Abstract: A marking system includes: a whole camera that generates a captured image; a pass/fail determination section that determines pass/fail of printing using the captured image; a history storage section that stores a plurality of determination results including an NG determination result, the captured image, and state information of a laser marker in association with each other; a display section that displays at least one of a first display area for displaying the plurality of determination results and a second display area for displaying the captured image; a receiving section that selects either the NG determination result or the captured image; and a control section that displays state information, associated with the NG determination result or the captured image selected via the receiving section, among a plurality of types of the state information on the display section.

Abstract: A printing system includes a digital front end (DFE) system connected to a plurality of printing devices. The DFE system manages printing operations to the plurality of printing devices. The DFE system also includes a printing device connectivity manager to manage connections with the printing devices. Printing connectivity modules are installed at the printing device connectivity manager using application programming interfaces (APIs) that are loaded at the creation of the printing connectivity modules. The DFE system also includes a display device connectivity manager to manage connections with display devices using display connectivity modules and display connectivity APIs. The DFE system also includes a storage connectivity manager to manage data storage and storage devices using storage connectivity modules and storage connectivity APIs.

Abstract: A printing system includes a digital front end (DFE) system connected to a plurality of printing devices. The DFE system manages printing operations to the plurality of printing devices. The DFE system also includes a printing device connectivity manager to manage connections with the printing devices. Printing connectivity modules are installed at the printing device connectivity manager using application programming interfaces (APIs) that are loaded at the creation of the printing connectivity modules. The DFE system also includes a display device connectivity manager to manage connections with display devices using display connectivity modules and display connectivity APIs. The DFE system also includes a storage connectivity manager to manage data storage and storage devices using storage connectivity modules and storage connectivity APIs.

Abstract: An abnormal sound diagnosis system for specifying a cause of abnormal sound in an apparatus that includes a plurality of operating units that perform a predetermined operation and a plurality of driving units that drive the plurality of operating units: determines occurrence of abnormal sound in a plurality of time periods, based on sound wave levels of sound occurring in the apparatus measured in the plurality of time periods; obtains driving states of the plurality of driving units in the plurality of time periods; and specifies a driving unit corresponding to occurrence of abnormal sound based on a plurality of comparison results corresponding to different timings, that are obtained by comparing the driving states and the occurring states obtained at the different timings in the predetermined operation.

Abstract: A consumable chip applied to a consumable includes a memory and a controller. The memory is used to store information of a consumable product of an image formation device. The controller is configured to control the consumable chip to generate a predetermined signal to cause the image formation device to perform a target operation according to the predetermined signal. The consumable chip is mounted at the consumable. The consumable is detachably mounted at the image formation device.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for predicting abnormal operation of at least one component of a machine is provided. Real time monitoring data from an operating machine is received and monitoring features that are informative of likely abnormal operation are extracted and/or calculated. The monitoring features are applied to a prediction matrix that outputs probabilities of abnormal operation within one or more prediction time horizons. If the output probabilities exceed a threshold probability, then an alert can be output. Maintenance can be automatically scheduled in response to the alert.

Abstract: A printing device includes a printing engine to selectively output print material, a replaceable item of the printing engine, and a subsystem for the printing engine. A machine learning model is used to control controllable parameters of the subsystem for the printing engine, based on physical characteristic measurements of the printing device, to maximize a lifespan of the replaceable item.

Abstract: A drum unit detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus includes: a frame; a photosensitive drum; a toner cartridge including a toner casing and a toner memory; a connector electrically connected to the image forming apparatus; and a relay board electrically relaying the toner memory and the connector. The toner memory performs communication according to a standard that sets a value of data on a basis of a voltage for data communication at a timing when a prescribed period of time has elapsed since the voltage has made a prescribed change. The toner memory consists of three terminals as electrical contacts. The three terminals are a power supply terminal for supplying a supply voltage to the toner memory, a ground terminal, and a data terminal for communication of data to be written into the toner memory and data to be read from the toner memory.

