Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a light source which irradiates an original with light, an imaging unit which images by condensing reflected and scattered light from the original via a plurality of reflecting mirrors and imaging mirrors, and a photoelectric conversion unit which converts, into an electrical signal, the reflected and scattered light imaged by the imaging unit. The imaging unit is an imaging optical system which is adjusted such that the difference between the spectral characteristic at an end portion in the main-scanning direction of the image reading apparatus and that at the central portion in the main-scanning direction becomes 5% or less at the peak wavelength of the light source.

Abstract: A scanner including: a transparent plate; a light emitting unit that emits light to an object on the transparent plate; a sensor to form an image of the object; a focusing lens unit that is arranged on a light path between the transparent plate and the sensor, to focus light from the object onto the sensor; and a controller to determine whether a foreign substance is disposed in the light path, using the image, calculates a position of the foreign substance, and corrects the image on the basis of the calculated position of the foreign substance.

Abstract: Multiple images are combined where the images exhibit variations in illumination between one another. The images are of the same portion of an object, and each image is represented by a set of image data. A comparative data transform is applied to each set of image data, such that the transformed comparative image data isolates and preserves first variations in the illumination between the images but suppresses second differences in illumination between the images. At least one normalization transform is determined from the transformed comparative image data sets. When applied to at least one of the image data sets, the at least one normalization transform minimizes the variation in illumination between the image data sets. Each determined normalization transform is applied to the at least one of the image data sets. The normalized sets of image data are transformed to a single image of the portion of the object.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus in which cross-talk noise occurring between plural reading units is reduced, an image reading method and an image reading program are provided. There are included plural reading units that respectively operate at different timings, a noise calculation unit that acquires first read data as a result of reading of a first read object as the read object by the plural reading units, acquires an operation state of the plural reading units during the reading of the first read object, and calculates, based on the operation state and the first read data obtained in the operation state, noise information based on the operation state, and a noise removal unit that acquires second read data as a result of reading of a second read object as the read object different from the first read object by the plural reading units, and removes noise from the second read data based on the noise information calculated by the noise calculation unit.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a synchronism detecting element for detecting a light beam scanningly deflected by a deflecting surface of an optical deflector, to determine an image-writing start position of the light beam on a scan surface in a main-scan direction, and a synchronism detecting optical element for directing the light beam scanningly deflected by the optical deflector to the synchronism detecting element, wherein the synchronism detecting optical element is comprised of a prism having a plurality of reflecting surfaces being unified and having a power in a sub-scan direction, and wherein, in a sub-scan section, the prism is configured to place the deflecting surface of the optical deflector and a light-receiving surface of the synchronism detecting element in an optically conjugate relationship with each other.

Abstract: A multi-function peripheral includes an image forming unit having an image forming device, and an image reading unit having an image reading device and located above the image forming unit. The image forming device forms an image on a recording sheet with moving a carriage reciprocally in a predetermined horizontal direction. The image reading device reads an image of an object by moving an image capturing element in the predetermined horizontal direction when the image forming unit operates. Spring elements are provided between the image forming unit and the image reading unit to apply an urging force therebetween in a direction parallel to the predetermined horizontal direction. The spring elements satisfy the following condition: f f n > 2 , where, f and fn are characteristic frequencies of the image forming unit and the image reading unit, respectively, in the predetermined horizontal direction.

Abstract: A method and system for scanning comprises rotating a scanning chassis of an optical scanner to create an acute angle between the scan line and a scanning direction, such that the scanning chassis has two ends, and moving the scanning chassis in the scanning direction and with the acute angle between the scan line and the scanning direction, both two ends of the scanning chassis being moved in the scanning direction, while one of the two ends is moved more slowly than the other one so that the scanning chassis is made to be rotated with the acute angle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a self-propelled image read module, which comprises a sensor, a guide rod, a motor, a gear set, and a belt. The guide rod is fixed on a base of a scanner. The sensor is slidably matched on the guide rod. The motor is disposed at one side of the sensor. The gear set is connected to the motor. The belt is fixed on the base. The belt passes through between and contacts a transmission wheel and an idle wheel of the gear set. Thereby, a scanner's image read module of simple assembly, low cost, and small size is formed.

Abstract: An original reading apparatus can realize stepwise or sequential variable magnification using relatively small size optical system upon reading an original. The apparatus includes a first mirror arranged in an optical path from a reading position of an original to an image forming portion across an image forming lens and reflecting a light from the reading position of the original, and a second mirror arranged with placing a reflection surface in opposition to a reflection surface of the first mirror and reflecting a light reflected from the first mirror for a plurality of times between the first and second mirrors, and thereafter reflecting toward the image forming lens. A mirror angle positioner for varying an angle of the reflection surface of at least one of the first and second mirrors depending upon a designated original reading magnification.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a photoreceptor having a image carrying surface, an exposing device to imagewise expose the image carrying surface to form a latent image, and a developing device to develop the latent image to form a toner image on the image carrying surface. The exposing device has a light source which emits a light beam, a deflector which deflects the light beam to form a scanning line with the light beam on the image carrying surface, a cylindrical lens between the deflector and the image carrying surface which focuses the light beam on the image carrying surface, and an adjusting mechanism which adjusts an inclination of the scanning line and adjusts variance in magnification of an image on the scanning line.

