Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, an intermediate transfer belt, and a stretching roller. The intermediate transfer belt has a pair of test regions on opposite sides of a printing region in the width direction, and the image forming section transfers a test pattern image to the test regions. The image forming apparatus further includes an image density sensor and a counter-sensor member having a counter portion facing the image density sensor across the intermediate transfer belt. The edge positions of the counter portion in the width direction are inward, in the width direction, of the edge positions of the stretching roller in the width direction.

Abstract: When the dimension of a primary transfer roller in the width direction is represented by Wa, the dimension of a counter-sensor member in the width direction is represented by Wb, the dimension of an intermediate transfer belt in the width direction is represented by Wc, and the maximum dimension of a sheet in the width direction is represented by Wd, then the relationship Wd?Wa<Wb?Wc is fulfilled. The transfer position of a test pattern image is a position a predetermined distance away, inward in the width direction, from the edge of the intermediate transfer belt in the width direction. The predetermined distance is twice or more the distance in the width direction from the edge of the intermediate transfer belt in the width direction to the edge of the primary transfer roller in the width direction.

Abstract: A maintenance device maintains a head unit including a plurality of inkjet heads. The maintenance device includes a plurality of caps, a plurality of supply parts, one sub-tank, and a replenishment part. The caps are provided for the inkjet heads, and attached to nozzle surfaces of the inkjet heads. The supply parts are provided for the caps, store a humidifying medium, pass air through the humidifying medium to generate a humidified air, and supply the humidified air to the caps. The sub-tank stores the humidifying medium, is opened to atmosphere and communicates with all the supply parts. The replenishment part replenishes the humidifying medium to the sub-tank.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing container, a developing roller, a regulating blade, a seal member, and a resin member. The regulating blade includes a mounting plate and a blade plate. The developing container has a facing part facing a step part due to thickness difference between the mounting plate and the blade plate. The seal member has a resin placement area, and is squeezed between the regulating blade and the facing part. The resin placement area is an area that penetrates the seal member and is surrounded by the seal member. The resin placement area overlaps the step part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image formation units, an eraser drive circuit, a static elimination voltage power supply and a control unit. The image formation unit includes an image carrying member, a charging device, a development device and a static eliminator. The eraser drive circuit drives light emitting diodes included in the static eliminators. The eraser drive circuit includes a monochrome drive circuit that drives only the light emitting diode included in the static eliminator provided in the image formation unit where the toner image of black is formed and a color drive circuit that drives the light emitting diodes included in the static eliminators provided in the image formation units where the toner images of all colors including black are formed, and the eraser drive circuit includes a common constant current drive circuit as a part of the monochrome drive circuit and the color drive circuit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carriers, a charging device, an exposure device, a development device, and an intermediate transfer belt. The image carrier has a surface on which an amorphous silicon photosensitive layer is formed. The intermediate transfer belt is a plastic belt having a surface resistivity of 9.5 to 10.5 (log ?/square). An offset amount of the primary transfer roller from the image carrier is 0 to 2 (mm), a contact surface pressure between the image carrier and the intermediate transfer belt is 0.5 to 1.5 (gf/mm2), and a charge density of primary transfer current that flows when the primary transfer voltage is applied to the primary transfer roller is 0.016 to 0.040 (?C/cm2).

Abstract: A sheet postprocessing device includes a saddle binding device configured to stack a plurality of recording sheets on a table, abut leading edges of the respective recording sheets against a leading edge cursor, thus to align the leading edges with each other, and bind the center of the recording sheets and fold the recording sheets, and a first pressing member supported so as to pivot in a direction toward and away from the table. The first pressing member is made to pivot toward the table by self-weight thereof, allows the leading edge of the recording sheet delivered to the table to pass toward the leading edge cursor, and presses a portion of the recording sheet in a proximity of the leading edge, at a position upstream of the leading edge cursor, in a delivery direction of the recording sheet.

Abstract: A signal processing board includes a six-layer substrate. A plurality of signal transmission planes are formed in a first layer, a third layer, a fourth layer, and a sixth layer. A first ground plane is formed in a second layer. A first power supply plane is formed in a fifth layer and electrically connected to the first semiconductor element. A second power supply plane is formed in the fifth layer and electrically connected to the second semiconductor element. A second ground plane is formed in the fifth layer. A first bypass capacitor is electrically connected to the first power supply plane and the second ground plane. A second bypass capacitor is electrically connected to the second power supply plane and the second ground plane.

Abstract: A connection request forwarding system includes a communication device and a control device. The communication device performs communication between a connection source and a plurality of information processing systems. The control device includes a processor, and acts as a connection request forwarding device, when the processor executes a connection request forwarding program. The connection request forwarding device receives a connection request transmitted from the connection source, and forwards the connection request to one of the plurality of information processing systems. When a forwarding condition of the connection request is satisfied, at least on a basis of an HTTP request of the connection request, the connection request forwarding device forwards the connection request to the information processing system associated with the forwarding condition.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of sheet feed devices, an image forming device, and a control device functioning as a controller. The image forming device performs image formation based on a print job or adjustment processing. In executing the adjustment processing, the controller selects, from among the plurality of sheet feed devices, the sheet feed device for adjustment processing about which attribute information meeting a necessary condition for executing the adjustment processing is previously set, allows the selected sheet feed device for adjustment processing to feed the recording paper sheet, and allows the image forming device to perform the adjustment processing. When, in executing the adjustment processing, the sheet feed device for adjustment processing is unable to feed the recording paper sheet, the controller allows a sheet feed device predetermined as an alternative sheet feed device for adjustment processing to feed the recording paper sheet.