Abstract: Parameters particular to the consumable item and that affect calculation of an estimated remaining life of the consumable item when used in the printing device for printing are received. A payload is constructed based on the parameters. The printing device is to use the parameters when calculating the estimated remaining life of the consumable item during usage of the consumable item for printing.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A unit space update device, which generates a unit space, includes: a detection value acquisition unit which acquires a bundle of detection values detected at a constant cycle; and a deletion processing unit which deletes one bundle from the bundles of the detection values constituting the unit space, when adding the bundle of the detection values to the unit space. The deletion processing unit includes at least one among: a first processing unit which randomly deletes one bundle from the bundles of the detection values forming the unit space; and a second processing unit which, with respect to the detection value of the predetermined evaluation item among the plurality of evaluation items, deletes any one bundle of the bundles including the detection value with the highest appearance frequency in the unit space, or one of two bundles having the smallest difference between the detected values in the unit space.

Abstract: A recording material transport system includes a first transport apparatus including a transport unit that transports a recording material and a notification unit that notifies a user about how to deal with a recording material whose transport has been stopped; and a second transport apparatus including a transport unit that transports a recording material transported from the first transport apparatus and a notification unit that notifies the user about how to deal with a recording material whose transport has been stopped, wherein in a case where a recording material has stopped in both of the first and second transport apparatus, the notification unit of the first transport apparatus notifies the user about how to deal with the recording material in the first transport apparatus, and the notification unit of the second transport apparatus notifies the user about how to deal with the recording material in the second transport apparatus.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus a toner cartridge includes a toner memory storing toner identification information. The toner cartridge is detachably attachable to a drum cartridge. The drum cartridge includes a drum memory storing drum identification information. The drum cartridge is detachably attached to the main-body casing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a controller with a first input terminal configured to receive a first signal indicating a state of a first opening/closing portion, a second input terminal configured to receive a second signal indicating a state of a second opening/closing portion, and a third input terminal configured to receive a third signal indicating a state of the first opening/closing portion and the second opening/closing portion. The controller is configured to delay a first notification of an open state of the first opening/closing portion and a second notification of an open state of the second opening/closing portion for a predetermined period after any one of the first signal, second signal, or third signal initially indicates an open state.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a processor configured to perform connection to an external server that can be connected from the information processing apparatus and instruct the external server to execute processing as a first job, and then release a resource used in the first job, make an inquiry about whether or not the processing is completed to the external server, and wait for a response from the external server, in a case where a response indicating that the processing by the external server is completed is received in response to the inquiry, execute a second job that is different from the first job and is cooperated with the first job, and, in a case where a connection between the information processing apparatus and the external server is disconnected before or during the execution of the second job, make an inquiry about whether or not the processing is completed to the external server again and wait for a response from the external server.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a door, an inlet, a primary power source, a secondary power source, a primary interlock switch, and a secondary interlock switch. The housing has an opening. The door is hinge-coupled to the housing by a hinge, and opens and closes the opening. The inlet is provided near the hinge. The secondary power source is provided farther from the inlet than the primary power source. The primary interlock switch is provided on a primary electric circuit between the inlet and the primary power source, and is turned off when the door is opened. The secondary interlock switch is provided on a secondary electric circuit between the primary power source and the secondary power source, and is turned off when the door is opened. The primary interlock switch is disposed closer to the inlet than the secondary interlock switch.

Abstract: A sensor module includes a first contact, a second contact, and a sensing element made from an iono-conductive material having a conductivity that varies at least in response to variations in an environmental factor. The sensing element is electrically coupled to the first contact and to the second contact, and a first resistance of the sensing element, measured between the first contact and the second contact, varies in response to the variations in the environmental factor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an accommodating unit that accommodates recording materials and a feeding unit that feeds an accommodated recording material, detects a fed recording material, and measures time from a predetermined timing until a recording material is detected. An information processing apparatus receives measured time data from the image forming apparatus, classifies the received plurality of time data into a first group and a second group in accordance with a length of time, selects a group for predicting a remaining life time of the feeding unit from the classified first group and second group, and predicts a remaining life time of the feeding unit using time data included in the selected group.

