Abstract: A photo print is produced from image data. A system controller classifies the photo prints on the basis of additional information of the image data under a classification condition recorded in a smart medium. The photo prints are discharged to sorting trays. The system controller allocates the respective sorting trays to each classification. When the photo print is discharged to the sorting tray, a sorter switches a conveyance route of the photo print in response to a classification signal sent from the system controller. The photo prints are distributed to the sorting trays every classification. Owing to this, the photo prints are prevented from being discharged in a mixed state.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of generating print data from a printed image produced by a printing device operating at a first dots per inch (dpi) value, so that the image is composed of a plurality of dots, the image incorporating defects resulting during printing of the image, such as rotation of a print medium and blemishes of the image. The method includes the step of scanning the printed image, at a sampling rate which corresponds to a second dpi value that exceeds the first dpi value by a predetermined factor so that each dot of the image results in the generation of at least two markers. Data relating to the position and colour value of each marker is generated. The defects in the image are detected and a data value is assigned to such defects. The data is processed and the data value is used to determine which of each of the markers generated for a respective dot should be recorded as a center for that dot.

Abstract: A method for correcting a recording head is provided to solve the problems of density unevenness in recorded images. The density comparison is made with the reference density for a predetermined unit in the density distribution of an image recorded by the application of n kinds of signals. Then, one of the n kinds of signals which is close to the reference density is selected. The properties of the signal thus selected are transmitted to the recording head together with the correction data, hence correcting density unevenness.

Abstract: A leather coloring process for carrying out coloring on a natural leather, or a natural leather which has been subjected to degreasing. The coloring process is accomplished by ink-jet coloring on at least a partial area of the natural leather.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an electrophotographic part for printing a monochromatic image and an ink jet part for printing a color image. A switch device selects to carry a sheet of paper which has been printed by the electrophotographic part directly to the external tray or to carry the sheet of paper through an intermediate tray to the ink jet part for printing a color image. Once the switch device selects to carry the sheet of paper to the ink jet part, the switch device is inhibited to discharge directly a sheet of paper on which an image is formed by the electrophotographic part. Thus, the order of the printed papers is kept the same as that of the original documents.

Abstract: An ink jet recording device includes an external switch, a device for detecting the amount of ink left in each ink cartridge, and a device operating such that when an instruction to replace the ink cartridge is generated by the switch, or when a device detects an ink end of the cartridge, only the ink cartridge to be replaced is exposed through a window in the recording device. The ink cartridge to be replaced is specified, and only the specified ink cartridge is automatically moved to a replaceable position. Correct replacement of more than one ink cartridge is ensured, and the cartridge replacing work is simplified.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ink jet printer for having a scan module detachably mounted thereon. According to the present invention, the ink jet printer includes a body including a paper carrying section and a capping section formed at an outside of the paper carrying section; a guide shaft mounted to be normal to a direction of carrying the paper along a width of the body; and a carriage which has at least one scan module and a plurality of ink cartridges mounted thereon, the carriage is reciprocally moved along the guide shaft in the paper carrying section, and which is carried to the capping section when a printing or scanning is finished, wherein the scan module is detachably mounted on the carriage and a distance between the scan module and the capping section is larger than a distance between the ink cartridges and the capping section.

Abstract: When an image is sensed by a digital camera, image additional information as the image sensing conditions is stored together with the sensed image information. Also, information unique to that digital camera is stored together with the image additional information. The digital camera is connected to a printer by, e.g., an IEEE1394 I/F. The printer stores printing control information as various combinations of unique information such as its printing method, the types of ink, paper, and the like, print quality and print speed, and processing technique such as masking. In response to a print instruction, the printer reads the image information ad image additional information from the digital camera, and selects the printing control information in accordance with the read information and the set printing mode. The printer prints an image using the selected printing control information.

Abstract: In a multi-functional apparatus, a carriage having a printhead and a scanner mounted thereon is reciprocally and slidably moved along a guide shaft by a driving motor as a driving source, a transparent window is provided adjacent to an opening formed in a lower portion of the scanner, a recess for disposing a dusting implement is formed at a side of a document support which is disposed below the scanner and supports a document to be scanned, and an electronic controller controls the driving motor so that the window of the scanner is disposed over the recess for disposing the dusting implement therein when a cleaning mode is selected.

