Abstract: A print data generating apparatus, comprising a background color designating system, wherein at least one background color of pixels in a background area of the image to be printed is designated, a usable color designating system, wherein a color to be used to print the at least one background color of the pixels is designated among a plurality of color options including a transparent color and a specific color, a color substituting system, wherein color information of the at least one background color is substituted with color information of the color designated in the usable color designating system, and a print data creating system, in which print data to be used for printing is created based on the image data wherein the color information of the at least one background color is substituted with the color designated in the usable color designating system in the color substituting system, is provided.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus acquires a type of consumable material possessed by the image forming apparatus using a library provided in an application platform, displays forms capable of printing using the type of consumable material acquired, and forms an image using one or more forms designated from among the displayed forms.

Abstract: A method of changing a color developer in a developer housing of xerographic marking system are disclosed, and may include supplying a chart divided into a plurality of color family sections or quadrants, selecting a new color to be installed in a developer housing corresponding to the color family section, purging old toner from the developer housing until a concentration of old toner is reduced to about 0.1% to 6.0% from its nominal concentration, installing a container of a new color developer in the developer housing, and running the marking system until the required concentration of the new color developer is attained.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body; a plurality of image carrying members; a plurality of developing members; a translation member that reciprocates in a straight line in a direction in which the image carrying members are aligned to move the developing members between an engagement position where the developing members are brought into contact with the image carrying members and a disengagement position where the developing members are disengaged from the image carrying members; and a force imparting mechanism, when at least one of the developing members is moved from the disengagement position to the engagement position by a movement of the translation member in a first direction, the force imparting mechanism imparting a force that includes a force component directed to a second direction opposite to the first direction into the translation member.

Abstract: This invention provides supplying a model that will together with software and a controller, separately selectively cycle up (activate) or cycle down (inactivate) color stations in accordance with their need for a particular imaging run. The cycled down stations are not activated for the imaging run thereby preserving the quality of the developer and toner in that inactivated color station or housing. The model will vary, depending on the machine or desired images. Each model can later be used for machines of the same family.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided wherein a printer used with a host device is operated to generate print batch separator pages using the same blank sheets as are used to print respective pages of successive print jobs. The printer is directed to print a visually distinctive graphic indicator, such as a separator border, trim, header, visible banner or other visual indicator or markings. This eliminates the need for an additional printer separator page tray. Usefully, a host device is operated to generate a separator command in a specified PDL language. A printer control device receives the page separator PDL command, and software contained in the printer control converts the PDL command into a printer readable format (PRF). A printer component responsive to the PRF command then operates the printer to print the specified separator page.

Abstract: A developing method in an image-forming device is provided. The developing method includes the steps of charging a photoreceptor; exposing the photoreceptor to form a first latent image on the photoreceptor; developing the first latent image by a first developing unit having a first potential to form a first toner image; and discharging the photoreceptor having the first toner image, such that when the photoreceptor is charged again, the first toner image on the photoreceptor has a second potential, and the second potential is approximately the same as the first potential of the first developing unit.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus configured to form an image and record the image on a recording material includes a driving unit configured to drive plural color developing devices and a black developing device independent from one another, a toner quantity meter configured to measure toner residual quantities in the developing devices after development processing applied to photoconductive members, a toner supplying unit configured to execute operation for supplying the toners to the respective developing devices according to the measured toner residual quantities, and a controller configured to start, with reference to timing when the toner supply operation is completed last in the plural color developing devices, operation for stopping the plural color developing devices and start, with reference to timing when the black toner supply operation is completed, operation for stopping the black developing device.

Abstract: A multicolor image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive belt unit comprising; a driving roller; a driven roller; a photosensitive belt having a joint, and a charger charging a surface of the photosensitive belt; an exposure device forming an electrostatic latent image, based on image information of each color, on the photosensitive belt; a plurality of developing devices storing different color developers, and an intermediate transfer unit performing a first transfer by sequentially superimposing each color developer image formed on the photosensitive belt. The photosensitive belt is suspended around the driving roller and the driven roller and is rotated and driven by the driving roller. Each developing device contacts and retracts from the photosensitive belt so as to develop the electrostatic latent image into a visible image using each color developer. At least one developing device can retract from the photosensitive belt at a region other than an image region.

Abstract: This invention provides supplying a model that will together with software and a controller, separately selectively cycle up (activate) or cycle down (inactivate) color stations in accordance with their need for a particular imaging run. The cycled down stations are not activated for the imaging run thereby preserving the quality of the developer and toner in that inactivated color station or housing. The model will vary, depending on the machine or desired images. Each model can later be used for machines of the same family.

