An image reading device includes a reader, an opposing member, and circuitry. The reader is configured to read an image of an object to be conveyed. The opposing member has a plurality of opposing portions that include reference surfaces selectively switchable to be placed at a reading position of the reader. The reference surfaces include two or more identical reference surfaces. The circuitry is configured to determine whether an evaluation reading value of reading values read by the reader on each of the two or more identical reference surfaces is within a prescribed range and perform correction operation of the image reading device with the evaluation reading value within the prescribed range out of the reading values of the two or more identical reference surfaces.

A maintenance system includes a plurality of apparatuses and a maintenance server. Each apparatus: transmits log data indicating a state of the apparatus to the maintenance server; receives a prediction model from the maintenance server, the prediction model predicting the occurrence of an abnormal state of the plurality of apparatuses; determines whether the abnormal state of the apparatus occurs based on the prediction model to generate a determination result; and transmits the determination result indicating the occurrence of the abnormal state of the apparatus to the maintenance server. The maintenance server: generates the prediction model based on the log data received from each of the plurality of apparatuses; and issues an instruction of a maintenance work for one or more of the plurality of apparatuses that transmit the determination result.

According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes a damaged file determiner, a response unit, and a file restoration unit. The damaged file determiner determines whether or not a file used in the image processing apparatus is damaged. The response unit requests another device to provide a recovery file to be used to restore the damaged file and obtain the recovery file from another image processing apparatus, when it is determined that the file is damaged. The file restoration unit restores the damaged file by using the recovery file.

An intermediary device includes circuitry to: transmit, to a server, device information on a device to be monitored acquired from the device via a network; monitor a state of another intermediary device, the another intermediary device being configured to acquire from another device to be monitored device information on the another device and transmit the acquired device information to the information processor; and take over monitoring of the another device, which the another intermediary device kept monitoring, based on setting information for monitoring the another device monitored by the another intermediary device, when the state of the another intermediary device indicates that the another intermediary device has an abnormality.

A communication apparatus has a first communicator, a second communicator, and a controller. The first communicator is assigned a first destination number. The second communicator is assigned a second destination number. For image transmission, during parameter adjustment processing for adjusting parameters of the waveform of a selection signal which is a signal transmitting a destination number of a communication partner to call, the controller makes the first communicator transmit a selection single of the second destination number. After the selection signal of the second destination number is transmitted, the controller judges whether or not the second communicator receives a call.

A method for inspecting images on printed products in a machine for processing printing substrates includes recording and digitizing the produced printed products by using at least one image sensor in an image recording system, comparing the recorded digital printed images having been created in this way with a digital reference image by using the computer, digitally eliminating distortion in the recorded digital printed images beforehand by using the computer and, if the recorded digital distortion-free printed images deviate from the digital reference image, removing printed products having been found to have a defect. For the purpose of digitally eliminating the distortions, the computer divides the print and reference images into respective image parts and adapts the printed image parts pixel by pixel in terms of their positions in the printed image to minimize the difference between the printed image parts and the respective reference image parts.

A maintenance system includes a plurality of apparatuses and a maintenance server. Each apparatus: transmits log data indicating a state of the apparatus to the maintenance server; receives a prediction model from the maintenance server, the prediction model predicting the occurrence of an abnormal state of the plurality of apparatuses; determines whether the abnormal state of the apparatus occurs based on the prediction model to generate a determination result; and transmits the determination result indicating the occurrence of the abnormal state of the apparatus to the maintenance server. The maintenance server: generates the prediction model based on the log data received from each of the plurality of apparatuses; and issues an instruction of a maintenance work for one or more of the plurality of apparatuses that transmit the determination result.

Methods and apparatus for predicting colorant usage by printing devices are provided. A prediction server can receive a request to predict colorant usage for a first printing device. The prediction server can determine first plurality of functions to predict colorant usage for the first printing device. The first plurality of functions can include at least one linear function and at least one non-linear function. The first plurality of functions can be based on colorant-usage rates indicating historical rates of change in colorant used by the first printing device. The prediction server can determine a prediction of colorant usage for the first printing device using the first plurality of functions. The prediction server can provide an output involving the prediction of colorant usage for the first printing device, where the prediction of colorant usage can include a confidence interval related to the prediction.

An image reading apparatus comprises a driving control part which detects a driving abnormality of a motor which drives a moving unit configured to be movable. Further, the image reading apparatus comprises a HP sensor an output of which changes in accordance with a position of the moving unit, and a CPU(A) which moves the moving unit by controlling operation of the motor based on the output change of the HP sensor. The CPU(A) determines that a driving abnormality occurs in a case where the driving control part detects an abnormality while moving the back surface glass unit. The CPU(A) determines that a position detection abnormality occurs if the output of the HP sensor does not change even when the moving unit is moved by a predetermined distance (ON reference moving amount and OFF reference moving amount) or more in a state where no abnormality is detected by the driving control part.

In accordance with an embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a measurement section configured to measure first environmental information of a measurement position in a first period; an acquisition section configured to acquire first external environmental information measured by a first external device; and a controller configured to estimate second environmental information of the measurement position in a second period different from the first period using the first external environmental information, and perform control to execute a maintenance operation based on the second environmental information.