Abstract: An image-processing apparatus and a control method for this apparatus. Image data is received through a communication section and is recorded by a recording section onto a recording material fed from a manual-feeding tray. Recording materials of various sizes can be set on this tray. The correct recording-material size is obtained based on the size of the received image data and is displayed, and an indication is also given to check whether the recording operation is to be performed. If the manual-feeding operation has been selected, an alarm sound indicates that the image data has been received. The processing then proceeds according to the instruction given in response to the display. Further, if it is determined that a recording error has occurred when the recording operation is performed through manual feeding, the image data is stored in a non-volatile storage.

Abstract: A multifunctional machine for scanning and printing and a scanning and printing method used in the multifunctional machine are capable of reducing the volume of the multifunctional machine and reducing data amount relative to parts other than a document when scanning a document smaller than a reference size document. The document or a printable medium is fed in a sub-scanning direction by a feeding unit. A scanner module scans the document by performing shuttle movement in a main scanning direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction, and a printer module is established next to the scanner module in the sub-scanning direction for printing data onto the printable medium. In addition, a white panel is located facing the bottom side of the scanner module in the main scanning direction, and a black panel is located facing the bottom side of the printer module in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: When an image is sensed by a digital camera, image additional information as image sensing conditions is stored together with the sensed image information. Also, information unique to that digital camera is stored together with the image additional information. The digital camera is connected to a printer by, e.g., an IEEE1394 I/F. The printer stores printing control information as various combinations of unique information such as its printing method, the types of ink, the paper, and the like, the print quality and the print speed, and the processing technique, such as masking. In response to a print instruction, the printer reads the image information and image additional information from the digital camera, and selects the printing control information in accordance with the read information and the set printing mode. The printer prints an image using the selected printing control information.

Abstract: A first printing unit for forming a front image on one surface and a second printing unit forming a back image on the other surface are respectively constructed with two stages of printing heads. With respect to the image formed on one surface of a printing medium by the first printing unit, the image formed on the other surface of the printing medium by the second printing unit is formed as a mirror image of bilateral symmetry about an axis in a transporting direction so that the image on the other surface is consistent with the image on one surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-functional apparatus having a small size. The multi-functional apparatus according to the present invention includes a body including a section for transferring a recordable paper and a service station formed at an outside of the recordable paper transferring section; a guide mounted along an entire width of the body in a vertical direction to be normal to a recordable paper transferring direction; and a carriage which has a printhead and a scanner module mounted thereon and moves reciprocally along the guide to be across the recordable paper transferring section, the carriage being positioned in the service station when a scanning or printing operation is normally completed, wherein the scanner module is mounted on the carriage to be adjacent to the recordable paper transferring section with reference to the printhead.

Abstract: In a print head of this invention, electricity-to-heat converters and a driver circuit for driving these electricity-to-heat converters in accordance with print data are formed on a single board. The board further includes an input/output interface circuit for receiving print data from an external apparatus, a CPU for controlling a printer apparatus, a ROM, a RAM, an A/D converter, a D/A converter, a timer, and the like, and also includes an external element driver for driving a mechanism portion of the printer apparatus.

Abstract: In a printing method for embedding a pattern signal, which represents a predetermined pattern, into color print signals, and printing an image, in which the predetermined pattern has been embedded, the color print signals are modulated such that signal components of the color print signals corresponding to a pattern area, into which the pattern is embedded, approximately undergo conditional color matching with signal components of the color print signals corresponding to the other area. Modulated print signals are obtained from the modulation, and the printing is performed in accordance with the modulated print signals. Various kinds of information, such as information for prevention of illegal duplication and merchandise control information, can thus be embedded with a simple technique into a print.

