Abstract: An image forming apparatus provided with a function for binding a set of recording sheets by interposing said set of recording sheets between a folded cover sheet. When cover mode is set, the cover sheet is transported in a folding unit. The folding unit is controlled so as to fold said cover sheet into three sections of a front cover, spine and back cover. Content copy sheets are inserted in the folded cover sheet. The image forming apparatus is capable of cleanly binding documents even when the set of recording sheets is thick because the cover sheet can be folded in three.

Abstract: The pages of a book being held at least partially open may be sequentially automatically turned over from one side of the book to the other by pivoting an elongated arm from one side of the book toward the other and turning over individual pages with a vacuum head pivoting relative to the elongated pivoted arm about a different pivot axis as the elongated arm moves to reduce undesirable forces on the individual book pages being turned over. The vacuum head may initially pivot to bend the edge of an individual page up away from the book, to aid in page separation, and then subsequently differently pivot to help peel the same page gently away from the vacuum head and flip it over onto the opposite side of the book. This may be assisted by moving frictional belts on the vacuum head.

Abstract: There is disclosed an elastic member constituted of polyurethane foam obtained by agitationally mixing with water, a urethane prepolymer synthesized from a polyol and a polyisocyanate, characterized by simultaneously employing as polyols, a (A) polymer polyol synthesized from a polyether polyol as a basis, comprising at least 70% by weight of oxypropylene moiety; and a (B) hydrophilic polyether polyol comprising at least 50% by weight of oxyethylene moiety, or simultaneously employing as polyols, the component (A), the component (B) and a (C) polyether polyol comprising at least 70% by weight of oxypropylene moiety. The above elastic member is simultaneously imparted with excellent characteristics such as low hardness, fine cells, low residual compressive strain, high strength and the like. The polyurethane foam which constitutes the elastic member can be produced by free foaming.

Abstract: A scanner includes a body with an angled glass window and a movable optical module is connected in the body of the scanner. The optical module is moved in parallel with the gutter of the book to be scanned. The pages are matched on the angled glass window and the movable optical module moving in parallel with the gutter can scan images on the two consecutive pages of the book. The images at the gutter of the book can be clearly scanned.

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: An image processing device for processing an image read by an image scanner or similar image reading device is disclosed. The image processing device is capable of accurately detecting, without resorting to a range finding sensor or similar special sensing means, the bound portion of a spread book by recognizing the configuration of the bound portion out of a read image, and thereby accurately correcting the distortion of the portion of the image representative of the bound portion.

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: A corrective lens for copying pages of a book pressed flat upon a document support glass of a xerographic copying machine or document scanner. The corrective lens is shaped to fit in the space between the book pages to be copied and the document glass of the copier. The corrective lens has a pyramidal center extending into the crease of a typical book. The lens extends outwardly from the pyramidal center to form substantially flat side portions that hold the pages of the open book in place.

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: The book page document image reading apparatus according to the present invention comprises a reading means for reading an image of a spread book page document placed on with the binding section being aligned to the reference position, an image size changing means for changing a size of a read image read by the reading means, a storage means for storing therein image data to image size changing, and a means for differentiating a range for storage of the image data having been subjected in the storage means when a book page document is read with the same size from a range for storage of image data having been subjected to image size changing in the storage means when a book page document is read with a changed size.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus that folds plural sheets in folio, an image forming unit forms images an a recording area on the sheets and forms a margin between the recording area and another forming area. A projecting unit folds the sheets upon nipping the sheets between two rollers by projecting between the two rollers so as to nip a part of the sheets where the margin is formed at first. The projecting unit projects to the margin of prescribed width of images formed at an image forming apparatus body to fold the plural sheets.

