Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an encode process unit for: (a) allocating image data of an original document into blocks containing a predetermined pixel matrix, and (b) determining from the image data in each block a mean value information and a gradient range exponent for each block; a series copy data generating unit for generating reduction image data for a plurality of reduction images by using the mean value information for each of the blocks as image data for the reduction images so that each pixel of the reduction images corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of blocks of the original document image data; and an image forming unit for forming images based on the reduction image data generated by the series copy data generating unit.

Abstract: In an image processor, image data of red, green and blue are converted to image data of lightness and chromaticities, and they are divided into pixel blocks. Then, image data of each block are compressed to data having 4 gradation levels smaller than 256 levels of the image data by generalized block truncation coding. Then, a capacity of image memory can be decreased. An attribute of the image data is decided for each block according to the compressed data. The attribute can be corrected by taking attributes of adjacent blocks into account.

Abstract: A method of image processing includes the steps of allocating image data of a document into a plurality of blocks of a predetermined pixel matrix; determining a gradient range exponent and a mean value information for each of the blocks based on the image data contained in each of the blocks; encoding the image data of each pixel of each of the blocks into code data based on the mean value information and gradient range exponent for the respective block so that the code data defines each pixel with fewer gradation levels than the image data; determining whether or not a mutually adjoining block is related to a solid image of a same density relative to a block subject to the encoding process; and executing a run length encoding process for a batch of mean value information, gradient range exponent, and code data based on a run length of adjoining blocks discriminated as related to a solid image of the same density.

Abstract: An organic PTC thermistor having a positive temperature coefficient of resistivity, which comprises a PTC composition comprising an organic polymer having dispersed therein a conductive substance, and at least one pair of electrodes, wherein the conductive substance is tungsten carbide powder; or the electrodes each comprise a metal mesh and a metal layer.

Abstract: A chromatic color pattern and a monochromatic color pattern are read by an image sensor. A masking coefficient in a color masking portion or a gamma conversion characteristic of a gamma correction portion are selected in accordance with the ratio V1/V0 of a read value V1 of the chromatic color pattern and a read value V0 of the monochromatic color pattern. An output of an image data is corrected by masking processing with the selected masking coefficient and the like.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, first peak density pixels of one dimension each having a peak density in one-dimension direction larger than a predetermined density are detected from image data located in a predetermined image area of a document image, and second peak density pixels of two dimensions each having peak densities in two-dimension directions larger than the predetermined density are detected from the image data. Further, there are counted a number of the detected first peak density pixels of one dimension and a number of the detected second peak density pixels of two dimensions, and then, it is judged whether or not the image data located in the predetermined image area are image data of a dot photograph image, a photograph image or a character image based on the counted numbers.

Abstract: Image data of a plurality of lines in a document are read in the main scan direction and/or in the subscan direction, and the document size is determined on the basis of the image data of the plurality of lines. Thus, the erroneous detection of document size can be avoided. The document size is determined for example as an average of the document sizes detected for lines except the smallest and largest document sizes. When the same anomaly is observed twice, new lines are used to determine the document size. Further, an image reading apparatus reads image data of a line in a document in the main scan direction and in the subscan direction with a linear image sensor.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes an original placing platen formed of a rectangular transparent member on which an original is placed; a photoelectrical conversion device for reading an image of the original-placed on the transparent member; an original pressing plate having an original pressing surface for pressing the overall surface of the original placing platen, the original pressing surface having a first area formed at a portion opposing a first side of the transparent member and a second area formed at a portion opposing a second side crossing at a right angle to the first side of the transparent member. The first and second areas are determined as a predetermined color by the photoelectrical conversion device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus divides an original image into multiple areas depending on the magnification of copy and produces enlarged copies of the divided areas on sheets of copy paper sequentially, thereby obtaining a enlarged copy of the original larger than the paper size. For each divided area, copy paper of a smallest possible size necessary to copy the entirety of the divided area is selected. The original can be divided optimally based on the original size, copy paper size and magnification, or can be divided by excluding a specified region from the original.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus capable of contracting or enlarging an original image includes a variable scale magnification processing unit for magnifying the original image in accordance with a magnification m, and a digital filter for correcting an image quality. Since weighting matrixes h1-h5 of the digital filter are varied depending on magnification m, a deterioration in image quality can be prevented irrespectively of magnifications.

Abstract: An image reading and processing apparatus scans an image-carrying medium along a predetermined path and, during each cycle of line scanning, image data is produced from a line of pixels and is stored into image data memories while data-write and date-read address signals are generated by first and second address generators and are supplied independently of each other to the image data memories. A second address generator is operative to supply data-read address signals to the image data memories at a timing regulated on the basis of a signal indicative of a magnification/reduction ratio at which an image on an image-carrying medium is to be reproduced. An attribute data storage memory has a plurality of memory spaces respectively corresponding to a plurality of scanning areas, each memory space storing attribute data designating the conditions in which the image is to be reproduced.

