Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form an image based on an image forming condition; a sensor to measure a measurement image formed by the image forming unit; and a controller to obtain information correlated with a change in density of an image to be formed by the image forming unit, control the sensor to measure the measurement image, determine first data related to density of the image to be formed by the image forming unit, determine, based on a result of measuring the measurement image, second data related to density of the image to be formed by the image forming unit, and generate the image forming condition based on a weighted average of the first data and the second data.

Abstract: A model inversion-based iterative learning control method for a printer and a printer system. An error of a desired trajectory and an actual displacement of a printing paper and an error of a reference input and an actual displacement of a motor are considered at the same time to construct an iterative learning control model for the printer based on an inversion model, so as to iteratively modify an error failing to meet requirements.

Abstract: A sensor unit detachably mounted in a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a sensor for detecting a detection object on a surface of a movable member, the sensor having a detecting surface positioned to face the surface of the movable member at least when the sensor detects the detection object; a casing portion accommodating the sensor; an air feeding unit, provided in the casing portion, for taking air in through an inlet portion formed by the casing; and a duct for feeding the air discharged from the air feeding unit to a space between the detecting surface and the surface of the movable member.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system and a method for determining a surface smoothness of a facing specimen can be used in connection with the manufacture of products, including cementitious products such as gypsum wallboard, for example. Such systems and methods can be used to generate a composite smoothness factor based upon a measured mottle value and topography value using stochastic frequency distribution analysis.

Abstract: A control portion has a conversion portion that converts image data to be used for forming a recorded image by using either a first conversion condition which has been set such as to obtain a first gradation characteristic in the image to be formed on the recording material when a first image forming operation is executed or a second conversion condition which has been set such as to obtain a second gradation characteristic, which is different from the first gradation characteristic, in the image when a second image forming operation is executed, a peripheral velocity ratio between an image bearing member and a developer bearing member being larger during the second image forming operation than during the first image forming operation, and enables the first image forming operation or the second image forming operation to be performed on the basis of converted image data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image information acquisition unit that acquires image information; a toner image formation unit that forms, in response to a control parameter, a toner image on a surface of an image carrier based on the image information; an image density detection unit that produces a detection result indicative of image density of the toner image; and a control unit that determines whether to use a predetermined region in the toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier based on the image information for a detection of the image density of the toner image, and when the predetermined region is determined to be used for the detection of the image density, corrects the control parameter used by the toner image formation unit based on the detection result so as to maintain the image density in the predetermined region within a predetermined range.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, an image forming unit for forming a patch image on the image carrier, a light emitting unit, a plurality of light receiving units adjacently arranged so as to receive light reflected from the patch image when light is irradiated by the light emitting unit onto the patch image which moves with movement of the image carrier and each including one or more light receiving elements, and an output unit for outputting an output signal that depends on a difference between a received light quantity of a first light receiving unit and a received light quantity of a second light receiving unit that are respectively odd-numbered and even-numbered in the arrangement order of the light receiving units.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a printer using a reflective scanner is disclosed. Because the reflective scanner used for calibration may only be able to accurately measure a limited density range that is less than the full density range of the printer, some information from the reflective scanner is disregarded or deemphasized during the calibration process. A calibration page is printed and scanned. Lookup tables (LUTs) that comprise the printer calibration values are updated based on adjustments calculated from the scanner for density regions where the scanner produces relatively accurate measurements, but updated based on the preexisting settings for density regions where the scanner produces relatively inaccurate measurements. In transitions regions between accurate and inaccurate regions, the LUTs are adjusted based on a combination of measurements from the scanner and the preexisting settings.

Abstract: A method of estimating one or more dimensions of a patch panel may include receiving an image of a patch panel that comprises a plurality of ports and one or more gaps, extracting, by a computing device, a region of interest from the received image, detecting, by the computing device, one or more line segments from the region of interest, determining whether one or more candidate ports can be identified based on at least a portion of the line segments, and in response to determining that one or more candidate ports can be identified, identifying one or more candidate ports, and determining, by the computing device, a gap length associated with the identified candidate ports.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a receiving unit configured to receive reflection light emitted by a light emitting unit, and output a detection signal corresponding to an amount of received reflection light; a detection unit configured to output, as an output signal, a signal corresponding to a difference between a value that corresponds to an amount of reflection light from a first position at which a detection image having one or more lines in a direction different from a movement direction is formed and a value that corresponds to an amount of reflection light from a second position different from the first position; and a control unit configured to control an image formation condition related to density of an image to be formed, based on a peak value of the output signal.

