Abstract: Provided is a small-sized electrophotographic apparatus for which maintenance such as disposal of a jam of sheets, replacement of consumables including toner, or replacement of components to be periodically replaced can be facilitated.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first support member, an image carrying member configured to carry a toner image thereon, and an optical writing apparatus connected to the first support member and configured to form an electrostatic latent image on the image carrying member. The optical writing apparatus includes an optical system having at least one optical element, a first casing configured to support the optical system, and a second casing configured to encase the first casing and to prevent intrusion of dust to the optical system.

Abstract: Raster Output Scanner (ROS) shutter system capable of blocking and unblocking harmful radiation selectably, semi-automatically or automatically. The system and uses thereof can be applied to various fields including scanners and printers.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming cartridges and/or a plurality of light emitting members in a housing. Horizontal and/or vertical structural members attached to the housing separate the plurality of image forming cartridges and/or plurality of light emitting members. The horizontal and/or vertical structural members improves rigidity and reduces banding ascribable to the vibration.

Abstract: A tray-access door device is provided that includes a body having first and second ends. Preferably, an access door is connected at or about the first end of the body and a tray is connected at or about the second end of the body. In an operational configuration, the tray at least partially covers an access opening formed between the access door and the tray. In a closed configuration, the tray at least partially covers the access opening, and the access door at least partially covers the tray.

Abstract: This invention provides an optical writing device to be supported at a predetermined position in an image forming apparatus, as well as an image forming apparatus provided with the optical writing device. The optical writing device has a support unit supporting an optical writing head. The support unit includes a first block and a second block supporting one end and the other end of the LED writing head, respectively, and a connecting member interconnecting the first block and the second block while maintaining a positional relationship between the first block and the second block. The connecting member of the support unit is made most easily deformable among the parts constituting the optical writing device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a plurality of light generators, an image transfer mechanism, a plurality of image forming cartridges corresponding to the plurality of light generators, and a housing including slots corresponding to the light generators. Each image forming cartridge has a photosensitive drum with an exposure position and a transfer position. The exposure position is facing a corresponding light generator and the transfer position is substantially diametrically opposed to the exposure position. The slots are positioned to allow light beams emitted from said light generators to pass therethrough onto the respective exposure positions. The housing is configured to house the plurality of light generators one above another.

Abstract: A recording apparatus is provided in which a space can be secured on a desk without performing a troublesome operation, and penetration of dust or foreign matter into a main body can be prevented when the apparatus is not used, and a sheet jam caused by closing of a sheet-discharge-port cover does not occur when the apparatus is used. In the apparatus, a magnet unit is provided at a sheet feeding cover covering a sheet feeding opening, and a metal member is provided at a sheet-discharge-port cover for covering a sheet discharge port. By attraction of the metal member of the sheet-discharge-port cover by the magnet unit of the sheet feeding cover, and a locked state is provided, to provide a shell structure. Linked with opening of the sheet feeding cover, the sheet-discharge-port cover is automatically opened by its own weight. A DC jack is disposed at a right side of the printer main body, and an I/F (interface) connector is disposed within a detachable side cover.

Abstract: A system for reading and writing indicia on a medium including a light source for producing a light beam; a reading element for directing the light beam at the medium so as to scan indicia disposed on a first portion of said medium, detecting at least a portion of the light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia, and generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity; and a writing element for directing the light beam at the medium in a pattern on a second portion of the medium so as record information on the medium. The light beam is preferably a laser beam generated by a semiconductor laser, and a mirror is used to scan the beam both for reading and writing.

Abstract: The printing device comprises a print head unit, a transporting device for the printing material and a structural housing board on which the print head unit and the transporting device are mounted at one end in cantilevered manner and in a predetermined relationship relative to one another. The transporting device comprises a stiff support member which is rigidly connected to the housing board, a mounting member which extends substantially parallel relative to the housing board and is held on the stiff support member, and at least one transport roller for the transportation of the strip of printing material which is mounted at both ends. The stiff support member comprises connecting elements for releasably fixing th mounting member and also guide elements which co-operate with corresponding guide elements of the mounting member for exactly positioning the arrangement with reference to the support member.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus achieves miniaturization thereof and improvement of image quality. The shape of an optical scanning device mount frame mounting an optical scanning device is trapezoidal, and asymmetrical with respect to a center line thereof, and a short side part and a long side part are attached to a first and second frames of the apparatus, respectively. A space for attaching parts is available on the side of the first frame, and a driving device is placed inside the first frame so that the apparatus can be miniaturized. Since the optical scanning device mount frame is asymmetrical with respect to the center line thereof, as compared with one having a symmetrical shape, an eigenvalue of vibration can be shifted to a high frequency, and the mount frame is resistant to vibrate. Thus, the fluctuation of a light beam is suppressed, and the image quality can be improved.