Abstract: A removable cover for protecting a reticle used in a lithography system is described. The removable cover includes a frame and a membrane supported by the frame. The membrane is transparent to an inspection wavelength such that the reticle can be inspected with the removable cover in place. This removable cover protects the reticle when the removable cover is in place and is removable for lithographic exposure. The removable cover can further include at least one reticle fastener that applies force to the reticle thereby preventing movement of the removable cover relative to the reticle when the removable cover is in place. A plurality of fasteners are used to position and secure the removable cover and reticle. A method of performing lithography and a lithographic system are also described.

Abstract: The invention provides an accessory for use in copying a page of a bound material using a copier having a scanning window and an optical reader on one side of the window. The accessory includes a page engaging member for engaging a face of the page to be copied, the page engaging member having a light transmitting element engageable with a main portion of the face, and a side edge engageable with the face near a binding region of the bound material. The light transmitting element is adapted to transmit light from the copier to the main portion and back to the copier for processing by the optical reader. The accessory further includes a locator coupled to the page engaging member for locating the page in a selected position relative to the light transmitting element and means coupled to the page engaging member for positioning the accessory relative to the copier with the light transmitting element in registration with the window.

Abstract: An apparatus for imaging books or other bound volumes which includes a book supporting system and an optical system positioned above the book supporting system and mounted for movement along a vertical axis toward and away from the book support system. The book support system includes an inner platform and an outer platform with the inner platform being mounted for vertical movement relative to the outer platform. A cradle having pivotable side support plates is mounted on the inner platform, and support arms are mounted on the outer platform. The support arms are positioned so that the support plates rest thereon so that as the cradle is moved downwardly, the support arms pivot the side support plates upwardly.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus capable of automatically reading the images of a book or similar bound document while turning over its pages, and an image forming apparatus capable of printing the images of the book in accordance with an image signal output from the image reading apparatus are disclosed. These apparatuses allow the operator to set the last page or the end page surely and easily. This frees the operator from time- and labor consuming complicated procedure for setting desired pages of a book to be copied.

Abstract: An image reader for reading book-like documents placed on a document platen in a face upward condition, said image reader comprises a shading reference panel provided beside the document platen which is white in color and of uniform density, an image reading device which reads the document platen on which the book-like document is placed and the shading reference panel, and outputs image data, a height detector which detects a height distribution of the book-like document, an illuminance detector which detects an illuminance irregularity in accordance with the image data corresponding to the shading reference panel, calculator which calculates shading correction data in accordance with the height distribution and the illuminance irregularity on the shading reference panel and, shading corrector which corrects the illuminance irregularity of the image data corresponding to the book-like document in accordance with the shading correction data.

Abstract: An image reader capable of outputting excellent quality read images, without illumination irregularities, similar to that of flat documents even when the document surface is curved as in the case of book-like documents. An image reader provided with a memory to store correction data to correct differences of illumination of each pixel of a document image, and which corrects the read information of each pixel in a document image using correction data corresponding to the measured height of a document surface among correction data stored in the memory. For one aspect, this image reader is constructed so as to correct a group of read information corresponding to a set of pixels arrayed in one direction by excluding specific frequencies among the illumination distribution from the set.

Abstract: A book scanner which reads an image of a book or a bound document placed as turned upward, computes the document inclination from the outer shape of the document, detects the top end of the bound part of the document from the document height, thereby determines the accurate position of the center line existing in a slanted posture, detecting the brightness in the neighborhood of the bound part, thereby computes the erasing width to be erased as unnecessary for an image with precision, and erases only the center line zone without failing to effect thorough erasure of the slanted center line.

Abstract: A sheet-fed scanner with selectively variable document feed-in and feed-out positions is provided. The sheet-fed scanner includes conventional scanning means for performing a scanning process on a document; conventional diving means for driving the document through the scanning process, a base plate; a main body for accommodating the scanning means and the driving means therein, the main body, being mounted on the base plate and having at least a base side, a first inclined side, and a second inclined side; and a passage formed between the base plate and the main body for guiding the document through the scanning process.

