An image forming apparatus including a first processor and a second processor are provided. When the two processors receive a cooperative command for forming images respectively at first and second image forming sections, the first processor transmits a preparation command for performing image formation preparation in the second image forming section to the second processor, and the second processor performs the image formation preparation in the second image forming section and transmits a completion notification to the first processor upon completion, and the first processor executes an image forming process. When the first processor receives an independent command for forming an image at the first image forming section but not at the second image forming section and subsequently receives the cooperative command, the first processor transmits the preparation command corresponding to the cooperative command to the second processor upon completion of an image forming process corresponding to the independent command.

An image forming apparatus includes an enquirer that temporarily suspends production of a printed material, after at least one set of the printed materials has been produced, upon deciding that a print request has been sent from a predetermined remote location distant from an installation site of the image forming apparatus, and enquires whether the production of the printed material may be resumed, to a user through a network I/F, a response receiver that receives a response from the user, to the enquiry made by the enquirer, and a controller that resumes the production of the printed material, upon deciding that the response receiver has received a permission to resume the production of the printed material, from the user.

A number of monochrome pages printed by a print system in a color mode and a total number of pages printed by the print system are monitored. A ratio of the number of monochrome pages printed by the print system in the color mode to the total number of pages printed by the print system is determined. The print system is switched between the color mode and a monochrome mode of the print system mode based on the ratio so as to reduce color cartridge wear of the print system and/or so as to reduce transitions between the color mode and the monochrome mode while printing monochrome pages.

A sensor control apparatus includes a control unit, a plurality of sensors connected in series to the control unit. Each of the plurality of sensors includes a detector configured to perform a detection operation based on a first voltage applied from the control unit, a first switch provided on an application path for applying a voltage, a second switch provided on a supply path for supplying the voltage applied from the control unit to a sensor connected in a subsequent stage, and a conduction control unit. The control unit brings the first switch into conduction and cut off the second switch in a case where the voltage on the application path is the first voltage, and cuts off the first switch and bring the second switch into conduction in a case where the voltage on the application path is a second voltage.

An image forming apparatus includes a sheet stacking portion, an image forming portion, a detection portion configured to detect a position, in a sheet width direction, a storage configured to store position information of a sheet, and a controller. The controller is configured to cause the storage to store the position information based on a position of a sheet detected by the detection portion during execution of the job, and if sheet information of a sheet used in a previous job is matches sheet information of a sheet used in a current job, cause the image forming portion to start formation of an image to be formed on a first sheet, before a position of the first sheet is detected by the detection portion, based on the position information stored in the storage in the previous job.

An image forming apparatus includes an enquirer that temporarily suspends production of a printed material, after at least one set of the printed materials has been produced, upon deciding that a print request has been sent from a predetermined remote location distant from an installation site of the image forming apparatus, and enquires whether the production of the printed material may be resumed, to a user through a network I/F, a response receiver that receives a response from the user, to the enquiry made by the enquirer, and a controller that resumes the production of the printed material, upon deciding that the response receiver has received a permission to resume the production of the printed material, from the user.

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, an acquisition unit, and a controller. The image forming unit forms images of an output material set including multiple types of output materials. The acquisition unit acquires image information of the output material set transmitted from a terminal apparatus. The terminal apparatus provides an identifier for identifying the output material set to each of the multiple types of output materials included in the output material set and transmits image information of each of the multiple types of output materials. The controller controls, in a case where the image information of the multiple types of output materials for each output material set is ready, the image forming unit to form the images of the output material set.

An image forming apparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry receives a timing selected for re-forming an image and re-forms the image determined to be defective based on information about the image formed on a first conveyance medium, on a second conveyance medium at the selected timing.

A sheet conveying apparatus of an embodiment includes a conveyance path along which a sheet can be conveyed, and a plurality of conveyance rollers configured to move a sheet along the conveyance path. A wireless tag reader/writer is configured to read information from, and write information to, a wireless tag of a sheet on the conveyance path. A controller is configured to detect a phase change in response waves received by the wireless tag reader/writer from a wireless tag. The controller is also configured to identify whether a wireless tag is moving along the conveyance path based on the detected phase change in response waves from the wireless tag. The controller controls the wireless tag reader/writer to write information to the wireless tag identified as moving along the conveyance path.

An image forming apparatus includes a receiving portion to receive an image forming job signal for forming an image on a recording material, an image forming portion to form the image based on the received image forming job signal, and an image heating portion to heat the image, formed on the recording material by the image forming portion, in a nip where the recording material is nipped and fed. An inputting portion inputs a waiting time, and a controller performs an operation in an image forming mode so an image forming operation is not performed until a lapse of the input waiting time from the reception of the image forming job signal, and then the image forming operation is started based on the lapse of the waiting time in a stand-by state in which the image forming apparatus waits for reception of the image forming job signal.