Abstract: Not only is down sizing of an image writing device achieved by reducing a conjugate distance but also a diameter of a spot light impinging on a photosensitive drum for illumination can be freely varied. The image writing device is equipped with a light source having a light emission layer formed on a transparent substrate and a microlens array configured so as to face the light source.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an image bearing member; an optical unit for image exposure of the image bearing member, the optical unit being mountable from a side of the apparatus main body; and an elastic member for pressuring the optical unit downward.

Abstract: A device sets the focus of at least one exposure head on a recording material, in particular a printing plate, in an exposer for recording printing originals. An exposer has an exposure drum for holding the printing plates, and an exposure-head carrier, which contains a carrier plate for holding exposure heads, and a carrier base. The carrier plate and the carrier base are connected such that they can move by a hinge which is disposed on the front side of the exposure-head carrier, facing the exposure drum. The rear of the carrier plate is raised or lowered by a tilting drive, as a result of which the exposure heads are moved jointly and substantially radially toward the exposure drum or away from the exposure drum. The hinge is preferably formed from at least one spring plate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a supporting member extended between first and second frames and supporting an exposure unit, wherein the primary resonance frequency of the supporting member is higher than that of a mirror provided in the exposure unit, whereby the supporting member is prevented from being caused to resonate by oscillation generated in the driving system of the apparatus main body to thereby prevent the mirror from oscillating.

Abstract: To prevent a belt and image forming means from being stained by spilled toner and also reduce the vibration of an exposure means. An image forming apparatus is of a tandem type in which mage forming stations Y, M, C, K for respective colors are arranged along a transfer belt 14. Each image forming station Y, M, C, K has an image carrier 17, a charging means 19 and a developing means 20 which are arranged around the image carrier 17. The image forming apparatus forms a multi-color image by passing the transfer belt 14 through the respective image forming stations. The transfer belt 14 is laid around a driving roller 12 and a driven roller 13 with a constant tension.

Abstract: A tandem type color image forming device having a plurality of process cartridges each being detachable from a frame. An intermediate image transfer belt extends vertically, and the process cartridges are arrayed in the vertical direction and supported by the frame. Each process cartridge installs therein a developing unit and a photosensitive drum, and each photosensitive drum is in confrontation with the belt. A front cover is provided in front of the process cartridges. If viewing from the front, when the front cover is opened, the process cartridges are accessible without any interference with ambient components, and the belt is positioned behind the process cartridges.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a scanning unit emitting a laser beam, and an openable and closable member openable and closable relative to an image forming apparatus main body, and the openable and closable member has a positioning portion for positioning the scanning unit. Thereby, the scanning unit can be accurately positioned in the image forming apparatus main body.

Abstract: A method of forming an image, including emitting a plurality of light beams from a plurality of vertically arranged light emitting devices; passing the plurality of light beams through corresponding slots of a vertical stay; receiving the plurality of light beams which have passed through the corresponding slots of the vertical stay by a plurality of photosensitive surfaces contained in a corresponding plurality of vertically arranged detachable cartridges, thereby forming a plurality of latent images; developing the plurality of latent images into a corresponding plurality of different colored toner images using different colored toner contained in the plurality of detachable cartridges; and transferring each of the plurality of different colored toner images onto a medium by moving the medium in a vertical direction.

Abstract: A recording medium supplied from any one of paper supply units 18a to 18d is printed by an image forming section 14, and then, the image-formed recording medium is transported via a transport path 32 which is formed along a vertical direction, and thereafter is ejected to an ejection unit 16 which is provided at an upper portion of an image forming apparatus main body 12. While a developing apparatus 60 of a process cartridge 64 owns a developer storage space 70, a latent image writing position “P” of an image carrier 44 optically written by an optical writing apparatus 58 is located lower than at least a portion of this developer storage space 70, and a space defined between the paper supply unit 18a and the optical writing apparatus 58 is made small.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming cartridges removably mounted to an apparatus body one above the other is disclosed. Structural members each partition off a space between nearby image forming cartridges mounted to the apparatus body. The apparatus is capable of obviating banding ascribable to the vibration of the cartridges.

