Abstract: An image forming apparatus and method are provided. The image forming apparatus includes a communication interface unit that receives printing data, an image forming unit that performs an ordinary printing to form an image on printing paper based on the printing data, a paper supplying unit that provides the printing paper to the image forming unit along with a paper supplying route, a determination unit that determines whether a functional printing may be performed on the paper supplying route in an interval section between sheets of the printing paper, and a controller that controls the image forming unit to perform a functional printing, wherein the ordinary printing is a printing performed on one or more sheets of printing paper, and the functional printing is a printing performed in an interval section between the sheets of printing paper.

Abstract: A scanner apparatus includes: a holder configured to hold a line sensor unit; a first spacer and a second spacer disposed on both sides of the line sensor unit in a longitudinal direction and configured to come into contact with the transparent plate; and a biasing unit configured to press the holder toward the transparent plate between the first spacer and the second spacer in the longitudinal direction. The line sensor unit and the holder are coupled together on both sides of the biasing unit in the longitudinal direction. A force applied to the holder by the biasing unit is transmitted from the holder through two coupling portions to the line sensor unit, thereby biasing the first spacer and the second spacer to the transparent plate.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an automatic document feeder for conveying a document to pass through an image reading position for discharging, and a main body portion for irradiating the document with light at the image reading position and receiving reflection light of the irradiated light to read an image of the document, in which the automatic document feeder is provided so as to be able to be opened and closed with respect to the main body portion. The image processing apparatus, while the automatic document feeder conveys a document, irradiates a white plate with light in the absence of the document at the image reading position to read an image thereof and analyzes the read image of the white plate so as to detect opening and closing of the automatic document feeder.

Abstract: A duplex scanning apparatus and a sheet-feeding control method thereof are provided. The duplex scanning apparatus includes a sheet feeding channel, a sheet transfer channel, an inverting channel, and a sheet sensing module. A first end of the inverting channel is connected to a junction between said sheet feeding channel and the sheet transfer channel. A second end of the inverting channel is connected to the sheet transfer channel. A distance between the sheet sensing module and the first end of the inverting channel is greater than a distance between the sheet sensing module and the second end of the inverting channel. When a document is transferred through the sheet sensing module at the second time, a next document is fed into the sheet feeding channel through a sheet entrance.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reading part reading front and back sides of an original; a storage part storing the thus read images and plural processing parameters to be used for image processing; and an image processing part carrying out the image processing on the read images using the plural processing parameters. The image processing part analyzes an image transfer instruction that is an instruction to transmit the read image from the first storage part to the image processing part, and determines which of the processing parameters is to be used for the read image; and transfers the determined processing parameter by a direct memory access transfer method. The processing parameter concerning the read image is transferred from the first storage part to the image processing part by the direct memory access transfer method prior to the image processing of the read image by the image processing part.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a tray to place a document, a conveying mechanism for a document, a reader for a document image, a detector for detecting a sheet jam, an image processor and a controller. The image processor performs an image processing for removing document smear from an image read by the reader. The controller controls a document conveying operation by the conveying mechanism and a document reading operation by the reader. If a jammed document is removed and the document is placed again on the document tray after the detector detects a sheet jam, the controller performs a sheet jam recovery processing for causing the conveying mechanism to convey the document again and causing the reader to read the image of the document. The image processor performs the image processing on the image of the jammed document read by the reader during the sheet jam recovery processing.

Abstract: A medium transport apparatus includes a transport member configured to transport a medium in a discharge direction or in a drawing direction, a medium loaded member configured to be placed a medium transported in the discharge direction by the medium transport member, and a movement member. The movement member is configured to move in a direction away from the transport member when the transport member transports a medium in the drawing direction.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus which supports a both-side scan mode and a controlling method thereof. The image reading apparatus includes: an automatic paper transfer unit which automatically transfers a papers; a first scanning unit which comprises a first light source and scans a first side of the paper; a second scanning unit which comprises a second light source and scans a second side of the paper; and a controller which controls the first and second light sources to be alternately lit on a plurality of times within a cycle of a preset signal when the paper is transferred to the automatic paper transfer unit.