Abstract: An image forming device having multiple direction lens system, a presetting system, a page turner, a movable platform to manipulate both unbound and bound originals, an image monitoring unit, a microcomputer-based control system and an image formation unit, is disclosed that provides the capability of automatic and manual image formation from both unbound and bound originals. The automatic image formation from bound originals is enabled in both Flat Open Mode (original 180.degree. face-up opened) and Angled Open Mode (originals less than 180.degree. face-up opened). Unbound documents can also be face-up loaded on the movable platform for the automatic image formation and will never be jammed. While having bound or unbound originals face-up positioned on the 3D-movable frame, the manual image formation in both single and dual projecting direction also becomes much easier and effective with higher copy quality.

Abstract: An image reading device capable of preventing, by increasing the quantity of light at the center or bound portion of a spread book document, the quantity of light from becoming short and preventing density from becoming irregular due to the deviation of a focus. At and around the center of a spread book document where the document is bound, the quantity of light for illumination or the amplification gain of image data read from the document is increased. A plurality of fluorescent lamps illuminate the surface of the document at the upstream side and downstream side with respect to an intended scanning direction. When the edge of the document is to be detected, only one of the lamps is turned on to enhance the stripe pattern representative of the stepped edge portion of the document.

Abstract: A copier capable of forming printed matter in a mode where the center of spread page is bound, in which a bookbinding mode whereby record paper having a size twice as much as a designated size is folded in two to thereby constitute a cover (first page) and a back cover (final page) and record paper having the designated size on which intermediate pages are recorded, are interposed between the cover and the back cover, is prepared as the bookbinding mode suitable for forming printed matter in the mode where the center of a spread page is bound, an image signal provided by scanning the document is stored in image storing regions of an image memory corresponding to respective pages of the document and the image storing regions are successively designated, such that the image is printed on the record paper in accordance with the order of a page arrangement in compliance with the bookbinding mode.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus which reads document surfaces of open book-like documents placed on a document platen in a face upward condition and detects height of the document to control an image reading operation. An image reader reads the document platen on which the document is placed and outputs image data. A height detector detects height distribution of the document, and a discrimination device determines whether or not abnormalities occur in the height distribution of the document. A memory stores the height distribution of the document, and a update device updates the height distribution of the document stored in the memory when the abnormalities do not occur in the height distribution of the document. A correcting device corrects distortion of the image data caused by the height of the document in accordance with the height distribution of the document stored in the memory.

Abstract: A cover for a flatbed-type scanner is provided with a pair of supporting arms for supporting horizontal axial bodies which are captured in recesses at edges of the main body of the scanner and permitted to move vertically in the recesses so as to permit vertical movement of the cover. The cross-sections of the axial bodies have a length which is greater than the width, and the recesses have openings defined by resilient members to have a width that is greater than the length of the cross-sections and less than the width of the cross-sections to enable the axial bodies to be inserted into the recesses upon rotation of the cover and to subsequently prevent unintentional removal of the axial bodies from the recesses as the cover is moved vertically to accommodate different thicknesses of documents while maintaining a substantially horizontal orientation.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus which reads out a document placed face-up by scanning optically from above the document, having a document change detection means, and when a document is not changed, a reproducted image density is controlled by using a previous result of the document ground brightness detection without detecting newly. Further, an image reading section is arranged on a document table which a bookform document is placed upward and an auto-document feeding unit for conveying a sheetform document is provided, where by a conveyed sheetform document is read out by a sensor at a fixed focal position.

Abstract: The document scanner of the present invention includes a reading assembly of simple, compact and light-weight construction. The reading assembly includes an optical system having a relatively short focal length. The reading assembly is thus simply configured in a compact manner close to the document to be scanned. The optical system is also configured to extend in a particular direction beyond the document viewing area for improved resolution of images from a bound document adjacent the binding. The reading assembly further includes a compact and light-weight illumination source which is low in power consumption, and thus, may be powered by batteries. The stand-alone document scanner of the present invention is particularly suited to portability.