Abstract: This is a system for changing a color in a xerographic marking system from an old color to a new color within the same color family. The prior art systems for changing color required that the entire color housing or hardware be replaced; this was very costly since these housings are very expensive. The present system involves removing the old color, selecting a new color in the same family of color, purging this old color from the color housing until a low concentration of old color remains, then installing a new color container and running the color system with the new color until the desired color is obtained. The new color is continuously measured by a spectrophotometer until the spectrophotometer indicates that the desired new color is produced.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section for forming an image on a recording material with transparent toner; a heater for heating a first image and a second image which are formed on the recording material by the image forming section as transparent images different in toner coverage per unit area; a glossiness detector for detecting glossiness of the first and second images after the first and second images are heated; and a correction section for correcting an image forming condition of the image forming section on the basis of a glossiness toner coverage characteristic obtained by a detection result of the detector.

Abstract: A method of forming an image with a plurality of colors of developer, the method including generating color printing data corresponding to colors, sensing remainders of the plurality of colors of developer, converting the color printing data into mono printing data for a reference color corresponding to color density of each color printing data if at least one of colors of developer is insufficient, and printing the mono printing data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus configured to carry out development using a light toner and a dark toner having substantially the same hue, includes a pattern forming unit configured to form a pattern using a dark toner and a light toner, a pattern reading unit configured to read the density of the pattern formed on a sheet of recording paper after the pattern has been fixed, and a gradation correction unit configured to correct the gradation characteristics of image data for the light toner by changing the slope of the gradation characteristics with zero level as a base point. The changing of the slope is based on the density characteristics of the pattern read by the pattern reading unit and the ratio of the amounts of the light toner and the dark toner that have been used.

Abstract: In a method or system to develop a potential image with selectable customer-specific colors using a developer fluid in an electrographic printing or copying device, a customer-specific color for print job is generated as a developer fluid from primary color concentrates and a carrier fluid in a mixing container of a mixing device. The developer fluid is fed to a developer station to develop the potential images. Given a color change to a new color in a mixing device, color values of a color of a residual developer fluid that remains are measured and via comparison of these color values with color values of the new color it is determined whether the new color can be generated using the residual developer fluid. If this is the case, the residual developer fluid is used to generate the new color.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which can achieve reduction in printing time, suppression of developer consumption, and implementation of silence. An image forming apparatus capable of forming a color image on an image carrier with use of developers of a plurality of different developing colors, including a plurality of developing devices respectively housing the developers of different colors, and a control section for controlling operation of the developing devices based on inputted image data, wherein the control section includes a concentration ratio recognition section for recognizing a concentration ratio of the respective colors for image data of every sheet from the image data, and controls so as to spare at least one color developer among the developers in response to the concentration ratio of respective colors recognized by the concentration ratio recognition section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of developing portions capable of developing electrostatic latent images formed on an image bearing member, and a control portion for executing preparation operations for developing operations with respect to each of the plurality of developing portions. The image forming apparatus has a first mode for conducting image formation by use of the plurality of developing portions, and a second mode for conducting the image formation by use of only a predetermined developing portion in the plurality of developing portions. The preparation operations for the predetermined developing portion are executed earlier than the preparation operations of the developing portions other than the predetermined developing portion in the plurality of developing portions, and the image formation in the second mode can be done earlier than the first mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided that forms an image with liquid developer, and a method thereof. The image forming apparatus includes a plurality of photoconductors on which developer images having carrier rates different from each other are formed with corresponding liquid developers. An image transfer member is disposed to form transfer nips with the respective photoconductors in such a manner that the developer images of the respective photoconductors are overlappingly transferred onto the image transfer member according to a transfer order predetermined on the basis of the carrier rates thereof. The developer images from the respective photoconductors are moved to an image receiving medium.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided that includes a plurality of developing units, a cam shaft, and a plurality of cams disposed on the cam shaft corresponding to the respective developing units. A power transmitting device disposed between the developing units and the cams selectively transmits rotational force from a driving source to the plurality of developing units.

Abstract: A separating unit determines, for an image data, whether there exists black data, and generates density data from the black data when the black data exists, and generates color data from data other than the black data. A multinarizing unit converts the color data into multinary data. A magnification varying unit varies the density data and the color data multinarized, using a cubic function convolution method. A binarizing unit binarizes the color data varied, based on a predetermined threshold. An image forming unit prints the color data binarized and the density data varied, onto a recording medium.

