Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body of the image forming apparatus; at least one image forming unit disposed in the main body; a light scanning unit that is disposed in the main body and scans light to form an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive medium of the at least one image forming unit; a window open-closing shutter that is disposed to slidably move on a surface of the light scanning unit from which light emits, and moves between an open position where a light moving path is opened and a blocking position where the light moving path is blocked; a shutter operating lever that is disposed in the main body, and activates the window open-closing shutter to be positioned at either of the open position and the blocking position; and a pressure member that is disposed in the main body and presses the shutter operating lever.

Abstract: A detecting device includes a detecting unit that detects an image on a medium transported in a transport path. The detecting unit includes a light emitter, a light receiver, and a light adjusting portion. The light emitter emits light toward the transport path in which the medium is transported. The light receiver receives reflected light of the light emitted from the light emitter. The light adjusting portion adjusts a quantity of light received by the light receiver according to a quantity of light emitted from the light emitter.

Abstract: A light irradiation element includes a cavity through which light passes and a translucent light conduit bordering the cavity, allowing light to pass therethrough and transmitting the light passed through the cavity, the light irradiation element being disposed along a longitudinal direction of an image bearing body on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and directing the light passed through the light conduit to irradiate the image bearing body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable photosensitive member; a corona charger provided with an opening opposed to a surface of the photosensitive member; image forming means for forming a toner image on the photosensitive member; a shutter for opening and closing the opening relative to the photosensitive member; sliding means for sliding in contact with the photosensitive member; measuring means for measuring time elapsed from end of image formation; and control means for controlling the apparatus on the basis of an output of the measuring means such that shutter is closed and the photosensitive member is rotated in contact with the sliding means.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a light irradiation unit configured to irradiate light on the surface of a photoconductive member and form an electrostatic latent image, a developing unit configured to form a developer image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductive member, a transfer belt configured to move between a first position where the transfer belt comes into contact with the photoconductive member and a second position where the transfer belt separates from the photoconductive member and transfer the developer image on the photoconductive member onto a sheet, a driving mechanism including a rotating lever and configured to drive the transfer belt between the first position and the second position, a shutter unit configured to open and close a light emission surface of the light irradiation unit, and a power transmission mechanism configured to drive the shutter unit by the torque of the lever.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photoconductive member; a light irradiation unit located below the photoconductive member and configured to irradiate light on the surface of the photoconductive member and form an electrostatic latent image; a developing unit configured to supply a developer to the photoconductive member and form a developer image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductive member; a transfer belt configured to move between a first position where the transfer belt comes into contact with the photoconductive member and a second position where the transfer belt separates from the photoconductive member and transfer the developer image on the photoconductive member onto a sheet; a driving mechanism including a rotating lever and configured to drive the transfer belt between the first position and the second position; a shutter unit located between the photoconductive member and the light irradiation unit and configured to open and close a light emi

Abstract: An optical scanning device cover, covering an upper portion of an optical scanning device, includes an exposure window, a close stopper, an open stopper, and a rotation cam plate. A projection to be held in a link portion of a rotation cam is fixedly provided on a shutter. When the rotation cam is rotated in a direction of an arrow R(1) from a state in which the shutter is closed, A-side of the shutter turns until the shutter comes into contact with the open stopper to open that side of shutter, and thereafter, the B-side of the shutter turns to open that side of the shutter.

Abstract: A white reference value and a corresponding transport speed are stored in memory. A black reference value and a corresponding imaging speed are also stored. Next, a printing operation is started and color values and a corresponding transport speed are stored. Accurately corrected color values are derived from the stored white reference value, transport speed, black reference value, imaging speed, color values and transport speed.

Abstract: A line head includes: a positive lens system having two lenses with positive refractive power; a lens array in which a plurality of the positive lens systems are arrayed in a first direction; a light emitter array in which a plurality of light-emitting elements are arrayed on an object side of the lens array so as to correspond to the one positive lens system; and an aperture plate that forms an aperture diaphragm at the position of an object-side focal point of the positive lens system. An object-side surface of an object-side lens of the positive lens system is positioned close to the object-side focal point.

Abstract: In an image reading apparatus according to the present invention, a black reference plate used for shading correction includes a light shielding plate. When the light shielding plate shields an optical path leading to a CCD sensor, the light emitted from an illumination device is prevented from falling on the CCD sensor.

Abstract: A calibration mechanism for an optical module of a sheet-fed scanner is disclosed. The calibration mechanism includes a calibration strip and a driving unit. The calibration strip is moved by the driving unit, and the calibration strip may be moved relative to the optical module for calibrating color depth. The driving unit includes a roller and a flexible strip. One end of the flexible strip is mounted to the roller, and the calibration strip is mounted or formed on the flexible strip. The flexible strip is moved by the roller action so that the calibration strip is moved relative to the optical module, and the optical module may accordingly calibrate the color depth.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process means actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a cartridge frame; a drum shutter movable between a close position in which the drum shutter covers an exposed portion of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum which is exposed through the cartridge frame and an open position in which drum shutter is retracted from the close position to expose the portion of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the drum shutter having a first shutter portion rotatably supported on the cartridge frame and a second rotatably supported on the cartridge frame, wherein in the close position, the first shutter portion covers an upstream side of the exposed portion with respect to an opening direction in which the drum shutter moves from the close position to the open position, and the second shutter portion covers a

Abstract: An image reading apparatus comprises a correcting mechanism for correcting an output signal from a reading unit in accordance with a reference level. The correcting mechanism includes a reference element for setting the reference level and a drive mechanism for rocking the reference element between a first position in which the reference element is advanced to a reading position and a second position in which the reference element is retreated from the reading position. The drive mechanism includes a rotating member that is continuously rotated in one direction. As the rotating member rotates, the reference element rocks between the first and second positions, thereby executing correction of the output signal before image information recorded on a recording medium is read.

