Abstract: An additive manufacturing system for fabricating multi-sided printed composite sheet structures includes a roll fed duplex architecture that prints polymer images on both sides of a substrate sheet to form two-sided 3D composite layers. A substrate web is fed into the machine, and a top side is printed with a wetting agent, powdered, and the excess powder is removed. The image may be pinned to the substrate in a fusing step so that the web can be inverted to print a second image on the other side. The inversion architecture could include inverting rollers, tubes or a Mobius strip that may flip the substrate for backside printing using a single imaging station. The resulting two-side powdered and pinned substrate would then be cut, stacked, heated and compressed to create a 3-D object with more polymer in the stack, resulting in better adhesive binding characteristics at a much higher production speed.

Abstract: A turnover apparatus includes a first turnover portion, a second turnover portion, and a third turnover portion each including a convexly curved outer surface. An electrode foil is turned over as the electrode foil is transported along the outer surface of each of the first turnover portion, the second turnover portion, and the third turnover portion in this order. The first turnover portion, the second turnover portion, and the third turnover portion are integrally fixed. Each of the outer surfaces of the first turnover portion, the second turnover portion, and the third turnover portion defines a part of each side of a virtual triangle.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transfer member that transfers an image on the image carrier to a continuous medium, a fixing device that fixes the image transferred to the medium, and a transport member that is disposed downstream of the fixing device in a transport direction of the medium and that transports the medium. When the transport member transports the medium, the fixing device is passively rotated in accordance with movement of the medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes the following elements. A transfer unit is disposed in the image forming apparatus to be contactable to and separable from an image carrier and transfers an image on the image carrier to a continuous recording medium. A fixing unit fixes the image on the continuous recording medium by sandwiching it between first and second fixing members. The first and second fixing members are disposed in the image forming apparatus to be contactable to and separable from each other. The position adjusting image detector detects a position adjusting image on the image carrier. A controller performs control so that the first and second fixing members contact each other and the image carrier and the transfer unit contact each other and thereafter so that the position adjusting image is detected by the position adjusting image detector after a transport state of the continuous recording medium is stabilized.

Abstract: In one example a method is disclosed for printing duplex images. The method includes printing an image on side A of media, including an alignment mark. Detecting the alignment mark with a sensor. The velocity of the media is determined when the alignment mark is detected. Printing an image on side B of the media where the location of the image on side B is dependent on the velocity of the media. In another example a printer is disclosed that uses the method to print duplex images.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier; a transfer unit that transfers an image carried by the image carrier to a continuous medium; a fixing device that fixes the image transferred to the continuous medium; a determination unit that determines whether or not a tension is applied to the continuous medium; and a controller that drives the fixing device if a tension is applied to the continuous medium.

Abstract: A pinion gear is coaxially attached to vicinity of an end of an inner bar. The pinion gear is engaged with a rack gear and rotates in response to upward and downward movements of the tension bar. When the pinion rotates, the inner bar correspondingly rotates. The inner bar and an outer bar, which is a tension applying bar, are connected to each other so as to freely rotate. When the pinion rotates, the inner bar correspondingly rotates, while the outer bar remains unrotated.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus contains a control portion that controls a cooling operation of the fixing portion. The control portion sets an image confirmable position in which an image formed on a long sheet is confirmable. When a print job on the long sheet finishes, the control portion starts the cooling operation of the fixing portion and controls the conveying portion to convey the long sheet until a rear end of a final image fixed by a fixing portion reaches the image confirmable position and finishes the cooling operation of the fixing portion until the rear end of the image fixed by the fixing portion reaches the image confirmable position. The control portion also sets the image confirmable position to be at an outermost circumference of rolled paper reeled by a reeling apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming part having a transfer part including a transfer member and a rotation member to face the transfer member, and the transfer part to transfer a developer with a transfer voltage to a recording medium of which a front surface is with a transfer region and a non-transfer region, in the transfer target region where the developer is to be disposed and in the non-transfer region where the developer is not to be disposed; a measuring part that measures a first electric resistance value and a second electric resistance value, the first electric resistance value being defined as in a state in which the transfer region is not present between the transfer member and the rotation member, and the second electric resistance value being defined as in another state in which the transfer region is present therebetween; and a control part that determines the transfer voltage value in the transfer part based on the first electric resistance value and the second electric resis

