Abstract: A developing device in which, after a film onto which an image was exposed has been heat-development processed, an image reader reads image information from the film and the image information is recorded onto a floppy disk. Then the film from which the image information was read is transported to a cutting apparatus. At the cutting apparatus, the film is grippedly transported between a cutter roller and a rubber roller and the film is destroyed such that the image information thereon cannot be read. The cutting apparatus is built into the interior of the developing device. Thus, when the film is ejected to an eject tray provided outside the developing device, the image information is already in an indecipherable state. Hence, the confidentiality of the recorded image information is reliably assured.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for using feedback and feedforward in generating predictable, reproducible and pleasing images in a distributed digital image processing system monitors presentation images and provides feedback to a customer that assembled the original image. The originating customer can view the image as it appears on a remote output device and/or adjust the image so that the presentation image will match the image appearing on the image originating device. The system can also automatically adjust the digital images as they are processed by the system to insure that a remotely outputted presentation image matches the original image on the image originating device or on a local output device proximal with the image originating device.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, revolver or rotary developing unit and a revolver motor include a revolver gear and a motor gear, respectively. While a reaction acts from the revolver gear on the motor gear, a bracket bears the side surface or surfaces of the revolver motor in order to prevent the teeth of the motor bear and those of the revolver gear from skipping each other. The reaction acting on a motor mount is scattered in order to protect the characteristic of the motor mount from deterioration.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an operation and display device having an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panel or similar touch panel and a key portion including various keys mounted on its body. The body is curved with a suitable curvature in the up-and-down direction and right-and-left direction. The display surface of the touch panel and the key portion are positioned on the concave side of the curved body; the key portion is arranged below the display surface. The distance between the concave surface and the operator is the same at all positions on the concave surface. The operator can therefore smoothly operate both of the touch panel and key portion with by moving the operator's arm, hand and eyes little.

Abstract: A multi-function unit includes a printer engine, a logical copying machine carrying out a copying process with respect to a recording medium by the printer engine, and a plurality of logical printers carrying out printing processes with respect to the recording medium by the printer engine. The logical copying machine and the logical printers carry out apparent parallel operations.

Abstract: A neutralized printing paper which is made of a base paper and a cationic compound applied on a printing surface of the base paper. The paper has a surface pH value ranging from 6.0 to 7.5.

Abstract: An image producing apparatus comprises a paper passage route which conveys paper selectively from a manual paper-feed unit and a paper feed unit, and conveys paper discharged from a print unit, and an image reading unit which reads out images of a document conveyed in the paper passage route. In a usual state, printed output is produced on the paper contained in the paper feed unit of a body, and the manual paper-feed unit is kept vacant, then, there is no need to take out the paper in the case of loading the document to be read out in the manual paper-feed tray. Moreover, the apparatus does not have a paper feed tray, a discharge tray and a paper passage route used only for image reading, which can decrease manufacturing costs, and besides, makes it possible to take up less installation space.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus including a photosensitive member; a corona charger for charging a surface of the photosensitive member; a circuit-forming/chargeable powder supplying device for supplying circuit-forming/chargeable powder to a latent image pattern on the photosensitive member; a transferring device for transferring the circuit-forming/chargeable powder on the latent image pattern onto a ceramic green sheet; a flash lamp for fixing the circuit-forming/chargeable powder, transferred onto the ceramic green sheet, in order to form a circuit pattern (not shown) on the ceramic green sheet; and a circuit pattern forming position recognizing camera for detecting a circuit pattern forming position on the ceramic green sheet. In the electrophotographic apparatus, laser beams are used to form a predetermined latent image pattern (not shown) on a surface of the photosensitive member.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus having an image recording portion for recording an image on a sheet, and an image reading portion for reading the image of a sheet to be read, characterized in that the image reading portion is disposed in the lower portion of the image recording portion, and a sheet conveying path on the image reading portion side is disposed in a direction substantially orthogonal to a sheet conveying path on the image recording portion side.

Abstract: A method for dynamically synchronizing configuration information between a printer and an attached accessory. In one embodiment, the printer firmware creates a configuration change object that is immediately incremented any time a configuration parameter is changed. The accessory periodically queries the printer to determine if the configuration change object has been incremented, and, if so, the accessory re-reads and stores the new printer configuration along with the new configuration change object. In a second embodiment, the printer sends out a notice to the accessory that the printer configuration has changed immediately after the change is made, rather than accessory periodically asking the printer if the configuration has changed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a printing system the printing data generation time calculating section of which calculates the time required for generating printing data on the side of the host computer. The printer warm-up time measuring section calculates warming-up time of the printer by referring to database. The warm-up command outputting section sends a warm-up command to the printer controlling section at such a time as the timing for terminating warming-up coincides with the timing for terminating the generation of printing data. Immediately after the completion of warming-up of the printer, since the printing data is transferred, power consumption in the dormant state is reduced.