Abstract: A digital color copying machine comprising a test mode is disclosed. In the test mode, image data corresponding to a partial area of an original document indicated is stored in a RAM, and thereafter, the image data stored in the RAM is read out repeatedly, and plural test images for which the color correction is made with different color balances respectively are formed as mosaic monitor images on a recording medium. Then, one of plural test images is selected, and a copy of document having a color balance of the selected test image is produced. The state of the selected color balance is displayed on a display section.

Abstract: A digital color copying machine comprising a memory for storing a multi-level image signal or a binary image signal is disclosed. In a superimpose mode of the copying machine, after an image signal of a first document image stored in the memory is read out, the first document image is superimposed on a second document image on a copying paper.

Abstract: A digital color copying machine comprising a test mode is disclosed. In the test mode, image data corresponding to a partial area of an original document indicated is stored in a RAM, and thereafter, the image data stored in the RAM is read out repeatedly, and plural test images for which the color correction is made with different color tones respectively are formed as a mosaic monitor image on a recording medium. Then, one of plural test images is selected, and a copy of document having a color tone of the selected test image is produced. The test mode is canceled if a test image has not been selected during a predetermined time period.

Abstract: A digital color copying machine includes, reading means for reading an original image to produce digital image data, area designating means for designating an area of the original image; memory means for storing the image data; writing means for writing the image data located on the specific area into the memory means, reading-out means for reading out the image data stored in the memory means; sheet size designating means, and size setting means for setting the size of the unit image to be printed on the copying sheet. The image data of a partial or entire portion of an original are once stored in the memory and repeatedly read out, whereby a plurality of the same images can be formed on a plurality of portions of a copying sheet, and the number and direction of the images to be formed can be designated monitoring the display thereof.

Abstract: There are disclosed an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine and an image forming method. In the image forming apparatus and method, there are transformed supplied reference color image data into plural sample image data having color tones stepwisely different from each other by multiplying the reference color image data one by one by supplied plural color adjustment coefficients, and then, there are recorded plural sample images corresponding to the plural sample image data on a piece of recording paper. When the operator selects one of the plural sample images, a controller alters the supplied reference color image data into another reference color image data responsive to color adjustment coefficients of the selected one of the plural sample images.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reading scanner for reading an image of an original while scanning the original, and a scanner sensor provided in an initial position for detecting the initial position of the scanner. The scanner starts scanning of the original from a scanning start position distant from the initial position in a predetermined direction, and the original is scanned in the predetermined direction from the scanning start position. When the scanner sensor detects the reading scanner after operation of the reading scanner, the operation of the scanner is stopped.

Abstract: A copying machine which is capable of copying a single original in the plural form on a copying paper having a size larger than that of the original and a copying process thereof. The first scanning of the single original is performed plural times to form a plurality of electrostatic latent images on a photosensitive material, said images being spaced by an interval equal to the length L which extends in the sub scanning direction of the single original or by an interval L longer than the length, thereby developing the electrostatic latent images with a toner. The resultant toner images are transferred to the copying paper in accordance with the first transfer operation.

Abstract: A process for producing interior vehicular trim, comprising covering the surfaces of a substrate to which a nap-raised ornamental member has been applied, and removing the synthetic resin surface material at the part thereof covering the nap-raised ornamental member along a weld line. The synthetic resin surface material is welded and melt-cut on the peripheral edge of the ornamental member by carrying out the welding while the synthetic resin surface material is lifted up by force from the surface of the nap-raised ornamental member over the part thereof covering the ornamental member. An apparatus for producing interior vehicular trim, comprises an upper platen disposed to oppose matchably to a lower platen for supporting the substrate to which the nap-raised ornamental member has been partly applied, to effect welding of the synthetic resin surface material which was applied over the surface of the substrate, the welding being carried out along the peripheral edge of the ornamental member.

Abstract: A colored image reading apparatus in which the light-intensity signals produced in response to the red, green and blue color components of the light carrying the image information picked up from a given document sheet are converted into quantity-of-ink data signals indicating the quantities of cyanic-, magenta- and yellow-colored inks to be used for the formation of colored pixels, wherein the conversion of the light-intensity signals into the quantity-of-ink data signals is effected by a conversion table into which are stored quantity-of-ink data produced through mathematic calculation involing logalithmic conversion of variable values. By virtue of such mathematic calculation effected in the conversion table, the can dispense with any hardware implementation that would otherwise be required for the logalithmic conversion of voltage signals produced by an image sensor.