Abstract: In a print head of this invention, electricity-to-heat converters and a driver circuit for driving these electricity-to-heat converters in accordance with print data are formed on a single board. The board further includes an input/output interface circuit for receiving print data from an external apparatus, a CPU for controlling a printer apparatus, a ROM, a RAM, an A/D converter, a D/A converter, a timer, and the like, and also includes an external element driver for driving a mechanism portion of the printer apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image output apparatus that effects an image output operation by recording on a cloth recording medium. The image processing apparatus supplies first image data as original image data to the image output apparatus, and supplies second image data, different from the first image data, to be used for processing the cloth recording medium after the image output operation. The second image data can include a pattern for cutting or sewing the cloth. The apparatus further designates information associated with the second image data, so as to form the second image data on the cloth recording medium on which the first image data is recorded. The output of the first and second data is controlled in accordance with the designated information.

Abstract: When a mark flag is ON and external light is detected at reception of facsimile data, a printing portion performs printing of the facsimile data without a mark sensor attempting to detect an indication mark. At this time, if a backup flag is ON, the facsimile data is stored as backup data in a memory. On the other hand, if the backup flag is OFF, the facsimile data is not stored as backup data in the memory.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and method having an indicator sensor and a light sensor. When the indicator sensor detects an unacceptable indicator image, the printing apparatus and method store the image to be printed. The printing apparatus and method further includes a cleaning apparatus and method that executes at predetermined intervals, or when the unacceptable indicator image is detected.

Abstract: To provide a transmission device capable of preventing user from performing erroneous operations when erasure or printing of backup data. When the transmission device receives facsimile data from a remote transmission device, a memory stores the facsimile data as backup data and also stores reception data relating to the facsimile data. The reception data includes data of reception time, reception date, name and telephone number of a transmission source of the facsimile data. Printing of the reception data is performed automatically at a predetermined timing and whenever the user wises so as to provide a transmission maintenance information. The user can gain an understanding of backup data stored in the memory by examining the report, and can determined whether or not printing and/or erasure of the backup data should be performed.

Abstract: An easy-to-use image forming apparatus and method which uses either a monochrome recording cartridge or a plurality of colors recording cartridge, which, when recording an image desired by a user, does not require the user to perform unnecessary operations regarding replacement of a cartridge, change of the kind of recorded image, or selection of a form. A determination is made as to whether or not a correct cartridge is attached based on the kind of the currently attached cartridge and the image desired by the user. When it is determined that the correct cartridge is attached, recording is initiated. When it is determined that the correct cartridge is not attached, a notification prompting replacement is provided to the user. When the user instructs color reading or monochrome reading of the original, a recording operation is carried out by changing the size of the image to an appropriate size in response to the kind of recorder, original size and form size.

Abstract: An oil based computer printing system for providing an efficient effective means for producing artistic printings includes a computer system having a scanner for capturing an image and a printer for printing the image onto a canvas-like material using oil based inks to produce a printing in the style of an oil based painting.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus reads in advance an original with an image to be recorded and, on the basis of the read image data, executes color image recording for each band while driving ink-jet heads for scanning. The apparatus obtains the requisite ink amount of each color (the cumulative number of times that ejection is effected) for recording the image of this original, C.sub.T, M.sub.T, Y.sub.T, Bk.sub.T, on the basis of which a judgment is made as to what combination of colors minimizes the ejection amount in each scanning. In accordance with the result of this judgment, inks of the colors of each combination are ejected in first and second scanning passes, whereby it is always possible to obtain the benefits of divisional recording, such as beading prevention, regardless of the kind of image to be recorded.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multifunctional machine which prevents the contamination caused by the contact of a document and a printhead, by placing the printhead to face a base frame supporting a printable medium and placing a scanner to face the base frame supporting the document. Also, disclosed is a multifunctional machine capable of simplifying the structure and reducing the manufacturing costs, by sharing the base frame for supporting the printable medium and the document and by moving the printhead and the scanner using one driving motor.

Abstract: To provide a transmission device wherein a memory is prevented from being filled up with data. After printing of backup data stored in the memory, a display portion displays a message inquiring a user whether or not printing of the backup data has been performed properly. If the user indicates that the printing has been performed properly by performing predetermined key operations, then the backup data is automatically erased from the memory.

