Abstract: A posture of a component is to be accurately determined. A posture determination method is to determine, based on an image acquired for a component having a plurality of surfaces, a posture of the component. This posture determination method includes recognizing an outer shape of the component from the image, detecting a feature amount of a surface shape in a determination area being a part of the component based on the outer shape of the component recognized in the recognizing, and determining. In the determining, the posture of the component is determined by comparing a first reference amount indicating a reference feature amount in the determination area of a first surface of the component and a second reference amount indicating a reference feature amount in the determination area of a second surface of the component with the feature amount detected in the detecting.

Abstract: An image forming device that executes an image forming program for real-time mechanical control and another program, using a single cache memory for the image forming program and said another program. The image forming device includes: a cache lockdown unit that executes a cache lockdown to lock down a storage area of the cache memory that stores at least a portion of the image forming program necessary for image formation processing; and a print unit that executes the image formation processing while the storage area is locked down.

Abstract: The image formation apparatus includes: a multi-core processor having a plurality of cores; and an image forming mechanism configured to form an image on a recording medium. At least one of the plurality of cores includes a switching controller configured to switch a first OS run by the core for performing a mechanism controller processing to control the image forming mechanism and a second OS run by the core for performing a controller processing.

Abstract: The image formation apparatus includes: a multi-core processor having a plurality of cores; and an image forming mechanism configured to form an image on a recording medium. At least one of the plurality of cores includes a switching controller configured to switch a first OS run by the core for performing a mechanism controller processing to control the image forming mechanism and a second OS run by the core for performing a controller processing.

Abstract: An image forming device that executes an image forming program for real-time mechanical control and another program, using a single cache memory for the image forming program and said another program. The image forming device includes: a cache lockdown unit that executes a cache lockdown to lock down a storage area of the cache memory that stores at least a portion of the image forming program necessary for image formation processing; and a print unit that executes the image formation processing while the storage area is locked down.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing device is mounted in an image forming apparatus that includes an image reading unit and an image forming unit. The image forming unit is located under the image reading unit with a space therebetween. The sheet post-processing device includes: a first tray that is located in the space and houses a sheet ejected from the image forming unit; a post-processing unit that is located in the space and performs post-processing on a sheet in the first tray; a transfer member that, after the post-processing is performed on a sheet in the first tray, transfers the sheet to a front side of the image forming apparatus; and a second tray that is located closer to the front side of the image forming apparatus than the first tray and houses a sheet transferred by the transfer member.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing device is mounted in an image forming apparatus that includes an image reading unit and an image forming unit. The image forming unit is located under the image reading unit with a space therebetween. The sheet post-processing device includes: a first tray that is located in the space and houses a sheet ejected from the image forming unit; a post-processing unit that is located in the space and performs post-processing on a sheet in the first tray; a transfer member that, after the post-processing is performed on a sheet in the first tray, transfers the sheet to a front side of the image forming apparatus; and a second tray that is located closer to the front side of the image forming apparatus than the first tray and houses a sheet transferred by the transfer member.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing device is mounted in an image forming apparatus that includes an image reading unit and an image forming unit. The image forming unit is located under the image reading unit with a space therebetween. The sheet post-processing device includes: a first tray that is located in the space and houses a sheet ejected from the image forming unit; a post-processing unit that is located in the space and performs post-processing on a sheet in the first tray; a transfer member that, after the post-processing is performed on a sheet in the first tray, transfers the sheet to a front side of the image forming apparatus; and a second tray that is located closer to the front side of the image forming apparatus than the first tray and houses a sheet transferred by the transfer member.

Abstract: In order to properly count the number of sheets printed which serves as the basis on which a charge is calculated, an MFP that acts as a designated printer includes a job accepting portion to accept a print job, a job executing portion to carry out printing based on the print job, a requesting portion to, when the job executing portion is not available for executing the print job, transmit an alternative instruction including the print job to an alternative printer, and an adding portion to add the number of alternative sheets printed by the alternative printer based on the print job included in the alternative instruction to the number of sheets printed by the job executing portion.

Abstract: The sheet processing apparatus processes a sheet having an image formed thereon by an image forming apparatus. The sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet folding unit for folding the sheet having an image formed thereon, a sheet tray loaded with the sheet folded by the sheet folding unit to be taken out, and a control unit for controlling the sheet processing apparatus as a whole. The sheet tray includes a mechanism capable of adjusting an angle with a virtual plane and a detection device detecting a change of the angle with the virtual plane. The control unit prohibits ejection from the sheet folding unit to the sheet tray, based on the detection result of the detection device and the content of the folding processing by the sheet folding unit.

Abstract: In order to properly count the number of sheets printed which serves as the basis on which a charge is calculated, an MFP that acts as a designated printer includes a job accepting portion to accept a print job, a job executing portion to carry out printing based on the print job, a requesting portion to, when the job executing portion is not available for executing the print job, transmit an alternative instruction including the print job to an alternative printer, and an adding portion to add the number of alternative sheets printed by the alternative printer based on the print job included in the alternative instruction to the number of sheets printed by the job executing portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises: a pair of first sheet ejecting rollers and a pair of second sheet ejecting rollers that eject a sheet on which an image is formed; a guide member that guides the sheet to the pair of first sheet ejecting rollers or the pair of second sheet ejecting rollers; a controller that performs control so that, while a sheet that is to be ejected by the pair of first sheet ejecting rollers onto an ejected-sheet tray is being held by the pair of first sheet ejecting rollers in a stopped state, the pair of second sheet ejecting rollers is in a stopped state and hold an immediately subsequent sheet above the ejected-sheet tray; and a fan that moves air toward the sheet held by the pair of first sheet ejecting rollers and the immediately subsequent sheet held by the pair of second sheet ejecting rollers.

