Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, an intermediate transfer material, a first transfer device, a second transfer device, a feed device, a refeed device, and a controller which executes selectively first and second modes, in which one or two images are formed on one round of the intermediate transfer material. An image, which should be formed on a refed sheet, is formed on a first half area on one round of the intermediate transfer material, and an image, which should be formed on a fed sheet, is formed on a second half area on one round, in a case of executing the second mode when performing image formation on both sides of a sheet. The first mode is executed before returning to the second mode after executing the first mode instead of executing the second mode when performing both side image formation.

Abstract: An optical information recording apparatus includes an emission output information acquisition section for acquiring information about a drive current employed for controlling a beam output from an information recording section; a cooling determination section for determining whether to cool the information recording section in accordance with the information about the emission output acquired by the emission output information acquisition section; and a cooling execution section for cooling the information recording section when the cooling determination section has determined that cooling should be performed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which the intensity of a light beam used to form a latent image is switched in response to a change in resolution. A laser emits a light beam for forming a latent image on a photosensitive drum. A polygon mirror scans the emitted light beam. BD sensors detect the scanned beam. A timing controller selects the preferable timing from a storage device table according to the intensity of the light beam or the resolution when controlling the light emission timing of the lasers in response to a detection of timing of the detected light beam.

Abstract: In a case where a rotating speed of an intermediate transfer member is reduced during the process of image formation, carriers may adhere to a photosensitive member before the rotating speed of the intermediate transfer member stabilizes. To cope therewith, in changing an image formation speed in accordance with a conveying speed of a recording material on completion of primary transfer, a developing rotary is rotated so as to keep any developing device off a developing position. Consequently, a situation in which the carriers adhere to an image bearing member can be avoided. At the same time, stopping a charging operation of a charger enables a longer service life of the image bearing member.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus which is capable of responding to a status request with the minimum possible energy consumption even when the image forming apparatus is in a sleep state, to thereby achieve energy conservation. A main-chip microcomputer Q701 responds to an externally input status request when the image forming apparatus is in a normal standby mode, and enters an inoperative state where it does not respond to the externally input status request when the image forming apparatus is in a reduced power consumption mode. A 1-chip microcomputer Q702 responds to the externally input status request on behalf of the main-chip microcomputer Q701 when the image forming apparatus is in the reduced power consumption mode.

Abstract: An optical information recording apparatus includes an emission output information acquisition section for acquiring information about a drive current employed for controlling a beam output from an information recording section; a cooling determination section for determining whether to cool the information recording section in accordance with the information about the emission output acquired by the emission output information acquisition section; and a cooling execution section for cooling the information recording section when the cooling determination section has determined that cooling should be performed.

Abstract: When a plurality of toner containers mounted on a developing rotary is simultaneously determined as toner-absent toner containers, toner container replacement may not be efficient because toner containers are replaced at on replacement position. Therefore, when the toner containers mounted on the developing rotary are simultaneously determined as toner-absent toner containers, a toner container to be preferentially replaced is selected so as to be able to a replacement position by considering the usability.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a rotatable photoreceptor carrying a toner image thereon, a rotatable intermediate transfer member, a primary transfer device facilitating primary transfer of the toner image from the photoreceptor onto the intermediate transfer member, a secondary transfer device facilitating secondary transfer of the toner image from the intermediate transfer member onto a sheet, and a controller controlling rotation speed of the intermediate transfer member. The controller sets the rotation speed at a first speed during primary transfer. After primary transfer and a delay period, the controller changes the rotation speed to a second speed. The controller determines which rotation of the intermediate transfer member to change the speed.

Abstract: In a case where a rotating speed of an intermediate transfer member is reduced during the process of image formation, carriers may adhere to a photosensitive member before the rotating speed of the intermediate transfer member stabilizes. To cope therewith, in changing an image formation speed in accordance with a conveying speed of a recording material on completion of primary transfer, a developing rotary is rotated so as to keep any developing device off a developing position. Consequently, a situation in which the carriers adhere to an image bearing member can be avoided. At the same time, stopping a charging operation of a charger enables a longer service life of the image bearing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a photosensitive member, an intermediate transfer material, a first transfer device which transfers on the intermediate transfer material an image formed on the photosensitive member, a second transfer device which transfers on a sheet the image formed on the intermediate transfer material, a feed device which feeds the sheet to the second transfer device, a refeed device which refeeds the sheet, on which the image is transferred by the second transfer device, to the second transfer device with reversing the sheet, and a controller which executes selectively a first mode, in which one image is formed on one round of the intermediate transfer material, and a second mode in which two images are formed on one round of the intermediate transfer material, wherein the controller makes an image, which should be formed on a sheet refed by the refeed device, formed on a first half area on one round of the intermediate transfer material, and makes an image, which should be formed on

