Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel production method which makes it possible to obtain a molded product containing a P3HB-based resin through an injection blow molding method and a technique for using such a method. The object is achieved by providing a method for producing a molded product containing a P3HB-based resin, the method including the steps of: (A) plasticizing a resin composition containing a P3HB-based resin; (B) subjecting the plasticized resin composition obtained in the step (A) to injection molding to obtain a preform; and (C) subjecting the preform obtained in the step (B) to blow molding to obtain a molded product.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which can form an even image while maintaining high resolution. A speckle pattern detecting unit detects a speckle pattern on a surface of a photosensitive drum. A motor drive circuit controls the rotational speed of the photosensitive drum based on the detected speckle pattern on the surface of the photosensitive drum detected by the speckle pattern detecting unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which can form an even image while maintaining high resolution. A speckle pattern detecting unit detects a speckle pattern on a surface of a photosensitive drum. A motor drive circuit controls the rotational speed of the photosensitive drum based on the detected speckle pattern on the surface of the photosensitive drum detected by the speckle pattern detecting unit.

Abstract: In an image reading apparatus having a light source for illuminating a document, an image sensing element for outputting an electrical signal in accordance with an input light quantity, a first reference member, and a second reference member, shading correction data is acquired. A time since the light source is turned on is measured, and when the measured time does not reach a predetermined time, shading correction data is acquired by a first method using the first reference member. When the predetermined time has elapsed, shading correction data is acquired by a second method using the second reference member.

Abstract: An original size sensing method for an apparatus which includes a photoelectric converter for reading an image of an original placed on a platen, and a light source for irradiating the original with light, determines the presence/absence of incidence of ambient light on the basis of an output from the photoelectric converter while the light source is kept off. When ambient light is found to be incident, the method determines the size of an original placed on the platen on the basis of that output from the photoelectric converter, which falls outside the range in which the ambient light is incident, while the light source is kept on.

Abstract: An original size sensing method for an apparatus which includes a photoelectric converter for reading an image of an original placed on a platen, and a light source for irradiating the original with light, determines the presence/absence of incidence of ambient light on the basis of an output from the photoelectric converter while the light source is kept off. When ambient light is found to be incident, the method determines the size of an original placed on the platen on the basis of that output from the photoelectric converter, which falls outside the range in which the ambient light is incident, while the light source is kept on.

Abstract: An original size sensing method for an apparatus which includes a photoelectric converter for reading an image of an original placed on a platen, and a light source for irradiating the original with light, determines the presence/absence of incidence of ambient light on the basis of an output from the photoelectric converter while the light source is kept off. When ambient light is found to be incident, the method determines the size of an original placed on the platen on the basis of that output from the photoelectric converter, which falls outside the range in which the ambient light is incident, while the light source is kept on.

Abstract: In an image reading apparatus having a light source for illuminating a document, an image sensing element for outputting an electrical signal in accordance with an input light quantity, a first reference member, and a second reference member, shading correction data is acquired. A time since the light source is turned on is measured, and when the measured time does not reach a predetermined time, shading correction data is acquired by a first method using the first reference member. When the predetermined time has elapsed, shading correction data is acquired by a second method using the second reference member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a space-saving and compact high-operability image forming apparatus. The apparatus includes an original reading unit, a sheet supporting unit, an image forming unit and a sheet discharging unit. The original reading unit is adapted to hold an original placed on an original mount by a cover member, for reading an original image. The sheet supporting unit is placed under the original image reading unit, and supports a sheet on which an image is formed. The image forming unit is placed at the rear of the housing containing the original reading unit and the sheet supporting unit and is used to form an image on a sheet held by the sheet supporting unit. The sheet discharging unit discharges a sheet, on which an image has been formed by the image forming unit, towards and above the original reading unit.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus such as a color copying apparatus has a plurality of sensing CCD chips for converting an image of an object into an electrical signal, each sensing CCD chip having a plurality of sensing elements. The apparatus also has a circuit for converting the electrical signal into digital data. A first adjusting circuit is provided for conducting either an operation for obtaining level matching of the electrical signal converted by the sensing chips, or an operation for controlling the gain of the electrical signal converted by the sensing chips.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus such as a color copying apparatus has a plurality of sensing CCD chips for converting an image of an object into an electrical signal, each sensing CCD chip having a plurality of sensing elements. The apparatus also has a circuit for converting the electrical signal into digital data. A first adjusting circuit is provided for conducting either an operation for obtaining level matching of the electrical signal converted by the sensing chips, or an operation for controlling the gain of the electrical signal converted by the sensing chips.

