Abstract: In a reset mechanism for resetting a counter counting the number of rotations of a photoconductive drum which is employed in a laser beam printer and the like, rocking member is provided to be rocked only when the photoconductive drum is primarily rotated and means for resetting the counter in response to the rocking movement of the rocking member. Thus, the counter is accurately reset in case that a new photoconductive drum is installed in the printer and the photoconductive drum is primarily rotated.

Abstract: A device for feeding a continuous form in a printer, the device having a timer for controlling the width of a drive pulse for a main motor feeding the form. The timer is formed of a plurality of timers controlled by software. These plurality of timers being, for example, three timers measuring a constant time, and one timer measuring a variable time which is varied in accordance with a feeding speed of the form. The width of the drive pulse is determined by summing up a time obtained by multiplying the constant time by three and adding the variable time.

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.

Abstract: A justification system for use in a printer employing a continuous recording form. The justification system comprises a timing pulse signal generating system which generates timing pulses in synchronism with the traveling of sprocket holes of the continuous recording form. The timing pulses signals for commencing the printing on each printing segment defined on the continuous recording form and the timing for stopping the advancement of the continuous recording form are controlled based upon the above timing pulse signals. With this control, printing can be executed with a correct positional relationship with rules on each printing segment, even if the continuous recording form is set in the printer with a slight misalignment in the direction of the travel path of the continuous recording form or if the form itself has expanded or contracted in its longitudinal direction due to the effect of humidity.

Abstract: In a printer for printing information onto a continuous form, at least one of opposite side edges of the continuous form is detected by a side-edge detecting arrangement. It is judged that a traveling abnormality of the continuous form occurs, when a detecting signal representative of the at least one side edge of the continuous form detected by the side-edge detecting arrangement continues for a preset period of time and more. If the continuous form is provided therein with sprocket holes, the side-edge detecting arrangement may include a pair of side-edge detectors each for detecting the sprocket holes in a corresponding one of opposite side edge portions of the continuous form. In this case, it is judged that the traveling abnormality of the continuous form occurs, when the detecting signal representative of the sprocket holes in each side edge portion of the continuous form is not continuously outputted within a preset period of time and more.

Abstract: A justification system for use in an electrophotographic printer. The justification system comprises a detector which detects pulses occuring at intervals each covering a segment of a continuous form. A counter coupled to the detector counts the number of main scannings over the surface of a photoconductive drum during the time to feed each segment, as confirmed in the detector. The counted value is compared with a reference value by a differential arithmetic unit, the output of which is fed to a speed control to control the feed speed of the continuous form. This compensates for the fluctuations in printing positions of each segment due to systematic errors such, as expansion of the continuous form.

Abstract: In an image fixing apparatus, a fixing roll unit is arranged in a predetermined path along which a continuous form travels, for applying pressure and/or heat to an image on the continuous form to fix the image thereonto. An endless belt member is arranged upstream of the fixing roll unit with reference to a transport direction in which the continuous form travels along the predetermined path. The endless belt member has provided thereon a plurality of projections arranged in spaced relation to each other along an outer periphery of the endless belt member. The projections are engageable with sprocket holes formed in the continuous form along opposite side edges thereof. The endless belt member is capable of running in the transport direction while applying a predetermined back-tension to the continuous form traveling toward the fixing roll unit along the predetermined path.

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 laser beam scanning device which includes a mounting arrangement for securely holding at fixed locations along an optical path of a laser beam, a device for generating laser beams, a collimator, a device for deflecting the laser beams and for scanning a predetermined region with the reflected laser beams, and a device for regulating the scanning speed of the laser beams so that the scanning speed will be substantially uniform in the above predetermined region, as an integrally connected unit.

Abstract: A three-group lens barrel for zooming in a photo-copier in which the barrel is movable and fixes a middle lens group. The front and rear lens group are slidable in the barrel. The front and rear lens groups are connected to ends of two link levers. The link levers are swung together or apart by a common pin connection to a swing lever which has at one end a cam follower following a cam groove in the photo-copier. The common pin may be eccentric to finely adjust the lens separation.

Abstract: A lens frame holding device for mounting the optical unit of a copying machine in which the position of the lens frame in the direction of the optical axis is regulated so that, if a lens frame is removed from the housing for maintenance or the like, it can be easily and accurately reassembled without the need for adjustment. A housing has bottom and vertical walls at opposite ends of the bottom wall, and supporting cuts are formed in the vertical walls for supporting the lens frame. Two hooking slots are formed in each vertical wall, and elastic lens holding members are provided for securing the lens frame to the housing. The lens holding members each having two hooking portions adapted to engage with the hooking slots. With the lens holding members laid over the lens frame set in the supporting cuts, the lens frame is fixedly secured to the housing using the hooking portions and hooking slots.

Abstract: A magnification varying device for a copying machine in which a variable magnification zoom lens is arranged between an original surface and a photosensitive surface and the copying magnification is varied by moving the movable lens groups, both with respect to the original and photosensitive surfaces and also with respect to one another. One of the movable lens groups is fixed to a slide plate which is movably supported to be slidable in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the zoom lens. The other lens group is slidable on the slide plate relative to the first lens group. A cam plate having a cam surface is arranged along the line of movement of the slide plate. A cam lever is pivotally mounted on the slide plate and has one arm acting as a cam follower engaged with the cam surface and the other end engaged with a pin coupling it to the second lens group.

Abstract: A zoom lens barrel for a variable magnification type copying machine in which the lenses are readily mounted and adjusted and the optimum angular positions thereof employed. Two movable lenses are fixedly held by respective movable lens frames, the latter being inserted into an axial hole formed in a single movable lens barrel which is moved in the axial direction as the magnification setting of these zoom lenses vary. At least one of the movable lens frames is fixedly secured to the movable lens barrel, while the other movable lens frame is supported in the movable lens barrel in such as a manner as to move in the axial direction as the magnification changes. The one movable lens frame includes a first mechanism for adjusting the angular position of the one movable lens frame with respect to the movable lens barrel without moving the movable lens frame in the axial direction, and a second mechanism for adjusting the position of the one movable lens frame in the axial direction thereof.

Abstract: A continuous, variable magnification-type copying machine which is capable of enlarging and contracting an image includes a full-speed mirror, a half-speed mirror system and a single lens. A scanning starting position of the full-speed mirror, the half-speed mirror system, and the lens is controlled by a stepping motor to achieve desired enlarging and contracting magnifications of the image, as well as a life-size magnification of the image.

Abstract: The scanning speed and distance of a full-speed mirror are continuously variable in accordance with the copying sheet size, magnification factor and original size.

Abstract: A varying magnification copying device of small size and low manufacturing cost in which a region of movement of a zoom lens system for an enlargement copying operation is shared with a region of movement of a half-speed mirror for the equal magnification and reduction copying operations. The zoom lens system is moved along the optical axis thereof by a feed screw rotated by a digitally-controlled stepping motor. The zoom lens system, which includes front and rear frames varying front and rear lens systems, is adjsuted in magnification factor by a cam and cam follower mounted on the rear and front frames, respectively. The cam is rotated by a pinion gear which is engaged with a rack which extends parallel to the feed screw. Movement of the zoom lens system perpendicular to the optical axis is accomplished through a lead cam and cam follower.

Abstract: A copying machine including a zoom lens is provided with a device for detecting the position of the zoom lens, so that the lens may be correctly positioned at a location corresponding to life or actual size copying. The detector includes a photo-interrupter or the like and a small computer which operates to return the lens to the correct position from any position, but such that the final approach to the correct position is always made from the same direction.