Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming device for forming an image on a recording material; a heating member heating the image formed on the recording material in a nip portion; an endless belt conveying the recording material toward the nip portion formed between itself and the heating member; a contacting and separating device for bringing the heating member and the belt into the contact with each other and for separating the heating member and the belt from each other; and a detection device for detecting the temperature of the belt. If the detected temperature of the belt reaches a predetermined temperature, an image formation job is interrupted, and the heating member and the belt are separated.

Abstract: An image formation device changes the rotational rate of a polygon motor, i.e. the main-scanning rate, and selects one of pulse width conversion tables when an image formation is performed multiple times on a single sheet of transfer paper. The changing of the main-scanning rate is for preventing inconsistent sizes between a first recorded image and a second recorded image caused by shrinkage of transfer paper. The pulse width conversion tables allow the pulse widths to be modulated.

Abstract: An image formation device changes the rotational rate of a polygon motor, i.e. the main-scanning rate, and selects one of pulse width conversion tables when an image formation is performed multiple times on a single sheet of transfer paper. The changing of the main-scanning rate is for preventing inconsistent sizes between a first recorded image and a second recorded image caused by shrinkage of transfer paper. The pulse width conversion tables allow the pulse widths to be modulated.

Abstract: A control apparatus used in an image forming apparatus which is capable of improving development efficiency and decreasing development cost as well. A control apparatus comprises a CPU board 100 and a relay board having I/Fs 311-314 and a CPU 301. The I/Fs 311-314 are connectable with driver boards 5001-5004, and have common standards. The CPU 301 detects each connection state of the driver boards 5001-5004 to the I/Fs 311-314, decides an ID for the relay board 300 according to the connection state, and performs consistency control to secure consistency of control between the driver boards 5001-5004, based on the ID for the relay board 300. The CPU board 100 is communicatably connected to the relay board 300. The CPU board 100 obtains the ID for the relay board 300, and performs control according to the ID for the relay board 300.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which is capable of eliminating density irregularities of an image formed caused by potential irregularities of the photosensitive member when the drum is irradiated by a beam of constant luminous intensity. A laser driver irradiates a beam modulated based on an image signal onto a photosensitive member. A current controller variably controls a driving current for driving the laser driver. A PWM pulse width converter modulates a pulse width of the beam based on the image signal. A potential sensor measures the potential of the photosensitive member after the photosensitive member is irradiated by a beam having a predetermined luminous intensity. A selector causes the current controller to correct the driving current based on low frequency components of irregularities of the potential and changes a modulation coefficient used for modulating the pulse width based on high frequency components of the irregularities of the potential.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus including a fixing device that uses a pressure belt as at least one of two pressing members, a warm-up time and time for shifting to a standby state are reduced with simple control without increasing power consumption. The two pressing members are brought into a press-contact state by a contacting/separating mechanism and only heating means on the upper side is turned on. When the temperature of the upper pressing member increases to temperature near a target temperature corresponding thereto, the pressing members are driven to rotate. When it is detected by temperature detecting means on the lower side that the temperature of the lower pressing member increases to temperature near a target temperature corresponding thereto, the two pressing members are brought into a separated state by the contacting/separating mechanism.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has: a first heating device which heats recording sheet formed with a developer image; a cooling device which cools the recording sheet passing through the first heating device; a second heating device which heats the recording sheet cooled by the cooling device and gives a gloss to the image on the recording sheet; a conveying device which conveys the recording sheet passing through the first heating device to the second heating device through the cooling device; and a controller which controls a cooling ability of the cooling device in accordance with a conveying time required until the recording sheet is conveyed from the first heating device to the second heating device.

Abstract: A first heating device heats a recording sheet having a developer image formed thereon, and a cooling device cools the recording sheet having been heated. A second heating device heats the recording sheet having been cooled, thereby giving gloss to the image on the recording sheet. A cooling capability of the cooling device is switched over in accordance with temperature detected by a temperature sensor which is disposed in a conveying path for the recording sheet under cooling by the cooling device.

Abstract: An image formation device changes the rotational rate of a polygon motor, i.e. the main-scanning rate, and selects one of pulse width conversion tables when an image formation is performed multiple times on a single sheet of transfer paper. The changing of the main-scanning rate is for preventing inconsistent sizes between a first recorded image and a second recorded image caused by shrinkage of transfer paper. The pulse width conversion tables allow the pulse widths to be modulated.

Abstract: A control apparatus system which enables reduction of costs and time for development. An image forming apparatus implementing the control apparatus system has an image output section including a plurality of functional units having different functions. The image output section has an ASIC that is provided in each of the functional units, for performing signal processing on an input signal thereto, a communication IC provided in each of the functional units, and a relay board that performs interface matching between each of the functional units and at least one driver circuit board.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus which improved the development efficiency and is capable of reducing the development cost. The image reading apparatus comprises a specific unit 1001 and an alignment unit 1002. The specific unit 1001 has an CPU 1501 that informs the alignment unit 1002 of identification information for identifying an apparatus specification of the specific unit 1001.

