Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080218771 | Image-forming device - An image-forming device includes a conveying unit and a pattern data generating unit. The conveying unit conveys a target in a conveying direction, the target having a target light reflectance. The pattern data generating unit generates pattern data indicating a pattern in which a plurality of marks is arranged in the conveying direction. The plurality of marks includes a first mark having a first color and a first light reflectance and a plurality of second marks having a plurality of second colors and a plurality of second light reflectance. The plurality of second colors is equal to or different from one another. The plurality of second light reflectance is equal to or different from one another. A first difference between the target light reflectance and the first light reflectance is greater than a second difference between the target light reflectance and any of the plurality of second light reflectance. At least one of first distances between the first mark and the marks adjacent to the first mark is greater than a minimum distance between the adjacent second marks. | 09-11-2008 |
20080225307 | Image-Forming Device - An image-forming device includes a pattern data generating unit, an image-forming unit and a detecting unit. The pattern data generating unit generates pattern data indicative of a pattern of a plurality of marks. The plurality of marks includes a first mark having a first color, a first light reflectance, a first width in a predetermined direction and a first dot density and a second mark having a second color, a second light reflectance, a second width in the predetermined direction and a second dot density. A difference between a target light reflectance and the first light reflectance is greater than a difference between a target light reflectance and the second light reflectance. At least one of the first mark width and the first dot density is smaller and lower than the second mark width and the second dot density. The image-forming unit forms the plurality of marks at positions on a target having the target light reflectance, based on the pattern data. The detecting unit detects the positions in the predetermined direction at which the plurality of marks is formed on the target, based on changes of light reflected from the target and the plurality of marks. | 09-18-2008 |
20080226359 | Image-Forming Device - The pattern data generating unit generates pattern data indicative of a pattern of a plurality of marks including a plurality of first marks each having a first color and a plurality of second marks each having a second color so that a first target-total is equal to a second target-total. The first target-total is a total of deviations of first target-positions from a reference position in a predetermined direction. The second target-total is a total of deviations of second target-positions from the reference position in the predetermined direction. The controlling unit controls the image-forming unit to calibrate the second target-positions based on the offset of a second actual-total from a first actual-total. | 09-18-2008 |
20080240752 | Image-Forming Device - An image-forming device includes an image bearing member, a data providing unit, an image-forming unit, a detecting unit, a first calculating unit, a determining unit, and a second calculating unit. The image bearing member has a surface moving at a surface speed. The data providing unit provides pattern data indicative of a target test pattern to be formed on a target position of the surface in response to a test instruction. The image-forming unit forms an actual test pattern on an actual position of the surface in accordance with the pattern data provided from the data providing unit, and configure to form an image in response to an image-forming instruction. The detecting unit detects the actual position. The first calculating unit calculates a deviation of the actual position from the target position. The determining unit performs a first determination of whether the surface speed when the data providing unit receives the test instruction is stable or unstable. The second calculating unit calculates a correction amount based on the deviation and the first determination. The image-forming unit forms, in response to the image-forming instruction, an image on a position of the surface. The position is corrected based on the correction amount. | 10-02-2008 |
20080240797 | Image Forming Apparatus - During a first operation, at least one of a first pattern and a second pattern is formed on a first area of an image carrier, and at least the other pattern is formed on a second area of the image carrier. The first area corresponds to a half of the image carrier, while the second area corresponds to the remaining half of the image carrier. During a second operation, a second pattern is formed on an area of the image carrier where a first pattern is formed during the first operation, and a first pattern is formed on an area of the image carrier where a second pattern is formed during the first operation. | 10-02-2008 |