Abstract: In a device for processing a signal representative of a document image from a document reading unit to thereby reproduce the document image, a first comparator binarizes a multilevel image signal from the document reading unit with a first threshold value to thereby output a first bilevel image signal. A second comparator binarizes the multilevel image signal with a second threshold value to thereby output a second bilevel image signal. An area discriminating circuit outputs, in response to the second bilevel image signal, an area discriminate signal representative of the inside and or outside of an image area of the document image. An area separating circuit outputs, in response to the area discriminate signal and first bilevel image signal, an image signal representative of only an image portion of the first bilevel image signal which corresponds to the area discriminate signal. The device is capable of reproducing both a sheet document and a book document accurately.

Abstract: A V-shaped scanning head, a book support, and a scanner that includes the V-shaped scanning head and the book support. The V-shaped scanning head comprises a pair of scanning surfaces angled relative to each other to form a V-shaped scanning face. An image capturing means preferably in the form of a pair of angled photoelectric detector arrays or a pivotable scanning arrangement is provided for capturing images of both sides of a book, the images being received through the scanning face. Processing circuitry, typically provided in the scanning head, processes the signals received from the image capturing means. The book can be supported on a movable book support that is capable of adopting a V-shaped configuration to support the open book.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus which reads book-like documents placed on a document platen in a face upward condition. A first detector detects the height of the document surface by the shape of a side surface of the document, and a second detector detects the height of the document by the shape of the document surface. A discrimination device detects abnormal height data detected by the detectors, and distortion of image data output from an imaging device is corrected using height data determined to have no abnormality.

Abstract: A platenless book scanner with line buffering performs electronic perspective correction to account for rotation of the spine of a non-planar bound document relative to a reference line in a support plane of the platenless book scanner. A pre-scan of the non-planar bound document is performed to provide a geometrical contour map of the bound document. The geometrical contour map, which identifies displacement of the bound document from the support plane, is analyzed to calculate an angular offset between a spine of the bound document and the reference line in the support plane. The angular offset is used to identify a minimum number of scan line buffers for recording image data, from a set of scan line buffers. Once the minimum number of scan line buffers is filled with recorded image data, distortions caused by displacements of the non-planar bound document from the support plane and skew of the bound document relative to the reference line in the support plane are corrected.

Abstract: An overhead scanning system records pages from bound documents in an upright and open condition. The scanning system is defined with a general imaging geometry that makes the scanning system readily portable, and provides the scanning system with a variable imaging area. Once an operator defines an imaging area of an image acquisition system, the operator positions a light stripe projector to project across the imaging area. After recording calibration data, a perspective transform is provided by a perspective transform generator. In operation, a first image of the bound document having a light stripe projected there across is recorded by the image acquisition system. A page shape transform generator is then used to derive a page shape transform. Subsequently, a second image of the bound document is recorded without projecting a light stripe thereacross.

Abstract: This invention provides a flat-edge scanner capable of scanning a thick book without any distortion at the protruding binding edge. The binding edge of the book is placed at the corner of a scanning glass window and the frame supporting the glass window so that the book can lie snugly over the window. The scanning window area is extended to the edge of the frame supporting the scanning window. All the optical system and the driving mechanism lie inside the boundary of the scanning window to increase the scanning range.

Abstract: An image reading device for an image forming apparatus and capable of reading the spread pages of a book document laid on a table. Even with a book document of the kind bound by staples or wire and provided with a cover by pasting, i.e., whose spread size is smaller than two times of the cover size, the device is capable of producing attractive copied images or read images with ease by obviating black stripes at the bound portion, image displacement, image intrusion, local image omission, and needless image data.

Abstract: A profile detector in a scanning system measures spacing of an original non-planar image from a reference image plane of the scanning system. The spacing is measured by projecting a spot of light, with a collimated light source, onto a scan line of the original non-planar image at an angle that is oblique with respect to the fast scan direction of the scanning system. A first photosensor converts optical information reflecting off of the original non-planar image at a first slow scan position into electrical profile data. A position along the fast scan direction is identified for the first slow scan position by locating the spot of light in the electrical profile data. The located position is compared with a pre-recorded position along the fast scan direction for the first slow scan position. The pre-recorded position defines a position where the first photosensor would have detected the spot of light if it reflected off of a planar image.

