Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises: a detection unit which detects the abnormal condition of the image forming apparatus; a storage unit which stores, as history information, information about a type of the abnormal condition and an occurrence situation of the abnormal condition in a case where the detection unit detects the abnormal condition; a determination unit which determines whether an occurrence frequency of the abnormal condition which has newly occurred is higher than a predetermined frequency; and a notification unit which, in a case where an abnormal condition has newly occurred and the determination unit determines that the occurrence frequency of the abnormal condition which has newly occurred is higher than the predetermined frequency, stops the image forming apparatus and notifies the user of trouble information for making a repair request by the user.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus may be in a state where a foreign material detection process cannot be completed for all reading position candidates before a sheet arrives at a conveyance roller. In such a state, the image reading apparatus performs the foreign material detection process and a position determination process only on reading position candidates which are part of all reading position candidates. The image reading apparatus determines a reading position candidate with fewest foreign material images from among the reading position candidates for which the foreign material detection process has been completed, as a sheet reading position.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus may be in a state where a foreign material detection process cannot be completed for all reading position candidates before a sheet arrives at a conveyance roller. In such a state, the image reading apparatus performs the foreign material detection process and a position determination process only on reading position candidates which are part of all reading position candidates. The image reading apparatus determines a reading position candidate with fewest foreign material images from among the reading position candidates for which the foreign material detection process has been completed, as a sheet reading position.

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 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 reading apparatus which enables reduction of time to be taken from a job start instruction to a reading operation start. An automatic document feeder unit feeds an original. An upstream reader reads an image on one side of the original fed by the automatic document feeder unit. A downstream reader is disposed downstream of the upstream reader in an original feeding direction, to read an image on another side of the original. The upstream reader and the downstream reader read images of respective white reference plates, and the image reading apparatus generates correction data for the upstream reader and the downstream reader based on the images of the respective white reference plates read by the upstream reader and the downstream reader.

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: 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: 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: A technique for reducing downtime that accompanies the execution independently of adjustment processing for maintaining image quality and the execution of finishing processing relating to a printing medium. In order to apply the finishing processing to the printing medium in a finishing processing unit, an image forming apparatus to which this technique is applied sets a time between sheets that extends from end of image formation regarding a first sheet of the printing medium to start of image formation regarding a second sheet of the printing medium transported following the first sheet of the printing medium in the image forming unit, and executes adjustment processing, which is for maintaining image quality in the image forming unit, within the set time between sheets.

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: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus whereby waiting time (downtime), which is required for forming an image by automatic adjustment relating to image formation density or image formation position, is made shorter than in the prior art. When an image having a size equal to or less than a prescribed size is formed is formed in this apparatus, the image to be formed is placed on an image carrier in such a manner that a vacant area for forming an adjustment pattern can be reserved on the image carrier. As a result, automatic adjustment relating to image formation density or image formation position can be executed while an image is formed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which can improve image formation capability to a satisfactory degree while curbing the rise in running cost. An image forming device forms adjustment images having different densities on an image support member having a higher optical reflectivity than an optical reflectivity of the adjustment images. A reading reads the adjustment images. An output from the reading device is read at a predetermined number of readings or time interval between readings based on the densities of the adjustment images susceptible to the optical reflectivity of the image support member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that is capable of carrying out image formation on a recording medium such as plain paper without increasing the FCOT (First Copy Out Time) and is also capable of carrying out optimal image formation on a recording medium, such as thick paper, for which the processing speed is reduced with no registration misalignment between the leading ends of toner images and the leading end of the recording medium. An image is primarily transferred onto a rotatively driven image carrier, and the image on the image carrier is secondarily transferred onto a recording medium. An image writing reference position signal for starting image formation is issued based on the circumference of the image carrier which is the length of the image carrier in the direction of rotation thereof or based on a detected reference position on the image carrier.