Abstract: An electrophotographic printer/copier comprises a photoconductive drum assembly and an optical writer for projecting a rectilinear line of image information onto the drum's photoconductive surface. Both subsystems share the same pair of mechanical fiducials for precisely positioning these subsystems in the printer frame. According to the invention, the optical writer is movably mounted on the fiducials to adjust the skew of an image line projected onto the drum.

Abstract: In order to provide an image forming system characterized by compact configuration, high speed printing, high picture quality recording and excellent maintainability without image misregistration, an image forming system is provided, wherein multiple photoconductors are arranged along one of the surfaces of the intermediate transfer belt which is elongated in the longitudinal direction, and a fusing device is located on the other surface, with the photoconductors being integrated in one unit.

Abstract: A modular printhead is disclosed having the ability to separate, leaving a first collection of predetermined layers relatively permanently affixed to a print engine while a second collection of predetermined layers resides in a relatively disposable component thereof. The modular printhead includes a first printhead component having at least a first electrode and a second electrode. There is additionally a second component of the printhead. The second component can have a third electrode. The first printhead component of the printhead demountably presses against the second component, held in place by at least one fastening mechanism.

Abstract: Two pairs of legs are fitted under two side plates of an electrophotography apparatus, respectively. The two legs in one pair fitted under one of the side plates are disposed on either side of and are spaced from a point which is a cross point of a line joining these two legs, and a line perpendicular to this line, which perpendicular line passes through a projected point obtained by projecting the center of gravity of the electrophotography apparatus onto a horizontal plane on which the apparatus is set up. The two legs in the pair fitted under the other one of the side plates are disposed on either side of and are spaced from a point which is a cross point of a line passing these two legs and a line perpendicular to this line, which perpendicular line passes through the projected point of the center of gravity. The ratio of a shorter distance to a longer distance, of two distances: one between the two legs in a pair and the other between the two legs in the other pair is set to a value of 1/5 to 1/3.

Abstract: An electrophotographic imaging apparatus includes a plurality of photoconductive drums and a plurality of printhead assemblies. Each drum has an axis of rotation and a photoconductive peripheral surface. A plurality of the axes of rotation of the drums lie in a generally common plane. The peripheral surface of each drum rotates in a common direction defining an advance direction of the print medium. Adjacent drums are disposed at a first distance away from each other between the axes of rotation. Each printhead assembly is associated with a respective drum and is configured for generating a laser beam which impinges upon the respective drum along a line of incidence. The printhead assemblies are disposed at a second distance from one to another which is greater than the first distance.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus comprises a stationary main body, a lid assembly, an exposing unit, and a guide mechanism. The stationary main body accommodates a print process cartridge therein. The main body has an opening that opens upward of the image-forming apparatus. The lid assembly is rotatably supported on the stationary main body so that the lid assembly is rotatable about an axis to open and close the opening. The exposing unit is mounted to an inner side of the lid assembly and extends parallel to the axis. The exposing assembly moves into mating engagement with the print process cartridge when the lid assembly has completely closed the opening. The guide mechanism guides the exposing unit into mating engagement with the print process cartridge when the lid assembly is rotated to close the stationary main body.

Abstract: Structuring the lower surface side of the body case of a printer to space heat generating sources apart from the cooling fan, improves the cooling efficiency and reduces the manufacturing cost of a printer. In a position close to a front portion of a main frame of a body case of a printer, an upper plate portion for an air duct extending in the transverse direction through the interior of the body case is formed in a generally inverted V shape in section. This isolates a processing unit incorporating a photosensitive drum, a developing device for forming a toner image on the photosensitive drum and a transfer roller, and a fixing unit to heat-fix the toner image after transfer onto paper from each other. Both lower ends of the upper plate portion having this shape are interconnected integrally to form an air duct. On the lower surface side of the main frame there is formed a receptacle portion communicating with both the air duct and an air passage for passing air to a drive motor.