Abstract: The invention provides an image forming apparatus and an image forming method, capable of providing an image with little deterioration, even in case the image contrast has to be adjusted not for the purpose of image adjustment, such as for reducing the toner consumption amount or for preventing the leak in the charging device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, which includes: an image forming section to form an image on a transfer sheet conveyed to the image forming section; an edge detecting sensor which detects an edge position of the transfer sheet in a main scanning direction while the transfer sheet is conveyed to the image forming section; and a controller which controls an image writing position at the image forming section based on a result of an edge position detection by the edge detecting sensor; wherein the edge detecting sensor comprises a plurality of light sources each having a different wavelength, and the controller comprises a light source controller which controls lighting of the plural light sources.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a cyan color image formation unit which uses a cyan color toner to form a cyan color image; a magenta color image formation unit which uses a magenta color toner to form a magenta color image; a yellow color image formation unit which uses a yellow color toner to form a yellow color image; a black color image formation unit which uses a black color toner to form a black color image; an invisible image formation unit which uses an invisible toner to form an invisible image; and a control apparatus which, when only the black color toner and the invisible toner are used for formation of an image, stops respective image formation operations of the cyan color image formation unit, the magenta color image formation unit and the yellow color image formation unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is capble of selectively moving a plurality of developing devices to a developing position. During the moving operation of each developing device to the developing position, the moving distance of at least one developing device differs from the moving distance of the other developing devices. When the moving operation is performed during an ordinary image forming operation, the moving member is controlled so that the position of an image forming region on the image bearing member when the at least one developing device is at the developing position and the position of the image forming region on the image bearing member when the other developing devices is at the developing position may become substantially equal to each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of developing portions capable of developing electrostatic latent images formed on an image bearing member, and a control portion for executing preparation operations for developing operations with respect to each of the plurality of developing portions. The image forming apparatus has a first mode for conducting image formation by use of the plurality of developing portions, and a second mode for conducting the image formation by use of only a predetermined developing portion in the plurality of developing portions. The preparation operations for the predetermined developing portion are executed earlier than the preparation operations of the developing portions other than the predetermined developing portion in the plurality of developing portions, and the image formation in the second mode can be done earlier than the first mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes image forming means for forming a superposed image on an image bearing member by using at least toners which have an identical hue and different color densities; transfer means for electrostatically transferring the superposed image on the image bearing member onto a transfer material; and changing means for changing a mixing ratio between the toners which have an identical hue and different color densities depending on information on a water content of the transfer material, thereby to prevent a deterioration of an image, particularly a halftone image even in the case where the image is formed under a specific image forming condition, such as in a low humidity environment, liable to cause image deterioration due to a discharge phenomenon in the vicinity of a transfer portion.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, process cartridge, and storage medium, if an image forming stop factor occurs in a cartridge of a certain color, image forming using a cartridge of another color is enabled to increase the utilization efficiency and operability of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus has a plurality of detachable process cartridges including image carriers (photosensitive drums) on which latent images are to be formed and developing units which develop the latent images. When a replacement timing for at least one of the process cartridges has arrived, only the developing unit of the process cartridge whose replacement timing has not arrived is driven in accordance with the state of the cartridge whose replacement timing has arrived to perform image forming.

Abstract: A color printing system comprising a combination of at least four, and preferably six coloring materials, each of a different color, wherein these colors are selected from (1) an orange-red; (2) a violet-red; (3) a violet-blue; (4) a green-blue; (5) a green-yellow; and (6) an orange-yellow; as well as white and black. This system may be incorporated into a wide range of printing devices and provides a means of achieving a wide range of colors.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carriers for at least one color, a plurality of developing devices, each developing a toner image onto each image carrier, a plurality of charging devices, each charging the each image carrier, a first power source, connected to the developing devices in common, a second power source, connected to the charging devices in common, and a controller, changing a process control of at least one of the charging devices and the developing devices in accordance with a color image forming operation and a monochrome image forming operation.

