Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a rotary guide including a path for a sheet being conveyed. The guide is rotatable so that an exit of the path faces one of at least two conveyance destinations. A motor rotates the guide, and a detector outputs a detection signal when a predetermined posture of the guide is detected. An instructing section outputs instruction signals to the motor to rotate the guide toward the predetermined posture. A judging section judges whether a detection signal has been received in response to the instruction signal, and a notifying section counts a consecutive occurrence number of a judgment result to the effect that no detection signal was received in response to the instruction signal this time and gives a notification prompting an inspection request of the image forming apparatus when the consecutive occurrence number reaches a set number.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a carrying unit, a resistance unit, a jam detection unit, a paper detection unit and a control unit. Responding to the jam detection unit detecting that a jam occurring location is outside the resistance unit, the control unit sets a part of the carrying unit, the part including at least the resistance unit, as an accumulation unit where a remaining sheet is accumulated, in accordance with a size of the remaining sheet. The remaining sheet is detected by a paper detection unit when the jam occurs. The control unit releases, among a resistance roller pair and carrying roller pairs of the carrying unit, the rollers of a pair located in the accumulation unit from pressing against each other, and makes the carrying unit carry the remaining sheet to the accumulation unit.

Abstract: A document data capturing device includes a sheet supply tray for carrying documents, a sheet discharge tray located below the sheet supply tray, and a document conveying mechanism including a conveying path along which documents are guided from the sheet supply tray to the sheet discharge tray. The document data capturing device includes a first data-capturing unit and a second data-capturing unit which scan respective sides of a document conveyed by the document conveying mechanism. The first data-capturing unit and the second data-capturing unit are each configured with a reduction-optics scanning mechanism. The conveying path along which a document to be scanned by the first and second scanning mechanisms is conveyed is formed to surround the second reduction-optics data-capturing unit. Thus, the device can be made compact.

Abstract: A disclosed image forming apparatus includes a main conveyance path configured to convey a recording medium from a paper feeding unit to a sheet discharge unit; a double-side reversing conveyance path configured to switch back a recording medium, one side of which has an image formed, so as to reverse the sides of the recording medium for double-sided image formation; a sheet resending conveyance path configured to resend the recording medium reversed in the double-side reversing conveyance path to the main conveyance path; and a double-side reversing open-space unit configured to provide a space for switching back the recording medium on the double-side reversing conveyance path. The double-side reversing open-space unit also serves as a temporary tray for storing misfed recording media and remaining recording media left inside the image forming apparatus when a jam occurs.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer belt that conveys a transfer material, and a photosensitive body that catches the transfer material between the photosensitive body and the transfer belt and that transfers a toner image to the transfer material. The transfer belt is driven in conjunction with the opening action of the front cover, and the photosensitive body is separated from the transfer belt in conjunction with the opening action of the front cover.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a document tray, first and second output trays, first and second conveyance paths, a conveying roller, a switch unit that changes a destination of documents to one of the first and second conveyance paths, a multi-feed determination unit that determines whether the documents are in a multi-fed state (e.g., a state in which a plurality of documents are layered on one another), a reading unit that acquires image data, an image storage unit that stores the image data, a control unit that controls the switch unit, and a multi-feed image storage unit that stores image data acquired by re-reading the multi-fed documents, as multi-feed image data. The control unit assigns information of page order of the documents to the image data stored in the image storage unit.