Abstract: A combined digital reproduction apparatus suitable for making prints in response to actuation of keys on an operating panel (e.g. copies of documents scanned with a scanner) and making prints on its own initiative (prints in accordance with a digital print file received from a network). In this apparatus, a user present at the apparatus for a print order is given priority. The control process of the apparatus for this purpose executes any print orders arriving via the network only if it does not detect any signs indicative of the fact that a user is preparing or executing a reproduction process at the apparatus. Such signs may, for example, be in the form of actuation of a key on the operating panel or the actual execution of a copying order. If the control process detects such signs, it does not start the print orders received via the network. If the control process does not detect such signs, it announces the print order first for a predetermined time period, e.g.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus has a recording mode in which recording is performed by selectively discharging black ink and color inks of colors other than black. Any abnormality in the state of discharge of the ink is performed by executing a test discharging operation. When the recording apparatus functions as a facsimile apparatus, the test discharging operation is conducted by discharging only the black ink, without discharging inks of other colors. Wasteful consumption of ink is diminished, so that the running cost of the ink jet recording apparatus is reduced.

Abstract: The silicon fluid ejector of the present invention includes an electrostatically actuated micromachined positive displacement mechanism consisting of a piston, piston containment structure, piston retraction mechanism and an ejection orifice. These features provide for very low cost of production, high reliability and "on demand" drop size, modulation. The fluid ejector mechanism can be easily produced via monolithic batch fabrication based on the common production technique of surface micromachining.

Abstract: A facsimile apparatus is equipped with an ink jet printer in which the recording head is inspected for ink discharge failure in response to a call signal, then a head recovery process is effected in case of discharge failure, and the normal data reception process is started after the discharge failure is rectified. If the discharge failure is not rectified after repeated recovery processes, the communication is interrupted, so that wasted communication resulting from malfunction of the recording head can be avoided.

Abstract: A recording unit has an illuminating device for projecting light on an original to form an original image, and an optical device which focuses the original image formed by the illuminating device. A light control plate has a slit for allowing a portion of the original image focused by the optical device to pass through. The light which passes through the slit of the light control plate is guided onto a print head which ejects ink on a recording medium when exposed to the light.

Abstract: An image processor includes a first image information processing unit which processes image information with respect to a sheet medium. A first sheet medium feeding path guides the sheet medium to the first image information processing unit, and exhausts the sheet medium from the first image information processing unit. A second image information processing unit processes image information with respect to a sheet medium while allowing a head for processing image information to travel serially. The second information processing unit is arranged on a side lower than the first image information processing unit. A second sheet medium feeding path guides the sheet medium to the second image information processing unit, and exhausts the sheet medium from the second image information processing unit. An electric circuit board is arranged below the feeding path of the first sheet medium, and above the feeding path of the second sheet medium.

Abstract: A facsimile apparatus capable of reliable printing after exchanging an ink cartridge. When removal and replacement of an ink cartridge is detected, a predetermined pattern is printed on a print sheet. The printing is performed employing a pattern which actuates all ink nozzles of a printhead to discharge ink. A user of the apparatus visually inspects and confirms the inspection pattern and presses a start button if the user determines that normal printing is performed, but presses a stop button if the user determines that normal printing is not performed. When the start button is pressed, the subsequent printing operation is performed, but when the stop button is pressed, the subsequent printing operation is suppressed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recording apparatus comprising recording means for forming an image on a sheet, discharge means for discharging the sheet on which the image was formed by the recording means, and an outer cover for convering a body of the recording apparatus. Wherein a deep recess is formed in a side wall portion of the cover, and the discharge means is arranged in a deep area of the recess, and the sheets discharged by the discharge means are stacked on a bottom surface of the recess. Whereby, the visual observation of the discharged sheet can be made more easy, the removal of the jammed sheet can be facilitated, and the recording means can easily be exchanged.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus is provided which is capable of performing a recording function for recording images on a sheet material when an ink jet recording head discharging ink from ink discharge ports is installed thereon and for performing an image reading function to read images from a sheet material when an image reading head is installed thereon. The ink jet recording head includes a discharge port surface having the ink discharge ports formed thereon. The image reading head includes an image reading surface for reading images. The apparatus includes a member abutting upon and arranged to be in contact with the ink discharge port surface of the ink jet recording head when the ink jet recording head is installed. The member is also arranged so as not to be in contact with the image reading surface of the image reading head when the image reading head is installed.

