Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080226312 | ACTUATOR, OPTICAL SCANNER, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An actuator includes: a first vibration system including a driving member having a frame shape, and a pair of first axial members each one end of which supports the driving member so as to allow the driving member to rotate about an X-axis; a second vibration system including a movable plate provided inside the driving member, and a pair of second axial members each one end of which supports the movable plate so as to allow the movable plate to rotate about a Y-axis perpendicular to the X-axis; a driving unit including a ferromagnetic member, a coil acting a magnetic field on the ferromagnetic member and a voltage applying unit applying a voltage to the coil, either one of the ferromagnetic member and the coil being disposed at a position on the driving member apart from each of the X and Y axes in a plan view of the movable plate; and a positioning portion that is disposed to the driving member and determine a fixing position of the ferromagnetic member or the coil with respect to the driving member. The movable plate rotates about each of the X and Y-axes by the voltage applying unit applying a voltage to the coil. | 09-18-2008 |
20080232833 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming apparatus is disclosed that has an optical device including an optical source that is driven corresponding to image data, a deflection unit that deflects an optical beam output from the optical source in a main scanning direction, and an optical element that reflects the optical beam onto a photosensitive drum; a detection device that is arranged outside the optical device and detects a positional shift of the optical beam in a sub-scanning direction defined as a direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction; and a control unit that corrects the positional shift in the sub-scanning direction using an output from the detection device. | 09-25-2008 |
20080273886 | Image forming apparatus - Example embodiments reduce the number of data input/output lines by carrying on a single signal line input signals to the image forming control means from a plurality of detection means and drive signals output to a plurality of drive means from the image forming control means, provide versatility for coping with cases where configuration of the image forming apparatus is changed without increasing the number of signal lines, and control the drive means that require a drive pulse and simultaneous drive of a plurality of drive means. Identification control means determines whether a drive signal is output to drive means of a plurality of input/output means, or whether a detection signal from detection means is input, identifies any one input/output means of the plurality of input/output means from an identification signal, and specifies the data to be transferred to a data line as data of the identified input/output means. | 11-06-2008 |
20080273887 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING IMAGE - When an image forming apparatus, after a feeding error of a recording material occurs in a fixing device, re-forms on the recording material an image corresponding to image data which image was formed on a sheet which caused the feeding error, an image forming condition is caused to be different from an operation condition used when the feeding error has occurred. This makes it possible to prevent a JAM corresponding to the same image from recurring in the fixing device. | 11-06-2008 |
20080285987 | Electrophotographic Device Utilizing Multiple Laser Sources - An electrophotographic device has first and second laser sources, each controllable to emit a laser beam, a scanning device arranged to direct the beams so as to sweep in a scan direction across a photoconductive surface and a controller configured to control the electrophotographic device. In at least one print mode, the electrophotographic device is controlled such that scan lines written by the first laser beam overlap with scan, lines written by the second laser beam, and a laser power of the first and second laser sources are controlled such that image data corresponding to select print elements are each partially written at a corresponding print element, position along at least two adjacent scan lines so as to combine energy in a manner that forms a synthesized print element on the photoconductive surface at a position between the adjacent scan lines. | 11-20-2008 |
20080292334 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME AND IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM - Detachable sheet feeding units are connected to an image forming apparatus. A transmitting unit transmits a feeding instruction via a signal line to a sheet feeding unit that is to perform sheet feeding. A first sheet detector, which is placed in the sheet feeding unit, detects a sheet that has been fed from the sheet feeding unit. A second sheet detector is provided downstream of the first sheet detector in terms of the sheet conveyance direction. If the feeding instruction is transmitted and a plurality of sheets are fed from the sheet feeding unit, an image formation controller determines whether to cause the image forming operation to continue or stop based upon whether a sheet-to-sheet interval of a plurality of sheets has been detected by the second sheet detector in a state in which the result of detection by the first sheet detector indicates presence of a sheet. | 11-27-2008 |
20080304839 | Image processing apparatus - In an image processing apparatus of the present invention, an image forming section for forming an image makes a part of line information which exists in the image different from other line information. For example, specific information is added by making a part of line information such as a frame line, a ruled line, or an under line, different from other line information. Specific information such as copying inhibition information and user information is added to a document, and thereby it is possible to prevent from affecting other image information different from conventional copying inhibition information and background pattern. Moreover, since the ruled line and the like is formed in black, it is possible to add the specific information or recognize the specific information even in a black-and-white image processing apparatus. | 12-11-2008 |
20090003854 | RECORDING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE RECORDING APPARATUS - A recording apparatus includes a recording unit configured to record an image on a recording medium, a roller configured to convey the recording medium, a first signal generation unit configured to generate a first period signal according to a movement of the recording medium, a second signal generation unit configured to generate a second period signal according to a rotation of the roller, a correction unit configured to correct the first period signal when a period value of the first period signal is outside a predetermined range, an information generation unit configured to generate variation information of a moving speed of the recording medium based on the first period signal, and a control unit configured to control recording on the recording medium based on the variation information and the second period signal. | 01-01-2009 |
