Abstract: An image reading device which is capable of reading out image data on an original while conveying the original in a simple construction. A conveying path has a pair of guide members facing each other at a distance and extending in a conveying direction of an original. An original conveying unit conveys the original along the conveyance path. An image reading unit is comprised of a flexible sheet-like substrate on which a plurality of optical sensors are arranged. The sheet-like substrate is inclined with respect to the conveying direction of the original, and fixed to one of the pair of guide members at one end thereof and abuts against the other of the pair of guide members at the other end thereof. The image reading unit reads image data on one side of the original when the original is conveyed along the conveying path and passes through between the other end of the sheet-like substrate and the other of the pair of guide members.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus is provided that can prevent image streaks due to dirt, stain or the like from being produced in an image of an original that is read while being conveyed. The image reading apparatus (A) includes an ADF (40) having a scanner unit (59) incorporated therein and comprised of a cylinder (60) having an outer peripheral surface thereof on which a plurality of read pixels (61) are arranged in a matrix. In reading an original (D), the scanner unit is rotatably driven in an original conveying direction at a circumferential speed approximately equal to an original conveying speed, and reads image information on the original passing through an image reading position (P1).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes sheet bundle boundary detecting unit which detects a boundary of sheet bundles added to a sheet storage case, and control unit which controls a feeding condition of sheet feeding unit based on a detection result of the sheet bundle boundary detecting unit. With this, overlapping-feeding and miss-feeding at the boundary between the sheet bundles are reliably prevented.

Abstract: An image reading device which is capable of enhancing productivity in reading bound originals, such as a book, a magazine, or a document. A sheet-scanner device implementing the image reading device includes a sheet scanner as a reader part for reading an image on an original. The sheet scanner comprises a sheet-like substrate formed thereon with a light-emitting layer that can emit light spontaneously, and a light-receiving layer on which a plurality of reading pixels are arranged. The sheet scanner is mounted in the sheet-scanner device such that the sheet scanner can be drawn out onto and in from the original.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a plurality of detachably loadable replacement units. The replacement units each have an individual IC tag that performs data writing or reading through non-contact wireless communication. At least one reader/writer writes/reads data to/from the IC tags of the replacement units through non-contact wireless communications. A shield member defines a shielded area in the image forming apparatus for shielding electromagnetic radiation noise. At least the IC tags and an antenna part of the reader/writer are arranged in shielded area.

Abstract: The present invention provides a design support method adapted to support a design of a conveying path by performing simulation of a behavior of a sheet-shaped flexible medium being conveyed in the conveying path and comprising a conveying condition setting step for setting a conveying condition of a conveying roller for conveying the flexible medium, a roller nip calculation step for preparing a finite element model of a conveying roller pair including the conveying roller and for calculating of deformation of the conveying roller in a nip portion of the conveying roller pair, and a motion calculating step for calculating the behavior of the flexible medium in a time-series manner on the basis of the deformation of the conveying roller calculated in the roller nip calculating step regarding a portion of the flexible medium conveyed by the conveying roller pair having the finite element model prepared in the roller nip calculating step and calculating the behavior of the flexible medium in a time-series manne

Abstract: A duct for an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, the duct includes a discharge opening for discharging air; a fan, mounted to a neighborhood of the discharge opening, for discharging the air; first and second openings for suction of air; a first guiding portion, having first and second openings, for guiding the sucked air; a separation member, provided in the first guiding portion, for separating a flow of the air sucked by the first opening and a flow of the air sucked by the second opening; a second guiding member, disposed overlapped with the first guiding portion, for guiding the air guided by the first guiding portion; a first interconnection opening for feeding the air from the first opening to the second guiding portion; a second interconnection opening for feeding the air from the second opening to the second guiding portion, wherein the first interconnection opening is disposed closer to the discharge opening than the second interconnection opening, and wherein the

Abstract: If the next endpoint is determined to be neither in the first nor the second reference direction passing through the base endpoint, a point obtained by projecting the next endpoint onto the straight line in the first reference direction passing through the base endpoint or the straight line in the second reference direction passing through the base endpoint is set as a correction endpoint. If the next endpoint is determined to be in the first or second reference direction passing through the base endpoint, the next endpoint is set as a new base endpoint. If the next endpoint is determined to be in neither in the first reference direction passing through the base endpoint nor the second reference direction, the correction endpoint is set as a new base endpoint. Each endpoint of the plurality of line elements is subjected to the above process so as to generate a simplified shape.

Abstract: To remove also VOC gas generated from the discharged sheets, an image forming apparatus comprises an image forming unit which forms an image on a sheet; a tray on which sheets on which images are formed by the image forming unit are stacked; a suction device which sucks air from the surrounding space of sheets stacked up on the tray; and a VOC removing unit which removes VOC contained in the air sucked by the sucking device.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device according to an aspect of the invention includes a sheet conveyance path formed by a guide member having a curved surface. The curved surface is curved in a sheet conveyance direction. In the sheet conveyance device, a flexible sheet scanner is provided along the curved surface of the guide member, and the flexible sheet scanner has an optical sensor layer in which photoelectric conversion devices formed by combinations of organic transistors and organic photodiodes are continuously arranged in a matrix shape.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device according to an aspect of the invention includes a guide member and a flexible guide assist member. The guide member constitutes a conveyance path for guiding a conveyed sheet. The guide assist member is provided in the guide member, the guide assist member is brought into contact with the conveyed sheet to apply a force to the sheet, and whereby the guide assist member assists the guidance of the sheet conveyance. The sheet conveyance device is characterized in that a sheet scanner is provided in the guide assist member. In the sheet scanner, photoelectric conversion devices formed by organic semiconductor devices are arranged.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device according to an aspect of the invention includes a conveyance roller pair which is rotated to convey a sheet by receiving a driving force from a motor conveying a sheet; a conveyance guide which guides the sheet conveyed by the conveyance roller pair; and sheet detection unit for detecting the sheet guided by the conveyance guide. In the sheet conveyance device, a sheet conveyance speed of the conveyance roller pair is controlled based on information from the sheet detection unit. The sheet detection unit is a sheet scanner having an optical sensor layer in which photoelectric conversion devices formed by combinations of organic transistors and organic photodiodes are continuously arranged in a matrix shape, and the sheet scanner is provided in an area of the conveyance guide in order to continuously detect the sheet conveyed by the conveyance roller pair in a predetermined area.

