Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member has a photosensitive layer provided on an electroconductive support with interposition of an intermediate layer, the intermediate layer containing a polyether-polyurethane and an electroconductive substance.An electrophotographic apparatus, comprises an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a photosensitive layer provided on an electroconductive support with interposition of an intermediate layer, the intermediate layer containing a polyether-polyurethane and an electroconductive substance.A facsimile apparatus comprises an electrophotographic apparatus and a receiving means for receiving image information from a remote terminal, the electrophotographic apparatus comprising an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a photosensitive layer provided on an electroconductive support with interposition of an intermediate layer, the intermediate layer containing a polyether-polyurethane and an electroconductive substance.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming superimposed images has a plurality of image holders each respectively for holding an image, a plurality of image forming stations for forming an image on the holders, and an adjusting device for adjusting positions of images formed on image holders except for that image station which is designated to be a standard station for adjusting or which is not used of image formation.

Abstract: A combined PC laser printer and fax reproduction apparatus where the scanning speed and spot size of the laser beam are controlled to be different for the reproduction of signals received from a computer and for fax signals, and the memory of the apparatus is controlled to have two pages when reproducing fax signals, such that the parameters of operation are optimum for both functions.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member has a substrate, a photosensitive layer and an intermediate layer spaced between said substrate and said photosensitive layer. The intermediate layer contains a polyamide resin grafted with a polymer or a copolymer having a unit component expressed by the following general formula (I) ##STR1## wherein, R.sub.1 is hydrogen atom or a methyl group, each of R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group or R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 in combination is a residual group necessary for forming a heterocyclic compound containing N, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are the same or different from each other. Also disclosed are an electrophotographic apparatus having the photosensitive member, and a facsimile incorporating the electrophotographic apparatus.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus in which a color image of an original document is copied on a sheet of paper using a photosensitive recording medium and three mask members corresponding to red, green and blue color components. The mask members have light shielding images corresponding to color-separated images of the original document. The mask member is superposed on the photosensitive recording medium and the latter is exposed to the color-separated light component through the mask member. To provide a background-white color copies, detected is a transmission rate of the color-separated light component transmitting through the mask member and an amount of the color-separated light component applied through the mask member to the photosensitive recording medium is controlled in response to the detected transmission rate.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printer including a paper storage portion for storing paper sheets to be printed, a paper discharge portion for receiving the paper sheets which have been discharged to the paper discharge portion upon completion of printing of the paper sheets and a printing portion provided with a photosensitive member, a corona charger, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer charger, a cleaning device and a fixing device, in which when the paper storage portion, the paper discharge portion and the printing portion are projected over a plane for installing the electrophotographic printer, first, second and third projected regions are, respectively, occupied, by the paper storage portion, the paper discharge portion and the printing portion such that at least one of the first, second and third projected regions is contained in at least either one of the remaining two of the first, second and third projected regions.

Abstract: A charge recording and reproducing device is constituted by a transfer device which transfers a film shaped recording medium from one to other side, a recording head adapted to form an electrostatic latent image from an image formed on the recording medium, an eraser for erasing the electrostatic latent image, a developing apparatus for developing the electrostatic latent image, and a reading device for reading the developed image.

Abstract: A photoconductor is stretched between a developing unit and a fixing unit more flatly than the developing unit and the fixing unit, and other necessary image forming devices are disposed in the empty spaces around the photoconductor which are formed in the upper and lower portions of the photoconductor between the developing unit and the fixing unit. An exposure section provided for copying operation is arranged along the upper portion, and along the lower portion, a paper feed section and a laser print head are arranged.

Abstract: An electronic copying machine comprises an optical image forming system for forming an optical image of a remote surface on an image plane, and an image sensor disposed in the image plane and transversely movable in the image plane for scanning the optical image and converting the image into image signals. A scanning area defining device defines the height of the image sensor so as to scan the image plane according to the height of the remote surface. An image printing unit including a printing head is driven according to the image signals for printing an image on paper.

