developer image and to adjust the detected data indicative of the developer images detected in the detection signal in response to difference in the peak positions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device including at least one image unit using developers of opposite polarities and different colors simultaneously, and at least one image unit using a single color developer of a constant polarity, a light source device including a plurality of light sources to form an electrostatic latent image on the plurality of image units, and a controller to control output of the light source in at least three output levels.

Abstract: An image forming method including: inputting a pulse width modulated signal into a laser beam output section and thereby outputting a laser beam, wherein a pulse width of the pulse width modulated signal is changed based on image data containing density information; scanning the laser beam onto a surface of a photoreceptor through an optical scanning apparatus and thereby outputting an image; detecting a diameter of the laser beam in a sub-scanning direction formed on the surface of the photoreceptor, the diameter of the laser beam inherent to each optical scanning apparatus and changing along an image height in a main scanning direction; and correcting the pulse width in response to the diameter in the sub-scanning direction so that the image output density is uniform with respect to one and the same input density in the image data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a latent image carrier, a charger to evenly charge a surface of the latent image carrier, a writing device to irradiate a charged surface of the latent image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image, a writing device control unit to control the writing device, a developing device to develop the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image, a transfer device to transfer the toner image onto a transferred member, and a pre-transfer irradiating device to irradiate the charged surface of the latent image carrier during a period after development and before transfer. The writing device control unit controls the writing device based on a target image signal A and an image signal B output a single rotation of the latent image carrier after output of the target image signal A in a sub-scanning direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that previously rotates a polygonal mirror drive motor before starting a job and forms a latent image by using an optical scanning unit including the polygonal mirror drive motor is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a control unit configured to perform control such that, in the determination of the presence or absence of each of color toners before a previous rotation is started, if it is determined that any one of the color toners is absent, only the polygonal mirror drive motor corresponding to a black toner is previously rotated.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus operates in a first image formation mode for forming an image on an image bearing member by using developer under a first predetermined image forming condition and a second image formation mode for forming an image on an image bearing member by using developer under a second image forming condition which is different from the first predetermined image forming condition. The apparatus is set so that the amount of consumption of developer for forming an image in the second image formation mode is smaller than the amount of consumption used for forming an identical image in the first image formation mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a latent image carrier; and an exposure head having light-emitting elements configured to emit light beams and form beam spots on the latent image carrier and image forming optical systems configured to form images of light beams emitted from the light-emitting elements arranged in a first direction and form group of beam spots on the latent image carrier, wherein the different image forming optical systems form the group of beam spots in an overlapped manner in the first direction, and the light-emitting elements include the light-emitting elements which define a first spot center distance Dsp—1 in the first direction and the light-emitting elements which define a second spot center distance Dsp—2 different from the first spot center distance in the first direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an alternative printing unit. The alternative printing unit performs alternative printing of a black image by mixing images of color materials of three colors of cyan, yellow, and magenta. The alternative printing unit includes a color material amount control unit that controls amounts of the respective color materials, which form the images of the color materials of the three colors, so as to be smaller than those at a time of normal printing.

Abstract: A toner image on a photosensitive drum exposed with an LED light beam radiated from an LED section and developed by an image-forming unit is transferred by an image-forming apparatus to a printing paper when the printing paper, which is fed from a paper feed tray or a manual feed tray and which is transported by a transport mechanism by a feeder section, passes through a process section. A control unit of the image-forming apparatus determines an exposure timing at which the LED section starts the exposure, depending on a supply source of the printing paper sheet to be subjected to the transfer by the process section. Therefore, the error of the photosensitive member arrival time, which is caused by the change of the transport route, is absorbed, and the deviation of the transfer start position, which results from the error, is suppressed.

Abstract: An exposure head includes: a first light emitting device group including light emitting devices disposed at different positions in a direction perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to a moving direction of an exposed side; a second light emitting device group disposed in the moving direction of the exposed side with respect to the first light emitting device group; an imaging optical system imaging light from the light emitting devices to expose the exposed side; and a control unit allowing one light emitting device group out of either the first light emitting device group or the second light emitting device group to emit light on the basis of a driving signal.

