A printer, capable of appropriately extending an existing replacement recommendation time of a component determined based on a life prescribed for the component, includes: a time determination unit (timer), a comparison examination unit (comparator), and a notification unit (notifier). The timer determines a time at which replacement of a component is recommended based on tendency information indicating a deterioration tendency of the component with respect to an operation status. The tendency information is generated from collection and storage of information on the operation status collected from a plurality of printers and information on a degree of deterioration at a disposal time of the component. The comparator compares a time output by the time determination unit with a predetermined life of the component, and examines whether to perform recommendation for component replacement. The notifier notifies of information on recommendation for component replacement based on an examination result of the comparator.

An image reading apparatus connectable to a post-processing apparatus includes an image reading unit for transmitting image data to an inspection processing unit, and a communication unit for outputting a sheet discharge timing signal to the post-processing apparatus through a signal line. The communication unit outputs the sheet discharge timing signal having different waveforms to the post-processing apparatus on the basis of an inspection result of a sheet obtained from the inspection processing unit such that the sheet discharge timing signal includes a first waveform when the sheet determined by the inspection processing unit as that there is no image abnormality is discharged and such that the sheet discharge timing signal includes a second waveform different from the first waveform when the sheet determined by the inspection processing unit as that the image abnormality occurs is discharged.

In an information processing system including an information processing server and a multifunction machine, the information processing server transmits print instruction information instructing printing of teaching material content and an answerer ID to the multifunction machine. Upon receiving the print instruction information, the multifunction machine generates teaching material content printed material, reads a print surface of answered teaching material content printed material, and transmits read data corresponding to a read image. The information processing server acquires the answerer ID from the received read data and performs processing for providing the read image for a terminal device of a person concerned having a predetermined relationship with an answerer having the acquired answerer ID.

A pipe connection decision device includes a first material including a plurality of first pipes each having a connector receiver attached to one end, a second material including a plurality of second pipes each having a connector attached to one end, a plurality of light emitters respectively provided on the plurality of connector receivers, a plurality of light receivers respectively provided on the plurality of connectors, a storage device, a display device, and a control device. The control device causes the display device, upon deciding that the color of received light accords with an allocated color, with respect to all of the plurality of light receivers, to display a first message, and causes the display device, upon deciding that the color of received light discords with the allocated color, with respect to at least one of the plurality of light receivers, to display a second message.

A production control apparatus is provided. The production control apparatus receives a print product production instruction, determines, in accordance with the production instruction, a production apparatus to be used for print product production, determines a first inspection item according to quality requirement data received together with the production instruction and a second inspection item according to the production apparatus respectively, and regarding the print product produced by using the production apparatus, inspects the determined first inspection item and the second inspection item respectively, and obtains an inspection result.

An image processing system capable of preventing resubmission of a scanned image from being required due to an undesired object which obstructs visibility. The image processing system includes a scanned image generation unit configured to read an original and generate a scanned image of the read original, and submits an image to a management server. A continuous pixel area which includes a plurality of pixels whose pixel values are higher than a predetermined density threshold value and has an area size equal to or larger than a predetermined value is identified from a scanned image. Whether or not the identified continuous pixel area is an area of an undesired object which obstructs visibility is determined. A continuous pixel area determined as the area of an undesired object is notified to a user before the scanned image is submitted to the management server.

An information processing apparatus includes a processor configured to acquire information related to a function utilized by a user, and refer to the acquired information and, in a case where a defect occurs in the information processing apparatus and the defect is a defect not affecting the function utilized by the user, do not provide a notification of the defect to the user or provide a notification indicating that the defect does not affect the function utilized by the user to the user.

In an information processing system including an information processing server and a multifunction machine, the information processing server transmits print instruction information instructing printing of teaching material content and an answerer ID to the multifunction machine. Upon receiving the print instruction information, the multifunction machine generates teaching material content printed material, reads a print surface of answered teaching material content printed material, and transmits read data corresponding to a read image. The information processing server acquires the answerer ID from the received read data and performs processing for providing the read image for a terminal device of a person concerned having a predetermined relationship with an answerer having the acquired answerer ID.

An image processing apparatus is provided. The apparatus sets a first security setting for the image processing apparatus as a security setting of the image processing apparatus, monitors packets transmitted and received by the image processing apparatus, and provides a notification relating to a need to change the security setting when a packet with a result from monitoring via the monitoring matching a predetermined condition is found, wherein the predetermined condition is associated with the first security setting.

An image forming apparatus has a controller with a first input terminal configured to receive a first signal indicating a state of a first opening/closing portion, a second input terminal configured to receive a second signal indicating a state of a second opening/closing portion, and a third input terminal configured to receive a third signal indicating a state of the first opening/closing portion and the second opening/closing portion. The controller is configured to delay a first notification of an open state of the first opening/closing portion and a second notification of an open state of the second opening/closing portion for a predetermined period after any one of the first signal, second signal, or third signal initially indicates an open state.