Abstract: An image producing apparatus comprises a table which is provided over the upper surface of a top plate in a body thereof for placing an external device. Besides, the apparatus also comprises a connector unit which is located adjacent to the table for connection to the external device. Thus, the connection of the external device will be simplified, and besides, the external device can be operated with ease when the external device is connected to the apparatus. Furthermore, the apparatus is provided with a stationary swiveling mechanism, so that a user can easily turn a side of the body, where a sheet of paper is jammed, to the front.

Abstract: A multiple-function copier includes a printer, a scanner, a user interface, and a communications mechanism. The printer is configured to receive print jobs from a network environment. The scanner is operatively coupled with the printer and configured to receive copy jobs from a walk-up user. The printer and the scanner are selectively operative in a print mode and a copy mode. The user interface is associated with one of the printer and the scanner and is accessible by a walk-up user. The user interface is operative to detect submission of a copy job to the scanner by a walk-up user. The communications mechanism is signal coupled with the printer and the scanner, and is operative to automatically configure the printer and the scanner for operation in the copy mode in response to a walk-up user interacting with the user interface. A method is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for reusing an image recording material wherein a releasing property is imparted to at least a substrate surface of an image recording material on which an image has been formed of an image forming material containing a heat fusible ingredient, a heat fusible material is added or attached onto the image recording material, a stripping member is contacted under pressure with the heat fusible material while heating the heat fusible material together with the image recording materials to fuse, and the image recording material is peeled off from the stripping member to transfer the image forming material together with the heat fusible material to the stripping member, thereby reusing the image recording material. The materials for imparting a releasing property to the substrate surface include silicone compounds such as silane compounds, preferably those silane compounds containing fine particles such as silicone resins.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the invention, when a printer runs out of printing media while printing data supplied by a host computer on a series of pages, after being resupplied with printing media, the printer waits for the host computer to resume the sending of data before printing is resumed. According to a second aspect of the invention, before starting to prepare the data for the first page, the host computer sends the printer a warm-up command, causing the printer to commence preparations for printing.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a guiding path for guiding a sheet, a detector for detecting the presence/absence of the sheet in the guiding path, a power-supply switch for turning on and off a power supply, and a determination device for determination whether the sheet comprises a rolled sheet or a cut sheet according to whether the detector detects or does not detect the sheet, respectively, when the power-supply switch has been turned on. A rolled sheet holder for holding the rolled sheet and covering an insertion port for leading the cut sheet or the rolled sheet to a feeding device.

Abstract: Digitized images are associated with English language captions and other data, collectively known as the metadata associated with the images. A natural language processing database removes ambiguities from the metadata, and the images and the metadata are stored in databases. A user formulates a search query, and natural language processing is used to determine matches between the query and the stored metadata. Images corresponding to the matches are then viewed, and desired images are selected for licensing. The license terms for selected images are displayed, and a subset of the selected images are ordered as desired by the user.

Abstract: A computer-printable adhesive note system configures a computer and a printer to print information on self-sticking adhesive notes. The system includes a note assembly and a plurality of instructions in the form of computer code. The note assembly includes a printing sheet with a strip of pressure-sensitive adhesive applied on one side thereof and covered by a backing sheet. The printing sheet is divided into a plurality of notes by lines of perforations. The plurality of instructions are installed on a computer and may utilize an existing word-processing program on the computer. The plurality of instructions configure the computer to receive, from a keyboard of the computer, information to be printed on the printing sheet of one of the notes of the note assembly. The plurality of instructions then configure the printer to print the received information on the printing sheet of one of the notes of the note assembly.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus features a document-reading unit mounted to an exterior cover of the apparatus to which at least part of an image-forming unit can be removed from the interior of the apparatus. The exterior cover can be operated without being disturbed by a document-reading unit. Accordingly, attaching and detaching at least part of the image-forming unit readily can be performed. Further, according to another aspect, an image forming apparatus features a common delivery tray, which can be used for both a recording paper and an original document. This saves space within the apparatus and therefore enables the image forming apparatus to be reduced in size. In addition, the recording paper and the original document are delivered to the tray with the image-printed or image-bearing surfaces thereon facing in different directions. Thus the user does not confuse the recording paper with the original document.

