Abstract: An image forming device includes: a sheet feeder that feeds a sheet; a controller that: discriminates a sheet type of the sheet, and receives a user input to specify a sheet type; and an image forming device that has two setting modes including an automatic discrimination mode in which an image is formed based on the discriminated sheet type and a user specified mode in which an image is formed based on the sheet type specified by the user input. The controller automatically switches one of the two setting modes to the other based on a defined condition.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a sheet feeding conveyor that feeds and conveys a recording medium to a conveyance path; an image former that performs image formation on the recording medium; a medium sensor that is disposed on an upstream side of the recording medium from the image former on the conveyance path and measures one or more sheet physical properties regarding the recording medium conveyed; a first hardware processor that determines a type of the recording medium on a basis of the sheet physical properties measured by the medium sensor; a second hardware processor that determines conveyance performance for the recording medium; and a third hardware processor that determines whether or not to perform the image formation on a basis of the conveyance performance in a case where the type of the recording medium determined by the first hardware processor is a type out of product specifications.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: a sheet feeder that feeds a sheet; a controller that: discriminates a sheet type of the sheet, and receives a user input to specify a sheet type; and an image forming device that has two setting modes including an automatic discrimination mode in which an image is formed based on the discriminated sheet type and a user specified mode in which an image is formed based on the sheet type specified by the user input. The controller automatically switches one of the two setting modes to the other based on a defined condition.

Abstract: A controller causes a sensor unit to perform: a first operation for detecting a front end of a sheet; and a second operation for detecting a type of the sheet performed at a timing that is based on detection of the front end of the sheet in the first operation.

Abstract: A conveyor conveys a sheet along a conveyance path provided with an ultrasonic sensor, and includes: an updating member that successively updates a parameter indicating aged deterioration of the conveyor; a searcher that searches a look-up table storing pieces of noise data of noises predicted to be superimposed on a detection signal of the ultrasonic sensor in accordance with a degree of the aged deterioration, and obtains a piece of noise data corresponding to a current parameter value of the conveyor; and a signal processor that uses, for signal processing, a remaining portion of the detection signal of the ultrasonic sensor excluding a portion corresponding to the piece of noise data obtained by the searcher.

Abstract: A heater includes: a planar heat generator; a power supply circuit that controls supply of power to the planar heat generator; a plurality of temperature sensors that is provided on the planar heat generator and measures a temperature; and a hardware processor that detects abnormality of the temperature sensor in a case where a difference in temperature measured by each of two of the temperature sensors out of the plurality of temperature sensors exceeds an abnormality threshold value after a predetermined waiting time has elapsed since the supply of power to the planar heat generator is stopped.

Abstract: A paper conveyance device includes: an upstream roller and a downstream roller being arranged at an interval in a paper conveyance path; paper conveyance guides being arranged between the upstream and downstream roller in the paper conveyance path to guide both surfaces of paper along the paper conveyance path during paper conveyance; drivers that drive the upstream and downstream roller independently; and a processor that measures the load torques on the upstream and downstream roller, that judges whether or not the paper is rubbing against one of the paper conveyance guides with reference to the load torques on the upstream and downstream roller, the load torques being obtained by the processor, and that performs controlled paper conveyance with reference to the load torques on the upstream and downstream roller depending on the result of the judgment being obtained by the processor.

Abstract: An operation terminal is held by and detachable from a holder on an MFP. The operation terminal includes a touch panel with a display region for an operation screen for the MFP. The touch panel senses an external object touching the display region. A vibrator unit applies vibration to the display region. In response to the touch panel sensing the object, a response controller unit instructs the vibrator unit to apply to the display region vibration responsive to the object. The response controller unit checks whether the operation terminal is held by or detached from the holder at the time the touch panel senses the object, and when the operation terminal is held by the holder, sets the responsive vibration to a level lower than when the operation terminal is detached from the holder.

Abstract: A heater includes: a planar heat generator; a power supply circuit that controls supply of power to the planar heat generator; a plurality of temperature sensors that is provided on the planar heat generator and measures a temperature; and a hardware processor that detects abnormality of the temperature sensor in a case where a difference in temperature measured by each of two of the temperature sensors out of the plurality of temperature sensors exceeds an abnormality threshold value after a predetermined waiting time has elapsed since the supply of power to the planar heat generator is stopped.

Abstract: A heater includes: a planar heat generator; a power supply circuit that controls supply of power to the planar heat generator; a plurality of temperature sensors that is provided on the planar heat generator and measures a temperature; and a hardware processor that controls the power supply circuit in a predetermined condition to maintain a temperature measured by at least one of the plurality of temperature sensors at a target value, wherein the planar heat generator includes: an insulator; and a heat generator disposed on the insulator, the heat generator includes each of a plurality of linear parts extending in parallel with each other at a predetermined interval P, and each of the plurality of temperature sensors is disposed along a direction orthogonal to an extending direction of each of the plurality of linear parts at a position mutually shifted by a predetermined distance D.