Abstract: This invention provides a flat-bed scanner capable of scanning a thick book without any distortion at the protruding binding edge. The scanning window forms an obtuse angle with the frame of the scanner supporting the scanning window. The obtuse angle allows the binding edge of the book to rest snugly over the window. The slanted structure of the frame also makes room for the image reading head to scan to the very edge of the page of the document.

Abstract: An image reading device capable of preventing, by increasing the quantity of light at the center or bound portion of a spread book document, the quantity of light from becoming short and preventing density from becoming irregular due to the deviation of a focus. At and around the center of a spread book document where the document is bound, the quantity of light for illumination or the amplification gain of image data read from the document is increased. A plurality of fluorescent lamps illuminate the surface of the document at the upstream side and downstream side with respect to an intended scanning direction. When the edge of the document is to be detected, only one of the lamps is turned on to enhance the stripe pattern representative of the stepped edge portion of the document.

Abstract: An image reader capable of determining whether or not a book document to be copied needs royalty by the recognition of a book document and counting operation of a copying system. When a book document to be copied needs royalty, the number of times that images of the document are scanned or the number of times that the resulting image data are outputted is counted. While the count is stored, the royalty of the book document copied is managed on the basis of the count. The image reader can also read a ID code formed on the book, and can control the counting operation based on the detected book ID.

Abstract: An image reader reads images from above a document platen upon which is placed a document such as a book or the like while using fingers or hands to press both edges of said document so as to prevent the pages of the document from rising upwardly, wherein the image reader determines the position of blank area in accordance with a background luminance, a character frequency of picture element, and position in subscan direction, and erases image data of blank area and its outside image data to erase image data of fingers or hands.

Abstract: A wedge shaped platen scanner sequentially records opposing pages of a bound document positioned thereon using a single imaging station. A mirror is positioned between the wedges of the platen. A controller positions the mirror in one of two operational positions. In the first operational position, the mirror is positioned so that light emitted by a lamp reflects off of the mirror and onto the single imaging station. In the second operational position, the mirror is moved out of the imaging station's optical path. In each operational position, the lamp sequentially illuminates an opposing page of the bound document with each of the three primary colors: red green, and blue. In both the first and the second operational positions, images of opposing pages of the bound document are focused with optics onto the imaging station. In one arrangement, the imaging station is a two-dimensional array of detectors which sense an image of a page of the bound document projected thereon.

Abstract: A wedge shaped platen scanner sequentially records opposing pages of a bound document positioned thereon. A dichroic mirror is positioned between the surfaces of the wedge shaped platen. The two sides of the opposing pages of the bound document are exposed by light having different wavelengths. One side is exposed by a flash lamp that emits light with a wavelength that forms an optical path through the dichroic mirror and onto an imaging station. The other side is exposed by a flash lamp emits light with a wavelength that forms a reflective path off of the dichroic mirror and onto the imaging station. A controller insures that the opposing pages of the bound document are sequentially illuminated by the two flash lamps. Images of opposing pages of the bound document are focused through optics onto the imaging station. In one arrangement, the imaging station is a two-dimensional array of detectors which sense an image of a page of the bound document projected thereon.

Abstract: A miniature and reliable device capable of reading a book document while turning the pages thereof. A book document is laid on a document table in a spread position face up. The document table is pressed upward while a scanning unit is restricted in movement in the up-and-down direction. The scanning unit, therefore, receives the surface of the book document pressed upward.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus capable of reading a book document while turning over pages of the book, image data representative of two spread pages of a book document are stored in a frame memory. Among the image data, image data matching the front of a sheet are read out of the frame memory first and then output on the front of a fresh sheet. Then, an image is formed on the rear of a sheet refed from a duplex copy tray or refeed tray. Alternatively, an arrangement may be made such that, among two pages of image data, the image data read last are out of the frame memory first and then output on the front of a fresh sheet, and then an image is formed on the rear of a sheet refed from the refeed tray.

