Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises: a detection unit which detects the abnormal condition of the image forming apparatus; a storage unit which stores, as history information, information about a type of the abnormal condition and an occurrence situation of the abnormal condition in a case where the detection unit detects the abnormal condition; a determination unit which determines whether an occurrence frequency of the abnormal condition which has newly occurred is higher than a predetermined frequency; and a notification unit which, in a case where an abnormal condition has newly occurred and the determination unit determines that the occurrence frequency of the abnormal condition which has newly occurred is higher than the predetermined frequency, stops the image forming apparatus and notifies the user of trouble information for making a repair request by the user.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of printing image data including a color code symbol without damaging information held in the code symbol even in an environment where only monochrome printing is possible due to print settings or the capability of an apparatus. A code symbol is extracted from input image data, and code symbol information is acquired from the extracted code symbol. It is determined whether or not an image to be output by performing image processing on the input image data is a monochrome image. When it is determined that the image to be output is a monochrome image, a monochrome code symbol is generated based on the acquired code symbol information. The generated monochrome code symbol and the image to be output are synthesized, and the synthesized image is output.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which makes it possible to perform an image forming operation even during update of a control program. The image forming apparatus is provided with distributed module controllers each including a sub CPU and a flash ROM storing a control program for controlling the sub CPU. The main CPU of the image forming apparatus updates the control programs stored in the respective flash ROMs. The main CPU displays a screen that enables selection of functions to be used in an image forming job executed by the image forming apparatus. During execution of update of a control program targeted for update, out of the selectable functions, the main CPU disables a function which uses a sub CPU associated with the control program.

Abstract: An image forming system capable of immediately responding to a job command given by a user, reducing power consumption, and preventing the service life of component parts from being adversely affected. In a case where no printing is to be performed, a main controller of the image forming system controls each of first and second image forming apparatuses of the image forming system to assume either a standby state or a sleep state. In a case where printing is to be performed, the main controller controls each of the first and second image forming apparatuses to assume either the standby state or the sleep state according to whether double-sided printing should be performed or single-sided printing should be performed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of printing image data including a color code symbol without damaging information held in the code symbol even in an environment where only monochrome printing is possible due to print settings or the capability of an apparatus. A code symbol is extracted from input image data, and code symbol information is acquired from the extracted code symbol. It is determined whether or not an image to be output by performing image processing on the input image data is a monochrome image. When it is determined that the image to be output is a monochrome image, a monochrome code symbol is generated based on the acquired code symbol information. The generated monochrome code symbol and the image to be output are synthesized, and the synthesized image is output.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed that can reduce the time required for adjustment operations when a first adjustment operation that requires speed change and a second adjustment operation that does not require speed change overlap. When first adjustment operation that can be performed at a first speed is to be performed during operation at a second speed lower than the first speed, the image formation speed is changed from the second speed to the first speed. When second adjustment operation that can be performed at a plurality of image formation speeds is to be performed during operation at the second speed, the second adjustment operation is performed while maintaining the second speed. When both the first and second adjustment operations are to be performed during operation at the second speed, the image formation speed is changed from the second speed to the first speed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed that can reduce the time required for adjustment operations when a first adjustment operation that requires speed change and a second adjustment operation that does not require speed change overlap. When first adjustment operation that can be performed at a first speed is to be performed during operation at a second speed lower than the first speed, the image formation speed is changed from the second speed to the first speed. When second adjustment operation that can be performed at a plurality of image formation speeds is to be performed during operation at the second speed, the second adjustment operation is performed while maintaining the second speed. When both the first and second adjustment operations are to be performed during operation at the second speed, the image formation speed is changed from the second speed to the first speed.

Abstract: An image forming system having: a sheet feeding unit which cuts a roll sheet and feeds cut sheets; a stack unit which stacks and stores the sheets fed by the sheet feeding unit and feeds the stored sheets; an image forming portion which forms an image on the sheets fed from the stack unit; and a controlling unit configured to control the feeding unit and the stack unit so that the stack unit feeds a sheet stored in the stack unit to the image forming portion when the sheet feeding unit feeds a sheet to the stack unit so as to stack the sheet from the sheet feeding unit into the stack unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that can reduce the time required for adjustment operations when a first adjustment operation that requires speed change and a second adjustment operation that does not require speed change overlap. When a first adjustment operation that can be performed at a first speed is to be performed during operation at a second speed lower than the first speed, the image formation speed is changed from the second speed to the first speed. When a second adjustment operation that can be performed at a plurality of image formation speeds is to be performed during operation at the second speed, the second adjustment operation is performed while maintaining the second speed. When both the first adjustment operation and the second adjustment operation are to be performed during operation at the second speed, the image formation speed is changed from the second speed to the first speed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that can reduce the time required for adjustment operations when a first adjustment operation that requires speed change and a second adjustment operation that does not require speed change overlap. When a first adjustment operation that can be performed at a first speed is to be performed during operation at a second speed lower than the first speed, the image formation speed is changed from the second speed to the first speed. When a second adjustment operation that can be performed at a plurality of image formation speeds is to be performed during operation at the second speed, the second adjustment operation is performed while maintaining the second speed. When both the first adjustment operation and the second adjustment operation are to be performed during operation at the second speed, the image formation speed is changed from the second speed to the first speed.