Abstract: In a construction wherein at the start of fixing, a pressure belt is brought into contact with a fixing roller at uniform timing, it has sometimes been the case that the temperature of the pressure belt at a point of time whereat the fixing is started does not become a desired temperature but faulty fixing occurs. The timing for bringing the pressure belt into contact with the fixing roller at the start of fixing is changed in accordance with the detected temperature of the pressure belt. By such a construction, faulty fixing can be prevented from occurring.

Abstract: A plated material reduces insertion and withdrawal forces when used in a connector. A terminal member for a connector and a connector therewith are also provided. The plated material comprises a substrate 3 made of Cu or a Cu alloy and a metal plating layer 6 formed on the surface of the substrate 3. A soft region 6A spreading in a network-shape and a hard region 6B surrounded by the network of the soft region 6A coexists in the metal plating layer 6. The soft region 6A has a Vickers hardness of 20 to 250, while the hard region 6B has a Vickers hardness of 60 to 700, which is at least 30 higher than that of the soft region 6A. An average size of the network of the soft region 6A is from 5 to 500 ?m.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus having a discrimination mechanism that identifies an input document image as a color image or a monochrome image and an area recognition mechanism that recognizes a plurality of different areas contained in the document image, the apparatus applies the optimum color image forming mode even if the document is identified as a color image and forms an image. The user is permitted to select either a first color image forming mode that uses recording agents of m colors (where m is a natural number equal to or greater than 4) or a second color image forming mode that uses recording agents of n colors (where n is a natural number equal to or greater than m+1) as a color image forming mode applied to at least one of the areas recognized by the area recognition mechanism. If the input document image is identified as a color image, the apparatus applies the selected color image forming mode to at least one of the areas recognized by the area recognition mechanism and forms an image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus generates a PWM signal corresponding to input image data and controls a timing of a light source to emit a light beam based on the PWM signal in order to perform tone reproduction. The image forming apparatus includes a data processing unit configured to generate the PWM signal for one pixel based on image data for continuous two pixels in the image data. The data processing unit selects an origin of pulse growth in generation of the PWM signal for one pixel in accordance with the image data for the two pixels to generate the PWM signal.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus which makes it possible to carry out optimal bundling, such as bookbinding, according to sheet thickness, thereby enhancing the operability of the apparatus. A sensor LED control section 114 detects the thickness of a bundle of sheets to be processed. A post-processing control section 115 calculates a thickness of each sheet based on the thickness of the bundle of sheets detected by the sensor LED control section 114. The post-processing control section 115 changes the upper limit of the number of sheets that can be processed as a bundle based on the calculated thickness of each sheet.

Abstract: A bookbinding apparatus which is capable of suppressing volatile components of an adhesive causing abnormal odor from leaking out of the bookbinding apparatus, to thereby reduce discomfort to nearby operators and an operator exchanging a deodorizing filter. The bookbinding apparatus 100 is connectable to an image forming apparatus 101 and carries out bookbinding by bonding a plurality of sheets outputted from the image forming apparatus 101 with the adhesive 300. An adhesive heater 302 heats the adhesive 300 and a temperature sensor 301 detects a temperature of the adhesive 300. An adhesive temperature controller 303 controls a heating temperature of the adhesive 300 by the adhesive heater 302, based on the temperature of the adhesive 300 detected by the temperature sensor 301 and a target temperature.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an image formation portion for forming a toner image on a sheet, and a fixation device for fixing the toner image formed by the image formation portion on the sheet. When a sheet jam occurs, it is controlled whether the fixation device should be driven such that the sheet is discharged from the fixation device based on a sheet type.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes: an image forming device for forming an image on a recording material; a heating member heating the image formed on the recording material in a nip portion; an endless belt conveying the recording material toward the nip portion formed between itself and the heating member; and a contacting and separating device for bringing said heating member and said belt into the contact with each other and for separating said heating member and said belt from each other, wherein when images are continuously formed on a plurality of recording materials, a separating operation can be executed by the contacting and separating device during a time period after the immediately preceding recording material passes through the nip portion and before the subsequent recording material arrives at the nip portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided which includes: an image forming device for forming an image on a recording material; a heating member heating the image formed on the recording material in a nip portion; an endless belt conveying the recording material toward the nip portion formed between itself and the heating member; a contacting and separating device for bringing said heating member and said belt into the contact with each other and for separating said heating member and said belt from each other; and a detection device for detecting the temperature of the belt, wherein if the detected temperature of the belt reaches a predetermined temperature, an image formation job is interrupted, and the heating member and the belt are separated.