Abstract: A digital electrophotographic copying apparatus, comprising; document reading section having a start-up process for reading documents and producing corresponding image data, image storage section having a start-up process for temporarily storing the image data obtained from the document reading means, image printing section having a start-up process for printing document copies according to an electrophotographic process based on the image data stored in the image storage means, job control section for starting the document reading of the document reading means and the image storing of the image storage means upon switching electrical power to the digital electrophotographic copying apparatus and upon an indication of completion of the document reading section start-up process and the image storage section start-up process before receiving an indication of completion the image printing section process.

Abstract: A color image recording apparatus exposes a photosensitive recording medium to light through a succession of mask members produced by a monochromatic laser printer based on colored image information. An exposure unit exposes the photosensitive recording medium and includes a scanning unit driven at a predetermined scanning speed to expose the photosensitive recording medium to light through each of the mask members. An exposure amount setting unit selectively sets light exposures to be applied to the photosensitive recording medium by the scanning unit, and an exposure amount indicating unit selectively indicates exposure amounts to be applied to the photosensitive recording medium by the scanning unit. A data converting unit converts the exposure amount into equivalent scanning speed data to control the scanning speed of the exposure unit.

Abstract: The photosensitive drum unit of an image forming apparatus is selectively coupled to the upper cover. The user can elect to have the drum unit pivot up with the upper cover or stay in the main housing independently of movement of the upper cover. The same operation that controls whether the drum unit moves with the upper cover can control whether a kit holder stays in place in the main housing or pivots up to make it easier to change kit components such as a toner container.

Abstract: A digital electrophotographic copying apparatus comprising; document reading section for reading a document image and for generating image data corresponding to the document image, image storage section for temporarily storing the image data, image printing section having a fuser for producing copy images on sheets of paper based on the image data stored in the image storage section and according to an electrophotographic process, wherein the printing section operates in parallel with the reading section and the printing section operates individually, electric power supply setting unit for variably setting the level of electric power supplied to the fuser, cycle indication unit for indicating whether the printing section is operating in parallel with the reading section, or whether the printing section is operating individually, and electric power selection unit for controlling the electric power supply setting unit based on the indication obtained from said cycle indication unit.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a color reader for reading image signals, a multi-output memory for outputting the image signals to a plurality of color printers, a control unit for discriminating operating states of the color printers, and a sync control for performing output control of the image signals supplied to the color printers.

Abstract: A gray scale image poster printer reproduces a digitally stored bit map image on a printer using an electrostatic and magnetic toner to generate gray scale images by expanding each line of the original stored image into a plurality of subpixels along the horizontal scanning lines and by synchronizing the printing of the subpixel lines with a changing magnetic field that changes the amount of toner deposited in each subpixel.

Abstract: An image combining apparatus for a digital color copier having a plurality of photoconductive drums each being assigned to respective one of yellow, magenta, cyan and black, and a delay memory for delaying data stored and associated with the individual colors to thereby register images of the individual colors. The delay memory plays the role of a frame memory. The apparatus is capable of combining an image of a black-white image stored in the frame memory in the form of black data and a color image of a color document, and combining a color image of a color document stored in the delay memory in the form of color data and a black-white image of a black-white document. These two different combinations are switched over to be effected one at a time, as desired.

Abstract: A digital image recording system having an image read section for reading an image on an original, data storage means for storing image data as read by the image read section, and an image output section for outputting the image data read out of the storage means in the form of a hard copy of the document. The digital image recording system comprises transmission data amount select means for switching, for every page, the color and density of each pixel of the image data as read by the image read means and transferred to the storage means. Format select means switch the output format of the data image output section with every page according to the switched transmission data amount. Job entering sets a copy job, such as the type of documents, page order and the number of copies. Control means control the preset processing unit, the amount of transmission data in the data amount select means, and the output format in the output format select means according to input data in the job entering means.