Abstract: Techniques to determine concentration parameters of conductive liquid electrophoretic (LEP) inks are illustrated herein. In an example, a layer of conductive LEP ink is formed on a developer roller using electrostatic forces acting on the conductive LEP ink. A current is generated in response to a voltage between a measurement electrode and a developer roller. The current flows through the conductive LEP ink layer.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, provided is an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a moving body using toner. The image forming apparatus includes a pattern creating device that creates a first pattern for toner density detection and a second pattern for positional deviation detection on the moving body, the first pattern and second pattern being disposed to be arrayed in a main-scanning direction; a reflecting optical sensor including an emitting system that includes at least three light-emitting elements of which positions at least in the second direction are different and a light-receiving system that includes at least three light-receiving elements that receive light beams that are emitted from the emitting system and reflected from the first pattern and second pattern; and a processing device that obtains toner density information and positional deviation information simultaneously based on an output signal of the light-receiving system.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a detector that detects a density of developer on the image bearing member, a support member supported in the image forming apparatus and removably supporting the detector, a separator disposed with a space from the detector, a first connected unit disposed on the support member between the separator and detector, a second connected unit disposed on the support member on an opposite side of the detector from the first connected unit, a fixing member including a first connecting unit that passes through the space and is supported by the first connected unit and a second connecting unit supported by the second connected unit, where the fixing member fixes the detector to the support member, and a disengagement restricting unit disposed on an opposite side of the detector from the separator so as to be adjacent to the second connecting unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a PTC and a toner concentration sensor that are disposed adjacent to and downstream of a fourth image forming unit. The PTC and the toner concentration sensor are opposed to an intermediate transfer belt. A counter roller is opposed to the PTC across the intermediate transfer belt. The counter roller moves to, during the toner concentration detection, a position opposed to the toner concentration sensor across the intermediate transfer belt. Compared to the PTC and the toner concentration sensor each having a counter roller, less rollers may be provided, thereby reducing degradation of the intermediate transfer belt due to wear.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image forming unit, an image control unit, a sensor, and a correction unit. The image control unit controls the image forming unit to perform toner refresh which is an operation of outputting deteriorated toner at a high density, and controls the image forming unit to form a predetermined pattern. The sensor measures a density value of the formed image. The correction unit corrects the toner density for a high-density operation using the value measured from the image formed during the toner refresh and corrects the toner density for at least a low-density operation using the value measured from the predetermined pattern.

Abstract: The present image forming apparatus forms a reference developing material image on an image carrier using an exposure unit and a developing unit before executing auto tone correction processing, and detects the density of the reference developing material image formed on the image carrier. If the detection result indicates that the toner charge amount of the developing material contained in the developing unit is within a predetermined range, auto tone correction processing is executed, whereas if the detection result of the density detecting unit indicates that the toner charge amount of the developing material contained in the developing unit is outside the predetermined range, adjustment processing for adjusting the toner charge amount of the developing material contained in the developing unit to be within the predetermined range is executed before execution of auto tone correction processing.

Abstract: A method of controlling print density in a printing system includes gathering first data from a first sensor; gathering second data from a second sensor; comparing the first data to the second data; if the first data correlates to the second data no action is required; if the first data deviates from the second data; determine a confidence level for each sensor; identify the sensor with the lowest confidence level; and take corrective action.

Abstract: A toner supplying method for supplying toner from a toner container to a developing part that causes toner to adhere to a latent image formed on a latent image carrying member and develops the latent image, includes detecting a toner amount in the developing part as being equal to or less than a predetermined toner amount value; forming a fog detecting image in a case where the toner amount in the developing part is equal to or less than the predetermined toner amount value, and detecting fog; and determining based on the detected fog whether to execute a toner ejecting process of ejecting the toner remaining in the developing part toward the latent image carrying member before supplying the toner to the developing part from the toner container.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a movable member including a mounting portion for detachably mounting a cartridge, with the movable member being movable from an outside toward an inside of a main assembly of the apparatus while supporting the cartridge. The apparatus further comprises an output contact and an intermediary electrical contact configured and positioned to supply a bias voltage received by the output contact to the cartridge, with intermediary electrical contact being disposed on the mounting portion and being elastically deformable in a moving direction in which the movable member is movable between the outside and the inside. The cartridge includes an input electrical contact and a cartridge side contact portion.

