Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides, for example, an improved method for identifying an epitope on a protein, comprising the following steps: (A) contacting a major histocompatibility complex (MHC molecule)-expressing cell differentiated from a stem cell or a progenitor cell derived therefrom with a target protein; (B) isolating a complex of a peptide contained in the target protein and the MHC molecule from the MHC molecule-expressing cell; and (C) eluting the peptide from the complex and identifying the peptide.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides, for example, an improved method for identifying an epitope on a protein, comprising the following steps: (A) contacting a major histocompatibility complex (MHC molecule)-expressing cell differentiated from a stem cell or a progenitor cell derived therefrom with a target protein; (B) isolating a complex of a peptide contained in the target protein and the MHC molecule from the MHC molecule-expressing cell; and (C) eluting the peptide from the complex and identifying the peptide.

Abstract: An image forming system having: a sheet feeding unit which cuts a roll sheet and feeds cut sheets; a stack unit which stacks and stores the sheets fed by the sheet feeding unit and feeds the stored sheets; an image forming portion which forms an image on the sheets fed from the stack unit; and a controlling unit configured to control the feeding unit and the stack unit so that the stack unit feeds a sheet stored in the stack unit to the image forming portion when the sheet feeding unit feeds a sheet to the stack unit so as to stack the sheet from the sheet feeding unit into the stack unit.

Abstract: A document reading apparatus includes a document positioning plate configured to position a document, a carriage configured to move a light source along the document positioning plate, a reading unit configured to read an image of a document illuminated by a light source of the carriage, a white reference member provided in the displacement range of the carriage, an input unit configured to input a reading start instruction for a document, and a control unit configured to move the carriage along the document positioning plate in response to a reading start instruction input via the input unit. The control unit moves the carriage to a first position at which the white reference member is provided, cause the reading unit to read the white reference member, moves the carriage to a second position that is an acceleration start position for accelerating toward the reading start position of the document positioning plate, and waits for a reading start instruction input from the input unit.

Abstract: Prior to reading an original image, whether to read the original image in a monochrome image mode in which the image reading apparatus reads the original image in use of the monochrome line sensor or a multi color image mode in which the image reading apparatus reads the original image in use of the multi color line sensor is predicted. Preparation of reading an original image based on parameters corresponding to the predicted mode is completed before the start of reading the original image. This arrangement reduces a time loss arising from switching of a color mode associated with a user color setting at the start of a job, and thus shortens the FCOT. This arrangement can shorten the time until the first copy is output after designating the start of copying when reading an original image based on different parameters.

Abstract: In reading an image of a document in a monochromatic document reading mode, a document reading apparatus reads the image of the document while conveying the document at a speed determined according to a variable magnification ratio, executes digital variable magnification on the read multivalued image in a main scanning direction by using a main scanning direction variable magnification unit, binarizes the multivalued image, and stores the binary image on a memory. In reading an image in a color document reading mode, the document reading apparatus reads the image of the document while conveying the document at a predetermined speed, stores the read multivalued image on the memory, and executes digital variable magnification on the multivalued image in the main scanning direction and a sub scanning direction.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus that, in a case where the light amount of light illuminated from an image reading lamp has decreased, maintains the quality of a read image without decreasing productivity, and a method for controlling that image reading apparatus, are provided. To accomplish this, this image reading apparatus is provided with RGB line sensors that read a color image, and a monochrome line sensor that reads a monochrome image and has a faster horizontal transfer speed than the RGB line sensors. Further, this image reading apparatus reads a monochrome image using the RGB line sensors even in a monochrome mode in a case where the light amount of the lamp for illuminating an original decreases and so an output level for reading an image with good quality cannot be obtained from the monochrome line sensor.

Abstract: A document feeding apparatus includes a document tray configured to receive a document placed thereon and to move up and down, a start key configured to issue a command to start a process accompanied by a document feeding of the feeding unit, and an operation key configured to be used to set a condition for the process. The document feeding apparatus is operable in a first mode or second mode, wherein the first mode the document tray is raised in response to an operation of the start key and in the second mode, the document tray is raised in response to an operation of the operation key.

Abstract: A printer control apparatus can be applied to an image forming apparatus in which a plurality of types of readers and a plurality of types of printers can be connected to a single controller, and which enables efficient transfer of image data from the reader to the printer via an image memory of the controller. The controller receives image data from a reader and temporarily stores the same in an image memory, and transmits the stored image data to a printer. The controller acquires a reader processing speed from the reader and a printer processing speed from the printer, and determines, while the image data is being written to the image memory, timing for transmitting the image data written in the memory to the printer according to a difference between the reader processing speed and the printer processing speed and a sub-scan size of the image data.

Abstract: A document reading apparatus includes a document positioning plate configured to position a document, a carriage configured to move a light source along the document positioning plate, a reading unit configured to read an image of a document illuminated by a light source of the carriage, a white reference member provided in the displacement range of the carriage, an input unit configured to input a reading start instruction for a document, and a control unit configured to move the carriage along the document positioning plate in response to a reading start instruction input via the input unit. The control unit moves the carriage to a first position at which the white reference member is provided, cause the reading unit to read the white reference member, moves the carriage to a second position that is an acceleration start position for accelerating toward the reading start position of the document positioning plate, and waits for a reading start instruction input from the input unit.

