Abstract: The inventory management system comprises a central control unit, a number of parts terminal units deposed at each parts container, and some guide terminal units arranged at each parts container shelf. A worker goes to a parts container in accordance with the guidance on the guide terminal units, performs parts storing, parts collecting or stocktaking jobs in accordance with a job display and parts quantity display on the parts terminal unit and can also correct a displayed parts quantity if the quantity displayed is not correct.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed, which comprises a scanner for producing image information on a document by optically scanning the document, a keyboard for specifying various type face patterns of characters, numerals, symbols, etc., and a character generator for providing type face patterns specified by the keyboard. The document image information is dot printed on a paper sheet by using all of the heating elements of a thermal head, while the type face pattern data is dot printed on a paper sheet by driving every other one of the heating elements, i.e., it is dot printed with one half the dot number of the document image information.