Abstract: An improved developing unit switching device for a printer capable of providing a multicolor copy from one formation of latent electrostatic images comprises a photoreceptor drum on which the latent electrostatic images are formed; a rotary encoder for detecting an amount of rotation of the photoreceptor drum; developing units containing toner of at least two colors for providing multicolor copies; and a switching apparatus for switching the respective developing units. The improved device switches respective developing units in response to an output signal from the rotary encoder.

Abstract: A facsimile machine having a thin film electroluminescent pixel array which is used as the controlled light beam source for creating an image on a photoreceptive copying apparatus when the machine is in a write mode and using the same TFEL pixel array as a source of illuminating light to the scanning sensor when the machine is in the read mode. In other embodiments the primary light emission from the pixel array is used in the write mode and secondary emission from the pixels is used for the illuminating source in the read mode. Embodiments of the TFEL array structure include combination with scanning sensors on the same substrate. Other embodiments include the scanning sensor and the pixel array on separate substrates positioned in generally parallel planes.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a laser beam radiating unit utilized as a light source, and an optical system that the surface of an original reflects a laser beam radiated from the radiating unit to project an image reflected from the original onto a photosensitive member. In this apparatus, an image is formed selectively in a print mode that an image results from turning on and off the laser beam, in a copy mode that a copy of an original results from exposure of the photosensitive member to the laser beam reflected from the surface of an original or in a composite mode that a composite image is formed of a copy of an original and an image resulting from turning on and off the laser beam. Also, this apparatus comprises a reflector for directing the laser beam to the photosensitive member, and the reflector is automatically set at the reflecting position when the original cover is open or the print mode is selected.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming a mask member on the basis of a color image information and exposing a photosensitive recording medium to light through the mask member to thereby forming a color image, including a light source for emitting light, at least two color separation filter units for passing the light therethrough and providing transmitted lights having different (broader and narrower) half-widths in spectrum to thereby irradiate the light having a desired half-width in spectrum to the photosensitive recording medium, a position detecting unit for detecting each position of said color separation filter units, and a switching unit for performing a switching operation between the color separation filter units to position desired one of said color separation filter units in an optical path of the light.

Abstract: There is disclosed a recording/reproducing system comprising an optical system for directing along a path of an electromagnetic radio ray from an object toward a recording medium, and a recording head disposed in the path for generating a charge latent image onto the medium. The feature of the system resides in that the recording head (system) forms the detection region which is not entirely subject to the influence of the electromagnetic radio ray and which is provided in a portion of the charge recording region of the medium, and in that a reproducing system discriminates the polarity of charges or the recording mode of the charge latent image recorded onto the medium by detecting the charges in the dectection region.

Abstract: A charge latent image is formed on a recording medium in response to information and a reference pattern so that the information and the reference pattern are recorded on the recording medium. During a reproducing process, the information is read out from the recording medium and an information signal representing the readout information is generated. In addition, the reference pattern is read out from the recording medium and a reference signal representing the reference pattern is generated. The information is demodulated from the information signal. The reference signal is used in the demodulation of the information from the information signal.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a receiving unit for receiving an image signal sent from an external apparatus, and a recording unit for performing a recording operation in accordance with the image signal received by the receiving unit. The receiving unit includes a clock signal generating unit for generating a clock signal used when receiving the image signal; and includes a first reception mode where the image signal is received without using the clock signal and a second reception mode where the image signal is received by using the clock signal. The receiving unit may include a first reception mode where the image signal is received by using a clock signal sent from the external apparatus and a second reception mode where the image signal is received without using the clock signal.

