A printing system includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry acquires print data of a plurality of pages and extracts comparison data from the print data for each page. The processing circuitry, from first image data read from a printed material on which the print data is printed, acquires second image data at a position corresponding to the comparison data, for each page of the printed material. The processing circuitry outputs a comparison result of the comparison data and the read image data for each page.

A print apparatus is disclosed. In some examples, the print apparatus comprises a print head to deposit print agent onto a substrate; a detector to detect a fiducial; a first light source to back-illuminate the substrate, such that light from the first light source is to be detected by the detector through the substrate; and processing apparatus. The processing apparatus is to operate the print head to deposit print agent to form a first fiducial on a first side of the substrate, the first fiducial comprising a shape of a first colour and having a first dimension, and a background of print agent of a second, different colour, wherein the first dimension of the shape does not exceed a corresponding dimension of the background; operate the print head to deposit print agent to form a second fiducial on a second, opposite side of the substrate, the second fiducial comprising an inverted version of the shape of the first colour; operate the first light source to back-illuminate the substrate; operate the detector to detect the first and second fiducials; and determine whether the first fiducial is aligned with the second fiducial. A method and a machine-readable medium are also disclosed.

A reading device and an image forming apparatus. The reading device includes a reader disposed at a scanning position, the reader being configured to read an image formed on a surface of a sheet, a movement mechanism to move the reader between the scanning position and a separated position away from the scanning position, and a reference plate disposed at a first position facing a reading face of the reader, the reference plate being configured to obtain a reference value to be used when the reader reads the image. In the reading device, the reference plate rotates around an axis from a second position facing a side of the reader to the first position or from the first position to the second position in conjunction with movement of the reader from the scanning position to the separated position by the movement mechanism The image forming apparatus includes the reading device.

A reading device and an image forming apparatus are provided. The reading device includes an image reading device configured to read an image on a recording medium being conveyed, a background device serving as a background image when the image is read by the image reading device, and a foreign-object detector configured to compare a first read image obtained as the background device is read by the image reading device with a second read image obtained as the background device and the recording medium are read by the image reading device to detect an attached foreign object. The image forming apparatus includes the reading device and an image forming device.

An example of an apparatus including a communication interface to receive an image file is provided. The image file represents a scanned image of a output generated by a printing device. The apparatus further includes an identification engine to process the image file with a convolutional neural network model to identify a feature. The feature may be indicative of a potential failure. The apparatus also includes an image analysis engine to indicate a life expectancy of a part associated with the potential failure based on the feature. The image analysis engine uses the convolutional neural network model to determine life expectancy.

An image reading apparatus includes a light source to emit at least light in a first wavelength range and light in a second wavelength range, a background member having different light reflectances in the first and second wavelength ranges, an imaging device, and circuitry. The imaging device receives reflected light from the background member irradiated with the light in the first wavelength range, and generates first read information. The imaging device further receives reflected light from the background member irradiated with the light in the second wavelength range, and generates second read information. The circuitry detects presence or absence of a first foreign substance based on a difference in reading level of the first read information generated by the imaging device; and detect presence or absence of a second foreign substance based on a difference in reading level of the second read information generated by the imaging device.

An image forming system includes an image forming unit, an inspection unit, a conveyance unit configured to convey a sheet to the inspection unit, a controller configured to execute a first inspection mode in which a sheet having an image formed thereon is conveyed by the conveyance unit to the inspection unit and is inspected, and a second inspection mode in which, without executing image forming by the image forming unit, a sheet is conveyed by the conveyance unit to the inspection unit and is inspected, and a setting unit configured to set a recovery process. The setting unit permits the setting of the recovery process in the first inspection mode and prohibits the setting of the recovery process in the second inspection mode.

A reading device and an image forming apparatus. The reading device includes a reader disposed at a scanning position, the reader being configured to read an image formed on a surface of a sheet, a movement mechanism to move the reader between the scanning position and a separated position away from the scanning position, and a reference plate disposed at a first position facing a reading face of the reader, the reference plate being configured to obtain a reference value to be used when the reader reads the image. In the reading device, the reference plate rotates around an axis from a second position facing a side of the reader to the first position or from the first position to the second position in conjunction with movement of the reader from the scanning position to the separated position by the movement mechanism The image forming apparatus includes the reading device.

An apparatus includes an output unit configured to output a printed material of a verification image in a case where a condition is satisfied, an obtainment unit configured to obtain a verification result based on a comparison between a read image of the printed material of the verification image and a correct answer image, and a control unit configured to control printing based on the verification result.

An image reading apparatus includes: a reader that reads an image formed on a print medium; and a backing part that is disposed at a position facing the reader and is capable of switching a color of a portion to be a background of the print medium upon reading by the reader to a plurality of colors according to a type of the print medium and/or a color read from the print medium.