Abstract: A scanner unit having an optical element supported by a supporting plate. The supporting plate includes a first engagement portion, first spring portions, a second spring portion and a second engagement portion. The first engagement portion engages protrusions of supporting pins that support a reflective surface of a beam detection mirror in a predetermined position. The first spring portions urge the beam detection mirror toward the supporting pins. The second spring portion urges an upper surface of the beam detection mirror and holds the mirror between a bottom plate and the second spring portion. The second engagement portion engages a flange to prevent the supporting plate from coming off upward against an urging force from the second spring portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a scanning unit emitting a laser beam, and an openable and closable member openable and closable relative to an image forming apparatus main body, and the openable and closable member has a positioning portion for positioning the scanning unit. Thereby, the scanning unit can be accurately positioned in the image forming apparatus main body.

Abstract: A refractive body includes a lens, holder, and aperture particularly suited for use in raster scanners. The refractive body advantageously can be made from resinous materials, such as plastics, but can be formed from any refractive material as may be appropriate. The aperture is formed from portions of the refractive body surrounding the lens and can act to divert excess light from the optical path of the scanner by refraction or reflection.

Abstract: Optical systems are disposed in the two symmetrical direction with respect to an optical deflector, and direct the optical beams deflected by the optical deflector into respective surfaces to be scanned, and forming images thereon. A housing encloses a plurality of light sources, optical deflector and optical systems, the housing includes a base plate on which the optical deflector and optical system, and a side wall surrounding the base plate; the base plate divides the housing into two sections; the plurality of light sources are disposed on the side wall; and optical components of the optical systems are distributed into the two sections of the housing.

Abstract: Toner and paper powder adhering to and carried by the image non-forming surface of a paper sheet in a developing unit are prevented from fixedly transferring and adhering to the inner wall of the developing unit and the inner wall of the paper sheet introduction port of a fixing unit. As a result, the paper sheet is smoothly carried from the developing unit to the fixing unit while reliably preventing a paper sheet jam. To prevent the adherence of toner and paper powder to the inner walls, first ribs are formed on the bottom surface of the top cover of the developing chamber of the processing unit and second ribs are formed on the paper sheet introduction port side of the top cover of the fixing room of the fixing unit. The first ribs and the second ribs are staggered with respect to one another. In addition, a discharging film is disposed between pairs of adjacent first ribs on the bottom surface of the top cover of the developing chamber.

Abstract: To provide an exposing apparatus including a first fixing member which positions and fixes a vicinity of an exposing unit on a side of a photosensitive body, and a second fixing member which fixes a vicinity of an end of the exposing unit on a side opposite to a location fixed by the first fixing member for preventing the exposing unit from being inclined when positioning and fixing the exposing unit.

Abstract: An optical writing device includes an integral structure of a plurality of light emission device array units securely connected together, the units including respective lines of light emission devices, the lines being formed into a longer line of light emission devices on the integral structure, a position fixing member, and a connection mechanism that fixes the integral unit to the position fixing member only at a single connection point such that displacement of the integral unit relative to the position fixing member in a direction of the longer line is prevented only at the single connection point but unrestricted at any other points.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image bearing components and a plurality of image writing units for writing an image on each of the image bearing components. The apparatus also includes a frame for supporting the plurality of the image bearing components and the plurality of image writing units. The frame has a plurality a of first holding parts for holding both ends of each of the image bearing components and a plurality of second holding parts for holding both ends of each of the image writing units.

Abstract: Toner particles fly off from a photosensitive drum to an exposure light emitting portion by a change of electric potential distribution on the photosensitive drum caused by image exposure in a following process. This causes a poor copy of an image by adhering the toner particles to the exposure light emitting portion. This phenomena affects a tandem type of copiers with multi-stations including photosensitive drums and exposure light emitting positions. An apparatus capable of suppressing toner adhesion to an exposure is provided to solve the above problem.

Abstract: An image printing apparatus is provided with a plurality of support legs having height-adjusting screws for providing a substantially horizontal support on an inclined installation surface, whereby a flow path is formed to exchanged atmosphere and heat through a gap formed between a lower surface portion and an installation surface.