Abstract: When jam occurs in one of a tandem conveyance path and bypass conveyance path, a sheet is automatically discharged from the conveyance path where no jam has occurred. A sheet retained at the upstream side with respect to a first fixing device in a sheet conveying direction is automatically discharged to the outside of an image forming apparatus by using the conveyance path where no jam has occurred. After the automatic discharging of the sheet is completed, a user is prompted to remove the jammed sheet.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus that includes a recording medium feeding unit that feeds a recording medium to a predetermined conveyance path; a conveyance unit that conveys the recording medium fed from the recording medium feeding unit on the conveyance path; a conveyance status detection unit that detects a conveyance status of the recording medium placed on the conveyance path; a control unit that controls operations of the recording medium feeding unit, the conveyance unit, and the conveyance status detection unit; and an accommodation unit that accommodates the recording medium. The control unit controls the feeding of the recording medium with the recording medium feeding unit and the conveyance of the recording medium with the conveyance unit based on a detection result of the conveyance status detection unit, thereby discharging the recording medium present in the image forming apparatus to the accommodation unit.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus capable of performing, even by a short brake, brake assist by which a sheet is stopped at a position where the sheet is visible. Upon occurrence of a wrap jam, brake control for a drive motor and brake assist control are performed. In the brake assist control, a pressing process is performed based on the number of assist operation pulses, which is set in advance. When an edge of a home position sensor signal is detected, a process for stopping the pressing process is carried out, whereby a pressing unit assumes a maximum pressing position.

Abstract: A conveyance control mechanism for a printer including an image forming unit forming an image on a sheet being conveyed on a conveyance route, includes a curl detector configured to detect a curl of the sheet conveyed on the conveyance route, in an upstream of the image forming unit on the conveyance route. The conveyance route controller may drive and stop the conveyance route differently depending on whether the curl detector detects a curl at either a front end or at a position other than the front end. When the curl detector detects a curl of the sheet, an image forming route where the image forming unit performs an image formation may be separated and retreated from the conveyance route and the sheet being conveyed may be discharged onto the retreated image forming route.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing unit fixing an unfixed toner image formed by an image forming unit and transferred by a transfer unit on a recording medium; a discharge unit provided above the fixing unit and discharging the recording medium; a fixing jam processing cover rotating with respect to an apparatus main body so as to open or close a part of a paper conveyance path from the fixing unit to the discharge unit; a conveyance guide member swingably provided on the fixing jam processing cover and guiding the recording medium to the discharge unit; and a supporting member having an inclined surface with which the conveyance guide member makes contact and along which, as the fixing jam processing cover is being opened, the conveyance guide member slides to become less inclined with respect to a horizontal direction.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder and a scanner having the same are provided. The automatic document feeder can include a transport unit configured to transport a document to a scanning unit, an apparatus main body configured to hold the transport unit, a cover configured to be rotatably disposed on the apparatus main body, and a sensing unit disposed on a document transportation path to sense whether the cover is open or closed, the position of the document, or both. The automatic document feeder and the scanner having the same are configured to allow a jammed document to be ejected without having the document be damaged.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing unit with a nip, two rollers, a guide member, a detection unit and an urging unit. The detection unit is disposed substantially parallel to the guide member opposite to the guide member across a recording medium conveyed between the nip and the two rollers. The detection unit detects jamming of the recording medium on the basis of a pressure greater than a predetermined value applied by the recording medium between the nip and the two rollers. The distance between the guide member and the detection unit is greater than the distance between the guide member and the recording medium passing between the nip and the two rollers while being urged by the urging unit.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a heat member and a pressure member in pressed contact with the heat member, forming a nip part therebetween. A cover member of a main casing is movable between a first closed position for covering the heat member and a first open position for exposing the heat member. A flapper disposed between the cover member and the nip part is movable between a second closed position for covering the heat member and a second open position for exposing the heat member. The flapper toggles between conveying paths. A regulating member is capable of regulating movement of the flapper to the second open position when the cover member is in the first open position so as to maintain the heat member covered by the flapper.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a controller that compares an input original length that is received from a main operating unit and an actual original length that is calculated based on a detection result from a registration sensor arranged, on a conveying path, downstream of a separation feeding unit. The controller sets, when a result of the comparison indicates that the input original length and the actual original length are not equal, a larger value between the input original length and the actual original length as a jam determining value. The controller controls a jam detection based on the set jam determining value.

