Abstract: There is provided an image forming system that includes an image forming apparatus including, a first variable mechanism that varies from a first state to a second state or from the second state to the first state when physically operated by a user, a first detection unit configured to detect the variation of a state of the first variable mechanism, and a sound collection unit. The image forming system further includes a generation unit configured to generate, when the variation is detected by the first detection unit, first statistical information regarding at least one sound wave obtained by the sound collection unit in a period based on a timing when the variation is detected.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit having a plurality of members, a control unit, and a sound collecting unit. The control unit controls operations of the plurality of members in a first operation mode in which the image forming unit forms an image on a recording material. The sound collecting unit collects a sound that arises in the image forming apparatus during the first operation mode execution to generate a sound signal. When it is determined, based on the generated sound signal, that an abnormal sound has arisen, the control unit determines a source of the abnormal sound by transitioning to a second operation mode after the first operation mode has ended and causing, in the second operation mode, one or more members, from the plurality of members, that are possible sources of the abnormal sound to operate separately from the remaining plurality of members.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a stack portion having recording materials, an image forming unit, a basis weight detection unit, an operating sound detection unit, and a mode selection unit. The basis weight detection unit detects a recording material basis weight based on an ultrasonic wave. The operating sound detection unit detect an abnormality of a generated operating sound. The mode selection unit selects, for each recording material fed to the image forming unit, between transmitting to the basis weight detection unit a first instruction for detecting the recording material basis weight and transmitting to the operating sound detection unit a second instruction for detecting the operating sound abnormality. In determining an interval at which each second instruction is transmitted, the mode selection unit determines the interval so that the interval and a cycle, in which properties of recording materials on the stack portion are repeated, do not continuously coincide.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit having a plurality of members, a control unit, and a sound collecting unit. The control unit controls operations of the plurality of members in a first operation mode in which the image forming unit forms an image on a recording material. The sound collecting unit collects a sound that arises in the image forming apparatus during the first operation mode execution to generate a sound signal. When it is determined, based on the generated sound signal, that an abnormal sound has arisen, the control unit determines a source of the abnormal sound by transitioning to a second operation mode after the first operation mode has ended and causing, in the second operation mode, one or more members, from the plurality of members, that are possible sources of the abnormal sound to operate separately from the remaining plurality of members.

Abstract: An image forming system includes: a reading unit configured to read a test image, the test image having a determination image formed by overlapping a plurality of colors and a plurality of reference images formed with each of a plurality of reference colors; and a determination unit configured to determine a first color value of each of the plurality of reference colors based on a reading result of the reference images, determine a second color value of a plurality of pixels included in the determination image based on a reading result of the determination image, and determine whether an image defect has occurred based on an angle of a second vector corresponding to the second color value of the plurality of pixels with respect to a first vector corresponding to the first color value of each of the plurality of reference colors.

Abstract: An image forming system includes: a reading unit configured to read a test image, the test image having a determination image formed by overlapping a plurality of colors and a plurality of reference images formed with each of a plurality of reference colors; and a determination unit configured to determine a first color value of each of the plurality of reference colors based on a reading result of the reference images, determine a second color value of a plurality of pixels included in the determination image based on a reading result of the determination image, and determine whether an image defect has occurred based on an angle of a second vector corresponding to the second color value of the plurality of pixels with respect to a first vector corresponding to the first color value of each of the plurality of reference colors.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit having a plurality of members, a control unit, and a sound collecting unit. The control unit controls operations of the plurality of members in a first operation mode in which the image forming unit forms an image on a recording material. The sound collecting unit collects a sound that arises in the image forming apparatus during the first operation mode execution to generate a sound signal. When it is determined, based on the generated sound signal, that an abnormal sound has arisen, the control unit determines a source of the abnormal sound by transitioning to a second operation mode after the first operation mode has ended and causing, in the second operation mode, one or more members, from the plurality of members, that are possible sources of the abnormal sound to operate separately from the remaining plurality of members.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet; a detection unit configured to detect a characteristic value of the sheet; a reading unit configured to optically read the sheet; and a control unit configured to perform determination processing for determining whether or not an image failure has occurred, by comparing a determination value acquired by causing the reading unit to read a non-image area of the sheet after an image has been formed on the sheet, with a reference determination value that is based on the characteristic value detected by the detection unit.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming system that includes an image forming apparatus including, a first variable mechanism that varies from a first state to a second state or from the second state to the first state when physically operated by a user, a first detection unit configured to detect the variation of a state of the first variable mechanism, and a sound collection unit. The image forming system further includes a generation unit configured to generate, when the variation is detected by the first detection unit, first statistical information regarding at least one sound wave obtained by the sound collection unit in a period based on a timing when the variation is detected.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet; a detection unit configured to detect a characteristic value of the sheet; a reading unit configured to optically read the sheet; and a control unit configured to perform determination processing for determining whether or not an image failure has occurred, by comparing a determination value acquired by causing the reading unit to read a non-image area of the sheet after an image has been formed on the sheet, with a reference determination value that is based on the characteristic value detected by the detection unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a fixing portion, a reversing portion, a re-feeding path, a detecting portion, a first feeding path, a second feeding path, an air flow generating portion, and a flow path forming portion. The flow path forming portion forms a flow path along which air flow is passed through between a recording material passing through the second feeding path and a constituent portion constituting the second feeding path on a side toward the detecting portion and guides the recording material passing through the second feeding path, when the recording material passes through the second feeding path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a fixing portion, a reversing portion, a re-feeding path, a detecting portion, a first feeding path, a second feeding path, an air flow generating portion, and a flow path forming portion. The flow path forming portion forms a flow path along which air flow is passed through between a recording material passing through the second feeding path and a constituent portion constituting the second feeding path on a side toward the detecting portion and guides the recording material passing through the second feeding path, when the recording material passes through the second feeding path.

