Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming unit, an acquisition unit, first and second determination units, and a controller. The image forming unit forms an image using toner from a toner cartridge. The acquisition unit acquires identification information from the toner cartridge. The first determination unit determines whether the toner cartridge satisfies a first condition, based on the identification information. The second determination unit determines whether a second condition is satisfied if a determination result of the first determination unit indicates that the toner cartridge does not satisfy the first condition. The controller enables the image forming unit to form an image, if the determination result of the first determination unit indicates that the toner cartridge satisfies a predetermined condition or that the toner cartridge does not satisfy the predetermined condition and if a determination result of the second determination unit indicates that the second condition is satisfied.

Abstract: A heating apparatus for use in an image processing apparatus includes a heat roller configured to apply heat to a transported sheet. A heating unit provided in the heat roller heats the heat roller. A controller controls a current applied from an alternating current (AC) power supply to the heating unit. The current is supplied to the heating unit according a predetermined control pattern including a plurality of steps during each of which the current flows or does not flow through the heating unit depending on a duty ratio of the heating unit. The predetermined control pattern is repeated in accordance with a polarity equalization control so that a polarity ratio of a timing in which a current of positive polarity flows through the heating unit and a timing in which a current of negative polarity flows through the heating unit is 1.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a heat roller configured to heat a sheet with heat generated by a plurality of heat generating elements and a controller configured to control a current supplied to the heat generating elements from an AC power supply. The controller controls a timing at which the current flows or does not flow to the heat generating elements according to a first set of control parameters, such that a total of a first sum of estimated absolute value magnitudes of a positive polarity current flowing to the heat generating elements during one duty cycle and a second sum of estimated absolute value magnitudes of a negative polarity current flowing to the heat generating elements during the one duty cycle, is lower when the heat generating elements are controlled according to the first set relative when the heat generating elements are controlled according to other sets.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a heat roller configured to heat a sheet with heat generated by a plurality of heat generating elements and a controller configured to control a current supplied to the heat generating elements from an AC power supply. The controller controls a timing at which the current flows or does not flow to the heat generating elements according to a first set of control parameters, such that a total of a first sum of estimated absolute value magnitudes of a positive polarity current flowing to the heat generating elements during one duty cycle and a second sum of estimated absolute value magnitudes of a negative polarity current flowing to the heat generating elements during the one duty cycle, is lower when the heat generating elements are controlled according to the first set relative when the heat generating elements are controlled according to other sets.