Abstract: A printer that performs high-precision residual-ink detection regardless of various movements accompanying print operation and facsimile apparatus using the printer. When an ink cartridge reciprocates along a main-scanning direction, ink surface of ink 91 varies depending on a moving direction and moving condition (stationary state, uniform motion, accelerated motion and decelerated motion) of the ink cartridge. Accordingly, the residual-ink detection is controlled such that a residual-ink amount can be detected by using photosensor 11 and reflection board 93, at the same detection timing (e.g., always at timing of uniform motion).

Abstract: An image recording apparatus is capable of mounting a replaceable monochromatic recording head or color recording head and has a function to discriminate a type of the recording head mounted on a carriage. When a facsimile mode is selected and the mounted recording head is discriminated as the color recording head, a display is made on a display of a console panel to indicate the exchange of the recording head to the monochromatic recording head.

Abstract: A communication apparatus having a recording device operable in a first recording mode for effecting a multi- or full-color recording in response to image signals received and a second recording mode for effecting monochromatic recording in accordance with image signals received; a discriminator for discriminating that the operation in one of the first and second recording modes becomes incapable, and a device for notifying a result of discrimination by said discriminating means to the image signal sending station which sends the image signals to be recorded.

Abstract: A microfluidic printing apparatus responsive to an image file for printing a plurality of pixels on a display is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of ink delivery chambers; ink channels for delivering ink to each ink delivery chamber; and heater elements associated with particular delivery chambers and effective for causing the transfer of heat to inks in such chambers for regulating ink flow from the ink delivery chambers to the display. The apparatus further includes a circuit for controlling the heater elements for regulating the ink flow in response to the code values of the image file.

Abstract: A facsimile apparatus includes a recording unit including an ink-jet recording apparatus for recording image data, a main power supply unit for supplying electric power, a central control unit, to which electric power is supplied from the main power supply unit, for controlling the operation of the entire apparatus, a main-power-supply control unit for controlling on/off operations of the main power supply unit, and a secondary battery unit, charged by the main power supply unit, for supplying the main-power-supply control unit with electric power. The apparatus is operable in an operational mode in which the main power supply unit is turned on by a starting signal output from the main-power-supply control unit, and the main power supply unit supplies a main body of the apparatus with electric power and charges the secondary battery unit, and a standby mode in which the main power supply unit is turned off and the secondary battery unit supplies the main-power-supply control unit with electric power.

Abstract: In a recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium by using a plurality of recording heads arrange at a predetermined interval in a scan direction, said recording heads are caused to scan corresponding divided recording areas, said recording heads are caused to make the record by sharing the corresponding divided recording areas when said recording heads are caused to scan the divided recording areas, and record signals to be inputted to the recording heads corresponding to the divided recording areas to be recorded in the shared manner, are independently corrected for each of the divided recording areas. As a result, the occurrence of the density difference between divided areas is prevented.

Abstract: For providing a compact illuminating device capable of uniform illumination with a high intensity, there is provided a light conductive member including a light entrance face provided in a part of a lateral face of a rod-shaped translucent member, an area provided on a side opposed to the light entrance face, for reflecting and/or diffusing the entered light in the longitudinal direction of the translucent member, and an exit face provided in at least a part of a lateral face other than those on which the area and the light entrance face are provided, for emitting at least a part of thus reflected and/or diffused light beam.

Abstract: A full color copier having an inkjet printer includes a controller and algorithm for switching automatically intra page between one of two independent high speed carriage velocities and between one of two independent pen firing frequencies for maximize throughput relative to low ink density and high ink density graphic images to improve print quality images having densely inked areas by substantially reducing ink pen starvation, droplet trajectory errors, and fuzzy text edges.

