Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which the consumption article can be attached to and detached from a main body has a controller, which reads first new/old information that is stored in a repetitively rewritable area of a memory provided on the consumption article and represents whether or not the consumption article is unused after manufacturing or after recycling and second new/old information that is stored in a once rewritable area of the memory and represents the number of times of recycling of the consumption article and controls the operation of the image forming apparatus on the basis of the first new/old information and the second new/old information.

Abstract: A process cartridge having a nonvolatile memory for storing prescribed information corresponding to addresses is detachably attached to a main body of an image forming device. The nonvolatile memory stores first destination information of “shipment destination” data to be used to control the printing operation by a control system of the main body of the image forming device and second destination information of “lot No.” data not to be used to control the printing operation by the control system. The nonvolatile memory allows the image forming device to perform an appropriate printing operation without changing a program of the main body of the image forming device even when a new destination is arisen for a reason of production management, marketing etc. after beginning to put the image forming device on the market.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus performs image stabilization after a printed page count exceeds a first threshold, if either an end of a job or a mode switch from monochrome mode to color mode has been detected. Even if neither the end of the job nor the mode switch from monochrome mode to color mode has been detected, the image forming apparatus performs image stabilization if the printed page count exceeds a second threshold that is larger than the first threshold.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which the consumption article can be attached to and detached from a main body has a controller, which reads first new/old information that is stored in a repetitively rewritable area of a memory provided on the consumption article and represents whether or not the consumption article is unused after manufacturing or after recycling and second new/old information that is stored in a once rewritable area of the memory and represents the number of times of recycling of the consumption article and controls the operation of the image forming apparatus on the basis of the first new/old information and the second new/old information.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus avoids abnormal control on loads including an optional device and enables only program transfer when transfer of a control program from an external device is not normally proceeding. Through a communication interface, the control program is transferred from the external device to a flash memory via an external controller, while a transfer state thereof is stored in EEPROM. In response to the state of the EEPROM, CPU controls power supply to the external controller and the optional device to avoid abnormal operation of the optional device during transfer of control programs.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, in which a consumption article can be attached to and detached from a main body, has a device that makes an access to a memory provided on the consumption article, a device that determines whether or not an access failure has occurred during the access to the memory, and a device that switches over between warning levels according to the address of the memory where the access failure has occurred or an attribute concerning write and read where the access failure has occurred.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which the consumption article can be attached to and detached from a main body has a controller, which reads first new/old information that is stored in a repetitively rewritable area of a memory provided on the consumption article and represents whether or not the consumption article is unused after manufacturing or after recycling and second new/old information that is stored in a once rewritable area of the memory and represents the number of times of recycling of the consumption article and controls the operation of the image forming apparatus on the basis of the first new/old information and the second new/old information.

Abstract: An image forming system having an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus having a sorting function, a stapling function, etc. The post-processing apparatus is movable between a first position to receive long papers and a second position to receive non-long papers. When the post-processing apparatus is set in the second position, a paper inlet port of the post-processing apparatus faces a paper ejection port of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A process cartridge removably insertable in a body of an image-forming apparatus. The process cartridge has at least one constituent element executing an image formation process, and a non-volatile memory. In the non-volatile memory, data having an identical content are stored at a plurality of mutually spaced locations, the number of which depends on a kind of the data. With respect the locations for the data of an identical content, an address shift amount from one location to another is set according to the kind of the data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transferring device equipped with an endless rotating member for transferring a recording sheet while holding the recording sheet on a surface of the rotating member by rotating the rotating member. This transferring device has a first position, a second position and a third position in this order along a rotation path of the rotating member.

Abstract: A process cartridge having a nonvolatile memory for storing prescribed information corresponding to addresses is detachably attached to a main body of an image forming device. The nonvolatile memory stores first destination information of “shipment destination” data to be used to control the printing operation by a control system of the main body of the image forming device and second destination information of “lot No.” data not to be used to control the printing operation by the control system. The nonvolatile memory allows the image forming device to perform an appropriate printing operation without changing a program of the main body of the image forming device even when a new destination is arisen for a reason of production management, marketing etc. after beginning to put the image forming device on the market.

Abstract: A process cartridge removably insertable in a body of an image-forming apparatus. The process cartridge has at least one constituent element executing an image formation process, and a non-volatile memory. In the non-volatile memory, data having an identical content are stored at a plurality of mutually spaced locations, the number of which depends on a kind of the data. With respect the locations for the data of an identical content, an address shift amount from one location to another is set according to the kind of the data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus avoids abnormal control on loads including an optional device and enables only program transfer when transfer of a control program from an external device is not normally proceeding. Through a communication interface, the control program is transferred from the external device to a flash memory via an external controller, while a transfer state thereof is stored in EEPROM. In response to the state of the EEPROM, CPU controls power supply to the external controller and the optional device to avoid abnormal operation of the optional device during transfer of control programs.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an endless transporting member having an portion which is not suitable for forming an image, a feeder for feeding the recording sheet to the transporting member, and a judge member which judges whether or not the recording sheet has an overlap-permissible region which allows to overlap the portion. The recording sheet is fed to the transporting member based on a judged result of the judge member so that the portion is located in the overlap-permissible region, or so that the portion is not located in the overlap-permissible region.

Abstract: A copying machine inputs a designated area to which image processing is applied as well as details of the image processing. The copying machine recognizes a character included in the designated area. A character which is the same as the recognized character is retrieved from image data and the retrieved one is subjected to the image processing. Accordingly, by designating a character at one location, the image processing is applied to all of the other characters.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording sheet transporting member which transports a recording sheet while holding the recording sheet thereon, the recording sheet transporting member being endless, a recording sheet re-feeding member which inverts the recording sheet and re-feeds the inverted recording sheet to the recording sheet transporting member to thereby allow transferring images on both sides of the recording sheet, and a recording sheet supplying member which supplies the recording sheet from a recording sheet storing portion toward the recording sheet transporting member. The apparatus further includes a controller which controls the recording sheet supplying member so that a supplying of the recording sheet from the recording sheet storing portion is interrupted and then re-tried in a predetermined case.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording sheet feeding member which feeds a recording sheet on a feed tray to a transporting path, an endless recording sheet transporting member having an inappropriate portion which is not suitable for use in forming an image, a transporting member which transports the recording sheet fed from the recording sheet feeding member to the recording sheet transporting member, and an inappropriate portion detector which detects an inappropriate portion on the recording sheet transporting member. A controller controls the transporting member such that the recording sheet is fed so as to avoid the inappropriate portion based on a result detected by the inappropriate portion detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording sheet transporting member which has an inappropriate portion not suitable for forming an image and which transports a recording sheet while holding the recording sheet thereon, the recording sheet transporting member being endless, and a recording sheet feeding member which feeds the recording sheet to the recording sheet transporting member. The image forming apparatus further includes a controller.

Abstract: An electrophotographic copying machine having a control unit is provided.

Abstract: A motor control device for controlling a plurality of stepping motors, e.g., to move optical scanning units in an electrophotographic copying apparatus has a pulse generator, a pulse counter for counting the number of pulses generated by the pulse generator, a driver for driving the plurality of stepping motors in accordance with pulses generated by the pulse generator, a selector for selecting connections between the driver and each stepping motor, a comparison device for comparing the excitation phase of the driver and the excitation phase of each respective stepping motor, and a controller for matching the excitation phase of the driver and the excitation phase of each stepping motor based on the results of the comparison by the comparison device.