Abstract: An image forming apparatus and method in which a controller is capable of executing image processing of its own are disclosed. The controller has an RF unit for processing image information, a halftone image processor, a density corrector and a patch generator. The engine includes a modulator corresponding to the RF unit, a halftone image processor different from that of the controller, a density controller, modulator and patch generator corresponding to the halftone processor of the engine, a sensor for sensing the density of formed patches, and a control unit for controlling the density of an image on the basis of a signal from the sensor. The engine sends the controller a signal relating to density control.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and method in which a controller is capable of executing image processing of its own are disclosed. The controller has an RF unit for processing image information, a halftone image processor, a density corrector and a patch generator. The engine includes a modulator corresponding to the RF unit, a halftone image processor different from that of the controller, a density controller, modulator and patch generator corresponding to the halftone processor of the engine, a sensor for sensing the density of formed patches, and a control unit for controlling the density of an image on the basis of a signal from the sensor. The engine sends the controller a signal relating to density control.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a first member; a second member for forming a nip in cooperation with the first member; a first frame for supporting the first frame a second frame connected to the first member frame rotation about a rotational axis; a first pressing member for pressing the second member toward the first member, away from the second frame; and a second pressing member for applying an additional pressure between the first and second frames so that an additional pressure is applied between the first and second member.

Abstract: A sheet-accommodating cassette includes a cassette body for accommodating sheets. The cassette body is made up of a main container and a sub container. Both the main container and the sub container have a plurality of engagement portions which enable them to be coupled to each other at one of a plurality of positions selected according to the size of the sheets to be accommodated. A sheet-accommodating cassette, which is formed by coupling the main container to the sub container in such a manner that the cassette can accommodate sheets of a large size, is housed in an image-forming apparatus body with part of the cassette protruding from the image-forming apparatus body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism for forming an image and a matrix circuit having connected thereto a plurality of keys including an initiating key for instructing the start of image formation and a stop key for interrupting image formation. The image forming apparatus further includes a controller for controlling image formation by the image forming mechanism in accordance with a control sequence and a memory containing a program for sensing key input of the matrix circuit. Prior to the start of image formation, the controller executes the program for sensing key input of the matrix circuit and executes the control sequence in response to the sensing input of the initiating key. During image formation, the controller executes the program for sensing key input of the matrix circuit such that sensing whether the stop key has been input is executed without sensing whether the initiating key has been input.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which a sheet material is fed from a sheet feeding unit to an image forming unit for image formation on the sheet material, and the sheet material is transported and discharged to a sheet discharge unit after image formation. The image forming apparatus includes a substantially horizontal sheet feeding unit provided at either of an upper position and a lower position of the image forming unit at the center, and a substantially horizontal sheet discharge unit provided at the other of the positions; and a sheet path extending substantially vertically from the sheet feeding unit through the image forming unit to the sheet discharge unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a unit to form a visible image onto a photo sensitive drum on the basis of input image information, a copy transfer unit to transfer the developed visible image onto a recording paper, a fixing unit to fix the visible image transferred to the recording paper, and a control unit to variably set an amount of image blank which is formed onto the recording paper on the basis of the input image information.

Abstract: A process cartridge drive mechanism for driving a process cartridge which is mountable to a main body of an image forming apparatus. The process cartridge drive mechanism includes a drive motor which is forwardly and reversely rotatable; a drive force transmitting device, having a range of play therein, for transmitting a drive force of the drive motor to the process cartridge; and a control device for controlling a rotation of the drive motor such that the drive motor is rotated reversely within the range of play of the drive force transmitting device before the drive motor is stopped.