Abstract: A high speed color printer for use in an office environment, typically as a networked printer. The printer provides high speed (approximately 74 pages per minute: 37 double sided sheets per minute), high printing resolution (800 dpi) full color printer which incorporates electronic collation and local storage of 1,000 or more rasterized pages. The invention utilizes advances in high resolution pagewidth drop on demand print heads. Also incorporated is a new image compression and real-time expansion system for electronic collation and local document storage. The image resolution and compression quality is specified to achieve an image quality comparable with current magazine and brochure printing using color offset presses. A high speed color commercial printing system uses continuous roll media with a print speed of approximately 148 A4 pages per minute, electronic collation and local storage of 10,000 or more pages.

Abstract: An image forming device connected to one or more data processing devices is disclosed, and includes a printer unit, a copying unit, a document transport unit for transporting documents printed in the printer unit to a document mounting unit on the copying unit, and a guide member for moving the printer unit between a first position adjacent to the document mounting unit on the copying unit and a second position separated from the document mounting unit. The data processing device sends print jobs to the printer unit, and if multiple copies are desired, the printed documents are sent to the copying unit by the document transport device and copied.

Abstract: An equipment, which comprises a scanning type carrier for performing a scanning operation upon reception of a driving force, includes a first standby portion for holding a functional element in a standby state at one end portion side in the scanning direction of the scanning type carrier, a second standby portion for holding a functional element in a standby state at the other end portion side in the scanning direction of the scanning type carrier, a guide mechanism for allowing the scanning type carrier to be movable between the first and second standby portions, and a selector for selecting a functional element located at one of the first and second standby portions in correspondence with the operation mode of the equipment or the functional element driving signal, and integrating the selected functional element to the scanning type carrier.

Abstract: A printing apparatus capable of printing in an appropriate print mode, for a short print period, with maintaining excellent image quality, and a facsimile apparatus or image processing apparatus using the printing apparatus. The type of the image data is examined, in accordance with the source of input image data, and main controller 1 instructs print controller 8 to perform printing in multipath print mode or in normal print mode, in accordance with the image type. The print controller 8 controls printhead 9 in accordance with the instruction. For example, a high-precision image or halftone image is printed in the multipath print mode, while a low-density image or binary image is printed in the normal print mode.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus is capable of connecting a plurality of types of printers including an ink-jet printer. The apparatus includes a detector, a connecting device, a counter, a discrimination section and an ejection recovery controller. The detector detects that a power supply of the apparatus is turned on. The connector electrically connects a printer. The counter measures an inactive period of the printer connected to the connector. The discrimination section discriminates a type of printer connected to the connector. The ejection recovery controller causes, when the discrimination section discriminates an ink-jet printer, the printer to execute ejection recovery processing when the detector detects that the power supply is turned on, and when the counter measures a predetermined inactive period.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming images that records images on a recording material by use of recording means includes an upper frame and a lower frame. The upper frame is installed to be opened and closed with respect to the lower frame by means of a rotational center in the direction along the feeding direction of the recording material. The lower frame is provided with a recording material carrying mechanism and means for installing the recording means. Then, it is arranged to suspend the recording means in a location on the rotational center side out of the recording material carrying area of the apparatus main body when the upper frame is opened or closed with respect to the lower frame. In this way, when a recording material is jammed in the interior of the apparatus main body, it is easy for the operator to carry out jamming disposal without touching recording means with his hand. Hence, there is no possibility to get the adjusted position of recording means out of order.

Abstract: A digital color photograph printer (mini-lab) and a photograph copier which uses a drop on concurrent drop selection and drop separation demand printing mechanism. The system consists of a color continuous tone scanner, a scanner signal conditioning unit, a digital halftoning unit, a data phasing unit, and a printing mechanism using liquid ink. When copying, continuous tone image information from the image scanner is digitally color corrected, digitally halftoned in real-time and printed by the printing head. The system may be operated by a human operator, or may be fully automatic, producing a copy of a photograph after sensing payment by coin, banknote, credit card, or other means.