Abstract: An information processing apparatus that is capable of improving estimating accuracy of a usable period of a fixing device. The information processing apparatus enables communication with an image forming apparatus to which one of fixing devices is selectively attachable. A controller obtains information about a type of a fixing device attached, determines a remaining period of a second fixing device based on second data about a consumption amount of the second fixing device in a case where a first fixing device of a first type is replaced with the second fixing device of a second type, and determines a remaining period of a third fixing device based on first data about a consumption amount of the first fixing device and third data about a consumption amount of the third fixing device in a case where the first fixing device is replaced with the third fixing device of the first type.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus that is capable of reducing a delay of delivery of a consumable even if a history of a consumption amount of a consumable is erased. The information processing apparatus enables communication with an image forming apparatus that has a consumable. The information processing apparatus includes a memory that stores data related to a consumption amount of the consumable, a controller configured to determine a future change of a remaining amount of the consumable from the data stored in the memory based on a first determination condition, control a timing at which a delivery request that urges delivery of a replacement consumable is output based on the future change, and receive user instruction information. The controller determines the future change from the data stored in the memory based on a second determination condition that is different from the first determination condition after receiving the user instruction information.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus that is capable of reducing a delay of delivery of a consumable even if a history of a consumption amount of a consumable is erased. The information processing apparatus that enables communication with an image forming apparatus equipped with a replaceable consumable. The information processing apparatus includes a memory that stores data related to a consumption amount of the consumable, and a controller configured to determine a future change of a remaining amount of the consumable from the data stored in the memory, issue a delivery request that requests delivery of a replacement consumable according to the future change of the remaining amount of the consumable, and receive user instruction information. The controller issues the delivery request in a case where a predetermined condition related to the remaining amount is satisfied in a predetermined period from reception of the user instruction information.

Abstract: Provided is a technology relating to an image forming apparatus configured to calculate a toner usage amount per day. The image forming apparatus stores the calculated toner usage amount per day in a list when a toner usage history is permitted to be stored, and avoids storing the calculated toner usage amount per day in the list when the usage history is inhibited from being stored. When the toner usage history is permitted to be stored, the image forming apparatus extracts a feature amount indicating a toner consumption tendency exhibited by a user based on the toner usage amount per day corresponding to a predetermined period stored in the list, and avoids extracting the feature amount when the toner usage history is inhibited from being stored.

Abstract: An image forming system comprises an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet and a sheet processing apparatus for performing binding processing on a sheet bundle formed of a plurality of sheets having formed the image. The sheet processing apparatus performs binding processing by a stapler on the sheet bundle placed on an intermediate tray and an opening. The image forming apparatus controls image forming preparation and timing of movement of the stapler in accordance with presence/absence of the sheet bundle on the opening, position of the stapler and timing to obtain an image forming instruction including binding processing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus configured to form images on both sides of a sheet, includes an image forming unit, which is configured to form an image on an image bearing member, and a sheet conveying device, which is configured to move the sheet being conveyed toward a width direction, which is orthogonal to a conveyance direction. After the formed image is transferred onto a first surface of the sheet, the image forming apparatus inverts and conveys the sheet to transfer an image onto a second surface. Moreover, a side edge position of the sheet in the width direction is detected during conveyance for the transferring onto each of the first surface and the second surface, and an image writing start position for the image forming unit is determined based on a result of the detection to store a result of the determination in a memory.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that corrects a print position of an image using an optimum reference side of a sheet when performing print position adjustment. Image data is converted based on conversion conditions. An image on a sheet is formed based on the converted image data. On the sheet, the image forming unit forms a test image for detecting a misalignment of a position of an image to be formed on a first surface of the sheet and a position of an image to be formed on a second surface, which is different from the first surface, of the sheet. Read data is acquired which is read from the test image and output from a reading device, and the conversion conditions are generated based on the read data and a selected reference position of the sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming unit configured to form a first image in a chromatic color, a second image forming unit configured to form a second image in black, an intermediate transfer member, a sensor, a first adjustment unit configured to adjust the image forming position for the black based on an adjustment value, a second adjustment unit configured to adjust image forming position based on an adjustment condition, and a generation unit configured to generate the adjustment condition. The generation unit generates a first adjustment condition based on a user instruction relating to a first test image having chromatic color on a sheet input from the input unit. The generation unit generates a second adjustment condition based on the reading result of the second test image having black on a sheet from a reading device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus configured to form images on both sides of a sheet, includes an image forming unit, which is configured to form an image on an image bearing member, and a sheet conveying device, which is configured to move the sheet being conveyed toward a width direction, which is orthogonal to a conveyance direction. After the formed image is transferred onto a first surface of the sheet, the image forming apparatus inverts and conveys the sheet to transfer an image onto a second surface. Moreover, a side edge position of the sheet in the width direction is detected during conveyance for the transferring onto each of the first surface and the second surface, and an image writing start position for the image forming unit is determined based on a result of the detection to store a result of the determination in a memory.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus controls each laser scanner by setting the writing start timing in the sub-scanning direction to form the color registration correction image for correcting color registration at position according to the detection result of the image detection sensor. When forming the image on the sheet, the image forming apparatus sets the writing start timing in the sub-scanning direction according to the detection result of the image detection sensor and the amount of skew of the sheet to control each laser scanner. When forming the density detection toner image for correcting the density, the image forming apparatus sets the writing start timing in the sub-scanning direction to form the image at a position shifted by a pixel unit from the image forming position on the sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming unit configured to form a first image in a chromatic color, a second image forming unit configured to form a second image in black, an intermediate transfer member, a sensor, a first adjustment unit configured to adjust the image forming position for the black based on an adjustment value, a second adjustment unit configured to adjust image forming position based on an adjustment condition, and a generation unit configured to generate the adjustment condition. The generation unit generates a first adjustment condition based on a user instruction relating to a first test image having chromatic color on a sheet input from the input unit. The generation unit generates a second adjustment condition based on the reading result of the second test image having black on a sheet from a reading device.