Abstract: In an image reading apparatus according to the present invention, a black reference plate used for shading correction includes a light shielding plate. When the light shielding plate shields an optical path leading to a CCD sensor, the light emitted from an illumination device is prevented from falling on the CCD sensor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal shutter that uses as a shutter a liquid crystal panel constructed by sandwiching DHF liquid crystal between a pair of substrates provided with one or more pixel electrodes and one or more counter electrodes, wherein a driving waveform for the panel has a write period comprising two subfields. In each of the subfields, a single pulse is applied to a pixel, the single pulse applied in one subfield being opposite in polarity to the single pulse applied in the other subfield. On the other hand, a constant voltage of 0 V or close to 0 V is applied to the pixel during a period in which neither of the single pulses is applied.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for image reading and image forming. A shading operation is performed by initially setting an operation parameter necessary for the shading operation and an image reading operation. The shading operation is then performed, an image reading operation is executed, and a further shading operation is then performed after the image reading operation. An operation parameter is then again set when a preparation of a next image reading operation is completed, an image reading operation is performed, and then a further shading operation is performed.

Abstract: In the information recording an reproducing method and apparatus according to the present invention, a piece of picture image information is recorded as an analog quantity or a digital quantity an information carrying medium in a planar manner at a high density, charge potential is read for outputting electric signals to correspond to the recorded picture image information and then the outputted signals are printed out by means of various display unit or output device, with high quality and high resolution as well as ease processing of the information. The information carrying medium provides a long period of storage of information and enables stored picture image information to be repeatedly reproduced with a picture quality according to need.

Abstract: A lens is moved by a lens moving member in the direction of its optical axis, and a mirror group is moved by a mirror moving member in the direction of the optical axis of the lens. The moving ranges of the lens moving member and the mirror moving member overlap, and the mirror moving member and the lens moving member are moved at different rates or times such that the mirror moving member and lens moving member do not interfere. A flexible light shielding member on the lens moving member blocks non-image forming light from reaching the mirror group, but bends within a housing holding the moving members to allow the lens moving member to move in its full moving range. A pivotable light shielding member in the moving range of the lens moving member blocks non-image-forming light from reaching the mirror group, but pivots when the lens moving member is moved in contact with it, allowing the lens moving member to move in its full moving range.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printhead protective cover (50) which includes a shutter blade (60), an actuator (70) for moving the shutter blade (60), and a light trap (54) to prevent light from the printhead (12) from passing around the shutter blade (60). In one embodiment, a sensor detects a position of the shutter blade (60) and sends a signal to shutoff the actuator (70) when the shutter blade (60) is in an open position, or the shutter blade (60) is in a closed position. In yet another embodiment, the actuator (70) closes the shutter blade (60) in response to a tear in a web or failure of a dryer. In a further embodiment, the shutter blade (60) slides on a base plate coated with a low friction, non-volatile, non-liquid material, and the shutter blade (60) slides at an oblique angle on the base plate.

Abstract: A lens plate is provided with many lenses, and a base plate is provided with many LED arrays and driving ICs arranged at respective opposite ends of the base plate. The lens plate and the base plate are positioned in place relative to each other by spacers. The base plate has a thermal conductive layer and a thermal preserving layer over the layer. Grooves are formed in the preserving layer between the driving ICs and the LED arrays.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus is designed to decrease the size of an exposure unit, thereby allowing the exposure unit to move within a narrow space between an original document and a photosensitive material, to facilitate color adjustment and density adjustment, to provide a high resolution at low costs, and to prevent light fogging. The exposure unit is moved between a stage and a document table which hold a photosensitive material and an original document, respectively, so as to copy the image of the original document onto the photosensitive material by scanning exposure. An LED light source comprises three groups of light emitting elements which respectively emit blue, green and red colors, and a light beam from the LED light source is irradiated such that the light beam extends in a direction parallel to the original document and perpendicular to the direction of movement of the exposure unit (the forward and backward direction of the stage).

Abstract: A device and method for blocking light from a laser light beam assembly in a printer, copier, or facsimile machine. Light is blocked from contact with the nonprint region of the photoreceptor drum in a toner cartridge to prevent toner spotting on the output paper and toner leakage in the cartridge and machine. A nontransparent piece of plastic material preferably rectangular in shape is sized to block a part of the light access slot on the toner cartridge cover corresponding to the nonprint region of the drum. The device is secured to the underside of the cover. A method for accurately positioning the nontransparent piece of material to block the required part of the access slot uses a long, flat tool of set length. One end of the tool is placed adjacent to a side wall on the right side of the underside of the cover and the tool is layed over the access slot.