Abstract: An image forming apparatus which makes it possible to perform an image forming operation even during update of a control program. The image forming apparatus is provided with distributed module controllers each including a sub CPU and a flash ROM storing a control program for controlling the sub CPU. The main CPU of the image forming apparatus updates the control programs stored in the respective flash ROMs. The main CPU displays a screen that enables selection of functions to be used in an image forming job executed by the image forming apparatus. During execution of update of a control program targeted for update, out of the selectable functions, the main CPU disables a function which uses a sub CPU associated with the control program.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus for executing image formation by exposing an image carrier with irradiation light emitted from a laser source on the basis of an input signal to drive the laser source includes a correction amount calculation unit configured to calculate, on the basis of a generated correction pattern, a correction amount to control the ON or OFF timing to drive the laser source, and a signal generation unit configured to generate, on the basis of image data and the correction amount calculated by the correction amount calculation unit, a corrected signal obtained by correcting the input signal to drive the laser source so as to form the image data by controlling the ON or OFF timing.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus which enables reduction of time to be taken from a job start instruction to a reading operation start. An automatic document feeder unit feeds an original. An upstream reader reads an image on one side of the original fed by the automatic document feeder unit. A downstream reader is disposed downstream of the upstream reader in an original feeding direction, to read an image on another side of the original. The upstream reader and the downstream reader read images of respective white reference plates, and the image reading apparatus generates correction data for the upstream reader and the downstream reader based on the images of the respective white reference plates read by the upstream reader and the downstream reader.

Abstract: Whether an image to be formed has a prescribed M×N pixel pattern is determined by a comparator. If it is determined that the image has the prescribed M×N pixel pattern, then a light-quantity correction signal that is for reducing the current that flows through a semiconductor laser is output to a laser driving circuit when the laser emits a laser beam of a pixel of interest contained in the M×N pixel pattern.

Abstract: A computer readable design support program for inspecting a processing operation of software that controls a sheet conveyance mechanism by displaying the behavior of feeding a virtual sheet from a virtual sheet stock portion on a display portion, includes a sheets number setting procedure of setting the sheets number of virtual sheets stored in the virtual sheet stock portion, a sheet feed display procedure of displaying the behavior of feeding the virtual sheet from the virtual sheet stock portion on the display portion, a stored sheets number subtraction procedure of subtracting the stored sheets number of virtual sheets corresponding to the virtual sheet stock portion to which the virtual sheet is supplied in the sheet feed display procedure, a judgment procedure of judging whether or not the virtual sheet is used up in the virtual sheet stock portion where the stored sheets number of virtual sheets is subtracted in the stored sheets number subtraction procedure, and a paper out display procedure of displa

Abstract: An image reading apparatus which enables reduction of time to be taken from a job start instruction to a reading operation start. An automatic document feeder unit feeds an original. An upstream reader reads an image on one side of the original fed by the automatic document feeder unit. A downstream reader is disposed downstream of the upstream reader in an original feeding direction, to read an image on another side of the original. The upstream reader and the downstream reader read images of respective white reference plates, and the image reading apparatus generates correction data for the upstream reader and the downstream reader based on the images of the respective white reference plates read by the upstream reader and the downstream reader.

Abstract: Whether an image to be formed has a prescribed M×N pixel pattern is determined by a comparator. If it is determined that the image has the prescribed M×N pixel pattern, then a light-quantity correction signal that is for reducing the current that flows through a semiconductor laser is output to a laser driving circuit when the laser emits a laser beam of a pixel of interest contained in the M×N pixel pattern.

Abstract: In order to prevent a toner residual amount from being erroneously judged as “toner present” after the toner residual amount has been judged to be insufficient, a toner residual amount detection apparatus includes a developing device for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member by a toner, the developing device being provided for movement relative to an apparatus main body, a sensor for outputting information corresponding to the toner residual amount in the developing device, a judging device for comparing the output of the sensor with a reference value to thereby judge the toner residual amount, wherein image forming is inhibited via a predetermined number of times of image forming after the toner residual amount is judged to be not sufficient, and a changing device for changing the reference value to a smaller value with the judgement that the toner residual amount is not sufficient.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus for executing image formation by exposing an image carrier with irradiation light emitted from a laser source on the basis of an input signal to drive the laser source includes a correction amount calculation unit configured to calculate, on the basis of a generated correction pattern, a correction amount to control the ON or OFF timing to drive the laser source, and a signal generation unit configured to generate, on the basis of image data and the correction amount calculated by the correction amount calculation unit, a corrected signal obtained by correcting the input signal to drive the laser source so as to form the image data by controlling the ON or OFF timing.

Abstract: A design support method which enables the verification of processing operation of software which controls a sheet conveying mechanism by displaying the process, in which a virtual sheet is conveyed, on a display portion, comprising a first procedure of setting failure occurrence conditions of a virtual device beforehand, a second procedure of judging whether the failure occurrence conditions set in the first procedure are satisfied, and a third procedure of generating a failure of a virtual device when it is judged in the second procedure that the failure occurrence conditions are satisfied.