Abstract: An apparatus including: a forming unit configured to form a measurement image on a sheet; a fixing unit configured to fix the measurement image; a measurement unit provided downstream of the fixing unit in a sheet conveyance direction and configured to measure a color of the fixed measurement image; a detector configured to detect whether a cooling device having a cooling function valid is connected between the fixing unit and the measurement unit; and a controller configured to determine, in a case in which the color of the measurement image is measured, a time to be taken after the sheet has passed through the fixing unit until the measurement unit starts measuring the color of the measurement image based on a result of the detector, and to control sheet conveyance based on the determined time.

Abstract: A failure time estimation device includes: a memory configured to store a machine-learned model obtained by performing machine learning using teaching data associating printer information including at least one of operation history of a printer, state information indicating a current state, and a print result image indicating a print result with failure time of the printer; and a controller configured to obtain the printer information and estimate the failure time of the printer using the obtained printer information and the machine-learned model.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet, a reading unit for reading the image on the sheet and an inspection unit for inspecting whether an image formation failure has occurred by comparing the image read by the reading unit with a reference image registered in advance. The image forming apparatus executes the inspection with the inspection unit in a first inspection mode or a second inspection mode. The first inspection mode is a mode in which the inspection unit executes the inspection on all sheets on which the image is formed by the image forming unit. The second inspection mode is a mode in which the inspection unit executes the inspection on some of the sheets on which the image is formed by the image forming unit, and the inspection unit does not execute the inspection on the other sheets.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing a state of a submodule in initial charging of an MMC converter includes identifying, by an upper level controller, a stopped state of the MMC converter; supplying, by the upper level controller, an alternating current (AC) voltage from an AC side to N submodules in the MMC converter when the MMC converter is in the stopped state; charging a capacitor in the submodule with the supplied AC voltage to store an initial charging voltage in the capacitor; determining, by a submodule controller, whether the submodule is in a fault state and when the submodule is in a fault state, transmitting a fault signal to the upper level controller; and detecting, by a voltage detection unit of the submodule the initial charging voltage stored in the capacitor and transmitting the initial charging voltage to the submodule controller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit configured to form an image; a transfer circuit configured to generate a transfer voltage, and supply the transfer voltage to transfer roller for transferring the image onto a sheet; a door provided to a mounting portion onto which the image forming unit is mounted; a sensor configured to detect an open/closed state of the door; an interlock switch configured to interrupt voltage to be supplied to the transfer circuit, in a case where the sensor detects an open state in which the door is opened; and a controller configured to: determine whether a failure has occurred or not based on a detection result of the sensor and a supplying/interrupting state of the voltage of the interlock switch; and determine, in a case where determining that the failure has occurred, which of the sensor and the interlock switch is failed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit that performs image forming processing on a recording sheet; a primary central processing unit (CPU) and a secondary CPU, where the primary CPU receives a job externally and instructs the secondary CPU to monitor and control the image forming unit to perform the image forming processing; sensors that sense a state of the image forming unit and output sensor data indicating the state of the image forming unit, a first transceiver; and a second transceiver. The secondary CPU monitors the sensor data to generate diagnostic data. The first transceiver performs duplex communication with the primary CPU to send and receive data other than the diagnostic data. The second transceiver sends the diagnostic data to the diagnostic server without relaying via the primary CPU.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a controller with a first input terminal configured to receive a first signal indicating a state of a first opening/closing portion, a second input terminal configured to receive a second signal indicating a state of a second opening/closing portion, and a third input terminal configured to receive a third signal indicating a state of the first opening/closing portion and the second opening/closing portion. The controller is configured to delay a first notification of an open state of the first opening/closing portion and a second notification of an open state of the second opening/closing portion for a predetermined period after any one of the first signal, second signal, or third signal initially indicates an open state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member, a charging member, a charging voltage applying portion, a developer carrying member, a developing voltage applying portion, a detecting portion, and a controller. In a state in which the charging voltage is applied to the charging member, the controller controls the detecting portion so as to detect whether or not a change amount between a current value detected by the detecting portion when the surface of the image bearing member opposing the developer carrying member before application of the developing voltage passes through an opposing portion where the charging member and the image bearing member are opposed to each other and a current value detected by the detecting portion when the surface of the image bearing member opposing the developer carrying member after the application of the developing voltage passes through the opposing portion is a threshold or more.

