An image forming apparatus that forms images on sheets, includes: a collection unit configured to collect history information relating to operation of the image forming apparatus; a selection unit configured to select, from among a plurality of accomplishment items, an accomplishment item relating to the operation of the image forming apparatus based on the history information; an acquisition unit configured to notify a user of one or more operation options related to the operation of the image forming apparatus that are for accomplishing the accomplishment item selected by the selection unit, and to acquire a selection result of whether or not the one or more operation options are to be used; and an operation control unit configured to control the operation of the image forming apparatus in accordance with the selection result.

A movement member that causes a cleaning member to move so as to reciprocally move on a transparent member is provided. A cleaning process is performed in accordance with an instruction on a number of times of movement of the movement member.

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 a document reader, a storage for storing image data, an image output unit and a control unit. The control unit includes: a function setup controller for setting up the image output conditions of output images; and a control-unit side controller having a function of displaying a function setup screen corresponding to the function setup controller, on a display panel. The function setup controller has an additional input mode having a function of reading documents a multiple number of times to form multiple sheaves of documents. The additional input mode includes: an individual setup function of setting up individual image output conditions for each sheaf of documents and an all-in setup function of setting up identical image output conditions for all sheaves of documents. When the additional input mode is set up, the control unit-side controller offers a display of a setup change suggestion of the image output conditions for the next input on the display screen at the stage where the first image data input has been completed.

An information input device includes a display device that displays an information input screen image and a touch-panel that is arranged on the display device and specifies a designated position on the information input screen image. On a function setting area, a plurality of function setting keys are displayed and, if a flick operation to the right made by the input device on the function setting area is detected, detailed setting items corresponding to each of the function setting keys are displayed on a detailed settings area. Consequently, contents of detailed settings can be displayed at one time in correspondence with each of the function setting keys. Therefore, it becomes possible for the user to easily confirm whether or not function setting is appropriate, and to smoothly select a function.

An image processing apparatus capable of shifting to a power saving mode. The image processing apparatus includes a storing unit configured to store a document in a storage device, a notification unit configured to periodically notify an apparatus of a predetermined destination of information about a document that has been newly stored by the storing unit into the storage device, and a control unit configured to restrict shifting to a power saving mode in which the notification unit cannot make the notification after storage of a document by the storing unit has been completed and until the notification unit notifies at least information about the document.

On a touch-panel display of an image forming apparatus, which is divided to five areas, that is, a system area, a function selection area, a preview area, an action panel area and a task trigger area, pieces of information are displayed. Even if an operational mode is switched, the same or similar information is always displayed in the area arranged at the same position. In the task trigger area, software buttons operated by the user for actually operating the image forming apparatus are displayed.

An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus having an apparatus main body, a sheet feeding cassette, a manual bypass tray, an opening/closing detection part and a sheet feeding source setting part. The apparatus main body has an input part to which a printing instruction is input. The manual bypass tray is displaced into an open posture and into a close posture. The sheet feeding source setting part sets the sheet feeding cassette or the manual bypass tray as a sheet feeding source. When the opening/closing detection part detects that the manual bypass tray is displaced from the close posture to the open posture and the printing instruction is input to the input part, regardless of the sheet feeding source input to the input part, the sheet feeding source setting part sets the manual bypass tray as the sheet feeding source.

A system, method, and apparatus provide an improvement to user guided operation or troubleshooting of a device by illuminating an area of the device for the user's attention. Embodiments may include a plurality of lights. Each light is positioned respectively in a predetermined location in the printing apparatus, which may comprise known locations for paper jams to occur. Embodiments may also include a voice recognition module and a controller module connected to the plurality of lights. The controller module may be configured to: receive, from the voice recognition module, a user generated message requesting identification of the location of the paper jam; identify which of the predetermined locations has the paper jam; and activate a selected one of the plurality of lights, wherein the selected one of the plurality of lights is positioned to illuminate the predetermined location with the paper jam.

A preview screen display apparatus for displaying a preview screen for printing includes a selection unit which selects a print setting function in accordance with an input from a user, a reading unit which reads preview images, and a preview display unit which performs simultaneous display of a plurality of display objects corresponding to a plurality of different settings and including the preview images on a same screen or performs switching display of the display objects upon accepting selecting operation by the user, regarding the print setting function selected by the selection unit.