Abstract: A Reflective and Penetrative Scanning Apparatus has a body, a first ambulatory reflection module, a second ambulatory reflection module, a lens assembly, an image shooting unit and an adjustment means. The body incorporates a Reflective Script Platform and a Penetrative Script Platform. The First Ambulatory Reflection Module is equipped with two Light Sources and two lenses with which to produce two different Light Paths such that once the switching goes to the First Light Path, a light that is emitted from the Light Source will travel by way of the Reflective Script Platform to the Lens Assembly and the Image Shooting Unit, to execute Reflective Scanning operation and when the switching goes to the second Light Path, another light that is emitted from the Light Source will travel by way of the Penetrative Script Platform to the Lens Assembly and the Image Shooting Unit, to execute Penetrative Scanning Operation.

Abstract: In a normal print mode in which the image of an original document D is printed on a copying paper with the image of the original document not reversed, the direction of sub-scanning executed by the read means is set to a normal direction (regular direction X). In a mirror image print mode in which the image of an original document D set on a document table 2 is printed on a copying paper with the image of the original document reversed, the direction of the sub-scanning executed by the read means is switched to a direction (reverse direction X′) opposite to the normal direction.

Abstract: An image scanning device with a rotatable reflection mirror arranged in an optical scanning module thereof for establishing either a reflective or transparent scanning optical path is disclosed. The optical scanning module includes a first focusing lens, a second focusing lens, an image sensing module, a plurality of fixed reflective optical path mirrors, a plurality of fixed transparent optical path mirrors, and a rotatable reflection mirror. At scanning a reflective document, the rotatable reflection mirror is rotated to a first reflection position. A light beam from a first light source projects to the reflective document. The image of the reflective document is reflected by the rotatable reflection mirror and the fixed reflective optical path mirrors, and then received by the image sensing module through the first focusing lens. At scanning a transparent document, the rotatable reflection mirror is rotated to a second reflection position.

Abstract: An optical length adjusting device provides different optical length for different lenses in a multi-resolution scanner. The optical length adjusting device includes a focus module for focusing the optical image on an image sensor, a first light reflecting device for directing the light from an object to the focus module, a first carrier for fixing the first light reflecting device, a second carrier for fixing the focus module, and a driving module for moving the first and/or second carriers to change the distance between them. Since the distance between the focus module and the first light reflecting module can be adjusted, the light from the object can be guided to the focus module via the same optical path for different resolution.

Abstract: Correcting color banding problems resulting from facet-to-facet jitter in a color imaging device having a multifaceted polygon are corrected by starting each color separation using the same facet. This facet synchronization has been shown to reduce the objectionable color banding. Imaging offsets that result from either advancing or retarding the exposure of a latent image such that the latent image begins with the same facet as other latent images are compensated for using a rotating cylinder mirror whose rotation is controlled by a piezoelectric element.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes one or more sliders which carry optical parts and can linearly reciprocate in a predetermined direction. The apparatus optically scans and thereby reads an image on an original document located at a predetermined position. The image reading apparatus includes a magnetic encoder for detecting positions of the sliders.

Abstract: An optical module is intended to be assembled in an optical apparatus, and includes a chassis member having an opening therein. A mirror unit is provided in the opening of the chassis member, such that a lower part of the mirror unit protrudes from a lower surface of the chassis member, through the opening thereof. A protecting wall element, extending lower than the mirror unit, is formed along and suspended from at least a part of a periphery of the opening in order to physically protect the lower part of the mirror unit.

Abstract: An electrostatic copying machine made up of an image-forming unit including a rotary drum having an exposure zone and a transfer zone, an optical system for projecting the image of the document to be copied onto the exposure zone, a copying paper-feeding system including a paper-feeding cassette that can be freely drawn to the front surface of the body of the copying machine, and a copying paper conveying passage for conveying a copying paper fed from the copying paper-feeding means through the transfer zone. A fixing device and a pair of paper-discharging rollers are disposed on the downstream side of the transfer zone. The paper-feeding cassette, image-forming unit, fixing device and the pair of paper-discharging rollers are successively arranged from one side toward the other side in the body of the copying machine within the maximum exposure scanning length of the optical system, and the copying paper conveying passage is arranged substantially linearly.

Abstract: This invention relates to an image forming apparatus of electro-photography type in which a light image obtained by reflected light from an original document image by projecting light onto the original document image is changed in size at a set magnification rate to form an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive member, and the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image.

Abstract: In an optical scanner having a plurality of mirrors for scanning a document, a planeness reinforcing member having a predetermined degree of planeness is fitted on major ones of the mirrors. The reinforcing member successfully reduces the vibration of the associated mirror without impairing the planeness of the mirror.