Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for exposing a panel to laser radiation, said panel having a working length L in a first direction Y, and being subdivided into N successive segments. The machine has a fixed structure; a horizontal panel support that is movable relative to the structure; device for generating and modulating N laser beams; and N optical units which are fixed relative to the structure. Each optical unit has deflector device for generating a continuously deflected beam, and a mirror for directing the deflected beam towards the panel, the length l1 of the mirror being greater than L/N.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes two deck cases (sheet stacking means) arranged side by side and disposed below a re-feed path for re-feeding a sheet having a first surface on which an image was formed. In the present invention, a sheet feed path of the deck case, among two deck cases, remote from a registration introduction path is joined to an intermediate portion of the re-feed path.

Abstract: The footprint of a document scanning unit such as a copier, facsimile machine or document scanner or combinations thereof is reduced by causing overlap of the leading and trailing edges of long document sheets to be scanned in the document delivery roller system downstream of the scanning station. Differential slippage of the overlapping ends between a drive roller and a pinch roller is provided in a first embodiment. A second embodiment uses a moveable pinch roller in the document delivery system to selectively open and close a gap to permit slippage of the leading and trailing edges of the document. A third embodiment uses three document delivery rollers defining two spaced nips in which the leading and trailing edges of a long document are simultaneously present and a crenellated roller surface to guide the leading edge of the document to the desired nip in the delivery system.

Abstract: A modular duplex media handling system used in conjunction with a simplex media handling print recording apparatus, includes a drive roller having a simple gear linkage. The simple gear linkage provides a fixed rotational relationship between the drive roller and a feed roller of the simplex handling apparatus. A media guide pivots about the drive roller's axle between a first position into which it is biased, and a second position into which it is deflected by a media sheet. From the first position, a media sheet retracting from a print zone can enter the duplex media handling system. From the second position, a media sheet can move from the input tray around the feed roller into the print zone, or move out of the duplex media handling system back into the input tray to await refeeding for second side printing.

Abstract: An image reading device capable of reading images on the both surfaces of a document in order while moving the document at a prescribed speed includes a platen for reading the document moving at the prescribed speed, a reversible transferring device for moving the document at the prescribed speed along the platen, and a circulating passage for turning the document and sending back to the platen after reading the image on the obverse surface of the document. The circulating passage is composed of at least first and second turning paths for inverting a direction in which the document is transferred to turn the document upside down, so that the images on the obverse and reverse surfaces of the document can be continuously read with a compact mechanism and starting to scan from the same end of the document whenever the document is read.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on both of a first side and a second side which are the right side and the back side of recording material, which comprises an image carrier on the surface of which a toner image is formed, a transfer member for forming a transfer part between the transfer member and the image carrier to transfer the toner image on the image carrier onto the recording material, a transfer voltage applying section for applying transfer voltage to the transfer member, a fixing member for heating the recording material, on which the toner image is transferred by the transfer member, passed therethrough to fix the toner image on the recording material, a reversing path for reversing the two sides of the recording material passed through the fixing member and returning the reversed recording material to the transfer part again, a timer section for measuring elapsed time since the recording material, on the first side of which a toner image is transferred, passes through the fixing me

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a recording material accommodating device for accommodating recording materials; an image forming device for forming an image on the recording material; a conveyance section for conveying the recording material fed from the recording material accommodating device to the image forming device; a reversal and re-feeding device having a sheet reversal section and a sheet re-feeding section for conducting image formation on two sides of the recording material. After the image is formed by the image forming device on one side surface of the recording material conveyed from the recording material accommodating device through the conveyance section, the recording material is conveyed to the reversal and re-feeding device, and conveyed again to the image forming device through the sheet re-feeding section of the reversal and re-feeding device and the conveyance section, and an image is formed on the other side surface of the recording material by the image forming device.

Abstract: Premising a duplex imaging apparatus having an image carrier provided with a plurality of image carrying regions, the image deterioration phenomenon (i.e., the so-called “oil ghost phenomenon”), as might otherwise accompany the local transfer of a releasing agent from a fixing unit to the image carrier, is effectively avoided.

Abstract: A media sheet handling system for duplex printing is disclosed. During duplex printing, the media sheet whose first side is printed is directed into a duplex print path, wherein the media sheet is reversed to a flipped over state with respect to its original position and the original leading edge is maintained to be the leading edge for subsequent printing.

