Abstract: The front ends of the plurality of sheets stacked on the processing tray are abutted against the stopper and are reliably aligned. The stack of a predetermined number of sheets to be accommodated in the processing tray is aligned and stacked all at once in the processing tray while being simultaneously gripped by the gripping portion 5a of the movement gripper in a plurality of sheet groups. The temporal margin is thereby produced compared to when aligning and stacking are performed one sheet at a time, and thus is effective in realizing the high speed process at low cost and maintaining high productivity.

Abstract: A water content determination apparatus which are capable of precisely determining water content contained in a medium regardless of an environment where an image forming apparatus is installed. The water content determination apparatus. A signal in accordance with presence or absence of a medium in an electrostatic capacitance region formed on a paper path is outputted where the medium for image forming is conveyed. Temperature in the water content determination apparatus is determined based on an output signal of the detection device in absence of the medium passing in the electrostatic capacitance region. Water content contained in the medium is determined based on the output signal of the detection device in absence of the medium passing in the electrostatic capacitance region, the output signal of the detection device in presence of the medium passing in the electrostatic capacitance region, and the temperature determined by the temperature determination device.

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: The life of a secondary battery is extended and important data is backed up when power trouble, such as an incidental power failure, occurs. When a sudden power failure occurs, a battery supplies backup power to a memory for storing data to be backed up. By using a main switch for turning the main power supply of the apparatus on or off, the supply of the backup power from the battery to the memory is stopped, interlocked with the main switch, when the main switch shuts down the main power supply. This reduces the number charge-discharge cycles of the battery, prevents deterioration of the battery, and prolongs the life of the battery.

Abstract: To control a light emitted from a fluorescent lamp having phosphors with different afterglow properties for different colors, a center of a lighting control signal for controlling the lighting of the fluorescent lamp is controlled to constantly align with the center of a Hsync period so that despite the variation of the lighting time of the fluorescent lamp, a barycenter of the quantity of light from the fluorescent lamp in the Hsync period almost aligns with the center of the Hsync period to reduce the offset of the barycenter.

Abstract: A shading correction apparatus can execute a first method of adding and averaging, in the sub-scanning direction, shading data obtained by reading a white reference plate in the main scanning direction and in the sub-scanning direction to obtain correction data to be used for shading correction and a second method of directly using shading data obtained by reading the white reference plate in the main scanning direction as correction data for shading correction. When the white reference plate is pre-scanned by an image sensor, and the minimum value of the obtained shading data is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, the first method is selected. When the minimum value exceeds the predetermined value, the second method is selected.

Abstract: To control a light emitted from a fluorescent lamp having phosphors with different afterglow properties for different colors, a center of a lighting control signal for controlling the lighting of the fluorescent lamp is controlled to constantly align with the center of a Hsync period so that despite the variation of the lighting time of the fluorescent lamp, a barycenter of the quantity of light from the fluorescent lamp in the Hsync period almost aligns with the center of the Hsync period to reduce the offset of the barycenter.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided which comprises an image reading section for reading an original document by causing an image reading head of the image reading section to move relative to an original document; an image recording section for recording an image on a recording medium in accordance with an image signal; a power source for supplying power to the image reading section and the image recording section; and a control device for controlling the speed of movement of the image reading head according to an operating state of the image recording section. The image processing apparatus of the invention overcomes problems associated with the use of prior art image forming apparatus, such as multi-function copying machines, that include an image reading section and an image recording section, and which require the use of large-capacity power sources for supporting the electrical loads of various components that may be operating simultaneously within the individual apparatuses.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided which comprises an image reading section for reading an original document by causing an image reading head of the image reading section to move relative to an original document; an image recording section for recording an image on a recording medium in accordance with an image signal; a power source for supplying power to the image reading section and the image recording section; and a control device for controlling the speed of movement of the image reading head according to an operating state of the image recording section. The image processing apparatus of the invention overcomes problems associated with the use of prior art image forming apparatus, such as multi-function copying machines, that include an image reading section and an image recording section, and which require the use of large-capacity power sources for supporting the electrical loads of various components that may be operating simultaneously within the individual apparatuses.

Abstract: An information processing system is connected to a plurality of devices, each device having a respective display and realizing at least one respective function from a plurality of functions, each device further being able to select any of the functions. The system includes a function control that controls the function of the devices and is connected to the devices. The function control causes the display of each of the devices to display a selection state indicating a status of function processing by all of the devices, and is responsive to selection of one of the functions at one of the devices to cause the selected function to be performed. In its operation, the function control can assign appropriate processing to at least one of the devices, or can transmit the results of function processing among the devices to enable addition/deletion/correction of the results.

