An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of members for forming an image; a transmitting unit configured to transmit a sonic wave; a receiving unit configured to receive a first sonic wave that has been transmitted from the transmitting unit and has passed through a sheet and a second sonic wave that is generated from at least one of the plurality of members; a detection unit configured to detect information regarding a type or state of the sheet based on the first sonic wave; and a determination unit configured to determine a state of a member that has generated the second sonic wave based on the second sonic wave.

A conveyor conveys a sheet along a conveyance path provided with an ultrasonic sensor, and includes: an updating member that successively updates a parameter indicating aged deterioration of the conveyor; a searcher that searches a look-up table storing pieces of noise data of noises predicted to be superimposed on a detection signal of the ultrasonic sensor in accordance with a degree of the aged deterioration, and obtains a piece of noise data corresponding to a current parameter value of the conveyor; and a signal processor that uses, for signal processing, a remaining portion of the detection signal of the ultrasonic sensor excluding a portion corresponding to the piece of noise data obtained by the searcher.

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a measuring section, a generating section, and a predicting section. The image forming section forms an image on a sheet. The measuring section measures sound or vibration in the image forming section to obtain a measured result. The generating section generates frequency data through a frequency analysis of the measured result. The predicting section predicts a malfunction to occur of the image forming section based on the frequency data.

An image forming apparatus includes a conveyance unit, a detection unit, and a determination unit. The conveyance unit conveys a sheet. The detection unit detects a sound that emanates when the conveyance unit operates. The determination unit performs state determination. In a case where a volume of a sound detected by the detection unit is not higher than or equal to a predetermined sound volume, the determination unit determines that the conveyance unit is not normally operating. In a case where the detected sound volume is higher than or equal to the predetermined sound volume, the determination unit determines that the conveyance unit is normally operating.

An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of members for forming an image; a transmitting unit configured to transmit a sonic wave; a receiving unit configured to receive a first sonic wave that has been transmitted from the transmitting unit and has passed through a sheet and a second sonic wave that is generated from at least one of the plurality of members; a detection unit configured to detect information regarding a type or state of the sheet based on the first sonic wave; and a determination unit configured to determine a state of a member that has generated the second sonic wave based on the second sonic wave.

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form an image on a sheet conveyed from a sheet storing unit by a sheet conveying unit, and a registering unit that registers detected sheet thickness information and detected sheet surface characteristics information. Based on information, distinct front and back surfaces of a conveyed predetermined sheet and a type of the conveyed predetermined sheet is determined. If the predetermined sheet type matches a type of an upcoming sheet on which the image will be formed and the determined front and back surfaces matches front and back surfaces of the upcoming sheet, an image is formed on the predetermined sheet. If the predetermined sheet type matches the upcoming sheet type and the determined front and back surfaces do not match the upcoming sheet front and back surfaces, information is displayed conveying that the predetermined sheet front and back surfaces are inverted.

A detection section that detects a value used for determining whether or not a jam of a paper sheet has occurred includes a sound detection unit that detects a sound and an auxiliary detection unit that detects a value different from the magnitude of a sound in the case where a jam of the paper sheet has occurred, and, in the case where the sound detection unit has detected a sound of a magnitude equal to or greater than a first threshold value, a control unit controls determines whether or not a jam of the paper sheet has occurred with reference to a detection result of the auxiliary detection unit, and controls a transport unit on the basis of a result of the determination.

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a measuring section, a generating section, and a predicting section. The image forming section forms an image on a sheet. The measuring section measures sound or vibration in the image forming section to obtain a measured result. The generating section generates frequency data through a frequency analysis of the measured result. The predicting section predicts a malfunction to occur of the image forming section based on the frequency data.

A recording material determination apparatus includes a transmission unit, a reception unit, and a determination unit. The transmission unit transmits an ultrasonic wave to a recording material. The reception unit vibrates when the reception unit receives the ultrasonic wave having been transmitted from the transmission unit and having passed through the recording material, and outputs a signal corresponding to a vibration state. The determination unit determines a basis weight of the recording material in accordance with the signal output from the reception unit. A resonance frequency of the reception unit differs from a resonance frequency of the transmission unit, and the reception unit is capable of receiving a sound wave in an ultrasonic range and a sound wave in an audible range.

An abnormal sound diagnosis system for specifying a cause of abnormal sound in an apparatus that includes a plurality of operating units that perform a predetermined operation and a plurality of driving units that drive the plurality of operating units: determines occurrence of abnormal sound in a plurality of time periods, based on sound wave levels of sound occurring in the apparatus measured in the plurality of time periods; obtains driving states of the plurality of driving units in the plurality of time periods; and specifies a driving unit corresponding to occurrence of abnormal sound based on a plurality of comparison results corresponding to different timings, that are obtained by comparing the driving states and the occurring states obtained at the different timings in the predetermined operation.