Abstract: An image reading apparatus for reading images on films of different sizes and outputting read image data includes a film sensor for sensing the dimension of at least one side of each film and a control module for operating the apparatus so that at least one of the reading process and outputting process is performed under a parameter setting set beforehand in accordance with a signal from the film sensor. When a reading start instruction is issued from a control panel, a film width detecting circuit performs film sensing, thereby determining the film width of each film. Based on the film width, reading parameter values such as a pixel pitch, a density range, and a data transfer destination are selected from among those that are beforehand set through the control panel. Table update is made for a density linear conversion table according to the film width and an interpolation coefficient according to the pixel pitch.

Abstract: A copier includes a reader for reading a document image, an orientation sensor for sensing orientation of characters in the document image that has entered from the reader, a size sensor for sensing the size of the document image that has entered from the reader, an image processor for zooming the document image at a magnification that conforms to results of sensing performed by the orientation sensor and size sensor, and laying out a plurality of document images as a single image, and a printer for printing the images laid out by the image processor.

Abstract: Documents to be imaged which lie one upon another in a prescribed order of page on an automatic document feeding device are automatically fed one by one to a scanning reference position defined in an image scanning position of an image processing device and discharged, after being imaged, to a discharge tray in the same order of page as those initially stacked. The document sent out from the image scanning position to a delivery passage after being imaged is sent back to the document scanning position through a return passage to be turned over. When the document being sent back is introduced into the image scanning position by the longitudinal size of the document, document transporting means is reversed to discharge the document, thereby to shorten the time required to discharge the document from the image scanning position to the discharge tray through a document discharge passage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet conveying apparatus for conveying a sheet in recirculation. The apparatus comprises a feed tray, a feed mechanism, a recirculation conveying mechanism for conveying the sheet fed by the feed mechanism to return it to the feed tray. The recirculation conveying mechanism includes a discharge tray on which the plurality of sheets are temporally discharged and accumulated and a moving mechanism for moving the sheets accumulated on the discharge tray to the feed tray. The apparatus further comprises a feed sensor detecting whether or not any sheets present on the feed tray. The sheets discharged on the discharge tray are moved to the feed tray by the moving mechanism when all sheets on the feed tray are fed and the feed sensor detects none of the sheet.

Abstract: A document scan apparatus comprises a document scanner unit 1 which scans a document by illuminating the document with light, a feed path 10 which extends from a document stack portion 4 to a document discharge portion 8 through the document scan portion 7 of the document scan unit 1, driving units 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 which drive the document on the document path and document size detection units 23 and 24. The document size detection units 23 and 24 detect the document size during the document is carried by the driving units 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20. Then, the documents 4 are fed to the document scan position 7 without passing the document discharge portion 8.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet conveying apparatus for conveying a sheet in recirculation. The apparatus comprises a feed tray on which a plurality of sheets are set, a discharge tray on which the plurality of sheets are discharged, a feed mechanism for feeding the plurality of sheets set on the feed tray one by one, a recirculation conveying mechanism for conveying the sheet fed by the feed mechanism to discharge it on the discharge tray and return it to the feed tray, and a plurality of stoppers. The stoppers are disposed at different positions along the sheet conveying direction correspondingly to the sheet size. Each of the plurality of stoppers is moveable between an operation position and a withdrawal position and restricts the front end of the sheet discharged on the discharge tray to align the sheet in the operation position.

Abstract: A recycle document feeder according to the present invention includes a pair of document width regulating guides (9a, 9b) for guiding opposite edges of document originals (D) fed back onto a document placing plate (8) for alignment thereof with respect to the width thereof. With this construction, if the document width regulating guides (9a, 9b) each had a small length (A) as measured along a document transportation direction, the document originals (D) fed back onto the document placing plate (8) could not properly be aligned by the document width regulating guides (9a, 9b) thereby to be randomly stacked on the skew with respect to the document transportation direction.

