An image forming apparatus includes a paper reading section, a similarity judgment section, and a control section. Between a downstream side in a paper conveyance direction of the paper feed section and a position where image formation is performed, the paper reading section reads an existing image already formed on a surface opposite to a formation surface of a new image newly formed on paper by an image formation section. Based on image data of the new image and image data of the existing image obtained by the image formation section, the similarity judgment section judges similarity between the both images. The control section, upon judging that the similarity is high, causes a pattern image to be formed on a surface of the paper where the existing image is formed, and upon judging that the similarity is not high, does not cause the pattern image to be formed.

An image reading device includes an image reader movable along an image reading face, a casing to house the image reader, including a restraint holder, and a restraint to be held by the restraint holder of the casing and configured to restrict movement of the image reader. The restraint includes an operation portion to be disposed outside the casing. The operation portion is operated to move the restraint, in the restraint holder, to: a restricting position to restrict movement of the image reader; a first unlock position to cancel restriction of movement of the image reader; and a second unlock position at which movement of the image reader is not restricted. At the first unlock position, movement of the restraint to the restricting position is allowed. From the second unlock position, movement to the restricting position is less smooth than movement from the first unlock position to the restricting position.

An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus configured to form a toner image on a recording material, a varnish application apparatus configured to apply a varnish to the recording material, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to apply a first application amount of varnish to the recording material per unit area in a case of executing the image forming job for forming a varnish layer on a recording material having a first grammage, and is configured to apply a second application amount of varnish to the recording material per unit area in a case of executing the image forming job for forming the varnish layer on a recording material having a second grammage lower than the first grammage, the second application amount being higher than the first application amount.

An image reading device includes a reader, an opposing member, and circuitry. The reader is configured to read an image of an object to be conveyed. The opposing member has a plurality of opposing portions that include reference surfaces selectively switchable to be placed at a reading position of the reader. The reference surfaces include two or more identical reference surfaces. The circuitry is configured to determine whether an evaluation reading value of reading values read by the reader on each of the two or more identical reference surfaces is within a prescribed range and perform correction operation of the image reading device with the evaluation reading value within the prescribed range out of the reading values of the two or more identical reference surfaces.

There is provided with an illumination device. The illumination device has a circuit board; a light source movable relative to the circuit board; a rod-like light guide that is configured to guide light from the light source and that is elongated in a longitudinal direction; and a flexible wiring configured to supply electricity from the circuit board to the light source. The light source is capable of moving in the longitudinal direction to reduce fluctuation in distance between the light source and a light receiving surface of the light guide when an end portion of the light guide in the longitudinal direction moves in the longitudinal direction.

A wireless IC tag (11) is mounted to a toner cartridge (1), and a reader writer (2) reads and writes data from and to the wireless IC tag (11). The toner cartridge (1) includes plural cartridge contact terminals (12), and a load (13) arranged between the cartridge contact terminals (12). The load (13) corresponds to a type of the wireless IC tag (11). The reader writer (2) includes an antenna coil (21) for wireless communication with the wireless IC tag (11), and plural reader writer contact terminals (22) that contact to the plural cartridge contact terminals (12) respectively when the toner cartridge (1) is mounted to this image forming apparatus. Further, a wireless transmission characteristic of the reader writer (2) is adjusted in accordance with the load (13) electronically connected to the reader writer contact terminals (22).

An image forming system includes an image forming unit, a varnish coating unit, a reception unit, and a control unit. The image forming unit executes an image forming process of forming an image on types of recording media including a first type of recording medium with a coated layer and a second type of recording medium without a coated layer. The varnish coating unit executes a varnish coating process of varnish coating a recording medium on which an image is formed by the image forming unit. The reception unit receives a printing job from a user. The control unit controls the varnish coating unit. When the printing job received by the reception unit is a printing job for executing the varnish coating process on the second type of recording medium, the control unit controls the varnish coating unit to prevent the varnish coating unit from executing the varnish coating process.

An image forming system includes an image forming unit, a varnish coating unit, a reception unit, and a control unit. The image forming unit executes an image forming process of forming an image on types of recording media including a first type of recording medium with a coated layer and a second type of recording medium without a coated layer. The varnish coating unit executes a varnish coating process of varnish coating a recording medium on which an image is formed by the image forming unit. The reception unit receives a printing job from a user. The control unit controls the varnish coating unit. When the printing job received by the reception unit is a printing job for executing the varnish coating process on the second type of recording medium, the control unit controls the varnish coating unit to prevent the varnish coating unit from executing the varnish coating process.

Methods of coating powder coating compositions, particularly substrate powder coating compositions, and methods of making a substrate container, a portion thereof, or a closure for a container, and powder coating systems.

Provided are a light scanning apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the same. The light scanning apparatus includes a housing, which includes a space therein; a light source module, which is installed at the housing and emits a light beam; a light deflector, which is installed on the bottom surface of the housing and deflects the light beam emitted by the light source module; an image forming optical system, which is installed in the space inside the housing and forms an image of the light beam deflected by the light deflector on a surface to be scanned; a flow restricting unit, which is arranged in the space inside the housing and restricts air flows formed as the light deflector is driven; and a cover, which covers the housing.