Abstract: A printer includes a first feeder that feeds a first sheet, a second feeder that feeds a second sheet, a feed position on the second feeder being set so that the second sheet overlaps the first sheet when the second sheet is ejected, a stacker that collects the first sheet and the second sheet on which printing has been carried out so that the first sheet and the second sheet overlap, and a processor that determines whether a sectioning command is included in a print request, and when a sectioning command is included, switches over between the first feeder and the second feeder for each print job.

Abstract: A stepping motor control device comprises a plurality of buffers for storing data for driving a stepping motor, a read unit for reading the data from the buffer, and a write unit for writing the data in the buffer. The write unit includes a first mode for writing the data in the buffer in a process performed in a predetermined order, and a second mode for writing the data in the buffer in response to a request from the read unit to write the data.

Abstract: Image scanning apparatus and method of receiving a new scan job, determining whether the new scan job is a multi-scan job, and when the new scan job is a multi-scan job, individually performing the multi-scan job using the plurality of scan units. Accordingly, in the process of performing a scan job, a user can perform a new scan job without waiting.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus comprises a feeding mechanism conveying a document, a moving mechanism moving a reading unit, a driving source shared by the mechanisms, a biasing mechanism moving the reading unit to a predetermined position by an elastic member when the reading unit is moved out of a reading region, a transmission element being displaced by the movement of the reading unit and switching transmission of the drive force, and a disengaging mechanism disengaging the reading unit in the predetermined position to the reading region from the predetermined position by the drive force of the driving source.

Abstract: An ADF defines a document feed path inclined downwardly from above a document platen. Feeding means is disposed downstream of a first reading glass plate and accommodated in a downwardly protruding portion. The protruding portion is accommodated in a dent portion of an image reading unit. The feeding means includes a feeding guide having a downstream side serving as a supporting point and an upstream side supported at the supporting point for pivotal movement about an axis parallel with the widthwise direction of the document feed path. The feeding guide is exposed out of the feeding means on the document platen side. When the ADS is closed while a document is in a state of extending off the document platen onto the dent portion, the upstream side of the feeding guide is pressed up by the document to move into an upper position.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to a cover portion of an image reader or other multifunctional peripheral. The cover portion may move between an uncovering position and a covering position by pivoting about a first axis. The cover portion may include a movable member that moves between an open position where the movable member functions as a document tray and a closed position where the movable member constitutes a part of an upper surface of the cover portion. The cover portion may also include a conveyor configured to convey one or more documents placed on the movable member when it is in the open position. Further, the cover portion may include an operation portion configured to receive user inputs. Moreover, the operation portion may be positioned near a center of the cover portion.

Abstract: A sensor includes a photoelectric conversion unit including a first photoelectric conversion element array and a second photoelectric conversion element array, each having an array of a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a predetermined direction, a storage unit configured to store a charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit, a transfer unit configured to transfer the charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit to an outside of the sensor, a control unit configured to serially execute a first transfer control for transporting unit configured to transport a charge stored in the second photoelectric conversion element array to the transfer unit via the storage unit and a second transfer control for transporting unit configured to transport a charge stored in the first photoelectric conversion element array to the transfer unit via the second photoelectric conversion element array and the storage unit.

Abstract: A processing apparatus includes a photosensor, a processing unit and a control unit. The control unit detects a light receiving signal output from the photosensor during a first light emission period and obtains a first detection result, and makes first determination based on the first detection result by determining whether the processing unit can execute a function. The control unit detects the light receiving signal after a waiting period and obtains a second detection result. The control unit makes second determination based on the second detection result by determining whether the processing unit can execute the function. The control unit makes the second determination in a second mode that requires small consumption power, and according to determination in the second determination in the second mode that the processing unit can execute the function, the control unit keeps the second mode and makes the first determination.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, comprising: a housing; an image formation unit configured to form an image on a recording medium; a stacking tray configured such that the recording medium on which an image has been formed by the image formation unit is stacked; a discharge unit configured to discharge, to the stacking tray, the recording medium on which an image has been formed by the image formation unit; and a reading device comprising a reading unit configured to read out an image formed on a document and a reversing unit configured to reverse a conveying direction of the document, and wherein the reading device is disposed on a lower side in a vertical direction with respect to the stacking tray and on a downstream side in a discharging direction of the recording medium discharged from the discharge unit with respect to the discharge unit.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reading unit, a conveyance unit, a carriage, a motor, a motor gear, a conveyance gear, a carriage gear, a switching gear, and a control device. The conveyance unit is configured to convey a document from a document tray. The switching gear is configured to be placed in either one of a first position where the motor gear is communicated with the conveyance gear and a second position where the motor gear is communicated with the carriage gear. The control device is configured to: control the motor to rotate the motor gear in a first direction to have the switching gear free from the conveyance gear in response to a determination that the document jam has occurred; and control the motor to rotate the motor gear in a second direction to have the switching gear communicate with the conveyance gear.

