# US 2019/0171155 A1 · Image post-processing method, image post-processing apparatus and image forming apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0171155 A1 - Document ID: US20190171155A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/185,939 - Filed: 2018-11-09 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-04 - Assignees: Konica Minolta, Inc. - Applicants: Konica Minolta, Inc. - Inventors: Haruo HORIGUCHI; Seijiro TAKAHASHI; Toyoko SHIBATA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190171155A1 ## CPC - G03G 15/6585: {by using non-standard toners, e.g. transparent toner, gloss adding devices} - G03G 13/20: Fixing, e.g. by using heat - G03G 15/2021: {Plurality of separate fixing and/or cooling areas or units, two step fixing} - G03G 15/22: involving the combination of more than one step according to groups G03G13/02 - G03G13/20 (G03G15/01 takes precedence) - G03G 2215/00426: Post-treatment device adding qualities to the copy medium product (G03G2215/00421 takes precedence) - G03G 2215/00805: Gloss adding or lowering device - G03G 2215/0081: Gloss level being selectable - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract Provided is an image post-processing method for controlling a glossiness of a fixed toner image, the method including a glossiness control step of: irradiating the fixed toner image formed with a toner containing a compound that absorbs light and fixed on a recording medium with a glossiness control light that is capable of at least reducing a glossiness of the fixed toner image, wherein the glossiness control light has a maximum emission wavelength in a wavelength region which is absorbed by the compound. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image post-processing method for controlling a glossiness of a fixed toner image, the method comprising a glossiness control step of: irradiating the fixed toner image formed with a toner containing a compound that absorbs light and fixed on a recording medium with a glossiness control light that is capable of reducing a glossiness of the fixed toner image, wherein the glossiness control light has a maximum emission wavelength in a wavelength region which is absorbed by the compound. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image post-processing method described in claim 1, wherein, a light amount of the glossiness control light in the glossiness control step is controlled based on glossiness information designated by a user. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The image post-processing method described in claim 2, wherein the light amount of the glossiness control light is controlled based on relational information on a change in the glossiness of the toner image with respect to the light amount of the glossiness control light to be irradiated. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image post-processing method described in claim 1, wherein, in the glossiness control step, an irradiation position of the glossiness control light is determined based on positional information of the toner image designated by the user. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image post-processing method described in claim 1, wherein, in the glossiness control step, the glossiness control light is irradiated to the toner images fixed on a plurality of portions on the recording medium. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image post-processing method described in claim 1, wherein the glossiness control light has a maximum emission wavelength in a wavelength region of 280 nm to 850 nm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The image post-processing method described in claim 1, wherein the glossiness control light has a maximum emission wavelength in a wavelength region of 280 nm to 500 nm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The image post-processing method described in claim 1, wherein the compound that absorbs light is a colorant. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image post-processing method described in claim 1, wherein the compound that absorbs light is a UV absorber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The image post-processing method described in claim 1, wherein the method further contains a step of detecting the glossiness of the fixed toner image on the recording medium before conducting the glossiness control step. ### Claim 11 An image post-processing apparatus comprising a glossiness control unit to reduce or increase a glossiness of the fixed toner image by irradiating the fixed toner image formed with a toner containing a compound that absorbs light and fixed on a recording medium with a glossiness control light that is capable of reducing a glossiness of the fixed toner image. ### Claim 12 An image forming apparatus comprising: a transfer unit to transfer a toner image formed in a developing unit with a toner containing a compound that absorbs light on a recording medium; a fixing unit to fix the transferred toner image on the recording medium; and a glossiness control unit to reduce or increase a glossiness of the fixed toner image by irradiating the fixed toner image formed on the recording medium with a glossiness control light having a maximum emission wavelength in a wavelength region which is absorbed by the compound and is capable of reducing the glossiness of the fixed toner image. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) An image forming apparatus comprising: a transfer unit to transfer a toner image formed in a developing unit with a toner containing a compound that absorbs light on a recording medium; and a fixing unit to fix the transferred toner image on the recording medium, wherein the image forming apparatus is connected to the image post-processing apparatus described in claim 11.