Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes an image-forming unit detachably attached to a body of the apparatus, a holding member attached to the unit, and an engaging member attached to the body. The unit has a photosensitive member rotatably in a first rotary axis, and a roller member rotatably in a second rotary axis. The holding member has a first holding portion for holding the first rotary axis, a second holding portion for holding the second rotary axis, and a positioning member, whereby the photosensitive member and the roller member is held at specific intervals in the image-forming unit. The engaging member brings into engagement with the positioning member when the image-forming unit is attached to the body, whereby the image-forming unit is positioned to the body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising a laser beam radiating unit utilized as a light source, and an optical system that the surface of an original reflects a laser beam radiated from the radiating unit to project an image reflected form the original onto a photosensitive member. In this apparatus, an image is formed selectively in a print mode that an image results from turning on and off the laser beam, in a copy made that a copy of an original results form exposure of the photosensitive member to the laser beam reflected from the surface of an original or in a composite mode that a composite image is formed of a copy of an original and an image resulting from turning on and off the laser beam. Also, this apparatus comprises a reflecting member which is provided on an original supporting table and extends in the sub scanning direction, and a sensor for detecting the laser beam reflected from the reflecting member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a laser beam radiating unit utilized as a light source, and an optical system that the surface of an original reflects a laser beam radiated from the radiating unit to project an image reflected from the original onto a photosensitive member. In this apparatus, an image is formed selectively in a print mode that an image results from turning on and off the laser beam, in a copy mode that a copy of an original results from exposure of the photosensitive member to the laser beam reflected from the surface of an original or in a composite mode that a composite image is formed of a copy of an original and an image resulting from turning on and off the laser beam. Also, this apparatus comprises a reflector for directing the laser beam to the photosensitive member, and the reflector is automatically set at the reflecting position when the original cover is open or the print mode is selected.

Abstract: When a print switch is pressed, the color of the switch changes from green to orange. A wait indication prohibiting removal of an original placed on a platen glass is turned on. When reading of original images by an image reader is finished, the wait indication is turned off, permitting the removal of the original. Meanwhile, the color of the print switch is kept as it is until the end of image formation on a paper. The color of the print switch is turned into green when the image formation is finished, and the copying machine is returned to a stand-by state. Therefore, the next original can be set before the end of image formation, and the copying operation can be facilitated.

Abstract: In a laser scanning apparatus, having a plurality of potential surfaces reflecting on a rotational member, not all the potential reflecting surfaces are effective to deflect a laser beam to a recording medium for forming an image on the recording medium. The ineffective surfaces are incapable of making an image even if a laser beam impinges thereon. The rotational member has a shape similar to a polygon mirror, thereby maintaining stable balance without generating an air noise during rotation. Only when a laser beam impinges the effective surfaces disposed partially around the rotational member does the laser beam get deflected onto a recording medium for periodically scanning the surface of the recording medium and thereby forming an image.

Abstract: A laser scanning optical system including a rotatable polygonal mirror for scanning the photosensitive surface with the laser beam in a scanning direction, a lens unit for converging the laser beam reflected by the polygonal mirror on the photosensitive surface, a first reflection mirror for reflecting the laser beam passed though the lens unit to the photosensitive surface, a second reflection mirror for reflecting the laser beam reflected by a part of the first reflection mirror, a sensor arranged to receive the laser beam which is reflected by the second reflection mirror and has passed through a specific position equivalent to the photosensitive surface for generating a synchronizing signal for commanding start of modulation of the laser beam, and first and second lens elements both interposed between the specific position and the sensor so as to keep a conjugate condition therebetween.