Abstract: In a one-face mode, a first sheet discharge portion arranged on an upper face of an apparatus body, or a second sheet discharge portion arranged in the apparatus body so as to be freely opened and closed is opened, and a sheet forming an image on one surface thereof is discharged to this second sheet discharge portion. In a both-face mode, a sheet forming images on both surfaces thereof is conveyed to the first sheet discharge portion through a sheet discharge path formed by closing the second sheet discharge portion.

Abstract: A modular duplex media handling system is installable for use with a print recording system having a simplex media handling system. During first side printing a media sheet is fed along a first media path in the simplex system from feed rollers to metering rollers and into a print zone. After first side printing and prior to releasing the media sheet, the metering rollers feed the media sheet back along the first media path to the feed rollers. The feed rollers in turn feed the media sheet completely into the duplex module where the media moves along a loop path (in effect flipping the media sheet). The media sheet then is fed back to the feed rollers and along the first media path for second side printing. A humidity sensor in the duplex module signals to the print recording system whether the duplex handling system is installed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a printer with a single printing motor and a single non-contact heating element characterized in that it includes a printing width and a paper path width greater than that of a double web width between 18.5" (46.99 cm) and 20.5" (52.07 cm), and selective control of the writing heads. The writing heads are controlled either in order to use them in a single group to print a centered double-width web, or to use them in two groups of heads to concomitantly print two single-width webs separated by a margin. Both groups of heads or each group of heads can be supplied with one color of ink.

Abstract: A method of scheduling a sequence of pages to be printed with a printer and a printer/photocopier incorporating this method are disclosed. The printer has a printing station and a duplex loop for returning duplex sheets, of which a first page has been printed on one side, to the printing station for printing the second page on the second side, the duplex loop accommodating a predetermined number N of sheets at a time, such that skips in the stream of pages are filled with first pages of duplex sheets or with simplex sheets, without changing the desired order in which the sheets are completed. When a new print command for printing a new job occurs, the pages of the new job are appended to the remainder of the previously scheduled sequence that has not yet been printed, with re-scheduling of the thus assembled sequence.

Abstract: A print control apparatus receives front-side data and back-side data from an external apparatus and causes a printer to print the received front-side and back-side data on front and back sides of a recording medium. The print control apparatus includes a unit for detecting a jam in the printer. It also includes a unit for executing a jam recovery function if the detection unit detects a jam during printing on the front side, and executing no jam recovery function if the detection unit detects a jam during printing on the back side.

Abstract: Whether the number of prints is equal to or larger than a predetermined number or not is judged. Whether the total number of pages in a job is equal to an odd number or not is judged. When the total number of prints is equal to or larger than the predetermined number and when the total number of pages is equal to the odd number, the printer controller controls in a manner such that a final paper is fed by only a first feed and an image is printed to only the first side of the paper and the paper is ejected out. In the case where the total number of prints is less than the predetermined number and the total number of pages is equal to the odd number, the printer controller controls in a manner such that the final paper is fed by the first feed and an image is printed to the first side of the paper and, subsequently, the paper is fed by a second feed and an image is printed to a second side of the paper on the basis of blank page data and the paper is ejected out.

Abstract: There is disclosed a facsimile apparatus comprising a reading circuit for reading an image of an original, a shift arrangement for shifting a position of the image read by the reading circuit, and a transmitting arrangement for transmitting to another facsimile apparatus the image read by the reading circuit. The facsimile apparatus further comprises a control circuit for use in selecting which one is transmitted, the image shifted by the shifting arrangement or the image not being shifted, depending on whether one side of the original is read by the reading circuit or both sides thereof is read by the reading circuit, and depending on whether the another facsimile apparatus performs one side recording or perfect recording.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus is formed of a main portion having an image reading function; a driving source provided in the main portion; a reversing device, on which the main portion is detachably mounted; and a driving power transmitting device connected to the driving source. The reversing device has a device to reverse a document fed from the main portion in a state where the main portion is mounted thereto and to return the document back to the main portion. The driving power transmitting device drives the reversing device by transmitting a driving power from the driving source under a condition that the main portion is mounted on the reversing device. Thus, although the reversing device is not provided with a driving source, the reversing device can be actuated.

Abstract: A method and system for printing a transmitted document having a cover page. The system determines if a present state of operation is a duplex mode and if a cover page has been transmitted. The system then prints, when the present state of operation is determined to be duplex and a cover page has been transmitted, the cover page as a simplex document and the remaining portion as a duplex document. On the other hand, the system prints the cover page and remaining portion of the transmitted document as a simplex document when it is determined that the present state of operation is a simplex mode.