20090016747 | Positioning apparatus for a printer - A positioning apparatus for a printer is provided. The positioning apparatus includes at least one encoder, an OPC belt, and a code strip consisting of a reference bar code region, a blank region and normal bar code region. The OPC belt is moved relatively to the encoder and has a joint region. The code strip is mounted on the OPC belt and has a plurality of bar codes. The encoder is used for detecting the bar codes and generating a displacement signal representing a displacement of the OPC belt moved relatively to the encoder. The blank region may be adjoined the joint region. Therefore, a home position can be located precisely by the displacement signal due to the existence of the reference bar code region and blank region. Moreover, a positioning method for a printer is also disclosed. | 01-15-2009 |
20090028588 | CONTROLLING TIMING FOR STARTING IMAGE FORMATION - Exemplary embodiments provide an apparatus, method, system, computer program and product, each capable of controlling a timing for starting image formation such that when forming a preceding image and a following image, a timing for starting formation of the following image is adjusted based on a timing for starting the preceding image. | 01-29-2009 |
20090092404 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - A sensor reciprocates in a main scanning direction to detect lateral end portions of a sheet conveyed in a sub-scanning direction. A print head is mounted on a carriage reciprocating in the main scanning direction. A sheet-information acquiring unit acquires sheet information including a type and a size of the sheet. A positional-information storing unit stores positional information on lateral positions of the sheet on the conveying belt, corresponding to the size of the sheet. A control unit controls, when the type of the sheet is a pattern-printed sheet, a printing by the print head based on the positional information corresponding to the size of the sheet. | 04-09-2009 |
20090129793 | BLADE MAINTENANCE PROCESS AND SYSTEM FOR MAINTAINING ADEQUATE TONER DAM - A toner dam maintenance process and system model the amount of toner mass at a toner cleaner blade, and apply a corrective procedure, such as insertion of a paperless copy into the print job mid-job or immediately prior to cycle out, to replenish the toner mass at the cleaner blade to maintain lubrication and reduce cleaning failure. The modeling includes contributing factors toward toner dam input and output, including untransferred toner, cycle-in/cycle-out bands, untransferred background, and leakage of toner from the cleaner blade. One or several threshold can be reached to cause one or more different corrective actions to take place. The action may be adding or skipping a pitch to insert a corrective maintenance pattern without transfer. | 05-21-2009 |
20090129794 | PRINTING DEVICE, PRINTING METHOD AND PRINTING SYSTEM - A printing device comprises a printing unit which prints an image on a sheet according to a print command, a judgment unit which judges whether a total adhesion amount of a print agent adhering to the sheet for the image printing exceeds a prescribed threshold value or not based on inputted print data, and a control unit which executes a process for reducing the total adhesion amount of the print agent when the total adhesion amount is judged to exceed the threshold value by the judgment unit. | 05-21-2009 |
20090175635 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND DRIVE CONTROL METHOD OF THE SAME - An image forming apparatus capable of performing monochrome printing and color printing in which all the developing units share a single development transformer is constructed such that at the time of monochrome printing the photoreceptor drums for colors are stopped rotating while all the developing units are constantly applied with a high voltage. Further, the cumulative operation time in which the black photoreceptor drum has been operated for monochrome printing is calculated so that the color-printing photoreceptor drums which are stopped during monochrome printing are rotationally driven by a predetermined angle when the cumulative operation time exceeds predetermined fixed time. Thus, the surface of each color-printing photoreceptor drum that is being worn is restored by making the fresh surface of the drum oppose the associated color developing unit, whereby it is possible to prevent occurrence of defects on the surface of each photoreceptor drum. | 07-09-2009 |
20090252507 | IMAGE FORMING METHOD, IMAGE FORMING PROGRAM, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming method for printing on tab paper with a main body for a text and an tab for an index, comprising the steps of: 1) acquiring index information on the index to be printed on the tab, and 2) printing the index information acquired in the step 1) on the tab paper, wherein first index information composed of the initial part of the index information that can fit into the tab, is printed on the tab, and second index information containing at least the remaining part of the index information after depriving it of the first index information, is printed on the main body. | 10-08-2009 |
20090317101 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a belt, an image forming section, a displacement operation section and a displacement control section. The image forming section includes a color image forming unit and a monochrome image forming unit. The displacement operation section conducts a press-contact operation and a release operation. The press-contact operation brings into contact the image carrier and the belt. The release operation separates the image carrier from the belt. The displacement control section controls the displacement operation section to perform the press-contact operation when the cumulative number of color images is greater than the cumulative number of monochrome images after the image forming section forms a series of images. The displacement control section controls the displacement operation section to perform the release operation when the cumulative number of color images is less than the cumulative number of monochrome images after the image forming section forms a series of images. | 12-24-2009 |
20090324263 | Image forming apparatus and control method therefor - An image forming apparatus includes a dual purpose tray that accommodates a document and a transfer sheet, a document transport mechanism to transport the document from the dual purpose tray to an image reading position, an image reading mechanism disposed beneath the document transport mechanism, an image forming mechanism disposed beneath the image reading mechanism, a transfer sheet transport mechanism to transport the transfer sheet from a bifurcation point through the image reading mechanism, a sheet feeding path that bifurcates into a first transport path through which the document is transported to the image reading position and a second transport path through which the transfer sheet is transported through the image reading mechanism to an image forming position by switching a switching member in accordance with one of a type of a recording medium set on the dual purpose tray and an operation mode of the image forming apparatus. | 12-31-2009 |