Abstract: A sensor unit is at least partially disposed in a region below an upper end of a reversing roller, above a lower end of a second rotary member, and outside a duplex conveying path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image reading unit, an original conveyance unit, a reversing unit, an image forming unit, an image forming conveyance unit, and a control unit. The original conveyance unit conveys an original in a first direction toward the image reading unit, which reads an image of the original. The reversing unit conveys an original passing through the image reading unit in the first direction, or reversely conveys the original toward the image reading unit in a second direction. The image forming unit forms an image on a sheet. The image forming conveyance unit conveys, to the image forming unit, an original reversely conveyed by the reversing unit via the image reading unit. The control unit controls an operation for reading an image of the original by using the image reading unit and for overprinting the original with an image by using the image forming unit.

Abstract: An electromechanical transducer includes a plurality cells that are electrically connected to form a unit. Each of the cells includes a first electrode and a second electrode provided with a gap being disposed therebetween. Dummy cells that are not electrically connected to the cells are provided around the outer periphery of the unit of the cells.

Abstract: When the initial displacement greatly varies among cells in an element, there is a need to reduce a bias voltage to be applied between electrodes. This decreases the sensitivity. An electromechanical transducer of the present invention includes an element having a plurality of cells. Each of the cells includes a first electrode and a second electrode that are provided with a cavity being disposed therebetween. A groove is provided at a position at a predetermined distance from the cavity of the cell on the outermost periphery of the element.

Abstract: When the initial displacement greatly varies among cells in an element, there is a need to reduce a bias voltage to be applied between electrodes. This decreases the sensitivity. An electromechanical transducer of the present invention includes an element having a plurality of cells. Each of the cells includes a first electrode and a second electrode that are provided with a cavity being disposed therebetween. A groove is provided at a position at a predetermined distance from the cavity of the cell on the outermost periphery of the element.

Abstract: An electromechanical transducer includes a plurality cells that are electrically connected to form a unit. Each of the cells includes a first electrode and a second electrode provided with a gap being disposed therebetween. Dummy cells that are not electrically connected to the cells are provided around the outer periphery of the unit of the cells.

Abstract: When the initial displacement greatly varies among cells in an element, there is a need to reduce a bias voltage to be applied between electrodes. This decreases the sensitivity. An electromechanical transducer of the present invention includes an element having a plurality of cells. Each of the cells includes a first electrode and a second electrode that are provided with a cavity being disposed therebetween. A groove is provided at a position at a predetermined distance from the cavity of the cell on the outermost periphery of the element.

Abstract: When the initial displacement greatly varies among cells in an element, there is a need to reduce a bias voltage to be applied between electrodes. This decreases the sensitivity. An electromechanical transducer of the present invention includes an element having a plurality of cells. Each of the cells includes a first electrode and a second electrode that are provided with a cavity being disposed therebetween. A groove is provided at a position at a predetermined distance from the cavity of the cell on the outermost periphery of the element.