Abstract: According to an embodiment, a method for providing information related to a product comprises receiving an input including information regarding a product purchased by a customer, and detecting a type of the product purchased by the customer. The method further comprises acquiring information related to how to dispose of the product in accordance with the detected type, and outputting the information.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a document reading apparatus includes plural sensors that are arranged to face a document table and detect a document placed on the document table, a sensor drive unit to power on a first sensor among the plural sensors and to power on a next sensor in a previously set sequence according to a detection result of the first sensor, a size determination unit to determine a size of the document based on a detection result of the document obtained by the powered-on sensor, and a control unit that, when the size of the document can be determined before all of the plural sensors are powered on, stops power supply to a remaining sensor.

Abstract: A power supply method for an image forming apparatus according to the invention includes: calculating a frequency of use of an associated unit that shares a power source with an image forming unit, for each associated unit; setting power supply to the associated unit from the power source to ON-setting or OFF-setting for each associated unit in accordance with the frequency of use; and controlling the power supply to the associated unit for each associated unit in accordance with the ON-setting or the OFF-setting at the time of starting the image forming unit.

Abstract: An image reader according to the present invention can change the wavelength of the light radiated from an illumination unit, by switching illumination lamps to radiate a light, so that the light has the wavelength suitable for a color image CCD sensor, when a reading object includes a color image. Therefore, a suitable image signal can be obtained irrespectively of the color of a reading object.

Abstract: A reference white board is illuminated by an exposure lamp, and an image at a region illuminated is converted into an image signal by a photoelectric conversion device. The image signal output from the photoelectric conversion device is amplified at a predetermined amplification factor. By comparing the level of the amplified image signal with a reference value, deterioration of the exposure lamp is detected.

Abstract: An image reader according to the present invention can change the wavelength of the light radiated from an illumination unit, by switching illumination lamps to radiate a light, so that the light has the wavelength suitable for a color image CCD sensor, when a reading object includes a color image. Therefore, a suitable image signal can be obtained irrespectively of the color of a reading object.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an image forming apparatus and its control method, which apparatus having a laser pulse arithmetic circuit for counting a time period in which a laser pulse signal is in an ON state, a temperature sensor for monitoring temperature in a developing unit and output temperature data, a humidity sensor for monitoring humidity in the developing unit and output humidity data, a control section for calculating consumption of toner in the developing unit on the basis of a counted value of the laser pulse arithmetic circuit, temperature data obtained from the temperature sensor and humidity data obtained from the humidity sensor, thereby calculating a toner supply time period to maintain a constant toner amount in the developing unit, and a toner supply section for supplying toner into the developing unit on the basis of the toner supply time period calculated by the control section.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and image processing method of the present invention are characterized in that, if a platen cover is opened, image data of a non-original region is erased from data obtained by reading the original, and thereafter density of the image data of the original is sensed and a histogram is made. Thereby, it is possible to avoid the situation wherein a bad influence such as unnatural density variation is caused to an output image.