Abstract: There is provided a photoelectric conversion device for an electro-magnetic radiation beam incident thereto, into a charge pattern, the electro-magnetic radiation beam carrying information intended to be recorded. The device has electrodes, a photo-conductive layer member laminated to the electrodes having maximum thickness and a surface defining the maximum thickness between the electrodes, and a gap defined between the surface and a recording member disposed to face the surface of the photo-conductive layer member. There is further provided an apparatus for recording a charge latent image without losing the high resolution.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a printer which is so arranged that a preliminary paper feeding is effected in the case of normal printing, and upon alteration of printing conditions, the preliminary paper feeding is automatically released, while, after alteration of the printing conditions, the preliminary paper feeding is again effected, and thus, a printer efficient in use has been presented, with an improved through-put in operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus with an image memory plate having a light image memory is disclosed. The light image memory stores image information of a document when reflected light having the image information from the document is projected onto a first surface thereof, and also reads out the image information stored therein in the form of reflected light when light is projected onto a second surface thereof by a light source. The image forming apparatus comprises a movable holder for detachably holding the image memory plate.

Abstract: An electronic printer, comprising a fiber optic bundle having the fiber ends organized in a linear array in a first face and in an area array in a second face, includes a linear array of LEDs or LCSs adapted to image light into the fiber ends in one linear segment of the area face at a time. A rotating mirror is operative to move the light image onto each of the consecutive linear segments on the area face and to provide a digital signal indicative of the position of the light image in each instance. The arrangement provides a low cost, high speed, and small size electronic printer which is easily adapted to high resolution and color printing.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus capable of recording images of two opened pages of a book-type original on the front and back sides either of one record paper or of different record papers upon receipt of a single instruction. Image data representing a first page of two opened pages of the book-type original read by a first reading unit is supplied to a recording unit, and representing image data of a second page of the original reading by a second read unit can also be stored in a memory. The recording unit record images based on the first image data and third image data which was read and stored in the memory in a previous cycle.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus operable in plural operation modes is disclosed. The image processing apparatus includes: a first operation mode for driving an exposure head to form dot images on a photoconductor responsive to electric signals sent from an external unit so as to form an electrostatic latent image thereon; a second operation mode for driving the exposure head to form dot images on the photoconductor responsive to the electric signals sent from the image sensor so as to form an electrostatic latent image thereon; and a third operation mode for enabling optical means to form an image reflected from a document set on the document table onto the photoconductor so as to form an electrostatic latent image thereon.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a control device for controlling an optical output of a semiconductor laser. An operation of controlling the optical output is started with a timing before an incoming signal which indicates an effective image region in a sub scanning direction of a photosensitive body and responsive to a timing signal (or power check start signal) having a predetermined period.

Abstract: A printing machine with control device for identifying solid areas to be imaged. The printing machine is regulated on a picture element (pel) basis to produce pels representing the interior of solid areas with an intensity sufficient to create a relatively large development vector and to produce non-solid area pels, such as the edges of solid areas, text, and line pels with an intensity sufficient to create a smaller development vector. In that manner, toner deposit densities are balanced for solid interiors, the edges of solids, test, and lines. A control method is provided for establishing the desired line stroke width, toner density, and exposure level for an electrophotographic printer, and thereafter establishing the exposure level needed to balance toner density in the solid areas with the line toner density.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for producing an image made up of marks having varying sizes, densities and/or shapes on an imaging media. The image is generated in response to image data defining the image to be produced received by an input scanner or other input device. The image data is processed and then used to address at least one amplitude and/or pulse width modulation table to, in turn, generate amplitude and pulse width signals which controls a writing device. Marks are therefore written onto the media, such marks having varying sizes, densities and/or shapes for forming the completed image.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for grey level printing using linear arrays of LED's or the like are described. In one embodiment, a circuit provides signals in serial form to an LED printhead having a binary architecture to print grey level pixels. The circuit includes a comparator that compares for each pixel to be printed a time-changing count from a threshold counter with a multibit signal representing a grey level value. If the grey level exceeds the count, a single bit signal is fed to the printhead and used to turn the LED on. This process is repeated to determine the "on" time of the LED for that pixel. In another embodiment, the number of repetitions of this process are shown to be substantially reducible by using a vernier clocking scheme involving a clock signal having different frequencies.