Abstract: A shaft encoder providing a pulsed output signal with rotation of a shaft, the number of pulses being dependent upon a shaft-mounted gear and its number of teeth. In a preferred embodiment, a piezo film element is mounted in intimate contact with a spring element, the latter being positioned to engage the teeth of the gear. When the shaft rotates, the gear rotates as well. The gear teeth cause the spring element to be displaced and then return to a nominal position for each tooth. Accordingly, given a sufficient number of regularly spaced teeth around the gear, a relatively high resolution pulsed signal is generated as the shaft rotates. The piezo film element generates electrical pulses due to the mechanical displacement of the spring element to which the film is in contact. Thus, no electrical power source is required to generate the pulses. Moreover, because of the simplicity of the invention, size scaling is readily available.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a common mount member formed with a shaft support portion for supporting a shaft supporting an image carrier and a writing device support portion for supporting the writing device. The common mount portion is affixed to a stationary member. The image carrier and writing device are held in a preselected positional relation via the common mount member. Also, a positional relation between the image carrier and a developing device is set via the common mount member. The image carrier and members surrounding it can be accurately assembled and adjusted in position with ease.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus includes: a rotary image forming body; a plurality of charging units provided along the image forming body for charging the image forming body; a plurality of exposure units each provided inside the image forming body for imagewise exposing the image forming body to form a latent image; a plurality of developing units each storing therein colored developer different from each other, provided along the image forming body, for developing the latent image formed on the image forming body to form a colored toner image different from each other. After a plurality of different colored toner images are superimposed on the image forming body through successively repeating of charging by the charging unit, imagewise exposing by the exposure unit and developing by the developing unit to form a colored toner image during one rotation of the image forming body, the superimposed toner images are collectively transferred onto a transfer member.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a small-size image forming apparatus in which a plurality of light emitting element arrays are easily aligned with each other at high accuracy. Each of light emitting element arrays of Y, M, C, K comprises a plurality of LED elements arranged in a straight line and is driven by a color image signal of each color. On the reference plate disposed on the support are arranged head substrates having light emitting element arrays of each color in such a manner that the light emitting element arrays are nearly in parallel with each other. On a peripheral surface of each photosensitive drum, an electrostatic latent image forming position is established where an electrostatic image is formed by receiving light from each of the light emitting element arrays, and toner of the specified color is supplied to the specified electrostatic latent image forming apparatus by each developing device.

Abstract: An optical printer is disclosed which detects photo speed, cartridge presence, pick location and door closure using only two sets of photo detectors. The disclosed optical printer uses a low-profile gear and switching mechanism which allows placement of the optical printer within a standard computer bay.

Abstract: A storage container and method of storing inkjet cartridges and removable capping means therefor in which the order of their insertion and/or removal is controlled. Preferably, both the order of insertion of a cartridge and its capping means and the order of removal of said cartridge and capping means are controlled so that a cap and a printhead of a cartridge engage and disengage by the movement of the printhead towards or away from the cap thus preventing damage to the printhead by movement of the cap or any of the other components of a service module against the printhead. A rotatable arm mounted on the storage container which abuts a cartridge and obstructs the removal and/or insertion of the capping means is disclosed for controlling said order of insertion and removal.

Abstract: An optical scanner includes a light source to generate a light beam, a first optical unit to give a specified optical characteristic to the light beam emitted from the light source, a scanning unit including a rotatable member to scan a scanning object by applying the light beam passed through the first optical unit while rotating the rotatable member in a specified direction and a second optical unit to lead the light beam to form an image on a specified position of the scanning object; and a housing having a bottom portion to house the optical system, an opening portion provided at the side opposite to the bottom portion, a first reference surface that is used as a reference when the bottom side is set to a first external equipment and a second reference surface that is used as a reference when the opening side is set to a second external equipment.

Abstract: A device connects an optional tray of a laser beam printer simultaneously with the placement of the optional tray. The device has a alignment pin printer terminal projected from a lower surface of a printer body and connected to a CPU in the printer body, a pin hole formed at the position corresponding to the printer terminal on an upper surface of the optional tray, and a tray terminal formed to be applied with the elasticity in the pin hole and connected to a PCB in the optional tray. An elastic member closely connects the tray terminal to the printer terminal when combining the printer body to the optional tray, by elastically supporting the tray terminal.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus is provided which includes at casing having upper and lower cavities arranged in a vertically spaced relationship. A drawer is arranged in the upper cavity and has a hopper for accommodating sheets. The lower cavity functions as a stacker. Sheets are conveyed from the hopper to the lower cavity along a sheet conveying path. An upper image reading or printing head is arranged in the drawer to act on the upper surface of the sheet. A lower image reading or printing head is arranged in the drawer or at a position along the sheet conveying path to act on the lower surface of the sheet. Therefore, it is possible to read information on both surfaces of the sheet or to print data onto both surfaces of the sheet.

Abstract: An electrophotographic serial printing apparatus includes: a transporting unit for transporting a recording sheet in a sheet transport direction; a processing unit including a unit for uniformly charging a photosensitive drum which is rotated, a unit for exposing the photosensitive drum to form a latent image, and a unit for developing the latent image to form a developed image on the photosensitive drum, a transferring unit for transferring the developed image from the photosensitive drum to the recording sheet; a fixing unit for fixing the developed image to the recording sheet by using a fixing roller after the developed image is transferred to the recording sheet, the fixing unit including a holding member for holding the fixing roller; a carriage unit on which the processing unit and the fixing unit are arranged; a moving unit for moving the carriage unit over the transferring unit in directions perpendicular to the sheet transport direction; and a heating unit for heating the fixing roller through an in

Abstract: A method and device to enhance the printing quality of direct electrostatic printers which utilize an electrode array and electrical signals to generate an electrical field to cause toner particles to be deposited directly onto plain paper to form visible images. The invention relates to an improvement to dynamically position and maintain a desired distance between the electrode array and the surface of the charged particles on the particle carrier.

