Abstract: There is provided a program management apparatus adapted to perform a program updating operation of a program by downloading the program from a server which manages an information of the program to a predetermined terminal device, including: a pattern setting unit, which retains plural kinds of patterns each serving as a mode for giving an information inclusive of a program and updating such a program, for allowing a user to select one of the patterns so as to previously set it as a selected pattern; and a program updating unit for, upon activation of a program updating operation, automatically performing the program updating operation according to the selected pattern set by the pattern setting unit.

Abstract: A code processing circuit includes a plurality of coders which encode different kinds of data, respectively, a first buffer which stores the codes outputted from the coders provided corresponding to the plurality of coders, a second buffer which stores the lengths of the codes outputted from the coders provided corresponding to the plurality of coders, a first adder which adds the code lengths stored in the second buffer provided corresponding to the plurality of coders, a second adder which adds all the code lengths added in the first adder, and an adjustment unit which adjusts an output code by the unit of 1 bit based on the codes stored in the first buffer, the code lengths stored in the second buffer and the code lengths added in the second adder.

Abstract: A printing terminal connected to a network includes a display section to display a printing instruction or information, a transmitting/receiving section to transmit/receive information to/from a server, and a print processing section to print out printing data in accordance with the printing instruction. The server connected to the network includes a display forming section to generate information which is to be displayed on the display section of the printing terminal, a display processing section to process information which is to be displayed on the display unit of the printing terminal, and a printing data storage section to store the printing data which are to be printed out to the print processing section of the printing terminal.

Abstract: A color image processing apparatus includes at least patch image output units which output patch image data, based on patch data in a storage area, a patch data extractor which extracts read patch data by reading a patch image formed according to the patch image data, using a color scanner, a patch data processor which estimates the record gradation of patch data, based on the read patch data, and a gradation corrector which corrects a color image signal, based on the estimated record gradation and patch data. The apparatus provides gradation correction based on gradation estimated from patch data, thus making it possible to reproduce gradation and color well.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is capable of preventing toner on an intermediate transfer medium from being scattered toward a sheet and hence capable of effecting printing with favorable image quality that is free from noise and contamination. A sheet transported from a regist roller is guided toward a transfer belt serving as an intermediate transfer medium along a guide member and then guided to the transfer nip between the transfer belt and a secondary transfer roller via the upper end edge of the guide member. The sheet already comes into close contact with the transfer belt at a position upstream of the transfer nip. Consequently, even if an electric field for transfer emitted from the secondary transfer roller extends as far as the periphery of the transfer nip, no part of toner on the transfer belt will be scattered toward the sheet.

Abstract: A communications system receives fax image data encoded with a specific facsimile data format and carrying transmission codes having no relation with image contents, converts the received fax image data into Internet-fax data in a specific format, and transfers the Internet-fax data to an Internet terminal as an in-system terminal. The communications system includes a receiver to receive the fax image data supplied via a regular communications network, a comparator to compare an encoding mode for the received fax image data and an encoding mode for the Internet-fax data for the Internet terminal, a converter to add format data for the Internet-fax data to the fax image data with no decoding of the fax image data if there is a match in the comparison, for converting the format data-added fax image data into the Internet fax data, and a transmitter to transmit the converted Internet fax data to the Internet terminal.

Abstract: A self-checkout system includes a shopping basket table having a weighing scale, an accounting unit including a scanner to read data of an article and which executes a transaction based on the read data of the article, and a collecting base having another weighing scale. The weighing scale of the collecting base includes an article placing table for supporting the article temporarily.

Abstract: A self-checkout system includes a shopping basket table including a weighing scale, an accounting unit including a scanner to read data of an article and which executes a transaction based on read data of the article, and a collecting base that includes another weighing scale and collects the scanned article. The shopping basket table, accounting unit and collecting base are formed as separate block units so that an arranging order and an arranging direction of the block units are properly settable.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprises an ink jet recording head having actuators that are caused to deflect so as to vary a volume of a pressure chamber according to a drive signal applied between an electrode associated with a pressure chamber from which ink is ejected and ones associated with two pressure chambers sandwiching the former, and a drive signal generator that generates a drive signal for driving the pressure chambers in the five time-divisional drive method. The drive signal generator simultaneously supplies drive signals for alleviating deflection of an actuator or actuators at the outmost position among six actuators disposed close around a pressure chamber from which ink is to be ejected to electrodes associated with the five pressure chambers close around one from which ink is not to be ejected at a timing when the ink ejection therefrom is enabled. Thus, variations in velocity and volume between ink droplets ejected that are caused due to cross-talk between chambers can be reduced.

Abstract: A CPU detects a temperature of a central part of a heating roller. If the detected temperature does not exceed 180° C., the CPU drives a central coil or a side-end coil for 0.4 second in accordance with a temperature difference between the central part of the heating roller and a side-end part of the heating roller. Then, the CPU drives the side-end coil or central coil for 0.2 second. Thereafter, the CPU detects the temperature of the central part and repeats the driving control until the detected temperature reaches 180° C.