Abstract: A color image reading apparatus includes reading circuitry for reading a color image and dot sequentially outputting a plurality of color component signals. Common amplifying circuitry is provided for sequentially amplifying the plurality of analog color component signals which are dot sequentially output from the reading circuitry. Common converting circuitry is provided for sequentially converting the plurality of color component signals, which are amplified by the common amplifying circuitry, into a plurality of digital color component signals. Separating circuitry is provided for separating the plurality of digital color component signals, which are converted by the common converting circuitry, into digital color component signals of each color. Finally, switching circuitry is provided for sequentially switching a gain of the amplifying circuitry in accordance with a color of the analog color signal to be amplified.

Abstract: A color original reading apparatus includes a filter having a long-wavelength invisible radiation absorption filter and a long-wavelength invisible radiation reflection filter, or includes a spectral distribution correction filter arranged in an optical path from an original illumination light source to a color image sensor via an original.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus such as a color copying apparatus has a plurality of sensing CCD chips for converting an image of an object into an electrical signal, each sensing CCD chip having a plurality of sensing elements. The apparatus also has a circuit for converting the electrical signal into digital data. A first adjusting circuit is provided for conducting either an operation for obtaining level matching of the electrical signal converted by the sensing chips, or an operation for controlling the gain of the electrical signal converted by the sensing chips.

Abstract: A color image reading apparatus having a color sensor with plural sensor groups, the color sensor for separating an objective image into plural color components and for converting the plural color components into plural color component signals, and a shading corrector for performing shading correction for the plural color component signals. The shading corrector causes the plural sensor groups to substantially simultaneously read a reference plate and automatically corrects a shading correction state for each of the plural color component signals in accordance with data obtained from the plural sensor groups.

Abstract: A color image reading apparatus includes reading circuitry for reading a color image and dot sequentially outputting a plurality of color component signals. Common amplifying circuitry is provided for sequentially amplifying the plurality of analog color component signals which are dot sequentially output from the reading circuitry. Common converting circuitry is provided for sequentially converting the plurality of color component signals, which are amplified by the common amplifying circuitry, into a plurality of digital color component signals. Separating circuitry is provided for separating the plurality of digital color component signals, which are converted by the common converting circuitry, into digital color component signals of each color. Finally, switching circuitry is provided for sequentially switching a gain of the amplifying circuitry in accordance with a color of the analog color signal to be amplified.

Abstract: A halftone image recording apparatus includes means for recording an image on a recording medium, inputting an image signal representative of an image which includes a plurality of density levels, generating a plurality of pulsed periodic signals having different widths of one period of the image signal, selecting at least one periodic signal with a preselected pulse width among a plurality of the periodic signals, combining the selected periodic signal with the image signal, and applying the combined signal to the recording means.

Abstract: A color image reading apparatus includes a plurality of linear sensors, each capable of generating plural analog color component signals. The sensors are arranged to read a line of the color image in a divided manner and such that adjacent ones of the linear sensors read mutually different lines of the color image. Also provided is a separator for separating the plural analog color component signals generated by the sensors into analog color component signals of each color, and a converter for converting the analog color component signals of each color into digital color component signals of each color, respectively. The apparatus further includes a device for forming plural continuous digital color component signals representing a line of the color image from the digital color component signals of each color converted by the converter.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a plurality of linear sensors for reading an image of a document. Each linear sensor reads a different portion of a line of the document in a divided manner. A plurality of clamp circuits control black levels of signals generated by the plurality of linear sensors to be a black reference level. A plurality of multipliers control white levels of signals generated by the plurality of linear sensor means which are level-controlled by the clamp circuits so as to be a white reference level.

Abstract: A color image processing apparatus has a CCD shift register for reading a color image in accordance with reference clock pulses, a pre-sample-hold circuit for performing color separation of serial color signals and producing parallel color signal in accordance with sample clock pulses, post-sample-hold circuits, and a matrix circuit for correcting the color signals. The CCD shift register, the pre-sample-hold circuit and the post-sample-hold circuits can be integrated as a line sensor. Serial color signals can be processed at high speed and at low cost.