An image forming apparatus that is capable of specifying a failed portion while preventing delay of an image forming operation appropriately. An image forming unit forms an image on a recording material. A detection unit detects an abnormality. A controller determines a type of an abnormality detected by the detection unit. The controller controls, in a case where the abnormality is detected by the detection unit, a start timing of failure diagnosis that specifies a failed portion that causes the abnormality according to the determined type of the abnormality.

This disclosure provides an image processing apparatus that is connected to a printing apparatus, sequentially receives a plurality of recording media on which printing was performed by the printing apparatus, and inspects a quality of images formed on the recording media, wherein the image processing apparatus receives a reference image, acquires a plurality of scanned images by sequentially scanning the recording media output from the printing apparatus and having the images to be inspected recorded thereon, receives phase information of an image bearing member of the printing apparatus, detects, for each of the scanned images, a defect on the scanned image by comparing a pixel value of the reference image and a pixel value of the scanned image, and determines whether a defect has reproducibility based on positions of defects on the recording media calculated from the phase information.

There is provided an information processing system comprising: an obtaining unit configured to obtain read image data generated by reading an image printed on a sheet by a printing apparatus; and a controller configured to determine an abnormality of the printing apparatus by determining, based on the read image data obtained by the obtaining unit, a type of a stain that appears in the read image data from among a plurality of stain types

An image forming apparatus includes an output unit, a reading unit, and a processor. The output unit outputs multiple types of charts. The reading unit reads images of the charts. The charts are output by the output unit. The processor performs multiple types of processes in a predetermined order in accordance with the images of the charts and original images used to output the charts. Each of the processes is at least one of diagnosis and adjustment. The images of the charts are obtained through the reading operation performed by the reading unit. The charts which are output by the output unit include a diagnostic chart for a spot and/or a streak and a diagnostic chart for transfer. After the processor performs a first diagnosis based on the diagnostic chart for a spot and/or a streak, the processor performs a second diagnosis based on the diagnostic chart for transfer.

A method for identifying print control elements for quality data acquisition includes encoding position information in a human-readable identification code, encoding specific print job information and the human-readable identification code in a machine-readable data code, positioning the codes alongside their associated print control element on a printing substrate, photographing the printed print control element and adjacent machine-readable data code using information from adjacent identification code, and processing data with a mobile communication device having a camera function and communications interface. Image data produced are exporting to a support computer via the communications interface. Machine-readable data code are decoded, image data on the computer are analyzed using information obtained from decoded machine-readable data code, the results of analysis are transmitted from the computer to the mobile communication device, and erroneous settings, found by image analysis, in a printing press producing printed products, are corrected.

A method is disclosed. For example, the method executed by a processor of a multi-function device (MFD) includes executing a defect learning routine to identify defects, cataloging the defects based on a job function, a type of paper, and a machine state, receiving a job request, determining a known defect that has been catalogued based on the job function, the type of paper, and the machine state, and presenting a visualization of the known defect on a display of a user interface before executing the job request.

The present disclosure is directed to a method for generating a visual display of metrics for one or more peripheral devices. The method involves receiving a plurality of data values indicative of a particular metric. The method also involves determining an average value of the plurality of data values and a ratio between the average value and a particular data value. The method further involves generating a bar graph with at least a first bar representative of the average value and a second bar representative of the particular data value. Additionally, the method involves modifying a longer bar of the first bar and the second bar based on a quotient between the average value and the particular data value based on the ratio being greater than or equal to a threshold ratio. The method also involves causing a display device to display the bar graph.

An information processing device includes a processor holding restoration information that associates (i) defects predicted to occur in an inspection image read from a recording medium, (ii) a restoration operation for preventing each of the defects from occurring, and (iii) an executing device that executes the restoration operation, with one another. The processor extracts, from the restoration information, the restoration operation associated with one of the defects designated on a display screen displaying the inspection image read from the recording medium, and instructs the executing device to execute the extracted restoration operation.

An image forming apparatus is configured to communicate with an external controller configured to generate a job, and includes one or more controllers having one or more processors and one or more memories, the one or more controllers being configured to acquire an image from a first job upon receiving the first job from the external controller and register a reference image generated from the image, to execute inspection processing upon receiving a second job from the external controller, and to perform control to delete the reference image registered upon receiving a cancellation instruction to cancel the second job from the external controller.

In one example, a document scanner has a fixed-position scan bar and a built-in translatable calibration target. The scan bar has a linear array of imaging elements aimed in an imaging direction. The calibration target is spaced apart from and parallel to the linear array, and has a planar surface orthogonal to the imaging direction spanning the length of the linear array. The target is translatable during a calibration in a direction in a plane of the surface.