Abstract: Image-forming apparatus includes a finite length image member such as a seamed photoconductive loop. Images are formed on the image member in one of three different sized image frames, the first image frame being 1/2 the in-track length of the third image frame and the second image frame having an intermediate length. Relatively small size images, for example letter size images are formed in the first size frames while relatively large sized images, for example, ledger sized images are formed in the third size frames. Intermediate sized images, for example images for B-4 receiving sheets are formed in the second or intermediate size image frames. Receiving sheets in duplex are passed through a finite length duplex path which has a speed profile which is substantially the same for receiving sheets bearing images formed in the first and third frame lengths but is different, for example faster, for images formed in the second size image frame while use of the same duplex path for the three frame sizes.

Abstract: It is determined whether recording paper set in a copying apparatus is oriented sideways or in the lengthwise direction, and it is determined whether an original has been set on a platen sideways or in the lengthwise direction. Based upon these determinations and a designated binding direction in which the recording paper is to be bound, the image read from the original is rotated through a predetermined angle in a two-dimensional plane and the rotated image is then printed out on the recording paper. This makes it possible to perform double-sided copying in a normal manner irrespective of the orientation of the original on the platen.

Abstract: A double side scanner and method for controlling the scanner. While each of the two scanners of the double side scanner require its own scanning parameters, a user is only required to input one set of parameters for the first side and the second side parameters can be determined from the first side parameters. The second side parameters can be copied from the first side parameters or a transformation process may be performed on the first side parameters in order to obtain the second side parameters. The transformation process can include the changing of margins to account for a binding margin and the changing of the darkness of the scan depending upon the variation of the sensitivities of the light detector of each of the scanners. In order to reduce the amount of time for the scanning process, it is possible to transfer information contained within an image memory to a storage memory at the same time as additional scanning data is being obtained.

Abstract: Documents stacked in a document tray are fed from the lowermost sheet by a feeding belt and then by a feeding belt to a light exposure station via feeding rollers, and after light exposure are recirculated onto the uppermost sheet of the document tray by a inverted feeding roller via an ejection roller. When the documents are double-sided, they are invertedly fed in the direction of a feeding path by the feeding roller, fed to the light exposure station, and each side of the documents presented for light exposure. Here, when trouble occurs in the copying unit, the document in the feeding path is returned to the document tray while recirculative feeding of the documents remaining in the document tray is performed for automatic restoration of the documents to their originally stacked state when returned to the tray. Therefore, only the minimum necessary number of documents are fed through the inverted feeding path.

Abstract: An automatic two-sided recording apparatus having an image forming station to form an image on a recording sheet and a sheet feeder to feed the recording sheets onto the station, includes an intermediate stacker having an inlet through which a recording sheet whose one side has been subjected to recording is stacked thereon by a switchback member provided adjacent to the inlet. The inlet is used also an outlet through which the recording sheet is fed out for recording on the other side thereof by the switchback member through a conveyor. The apparatus further includes a controller that switches between a stackless mode in which the switchback member feeds in the recording sheets the stacker and feeds out onto the station without stacking in the stacker, and a stack mode in which the switchback member feeds in and feeds out from the stacker onto the station after stacking in the stacker.

Abstract: In forming a first image and a second image on both sides of a recording paper by using an electrophotographic process, the first image is generated on a photosensitive drum, and is transferred to an intermediate transfer belt which can transfer and hold a developer image. The photosensitive drum and the intermediate transfer belt is disposed across a plane where the recording paper is conveyed. Subsequently, the second image is generated on the photosensitive drum after a developer remaining thereon has been removed, and is transferred to one side of the recording paper. After the second image has been fixed on one side of the recording paper, the first image is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt to the other side of the recording paper and fixed.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printer for printing on front & rear sides of reel paper has an electro-thermally operating fixing station (23) with a heated fixing roller (86) and a feed roller (87) which can be pivoted between at least one position against the fixing roller and another position away from the fixing roller. With the aid of an unheated, pivoting paper guide saddle (93), the reel paper is guided around the fixing roller (86) at a predeterminable wrapping angle (U) for the purpose of preheating before the actual fixing.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes image sensors for reading images on the front and back faces of an original, a buffer RAM for storing first image data representing the image on the front face of the original, and second image data representing the image on the back face of the original, which data are output from the image sensors, and an output circuit for selecting and outputting one of the first and second image data read out from the buffer RAM.

