Abstract: An image forming apparatus having an accepting unit; a printing unit, which performs a high-speed double-sided print processing operation to print an image on a second recording medium during a period between when a first side of a first recording medium is printed and when a second side of the first recording medium is printed; an adjustment unit, which performs an image quality adjustment; a determination unit that determines whether adjustment execution conditions will be fulfilled during performance of the high-speed double-sided print processing operation before the high-speed double-sided print processing operation is initiated; and a control unit, which controls the adjustment unit to perform the image quality adjustment before initiation of the high-speed double-sided print processing operation, when the determination unit determines that the adjustment execution conditions will be fulfilled.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an image data generating unit configured to convert a tone of an input value which indicates a density of a pixel by using a predetermined dither matrix and generate image data. The image forming apparatus further comprises a drive source and a gear configured to transmit a drive force from the drive source to an image carrier. The dither matrix includes a plurality of sub-matrixes arranged in a predetermined rule and a dot in each of the plurality of the sub-matrixes grows from a corresponding original point. The image forming apparatus satisfies a relation of (1) a?0.08 mm and b/a<0.80, or (2) a<0.08 mm and b/a>1.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a generation unit configured to generate first print data and second print data based on input print data, a printing unit configured to generate first image data by executing image processing on the first print data generated by the generation unit and to print the generated first image data on a sheet, a transmission unit configured to transmit the second print data generated by the generation unit to another printing apparatus connected to the printing apparatus, and a conveyance unit configured, in order to print the second print data transmitted by the transmission unit, to convey the sheet having the first image data printed thereon by the printing unit to the another printing apparatus.

Abstract: Correction processing on image data is performed in a short time. An image processing apparatus supplies image data to a recording apparatus configured to convey a recording medium in a direction intersecting a direction in which recording elements are arranged. The image processing apparatus includes: tables containing correction information for each group into which the recording elements are divided, the correction information being used to correct values of multi-valued data; a horizontal/vertical conversion unit configured to convert multi-valued data in raster format into column format; a correction unit configured to correct multi-valued data belonging to a group by using correction information stored in a table corresponding to that group; a vertical/horizontal conversion unit configured to convert the multi-valued data in column form into raster format; and an output unit configured to output the data in raster format converted by the vertical/horizontal conversion unit to the recording apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus stores a settings keyword, receives a Probe message including a search keyword from a client apparatus via a network, retrieves the search keyword from the Probe message, determines whether or not the search keyword from the Probe message matches the stored settings keyword, and transmits a ProbeMatch message to the client apparatus if the search keyword from the Probe message matches the stored settings keyword. Further, the image forming apparatus stores setting data, searches for another image forming apparatus having a function of transmitting the setting data based on a keyword search using WS-Discovery, requests the setting data from the specified another image forming apparatus, generates new setting data based on the setting data received from the another image forming apparatus, and stores the new setting data.

Abstract: When it is set by a user to use a nearline finisher with priority, if a print job that uses an inline finisher is to be processed, the print job using the inline finisher is divided into a print job to be executed with the inline finisher and a print job to be executed with the nearline finisher. In contrast, when it is set by a user to use the inline finisher with priority, if a print job that uses the nearline finisher is to be processed, a portion to be executed with the inline finisher and a portion to be executed with the nearline finisher are aggregated, thereby converting the print job to a print job for the inline finisher.

Abstract: A printer is provided that includes a printing unit, a detector that outputs a detection signal corresponding to one of a remaining amount of coloring agent and a consumed amount of coloring agent, and a controller configured to perform a switching process. In the switching process, when determining, based on the detection signal, that a usable amount of coloring agent is more than a first reference value, the controller controls the printing unit to perform a normal printing operation to print an original image based on image data. Meanwhile, in the switching process, when determining, based on the detection signal, that the usable amount of coloring agent is equal to or less than the first reference value, the controller controls the printing unit to perform a show-through cancellation printing operation to print an image that is formed by removing an image recognized as a show-through image from the original image.

Abstract: A system, method, and printer controller software for reducing printer colorant usage by using printer controller software which controls the deposition by the printer of the printer colorant on the printable medium in response to selected print image quality and printer colorant reduction criteria, as well as identifying printer colorant deposition characteristics of the printable medium, identifying characteristics of the printer, and identifying characteristics of the printer colorant.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a carrier; a forming unit that forms a pattern on the carrier; a correcting unit that executes a plurality of correction processes for image formation by measuring the pattern formed on the carrier by the forming unit; and an issuing unit that has issuing conditions corresponding to the correction processes and issues execution requests indicating execution timings of the correction processes satisfying the issuing conditions, wherein the correcting unit executes only one correction process, of which the execution request is issued, when another correction process is not issued at the execution timing of the one correction process, and wherein the correcting unit executes the one correction process and the another correction process in a prescribed order regardless of the execution timings indicated by the execution requests when the another correction process is issued at the execution timing of the one correction process.

Abstract: An image processing unit includes a first image processing unit that processes image data from a reading unit and a second image processing unit that processes image data from either one of the first image processing unit and a storing unit. A control unit determines a processing to be performed on the image data by the second image processing unit depending on a result of a processing performed on the image data by the first image processing unit, and selects an image processing route depending on a processing to be performed on the image data by the second image processing unit.

