Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems to diagnose modular printing systems having two or more interchangeable modules. In addition, methods and systems are provided to generate instructions for configuring the interchangeable modules within the printing system to produce optimal results.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which can draw out a pre-fixing conveying portion and a fixing device from an apparatus body has an abutment member which can abut a conveying surface of the pre-fixing conveying portion and can be separated therefrom, the abutment member being separated from the conveying surface of the pre-fixing conveying portion when the apparatus body is operated and abutting the conveying surface of the pre-fixing conveying portion in the event that a jam is detected by a sheet detection sensor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus management server, a Service Continuity Score (SCS) calculating method of the management server, and an image forming apparatus management system. A setup manager sets a priority with respect to items required to calculate an SCS indicative of a normal operation time of an image forming apparatus, an incident manager registers and manages an incident related to the image forming apparatus, and an SCS manager calculates the SCS using the registered incident and the priority set for the items.

Abstract: When a setting input through a control portion falls within the first setup range, the settings in the first setup storage are rewritten with the setting in the second setup storage. Since the setting was revised, the revision history including the setup content and the data of the setting is stored in a revision history storage. Next, a determination process for the revised setting is carried out. Specifically, it is determined whether a usually expected input setting from the control portion falls within the second setup range. When it does not fall within the second setup range, the controller determines that the input setting is not a proper value, and reads out the setting before revision, stored in the third setup storage to rewrite the settings in the first setup storage with it.

Abstract: An elastic sheet is defined in accordance with a user input operation to have a shape with which the elastic sheet does not cross another member (building component) (step S1). Then, the elastic sheet is divided into rigid elements (step S2). Angles formed by each rigid element with adjacent rigid elements on two sides are calculated, and the calculation results and the like are stored in a RAM (step S3). A flexible medium which moves through a conveyance path is defined (step S4). Conveyance conditions when the flexible medium moves through the conveyance path are set (step S5). After that, the motion is calculated (step S6). The result of the motion calculation, that is, the behavior of the flexible medium, is displayed on a display device (step S7).

Abstract: After the start of an image formation operation, feeding of a sheet on which an image is to be formed is started, and an image formed on an image carrier is transferred onto the fed sheet. On the other hand, after the start of the image formation operation, in a case that the sheet has not been detected within a predetermined time period in a predetermined position on the upstream side of a transfer position, transfer is stopped, and after the stoppage of the transfer, re-feeding of the sheet is performed. By the re-feeding, in a case that the sheet has been detected in the predetermined position, formation of an image to be transferred onto the sheet is started, then the timing of start of the feeding of the sheet is delayed from the timing of start of the feeding in normal times.

Abstract: The invention provides an image forming apparatus an image forming portion for forming an image on a sheet, a stack portion for stacking a sheet, a discharge portion for discharging the sheet, on which an image is formed by the image forming portion, to the stack portion, a sheet detection portion for detecting a conveying condition of the sheet on which an image is formed, a fully stacked condition detection portion for detecting whether the sheets stacked in the stack portion are in a fully stacked condition, and a determining portion for determining an abnormal condition of the sheet in the stack portion, based, after the detection of a sheet passing by the sheet detection portion, on a result of detection by the fully stacked condition detection portion as to whether the sheets stacked in the stack portion are in a fully stacked condition.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a toner image onto a recording paper includes a heating member for heating the recording paper, a pressing member for pressing the heating member by pressure-applying contact, a casing accommodating the heating member and the pressing member, and being provided with an exit port for discharging the recording paper, and a closing unit added to the exit port for keeping a temperature of the casing. The closing unit has a rotation member, and an opposed member forming a nip region together with the rotation member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a recording medium information acquisition portion that acquires carried recording medium information, which is information related to thickness of a recording medium to be carried as an image forming subject; a recording medium determination portion that determines whether there is a mismatch between the carried recording medium information acquired by the recording medium information acquisition portion and specified recording medium information, which is information related to thickness of a specified recording medium specified by a user as an image forming subject; a condition control portion that, if the recording medium determination portion determines the mismatch between the carried recording medium information and the specified recording medium information, changes a condition for transferring or fixing among image forming conditions corresponding to the specified recording medium to a condition for transferring or fixing corresponding to the recording medium to b