Abstract: A method of controlling an image forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus and image forming system are described, with which banner paper can be processed by appropriately detecting the banner paper in the fixing position when the conveyance of the banner paper is halted. The image forming apparatus comprises a paper conveying unit for conveying banner paper, an image forming unit for transferring an image to the banner paper, a fixing unit for fixing the image to the banner paper in a fixing nip by heating and pressing the banner paper conveyed along a conveying route, and a control unit. This control unit identifies information about the paper position which coincides with the fixing nip when the conveyance of the banner paper is halted and information about the amount of paper deformation of the banner paper in the paper position, and outputs the information which is identified.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes the following. A conveying unit conveys a continuous sheet at least longer than a length of the apparatus itself. A first rotating member can be pressed to and separated from a second rotating member. The first rotating member can be rotated separated from the second rotating member. The continuous sheet can be stopped and held when the first rotating member is separated from the second rotating member. The image forming apparatus further includes a control unit. When the continuous sheet is stopped and held and the rotation of the first rotating member is started separated from the second rotating member, the control unit moves at least one of the first rotating member and the continuous sheet so that the continuous sheet is not in contact with the first rotating member, and then the control unit starts rotation of the first rotating member.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus of a tandem type including an intermediate conveying apparatus which conveys a sheet conveyed from a first image forming apparatus to a second image forming apparatus using a sheet conveying member, there are provided with a detecting portion configured to detect a state of the sheet conveying member, and an adjusting portion configured to adjust the state of the sheet conveying member so that the amount of heat radiation from the sheet in the sheet conveying member becomes constant, according to a detection result of the detecting portion.

Abstract: An example method for printing in accordance with the present disclosure is provided. The method comprises detecting a selection of a manual mode for a print job, detecting that a stacker is in a manual mode condition, printing the print job and outputting the print job to the stacker.

Abstract: A decision is made for each page as to whether to allow image printing on that page, by comparing the remaining sheet length DL with a length of an image about to be printed, IL. A length of a non-printed, rear-end cut sheet is also checked to determine whether the non-printed cut sheet needs to be further cut into smaller sheets. This arrangement can prevent a complete image to be printed in one page from being broken and only partly printed in the last portion of a paper roll, ensure that printed cut sheets and non-printed cut sheets are stably conveyed and discharged and enable the non-printed cut sheets to be almost equal in size so that they can be properly accommodated in the associated tray.

Abstract: A printing control apparatus includes a setting unit that sets a location of a delimitation in a print instruction, a buffer unit that buffers image data generated in response to the print instruction, and a transfer unit that transfers the image data buffered on the buffer unit to a printer that prints on a continuous-feed paper sheet. The transfer unit inserts blank sheet data at the location of the delimitation set by the setting unit when an amount of the image data buffered by the buffer unit becomes equal to or below a first threshold value and transfers the image data to the printer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a transfer fixer which secondarily transfers a first toner image on a first intermediate transfer belt onto a first side of a sheet at a first secondary transfer position and fixes the first toner image transferred to the first side of the sheet while secondarily transferring a second toner image on the second intermediate transfer belt onto a second side of the sheet opposite to the first side at a second secondary transfer position and fixing the second toner image transferred to the second side of the sheet.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes: an image formation unit that forms an image on continuous paper; a paper conveyance unit that conveys the paper through a conveyance path; a deviation correction unit that corrects deviation of the continuous paper by moving the paper on the conveyance path in a paper feed intersecting direction; a paper position measurement unit that measures a paper position in the paper feed intersecting direction of the paper on the conveyance path; and a control unit that controls the image formation unit and the deviation correction unit, wherein during stop of a conveyance operation, the control unit moves the paper to a predetermined position in the paper feed intersecting direction by deviation correction by the deviation correction unit, and during the conveyance operation, the control unit decides an image formation position in a main scanning direction in the image formation.