Abstract: There is disclosed an image forming apparatus capable of double-sided or overlay copying at high speed. While a sheet having initially copied a first original document is still being transported to an intermediate tray inside the apparatus, an image forming operation on a second document is started, and one of the initially copied sheets in the intermediate tray starts to be refed therefrom for secondary copying. If the designated number of copying sheets is larger than a predetermined value and when the number of times the image forming operation is performed has exceeded that value, the start of the subsequent image forming operation is delayed by a predetermined time so as to provide the currently transported sheet with an extended distance relative to the preceding sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a finite length recirculating duplex path without a duplex tray and having an inverter. A receiving sheet is delayed in the inverter by a time which is variable in order to vary the recirculating path time. Preferably, the time is varied according to the length of receiving sheet used so that maximum usage can be made of the image forming apparatus. A preferred inverter includes entrance and exit nips and a stop at the end of a paper chute. The stop is positioned to receive the leading edge of a sheet fed into the chute and hold the sheet through a variable time delay. The stop is then moved toward the exit nip at the end of the time delay to begin to move the receiving sheet out of the inverter. The receiving position of the stop is variable to receive sheets of different intrack length.

Abstract: A duplex path loop having a acceleration nip cooperating with a belt transport and retime nip to allow duplexing of sheets while minimizing skipped pitches on the photoreceptor. As each sheet to be duplex printed is removed from the process path after first side imaging it is accelerated to create a gap between it and subsequent sheets. The sheet is then stalled or slowed in a retime nip, while subsequent sheets to be duplexed are simultaneously driven by the same transport, the first mentioned sheet being reinserted into the process path at the proper time for receiving the second side image before the arrival of the second sheet at the retime nip. Subsequent duplex sheets are handled in the same manner so that duplex copies are interleaved or otherwise reinserted into the process path with first side copies so that skipped pitches on the photoreceptor are minimized.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a document reproduction system which includes an improved apparatus for imaging both sides of a duplex document while also providing for simplex side only imaging. A document feeder, operating in a constant velocity transport mode, moves a document to be copied along a continuous path from a feed tray to a deposit tray. Two illumination and scanning stations are positioned adjacent two locations of the path of the document travel, each scanning station adapted to scan one side of the document, either simplex or duplex. The scanning station associated with scanning the simplex side of the document projects line images of the scanned document along an optical path onto a light sensitive image medium. In a first embodiment, the projection device is a linear gradient index lens array and the light sensitive member is a linear sensor array.

Abstract: When an original fed by an original feeding portion is mounted at a predetermined position on a platen glass, a scanner starts traveling in one direction from its home position, and scans the original. When the scanner completes scanning, the original read out is discharged, and the next original is fed. However, the scanner does not return to its home position. The scanner is held at the position. When the next original is mounted at a predetermined position, the scanner travels in a direction opposite to a direction for the previous original from the position to carry out scanning.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a document stacker for holding documents, a first conveyer for feeding the documents one sheet by one sheet to a platen glass for reading an image on a first side of the conveyed document, a second conveyor for conveying the conveyed document so that the conveyed document is turned over and conveyed to the platen glass again to read an image on the second side, and a discharger for discharging the conveyed document from the platen glass and returning the conveyed document to the document stacker. A third conveyer, located over the platen glass, conveys the conveyed document from at least one of the first conveyor and the second conveyer to the platen glass and conveys the conveyed document from the platen glass to at least one of the first conveyer, the second conveyer, and the discharger.

Abstract: A printer or copier operating according to the transfer printing principle containing an arrangement for printing the front and/or the back of a recording medium. The apparatus contains a photoconductor drum and a thermoadhesive transfer ribbon which is coupled to the photoconductor drum. The transfer ribbon proceeds to a transfer printing and fusing station formed by the transfer ribbon on one side and a heated roller on an opposite side in elastic contact thereto. A first toner image for the back of the recording medium and a second toner image for the front of the recording medium are produced on a photoconductor drum and transferred to the transfer ribbon in this order. The heated roller first receives a toner image for the back of the recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an image processor, a print engine, optional units, and a serial communication line. The print engine manages a variety of information including its own status. Priority for inquiry is given the information. The image processor has a function of generating a command used when the image processor inquires of the print engine information. The command includes flag data indicating whether the image processor requests information having the highest priority or information having a priority lower than the highest priority. The image processor further has a function of sending the command to the print engine and receiving a response from the print engine. The print engine has a function of receiving the command and sending the image processor, as the response, the requested information.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus having different reading speeds includes carrying structure for carrying an original at one of first and second speeds, the first speed being lower than the second speed. Reading circuitry is provided for reading an image from at least one of the front face and the rear face of the original being carried by the carrying structure, and for supplying an image signal representing the read image. Control circuitry is provided for changing the speed of the carrying means. In one aspect, the speed is changed depending upon whether one face or both faces of the original are to be read. According to another aspect, a level of the image signal representing the read image is changed depending upon the speed of the carrying structure.

