Abstract: A perforation device includes a shaft, a perforation motor, at least a first perforation portion, at least a second perforation portion, at least a first cam for reciprocating a first perforation blade in the first perforation portion, at least a second cam for reciprocating a second perforation blade in the second perforation portion, a rotation speed detecting portion, a home position detecting portion, and a controller. In second perforation processing in which the shaft is rotated one turn to perform first perforation with the first perforation portion and second perforation with the second perforation portion in sequence, the controller senses, with the rotation speed detecting portion, the rotation speed of the shaft after the first perforation blade penetrates the sheet in the first perforation and, based on the rotation speed detecting, the controller determines the timing of starting braking control in the second perforation and performs braking control.

Abstract: A peer-to-peer network of printing devices is configured to share printing device information, such as job queue status, configuration information, and resource information for automated load balancing, capability matching, failover, and print splitting operations. A digital front end (DFE) of a printing device establishes connections with the DFEs of other printing devices to manage output within the peer-to-peer network in an automated manner. When a print job is received at a DFE for a printing device, it is evaluated to determine how to best manage the output for the print job.

Abstract: In an authentication device, a controller executes login when a user name and a password are entered through an operation device and the entered password is identical to one of a plurality of fixed passwords previously stored in association with the entered user name on an HDD. When the entered password is identical to none of the plurality of fixed passwords and any one of the plurality of fixed passwords satisfies a predetermined condition on similarity to the entered password, the controller inhibits an authentication based on the fixed password satisfying the predetermined condition from being made for a predetermined period.

Abstract: A control device executes: either a first conveyance change control or a second conveyance change control; and a retraction control when an operation device receives an interruption operation during execution of a specified number stack control. In the first conveyance change control, a sheet conveyance device of a target unit is changed to a relay conveyance state, and the sheet conveyance device of another coupled unit that is present downstream of the target unit in a main conveyance direction is changed to a stack conveyance state. In the second conveyance change control, the sheet conveyance device of another coupled unit that is present upstream in the main conveyance direction is changed to the stack conveyance state. In the retraction control, a lift mechanism of the target unit is caused to execute a mount operation by which a stack tray is moved down to a mount position on a carriage portion.

Abstract: A light guide device has a support member, a light guide member, a first abutting part, and a cover member. The light guide member is supported by the support member and has a light incident surface. The first abutting part has the light guide member and positions the light guide member at the first reference position predetermined in the support member by abutting on the abutted part of the support member. The cover member is attached to the support member and covers the light guide member. The cover member has a first biasing part that biases the light guide member in an abutting direction where the first abutting part abuts the abutting part, with the cover member attached to the support member, and an engaging part that engages with an engaged part of the support member while the first biasing part generates a biasing force in the abutting direction.

Abstract: A peer-to-peer network of printing devices is configured to share printing device information, such as job queue status, configuration information, and resource information for automated load balancing, capability matching, failover, and print splitting operations. A digital front end (DFE) of a printing device establishes connections with the DFEs of other printing devices to manage output within the peer-to-peer network in an automated manner. When a print job is received at a DFE for a printing device, it is evaluated to determine how to best manage the output for the print job.

Abstract: A transfer unit includes a first and a second roller differing in one of the axial length, volume resistivity, and hardness of their elastic layer, a first and a second bearing members rotatably supporting the metal shafts of the first and second rollers, a roller holder, and a switching mechanism. The roller holder has a first and a second bearing holding portion that hold the first and second bearing members slidably. The switching mechanism drives the roller holder to rotate such that one of the first and second rollers is arranged at a reference position at which the first or second roller is kept in pressed contact with an image carrying member to form a transfer nip. The first and second bearing members have grounding member that ground the first and second rollers respectively.

Abstract: A belt unit includes a belt that is endless, a plurality of stretching rollers, a pair of side frames and one or more shafts. The side frames are each provided with bearing holes that rotatably support opposite end parts of the stretching rollers, and positioning holes into which opposite end parts of the shafts are inserted. The shafts each have formed therein a first engagement groove that engages with a first holding jig. The stretching rollers each have formed therein a second engagement groove that engages with a second holding jig. When the first engagement groove is in engagement with the first holding jig, the shafts are arranged opposite the positioning holes corresponding thereto, and have a phase thereof restricted in a circumferential direction thereof. When the second engagement groove is in engagement with the second holding jig, the stretching rollers are arranged opposite the bearing holes corresponding thereto.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating rotating body, a pressure rotating body, and a fixing frame. The fixing frame supports the heating rotating body and the pressure rotating body. The fixing frame includes a pair of side plates and a plurality of stays. The side plates are disposed to face each other, and supports both axial end portions of the heating rotating body and both axial end portions of the pressure rotating body. The stays are disposed between the side plates. In a XYZ coordinate in which an axis along a direction in which the side plates face each other is defined as the X-axis, and axes perpendicular to the X-axis and perpendicular to each other are defined as the Y-axis and the Z-axis, each of the stays is fastened to the side plates at least two axial directions of the three axial directions of the XYZ coordinates.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device, a shutter, a lock member and an attachment member. The fixing device is supported by an apparatus main body. The shutter is movable to a close position and to an open position. The lock member is movable to a holding position holding the shutter to the close position and an allowable position allowing the shutter to move from the close position to the open position. The lock member is moved to the holding position to hold the shutter to the close position in a state where the attachment member is detached from the apparatus main body. In the middle of attaching the attachment member to the apparatus main body, the attachment member moves the lock member from the holding position to the allowable position and then moves the shutter from the close position to the open position.