Abstract: A drum unit includes: a frame; a first photosensitive drum; a second photosensitive drum; a charger; and a storage medium. The frame includes: a first frame plate; a second frame plate spaced apart from the first frame plate in a first direction; a third frame plate connecting one end of the first frame plate to one end of the second frame plate; and a fourth frame plate connecting another end of the first frame plate to another end of the second frame plate. The first photosensitive drum and the second photosensitive drum are rotatably supported by the frame. The second photosensitive drum is spaced apart from the first photosensitive drum and positioned closer to the third frame plate than the first photosensitive drum to the third frame plate in a second direction. The storage medium has an electrical contact surface positioned at an outer surface of the third frame plate.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a reading unit that reads a document sheet and a reading standard surface and outputs read values corresponding to pixels arranged in a main scan direction, a control unit that processes the read values, and a storage unit storing information to be referenced by the control unit. In the storage unit, first data that is read values of the reading standard surface and serves as standards, and second data on ranges of variation, based on a change in a temperature, in the read values are stored. The control unit determines, based on the first data and the second data read from the storage unit and third data obtained by reading the reading standard surface after an acquisition of the first data, whether an abnormality exists in the pixels.

Abstract: A waste toner detection device includes a stirring shaft for stirring waste toners, a transmission member moveable in response to a rotational load of the stirring shaft between an engaged position and a disengaged position where the transmission member does not transmit rotation to the stirring shaft, a rotary arm drivenable by the transmission member when the transmission member is located at the disengaged position, and an indication member. The indication member is restricted by the rotary arm at a retracted position when the rotary arm is located at a locked position, and the indication member is driven by a biasing force to move to an extended position when the rotary arm is located at a released position. As a result, the waste toner detection device can accurately detects whether the amount of the waste toners stored in a waste toner container has reached a predetermined amount.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, an image forming section, an image density difference detector, and control circuitry. The image forming section is configured to form a gradation image pattern on a surface of the image bearer. The gradation image pattern includes gradation images having different image densities stepwise in a sub-scanning direction. The image density difference detector is configured to detect image density differences in a main scanning direction of the gradation images. The control circuitry is configured to execute an image density difference correction mode that corrects the image density differences in the main scanning direction based on detection results detected by the image density difference detector.

Abstract: The invention provides an image-forming apparatus that includes a printer that performs printing, and a controller that determines, on a basis of settings related to a print job, whether to execute the print job as a print job related to test printing or execute the print job as a normal print job, and causes the printer to perform printing, in which the settings related to the print job include a plurality of items, and one or more combinations of a setting of another item with respect to a setting of one item are set as recommended settings, and, when the print job includes a setting of the another item other than the recommended settings with respect to the setting of the one item, the controller determines that the print job is a print job related to test printing.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes: a power supply circuit configured to generate a bias voltage and output the bias voltage to a load, the power supply circuit being configured to output a determination signal and a detection current signal, the determination signal being binarized and representing a result obtained by comparing a voltage value according to the bias voltage with a threshold, the detection current signal indicating a current value of a load current flowing between the power supply circuit and the load, the load current flowing in response to outputting of the bias voltage; and a controller configured to control generation of the bias voltage generated by the power supply circuit, and determine a malfunction of the power supply circuit and an abnormality in the load, based on the determination signal and the detection current signal.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a measuring section, a generating section, and a predicting section. The image forming section forms an image on a sheet. The measuring section measures sound or vibration in the image forming section to obtain a measured result. The generating section generates frequency data through a frequency analysis of the measured result. The predicting section predicts a malfunction to occur of the image forming section based on the frequency data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus capable of suppressing degradation of the image quality of output image data, caused by electrostatic noise, without increasing a circuit scale. The image processing apparatus transmits image data obtained by reading an original, in synchronism with a synchronization signal. Noise in the synchronization signal is detected and eliminated. An image is printed using the image data. The number of times of detection of the noise is counted, and a notification indicative of the number of times of detection of the noise is made.