Abstract: Images of certain features of the copier itself (indicia, markings, operational components) are searched for, in a defined field of view used for copying. Any such images found, because they are not covered by a document being copied, are suppressed. This avoids the objectionable appearance of machine features from copies on full-size sheets of print medium, and deposition of ink on mechanisms of the copier itself. Preferably things in the field of view are imaged, and the image is parsed for the certain features--readily done by a software or firmware module or ASIC stage, easily incorporated into already-existing software, firmware or circuitry at minor unit cost. Preferably the copier features include document-size indicia, to aid determination by the copier whether a standard-size document is being copied, and thus whether suppression is in order. The search could be for operational machine features rather than special indicia, but those features may not be ideally positioned.

Abstract: A printing apparatus capable of feeding standard and non-standard sheets so that image data can be printed on various types of sheets with the need for increasing the number of internal components. One embodiment for achieving this includes a sheet setting unit that permits selection of one of a plurality of predefined sheets, a sheet width sensor unit that senses whether sheets in a sheet supply member meet a predefined width, and a controller coupled to the sheet setting unit and the sheet sensor unit. The controller is responsive to either the selected one of the plurality of predefined sheets or user input of dimensional data of the sheets in the supply member. Based upon the set sheet type or input dimensional data, the controller then adjusts the magnification of the image to be printed and prints the image on the sheets.

Abstract: In a recording apparatus with plural sheet cassettes of different sizes, a cassette selecting method consists of calculating cassette information for each cassette based on the length and width of the image to be recorded, comparing the cassette information for the different cassettes and selecting an optimum cassette according to the comparison. The cassette information becomes larger in magnitude as the priority for selection becomes higher, represent various image forming modes.

Abstract: In a document feeding and imaging system with a document input tray for sequentially feeding a set of plural document sheets to a document imaging station to be respectively imaged with variable image processing conditions dependent on the size of the document sheet, including a document sheet size measurement system for measuring at least one dimension of the document sheets, wherein the input tray has associated document size measurement sensors, wherein the set of documents loaded into the input tray may be a mixed size set of different sheet sizes or a set of the same sheet sizes; there is provided an operator selectable input for a mixed size set providing a mixed size set control signal which actuates a special prescan document size sensing operational mode for sensing the sheet size as the document is fed past the document imaging station without its being imaged, and then automatically re-feeding that document to the imaging station to be imaged under image processing conditions controlled by the docu

Abstract: A recycle document feeder according to the present invention includes a cover (251) covering a document discharge portion (30). The cover (251) is openably supported by a pivot shaft (256) between a pair of frames (255). A feed-back path (32) for guiding a document original onto a document placing plate is defined by a pair of guide members (257, 258) provided in an opposed relation. The upper guide member (258) is attached to the interior face of the cover (251). A switch claw (253) for switching the document traveling direction is attached to the pivot shaft (256) which supports the cover (251). Thus, there is no need for additionally providing a shaft for supporting the switch claw (253), thereby simplifying the construction of the document discharge portion (30).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a original stacking tray capable of stacking a plurality of originals; feeding means for feeding the original one by one; means for detecting sizes of the originals; image forming means for reading an image of the original and for forming an image on a sheet having a corresponding size as the original; means for folding the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming means, into a size; means for selecting operation or non-operation of the folding means; stacking means for stacking the sheet folded or not folded by the folding means; and control means operative in a mixed original mode in which the originals on the stacking tray have different sizes, the control means, in the mixed original mode, effects the image formations on the sheets having sizes corresponding to the sized detected by the detecting means and causes the folding means to operate when the size is large and causes the stacking means to discharge both of the folded and non-folded sheets to the s