20080240798 | Image-Forming Device - An image-forming device includes 1st to Mth photosensitive drums, a forming unit, an image-carrying member, a detecting unit, and a calibrating unit. The 1st to Mth photosensitive drums are arrayed in numeric order in a first direction. Each of the photosensitive drums is rotatable and has a circumferential length D. M is an integer no less than 1. The forming unit forms a registration mark on each of the photosensitive drums. Each of the registration marks formed on each of the photosensitive drums has a color different from one another. The image-carrying member extends in the first direction. The registration marks formed on the photosensitive drums are transferred onto the image-carrying member in the numeric order. The registration marks transferred onto the image-carrying member are arrayed in the first direction. Neighboring registration marks are spaced by a distance L in the first direction. The detecting unit detects positions of the registration marks transferred onto the image-carrying member. The calibrating unit calibrates positions of the photosensitive drums at which the forming unit forms the registration marks, based on the positions detected by the detecting unit. D=N×M×L+(M−1)×L, N being an integer no less than 0. | 10-02-2008 |
20080291477 | Image Forming Apparatus - A matched ideal waveform is extracted from a plurality of ideal waveforms based on degree of coincidence with a light sensitive waveform obtained by a light receiving portion. The plurality of ideal waveforms differ from one another in phase. The displacement amount of an image to be formed of an adjustive color from an image to be formed of a reference color is determined based on the extracted matched ideal waveform. | 11-27-2008 |
20080292370 | Image Forming Apparatus - A light receiving portion is configured to receive a light that varies with time while a mark formed on an object moves across a detection area. The position of the mark on the object is determined based on comparison of a time-varying level of said light with at least one threshold during movement of said mark on said object across said detection area. The determined position of the mark is corrected by a correction value into a corrected mark position. The correction value is set to a higher value, if the time-varying light level exceeds the threshold or falls below the threshold with a smaller slope while the mark moves across the detection area. An image forming position is adjusted based on the corrected mark position. | 11-27-2008 |
20090162110 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A controlling section controls an image forming section to form a calibration pattern on an object. The calibration pattern includes a plurality of marks in first and second groups. The marks in the second group are formed at a different position in the second direction from the marks in the first group. The marks in each of the first and second groups are arranged in the first direction over a predetermined range on the object. Each mark has shape and color. The detecting section detects the calibration pattern formed on the object, thereby obtaining detection results. The correcting section corrects, based on the detection results, an image forming position at which the image forming section forms an image. The marks belonging to different groups and having a same color are formed at different positions with respect to the first direction in at least part of the predetermined range. | 06-25-2009 |
20090162111 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a controlling section, a detecting section, and a correcting section. The image forming section forms an image on an object. The controlling section controls the image forming section to form a calibration pattern on the object. The calibration pattern includes a plurality of marks in a first group and a plurality of marks in a second group. The plurality of marks in each of the first group and the second group is arranged in a first direction over a predetermined range. The plurality of marks in each of the first group and the second group includes first marks and second marks. The first mark in the first group corresponds to the second mark in the second group in a second direction different from the first direction in at least part of the predetermined range. The first mark in the second group corresponds to the second mark in the first group in the second direction in at least part of the predetermined range. The detecting section detects the first mark and the second mark formed on the object. The correcting section corrects, based on the detected first mark, a deviation in the first direction of an image forming position at which the image forming section forms an image, and corrects, based on the detected second mark, a deviation in the second direction of the image forming position. | 06-25-2009 |
20090162112 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A controlling section controls an image forming section to form a calibration pattern on an object. The calibration pattern includes a plurality of first patterns and a plurality of second patterns. Each of the first patterns includes at least one pair of marks. Each of the at least one pair of marks has different colors and overlaps with each other in a first direction. The first patterns have different degrees of overlapping from each other. Each of the second patterns is formed between one of the first patterns and another one of the first patterns in the moving direction. The detecting section detects the first and second patterns formed on the object. The correcting section corrects the image forming position in the first direction based on detection results of the first patterns, and corrects the image forming position in a second direction based on detection results of the second patterns. | 06-25-2009 |
20090220263 | IMAGE-FORMING DEVICE - A patch mark-forming unit forms a first patch mark at a first density on a surface. A light emitting unit emits an incident light onto the surface moving. The incident light reflected by the surface is divided into a mirror-reflected light and a diffusion-reflected light on the surface. A first detecting unit detects an amount of the diffusion-reflected light. The patch mark forming unit reforms a second patch mark at a second density weaker than the first density it the amount detected by the first detecting unit is larger than a threshold. A second detecting unit detects an amount of the mirror-reflected light reflected by the surface on which the second patch mark has been reformed. A position calculating unit calculates, based on the amount detected by the second detecting unit, a position on the surface at which an image should be formed. An image-forming unit forms an image at the position. | 09-03-2009 |