Abstract: The image forming apparatus has a discharge device, an air blow device and a detection device, wherein an amount of blown air by the air blow device when the height of the recording materials detected by the detection device is higher than a preset first detection position is smaller than an amount of blown air by the air blow device when the detected height of the recording materials is lower than the first detection position. Thereby, there is provided an image forming apparatus which is improved in the alignment of the recording materials on the stacking portion.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a print engine; a fixing unit; a medium sensor that outputs a detection signal when a recording medium passes said medium sensor; and a controller that determines from the detection signal whether an abnormal transportation of the recording medium has occurred or not, wherein when said controller determines from the detection signal during continuous printing that a following one of two consecutive pages of recording medium remains in said print engine after removing a preceding one of the two consecutive pages that has been abnormally transported, said controller controls said fixing unit to a predetermined temperature and subsequently allows the following one of the two pages to pass through said fixing unit at a first speed so that the following one of the two pages is discharged from the image recording apparatus.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming system that automatically discharges paper sheets other than poorly fed ones without making an emergency stop, even when poor paper feeding is caused due to a paper jam or the like. At paper feeding, information showing poor paper feeding is transmitted when the poor paper feeding is detected in supplying the paper sheets. At image forming, a determination is made whether the paper conveyance in forming the image is continued or stopped when an instruction, based on the information showing the poor paper feeding. At paper discharging, a determination is made whether the paper conveyance in discharging the paper sheets is continued or stopped when an instruction, based on the information showing the defective conveyance.

Abstract: An abnormality determining apparatus includes an information storing device that stores information, an information obtaining device that obtains information of a detection subject, a receiving device that receives abnormality presence/absence information indicative of the presence or absence of an abnormality in the detection subject detected by a user, a normal group data set constructing device that constructs a normal group data set that is a collection of normal data indicating that the detection subject is in a normal state based on the abnormality presence/absence information received by the receiving device and based on the information obtained by the information obtaining device during a preset period, and a determining device that determines the presence or absence of an abnormality in the detection subject by performing calculations based on the normal group data set stored in the information storing device and based on the information obtained by the information obtaining device.

Abstract: An image forming device which enables a user to determine a diagnostic item and to perform a system diagnosis easily. The image forming device includes a storage unit to store information corresponding to diagnostic items and keyword information for the respective diagnostic items, an input unit to receive an input of at least one input device, and a control unit to search for information corresponding to a diagnostic item stored in the storage unit which corresponds to the at least one input keyword if the at least one keyword is inputted, and performing a system diagnosis of the image forming device.

Abstract: In a method for monitoring hardware devices of the hardware devices network to detect failures, past logged jobs are analyzed to determine a pattern of past usage of hardware devices by users of the hardware devices network. A failure of a hardware device is inferred based on a deviation in usage of the hardware devices from the pattern of past usage. In some embodiments, a state model is constructed that assigns one of two or more available operational states to each hardware device of the hardware devices network based on a recent load of jobs logged to the hardware device and a stored history of logged jobs indicative of typical loading of the hardware devices. One or more failing hardware devices are identified based on the assigned operational states.