Abstract: Apparatuses related to identifying print jobs for pre-processing are disclosed. In an example apparatus thereof, a header is for pre-rendering a print job stored in a memory of a host device. A data page is for at least one page of the print job stored in the memory of the host device. The header includes job parameters for the pre-rendering. The job parameters include: a system identifier to identify the print job for the pre-rendering; a mode select to set for the pre-rendering; a job identifier to identify the print job from other print jobs by a printer engine or a print manager; and a cache select to set for caching a pre-rendered image for the print job after the pre-rendering thereof.

Abstract: A manual bypass tray includes a tray main body and an auxiliary tray. A placement surface of the tray main body is provided with an opening. The tray main body includes an opening cover. The auxiliary tray includes a recess. The opening cover is displaced to a retracted posture, thereby being accommodated inside the recess, together with a protruding portion protruding from a side face of a main body of an image forming apparatus, when the tray main body is in a storage position with the auxiliary tray accommodated therein, displaced to a closing posture, when the tray main body is in a sheet feeding position with the auxiliary tray accommodated therein, and displaced to a closing posture when the tray main body is in the sheet feeding position, with the auxiliary tray drawn out from the inside of the tray main body.

Abstract: A transfer unit includes a seamless transfer belt, a plurality of transfer rollers, a backup roller, a plurality of pairs of first bearing holders, a pair of second bearing holders and a pair of sliders. Each of the sliders is reciprocated such that each of the first bearing holders slides on the corresponding one of the first step ribs to be reciprocated in a direction toward and away from the transfer belt and the second bearing holder slides on the second step rib to be reciprocated in the direction toward and away from the transfer belt. The first step rib arranged most upstream in the direction of travel of the transfer belt and the second step rib are arranged side by side in the axial direction of the transfer roller, and overlap each other when viewed in the axial direction.

Abstract: A printer (1) includes an endless conveyance belt (45) which attracts a sheet and conveys it in a predetermined conveyance direction; a recording head (30) provided with an ejection port formed surface (31) on which an ejection port for ejecting ink is formed, the ejection port formed surface (31) facing an outer circumferential surface of the conveyance belt (45) with a predetermined gap; and a conveyance guide (70) which faces the conveyance belt (45) on an upstream side of the ejection port formed surface (31) in the conveyance direction, is provided within a range containing both end portions of the conveyed sheet in a width direction intersecting the conveyance direction, and projects toward the conveyance belt (45) more than the ejection port formed surface (31).

Abstract: Methods and systems for managing print jobs among a plurality of printing devices. At least one desktop client is disclosed in the methods and systems. The at least one desktop client includes a database storing a desktop client application and a processor configured to collect data, transmit/receive data with a cloud-based server, choose a suitable printing device and direct a print job to the suitable printing device. The at least one desktop client can be a computing device, a mobile device, or a local server. The at least one desktop device may also be a multiple-function printing device (MFP).

Abstract: A post-processing apparatus includes a blade, a transfer mechanism, a sheet folding roller pair, a motor, a drive control device, and a control device. The blade presses into the sheet to form a fold line in the sheet. The transfer mechanism moves the blade toward and away from the sheet. The sheet folding roller pair conveys the sheet with the fold line formed by the blade by pinching the sheet at a nip between the sheet folding roller pair. The motor rotatively drives the sheet folding roller pair. The drive control device controls drive of the motor. The control includes a control circuit. When, through the processor executing a control program, the control device controls the transfer mechanism to withdraw from the nip the blade having been pressed into the sheet and the nip by the transfer mechanism, the control device controls the drive control device to stop the motor.

Abstract: Printing operations may use a hot folder. The hot folder includes printing instructions that are applied to print jobs within the hot folder. A file for the print job is stored in the hot folder. More than one file can be retained. The hot folder invokes a script to be executed on the file. A temporary folder is created corresponding to the file. The file is stored in the temporary folder. The temporary folder has a unique filename. The script is executed within the temporary folder and the execution is monitored to its completion. When the script is done executing, the temporary folder is deleted. Separate temporary folders are generated for each file in the hot folder.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a human sensor, a microphone, a receiver, and a controller. In a case where an approaching person is detected by the human sensor when the image forming apparatus is in a power saving state, the controller brings the microphone into a state where a voice input is possible, releases operation mechanisms necessary to execute functions associated with content indicated by a voice instruction received by the receiver from a power saving state and brings the operation mechanisms into an ordinary operation state, and causes operation mechanisms necessary to execute functions that are not associated with the content indicated by the voice instruction to be maintained in the power saving state.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus (20) includes a first sheet conveyance passage (3), a second sheet conveyance passage (5), a pair of feed rollers (3r1), a first pair of conveyance rollers (50), and a contact-release mechanism (60). The second sheet conveyance passage (5) branches from a branch section (31) on the first sheet conveyance passage (3). The first pair of conveyance rollers (50) has a first roller (51) and a second roller (52) and conveys a sheet along the first sheet conveyance passage (3). When, in the branch section (31), a sheet is conveyed from upstream with respect to the sheet conveyance direction in the first sheet conveyance passage (3) toward the second sheet conveyance passage (5), the sheet conveying apparatus (20) makes the contact-release mechanism (60) move the second roller (52) away from the first roller (51) and makes the pair of feed rollers (3r1) convey the sheet.

Abstract: A toner includes toner particles. The toner particles each include a toner mother particle containing a binder resin and an external additive attached to a surface of the toner mother particle. The external additive includes fluorine-containing particles. The fluorine-containing particles include a fluorine atom at least in surface layers thereof. The amount of the fluorine-containing particles is at least 0.10 parts by mass and no greater than 0.50 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the toner mother particles. When ultrasonication is performed, a residual amount ratio of remaining fluorine-containing particles is at least 0% by mass and no greater than 20% by mass relative to the amount of the fluorine-containing particles attached to the toner mother particles before the ultrasonication.