Abstract: A color image processing apparatus including an image-reading device for reading a color image on an original to obtain first color image data, an image memory which stores the first color image data, and a factor memory which stores a predetermined correction factor. A color correction system corrects the first color image data with the correction factor. An image-producing apparatus produces a color copy image on the basis of the corrected first color image data, where the image-reading device reads the color copy image to obtain second color image data. The image-processing apparatus further includes a processing member which performs a comparison between the first color image data stored and changes the correction factor on the basis of the comparison.

Abstract: An electrographic printing apparatus capable of functioning as a copier, printer, and telefax machine is disclosed. The electrographic printing apparatus includes a photoconductive member, preferably a horizontally mounted photoconductive belt, a developer unit for developing an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive member, and a biased transfer roller to transfer the developed electrostatic latent image to a sheet of copy material. The apparatus also includes an optical print head which can receive information from a local or a remote source to form the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive member and thus act as a printer. The apparatus further includes a device for scanning an original document and for projecting the scanned image either onto the photoconductive member or onto a CCD linear array. When the scanned image is projected onto the photoconductive member, a copy of the original document is made.

Abstract: In a duplex image forming apparatus, first and second image forming devices are arranged respectively in upstream and downstream sides of a moving direction of a transfer member. Each image forming device includes an image bearing member, a developer for forming on the image bearing member a toner image corresponding to first and second information signals, respectively, and a transfer device for transferring the respective toner images to respective sides of the transfer member. A reader is provided for reading a first side of an original and, at a point of time after reading of the first side begins, a second side of the original. The length of time required to move the transfer member from the first transfer station to the second transfer station is equal to the length of time between beginning to read the first side of the original and beginning to read the second side of the original.

Abstract: A copying apparatus includes an exposing unit for exposing an original document, a memory, a circuit for causing a plurality of original document images to be stored in the memory, a read out circuit for reading out the original images from the memory, a printing unit for printing the read out image on a copy medium, a manual numerical input device, an addressing circuit for selectively addressing a desired one of the document images stored in the memory in accordance with a data entered by the numerical input device, and a control circuit for controlling the read out circuit by the addressing circuit so as to read out the desired one document image selected by the addressing circuit and print the same on the copy medium. The control circuit is adapted to repeat the read out of the selected image from the memory so as to repeat copying by a number of times entered by the numerical input device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms an image of an input image information by use of a font, and comprises a memory part for storing data on bit map fonts and outline fonts, a setting part for setting a minimum size of an outline font which may be used, a first selecting part for selecting a desired kind of font, a second selecting part for selecting a size of the desired kind of font selected by the first selecting part, and an image forming part for forming the image of the input image information by use of the desired kind and size of font selected by the first and second selecting parts based on corresponding data read out from the memory part.

Abstract: An electrostatic blackboard having an image display function for displaying on an electrostatically recordable blackboard display a visible toner image converted from an electrostatic latent image formed on the backboard by an electrostatic recording head includes copying apparatus for transfering the visible image on the blackboard to a large-size paper sheet. A semi-permanent latent image toner fusing operation is provided to create a semi-permanent visible image, yet permit easy erasing.

Abstract: An image recording device has an optical switch panel disposed nearly or directly in contact with a photosensitive body. The optical switch panel contains many liquid crystal display dot elements between a pair of boundary layers and serves to form on the photosensitive body an image which is displayed on the optical switch panel. The boundary layer on the side of the photosensitive body is significantly thinner than that distal therefrom.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus of the type using intermediate mask members having thereon intermediate light shielding images. To reproduce a color image, three mask members are produced which correspond to three primary colors. Each of the mask member carries thereon a light shielding image corresponding to one of the three primary colors contained in the original image wherein the light shielding image yields a first gradation error with respect to the original image. A photosensitive recording medium is successively exposed to light through the mask members to form a latent image corresponding to the light shielding images. The latent image formed on the photosensitive recording medium is developed to provide a visible image on a developer sheet wherein the visible image yields a second gradation error with respect to the light shielding image.