Abstract: An image scanning device has a sheet conveying roller conveying a sheet when a conveyed sheet scanning function is activated, a guide member defining a sheet feed path, a first gear transmitting a driving force to the sheet conveying roller, a first supporting shaft extending in a direction parallel with a width direction of the sheet feed path and supporting the first gear, a second gear engaging with the first gear, a second supporting shaft extending in a direction perpendicular to the first supporting shaft and supporting the second gear, a holder unit holding the second supporting shaft, the holder unit arranged at one end of the sheet feed path in the width direction, a reinforce member made of metal and extending in the width direction, first and second fixing units fixing longitudinal ends of the reinforce member to the holder unit and the guide member, respectively.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus configured to read images of both surfaces of a document is provided. The image reading apparatus may include a first image reading device configured to read an image of a first surface of a document, a second image reading device configured to read an image of a second surface of the document, and a document conveying mechanism configured to convey the document from the second image reading device to the first image reading device. The first image reading device has a first reading range, and the second image reading device has a second reading range, which is smaller than the first reading range.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a hopper unit, a separating unit, a reading unit, an ejecting unit, a stacking unit, a control unit, and a storage unit. The control unit includes a detecting unit that detects abnormal reading of the document read by the reading unit, an image storing unit that associates the read image and an abnormal reading result with a reading order of the document to store, a separation stacking unit that controls the ejecting unit to separate the document in which the abnormal reading is detected and the document in which the abnormal reading is not detected to eject to the stacking unit, a rereading unit that allows the reading unit to read again the document in which the abnormal reading is detected, thereby obtaining a reread image, and an image replacing unit that replaces the image corresponding to the reading order with the reread image.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus may include a cable for connecting one device or component to a controller configured to perform functions and execute instructions. To prevent breakage and stress on the cable, the cable may be fixed to a guide component. For example, the cable may be fixed to the guide component on a first side and be held by the component such that the cable includes a generally U-shaped slacked portion. According to one or more arrangements, the guide component may include an escape portion that allows for the movement of an openable unit of the image reading apparatus. In yet other aspects, the guide component may be attachable/detachable from a main body of the image reading apparatus.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a conveying unit for conveying documents one by one, a first reading unit for optically reading the conveyed document through a first transparent member provided at a first reading position on a conveying path in the conveying unit, a first cleaning unit for cleaning the first transparent member provided at the first reading position, a second reading unit for optically reading the conveyed document through a second transparent member provided at a second reading position on the conveying path in the conveying unit and on a downstream side of the first reading position, and a second cleaning unit for cleaning the second transparent member provided at the second reading position. The second cleaning unit is higher in cleaning ability than the first cleaning unit.

Abstract: When a user sets a paper attribute to a sheet holding unit, the user can recognize the existence of another sheet holding unit to which the same paper attribute as the paper attribute to be set has been set.

Abstract: Battery-powered portable scanner, comprising: a scanning unit for scanning documents and forming digital representations thereof; a processor, communicatively connected to the scanning unit and provided for controlling the scanning operation; at least a first embedded storage capabilities, each of which is communicatively connected to the processor and each of which comprises either an internal memory for internally storing the digital representations or a communication link to an external storage medium for externally storing the digital representations. The processor is provided for enabling autonomous operation without connection to a terminal. The processor may be provided with an embedded routing application which is provided for routing the digital representations to a predetermined selection among the embedded storage capabilities.

