Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to acquire first update data used to update a program and including first version information of the program, from another apparatus connected via a network. The program causes the information processing apparatus to execute a process. The processor is further configured to acquire second version information of second update data from the other apparatus in response to an instruction to stop the operation of the information processing apparatus. The second version information is a latest version of the program available from the other apparatus. The processor is further configured to update the program based on the first update data in a case where the first version information matches the second version information.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to acquire first update data used to update a program and including first version information of the program, from another apparatus connected via a network. The program causes the information processing apparatus to execute a process. The processor is further configured to acquire second version information of second update data from the other apparatus in response to an instruction to stop the operation of the information processing apparatus. The second version information is a latest version of the program available from the other apparatus. The processor is further configured to update the program based on the first update data in a case where the first version information matches the second version information.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first authenticator, a second authenticator, and an apparatus authenticator. The first authenticator is configured to perform first authentication. The second authenticator is configured to perform second authentication. The apparatus authenticator is configured to permit a user who has been authenticated in both the first authentication and the second authentication to use the image forming apparatus, and cancel the permission of use of the image forming apparatus for the user when the authentication of the user is canceled in at least one of the first authentication and the second authentication.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first authenticator, a second authenticator, and an apparatus authenticator. The first authenticator is configured to perform first authentication. The second authenticator is configured to perform second authentication. The apparatus authenticator is configured to permit a user who has been authenticated in both the first authentication and the second authentication to use the image forming apparatus, and cancel the permission of use of the image forming apparatus for the user when the authentication of the user is canceled in at least one of the first authentication and the second authentication.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a receiving part for receiving an image forming request, a conveyor belt for rotating and conveying a recording paper, a charging part for applying charges to the conveyor belt, and an image forming part for forming an image on the recording paper is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes a cleaning part configured to clean a surface of the conveyor belt by rotating the conveyor belt and setting a contacting member in contact with the surface of the conveyor belt when a bias voltage of the charges is reduced. The cleaning part is configured to clean the surface of conveyor belt when a printing process and a post-printing process are completed by the image forming part and no subsequent image forming request is received by the receiving part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a conveyance unit, a correction unit, and an attitude controller. The image forming device forms an image on a printing medium. The conveyance unit is disposed opposing the image forming device to convey the printing medium. The correction unit corrects an attitude of a leading edge of the printing medium sent out from the conveyance unit. The attitude controller controls correction of the attitude of the leading edge of the punting medium performed by the correction unit. The attitude controller determines whether or not the correction of the attitude of the leading edge of the printing medium is to be performed, and causes the correction unit to perform the correction when the attitude controller determines that the correction is to be performed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a belt member, a reflection-type photosensor, and a reflection member. The belt member includes plural suction holes to attract a printing medium onto the belt member. The reflection member reflects light from the reflection-type photosensor through the suction holes. The reflection member is disposed inside the belt member. The reflection member has a reflection rate at which, when the reflection-type photosensor receives reflection light at positions of the suction holes with a transparent printing medium being not present on the belt member, a sensor output of the reflection-type photosensor is lower than a predetermined reference value, and when the reflection-type photosensor receives reflection light at the positions of the suction holes with the transparent printing medium being present on the belt member, a sensor output of the reflection-type photosensor is equal to or greater than the predetermined reference value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a belt member, a reflection-type photosensor, and a reflection member. The belt member includes plural suction holes to attract a printing medium onto the belt member. The reflection member reflects light from the reflection-type photosensor through the suction holes. The reflection member is disposed inside the belt member. The reflection member has a reflection rate at which, when the reflection-type photosensor receives reflection light at positions of the suction holes with a transparent printing medium being not present on the belt member, a sensor output of the reflection-type photosensor is lower than a predetermined reference value, and when the reflection-type photosensor receives reflection light at the positions of the suction holes with the transparent printing medium being present on the belt member, a sensor output of the reflection-type photosensor is equal to or greater than the predetermined reference value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a conveyance unit, a correction unit, and an attitude controller. The image forming device forms an image on a printing medium. The conveyance unit is disposed opposing the image forming device to convey the printing medium. The correction unit corrects an attitude of a leading edge of the printing medium sent out from the conveyance unit. The attitude controller controls correction of the attitude of the leading edge of the punting medium performed by the correction unit. The attitude controller determines whether or not the correction of the attitude of the leading edge of the printing medium is to be performed, and causes the correction unit to perform the correction when the attitude controller determines that the correction is to be performed.