Abstract: In a book document reading device having a page turning capability, a scanning and page turning device scans a spread book document and turns over a leaf by receiving and then sending it out from a receiving section. The device is capable of surely detecting the edges of the book document.

Abstract: An optical scanner having enhanced depth of illumination may comprise an elongate light source positioned along a longitudinal axis for illuminating points contained within a scan plane bounded at an upper edge by a far limit focal plane and at a lower edge by a near limit focal plane. A first light shade and a second light shade are positioned in spaced apart relation to one another and to the elongate light source. The first and second light shades define a lamp aperture that subtends a first angle with respect to a first line defined by the intersection of the scan plane with the near limit focal plane and that subtends a second angle with respect to a second line defined by the intersection of the scan plane with the far limit focal plane.

Abstract: An input scanner is provided with a housing adapted for support on a level surface, having a first external surface supporting a platen at a first angle with respect to the level surface and a second surface adjacent to the first surface and forming an angle with the first surface forming a book supporting surface; a scanning element supported with the housing for scanning motion past the platen, the scanning element supporting a linear array of photosensitive elements substantially in parallel with the platen, for image acquisition during scanning motion past the platen; and a drive arrangement, coupled to the scanning element, to drive the scanning element in scanning motion. Optionally provided is an adjustable housing support, normally in a first condition supporting the housing in a fashion maintaining the first angle relationship between the platen and the level surface, and adjustable to a second position to bring the platen into a parallel relationship with the level surface.

Abstract: In a book document reading device having a page turning capability, a turn belt has a flat portion at the underside thereof and is supported by a turn roller. The turn roller selectively moves the turn belt to a first position where the flat portion of the belt electrostatically attracts the uppermost leaf of a book document, which is spread on a table, in contact with the leaf, or to a second position where the belt is spaced apart from the book document while carrying the uppermost page therewith. When the turn belt is moved from the first position to the second position, a scanning unit is caused to stop moving. This allows the leaf of the document to surely adhere to the turn belt.

Abstract: An image reader for reading a book document laid on a document table in a spread position by optically scanning the surface of the document. The edge of the document on the side where scanning for reading the document starts, the position of an image on the document, the size of the document, the edge of the document on the side where the leaf of the document begins to be turned over and so forth are detected on the basis of data derived from the optical scanning of the surface of the document.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder having top and bottom sheet feeders for selectively feeding top and bottom document sheets from the top and bottom of a stack of documents placed in an input tray of the document feeder is used to feed documents onto a copier platen in proper signature page order. The automatic document feeder selectively feeds the documents in accordance with a signature sequence by feeding a first document from either the top or from the bottom of the stack, followed by feeding alternate pairs of documents from the top and from the bottom of the stack, starting with an opposite one of the top and bottom of the stack from the one containing the first document, until all documents are fed to the copier platen. The documents are moved two at a time as a signature document pair in the signature sequence directly from the automatic document feeder to the imaging station.

Abstract: A copying apparatus copies an image of each original document either in a one-side copy mode or a both-side copy mode during a cover copy mode. The copying apparatus is capable of selectively supplying colored copy sheets for a cover page and ordinary white copy sheets for the other pages. A controller controls the copying apparatus such that the image of one cover page is copied on one side of a colored copy sheet, the image of each table of contents is copied on one side of a white copy sheet, and the image of each of the other content pages is copied on both sides of a white copy sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of indicating document orientation for a reference to set an original document on a document platen, the image forming apparatus including a document orientation display member for displaying the document orientation at a normal copy mode in a normal display form in which the document orientation coincides with an orientation of a fed copy sheet, and at a specific copy mode which differs from the normal copy mode in a specific display form which differs from the normal display form at the normal copy mode.