An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet under an operation condition set depending on a sheet type, includes a hardware processor that: detects whether the sheet type is any one of a plurality of assumed types; performs control such that an activation operation for forming the image under an interim condition, which is an operation condition corresponding to one of the plurality of assumed types, is performed before detecting the sheet type; determines whether or not a recovery operation for optimizing a state of image formation is performed before starting image formation under a determinate condition, which is an operation condition corresponding to the detected type; performs control such that the recovery operation is performed when it is determined that the recovery operation is performed; and performs control such that the image formation is performed under the determinate condition after the recovery operation is performed.

A method of operating an electrophotographic printer (100) to control the optical density of a printed image is described. The method comprises providing a printing substance on a transfer member (104); emitting a pulse of heat to heat the printing substance on the transfer member to increase flowability of the printing substance on the transfer member; and transfer-ring, from the transfer member to a substrate (108), the printing substance heated by the pulse of heat so as to provide the printed image on the substrate.

This image forming device includes an image former, a fuser, a sheet transport path that transports a paper sheet to the image former and the fuser, first and second discharge ports that are connected to the sheet transport path so as to enable a paper sheet on which a toner image has been fused to be discharged to the outside, and a controller. The sheet transport path includes first to third transport paths, and a first and second switcher. The controller, in the case of duplex printing, controls the first and second switchers such that a one end side of the paper sheet is transported to the second discharge port, and controls the second switcher such that, when the one end side is being discharged from the second discharge port, reverses the paper sheet and causes the another end side to be transported toward the image former.

A method of operating an electrophotographic printer (100) to control the optical density of a printed image is described. The method comprises providing a printing substance on a transfer member (104); emitting a pulse of heat to heat the printing substance on the transfer member to increase flowability of the printing substance on the transfer member; and transferring, from the transfer member to a substrate (108), the printing substance heated by the pulse of heat so as to provide the printed image on the substrate.

A method of operating an electrophotographic printer (100) to control the optical density of a printed image is described. The method comprises providing a printing substance on a transfer member (104); emitting a pulse of heat to heat the printing substance on the transfer member to increase flowability of the printing substance on the transfer member; and transferring, from the transfer member to a substrate (108), the printing substance heated by the pulse of heat so as to provide the printed image on the substrate.

A medium transport apparatus includes a transport section that transports a medium so that a widthwise direction of the medium is directed to a predetermined direction, and a contact roller that contacts the medium transported by the transport section. An axial direction of the contact roller is inclined with respect to the predetermined direction. A flange is disposed at a side of the contact roller in the axial direction. The flange has a surface defining a position of the medium. The surface is perpendicular to the predetermined direction.