Abstract: A method of controlling a printing job of an image forming apparatus having an image forming unit. The method of controlling a printing job includes transforming scanned data into printable data, and determining a time to start driving the image forming unit according to the type of data scanned, starting driving the image forming unit at the determined start time, and printing the scanned data transformed into printable data. The time required to perform a printing job is thereby reduced, and scanned data can be output normally.

Abstract: A method for reducing wear upon an electro-photographic printer drum includes the steps of determining a non-image region of a page to be printed, applying a halftone pattern of toner to a portion of the printer drum corresponding to the non-image region, and rotating the printer drum against a cleaning blade, the halftone pattern of toner providing lubrication between the drum and the cleaning blade.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a developing housing that accommodates a developer for developing an electrostatic latent image into a developer image; a developer carrier, which carries the developer in the developing housing, and which supplies the developer to the image carrier; a developing bias supply part that supplies a developing bias to the developer carrier; a remaining quantity calculation part that calculates a remaining quantity of the developer in the developing housing; a deterioration grade storage part that stores a relationship between the remaining quantity of the developer in the developing housing and a deterioration degree of the developer caused by the developing operation; and a developing bias setting part that sets a value of the developing bias in accordance with the remaining quantity calculated by the remaining quantity calculation part and the relationship stored in the deterioration grade storage part.

Abstract: There is described an image forming apparatus, which makes it possible to prevent a final print product from getting its appearance worse due to such a drawback that a reference mark still remains on the final print product. The apparatus includes: a setting section to make the display section display a setting screen for inputting setting information therefrom, the setting information being in regard to a post-processing use page including a reference mark to be used for post processing; an image processing section to create image data representing a second image of the post-processing use page, based on the setting information inputted from the setting screen; and a print processing section to print the first images of the pages included in the document and the second image of the post-processing use page onto first paper sheets and a second paper sheet being separate from the first paper sheets, respectively.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of performing both of stabilization of image density on a short-term basis and that on a long-term basis in a compatible manner. A CPU predicts an amount of electrostatic charge of toner particles in a developer container, sets a potential forming condition for image creation, and forms a toner image to be fixed on a recording medium, on a photosensitive drum according to the set potential forming condition. The CPU forms a pattern image for controlling a toner replenishment amount, on the photosensitive drum, under a potential forming condition which is set independently of the potential forming condition for image creation, and controls the amount of toner to be supplied to the developer container such that density of the pattern image, detected by an optical sensor, becomes equal to a target density.

Abstract: A method of compensating for printing quality of an image forming apparatus includes determining a pattern to be printed as a first pattern which is a default pattern and a second pattern obtained by changing the first pattern according to a toner stress index that represents a deteriorated degree of remaining toner, and printing the determined pattern with the remaining toner.

Abstract: An image printing system configured to minimize two-dimensional image quality non-uniformities on printed documents is provided. The image printing system includes a marking engine, a linear array sensor, an image analyzer, and a controller. The marking engine is constructed to print toner images on an image bearing surface moving in a process direction. The marking engine comprising of a toner development system. The linear array sensor is adjacent the image bearing surface and is extending in a cross-process direction. The linear array sensor is configured to scan the toner image on the image bearing surface. The image analyzer is configured to detect a two-dimensional non-uniformity in the toner image. The controller is configured to control at least one control parameter of the toner development system based on the two-dimensional image quality non-uniformity in the toner image that is detected by the linear array sensor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a problem-occurrence determining unit, a problem-occurrence area determining unit, and a notifying unit. If the problem-occurrence determining unit determines that a problem has occurred in an image forming process, the problem-occurrence area determining unit determines whether the problem is caused by a toner filling process on the basis of toner-filling control data and toner-supply control data. The notifying unit then notifies the determination as to whether the problem is caused by the toner filling process.

Abstract: In a color misalignment detection method, an alignment pattern is obtained by designating a plurality of lines having line width and line intervals formed by superposing a line image of a black color as a reference color and a line image of a color other than the reference color, for example, a cyan line image, as one patch, and continuously forming these patches by shifting the relative position between the line images of the two colors by an optional quantity. An alignment pattern detection sensor has a light emitting diode and a photodiode. These elements are arranged along the scanning direction of the alignment pattern such that the photodiode can only receive diffused reflected light of reflected light from the alignment pattern. A spot shape of the light emitting diode and a spot shape of the photodiode are both formed in a square shape.

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: The color printing control device outputs color material reduction processed data generated by applying a color material reduction process to each pixel of bitmaps converted to color material colors to be used in printing, when it is judged that the color material reduction printing mode is specified. The color material reduction process includes chroma conversion that reduces chroma and under-color removal/black generation that replaces at least a portion of achromatic components generated by overlaying of a plurality of color materials.