Abstract: A positioning apparatus for an optical head includes a cylindrical photoconductive drum, an optical head, and at least one spacer. The cylindrical photoconductive drum extends in a direction of a longitudinal axis thereof. The optical head extends parallel to the longitudinal axis. The spacer is disposed to abut the photoconductive drum, limiting a distance between the optical head and the photoconductive drum. The photoconductive drum has a photoconductor and the spacer is in contact with the photoconductor through sliding friction. The spacer has a first surface in contact with the photoconductor. The photoconductor has a second surface in contact with the first surface. The first surface has a first curvature and the second surface has a second curvature. When the first surface is pressed against the second surface, the spacer may deform resiliently so that the first curvature becomes substantially equal to the second curvature.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printer/copier comprises a photoconductive drum assembly and an optical writer for projecting a rectilinear line of image information onto the drum's photoconductive surface. Both subsystems share the same pair of mechanical fiducials for precisely positioning these subsystems in the printer frame. According to the invention, the optical writer is movably mounted on the fiducials to adjust the skew of an image line projected onto the drum.

Abstract: An optical writing device includes an integral structure of a plurality of light emission device array units securely connected together, the units including respective lines of light emission devices, the lines being formed into a longer line of light emission devices on the integral structure, a position fixing member, and a connection mechanism that fixes the integral unit to the position fixing member only at a single connection point such that displacement of the integral unit relative to the position fixing member in a direction of the longer line is prevented only at the single connection point but unrestricted at any other points.

Abstract: To provide an exposing apparatus including a first fixing member which positions and fixes a vicinity of an exposing unit on a side of a photosensitive body, and a second fixing member which fixes a vicinity of an end of the exposing unit on a side opposite to a location fixed by the first fixing member for preventing the exposing unit from being inclined when positioning and fixing the exposing unit.

Abstract: An electrophotography apparatus is provided with one or a plurality of recording units which optically form a latent image on a body. Each of the recording units includes a plurality of light emitting elements having a shape which satisfies a relationship t/y<T/Y<1, where t indicates a width of a pixel of the latent image in a sub scanning direction, y indicates a length of the pixel in a main scanning direction, T indicates a width of a light emitting element in the sub scanning direction, and Y indicates a length of the light emitting element in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for correcting printhead skew in an electrophotographic machine. The electrophotographic machine includes a machine frame having a plurality of mounting locations, at least one printhead, and a plurality of resilient elongate beam members. Each of the plurality of resilient elongate beam members have a proximal end and a distal end, wherein each proximal end is attached to the printhead and each distal end is attached to a respective one of the mounting locations of the machine frame, thereby mounting the printhead to the machine frame. The printhead further includes a printhead base having a pivot axis defined, at least in part, by a location of attachment of said plurality of resilient elongate beam members. The apparatus further includes a skew adjustment mechanism for effecting a pivot of the printhead about the pivot axis.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to reproduce a faithful image irrespective of thermal expansion of a light-scanning unit and to reproduce a faithful image without enhancing the strength of the light-scanning unit excessively. A pair of supporting portions of a light-scanning unit, each having a flat face, are supported in linear contact with a right column-shaped supporting member provided with the apparatus body. The light-scanning unit is provided on the supporting member near to a starting position where writing image data on a photosensitive body with a scanning line is started in a main scanning direction so as not to be mutually displaced relative to the supporting member. Thereby, the light-scanning unit is allowed to extend in the longitudinal direction of the supporting member due to thermal expansion of the light-scanning unit.

Abstract: A color image apparatus which has a cooling arrangement to help prevent a plurality of light-scanning units for respective colors therein from being adversely influenced by heat from a thermally fixing unit within the apparatus. In a space portion where all light-scanning units are housed, an air-exhausting fan is provided in the vicinity of the light-scanning unit nearest to the thermally fixing unit, and an air hole is formed at a position farthest from the thermally fixing unit. Additionally a temperature sensor is mounted on the light-scanning unit nearest to the thermally fixing unit. Rotation speed of the air-exhausting fan is controlled so that the temperature detected by the sensor does not exceed a predetermined temperature limit.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus comprises a stationary main body, a lid assembly, an exposing unit, and a guide mechanism. The stationary main body accommodates a print process cartridge therein. The main body has an opening that opens upward of the image-forming apparatus. The lid assembly is rotatably supported on the stationary main body so that the lid assembly is rotatable about an axis to open and close the opening. The exposing unit is mounted to an inner side of the lid assembly and extends parallel to the axis. The exposing assembly moves into mating engagement with the print process cartridge when the lid assembly has completely closed the opening. The guide mechanism guides the exposing unit into mating engagement with the print process cartridge when the lid assembly is rotated to close the stationary main body.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes a light-emitting device having a linear array of a plurality of light-emitting elements, a driver for driving the light-emitting elements, an image forming optical system for causing light emitted by the light-emitting elements to form an image at a predetermined position. A first support is provided for supporting the light-emitting devicde and the driver. A second support is provided for supporting the image forming optical system. A heat conductive member is provided to interpose in a gap between the first and second supports.