Abstract: In a device and method for feeding one by one documents including a preceding document to be fed earlier and a following document to be fed later to an image scanning station having a scanning reference point, the document being transported toward the image scanning station is first measured to find the length of the document, so that the following document is introduced into the image scanning station with timing varying with the length of the preceding document after the preceding document is treated and discharged. In a case that the following document passes past the scanning reference point just when the preceding document is discharged, the following document is moved backward to the scanning reference point, but if the following document does not reach the scanning reference point at that time, it is further forwarded to the appropriate image scanning station, consequently to shorten the interval of transporting the preceding and following documents, thus speeding up the image processing operation.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, first in a printing delay process, it is determined whether or not a specific mode is set. When it is determined that a specific mode is set, printing is inhibited until images to be printed are accumulated in a memory, and whether or not originals are mixed originals (of assorted sizes) is detected. If it is determined that originals are mixed ones, start of printing is inhibited. Since printing cannot be executed when a specific mode in which mixed originals cannot be handled is set, an image forming apparatus capable of automatically handling mixed originals can be provided.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which includes a document transporting device for sequentially transporting a group of original documents to a predetermined position on a document platen one by one. The group of original documents includes main body pages and partition pages which have a dimension different from the dimension of the main body pages. The image forming apparatus also includes an image forming device for forming an image of each of the original documents on a respective copy sheet in synchronization with an operation of the document transportation device. Sheet supplying means which have a plurality of supply portions and which feed copy sheets one at a time from the supply portions to the image forming device are also included.

Abstract: A document feeder of the invention is formed of a platen for reading and scanning original documents, a document tray for placing the original documents to be processed situated above the platen, and an ejection tray for receiving the original documents after being processed situated between the platen and the document tray spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction. A transfer path is formed for transferring the original documents from the document tray to the ejection tray through a reading position on the platen. An exit of the document tray, an entrance of the ejection tray and the reading position on the platen are arranged laterally in this order above the platen with a predetermined distance spaced apart from each other. A separating portion for separating the original documents one by one is situated between the exit of the document tray and the entrance of the ejection tray to be laterally spaced apart from each other. The document feeder is made compact in size.

Abstract: The present invention provides an original feeding apparatus comprising first original feeding means for directing an original to an original reading station from one side thereof in an original-stationary scanning mode in which the original is read while fixing the original at the original reading station, and second original feeding means for directing then original to the original reading station from the other side thereof in an original-through scanning mode in which the original is read while shifting the original along the original reading station.

Abstract: A copier has an operating mode in which copying is performed upon closing the cover of a platen and use is made of the size of an original to copy the original. An example is a mode in which the image of an original is divided up into a plurality of blocks and the images of the respective blocks are enlarged and each is copied on a separate sheet of copy paper. In such a scenario, it is determined whether the size of the original is capable of being sensed by sensors. If it is determined that sensing is not possible, processing for inferring the shape of the original is executed. In accordance with this processing, the size and orientation of the copy paper as well as the currently prevailing copying mode are checked, then the size and orientation of the original are inferred based upon the results of the check. Even if the size of the original is cannot be sensed, therefore, it is possible to infer the size and execute copying accordingly.

Abstract: A conveyance device 4 for conveying a manuscript to an image reading section of a main body mounted by an image processing system is provided with a base member 6 removably fixed to the main body to provide a conveyance path 5, a driving mechanism and a manuscript guide member 8 for driving and conveying the manuscript. The manuscript is located between the manuscript guide member and a rib 9 at a left-hand side, and conveyed in a stable status. On a surface of a top end of a moving member 16 associated with the manuscript guide member is provided a white colored plate 17. A groove portion 18 other than the plate is dark, and the image is read to be binary coded whereby a pixel corresponding to the plate indicates "1". A position of the plate is located in the guide member or a right hand side edge of the manuscript, and a left hand side edge is fixed by the rib. Accordingly, a manuscript width (read width) Is determined from the pixel "1".

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and method form respective carrier images corresponding to at least one specified area of a manuscript image of a manuscript document by designating at least one specified area of the manuscript image with a user-actuated divisional image forming key configured to designate the at least one specified area and deciding at least one of a paper size of a recording paper and a number of sheets of the recording paper in accordance with a size and a number of the at least one specified image area.