20100054768 | BELT DRIVING CONTROL DEVICE, BELT DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, BELT DRIVING CONTROL METHOD, COMPUTER PROGRAM, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - A belt driving control device includes an endless belt looped over a plurality of supporting rollers, a driving source supplying rotational driving force the supporting rollers, a detecting section detecting a periodical thickness deviation of the endless belt in a circumferential direction of the endless belt and carrying out data sampling for detection of the thickness deviation simultaneously with rotation of the endless belt, a memory storing data on the thickness deviation obtained based on the data sampling, and a control section controlling drive of the driving source such that the detected thickness deviation of the endless belt is canceled out based on the data on the thickness deviation stored in the memory, and such that the endless belt is driven to travel one rotation upon detecting a predetermined condition to carry out the data sampling for one rotation and update the stored data with new data. | 03-04-2010 |
20100061743 | DOUBLE-SIDE RECORDING APPARATUS AND MEDIUM TRANSPORTING METHOD IN DOUBLE-SIDE RECORDING APPARATUS - A double-side recording apparatus which inverts a recording medium after the end of the recording of a first face, and then performs the recording of a second face, includes: a recording unit which performs recording on the recording medium; a transportation unit which transports the recording medium to a position where the recording unit can perform the recording; a movement unit which moves a movable member capable of engaging with the recording unit to an engagement position and a non-engagement position; an inversion unit which inverts the recording medium sent from the transportation unit and returns the inverted recording medium to the transportation unit; a power source which is common to the transportation unit, the movement unit, and the inversion unit; | 03-11-2010 |
20100119245 | PAPER DISCHARGE DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper discharge device that can sort sheets on a tray. The paper discharge device has paper discharge rollers, a tray and a driving mechanism. The paper discharge rollers are configured to discharge a sheet having an image formed thereon. The tray is configured to be stacked with the sheet discharged from the paper discharge rollers. The driving mechanism is configured to move the tray in a direction approaching the paper discharge rollers and a direction away from the paper discharge rollers and vary a stacking position of the sheet on the tray. | 05-13-2010 |
20100129094 | DUPLEX PRINTING APPARATUS - A printer is operable for image formation onto a sheet of a sheet width Lp, with a sheet spacing Lg and a printing transfer speed Vg, a constant speed transferrer makes sheet transfer at the printing transfer speed Vg from a register via the printer to a speed change position, a variable speed transferrer makes sheet transfer from the speed change position to the register, and a transfer controller controls sheet transfer speeds, the variable speed transferrer having sections for sheet transfer, including deceleration and acceleration sections for sheet reversal at the sheet reversing path, and a constant speed section for transfer at a constant transfer speed Vr, the transfer controller determining a circulating sheet number N, executing a calculation of transfer speed Vr employing sheet width Lp, sheet spacing Lg, printing transfer speed Vg, and accelerations, to enable sheet transfer for circulation within a time interval of N×(Lp+Lg)/Vg. | 05-27-2010 |
20100183321 | PRINT TERMINAL UNIT AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING PRINT - A print terminal unit includes a storage unit to store a lookup table on which information regarding an image forming apparatus corresponding to at least one type of a document is recorded, a user interface through which at least one type of at least one document to be printed is selected, and a controller to control an image forming apparatus that corresponds to the selected type of the document among the plurality of image forming apparatuses according to the lookup table to print the document. Accordingly, the user easily performs printing operation using an image forming apparatus separately depending on the type of the document. | 07-22-2010 |
20100196022 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, PROGRAM, RECORDING MEDIUM, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In the case where a sheet on which a transparent toner image is to be formed has low glossiness, when the transparent toner image is formed in a area in which a user wishes to partly lower the glossiness, the glossiness in the area in which the user wishes to lower the glossiness is increased. For that reason, a print as desired by the user cannot be obtained by fixing the transparent toner image in an area corresponding to the area in which the user wishes to lower the glossiness. | 08-05-2010 |
20100272454 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - There is provided an image forming apparatus which adopts a distributed control system and suppresses generation of radiation noise without increasing the cost. To accomplish this, the image forming apparatus includes a master control unit that controls the overall image forming apparatus, a plurality of sub-master control units that control a plurality of functions for performing image formation, and a plurality of salve control units that control loads for implementing a plurality of functions. The image forming apparatus performs distributed control. The image forming apparatus determines the operating frequencies of the salve control units in accordance with loads controlled by the salve control units. The image forming apparatus compares the operating frequencies of the slave control units. Based on the comparison result, the image forming apparatus changes the operating frequency of a slave control unit that is equal to the operating frequency of another slave control unit. | 10-28-2010 |
20100290797 | METHODS TO CONTROL APPEARANCE OF GLOSS LEVELS FOR PRINTED TEXT AND IMAGES - A printer configured to adjust gloss appearance of images includes a marking engine configured to render an image on a substrate from input image data; and a controller configured to: (i) correlate a minimum luminance value to be used by the printer based on a gloss selection; (ii) determine a black point compensation function based on the correlated minimum luminance value; and (iii) adjust luminance values for input image data using the determined black point compensation function. A method to adjust gloss appearance of images is also provided. | 11-18-2010 |