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus which is capable of responding to a status request with the minimum possible energy consumption even when the image forming apparatus is in a sleep state, to thereby achieve energy conservation. A main-chip microcomputer Q701 responds to an externally input status request when the image forming apparatus is in a normal standby mode, and enters an inoperative state where it does not respond to the externally input status request when the image forming apparatus is in a reduced power consumption mode. A 1-chip microcomputer Q702 responds to the externally input status request on behalf of the main-chip microcomputer Q701 when the image forming apparatus is in the reduced power consumption mode.

Abstract: A sub-CPU copes with a status obtaining request from a network in a sleep mode. Further, necessary least power control for updating a status in an image forming apparatus in the sleep mode is realized by the sub-CPU.

Abstract: A method for recording an information data signal on an optical recording medium includes the steps of identifying the position of a control data recording area where control data regarding recording of the information data signal is recorded; detecting a pre-pit signal by reading a predetermined section of the control data recording area; detecting an RF data signal by reading a predetermined section of the control data recording area; and executing either one of the step of detecting a pre-pit signal and the step of detecting an RF data signal to generate a recording synchronizing signal indicating recording start timing from the detected signal.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus has a heating member for heating an image on a recording material, a backup member for forming a nip in cooperation with the heating member, and an electric power supply control device for controlling electric power supplied to the heating member so that the temperature of the heating member may be maintained at a set temperature. When the recording material is not in the nip as a plurality of recording materials are continuously heated, the electric power supply control device can select first control in which temperature control is effected so that the heating member may maintain the set temperature, and second control in which temperature control is not effected and the electric power supply to the heating member is not effected.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus has a heater for generating heat when an electric power is supplied from a commercial power source to the heater, a temperature detecting element for detecting a temperature of the heater, a control wave number setting circuit for setting a control wave number of the electric power to be supplied to the heater, and an electric power controlling circuit for controlling the electric power supplied to the heater in accordance with a detected temperature from the temperature detecting element and the control wave number set by the control wave number setting circuit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a heater for generating heat upon reception of electric energy; a film movable with a recording material having an unfixed image; and a pressure roller for forming a nip with the heater, with the film interposed therebetween; wherein the pressure roller starts to rotate at the same time as a main power switch of the apparatus is turned on.

Abstract: A film type fixing device includes a rotatable endless film; film position detecting device for detecting a position, in a direction perpendicular to a rotational direction, of the film; error detecting device for detecting error of a position of the film when the output of the film position detecting device is out of a predetermined range; and discriminating device for discriminating whether to back up error information or not on the basis of the output of the film position detecting device, when the error detecting device detects the error.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus such as a copier with a detachable process cartridge is provided with a first memory for storing the number of copying operations; a count renewing unit for increasing the count of the first memory and a second memory in the process cartridge, at each copying operation, a comparator for comparing the counts in the first and second memories, and a controller for determining a process condition specific to the process cartridge in case the counts do not mutually coincide. The service life of the process cartridge can be more precisely judged, and the process condition can be more appropriately determined for each process cartridge.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp controller for an original-document exposing apparatus includes a detection circuit for detecting the quantity of light emitted by a fluorescent lamp, an actuator for applying between filaments of the fluorescent lamp a voltage having a duty that is determined in accordance with the quantity of light detected, and a preheating circuit for preheating each of the filaments of the fluorescent lamp by applying a preheating voltage. According to the present invention, the actuator applies, between the filaments of the fluorescent lamp, a voltage having a duty which is smaller than the full duty regardless of a result of the quantity of light detected in a predetermined period at a start of turning the fluorescent lamp on, and the preheating circuit applies the preheating voltage to each of the filaments of the fluorescent lamp simultaneously with the application of the turning on voltage.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus includes a resistor for generating heat upon electric energy supply thereto; a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the resistor; and a control unit for controlling the electric energy supply to the resistor so that the temperature sensor detects a target temperature, in accordance with both of a temperature of the resistor and a resistance of the resistor.