20100053638 | Image-Forming Device - An image-forming device includes an image-forming unit, a sensor, a screening unit, an excluding unit, and a determining unit. The image-forming unit forms a plurality of marks on an object. The sensor detects a light reflected on the object, the reflected light including a plurality of waveforms. The screening unit screens the plurality of waveforms into a plurality of mark waveforms corresponding to the plurality of marks respectively and a plurality of noise waveforms other than the plurality of mark waveforms. The excluding unit excludes a mark waveform adjacent to the noise waveform from the plurality of mark waveforms. The determining unit determines a position of each mark based on the plurality of mark waveforms from which the mark waveform adjacent to the noise waveform is excluded. | 03-04-2010 |
20100053649 | Image-Forming Device - An image-forming device includes an image-forming unit, a sensor, a calculating unit, and an extracting unit. The image-forming unit forms a plurality of marks on an object. The sensor detects a light reflected on the object, the reflected light including a plurality of waveforms. The calculating unit calculates a first value of each waveform in a predetermined evaluation index, a second value of a basic waveform corresponding to an ideal mark in the predetermined evaluation index, and a matching rate of each waveform with the basic waveform based on both each first value and the second value. The extracting unit extracts, from the plurality of waveforms, waveforms whose matching rates satisfy a predetermined condition. | 03-04-2010 |
20100061740 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of forming devices, a measuring device and a correcting device. In execution of a steady-deviation detection, the correcting device controls the forming devices to form a first pattern and detects a steady deviation amount of the image forming position on a basis of a measurement result of the first pattern. In execution of a varying-deviation detection, the correcting device controls at least one of the forming devices to form a second pattern and detects a varying deviation amount of the image forming position having a cycle on a basis of a measurement result of the second pattern. The correcting device determines necessity of executing the other one of the steady-deviation detection and the varying-deviation detection on the basis of the measurement result in the one of the steady-deviation detection and the varying-deviation detection. | 03-11-2010 |
20100074638 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus including an image carrier, a plurality of forming devices, a detecting device configured to perform a steady-deviation detection for detecting steady positional deviation and a varying-deviation detection for detecting varying positional deviation having a cycle, and a correcting device configured to perform a steady-deviation correction for correcting the steady positional deviation and a varying-deviation correction for correcting the varying positional deviation. The detecting device forms, during the steady-deviation detection, a steady-deviation detection pattern in a state where the varying deviation correction is selectively disabled. The steady-deviation detection pattern has a plurality of measuring points arranged in a longitudinal direction. The detecting device, during the steady-deviation detection, measures positional deviation amount at each measuring point, and detects the steady positional deviation based on the measurement result. | 03-25-2010 |
20100079824 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: a forming unit configured to form a mark on a carrier; a light emitting unit configured to emit light toward a surface of the carrier; a light receiving unit configured to receive reflected light from the surface of the carrier and from the mark and configured to output a light reception signal corresponding to a amount of the received reflected light; a detecting unit configured to detect a position of the mark on the carrier on a basis of a signal wave contained in the light reception signal; and a modification unit configured to modify the detected position of the mark by a modification amount corresponding to a difference in a waveform of the signal wave corresponding to the mark so as to reduce an error between the detected position and an actual position. | 04-01-2010 |
20100080577 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: a carrier; a forming device configured to form a mark on the carrier; a sensor including a light emitting device and a light receiving device, the light emitting device being configured to emit light toward the carrier, and the light receiving device being configured to receive light reflected from at least one of the carrier and the mark and output a light reception signal corresponding to a quantity of the received light; a determiner configured to determine a position of the mark on a basis of the light reception signal; a changer configured to change a sensor sensitivity of the sensor by changing at least one of a quantity of light emitted by the light emitting device and a sensitivity of the light receiving device; an evaluator configured to obtain the light reception signal a plurality of times and configured to evaluate a degree of closeness between an average level of the light reception signal obtained a plurality of times and a target level; and a controller configured to control the changer to change the sensor sensitivity of the sensor according to a result of the evaluation of the evaluator. | 04-01-2010 |