20110026950 | DYNAMIC IMAGE POSITIONING AND SPACING IN A DIGITAL PRINTING SYSTEM - A dynamic positional shifting, in the process direction, of the images on the second print engine of a tandem machine printing system in order to increase the time (and number of prints) between skipped pitches. Although the photoreceptor belts of each print engine may be out-of-phase, the relative positions of their individual seam zones may be derived during cycle-up. A control procedure then optimizes the position and spacing of each image within each belt revolution of the second engine, while still maintaining the minimum inter-document zone (IDZ) length required for paper path feeding and registration, xerographic process controls, and finishing. Removing the constraints of fixed-dimension IDZ's, as well as being able to adjust spacing and length of individual images on the belt, allows for optimization of system productivity by either delaying or eliminating the need for a skipped pitch. | 02-03-2011 |
20110116817 | Methods and Apparatuses for Applying Respective EP Engine Settings to Different Zones within a Page of Media - Generally, an imaging device is capable of applying respective EP engine settings to different zones within a page of media. In an example embodiment, a method includes printing in first and second zones on a page of media using first and second EP engine settings that are respectively associated with the first and second zones. The imaging device prints in the first zone on the page of media based on a first EP engine setting that is associated with the first zone. The imaging device switches from the first zone on the page of media to the second zone on the page of media responsive to a size indicator. The imaging device prints in the second zone on the page of media based on a second EP engine setting that is associated with the second zone. | 05-19-2011 |
20110170886 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In an image forming apparatus, a computing unit computes phase shift amounts A(i) for every correction relative phase angle θ(j) based on an amplitude B of a reference compressional wave αa, an amplitude C(i) of a detection compressional wave α(i), and a relative phase angle φ(i). A setting unit specifies the phase shift amounts A(i), and sets a correction relative phase angle θ(j) corresponding to the specified phase shift amounts A(i). A correction unit corrects, based on the correction relative phase angle θ(j) set by the setting unit, a relative phase shift between a periodic variation in the circumferential speed of a first image bearing member and a periodic variation in the circumferential speed of a second group image bearing member by operationally controlling at least one of first and second drive units. | 07-14-2011 |
20110170887 | IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM - An image forming system which is capable of causing a clear coating apparatus to discharge processed sheets in proper page order, and improving usability and operability of the system by users. An mage forming apparatus is set to perform single-sided image formation or double-sided image formation. A clear coating apparatus is set to perform single-sided clearing coating or double-sided clear coating. Whether to perform inverted discharge of sheets is controlled according to the settings of the image forming apparatus and the clear coating apparatus. | 07-14-2011 |
20110188869 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - According to one embodiment, a cleaner-less mechanism is provided only in a black image forming unit, and a cleaning apparatus is provided in a color image forming unit. Otherwise, when an image adjustment function is executed, the number of operations of forming an image adjustment pattern corresponding only to a black developing agent is reduced. | 08-04-2011 |
20110222877 | DIRECT PRINTING METHOD AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE FOR PERFORMING THE SAME - A direct printing method and an image forming device for performing the direct printing method are provided. The image forming device includes an image forming body and a controller. The image forming body includes a plurality of electrodes, and the controller controls to operate at least some of the plurality of electrodes at different times and print a single line image. | 09-15-2011 |
20110229165 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus has a job-content recognition device for judging whether a number inputted as the number of print copies to be made is larger or smaller than a predetermined reference value; a print-data recognition device for judging whether or not inputted print data include image data and/or graphic data; and a control device for controlling executions of image stabilization control in a printing section. The control device sets a predetermined period as intervals among executions of the image stabilization control, and sets a period shorter than the predetermined period as the intervals among executions of the image stabilization control when the number inputted as the number of print copies to be made is larger than the predetermined reference value and also the inputted print data include image data and/or graphic data. | 09-22-2011 |
20110243586 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus including: a photosensitive member driving unit configured to rotate the photosensitive member; a charge unit having an opening portion and configured to charge the surface of the photosensitive member; a shield member movable between a closed position for closing the opening portion and an open position for opening the opening portion; a shield member driving unit configured to move the shield member between the closed position and the open position; and a control unit configured to control the photosensitive member driving unit to rotate the photosensitive member in a state in which the shield member is situated at the open position, and to prevent the photosensitive member from rotating in a state in which the shield member is situated at the closed position. | 10-06-2011 |
20110274451 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes: plural image forming units including developing devices configured to respectively form images of plural colors; plural toner cartridges in which respective toner of the plural colors is stored respectively and each of the plural toner cartridges configured to supply the respective toner to the developing device respectively; first memories provided respectively incidental to the plural toner cartridges and each of the first memories in which correspondence data between parameter value affecting printing condition and printing condition calculated on the basis of characteristic of the respective toner of the plural colors is stored in advance; a detecting mechanism configured to detect the parameter value; and an arithmetic control mechanism configured to calculate each of printing conditions in the respective toner of plural colors from the correspondence data on the basis of the parameter value and calculate control condition for the image of the plural colors formed to be superimposed one on top of another on the basis of the printing condition. | 11-10-2011 |
