Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet feeder, an image former, an ultrasonic sensor, and a controller. The image former forms an image on a sheet conveyed. The ultrasonic sensor is used to detect the sheet conveyed. The ultrasonic sensor includes a transmitter circuit which sends ultrasonic waves and a receiver circuit which receives the ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic sensor outputs an output voltage in accordance with a strength of the ultrasonic waves received by the receiver circuit. The controller recognizes a current air pressure based on a magnitude of the output voltage.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a controller circuit being configured to detect a first input information, the first input information being information input in an input device by a user, create a first image and display the first image on a display device, the first image being an image created based on the first input information, obtain the first input information and the first image, detect, from the storage device, second input information being same as the first input information, determine a similarity degree between the first image created based on the first input information and a second image in association with the second input information detected from the storage device, and where the similarity degree between the first image and the second image is smaller than a threshold, output a result that the similarity degree is smaller than the threshold.

Abstract: A method of retrieving printer error logs from a printer or a multi-function printer with a printer memory buffer and internal non-volatile storage involves receiving a print error. A processor determines if a print error is a fatal error or a non-fatal error. On condition the print error is a non-fatal error, the event log located in the printer memory buffer is printed using the printer or the multi-function printer. On condition the print error is a fatal error, the processor determines if there is enough storage capacity to save the fatal error into the internal non-volatile storage. On condition there is enough storage capacity, the processor saves the event log into the internal non-volatile storage. The user is then instructed to power cycle the printer or the multi-function printer.

Abstract: A system includes a scanner to convert a packaging sketch into a pixelated image and a convolutional neural network configured to segment the pixelated image into bounded objects including fold lines and cut lines. A controller is configured to transform the fold lines and the cut lines into control commands to a folding machine and a cutting machine. A method includes converting a packaging sketch into a pixelated image using a scanner and segmenting, using a convolutional neural network, the pixelated image into bounded objects including fold lines and cut lines. The method also includes transforming, using a controller, the fold lines and the cut lines into control commands to a folding machine and a cutting machine.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a storage device that stores font data including a character code and outline data in association with the character code, the outline data being used to render a character specified by the character code; and a text processing unit configured to obtain, from the font data, the outline data in association with the character code included in the printable data, and a character rendering unit configured to process the outline data by changing a coordinate of a stroke, thickness of each line, and/or an interval between characters to thereby create processed outline data, the stroke being a center line of each line included in an object of the character rendered by using the outline data, and render an object of the character by using the processed outline data to thereby render the character specified by the same character code as a different object.

Abstract: A sorting device is mounted, in an image forming apparatus, in a sheet discharge space open at its front and sheet-discharge-direction downstream side, insertably or extractably at the downstream side. The sorting device includes a base portion, a tray portion, and a flexible member. The base portion is mounted, with the tray portion, in the base portion. The base portion has, in its upstream part in sheet discharge direction, a base inclined portion inclined upward downstream. With the base portion mounted in the bottom portion, the base inclined portion faces, across a predetermined gap, a bottom inclined surface inclined upward downstream in discharge direction. The tray portion is supported on the base portion to be reciprocatable in sheet width direction orthogonal to discharge direction. The flexible member is fitted to the base inclined portion and fills the gap between the base inclined portion and the bottom inclined surface.

Abstract: An image forming device is provided with a signal output unit which outputs an interrupt signal when storage of a print job input from the outside in a memory is completed, a processor which switches the operation mode to a normal mode when an operation mode of the own device is a power saving mode when an interrupt signal output from the signal output unit is input, executes each of the print jobs stored in the memory, and switches the operation mode to the power saving mode after the completion of printing, and a signal delay unit which can delay the input of the interrupt signal output from the signal output unit to the processor when the operation mode is the power saving mode.

Abstract: A height adjusting structure includes a coupling member configured to couple a caster to a casing, and the coupling member has a fixing part to which the caster is fixed, an extended part extended upward from the fixing part and penetrating through a bottom wall of the casing, and a meshing part formed at a portion within the casing on the extended part and having a plurality of engaging portions aligned at a predetermined pitch in a vertical direction. The height adjusting structure further includes a restraining member meshing with the meshing part formed on the extended part to restrain the extended part so that the extended part is unable to move vertically.

Abstract: An image forming method: imaging an image forming medium in the image forming unit to generate medium image data representing the image forming medium; controlling an image formation in a plurality of modes including a single-side image forming mode and a duplex image forming mode; and detecting an ink stain based on tone differences between first medium image data and second medium image data by comparing the first medium image data as medium image data representing one surface of the image forming medium and the second medium image data as medium image data representing another surface of the image forming medium when the duplex image forming mode is selected. The controlling includes setting the whole image formable region as the target of the ejection restriction process in response to the detection of the ink stain to inhibit an ejection of the ink to the other surface.

