Abstract: A heat activation method for activating a thermosensitive adhesive label having a support and a thermosensitive adhesive layer which is provided on the support and is not adhesive at room temperature, so as to make the thermosensitive adhesive layer adhesive with the application of heat thereto, includes the step of heating the thermosensitive adhesive layer to make the thermosensitive adhesive layer adhesive while transporting the label along a heat-resistant transporting belt heated by a heater, with the thermosensitive adhesive layer being in pressure contact with the transporting belt using a pressure-application member. A heat activation apparatus is provided with a heat-application and transporting member and a pressure-application member. A label printer is provided with a label holder, a printing apparatus, a cutter and the above-mentioned heat activation apparatus.

Abstract: An automatic cut-sheet feeding apparatus includes a feed roller which rotates in a direction so as to feed in and feed out an upper most cut-sheet, and means for stopping the feeding of excessive cut-sheets which should not be fed out together with the uppermost cut-sheet when a plurality of cut-sheets are fed in together by the feed roller, and thereby automatically feeding cut only the uppermost cut-sheet of the stack of cut-sheet one by one, the stopping means includes a holder pressed against said feed roller, a push-piece supported on the holder and pressed at a position preceding a position where the holder makes contact with said feed roller along a direction in which the cut-sheet is transported thus causing excessive cut-sheets to curve downwards when a plurality of cut-sheets pass between the feed roller and the push-piece, and a stop surface disposed to confront a leading edge of the curved excessive cut-sheet and engage the leading edge thereof.

Abstract: A sheet feeder for a laser printer or similar image recording apparatus which is selectively operable in an automatic sheet feed mode and a manual sheet feed mode includes a manual feed guide plate which is located above a feed tray or a cassette. A presser member is mounted on the guide plate to be movable between an operative position where its front end portion intervenes between a feed roller and a friction pad and an inoperative position where it does not do so. When the presser member is moved toward the feed roller until its front end portion intervenes between the feed roller and the friction pad, the friction pad is physically separated from the feed roller and, instead, the front end portion of the presser member is brought into pressing contact with the feed roller. In this condition, a paper sheet inserted by hand on and along the manual feed guide plate is pressed against the feed roller by the presser member and fed stably by the rotation of the feed roller.

Abstract: A laser printer or like electrostatic recording apparatus of the type developing an electrostatic latent image provided on a photoconductive drum by toner which is conveyed by a developing roller. Various devices of the apparatus including the photoconductive drum and developing roller are separated into an upper and a lower unit which are openable away from each other. A photoconductive drum assembly including the photoconductive element and a developing assembly including the developing roller are individually detachable from a body of the apparatus. Various measures are taken to enhance stable and safe operation, miniaturization, easy maintenance, operability, service life, and image quality.

Abstract: A developing device including a developing roller having on its surface a layer of developing agent forced against a photosensitive member to perform developing. The developing roller is brought into contact with the photosensitive member under a predetermined pressure when a developing operation is performed, and is brought out of contact with the photosensitive member or kept in contact with the photosensitive member under a pressure lower than the predetermined pressure when no developing operation is performed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic copier, lazer printer or like imaging apparatus for developing a latent image provided on a photoconductive element by a developing device of the type using a toner cartridge, thereby turning the latent image into a visible toner image. A body of the apparatus consists of an upper part and a lower part, the former being openably supported by the latter. A positioning frame is supported by the lower body part in such a manner as to rotatable up and down. An image carrier unit which includes at least the image carrier and a developing unit which includes at least the developing device are detachably mounted on the positioning frame and mounted to and dismounted from the frame independently of each other.

Abstract: An electrostatic printing apparatus capable of printing both normal sheets of paper and composites such as envelopes. In accordance with a mode in which normal sheets are printed and with the other mode in which envelopes are printed, transfer current applied to a transfer charger, fixing pressure applied to between a pair of fixing rollers, and heat generation of the heat source(s) in the fixing roller(s) can be changed respectively to those suitable for the sort of a transfer member. This change can be performed manually, or controlled automatically based on a signal issued from a member sorting sensor disposed in a paper supply portion.

Abstract: A plurality of copying machines (12), (13), (14) are connected to a computer (39). Each copying machine (12), (13), (14) comprises sensor means (16), (17), (18), (19), (21), (22), (23), (24) for sensing various operating parameters thereof such as a total number of copies produced, machine malfunctions, amounts of remaining copy sheets and toner, etc. These parameters are all transmitted to the computer (39) which processes and prints them out. In response to a copying machine malfunction the computer (39) feeds back to the malfunctioning copying machine instructions for correction. The instructions are displayed at the copying machine. The computer (39) further computes the degree of degeneration of the photoconductive element of each copying machine (12), (13), (14) and controls the imaging exposure intensity and developing bias voltage in accordance therewith.

Abstract: The vertical and horizontal lengths of an original document (28) are automatically sensed and compared with the vertical and horizontal lengths of a copy sheet (38) and the reduction ratio of a variable magnification optical system (33) is automatically adjusted in accordance therewith so that the maximum length of the image of the document (28) is equal to the corresponding vertical or horizontal length of the copy sheet (38). The image may be selectively parallel to the vertical length or the horizontal length of the copy sheet (38) regardless of whether the image is parallel to the vertical or horizontal length of the document (28). In one form (21) of the invention the document (28) is placed on a platen (27) so that the image is parallel to the vertical length of the platen (27) regardless of whether the image is parallel to the vertical or horizontal length of the document (28).

Abstract: Two fixing rollers are mounted on shafts and rotated to pressingly feed a copy sheet therebetween to fix a toner image to the copy sheet. Spring force is applied to the ends of the shafts to urge the rollers together. The axes of the shafts define an acute angle therebetween to offset a tendency for the pressing force to decrease toward the center of the rollers due to deflection of the shafts and rollers. Feed rollers feed the copy sheet into the bite of the fixing rollers at a speed which is faster than the speed that the fixing rollers feed the copy sheet therebetween. The copy sheet is therefore fed through the fixing rollers in a slackened condition which prevents wrinkling of the copy sheet due to the angle between the shafts.

Abstract: A plurality of electrostatic copying machines (12), (13), (14), (16) are interconnected by bus lines (19), (21), (22). Each copying machine (12), (13), (14), (16) is provided with a sensor unit (23) for sensing various status parameters of the copying machine (12), (13), (14), (16) such as whether the copying machine (12), (13), (14), (16) is available for use, the copy sheet size, the number of copies made, the number of copy sheets remaining, etc. Each copying machine (12), (13), (14), (16) is further provided with a display unit (17) for displaying the status parameters of all of the copying machines (12), (13), (14), (16). A microcomputer (31) is provided at one of the copying machines (12) for storing and processing the status parameters and producing a hard copy.