20120039619 | Printer or Copier for Printing an Endless Support Material Comprising Transversal Folds, and Method for Controlling Such a Printer or Copier - In a method or system for controlling a printer or copier, a separation of a position mark printed on a web-shaped carrier material in a longitudinal direction of the carrier material relative to a transverse fold present in the carrier material is preset as a parameter. Arrival of the position mark is monitored with a sensor arrangement arranged before a transfer printing area while the carrier material is moved past the sensor arrangement. A real position of the transverse fold is determined for a position of arrival of the position mark at the sensor arrangement. The transverse fold is conveyed to a desired position by consideration of the real position of the transverse fold. | 02-16-2012 |
20120189329 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Provided is an image forming apparatus having a first sheet dimension sensor at a conveyance path in a reverse conveyance section | 07-26-2012 |
20120195607 | IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS - An image formation apparatus includes an image carrier on which a developer image is to be formed, an image transfer device configured to transfer the developer image formed on the image carrier to a medium at an image transfer position, a controller configured to control drive of the image carrier and the image transfer device, a first medium feeder configured to feed the medium to the image transfer position along a medium conveyance path extending from the first medium feeder to the image transfer position, and a medium detector provided between the first medium feeder and the image transfer position in the medium conveyance path. The controller is configurd to control the drive of the image carrier on the basis of a medium-detection result by the medium detector. | 08-02-2012 |
20120275802 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The image forming apparatus includes: a paper feed unit; a print unit; a registration roller; a sheet leading end sensor provided downstream, in a transport direction of the recording paper, of the registration roller; a time measuring unit for measuring a time from a start point of transportation of the recording paper by the registration roller to a point of detection of the leading end of the recording paper by the sheet leading end sensor; a memory unit for storing a reference image forming time and a reference time; a print control unit; and an arithmetic unit for obtaining a difference between the reference time and the time detected by the time measuring unit. The print control unit adjusts the length of the image forming period in accordance with the adjusted image forming time determined based on the difference obtained by the arithmetic unit and the reference image forming time. | 11-01-2012 |
20120288288 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, POWER SUPPLY METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a medium; a control unit configured to control the image forming unit; a power supply unit configured to supply power from a commercial power source; a power generating unit configured to generate power that is separate from the power supplied from the commercial power source; and a secondary battery charged by the power generated by the power generating unit. The control unit switches a power source between the power supply unit and the secondary battery, the power source supplying power to at least the control unit. | 11-15-2012 |
20120294633 | ENDLESS BELT MEMBER, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ENDLESS BELT MEMBER - An endless belt member for an image forming apparatus includes an endless belt member body that contains a resin and conductive particles, an inner transparent film, a position detection member that is used to detect the position of the endless belt member body, and an outer transparent film, wherein the position detection member is sealed by the inner and outer transparent films, is provided on a part of an outer peripheral surface of the endless belt member body, and has side surfaces which are substantially perpendicular to the outer peripheral surface of the endless belt member body, and the inner and outer transparent films are welded to each other at portions, which is adjoining the side surfaces of the position detection member, of the portions that come into direct contact with each other. | 11-22-2012 |
20120294634 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section including a developing section, a toner container mountable to and removable from the image forming apparatus, an intermediate hopper for replenishing toner supplied from the toner container to the developing section, a toner remaining amount detection sensor for detecting a remaining amount of the toner in the intermediate hopper, a cover to be opened and closed when the toner container is mounted and removed, an opening/closing detection sensor for detecting an operation of opening and closing the openable and closable cover, and a main control section. During a print job, the main control section continues image formation when the cover is opened and an amount of the toner is less than a predetermined amount. Further, the main control section halts the image formation when the cover is opened and the amount of the toner is the predetermined amount or more. | 11-22-2012 |
20120321329 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: an intermediary transfer member; image forming portions each including an image bearing member; first transfer portions; cleaning portions; and a controller capable of executing a single-color image forming mode operation in which a developer image of a single color is transferred onto the intermediary transfer member by an image forming operation of one of the image forming portions to form a single-color image. The controller executes, during the execution of the single-color image forming mode operation, a sequence in which the developer image is formed on the image bearing member at the image forming portion which does not operate for the image formation, and a bias voltage for charging the developer to an opposite polarity to a normal charge polarity of the developer is applied to the first transfer portion to permit the charged developer to reach the cleaning portion is executed. | 12-20-2012 |
20130016983 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUSAANM Kawakami; ShinyaAACI Mishima-shiAACO JPAAGP Kawakami; Shinya Mishima-shi JP - An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; an endless belt; a first driver for driving the belt in contact to an inner surface of the belt; a second driver for driving the belt in contact to an outer surface of the belt; and a tension detector for detecting a state of tension of the belt. The tension detector includes: a movable device, contacted to the belt in a region downstream of the second driver and upstream of the first driver and in a region upstream of the second driver and downstream of the first driver with respect to a rotational direction of the belt, capable of moving its position depending on the tension of the belt in the two regions; a member-to-be-detected capable of changing its position in interrelation with the movement of the movable device; and a detecting device for detecting the member-to-be-detected. | 01-17-2013 |
