Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of communicating with an electronic pen at least includes a communication section for obtaining, from the electronic pen, electronic pen data including multiple pieces of position information obtained by detecting a position detection mark printed on a hand-writing sheet by the use of the electronic pen; a language analysis section for analyzing the electronic pen data, identifies one or more hand-written images defined by the multiple pieces of position information, and creates intermediate data that defines the arrangement of objects including respective hand-written images; an image processing section for rasterizing the intermediate data to create bitmap data; and a printing section for conducting printing based on the bitmap data.

Abstract: A scanner device for scanning mailpieces, which scanner device comprises: a contact image sensor or “CIS” disposed in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction in which the mailpieces are conveyed through a module of a franking system; a support to which said sensor is fastened, the support being mounted to pivot at one end of at least one first drive lever, the other end of which is itself mounted to pivot about a first common hinge pin secured to a stationary portion of the module and disposed upstream from a set of conveyor rollers, so as to make it possible for said contact image sensor to move vertically; and at least one second drive lever one end of which is mounted to pivot about a second common hinge pin secured to said stationary portion of said module and disposed downstream from said set of conveyor rollers, the other end of the second drive lever, by being moved synchronously with the vertical movement of said set of conveyor rollers, moving the contact image sensor via the first drive

Abstract: A mailpiece scanner device in a module of a franking system, said mailpiece scanner device comprising: a contact image sensor or “CIS” disposed in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction in which the mailpieces are conveyed through the module; and a support to which said sensor is fastened and which is mounted firstly to move vertically under the action of at least one drive lever and secondly to pivot about a longitudinal hinge pin; the device further comprising guide means secured to a stationary portion of the module for the purpose of limiting firstly the vertical movement of the image sensor support and secondly pivoting of said support about the longitudinal hinge pin.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, an energy converting unit receives light from an optical source and converts the light into electric power, and an electrical storage unit stores therein the electric power. The energy converting unit is arranged in such a manner that a relative position of the energy converting unit to the optical source is always constant when a reading unit is reading an image.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus in which cross-talk noise occurring between plural reading units is reduced, an image reading method and an image reading program are provided. There are included plural reading units that respectively operate at different timings, a noise calculation unit that acquires first read data as a result of reading of a first read object as the read object by the plural reading units, acquires an operation state of the plural reading units during the reading of the first read object, and calculates, based on the operation state and the first read data obtained in the operation state, noise information based on the operation state, and a noise removal unit that acquires second read data as a result of reading of a second read object as the read object different from the first read object by the plural reading units, and removes noise from the second read data based on the noise information calculated by the noise calculation unit.

Abstract: An original size detecting apparatus is capable of carrying out accurate original size detection without erroneous detection of the size of an original due to the influence of external scattered light. A CCD reads reflected light of light irradiated from a light source onto an original placed on an original platen glass. Optical sensors detect two open states of the original presser plate, and a scanner controller performs predetermined control corresponding to each of the open states of the original presser plate detected by the optical sensors, to determine the size of the original based on the result of the reading by the CCD.

Abstract: An original size detecting apparatus is capable of carrying out accurate original size detection without erroneous detection of the size of an original due to the influence of external scattered light. A CCD reads reflected light of light irradiated from a light source onto an original placed on an original platen glass. Optical sensors detect two open states of the original presser plate, and a scanner controller performs predetermined control corresponding to each of the open states of the original presser plate detected by the optical sensors, to determine the size of the original based on the result of the reading by the CCD.

Abstract: A device for scanning a document is provided. A document placed on a support surface is scanned line by line by a camera that is provided with an optoelectronic line sensor, and electric signals are produced. The line sensor includes a plurality of image recording elements disposed in a linear orientation. A lens system is used to image the light reflected by the document to be captured onto a part of the image recording elements.

Abstract: Techniques for image edge filter processing are provided. Data samples surrounding vertical and horizontal edges of an image are acquired and iteratively processed. If the samples are associated with vertical edges, the data associated with the samples are transposed prior to applying a selected filter. The samples are stored in two buffers (one buffer for each unique side of an edge being processed) and selective filters applied thereon. Each sample set includes more than four samples of data. Once the filters are processed, the data in the buffers is written as portions of a modified image. If the samples were associated with vertical edges, then the data is re-transposed out of the buffers as it is written.