Abstract: A configuration of an image forming system that includes an image forming apparatus and at least one of a paper feed apparatus and a post-process apparatus is defined based on system configuration information including a combination of identification information for the apparatuses and setting information for the order of arrangement of the apparatuses corresponding to the identification information without using a dedicated line connection.

Abstract: An image formation system wherein a paper discharge unit of a first image formation device which forms an image using a colored printing agent, is connected with a first paper feeder of a second image formation device which forms an image using a transparent printing agent, and a printing material formed by the first image formation device is fed to the second image formation device, the image a formation system comprising: a jam detector; and an image formation unit that, when detecting a jam in the second image formation device, causes a printing material to be fed to the second image formation device from a second paper feeder separate and causes the second image formation device to form an image upon detecting a jam in the second image formation device, and second image data inputted together with the first image data using colored and transparent printing agents.

Abstract: Methods and systems for facilitating remote access and customization of internally generated printing node status reports. In some embodiments, the methods and systems advantageously facilitate remote access and customization of internally generated printing node status reports by adapting preexisting features that generate local hard copies of printing node status reports in response to locally initiated commands. Such adaptation enables a printing node to receive, process and respond to remotely initiated requests for printing node status reports in a manner that permits remote customization of the style of printing node status reports.

Abstract: A recording sheet processing device includes a stack tray used, when a recording sheet gets jammed inside a subsequent finishing device, for collecting recording sheets left inside a preceding image forming device and recording sheets left inside a recording sheet feeding unit of the image forming device before those recording sheets reach the finishing device. A portion of a conveying path in the recording sheet processing device is opened so that the recording sheet that has jammed at the finishing processing side can freely fall down into a stack tray. Then, a conveying path switching claw is switched to a position for collecting subsequent recording sheets into the stack tray. Thus, subsequent recording sheets are collected in the stack tray without stoppage in conveyance.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fusing apparatus including: a fusing section including a nipping section which conveys a recording medium while applying pressure and heat to the recording medium; an injecting section which is provided on a downstream side of a conveying direction of the recording medium with respect to the nipping section and which injects gas between a recording medium conveyed by the nipping section and attached to the fusing section and the fusing section; a detecting section which detects jamming of the recording medium in a conveying path of the recording medium; and a separating section which separates the injecting section from the fusing section when jamming of the recording medium is detected by the detecting section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes at least one image carrier and a recording medium conveyor forming a transfer nip therebetween, a conveyance member disposed closest to the transfer nip on an upstream side of the transfer nip to convey the recording medium to the transfer nip, and a conveyance control mechanism to deactivate the conveyance member to stop providing a conveyance force to the recording medium after the leading edge of the recording medium has entered the transfer nip and before the trailing edge of the recording medium passes a point of force application and remaining in the inactive state until the recording medium passes the point of force application. The conveyance force remains unapplied to the recording medium from when the conveyance control mechanism deactivates the conveyance member to when the trailing edge of the recording medium passes the transfer nip.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a conveyance unit withdrawably mounted on the apparatus body, and a driving mechanism disposed in the apparatus body. The conveyance unit has a power transmission member which transmits the driving force generated by the driving mechanism to the conveyance member. The power transmission member has a drive input section disposed on the outside of a housing for receiving the driving force. The driving mechanism is disposed on the apparatus body side, and has a drive output section engageable with the drive input section. The drive input section and the drive output section engage with each other in a mounted state that the conveyance unit is mounted on the apparatus body, and the engagement between the drive input section and the drive output section is released in a withdrawn state that the conveyance unit is withdrawn from the apparatus body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit; a transport roller transporting the sheet to the image forming unit; a stacking unit stacking a sheet; a manual feed path extending from a manual feed slot to the transport roller; a feed path extending from the stacking unit to the transport roller; a feed unit transporting the sheet of the stacking unit to the transport roller through the feed path; a first detection unit detecting a sheet inserted into the manual feed path from the manual feed slot; and a control unit, when the first detection unit detects the sheet inserted from the manual feed slot while an operation to feed the sheet of the stacking unit to the image forming unit by the feed unit and the transport roller, and an image forming operation by the image forming unit are executed, aborting the image forming operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image according to a specified printing time, including: an image forming condition setting unit for setting an image forming condition including an information related to the specified printing time and an information related to recording material; a control unit adapted to calculate a recording material acquisition startup time for starting to acquire a recording material based on the image forming condition set by the image forming condition setting unit, and adapted to issue a warning related to a replenishment of the recording material, and/or to inhibit formation of image, after the recording material acquisition startup time, in the case where there is no recording material specified under the image forming condition or in the case where the recording material is insufficient.