20130016984 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUSAANM Suzuki; AkimichiAACI Yokohama-shiAACO JPAAGP Suzuki; Akimichi Yokohama-shi JPAANM Nada; TakaoAACI Numazu-shiAACO JPAAGP Nada; Takao Numazu-shi JPAANM Kawakami; ShinyaAACI Mishima-shiAACO JPAAGP Kawakami; Shinya Mishima-shi JP - An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a rotatable endless belt; a first driving member for driving the belt in contact to an inner surface of the belt; a second driving member for driving the belt in contact to an outer surface of the belt; a tension detecting unit for detecting a state of tension of the belt; and a controller for controlling a rotational speed of the second driving member. A driving force applied from the second driving member to the belt is smaller than a driving force applied from the first driving member to the belt. The controller controls, on the basis of a detection result of the tension detecting unit, the rotational speed of the second driving member so that the state of tension of the belt is a predetermined state. | 01-17-2013 |
20130058666 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus transfers an unfixed developer image carried on an image carrier on a sheet of paper in a transfer section and fixes the unfixed developer image to the sheet of paper in a fixing section, and includes: a paper feeding section which accommodates a sheet of paper to be reused where the developer image is erased using a first developer including decolorizing function and feeds a paper to the transfer section, and a management information generation section which forms on the sheet of paper a developer adhesion quantity of the developer image formed on the sheet of paper to be reused as the management information using the first developer. | 03-07-2013 |
20130084087 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREOF AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM - An image processing apparatus, which controls a fixing temperature and a fixing speed of a fixing device used to fix a formed image, and a color material amount used to form the image, the apparatus comprises: a display unit configured to display an operation panel which accepts settings associated with the fixing temperature, the fixing speed, and the color material amount for image forming processing; and a determination unit configured to determine, in a case where settings of two items out of the fixing temperature, the fixing speed, and the color material amount are accepted via the operation panel, a setting of the remaining one item. | 04-04-2013 |
20130148989 | FLUID DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF - A method includes controlling a charge level of fluid in a fluid chamber by detecting at least one fluid parameter corresponding to a charge level of a fluid in a fluid chamber having at least charge directors and carrier liquid, and controlling the charge level of the fluid based on the detected fluid parameter. | 06-13-2013 |
20130195481 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image to be formed on a recording medium. The image formed by the image forming unit has a size larger than a size of the recording medium that is transported, the image forming unit causing the image to adhere to the entire area of the recording medium. A width of the image in a direction substantially orthogonal to a transporting direction of the recording medium increases from a front end toward a rear end of the recording medium in the transporting direction of the recording medium. | 08-01-2013 |
20130272729 | MARKING APPARATUS - In accordance with an embodiment, a marking apparatus, configured in an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet by using a fadable record material which is faded when the heat with a specified fading temperature is applied, and to mark a marker at a specified position of the sheet comprises a marking record material configured to color when the heat in a first temperature range is applied, fade the color when the heat in a second temperature range lower than the first temperature range is applied, and have the reversibility of alternately carrying out color-fading and coloring, a marker printing unit configured to print the marker at the specified position of the sheet by using the marking record material and a heating unit configured to heat the marker in the second temperature range. | 10-17-2013 |
20140023386 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Disclosed is an image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section, a control section, and a magnification factor adjusting section. | 01-23-2014 |
20140050495 | CONTROL OF PHOTORECEPTOR BELT DETENSIONING CYCLES USING EXTENDED SLOWER BELT ROTATION - A processor places a printer apparatus in a reduced activity mode after printing requests have not been received for an “inactivity” time period. A belt support device rotates a photoreceptor belt at a reduced speed when the printer apparatus enters the reduced activity mode and for a “delay” time period after the printer apparatus enters the reduced activity mode. The belt support device returns the rotational speed of the photoreceptor belt to the original speed if a new printing request is received during the delay time period. However, the belt support device stops rotation of the photoreceptor belt and reduces the belt tension if the delay time period expires without receiving a new printing request. | 02-20-2014 |
20140079417 | PRINTING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - In a printing apparatus having full-color and monochrome print processes and a method therefor, whether a page to be printed is color or monochrome is checked. The presence of an immediately preceding page which is successively printed before a page to be printed that is determined to be monochrome, and the attribute of the immediately preceding page are determined. The presence of a succeeding page which is successively printed after the page to be printed, and the attribute of the succeeding page are determined. The number of pages corresponding to the determination results is set. The print process of the page to be printed is decided on the basis of the presence of succeeding pages corresponding to the number of pages and their attributes. | 03-20-2014 |
20140086602 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided that includes a controller configured to perform an acquiring operation of acquiring an exposure completion time point when an exposure operation of exposing a photoconductive body using image data has been completed and a trailing-end detecting time point when a detector has detected a trailing end of a sheet, and a determining operation of determining whether a developer image would be transferred outside the sheet, based on the exposure completion time point and the trailing-end detecting time point acquired in the acquiring operation, a transfer time period required for an arbitrary point on the photoconductive body to move to a transfer position from an exposure position, and a conveyance time period required for a trailing end of the sheet to move to the transfer position since the detector detects the trailing end of the sheet. | 03-27-2014 |