Abstract: A document scanning apparatus includes a first scanner for reciprocating an optical member and for exposing an original document put on a document platen, and a second scanner for feeding an original document to an exposure position and for exposing the original document at the exposure position. A selector selects either the first scanner in a stationary exposure mode or the second scanner in a dynamic exposure mode. In the stationary exposure mode, a controller causes forward movement of the reciprocating optical member to stop and the reciprocating member to move backward in accordance with a detection signal signifying that the trailing edge of a recording sheet has passed a predetermined position in the transport path for the recording sheet. In the dynamic exposure mode, the controller controls the second scanner to feed successive original documents in accordance with the same detection signal for the trailing edge of the recording sheet.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus provided with a plurality of operation devices for recording or reproducing an image. Using operation control signals, a controller controls the operation devices in accordance with selected information signals. Appropriate ones of the information signals are selected in accordance with the control signals.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a paper-feed unit, a paper-feed unit openably and closably supported by the main body of the apparatus, a tray openably and closably supported by the paper-feed unit so as to be swingable between a non-operating position wherein the tray is housed in the paper-feed unit in a generally vertical state and an operating position for mounting a sheet material wherein the tray is opened from the paper-feed unit and is positioned in a generally horizontal state, and a stopper provided in the main body of the apparatus for holding the tray at the operating position contacting the tray. The paper-feed unit can be opened and closed while the tray is held at the operating position.

Abstract: Image forming apparatus including sheet feeding apparatus, sheet conveying apparatus, sheet delivering apparatus, structure for supporting the sheet conveying apparatus and sheet delivering apparatus and having an opening side, sheet storing apparatus, and structure for guiding the sheet storing apparatus such that the sheet forming apparatus is detachable from the sheet feeding apparatus at the same opening side.

Abstract: There is disclosed an image forming apparatus capable of controlling the image forming conditions in different modes according to the magnification of the image to be formed, or according to the process speed.

Abstract: An original scanning apparatus includes a reciprocable original scanning optical system, a first driving mechanism having a first motor, a second driving mechanism having a second motor and a clutch for drivingly connecting the first driving mechanism to the optical system after the optical system starts to move by the second driving mechanism in a forward direction. The backward movement of the optical system is provided by the second driving mechanism.

Abstract: This specification discloses a sheet feeding device for feeding sheets from a sheet supporting bed such as a cassette or a deck, and more particularly a sheet feeding device having a sheet supporting bed holding sheets thereon and adapted to be removably mounted at a predetermined position in an image forming apparatus, a rotatable member for contacting the sheets on the sheet supporting bed and feeding the sheets when the sheet supporting bed is mounted at the predetermined position in the image forming apparatus, support means for supporting the rotatable member for idle rotation by a predetermined amount in a forward direction and a reverse direction, and intermittent means for intermittently connecting the support means to a drive source.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of feeding or transporting recording medium of different sizes through the image forming path. A discriminating device determines whether or not a recording medium has reached a predetermined position in the transport path and a detecting member detects the recording medium a predetermined time thereafter to identify the size of the recording medium. If the recording medium is detected within the predetermined time, it is identified as being of a particular size. When the medium is detected during a time period different from the predetermined time period, the medium is identified as being of a size smaller than the particular size. The image formation operation is controlled as a function of the size identification of the recording medium.

Abstract: A variable magnification copying apparatus includes first erasing element for removing electrical charge from the photosensitive member at an area outside the area of image of the original and second erasing element for removing electrical charge from the outside area, in cooperation with said first erasing element when the magnification is less than a predetermined value.

Abstract: Variable magnification copying apparatus wherein the optical element for forming an image of the original on a photosensitive member is displaceable for magnification change. The amount of displacement is controlled on the basis of the count of pulses generated by the pulse generator. The optical element is, as desired, restored to a reference position, and then moved to an object position by counting a predetermined number of pulses.

Abstract: A variable magnification copying apparatus capable of not only one-to-one magnification copying but also reduction copying, and particularly a variable magnification copying apparatus of the slit exposure scanning type which is capable of two or more types of reduction copying and which uses two movable mirrors and an in-mirror lens on the object side, characterized in that the optical axis of the in-mirror lens is set non-parallel to an original carriage to make the apparatus compact and during magnification change, the in-mirror lens and the second movable mirror are initially displaced by predetermined distances in predetermined directions, whereby the object point position and image point position of an image forming principal light ray on the original supporting surface and photosensitive surface are made fixed irrespective of the copying magnification.

Abstract: Image forming apparatus including sheet feeding apparatus, sheet conveying apparatus, sheet delivering apparatus, structure for supporting the sheet conveying apparatus and sheet delivering apparatus and having an opening side, sheet storing apparatus, and structure for guiding the sheet storing apparatus such that the sheet forming apparatus is detachable from the sheet feeding apparatus at the same opening side.