Abstract: A scanner is disclosed. The scanner has only one calibration strip.

Abstract: An image scanning apparatus comprising a feeding unit and a scanning unit is provided. The feeding unit comprises a separation unit configured to separate the document sheet and a discharge unit configured to discharge the document sheet to a discharge tray. The feeding path includes a curved path formed to change the feeding direction with respect to the image scanning apparatus, and a length of the feeding path from a downstream side end of the scanning unit in the feeding direction to a position of the discharge unit is shorter than a length of the feeding path from a position of the separation unit to the downstream side end of the scanning unit.

Abstract: A method includes a first step, a second step, and a third step. In the first step, a fed document is returned to an upstream side of a reading unit by reversing the document after a first passage through the reading unit. In the second step, the document returned in the first step is returned to the upstream side of the reading unit by reversing the document after a second passage through the reading unit. In the third step, the document returned in the second step is passed through the reading unit, and then the document is discharged.

Abstract: There are provided a paper conveying apparatus that can prevent a drop in quality of the image data while enabling stable conveyance of paper. The paper conveying apparatus includes a first image capture unit, a second image capture unit, a pair of conveyor rollers including a first roller and a second roller, a first conveyor guide, and a second conveyor guide, wherein a nip position of the pair of conveyor rollers is arranged above an extended plane of a top surface of the first image capture unit extended to the pair of conveyor rollers side, an axis of rotation of the second roller is arranged offset to the first image capture unit side compared with an axis of rotation of the first roller at projections on the extended plane, and the first conveyor guide guides the medium conveyed to above from the extended plane, to make the medium turn downward.

Abstract: A scanning-printing integrated apparatus is disclosed. The scanning-printing integrated apparatus comprises a first channel. The first channel comprises a scanning channel (11) which is provided with a scanning device (3) and a printing channel (12) which is provided with a first printing device (41). A paper input end of the scanning channel is communicated with a paper inlet (6) of the scanning-printing integrated apparatus, and a paper output end of the scanning channel is communicated with a paper input end of the printing channel. A paper output end of the printing channel is communicated with a first paper outlet (7) of the scanning-printing integrated apparatus. The scanning-printing integrated apparatus further comprises a paper accommodating device (5) and a second channel (21, 22) which is provided with a second printing device (4?1).

Abstract: A transparent sheet is attached onto an inclined surface of an original guide plate of an image reading apparatus, and similarly, a transparent sheet is attached onto an inclined surface at an edge portion of a reading guide plate, thereby preventing an original from being chipped by the ground glass-like inclined surfaces and illumination light from being diffused by the ground glass-like inclined surfaces.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus includes a transparent platen; a scan assembly; a first motor for moving the scan assembly across the transparent platen; an automatic document feeder; a second motor for feeding documents through the automatic document feeder; a first bi-directional switch element for driving the first motor; a second bi-directional switch element for driving the second motor; and a motor driver for selectively controlling the first bi-directional switch element or the second bi-directional switch element.

Abstract: A conveying path extends from a set position in which the original sheet is set to a discharge position in which the original sheet is discharged from the image-processing device. A control unit controls an image processing unit such that the image processing unit does not execute an image processing relevant to an original sheet when an elapsed time is less than a reference time and such that the image processing unit executes the image processing relevant to the original sheet when the elapsed time is greater than or equal to the reference time. The elapsed time is time from a point of time that the control unit begins to drive a conveying mechanism in response to a reception of the command by a command reception unit until a point of time that a sensor detects the original sheet conveyed by the conveying mechanism at the detection position.

