Abstract: A storage unit stores therein registered data about image forming devices connected to each other via a network. An acquisition unit refers to the registered data to acquire the number of the image forming devices. A consumption ratio monitor unit monitors a consumption ratio of consumables in at least one of the image forming devices. A prediction unit predicts a predicted time for replenishment or replacement of consumables for each image forming device monitored by the consumption rate monitor, based on the consumption ratio of consumables thereof, and corrects the predicted time based on comparison between a number that the acquisition unit has acquired and another number that the acquisition unit previously acquired. A requisition unit issues a request for replenishment or replacement of consumables at the predicted time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a printing unit configured to print at a plurality of linear velocities; an image preparing time determination unit configured to determine a print image preparing time necessary for developing print data to a print image to be printed by the printing unit; a linear velocity determination unit configured to determine the linear velocity according to the print image preparing time determined by the image preparing time determination unit; and an engine control unit configured to operate the printing unit at the linear velocity determined by the linear velocity determination unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus performs a serviceman call detection mode during its idling time. In this time, a control portion controls upper and lower pressuring rollers to be clamped, controls a driving motor, and controls a change-over mechanism to switch a braking motor off. A torque detection portion detects a torque value Y of the driving motor at this time. The control portion then controls the upper and lower pressuring rollers to be clamped, controls the driving motor, and controls the change-over mechanism to switch the braking motor on. The torque detection portion detects a torque value Z of the driving motor at this time. The control portion subtracts the torque value Y from the torque value Z to calculate a difference value. The control portion determines that the braking motor is broken down when the difference value does not exceed the threshold value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a printing unit configured to print at a plurality of linear velocities; an image preparing time determination unit configured to determine a print image preparing time necessary for developing print data to a print image to be printed by the printing unit; a linear velocity determination unit configured to determine the linear velocity according to the print image preparing time determined by the image preparing time determination unit; and an engine control unit configured to operate the printing unit at the linear velocity determined by the linear velocity determination unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus performs a serviceman call detection mode during its idling time. In this time, a control portion controls upper and lower pressuring rollers to be clamped, controls a driving motor, and controls a change-over mechanism to switch a braking motor off. A torque detection portion detects a torque value Y of the driving motor at this time. The control portion then controls the upper and lower pressuring rollers to be clamped, controls the driving motor, and controls the change-over mechanism to switch the braking motor on. The torque detection portion detects a torque value Z of the driving motor at this time. The control portion subtracts the torque value Y from the torque value Z to calculate a difference value. The control portion determines that the breaking motor is broken down when the difference value does not exceed the threshold value.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit with a plurality of developing devices, a sheet transport unit, a sheet position measurement unit that measures a position of the sheet during the transport in a direction crossing a sheet passage, a displacement correction unit that moves the sheet during the transport in the sheet-passage crossing direction to correct a displacement of the sheet, and a control unit that carries out the displacement correction for the sheet by the displacement correction unit for the measured sheet depending on the measurement result by the sheet position measurement unit if the developing device located on a upstream side is used, and carries out position correction for an image and reduces an interval of the image formation for each sheet if the developing device located on the upstream side is not used.

Abstract: An image forming system includes a first image forming apparatus and a second image forming apparatus, the first image forming apparatus including: a first image forming section which performs image formation on a sheet; a first fixing section which performs image fixation on the sheet on which the first image forming section performs the image formation; and a first control section which makes, when the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus perform the image formation and the image fixation on different sides of a sheet to perform double-sided printing, thereby performing tandem outputting, a tandem-outputting target fixing temperature of the first fixing section lower than a first fiducial temperature which is a non-tandem-outputting target fixing temperature of the first fixing section for when the first image forming performs the image formation and the image fixation alone.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a patch image generation unit which generates a patch image for image density detection disposed between toner images, and a patch density sensor which detects a density of the patch image. In order to prevent the output quality of a printed image from varying with the type of paper use, a correction unit performs correction processing to match a detected density and a target density by comparing the detected density of the patch image detected by the patch density sensor and the target density of the patch image which is set in advance, a toner deposit control unit controls a toner deposit when the image forming unit forms an image based upon image data and when the patch image generation unit generates the patch image, and a paper interval control unit controls an interval between consecutive papers.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit with a plurality of developing devices, a sheet transport unit, a sheet position measurement unit that measures a position of the sheet during the transport in a direction crossing a sheet passage, a displacement correction unit that moves the sheet during the transport in the sheet-passage crossing direction to correct a displacement of the sheet, and a control unit that carries out the displacement correction for the sheet by the displacement correction unit for the measured sheet depending on the measurement result by the sheet position measurement unit if the developing device located on a upstream side is used, and carries out position correction for an image and reduces an interval of the image formation for each sheet if the developing device located on the upstream side is not used.