Abstract: A method for producing a toner of a custom color in a developer unit including a housing defining a reservoir for storing a supply of toner, a donor member for transporting toner to an imaging surface; including: identifying custom color requested; determining color of toner in the reservoir; detoning toner on the donor member if the color of toner in the reservoir is beyond a predefined value in color space from the custom color requested; calculating and dispensing primaries toner colors to be added to the reservoir to obtained the custom color requested; mixing the primary toner colors dispensed in the reservoir; and evaluating and comparing the color components of the toner being mixed to the custom color requested.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image bearing member and a developing portion having a plurality of developing devices provided facing the latent image bearing member, as well as an inputting portion for inputting an image signal, an auto-discriminating portion for automatically discriminating the kind of image input, and a control portion for changing between a first mode for executing monochrome image formation, a second mode for executing color image formation, and an auto-selecting mode for changing over between the first mode and the second-mode according to the discrimination of the auto-discriminating portion. In the auto-selecting mode, movement of a predetermined developing device to a predetermined position is started before the auto-discriminating portion makes the discrimination.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus in which, if the image forming apparatus using only a normal toner is modified to be capable of forming an image formed of a special toner, an appropriate image can be formed in accordance with the characteristics of the special toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a latent image carrier, a first developing unit having a plurality of developing units and provided so as to face the latent image carrier at a predetermined developing position, and a second developing unit provided so as to face the latent image carrier at a developing position different from that for the first developing unit, wherein even if the first developing unit malfunctions, the second developing unit is used to form an image, if possible.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image bearing member and a developing portion having a plurality of developing devices provided facing the latent image bearing member, as well as an inputting portion for inputting an image signal, an auto-discriminating portion for automatically discriminating the kind of image input, and a control portion for changing between a first mode for executing monochrome image formation, a second mode for executing color image formation, and an auto-selecting mode for changing over between the first mode and the second-mode according to the discrimination of the auto-discriminating portion. In the auto-selecting mode, movement of a predetermined developing device to a predetermined position is started before the auto-discriminating portion makes the discrimination.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing a latent image recorded on an imaging surface with a custom color toner, including a developer housing for developing a portion of the latent image with the toner of custom color. The developer housing includes a donor member for transporting toner of the custom color to a development zone to develop the latent image. A replaceable reservoir unit is provided for mixing and supplying the custom color toner to the donor member. An array of toner dispensers is provided for supplying various primary color toners, as required, to achieve the custom color, and additional reservoirs having various colored toners therein to allow for faster convergence to a given point in the color space.

Abstract: Computer controller mixing of customer-selected colorants, including inks, for printing machines includes an ink supply station with a color matching control computer program, an ink mixing station, cleaning and waste disposal stations, for automatically emptying and cleaning ink mixing station components, which are integrally connected to a print engine, and scheduling of colorant changes to maximize use of a particular colorant and minimize colorant changes.

Abstract: A toner advisor apparatus and method for imaging systems includes an imaging device with a toner cartridge. More than one toner compartment in the toner cartridge is conformed to hold various toner colors. A cartridge scanner device is connected to the imaging system for scanning the more than one toner compartment. An analysis device is connected to the cartridge scanner device and to the imaging device for comparing the type of color required for a print job on the imaging device and the amounts of toner in the more than one toner compartment and for suggesting colors that optimize toner consumption. In one aspect of the invention, the analysis device is conformed to optimize toner consumption by suggesting colors that use nearly equal amounts of different toner colors over time.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for color management by a retailer comprising the steps of: choosing an engineered color standard (ECS); communicating the ECS to a product vendor; having a product produced using the ECS; and controlling the product's color quality by comparing the ECS to the produced product. The ECS preferably comprises reflectance data and a dye specification.

Abstract: Technology for controlling consumables for color printers to prevent the mere recording agent of a specific color from being excessively consumed. In this technology, when the printer is used, the system detects the residual ink volume of each color, and replaces an original color with another color by performing color conversion (image synthesis) on an image data by means of a prescribed processing method if a biased ink consumption exceeds a prescribed value, thus restricting the use of the particular ink before it is used up.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which an image forming device has developing device for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member. The developing device has a first developing section for developing use of a first cyan toner, a second developing section for developing by use of a first magenta toner, a third developing section for developing by use of a yellow toner, a fourth developing section for developing by use of a second cyan toner that is lighter than the first cyan toner, and a fifth developing section for developing by use of a second magenta toner that is lighter than the first magenta toner. A sixth developing section is provided for developing by use of a black toner. A first rotator supports the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth developing devices, and a second rotator supports the fourth and fifth developing devices.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has N-in-1 mode for forming an image of N documents in a sheet of paper and automatic color selection mode for deciding whether a document is a color document or a monochromatic one. When the N-in-1 mode and the automatic color selection mode are selected, color copy mode is selected if a number of color documents in N documents to be reproduced in a sheet of paper is larger than a predetermined reference value.

Abstract: An image data adjustment system is described which adjusts image data to be printed based upon the level of contaminants detected in the toner reservoirs. The system detects the level of contamination of a toner to be printed and adjusts the image data so that a compensating toner is also printed with the desired toner so that an intended print color is achieved despite contaminants in the toner.