Abstract: A disclosed servo control device includes a servo control unit configured to control a driving unit for driving a driven body with servo control, and a changing unit configured to change a timing of ending the servo control in response to stop position accuracy for a target stop position of the driven body when the driven body is driven to move, wherein the servo control unit detects an error between the target stop position and an actual stop position of the driven body, and corrects the timing of ending the servo control using the detected error.

Abstract: An encoder sensor for reading plural slits of an encoder scale includes a light emitting part configured to emit light and a light receiving part configured to receive the light emitted from the light emitting part. The light emitting part is configured to emit the light from plural areas arranged in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the plural slits are arranged.

Abstract: A vibration damping member, for dampening vibration triggered by movement of a carriage, is driven to move by a vibration-damping drive motor that is a different drive source from a drive source of the carriage. The vibration-damping drive motor includes a stepping motor which may be controlled by an input of a pulse. A carriage-position detecting unit for detecting the position of the carriage in a moving direction updates the position count each time the carriage is moved by a predetermined amount. Each time the position count of the carriage-position detecting unit is updated by a predetermined amount, a first pulse generating unit generates a pulse that causes the vibration-damping drive motor to move by one step. The vibration-damping drive motor is driven with the pulse, thereby causing the vibration damping member to move.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed that forms an image based on a control signal from an image processing controlling unit that processes input image information into image data. The apparatus includes a carriage that moves in a main scanning direction in accordance with the control signal; a conveyance unit that conveys a recording medium in a sub-scanning direction; an output detection unit that detects motor outputs of the carriage at any plural points when the carriage moves at a constant speed; and a jamming determination unit that compares an average value of the motor outputs of the carriage between the plural points with a predetermined tolerance to determine a conveyance failure.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a control program therefor. The apparatus includes an image processing control unit to process image information sent from an external device, a carriage to move in a main scanning direction according to a control signal sent from the image processing control unit and having a nozzle to discharge an ink onto a recording medium, a conveyance unit to convey the recording medium in a sub-scanning direction, and a conveyance failure detection unit to detect a status of the recording medium. The image processing control unit identifies a type of a conveyance failure among a plurality of types of conveyance failures based on the status of the recording medium output from the conveyance failure detection unit and sends a conveyance failure correction signal to perform an operation for retracting the carriage to a predetermined or desired position in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: An encoder sensor for reading plural slits of an encoder scale includes a light emitting part configured to emit light and a light receiving part configured to receive the light emitted from the light emitting part. The light emitting part is configured to emit the light from plural areas arranged in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the plural slits are arranged.

Abstract: A disclosed servo control device includes a servo control unit configured to control a driving unit for driving a driven body with servo control, and a changing unit configured to change a timing of ending the servo control in response to stop position accuracy for a target stop position of the driven body when the driven body is driven to move, wherein the servo control unit detects an error between the target stop position and an actual stop position of the driven body, and corrects the timing of ending the servo control using the detected error.

Abstract: A vibration damping member, for dampening vibration triggered by movement of a carriage, is driven to move by a vibration-damping drive motor that is a different drive source from a drive source of the carriage. The vibration-damping drive motor includes a stepping motor which may be controlled by an input of a pulse. A carriage-position detecting unit for detecting the position of the carriage in a moving direction updates the position count each time the carriage is moved by a predetermined amount. Each time the position count of the carriage-position detecting unit is updated by a predetermined amount, a first pulse generating unit generates a pulse that causes the vibration-damping drive motor to move by one step. The vibration-damping drive motor is driven with the pulse, thereby causing the vibration damping member to move.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a control unit determines that dirt is present on the linear scale when a detecting unit detects a change in a moving direction of a moving member while the moving member is moving at a constant speed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a receiving part for receiving an image forming request, a conveyor belt for rotating and conveying a recording paper, a charging part for applying charges to the conveyor belt, and an image forming part for forming an image on the recording paper is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes a cleaning part configured to clean a surface of the conveyor belt by rotating the conveyor belt and setting a contacting member in contact with the surface of the conveyor belt when a bias voltage of the charges is reduced. The cleaning part is configured to clean the surface of conveyor belt when a printing process and a post-printing process are completed by the image forming part and no subsequent image forming request is received by the receiving part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed that forms an image based on a control signal from an image processing controlling unit that processes input image information into image data. The apparatus includes a carriage that moves in a main scanning direction in accordance with the control signal; a conveyance unit that conveys a recording medium in a sub-scanning direction; an output detection unit that detects motor outputs of the carriage at any plural points when the carriage moves at a constant speed; and a jamming determination unit that compares an average value of the motor outputs of the carriage between the plural points with a predetermined tolerance to determine a conveyance failure.