Abstract: An imaging device comprises pixels. The pixel includes first semiconductor regions of a first conductivity type provided in a surface part of a semiconductor substrate and a second semiconductor region of a second conductivity type provided in the surface part of the semiconductor substrate between the first semiconductor regions. The pixel includes: a light-receiving unit in which photodiodes each configured between the second semiconductor region and one of the first semiconductor regions; quenching circuits, each connected to a corresponding one of the first semiconductor regions; and a counter unit connected to each of connection nodes between the first semiconductor regions and the quenching circuits and counts a pulse generated in response to a photon being incident on the light-receiving unit. The second semiconductor region is provided across a deeper part of the semiconductor substrate than the first semiconductor regions.

Abstract: The recording sheet supporting surface of the transport belt comes in contact with the photosensitive drums for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black in the color copy mode, and is separated from the photosensitive drums aside from the photosensitive drum used for forming a black image in the monochrome copy mode with the image forming units for cyan, magenta, and yellow not being activated. With this separating operation, the distance on the transportation path of the recording sheet measured from the synchronizing roller to the transfer position of the photosensitive drum used for forming a black image in the monochrome copy mode is longer than in the color copy mode. Thus, the start time of scanning the surface of the photosensitive drum used for forming the black image is delayed in the monochrome mode according to the difference in distances between the color and monochrome modes.

Abstract: An inverting document feeder feeds a document from the document tray to the position where the image reader reads the document, turns the document over, and then reads the second side. Document size determination sensors detects the document passing through, and determines the size of the document from detections signals of the width of the document and the time elapsed between the detection of the top end of the document and the detection of the bottom end of the document. When the top end of the document reaches the document reading position, image reading is started by a scanner, regardless of whether the document size has been determined or not. The image data thus obtained are written into and read out of a memory unit in a specified order.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus operates in a color mode using a plurality of image holding components and in a monochrome mode using one of the plurality of image holding components to perform the image formation. The mode is switched between the color mode and the monochrome mode in accordance with information, such as the number of monochrome images having been successively formed, the number of monochrome images to be successively formed, a time period having been taken for the monochrome image formation, productivity or life priority specified the user, and a standby state of the image forming apparatus in the color mode or the monochrome mode, with a distance between the recording sheets to be transported being controlled according to predetermined conditions.

Abstract: A copying machine having a two-in-one copying mode comprises a document feeder means 65, 75 and three conveying means 90, 95, 101. The feeder means 65, 75 feeds a document toward a glass platen 29 one by one to stop the document at a first-out position. The first conveying means 90 conveys the document fed by the feeder means 65, 75 onto the glass platen. The second conveying means 95 conveys the document conveyed by the first conveying means 90 along the glass platen 29 until the rear end of the document reaches at a predetermined switch-back position, then conveys the document to the opposite direction to retreat a predetermined distance, and then conveys the document as well as a succeeding document stopped at the first-out position such that the front end of the document situated on a downstream side of the document conveying direction may be aligned with a exposure reference SP, and then discharging the documents to the downstream side of the document conveying direction after exposure.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus has a forwarding device for successively forwarding a plurality of sheets accommodated in a state of stacked layer one by one. The forwarding device is movable between a sheet forwarding position where the forwarding device is brought in contact with the leading end of a sheet for forwarding the sheet and a retracted position where the forwarding device is separated away from the sheet. The apparatus includes a transport device for receiving a sheet forwarded by the forwarding device and transporting the sheet in a predetermined direction of transport.

Abstract: An image of the original document is read rapidly to effect quick production of the first copy even when the function of the shading correction and the function of the color/monochrome judgment operate. A waiting position P2 of a first slider 211 is located on the opposite side from a scan starting position P3 in reference to a reading area for the original document, and a location of a shading correction plate 206 is interposed between the reading area for the original document and the waiting position P2 of the first slider 211. While the first slider 211 is in the process of returning from the waiting position P2 to the scan starting position P3 for the preparation of reading the image of the original, a shading correction and a color/monochrome judgment are carried out for preventing the first slider 211 from having extra motion.

Abstract: A copying machine having a two-in-one copying mode has a pickup roller 65, a separating roller 75, a register roller 90, a conveyor belt 95 and a pinch roller 101. The pickup roller 65 and the separating roller 75 feed a document toward a glass platen 29 one by one to stop the document at a first-out position. The register roller 90 conveys the document fed by the pickup roller 65 and the separating roller 75 onto the glass platen.

Abstract: A pickup member forwards a document at a forwarding position where the pickup member is brought in contact with a bunch of stacked sheets, and is retracted from the forwarding position after the leading end of the document is forwarded. Before the rear end of the document previously forwarded passes through the pickup member, the pickup member is moved to the forwarding position and positioned thereat for forwarding the following document. A rotative member of a pair of separating members is rotated with a first velocity to transport a document forwarded by the pickup member to a downstream side, and a transport member is rotationally driven with a second velocity to further forward the document transported from the separating member to the downstream side.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder (ADF) for feeding a document across a platen is attachable to different types of copying machines which have different copying speeds. The ADF has a detector for detecting the copying speed of the copy machine and a controller for adjusting the document feeding speed of the ADF to the copying speed of the copy machine. The controller also controls the feeding speed of the document at a standard speed in a condition which does not lower copying efficiency and at a higher speed in a condition which lowers copying efficiency. A condition which does not lower copying efficiency is feeding documents other than the last document from the platen. A condition which lowers copying efficiency is feeding the first document to the platen and ejection of the last document from the platen.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder having a pick-up roller for feeding a document out of a tray, a conveyer belt for conveying and stopping the document on a platen and ejecting the document from the platen, and a register roller for stopping the document fed by the pick-up roller once and feeding the document onto the platen. A driving mechanism for driving the belt and the register roller is connected with the belt and the register roller with no clutches in-between. The driving mechanism is driven by pulses, and the document conveying amount is controlled by detecting the number of pulses. In the automatic document feeder, if two successive documents are of a size smaller than a half of the platen, the two documents are set on the platen side by side, and a next document is fed out of the tray. If a latter document of two successive documents is of a size larger than a half of the platen, feeding of a next document is inhibited.