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: The image forming apparatus having a suction conveying portion, including a belt member arranged between a transfer portion and a fixing unit, for conveying sheet while suctioning at a conveying face of the belt member, a moving portion which moves the upstream side of a conveying face or downward, and a position controller which controls operation of the moving portion to move the upstream side of the conveying face to a position being close to the transfer portion from a receiving position after sheet fed from the transfer portion is received by the suction conveying portion which is located at the receiving position being apart from the transfer portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include a printer to fix images on paper sheets that travel along a first paper path and a second paper path, and first and second doors that may be open to uncover the first and second paper paths, respectively. First and second sensors may detect if the respective doors are open and first and second jam detectors may detect jams along the respective paper paths. A memory may store first and second jam removal guidance for the jams along the respective paper paths. A controller may cause a display to switch from displaying the first jam removal guidance read from the memory to displaying the second jam removal guidance read from the memory upon the second door sensor detecting the second door is open.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms an image by fixing, on a recording medium, a toner image formed by an image forming unit. The image forming apparatus includes a determination unit which determines whether a delay has occurred during conveyance of a recording medium, based on the detection result of the recording medium discharged from a fixing unit for fixing a toner image on the recording medium, and a control unit which controls the operation of the image forming apparatus based on the determination result of the determination unit and a determination result indicating whether a jam processing operation was executed for the fixing unit.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes: a rotating member configured to rotate by being pushed by a leading edge of a sheet being conveyed; a sensor configured to output a signal corresponding to a position of the rotating member; a first abutting portion provided on the rotating member and with which the leading edge of the sheet being conveyed comes into contact; and a second abutting portion provided on the rotating member on a side opposite from the first abutting portion with respect to a rotation shaft of the rotating member and configured to come into contact with the sheet being conveyed in the course of the rotation of the rotating member by being pushed by the leading edge of the sheet being conveyed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit; a first sheet discharging path that reverses a traveling direction of a sheet and discharges the sheet; a cover, which forms a part of the first sheet discharging path when the cover is in a closed state; a second sheet discharging path, which is formed when the cover is in an open state, which is branched from the first sheet discharging path, and which discharges the sheet from the image forming unit without reversing the traveling direction of the sheet; a sensor, which is positioned downstream in a conveying direction of the sheet from the image forming unit, and which detects a passage of the sheet; and a determination unit that determines a jam based on a detection result of the sensor, the determination unit changing a determination criterion of the jam in accordance with the state of the cover.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a main body, a replaceable unit, a determination unit, a first memory, a second memory, a temporary memory, a first control unit, and a second control unit. The determination unit determines whether the replaceable unit is a genuine product or a non-genuine product with respect to the main body. The first memory is configured to store a physical value increasing with a use of the main body mounted with the genuine product. The second memory is configured to store the physical value increasing with the use of the main body mounted with the non-genuine product. The temporary memory is configured to temporarily store the physical value increasing with the use of the main body mounted with the non-genuine product.

Abstract: When a sheet P is jammed after start of a print job, it is determined whether an automatic resumption mode for automatically resuming the print job is set. When a determination result of this determination is affirmative, the print job is resumed after the jam is released. When the determination result is negative, the print job is stopped.

