Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for determining the compatibility of a component unit connected to an electronic machine by storing in the component unit information about electronic machines to which the component unit can be connected, thereby eliminating the need to update firmware of the target electronic machine in order to determine compatibility of newly launched component units. The apparatus has a component unit for storing connectibility information; and a target electronic machine determining the connectibility information to determine whether the component unit can operate when the component unit is connected to the target electronic machine and being driven when it is determined that the component unit can operate.

Abstract: A printer, an image printing system to which the printer is applied, and a method for printing a confidential document are provided. The printer includes an input panel including a plurality of input keys, a controller for reading print type information sent through a communication interface together with print data and performing printing of a confidential print data file selected to be printed and received when a code that is the same as a secret code set in the received print type information is input through the input panel, and an engine controlled by the printer controller for printing an image corresponding to the print data to paper. According to the printer, the image printing system to which the printer is applied, and the method for printing the secret document, the printer performs printing only when the secret code input with respect to the confidential print data selected to be printed is the same as the previously set secret code.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for measuring the density of an image in regard to a liquid test patch. The device has: a fan for drying a test patch by blowing air to the test patch disposed on at least one of a photosensitive medium, a photosensitive belt and printing paper; a sensor for projecting infrared light to the dried test patch and measuring the density of the test patch based on the reflected light of the infrared light reflected from the test patch; and an adjustment unit for adjusting the mixing ratio of a toner and a carrier in accordance with the measured density. The device measures the amount of light reflected from the dried liquid test patch, thus allowing the density of the image to be measured accurately.

Abstract: Fusing equipment of an image forming apparatus, includes: a fusing roller fixing a toner image on a printer paper and comprising a supporting layer formed at an inner portion of the fusing roller, a separating layer formed at an outermost portion of the fusing roller, an a heating layer formed between the supporting layer and the separating layer to supply heat; a thermistor detecting a temperature of the fusing roller to control the heating layer; and a pressing roller pressing the printing paper against an end of the fusing roller during a rotational movement of the fusing roller while being in contact with the fusing roller.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of driving a transfer belt are disclosed. The apparatus and method comprise driving the transfer belt provided in an image forming apparatus by a predetermined distance when the transfer belt has been stopped for a predetermined time, and thus varying the contact portion with a plurality of rollers provided on the transfer belt. Image contamination due to deformation on the belt can be avoided. Additionally, because the rotation time of the driving source can be set to a predetermined time during the power-saving mode, power consumption can be minimized.

Abstract: A fusing and fixing unit used with an image forming apparatus including a fusing roller and an infrared heat source. The fusing roller has a main member that has hollow portions therein and is made of an opaque material and an infrared absorbent layer that is formed on the inner surface of the main member. The infrared heat source is installed inside the fusing roller and generates radiant heat having an infrared wavelength.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of satisfying various demands of a user by enabling the user to determine a grade of consumables in a single image forming apparatus, and the method of employing the same. The printing method of an image forming apparatus which has a recognition device to print according to grades of consumables, comprises the steps of checking a grade of at least one consumable by the recognition device, searching a setup condition of the apparatus, through which the optimum printing can be obtained by combining the mounted consumables, setting up a printing condition which is preset by the combination of the consumables, and printing with the setup condition by a user's printing command.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is configured to facilitate design modification. The image forming apparatus has an engine mechanism to carry out a printing job with respect to a print data applied from an external device, an image processing unit to convert the print data into image data, and an engine controlling unit to control the engine mechanism to carry out the print job with respect to the image data. The engine controlling unit and the image processing unit are arranged on a single printed circuit board (PCB) in which a first and a second division are defined, with the engine controlling unit being arranged in the first division and the image processing unit being arranged in the second division. A circuit element in the second division is shared by the engine controlling unit and the image processing unit to reduce costs and redesign time.

Abstract: An optical signal control process and circuit providing an improved electronic photography method reproduction apparatus. The reproduction apparatus has a data transmitting unit converting data to be printed to a series of video data in accordance with a first clock signal and transmitting the converted video data in response to a horizontal synchronization signal applied with a predetermined time interval, and a printing control unit for controlling a mechanism used to print the video data by sending electrical signals, providing beam data used to switch the light generation of a light source element controlled by chopped chopping video data applied to the light source element, and generating the horizontal synchronization signal on the basis of a beam detection signal produced by the light source element.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is configured to facilitate design modification. The image forming apparatus has an engine mechanism to carry out a printing job with respect to a print data applied from an external device, an image processing unit to convert the print data into image data, and an engine controlling unit to control the engine mechanism to carry out the print job with respect to the image data. The engine controlling unit and the image processing unit are arranged on a single printed circuit board (PCB) in which a first and a second division are defined, with the engine controlling unit being arranged in the first division and the image processing unit being arranged in the second division. A circuit element in the second division is shared by the engine controlling unit and the image processing unit to reduce costs and redesign time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus performing a printing operation with respect to printing data transmitted from an external device, the image forming apparatus including a printing engine unit performing the printing operation with respect to the printing data, a printing control unit connectable to the external device, controlling the printing engine unit to perform the printing operation with respect to the printing data transmitted from the external device, and an image processing unit removably disposed in the image forming apparatus, transforming the printing data transmitted from the external device to image data to be processed by the printing engine unit, wherein the image processing unit is connected to the printing control unit through a local BUS when the image processing unit is mounted in the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A direct heating type of fusing equipment of an image forming apparatus includes a fusing roller that has a supporting layer formed inside of the fusing roller, a separating layer formed on an outermost portion of the fusing roller, and a heating layer formed between the supporting layer and the separating layer to supply heat; a thermistor being in contact with an outermost surface of the fusing roller to detect a temperature of the surface of the fusing roller; and a pressing roller pressing a printing paper against the fusing roller while rotating together with the fusing roller and being in contact therewith. The heating layer includes a hot wire wound around an outer circumference of the supporting layer; an insulating material formed between the supporting layer and the hot wire; and an insulation resilient layer disposed in a first gap formed between windings of the hot wire created after the winding of the hot wire and also disposed in a second gap formed between the hot wire and the separating layer.

