G06K15/4025

Information processing apparatus configured to calculate predicted-number-of-days, which is number of days in an allowed-number-of-media-to-be-fed-after-wear-detection is to be consumed, non-transitory computer readable recording medium that records information processing program for calculating predicted-number-of-days, and information processing method for calculating predicted-number-of-days
10943159 · 2021-03-09 · ·

An information processing apparatus includes a controller circuit configured to determine a feed-time-period, calculate a variation-value for each variation-calculation-span, detect that a successive-occurrence-number reaches a successive-occurrence-reference-number, determine a number-of-fed-media-at-wear-detected-time, divide the number-of-fed-media-at-wear-detected-time by a number-of-total-operation-days to calculate an average-number-of-fed-media-per-day, and divide an allowed-number-of-media-to-be-fed-after-wear-detection by the average-number-of-fed-media-per-day to calculate a predicted-number-of-days, the allowed-number-of-media-to-be-fed-after-wear-detection being a number of feedable media from the point at which the successive-occurrence-number reaches the successive-occurrence-reference-number to a point at which a part is replaced, the predicted-number-of-days being a number of days in which the allowed-number-of-media-to-be-fed-after-wear-detection is to be consumed starting from a day on which the successive-occurrence-number reaches the successive-occurrence-reference-number.

Auxiliary device identification

An example system includes a primary device and at least one auxiliary device connected in series with the primary device. The auxiliary device has an identifier indicative of a position of the auxiliary device in the series. The identifier is based on a resistance value associated with the auxiliary device, the resistance value being based at least in part on an upstream device in the series.

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
20200311501 · 2020-10-01 ·

An image forming apparatus includes: a transceiver circuit configured to transmit a signal. A carriage having a recording head is movable relative to the transceiver circuit. A counter counts how many times the carriage moves. An amplifier circuit mounted on the carriage receives the signal from the transceiver circuit through a cable and amplifies the received signal. A carriage controller changes a gain of the amplifier circuit, based on a count value of the counter.

Image forming apparatus and image forming method for prohibiting or allowing recovery printing based on number of times of printing in case of discrepancy between sizes of sheet
10769507 · 2020-09-08 · ·

An image forming apparatus includes a conveyor, a sensor, and control circuitry. The conveyor is configured to convey a sheet. The sensor is configured to detect the sheet conveyed by the conveyor. The control circuitry is configured to cause the conveyor to eject the sheet without stopping conveyance of the sheet and prohibit recovery printing when a size of the sheet determined based on detection of the sheet by the sensor is different from a setting size in a first operation mode. The control circuitry is configured to cause the conveyor to stop conveyance of the sheet and allow recovery printing when the size of the sheet is different from the setting size in a second operation mode in which a number of times of printing is larger than a number of times of printing in the first operation mode.

INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM THAT RECORDS INFORMATION PROCESSING PROGRAM, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD
20200265277 · 2020-08-20 ·

An information processing apparatus includes a controller circuit configured to determine a feed-time-period, calculate a variation-value for each variation-calculation-span, detect that a successive-occurrence-number reaches a successive-occurrence-reference-number, determine a number-of-fed-media-at-wear-detected-time, divide the number-of-fed-media-at-wear-detected-time by a number-of-total-operation-days to calculate an average-number-of-fed-media-per-day, and divide an allowed-number-of-media-to-be-fed-after-wear-detection by the average-number-of-fed-media-per-day to calculate a predicted-number-of-days, the allowed-number-of-media-to-be-fed-after-wear-detection being a number of feedable media from the point at which the successive-occurrence-number reaches the successive-occurrence-reference-number to a point at which a part is replaced, the predicted-number-of-days being a number of days in which the allowed-number-of-media-to-be-fed-after-wear-detection is to be consumed starting from a day on which the successive-occurrence-number reaches the successive-occurrence-reference-number.

Image forming system including plurality of sheet feeders and method therefor having switching control features
10723154 · 2020-07-28 · ·

An image forming system has a transmission assembly, standard and auxiliary sheet feeders, standard and auxiliary trays, an image forming device and a controller. The transmission assembly is for switching transmission of a drive force of a motor selectively to the one of the standard and auxiliary sheet feeders. The controller determines whether sheet is absent in the standard tray. The controller, based on determining the sheet is absent in the standard tray and receipt of preceding data, control the transmission assembly to initiate to switch the transmission of the drive force to the auxiliary sheet feeder. Also the controller, based on receipt of control data received after preceding data, control the image forming device to form an image based on the control data.

Image erasing apparatus and image erasing method

According to an embodiment, an image erasing apparatus includes a reading unit, an erasing unit, an image forming unit, and a controller. The reading unit reads identification information formed on a sheet conveyed. The erasing unit erases a part or all of a first image formed on the sheet after the identification information is read. The controller obtains image data corresponding to the identification information that is read by the reading unit. The controller controls the image forming unit so as to form a second image, which is indicated by the obtained image data, onto the sheet from which the first image has been erased.

PRINTER-VERIFIERS AND SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VERIFYING PRINTED INDICIA
20200151866 · 2020-05-14 ·

A printer-verifier is provided for printing and verifying a printed indicium. Printer-verifier includes imaging module for capturing image of printed indicium on print media, memory communicatively coupled to imaging module and configured to store print quality verification program, and processor communicatively coupled to memory. Processor is configured by print quality verification program to evaluate print quality of printed indicium, determine if print quality meets print quality standard, reject printed indicium on print media as rejected printed media when print quality does not meet print quality standard, and one of output location-specific feedback about rejected printed media or send a command signal to cutting device to destroy rejected printed media. Location-specific feedback is in same language as language associated with printer-verifier. A printer and methods for verifying the printed indicium are also provided.

Printer and a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium
10606523 · 2020-03-31 · ·

A printer having a single-sheet manual feed tray improves user convenience. A printer configured to print based on print request data has a manual paper feeder in which only one sheet of print media can be loaded at one time; another paper feeder in which multiple sheets of print media can be loaded at one time; and a manual feeder priority function that prioritizes using the manual paper feeder over the other paper feeder when automatic paper feeder selection is specified in the print request data.

TERMINAL DEVICE HAVING COMMUNICATION INTERFACE CONFIGURED TO COMMUNICATE WITH PRINTER, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM CONTAINING INSTRUCTIONS THEREFOR
20200097784 · 2020-03-26 ·

Whether there exists a side area image within side areas of the recording medium is determined. When it is determined that there exists no image within the side areas, a command is transmitted to a printer. The command causes a printer to start conveying of the recording medium at an earlier timing. The side areas of the recording medium are difficult to be heated by a heater arranged at a central portion of a fixing roller. Therefore, in order to heat the side areas, a long time for heating by the heater is necessary. When there is no image within the side areas, the heating time is shortened. Thereby, it is possible to start conveying the recording medium at an early timing, and a time period for completing a printing operation can be shortened.