An image forming apparatus includes a transport unit, a transfer unit and a support unit. The transport unit transports a recording medium. The transfer unit transfers an image formed with particles onto an image formation surface of the recording medium transported by the transport unit by an electric field formed between the transfer unit and the image formation surface by making contact with the image formation surface. The support unit supports the recording medium, is transported to the transfer unit together with the recording medium by the transport unit, and is not directly conductive with the transfer unit.

An image forming system includes first and second image forming apparatuses including respective image forming sections and fixing sections. When the system forms an image on a sheet using the first image forming section, then forms an image on the sheet using the second image forming apparatus, and forms an image on a same side of a sheet which has a nonuniform sheet thickness and first and second regions respectively having small and large sheet thicknesses, the image in the first region is formed and fixed using the first image forming apparatus and the image in the second region is formed and fixed using the second image forming apparatus, and the respective fixing sections of the first and the second image forming apparatuses pass the nonuniform sheet while applying a second load lower than a first load applied to a sheet having a uniform sheet thickness.

An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit that transfers an image onto an object by making contact with the object; an attachment table to which the object is attached and that changes a height thereof in accordance with force by which the transfer unit makes contact with the object; and a transport unit that transports the attachment table to which the object has been attached along a transport path.

A sheet feeder includes a cassette has a sheet container space configured to hold a sheet having a wireless tag. The cassette feeds the sheet to a first side in a first direction. A horizontal direction orthogonal to the first direction is a second direction. A range in the second direction occupied by the wireless tag of the sheet held in the sheet container space is a first range. A range in the second direction including at least a part of the first range is a second range. A range in the second direction occupied by the sheet container space is a third range. In the cassette front wall, a height in a vertical direction in the third range except the second range is smaller than a height in the vertical direction in the second range.

An image forming apparatus includes: an attachment table to which an object is attached; a transfer unit that transfers an image onto the object; and a transport unit that transports the attachment table along a transport path that has a transport start position on one side relative to the transfer unit and has a transport end position on a same side as the transport start position relative to the transfer unit, the transport path extending beyond the transfer unit and the attachment table being transported so as to turn back at a position beyond the transfer unit.

In an image forming apparatus, a calculation processing portion includes an input portion and an input-portion abnormality determining portion. The input portion is connected to a temperature detection portion. When an abnormality detection circuit has detected that a temperature detected by the temperature detection portion is an abnormally heated temperature, the input-portion abnormality determining portion determines whether or not a first temperature calculated as a temperature of a fixing member is lower than a predetermined second temperature, and upon determining that the first temperature is lower than the second temperature, determines that the input portion is abnormal.

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.

Provided is a heater including: a substrate that has electrical conductivity; a first insulation portion that is provided on a first surface of the substrate, has an insulation property; at least one heat generation body that is provided on the first insulation portion; a second insulation portion that is provided on a second surface of the substrate which is opposite to the first surface, has an insulation property; at least one detection unit that is provided on at least one of the first insulation portion and the second insulation portion; and a first wiring which is provided on at least one of the first insulation portion and the second insulation portion, and in which one end is electrically connected to one terminal of the detection unit and the other end is electrically connected to the substrate having the electrical conductivity.

A paperboard includes plural stacked paper layers. The surface electrical resistance of an image forming surface of the paperboard in an electrophotographic system is 110.sup.13 or less after humidity control in an environment of 20 C. and 10% RH.

An image forming apparatus includes a unit arranging portion that is provided with a unit containing a powder tank; a determination unit that determines the unit provided in the unit arranging portion; and a control unit that supplies a recording medium from a first sheet feeding portion in a case where the determination unit determines that the unit provided in the unit arranging portion is a unit corresponding to a binder toner, and supplies the recording medium from a second sheet feeding portion different from the first sheet feeding portion in a case where the determination unit determines that the unit provided in the unit arranging portion is a unit corresponding to a toner of a predetermined color.