Abstract: An image forming system capable of immediately responding to a job command given by a user, reducing power consumption, and preventing the service life of component parts from being adversely affected. In a case where no printing is to be performed, a main controller of the image forming system controls each of first and second image forming apparatuses of the image forming system to assume either a standby state or a sleep state. In a case where printing is to be performed, the main controller controls each of the first and second image forming apparatuses to assume either the standby state or the sleep state according to whether double-sided printing should be performed or single-sided printing should be performed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is operable in a speed priority mode in which a temperature range that permits a fixing operation via a pressure belt is wide and an image-quality priority mode in which a temperature range that permits a fixing operation via the pressure belt is narrow. A user interface of the image forming apparatus is configured to enable an operator to select the speed priority mode or the image-quality priority mode for a coated paper.

Abstract: A image forming system that can prevent a toner from coming off while reducing the amount of consumption of a clear toner in binding sheets into a book. An image forming apparatus 100 forms an image on a sheet. A clear coating apparatus 200 forms a clear coating image on the sheet using the clear toner that becomes transparent after fixing. A bookbinding apparatus 600 connected to the image forming apparatus 100 and the clear coating apparatus 200 subjects the sheet to folding process. A job controller 501 and an image controller 502 cause the clear coating apparatus 200 to form the clear toner image at a folding position on the sheet in response to designation of a folding mode in the bookbinding apparatus 600.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprising an image processing unit configured to execute image processing by selectively using a plurality of image processing patterns, a selecting unit configured to select one of the plurality of image processing patterns according to a user's operation, a determination unit configured to determine whether or not tone correction control has been applied to the image processing pattern selected by the selecting unit, and a notification unit configured to notify, when the determination unit determines that the tone correction control has not been applied yet, a message that advises accordingly.

Abstract: A curling device includes a first curling unit configured to curl a sheet in a first direction and a second curling unit. The second curling unit is for curling a sheet which has passed the first curling unit in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction. The curling device also includes an input unit facilitating manual inputting correction values relating to the curling direction and curling amount to be corrected, and a control unit configured to changeably control the curling amount of each of the first curling unit and the second curling unit, to correspond to the correction values input in the first and second input units.

Abstract: In a construction wherein at the start of fixing, a pressure belt is brought into contact with a fixing roller at uniform timing, it has sometimes been the case that the temperature of the pressure belt at a point of time whereat the fixing is started does not become a desired temperature but faulty fixing occurs. The timing for bringing the pressure belt into contact with the fixing roller at the start of fixing is changed in accordance with the detected temperature of the pressure belt. By such a construction, faulty fixing can be prevented from occurring.

Abstract: In image reading apparatus capable of performing a read-while-feed operation in which an original is read while being fed by an image sensor placed at a fixed position, presence/absence of dust and/or dirt on a platen is detected, and, in a case where dust and/or dirt are detected at all of a plurality of predetermined positions by said detector, the read-while-feed operation is inhibited and the presence of dust and/or dirt is notified to a user. When, removal of dust and/or dirt on the platen is detected in a state that the read-while-feed operation is inhibited, the read-while-feed operation is allowed.

Abstract: An image forming system having: a sheet feeding unit which cuts a roll sheet and feeds cut sheets; a stack unit which stacks and stores the sheets fed by the sheet feeding unit and feeds the stored sheets; an image forming portion which forms an image on the sheets fed from the stack unit; and a controlling unit configured to control the feeding unit and the stack unit so that the stack unit feeds a sheet stored in the stack unit to the image forming portion when the sheet feeding unit feeds a sheet to the stack unit so as to stack the sheet from the sheet feeding unit into the stack unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that can provide a quality image in a stable manner without lowering the productivity. A reference image forming unit forms reference images on a transfer member. A plurality of sensing units detect densities of the formed reference images. A control unit adjusts respective output values from the plurality of sensing units according to a difference between the output values from the plurality of sensing units. The control unit performs error processing according to the difference between the output values from the plurality of sensing units when the control unit adjusts the output values from the plurality of sensing units.

Abstract: Image forming apparatus in which surface electric potentials of a plurality of surface areas are detected by charging a photoconductor with a different applied bias for each predetermined timing and exposing a plurality of surface areas of the photoconductor by scanning the photoconductor with an optical beam, while changing an exposure intensity of the optical beam for each of the surface areas of the photoconductor. Then, the applied bias necessary for obtaining a predetermined electric potential of a dark section and the exposure intensity of the optical beam necessary for obtaining a predetermined electric potential of a bright section are controlled, on the basis of the surface electric potentials that are detected respectively from the different applied biases and the different exposure intensities. Thereby, the adjustment time can be made shorter than the conventional case.