Provided is an image processing apparatus to form an image on a sheet of paper, including a main body and a submodule detachably disposed on the main body. The main body includes an asynchronous serial bus and a master control unit. The submodule includes a slave control unit. An interactive asynchronous serial communication is performed between the master control unit and slave control unit. The master control unit includes a detection timing changing unit. The detection timing changing unit changes a scheduled timing to detect a second signal. The slave control unit includes a transmission signal changing unit. The transmission signal changing unit changes a state of the second signal from a first state detectable by the master control unit at a first timing to a second state detectable by the master control unit at a second timing.

According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a scanner unit, an image forming unit, a frame, a first adjustment mechanism, and a second adjustment mechanism. The scanner unit has an image reading section. The image forming unit forms an image read by the scanner unit on a sheet. The frame includes a first support section and a second support section. The first support section supports the image forming unit. The second support section is positioned below the scanner unit. The first adjustment mechanism steplessly adjusts a distance in an up-down direction between the scanner unit and the second support section. The second adjustment mechanism gradually adjusts the distance in the up-down direction between the scanner unit and the second support section.

This image forming apparatus determines, in accordance with state information indicating the state of the image forming apparatus, whether or not a timing for executing an authentication process of a removable cartridge has arrived. Furthermore, if the timing for executing a cartridge authentication process has arrived, this image forming apparatus obtains authentication information regarding authentication from the cartridge, and determines, from the authentication information, whether or not an authentication process is required to be executed. When an authentication process has been executed, an authentication result is written in a storage area of the cartridge.

A communication method is provided between a chip and an imaging device. Accordingly, the chip receives a clock pulse signal from the imaging device via a clock line; and receives a READ instruction from the imaging device via a data line. Within one clock pulse signal period, the chip transmits at least one bit of implicit data and one bit of master data that are stored in an internal memory to the data line within different time slots, respectively, and the imaging device collects data from the data line while the chip is transmitting the master data to the data line. Further, the chip receives a WRITE instruction from the imaging device via the data line, wherein the chip receives master data sent from the imaging device, writes the master data into the memory arranged in the chip, and updates the implicit data stored in the memory.

An image processing device including a reception unit, an acquisition unit, an image reading unit, and a transmission unit. The reception unit receives a processing identifier associated with image reading processing. The acquisition unit acquires processing information associated with the processing identifier, the processing information including at least information regarding a storing location. The image reading unit reads an image on the basis of the processing information. The transmission unit transmits data of the read image to the storing location according to the processing information.

A removable media handling module includes a body that is horizontally slidable into and removable from an imaging apparatus. The media handling module includes a lower media guide extending between a front and a rear of the body in a direction of insertion of the body into the imaging apparatus. With the media handling module inserted into the imaging apparatus, the lower media guide is positioned parallel to and spaced from a corresponding upper media guide mounted in the imaging apparatus to form at least a portion of a duplex media path therebetween. The media handling module includes a media feed through channel extending from a bottom of the body to an entrance of a simplex media path to allow media to be fed from a media tray below the media handling module and into the simplex media path when the media handling module is installed in the imaging apparatus.

A spring compression assembly is configured to apply a load to a stack of electrochemical cells. The assembly includes a ceramic leaf spring, a tensioner configured to apply pressure to a first side of the spring and a bottom plate located on a second side of the spring opposite the first side of the spring. The bottom plate is configured to transfer a load from the spring to the stack of electrochemical cells.

An upper unit configured to open and close an upper portion of a lower unit includes: a first reading unit disposed in a medium transport path, the first reading unit being configured to read a surface of a transported medium; a substrate coupled to the first reading unit; a cable having one end and another end, the one end being coupled to a first coupling portion of the first reading unit, the other end being coupled to a second coupling portion of the substrate; and a facing portion facing the lower unit in a state in which the upper unit is closed, the facing portion being configured to be attached to and detached from the upper unit. The cable is disposed at a position exposed when the facing portion is detached from the upper unit.

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion configured to form an image on a sheet; a mounting portion on which an IC card reader which includes a lighting portion where light indicating an operation state comes on and which is used for user authentication is mounted; a reader cover mounted on the mounting portion and covering the IC card reader, wherein the reader cover is provided with a plurality of openings, either one of the openings opposing the lighting portion of the IC card reader; and a light transmission sheet provided on the reader cover and covering the openings, wherein transmittance of visible light for the light transmission sheet is 5% or more and 25% or less.

A sheet separation device separates a non-bonding portion of a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlapped and bonded together at a bonding portion of the two-ply sheet. The sheet separation device includes a separator, an abnormality detection device, and circuitry. The separator is configured to move to be inserted into a gap formed between the two sheets of the two-ply sheet. The abnormality detection device is configured to detect an abnormal state in which the gap larger than a predetermined size is not formed between the two sheets before the separator is inserted into the gap. The circuitry is configured to control movement of the separator based on a result detected by the abnormality detection device.