Abstract: In an apparatus and method of controlling the fuel injection of a direct injection engine, switching is performed, in accordance with the driving condition, between homogeneous combustion, in which fuel is injected from the fuel injection valve during the intake stroke and combusted, and stratified combustion, in which fuel is injected from the fuel injection valve during the compression stroke and combusted, and the injection of fuel from the fuel injection valve is stopped under a predetermined deceleration condition. In the case that the condition in which the injection of the fuel from the fuel injection valve is stopped and the fuel injection is to be resumed by the stratified combustion, the resumption of the injection of fuel from the fuel injection valve is delayed by a predetermined amount of time.

Abstract: An engine control system for an internal combustion engine comprises a combustion system for changing over a combustion mode from a first mode such as a stratified charge combustion mode to a second mode such as a homogeneous charge combustion mode, and an EGR system for controlling an EGR flow to the engine with an EGR control valve. A controller calculates a delayed target equivalent ratio which varies gradually from a first ratio for the first mode to a second ratio for the second mode, and further calculates a modified target equivalent ratio in consideration of an amount of an EGR gas. The controller determines the combustion changeover timing by monitoring a parameter based on the modified target equivalent ratio to take account of the influence of the EGR gas.

Abstract: A compact image forming apparatus which occupies a small floor area even though it has optional units connected to it. The apparatus includes an image forming device, a paper-reversing device attached to a side of the image forming device, a paper-feeding unit, a large-capacity paper-feeding unit, and a large-capacity storage unit. The image forming device and the paper-reversing device are mounted on the paper-feeding unit, which, in turn, is mounted on the large-capacity paper-feeding unit. The large-capacity paper-feeding unit is mounted on the large-capacity storage unit. The total bottom area of the image forming device and the paper-reversing section attached to the side of the image forming device is substantially equal to the top area of the paper-feeding unit, that of the large-capacity paper-feeding unit, and that of said large-capacity storage unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductive drum and an image forming mechanism for forming a toner image on the drum. A transfer charger for transferring the toner image onto a paper is arranged to oppose the drum. A unit member is arranged to face the drum, and integrally provided with first and second support portions and first and second paper guides. The transfer charger is supported on the first support portion, and an aligning roller for feeding paper to the transfer charger is supported on the second support portion. The paper fed by the aligning roller is guided by the first guide to a position between the drum and the transfer charger, and is further guided by the second paper guide toward a fixing unit.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a developing agent image on a recording medium includes a heat roller and a compression roller for pressing the recording medium against the circumferential surface of the heat roller. A discharge guide for guiding the recording paper passing between the rollers, away from the heat roller is arranged near the heat roller. The discharge guide has an end portion located adjacent to the heat roller, and is positioned by a positioning mechanism so that a predetermined distance is defined between the end portion of the discharge guide and the heat roller. The end portion of the guide is spaced away from the heat roller by spacers made of a relatively soft material. A cleaning element is positioned between the spacers. The spacers and cleaning element are biased against the heat roller by a spring force.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a support frame arranged in a main body. The support frame is integrally provided with at least first to third support portions. An image forming process cartridge is supported and positioned by the first support portion. An optical unit is supported and positioned by the second support portion with respect to the cartridge. A transfer charger is supported and portioned by the third support portion with respect to the cartridge.

Abstract: A laser printer includes a photosensitive drum, a developing device, a transferring device, and a fixing device. The photosensitive drum and the developing device are mounted along with a process cartridge within one body. The process cartridge is detachably inserted into the body. When the process cartridge is out of the body, the state of the process cartridge is treated as being "new". The state of the process cartridge is changed from the "new" state to a "used" state after an initializing operation of the process cartridge after it is completed and inserted into the body.

Abstract: A web feeding apparatus according to the present invention feeds in one direction a thermal transfer ribbon as a web with low transverse rigidity clamped between a platen roller and a recording head having a predetermined printing range. The web feeding apparatus comprises support members disposed on the lower-course side of the platen roller with respect to one direction and adapted to increase tension on the thermal transfer ribbon at each side edge portion thereof along one direction.

