According to one embodiment, the power converter includes a power conversion circuit and a power outage detection circuit. The power converter includes a power conversion circuit including an isolation transformer including a primary winding, a secondary winding electromagnetically coupled to the primary winding, and an auxiliary winding, a first DC voltage source which outputs DC power with an input AC power, a switching circuit which switches connection between the first DC voltage source and the primary winding, an auxiliary power supply circuit which supplies the DC power to the switching circuit using a power generated in the auxiliary winding, a second DC voltage source which rectifies and smooths the power generated in the secondary winding and outputs DC power to a load.

In an example of recording medium identification method, a digital image of a line or a dot printed on a recording medium with a printer is captured by an image sensor. From the digital image, a microprocessor (operatively connected to the image sensor), digitally measures a width of the line, a diameter of the dot, an area of the dot, or a perimeter of the dot. The microprocessor identifies a type of the recording medium based on the width, the diameter, the area, or the perimeter. In response to the identification of the type of the recording medium, a print setting for the type of the recording medium is selected.

An image controller of an image forming apparatus is configured to generate a light emission signal for detection for forming light emission for detection, and transmit the light emission signal for detection to a laser controller through a flexible flat cable, and the laser controller is configured to cause a semiconductor laser to emit light in accordance with the light emission signal for detection, and determine, based on a PD signal output from a PD that has received a light beam, whether improper connection has occurred in the flexible flat cable.

A printer includes: a housing; a platen holder; a platen roller; a printing head; an operation member; a first link; a second link; a connection member having a connecting portion connecting the first link to the second link; and a movable member moving the platen holder in response to a pivotal movement of the second link to move the platen roller toward and away from the printing head. When the operation member is moved within a first movable range, the second link is pivotally moved while the first link and the connecting portion are maintained at a first positional relationship. When the operation member is moved within a second movable range different from the first movable range, a positional relationship between the first link and the connecting portion is changed from the first positional relationship to a second positional relationship while the second link is maintained stationary.

A printer includes: a housing; a platen holder; a platen roller; a printing head; an operation member; a first link; a second link; a connection member having a connecting portion connecting the first link to the second link; and a movable member moving the platen holder in response to a pivotal movement of the second link to move the platen roller toward and away from the printing head. When the operation member is moved within a first movable range, the second link is pivotally moved while the first link and the connecting portion are maintained at a first positional relationship. When the operation member is moved within a second movable range different from the first movable range, a positional relationship between the first link and the connecting portion is changed from the first positional relationship to a second positional relationship while the second link is maintained stationary.

An image forming apparatus includes a printing unit that executes a printing operation to print an image on a recording sheet, a HDD in which first authentication information for identifying a user is stored in advance, an operation device for receiving information inputted, and a control device. The control device causes the printing unit to print, on the recording sheet, a first status page including first information related to a charge arising from execution of the printing operation, when an instruction to print a status page indicating a printing status by the printing unit has been received, and the authentication information received through the operation device and the first authentication information stored in the HDD in advance have been accorded with each other.

An authentication operation of a communication device is facilitated without making an outer appearance of an image forming apparatus complicated. An image forming apparatus 1 includes an image reading portion 41 for reading an original image, an image forming portion 44 for forming the image on a recording material, communication devices 32 and 33 capable of communication with a storing device 52 for storing information through rear-range wireless communication, and a mounting portion 23 to which the communication devices are mounted, and the mounting portion is provided between the image reading portion and the image forming portion.

An inkjet printing apparatus comprises a carriage, on which a printhead is mounted, configured to move, a lever member configured to be rotatable about a rotating shaft and to be engageable with an engaging portion of the carriage, and a cam mechanism configured to have first and second locked states in which the lever member engages with the engaging portion of the carriage. The first locked state restricts a rotation of the lever member so as not to release an engagement with the engaging portion, and the second locked state allows the rotation of the lever member so as to release the engagement with the engaging portion.

An inkjet printing apparatus comprises a carriage, on which a printhead is mounted, configured to move, a lever member configured to be rotatable about a rotating shaft and to be engageable with an engaging portion of the carriage, and a cam mechanism configured to have first and second locked states in which the lever member engages with the engaging portion of the carriage. The first locked state restricts a rotation of the lever member so as not to release an engagement with the engaging portion, and the second locked state allows the rotation of the lever member so as to release the engagement with the engaging portion.

One example provides an article. The article includes a container body. The article includes a lid covering the container body, the lid including a lid aperture to permit passage of a printing fluid into the container body. The article includes a lid manifold mounted to the lid. The lid manifold includes a lid manifold input port to be fluidly connected to and disconnected from a container manifold port of a separate printing system. The lid manifold includes a lid manifold output opening that is in the form of a needle having a length of less than or equal to about 6 mm and is fluidly connected to the lid aperture. The lid manifold includes a channel fluidly connecting the lid manifold input port and the lid manifold output opening.