20100080601 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: a carrier; an image forming unit configured to form an image on the carrier using colorant, the image including a pattern; a pattern sensor configured to detect the pattern formed on the carrier; a cleaner configured to perform cleaning of the carrier; and a residue sensor configured to perform detection of residual colorant remaining on the carrier after the cleaner performs the cleaning of the carrier. A detection condition for the residue sensor to perform the detection of the residual colorant is more suitable for detecting colorant than the detection condition for the pattern sensor to detect the pattern. | 04-01-2010 |
20100189451 | Image-Forming Device - In an image-forming device includes an image-forming unit, a first conveying unit, a first changing unit, and a second changing unit. The image-forming unit includes a rotatable mirror, a light-emitting unit, a photosensitive drum, a developing unit, a transferring unit. An electrostatic latent image composed of a plurality of line electrostatic latent images extending in a main scanning direction over a first length is formed on the photosensitive drum. The first conveying unit conveys a recording medium to the transferring position in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. The first changing unit changes a rotating speed of the rotatable mirror to change the first length. The second changing unit proportionally changes a conveying speed of the first conveying unit in accordance with the change of the rotating speed of the rotatable mirror. | 07-29-2010 |
20100245865 | Image Forming Apparatus Having a Function for Adjustment of Image Forming Conditions - An image forming apparatus includes a forming portion, an adjusting portion and a control portion. The forming portion is configured to form an image, while the adjusting portion is configured to execute an adjustment for correcting a pre-selected adjustable image forming condition based on a measurement of an image formed by the forming portion. The control portion is configured to control execution of the adjustment achieved by the adjusting portion. Specifically, the control portion obtains a plurality of kinds of variation values, which individually indicate a different state variation capable of involving a state change in the pre-selected adjustable image forming condition. The control portion calculates a complex evaluation of the current state of the pre-selected adjustable image forming condition based on the plurality of kinds of variation values, and determines a starting time for execution of the adjustment based on the complex evaluation. | 09-30-2010 |
20100245945 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus body; an image carrier unit that includes: a support member; and an image carrier that is rotatably supported by the support member and directly or indirectly carries images; a positioning part that is provided at the apparatus body and positions the image carrier unit by being abutted against the support member; a plurality of rotating bodies which are provided in the apparatus body; and a control unit that controls driving states of the plurality of rotating bodies, wherein the control unit controls the rotating bodies so that a resultant force of forces applied to the image carrier unit from the plurality of rotating bodies is always applied in a normal direction where the support member is abutted against the positioning part, in a period where the plurality of rotating bodies moves to a normal rotation state from a stopped state. | 09-30-2010 |
20100272462 | Image Forming Apparatus Having an Optical Sensor - An image forming apparatus includes a sensor having a light emitting section for irradiating a detection area and a light receiving section for outputting a light sensitive signal indicative of the amount of the light received from the detection area. A sensor adjustment section adjusts the sensitivity of the sensor by varying the set value of an adjustable characteristic value associated with the sensitivity, based on explorative measurement of the adjustable characteristic value corresponding to a predetermined reference level of the light sensitive signal. If an estimation section estimates that the amount of a leakage current generated on the light receiving section is larger than a reference amount, a mitigation section mitigates the influence of the leakage current on the explorative measurement, by at least one of adjustment of the light receiving section for reduction of the leakage current and modification of the predetermined reference level. | 10-28-2010 |
20110026044 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a first determination section which determines at least one of a position and a density of a mark; a correction section which corrects at least one of an image forming position and an image formation density of a formation section; a second determination section which determines whether a related element which affects the determination result by the first determination section satisfies a set condition; and a control section which controls the formation section to form a mark based on a mark element including at least one of: a width in the moving direction of the object; a width in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction; a density; a distance with an adjacent mark in a pattern; and a number of marks in the pattern, which is increased when the second determination section determine that the related element satisfies the set condition. | 02-03-2011 |