Abstract: In an image-reading device, when the reading unit generates the set of image data, the top side is generated at first and the bottom side is generated subsequently to the top side. The scanned image includes a document image corresponding to the document. The specifying unit, when the reading unit scans and reads a part of the document and generates a part of the set of image data including a part of the document image, specifies a target vertex that is positioned at topmost among at least one vertex of the part of document image. The estimating unit defines a reference position in the scanned image corresponding to a center of the conveying path in the width direction, and estimates a size of the document based on a length in the second direction between the target vertex and the reference position.

Abstract: An image forming system includes one or more image forming apparatuses and a management apparatus. The management apparatus includes: a software component retention part configured to retain one or more software components in a storage unit, the software components each being configured to generate output format data in a data format interpretable by a printer engine of a corresponding one or more of the image forming apparatuses from application data; a determination part configured to determine, based on the specified image forming apparatus, one of the software components to be used to generate the output format data corresponding to the specified image forming apparatus; and a transmission part configured to transmit the generated output format data to the specified image forming apparatus. The specified image forming apparatus includes an image forming part to form a predetermined image on an image forming medium based on the transmitted output format data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for achieving boundary localization in a scanning apparatus, as well as to a scanning apparatus, which is capable of achieving intelligent judgement on boundary localization of the scanned file by means of this method, through an effective combination of optical, electronical and mechanical techniques. Said method comprises: a regular ribbon, a sensor module capable of detecting the ribbon, and the file to be scanned is placed between the ribbon and the sensor module; said sensor module first scans the ribbon information and stores it in the storage module of the scanning apparatus; said file to be scanned is placed between the sensor module and the ribbon, through the measured ribbon portion covered by the file to be scanned, the sensor is capable of deriving the boundary position of the file to be scanned by means of contrast measurement. With the scanning apparatus capable of achieving boundary localization.

Abstract: When an image forming apparatus sequentially reads the document images of a plurality of pages, forms images on sheets and outputs the sheets (aggregation mode and similar), the image forming apparatus compares, for partial data of the data for a plurality of pages generated by a reading device, coded partial data after first image processing with coded partial data after second image processing. If the coded partial data after first image processing is smaller, the coded data for the plurality of pages after first image processing is caused to be stored in a compressed data storage portion. Then, a first coding/decoding portion is caused to read the stored data, a second image processing portion and similar are caused to perform processing of the data, and a printer is caused to form images on sheets and output the sheets.

Abstract: An image forming system includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses, a management apparatus configured to manage and operate the image forming system, and a plurality of communication control apparatuses each configured to control data communication between the management apparatus and a corresponding image forming apparatus, wherein the management apparatus includes a software component storing unit configured to store one or more software components in a predetermined storage area of a storage device of the management apparatus, the one or more software components being each configured to generate print data recognizable by a corresponding image forming apparatus and a selecting unit configured to select a software component from the one or more software components in response to the print request, the selected software component being used to generate print data corresponding to the image forming apparatus selected as a printing apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image communication apparatus that allows e-mail transmission with excellent versatility. Based on a result of detection provided by a document detecting section (3) for detecting the presence or absence of a document, it is determined whether or not an e-mail is transmitted with use of an attachment file by an e-mail transmitting section (7). For example, when the presence of a document is detected by the document detecting section (3), a control section (2) acts to create an e-mail with document image data read by a reading section (4) in attachment-file form, and to transmit the created e-mail. When the absence of a document is detected by the document detecting section (3), the control section acts to create an e-mail without using an attachment file of image data, and to transmit the created e-mail.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a sheet feed tray, a sheet feed roller, an image recording unit, an output unit, a first conveying unit configured to convey a recording medium from the sheet feed tray to the output unit via the image recording unit, and a second conveying unit configured to return the recording medium, which has conveyed via the image recording unit, to the sheet feed tray. The image recording medium further includes an image memory configured to store image data to be recorded by the image recording unit and a controller configured to control the sheet feed roller, the image recording unit, the first conveying unit, and the second conveying unit to record the image on the recording medium. The controller is configured to control the sheet feed roller to start feeding a following recording medium subsequent to a preceding recording medium fed by the sheet feed roller irrespective of whether or not the image data for the following recording medium is stored in the image memory.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an acquiring unit configured to acquire a first amount of a transparent toner for use in 2-pass printing in which a color toner is fixed on a recording medium and then the transparent toner is fixed, a change-amount acquiring unit configured to acquire a first amount of change in lightness between an image after the color toner is fixed to the recording medium and an image after the 2-pass printing is performed on the recording medium using the first amount of the transparent toner, and a setting unit configured to set a second amount of the transparent toner for use in 1-pass printing such that a difference between the first amount of change in lightness and a second amount of change in lightness is equal to or smaller than a threshold, the second amount of change in lightness being an amount of change in lightness between the image after the color toner is fixed to the recording medium and a 1-pass printing image after the color toner and the second amount of the trans

Abstract: A user interface which makes it possible to easily and more accurately configure a user mode. The user interface has an application mode configuration screen for configuring settings for an application mode when executing a job and a user mode configuration screen for configuring settings for a user mode before executing the job. When the user mode configuration screen is to be displayed, it is determined whether or not the application mode configuration screen is being displayed. When it is determined that the application mode configuration screen is being displayed, a liquid crystal display displays user mode items related to settings to be configured for the application mode on the application mode configuration screen being displayed.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus that feeds a document over a reading glass and optically reads an image of the document at a reading position. A rotary brush type cleaner is located above the reading glass to face the reading position. The cleaner cleans the reading glass while rotating downstream in a document feeding direction. In accordance with a selected reading mode, the frequency of cleaning operations performed by the cleaner, and the rotation speed and the number of rotations of the cleaner are changed.