Abstract: In a fixing apparatus of an image forming apparatus, a heating member melts and fixes the unfixed toner. A heat controller controls temperatures of opposite end portion areas and a middle portion area of a surface of the heating member in a width direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction on an individual area basis. A pressure member is pressed against and contacted with the heating member to form a fixing part between the pressure member and the heating member. The heat controller controls the temperatures of the surface of the heating member so that the temperature of at least one of the opposite end portion areas of the surface of the heating member is higher than the temperature of the middle portion area of the surface of the heating member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a scanning unit configured to scan a photosensitive member with light; a developing unit configured to develop a latent image; a driving unit configured to cause the developing unit to come into contact with the photosensitive member or to be separated from the photosensitive member; and a control unit configured to let the scanning unit perform a preparation operation, in order for the scanning unit to form the latent image. The developing unit is separated from the photosensitive member while the preparation operation of the scanning unit is performed, and the control unit is configured to start, before the preparation operation of the scanning unit is completed, controlling the driving unit to bring the separated developing unit into contact with the photosensitive member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a control unit arranged to control an image forming unit so as to form images based on image information and to form maintenance images for maintaining the image forming unit. The control unit is arranged to control the image forming unit so as to form images on the second side of the sheet after forming images on the first side of the sheet, and so as to form the maintenance images on the second side at positions such that the maintenance images do not overlap with the images based on the image information formed on the first side.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has rotatable members for rotatably retaining respective ones of flanges mounted to opposite ends of a roll sheet, and placement stages on which the roll sheet is to be placed and on which respective ones of the rotatable members are mounted. Racks are mounted to respective ones of the placement stages for undergoing movement to move the placement stages relative one another to vary a distance between the placement stages. A pinion is arranged between the racks for undergoing rotation to move the racks, and a potentiometer whose resistance value varies in accordance with a distance between the placement stages undergoing movement with rotation of the pinion is provided. An A/D converter outputs a value based on a resistance value of the potentiometer. A calculation device calculates a width of the roll sheet based on the value output from the A/D converter. A memory stores the calculated width of the roll sheet.

Abstract: A tandem printing system for imaging a continuous web of material includes a first printer serially coupled to a second printer wherein the speed of the web can be adjusted to maintain image quality and to compensate for a change in a diameter of a driver drum. The change in the diameter of the driver drum can be derived from characteristics of the printing system including the amount of sag of the continuous web of material moving between the first printer and the second printer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes: an image forming unit for forming an image on a continuous paper; a fixing unit for fixing by heat the image which has been formed on the continuous paper by the image forming unit; conveyance units for conveying the continuous paper; and a control unit for controlling the conveyance units to convey the continuous paper in such a manner that, when an image forming operation by the image forming unit is stopped, the same portion of the continuous paper, on which the image is not formed, does not remain in the fixing unit for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A printing system including: a first printer that forms an image on continuous-form printing paper, and includes a pre-heating unit that preliminarily heats the continuous-form printing paper prior to fixation and a fixing unit that performs the fixation; and a second printer that forms an image on the continuous-form printing paper fed from the first printer. The second printer includes a jam detecting unit that detects, at a detection position upstream of a position where the second printer forms the image on the continuous-form printing paper, and a control unit that controls the jam detecting unit such that the jam detection is not performed for a period of time, over which a deformed portion of the continuous-form printing paper which has been at rest at the pre-heating unit of the first printer passes through the detection position of the jam detecting unit.

Abstract: A printing system includes first and second printing apparatuses that form images on first and second surfaces of a continuous recording sheet, respectively. The second printing apparatus includes a printing unit that forms a toner image on the sheet; a conveying unit that conveys the sheet at a reference speed in the printing unit; a fixing-conveying unit that conveys the sheet and fixes the toner image adhered to the sheet; a buffer unit that takes up slack in the sheet generated because of a difference in conveyance between the conveying unit and the fixing-conveying unit; a determining unit that determines a brake force for stopping conveyance of the fixing-conveying unit, based on a buffer amount of the buffer unit, which corresponds to the slack in the sheet; and a conveyance control unit that performs control to stop conveyance of the sheet by the determined brake force.

Abstract: A medium transport apparatus includes: a transport unit transporting a belt-shaped medium having plural marks formed in line at predetermined intervals in a transport direction; a detection unit detecting the marks on the medium; and a determining unit determining that a splice exists at a position on the medium if an interval of the marks detected from the medium by the detection unit differs from the predetermined intervals, the position being identified by the marks having the interval different from the predetermined intervals.