20110026979 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a moving body which moves in a moving direction; a plurality of formation units which are provided to oppose the moving body, respectively, and align in an alignment direction, and which sequentially form images directly on the moving body or an image forming medium transported on the moving body; a detection section which outputs a detection signal corresponding to a position of a mark which is formed directly on the moving body or the image forming medium by each of the formation units; and a measurement section which specifies a positional relationship between marks formed by at least two formation units based on the detection signal from the detection section, and which measures a deviation angle between the moving direction of the moving body and the alignment direction of the formation units based on the specified positional relationship. | 02-03-2011 |
20110026982 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes an exposure section configured to form an electrostatic latent image, a developing section configured to supply developer to the electrostatic latent image to form a developer image, a first carrier configured to rotate while carrying thereon the developer image formed by the developing section, a second carrier configured to interpose a recording medium with the first carrier and configured to indirectly carry the developer image transferred from the first carrier to the recording medium, and a correction section configured to correct a formation position of the electrostatic latent image with using a correction value which is based on a use level of developer corresponding to at least one of an amount of developer and a coverage of developer in the developer image. | 02-03-2011 |
20110075213 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus including a wireless tag reader is described. The wireless tag reader is configured to be located in a first position to read wireless tags associated with consumables when the consumables are inserted into, stationary in, or removed from the image forming apparatus, and in a second position to read wireless tags outside of the image forming apparatus. | 03-31-2011 |
20110075214 | Image Forming Apparatus - A system and method for tracking consumables associated with an image forming device is described. An RFID reader is positioned to read RFID tags associated with the consumables when the consumables are inserted into, stationary in, or removed from the image forming device. | 03-31-2011 |
20110076051 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a belt unit having a driving roller, a driven roller, a driving roller gear; and a belt which is looped around the driving roller and the driven roller; a belt driving gear which is engaged with the driving roller gear; a photosensitive drum which contacts the belt; and a positioning section which contacts a portion of the belt unit to position the belt unit with respect to a moving direction of the belt. The positioning section contacts the portion of the belt unit in a direction of receiving a force with which the photosensitive drum is pressing the belt unit. The belt driving gear is engaged with the driving roller gear such that a force pressing the belt unit from the belt driving gear via the driving roller gear presses the belt unit against the positioning section. | 03-31-2011 |
20110205560 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND STORING MEDIUM - An image forming apparatus comprising: a formation unit; a control unit configured to control the formation unit to form a first batch and a second batch; a detection unit configured to detect detection values for marks in relation with position information of the respective marks in the first direction; a determination unit configured to determine whether each of the first and second batches are normal or abnormal based on the detection values; a modification unit configured to modify the detection value of a mark belonging to one of the first and second batches that has been determined to be abnormal by the determination unit, based on the detection value of a corresponding mark which belongs to an other of the first and second batches; and a correction unit configured to correct an image forming position of the formation unit based on the detection values modified by the modification unit. | 08-25-2011 |
20110211216 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM HAVING COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR MEASURING AMOUNT OF MISMATCH STORED THEREON - An image forming device includes an image forming section, a CPU and memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the CPU, cause the image forming device to provide functions including a data acquisition section, a mismatch correction section and a control section. The data acquisition section is configured to acquire a variation in factor that causes a mismatch of a parameter. The control section is configured to estimate an amount of mismatch of the parameter based on the variation and to send a request for measuring the amount of mismatch to the mismatch correction section when the estimated amount is equal to or larger than a reference value. The control section is also configured to alter at least one of calculation factors used for estimating the amount of mismatch and the reference value according to the measured amount. | 09-01-2011 |