Abstract: A duplexing image forming device which selectively directs printed pages back onto the original paper supply, flipped over with respect to the page's original position and swapping the leading edge for the trailing edge, for printing on a second side. The formatter in the image forming device then instructs the printer engine to print the second side of the page and reverses the order of data supplied to the print engine. A paper diverter is installed at the output of the fuser mechanism in the print engine. The diverter selectively diverts paper from the standard output path into a vertical gravity reversing slot through three reversing rollers. The paper is fed from the diverter up through the nip between the single driven reversing roller and an idler reversing roller. The driven reversing roller pushes the paper up into the vertical gravity reversing slot.

Abstract: A method of forming fixed images including uniformly charging a photoconductor selectively exposing the photoconductor to light, developing an electrostatic latent image whereby a toner is applied to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor to form a visible image, transferring the formed visible image to a recording medium, and fixing the transferred visible image onto the recording medium, in which the toner is a thermally dissociating encapsulated toner, the photoconductor is a heat-resistant photoconductive film belt, and the transferring process and the fixing process are simultaneously carried out on the heat-resistant photoconductive film belt at a temperature of from 40.degree. to 120.degree. C.

Abstract: In a printing system capable of printing and outputting collated sets of plural duplex copy sheets from input job sets of plural page images using a trayless duplexing buffer loop path of a known normal plural copy sheet length for recirculating the copy sheets imaged on one side back to be imaged on their opposite sides; operating in a continuous loop burst-interleave mode, using a variable speed duplex drive, for driving at least a major portion of the duplexing path sheet feeders at at least two different sheet feeding speeds so as to initially feed a limited number of the sheets to be printed on one side, less than the duplexing path length, at full rate without skips, to the duplexing path to be selectively partially fed therein at substantially higher than normal velocities, and to variably selectively reduce the velocity of the duplexing path with the initial sheets therein, to generate sheet interleaving spaces between these duplexing path sheets, so that they may be interleaved for their second side

Abstract: A printer capable of producing simplex and duplex copies includes a tri-roller inverter that employs a passive deflector gate downstream from input and output nips of the tri-roller inverter. A sheet driven by the input nip into a reversing chute of the inverter deflects the passive deflector gate to an open position that allows the sheet to enter the inversion chute and after the sheet is past the gate it returns to close deposition, thus allowing the sheet to be driven past it in reverse by a reversing roller. Once the lead edge of the reversed sheet passes the passive deflector gate, a second sheet enters the input nip resulting in two sheets being in the inverter at the same time.

Abstract: A combined system of an image processing machine (e.g., a copying machine) and a sheet handling machine. They are placed with an image reading part (e.g., a glass plate of the copying machine) therebetween. In the combined system, one-sided or two-sided original sheets and processed sheets are orderly stacked on respective final tray after they are finished processing if the original sheets are stacked orderly in the initial tray, i.e., the original sheets are laid on the final tray with the order of the page numbers maintained from the order at the initial tray, and the processed sheets are also stacked on the finish tray with the same order. In a simple mode: the original sheet is placed on the image reading part, processed (copied), reversed and ejected to a first final tray, while the process sheet (copy sheet) is processed and ejected onto the finish tray without reversing.

Abstract: A perfecting printer for performing a double-face printing operation of printing images on obverse and reverse faces of at least one sheet on the basis of a series of print data input from an external device and a method for controlling the double-face printing operation of the printer. The perfecting printer includes a page memory having an empty area for storing a series of print data for the obverse and reverse faces of the sheet input from external device, and a control unit for judging as to whether the empty area is no longer available in the page memory while the series of print data are being stored into the page memory and forcibly printing print data for the obverse face of the sheet on the sheet when it is judged that the empty area is no longer available in the page memory and that only the print data for the obverse face of the sheet are completely stored in the page memory.

