Abstract: An apparatus for image formation comprises a fixing unit, first to fourth switching units, a DC power supply unit, an accumulating unit, a charging unit, and a switching control unit. The first switching unit switches the state of connection between the fixing unit and a commercial power source. The DC power supply unit supplies another electric load of the apparatus than the fixing unit with DC power. The second switching unit switches the state of connection between the DC power supply unit and the commercial power source. The third switching unit switches the state of connection between the charging unit and the commercial power source. The fourth switching unit switches the state of connection between the accumulating unit and the electric load. Based on the state of conduction of the first switching unit, the switching control unit switches the states of conduction of the other three switching units.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is an image forming apparatus that prints an image on a recording paper, and is provided with an ion generating means that is attached at an outer side of the image forming apparatus main unit, and generates and emits ions, and an emission direction varying means that varies an emission direction of ions from the ion generating means in response to whether the image forming apparatus is operating or in standby.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is an image forming apparatus that prints an image on a recording paper, and is provided with an ion generating means that is attached at an outer side of the image forming apparatus main unit, and generates and emits ions, and an emission direction varying means that varies an emission direction of ions from the ion generating means in response to whether the image forming apparatus is operating or in standby.

Abstract: An expansion image processing board 6 (expansion information processing module) of the present invention, which is installable in a network printer 2 having an image processing board 5 (information processing module), includes: a second printer function control section 28 (expansion information processing section) which controls the network printer 2; and a router 31 (data relaying section) which relays data to the second printer function control section 28 or the image processing board 5. Therefore, the expansion image processing board 6 is capable of simply and efficiently extending a functionality of the network printer 2.

Abstract: An apparatus for image formation comprises a fixing unit, first to fourth switching units, a DC power supply unit, an accumulating unit, a charging unit, and a switching control unit. The first switching unit switches the state of connection between the fixing unit and a commercial power source. The DC power supply unit supplies another electric load of the apparatus than the fixing unit with DC power. The second switching unit switches the state of connection between the DC power supply unit and the commercial power source. The third switching unit switches the state of connection between the charging unit and the commercial power source. The fourth switching unit switches the state of connection between the accumulating unit and the electric load. Based on the state of conduction of the first switching unit, the switching control unit switches the states of conduction of the other three switching units.

Abstract: An expansion image processing board 6 (expansion information processing module) of the present invention, which is installable in a network printer 2 having an image processing board 5 (information processing module), includes: a second printer function control section 28 (expansion information processing section) which controls the network printer 2; and a router 31 (data relaying section) which relays data to the second printer function control section 28 or the image processing board 5. Therefore, the expansion image processing board 6 is capable of simply and efficiently extending a functionality of the network printer 2.

Abstract: A relay apparatus (relay unit) is provided between a PC, from which image data is transmitted, and an image recording apparatus (image recording unit). The relay apparatus executes a process for correcting a color on the image data transmitted from the PC to the image recording apparatus. In addition, a storage unit of the relay apparatus stores unique information of the image recording apparatus, such as a production number. The relay apparatus executes processes for correcting the image data and for adding the unique information to the image data transmitted from the PC, and then transmits the processed image data to the image recording apparatus. Thus, realized is an image recording system and the relay apparatus, in which it is not necessary to provide a circuit which executes a process for embedding unique information in the image data in the image recording apparatus, so that deterioration in quality of the image caused by the unique information can be prevented as much as possible.

Abstract: A power supply device 3 including: a current source 31 for supplying current to a load circuit 4 which operates on the supplied current, and a power switch unit 32 between the current source 31 and the load circuit 4 to control passage of current, wherein: the power switch unit 32 includes a switching element 323 connected in parallel with the open-close element 321, a power supply controller 33 including an open-close element controller 31 which controls operation of the open-close element 321 and a switching element controller 332 which controls operation of the switching element 323, and a voltage detector 34 which detects terminal voltage of the load circuit 4; and the power switch unit 32 turns on the switching element before supplying current to the load circuit and closes the open-close element when the terminal voltage of the load circuit becomes almost equal to supply voltage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a communications interface operative to receive a first image information item transmitted from terminal equipment connected thereto via a network; a storage section operative to store the first image information item therein; and an image reading section operative to obtain a second image information item by scanning an image of a document. The image forming apparatus further includes: a control section operative to compare the second image information item to the first image information item and then select the first image information item to be served for image forming if the second image information item is judged to be same as the first image information item, or the second image information item to be served for image forming if the second image information item is judged to be different from the first image information item.

Abstract: A power supply device 3 including: a current source 31 for supplying current to a load circuit 4 which operates on the supplied current, and a power switch unit 32 between the current source 31 and the load circuit 4 to control passage of current, wherein: the power switch unit 32 includes a switching element 323 connected in parallel with the open-close element 321, a power supply controller 33 including an open-close element controller 31 which controls operation of the open-close element 321 and a switching element controller 332 which controls operation of the switching element 323, and a voltage detector 34 which detects terminal voltage of the load circuit 4; and the power switch unit 32 turns on the switching element before supplying current to the load circuit and closes the open-close element when the terminal voltage of the load circuit becomes almost equal to supply voltage.

