Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image alignment adjusting apparatus includes: an endless traveling belt; a pattern sensor configured to detect an adjustment pattern including plural colors imaged on the traveling belt; and a correcting unit configured to use, in initial adjustment, for image alignment adjustment, an initial adjustment value obtained by detecting a plurality of sets of the adjustment pattern imaged over the entire circumference of the traveling belt and use, in intermediate adjustment, for the image alignment adjustment an intermediate adjustment value obtained by correcting the initial adjustment value using an intermediate detection value obtained by detecting one set of the adjustment pattern imaged on the traveling belt.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image alignment adjusting apparatus includes: an endless traveling belt; a pattern sensor configured to detect an adjustment pattern including plural colors imaged on the traveling belt; and a correcting unit configured to use, in initial adjustment, for image alignment adjustment, an initial adjustment value obtained by detecting a plurality of sets of the adjustment patterns imaged over the entire circumference of the traveling belt and use, in intermediate adjustment, for the image alignment adjustment an intermediate adjustment value obtained by correcting the initial adjustment value using an intermediate detection value obtained by detecting one set of the adjustment pattern imaged on the traveling belt.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fixing member configured to cause a recording medium to pass therethrough and subject the recording medium to fixing processing; a heating member configured to heat the fixing member; and a control member configured to control the heating member at two fixing set temperatures during a printing mode for the recording medium fed last.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique that can prevent an increase in power consumption due to intermittent execution of print jobs with low execution priorities and contribute to a reduction in CO2 emission. The technique is to discriminate content of a received print job, cause a storage medium to temporarily store, in a predetermined storage area, a print job discriminated as having first content with a low execution priority and cause an image forming apparatus to execute, together with the print job having the first content stored in the predetermined storage area, a print job discriminated by the job discriminating unit as having second content that should be more preferentially executed than the first content.

Abstract: A photo sensor of the invention includes a photo coupler having a light emitting element and a light receiving element arranged and disposed to be spaced from each other by a specified interval, and a prism capable of being coupled to the photo coupler, having an optical path to guide a light from the light emitting element to the light receiving element, and provided with a slit in the optical path, through which an object to be detected can pass, plural prisms different in width of the slit are provided, and the plural prisms and the photo couplers are combined to enable detection of objects to be detected which are different in detection distance. The photo sensor can be used for an image forming apparatus or the like.

Abstract: A photo sensor of the invention includes a photo coupler having a light emitting element and a light receiving element arranged and disposed to be spaced from each other by a specified interval, and a prism capable of being coupled to the photo coupler, having an optical path to guide a light from the light emitting element to the light receiving element, and provided with a slit in the optical path, through which an object to be detected can pass, plural prisms different in width of the slit are provided, and the plural prisms and the photo couplers are combined to enable detection of objects to be detected which are different in detection distance. The photo sensor can be used for an image forming apparatus or the like.

Abstract: The CPU of the image forming apparatus sets up an ADF reading magnification in the ADF driving unit including the motor and the motor driver referring to the first magnification conversion table in the memory of the system unit when reading a document image while a document is being moved. Further, the reading magnification that is also in the ADF driving unit is also set in the specific document detection unit. The specific document detection unit makes the pattern matching as to whether the read image data is that of a specific document using the magnification dictionary (specific image data) that is set and outputs a detection signal as the result of the matching to the CPU. As that time, the CPU controls the output of the applicable read image data by a printer according to the detection signal.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, a shield plate 202 which is made of a specific material and has a specific thickness is provided between an exciting coil and at least one of a first and a second magnetic field intensity measuring point P1, P2, which prevents a magnetic field of a specific magnetic field intensity or higher from leaking to the outside of the image forming apparatus or alleviates the effect of the magnetic field on the circuits in the apparatus or optionally installed devices.