Abstract: In an optical scanning device for forming an electrostatic latent image on an image-bearing body with scanning beam released from a light source, a support body having a plurality of supporting faces and first and second optical means for directing the scanning beam from the light source onto the image-bearing body are installed. Moreover, in the support body, a light transmitting means for transmitting the scanning beam from the first optical means to the second optical means is installed in the vicinity of a ridge portion thereof that is the least susceptible to deformation and distortion and strongest in its strength. Thus, it becomes possible to improve a light image in its precision that is formed by the scanning beam directed onto the image-bearing body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor, a light source that emits a light beam, and a scanning device that guides a light beam emitted from the light source onto a surface of the photoconductor so as to scan the surface of the photoconductor with the light beam to form a latent image thereupon. A housing, to which the light source and the scanning device are mounted, is mounted to a main body of the apparatus by a stay. The housing is supported by the stay such that an angle of a scanning direction of the light beam relative to a direction in which a surface of the photoconductor moves is adjustable so as to be at a substantially right angle and thereby an image is formed in a rectangular form by way of rotating the housing.

Abstract: In a liquid electrophotographic imaging system including a photoreceptor medium, a laser scanning unit scans light onto the photoreceptor medium to form an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor surface of the photoreceptor medium. A development unit develops an image on the photoreceptor surface corresponding to an electrostatic latent image formed by the laser scanning unit with toner carried by a liquid carrier. A cabinet encloses the photoreceptor medium, the laser scanning unit, and the development unit to prevent the carrier in a gaseous state after being used during development from escaping to the outside. In the laser scanning unit including a light emitting unit, a beam deflector deflects and scans the light emitted from the light emitting unit. A housing encloses the light emitting unit and the beam deflector and has a transparent window through which the light scanned by the beam deflector passes.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming cartridges removably mounted to an apparatus body one above the other is disclosed. Structural members each partition off a space between nearby image forming cartridges mounted to the apparatus body. The apparatus is capable of obviating banding ascribable to the vibration of the cartridges.

Abstract: Scan line bow correction for raster output scanners, and systems that use raster output scanners. Scan line bow correction is performed in raster output scanners having a post-polygon optical system that includes an f-&thgr; lens system that has at least two multiple scan lenses by controllably tilting a second scan lens along the fast-scan axis. Beneficially, the tiltable scan lens is mounted on a mounting pad that includes a threaded hole. A threaded set screw screws into the threaded hole to provide an adjustable support. In practice the threaded hole-set screw should have a high number of threads per millimeter to provide fine bow correction adjustment.

Abstract: A scanning device formed by a linear LED array mounted on an elongate holder, and a lens array. The holder is contained in end blocks which extend at right angles to the arrays to outside the holder. An adjustment rod is mounted between the projecting parts of the end blocks and through the agency of a compression spring exerts a bending moment on the holder in order to compensate for sagging of the arrays.

Abstract: A mechanism for supporting said light-emitting device in said reproduction apparatus in an electrographic reproduction apparatus having a light-emitting device for forming, on a dielectric support member, a charge pattern corresponding image-wise to information to be reproduced. The light-emitting device support mechanism includes a carriage attached to the reproduction apparatus and movable relative thereto to a first operative position and a second remote position. A pivot mechanism is supported by the carriage so as to provide a pivot axis, the light-emitting device being mounted on the pivot mechanism for movement about the pivot axis. A reference feature is located in the reproduction apparatus, the reference feature located in a predetermined relation relative to the dielectric support member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a common mount member formed with a shaft support portion for supporting a shaft supporting an image carrier and a writing device support portion for supporting the writing device. The common mount portion is affixed to a stationary member. The image carrier and writing device are held in a preselected positional relation via the common mount member. Also, a positional relation between the image carrier and a developing device is set via the common mount member. The image carrier and members surrounding it can be accurately assembled and adjusted in position with ease.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining media size and width and position by detection on a vacuum platen. Detection is provided by using electrical signals from vacuum ports arranged in an X-Y array in the platen. The electrical signals are capable of interfacing with digital circuitry. The X-Y array of vacuum ports with associated detectors permit the determination of media size, shape, and position with reference to the platen, allowing printing to be contained within the media.