Abstract: Image data transmitted from an image reading portion or a personal computer is once stored in an image storage portion. Then, an image region determining portion performs region determination of the stored image data. In addition, a toner consumption calculating portion calculates an amount of toner to be consumed required for outputting the image data. Image correction is performed in an image correcting portion according to a determined image region based on a result of comparison between the amount of toner to be consumed calculated and the remaining amount of toner measured. Image output is performed in an image printing portion based on the corrected image data. As a result, image degradation can be minimized and an output operation can be completed even when a remaining amount of a recording material becomes less than an amount required for image output.

Abstract: In the image data processing of the digital copying machine (M), the image data is assigned to the expanders (30,31) in such a manner that the expansion time of each of the expanders (30,31) is close to one another. Thus, because the difference of the expansion time between the expanders (30,31) is very close to one another, both of the expanders (30,31) can be efficiently used so that the timing when printing can be started is quickened. In consequence, the speed of expansion processing or print processing is improved.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image reader for reading images, a memory for storing images read by the image reader, a compression circuit for compressing an arbitrary portion of an image placed on a page memory, a compressed image memory for storing images compressed by the compression circuit, a decompression circuit for decompressing images placed on the compressed image memory, a page memory for developing images decompressed by the decompression circuit, and a printer for outputting images on the page memory. When a plurality of images stored in the memory are to be screened, combined on the page memory and to be output, the images are developed such that screen patterns of respective images to be combined are superposed on the page memory. As a result, an image forming apparatus which is capable of screening, combining and printing a plurality of stored images without increasing memory capacity is provided.

Abstract: Image data transmitted from an image reading portion or a personal computer is once stored in an image storage portion. Then, an image region determining portion performs region determination of the stored image data. In addition, a toner consumption calculating portion calculates an amount of toner to be consumed required for outputting the image data. Image correction is performed in an image correcting portion according to a determined image region based on a result of comparison between the amount of toner to be consumed calculated and the remaining amount of toner measured. Image output is performed in an image printing portion based on the corrected image data. As a result, image degradation can be minimized and an output operation can be completed even when a remaining amount of a recording material becomes less than an amount required for image output.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus of the present invention provides an image reader which reads image, an image memory which stores image data read by said image reader, a compressor which reads out image data previously stored in said image memory, and compresses image data reading out, and a controller which controls starting operation of said compressor so as not to complete compressing image data in said image memory before completion of storing image data into said image memory.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus for reading a document image and forming the document image on a paper, document image data are divided into a plurality of blocks and the document image data are compressed in the unit of block to be stored in a first memory device. The data read from the first memory device are expanded in the unit of block to be stored in a second memory device. Compression time and expansion time are estimated and image output start time for a printer is set based on the compression and expansion times before expansion of all the blocks is completed. In a different way, the start time is set to read data from a second memory device by a printer for printing, after estimation based on expansion time on data not yet expanded by an expansion device. In a still different way, predetermined form data such as page number are superposed with image data. The form data is drawn first in a page memory device and expanded image data are superposed next in the page memory device.

Abstract: In the image data processing of the digital copying machine (M), number of blocks Bn of image data in auxiliary scanning direction is set to the number of expanders (30, 31) Dn times a natural number N (N.times.Dn). This configuration makes it possible to utilize the (30, 31) expanders efficiently regardless of whether the image is to be rotated by 90.degree. or not when expanding compressed image data and printing the image. Thus such a situation that the expanders (30, 31) are forced to suspend the expanding operation does not occur, making it possible to start printing earlier and improve the printing speed. In the image reader 1 of the digital copying machine (M), when dividing image data corresponding to original document into a plurality of blocks and compressing the image data in the unit of block, length of the original document in the auxiliary scanning direction is estimated from width of the original document (size in principal scanning direction).

Abstract: An automated document feeder for use with an image forming apparatus such as copy machine comprises a document feeder for feeding the document and a document support for supporting the document. The document support can occupy any one of three positions; a first position where the document on the document support is kept away from the document feeder, a second position where the document on the document support is in contact with the document feeder, and a third position where the document is out of contact with the document feeder but closer to the document feeder than the document at the first position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forming has a resume device to resume a situation when the power supply was turned off. Further, a timer is provided to count a period after the power supply was turned off. A controller inhibits operation of the resume device when the timer counts up a predetermined period. Further, an interrupting device is provided, and when the image forming apparatus is in a predetermined state such as paper empty, the image forming apparatus is operated according to the image forming information entered by the interrupting device. In a different way, an image forming apparatus has a switching device to turn off manually the power supply. After the power supply was turned off with the auto-power-off function, if the power supply is turned on manually, data on image forming saved in a memory are cleared. Thus, a new user can start a copy job readily, while the secrecy of image data of a previous user can be maintained.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a backup memory for storing data on image forming in a memory. When the power supply of the apparatus is turned off due to a trouble, a controller reproduces a status just before the power supply is turned off according to the data stored in the backup device if a predetermined time passes after the power supply is turned on again. However, new image forming is started if a preparation operation for new image forming is detected within the predetermined time. Further, if the power supply is turned off while a document is read, the controller reproduces the status just before the power supply is turned off when the power supply is turned on again.

Abstract: A glass antenna device for automobile telephone includes a glass panel and an antenna pattern mounted on the glass panel. The antenna pattern has a radiation pattern, a signal leader pattern having a first feeder positioned closely to an edge of the glass panel, and an extension extending from the first feeder toward and connected to the radiation pattern, a shield leader pattern having a surrounding pattern surrounding the first feeder and having a second feeder, and a pair of parallel extensions extending from the surrounding pattern parallel substantially the full length of the extension of the signal leader thereto and disposed one on each side thereof, and a rectangular ground pattern connected to an end of at least one of the parallel extensions of the shield leader pattern.

Abstract: A window glass antenna for use on an automobile rear window glass panel, for example has a radiating pattern to be mounted on the window glass panel a ground pattern to be mounted on the window glass panel in spaced relationship to the radiating pattern. The radiating pattern has a vertical length substantially equal to a quarter wavelength. The ground pattern has a vertical length substantially equal to a quarter wavelength and a horizontal width ranging from a half wavelength to a three-quarter wavelength.

Abstract: A welding wire packaging container of mono-cylinder pail type accommodating a welding wire winding which includes of a multitude of layers of looped wire portions having diameters smaller than the inside diameter of the container and centrally having a cavity of substantially cylindrical form. The container includes a retaining member placed on overlying layers of wire loops and adapted to be lowered by gravity as the wire is withdrawn from the container, the retaining member being centrally formed with a circular wire guide hole to permit wire withdrawal therethrough, and resilient members mounted at least two spaced positions around the outer periphery of the retaining member for contact with the inner wall surface of the container, the guide hole in the retaining member being located in vertically spaced relation with an upper lid of the container.