Abstract: A sheet feeder feeds a continuous form in a reverse feeding direction to the normal feeding direction from a position detected by a first sheet sensor. A timer counts a predetermined interval until the continuous form is surely fed by the distance from the sensor to the exterior of the printer. An additional sensor, downstream of the first sheet sensor and close to the sheet outlet in the normal printing direction, is used with the timer and appropriate counting intervals to detect paper jams as the reversely fed continuous form passes through the printer. A controller stops the reverse feeding upon the detection of a jam, and displays a jam error message on a display provided to a control panel. The sheet feeder is alternatively a pair of rollers or a tractor unit.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printer is capable of using a plurality of types of continuous form recording media having different page lengths, respectively. In the printer, a photoconductive member is charged and exposed to light carrying image data to form a latent image. In operation, one of the plurality of types of recording media is selected, and a portion of the photoconductive member corresponding to a page of the selected one of the plurality of types of recording media is exposed to light. In another embodiment, a laser beam printer utilizes a continuous-form recording sheet, wherein two control members are provided for, respectively, controlling the recording sheet so as to be discharged from the printing device after a printing operation, and for controlling the recording sheet so as to be located at a position from which a printing operation is restarted. Thus, recording sheets are not wasted when printer output is started.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printer is capable of using a plurality of types of continuous form recording media having different page lengths, respectively. In the printer, a photoconductive member is charged and exposed to light carrying image data to form a latent image. In operation, one of the plurality of types of recording media is selected, and a portion of the photoconductive member corresponding to a page of the selected one of the plurality of types of recording media is exposed to light. In another embodiment, a laser beam printer utilizes a continuous-form recording sheet, wherein two control members are provided for, respectively, controlling the recording sheet so as to be discharged from the printing device after a printing operation, and for controlling the recording sheet so as to be located at a position from which a printing operation is restarted. Thus, recording sheets are not wasted when printer output is started.

Abstract: A device for positioning a tip portion of a continuous form provided in a laser printer when the continuous form is set in the laser printer. The device includes a pair of fixing rollers provided at a position separated by a predetermined interval from a photosensitive drum, a tractor unit, a feed sensor, a tip sensor, and a control unit. The tractor unit is provided between the fixing rollers and the photosensitive drum to feed the continuous form toward the fixing rollers, the feed sensor outputs feed pulses in accordance with an amount fed of the continuous form, the tip sensor senses the tip portion of the continuous form. The control unit counts the number of feed pulses sensed by the feed sensor to feed one page of the continuous form so as, to discharge one page from the outlet mouth of the printer when a positioning of the tip portion is needed.

Abstract: An opening and closing mechanism is provided in a printing device, such as a printer which utilizes fan-folded print sheet fed between a pair of sheet dust brushes, wherein the mechanism separates the pair of brushes when a cover, panel or so forth is opened. The separation of the pair of brushes makes it easy to set the fan-folded sheet, or to remove jammed sheets since the brushes are separated when the cover, panel or so forth is opened.

Abstract: An apparatus utilizing a continuous-form sheet having a plurality of perforations at predetermined intervals of length is provided with a plate member for upwardly guiding the sheet discharged from the apparatus. A connect member provided on the plate member, as well as the apparatus, are arranged to be brought into and out of engagement with each other. The continuous-form sheet discharged from the apparatus is bent at the perforations and falls beyond the plate to be neatly folded.

Abstract: In a printing position adjusting mechanism employed in an image forming apparatus using a continuous form recording medium having perforated tear lines at predetermined intervals, are sensors are provided for detecting a leading edge of the recording medium and outputting a predetermined signal synchronously with the feeding of the recording medium. With the printing position adjusting mechanism, the period of time, between the detection of the leading edge of the continuous sheet and outputting of the predetermined signal, is adjustable. The apparatus starts printing upon receiving the predetermined signal which is outputted after a predetermined time has elapsed after the leading edge of the continuous sheet is detected.

Abstract: An inside contamination preventing mechanism is provided that is adapted to be positioned in an imaging apparatus utilizing an electrophotographic system for forming an image on a predetermined recording medium and having an air directing mechanism including an air intake portion through which air flows from the outside of the imaging apparatus and a driving member for driving the air to a predetermined portion through a predetermined area within the imaging apparatus, and a toner containing member that is located adjacent to the air intake portion for containing the toner particles remaining in the imaging apparatus after an imaging operation onto the predetermined recording medium. The inside contamination preventing mechanism includes a cover member provided on an inner surface of the imaging apparatus for covering an opening of the toner containing member.

Abstract: A heat roll fixing unit for fusing a toner image on a recording sheet in an image recording device is provided with a heat roller and a backup roller arranged oppositely to the heat roller. The recording sheet bearing a toner image is fed between the backup roller and the heat roller. At least one of the heat roller and the backup roller has a plurality of slits at an end thereof and a gear member having a plurality of protrusions on the inner periphery thereof is provided. The protrusions are fitted in the slits, respectively, and driving means for driving the gear member to rotate the rollers is also provided.

