Abstract: An electric power supply control device comprises AC/DC converter, DC/DC converters, and an output electrical voltage monitor unit of the AC/DC converter. When output electrical voltage of the AC/DC converter increases to the first preset value P1, the AC/DC converter stops the convert. When the output electrical voltage decreases to the second preset value P2, the AC/DC converter restarts the convert. The first preset value P1 is equal to or less than the lowest value, out of the upper limit values in electrical voltage ranges in which the DC/DC converters CV1 and CV2 can work. The second preset value P2 is more than or equal to the highest value, out of the lower limit values in electrical voltage ranges in which the DC/DC converters CV1 and CV2 can work.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus is disclosed. The image reading apparatus includes an automatic document feeding unit that transports a document in a predetermined direction while the document floats above a platen glass member and a light source disposed below the platen glass member that irradiates a portion on the document at a predetermined reading location such that reflected light from the portion on the document is converted into image data and a floating distance between the document and the platen glass member is detected to set a value of an image parameter for correcting the image data for the document, based on the detected floating distance between the document and the platen glass member.

Abstract: A document feeder feeds document sheets one by one from a stack on a tray by pressing one or more pick-up rollers against an uppermost document sheet and guiding one widthwise edge of the document sheet. The width direction is perpendicular to a document transport direction. The document feeder includes: a document size obtainer that obtains size information indicating a width of the document sheet; and a center-of-contact shifting mechanism that shifts a center of contact of each pick-up roller along an axial direction of the pick-up roller according to the obtained size information. The center of contact is a central point of an area where the pick-up roller is in contact with the document sheet. Each pick-up roller is in a barrel shape. The center-of-contact shifting mechanism shifts the center of contact of each pick-up roller by axially tilting the pick-up roller relative to the document surface.

Abstract: A document feeder feeds document sheets one by one from a stack on a tray by pressing one or more pick-up rollers against an uppermost document sheet and guiding one widthwise edge of the document sheet. The width direction is perpendicular to a document transport direction. The document feeder includes: a document size obtainer that obtains size information indicating a width of the document sheet; and a center-of-contact shifting mechanism that shifts a center of contact of each pick-up roller along an axial direction of the pick-up roller according to the obtained size information. The center of contact is a central point of an area where the pick-up roller is in contact with the document sheet. Each pick-up roller is in a barrel shape. The center-of-contact shifting mechanism shifts the center of contact of each pick-up roller by axially tilting the pick-up roller relative to the document surface.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device comprising a supply roller for feeding sheets mounted on a tray, a drive shaft for supporting the supply roller and rotationally driving the same, first and second supporting arms swingably supported on the drive shaft, a feed roller rotatably supported on the first and second supporting arms, a feed roller transmission mechanism for rotating the feed roller in conjunction with the rotation of the supply roller, first and second transmission mechanisms for swinging the first and second supporting arms, and first and second resilient retaining members which are capable of retaining the first and second supporting arms, the first and second transmission mechanisms shifting the timings that the respective first and second supporting arms are swung against the corresponding resilient retaining members. An automatic sheet transfer device comprising this sheet feeding device. An electrophotographic image forming device comprising this automatic sheet transfer device.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device comprising a supply roller for feeding sheets mounted on a tray, a drive shaft for supporting the supply roller and rotationally driving the same, first and second supporting arms swingably supported on the drive shaft, a feed roller rotatably supported on the first and second supporting arms, a feed roller transmission mechanism for rotating the feed roller in conjunction with the rotation of the supply roller, first and second transmission mechanisms for swinging the first and second supporting arms, and first and second resilient retaining members which are capable of retaining the first and second supporting arms, the first and second transmission mechanisms shifting the timings that the respective first and second supporting arms are swung against the corresponding resilient retaining members. An automatic sheet transfer device comprising this sheet feeding device. An electrophotographic image forming device comprising this automatic sheet transfer device.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder device 100 has a device body 110 disposed on a platen 210 of a document reading device 200 and pivotably openable relative to the device 200 by being hingedly connected thereto. The device 100 includes detectors 130, 140 for detecting a document-stack state of at least one of a feeder and an output tray 111, 112 provided on the body 110, a driver 160 for driving the body 110 to be pivotably opened in an upward direction from the platen 210, an instructor 179 for giving an instruction for the driving, and a controller 172 for, based on a detection result of the detectors 130, 140 in priority to the instruction, to permit or forbid the driving, or to control an amount of the driving. When the device body is automatically opened, documents in the feeder or the output tray are unlikely to fall off.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus that has a simple mechanism for ejecting dust collected from a transparent member by a cleaner to the outside, thereby preventing stripe noise from being mixed into read image data. Disclosed is an image reading apparatus, wherein while an automatic document feeder is feeding a document (D) such that the document (D) passes over a reading glass (40), an image of the document is optically read at a reading position (A). Above the reading glass (40), a brush type cleaner (45) is disposed to face to the reading position (A) and to be capable of rotating. At a downstream position from the cleaner (45) with respect to a document feeding direction (B), a duster (46) is disposed for a dusting operation to remove dust from the cleaner by slapping against the cleaner (45).

