Abstract: The image formation apparatus satisfies a user's demand to effectively use a sheet by writing an image to the marginal sheet edge, and prevents that toner is not transferred to the sheet but adhered to a transfer roller when the sheet is slightly misregistered from its accurate position, whereby back stain occurs in a next sheet. In this apparatus, an area in which the image is masked is changed by a CPU, according to an input mode of a image signal from an image signal generation unit. In a printer mode that the image signal is input from a host computer, image masking signals by which an image can be formed up to the sheet edge are given to gate circuits so as to expand the image up to the marginal sheet edge. In a mode that the image signal is input from an image reader, the image masking signals by which a margin can be provided at the sheet edge are given to the gate circuits so as to limit an image area.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes an image forming device, a fixing device, a cooling device and a controller. The image forming device forms an image on a recording medium on the basis of an image signal generated by an image signal generating unit. The fixing device uses heat to fix the image formed on the recording medium, and the cooling device cools the inside of the apparatus. The controller selectively executes either a first economy mode in which the cooling device is activated and the fixing device is inactivated on the basis of a command from the image signal generating unit, or a second economy mode in which both the cooling device and the fixing device are inactivated.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor laser chip having a first light-emitting surface which is formed on one end face of the semiconductor laser chip and which outputs a plurality of front beams, and a second light-emitting surface which is formed on an end face opposite to the first light-emitting surface and which outputs a plurality of back beams corresponding to the plurality of front beams. A photodetector is so formed on the semiconductor laser device as to face the second light-emitting surface of the semiconductor laser chip. The photodetector has a plurality of photodetecting portions for independently detecting the plurality of back beams output from the second light-emitting surface. The photodetector is in tight contact with the second light-emitting surface of the semiconductor laser chip.

Abstract: If an optional paper feeding deck or furnisher, or paper stacker, is connected to an image forming apparatus (such as a printer), such optional devices are to be controlled by connecting the paper conveyance control apparatus to control those options. Such an image forming apparatus has a video controller to convert the printer language sent from a high-order device such as a host computer, into a bit map data and a printer engine to print the bit map data. Such a paper conveyance control apparatus, being electrically connected to the video controller, has a memory to be shared with the video controller. The video controller writes the job schedule in the shared memory. The paper conveyance control apparatus controls the optional device according to the written job schedule.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor laser chip having a first light-emitting surface which is formed on one end face of the semiconductor laser chip and which outputs a plurality of front beams, and a second light-emitting surface which is formed on an end face opposite to the first light-emitting surface and which outputs a plurality of back beams corresponding to the plurality of front beams. A photodetector is so formed on the semiconductor laser device as to face the second light-emitting surface of the semiconductor laser chip. The photodetector has a plurality of photodetecting portions for independently detecting the plurality of back beams output from the second light-emitting surface. The photodetector is in tight contact with the second light-emitting surface of the semiconductor laser chip.

Abstract: If an optional paper feeding deck or furnisher, or paper stacker, is connected to an image forming apparatus (such as a printer), such optional devices are to be controlled by connecting the paper conveyance control apparatus to control those options. Such an image forming apparatus has a video controller to convert the printer language sent from a high-order device such as a host computer, into bit map data and a printer engine to print the bit map data. Such a paper conveyance control apparatus, being electrically connected to the video controller, has a memory to be shared with the video controller. The video controller writes the job schedule in the shared memory. The paper conveyance control apparatus controls the optional device according to the written job schedule.

Abstract: If connecting the optional paper feeding deck or furnisher to the image forming apparatus such as a printer, those optional devices are to be controlled by connecting the paper conveyance control apparatus to control those options. Such an image forming apparatus has a video controller to convert the printer language sent from a high-order device such as a host computer, into a bit map data and a printer engine to print the bit map data. Such a paper conveyance control apparatus, being electrically connected to the video controller, has a memory to be shared with the video controller. The video controller writes the job schedule in the shared memory. The paper conveyance control apparatus controls the optional device according to the written job schedule.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a plurality of laser beams are emitted by a plurality of laser sources and are scanned onto a recording medium. The laser beams scanned are detected by two light-receiving elements juxtaposed in a main scanning direction. The output signals from the two light-receiving elements are compared so that a reference timing signal indicating that each of the scanned laser beams has reached a substantially middle position between the two light-receiving elements is outputted. The write operations of the plurality of laser sources in the main scanning direction are controlled to be synchronized on the basis of the respective reference timing signals.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit for forming an image on either a free-size sheet of an arbitrary size other than a regular size or a regular-size sheet, a controlling unit for controlling, when the image forming unit forms the image on the regular-size sheet, a controlling target unit according to a size of the regular-size sheet, an inputting unit for inputting a size of the free-size sheet, and a converting unit for converting the size inputted by the inputting unit, to suit the converted size to the controlling performed by the controlling unit to the regular-size sheet, wherein the controlling unit performs the different controlling for each group of the sheet sizes, and the converting unit performs the converting to suit the size of the free-size sheet to the group.