Abstract: A first control section controls the several image forming sections to form first patterns including a first straight line and a second straight line inclined to a first angle against the first straight line. A first adjustment section adjusts an operating condition of the one or more sub-forming sections to minimize the deviation of the image formation positions of the one or more sub-forming sections with respect to the image formation position by the main forming section. A second control section controls the several image forming sections to form second patterns including a third straight line and a fourth straight line inclined to a second angle larger than the first angle against the third straight line. A second adjustment section adjusts an operating condition of the one or more sub-forming sections to minimize the difference in the magnification between the main forming and the one or more sub-forming sections.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus has an image forming unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, a first conveying path, a second conveying path, and a control unit. The image forming unit forms a toner image. The control unit controls execution of a print-less sheet passing processing in which, in a state where a toner image forming operation of the image forming unit is stopped, the first conveying path and the second conveying path convey a sheet to the transfer unit again through the transfer unit and the fixing unit. The control unit controls the execution of the toner image forming operation to the sheet subjected to the print-less sheet passing processing.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus has an image forming unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, a first conveying path, a second conveying path, and a control unit. The image forming unit forms a toner image. The control unit controls execution of a print-less sheet passing processing in which, in a state where a toner image forming operation of the image forming unit is stopped, the first conveying path and the second conveying path convey a sheet to the transfer unit again through the transfer unit and the fixing unit. The control unit controls the execution of the toner image forming operation to the sheet subjected to the print-less sheet passing processing.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a laser controller generates a signal which corresponds to an output signal of a laser beam detection sensor before detecting an abnormality, in which the abnormality is detected, in a pseudo manner, on the basis of an output signal of a laser beam detection sensor in which the abnormality is not detected. In addition, the laser controller controls a laser unit which corresponds to the laser beam detection sensor in which the abnormality is detected, according to the generated signal.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a storage unit including unique information identify to an apparatus main unit; a setting unit including setting information of the apparatus main unit instead of the unique information; a pattern addition unit that adds an addition pattern based on a unique pattern generated from the unique information or a setting pattern generated from the setting information to image data that is input to the apparatus main unit; an image formation unit that forms a visual image of the image data and an addition image of the addition pattern which is hardly recognized by eyes on a recording medium; and a control unit that changes the addition pattern formed by the image formation unit from the unique pattern to the setting pattern when an error depending on the unique information occurs.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that includes: a laser beam source; plural photoconductive members corresponding to plural colors; a modulation drive unit for performing pulse width modulation for each of colors by an image clock having a cycle of a pixel length,; a single piece of polygon mirror whose reflection surfaces are disposed in a rotation direction thereof with a plurality of different inclination angles with colors; a beam detector that is disposed adjacent to the photoconductive member; and an image clock/data switching unit configured to generate the image clock of a frequency varying with the colors for making the same a color-based image magnification, and switch the image clocks generated for each of the colors in synchronization with a detection signal coming from the beam detector.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a laser controller generates a signal which corresponds to an output signal of a laser beam detection sensor before detecting an abnormality, in which the abnormality is detected, in a pseudo manner, on the basis of an output signal of a laser beam detection sensor in which the abnormality is not detected. In addition, the laser controller controls a laser unit which corresponds to the laser beam detection sensor in which the abnormality is detected, according to the generated signal.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a storage unit including unique information identify to an apparatus main unit; a setting unit including setting information of the apparatus main unit instead of the unique information; a pattern addition unit that adds an addition pattern based on a unique pattern generated from the unique information or a setting pattern generated from the setting information to image data that is input to the apparatus main unit; an image formation unit that forms a visual image of the image data and an addition image of the addition pattern which is hardly recognized by eyes on a recording medium; and a control unit that changes the addition pattern formed by the image formation unit from the unique pattern to the setting pattern when an error depending on the unique information occurs.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes: a code storing section configured to store a valid authentication code; a history storing section configured to store peculiar information of a used replacement component; a code determining section configured to determine, when an unused replacement component is replaced, whether a permission authentication code is valid; and a cartridge determining section configured to determine whether the unused replacement component is a regular replacement component.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that includes: a laser beam source; plural photoconductive members corresponding to plural colors; a modulation drive unit for performing pulse width modulation for each of colors by an image clock having a cycle of a pixel length; a single piece of polygon mirror whose reflection surfaces are disposed in a rotation direction thereof with a plurality of different inclination angles with colors; a beam detector that is disposed adjacent to the photoconductive member; and an image clock/data switching unit configured to generate the image clock of a frequency varying with the colors for making the same a color-based image magnification, and switch the image clocks generated for each of the colors in synchronization with a detection signal coming from the beam detector.

Abstract: If a determination result obtained using software in a scanner CPU is not identical to a determination result obtained using hardware in a determination section, error processing is performed to prevent image forming of a particular document.

Abstract: When the present image forming apparatus is used as a network scanner configured to read a document and forward corresponding image data to a network, delay memories M, C, K allow RGB image data supplied from the scanner to be delayed by an equal time. A specific document detecting section decides whether or not any document image read by the scanner is a specific document and, if it is a specific document, provides a specific document detection signal SOD to a selector. In response to this signal, the selector selects mask data from a mask data retaining section in place of the RGB image data and outputs the mask data. Thus, it is possible to prevent the specific document image data from being transmitted through the network to an external device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention installs electrodes in the neighborhood of a laser beam emitting window of a laser optical unit (hereinafter, abbreviated to LSU), applies a bias voltage to the electrodes, and forcibly adheres toner, developer, and dust floating in a machine body to the electrodes instead of the laser beam emitting window.

Abstract: If a determination result obtained using software in a scanner CPU is not identical to a determination result obtained using hardware in a determination section, error processing is performed to prevent image forming of a particular document.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms an image on an image forming medium and can form a specific hidden pattern for specifying a body of an apparatus at a predetermined position of the medium. A hidden pattern addition mechanism uses both a software control signal which is generated by software and a hardware control signal which is generated by hardware and must be used for forming the image on the medium as control signals for adding the specific hidden pattern when the specific hidden pattern is added to a specific position of the medium to form the image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention installs electrodes in the neighborhood of a laser beam emitting window of a laser optical unit (hereinafter, abbreviated to LSU), applies a bias voltage to the electrodes, and forcibly adheres toner, developer, and dust floating in a machine body to the electrodes instead of the laser beam emitting window.