Abstract: A developer unit having a memory, and a method of operating an image forming apparatus adopting the same are provided. The developer unit is provided with a developer information module in which various data associated with the management of the developer unit and the developer is stored. Thus, the engine of the image forming apparatus understands the characteristics of the developer by itself by using the developer information module to perform an optimal control suitable for the developer, thereby obtaining a highest printing quality even when the developer is changed. Also, information associated with the developer and the developer unit, e.g. the manufacturing company, recharging company, shelf life, etc. of the developer and the developer unit, can be efficiently managed. Furthermore, the use of inferior goods such as imitations or counterfeits can be prevented.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an engine for forming an image corresponding to received video data on a sheet of paper, a main frame buffer memory, an auxiliary frame buffer memory for outputting stored video data along a data transmission path to the engine according to a video clock sync signal, and a first signal when a lower level correspondingly set to at least some amount of the stored video data is reached and a second signal when the stored data reaches a set upper level.

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: 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.

Abstract: An image printing apparatus and a controlling method thereof capable of outputting optimum images adjusted in accordance with characteristics of the printing material used, including: a photosensitive section for forming a latent electrostatic image; a charging section for charging the photosensitive section; an exposing section for forming the latent electrostatic image of a certain pattern by projecting a laser beam onto the photosensitive section which is charged by the charging section, and by selectively eliminating any residue of electric charge of the photosensitive section; a developing section for developing the latent electrostatic image by applying a developer onto the latent electrostatic image formed on the photosensitive section; a transferring/fixing section for transferring the image developed by the developing section to a printing material; a printing material feeding section for sequentially supplying the printing material to the transferring/fixing section; a data reading section for readi

Abstract: A method of controlling power supply and a printer adopting the same. The power supply controlling method includes the steps of obtaining information of on/off operation times of a power supply switch which supplies and interrupts the supply of power from an external power source to a power supply over a predetermined period, storing the information if a power supply off interval exceeds a predetermined off interval, determining the time of supplying and stopping power of the external power source to the power supply for each period based on the stored on/off operation time information, and connecting and separating a power supply line between the external power source and the power supply according to power supply and interruption times determined for each period.

Abstract: A developer unit having a memory, and a method of operating an image forming apparatus adopting the same are provided. The developer unit is provided with a developer information module in which various data associated with the management of the developer unit and the developer is stored. Thus, the engine of the image forming apparatus understands the characteristics of the developer by itself by using the developer information module to perform an optimal control suitable for the developer, thereby obtaining a highest printing quality even when the developer is changed. Also, information associated with the developer and the developer unit, e.g. the manufacturing company, recharging company, shelf life, etc. of the developer and the developer unit, can be efficiently managed. Furthermore, the use of inferior goods such as imitations or counterfeits can be prevented.

Abstract: A developer unit having a memory, and a method of operating an image forming apparatus adopting the same are provided. The developer unit is provided with a developer information module in which various data associated with the management of the developer unit and the developer is stored. Thus, the engine of the image forming apparatus understands the characteristics of the developer by itself by using the developer information module to perform an optimal control suitable for the developer, thereby obtaining a highest printing quality even when the developer is changed. Also, information associated with the developer and the developer unit, e.g. the manufacturing company, recharging company, shelf life, etc. of the developer and the developer unit, can be efficiently managed. Furthermore, the use of inferior goods such as imitations or counterfeits can be prevented.

Abstract: A method of controlling a power supply to heat sources of a printer and an apparatus for controlling power supply to heat sources of a printer include: a heat generating portion having a plurality of heat sources; a power supply unit; a switching portion having a plurality of switches installed so as to connect or disconnect the power supply from the power supply unit to the individual heat sources; thermal sensors for sensing the temperatures of heat-supplied objects corresponding to the heat sources and generating corresponding temperature signals; and a power supply controller for adjusting the on times of the heat sources so that all periods of power supply to the heat sources do not overlap. Output signals from the thermal sensors for the respective heat sources are used to control the switching portion so that the temperatures of the heat-supplied objects are maintained within the respective preset temperature ranges.

Abstract: A printer and a power controlling method therefor are disclosed. The disclosed printer has a print engine for printing a toner image on a sheet of paper; a power supply unit for supplying power; a power supply controller for supplying the print engine from the power supply unit with power corresponding to any one power mode selected from power modes of different power levels, including a ready-to-print mode in which the print engine is supplied with power so that the print engine can be ready for printing, a power saving mode in which the print engine is supplied with a level of power set below the level of power supplied to the print engine in the ready-to-print mode, and a power off mode in which power supply to the print engine is cut off; and a controller which controls the power mode setting of the print engine and the power supply controller so that an image corresponding to received print data can be printed on a sheet of paper.

