Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a sheet conveyance unit that is configured to transport a print medium along a conveyance path. An antenna is configured to emit radio waves towards a predetermined portion of the conveyance path. A controller is configured to control the antenna to emit the radio waves towards the predetermined portion with a polarization direction set according to a type of the print medium being transported by the sheet conveyance unit. The print medium may have, for example, one or more wireless tags thereon or therein.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a wireless tag communication device and a controller. The wireless tag communication device is configured to acquire identification information to identify a wireless tag from the wireless tag provided in a sheet. The controller is configured to acquire dispensing information required to write to the wireless tag and perform a warning process by using the acquired dispensing information and the acquired identification information, upon the dispensing condition not being satisfied.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a control device for an image forming apparatus includes a controller that acquires reference information corresponding to expected signal strength values from a wireless tag on a sheet moving along a conveyance path and also acquires measured signal strength values for a first wireless tag on a sheet from a wireless tag communication device. The controller calculates a similarity value from the measured signal strength values and the expected signal strength values to determine whether the first wireless tag is on a sheet moving along the conveyance path. The controller controls the wireless tag communication device to write information to the first wireless tag when the calculated similarity value is above a threshold similarity value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a wireless tag communication device to write data to, and read data from, a wireless tag attached to a sheet. An image forming device in the apparatus is configured to form an image on the sheet. A controller in the apparatus is configured to determine whether a writing of data to a wireless tag was successful based on a notification from the wireless tag communication device and generate investigation support information if the writing was not successful and control the image forming device to form an investigation support image corresponding to the investigation support information if the writing was not successful.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device includes a roller by which a sheet having a wireless tag is conveyed along a path, a communication device configured to transmit a radio signal to the wireless tag and receive a response signal therefrom, and a processor configured to repeatedly perform a process of controlling the roller to convey a sheet along the path while controlling the communication device to transmit the radio signal to a wireless tag of the sheet using a transmission power that is different in each repeat, and acquire a strength of the response signal from the wireless tag, and specify a minimum strength of the response signal that has been acquired in the repeated process, the minimum strength being equal to or greater than a threshold, and set a transmission power that has been used when the minimum strength has been acquired as a reference strength of the radio signal.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a wireless tag communication device and a controller. The wireless tag communication device is configured to acquire identification information to identify a wireless tag from the wireless tag provided in a sheet. The controller is configured to acquire dispensing information required to write to the wireless tag and perform a warning process by using the acquired dispensing information and the acquired identification information, upon the dispensing condition not being satisfied.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a sheet conveyance unit that is configured to transport a print medium along a conveyance path. An antenna is configured to emit radio waves towards a predetermined portion of the conveyance path. A controller is configured to control the antenna to emit the radio waves towards the predetermined portion with a polarization direction set according to a type of the print medium being transported by the sheet conveyance unit. The print medium may have, for example, one or more wireless tags thereon or therein.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a radio tag communication device includes an antenna configured to transmit an interrogation signal and receive a response signal from a radio tag transmitting the response signal in response to the interrogation signal. A radio tag communication control unit of the device is configured to cause the antenna to repeatedly transmit the interrogation signal from a start time of an object conveyance until a reception strength of the response signal received by the antenna is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, and then perform writing on the radio tag via the antenna once the reception strength of the response signal received by the antenna is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a control device for an image forming apparatus includes a controller that acquires reference information corresponding to expected signal strength values from a wireless tag on a sheet moving along a conveyance path and also acquires measured signal strength values for a first wireless tag on a sheet from a wireless tag communication device. The controller calculates a similarity value from the measured signal strength values and the expected signal strength values to determine whether the first wireless tag is on a sheet moving along the conveyance path. The controller controls the wireless tag communication device to write information to the first wireless tag when the calculated similarity value is above a threshold similarity value.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a radio tag communication device includes an antenna configured to transmit an interrogation signal and receive a response signal from a radio tag transmitting the response signal in response to the interrogation signal. A radio tag communication control unit of the device is configured to cause the antenna to repeatedly transmit the interrogation signal from a start time of an object conveyance until a reception strength of the response signal received by the antenna is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, and then perform writing on the radio tag via the antenna once the reception strength of the response signal received by the antenna is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device has a sheet conveyance path with a first path and a second path. A wireless tag communication device can write information to a wireless tag on a sheet on the first and second paths and receive responses from the wireless tag. A controller controls the wireless tag communication device to attempt to write information to the wireless tag while on the first path, then determines whether information has been written to the wireless tag on the first path according to a response received from the wireless tag. The controller switches a conveyance destination for the sheet to the second path if the information has not been written or to a discharge location if the information has been written. The controller then controls the wireless tag communication device to attempt to write information to the wireless tag while the sheet is on the second path.

