Abstract: A document reading apparatus includes an integral display portion integrally provided with an area sensor portion and a wireless IC tag reader, and a main CPU for detecting by the area sensor portion reflection light from an object placed on a screen of the integral display portion and detecting by the wireless IC tag reader that a wireless IC tag comes close to the screen. When it is determined that the object is a document based on an area of reflection light from the object, the main CPU switches to a document reading mode for reading the document on the screen by the area sensor portion, and when it is detected that a wireless IC tag comes close to the screen, the main CPU switches to a wireless IC tag reading mode for reading electronic money information of the wireless IC tag by the wireless IC tag reader.

Abstract: A toner cartridge counts the number of times the toner cartridge has been shaken by a counting unit. A control unit of an image forming apparatus acquires the counting result of the counting unit, and controls each unit of the apparatus such that a display unit displays a message encouraging the worker to shake the toner cartridge since the shaking of the toner cartridge is insufficient if the acquired counting result is smaller than a predetermined value, and the toner contained in the toner cartridge is supplied to a developing unit of the image forming apparatus since the toner cartridge is sufficiently shaken and the toner in the toner cartridge is stirred and dissolved if the acquired counting result is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

Abstract: A document reading apparatus includes an integral display portion integrally provided with an area sensor portion and a wireless IC tag reader, and a main CPU for detecting by the area sensor portion reflection light from an object placed on a screen of the integral display portion and detecting by the wireless IC tag reader that a wireless IC tag comes close to the screen. When it is determined that the object is a document based on an area of reflection light from the object, the main CPU switches to a document reading mode for reading the document on the screen by the area sensor portion, and when it is detected that a wireless IC tag comes close to the screen, the main CPU switches to a wireless IC tag reading mode for reading electronic money information of the wireless IC tag by the wireless IC tag reader.

Abstract: A toner cartridge counts the number of times the toner cartridge has been shaken by a counting unit. A control unit of an image forming apparatus acquires the counting result of the counting unit, and controls each unit of the apparatus such that a display unit displays a message encouraging the worker to shake the toner cartridge since the shaking of the toner cartridge is insufficient if the acquired counting result is smaller than a predetermined value, and the toner contained in the toner cartridge is supplied to a developing unit of the image forming apparatus since the toner cartridge is sufficiently shaken and the toner in the toner cartridge is stirred and dissolved if the acquired counting result is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

Abstract: A tandem-type image forming apparatus for forming a multi-color image on a sheet transported by an endless transfer/transport belt, by sequentially laying on the sheet images developed in respective image forming stations. The apparatus includes: transfer rollers, each in contact through the transfer/transport belt with an image carrier provided in each image forming station; and a voltage applying device for applying a non-transfer bias voltage to only the transfer rollers that are in contact with the image carriers when a transfer process is not performed, the non-transfer bias voltage having the same polarity as a transfer bias voltage and being lower than the transfer bias voltage.

Abstract: A tandem-type image forming apparatus for forming a multi-coor image on a sheet transported by an endless transfer/transport belt, by sequentially laying on the sheet images developed in respective image forming stations. The apparatus includes: transfer rollers, each in contact through the transfer/transport belt with an image carrier provided in each image forming station; and a voltage applying device for applying a non-transfer bias voltage to only the transfer rollers that are in contact with the image carriers when a transfer process is not performed, the non-transfer bias voltage having the same polarity as a transfer bias voltage and being lower than the transfer bias voltage.

Abstract: A document-image reading device that can analyze a speed fluctuation state of a scanner when scanning an image in the feed direction by separately extracting speed fluctuation components by reading a change in density of reference scale lines and, on the basis of the analysis result, prevents the occurrence of an image blur that may be resulting from unstable factors of a driving mechanism.

Abstract: The invention is directed to provide a document-image reading device that can analyze a speed fluctuation state of a scanner when scanning an image in the feed direction by separately extracting speed fluctuation components by reading a change in density of reference scale lines and, on the basis of the analysis result, prevents the occurrence of an image blur that may be resulting from unstable factors of a driving mechanism.

Abstract: The invention produces a document-image reading device that can analyze a speed fluctuation state of a scanner when scanning an image in the feed direction by separately extracting speed fluctuation components by determining a change in density of references scale lines; and, on the basis of the analysis result, prevents the occurrence of an image blur that can result from unstable factors of a driving mechanism of the device. The document-image reading device, which reads document image data at a specified time interval given by a reference clock signal, comprises an image sensor that can read a document image while the document-image reading device or the document moves in the feed direction. Additionally, the document-image reading device includes a chart reader for reading a reference chart portion having alternations of high-density and low-density divisions that are arranged one after another at a distance interval equal to the least pitch readable by the document-image reading device.

Abstract: To maintain an image eraser used for erasing a toner image printed on a sheet operable wastes power, and additionally, a manual operation is required for loading a sheet feed portion with sheets from which the printed image is removed for reuse. The main body of an image forming apparatus is provided with a tray for image erasure and a feed roller for feeding sheets from the tray. Disposed in a passage for transporting the sheets from the tray is an image eraser comprising a nozzle for applying a treatment for removal of toner, a toner removal roller and a pressure roller and the likes. By means of a transport roller, sheets are transferred from the image eraser to an intermediate tray or a registration roller for feeding sheets to an image forming position. The image eraser is actuated for image erasure while the image forming apparatus is not performing an image forming operation.