Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a memory that stores identification information of authorized users in association with biometric information thereof, a reading device configured to read identification information from a medium, an input device through which biometric information is input, and a processor configured to, upon receipt of one of identification and biometric information, perform a first authentication by determining whether said one of identification and biometric information is stored, when said one of identification and biometric information is stored, upon receipt of the other of identification and biometric information, perform a second authentication by determining whether the other of identification and biometric information is stored in association with said one of identification and biometric information, and when the other of identification and biometric information is stored, enable a first operation that can be performed for the corresponding authorized user.

Abstract: A heating device includes a substrate, one or more heating elements arranged along the substrate, a heat conductor contacting the substrate, a plurality of thermometers each configured to measure a temperature of the heat conductor, and a plurality of thermostats each configured to measure a temperature of the heat conductor and interrupt electrical power supplied to the heating elements. The thermometers and the thermostats are alternately arranged in a longitudinal direction of the substrate.

Abstract: A wireless checkout system includes peripheral stations, a server that stores location information indicating a position coordinate of each of the peripheral stations, one or more base stations, and a mobile point-of-sale (POS) terminal. The mobile POS terminal includes a wireless communication interface configured to receive a wireless signal from the base stations, a display, and a processor. The processor designates one of the peripheral stations as an associated peripheral station, determines a position coordinate of the mobile POS terminal based on the wireless signal, selects, based on the determined position coordinate of the mobile POS terminal and the location information, another of peripheral stations that is closest to the mobile POS terminal to be an alternative peripheral station to be recommended for the checkout, when the associated peripheral station is not available, and then controls the display to display a screen indicating the alternative peripheral station.

Abstract: In a system and method for automated device onboarding to a cloud based printing system, and administrator logs in to a selected one of a group of networked multifunction peripherals and registers it to a company in accordance with a device registration code. The selected multifunction peripheral registers itself with a cloud server, and discovers other candidate multifunction peripherals for registration. The selected multifunction peripheral sends the device registration code to each discovered multifunction peripheral with an instruction to perform self-registration with the cloud server. Each discovered multifunction peripheral then registers with the cloud server. A registered user may send a document processing job to the cloud server and release from any registered multifunction peripheral.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an input interface, a communication interface, and a processor. The input interface is configured to receive settings related to a print failure report. The communication interface is configured to facilitate communication with an image forming apparatus and a destination of the print failure report identified in the settings. The processor is configured to selectively execute a print mode for transmitting designated print data of a print object to the image forming apparatus and a report mode for transmitting print data for reporting including print log information to the destination based on the settings.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus includes a photosensitive sensor, a cover, and a moving mechanism. The photosensitive sensor includes a first lens and a second lens which focus on a photosensitive element. The cover includes a first slit arranged on an optical axis of the first lens and a second slit arranged on an optical axis of the second lens. The moving mechanism is configured to move the photosensitive sensor and the cover relative to each other so that the second slit is arranged on the optical axis of the first lens.

Abstract: To provide an image forming device that can effectively predict a replacement timing of a photoconductor drum. A toner image is to be formed on the photoconductor drum. The charger is configured to charge the photoconductor drum. The potential sensor is configured to measure a charge potential of the photoconductor drum. The memory stores a manufacturing date of the photoconductor drum and a failure threshold value of the charge potential related to a failure of the photoconductor drum. The processor is configured to calculate an elapsed time from the manufacturing date based on the manufacturing date, update the failure threshold value based on the elapsed time, and predict a replacement timing of the photoconductor drum based on the updated failure threshold value.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a heater unit includes a substrate. A first heating element is on a first side of the substrate. A second heating element is on a second side of the substrate. A first wiring is on the first side of the substrate and connected to the first heating element. A first electrode is on the first side of the substrate and connected to the first heating element. A second wiring is on the second side of the substrate and connected to the second heating element. A second electrode is on the second side of the substrate and connected to the second heating element via the second wiring. A portion of the second heating element overlaps a first portion of the first heating element.

Abstract: A method for page management for use with an image forming apparatus includes receiving a request from a user for processing one or more pages of one or more documents. Further, the method includes displaying on a display (a) a thumbnail image generated for each page and (b) a plurality of options for processing the one or more pages. Furthermore, the method includes receiving a selection by the user of at least one option of the plurality of options. Thereafter, the method includes processing the one or more pages, according to the at least one option of the selection received from the user.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first generation unit to determine a density in each of a plurality of regions of a first image formed by the forming unit, and generate first correction data for correcting a density of an image to be formed by the forming unit for each of the plurality of regions based on the density. The first correction unit corrects the density of the image to be formed by the forming unit for each of the plurality of regions based on the first correction data stored by the first storage unit. The second generation unit determines a density of a second image formed by the forming unit, and generate second correction data based on the density. The first determination unit determines an amount of unevenness in the main scanning direction of formation density by the forming unit based on the density determined by the second generation unit.