Abstract: A image forming apparatus includes a power control unit, an operation mode control unit, and a first timer. The power control unit performs control so as to switch between a normal power state for supplying the operation power supply voltage to the image forming unit, a first power saving state for not supplying the operation power supply voltage to the image forming unit, and a second power saving state having less power consumption than the first power saving state. The operation mode control unit performs control so as to switch a normal mode corresponding to a normal power state, a first power saving mode corresponding to a first power saving state, and a second power saving mode corresponding to a second power saving state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet feed cassette. The sheet feed cassette has a cylinder lock having a cylinder, and a turning unit coupled to the cylinder to be rotatable integrally with the cylinder. A switch switching part of the turning unit is configured to switch a power switch such that the power switch is in an ON state when an inner cylinder of the cylinder lock is at an unlocked position, and the power switch is in an OFF state when the inner cylinder is at a locked position. A cassette locking part of the turning unit is configured to place a sheet feed cassette of a standard sheet feeder in an unlocked state when the inner cylinder of the cylinder lock is at the unlocked position and place the sheet feed cassette in a locked state when the inner cylinder is at the locked position.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a distributed ledger. Image files are generated by the imaging device. Data for the image files are added to a partial chain hash. When a condition is met by the data with the partial chain hash, a new block is generated for the distributed ledger using the partial chain hash and data from a block header of a previous block. The distributed ledger is used within a printing system. A printing device accessing the distributed ledger can print the images of the image files.

Abstract: A policy-based printing system is implemented to allow access to a private domain to print using a public domain. The private domain includes private servers that store documents. The public domain includes servers and a printing device. A public policy server uses a domain list and a protocol connection with a private authentication server to validate a user and identify which private domain to access. The public policy server receives requests from the printing device to process a print job of a document in the private domain. A proxy printing device is created to manage a plurality of printing devices and communicate with the public policy server. The proxy printing device corresponds to a condition within the printing devices.

Abstract: Provided is an appliance setting apparatus. If generating layout information indicating a layout of a screen of a client application program for providing, by an image forming apparatus, a function of a document processing flow execution system, when a flow execution button for executing a document processing flow is arranged in the layout, the appliance setting apparatus acquires a list of document processing flows from the document processing flow execution system, displays at least a part of the document processing flows included in the acquired list onto the display unit, associates the document processing flow selected via an operating unit from among the displayed workflows, with the flow execution button, and installs the generated layout information on the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a conveying roller configured to convey a sheet and a plurality of driven rotating units. The conveying roller includes a plurality of roller portions disposed at positions opposite to the driven rotating units. Each of the roller portions has three or more annular grooves arranged side by side. Each of the driven rotating units includes three or more driven rotating bodies that are disposed at positions opposite to the annular grooves, respectively. A plurality of convex portions and a plurality of concave portions are alternately provided on an outer edge of each of the driven rotating bodies. The driven rotating bodies include two first rotating bodies positioned at both ends and one or more second rotating bodies located between the first rotating bodies and having an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the first rotating bodies.

Abstract: The image formation control apparatus controls an image forming device to execute image forming on an image forming medium based on input image data by using a plurality of color materials including a plurality of chromatic color materials. An image formation control apparatus comprising: a table generating unit to generate a visibility improvement color table by performing color conversion into intermediate image data, performing histogram equalization processing on a brightness gradation value representing brightness of an image represented by the intermediate image data, and adjusting the brightness gradation value representing brightness of the intermediate image data; and an image formation control unit to generate an image forming job for performing the color conversion using the generated color table to form an image on an image forming medium.

Abstract: A sheet loading device includes a discharge roller pair, a loading tray, a paddle member, a sheet holding member, a tray lifting-lowering drive portion, a top surface detection sensor, and a control portion. The control portion is capable of performing a lifting-lowering operation to arrange the loading tray at a reference position by lowering the loading tray with the sheet holding member arranged at the holding position to turn the top surface detection sensor into an off state, then lifting the loading tray to turn the top surface detection sensor into an on state, and then lowering the loading tray again to turn the top surface detection sensor into the off state and stopping the loading tray. With the loading tray at the reference position, a predetermined clearance is provided between a top surface of a sheet loaded on the loading tray and a rotational orbit of the paddle member.

Abstract: A waste liquid recovery apparatus including a waste liquid tube through which waste liquid flows and a displacement mechanism. The displacement mechanism includes a driven portion that receives a driving force and operates owing to the driving force and a displacement portion that is displaced within a predetermined displacement range in conjunction with the operation of the driven portion. The waste liquid tube includes a flexible tube at least at a terminal end from which the waste liquid is issued. When the displacement portion is displaced within the predetermined displacement range, a contact depth of the displacement portion with respect to the contacted portion of the flexible tube, near the terminal end, changes.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a reader configured to read a paper used for printing, a controller configured to generate paper information indicating the type of paper read by the reader, and a storage unit configured to store the paper information in association with history information of a paper. The controller updates history information corresponding to target paper information when the target paper information indicating a same type of paper as the paper indicated by newly generated paper information is stored, and causes the storage unit to store the newly generated paper information when the target paper information is not stored. The controller searches for paper information indicating the type of paper input in a search operation, and causes an operation panel to display the history information corresponding to the found paper information.

Abstract: A carriage of an image reading apparatus includes a first lamp and a second lamp. A moving mechanism moves the carriage in a sub-scanning direction from a first side to a second side. The first lamp and the second lamp are arranged in a row in the sub-scanning direction. A control unit turns on any one of the first lamp and the second lamp during reading of one line. The control unit recognizes the position of a first-side edge based on first image data obtained when the first lamp is turned on. The control unit recognizes the position of a second-side edge based on second image data obtained when the second lamp is turned on. The control unit synthesizes the first image data and the second image data to generate job read image data.