Abstract: An automatic document feeder device 100 has a device body 110 disposed on a platen 210 of a document reading device 200 and pivotably openable relative to the device 200 by being hingedly connected thereto. The device 100 includes detectors 130, 140 for detecting a document-stack state of at least one of a feeder and an output tray 111, 112 provided on the body 110, a driver 160 for driving the body 110 to be pivotably opened in an upward direction from the platen 210, an instructor 179 for giving an instruction for the driving, and a controller 172 for, based on a detection result of the detectors 130, 140 in priority to the instruction, to permit or forbid the driving, or to control an amount of the driving. When the device body is automatically opened, documents in the feeder or the output tray are unlikely to fall off.

Abstract: When a print job is received from the network, subsequent processing depends on whether the print job includes authentication information. Where the print job includes authentication information, the print job is stored in a memory while being associated with the authentication information. When authentication information is received from the network thereafter, a print controller selects, from among the print jobs stored in the memory, the job that is associated with authentication information that matches the received authentication information, and causes it to be printed.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image reading apparatus: transporting a document using an automatic document feeding unit in a predetermined direction while the document floats above a platen glass member; reading an image on the document, at a predetermined reading location, by irradiating a portion on the document at the reading location using a light source disposed below the platen glass member, and by receiving reflected light from the portion on the document; converting the reflected light into image data; detecting the floating amount of the document from the platen glass member; and setting a value of an image parameter for correcting the image data for the document, based on the detected floating amount of the document.

Abstract: If a moving speed of a transparent member is determined as not larger than a prescribed moving speed, a used transmission portion out of a transmission portion of the transparent member is changed to a prescribed transmission portion that has been set in advance. If the used transmission portion is changed to the prescribed transmission portion, the moving speed of the transparent member is set to a moving speed based on the prescribed transmission portion.

Abstract: When a print job is received from the network, subsequent processing depends on whether the print job includes authentication information. Where the print job includes authentication information, the print job is stored in a memory while being associated with the authentication information. When authentication information is received from the network thereafter, a print controller selects, from among the print jobs stored in the memory, the job that is associated with authentication information that matches the received authentication information, and causes it to be printed.

Abstract: When an information processing such as printing is requested through a network, whether the electronic money by which payment for the processing is made is valid or not is checked, and in response to reception of a result of the check that the electronic money is valid, the information processing is started. When a plurality of information processings are requested, by storing the data of each information processing so as to be related to electronic money, relation between each information processing data and the electronic money can be maintained even after the validity of the electronic money is checked.

Abstract: A finisher connected to a copying machine produces a bound booklet by inserting papers from the copying machine into a cover with an adhesive layer of a hot-melt adhesive which is coated on the inner surface of near a spine interconnecting a front board and a back board, and heating the cover and a sheaf of papers, and joining them by adhesion. Thus, the series of operations ranging from the preparation of documents through the bookbinding can be facilitated and expedited.

Abstract: A finisher including a tray to enable the stacking of sheets; a leading end stopper, which projects from an upper surface of the tray, to contact and align an end face of a sheaf of sheets stacked in the tray; and a sheaf-conveying device, having a pair of rollers, to selectively nip (or engage) and convey a sheaf of sheets from the tray. Following an engagement by the sheaf-conveying device, the rollers are severally rotated to evenly convey an engaged sheaf of sheets while better protecting the alignment and appearance of such sheaf.

Abstract: A finishing apparatus comprising a transport section for transporting sheets discharged from a copying machine, a tray for stacking sheets thereon, and a finishing section for transporting a set of collected sheets from the tray and for stapling the sheet set. Folding rollers for folding a sheet in two or centrally folding the sheet are provided in a sheet transport section. Sheets, in a two-folded condition or with a center fold line formed thereon, are discharged onto the tray. Sheets which have been centrally formed with the fold line are subjected to stapling on or along the fold line.

Abstract: A composition for enhancing and maintaining mechanical properties such as tensile strength of an ethylene polymer on heating at elevated temperature comprises (A) an initiator of cross-linking having a half-life measured at 110.degree. C. of 0.1 to 50 hours and (B) an alkylthioalkylenecarboxylic acid ester of a polycarbocyclic polyhydric phenol.