Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes: a motor that drives a fixing device; and a controller. The motor outputs a signal corresponding to a driving current value of the motor. The controller performs a first operation where a magnitude value of the signal has fallen out of a first range while driving the motor in a first operation mode. The controller performs a second operation where the magnitude value of the signal has fallen out of a second range while driving the motor in a second operation mode.

Abstract: A power converter includes a first circuit including an inductor and configured to convert an input voltage into a first voltage, a second circuit including a transformer and configured to convert the first voltage input to the insulating transformer to a second voltage, a control circuit configured to control the first circuit, a first power supply circuit including a first winding magnetically coupled to the inductor and configured to output a third voltage generated by the first winding to the first control circuit, and a second power supply circuit including a second winding magnetically coupled to the transformer and configured to output a fourth voltage generated by the second winding to the first control circuit. When the second voltage is not output the third voltage is output to the control circuit, and when the second voltage is output the fourth voltage is output to the control circuit.

Abstract: A system and method for maintenance and supplying of a fleet of multifunction peripheral devices includes two or more networked devices including a decision engine. Devices discover one another and one device is designated as a server. The server creates a virtual lobby accessible by other devices and its decision engine is enabled. The server invites other devices into its virtual lobby, and these devices join the lobby in response. Devices provide their device state information to the lobby. The enabled decision engine generates recommendations for consumable replenishment, device servicing or device configuration, relaying the recommendations to a system administrator's tablet or smartphone. The administrator may accept, reject, modify or implement received suggestions. Consumable supplies or servicing recommendations can be done automatically if enabled. Administrator actions are fed back to the server for machine learning to improve future suggestions.

Abstract: An input apparatus includes a touch panel and a processor. The touch panel is configured to receive a first input of giving a first instruction that a dot configuring a braille character corresponds to a dotted protrusion through a first operation and a second input of giving a second instruction different from the first instruction of the first input through a second operation different from the first operation. The processor is configured to identify the braille character based on the first input and the second input received by the touch panel and searches for one or more process functions corresponding to the braille character identified by the processor.

Abstract: An image forming device is an image forming device in a destination setting system, and the destination setting system includes the image forming device and a wireless communication device used by a user who uses the image forming device. The image forming device has a communication unit and a control unit. The communication unit receives destination information transmitted from the wireless communication device among one or more destination information stored in the wireless communication device. The control unit sets the destination information received by the communication unit as a destination in a transmission function of image data.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image reading apparatus includes a light emitting unit, a first carriage, a first photoelectric conversion unit, a first lens, and a second carriage. The light emitting unit irradiates a reading object with light. The first carriage includes a first optical member for guiding reflected light from the reading object. The first carriage is movable in a sub-scanning direction along the reading object. The first photoelectric conversion unit receives the reflected light from the reading object guided through the first optical member and outputs an image signal. The first lens is disposed on an optical path of the reflected light between the first optical member and the first photoelectric conversion unit, and images the reflected light from the reading object on the first photoelectric conversion unit. The second carriage is movable in a main scanning direction orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction along the reading object with respect to the first carriage.

Abstract: A sheet aligning mechanism includes first and second conveyance mechanisms disposed on first and second sides of a sheet conveyance path, respectively. A nip is formed between the first and second conveyance mechanisms. The first conveyance mechanism includes a first roller, a second roller, and a first conveyance belt wound around the first and second rollers. The first and second rollers are configured to rotate in a first direction along a sheet conveying direction for sheet conveyance, and stop rotation or rotate in a second direction opposite to the first direction for sheet alignment. The first conveyance belt includes an extended region between the first and second rollers in an extending direction inclined with respect to the sheet conveying direction, such that a width of the sheet conveyance path becomes narrower towards the nip in the sheet conveying direction.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming device includes a memory and a processor. The memory is configured to store an execution history of image processing and an adjustment history of the image processing. The processor is configured to detect an occurrence of an event based on a correlation between the execution history and the adjustment history, and to execute instructing to output information according to a detection result.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a photoconductor, an exposure device, a developing device, a toner concentration sensor, a supply motor, and a processor. The exposure device exposes the photoconductor based on image data. The developing device forms a toner image on the photoconductor with toner supplied from a toner cartridge. The toner concentration sensor detects a toner concentration in the developing device. The supply motor supplies the toner from the toner cartridge to the developing device based on the toner concentration. The processor detects a toner container supply abnormality based on a toner supply rate and a print rate of the image data, the toner supply rate being calculated based on a pixel count value that is an integrated value of pixel values of the image data and a supply motor count value that is an integrated value of drive times of the supply motor.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a support shaft, a connecting member, and a detachable member. The support shaft extends in a first direction. The support shaft includes a protrusion. The protrusion protrudes in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The connecting member is formed of an elastic material. The connecting member interposes the protrusion therebetween. The connecting member is connected to the support shaft to surround an outer periphery of the support shaft. The detachable member is detachably connected to the support shaft via the connecting member.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes a display unit, an operation unit, a processing unit, a storage unit, and a control unit. The display unit is configured to display an operation screen on which a processing mode and setting information may be selected. The operation unit is configured to receive an operation instruction from the operation screen displayed on the display unit and to transmit a processing job based on the operation instruction. The processing unit is configured to execute a process based on the processing job received from the operation unit. The storage unit is configured to store use history information indicating the processing jobs. The control unit is configured to customize the operation screen according to the use history information stored by the storage unit and cause the display unit to display the customized operation screen.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a heating device includes a belt and a contact member. The belt has a tubular shape. The contact member is provided inside the belt. The contact member is formed in an arc shape along the inner peripheral surface of the belt. The contact member is slidably in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the belt. When the amount of deflection of the belt is D, the radius of curvature of the inner peripheral surface of the belt is A, and the radius of curvature of the outer peripheral surface of the contact member is B, the following equations (1) and (2) are satisfied: D?10 mm??(1) 0.4 mm?A?B?0 mm??(2).