20110211231 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND STORING MEDIUM - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes: a formation unit configured to form marks for measurement of a positional deviation on a relatively moving object; an optical sensor having a detection region on the object, and configured to output a light receiving signal depending on existence of the marks within the detection region; a removing unit configured to perform a noise removing process, including a first noise removing process and a second noise removing process which use different removing methods for removing noises included in the light receiving signal so as to generate a noise removing result; and a measurement unit configured to measure a positional deviation amount of image formed by the formation unit, based on the noise removing result. | 09-01-2011 |
20110211853 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND STORING MEDIUM - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes: a forming unit configured to form an image on a relatively moving object, the image including a mark; a first detection unit configured to detect the mark formed by the forming unit so as to obtain a first detection result; a correction unit configured to execute a correction process in which an image forming condition of the image forming unit is changed based on the first detection result; a setting unit configured to set the correction process not to be executed when a value related to a correction accuracy of the correction unit is lower than a reference value; and a control unit configured to control the correction process based on the setting by the setting unit. | 09-01-2011 |
20110317175 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an automatic acquiring unit which is configured to form a mark for detecting at least one of positional deviation and density deviation and acquire an amount of deviation by measuring the mark, an image forming unit which is configured to form an image while adjusting at least one of positional deviation and density deviation based on a correction value specified by the amount of deviation, and an output unit which is configured to execute at least one of a pattern printing process and a notifying process when an amount of deviation within a permissible range is not acquired by the automatic acquiring unit. The pattern printing process includes printing a pattern image for specifying a correction value on a recording sheet. The notifying process includes making notification for prompting execution of the pattern printing process. | 12-29-2011 |
20110317182 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an automatic acquiring unit which forms a mark for detecting at least one of positional deviation and density deviation and acquire a degree of deviation by measuring the mark, a manual acquiring unit which receives a user input to acquire a correction value; an image forming unit which forms an image based on an actual correction value determined by an automatic correction value specified based on the degree of deviation and a manual correction value which is the correction value acquired by the manual acquiring unit, and a changing unit which executes at least one of a first changing process of applying a weight to at least one of the automatic correction value and the manual correction value and the second changing process of changing at least one of the automatic correction value and the manual correction value into a past correction value. | 12-29-2011 |
20110318032 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes: a manual acquiring unit which is configured to receive a user input to acquire a correction value; an image forming unit which is configured to form an image while adjusting at least one of positional deviation and density deviation of the image based on the correction value; and a changing unit which is configured to execute at least one of a first changing process of changing a permissible range of a correction value for positional deviation according to a status of a factor causing a change in a position of an image, and a second changing process of changing a permissible range of a correction value for density deviation according to a status of a factor causing a change in a density of an image. | 12-29-2011 |
20120163842 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus may include a conveyor member, an optical sensor, a drive portion, and a controller. The drive portion performs a rotation for detection to rotate the conveyor member for the mark detection and a rotation for nondetection to rotate the conveyor member for a purpose other than the mark detection. The controller obtains an amount of reflected light received by the optical sensor to determine an adjustment value of sensitivity of the optical sensor based on the amount of received reflected light while the rotation for nondetection is performed. The controller also detects the mark with the sensitivity adjusted based on the determined adjustment value while the rotation for detection is performed. | 06-28-2012 |
20120163843 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form a mark, a conveyance member configured, to convey the mark, a sensor configured to read the mark conveyed by the conveyance member, a measurement unit configured to measure a moving time period between a time when the image forming unit forms the mark and a time when the mark conveyed by the conveyance member is read by the sensor, and a determination unit configured to determine whether a traveling speed of the conveyance member is appropriate based on the moving time period measured by the measurement unit. | 06-28-2012 |