Abstract: The presence/absence of a printing failure on a printed product is accurately detected to prevent a defective product from mixing in printed products to be delivered to a customer. In order to achieve this object, a printing processing method according to this invention includes steps of inputting first image data, executing the printing process for a printing medium based on the first image data, reading the printing medium on which the first image data is printed to obtain second image data, specifying a determination area to be used to determine the presence/absence of a printing failure in the second image data based on a processing content after the printing process for the printing medium, and determining the presence/absence of the printing failure by comparing the first image data and the second image data corresponding to the determination area.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a main body unit; an image forming device disposed in the main body unit; a first structural member capable of dividing and moving relative to a third structural member; a second structural member capable of dividing and moving relative to the third structural member and the first structural member; a first transport path situated between the first structural member and the second structural member; a second transport path situated between the second structural member and the third structural member; a sensor for detecting the medium; a first positioning unit for restricting a movement of the second structural member; a second positioning unit for engaging the first structural member with the third structural member; and a control unit for sending a signal to restrict a movement of the first structural member to a specific position based on a detection result of the sensor.

Abstract: A printing system includes printing apparatuses connected to a network. A control apparatus of the printing system may send a print job to each printing apparatus and instruct each printing apparatus to execute the print job. When a first printing apparatus is instructed to execute the print job, the control apparatus makes a substitute printing reservation. The substitute printing reservation is for a second printing apparatus to execute the print job instead of the first printing apparatus. The second printing apparatus is set to a waiting state in which the second printing apparatus waits to execute the print job instead of the first printing apparatus.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes: a sheet-length detection member for detecting a length of a sheet; a transfer-length detection member for detecting a transfer length of the sheet; a double-feed detection member for detecting double feed of the sheets when the sheets are transferred while being overlapped with one another; and a control member for controlling the sheet-length detection member, the transfer-length detection member and the double-feed detection member; wherein the control member determines that double feed of the sheets has occurred, when the transfer length of the sheet is greater than the length of the sheet and a length obtained by subtracting a difference between the transfer length of the sheet and the length of the sheet from the length of the sheet is substantially equal to a double-feed length detected by the double-feed detection member.

Abstract: The present invention makes it possible to obtain output results consistent with a user's intentions without the front and back sides of the pages getting out of order by not performing output only when both the front and back are blank when performing a blank page save. As a result, print data is input and a sheet management table for each page is produced. Then, when a sheet management table is generated in which print data for both the front and the back of a single printing sheet does not exist, that sheet management table is deleted.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing apparatus which can promptly detect whether or not a jam has been removed in the case of occurrence of the jam such as a paper jam. A paper feeding apparatus 1b includes a paper feed tray 11, a pickup roller 61, a paper roller 63, a sorting roller 64, feeding rollers 66a, resist rollers 67, a paper ejection roller 73, a passage detection sensor 69, an overlapped feeding detection sensor 68 and a second detection apparatus 71. An image processing apparatus 100 includes a position detection portion 41 for detecting a location of a jam which occurs during feeding of recording paper, a determination portion 42 for determining a jam state based on a detection result of the position detection sensor 69, an examination portion 43 for examining whether the jam has been resolved and a resuming portion 44 for resuming the processing when an examination of the jam location by the examination portion 43 is finished.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet conveying device configured to convey a sheet along a conveying path, a fixing roller configured to perform thermal fixing on the sheet having unfixed toner, a motor configured to rotationally drive the fixing roller, a first sheet detector disposed downstream from the fixing roller, a second sheet detector provided between the first sheet detector and the fixing roller and where the second sheet detector does not detect the sheet when the sheet is being properly conveyed, and a controller configured to perform motor stopping methods for stopping the driving of the motor, wherein the methods providing different motor stopping capabilities. When the first sheet detector is not detecting the sheet at a predetermined timing, the controller selects from the methods on the basis of a detection result of the second sheet detector.

Abstract: An image forming system that makes it possible to open or remove an external cover of an apparatus to perform maintenance on the apparatus even while the system is operating. Out of a plurality of conveying paths, at least one conveying path for which at least one part related to the conveying path can be subjected to maintenance is determined, in accordance with a type of the image forming process being executed. The conveying path for which it has been determined that the part related to the conveying path can be subjected to maintenance is displayed on a display device.