Abstract: A movable reading apparatus includes antennas, a controller, a reader, and a processor. The antennas perform transmission/reception of signals for communicating with wireless tags while the reading apparatus is moving at a prescribed moving speed. The controller switches operations of a combination of one or more antennas selected from the antennas. The reader reads identification information of the wireless tags from the signals received by the antennas. The processor sets an upper limit value of the moving speed of the reading apparatus based on a first value obtained by dividing a width of a reading range per one of the antennas by the number off combinations of the antennas.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an information collecting apparatus has a sensor, an arm, an arm drive mechanism, and a processor. The processor controls the arm drive mechanism to make the arm operate, and thereby makes the sensor move in the vicinity of an article arranged in a shelf. The processor acquires information indicating a state of the article to be measured by the sensor.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner capable of more efficiently cleaning narrow spots while effectively avoiding an object. An object sensor provided in a main casing detects the presence or absence of an object within a specified distance in a plurality of directions on a forward side of the main casing. A control unit controls operation of driving wheels, based on detection of an object by the object sensor to thereby make the main casing autonomously travel. When an object is detected by the object sensor, the control unit controls the operation of the driving wheels, so that the main casing is swung to an angle corresponding to a direction of the detected object to thereby make a side portion of the main casing face the object.

Abstract: A movable reading apparatus includes antennas, a controller, a reader, and a processor. The antennas perform transmission/reception of signals for communicating with wireless tags while the reading apparatus is moving at a prescribed moving speed. The controller switches operations of a combination of one or more antennas selected from the antennas. The reader reads identification information of the wireless tags from the signals received by the antennas. The processor sets an upper limit value of the moving speed of the reading apparatus based on a first value obtained by dividing a width of a reading range per one of the antennas by the number off combinations of the antennas.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an information collecting apparatus has a sensor, an arm, an arm drive mechanism, and a processor. The processor controls the arm drive mechanism to make the arm operate, and thereby makes the sensor move in the vicinity of an article arranged in a shelf. The processor acquires information indicating a state of the article to be measured by the sensor.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner capable of more efficiently cleaning narrow spots while effectively avoiding an object. An object sensor provided in a main casing detects the presence or absence of an object within a specified distance in a plurality of directions on a forward side of the main casing. A control unit controls operation of driving wheels, based on detection of an object by the object sensor to thereby make the main casing autonomously travel. When an object is detected by the object sensor, the control unit controls the operation of the driving wheels, so that the main casing is swung to an angle corresponding to a direction of the detected object to thereby make a side portion of the main casing face the object.

Abstract: A vehicle body front part structure has a front side member that is located at a front part of a body of a vehicle and that extends in a vehicle front-rear direction, a shock absorption bracket that projects from an outer side surface in a vehicle width direction at a front end portion of the front side member toward an outside in the vehicle width direction, a hood ridge body that is disposed above the front side member and that extends in the vehicle front-rear direction, and a hood ridge extension member that extends from a front end of the hood ridge body toward the front of the vehicle. The shock absorption bracket has a front surface connected to a front end surface of the front side member, and an inclined surface.

Abstract: A vehicle body front part structure has a front side member that is located at a front part of a body of a vehicle and that extends in a vehicle front-rear direction, a shock absorption bracket that projects from an outer side surface in a vehicle width direction at a front end portion of the front side member toward an outside in the vehicle width direction, a hood ridge body that is disposed above the front side member and that extends in the vehicle front-rear direction, and a hood ridge extension member that extends from a front end of the hood ridge body toward the front of the vehicle. The shock absorption bracket has a front surface connected to a front end surface of the front side member, and an inclined surface.

Abstract: A stall prediction apparatus of an axial compressor provided with: a rotor provided with a plurality of rotor blades; and a cylindrical casing facing the rotor blades and provided so as to cover the outer circumference of the rotor, comprising: pressure sensors provided in equal numbers at a plurality of locations in a circumferential direction of an inner wall surface of the casing, an index calculator for calculating an index (stall risk index) for evaluating the stall risk based on time-series data detected by each of the pressure sensors, and a signal processor for predicting the stall occurrence based on the stall risk indexes obtained corresponding to said each of the pressure sensors. In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to obtain a stall risk index which is highly accurate (supersensitive) and stable necessary for the active stall control, and to realize an engine control system with high reliability.