20140119750 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD THEREOF - Transmission information indicating transmittance of light of a printing medium used in image formation is acquired, a reduction ratio with respect to a maximum amount of mounted color materials used in the image formation is set based on the transmission information, and a fixing index indicating a fixing state of the color materials with respect to the printing medium is set based on the transmission information. | 05-01-2014 |
20140119751 | PRINT CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD - An apparatus includes a determination unit, a decision unit, and a print control unit. The determination unit determines, before a start of printing of a print job, whether the print job is to be printed on a second continuous sheet during execution of the printing of the print job. The decision unit decides, in a case where the determination unit determines that the print job is to be printed on the second continuous sheet, a print order of printing the print job on a first and the second continuous sheet in a manner such that sheets on which printing has been executed and are discharged are arranged according to page order. The print control unit causes a print unit to execute the printing on the first continuous sheet and the second continuous sheet based on the print job in accordance with the print order decided by the decision unit. | 05-01-2014 |
20140147135 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus in which a first toner image to be transferred to a recording medium through secondary transfer is formed on an intermediate transfer member and a second toner image not to be transferred to the recording medium through secondary transfer is formed on the intermediate transfer member after the first toner image has been formed. When the first toner image and the second toner image are formed, a position on the intermediate transfer member at which the second toner image is formed is controlled in accordance with a conveying direction length of the recording medium, to which the first toner image is transferred through secondary transfer, measured by using a detection unit. | 05-29-2014 |
20140147136 | SHEET FEED APPARATUS AND SHEET FEED METHOD - A sheet feed apparatus which includes a sheet feed tray in which a plurality of sheets is loaded in piles; a sheet feed roller which is provided at a forward position of the sheet feed tray in a sheet feed direction, and sends the loaded sheets inside thereof; and a lift detection sensor which detects, by using a movable lever, a lift of a sheet bundle which occurs when the sheet bundle, of which a rear or a side in a sheet feed direction is bound, is sent by the sheet feed roller therein, the lift detection sensor being provided at a side position of the sheet bundle in a width direction and at a backward position with respect to the center of the sheet bundle in the sheet feed direction. | 05-29-2014 |
20140169812 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer member configured to rotate an image bearing member by contacting and operating the image bearing member to be driven, an image bearing member drive unit configured to drive the image bearing member by generating an assist torque for operating the image bearing member to be driven, an extraction unit configured to extract an image bearing member speed fluctuation component and an intermediate transfer member speed fluctuation component, and a control unit configured to output a torque instruction value to the image bearing member drive unit to control the assist torque generated by the image bearing member drive unit, wherein the control unit controls the assist torque generated by the image bearing member drive unit so that a difference between the image bearing member speed fluctuation component and the intermediate transfer member speed fluctuation component is within a predetermined range. | 06-19-2014 |
20140178084 | MACHINE LEARNING BASED TONE CONSISTENCY CALIBRATION DECISIONS - A method for making a tone consistency calibration timing decision includes measuring, with sensors and in conjunction with a first tone consistency calibration, a first state of a printer. A second state of the printer is also measured. A machine learning calibration module implemented by a computer processor determines if changes between the first state and second state justify a tone consistency calibration. If the changes between the first state and second state justify a second tone consistency calibration, then the second tone consistency calibration is performed. | 06-26-2014 |
20140241741 | CORRECTION CONTROL METHOD AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A correction control method includes performing correction control to bring a control value to a target value or a change through a prediction control system that previously applies a predetermined amount of correction and a predetermined timing. The prediction control system is constructed without performing data offset processing for deriving the predetermined amount of correction and the predetermined timing. | 08-28-2014 |
20140248063 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS THAT DETECTS PHASE OF PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM - An image forming apparatus which reduces a time period required to detect a phase of a photosensitive drum without an increase in costs. The apparatus performs exposure control according to a phase of rotation of the drum. A reference position serving as a reference for rotation of the drum is detected when the drum is rotating at a predetermined speed. After the speed of the drum is reduced from the predetermined speed, a first time period is measured which has elapsed from detection of the reference position to stoppage of rotation of the drum. After rotation of the drum is started again, a third time period is measured which has elapsed from reaching of the predetermined speed to detection of the reference position. The phase of the photosensitive drum for performing the control is determined based on the first time period and the third time period. | 09-04-2014 |
20140286657 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF FORMING TONER BAND - Disclosed herein is an image forming apparatus including: an image bearing member; an image forming section that forms a toner image on the image bearing member; a cleaning blade that makes contact with the image bearing member to remove toner on the image bearing member; and a control section that controls the image forming section to form a toner band on the image bearing member during a non-image formation period, the toner band being composed of toner to be provided to the cleaning blade, wherein the control section controls the image forming section to form the toner band on the image bearing member in such a manner that a toner concentration of the toner band on a downstream side in a rotational direction of the image bearing member is lower than an average concentration of the toner band. | 09-25-2014 |
20140286658 | IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM, IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM CONTROL METHOD, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses each of which is equipped with an image forming section and a control section are connected and which is configured such that each image forming apparatus can form an image on the same recording sheet, wherein the control section has a function to perform a first activation control to in tendem activate the plurality of image forming apparatuses and a second activation control to independently actuate each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses. With this configuration, activation and stop are managed appropriately to each operating state, whereby wasteful power consumption is reduced. | 09-25-2014 |