Abstract: A paper processing apparatus equipped with a paper transferor for sequentially transferring paper sheets while maintaining a predetermined interval between a certain paper sheet and the next paper sheet; a paper position detector for detecting the position of a paper sheet; a plurality of processors for performing processing for the paper sheet; an information reader for reading information relating to processing to be performed for the paper sheet; and a controller for controlling operations relating to the paper transferor, the paper position detector, the plurality of processors, and the information reader, wherein upon judging that the certain paper sheet has passed through a certain processor, the controller carries out control to adjust the widthwise position of the certain processor so as to be adapted for the processing for the next paper sheet.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus to convey a sheet to be scanned to an image reader unit is provided. the image reading apparatus includes a sheet tray, in which the sheet to be scanned is stored, a separator, which frictionally picks up the sheet from the sheet tray and conveys the picked-up sheet toward an entry side of the image reader unit, through which the sheet enters a position above the image reader unit, to have a first side of the sheet scanned by the image reader unit, and a resisting force applier, which applies convey-resisting force to the sheet, of which first side has been scanned, being returned to the entry side of the image reader unit to have a second side of the sheet with the convey resistance scanned by the image reader unit.

Abstract: A scan assisting fixing device and a scanner using the same are provided. The fixing device is for fixing an object to be scanned, which includes a scanning portion and a holding portion. The fixing device includes an accommodation region, a scan window and a protrusion portion. When the holding portion is loaded in the accommodation region, the scanning portion correspondingly disposed in the scan window is retained and fixed by the protrusion portion, and the position of the holding portion in the fixing device is constant, so that the scanning portion is always within the range of the field depth of the scanner regardless of the specification of the positive film holder, and the clarity of the scanned image is assured.

Abstract: A control unit for controlling a document conveying operation stops the conveyance of a document by a document conveying unit if document(s) is/are placed on a placing portion, the document is being conveyed and an upper structure is not in a closing posture. Further, the control unit stops the conveyance of the document when the trailing end of the document being conveyed has not passed a document reading position and, on the other hand, causes the document to be discharged to a document discharging portion without stopping the conveyance of the document when the trailing end has passed the document reading position if no document is placed on the placing portion, the document is being conveyed and the upper structure is not in the closing posture.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a conveying unit, reading unit, detecting unit, and control unit. The conveying unit conveys two sheets of the original one by one. The reading unit reads a sheet passing past a reading position. The detecting unit detects a sheet passing past a detection position upstream of the reading position in a conveying direction. The control unit controls the reading unit to start a reading process when a leading edge of sheet reaching a position upstream of the reading position by a first distance, controls the reading unit to stop the reading process when a trailing edge of sheet reaching a position downstream of the reading position by a second distance, determines an interspace between the trailing edge of sheet and a leading edge of a subsequently-conveyed sheet, and updates the first distance and the second distance based on the interspace.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus comprises a reading unit including a document table, a cover portion covering the document table, an opening and closing mechanism having a first and second mounting portions and opening and closing the cover portion to an opened and a closed state, a covering member rotating about a rotating shaft of a member side and covering at least a portion of an exposed portion, and a rotating regulating unit regulating rotation of the covering member due to the weight of the covering member in a state where the center of gravity of the covering member is separated further from the cover portion than the rotating shaft of the member side, and where the covering member covers at least a portion of the exposed portion within a movement range of the opening and the closing of the cover portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an automatic document feeder to feed an original document downstream, a frame, an image reader to read the original document fed by the automatic document feeder, and an image reader mounting unit to hold the image reader thereon. The frame pivotally supports the image reader mounting unit. A parallelism adjusting unit is provided to adjust parallelism of the image reader mounting unit. The parallelism adjusting unit is disposed on a side opposite a pivoting center for the image reader mounting unit at a prescribed interval therefrom. The pivoting center is located near a reading reference point in the image reader, at which the image reader starts reading the original document in main and sub-scanning directions.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a conveyor unit that conveys a document along a conveying path for ADF-type image scanning including a curved path. The conveyor unit includes a conveyor roller that reverses a conveying direction of the document in the curved path. The device further includes a first contact surface that comes into contact with a first side of the document when the document is conveyed, a second contact surface that comes into contact with a second side of the document when the document is conveyed, a first reading unit that reads an image on the first side of the document, and a second reading unit disposed above the second contact surface and reading an image on the second side of the document. A part of the conveyor roller is disposed lower than the first and second contact surfaces in an up down direction of the image reading device.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a fed original placing portion on which an original is placed, wherein the fed original placing portion is configured to be rotated; an feeding portion that feeds the original placed on the fed original placing portion; an image reading portion that reads an image of the original fed by the feeding portion; a discharging portion, disposed below the fed original placing portion, onto which the original with the image read by the image reading portion is discharged; an irradiation portion that irradiates the discharging portion with light; and a stopping unit that stops the irradiation of the light by the irradiation portion according to a rotation of the fed original placing portion.