Abstract: A division/coupling process section refers to item “DOCUMENT PROCESS” in a division/coupling set information DB. If a document division/coupling process needs to be executed, division/coupling set information from the division/coupling set information DB is referred to. If scan parameters need to be referred to, the division/coupling process section refers to scan parameters from a scan parameter DB. If an inquire process needs to be executed by referring to item “EXCESS DOCUMENT PROCESS” in the division/coupling set information DB, necessary information is acquired from an input/output section through a division/coupling inquire process section. Thus, the document division/coupling is determined and executed. Information on the divided/coupled document is temporarily stored in a division/coupling buffer and also information on document registration is stored in the division/coupling buffer. The divided/coupled document is then registered into document management systems through a register process section.

Abstract: Following the end of warm-up, a control unit confirms whether the warm-up time is 10 seconds or more. If the warm-up time is 10 seconds or more, the control unit controls a maximum lamp turn-on time for alternate turn-on at 1.0 second as long as an idle time (t) from the end of warm-up is less than two minutes. When the idle time exceeds two minutes, the control unit controls the maximum lamp turn-on time for alternate turn-on at 2.5 seconds.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention capable of changing the image forming direction detects the surface temperatures at the central part and edges of a fixing member, when an abnormal temperature rise or temperature insufficiency occurs at the ends, rotates the image forming direction by a controller, changes the width of a recording medium passing the fixing member, and executes fixing without using the ends of an abnormal temperature rise or temperature insufficiency. By doing this, regardless of an abnormal temperature rise or temperature insufficiency on the tops of the ends of the fixing member, fixed toner images of high image quality can be obtained efficiently without interrupting the image forming steps.

Abstract: A printer control CPU of the image forming apparatus controls the normal toner replenishing rotation after rotating a toner bottle in the normal rotating direction by about ¾ turn and then immediately in the direction reverse to the normal rotating direction by about ¾ turn. These operations are performed twice as the process to separate residual toners adhered on the inner surface of a toner bottle.

Abstract: A localizing tool which converts the language of a first document data file which stores character information of character strings to be displayed in an original language in a printer driver to another language comprises an information storage section, a printer driver storing section which stores the printer driver in the information storage section, and a conversion section which converts the first document data file in the printer driver stored in the information storage section into a second document data file in an object language different from the original language.

Abstract: The fixing apparatus includes an induction heating device provided inside the fixing roller, configured to heat the fixing roller by induction heating, and the induction heating device further includes a core member and an excitation coil wound around the core member, and where the inner diameter of the heat roller is represented by D, the width of the portion of the core member, which opposes at least the heat roller is represented by B, the inductance of the excitation coil is L[?H] and the resistance of the excitation coil is R[?], B is set to be larger than L/R×0.3 and less than D/3.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus disclosed herein includes a detecting section for detecting that the lifetime of an expendable used to form images is expiring, a counting section for counting a used amount of the expendable when the detecting section detects that the lifetime of the expendable is expiring, and a control section for disregarding the fact that the lifetime of the expendable is expiring, even when the fact is detected again before the used amount of the expendable, which is counted by the counting section, reaches a prescribed value.

Abstract: In such a manner that ink in each of a plurality of pressure chambers for holding the ink therein is brought to a positive pressure state of being ejected from respective nozzles respectively communicating with the respective chambers to the outside of each of the pressure chambers, a cleaning member abutted against a nozzle plate formed with a plurality of nozzles is moved along the nozzles in a state in which pressure is applied to all of the pressure chambers, to thereby extrude foreign particles outside the pressure chambers by the ink ejected from the respective nozzles to the outside of the pressure chambers, thereby making it possible to recover the ink, whereby the occurrence of a delivery failure due to the foreign particles around the nozzles being absorbed into the pressure chambers, can be prevented, and the foreign particles contained in the ink can be purged without consuming much ink needlessly.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes: a pressing roller for pressing a sheet of paper on which an unfixed developer is prepared; a fixing roller including a conductive roller and a releasing layer coating the conductive roller, the releasing layer facilitating removal of adhered developer, the fixing roller rotating with the sheet of paper being sandwiched between the fixing roller and the pressing roller to fix the developer to the sheet of paper with heat; an auxiliary member being for eliminating electricity a substantial circle member, engaged with the outer surface of said fixing roller, and having at least one protruding portion penetrating the releasing layer to contact and electrically connect to the surface of the conductive roller; and an member set at ground potential for electrically contact the auxiliary member to the ground potential.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image forming system and a control method thereof and is characterized as follows. In a client personal computer, at least application software for display a list having a predetermined structure for synchronizing electronic information and image information, and electronic information are stored. The application software is started, and stored electronic information or image information transmitted from a composite type image forming apparatus through a network is checked in into the list. Otherwise, electronic information, which has been existing on the list, is checked out onto the image forming apparatus or a network printer. Further, the image information and the electronic information are synchronized.