Abstract: A plural mode printing system utilizing a cut sheet print engine for printing conventional cut sheet print substrates, in which page print images are generated and transferred to the cut sheets at an image transfer station. This plural mode printing system selectively provides printing onto either the cut sheets or onto an uncut continuous web printing substrate, in the same cut sheet print engine. An independently moveable continuous web printing substrate supply module is selectively operatively docked with the cut sheet print engine. That web printing module has a web feeding and image transfer assistance system for feeding the continuous web uncut into the cut sheet printing engine for transferring the page print images onto the web instead of onto cut sheets when the print engine is operatively docked with the web printing substrate module. The web printing module does not itself need to print.

Abstract: A noise masking device for a low-cost laser beam printer, a copier or the like for performing a noise masking with respect to a noise of a drive motor of an image forming apparatus while affording no psychological unpleasant feeling due to a frequency fluctuation thereof. The noise masking device of the image forming apparatus having the drive motor which becomes a source of the noise upon operation thereof includes signal generating means for generating a correlation signal which correlates with the noise, a speaker for generating a masking sound which masks the noise and masking sound control means for controlling the speaker to vary the masking sound corresponding to the variation in the correlation signal.

Abstract: A copying machine is provided capable of readily and conveniently setting a User's Choice value for an additionally set division. In the copying machine, the User's Choice value of the system which is set for each division is stored in a rewritable storage, such as a hard disc, a back-up memory or the like. The User's Choice of the system is changed in a control unit of the copying machine. The User's Choice value of the system is used as default in registering a new division, and it is thus not necessary to conventionally set a new User's Choice value based on the User's Choice value of the system which is stored in a ROM and thus cannot be changed. Thus, setting User's Choice values is no longer cumbersome for users, and the users can readily and conveniently set User's Choice values for an additionally set divisions.

Abstract: A system for routing a document job in a printing system with a print engine. The routing system includes a controller providing a set of information including an indication to a user of the printing system that the print engine is busy producing a first set of prints from a first set of image data. The set of information is received at a user interface and the user, in response to receiving the set of information, directs the controller, by way of the user interface, to cause a second set of prints, representative of a second set of image data developed at the printing system while the first set of prints is being produced by the print engine, to be (i) produced subsequent to the producing of the first set of prints and (ii) delivered to one of one or more mailbox bins.

Abstract: In a reproduction apparatus embodying a marking engine including a logic and control unit for controlling the operation of the reproduction apparatus and at least one accessory, such as a sorter, binder, stacker, folder, or the like, associated with the marking engine, a communication system for automatic identification of accessories associated with the marking engine. The communication system discloses a processor associated respectively with each accessory. The processor includes an identification of the associated accessory. A communication bus is interconnected between the logic and control unit of the marking engine and the processors of each respective accessory. A timing circuit, responsive to power up of the marking engine and associated accessories, automatically enables the processors of each respective accessory, in sequential order, to relay accessory identification provided by the respective processors, in such sequential order to the logic and control unit of the marking engine.

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: To maintain an image eraser used for erasing a toner image printed on a sheet operable wastes power, and additionally, a manual operation is required for loading a sheet feed portion with sheets from which the printed image is removed for reuse. The main body of an image forming apparatus is provided with a tray for image erasure and a feed roller for feeding sheets from the tray. Disposed in a passage for transporting the sheets from the tray is an image eraser comprising a nozzle for applying a treatment for removal of toner, a toner removal roller and a pressure roller and the likes. By means of a transport roller, sheets are transferred from the image eraser to an intermediate tray or a registration roller for feeding sheets to an image forming position. The image eraser is actuated for image erasure while the image forming apparatus is not performing an image forming operation.

Abstract: A basic control portion stores image information read by a scanner in a page memory of a page memory portion through image processing means. When memory full takes place such that image information to be stored in the page memory is larger than the capacity of the memory in a case where a staple sorting mode has been set, the basic control portion suspends the staple mode and forms images in a set sorting mode by using image data stored in the page memory. As a result, even if memory full takes place in the staple mode, the image can normally be formed.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus which combines a plurality of different image forming methods, the image forming operations of the plurality of image forming methods are controlled in accordance with the color of an original image and the color of a recording agent, so that image formation in a desired color can be reliably attained, and copying errors can be eliminated. In another aspect, by appropriately selecting the plurality of image forming methods in correspondence with the feature of an image, high-quality image formation can be attained in correspondence with the image feature.