Abstract: A paper conveyance device includes: an upstream roller and a downstream roller being arranged at an interval in a paper conveyance path; paper conveyance guides being arranged between the upstream and downstream roller in the paper conveyance path to guide both surfaces of paper along the paper conveyance path during paper conveyance; drivers that drive the upstream and downstream roller independently; and a processor that measures the load torques on the upstream and downstream roller, that judges whether or not the paper is rubbing against one of the paper conveyance guides with reference to the load torques on the upstream and downstream roller, the load torques being obtained by the processor, and that performs controlled paper conveyance with reference to the load torques on the upstream and downstream roller depending on the result of the judgment being obtained by the processor.

Abstract: A touch panel has a display region for an operation screen and senses an outer object touching the display region. A vibrator unit applies vibration to the display region. In response to the touch panel sensing the object, a response controller unit instructs the vibrator unit to apply to the display region vibration responsive to the object. The response controller unit checks whether an image processing unit is under waiting or operating condition at the time the touch panel senses the object, and when the image processing unit is under the operating condition, sets the responsive vibration to a level lower than when the image processing unit is under the waiting condition.

Abstract: An operation panel that is incorporated in an apparatus generating vibration during operation, and displays an operation screen of the apparatus to receive operation from a user includes: a touch panel that includes a display area of the operation screen, and detects contact between an external object and the display area; a vibration generation unit that applies vibration to the display area; a vibration storage unit that stores a spectrum of vibration generated by operation of the apparatus as a spectrum of background vibration; and a response control unit that checks whether the apparatus is in a standby state or an operating state, and causes the vibration generation unit to apply vibration indicating a first spectrum to the display area when the apparatus is in the standby state, and vibration indicating a second spectrum to the display area when the apparatus is in the operating state.

Abstract: An operation terminal is held by and detachable from a holder on an MFP. The operation terminal includes a touch panel with a display region for an operation screen for the MFP. The touch panel senses an external object touching the display region. A vibrator unit applies vibration to the display region. In response to the touch panel sensing the object, a response controller unit instructs the vibrator unit to apply to the display region vibration responsive to the object. The response controller unit checks whether the operation terminal is held by or detached from the holder at the time the touch panel senses the object, and when the operation terminal is held by the holder, sets the responsive vibration to a level lower than when the operation terminal is detached from the holder.

Abstract: A touch panel has a display region for an operation screen and senses an outer object touching the display region. A vibrator unit applies vibration to the display region. In response to the touch panel sensing the object, a response controller unit instructs the vibrator unit to apply to the display region vibration responsive to the object. The response controller unit checks whether an image processing unit is under waiting or operating condition at the time the touch panel senses the object, and when the image processing unit is under the operating condition, sets the responsive vibration to a level lower than when the image processing unit is under the waiting condition.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of image forming units forming an image in the corresponding color by electrophotographic system; a high-voltage power supply circuit capable of generating a bias voltage; and a control unit that controls a first printing mode and a second printing mode, wherein in the second printing mode, the control unit performs such control that the photosensitive bodies provided on the image forming units not used in the second printing mode continuously rotate at a speed lower than a speed in the first printing mode, and/or such control that a bias voltage whose absolute value is less than an absolute value of a bias voltage in the first printing mode is supplied from the high-voltage power supply circuit to the processing components of the same type provided on the image forming units not used in the second printing mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus as a sheet conveying apparatus comprises a paper feeding roller, an upstream side sensor, and an ultrasonic wave sensor. The paper feeding roller provides a plurality of sheets placed on a document tray in series to a conveying path. The upstream side sensor detects presence or absence of a sheet being conveyed along the conveying path, at a location of a downstream side of the paper feeding roller along the conveying path. The ultrasonic wave sensor detects presence or absence of occurrence of multiple feed, based on intensity of ultrasonic waves received at a location of a downstream side of the upstream side sensor along the conveying path.

Abstract: An operation panel that is incorporated in an apparatus generating vibration during operation, and displays an operation screen of the apparatus to receive operation from a user includes: a touch panel that includes a display area of the operation screen, and detects contact between an external object and the display area; a vibration generation unit that applies vibration to the display area; a vibration storage unit that stores a spectrum of vibration generated by operation of the apparatus as a spectrum of background vibration; and a response control unit that checks whether the apparatus is in a standby state or an operating state, and causes the vibration. generation unit to apply vibration indicating a first spectrum to the display area when the apparatus is in the standby state, and vibration indicating a second spectrum to the display area when the apparatus is in the operating state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of image forming units forming an image in the corresponding color by electrophotographic system; a high-voltage power supply circuit capable of generating a bias voltage; and a control unit that controls a first printing mode and a second printing mode, wherein in the second printing mode, the control unit performs such control that the photosensitive bodies provided on the image forming units not used in the second printing mode continuously rotate at a speed lower than a speed in the first printing mode, and/or such control that a bias voltage whose absolute value is less than an absolute value of a bias voltage in the first printing mode is supplied from the high-voltage power supply circuit to the processing components of the same type provided on the image forming units not used in the second printing mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus as a sheet conveying apparatus comprises a paper feeding roller, an upstream side sensor, and an ultrasonic wave sensor. The paper feeding roller provides a plurality of sheets placed on a document tray in series to a conveying path. The upstream side sensor detects presence or absence of a sheet being conveyed along the conveying path, at a location of a downstream side of the paper feeding roller along the conveying path. The ultrasonic wave sensor detects presence or absence of occurrence of multiple feed, based on intensity of ultrasonic waves received at a location of a downstream side of the upstream side sensor along the conveying path.