Abstract: A heat roll fixing device for an electrophotographic image recording apparatus is provided with a cleaning felt extending in the axial direction of the heat roller and arranged to contact the circumferential surface of a heat roller for removing toner thereon with oil being oozed from the cleaning felt and applied to the circumferential surface of the heat roller. In order to evenly spread or absorb the oil, it is particularly applied onto the circumferential surface of the heat roller while it is located at its retracted position when printing operation is started, with the heat roller being controlled to rotate for a predetermined period of time before being shifted to its operable position. Then the rotation is stopped and the heat roller is shifted to the operable position. The rotation of the heat roller is restarted after another predetermined period of time has passed since the required operation of the image recording apparatus.

Abstract: A printing apparatus employing an electrophotographic system using a continuous recording medium, where an unfixed toner image is transferred onto the recording medium by a transfer unit. A fixing unit for fixing the unfixed toner image onto the recording medium is movably disposed and can be secured at a plurality of positions.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for supplying a record medium to an electrophotograph printer. The printer includes a photosensitive means on which are formed electrostatic latent images concerning with images to be printed on the basis of images data. The latent images are then converted by applying toner to the latent images to sensible images which are then transferred to the record medium at a transfer position where the sensible images are in opposition to a printable zone of the record medium to form printed images. A time from starting motion of the photosensitive means to a moment when the sensible images have arrived at the transfer position is predetermined and the record medium is supplied into the printer so that a leading end of the printable zone of the record medium arrives at the transfer position when the sensible images have arrived at the transfer position.

Abstract: A storage vessel detecting mechanism is used for detecting an error condition of a storage vessel, which is detachably fitted in a main apparatus. The vessel is movably fitted in the main apparatus, and one end of a movable member, which is pivoted, is engaged with the vessel. The other end of the movable member is located between first and second positions when the vessel is not installed and when the vessel is accommodating a predetermined amount of substances therein. It is determined whether the other end of the movable member is located in a predetermined range. An error condition of the vessel is detected when the other end of the movable member is located at a position other than in the predetermined range.

Abstract: An appartaus utilizing a continuous-form sheet having a plurality of perforations at predetermined intervals of length is provided with a plate member for upwardly guiding the sheet discharged from the apparatus. A connect member provided on the plate member, as well as the apparatus, are arranged to be brought into and out of engagement with each other. The continuous-form sheet discharged from the apparatus is bent at the perforations and falls beyond the plate to be neatly folded.

Abstract: In a printing device such as a laser beam printer utilizing a continuous-form recording sheet, two controlling members are provided for controlling the recording sheet to be discharged from the printing device after a printing operation, and for controlling the recording sheet so as to be located at a position from which a printing operation is restarted. Thus, recording sheet is not wasted when the output begins.

Abstract: A self-diagnosis device provided in a printer that detects more than one error among a plurality of functional mechanisms provided in the printer, with one process. Test devices are provided for testing the functional mechanisms, and a control unit operates the test devices to detect an error, even if errors have been detected in other functional mechanisms.

Abstract: A printer for electrophotographically forming an image on a continuous-form recording paper. The printer has a transfer unit and a pair of heat fixing rollers which are brought into a withdrawn state, in a print stand-by state. Thus, the recording paper is out of contact with a photoconductive drum and a heat roll when the transfer unit and heat fixing rollers are in their withdrawn state. A pair of dust removing brushs are also brought into a withdrawn state in the print stand-by state so as to be out of contact with the recording paper.

Abstract: A device for controlling a process of stopping a laser printer having a printing unit including a sensitive drum and a fixing unit. The stopping process control device is provided with a detecting unit for detecting errors occurring in the laser printer, a determining unit for determining whether or not an error detected by the detecting unit is very serious, and a control unit for controlling the printing unit and the fixing unit. The control unit stops the printing unit and the fixing unit after completing a printing and a fixing of the page being printed when the determining unit determines that the error is less serious, and conversely, immediately stops the printing unit and the fixing unit when the determining unit determines that the error is very serious.

Abstract: A justification system is provided for use in an electrophotographic printer. The justification system comprises a detector which detects the passage of individual segments of a continuous form which are being fed at a predetermined rate. A counter counts the number of main scannings of a laser beam carrying printing information over the surface of a photoconductive drum. A read control is connected to the detector and the counter and controls reading of main information stored by monitoring outputs from the detector and the counter so that printing of each segment always occurs at a predetermined position, synchronously with passage of the segments.

Abstract: A form feeding control device includes a sensor provided at an inlet mouth of a printer to sense whether or not a continuous form exists in the inlet mouth. A control unit feeds the continuous for transfer thereto of a printed image corresponding to one page of the continuous form. The printed image is then fixed on the continuous form. The control unit also feeds the continuous form to fix the printed image on one page when the sensor senses that the end of the continuous form has passed through the inlet mouth and that a printed image has been transferred to the continuous form.