Abstract: The improved image building apparatus is constructed such that recording medium, that is, recording paper, is normally introduced into the image building section with a thermal head or the like component incorporated therein while it is stretched under the effect of a certain intensity of braking force which is exerted on the recording paper from the rear side as seen in the direction of transportation thereof. This causes an occurrence of such a malfunction as skewing, loosening or the like of the recording paper to be inhibited at least in the image building section. Thus, image building can be achieved without incorrect registering, deformation or the like recognized with the printing paper on which image transference has been carried out.

Abstract: A thermal printer comprises a thermal printing head to heat an ink ribbon overlapping a printing sheet. The ink ribbon is coated with thermally transferable colorants and transfer ratio regulating materials. First, the transfer ratio regulating materials are transferred onto the printing sheet by heating the ink ribbon, and then the colorants are transferred according to an image to be printed. The colorants are thus thermally transferred onto the printing sheet in accordance with the amount and range of transferred regulating materials. The material operates to reduce or promote the transfer of colorants. Thus, a multi-gradation expression of the printed image may be achieved by changing the transferred amount of the transfer rate regulating materials.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a transfer medium is set to be fed. Transfer materials are set to be selectively fed in such a manner that each transfer material has a monochromatic color agent and an identification code assigned thereto, or a plurality of color agents and identification codes assigned thereto. A first feeding means feeds the transfer medium, while a second feeding means feeds the transfer material. A transfer portion transfers a color agent of the transfer material fed by the second feeding means to a transfer medium fed by the first feeding means in accordance with printing data. A detecting means detects the identification code of the transfer material. A controlling means discriminates the type of transfer material in accordance with the identification code detected by the detecting means. The controlling means changes the printing mode in accordance with this discrimination result.

Abstract: An image forming device comprising sheets of paper which are to be printed, a transfer ribbon having an ink area of four colors which are to be thermally transferred onto the paper sheet, a platen roller for conveying the paper sheet, and a thermal head for heating the transfer ribbon, for thermally multitransferring its colors onto the paper sheet, and for keeping the transfer ribbon forced against the platen roller with the paper sheet interposed between them. Conveying rollers are arranged on that side of the platen roller where the paper sheet comes out of the platen roller, in the forward direction, and consist of a metal roller to the surface of which has adhered a micro-powder such as ceramic and tungsten carbide, and a rubber roller. The conveying rollers are driven but the platen roller is not during the printing operation of the thermal head, and at least one of the platen roller and the conveying rollers is driven during the non-printing operation of the thermal head.

Abstract: In a recording apparatus designed to effect printing onto a sheet of paper, a main body is provided with a printing means arranged to effect printing onto the sheet of paper. The main body is provided with a cassette-mounting portion into which a cassette used to receive therein a sheet of paper to be fed toward the printing means is mounted from above the main body and obliquely with respect thereto. The cassette is provided with a sheet size regulating plate slidable in accordance with the size of the sheet received therein. The sheet size regulating plate is provided at one end with a magnet. On the other hand, the cassette-mounting portion is provided with a sensor operating at the time when said magnet moves to come near thereto. This sensor is connected to a display plate provided to the main body. Accordingly, when the sensor senses the position of the magnet, display is made of the size of the sheet set in the cassette by the display plate.

Abstract: A developing device develops an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive drum by using a magnetic developer. The developing device comprises a body frame having a storage section storing the magnetic developer, a developing roller disposed inside the body frame and including a first section facing the storage section and a second section facing the photosensitive drum, for supplying the magnetic developer in the storage section to the second section through the shift of a magnetic field, whereby the magnetic developer supplied to the second section by the developing roller is attracted to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum, and an intermediate plate provided in the frame body under the developing roller to bear thereon the magnetic developer dropped from the developing roller.