Abstract: A maintenance system includes a plurality of apparatuses and a maintenance server. Each apparatus: transmits log data indicating a state of the apparatus to the maintenance server; receives a prediction model from the maintenance server, the prediction model predicting the occurrence of an abnormal state of the plurality of apparatuses; determines whether the abnormal state of the apparatus occurs based on the prediction model to generate a determination result; and transmits the determination result indicating the occurrence of the abnormal state of the apparatus to the maintenance server. The maintenance server: generates the prediction model based on the log data received from each of the plurality of apparatuses; and issues an instruction of a maintenance work for one or more of the plurality of apparatuses that transmit the determination result.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first rotor and a second rotor that are each a rotatable member; a first movable member including the first rotor or a transferer that transfers power of the first rotor to another member; a second movable member including the second rotor or a transferer that transfers power of the second rotor to another member; a hardware processor that drives simultaneously the first rotor and the second rotor at mutually different numbers of revolutions or speeds, and performs abnormality diagnosis on the first movable member and the second movable member, based on the sounds of operation acquired by the sound acquirer; and a sound acquirer that acquires sounds of operation of the first movable member and the second movable member with the first rotor and the second rotor being driven by the hardware processor.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for predicting abnormal operation of at least one component of a machine is provided. Real time monitoring data from an operating machine is received and monitoring features that are informative of likely abnormal operation are extracted and/or calculated. The monitoring features are applied to a prediction matrix that outputs probabilities of abnormal operation within one or more prediction time horizons. If the output probabilities exceed a threshold probability, then an alert can be output. Maintenance can be automatically scheduled in response to the alert.

Abstract: In an exposure section of an image forming apparatus, a plurality of light emitting elements is divided into a plurality of blocks, and the plurality of the light emitting elements belonging to the same block is driven by one driving circuit. A toner adhesion sensor acquires density information of the toner images transferred onto a surface of the transfer belt of an image forming section. A controller controls the exposure section and the image forming section to form a dedicated pattern containing toner images corresponding to the plurality of the light emitting elements on the surface of the transfer belt, and diagnose the plurality of light emitting elements and other failure occurrence locations in the image forming apparatus from the density information of the toner images corresponding to the plurality of the light emitting elements in the dedicated pattern, which is acquired by the toner adhesion sensor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing in which a developing device is disposed, a cover member attached to the housing, a developer storage container to be detachably attached to the developing device, and a sensor unit. The developer storage container includes a container body having a storage space for storing a developer and a developer discharge port, and a moving wall configured to move in the container body. The sensor unit is arranged at a detection position where a detection sensor faces a specific area located above the developer discharge port on an outer peripheral surface of the container body when the cover member is in a closing posture, and arranged at a detection disable position where the detection sensor is distant from the specific area when the cover member is in an opening posture.

Abstract: A spectral colorimetric apparatus comprises a light source, a spectral element, a light receiving element, a substrate on which the light receiving element is mounted, a housing and a pressing portion. The housing has a first side wall on which the substrate is fixed and a second side wall on which the spectral element is fixed. The pressing portion pinches the spectral element together with the second side wall and presses the spectral element to the second side wall.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an information obtainer, a memory, a candidate determining unit, and an image forming device. The information obtainer obtains feature information from the target recording medium. The memory stores at least one set of recording medium information regarding the target recording medium associated with the feature information and at least one set of image forming condition information corresponding to the recording medium information. The recording medium information is identification information. The candidate determining unit determines a candidate recording medium information from the recording medium information stored in the memory based on the feature information of the target recording medium obtained by the information obtainer. The image forming device forms an image on the target recording medium based on the image forming condition information in the memory according to the candidate recording medium information determined by the candidate determining unit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described that use a cylindrical drum type vacuum drum and allows accurately registered, high resolution laser patterning of thin films on discrete lengths or flexible substrate material that are unwound from an unwind reel and after processing are rewound onto a rewind reel. Length compensator units are provided either side of the drum to accommodate variations in the length of the substrate due to differential rotation of the drum and the unwind and rewind reels.

