Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a conveyance unit, a detection unit, and a determination unit. The conveyance unit conveys a sheet. The detection unit detects a sound that emanates when the conveyance unit operates. The determination unit performs state determination. In a case where a volume of a sound detected by the detection unit is not higher than or equal to a predetermined sound volume, the determination unit determines that the conveyance unit is not normally operating. In a case where the detected sound volume is higher than or equal to the predetermined sound volume, the determination unit determines that the conveyance unit is normally operating.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer member, a fixing unit, a double-side feeding path through which the sheet, performed with image formation on a first surface thereof and passed through the fixing unit; is fed to transfer the toner image onto a second surface thereof, a first feeding unit to feed the sheet in the double-side feeding path and a second feeding unit to feed the sheet fed by the first feeding unit toward the transfer member. A controller selects a first double-side feeding control in which the sheet is fed by the second feeding unit or a second double-side feeding control in which the sheet is fed by the first feeding unit and the second feeding unit in a case in which the double-side printing is performed in the second mode.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a development member, an intermediate transfer belt, a transfer member, a transfer voltage, a density detection unit, a temperature detection unit, and a control unit. The development member forms a toner image on a surface of the photosensitive drum, which the transfer member transfers to the intermediate transfer belt. The density detection unit detects an information related to a density of the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt. The control unit controls a driving speed of the intermediate transfer belt. In a detection operation in which the density detection unit detects the information related to the density of the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt in a state where the transfer voltage is applied to the transfer member, the control unit controls the driving speed based on an ambient temperature detected by the temperature detection unit.

Abstract: An article sorting system includes: a sorting container support apparatus including a plurality of sorting container support units; a plurality of sorting containers supported by the sorting container support units; an automatic sorting apparatus that is arranged adjacent to the sorting container support apparatus and configured to automatically sort a plurality of articles into a plurality of articles; a work area that is set up adjacent to the sorting container support apparatus on a side opposite to the automatic sorting apparatus and in which an operator performs a sorting operation to sort articles into the plurality of sorting containers supported by the sorting container support units; and an operation display apparatus. The operation display apparatus displays, toward the work area, operation instruction-related information on each of the plurality of sorting container support units or each of the plurality of sorting containers.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer member, a fixing unit, a double-side feeding path through which the sheet, performed with image formation on a first surface thereof and passed through the fixing unit; is fed to transfer the toner image onto a second surface thereof, a first feeding unit to feed the sheet in the double-side feeding path and a second feeding unit to feed the sheet fed by the first feeding unit toward the transfer member. A controller selects a first double-side feeding control in which the sheet is fed by the second feeding unit or a second double-side feeding control in which the sheet is fed by the first feeding unit and the second feeding unit in a case in which the double-side printing is performed in the second mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an accommodating unit that accommodates recording materials and a feeding unit that feeds an accommodated recording material, detects a fed recording material, and measures time from a predetermined timing until a recording material is detected. An information processing apparatus receives measured time data from the image forming apparatus, classifies the received plurality of time data into a first group and a second group in accordance with a length of time, selects a group for predicting a remaining life time of the feeding unit from the classified first group and second group, and predicts a remaining life time of the feeding unit using time data included in the selected group.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an accommodating unit that accommodates recording materials and a feeding unit that feeds an accommodated recording material, detects a fed recording material, and measures time from a predetermined timing until a recording material is detected. An information processing apparatus receives measured time data from the image forming apparatus, classifies the received plurality of time data into a first group and a second group in accordance with a length of time, selects a group for predicting a remaining life time of the feeding unit from the classified first group and second group, and predicts a remaining life time of the feeding unit using time data included in the selected group.