20120163844 | Image Forming Apparatus and Control Program - An image forming apparatus includes: a conveyance member; a detection unit which outputs a detection signal according to a mark for image formation condition correction; an image forming unit which forms a print image and the mark; and a change unit which changes at least one of a printing reference position and a mark reference position such that an offset amount between the printing reference position and the mark reference position becomes larger as an angle difference between a sub-scanning direction and a conveyance direction of the conveyance member is larger, wherein the printing reference position is a basis of determining a formation position of the print image in a main scanning direction and the mark reference position is a basis of determining at least one of a formation position and a size of the mark in the main scanning direction. | 06-28-2012 |
20120163849 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS THAT FORMS AND SENSES MARKS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In an image forming apparatus, developer remaining on a photosensitive member as transfer residual developer is caught temporarily by a catching portion. In a collecting process, the transfer residual developer caught by the catching portion is returned to the photosensitive member, the transfer residual developer then is transferred onto a conveyor member, and the transfer residual developer is collected by a collecting portion. In the collecting process, the presence or absence or an amount of the transfer residual developer transferred onto the conveyor member is measured. | 06-28-2012 |
20120243014 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus which may include a forming unit configured to form a mark for image adjustment, a conveyor member configured to convey the mark formed by the forming unit and a detecting unit configured to detect the mark conveyed by the conveyor member. Further, the image forming apparatus may include a removing unit configured to remove the mark conveyed by the conveyor member, from the conveyor member; and a control device. According to aspects of the disclosure, after the forming unit has formed a mark for image adjustment, the control device may be configured to determine whether the mark has been removed from the conveyor member and based on the determination of whether the mark has been removed from the conveyor member, begin printing of print data even when the mark has not been completely removed from the conveyor member. | 09-27-2012 |
20120251135 | Image Forming Apparatus and a Method for Determining a Condition of Toner - In an image forming apparatus, a control device obtains an amount of toner in a first area and an amount of toner in a second area. The first area is defined on a conveying member that is in contact with a photosensitive member. The transfer of toner is assured in the first area of the conveying member, but is not assured in the second area. The control device determines a toner condition based on a difference in the amount of toner between the first area and the second area. When the difference in the amount of toner is larger, the control device determines that the toner is in a deteriorated condition. When the difference in the amount of toner is smaller, the control device determines that the toner is not in the deteriorated condition. | 10-04-2012 |
20130322904 | Image Forming Apparatus Forming Marks for Correcting Deviation in Printing Position - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a print object moving device configured to move a print object in a moving direction relatively to the image forming device, a detector configured to detect images formed on the print object, and a control device configured to control the image forming device to form a first plurality of marks and a second plurality of marks on the print object. The first marks are along the moving direction and the second marks are along the moving direction and to be away from the first marks in a width direction that is perpendicular to the moving direction and the second marks are smaller in number than the first marks. The control device is further configured to control the detector to detect the first marks and the second marks on the print object for detecting deviation in image forming positions. | 12-05-2013 |
20140044467 | PRINTING APPARATUS - A conveying device has a conveying belt configured to convey a sheet. A printing device is configured to print an image on the sheet that is conveyed by the conveying device in a conveying direction. A plurality of sensors is arranged to be spaced away from each other in a main scanning direction that is perpendicular to the conveying direction. The plurality of sensors is configured to emit light to different detection regions on an outer peripheral surface of the conveying belt and to receive light reflected by the conveying belt. A controller is configured to execute a skew-detection-mark printing process of controlling the printing device to print a skew detection mark at positions passing the respective detection regions so that the skew detection mark extends over an end of the sheet in the conveying direction and the outer peripheral surface of the conveying belt. | 02-13-2014 |
20140064746 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus including a wireless tag reader is described. The wireless tag reader is configured to be located in a first position to read wireless tags associated with consumables when the consumables are inserted into, stationary in, or removed from the image forming apparatus, and in a second position to read wireless tags outside of the image forming apparatus. | 03-06-2014 |
