Abstract: A two-dimensional code reader for precisely and fast reading a two-dimensional code image containing luminance unevenness caused by variations in illumination, etc. To binarize cells, first the gray levels of the pixels at the center points of the cells are extracted, a local threshold value is found only from the extracted gray levels, and the gray levels are compared with the local threshold value, thereby binarizing the cells.

Abstract: The improved color image recording apparatus comprises a raster image processor to create scan image data; a color management system to correct the color/density of the scan image data; an exposing device with which a photosensitive material is scan exposed by multi-channel exposure to record a latent image in accordance with the corrected scan image data; a developing device with which the photosensitive material having the latent image formed thereon is subjected to a development process so as to create a hard copy having the image reproduced thereon; an instrument to measure the color/density of the image in the hard copy; and a system for revising the conditions of exposure in the exposing device and/or the conditions of correction in the color management system in accordance with the result of measurement with the instrument.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a developer container, a development device for developing a latent image formed on a surface of a photoreceptor drum by supplying toner to the latent image, and an agitation roller for supplying toner to the development device and agitating the toner in the developer container. The development device and the agitation roller are installed in the developer container. Moreover, the image forming apparatus includes a flying toner detecting device for detecting an amount of toner flying from the development device, and a control unit for controlling various developer operations such as the toner related agitating operation of the agitation roller, toner supply amount, etc. in response to a result of a detection performed by the flying toner detecting device. This structure prevents the toner from flying from the development device.

Abstract: A compact, lightweight, low cost bar code reader comprising a light reflector which reflects and emits to a bar code label light emitted from light sources and passed through a cylindrical lens. The light sources are located inside a boundary line of a mirror reflection area and the light reflector is located outside the boundary line of the mirror reflection area so that mirror reflection does not occur with the bar code reader.

Abstract: An image-quality stabilizer in a copying machine feedback-controls a charger output according to an amount of toner on a photoreceptor drum detected by a patch sensor during a rotation of the photoreceptor drum after a copying operation. The image-quality stabilizer counts time that the copying machine is unused, i.e., time that the photoreceptor drum is stopped being rotated using a timer, and one-way controls the charger output according to the time immediately before the next copying operation. With these controlling operations, it is possible to correct a change in the copy density which is caused when the copying machine is used or left unused without increasing the consumption of toner and impairing the responsiveness of the copying machine, thereby achieving stable image quality.

Abstract: A bar-code reader which reads a bar code label through the scanning operation comprises a waveform processing circuit, a memory unit for storing data in a serial manner in synchronism with the scanning across the bar code symbol, an extraction unit for extracting a bar code symbol from the output of the memory unit, and a decoding unit for decoding the bar code symbol based on the output of the extraction unit.

Abstract: A bar-code reader includes a selection circuit which selects one of two operating modes of reading a bar code label by using the whole section or partial section of an image sensor.

Abstract: A photoreceptor having a marking area whose optical reflection property differs from that of a non-marking area is formed in a portion of a surface of an electrically conductive substrate. The average line of a vertical section of the non-marking area cut across the border line with the marking area is M.sub.0 and the average line of a vertical section of the marking area cut across the border line is N.sub.0 and that straight lines touching the average lines M.sub.0 and N.sub.0 at the intersection of M.sub.0 and N.sub.0 are tangent lines M.sub.1 and N.sub.1, respectively, the acute angle .theta. between M.sub.1 and N.sub.1 is within the range of 0.degree..ltoreq..theta..ltoreq.30.degree.. Setting the angle .theta. within this range enables a photoconductive layer of a uniform characteristic to be laminated on the electrically conductive substrate even when the marking area is formed on the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: An image-quality stabilizer for an electrophotographic apparatus forms a toner patch on a photoreceptor drum, detects the amount of toner attracted to the photoreceptor drum by an optical sensor, and controls each processing device so that the detected value is equal to a reference value which has been detected and stored when the number of image forming operations performed is low. After the control, the toner patch is transferred to a transfer sheet, and the amount of toner remaining on the photoreceptor drum is detected. The reference value is adjusted based on the detected value so as to compensate for a lowering of transfer efficiency. Or the lowering of transfer efficiency is compensated by controlling variables such as transfer output so that the detected value is equal to a reference residual value which has been detected and stored when the number of image forming operations performed is low. This arrangement restrains a lowering of image density due to a change in the transfer efficiency.