Abstract: An approach that prepares an electronic document of continuous information for document exchange that simultaneously supports continuous and page-by-page printing is described. In one embodiment, there is an electronic document generator tool for document exchange that includes an input component configured to receive input with respect to preparing the electronic document of continuous information for continuous and page-by-page printing. The input comprises an indication to represent the electronic document of continuous information in a page-based file format for document exchange and an indication of target page sizes with respective unprintable margins that are desired for printing the electronic document of continuous information.

Abstract: A control unit includes a memory storing correction data obtained by associating information acquired by a first acquisition unit (rotary encoder) with information acquired by a second acquisition unit (direct sensor) with respect to, at least one rotation of a conveying roller. When a plurality of images are sequentially printed on a first surface and a second surface of a continuous sheet, the control unit reads the correction data corresponding to the rotation information acquired by the first acquisition unit from the memory and corrects at least one of driving control of a print head and driving control of the roller. The correction data used in printing on the first surface of the sheet is different from that used in printing on the second surface of the sheet.

Abstract: There is disclosed a printer having a print head and a high frequency magnetic coupler to magnetically couple with high frequency RFID transponders in a web at or near the print head. The coupler couples magnetically to only one transponder at a time that is generally aligned with one or more inductors, and magnetic radiation from the inductor(s) may be at least partly shielded from upstream transponders, and a ground conductor in the upstream side of the coupler diminishes radiation to upstream transponders.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a separating unit for performing a stripping operation of forcibly returning toner particles carried on a toner bearing member to a developer bearing member, a sheet size discriminator for discriminating whether a sheet is a standard sized sheet or a long sheet, a determiner for determining whether or not there is any blank area of a predetermined length or longer in the sub scanning direction, where no toner image is to be substantially transferred, for each long sheet, and a controller for controlling the stripping operation. The controller causes the separating unit to perform the stripping operation at a developing timing of an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the blank area to be formed on the image bearing member when the sheet is a long sheet and when the blank area of the predetermined length or longer is present.

Abstract: A printing system includes a first printing apparatus, a second printing apparatus, and a control device. The second printing apparatus is provided at a rear stage of the first printing apparatus, and includes a second preheating unit that preheats a recording medium from one surface before thermally fixing a toner image to another surface, and a temperature control unit that increase the temperature of the second preheating unit from a normal temperature to a target temperature, in response to a printing preparation instruction received in a temporary printing stop state from the control device. The control device starts printing, when the temperature of the second preheating unit reaches the target temperature. The temperature control unit decreases the temperature of the second preheating unit from the target temperature to the normal temperature, when the recording medium is conveyed by a length from a deformed portion to the second preheating unit.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a computer implemented method of printing data is provided, the method comprising identifying whether a single- or a double-sided printer is operatively connected to the computer, identifying whether single- or double sided media is installed in the printer, and selecting a mode of operation for the printer based on whether it is identified as a single- or a double-sided printer and whether single- or double-sided media is identified as being installed therein. Variations are provided.

Abstract: A printing apparatus including: a web conveyance unit that conveys a web; a printing unit that prints an image on the web; a web discharging unit that discharges the web on which the image is formed with the printing unit, the web discharging unit being placed downstream of the printing unit; and a web withdrawal unit that withdraws the web into the printing apparatus, the web withdrawal unit including a web withdrawal roller and at least one pressing roller. When the printing apparatus is in a print waiting state, the printing apparatus drives the web withdrawal roller intermittently, while a pressing force from the at least one of the pressing roller is maintained, so as to convey the web intermittently.

Abstract: A system that avoids any stopping or reversing of the web direction in a continuous feed printer, instead maintaining consistent process speed, only requiring a slowing and speeding up of the web to cycle through the PR belt seam. This is done by forming a web loop and then immediately flattening the loop after passage of the seam through the transfer zone that includes two transfer BTR rolls with alternating transfer operations, but simultaneous transfer for short periods. Two vacuum assist rolls, one located between the two bias transfer rolls controls the formation of the web loop. A pair of nip forming rolls upstream of the first transfer station and a second vacuum assist roll downstream of the second transfer station control the size of the loop.