Abstract: Provided is an information processing apparatus that enables an objective determination of an estimation of work related to printing. A data acquiring unit acquires a job for estimation. A unit estimating unit calculates an estimation of the work for each specific unit of the job acquired by the data acquiring unit. An entire estimating unit estimates and updates the estimation of the work for the entire job in real time based on the estimation of the work for the specific unit at the time calculated by the unit estimating unit. An estimation presenting unit presents the estimation of the work calculated by the entire estimating unit in real time.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a light source portion, a deflector, a first scanning lens, a second scanning lens, and a pair of reflection mirrors. The first scanning lens collects a light beam having been reflected by the deflector. The second scanning lens causes the light beam having passed through the first scanning lens to form an image on a circumferential surface of an image carrier. The pair of reflection mirrors, on an image formation optical path of the light beam, reflect the light beam having passed through the second scanning lens toward the image carrier. The light beam having been reflected by the pair of reflection mirrors passes between the first scanning lens and the second scanning lens to travel toward the image carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drum unit, a developing unit, a developing roller bearing, a guide portion, and an urging portion. The drum unit includes a photosensitive drum. The developing unit includes a developing roller. The developing roller bearing supports the developing roller and can move radially and rotate axially with respect to the developing unit. The guide portion is formed in the drum unit and guides the developing roller bearing in directions toward and away from the photosensitive drum. The urging portion urges the developing unit in such a direction that it presses the developing roller against the photosensitive drum. The developing unit includes a restriction portion that restricts the rotation of the developing roller bearing with respect to the developing unit within a predetermined range.

Abstract: An inkjet recording device includes a conveying unit, a recording unit, a device main body, and a control unit. The conveying unit includes an endless conveyor belt having many air holes for sucking air, and a sheet sucking unit. The sheet sucking unit is disposed inside a loop of the conveyor belt, and includes a fan for sucking air through the air holes and a fan drive motor. The recording unit includes a recording head disposed to face an outer circumference surface of the conveyor belt, so as to eject ink from ink ejection nozzles to the paper sheet sucked and held on the conveyor belt. The control unit executes a paper dust removing mode during image non-recording time, in which it rotates the fan drive motor by a power higher than that when conveying the paper sheet, so as to remove paper dust in the device main body.

Abstract: A correction mechanism incorporated in a belt conveyance device includes a pair of inclined bearings and a pair of main body guides, and corrects meandering of an endless belt. The pair of inclined bearings include a pair of inclined portions, and support a shaft portion of a roller that stretches the belt. The pair of main body guides contact the pair of inclined portions, and, when the belt meanders, cause one end part side of the roller in the axial direction thereof to move in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction thereof. The pair of inclined portions and the pair of main body guides are disposed inward of opposite end parts of the roller in the axial direction thereof, as seen from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the roller.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressure member, a separation claw which is provided so as to be contactable on a surface of the fixing member and comes into contact with the surface of the fixing member to separate the recording medium from the fixing member at a fixing operation and a moving mechanism which moves the separation claw in a rotational axis direction of the fixing member. The moving mechanism includes a thrust gear having a protrusion on the lower surface of the thrust gear and a thrust cam disposed below the thrust gear having a hole on the upper surface into which the protrusion can be fitted when the fixing device is assembled.

Abstract: A developer container is provided with a container body and a covering. The container body has a storage part for containing a developer and a discharge port used for discharging the developer contained in the storage part to outside of the container body. The covering covers a forming surface of a containing space of the developer in the storage part, and is provided so as to be drawable from the discharge port to outside of the container body.

Abstract: Systems and methods relate generally to exposure correction of an image transparency. In an example method thereof, an adaptable filter having an adjustable transparency panel and a microcontroller is obtained. The image transparency is backlit to obtain first analog image information by the adaptable filter. An exposure level associated with the first analog image information is sensed. A transparency level of the adjustable transparency panel is adjusted responsive to the sensed exposure level. Second analog image information is obtained from the adjustable transparency panel provided to a sensor array. The second analog image information is the first analog image information with the adjusted transparency level.

Abstract: Systems and methods relate generally to associating confidential information with redactions are disclosed. In one such method, a login session is established with a programmed server. A document having the confidential information is uploaded to the programmed server. The confidential information in the document is detected by an artificial intelligence service. The confidential information is analyzed according to at least one rule by the artificial intelligence service. Suggestions for at least one redaction are generated by the artificial intelligence service. At least a portion of the confidential information is redacted responsive to the at least one redaction suggested by a redaction service. The document is stored in association with the at least one redaction though separate from the confidential information to provide at least one reversible redaction.

Abstract: A communication apparatus includes a motion sensor, a communication device, and a control device. The motion sensor detects a gesture of a user. The communication device makes communication with a terminal device on another end, through a predetermined communication network. The control device acts as a controller. The controller causes the communication device to dispatch a call to the terminal device, when the motion sensor detects a prespecified gesture, in a state where a predetermined condition is satisfied.