Abstract: An image forming system is given, in advance, unique setting as a behavior to be performed when an error occurs regarding postprocessing. In a case where the postprocessing becomes inexecutable during the operation of the system, the system either cancels the postprocessing to continue printing (Steps S20, S22) or stops printing to generate an error (Step S18), based on the unique setting. A user arbitrarily decides the unique setting, which enables optimum control of the operation that the system should perform when the postprocessing becomes inexecutable.

Abstract: A printing system which includes a printer connected with at least one user terminal by a wire or wirelessly to print printing data transmitted from the user terminal, prevents printing of data before a special printing job and a printing method for the same. In the printing system, the user terminal connectable with the printer includes a printer driver to set a pause mode to temporarily prevent a printing operation in the printer, and a monitoring program unit to monitor an operation status of the printer and to display information supplied from the printer on the pause-set printing data. The printer includes a control unit to inform the user terminal the pause-set printing data is printed, upon receiving the pause-set printing data and to control second printing data supplied from a second user terminal to stand by.

Abstract: An image-forming device is configured so that a process to print confidential print data is not automatically resumed after the printing process has been interrupted and the cause of the interruption has been resolved. Accordingly, the printing of confidential print data is not resumed when the user who requested the printing operation is not near the printer during an interruption and another person resolves the cause of the interruption. In this way the image-forming device prevents content of the confidential print data from being exposed to another person.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of executing a plurality of functions is provided with operating portion to which an operation instruction is inputted by an operator; display portion for displaying an operation guide to the operator; error detecting portion for detecting an occurrence of an operation error; and display controller for causing a screen displayed on the display portion to differ depending on whether or not the error detecting portion is detecting any operation error if an operation instruction is inputted to the operation portion by the operator.

Abstract: A system for handling media sheets is provided which comprises a plurality of hardware components including a first image marking engine operative to mark media sheets, and a second image marking engine operative to mark media sheets. In addition, the plurality of hardware components can include a first object delivery path operative to transport media sheets presented by the first image marking engine to a first destination, and a second object delivery path operative to transport media sheets presented by the second image marking engine to a second destination. The first and second destinations may be a single destination, separate destinations, or interchangeable destinations. One of the first and second delivery paths can be redundant.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including a unit in which a replaceable part is loaded, an image forming section to form an image on a recording medium by an operation of the unit, a malfunction detection section to detect a malfunction of the unit or the part and a control section to carry out a control of the image forming apparatus, and when an operation mode to executed an image forming by the image forming section is an image forming mode and when the operation mode which allows a maintenance/replacement of the unit is a maintenance/replacement mode, the control section changes a control of the image forming apparatus according to whether the operation mode when the malfunction was detected by the malfunction detection section is the image forming mode or the maintenance/replacement mode.

Abstract: An image forming system is given, in advance, unique setting as a behavior to be performed when an error occurs regarding postprocessing. In a case where the postprocessing becomes inexecutable during the operation of the system, the system either cancels the postprocessing to continue printing (Steps S20, S22) or stops printing to generate an error (Step S18), based on the unique setting. A user arbitrarily decides the unique setting, which enables optimum control of the operation that the system should perform when the postprocessing becomes inexecutable.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that includes: a movable unit that can move between a first position that is for when image formation is being performed and a second position that is retreated from the first position; a first display that is used when the movable unit is in the first position; and a second display that is used when the movable unit is in the second position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first conveying unit that conveys a sheet, an image forming unit that forms an image on the sheet, a switch that switches a discharge destination for the sheet having the image formed thereon to a first direction and to a second direction, a stacking tray on which the sheet conveyed in the first direction is stacked, and a second conveying unit that conveys the sheet conveyed in the second direction. When occurrence of a jam is detected in the second conveying unit, the image forming apparatus controls the switch to switch the discharge destination of the sheet to the first direction.