Abstract: The sheet processing apparatus processes a sheet having an image formed thereon by an image forming apparatus. The sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet folding unit for folding the sheet having an image formed thereon, a sheet tray loaded with the sheet folded by the sheet folding unit to be taken out, and a control unit for controlling the sheet processing apparatus as a whole. The sheet tray includes a mechanism capable of adjusting an angle with a virtual plane and a detection device detecting a change of the angle with the virtual plane. The control unit prohibits ejection from the sheet folding unit to the sheet tray, based on the detection result of the detection device and the content of the folding processing by the sheet folding unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises: a pair of first sheet ejecting rollers and a pair of second sheet ejecting rollers that eject a sheet on which an image is formed; a guide member that guides the sheet to the pair of first sheet ejecting rollers or the pair of second sheet ejecting rollers; a controller that performs control so that, while a sheet that is to be ejected by the pair of first sheet ejecting rollers onto an ejected-sheet tray is being held by the pair of first sheet ejecting rollers in a stopped state, the pair of second sheet ejecting rollers is in a stopped state and hold an immediately subsequent sheet above the ejected-sheet tray; and a fan that moves air toward the sheet held by the pair of first sheet ejecting rollers and the immediately subsequent sheet held by the pair of second sheet ejecting rollers.

Abstract: In a printer, three toner patches are primary-transferred successively to an intermediate transfer belt. Here, after the first toner patch passes through a belt cleaner and before the second toner patch reaches the belt cleaner, and after the second toner patch passes through the belt cleaner and before the third patch reaches the belt cleaner, the belt cleaner is operated to change the state of contact to the intermediate transfer belt to a different state. A density sensor detects density of the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt, and presence/absence of the toner patch is detected. When presence/absence of the first to third patches is detected alternately, it is determined that the belt cleaner is performing the operation described above.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first rotator by which one surface of a paper is subjected to image transferring, image fixing, or other processings, a second rotator which presses the paper against the first rotator from the other surface of the paper, a space changing unit which changes a space between axial cores of the first rotator and the second rotator, a feeding unit which feeds the paper between the first rotator and the second rotator, and a control unit which adjusts a driving timing of the space changing unit in accordance with the driving of the feeding unit, wherein when the paper is thinner than a set value, the control unit makes the paper enter between both the rotators in a state where the second rotator is pressed against the first rotator, and when the paper is equal to or thicker than the set value, the control unit controls to press the second rotator against the first rotator at a timing where a distal end of the paper passes through between both the rotators.

Abstract: In a printer, three toner patches are primary-transferred successively to an intermediate transfer belt. Here, after the first toner patch passes through a belt cleaner and before the second toner patch reaches the belt cleaner, and after the second toner patch passes through the belt cleaner and before the third patch reaches the belt cleaner, the belt cleaner is operated to change the state of contact to the intermediate transfer belt to a different state. A density sensor detects density of the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt, and presence/absence of the toner patch is detected. When presence/absence of the first to third patches is detected alternately, it is determined that the belt cleaner is performing the operation described above.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cartridge loading portion removably loaded with a first cartridge containing therein a consumable but carrying no memory storing information on the consumable, or with a second cartridge containing therein the consumable and carrying a memory storing information on the consumable; a controller; and a first memory storing the information on the consumable contained in the first cartridge, and is characterized in that the controller includes: a first consumption calculating/storing portion operating when the first cartridge is loaded in the cartridge loading portion, calculating a consumption of the consumable in the first cartridge and storing the calculation result in the first memory; and a second consumption calculating/storing portion for calculating a consumable consumption of the second cartridge and for storing the calculation result in the memory installed in the second cartridge.

Abstract: In order to properly count the number of sheets printed which serves as the basis on which a charge is calculated, an MFP that acts as a designated printer includes a job accepting portion to accept a print job, a job executing portion to carry out printing based on the print job, a requesting portion to, when the job executing portion is not available for executing the print job, transmit an alternative instruction including the print job to an alternative printer, and an adding portion to add the number of alternative sheets printed by the alternative printer based on the print job included in the alternative instruction to the number of sheets printed by the job executing portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the invention comprises: a cartridge loading portion removably loaded with a first cartridge containing therein a consumable but carrying no memory storing information on the consumable, or with a second cartridge containing therein the consumable and carrying a memory storing information on the consumable; a controller; and a first memory storing the information on the consumable contained in the first cartridge, and is characterized in that the controller includes: a first consumption calculating/storing portion operating when the first cartridge is loaded in the cartridge loading portion, calculating a consumption of the consumable in the first cartridge and storing the calculation result in the first memory; and a second consumption calculating/storing portion for calculating a consumable consumption of the second cartridge and for storing the calculation result in the memory installed in the second cartridge.