Abstract: An image processing technique for generating a multi-valued image with fine contours from an input image that is generated by reading, as a multi-valued image, the dotted print contents of printed matter. An image processing apparatus of the present invention generates a contour extracted image by performing the contour extraction process for the input image, and deletes contours from the contour extracted image that satisfy a predetermined condition to generate a partial contour image. Then, the apparatus adds contours to the partial image according to the density distribution of the contour in the partial contour image, and generates a contour added image. By referring to the contour added image, the apparatus superimposes the input image and a smoothed image obtained by performing a smoothing process for the input image to generate a synthesized image.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for enabling instruction of a computer to perform tasks, the method including the steps of: providing a user with at least one form printable on a surface to provide one or more first viewable information zones relating to one or more available commands and one or more second viewable information zones relating to one or more objects; receiving, in a computer system, indicating data from a sensing device operated by the user regarding movement of the sensing device relative to the surface, said movement including a stroke of part of the sensing device on or relative to said surface; determining, in the computer system and from the indicating data, if the stroke substantially links one or more of said first viewable information zones with one or more of said second viewable information zones, and thereby interpreting the stroke as designating (i) a respective one or more of said available commands and (ii) a respective one or more of said objects; and applying in the com

Abstract: A method of electronic processing of an imagewise exposed dispersed particle photoconductive material imaging element employing pulsed radiation and radio frequency photoconductivity apparatus having a sample capacitor with a gap is described, comprising the steps of: a) placing the imagewise exposed photoconductive material imaging element in an electromagnetic field adjacent the sample capacitor; b) scanning the element through the gap in the sample capacitor with a pulsed, focused beam of radiation; c) directly measuring the photoelectron response of the element and recording the resulting signals from the radio frequency photoconductivity apparatus; and d) advancing the element past the capacitor and repeating steps b) and c); wherein the photoconductive material imaging element comprises photoconductive particles which contain deep electron trapping agents which in an unfilled state effectively decrease the photoconductivity of the photoconductor particles, and wherein imagewise exposure of the photocond

Abstract: In a cooling device and method for cooling an engraving system of an engraving device given engraving devices for engraving printing form surfaces, the cooling device comprises a plurality of cooling units wherein each cooling unit is allocated to respectively cool one engraving head.

Abstract: A method of electronic processing of an imagewise exposed dispersed particle photoconductive material imaging element employing pulsed radiation and radio frequency photoconductivity apparatus having a sample capacitor with a gap is described, comprising the steps of: a) placing the imagewise exposed photoconductive material imaging element in an electromagnetic field adjacent the sample capacitor; b) scanning the element through the gap in the sample capacitor with a pulsed, focused beam of radiation; c) directly measuring the photoelectron response of the element and recording the resulting signals from the radio frequency photoconductivity apparatus; and d) advancing the element past the capacitor and repeating steps b) and c); wherein the photoconductive material imaging element comprises photoconductive particles which contain deep electron trapping agents which in an unfilled state effectively decrease the photoconductivity of the photoconductor particles, and wherein imagewise exposure of the photocond

Abstract: A personal computer scanner for scanning the three-dimensional (3D) objects has a frame with an axis, and a front plate. The front plate has a large array of axial pinholes that each contain a slidably movable pin to form a bed of pins. A detection device is slidably mounted near the rear of the frame. A stepper motor is used to move the detection device relative to frame. The detection device has a sensor plate on its front surface with an array of sensors that correspond one-to-one with the pins. The user selects an object to be scanned and inserts it into the bed of pins to form an impression. The pins readily move and comply to the contours of the object. After the impression is made, the detection device is slowly incremented by the stepper motor toward the pins. The individual sensors are monitored by a host computer until they have been contacted by their respective pins. When a sensor has been touched by its pin, the sensor is scanned by the computer to record the displacement of the pin.

Abstract: A method of electronic processing of a latent image from a photographic element, the method employing pulsed radiation and radio frequency photoconductivity apparatus having a sample capacitor with a gap, including the steps of: placing the element in an electromagnetic field adjacent the sample capacitor; providing an advance mechanism for advancing the photographic element past the capacitor; scanning the element through the gap in the sample capacitor with a pulsed, focused beam of radiation; directly measuring the photoelectron response of the element and recording the resulting signals from the radio frequency photoconductivity apparatus; and advancing the element and repeating the exposing and measuring steps to provide a two dimensional readout of the latent image on the photographic element at ambient temperature or below.

Abstract: The facsimile machine according to the invention can set a so-called night time collective time designation mode for power saving during night time processing time. Turning on a prescribed operation key of the facsimile machine permits printing. More specifically, even when the machine is in the power saving state, a printing operation is permitted in response to a key input.

Abstract: An electronic blackboard apparatus, which reads a writing on a writing sheet fitted on a blackboard framework and which electronically copies the writing onto a recording medium. The apparatus includes a blackboard framework foldable together with the writing sheet, and a stand supporting the blackboard framework and a copying device. The stand is reducible in size while supporting the blackboard framework and the writing sheet in their folded position and the copying device. The length of the stand is reducible after the blackboard framework and the writing sheet have been folded to reduce their lengths. The blackboard framework and the writing sheet which have been folded are overturned into a space between opposite legs of the stand and the legs are then closed.

Abstract: A photodetector CCD pick-up device reads a storage phosphor record carrier via a light source on one side of the carrier with the photodetector device on the other side of the carrier. A drive displaces the carrier relative to the light source and to the CCD device. The light source illuminates the phosphor sub-surface of the record carrier to produce fluorescent light and which sub-surface comprises a plurality of pixels. The CCD pick-up device is arranged so that the charges in its cells produced by the fluorescent light displace in the same direction and at the same speed as the carrier.