Abstract: An image-forming device, such as a laser printer, includes a sheet-feed section, an image-forming section, a thermal fixing section and a control section. The sheet-feed section is configured to feed a recording sheet to a conveyance path. The image-forming section is disposed along the conveyance path and configured to form a toner image on the recording sheet. The thermal fixing section is disposed downstream of the image-forming section in a direction of sheet feeding and configured to fix the toner image on the recording sheet with a predetermined temperature. The control section is configured to control the temperature of the thermal fixing section, to detect a sheet-feed error in the sheet-feed section and to output an error signal indicative of the error occurring. The control section may further be configured to change the temperature of the thermal fixing section in response to the error signal.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section which forms an image on a paper sheet by using a developer; a fixing section which includes a rotational axis and rotates around the rotational axis so as to fix the image formed on the paper sheet; a transport mechanism which transports the paper sheet on a paper transport route in a transport direction; a transport stop detecting section which detects a transport stop of the paper sheet; a judgment section which judges to which one of an upstream side and a downstream side of the fixing section in the transport direction the paper sheet is removed after the transport stop is detected by the transport stop detecting section; and a control section which controls the transport mechanism to execute a cleaning mode for cleaning the fixing section based on a judgment result of the judgment section.

Abstract: A transport device and a transporting method. The transporting device includes a transporting unit, a plurality of medium sensing units, an encoder, a paper management module, a determining unit, and a transport controller. When the determining unit determines that a transport error has occurred in a succession transport medium based on a count value for an encoder signal, the paper management module stops counting, and the transport controller controls the transporting unit such that the transporting unit continues transporting a previous transport medium.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device having conveyer rollers for conveying sheets one by one, a jam treater having a space and sheet guides for regulating a front side and a back side of a conveyed sheet. In the space of the jam treater, a sheet is guided, and the jam treater is rotatable and can be drawn out of a housing of the sheet conveying device. The sheet guides have curved portions to form a space in which the jam treater rotates. In order to remove a jammed sheet from a sheet path in the sheet conveying device, an operator rotates the jam treater to wind the jammed sheet around the jam treater and draws the jam treater together with the jammed sheet out of the housing.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a paper feeding section, a conveying section, an image forming section, and a display section. The paper feeding section feeds a set sheet. The conveying section conveys the sheet fed from the paper feeding section. The image forming section forms an image on the sheet conveyed by the conveying section. The display section displays sheet set guidance corresponding to a type of the sheet set in the paper feeding section.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a print mechanism which performs a printing on a plurality of papers; a paper feed section on which the papers to be printed are placed; a paper discharge section on which the papers that have been printed are placed; a transport route which extends from the paper feed section to the paper discharge section via a printing position at which the printing is performed by the print mechanism; a transport mechanism which successively transports the papers along the transport route; and a controller which controls the transport mechanism. The controller controls the transport mechanism to perform a transportation of the papers by a plurality of transport modes including a first transport mode and a second transport mode.

Abstract: A disclosed image forming apparatus includes a transport unit configured to transport a recording medium along a transport path, a transport status detection unit disposed on the transport path and configured to detect a transport status of the recording medium, a control unit configured to control transport by the transport unit according to the transport status of the recording medium detected by the transport status detection unit, and a container unit configured to hold the recording medium. If the transport status detection unit detects a delay in transporting the recording medium, the control unit controls the transport unit to discharge the recording medium or another recording medium in the transport path into the container unit.

Abstract: A paper conveying path extends from a paper feeding tray to an image forming unit, a branch conveying path extends from a branching point in the paper conveying path to a paper container, a first paper sensor and a second paper sensor are arranged in the paper conveying path upstream of the branching point, and a switch nail is arranged at the branching point to switch paths between the paper conveying path and the branch conveying path. The switch nail is controlled so that a jammed paper is conveyed to the paper container via the branch conveying path upon detecting paper jamming in the paper conveying path and the first sensor detects the jammed paper while the second sensor does not detect the jammed paper.