Abstract: A printer, capable of appropriately extending an existing replacement recommendation time of a component determined based on a life prescribed for the component, includes: a time determination unit (timer), a comparison examination unit (comparator), and a notification unit (notifier). The timer determines a time at which replacement of a component is recommended based on tendency information indicating a deterioration tendency of the component with respect to an operation status. The tendency information is generated from collection and storage of information on the operation status collected from a plurality of printers and information on a degree of deterioration at a disposal time of the component. The comparator compares a time output by the time determination unit with a predetermined life of the component, and examines whether to perform recommendation for component replacement.

Abstract: A system and method for natural language communication between a user and a multifunction peripheral incorporates a chatbot. The chatbot response to verbal user commands or inquiries with corresponding device reports or operation. The chatbot operates in conjunction monitored multifunction peripheral states and document processing jobs, and tenders a verbal reply accordingly, supplying information to inform the user of additional matters related to the inquiry and of likely usefulness to the user.

Abstract: A detection device for detecting a fraud behavior of a customer at a point-of-sale (POS) terminal in a store, including a first interface circuit configured to receive a first image of the customer from a camera, a second interface circuit configured to receive a second image that is displayed on the POS terminal, and a processor configured to acquire one or more first images via the first interface circuit and determine one or more behaviors of the customer based on the acquired first images, acquire one or more second images via the second interface circuit and determine, based on the acquired second images, one or more operations that have been made by the customer on the POS terminal, and determine that one of the behaviors is fraudulent based on one or more of the operations that have been made by the customer before said one of the behaviors.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a tubular body that forms a nip with a pressure member to fix a recording material onto a recording medium, a heater inside the tubular body and facing a heated region of the tubular body in a first direction, and a heat conductive member that has a thermal conductivity larger in a second direction crossing the first direction and parallel to an axial direction of the tubular body than in the first direction. The heat conductive member includes an end portion and a central portion along the second direction, and the end portion has a higher density than the central portion.

Abstract: A printer has a lower module and upper module. The lower module has a paper feed unit and a printing unit. A back of the upper module is hinged to lower module. A paper handling part holds paper after printing by the printing unit. A discharge unit in the upper module moves the paper out of the upper module while maintaining a hold on a rear portion of the paper and to draw the paper back into the upper module after an elapse of time. A container includes a support member that rotates into contact with and moves away from a lower part of the upper module. The container configured to receive and store the paper that has been drawn back by the discharge unit. The paper is stored in a region between the support member and the lower part of the upper module.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus for processing sheets each with a wireless tag, includes a roller, a wireless tag reader/writer, and a controller configured to control the roller to convey a first sheet with a first tag along a path, control the reader/writer to acquire first strengths of radio signals received from the first tag during the conveyance and second strengths of radio signals received from wireless tags of sheets not being conveyed, determine a threshold value of signal strength for distinguishing a wireless tag being conveyed from wireless tags not being conveyed based on the first and second strengths, and control the roller to convey a second sheet with a second tag and control the reader/writer to write to the second tag when a strength of a radio signal from the second tag is greater than or equal to the threshold value.

Abstract: A handcart includes a cart frame, a caster, and a code reader. The cart frame includes a receiving portion on which a shopping basket is placeable and a lateral portion extending in a width direction of the cart frame. The caster is disposed at a bottom region of the cart frame. The code reader is attached to the lateral portion of the cart frame so as to be rotatable around the lateral portion. The code reader may be rotated around the lateral portion of the cart frame to a first position at which a reading window of the code reader faces an inner space of the shopping basket on the receiving portion of the cart frame, and to a second position at which the reading window of the code reader faces a front of the cart frame.

Abstract: A tracking device for tracking a target object includes an interface connectable to a camera configured to acquire an image and determine a location of the object within the image and a distance therefrom, a memory that stores first coordinates that indicate a location of the camera with respect to a reference point in the facility, and a first direction towards which the camera faces, and a processor configured to calculate a second direction from the camera to the object based on the first direction and the location of the object, based on the second direction and the distance, calculate second coordinates indicating a location of the target object with respect to the location of the camera, based on the first and second coordinates, calculate third coordinates indicating a location of the target object with respect to the reference point, and store the calculated third coordinates in the memory.

Abstract: A system and method for tracking multifunction peripheral device user satisfaction captures user images and audio during device operation. User characteristics such as gestures, posture, spoke words or facial expressions are used in conjunction with device status information to determine whether the user is satisfied with the device. If not, remedial action is initiated, such as launching a virtual assistant on the multifunction peripheral touchscreen or summoning of a human assistant.

Abstract: According to at least one embodiment, a failure prediction server includes an interface, a memory, and a processor. The interface is configured to communicate with equipment including a component that deteriorates over time. The memory is configured to store measurement data acquired from the equipment. The processor is configured to set a monitoring start condition for failure prediction in the corresponding equipment based on the measurement data acquired as initial data from the equipment, accumulate the measurement data acquired from the equipment in the memory after the monitoring start condition is satisfied, and predict a failure of the component based on the measurement data accumulated in the memory.