Abstract: According to at least one embodiment, a lens mirror array includes a plurality of optical elements. An optical element of the plurality of optical elements includes an incident surface on which light is incident, an emitting surface configured to emit the light incident through the incident surface, at least one reflecting surface reflecting the light incident through the incident surface toward the emitting surface, and a light shielding portion configured to block the light. The incident surface includes an effective surface configured to pass effective light emitted from the emitting surface and a directional surface configured to direct unnecessary light to the light shielding portion.

Abstract: A document management device includes a memory and a controller. The memory stores one or more format files, the one or more format files including a first format file. The controller is configured to (a) receive a second format file that is based on at least one of the one or more format files, (b) determine if the first format file stored in the memory is older than the second format file, (c) identify a destination for a notification based on document information associated with the first format file, and (d) provide the notification to the destination if the first format file is older than the second format file, the notification indicating the first format file as being old.

Abstract: A heating device according to an embodiment generally includes heat generating parts and temperature sensors. The heat generating parts are divided into a plurality of blocks, so that the plurality of heat generating parts are arranged with a gap therebetween on a substrate in each block. With a temperature detection region provided in each block, the temperature sensors are provided corresponding to the heat generating parts with the gaps being avoided. The temperatures of the heat generating parts are detected by the temperature sensors that are less in number than the plurality of heat generating parts.

Abstract: A liquid supply device includes a first conduit, a second conduit, one or more pumps, a heater, a filter, and a bypass conduit. The first conduit is connected to an upstream side of a liquid discharge head. The second conduit is connected to a downstream side of the liquid discharge head. The liquid is supplied through the first conduit to the liquid discharge head and recovered from the liquid discharge head through the second conduit. The heater is provided along the first conduit. The filter is provided in the first conduit on a downstream side of the heater. The bypass conduit is connected between a portion of the first conduit upstream with respect to the filter and a portion of the second conduit.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus has a main body with an insertion slot for a sheet cassette. The sheet cassette has a moveable pin member. A housing in the main body includes a lever partially rotatable about a first axis. The lever has a pin engagement portion at an end of the lever that rotates about a second axis and has an engagement groove into which the pin member can be inserted from a first pin engagement position and a second pin engagement position when the lever has rotated about the first axis. An elastic member applies a force to the lever to rotate the lever toward the insertion direction of the cassette. The housing includes a chassis having a guide groove extending along the insertion direction. The guide groove includes an inclining portion that is inclined with respect to the insertion direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic process assembly, a processor, and a memory. The electrophotographic process assembly is configured to transfer a toner image formed on a photoconductive body rotating around an axis extending in a main scanning direction onto a sheet conveyed in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. The processor and memory are configured to store a print amount in a plurality of divided sections corresponding to the main scanning direction, acquire the print amount from a monitoring section in one or more monitoring target groupings corresponding to a predetermined section included in the plurality of divided sections, calculate an integrated print amount in the monitoring section, and output information relating to the monitoring target grouping corresponding to the integrated print amount in the monitoring section.

Abstract: A checkout apparatus includes a memory that stores first information about one or more commodities registered in a registration process, a first interface configured to acquire an image of a predetermined region where registered commodities are to be placed, and a processor configured to identify commodities in the image acquired via the first interface by object recognition, determine whether each of the identified commodities is in the first information stored in the memory, and if one of the identified commodities is not in the first information, output an error signal.

Abstract: A printer for printing on a long sheet includes a print data divider and a verification processor. The print data divider outputs a plurality of segments of divided print data divided at the boundary of areas from standard print data containing print contents in each of the areas obtained by dividing a standard sheet into a plurality of the areas. The verification processor compares the size of the long sheet with the size of the area included in the standard sheet and rotates the divided print data if it is determined from a result of the comparison that the rotation is necessary.