Abstract: A diagnostic system made part of or for use with a document handling device in which a customer is guided toward performance of at least one comparison means in a diagnostic routine analysis. The comparison means is selected from a group comprising (1) a first comparison comparing a fused print media and an unfused print media for presence of a defect, (2) a second comparison comparing an output print media and at least one image on a screen for a type of defect, and (3) a third comparison comparing a low-charged print media and a no-charged print media for qualities of the defect. The customer enters a selection based on results of the first, the second, or the third comparisons. The diagnostic system can identify a part causing a defect in the print media based on results of the comparisons.

Abstract: A design support system is provided, which accurately simulates the behavior of a flexible medium in a convey path even if the flexible medium exhibits different flexural stiffness in different bending directions. In a design support system which supports the user to design a convey path by simulating the behavior of a flexible medium conveyed in the convey path, a flexible medium model creation module (102), when a flexible medium to be conveyed is defined in the convey path defined by using a convey path definition module (101), creates a flexible medium model representing the flexible medium by segmenting the flexible medium into a plurality of stiff body elements each having a mass, and connecting the respective adjacent stiff body elements with two springs, that is, a rotational spring and translational spring whose spring constants change depending on the direction of flexural deformation of the flexible medium.

Abstract: A control apparatus which makes it possible to realize a configuration for processing a plurality of print jobs efficiently without waste while meeting needs for performing a glossing process on prints. When a sheet printed in a first process is fed from a sheet feeder, the printing apparatus executes a second printing process for processing the fed sheet. When an interrupting factor occurs during execution of the second printing process to cause interruption of the processing, the interrupted processing is resumed on condition that the interrupting factor is removed. A resuming method of resuming the processing is determined based on contents of the processing in the second process.

Abstract: An efficient sensing system. The efficient sensing system includes a first mechanism for sensing and a second mechanism for sensing. A third mechanism selectively polls the second mechanism upon receipt of a signal from the first mechanism. In a specific embodiment, the first mechanism includes an early warning sensor, and the second mechanism includes an accurate sensor. In the specific embodiment, the third mechanism includes a controller in communication with the accurate sensor and the early warning sensor. The controller samples the accurate sensor at the sampling rate in response to the signal.

Abstract: In an image forming system having an image forming apparatus which forms an image onto a sheet and a sheet processing apparatus which is connected to the image forming apparatus and executes a post-process to the sheet, an abnormality in communication between the image forming apparatus and the sheet processing apparatus is detected, and when the communication abnormality is detected, an avoiding process for the abnormality is executed. A preprocess for a power shutdown is executed in accordance with an operation of a power switch to shut down a power source of the image forming system and, even if the communication abnormality is detected during the preprocessing step, the communication abnormality is ignored and the avoiding process is not executed.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, an image forming unit includes a movable member that is rotationally driven by a driving unit. A moving distance or a moving speed of the movable member is detected. The driving unit is controlled based on a quantity of control. An occurrence of a detection error or a control error is determined based on the moving distance, the moving speed, or the quantity of control. A predetermined error process is executed if an error occurs.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an image forming portion that forms a toner image on an image carrying body, a transfer portion that transfers the toner image formed on the image carrying body to a recording medium, a detector that detects at least one of a skew and a passing position of the recording medium, and a controller that is provided downstream of the transfer portion in a recording medium transporting direction and controls at least one of the skew and the passing position of the recording medium according to a detection result by the detector.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a printer or copier device by which errors, such as paper jams, can be cleared automatically. A controller commands a module having the error to clear the error automatically. The commands are sent to modules beginning at the output of the printer or copier device and moving in a reverse direction to the paper flow direction of the printer or copier so as to automatically clear errors such as paper jams. Status signals indicating whether the error has successfully been cleared are reported back to the controller. A printer or copier for carrying out the method and a computer program for carrying out the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an original scanning section, a sheet feeding section, an image forming section, a sheet receiving section and an indicator (LEDs). The image forming section is located between the original scanning section and the sheet feeding section and has a smaller cross-sectional area when cut by a horizontal plane than either of the original scanning section and the sheet feeding section such that a sheet receiving space into which each sheet of the printing medium is ejected is left between the original scanning section and the sheet feeding section. The sheet receiving section is located in the sheet receiving space for receiving the sheets of the printing medium ejected from the image forming section. The indicator notifies users that one or more sheets of the printing medium have been delivered to the sheet receiving section by emitting light.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a data receiving unit for receiving printing data and first identification information through a network; a data storage unit for storing the printing data and the first identification information; a non-contact medium information obtaining unit for obtaining second identification information stored in a memory of a non-contact medium; a print control unit for controlling a printing process of forming an image according to the printing data; a information comparison unit for comparing the first identification information with the second identification information; and a data control unit for retrieving the printing data corresponding to the first identification information from the data storage unit and sending the printing data to the print control unit when the information comparison unit determines that the first identification information matches to the second identification information.