Abstract: Processes, products and inventive uses for improved gray scales in pictorial content of monochrome printed matter and involving a color laser copier (30). An exemplary process presents a subject image (14) to a laser color copier, supplies an electrostatic printing plate (20) to the copier, and introduces the subject image directly to the plate as a transfer image (14') by operating the copier. The process confers superior gray scale capability to the plate and prepares the plate, as later mounted on a printing press (40), to produce printed matter (43) wherein printed image (14") corresponds to the subject image and is characterized by improved gray scale. An exemplary product, as an article of manufacture, is a printing plate with the directly-introduced transfer image. An inventive use is use or operation of the copier directly to make--from subject image on its copy board (31)--the transfer image on the printing plate.

Abstract: A method for fusing a transferable image to a face of a digital disc and a lamination jacket. In the method, a transferable image is printed onto a transfer support. The transferable image is registered against the face of a digital disc to provide a transfer support-digital disc pair. The transferable image is roller laminated to the face of the digital disc. The transferable image and face of the digital disc are kept in registry during the roller laminating. The lamination jacket is for use in transporting a transfer support bearing a transferable image and a digital disc through the nip between a pair of compliant rollers to heat and pressure fuse the transferable image to the face of the digital disc. The lamination jacket has an insert. A shell is joined to the insert. The shell is exterior to the insert. The shell and insert define a pocket for closely receiving the digital disc. The lamination jacket has at least one guide for registering the digital disc and transfer support within the pocket.

Abstract: A carriage is constructed such that a processing part and a fixing part are fitted to a sliding part, wherein a frame on which an exposer and a process motor are mounted is rotatably fitted to the sliding part, and a housing which accommodates the fixing part and the processing part not including the exposer is rotatably and detachably fitted to the frame.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a guiding path for guiding a sheet, a detector for detecting the presence/absence of the sheet in the guiding path, a power-supply switch for turning on and off a power supply, and a determination device for determining whether the sheet comprises a rolled sheet or a cut sheet according to whether the detector detects or does not detect the sheet, respectively, when the power-supply switch has been turned on.

Abstract: A regenerating apparatus for removing a printing material from a recording medium so as to reuse the recording medium includes a container, a container for accommodating a liquid for swelling the printing material; a guide member for guiding the recording medium, part of which is arranged in the liquid; a rotatable transporting roller for transporting the recording medium along the guide member, so that the printing material on the recording medium is immersed in the liquid; a rotatable transferring roller disposed near the guide member so as to be in contact at a circumferential surface thereof with the recording medium and receive the printing material swollen by the liquid from the recording medium. The surface of the transferring roller is formed with at least one of the materials selected from polyolefin resin, polyester resin, nitrogen containing resin, sulfur containing resin, fluororesin, silicon resin, polyacetal resin, epoxy resin, polyether ether ketone resin, and phenol resin.

Abstract: In the distribution copy mode, when plural sets of copies are selected, a copying machine C1 of a transmitting end checks the status of copying machines C2 and C3 being connected through a communication line based on status information data. As a result of this check, if both of the copying machines C2 and C3 are set in the idle state, the number of copies specifying data and the image data are transmitted to be distributed to each copying machine. In the described arrangement, since one copy job can be divided to be distributed to plural copying machines, an improved productivity of copy operation and more effective use of the copying machines can be achieved.

Abstract: In the apparatus for processing a color image, a data signal representing another information differs from the color image is generated by a generating means. The another information is embedded into the color image by varying one of a color difference and a chroma of the color image in accordance with the data signal by an image processing means.

Abstract: An operator controlled interactive communication device having a display for receiving or displaying messages internally generated and received from external sources. A communication transmission interface which is selectively connected to a telephone handset connector, a computer connector and a modem to allow multiple modes of communication between an operator at a customer site and a vendor site. The communication device is reprogrammable from a remote location or through the computer connector.