Abstract: A process is described for implementing a plurality of function modules stored in an image forming apparatus. The process installs a hardware module without need to install a software module. An input of a predetermined key code corresponding to the specific function completes the installation of the specific function when the image forming apparatus additionally requires the specific function.

Abstract: A fusing and fixing unit used with an image forming apparatus including a fusing roller and an infrared heat source. The fusing roller has a main member that has hollow portions therein and is made of an opaque material and an infrared absorbent layer that is formed on the inner surface of the main member. The infrared heat source is installed inside the fusing roller and generates radiant heat having an infrared wavelength. Since the image forming apparatus uses an infrared heat source having a high efficiency of radiating heat as a heat source, a warm-up period can be greatly reduced. Also, since the main member of the fusing roller is formed of an opaque material, in particular, a metallic material, the image forming apparatus can be strong, low-priced, and have a large diameter.

Abstract: A photosensitive drum for a printing apparatus includes a drum body, and a photosensitive film attached to an outer circumference of the drum body, the photosensitive film being wound around the outer circumference of the drum body to have an overlapped portion of a predetermined width at both ends thereof.

Abstract: A photosensitive drum structure for an image forming apparatus using a photosensitive belt. The photosensitive drum structure includes a rotary drum, and a photosensitive belt which is wound on the rotary drum by an adhesive. Here, both ends of the photosensitive belt are overlapped to form a joint on the rotary drum. An inexpensive photosensitive belt is wound on the rotary drum. Thus, the photosensitive drum can be manufactured at a low cost. A joint contacts a cleaning blade at a point and a coating is formed to coat an exposed step of the joint to considerably reduce shocks between the joint and the cleaning blade, thereby prolonging the life of the photosensitive drum and the cleaning blade.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring a liquid level in a vessel using an acoustic wave. Acoustic tubes have first ends disposed vertically along a sidewall of the vessel for each of the liquid levels to be measured, and the tubes communicate with the inside of the vessel. Second ends of the tubes are connected to a common tube. A storage level sensor board generates the acoustic wave in the vessel, receives the acoustic wave propagated through the acoustic tubes and the common tube, and determines the level of liquid in the vessel based on the received acoustic wave.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for measuring the density of an image in regard to a liquid test patch. The device has: a fan for drying a test patch by blowing air to the test patch disposed on at least one of a photosensitive medium, a photosensitive belt and printing paper; a sensor for projecting infrared light to the dried test patch and measuring the density of the test patch based on the reflected light of the infrared light reflected from the test patch; and an adjustment unit for adjusting the mixing ratio of a toner and a carrier in accordance with the measured density. The device measures the amount of light reflected from the dried liquid test patch, thus allowing the density of the image to be measured accurately.

Abstract: An optical signal control process and circuit providing an improved electronic photography method reproduction apparatus. The reproduction apparatus has a data transmitting unit converting data to be printed to a series of video data in accordance with a first clock signal and transmitting the converted video data in response to a horizontal synchronization signal applied with a predetermined time interval, and a printing control unit for controlling a mechanism used to print the video data by sending electrical signals, providing beam data used to switch the light generation of a light source element controlled by chopped chopping video data applied to the light source element, and generating the horizontal synchronization signal on the basis of a beam detection signal produced by the light source element.

Abstract: In one aspect, a carrier recovery apparatus of a liquid electrophotographic printer includes a drying unit, a cooling unit for cooling and condensing carrier vapor evaporated by the drying unit, a condenser for condensing the carrier vapor which has not been condensed by the cooling unit, and a carrier recovery container. In another aspect, a carrier recovery apparatus of a liquid electrophotographic printer includes a drying unit, a first cooling unit for cooling and condensing carrier vapor evaporated by the drying unit, a second cooling unit for cooling the carrier which has passed through the first cooling unit, a condenser for condensing the carrier vapor which has not been condensed by the first and second cooling units, and a carrier recovery container. Accordingly, the efficiency of condensing carrier vapor is improved. As a result, the recovery percentage of a carrier increases, and the duration of a filter is extended.