20140147153 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image formation unit configured to form an image on a sheet; a sensor unit having a light-emitting device and a light-receiving device; a frame to which the sensor unit is attached; at least one projection provided on one of the sensor unit and the frame, the at least one projection being formed to have a contacting part which projects to contact an other of the sensor unit and the frame; and at least one engagement part provided on one of the sensor unit and the frame, the at least one engagement part being formed to engage with at least one catching part provided on an other of the sensor unit and the frame and to press the at least one projection in a direction of increasing a contact surface pressure of the contacting part by causing elastic deformation. | 05-29-2014 |
20140186076 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device which forms an image on a rotation member, a sensor, and a controller. The controller executes an overlapping pattern detection processing which detects a positional deviation amount using an overlapping pattern including a plurality of overlapping marks with overlapped colorant images of two colors, a non-overlapping pattern detection processing which detects a positional deviation amount using a non-overlapping pattern including a plurality of marks, each having a single color, and an execution processing which executes the overlapping pattern detection processing or the non-overlapping pattern detection processing based on a condition. | 07-03-2014 |
20140240431 | Image Processing Device and Method of Acquiring Amount of Positional Deviation of Light-Emitting-Element Array - An image forming section includes a bearing member configured to bear an image, and a light-emitting-element array having a plurality of light emitting elements arranged linearly in an arrangement direction. The image forming section is configured to form an image on the bearing member by using the plurality of light emitting elements to form the image on a sheet. A reader is configured to read an image formed on a sheet. A memory stores instructions, the instructions, when executed by a processor, causing the processor to perform: a pattern reading process of controlling the reader to read a sheet on which a pattern image is formed, the pattern image being an image for detecting positional deviation of the light-emitting-element array; and a deviation calculating process of calculating an amount of positional deviation of the light-emitting-element array based on a reading result by the pattern reading process. | 08-28-2014 |
20140240800 | Image Processing Device and Method of Acquiring Amount of Density Deviation of Light-Emitting-Element Group - An image forming section includes a bearing member configured to bear an image, and a plurality of light-emitting-element groups each having a plurality of light emitting elements arranged linearly in an arrangement direction. The image forming section forms an image on the bearing member by using the light-emitting-element groups to transfer the image on a sheet. The reader reads an image on a sheet. When executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to perform: a pattern reading process of controlling the reader to read a pattern image, the pattern image being an image for detecting density deviation and formed on the sheet by using the light-emitting-element groups; and a calculating process of calculating an amount of density deviation of each of the light-emitting-element groups based on a reading result by the pattern reading process. Each light-emitting-element group is a unit of calculation of the amount of density deviation. | 08-28-2014 |
20140285611 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet, a sensor unit assembly including a sensor unit and a holder attached to the sensor unit, and a cover member attached to the sensor unit assembly. The sensor unit includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element. The cover member includes a light transmission portion covering a light emitting side of the light emitting element and a light receiving side of the light receiving element and an engaging portion sandwiched between the sensor unit and the holder. | 09-25-2014 |
20140321870 | Image Forming Device for Suppressing Power Consumption by Fixing Unit - The present invention provides an image forming device that includes a toner-image forming unit; a heating unit; and a processor. The toner-image forming unit is configured to form a toner image on a sheet using toner. The heating unit is configured to generate heat for thermally fixing the toner image to the sheet. The processor is configured to perform a first fixing process to control the heating unit to start generating heat in a first mode, and a second fixing process to switch the first mode to a second mode at a switch timing ahead of an estimated end timing at which thermal fixing of toner images to all of sheets to be consecutively printed is completed. The heat amount per unit time generated by the heating unit in the second mode is smaller than a heat amount per unit time generated by the heating unit in the first mode. | 10-30-2014 |
20140348530 | Image Forming Apparatus Having Bearing Body and Cleaning Unit - In an image forming apparatus, when it is determined that a pre-execution condition is satisfied, a cleaning unit is brought from a first state into a second state and is controlled to clean the bearing body. When it is determined that an execution condition is satisfied, a pattern acquisition is executed to form a pattern image on the bearing body by using an image forming section and to acquire characteristics of the pattern image based on detection results. The pre-execution condition includes a condition that a correlation value satisfies a first condition. The correlation value is correlated with an amount of deviation in characteristics of images formed by the image forming section. The execution condition includes a condition that the correlation value satisfies a second condition. The correlation value satisfies the first condition before satisfying the second condition. | 11-27-2014 |