Abstract: In a color image forming apparatus in which each of charging devices, image exposure devices and developing devices is provided in plural sets corresponding in number to plural different color components and placed in such an arrangement that the plural different color component toner images are superimposed on the image carrying member during a single rotation of the image carrying member, all of the plural image exposure means, and the image carrying member are constructed in a single body and is shiftable together in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the image carrying member from or to the working position of the image carrying member.

Abstract: A conveying unit conveys a recording sheet in a sheet conveying direction. A carriage includes a processing unit including an image carrier which is rotated about a rotational axis parallel to the sheet conveying direction. The processing unit forms a latent image on the image carrier by electrically charging and developing the latent image so as to produce a developed image. A transfer unit transfers the developed image on the image carrier to the recording sheet as a result of inserting the recording paper between the image carrier and said transfer unit as the carriage moves on the recording sheet in a carriage moving direction. A fixing unit fixes the developed image onto the recording sheet, and a supporting member rotatably supports the processing unit and the fixing unit. A moving unit moves the carriage in the carriage moving direction which is perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in accordance with the present invention is provided with a unit composed of members such as a photoreceptor drum and an optical system, the unit being attachably and detachably provided with respect to the image forming apparatus main body. With the arrangement, the replacement of the photoreceptor drum can be made at the user's end with ease. It is not necessary to carry out fine adjustments at the user's end for positioning the photoreceptor drum and optical system with respect to the image forming apparatus main body. Thus, professional skill is not required for the replacement of the photoreceptor drum, thereby resulting in that the operations such as maintenance can be effectively made. It is preferable that a cleaner is further provided for removing any contaminated materials adhering to the inner surface of the photoreceptor drum.

Abstract: The field of the invention is an improved keying system for categorizing a consumable cartridge by using a two component system including a relatively long-lived portion and the relatively short-lived consumable cartridge. The improved system includes a lug element and a structure for mounting the lug element to the relatively long-lived portion, which may be the inner housing of a copier machine or other machine using consumable cartridges. Ideally, the lug element is self-fixturing into a void space. The consumable cartridge has portions defining a void into which the lug element projects when the consumable cartridge is inserted into the relatively long-lived portion for machine operations.

Abstract: A serial printer has a plurality of printing assemblies each comprising, a transport mechanism for transporting a recording sheet in a sheet transport direction, a process part, including an image bearing member with a rotary shaft which extends in a direction parallel to the sheet transport direction, for forming a latent image on the image bearing member by charging the image bearing member and developing the latent image into a developed image, a fixing unit, including a first fixing member, for fixing the developed image on the image bearing member onto the recording sheet by the first fixing member, at least one printing carriage movable in a carriage moving direction perpendicular to the sheet transport direction and supporting the process part and the fixing unit, and a transfer unit for transferring the developed image formed on the image bearing member onto the recording sheet that is interposed between the transfer unit and the printing carriage.

Abstract: The quality of an image can be improved by adjusting the print. When a carriage of an electrographic device is conveyed in a perpendicular direction to the feeding direction of the recording paper for exposure, development and photographic fixing, temperature and/or himidity is detected to determine an absolute humidity. The feeding amount of the paper is altered. A new feeding amount of the recording paper is determined in consideration of the altered feeding amount of the recording paper. Accordingly, the effect of shrinkage of the recording paper can be avoided, each image line can be arranged continuously and the quality of the image can be improved.

Abstract: A multicolor image forming apparatus having a plurality of unicolor imaging units each equipped with at least a developing device anchored to a unit frame and an image carrier drum anchored removably to the unit frame with a predetermined space kept to a roll of the developing device. The unicolor imaging units are installed removably in the apparatus body while being supported respectively by means of slide rails attached to frames of the apparatus body, and toner images produced individually by the unicolor imaging units are transferred onto a recording medium to form a multicolor image.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic device, a main body is divided into a lower body and a swingable upper body. A process unit formed of at least a toner holder, a charger, and a developer is detachably mounted in the lower body. The position of the process unit (particularly, the photosensitive member) relative to the lower body (particularly, a member driving gear) is controlled by placing a shaft of the member through a groove in a side wall of the lower body at one end of the member, and by bringing a lower end of the side wall of the process unit supporting the member into contact with an upper end of a support member supporting the member driving gear. An exposure unit mounted in the upper body is positioned to the photosensitive member with a predetermined distance therebetween by bringing a contact portion of the exposure head into contact with the side wall of the lower body supporting the member.

Abstract: A xerographic serial printer includes a sheet feeding mechanism for feeding a recording sheet, a xerographic recording head for recording a toner image on a recording sheet, a carriage disposed below a sheet path for carrying the xerographic recording head such that the xerographic recording head records the image on a lower major surface of the recording sheet, a carriage actuation mechanism for driving the carriage along a recording sheet in a horizontal direction such that the xerographic recording head scans the lower major surface in the horizontal direction, a platen plate disposed above the recording sheet feed path in engagement with an upper major surface of the recording sheet, for causing a transfer of the toner image to the lower major surface of the recording sheet, and a fixing unit for fixing the toner image transferred to the lower major surface of the recording sheet by heating the toner image on the recording sheet.