Abstract: A document feeding apparatus includes a device for successively forwarding sheets accommodated in a state of stacked layer one by one; a transporter for receiving a sheet forwarded by the forwarding device and forwarding the sheet in a predetermined transport direction; a detector for detecting a sheet being transported by the transporter; and a controller for controlling operation of the transporter based on a result of a detection conducted by the detector, wherein the controller positions a rear end of a preceding sheet by transporting the sheet for a predetermined distance after the rear end of the sheet is detected by the detector, and positions a leading end of a following sheet at a predetermined position by transporting the following sheet for the predetermined distance after the leading end of the following sheet is detected by the detector, whereby the rear end of the preceding sheet and the leading end of the following sheet correspond with each other, and thereafter, the two sheets are forwarded s

Abstract: An automatic document feeder for conveying a document on a platen glass. Back-up rollers for pressing a conveyer belt against the platen glass are loosely supported by a body frame. The shafts of a driving roller and a driven roller for rotating the conveyer belt, and the supporting member of the back-up rollers each have an end which is detachable from the body frame. The body frame has a first frame pivoted on a copying machine and a second frame for holding the conveyer belt and its motor. The second frame is connected with the first frame such that the second frame is movable from and to the platen glass with a specified range, and further the second frame is urged in a direction separating from the platen glass. The second frame is also movable in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the pivot of the first frame extends.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder provided with a conveying unit which has a conveyer belt and regulating plates for regulating a space between the conveying unit and a platen glass. The regulating plates are disposed in a hinge side and a side opposite to the hinge side. The conveying unit is connected with a supporting frame through the regulating plates. The supporting frame is fixed to the hinges. The conveying unit is movable in a vertical direction to the supporting frame at least in the hinge side.

Abstract: Copying apparatus capable of high speed document exchange and high speed copying. Sets an original at the exposure position and prefeeds at least two originals to their respective standby positions. Pre-fed originals are detected by various sensors. Prefeeds copy paper for the respective originals based on the aforesaid detection results. Copying efficiency is improved by prefeeding originals and prefeeding copy paper.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder for conveying a document on a platen glass. Back-up rollers for pressing a conveyer belt against the platen glass are loosely supported by a body frame. The shafts of a driving roller and a driven roller for rotating the conveyer belt, and the supporting member of the back-up rollers each have an end which is detachable from the body frame. The body frame has a first frame pivoted on a copying machine and a second frame for holding the conveyer belt and its motor. The second frame is connected with the first frame such that the second frame is movable from and to the platen glass with a specified range, and further the second frame is urged in a direction separating from the platen glass. The second frame is also movable in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the pivot of the first frame extends.

Abstract: In an original transfer apparatus, a pair of rollers around which a transfer belt is stretched and pressing rollers provided between the pair of rollers and adapted to press the transfer belt against the platen are held with each end portion of each shaft of the rollers being fixed to a frame of a body of the transfer apparatus so as to be attachable and detachable directly and separately. The fitting of these rollers is executed by fitting at least three end portions of the shafts of the pair of rollers and each end portion of each shaft of the pressing rollers to the frame from a side opposed to the platen of the frame of the body.

Abstract: In a document feeding apparatus, a document transport member which acts on the lowermost original of a bunch of originals performs a preparatory transport operation prior to its action of feeding the bunch of originals to a separating mechanism to forward the bunch of originals to a stopper which is entered in a document transport path to arrange the originals thereto, and after the stopper is moved away, a regular transport operation is conducted to forward the originals to the separating mechanism.

Abstract: An automatic original feeding handler adapted for transporting an original to a reading portion in an image forming apparatus. The automatic original feeding handler is provided with an accommodating portion upwardly provided with respect to the reading portion for accommodating originals stacked therein, a supplying member for supplying a lowermost original of the stacked originals one by one to the reading portion, a transporting member for transporting on the reading portion the original supplied by the supplying member and returning that original to the accommodating portion, a counting member for counting the number of the originals and a control member for controlling the supplying member so as to change the timing for start of supplying the original according to a count value counted by the counting member.

Abstract: There is disclosed a copying apparatus having a duplex copying capability for copying an image of a first document on the front face of a copy paper and an image of a second document on the rear face of the copy paper. This apparatus is controlled so as to inhibit the copying operation in case that the image of the second document can not be contained within the frame of the rear face of the copy paper. Having the magnification varying capability, this apparatus is controlled so as to set an optimum magnification computed from either a size of the first document or the copy paper and a size of the second document.