Abstract: An original-feeding device includes an original tray, a pickup roller configured to be lowered onto originals stacked on the tray and to feed one of the originals, the pickup roller configured to be lifted up after the feeding, a conveyor configured to convey the fed original, a length detector configured to detect a length of the conveyed original, an original sensor configured to detect a trailing edge of the conveyed original, and a controller configured to control the pickup roller either in a first mode in which the pickup roller is lowered in accordance with a detected length of the original or in a second mode in which the pickup roller is lowered at the detection of a trailing edge of the original. The controller changes the first mode to the second mode if lengths of the originals detected by the length detector vary.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is operable in a speed priority mode in which a temperature range that permits a fixing operation via a pressure belt is wide and an image-quality priority mode in which a temperature range that permits a fixing operation via the pressure belt is narrow. A user interface of the image forming apparatus is configured to enable an operator to select the speed priority mode or the image-quality priority mode for a coated paper.

Abstract: A image forming system that can prevent a toner from coming off while reducing the amount of consumption of a clear toner in binding sheets into a book. An image forming apparatus 100 forms an image on a sheet. A clear coating apparatus 200 forms a clear coating image on the sheet using the clear toner that becomes transparent after fixing. A bookbinding apparatus 600 connected to the image forming apparatus 100 and the clear coating apparatus 200 subjects the sheet to folding process. A job controller 501 and an image controller 502 cause the clear coating apparatus 200 to form the clear toner image at a folding position on the sheet in response to designation of a folding mode in the bookbinding apparatus 600.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprising an image processing unit configured to execute image processing by selectively using a plurality of image processing patterns, a selecting unit configured to select one of the plurality of image processing patterns according to a user's operation, a determination unit configured to determine whether or not tone correction control has been applied to the image processing pattern selected by the selecting unit, and a notification unit configured to notify, when the determination unit determines that the tone correction control has not been applied yet, a message that advises accordingly.

Abstract: A curling device includes a first curling unit configured to curl a sheet in a first direction and a second curling unit. The second curling unit is for curling a sheet which has passed the first curling unit in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction. The curling device also includes an input unit facilitating manual inputting correction values relating to the curling direction and curling amount to be corrected, and a control unit configured to changeably control the curling amount of each of the first curling unit and the second curling unit, to correspond to the correction values input in the first and second input units.

Abstract: In a construction wherein at the start of fixing, a pressure belt is brought into contact with a fixing roller at uniform timing, it has sometimes been the case that the temperature of the pressure belt at a point of time whereat the fixing is started does not become a desired temperature but faulty fixing occurs. The timing for bringing the pressure belt into contact with the fixing roller at the start of fixing is changed in accordance with the detected temperature of the pressure belt. By such a construction, faulty fixing can be prevented from occurring.

Abstract: In image reading apparatus capable of performing a read-while-feed operation in which an original is read while being fed by an image sensor placed at a fixed position, presence/absence of dust and/or dirt on a platen is detected, and, in a case where dust and/or dirt are detected at all of a plurality of predetermined positions by said detector, the read-while-feed operation is inhibited and the presence of dust and/or dirt is notified to a user. When, removal of dust and/or dirt on the platen is detected in a state that the read-while-feed operation is inhibited, the read-while-feed operation is allowed.

Abstract: A document feeding apparatus includes a document tray configured to receive a document placed thereon and to move up and down, a start key configured to issue a command to start a process accompanied by a document feeding of the feeding unit, and an operation key configured to be used to set a condition for the process. The document feeding apparatus is operable in a first mode or second mode, wherein the first mode the document tray is raised in response to an operation of the start key and in the second mode, the document tray is raised in response to an operation of the operation key.

Abstract: An original-feeding device includes an original tray, a pickup roller configured to be lowered onto originals stacked on the tray and to feed one of the originals, the pickup roller configured to be lifted up after the feeding, a conveyor configured to convey the fed original, a length detector configured to detect a length of the conveyed original, an original sensor configured to detect a trailing edge of the conveyed original, and a controller configured to control the pickup roller either in a first mode in which the pickup roller is lowered in accordance with a detected length of the original or in a second mode in which the pickup roller is lowered at the detection of a trailing edge of the original. The controller changes the first mode to the second mode if lengths of the originals detected by the length detector vary.

Abstract: Prior to reading an original image, whether to read the original image in a monochrome image mode in which the image reading apparatus reads the original image in use of the monochrome line sensor or a multi color image mode in which the image reading apparatus reads the original image in use of the multi color line sensor is predicted. Preparation of reading an original image based on parameters corresponding to the predicted mode is completed before the start of reading the original image. This arrangement reduces a time loss arising from switching of a color mode associated with a user color setting at the start of a job, and thus shortens the FCOT. This arrangement can shorten the time until the first copy is output after designating the start of copying when reading an original image based on different parameters.