Abstract: An approach is provided for managing the processing of print data at a printing device based upon available consumable resources. A printing device includes a print process configured to determine consumable resources that are currently available at the printing device. The print process is further configured to determine which print data is to be processed based upon the consumable resources currently available at the printing device and the consumable resources required to completely process each of the print data. Print data that can be completely processed using the currently available consumable resources are selected for processing. The print process may also be configured to cause a notification to be provided to a client device to indicate the consumable resources currently available at a printing device and/or that insufficient consumable resources were available to process particular print data and to recommend other consumable resources to process the particular print data.

Abstract: A system and method control a consistent color quality of overlay colors and single separations of color. The method determines a first error for a first separation of a first color, wherein the first error has a first sign. The method identifies a second error for a second separation of a second color, wherein the second color is a different color than the first color, wherein the second error is based on an actual density value for toner particles printed transferred from the second separation, wherein the second error has a second sign. The method compares the first sign of the first error and the second sign of the second error. The method converges the actual density value of the second separation to a target position when the first sign is a different sign than the second sign.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a printing method that can utilize a lightly pigmented toner along with a darkly pigmented toner to improve the image quality. The method can include receiving a dataset corresponding to a printing of a printing system using a darkly pigmented toner. The printing system may have an undesirable optical density printing range for the darkly pigmented toner. Further, the method can include converting the dataset to a first dataset corresponding to a first printing of the printing system using the darkly pigmented toner, and a second dataset corresponding to a second printing of the printing system using a lightly pigmented toner. The first dataset can avoid the undesirable optical density printing range for the darkly pigmented toner, and a combination of the first printing and the second printing providing a substantially same printed optical density corresponding to the received dataset.

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: It is judged whether a sufficient time for executing all of three correction processings (a high density correction processing, a halftone correction processing, and a registration correction processing) can be secured or not. When the sufficient time cannot be secured, the high density correction processing as an essential correction processing is executed. A history of the halftone correction processing and a history of the registration correction processing are compared with each other. A date of latest execution of the halftone correction processing and a date of latest execution of the registration correction processing are compared with each other to judge whether or not the execution of the halftone correction processing is earlier, and the registration correction processing and the halftone correction processing are executed, respectively.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an image forming portion for forming an image on a sheet; an image reading portion for reading an original, the image forming portion having a printed board having a projecting board surface projecting on an image reading portion side; a hinge portion having a pivot axis for pivotably supporting the image reading portion relative to the image forming portion; and a cable having a connector to be electrically connected with a connector receiving portion provided on the projecting board surface, wherein, within the image forming apparatus, the cable is folded back in a U-shape in a vicinity of the pivot axis from the image reading portion side to an image forming portion side, with the connector of the cable being connected to the connector receiving portion from a direction substantially perpendicular to the projecting board surface.

Abstract: A system is provided that determines the amount of toner on a photo receptor in a xerographic operation. A photo receptor is charged in one or more locations to create an image. A developer places a patch of a predetermined amount of toner onto the one or more charge locations of the photo receptor. A light emitting diode projects light onto the photo receptor, wherein the intensity of the light varies based on the voltage provided to the LED. An optical reflective sensor measures the reflectance of the toner placed on the photo receptor, the amount of reflectance of the toner is related in a known way to the intensity of the LED. A direct relationship between LED intensity and the reflectance of the toner allow for accurate extrapolation at LED intensities greater than the point of saturation.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus in which the image forming apparatus has a marginless mode in which the toner image is formed on said image bearing member in an area that covers the recording material and an area outside the recording material, and the toner image is transferred to extend beyond an edge of the recording material carried by said recording material carrying member, the image forming apparatus further including: a detecting device which detects the toner image that extends beyond the edge of the recording material and is transferred to said recording material carrying member in the marginless mode; and a control device which uses a detection result provided by said detecting device to control where said exposure device forms a latent image on said image bearing member.

Abstract: A method for determining if an image to be printed is subject to reload artifact, includes providing an image (which may be a low resolution version of the image) to be printed; locating within the image a first area to be printed requiring toner of sufficient quantity to cause reload of the donor roll; locating within the image a second area substantially one rotation of the donor roll subsequent to the first area; determining if the second region is a region of high area toner coverage, wherein high area toner coverage comprises toner coverage exceeding a predetermined threshold value; if the second region is a region of high area toner coverage, determining if the second region contains high frequency content; if the second region contains high frequency content, the second region is not subject to reload artifact; else the second region is subject to reload artifact.