Abstract: A computer readable design support program for inspecting a processing operation of software that controls a sheet conveyance mechanism by displaying the behavior of feeding a virtual sheet from a virtual sheet stock portion on a display portion, includes a sheets number setting procedure of setting the sheets number of virtual sheets stored in the virtual sheet stock portion, a sheet feed display procedure of displaying the behavior of feeding the virtual sheet from the virtual sheet stock portion on the display portion, a stored sheets number subtraction procedure of subtracting the stored sheets number of virtual sheets corresponding to the virtual sheet stock portion to which the virtual sheet is supplied in the sheet feed display procedure, a judgment procedure of judging whether or not the virtual sheet is used up in the virtual sheet stock portion where the stored sheets number of virtual sheets is subtracted in the stored sheets number subtraction procedure, and a paper out display procedure of displa

Abstract: In order to prevent a toner residual amount from being erroneously judged as “toner present” after the toner residual amount has been judged to be insufficient, the toner residual amount detection apparatus of the present invention has a developing device for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member by a toner, the developing device being provided for movement relative to an apparatus main body, a sensor for outputting information corresponding to the toner residual amount in the developing device, a judging device for comparing the output of the sensor with a reference value to thereby judge the toner residual amount, wherein image forming is inhibited via a predetermined number of times of image forming after the toner residual amount is judged to be not sufficient, and a changing device for changing the reference value to a smaller value with the judgement that the toner residual amount is not sufficient.

Abstract: In order to prevent a toner residual amount from being erroneously judged as “toner present” after the toner residual amount has been judged to be insufficient, the toner residual amount detection apparatus of the present invention has a developing device for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member by a toner, the developing device being provided for movement relative to an apparatus main body, a sensor for outputting information corresponding to the toner residual amount in the developing device, a judging device for comparing the output of the sensor with a reference value to thereby judge the toner residual amount, wherein image forming is inhibited via a predetermined number of times of image forming after the toner residual amount is judged to be not sufficient, and a changing device for changing the reference value to a smaller value with the judgement that the toner residual amount is not sufficient.

Abstract: In order to prevent a toner residual amount from being erroneously judged as “toner present” after the toner residual amount has been judged to be insufficient, the toner residual amount detection apparatus of the present invention has a developing device for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member by a toner, the developing device being provided for movement relative to an apparatus main body, a sensor for outputting information corresponding to the toner residual amount in the developing device, a judging device for comparing the output of the sensor with a reference value to thereby judge the toner residual amount, wherein image forming is inhibited via a predetermined number of times of image forming after the toner residual amount is judged to be not sufficient, and a changing device for changing the reference value to a smaller value with the judgement that the toner residual amount is not sufficient.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a heater for generating heat upon reception of electric energy; a film movable with a recording material having an unfixed image; and a pressure roller for forming a nip with the heater, with the film interposed therebetween; wherein the pressure roller starts to rotate at the same time as a main power switch of the apparatus is turned on.

Abstract: A film type fixing device includes a rotatable endless film; film position detecting device for detecting a position, in a direction perpendicular to a rotational direction, of the film; error detecting device for detecting error of a position of the film when the output of the film position detecting device is out of a predetermined range; and discriminating device for discriminating whether to back up error information or not on the basis of the output of the film position detecting device, when the error detecting device detects the error.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus such as a copier with a detachable process cartridge is provided with a first memory for storing the number of copying operations; a count renewing unit for increasing the count of the first memory and a second memory in the process cartridge, at each copying operation, a comparator for comparing the counts in the first and second memories, and a controller for determining a process condition specific to the process cartridge in case the counts do not mutually coincide. The service life of the process cartridge can be more precisely judged, and the process condition can be more appropriately determined for each process cartridge.

Abstract: When the user depresses a soft key SW in an on-state of a door switch DSW in which a door is closed, a transistor Tr1 is turned on, a transistor Tr4 is turned on, a relay RL1 is turned on, and an AC power source is supplied to an image forming apparatus. When a jam occurs, a CPU 2 turns on a transistor Tr5 for a predetermined time and a latching relay RL2 is driven to the holding side. When the door is opened for a jam process, the door switch DSW is opened and the AC power drops. When the door is closed after the jam process, the door switch DSW is closed. In this instance, since the latching relay RL2 is in a holding state, the AC power is again supplied in a manner similar to the case where the soft key SW is depressed. When the jam cancellation is confirmed, the holding of the latching relay RL2 is cancelled and the ordinary operation is started.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus includes a resistor for generating heat upon electric energy supply thereto; a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the resistor; and a control unit for controlling the electric energy supply to the resistor so that the temperature sensor detects a target temperature, in accordance with both of a temperature of the resistor and a resistance of the resistor.

Abstract: There is disclosed an image forming apparatus having heating device having a heat generating resistor having a plurality of branches, conduction switching device for switching the conduction at the branch end of the heat generating resistor, and sensing device for sensing the paper size. The switching of conduction of the branch end is performed while not conducting to the heat generating resistor in accordance with the paper size sensed.