Abstract: A stack of individual sheets of film is enclosed by lightproof plastic packaging. An opaque sheet is disposed at the bottom of the stack, and the side of the opaque sheet confronting the packaging is provided with a bar code containing information about the film. The packaging is removed in a lighttight area of a processing unit for the film and the bar code is read. The opaque sheet prevents the radiation used to read the bar code from reaching the film. The information retrieved from the bar code is employed to control processing of the film.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for performing a recording operation with respect to a recording medium, includes an image forming device for forming an image on a recording medium, a recording medium receiver for receiving the recording medium on which the image is formed, and a laser beam emitter, arranged below the recording medium receiver, for emitting a laser beam in accordance with image information so as to cause the image forming device to form an image. The laser beam emitter is arranged below the recording medium receiver to emit a laser beam obliquely upward.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring toner images which is capable of executing optimum discharging control even where the environment, the material of the paper, and the kind of paper may be changed.First, the load current is detected when the transferring roller 11 is pressed to a transferring drum 6. The detected load current is converted to a characteristics detecting signal S6 at a signal converting section 109. An environment is selected on the basis of the characteristics detecting signal S6. Next, the load current flowing to the transferring roller 11 is detected when an AC discharger 14 is stopped. The detected load current is converted to characteristics detecting signal S6 at the signal converting section 109. A voltage control signal is selected based on the converted characteristics detecting signal S6, the environmental information, and the paper kind. A power source for discharging 22 is controlled by the selected voltage control signal so that the transferring becomes optimum.

Abstract: A vending control system and method for interfacing a control device to a vending machine having input/output control lines along which are transmitted control signals for controlling the operation of the vending machine. The control device includes, means for connecting to the control lines of the vending machine, means for reading the control signal, means for determining operational responses/outputs of the vending machine which correspond to the control signals, means for storing the control signals and information concerning the operational responses and means for reading the stored information to control the vending machine. Control and monitoring of vending transactions comprises means for reading magnetically stored information from a magnetic card, means for obtaining an authorization amount for a transaction, means for storing the authorization amount, means for operating the vending machine without exceeding the authorization amount and means for storing transaction information.

Abstract: Digitized images are associated with English language captions and other data, collectively known as the metadata associated with the images. A natural language processing database removes ambiguities from the metadata, and the images and the metadata are stored in databases. A user formulates a search query, and natural language processing is used to determine matches between the query and the stored metadata. Images corresponding to the matches are then viewed, and desired images are selected for licensing. The license terms for selected images are displayed, and a subset of the selected images are ordered as desired by the user.

Abstract: An electronic image processing apparatus includes a controller and a plurality of resources in an arbitrary configuration. Each of the resources provides an associated processor storing data related to operational capabilities of the associated resource. The controller is adapted to dynamically configure the image processing apparatus to operate in accordance with the the operational capabilities of each of the processors by defining job requirements as a combination of images defining a set of sheets and specifying compilations of sheets. The job requirement is converted into an assembly tree relationship for merging into additional assembly trees for formulating the job requirement.

Abstract: A printer for adding accent colors to preprinted documents includes a transport which defines a curvilinear path along which the documents move during the printing of the accent colors thereon. The printing is accomplished through the use of multiple print heads which discharge wax based ink through multiple jets. The documents to which the accent colors are to be added are edge justified and then released in timed sequence to the curved transport path which leads through a printing zone defined by the print heads.

Abstract: An automatic stamping device includes a document reading device 10 which reads a document and supplies the result of reading on an image memory 22, and a stamp memory control circuit 21 which produces various stamp image data on the basis of the number of documents or the number of sheets of paper already printed, etc. These image data are synthesized by an image synthesizing circuit 27 and outputted through an image printing device 40, thereby automatically making stamping on printed matters.

Abstract: A modular copying system including combinations of printer, scanner, and system controller modules formed as independent frames. The scanner module includes devices for image reading, first data I/O and first synchronizing signal generation; the printer module includes devices for image forming, second data I/O and second synchronizing signal generation; and the system control module includes devices for third data I/O and system control. The modules are added or removed according to user requirements and the system is capable of accommodating up to seven modules. The modules are stacked in a vertical direction and arranging devices ensure proper module alignment. Once the modules are aligned and assembled in the system, communications between each module is accomplished via light wave, electric wave, or sonic wave transmission and reception. As a result, system interconnection is reduced, system noise is reduced and various connecting cables are eliminated.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a plurality of different image forming units for recording with different methods. An ink jet recording unit is arranged on the upstream side of an electrophotography recording unit in a transporting path of a recording medium. Recording of the ink jet recording unit is performed prior to that of the electrophotography recording unit.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for removing an image forming substance such as toner from an image holding member such as a sheet of transfer paper, an unstabilizing agent is provided to the image holding member. An attaching state between the image forming substance and the image holding member stably attaching the image forming substance on a surface thereof is changed to an unstable state by the unstabilizing agent. The image forming substance is separated and removed from the image holding member by making a separating member come in close contact with the image forming substance on the image holding member having the provided unstabilizing agent. A processing situation mark showing a processing situation of removal of the image forming substance is formed in the image holding member. The processing situation mark can be removed from the image holding member by the image forming substance removing processing.