Abstract: A device includes: a receiver receiving a displacement of an image formation target area in a sub-scanning direction from a reference position on a continuous form with side portions having holes and with a page boundary per a length; a calculator calculating marker lengths of markers marking upper and lower ends of a page of the continuous form based on the displacement, a shortest distance to the holes from the page boundary, and a reference length for when the displacement is not specified for the markers; another calculator calculating start positions of the markers based on the displacement, the distance, the reference length, and a length of the target area in the sub-scanning direction; and a controller performing, with respect to an apparatus, control of the image formation of the markers in the side portions from the start positions over the marker lengths.

Abstract: A control apparatus, connected to two image forming apparatuses each forming an image on one of a first face and a second face serving as image forming faces of a continuous recording paper, includes a receiving unit that receives, from each image forming apparatus, information regarding a transfer rate affecting condition that affects a difference in toner transfer rates of the image forming faces; a determining unit that determines, based on a standard amount of toner deposit and the transfer rate affecting condition regarding each of the first face and the second face, a target deposit amount representing a target amount of toner deposit in each of the two image forming apparatuses in such a way that the target deposit amounts have a difference corresponding to the difference in the toner transfer rate between the two image forming apparatuses.

Abstract: A medium conveying device includes: an inclined roller that feeds a recording medium in a direction that is inclined from a conveying direction of the recording medium; and a counter member disposed at such a position as to be opposed to the inclined roller with the recording medium interposed in between and having a curved surface on a side of the inclined roller, and one of an outer circumferential surface of the inclined roller, a rotation axis of the inclined roller, and the curved surface of the counter member is inclined according to an angle between a feed direction of the inclined roller and the medium conveying direction and a radius of curvature of the curved surface so that the outer circumferential surface of the inclined roller and the curved surface of the counter member contact each other approximately in line contact.

Abstract: A printing control apparatus may execute printing on a continuous sheet by using a printing unit. The printing control apparatus includes a reversal unit, an input unit, and a printing control unit. In executing printing by the printing unit on both surfaces of the continuous sheet, the reversal unit reverses the continuous sheet to execute printing on a second surface after executing printing on a first surface. If the printing on the first surface currently is being executed by the printing unit to execute two-sided printing of a preceding job based on a preceding job in a case where an instruction for interruption printing is input by the input unit, the printing control unit executes the interruption printing according to the instruction subsequent to the printing on the first surface of the continuous sheet based on the preceding job, and supplies the printed continuous sheet to the reversal unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for printing an image on a continuous print medium includes an image processing unit for converting print data received to image data printable; a developer image forming unit for forming a developer image using specific developer according to the image data; a transfer unit for transporting the continuous print medium and transferring the developer image to the continuous print medium; and a control unit for instructing timings of the developer image forming unit to form the developer image and the transfer unit to transport the continuous print medium when the control unit receives a conversion process completion notice from the image processing unit. Further, it is arranged so that an initialization operation of the developer image forming unit is performed before the developer image forming unit forms the developer image.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a photoreceptor belt, a fixed transfer roller positioned on the inside of the photoreceptor belt, and a movable transfer roller positioned on the outside of the photoreceptor belt. The fixed transfer roller and the movable transfer roller are positioned to form a nip, and the photoreceptor belt and a web of print media are positioned in the nip. Also, a support roller and a compensation roller contact the web of print media. The support roller is positioned between the compensation roller and the nip. A physical link is connected to the support roller and the compensation roller. The physical link moves the support roller and the compensation roller so as to keep a constant tension on the web of print media.

Abstract: A print system includes: a first printer that performs printing on continuous-form paper; a second printer that performs printing on the continuous-form paper printed by the first printer; a measuring unit that measures a paper length between the first printer and the second printer; a calculator that calculates a post-conveyance amount as a distance to convey the continuous-form paper after the printing, for the first printer or the second printer, based on the paper length measured by the measuring unit; and a conveyance operation controller that controls post-conveyance operations in the first printer and the second printer based on the post-conveyance amount calculated by the calculator.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided an apparatus and method to provide a modification of the paper path in an image forming system including a plurality of printing modules, and having a simplex mode that an image is formed on a front surface of a continuous medium, and a duplex mode that an image is also formed on a rear surface of a continuous medium, the image forming system further comprises a bidirectional urge unit added in the middle of the paper path tunnel. Placement of a bidirectional urge unit allows the continuous medium to be transported in two directions.

