An image forming system includes an image forming unit, an inspection unit, a conveyance unit configured to convey a sheet to the inspection unit, a controller configured to execute a first inspection mode in which a sheet having an image formed thereon is conveyed by the conveyance unit to the inspection unit and is inspected, and a second inspection mode in which, without executing image forming by the image forming unit, a sheet is conveyed by the conveyance unit to the inspection unit and is inspected, and a setting unit configured to set a recovery process. The setting unit permits the setting of the recovery process in the first inspection mode and prohibits the setting of the recovery process in the second inspection mode.

An image forming apparatus includes a paper transport unit, an image forming unit, a reading unit, a foreign matter detection signal generation circuit, and a foreign matter detection control circuit. The foreign matter detection signal generation circuit generates a first foreign matter detection signal, based on an analog image signal to be output from a line sensor. In foreign matter detection processing, when a pixel that reads foreign matter continues by a specific first consecutive number or more in a signal based on the analog image signal of each pixel to be output from the line sensor, the foreign matter detection signal generation circuit sets a level of the first foreign matter detection signal to a level indicating the presence of foreign matter.

The history record unit, in the non-volatile storage device, records recovery history information showing a history of the recovery process. The suspension control unit, when the recovery process’ frequency specified based on the recovery history information exceeds a first reference frequency, restricts execution of the specific suspension process which is in response to a satisfaction of the suspension condition. Further, the suspension control unit, when the recovery process’ frequency specified based on the recovery history information is lower than a second reference frequency, which is lower than the first reference frequency, under a situation where the specific suspension process’ execution is restricted, cancels the restricting of the specific suspension process’ execution.

An image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge and a controller. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a charger and a drum cartridge memory storing a life count value and discharge history information. The controller includes a voltage applying circuit, and an abnormal discharge detection circuit. In a case where the abnormal discharge detection circuit detects an abnormal discharge, the controller does not permit printing in a case where the life count value is equal to or more than a first reference value and a number of abnormal discharges which is included in the discharge history information read from the drum cartridge memory is equal to or more than a particular threshold value, or permits printing in a case where the life count value is equal to or more than the first reference value and the number of abnormal discharges is less than the particular threshold value.

An image forming apparatus, including: an image former that forms an image on continuous form paper; and a hardware processor that calculates a paper cost for a print job of the continuous form paper, on the basis of a distance of the continuous form paper conveyed from a start to an end of the print job.

There is a need to provide an image generator and an image generation method capable of avoiding wasting a normal printed matter if any in sheets of paper output after an occurrence of waste paper. When paper contains an abnormal image, the paper is detected as waste paper based on a read result from an image read sensor. Detection of the waste paper allows an image generator to perform reprint from a print job for the waste paper. Normal-image paper may be contained in sheets of paper output between detection of the waste paper and the reprint to be performed. In this case, the normal-image paper is used as a normal printed matter and is avoided from being consumed wastefully.

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a fixing portion, and a control portion. The fixing portion forms a nip portion to nip a recording material and includes heat-generating elements along a direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of the recording material. The fixing portion fixes the image on the recording material using heat. The image forming apparatus changes a control target temperature for each heating area heated by each of the heat-generating elements in accordance with the image to be formed on the recording material. When forming the image after a jam clearing process in which the recording material nipped in the nip portion is removed, the control portion changes a distribution of a control target temperature of the whole heater in the direction in which the heat-generating elements are aligned to a second distribution different from a first distribution corresponding to the image.

A sheet conveyance device includes a sheet receiving part, a first discharge part, a sheet conveyance path, an escape conveyance path, a branch guide, an escape tray, a second discharge part, and a first sheet detection part. When a device failure occurs, the branch guide switches the conveyance direction such that the sheet remaining on the sheet conveyance path is discharged on the escape tray by the second discharge part, through the escape conveyance path sequentially. Then, the second discharge part stops a discharging of the sheet in a state where the sheet remains in the second discharge part when the sheet is a last sheet to be conveyed to the escape tray. Then, a receiving of a new sheet to the sheet receiving part from the image forming apparatus is inhibited while the first sheet detection part detects the last sheet.

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a fixing portion, and a control portion. The fixing portion forms a nip portion to nip a recording material and includes heat-generating elements along a direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of the recording material. The fixing portion fixes the image on the recording material using heat. The image forming apparatus changes a control target temperature for each heating area heated by each of the heat-generating elements in accordance with the image to be formed on the recording material. When forming the image after a jam clearing process in which the recording material nipped in the nip portion is removed, the control portion changes a distribution of a control target temperature of the whole heater in the direction in which the heat-generating elements are aligned to a second distribution different from a first distribution corresponding to the image.

An example operation method of an image forming apparatus includes obtaining, from a sensor, an output signal corresponding to a degree of shrinkage of a transporting member that transports a developing agent in a toner cartridge, as the transporting member rotates, determining a state of the toner cartridge based on a characteristic of the output signal, and executing a recovery mode that increases a driving force delivered to the transporting member when determining that the state of the toner cartridge is an abnormal state in which toner is not normally supplied to a developing device.