Abstract: An image forming device can operate in a print mode, a first power saving mode, and a second power saving mode. In the print mode, a first circuit having a unit to acquire the state of the image forming device and a second circuit are both activated. In the first power saving mode, neither the first circuit nor the second circuit is activated. In the second power saving mode, only the first circuit is activated. When a secure print instruction is received in the first power saving mode, the operation mode is switched to the second power saving mode. When the identity of the user is authenticated in the second power saving mode, the operation mode is switched to the print mode. Accordingly, it is possible to provide the image forming device which can restrict power consumption and also reduce the time required for printing out after the identity authentication.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit which performs image forming on a paper, an image carrier on which a toner image is formed by the image forming unit, a patch image generation unit which generates a patch image for image density detection so as to be disposed between toner images, a patch density sensor which detects a density of the patch image, a correction unit which performs correction processing to match a detected density and an aimed density by comparing the detected density of the patch image detected by the patch density sensor and the aimed density of the patch image which is set in advance, a toner deposit control unit which controls a toner deposit when the image forming unit performs image forming, and a paper interval control unit which control an interval between consecutive papers.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming system including a first image forming apparatus and a second image forming apparatus, the first image forming apparatus including: a first image forming section which performs image formation on a sheet; a first fixing section which performs image fixation on the sheet on which the first image forming section performs the image formation; and a first control section which makes, when the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus perform the image formation and the image fixation on different sides of a sheet to perform double-sided printing, thereby performing tandem outputting, a tandem-outputting target fixing temperature of the first fixing section lower than a first fudicial temperature which is a non-tandem-outputting target fixing temperature of the first fixing section for when the first image forming performs the image formation and the image fixation alone.

Abstract: Provides is an image forming system, comprising an image forming device and an information processing device connected to the image forming device, further comprising a function-detecting unit detecting that a second function is added to the image forming device having a first function, and a notification unit notifying the user using the first function of the fact that the second function is added when addition thereof is detected by the function-detecting unit.

Abstract: In a copier having an image data converter that sets the C density, the M density and the Y density to a density obtained by multiplying the density of black in the RGB system by a CMY mixture ratio and sets the K density to a density obtained by multiplying the density of black by a K mixture ratio when black in the RGB system is converted into the CMYK system, the image data converter sets the K mixture ratio to a K reference mixture ratio when TK<PHK, and sets the K mixture ratio to a K high mixture ratio that is higher than the K reference mixture ratio when TK?PHK. Here, TK is a K toner amount of consumption insufficiency which is a K toner amount to be consumed to prevent toner deterioration at the driving amount of the developing unit, and PHK is a K high predetermined value.

Abstract: An image forming device can operate in a print mode, a first power saving mode, and a second power saving mode. In the print mode, a first circuit having a unit to acquire the state of the image forming device and a second circuit are both activated. In the first power saving mode, neither the first circuit nor the second circuit is activated. In the second power saving mode, only the first circuit is activated. When a secure print instruction is received in the first power saving mode, the operation mode is switched to the second power saving mode. When the identity of the user is authenticated in the second power saving mode, the operation mode is switched to the print mode. Accordingly, it is possible to provide the image forming device which can restrict power consumption and also reduce the time required for printing out after the identity authentication.

Abstract: The present invention realizes an image forming system wherein an efficient cleaning of plural fixing apparatuses by using a blank sheet is attained, the system includes: an image forming section; a sheet feeding apparatus; a plurality of fixing apparatuses; a temperature control section controlling the temperature of the fixing apparatuses; a sheet retention determination section determining whether there is a sheet retained in any of the fixing apparatuses during a jam; and a control section controlling cleaning of the fixing apparatuses by a blank sheet fed from the sheet feeding apparatus, wherein the control section carries out cleaning of the fixing apparatus in which it has been determined that a sheet is retained based on input from the sheet retention determination section, when the temperature of the fixing apparatus has been determined to have reached a prescribed temperature based on input from the temperature control section.

Abstract: In a copier having an image data converter that sets the C density, the M density and the Y density to a density obtained by multiplying the density of black in the RGB system by a CMY mixture ratio and sets the K density to a density obtained by multiplying the density of black by a K mixture ratio when black in the RGB system is converted into the CMYK system, the image data converter sets the K mixture ratio to a K reference mixture ratio when TK?PHK, and sets the K mixture ratio to a K high mixture ratio that is higher than the K reference mixture ratio when TK PHK. Here, TK is a K toner amount of consumption insufficiency which is a K toner amount to be consumed to prevent toner deterioration at the driving amount of the developing unit, and PHK is a K high predetermined value.

Abstract: Provides is an image forming system, comprising an image forming device and an information processing device connected to the image forming device, further comprising a function-detecting unit detecting that a second function is added to the image forming device having a first function, and a notification unit notifying the user using the first function of the fact that the second function is added when addition thereof is detected by the function-detecting unit.