An image processing apparatus serving as a master device and a plurality of local image processing apparatus serving as local devices are connected to one another via a network, and each of the devices includes an authentication information storage unit and an authentication unit. The master device stores, as master authentication information, authentication information necessary for an authentication on each of users who are able to use each of the devices, for each of the devices, and allows editing of the master authentication information. When the authentication information on the local device in the master authentication information is edited, the edited authentication information is transmitted to the local device, and the authentication information stored in local device is updated. When a user login operation is performed on the local device, an authentication is performed by using the authentication information in the local device.

An image processing apparatus serving as a master device and a plurality of local image processing apparatus serving as local devices are connected to one another via a network, and each of the devices includes an authentication information storage unit and an authentication unit. The master device stores, as master authentication information, authentication information necessary for an authentication on each of users who are able to use each of the devices, for each of the devices, and allows editing of the master authentication information. When the authentication information on the local device in the master authentication information is edited, the edited authentication information is transmitted to the local device, and the authentication information stored in local device is updated. When a user login operation is performed on the local device, an authentication is performed by using the authentication information in the local device.

An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus is to detect an artefact on a printable surface. The apparatus comprises a detection element to engage the printable surface as the printable surface moves relative to the detection element, and to move away from the printable surface when an artefact passes between the detection element and the printable surface. The apparatus also comprises an actuator to be actuated in response to the detection element moving beyond a defined distance from the printable surface. A method and a print apparatus are also disclosed.

A printing device (100) is provided with: a communication module (26) which performs transmission and reception of signals with an information processing device (101) with which wireless connection has been established; and a control circuit (25) which performs prescribed control in accordance with a request signal from the information processing device (101). While executing said prescribed control in accordance with a request signal, the control circuit (25) keeps the communication module (26) in a state in which transmission of a beacon signal containing identification information of the communication module (26) is halted.

An ink heating device (7) includes a heater circuit (91) including a heater (71) which heats ink and an auto-return type bimetal switch (92) which is provided between the heater (71) and a power source (A); a relay (5) provided between the bimetal switch (92) and the power source (A); and a controller (4) which opens or closes the relay (5) according to a state of the heater circuit (91).

A printing system includes a print engine, and one or more controllers configured to perform a data obtaining process of obtaining print data, a print controlling process of controlling the print engine to print an image corresponding to the print data on a printing medium based on a print setting value, and a fee determining process of determining a fee corresponding to a plurality of the print setting values to be applied when the print engine prints the image on the printing medium.

A card-issuing device may include a card stack unit, a card feeding mechanism. A card reader unit configured to perform at least one of reading of data recorded on a card and recording of data onto a card, a printing unit, and a card-flipping unit. The printing unit may include a supply roll, a winding roll, and a thermal head. The thermal head may be arranged between the supply roll and the winding roll in a front-rear direction of the card-issuing device, the supply roll and the winding roll may be arranged above the thermal head, and the card stack unit, the card-flipping unit, the thermal head, and the card reader unit may be arranged in that order in the front-rear direction.

In an image forming apparatus, in a case that a connected numerical key unit is a dedicated numerical key unit including a numerical key portion for executing, as predetermined processing, numerical value input processing for inputting information on a numerical value and including an operation key portion and a setting key portion for executing, as predetermined processing, another input processing for inputting information on an operation of the image forming apparatus other than the numerical value input processing (step S12; YES), a controller executes the predetermined processing in a case that either of the respective key portions is operated (step S13). On the other hand, in a case that the connected numerical key unit is a general-purpose numerical key unit different from the dedicated numerical key unit (step S1; NO), the controller executes the predetermined processing only in a case that the numerical key portion is operated (step S14).

An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main assembly including a panel surface 57 capable of inputting information by displaying a software numerical key portion 58 and a numerical key portion 206 comprised of a plurality of hardware keys, and is provided with a general-purpose numerical key unit 200 capable of inputting information to the apparatus main assembly. The panel surface 57 includes a plurality of software keys corresponding to the numerical key portion 206, and in a case that a “1” key 206a of the numerical key portion 206 is in an ON state, the ON state of the “1” key 206a is displayed by using a “1” key 58a corresponding to the “1” key 206a.

A numerical key unit 70 mounted in a mounting portion 12 of an image forming apparatus 1 and card reader of inputting information to the image forming apparatus 1 includes a casing 71 mounted on the mounting portion 12, an operating key 100 comprised of a hardware key capable of inputting information on a numerical value, a substrate 73 provided inside the casing 71, a main assembly-side cable 76 connected to a connector 85 mounted on the substrate 73 and electrically connecting the image forming apparatus 1 and the numerical key unit 70, and a first opening 71a through which the main assembly-side cable 76 is inserted. The first opening 71a is provided on a bottom of the casing 71 so that in a thickness direction of the substrate 73, the main assembly-side cable 76 is exposed to an outside of the casing 71 from a surface on a side opposite from a surface where the operating key 100 is provided.