Abstract: In a copying machine provided with a recirculating document feeding apparatus (RDH), the time required for the overall copying operation is reduced. In the copying machine provided with the RDH, there are cases where the copying operation is started after the number of the documents is counted. Maximum transporting speed of the document in the copying operation is a speed determined in accordance with minimum copying magnification. However, since the transporting speed of the document be set higher than the speed determined in accordance with the minimum copying magnification, the time required for the counting operation can be reduced. Thereby, the time required for the overall copying operation can be reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of electronic composition for electronically ordering logical pages onto physical pages printed by a printer. The first step is to determine the number of physical pages in a signature, and the pattern in which two or more logical pages will be imposed on the physical page. Based on the pattern, a seed table is selected having an entry for each position of the pattern. The logical pages are then electronically ordered by assigning a logical page to each position of each physical page based on the place of each physical page in the sequence of physical pages and based on the entry in the seed table corresponding to the pattern position contemplated.

Abstract: A two-sided printing apparatus includes a sheet feeding unit, an image printing unit, a sheet ejecting unit, and a sheet refeeding unit for refeeding a sheet having a first surface on which images have been printed to the image printing unit in order to print images on a second surface of the sheet. The sheet refeeding unit includes a base, an inclined frame rotatably fastened to the base, a first guide member facing the inclined frame, and a second guide member facing the base. The sheet moves downwards between the inclined frame and the first guide member and then moves between the base and the second guide member. The first guide member is rotatably supported so that the first guide member is raised and the inclined frame is lowered, a first space is formed between the lowered inclined frame and the raised first guide member. The second guide member is rotatably supported so that the second guide member is raised, a space is formed between the base and the second raised guide member.

Abstract: The invention provides a copying apparatus for producing a required number of copy sets of two-sided copy from document sheets of an original by selecting one of ADF mode in which the required number of copy sets are produced simultaneously and RDH mode in which the required number of copy sets are produced one set by one set.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus capable of forming an image freely on the front side and the back side of a paper sheet and applicable to a laser printer, digital copier, etc. A toner image is formed on either one or both of a photoconductive element and an intermediate transfer body in the form of a belt and transferred to the adjoining side of a paper sheet. The paper sheet carrying a toner image on one or both sides thereof is fixed when passed through a fixing section only once.

Abstract: A copying apparatus is provided with a first scanning unit for scanning a first document to expose a photosensitive material and a second scanning unit for scanning a second document to expose the photosensitive material, and, at a position where the optical path of the scanning light of the first scanning unit and the optical path of the scanning light of the second scanning apparatus align with each other, a zoom lens is disposed to modify magnification. Consequently, a lens used exclusively for a high magnification becomes unnecessary.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing on opposite surfaces of a strip of printing paper using two electrophotographic printing units wherein each printing operation is of high quality and thermal damage to the printing is minimized. The apparatus includes a first electrophotographic printing unit for printing on the front surface of the printing paper, a buffer unit for temporarily holding the printing paper discharged outside of the first electrophotographic printing unit, a turn unit for turning over the printing paper, and a second electrophotographic printing unit for printing the reverse surface of the printing paper. A toner having a low melting temperature is employed for each of the first and second electrophotographic printing units so that developing treatment is conducted only with the aid of a heat roll but without any use of a preheating plate. A back-up roll adapted to cooperate with the heat roll is coated with a tetrafluoroethylene-based synthetic resin.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a document feeder for feeding a plurality of documents one by one, a copy paper feeder for feeding a copy paper sheet having a front surface and a rear surface onto which document images are transferable, an image transferring assembly for transferring an image of the fed document onto a copy paper sheet, an operable unit for discharging the copy paper sheet or temporarily retaining the copy paper sheet therein to refeed the sheet to the image transferring assembly when a next document is fed, a mode setting key for selectively setting in advance either of a first mode in which the copy paper sheet onto which the last document image is transferred is forcibly discharged or a second mode in which the copy paper sheet onto which the last document image is transferred is temporarily retained in the operable unit, and a CPU.

Abstract: A sheet discharging device incorporated in digital image forming equipment which is selectively operable in a copier mode, facsimile mode, and printer mode. The sheet discharging device has a plurality of sheet outlets each being positioned at a particular level matching respective one of the modes.