Abstract: Custom color control techniques are extended by using a high and a low pigment loaded toner for each color of the primary colors in the printing system. In one application, a large gamut of colors and fine control of color is accomplished by using a minimum number of colored pigments with each color incorporated into both high and low pigment loaded toners. Another application of the high/low pigment loaded toners is the ability to increase the developed mass per unit area (DMA) for rough papers without increasing pigment mass per unit area (PMA) by either mixing high and low pigment-loaded toners or by mixing a high pigment-loaded toner with an unpigmented toner to obtain the desired custom color. A novel sensor which senses fluorescent molecules in toner particles provides a color independent measure of total toner solids.

Abstract: A color printer which performs a printing operation according to data from an upper unit such as a host computer. Switching mechanisms each which switches the state of each color printing unit to either a return state or an evacuation state are respectively arranged to the color printing units. A control unit judges as an unused color a color satisfying a predetermined unused condition among the plural colors and controls the corresponding at least one of switching mechanisms to switch the state of the color printing units corresponding to the unused color to the evacuation state. Since the evacuation operation of the color printing unit is performed without deteriorating the printing performance, the reduced power consumption, prolonged serviceable life of a color printing unit with a low use frequency, and improved print quality can be realized.

Abstract: A system and method for color mixing control in a developing material-based electrostatographic printing system. A developing reservoir containing an operative solution of customer selectable colored developing material is continuously replenished with selectively variable amounts of basic color components making up the operative solution by controlling the rate of replenishment of various color components added to the supply reservoir. An optical sensor is used to measure the optical spectrum of the developed image so that the actual optical spectrum thereof can be brought into agreement with a target optical spectrum associated with a customer selectable color. The present invention may be used to mix a customer selectable color in situ, whereby approximate amounts of primary color components are initially deposited and mixed in the developing material reservoir and the resultant developed image is monitored and adjusted until the mixture reaches a target optical spectrum.

Abstract: A color facsimile apparatus for color-recording color image data received by facsimile communication onto a predetermined recording sheet. When a facsimile receiving operation is performed under a predetermined condition, the color facsimile apparatus sends a protocol signal to the sending facsimile apparatus, the protocol indicating that the receiving capability of the color facsimile apparatus is for receiving monochrome image data. Also disclosed is an image communication apparatus for color-printing color image data received by image data communication onto a predetermined recording sheet. When reception of image data is performed under a predetermined condition, the received color image data are converted to monochrome image data on which predetermined processing is performed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has N-in-1 mode for forming an image of N documents in a sheet of paper and automatic color selection mode for deciding whether a document is a color document or a monochromatic one. When the N-in-1 mode and the automatic color selection mode are selected, color copy mode is selected if a number of color documents in N documents to be reproduced in a sheet of paper is larger than a predetermined reference value.

Abstract: A system of forming an image on an image transfer medium. The system forms an image according to image data on the image transfer medium and forms one color primer image on the image transfer medium at least in an area of the image. The system forms the image using the transfer medium and can separate the image according to the image data and the primer image from the image transfer medium, and fix the separated image according to the image data and the primer image on a surface of a transferred object by contacting the primer image with a surface of the transferred object. In this system, an expected color image can be obtained even if a transferred object color is not white, because the primer image is formed between the image and the surface of the transferred object.

Abstract: A marking particle color blending device for use in an electrophotographic printing machine of the type having an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member is provided. The device includes a first container for storing a first supply of marking particles defining a first color and a second container for storing a second supply of marking particles defining a second color. The device further includes a mixing chamber operably associated with the first container and the second container for receiving a least a portion of at least one of the first supply of marking particles and the second supply of marking particles. The device also includes a first metering device operably associated with the first container and the mixing chamber for accurately controlling the quantity of the first supply of marking particles entering the mixing chamber.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printer produces a multi-color image on a moving photoconductor (OPC) and includes a laser/scanner arrangement for producing first and second beams to expose the OPC at spaced-apart exposure stations. The OPC is charged to a reference state prior to exposure. First and second developer stations are positioned between the first and second beam exposure stations and third and fourth developer stations are positioned after the second beam exposure station in the direction of movement of the OPC. A controller modulates the laser, during each scan, in accordance with subpixel color data from a pair of color planes to achieve a tri-level charge state (including the reference state) on the OPC. The first and second developer stations apply charged toners, selectively, in accord with the tri-level charge state produced by the scan of the first beam.