Abstract: An apparatus provided with a first reflector for reflecting a light beam deflected by a deflector in a light beam scanning apparatus and a second reflector for directing the light beam from the first reflector toward an image forming point after contacting again the first reflector. The light beam is reciprocated between the first and second reflectors thereby forming a light path of two times the space that they are disposed. A deflector is disposed on a side of the light path extending from the first reflector to the light beam image forming point together with a light beam emitting source which irradiate the light beam on the same level of the light path and make the light path length at both ends of the light beam scanning range equal to each other by arranging an angle between the first and second reflectors.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes several image forming units which are vertically arranged, paper connecting units which connect the paper discharging section of one image forming unit and the paper feeding section of another image forming unit where the two units are vertically adjacent, and a paper separating mechanism to switch the employed paper conveying path from one path to another. Such a structure requires floor space only as much as that required for one image forming unit, and yet provides various functions, e.g. double-sided printing, mulitple copying on one side of a paper with different originials, high-speed printing, multi-colored printing, printed side up discharging, printed side down discharging, job stocking, and sorting. The invention results in a compact and inexpensive image forming apparatus with various high quality fuctions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising a laser beam radiating unit utilized as a light source, and an optical system that the surface of an original reflects a laser beam radiated from the radiating unit to project a image reflected from the original onto a photosensitive member. In this apparatus, an image is formed selectively in a print mode that an image results from turning on and off the laser beam, in a copy mode that a copy of an original results from exposure of the photosensitive member to the laser beam reflected from the surface of an original or in a composite mode that a composite image is formed of a copy of an original and an image resulting from turning on and off the laser beam. Further, this apparatus comprises a transporting unit for transporting a sheet on which a latent image formed on the photosensitive member is transferred onto the original glass, so that a sheet once discharged from the main body can be reused as an original.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus comprises a machine body and a paper discharge unit removably attached to the machine body. The machine body defines a face-down discharge tray on top. The paper discharge unit includes a face-up discharge tray and a discharge roller pair. A switch lever is provided in the machine body for selecting between a state in which recording paper is turned over for discharge onto the face-down discharge tray, and a second state in which the recording paper is discharged face up onto the face-up discharge tray.

Abstract: A plurality of illuminating lights are positioned adjacent a document table for illuminating an original with different color light. A holding member is capable of not only rotating the individual light sources but also moving a specific light source outward to assume an advantageous position for illuminating the document. A cam mechanism can be utilized for automatically positioning the light source as it approaches the desired illumination position.

Abstract: An image reader having a mechanism for varying the reading magnification optically by adjusting relative positions of a projection lens and an image sensor is disclosed. The image reader provides a pattern plate on which black or white patterns are formed for detecting a distance defined between two edges of the patterns wherein the distance is read by the image sensor through the projection lens at a predetermined magnification to determined the real focal distance of the projection lens.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising a laser beam radiating unit utilized as a light source, and an optical system that the surface of an original reflects a laser beam radiated from the radiating unit to project an image reflected from the original onto a photosensitive member. In this apparatus, an image is formed selectively in a print mode that an image results from turning on and off the laser beam, in a copy mode that a copy of an original results from exposure of the photosensitive member to the laser beam reflected from the surface of an original or in a composite mode that a composite image is formed of a copy of an original and an image resulting from turning on and off the laser beam. Further, this apparatus comprises a sensor for receiving the laser beam reflected from the surface of an original, and the image of an original and composite image are read by the sensor.

Abstract: An image scanning apparatus including a scanning optical system, an image sensor for converting an image beam received from the scanning optical system into an electric signal, and a projecting lens disposed on an optical path between the scanning optical system and the image sensor. The projecting lens is movable along the optical axis for varying projecting magnification. A swing mirror is additionally provided on the optical path between the scanning optical system and the projecting lens. When in an operative position, the swing mirror intercepts the optical path and establishes a shorter optical path for use in obtaining the image of a film or the like in super-magnification.

Abstract: A method of image processing for sampling the concentration of each portion of an image in the unit of a picture element and for binarizing the concentrations of picture elements in the unit of a submatrix of predetermined size to obtain a bi-level image, being characterized in that the bi-level image is obtained from the concentrations having been sampled according to the steps as follows: (a) calculating the average of the concentrations of the picture elements at every submatrix to which the picture elements belong; (b) determining the number of elements in the submatrix to be treated as either one of black and white according to a predetermined relation with the average; (c) assigning elements in the submatrix as the elements to be treated as either one of black and white up to the number determined in the step (b) in the predetermined order of the concentration of each element.

Abstract: There is disclosed an image reader in which the reading magnification can be changed optically to a value designated. The image reader provides a device for adjusting the reading magnitude by moving a lens in the direction of the optical axis thereof and adjusting the focusing by shifting the image sensor relative to the lens. Further, the image reader provides a device for measuring the magnification and calculates amounts of movements for the lens and image sensor respectively based upon the measured magnification and the designated magnification. The lens and image sensor are moved respectively by the amount calculated to give the designated magnification in the focused state.