Abstract: In order to determine the image quality of an encoded image in consideration of the printing characteristic of an output apparatus (e.g., a copying machine and a printer), the image forming apparatus has an intermediate formation unit for forming dots that are based on dot data making up an encoded image on an intermediate transfer body, and a decision unit for deciding whether the encoded image should be formed on a sheet or not based on the density of the dots formed on the intermediate transfer body by the intermediate formation unit.

Abstract: A technique that can contribute to improvement of analysis accuracy in analysis processing concerning an image forming apparatus is provided. An image forming apparatus that forms, on a sheet, a test pattern formed by a color obtained by mixing toners of plural colors, scans a test pattern image formed on the sheet with a color sensor, and performs predetermined image quality control processing on the basis of information scanned, the image forming apparatus including an analysis-information forming unit that forms predetermined information used for an analysis concerning the image forming apparatus on a sheet.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably is mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus of an image forming apparatus including an urging member and a positioning portion. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum; a positionable portion positioning the cartridge by engaging the positioning portion when the cartridge is mounted to the apparatus; first and second urgable portions being urged respectively, by first and second urging portions of the urging member to urge the positionable portion to the positioning portion during cartridge mounting; and an electrical contact, provided between the first and second urgable portions with respect to a horizontal direction crossing an axis of the drum, for connecting electrically to an electrical contact portion in the urging member, when the cartridge is mounted to the apparatus.

Abstract: A toner consumption-calculating apparatus includes a printed portion area-detecting unit that detects an area of a printed portion of image data of a latent image that is formed on a latent image-bearing member; a latent image portion area-detecting unit that detects an area of a latent image portion on the latent image-bearing member; and a latent image portion toner consumption-calculating unit that calculates latent image portion toner consumption that indicates toner amount that is consumed due to adhering on the latent image portion. The latent image portion toner consumption-calculating unit uses a detection result of the latent image portion area-detecting unit and a detection result of the printed portion area-detecting unit to calculate the latent image portion toner consumption.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which is capable of decreasing the failure rate by improving a photocatalytic material and utilization efficiency thereof, and by decomposing substances that cannot be completely removed with a cleaning member or by not causing the substances to adhere. A light emitting unit irradiates an object to be irradiated with light. A light receiving unit receives reflected light from the irradiated object. A protection sheet containing a photocatalytic material is disposed so as to cover the light emitting unit and light receiving unit. The light emitting unit emits light of a wavelength range adapted to a bandgap width of the protection sheet, and the light receiving unit has sensitivity in a wavelength range of light emitted from the light emitting unit.

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 a transport unit having a transport belt which transports a printing medium in a transport direction along a transport path, an image forming unit which transfers toner to the printing medium to form an image, a density evaluation unit which is provided on the transport path of the transport belt and evaluates a density of the image formed by the image forming unit, and a controller which controls the image forming unit to form a test image which has a length in a transport direction that is determined by a position deflection of the transport belt, controls a characteristic of the image forming unit based on a density evaluation of the test image, and controls the transport unit to make the transporting speed of the transport belt a predetermined value or less during the density evaluation of the test image by the density evaluation unit.

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: A toner density estimating method for a two-component developer is provided. The toner density estimating method includes: sensing photo-reflectance of a test pattern having a plurality of grayscales formed by using toner; calculating a rate of change of the photo-reflectance according to the grayscales of the test pattern; and estimating a toner density based on the rate of change. Accordingly, it is possible to accurately estimate the toner density irrespective of the influence of changes in temperature, humidity, or other external factors.

Abstract: An electrostatic-image-developing toner includes: a binder resin; and a yellow pigment in an amount of from about 5 to about 50 ppm.

Abstract: A toner replenishing device of a toner consumption calculating portion calculates a toner consumption using a gray scale value of each pixel in a multiple-value image inputted from an image data input portion. The calculated toner consumption is corrected by a corrected consumption calculating portion, and is then accumulated by a cumulative consumption calculating portion, and thereby a cumulative toner consumption is calculated. A main replenishing amount control portion controls a replenishing roller driving motor so as to replenish a predetermined first replenishing amount of a toner to a developing tank when the cumulative toner consumption reaches a reference consumption or more. Further, an auxiliary replenishing amount control portion controls the replenishing roller driving motor so as to start to replenish a predetermined second replenishing amount of a toner to the developing tank when a toner concentration obtained by a toner concentration obtaining portion reaches less than a start concentration.