Abstract: An image forming device includes an intermediate transfer member to which a toner image formed on an image bearing member is primarily transferred and which is able to simultaneously support a plurality of toner images, a secondary transfer member for secondarily transferring a toner image held on the intermediate transfer member to a sheet, a cleaning unit for removing the toner images from the intermediate transfer member after the secondary transfer, and a feeding member for feeding a sheet into the secondary transfer member. The secondary transfer member features a sheet-delay transfer mode in which a subsequent toner image on the intermediate transfer member is transferred if a previous toner image on the intermediate transfer member is out of sync with the timing at which the toner image is transferred to the fed sheet.

Abstract: When a laser printer is turned on or awakened from a sleep state and detects a sheet of paper on the paper conveying path, the laser printer performs a process to display a paper jam error upon determining that the sheet of paper should be removed. However, if the laser printer determines based on the detection results from a trailing edge sensor that the sheet of paper was inserted through a manual feed opening, the laser printer determines that the paper need not be removed and, hence, does not perform the process to display a paper jam error.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming an image determine if printing paper is properly picked up, and printing data is transferred to an intermediate transfer belt (ITB). When it is sensed that the printing paper is not properly picked up, picking up the printing paper is retried considering a revolution cycle of the ITB. Thus, the frequency of errors can be decreased, and a user's convenience can be increased because picking up the printing paper is automatically retried whenever mis-pick up occurs instead of displaying an error. Further, wasting of toner is decreased.

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 image recording apparatus includes a print engine that transfers a toner image on a recording medium, and a medium sensor disposed at an entrance of the print engine. The medium sensor outputs a detection signal when a recording medium passes by the medium sensor. When a following one of two consecutive pages of the recording medium is jammed at an entrance of the print engine, a controller completes a printing operation of a preceding one of two consecutive pages and indicates the jam of the following one of the two consecutive pages. Alternatively, the controller may control the fixing unit to a predetermined temperature, subsequently allowing the recording medium to pass through the fixing unit at a first speed and to be discharged. Still alternatively, the controller causes the print engine to stop and subsequently discharges the recording medium.

Abstract: In performing multi-pass printing by using a printhead having a plurality of nozzles, a scan duty setting unit sets a printing amount for each nozzle for each main scan of the printhead based on the scan duty setting LUT. A scan duty setting LUT changing unit updates an initial scan duty setting LUT based on the faulty nozzle information detected by a faulty nozzle detection unit. At this time, the scan duty setting LUT is updated such that the scan duty which should be distributed to a faulty nozzle is distributed to a plurality of other nozzles and neighboring nozzles which print the same main scanning line as that printed by the faulty nozzle.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus and a control method thereof, it is determined whether an error has occurred in an output signal of a sensor for detecting a paper transferred in order to print an image, and a state change permission interval with respect to the output signal is newly set when the output signal is in an abnormal state, so that the detection time of the paper can be precisely recognized.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for determining if a media jam has been detected by a print engine, an input device, or an output device.