Abstract: The printing apparatus includes a transport mechanism that feeds the recording medium to a printing position along a transport route, a carriage disposed so as to oppose the recording medium placed on the printing position, and a driving unit that drives the carriage to reciprocate in a main scanning direction different from the transport direction of the recording medium. The carriage moves when the front edge of the recording medium reaches a predetermined position on the transport route, and jam detection is performed by deciding whether the recording medium is jammed, on the basis of a physical amount that changes with the movement of the carriage.

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 processing apparatus and image processing method for preventing a paper jam in print output are provided. First, when printing is instructed, it is judged whether paper jam exists. Next, when occurrence of paper jam is recognized based on the judgment, information related to an object is obtained. Next, when a paper jam occurs, the information is added to information of each object. Additionally, when each object is reused, it is judged whether there is a possibility that a paper jam will occur again, based on the information added.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include an image forming device to form and fix an image on a paper, a paper conveyer to convey the paper from a sheet feeder through the image forming device to a finisher, at least one door configured to uncover and cover a part of the paper conveyer, a jam detector to detect whether a jam occurs in the paper conveyer, at least one door sensor to detect whether each door is open or closed, a display, a memory, and a controller to control the jam detector, the door sensor and the display. The controller may be configured to execute control to display a jam detection result detected by the jam detector and jam removal guidance, corresponding to the jam detector which detects the jam occurring in the paper conveyer, based on the information of preset display orders of the jam removal guidance.

Abstract: A sheet finisher according to an embodiment includes: a fold roller which folds a central area of a sheet bundle to form a fold line on the sheet bundle; a fold reinforcing roller which moves along a direction of the fold line while pressing the fold line of the sheet bundle to reinforce the fold line; and a drive unit which includes a motor and transmits a drive torque of the motor to the fold reinforcing roller, so that the drive torque can be changed, to move the fold reinforcing roller along the fold line.

Abstract: There is provided a sheet finisher including a fold roller which folds the center of a sheet bundle and forms a fold line in the sheet bundle; a roller unit which is provided with an upper roller and a lower roller and which moves the upper roller and the lower roller along a fold line direction, while nipping and pressing the fold line by the upper roller and the lower roller to reinforce the fold line; and a jam release handle which separates the upper roller and the lower roller in a thickness direction of the sheet bundle and weakens or removes pressure between the upper roller and the lower roller when the upper roller and the lower roller stops in a state of pressing the fold line.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a separator presser that presses against a plurality of separators to separate the plurality of separators from a fixing rotary body that contacts an opposed rotary body to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes. A single driver is connected to the separator presser to separate the separator presser from the plurality of separators. An entering recording medium detector is disposed upstream from the fixing nip in a conveyance direction of the recording medium to detect the recording medium. A controller is connected to the driver to control the driver based on a detection signal sent from the entering recording medium detector to change a contact time period for which the plurality of separators contacts the fixing rotary body.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide an image forming apparatus including: a drum; a photoconductive member; a charging device; a developing device; a toner supplying section; a transfer member; a sensor to measure the density of a toner band adhering on the transfer member; a process control section to separately control on and off of a developing bias and on and off of a charging bias; a timing adjusting section to instruct the process control section to turn on the developing bias at timing when a portion not substantially charged on the photoconductive member is opposed to the developing device; and a calculating section to calculate an amount of supply of toner from the toner supplying section into the developing device according to a result of measurement of the density of the toner band which is formed by the developing bias enabled by the timing adjusting section by the sensor.

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: A controller for controlling an image forming apparatus having a light detection unit controls at least two operations including: 1) operation of detecting a jam of a recording sheet in a sheet transfer path based on a light intensity level detected by the light detection unit when image forming is performed; and 2) operation of controlling switching of an operation mode of the image forming apparatus to an energy save mode based on a light intensity level detected by the light detection unit.