Abstract: One of the amount of induction heating by a coil and that of induction heating by coils is increased/decreased relative to the other, and the ratio of the amount of the induction heating by the coil to that of the induction heating by the coils, at which the amount of the induction heating by the coil increases and that of the induction heating by coils decreases, is set at, e.g., “9:1”, and the ratio of the amount of the induction heating by the coils to that of the induction heating by the coil, at which the amount of the induction heating by the coils increases and that of the induction heating by coil decreases, is set at, e.g., “7:3”.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus comprising a heating roller, a coil provided in the heating roller and configured to generate a high-frequency magnetic field, and capacitors and that constitute a resonant circuit, jointly with the coil. The resonant circuit is excited, sequentially (or alternately) at a plurality of frequencies which are nearly equal to the resonance frequency of the resonant circuit.

Abstract: If a temperature of a heat roller 12 rises abnormally, a thermostat 54 operates. When the thermostat 54 operates, a conduction path to an excitation coil 91 of a relay 90 is cut off so that a normally open contact 92 of the relay 90 can be operated. When the normally open contact 92 operates, the supply path of a drive signal supplied from a frequency variable oscillator 81 to a transistor 63 is cut off. By the cut-off, a high-frequency current does not flow through coils 14a to 14c; therefore, induction heating with respect to the heat roller 12 is stopped.

Abstract: A distance defined by expression 2 is secured between the exciting coil and the protection cover. This not only prevents a magnetic field with a specific magnetic field intensity or higher from leaking to the outside but also reduces the effect on the circuits in the apparatus or optionally installed circuits (including a printer controller and a FAX controller).

Abstract: A fixing apparatus comprising a heating roller, a coil provided in the heating roller and configured to generate a high-frequency magnetic field, and capacitors and that constitute a resonant circuit, jointly with the coil. The resonant circuit is excited, sequentially (or alternately) at a plurality of frequencies which are nearly equal to the resonance frequency of the resonant circuit.

Abstract: An excitation coil and/or a core member, which has a characteristic frequency other than frequencies used, is employed. Thereby, resonance is prevented between adjacent coils or between a coil and an adjacent component such as a core member.

Abstract: One of the amount of induction heating by a coil and that of induction heating by coils is increased/decreased relative to the other, and the ratio of the amount of the induction heating by the coil to that of the induction heating by the coils, at which the amount of the induction heating by the coil increases and that of the induction heating by coils decreases, is set at, e.g., “9:1.”, and the ratio of the amount of the induction heating by the coils to that of the induction heating by the coil, at which the amount of the induction heating by the coils increases and that of the induction heating by coil decreases, is set at, e.g., “7:3”.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, a shield plate 202 which is made of a specific material and has a specific thickness is provided between an exciting coil and at least one of a first and a second magnetic field intensity measuring point P1, P2, which prevents a magnetic field of a specific magnetic field intensity or higher from leaking to the outside of the image forming apparatus or alleviates the effect of the magnetic field on the circuits in the apparatus or optionally installed devices.

Abstract: A distance defined by expression 2 is secured between the exciting coil and the protection cover. This not only prevents a magnetic field with a specific magnetic field intensity or higher from leaking to the outside but also reduces the effect on the circuits in the apparatus or optionally installed circuits (including a printer controller and a FAX controller).

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, a shield plate 202 which is made of a specific material and has a specific thickness is provided between an exciting coil and at least one of a first and a second magnetic field intensity measuring point P1, P2, which prevents a magnetic field of a specific magnetic field intensity or higher from leaking to the outside of the image forming apparatus or alleviates the effect of the magnetic field on the circuits in the apparatus or optionally installed devices.

Abstract: An excitation coil and/or a core member, which has a characteristic frequency other than frequencies used, is employed. Thereby, resonance is prevented between adjacent coils or between a coil and an adjacent component such as a core member.

Abstract: The CPU of the image forming apparatus sets up an ADF reading magnification in the ADF driving unit including the motor and the motor driver referring to the first magnification conversion table in the memory of the system unit when reading a document image while a document is being moved. Further, the reading magnification that is also in the ADF driving unit is also set in the specific document detection unit. The specific document detection unit makes the pattern matching as to whether the read image data is that of a specific document using the magnification dictionary (specific image data) that is set and outputs a detection signal as the result of the matching to the CPU. As that time, the CPU controls the output of the applicable read image data by a printer according to the detection signal.