Abstract: This invention provides an image reading method and apparatus which can prevent a large difference from being produced between the color tones of the read image and the original image. A plurality of signals output from an image sensor (101) are A/D-converted into a plurality of digital signals by A/D conversion circuits (105), a predetermined one of the A/D-converted digital signals is compared with a predetermined reference level by a comparator (108), a low-pass filter (109) removes any high-frequency component from the comparison result, and the output from the low-pass filter (109) is controlled to be input to the A/D conversion circuits (105) as a reference voltage for determining the input range of each A/D conversion circuit (105).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a 2-layered flexible substrate includes forming an underlying metal layer on an insulation film with a deposition layer formed by a dry plating method using at least one of nickel, copper-nickel alloy, chromium and chromium oxide and a copper deposition layer formed by a dry plating method on the noted deposition layer, then forming a primary electric copper plated deposition layer on the underlying metal layer, then applying a treatment using at least one alkaline solution selected from inorganic alkaline solutions and organic alkaline solutions, then forming an electroless copper plated deposition layer as an intermediate metal layer on the primary electric copper plated deposition layer and, finally, forming a secondary electric copper plated deposition layer on the intermediate metal layer, thereby finally forming a copper conductor layer of 1 to 35 .mu.m thickness on the insulation film.

Abstract: A linear image sensor includes N arrays of photoelectric converting pixels, wherein N is an even integer at least equal to 2. Each array is formed by arranging, with a predetermined pixel pitch in a first direction of the array, a plurality of pixels, and each of the pixels is so shaped that the area per unit length of the pixel decreases progressively from the center of the pixel both in the first direction of the array and in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The N arrays themselves are provided with a mutual distance from each other of M/2 times the pixel pitch in the second direction and are mutually displaced by 1/N of the pixel pitch in the first direction so as to form a mutually interpolating arrangement, wherein M is a positive integer equal to at least 1 and wherein M and N are independent of each other.

Abstract: A copying machine includes an original feeding unit for feeding an original to a platen, a reading unit for reading an image of the original fed by the original feeding unit, a reducing unit for reducing the image supplied from the reading unit, a storing unit for storing a plurality of images supplied from the reducing unit in a predetermined area, an input unit for entering information regarding an orientation of the images of the original, a control unit for use in changing the area where the image is to be stored by the storing unit depending on the information regarding the orientation supplied from the input unit, and a recording unit for recording a plurality of images stored in the storing unit on a single sheet.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an area designation unit for designating a desired area on an original, a mode setting unit for setting a mode for adding, to the image of the original, a gradation pattern of which pattern size varies periodically, a pattern generation unit for generating an image representing the gradation pattern, and a control unit for controlling the pattern generation means, when the mode is set by the mode setting means, in such a manner that a pattern of the largest or smallest size in the gradation pattern is added to at an end of the area designated by the area designation means.

Abstract: An image processing method and apparatus which inputs a color image signal, and generates and outputs pattern data corresponding to the color of the image signal. The color of each pixel of the input color image signal is discriminated by a color discrimination circuit and the pattern data which corresponds to the color is output from the pattern generation circuit according to the result of discrimination. The brightness of the pattern data is adjusted according to a shift, which is the difference between the discriminated color and the color of the pixel. In the instance where the discriminated color is different from the predetermined color, or the proper color is not discriminated, the brightness signal of the pixel data is output as is. In this way, the coexistence of the pattern data at the border of the colors is de-emphasized.

Abstract: An image processing method and apparatus for preventing a character image from being thinned in hatching processing. First, edge-enhancing is performed upon a character image pattern before it is synthesized with a hatching pattern. The edge-enhancing is made by Laplacian processing, increasing density of an image signal corresponding to a hatch area, or fatting of the character image. The exterior outline of the edge-enhanced character image is extracted and data for forming a white-outline is generated. Finally, the white-outline is added to the edge-enhanced character image pattern, and the hatching pattern is synthesized with the character image pattern.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus in which a color identifier identifies the color of an input image based on an input color-image signal. A luminance detector detects luminance information in the input color-image signal. An image generator generates a predetermined pattern which is indicative of the color identified by the color identifier. A measurement device measures the luminance distribution of the detected luminance signal which is outside an area in which color is identified by the color identifier. The output density of the input color-image signal is set in accordance with the measured luminance distribution, and an output monochromatic image is produced in which colors of the input image are identified by the predetermined patterns.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a device for designating a desired color; a device for discriminating a desired color in an objective color image; and a device for color converting portions other than the desired color in the objective color image which was discriminated by the discriminating device, wherein the color converting device color converts the portions other than the desired color which was discriminated by the discriminating device.