Abstract: An image reading device which is capable of reading out image data on an original while conveying the original in a simple construction. A conveying path has a pair of guide members facing each other at a distance and extending in a conveying direction of an original. An original conveying unit conveys the original along the conveyance path. An image reading unit is comprised of a flexible sheet-like substrate on which a plurality of optical sensors are arranged. The sheet-like substrate is inclined with respect to the conveying direction of the original, and fixed to one of the pair of guide members at one end thereof and abuts against the other of the pair of guide members at the other end thereof. The image reading unit reads image data on one side of the original when the original is conveyed along the conveying path and passes through between the other end of the sheet-like substrate and the other of the pair of guide members.

Abstract: An image reading device which is capable of enhancing productivity in reading bound originals, such as a book, a magazine, or a document. A sheet-scanner device implementing the image reading device includes a sheet scanner as a reader part for reading an image on an original. The sheet scanner comprises a sheet-like substrate formed thereon with a light-emitting layer that can emit light spontaneously, and a light-receiving layer on which a plurality of reading pixels are arranged. The sheet scanner is mounted in the sheet-scanner device such that the sheet scanner can be drawn out onto and in from the original.

Abstract: Print jobs having a mixture of first image sheets and second image sheets are sorted to a first image forming device and a second image forming device. After image formation is performed on sheets by the respective image forming devices, radio frequency IC tags (RFID tags) are affixed to the sheets, in which attribute information including post-processing information and page identification information is written. Sheet bundles produced by the respective image forming devices are separately set to a post-processing device. The post-processing device reads out the attribute information stored in the radio frequency IC tags, and the sheets are selectively fed from the respective sheet bundles while conforming to the page order. Thereafter, the post processing is performed.

Abstract: Print jobs having a mixture of first image sheets and second image sheets are sorted to a first image forming device and a second image forming device. After image formation is performed on sheets by the respective image forming devices, radio frequency IC tags (RFID tags) are affixed to the sheets, in which attribute information including post-processing information and page identification information is written. Sheet bundles produced by the respective image forming devices are separately set to a post-processing device. The post-processing device reads out the attribute information stored in the radio frequency IC tags, and the sheets are selectively fed from the respective sheet bundles while conforming to the page order. Thereafter, the post processing is performed.

Abstract: Print jobs having a mixture of first image sheets and second image sheets are sorted to a first image forming device and a second image forming device. After image formation is performed on sheets by the respective image forming devices, radio frequency IC tags (RFID tags) are affixed to the sheets, in which attribute information including post-processing information and page identification information is written. Sheet bundles produced by the respective image forming devices are separately set to a post-processing device. The post-processing device reads out the attribute information stored in the radio frequency IC tags, and the sheets are selectively fed from the respective sheet bundles while conforming to the page order. Thereafter, the post processing is performed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus to which a plurality of replacement units are detachably loaded, wherein the replacement units have individual IC tags that perform data writing or reading through non-contact wireless communication, the image forming apparatus having at least one reader/writer that writes/reads data to/from the IC tags of said replacement units through non-contact wireless communication, wherein a blocked area being defined in said image forming apparatus and shielded by a shield member for shielding electromagnetic radiation noise is defined, and the IC tags that at least an antenna part of said reader/writer and said replacement units have are arranged in said blocked area.

Abstract: The present invention provides a design support method adapted to support a design of a conveying path by performing simulation of a behavior of a sheet-shaped flexible medium being conveyed in the conveying path and comprising a conveying condition setting step for setting a conveying condition of a conveying roller for conveying the flexible medium, a roller nip calculation step for preparing a finite element model of a conveying roller pair including the conveying roller and for calculating of deformation of the conveying roller in a nip portion of the conveying roller pair, and a motion calculating step for calculating the behavior of the flexible medium in a time-series manner on the basis of the deformation of the conveying roller calculated in the roller nip calculating step regarding a portion of the flexible medium conveyed by the conveying roller pair having the finite element model prepared in the roller nip calculating step and calculating the behavior of the flexible medium in a time-series manne

Abstract: A taxi customer requests a taxi dispatch using a mobile phone. A control center acquires the request and authenticates the telephone number by an incoming call log thereof, and then sends an e-mail with a URL to the e-mail address of the taxi customer. The taxi customer accesses the URL and inputs dispatch conditions, and these dispatch conditions are distributed to a plurality of taxi drivers. The control center selects the optimal taxi based on the offer or bid from the taxi drivers that satisfies the dispatch conditions. The taxi customer is notified of the selection, and the taxi driver and the taxi company are also automatically notified that a selection was made. Such an arrangement enables a taxi to be automatically dispatched without the need for a telephone conversation to the taxi customer who has specified the dispatch conditions. The taxi customer can therefore reliably take a taxi with the desired conditions.