Abstract: The control circuit includes: a series circuit of a first triac and a reactor; and a second triac in parallel with this series circuit so as to perform control of activation of a fixing heater. Since the fixing heater has a low resistance when the power switch is first turned on, the first triac is operated to perform phase angle control of current flow, and when the phase angle has become approximately equal to 180.degree., the first triac is stopped, at the same time the second triac starts to be operated. The switching from the first triac to the second triac is made quickly so that it is possible to reduce the power consumption from the reactor.

Abstract: A document feeder includes: a document detecting device arranged on the top of the copier body, for detecting a document inserted from the outside; a feed roller arranged adjacent to the document detecting device, on the top of the copier body, for feeding an inserted document into a space between the original table and the original cover, in response to the detection of a document by the document detecting device; and an original cover lifting device arranged on the top of the copier body, for lifting the original cover to create a gap between the original table and the original cover, in response to the detection of a document by the document detecting device. Alternatively, the feed roller further has a rotary cam on its shaft, so that the cam rotates to lift the original cover up as the feed roller rotates in the document feeding direction.

Abstract: A feed roller for feeding a document is disposed between a control panel and an original table on the top of a copier body. A document stocker provided rotatably relative to an original cover on the original table is rotated so as to cover the control panel, whereby the original cover is raised from the original table to create some clearance. In this situation, a document is inserted through the document stocker from a document inserting port. The document thus inserted is detected by the operation of a detecting lever, which activates the feed roller to convey the inserted document to the original table. As the rear part of the document thus conveyed is detected by the operation of the detecting lever, the feed roller is deactivated. In this condition, copying operation is carried out so that an image of the document conveyed onto the original table is formed.

Abstract: A copying machine communication system is arranged so as to form a network by connecting a plurality of copying machines including ROMs which respectively store programs of various versions and a host computer in a service station through a public telephone line. This enables a serviceman in the service station to confirm the program version of the copying machine installed in a user's place, thereby permitting the serviceman to offer a prompt and efficient service.

Abstract: A copying machine having a zooming function, the copying machine including a first driving motor for scanning an optical reading system, a first control circuit for controlling the first driving motor, a second driving motor for driving an image forming section including a photosensitive body and for feeding copy paper, a second control circuit for controlling the second driving motor, a side eraser control circuit for controlling the side eraser and switches on a light of a corresponding LED in response to the magnification, and control means for outputting a speed control signal in response to the selected magnification to the first control circuit so as to control the scanning speed of the optical reading system, and outputting a control signal in response to the selected magnification to the side eraser circuit, and outputting a driving signal generated from the control signal to the second control circuit so as to control the second driving motor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising rotatable cassettes rotated by cassette rotating means between a longitudinal feeding station from which paper is fed in a longitudinal direction thereof and a lateral feeding station from which paper is fed in a lateral direction thereof, wherein memory means stores a cassette rotation signal, when the cassette rotation signal is entered therein and cassette rotating means is controlled in accordance with the cassette rotation signal stored in the memory means when a cassette rotation permission signal for permitting the rotation of the rotatable cassette is generated, so that the rotatable cassette is set in a predetermined feeding station.The invention also provides an image forming apparatus capable of storing the feeding station of the rotatable cassette in the memory means and rotating the rotatable cassette to the feeding station stored in the memory means when the rotatable cassette is out of both longitudinal feeding station and lateral feeding station.

Abstract: A position detector outputs an electrical signal of a level corresponding to a pressed position. The detector has at least three reference points, each reference region begin set therebetween. When the position detector is pressed, the region to which the pressed position belongs is discriminated, and the pressed position is operated relative to the two reference points defining the region, on the basis of the previously stored outputs from the reference points and the output from the pressed position. The position detector has a strip of upper and lower electrode both with wiring members and a grounded conductor provided under the lower electrode. The upper and lower electrodes and the wiring members for the electrodes are disposed so that they are positioned inwardly of the periphery of the conductor at least by the distance equal to that from the upper surface of the upper electrode to the upper surface of the conductor.

Abstract: A gain of a variable gain amplifier circuit is controlled by applying a signal of a predetermined voltage level to the variable gain amplifier circuit during an idle period of an ultrasonic receiving signal, deriving an output from the variable gain amplifier circuit, comparing it with a voltage level obtained as an aimed value by a gain regulator or other control circuit of an ultrasonic signal amplifier circuit including the variable gain amplifier circuit and producing a gain control signal according to a difference resulting from the comparison to control the gain to the aimed value until the difference becomes zero. The gain of the variable gain amplifier circuit set in the idle period is maintained during a measurement period of a subsequent receiving signal so that the latter is amplified with the maintained gain. Thus, a stepwise and selective gain setting corresponding to the aimed value can be obtained by controlling the gain of the variable gain amplifier according to the aimed value.