Abstract: A conveyance apparatus including: a housing including, a first introduction opening to which a first medium is introduced, a first conveyance path through which the first medium is conveyed, a second introduction opening to which a second medium narrower than the first medium is introduced, and a second conveyance path through which the second medium is conveyed; a tray pivotally supported by the housing, rotating between an open position and a close position relative to the housing, and on which the first medium is placed; and a shutter being located at a first position when the tray is located at the open position and being located at a second position when the tray is located at the close position, the first position being located inside the second conveyance path and the second position being located outside the second conveyance path.

Abstract: In an image reading apparatus, if a foreign substance that was initially present on a document plate is removed by motion of a document being conveyed, a correct read luminance value is employed, instead of a value calculated by interpolation, for a pixel at which there was initially the foreign substance but there is no longer foreign substance thereby preventing degradation due to the interpolation. If a foreign substance on the document plate is detected after the conveying of the document by the conveying unit is started, correcting by a correcting unit is performed. In a case where the foreign substance on the document plate disappears during the conveying of the document by the conveying unit and the foreign substance is no longer detected, the correcting by the correcting unit is not performed, but image data is produced according to the image of the document read by the reading unit.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for print production sheet identification. The method discloses: receiving a set of calibration sheets; collecting an array of pixel samples from at least one of the calibration sheets according to a set of pixel sampling rules to generate at least one reference sample array; capturing an image of a set of physical sheets generated from the set of calibration sheets; collecting an array of pixel samples from at least one of the imaged physical sheets according to the set of pixel sampling rules to generate at least one post-processing sample array; and comparing the post-processing sample array to the reference sample array to determine if the two arrays have less than or equal to a predetermined number of differences. The system discloses: a sampling module, operated by a processor, a scanner, and a comparison module, operated by a processor.

Abstract: An image displaying apparatus includes a control unit and a display unit. The image displaying apparatus is connected to an image reading apparatus that includes a multifeed detecting mechanism. The control unit includes a display control unit that displays (i) an image of a medium which is read by the image reading apparatus and in which multifeed is detected by the multifeed detecting mechanism and (ii) a multifeed detected portion detected by the multifeed detecting mechanism on the display unit.

Abstract: Provided is a transparent plate for a platen which is used in a document scanning apparatus, including a transparent supporting member, and a transparent protective layer that has a self-repairability and has a surface coefficient of kinetic friction with respect to copy paper of 0.7 or less on the transparent supporting member.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention totalizes a frequency distribution while switching frequency distributions as targets, for each region having a set width, by using a sensor which captures document image data and a setting unit which sets a region width in accordance with frequency distribution generation targets. Upon detecting the trailing end of the document, the apparatus decides a remainder region which is not a totalization target in accordance with the remaining amount of image data of the document, and does not totalize any frequency distribution in the remainder region.

Abstract: Provided is a document reading apparatus capable of suppressing a shock that may occur when a trailing edge of a tabbed sheet passes through a roller pair. In an image reading section, when a document to be read is the tabbed sheet, a timing to start separation of the roller pair in response to detection of a trailing edge of the document is delayed by a time period corresponding to a tab length with respect to the timing to start separation when a document other than the tabbed sheet is conveyed. Thus, it is possible to prevent the shock when the trailing edge of the tabbed sheet passes through the roller pair, and to thereby suppress image reading failure due to the shock.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reading unit which reads an image on a document while being conveyed, a cover movable between an opened position where the reading unit is opened and a closed position where the reading unit is covered, a metal pressing member held by the cover and configured to face the reading unit and press the document toward the reading unit when the cover is at the closed position, a metal frame supporting the conveyor and configured to face the pressing member when the cover is at the closed position, and a ground member directly connected to the frame and configured to be separated from the pressing member when the cover is at the opened position, and to be in contact with the pressing member when the cover is at the closed position.