Abstract: An image forming system comprises an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet and a sheet processing apparatus for performing binding processing on a sheet bundle formed of a plurality of sheets having formed the image. The sheet processing apparatus performs binding processing by a stapler on the sheet bundle placed on an intermediate tray and an opening. The image forming apparatus controls image forming preparation and timing of movement of the stapler in accordance with presence/absence of the sheet bundle on the opening, position of the stapler and timing to obtain an image forming instruction including binding processing.

Abstract: A detection unit detects a color registration pattern formed on a transfer member. A first correction unit detects an amount of color misregistration, relative to a forming position of a color pattern having a reference color, of a forming position of a color pattern having another color and determines an offset value for adjusting a write start timing of the other color. A measuring unit measures the inclination of the transfer member. A second correction unit determines, according to the inclination, an offset value for adjusting the write start timing of each of the plurality of image forming units and for adjusting, relative to the write start timing of a reference color, the write start timing of another color. The reference color for the first correction unit is different from the reference color for the second correction unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus determines a time length of a non-image-forming period in which image formation is not performed, the non-image-forming period being from when image formation on one recording sheet ends to when image formation on the next recording sheet starts, and based on the determined time length, decides the number of times of executing measurement (BD interval measurement) of a generation timing difference between detection signals corresponding to light beams emitted from two light emitting elements. The image forming apparatus executes the decided number of times of BD interval measurement and calculates an average value of the resultant measurement values.

Abstract: A detection unit detects a color registration pattern formed on a transfer member. A first correction unit detects an amount of color misregistration, relative to a forming position of a color pattern having a reference color, of a forming position of a color pattern having another color and determines an offset value for adjusting a write start timing of the other color. A measuring unit measures the inclination of the transfer member. A second correction unit determines, according to the inclination, an offset value for adjusting the write start timing of each of the plurality of image forming units and for adjusting, relative to the write start timing of a reference color, the write start timing of another color. The reference color for the first correction unit is different from the reference color for the second correction unit.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus controls each laser scanner by setting the writing start timing in the sub-scanning direction to form the color registration correction image for correcting color registration at position according to the detection result of the image detection sensor. When forming the image on the sheet, the image forming apparatus sets the writing start timing in the sub-scanning direction according to the detection result of the image detection sensor and the amount of skew of the sheet to control each laser scanner. When forming the density detection toner image for correcting the density, the image forming apparatus sets the writing start timing in the sub-scanning direction to form the image at a position shifted by a pixel unit from the image forming position on the sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus determines a time length of a non-image-forming period in which image formation is not performed, the non-image-forming period being from when image formation on one recording sheet ends to when image formation on the next recording sheet starts, and based on the determined time length, decides the number of times of executing measurement (BD interval measurement) of a generation timing difference between detection signals corresponding to light beams emitted from two light emitting elements. The image forming apparatus executes the decided number of times of BD interval measurement and calculates an average value of the resultant measurement values.

Abstract: Provided is an electronic system capable of dynamically switching a communication speed among a plurality of electronic devices connected in series. A first communication device and a second communication device are connected in series to a host controller. After controlling the communication speed of the second communication device to be a communication speed defined in advance, the host controller controls the communication speed of the first communication device to be the same communication speed as the communication speed of the second communication device.

Abstract: Provided is an electronic device capable of performing stable communications between a plurality of electronic devices connected in series. A communication device (121) is inserted and connected to a serial communication channel between a host controller (101) and a communication device (141) at a subsequent stage, and includes a buffer (124) for temporarily accumulating a first data received from the communication device (141) at the subsequent stage. The communication device (121) monitors a communication situation with respect to the host controller (101) and the communication device (141), accumulates the first data in the buffer (124) when a second data to be transmitted from the communication device (121) to the host controller (101) is being transmitted to the host controller (101), and transmits the first data accumulated in the buffer (124) to the host controller (101) in response to the finish of transmission of the second data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus connected to a conveying-speed-changeable sheet post processing device includes a discharging unit which discharges a sheet in a reverse discharge mode with front and back surfaces of the image-formed sheet reversed, and a non-reverse discharge mode without front and back surfaces of the image-formed sheet reversed, and discharges the sheet at a first speed or a second speed lower than the first speed; and a control unit which controls the discharging unit to discharge the sheet at the first speed in the reverse discharge mode and at the second speed in the non-reverse discharge mode. When the sheet is discharged at the second speed, the control unit controls the discharging unit to discharge a subsequent sheet at the second speed even if the subsequent sheet is to be discharged in the reverse discharge mode.