# US 2021/0241058 A1 · Image forming system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0241058 A1 - Document ID: US20210241058A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/159,387 - Filed: 2021-01-27 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-30 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Yohei Suzuki; Seiji Hara; Masafumi Monde; Hiroshi Hagiwara; Yoshitaka Zaitsu; Hiromitsu Kumada - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210241058A1 ## CPC - G06K 15/408: {Handling exceptions, e.g. faults (computer driven error handling and recovery for a printer G06F3/1234)} - B41J 29/13: Cases or covers - G03G 15/5016: {User-machine interface; Display panels; Control console} - G03G 15/55: {Self-diagnostics; Malfunction or lifetime display} - G03G 21/1633: {using doors or covers (G03G21/1638 takes precedence)} - G06K 15/002: {Interacting with the operator} - G06K 15/005: {only locally} - B41J 29/02: Framework - G03G 15/6502: {Supplying of sheet copy material; Cassettes therefor} - G06K 15/129: {Colour printing} - G10L 25/48: specially adapted for particular use - H04R 2201/003: Mems transducers or their use - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY - G10L: SPEECH ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES OR SPEECH SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) ## Abstract There is provided an image forming system that includes an image forming apparatus including, a first variable mechanism that varies from a first state to a second state or from the second state to the first state when physically operated by a user, a first detection unit configured to detect the variation of a state of the first variable mechanism, and a sound collection unit. The image forming system further includes a generation unit configured to generate, when the variation is detected by the first detection unit, first statistical information regarding at least one sound wave obtained by the sound collection unit in a period based on a timing when the variation is detected. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming system comprising: an image forming apparatus including, a first variable mechanism that varies from a first state to a second state or from the second state to the first state when physically operated by a user, a first detection unit configured to detect the variation of a state of the first variable mechanism, and a sound collection unit; and a generation unit configured to generate, when the variation is detected by the first detection unit, first statistical information regarding at least one sound wave obtained by the sound collection unit in a period based on a timing when the variation is detected. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the generation unit is configured to generate the first statistical information based on a sound wave level of a sound wave obtained by the sound collection unit in one or more time intervals before the timing and a sound wave level of a sound wave obtained by the sound collection unit in one or more time intervals after the timing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the generation unit is configured to generate the first statistical information based on a sound wave level of a sound wave obtained by the sound collection unit in one or more time intervals after the timing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the first statistical information includes one or more of an average value, a maximum value and an integrated value of sound wave levels of sound waves obtained in a plurality of time intervals. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the first statistical information is utilized as a measure for evaluating an intensity of a force applied to the first variable mechanism at the time of the user operation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the generation unit is configured to associate, with the first statistical information, first identification information that identifies the first variable mechanism. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus further includes the generation unit, and a communication unit configured to transmit the first statistical information generated by the generation unit to another apparatus. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus further includes a warning unit configured to warn the user when the first statistical information generated by the generation unit satisfies a predetermined warning condition. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus further includes a display unit configured to display the first statistical information generated by the generation unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus further includes a second variable mechanism that varies from a third state to a fourth state or from the fourth state to the third state when physically operated by the user, and a second detection unit configured to detect the variation of a state of the second variable mechanism, and the generation unit is configured to, when the variation is detected by the second detection unit, generate second statistical information regarding at least one sound wave obtained by the sound collection unit in a period based on a timing when the variation is detected by the second detection unit, and associate, with the second statistical information, second identification information that identifies the second variable mechanism. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the first variable mechanism includes a cover that is mounted, in an openable and closable manner, on a main body of the image forming apparatus, the first state is a state where the cover is open, and the second state is a state where the cover is closed. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the first variable mechanism includes a tray that accommodates a recording medium supplied to the image forming apparatus, the first state is a state where the tray is pulled out from a main body of the image forming apparatus, and the second state is a state where the tray is inserted in the main body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the first variable mechanism includes a cartridge that accommodates a recording agent for forming an image, the first state is a state where the cartridge is removed from a main body of the image forming apparatus, and the second state is a state where the cartridge is attached to the main body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the first variable mechanism includes a fixing unit for fixing an image on a recording medium, the first state is a state where the fixing unit is removed from a main body of the image forming apparatus, and the second state is a state where the fixing unit is attached to the main body. ### Claim 15 An image forming system comprising: an image forming apparatus including, a variable mechanism that varies from a first state to a second state or from the second state to the first state when physically operated by a user, a detection unit configured to detect the variation of a state of the variable mechanism, and a sound collection unit; a determination unit configured to, when the variation is detected by the detection unit, determine whether a sound wave level of a sound wave obtained by the sound collection unit in a period based on a timing when the variation is detected exceeds a threshold; and a warning unit configured to issue a warning when the determination unit determines that the sound wave level exceeds the threshold.