Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit having a heat source, a temperature detecting unit for detecting a temperature of the fixing unit, an initial operation necessity detecting unit for determining whether an initial operation should be performed in the image forming apparatus, an initial operation selecting control unit for selecting an initial operation from among a plurality of predetermined initial operations based on the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit when the initial operation necessity detecting unit detects that the initial operation should be performed, and a control unit for controlling the fixing unit so that the fixing unit performs the initial operation selected by the initial operation selecting control unit.

Abstract: A unit which detects a discharged condition of each of media with a simple and low-cost structure. For this purpose, this unit is designed to output a signal indicative of the passage of the medium, a signal indicative of a full accumulated condition of the media within the medium discharged section and a signal representative of the occurrence of a jam condition of the medium during the passage of the medium. This unit is applicable to printers such as an electrophotographic type printer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit having a heat source, a temperature detecting unit for detecting a temperature of the fixing unit, an initial operation necessity detecting unit for determining whether an initial operation should be performed in the image forming apparatus, an initial operation selecting control unit for selecting an initial operation from among a plurality of predetermined initial operations based on the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit when the initial operation necessity detecting unit detects that the initial operation should be performed, and a control unit for controlling the fixing unit so that the fixing unit performs the initial operation selected by the initial operation selecting control unit.

Abstract: Disclosed are an image forming method for checking pickup of a sheet on which an image is to be formed before correcting skewing of the sheet, and an image forming apparatus. This method comprises a first step of permitting a pickup roller to pick up a sheet from a sheet retaining unit and causing the leading edge of the sheet to abut against resist rollers; a second step of permitting a detecting mechanism to detect that the sheet has been picked up by the pickup roller; a third step of rotating the pickup roller by a predetermined amount according to the detection of the detecting mechanism; a fourth step of driving the resist rollers to feed the sheet and driving an image forming mechanism for forming an image on the sheet; and a fifth step of permitting the image forming mechanism to form an image on the fed sheet.

Abstract: This invention relates to an image forming device such as an LED printer, a liquid crystal printer, laser printer or the like, and the object of this invention is to provide an image forming device having a small size and low production cost, wherein the image forming device comprises a sheet feeding unit, a sheet carrier, a pulse motor provided for the sheet carrier 2 and driven to carry a sheet fed from the sheet feeding unit to a printer, a motor controller for controlling the stepping motion of the pulse motor for moving the sheet, a printer 16 for printing an image over at least one entire line of a sheet, and which is perpendicular to the direction in which the sheet is carried, by one printing operation thereof, and a printing controller for controlling the printing operation of the printer in such a way that each printing operation thereof is synchronized with the stepping motion of the pulse motor 12, and an outlet tray 24 for receiving the printed sheet.

Abstract: In an image-forming apparatus (1), such as an electro-graphic printer, in which an electro-static latent image formed on an photoconductive drum (5) is reproduced by a toner (15), having a pulse motor (M) for driving an agitator (13) built-in to a developer unit (8), the agitator (13) is controlled during an initialization process of the apparatus (1) by setting the rotational speed of the motor (M) at a lower level (P) upon a start-up thereof, and converting the same to a higher level (N) corresponding to the normal operational speed after a predetermined period (T1) has passed from the start-up, whereby a larger torque is generated from the motor (M) at the start-up stage of the initialization so that the agitator (13) can be smoothly rotated even if the toner (15) has solidified in the developer unit (8).

Abstract: A multi-function key input device having a touch panel serving as a key input means, which is operated separately according to different operational modes to display different symbols or matters with the aid of a central processing section, a memory section, a digital shift register and LCD drivers operating a liquid crystal device.