Abstract: An image reading unit has a line sensor for reading a document and producing image data. A line counter counts the number of lines that are scanned during a period from a start of reading by the image reading unit until a time point when an edge of the document is read. A ROM stores, in advance, a corresponding relationship between error accumulation values and the numbers of lines. A control section reads out, from the ROM, an error accumulation value corresponding to the number of lines counted by the line counter, and determines the position of the edge of the document in the auxiliary scanning direction by subtracting the readout error accumulation value from a product of the counted number of lines and the auxiliary scanning pitch, thereby detecting a document length in the auxiliary scanning direction.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus for transferring an image of an original document to a copy paper sheet. Original documents are placed in an original document tray and copy paper sheets are stored in a paper tray. The original document tray has a tray sensor for sensing the original document placed on the original document tray. Upon transferring the original documents to an image scanning apparatus, a regi-sensor measures the length of the original document when the original document is transported to the scanning apparatus. A value corresponding to a transport distance is stored until the original document leaves the tray sensor based on the length of the original document. The tray sensor can sense when the original document is transported more than the transport distance corresponding to the value stored. Paper is fed out of the copy paper sheet tray to the image transfer apparatus when the controller senses the original document.

Abstract: A simplified automated process for printing duplex copy sheets with correct edge margins from first and second original documents having a different dimension than the copy sets so that the duplex copy sheets will have substantially equal margins from the image areas on both sides of the duplex copy sheets irrespective of these different sheet sizes, including measuring at least one dimension of an original document sheet and automatically subtracting the known size dimension of the selected copy sheets in the dimension which includes the margin from the corresponding dimension of the original document sheet to determine a desired duplex image shift dimension, and shifting the image printed on second side of the copy sheet from the second original document by a distance corresponding to the calculated shift to produce duplex copy sheets with substantially equal margins.

Abstract: A digital copy machine includes an image reading unit IR, an image memory, an image formation unit PRT, and a circulation type sheet transportation mechanism having a transportation path of a length that can accommodate n (n.gtoreq.2) sheets for reversing the side of the sheet having a copy image formed on one side to the opposite side and refeeding the same to a copy position. In duplex copying using at least n sheets, the timing of feeding the first sheet is set so that the n-th sheet arrives at the copy position only after the time when the copy of an original image of the (2n-1)th page can be initiated in order to set the number of circulating sheets to n.

Abstract: In the present invention, the image data of a plurality of sheets are separately and appropriately enlarged or reduced so as to be formed on a single copy sheet by independently controlling at output the magnification of the respective images in accordance with the size of the copy sheet and the image data separately stored in the memory means. Furthermore, when a first mode for copying a plurality of original documents on a single copy sheet, and a second mode for copying only a cover page on a copy sheet different from the copy sheet of the other original documents, are simultaneously selected, the cover page is copied on a cover page copy sheet and a plurality of the other original documents are copied on a single copy sheet.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for conveying a media's size to a printing system. First there is a rotatable shaft. Several cams are formed around the shaft. Each cam has a lobe extending beyond the radius of the shaft. A number of levers, one for each cam, pivot about a pivot point and have a tab that is adjacent to a corresponding cam. An indicator wheel is also attached to the shaft. The indicator wheel has a first set of faces located around the circumference of the indicator wheel, where each face indicates a media size. The indicator wheel has another set of faces that indicate a second set of media sizes. Finally, there is a slidable lever positioned adjacent to the indicator wheel. When the slidable lever is in a first position, only media sizes in the first set are visible and the presently visible size is the size conveyed to the printing system.

Abstract: A document feeder for broad-width originals having a document path in which a moving document is scanned by a stationary scanner. The document feeder is typically mounted to a copier. The document path is either a recycling path or a reciprocating path; the recycling path having a closed loop path and the reciprocating path having an open loop path. A selector is mounted in the document path and selects one of the recycling path and the reciprocating path. A sensor is mounted in the document path for detecting a length of the document. When the length of the document detected by the sensor is not longer than a predetermined length, the recycling path is selected by the selector. When the length of the document detected by the sensor is longer than the predetermined length, the reciprocating path is selected by the selector.