20150023675 | Image Forming Apparatus - In an image forming apparatus, a controller includes a memory stores control parameters for use in adjustment to be made in at least one of a print density and a color alignment in accordance with a surrounding condition, a print-mode execution module executes a print-mode process of causing the image forming unit to perform image formation, and an adjustive test-mode execution module executes an adjustive test-mode process of causing the image forming unit to perform a test print, thereby determining a control parameter. The print-mode execution module retrieves a relevant control parameter corresponding to a current surrounding condition from the memory, if available, while it causes the adjustive test-mode execution module to execute the adjustive test-mode process, thereby determining a relevant control parameter if the relevant control parameter is not stored in the memory. The retrieved or determined relevant control parameter is applied to the image formation. | 01-22-2015 |
20150043929 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment comprises a first image forming section configured to form an image on a recording medium with a non-erasable material, and a second image forming section configured to form an image on the recording medium with an erasable material. The image forming apparatus further comprises a control section configured to separate image data according to attributes of the image data into first image data to be printed on the recording medium in the first image forming section and second image data to be printed on the recording medium in the second image forming section. | 02-12-2015 |
20150370205 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE PRINTING METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM HAVING STORED THEREIN IMAGE PRINTING CONTROL PROGRAM - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section that performs processing for forming an image on continuous paper on the basis of image data and a control section that performs image preparation for converting printing data into image data from which an image can be formed and controls the image forming section to execute printing of a plurality of images at equal intervals on the continuous paper. The control section performs, before the image formation processing, according to image sizes in a paper passing direction, image forming speeds, and image preparation times related to the images, printing condition setting for setting an interval of the images. | 12-24-2015 |
20160086060 | IMAGE DATA PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE DATA PROCESSING METHOD - An image data processing apparatus includes a total-colorant-amount calculating unit that calculates a total amount of a metallic colorant and a process-color colorant used by an image forming apparatus to form an image having a unit area, the image forming apparatus forming an image by using a white colorant, the metallic colorant, and the process-color colorant; a white-colorant-amount specifying unit that specifies an amount of the white colorant used to form the image having a unit area on the basis of a calculation result obtained by the total-colorant-amount calculating unit; and a white-colorant-amount correcting unit that corrects the amount of the white colorant so that the amount of the white colorant used to form the image having a unit area decreases as the amount of the metallic colorant used to form the image having a unit area increases. | 03-24-2016 |
20160124362 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME - An image forming apparatus comprises: an image forming unit configured to form an image; an image scanning unit configured to scan an image; and a control unit configured to perform control of the image forming unit and the image scanning unit, wherein the control unit controls the image scanning unit to scan an original, controls the image forming unit to form an additional image on the original after the scanning of the original is completed, and controls the image forming unit to form, after the formation of the additional image on the original is completed, an image in which the original is copied based on image information of the original scanned by the image scanning unit. | 05-05-2016 |
20160125279 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - An image forming method according to the present invention includes obtaining a number of pixels in a sub-scanning direction of a white region in image data, the white region being adjacent to a region at a downstream side in the sub-scanning direction of the region and the region being in the image data and including, continuously in the sub-scanning direction, pixels with a density not smaller than a predetermined density, and correcting a pixel value for a unit region based on the number of pixels of the white region obtained by the obtaining so that a density of the unit region becomes low, the unit region being included in the region at the downstream side thereof in the sub-scanning direction. | 05-05-2016 |
20160187824 | LABEL FORMING APPARATUS AND LABEL FORMING METHOD - A label forming method includes while transporting a base sheet having a print surface by a first transportation mechanism, forming a first pattern on the print surface and forming a marker at a prescribed position on the print surface; transporting the base sheet to a second transportation mechanism, the base sheet being transported by the first transportation mechanism and with the first pattern and the marker formed thereon; detecting a position of the marker on the base sheet; determining a position of the first pattern based on the prescribed position on the print surface and the detected marker position; deriving a position to form a second pattern according to the determined position of the first pattern; and while transporting the base sheet by the second transportation mechanism, forming a second pattern at the derived position. | 06-30-2016 |
20220137542 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device that forms an image on a recording medium and circuitry that controls the image forming device. The image forming device forms an invisible image with an invisible material on the recording medium and forms a visible image with a visible material on the invisible image. Each of first and second adhesion amounts includes respective adhesion amounts of the visible material and the invisible material per unit area in a portion, in which the visible image is formed on the invisible image, of the composite image. The second adhesion amount is smaller than the first adhesion amount. The controller adjusts the amount of the invisible material included in the second adhesion amount to be smaller than that included in the first adhesion amount, to cause the image forming device to form the image according to the second adhesion amount. | 05-05-2022 |