Abstract: A color image recording apparatus exposes a photosensitive recording medium to light through a succession of mask members produced by a monochoromatic laser printer based on colored image information. A latent image thus formed on the recording medium is then developed into a colored image on a color developer sheet. The mask members have identifying marks indicating the colors of the mask members. The color image recording apparatus includes mask member identifying sensors for identifying the identifying marks, a plurality of storage trays each for storing one of the mask members, and feed rollers for individually feeding the mask members from the storage trays. The mask member having one specific color is positioned at an exposure zone where a filter having a corresponding color is provided.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus which reproduces a charge latent image recorded in a recording medium. The apparatus has an electromagnetic radiation source, an optical system for leading an electromagnetic radiation ray emitted from the electromagnetic radiation source in a direction toward a recording medium on which an object information to be read is prerecorded as a charge latent image, and a read head arranged closely facing to the recording medium and arranged in series in a travelling path of the electromagnetic radiation ray.

Abstract: An optical information carrier includes a cylinder (1) with a recording layer (2) and bushings (3,4) located at butt ends of the hollow cylinder (1) and insulating the recording layer (2) from the environment. A method for erasing information recorded on the optical carrier uses a high-frequency electrical discharge produced inside the air-tight closed space (5) of the hollow cylinder (1). An optical storage device realizing the method includes an erasing unit (11) having a circuit for initiating a high-frequency discharge, which has electrodes (12,13) between which the optical carrier (10) is located so that the high-frequency discharge is initiated inside the closed air-tight space (5).

Abstract: An electonic copying machine for making a hard copy of a remote original comprises a housing and an image pick-up unit pivotally mounted on the housing for vertical swinging movement between a raised use position and a lowered non-use position. In the housing, there are a scanner for scanning the remote original with a line of light projected through a transparent window plate, a recording head and image recording paper. In the image pick-up unit, there are a lens for forming a line image of the scanned remote original on the recording paper, a line image sensor for reading the line image formed thereon by the lens to provide line image signals according to which the image recording head records and image on the recording paper, shifting the line image sensor by a predetermined pitch in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the line image sensor.

Abstract: An improved photographic printer having a source of light such as a laser can produce printed copies from a photoconductive surface. Data representative of the images to be printed can be transformed into intermediate codes which are stored for driving a print controller. A timer can set a predetermined time depending on the length of the paper for the data transformation into the intermediate codes and various elements in the printer can be activated prior to the completion of the transformation, including forwarding copying paper to a predetermined position adjacent the photoconductive surface whereby excessive wear of the printer is prevented and an increased printing speed is achieved.

Abstract: An electrophotographic recording apparatus for a facsimile device in which exposure and development are performed simultaneously at the same position, and exposure, development, paper feed, rotation of the photosensitive body and fixation of the toner to the paper are performed synchronously with the receipt of image data for each line.

Abstract: An image recording system including a host control unit for generating image data and a printer apparatus for forming an image on a sheet of paper in accordance with the image data generated form the host control unit. The printer apparatus has a function of dividing the image into at least two image areas with respect to a boundary and of forming each of the image areas in different colors. The host control unit is adapted to apply to said printer apparatus a boundary signal indicative of the boundary of at least two image areas which are to be formed in different colors. The printer apparatus has a designating device for designating one of the image areas as an image to be formed, and a prohibiting device for prohibiting formation of the image area other than the image area designated.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an original document reader for respectively reading the each duplex face of the document from each side face; a means for filling-in the document images read respectively, with elements capable of being filled-in with laser heat through an electric-heat optical effect a device for optically reading each of the document images filled-in on the elements to focus the images on a photoelectric member; and a device for projecting the images onto a photosensitive member and to transfer them onto transfer paper, whereby both side faces of the original document are reproduced.