An apparatus and methods of decorating a metallic container are provided. More specifically, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods used to provide a decoration or indicia on a predetermined portion of an outer surface of a metallic container body. The decorator includes at least one digital print unit, a transfer blanket, and a support element. The digital print unit transfers a decorating material to the transfer blanket to form a decoration on the transfer blanket. The support element then moves a metallic container into contact with the transfer blanket. In this manner, the decorating material is transferred to an exterior surface portion of the metallic container to decorate the metallic container. In one embodiment, the digital print unit is an electrophotographic system which transfers a toner material to the transfer blanket. In another embodiment, the digital print unit includes an inkjet print head which transfers an ink to the transfer blanket. Optionally, the decorator may include two or more support elements.

An image forming apparatus has a main body housing, a network interface for connecting to a network, a cartridge mountable to the main body housing and having a material or a component to be used for image formation in the image forming apparatus and a memory that stores contract information for permitting use of the cartridge in the image forming apparatus set to a contract mode, a communication unit for performing communication with using a mobile network different from the network, and a controller. The controller acquires the contract information from the memory, in a state where the cartridge is mounted to the main body housing, permits printing in the image forming apparatus using the cartridge based on the contract information, and transmits information about the image forming apparatus or the cartridge regarding the contract mode to a communication apparatus via the communication unit.

A fixing device is for fixing a developing agent image to a recording sheet by electrostatically spraying a charged fixing solution toward the developing agent image on the sheet. The fixing device includes a container portion, a plurality of nozzles, and a potential difference generating portion. The container portion is configured to store therein the fixing solution. The plurality of nozzles is in communication with the container portion and configured to spray the fixing solution toward the developing agent image. The potential difference generating portion is configured to generate a potential difference between the fixing solution stored in the plurality of nozzles and the recording sheet conveyed at a position separated from the plurality of nozzles.

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form an image on a sheet, a conveyance unit to convey the sheet having the image formed thereon to a conveyance path and a reading unit to read a test image of a sheet conveyed to the conveyance path. In addition, a controller determines an adjustment value for adjusting a geometric characteristic of an image to be formed by the image forming unit based on a reading result of the reading unit, controls the image forming unit to form the test image, controls the reading unit to read the sheet having the test image formed thereon, and determines an adjustment value for adjusting a geometric characteristic of an image to be formed by the image forming unit based on a reading result of the reading unit.

A plurality of registration data includes control parameter data related to control of an image forming apparatus capable of executing a printing process. A processor, according to input designation information, selects target registration data from the plurality of registration data. Moreover, the processor derives estimated performance according to derivation rules. Furthermore, the processor outputs information about the estimated performance. The estimated performance is performance related to the printing process in a case where it is presumed that the printing process is executed according target parameters. The target parameters are the control parameters of the target registration data.

An example paper feed device includes a tray to feed printing paper, a magnetic force generation element to generate a magnetic flux, a 3D magnetic sensor to detect changes in the a density of the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic force generation element in each of three axes, and a controller. The tray has a movable element that is movable in relation to the printing paper. Either the magnetic force generation element or the 3D magnetic sensor is attached to the movable element. The controller determines the position of the movable element based on a detection signal received from the 3D magnetic sensor.

A method for reducing artifacts in an electrophotographic printing system includes receiving a print job including image data for a set of pages. The electrophotographic printing system is used to print a block of pages from the print job to provide corresponding printed pages. The image data for the block of pages is analyzed to determine an average toner usage rate. If the determined average toner usage rate for the block of pages falls outside an acceptable toner usage rate range, image data for a compensation image and a number of compensation images are determined such that the average toner usage rate will be brought back into the acceptable toner usage rate range.

An apparatus includes at least one memory and at least one processor functioning to reserve a sheet feeding unit of an image forming apparatus and provide information indicating that the sheet feeding unit is reserved.

A cancellation operation of a fixing nip and movement of a transfer roller are interlocked with each other. In the image forming apparatus, at least a first state in which the relative position is arranged at a fixing position and the transfer roller is arranged at a transfer position, a second state in which the relative position is arranged at a transfer nip cancellation position and the transfer roller is arranged at a transfer nip cancellation position, and a third state in which the relative position is arranged at a fixing nip cancellation position and the transfer roller is arranged at one of an intermediate position between the transfer position and the transfer nip cancellation position and the transfer position may be taken as a combination state of the relative position between the fixing roller and the facing member and the position of the transfer roller.

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on an image carrier, a transfer unit configured to transfer the image from the image carrier to a sheet, a reader configured to read a pattern image on the sheet while conveying the sheet, a sensor configured to measure a measuring image on the image carrier, and a controller configured to control the image forming unit to form the pattern image and the measuring image while forming images on a plurality of sheets, control the reader to read the pattern image, control the sensor to measure the measuring image, and generate an image forming condition based on a result of reading the pattern image by the reader and a result of measuring the measuring image by the sensor.