Abstract: A toner remaining amount detecting device used for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to sequentially detect an amount of toner in a toner containing portion, includes a first electrode disposed along a path in which an amount of toner contained in the toner containing portion for containing the toner is decreased upon consumption, a second electrode disposed so that the toner in the toner containing portion can exist between the first and second electrodes when the toner is contained in the toner containing portion, and a capacitance-detecting device for sequentially detecting a change in capacitance between the first and second electrodes, wherein the amount of the toner in the toner containing portion is detected sequentially.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes an image forming device, a fixing device, a cooling device and a controller. The image forming device forms an image on a recording medium on the basis of an image signal generated by an image signal generating unit. The fixing device uses heat to fix the image formed on the recording medium, and the cooling device cools the inside of the apparatus. The controller selectively executes either a first economy mode in which the cooling device is activated and the fixing device is inactivated on the basis of a command from the image signal generating unit, or a second economy mode in which both the cooling device and the fixing device are inactivated.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly, a unit detachably attachable to the main assembly, the unit having a memory and a first antenna electrically connected to the memory, communicator for communicating with the memory when the unit is mounted on the main assembly, the communication means having a second antenna, and an electrically conductive shield surrounding at least the first antenna and the second antenna when the unit is mounted on the main assembly.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus comprises an image information generation unit for generating image information, a record control unit for recording an image represented by the image information generated by the image information generation unit and a communication unit for transferring information between the image information generation unit and the record control unit. The record control unit has multi-level energy saving modes and the communication unit includes a unit for designating at least one of the multi-level energy saving modes from the image information generation unit in response to command data outputted from the image information generation unit.

Abstract: If an optional paper feeding deck or furnisher, or paper stacker, is connected to an image forming apparatus (such as a printer), such optional devices are to be controlled by connecting the paper conveyance control apparatus to control those options. Such an image forming apparatus has a video controller to convert the printer language sent from a high-order device such as a host computer, into bit map data and a printer engine to print the bit map data. Such a paper conveyance control apparatus, being electrically connected to the video controller, has a memory to be shared with the video controller. The video controller writes the job schedule in the shared memory. The paper conveyance control apparatus controls the optional device according to the written job schedule.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit for forming an image on either a free-size sheet of an arbitrary size other than a regular size or a regular-size sheet, a controlling unit for controlling, when the image forming unit forms the image on the regular-size sheet, a controlling target unit according to a size of the regular-size sheet, an inputting unit for inputting a size of the free-size sheet, and a converting unit for converting the size inputted by the inputting unit, to suit the converted size to the controlling performed by the controlling unit to the regular-size sheet, wherein the controlling unit performs the different controlling for each group of the sheet sizes, and the converting unit performs the converting to suit the size of the free-size sheet to the group.

Abstract: A video controller generates a video signal from image data on the basis of a print instruction, and an engine controller controls a laser scanner in accordance with the generated video signal to record an image on recording paper by an image forming section. A master controller of an optional master unit performs overall control of a variety of optional units, such as a paper-deck optional unit and a sorter optional unit, in dependence upon a control instruction sent from the video controller. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an image recording apparatus to which a wide variety of optional units can be connected freely without raising the cost of the main body of the apparatus.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a plurality of laser beams are emitted by a plurality of laser sources and are scanned onto a recording medium. The laser beams scanned are detected by two light-receiving elements juxtaposed in a main scanning direction. The output signals from the two light-receiving elements are compared so that a reference timing signal indicating that each of the scanned laser beams has reached a substantially middle position between the two light-receiving elements is outputted. The write operations of the plurality of laser sources in the main scanning direction are controlled to be synchronized on the basis of the respective reference timing signals.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor laser chip having a first light-emitting surface which is formed on one end face of the semiconductor laser chip and which outputs a plurality of front beams, and a second light-emitting surface which is formed on an end face opposite to the first light-emitting surface and which outputs a plurality of back beams corresponding to the plurality of front beams. A photodetector is so formed on the semiconductor laser device as to face the second light-emitting surface of the semiconductor laser chip. The photodetector has a plurality of photodetecting portions for independently detecting the plurality of back beams output from the second light-emitting surface. The photodetector is in tight contact with the second light-emitting surface of the semiconductor laser chip.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus comprises an image information generation unit for generating image information, a record control unit for recording an image represented by the image information generated by the image information generation unit and a communication unit for transferring information between the image information generation unit and the record control unit. The record control unit has multi-level energy saving modes and the communication unit includes a unit for designating at least one of the multi-level energy saving modes from the image information generation unit in response to command data outputted from the image information generation unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which includes a main body which has a printer engine which forms an image on a recording medium, a supply unit which supplies the recording medium to the main body, and a discharge unit which receives the recording medium, on which an image is recorded, discharged from the main body. The supply unit and discharge unit detachably connect to the apparatus and the units are stackable under the main body, and the supply unit and discharge unit have a relaying device for relaying the recording medium which is supplied or discharged from another unit or the main body.