Abstract: A moving unit causes a relative movement of a web and a mark detecting unit for detecting a ground color of the web and a mark color in a predetermined direction. A measuring unit measures a measurement value corresponding to a moving amount of the mark detecting unit with respect to the web in a time from when a detected color is switched from the ground color to the mark color till when a detected color is back to the ground color. A setting unit sets a threshold used for determining whether the color detected is the ground color or the mark color on the basis of the mark color detected by the mark detecting unit at the time when the mark detecting unit is moved in a reverse direction for a distance of half the measurement value since the color detected is back to the ground color.

Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes: a conveying mechanism that conveys a recording medium that extends long continuously in one direction, a conveying direction of the recording medium being the same as the one direction; a detecting unit that detects a detection subject mark formed on the recording medium; and a moving mechanism that moves the detecting unit in a direction that crosses the conveying direction, and a plurality of detection subject marks are formed on the recording medium in such a manner that they are arranged in the direction in which the recording medium extends long continuously and that a mark width in the direction that crosses the conveying direction changes as the position goes along the conveying direction.

Abstract: A sheet is placed on a sheet feed unit. A main-scanning sensor detects first detection information for identifying a sheet size in a main-scanning direction and a sub-scanning sensor detects second detection information for identifying a sheet size in a sub-scanning direction. A sheet sensor detects presence of the sheet on the sheet feed unit. It is monitored whether the sheet sensor has detected a sheet and a timer starts counting a first elapsed time from a time point at which the sheet sensor detects a sheet. A size identifying unit identifies, when the first elapsed time exceeds a first predetermined set time, a sheet size based on the first and the second detection information.

Abstract: An automated paper handling system for sending print media through a printer comprising a scan module for scanning print media and producing raw data regarding characteristics of the print media. The paper handling system also has a controller comprising a memory and a processor for receiving and processing the raw data to produce an information set. One or more connection ports connect the controller to a group of equipment, the group may comprise a printer, a paper detector, a cutting system, or an alignment system.

Abstract: A conveyance apparatus includes a holding unit configured to hold a roll sheet, a conveyance unit configured to convey the roll sheet in a first direction in which the roll sheet is unrolled and a second direction opposite from the first direction, and a control unit configured to control the drive of the conveyance unit. The amount of drive per unit conveyance distance at the time when the conveyance unit conveys the roll sheet is controlled so as to be larger in the conveyance in the first direction than in the conveyance in the second direction.

Abstract: In a method or system for controlling a printer or copier, a separation of a position mark printed on a web-shaped carrier material in a longitudinal direction of the carrier material relative to a transverse fold present in the carrier material is preset as a parameter. Arrival of the position mark is monitored with a sensor arrangement arranged before a transfer printing area while the carrier material is moved past the sensor arrangement. A real position of the transverse fold is determined for a position of arrival of the position mark at the sensor arrangement. The transverse fold is conveyed to a desired position by consideration of the real position of the transverse fold.

Abstract: An image forming system includes: first and second image forming units that respectively form images on first and second surfaces of a recording medium formed into a belt shape while transporting the recording medium spanning the first and second image forming units; first and second transportation controllers that control a pre-transportation operation performed from a transportation start of the recording medium to arrival at a predetermined transportation speed, and a post-transportation operation including return transportation of the recording medium to an upstream side in a transporting direction performed from a start of a transportation stop to a stop of the recording medium; and a recording medium amount setting unit that adjusts transportation amounts of the recording medium in the pre-transportation and post-transportation operations, and thereby sets a recording medium amount existing between the first and second image forming units to a predetermined recording medium amount after the transportati

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first acquiring unit, a determination unit, a second acquiring unit, and a notifying unit. The first acquiring unit acquires first settable region information on a plane-shaped recording medium in other image forming apparatus. The first settable region information indicates a first settable region on which a registration mark is settable. The determination unit determines a first region based on the first settable region information. The first region is a region on which the registration mark is formable in a cascade printing system including the image forming apparatus and the other image forming apparatus. The second acquiring unit acquires second settable region information on the plane-shaped recording medium. The second settable region information indicates a second settable region on which the registration mark is formable in the plane-shaped recording medium. The notifying unit provides invalidity information indicating the registration mark is possible invalid.