Abstract: An electromagnetically operated sheet diverter for an image forming apparatus. The sheet diverter diverts a sheet from a common path to one of two possible paths upon discharge from the image forming apparatus. The sheet diverter is small and compact, making the sheet diverter suitable for desktop image forming devices. A main controller operates the sheet diverter to divert sheets depending on the tray of origin. The sheet diverter has a holding bracket. An electromagnet is mounted to the holding bracket. A spring-biased paper diverting member is selectively attracted by and brought into contact with the electromagnet only when the magnet is activated. A longitudinal shaft is tightly held by the paper diverting member and is selectively rotated along with the paper diverting member. The longitudinal shaft has a plurality of fitting grooves, which are spaced out at regular intervals and have a D-shaped cutting configuration.

Abstract: There is disclosed a perfume spraying printer including a head assembly sliding on a rail mounted inside the printer; and multiple perfume assemblies attached to one side of the head assembly that contain various kinds of perfumes; wherein a user-selected combination of perfumes can be sprayed onto a sheet of printing papers as the head assembly is moved left and right to form characters on the printing papers.

Abstract: A developing unit having a preheating apparatus capable of ensuring good quality of printing by providing a preheating apparatus inside of a developing unit which stores a toner and maintains the toner at a predetermined temperature and humidity, includes: a toner storage unit for storing toner; a toner supply roller for supplying the toner; a photoconductive unit; a developing roller for transmitting the toner supplied by the toner supply roller to an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of the photoconductive unit; a main body having the toner storage unit, the toner supply roller, the developing roller and the photoconductive unit; and a preheating unit disposed inside of the toner storage unit for properly maintaining the temperature of the toner.

Abstract: A light source apparatus for a scanner secures a uniform illuminance. The light source apparatus includes a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged at regular intervals. The light emitting diodes disposed at the periphery are provided with a higher voltage and the light emitting diodes disposed at near the center are provided with a lower voltage, so as to compensate for a loss of the light beam at the outer side. Further, the light source apparatus includes a constant-current source for providing the light emitting diodes with a constant current.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus operable in any one of a facsimile transmitting operation, facsimile receiving operation and a copy operation, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises a common paper transmission path. Paper, i.e., a document having an image thereon or a print paper to be printed on, is fed from a paper input part to the paper transmission path. A scanner, uses an image sensor, disposed along the paper transmission path generates an image signal by reading the image on the fed paper when the image forming apparatus is being operated in one of the facsimile transmitting or copy operations. The image signal is transmitted to a remote facsimile system when the image forming apparatus is being operated in the facsimile transmitting operation, or the image signal is converted to bit map data and stored when the image forming apparatus is being operated in the copy operation.

Abstract: A circuit for matching resolutions of a data transmitted from a host computer and an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus including engine unit for printing the data on paper and video controller for synchronizing the data to be printed to a horizontal synchronizing signal and a video clock received from the engine unit and for serially transmitting the data to the engine unit by the one dot, is disclosed. A resolution matching circuit of an image forming apparatus having transverse direction enlargement portion for generating a second video clock by converting the frequency of the video clock received from the engine unit corresponding to the rate of the resolutions and for providing the second video clock to the video controller and longitudinal direction enlargement portion for temporarily storing a data of an odd number scanning and for providing the stored data to the engine unit as a data of a next even number scanning to be scanned.

Abstract: An energy saving image forming apparatus and a control method therefor may be automatically activated when a user does not use the image forming apparatus for a predetermined period of time, by thereafter initiating a primary energy saving mode where power to a primary energy saving circuit portion of the apparatus is turned off. The primary energy saving circuit portion includes components within the apparatus that consume large amounts of energy, namely the heat lamp and ventilating fan. The secondary energy saving circuit portion includes components within the apparatus other than those included in the primary energy saving circuit portion. To achieve even greater energy savings, a secondary energy saving mode is established in response to a user input. During the secondary energy saving mode, power to the primary energy saving circuit portion and a secondary energy saving circuit portion is turned off. While in the secondary energy saving mode, a reactivation key may be entered by the user.

Abstract: A system for controlling temperature of a fuser unit in an laser printing device, without central processor control, includes a converting circuit for generating a temperature dependent voltage indicative of a sensed temperature of a fusing unit, a determining circuit for generating one of a first reference voltage signal corresponding to a predetermined operational temperature of the fusing device and a second reference voltage signal corresponding to a predetermined standby temperature of the fusing device; and a control signal circuit for generating a control signal in response to comparisons of the temperature dependent voltage to the generated one of the first reference voltage signal and the second reference voltage signal, the control signal for enabling a heating device to heat the fuser unit.