Abstract: An article sorting system includes: a sorting container support apparatus including a plurality of sorting container support units; a plurality of sorting containers supported by the sorting container support units; an automatic sorting apparatus that is arranged adjacent to the sorting container support apparatus and configured to automatically sort a plurality of articles into a plurality of articles; a work area that is set up adjacent to the sorting container support apparatus on a side opposite to the automatic sorting apparatus and in which an operator performs a sorting operation to sort articles into the plurality of sorting containers supported by the sorting container support units; and an operation display apparatus. The operation display apparatus displays, toward the work area, operation instruction-related information on each of the plurality of sorting container support units or each of the plurality of sorting containers.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an accommodating unit that accommodates recording materials and a feeding unit that feeds an accommodated recording material, detects a fed recording material, and measures time from a predetermined timing until a recording material is detected. An information processing apparatus receives measured time data from the image forming apparatus, classifies the received plurality of time data into a first group and a second group in accordance with a length of time, selects a group for predicting a remaining life time of the feeding unit from the classified first group and second group, and predicts a remaining life time of the feeding unit using time data included in the selected group.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an accommodating unit that accommodates recording materials and a feeding unit that feeds an accommodated recording material, detects a fed recording material, and measures time from a predetermined timing until a recording material is detected. An information processing apparatus receives measured time data from the image forming apparatus, classifies the received plurality of time data into a first group and a second group in accordance with a length of time, selects a group for predicting a remaining life time of the feeding unit from the classified first group and second group, and predicts a remaining life time of the feeding unit using time data included in the selected group.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a conveyance unit, a detection unit, and a determination unit. The conveyance unit conveys a sheet. The detection unit detects a sound that emanates when the conveyance unit operates. The determination unit performs state determination. In a case where a volume of a sound detected by the detection unit is not higher than or equal to a predetermined sound volume, the determination unit determines that the conveyance unit is not normally operating. In a case where the detected sound volume is higher than or equal to the predetermined sound volume, the determination unit determines that the conveyance unit is normally operating.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image formation unit, a detection unit, a storage unit, and a control unit. When the detection unit outputs a second output value when a second recording material, which is different from a first recording material is detected, in a state where the storage unit stores a first output value output by the detection unit upon detection of the first recording material, the control unit controls an image forming condition based on at least the first output value if a differential value between the first output value and the second output value is smaller than a predetermined threshold value and controls the image forming condition based on the second output value without using the first output value if the differential value is greater than the predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image formation unit, a detection unit, a storage unit, and a control unit. When the detection unit outputs a second output value when a second recording material, which is different from a first recording material is detected, in a state where the storage unit stores a first output value output by the detection unit upon detection of the first recording material, the control unit controls an image forming condition based on at least the first output value if a differential value between the first output value and the second output value is smaller than a predetermined threshold value and controls the image forming condition based on the second output value without using the first output value if the differential value is greater than the predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the invention(s) has the following feature(s): When first and second recording materials have a first length and a sum of the first length and an interval is less than a distance from a regulation position, where an accommodation unit regulates a leading edge of a recording material, to a second position, a feeding unit feeds a second recording material in accordance with a timing in which a first detecting unit detects the first recording material. When the first and second recording materials have a second length that is longer than the first length and a sum of the second length and the interval is greater than or equal to the distance from the regulation position to the second position, the feeding unit feeds the second recording material in accordance with a timing in which the second detecting unit detects the first recording material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the invention(s) has the following feature(s): When first and second recording materials have a first length and a sum of the first length and an interval is less than a distance from a regulation position, where an accommodation unit regulates a leading edge of a recording material, to a second position, a feeding unit feeds a second recording material in accordance with a timing in which a first detecting unit detects the first recording material. When the first and second recording materials have a second length that is longer than the first length and a sum of the second length and the interval is greater than or equal to the distance from the regulation position to the second position, the feeding unit feeds the second recording material in accordance with a timing in which the second detecting unit detects the first recording material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the invention(s) has the following feature(s): When first and second recording materials have a first length and a sum of the first length and an interval is less than a distance from a regulation position, where an accommodation unit regulates a leading edge of a recording material, to a second position, a feeding unit feeds a second recording material in accordance with a timing in which a first detecting unit detects the first recording material. When the first and second recording materials have a second length that is longer than the first length and a sum of the second length and the interval is greater than or equal to the distance from the regulation position to the second position, the feeding unit feeds the second recording material in accordance with a timing in which the second detecting unit detects the first recording material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image formation unit, a detection unit, a storage unit, and a control unit. When the detection unit outputs a second output value when a second recording material, which is different from a first recording material is detected, in a state where the storage unit stores a first output value output by the detection unit upon detection of the first recording material, the control unit controls an image forming condition based on at least the first output value if a differential value between the first output value and the second output value is smaller than a predetermined threshold value and controls the image forming condition based on the second output value without using the first output value if the differential value is greater than the predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the invention(s) has the following feature(s): When first and second recording materials have a first length and a sum of the first length and an interval is less than a distance from a regulation position, where an accommodation unit regulates a leading edge of a recording material, to a second position, a feeding unit feeds a second recording material in accordance with a timing in which a first detecting unit detects the first recording material. When the first and second recording materials have a second length that is longer than the first length and a sum of the second length and the interval is greater than or equal to the distance from the regulation position to the second position, the feeding unit feeds the second recording material in accordance with a timing in which the second detecting unit detects the first recording material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which a first toner image to be transferred to a recording medium through secondary transfer is formed on an intermediate transfer member and a second toner image not to be transferred to the recording medium through secondary transfer is formed on the intermediate transfer member after the first toner image has been formed. When the first toner image and the second toner image are formed, a position on the intermediate transfer member at which the second toner image is formed is controlled in accordance with a conveying direction length of the recording medium, to which the first toner image is transferred through secondary transfer, measured by using a detection unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a detachably-mounted cartridge including a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer and an operation member, a remaining amount detector for detecting a remaining amount of developer in the developer accommodating portion, an operation amount detector for detecting a cumulative operation amount of the operation member, and a setting device for setting timing of subsequent remaining amount detection of the remaining amount detector. The remaining amount detector provides a remaining amount ratio of the developer remainder to a maximum accommodation capacity of the developer accommodating portion, and the operation amount detector provides an operation amount ratio of a remaining operation amount until the end of the service life from the detection of the cumulative operation amount to a total operation amount until the end of the service life from an initial state of the operation member.