Abstract: A printer determines, in a process control, a reference exposure amount. A charging unit charges a surface of a photosensitive element to a target potential. After an exposure target area on the charged surface of the photosensitive element is exposed to a high adjustment exposure that corresponds to a high-exposure amount area, a control unit determines the reference exposure amount based on the target potential and a detected residual potential that is a result detected by a potential detecting unit as a potential of the target exposure area on the photosensitive element after being exposed to the high adjustment exposure.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, an exposure unit, a detection unit, a storage unit, and a control unit. The image forming unit includes a photosensitive member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed. The exposure unit exposes the photosensitive member. The detection unit detects that a reference position disposed on the photosensitive member has reached a predetermined position. The storage unit stores correction data for correcting unevenness of potential characteristic in the photosensitive member. The control unit controls an exposure intensity of the exposure unit at each position on the photosensitive member based on the correction data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor, a cleaning unit, an exposing unit, a developing unit, and a control section. On a circumferential surface thereof, the photoreceptor has an image area to have contact with a record medium in an image forming process, and a non-image area. The cleaning unit has a blade in contact with the image and non-image areas. The exposing unit forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface by irradiating the surface along a fast scanning direction with light modulated according to image data supplied by the control section. The data includes primary image data for modulating light to irradiate the image area with. The developing unit develops the latent image by applying developer to the surface. The control section performs an image addition processing in which secondary image data for modulating light to irradiate the non-image area with is added to the primary image data.

Abstract: A light-emitting unit includes M (M?3) number of light-emitting elements. A light-receiving unit includes N (N?3) number of light-receiving elements that receive a reflected light from at least one of a supporting member and a toner pattern. The toner pattern is formed on a surface of the supporting member. A detection light is emitted onto the supporting member from the light-emitting unit. A reflected light reflected from at least one of the supporting member and the toner pattern is received by the light-receiving unit. A position of the toner pattern on the supporting member is detected based on outputs of the light-receiving elements.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus comprises: an image carrier; a charging unit; a latent image forming unit; a developing unit that uses a toner maintaining a non-color-developing state when provided with coloring information through exposure to light; a coloring information providing unit that provides the toner image with coloring information by exposing the toner image to light having a predetermined wavelength determined depending on the color not to be developed based on color component information of image data; a transfer unit; a fixing unit; a color-developing unit that develops a color of the toner image provided with the coloring information; and a control unit that controls the coloring information providing unit to expose a background region on the image carrier to light having a predetermined wavelength for preventing color development of the toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a first image formation mode for forming an image on an image bearing member by using developer under a first predetermined image forming condition and a second image formation mode for forming an image on an image bearing member by using developer under a second image forming condition which is different from the first predetermined image forming condition and is set so that an amount of consumption of developer with respect to an identical image in the second image formation mode is smaller than that in the first image formation mode, the apparatus includes storing means for storing information on an amount of usage of the image bearing member, and control means for changing the second image forming condition in the second image formation mode depending on the information stored in the storing means.

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: An apparatus, a method, and a plate made by the method, e.g., using the apparatus. The apparatus includes a light tunnel of light reflective walls with polygonal cross-section like a kaleidoscope, and a light source, located at one end to produce light radiation to the inside of the light tunnel towards the other end. Light entering the light tunnel towards an inner reflective surface of a wall is reflected off the inner reflective surface so that it can emerge from the other end to cure a plate having photo-curable material thereon.

Abstract: A reference developing image is formed on a photoreceptor drum under an image forming condition measured in advance, and the density of this reference developing image is detected. A development bias voltage is corrected based on the detection result, and when a correction value of the development bias voltage exceeds a predetermined range, a reference output voltage of an ATC sensor for detecting the density of toner in a developing device is corrected based on the detected value of humidity around the developing device, the frequency of use of the apparatus, and the agitation stress of developer.