Abstract: An information storage device installed in a removable device configured to be removably installed in an image forming apparatus body, includes: an information storage unit that stores information communicated between the image forming apparatus body and the removable device; a terminal that comes in contact with a body side terminal; and a substrate that holds the information storage unit and the terminal and includes a hole configured to be engaged with a protruding section installed in the image forming apparatus body. The terminal includes a plurality of terminals each including one of a plurality of metallic plates arranged in a transverse direction thereof. An earth terminal, which comes in contact with a body side earth terminal formed in the protruding section, is formed in the hole. The hole is disposed at a position sandwiched between two metallic plates among the plurality of metallic plates.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus configured to appropriately determine that an abnormality has occurred in a component. The image forming apparatus includes: a charging device configured to charge a photosensitive drum; an exposure device configured to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum charged by the charging device; a developing device including a carrying member configured to carry a toner and being configured to develop the electrostatic latent image using the toner to form a toner image; and a transfer portion configured to transfer the toner image onto a sheet. The image forming apparatus is configured to form a measurement image on the sheet, and to determine a unit that needs to be replaced based on a result of measuring the measurement image formed on the sheet. The measurement image includes a first measurement image and a second measurement image.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressuring member, a fixing device main body, a guide member and a detecting mechanism. The guide member is rotatable between a closing position where the guide member covers a sheet conveying path and an opening position where the guide member exposes the sheet conveying path. The detecting mechanism includes a sensor and an actuator. The sensor includes a light emitting part and a light receiving part. The actuator is swingable between a non-blocking position where the actuator does not block a light and a blocking position where the actuator blocks the light. When the actuator rotates integrally with the guide member according to a rotation of the guide member between the closing position and the opening position, the actuator passes between the light emitting part and the light receiving part.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide an image forming apparatus, including: a detector that detects a user who is positioned within a certain range from the apparatus; a verification unit that identifies the detected user by verification; a determination unit that determines whether there is print data which is not output yet on the basis of user identifiable information which is identified by the verification unit; and a notification unit that notifies the user that the print data is not printed yet on the basis of a result which indicates the presence of the print data from the determination unit.

Abstract: A method to provide a user interface, the method may be controlled by one or more controllers and may include one or more acts of obtaining image information from a sequence of images of a user; analyzing the image information to recognize the user; recognizing first and second reference objects at least one of which corresponding with respective body parts of the user from the image information; determining whether a first reference object has been placed over or is within a threshold scaled distance of a second reference object; calculating an interaction time between the first reference object and the second reference object when it is determined that the first reference object has been placed over or is within the threshold scaled distance of the second reference object; comparing the interaction time with a threshold reference time; and performing an action in accordance with results of the comparison.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a method of calculating end-of-life (EOL) predictions for a physical asset is provided. A state-space model for the physical asset is obtained, the state-space model being a physics-based model describing a state of the physical asset at a particular time given measurements or observations for the physical asset. Then a current state of the physical asset is inferred. Then a long-term prediction is derived for the physical asset based on the inferred current state of the physical asset and the state-space model for the physical asset. Then an EOL probability distribution function is generated for the physical asset based on the long-term prediction, the EOL probability distribution function describing a range of estimates of EOL for the physical asset and their corresponding confidence intervals.

Abstract: A system for remote analysis, remote training and/or remote maintenance on a mobile machine comprises a first display unit (10), command input means and a communication device which can be connected as required to the first display unit (10) and to a data network (15).

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for detecting a fatal error condition in a printing device having an intermediate transfer member for facilitating toner transfer, including sensing a reflectance value of the intermediate transfer member at a first predetermined time; comparing the sensed reflectance value at the first period of time to a predetermined threshold; sensing a reflectance value of the intermediate transfer member at a second predetermined time after the predetermined first time; and comparing the sensed reflectance value of the intermediate transfer member at the second period of time to the predetermined threshold. If each of the sensed reflectance value at the first predetermined time and the sensed reflectance value at the second predetermined time is greater than the predetermined threshold, the method includes selectively suspending further printing operations until the imaging device is serviced.