Abstract: An image forming apparatus sequentially outputs on a discharge tray a sheet medium on which an image based on printing data is formed and includes a counting portion and a control portion. The counting portion counts the number of sheet medium output on the discharge tray. The control portion, when the count number of the sheet medium counted by the counting portion exceeds a prescribed threshold value, issues a warning to a user and/or interrupts output of sheet medium to the discharge tray, infers based on the printing data whether the attended time after the sheet medium is output to the discharge tray until they are removed is short or not, and, after outputting the printing data of which the unattended time is inferred to be short, decrements the count number.

Abstract: A CPU checks a detecting state of a document set sensor at a point when the trailing end of a document sheet is assumed to pass through a separating position at which the document sheet is separated by a separation roller, based on a document length determined based on a detecting output from an abutting sensor. If the document set sensor does not detect a document sheet, the CPU determines that the next document sheet is not present. If the document set sensor detects a document sheet, the CPU checks a detecting state of the document presence detecting sensor. If the document presence detecting sensor detects a document sheet, the CPU determines that the next document sheet is present.

Abstract: Automatic document feeder includes a transport path member having a transport path surface configuring a transport path in a device body, a latching member that is mounted on a rotating shaft provided in the other end side, is urged in a first rotation direction latched to a latched portion, and holds the transport path member in closed transport path, and an operating member that is rotated up to an operating position by own weight thereof or urging force in a second rotation direction when the device body moves to an exposed position of the transport path member, and is mounted with allowance so that the latching member is rotated in the second rotation direction according to a further rotating operation in the second rotation direction from the operating position and the latching member is detached from the latched portion.

Abstract: A medium transport apparatus includes a medium guide member that forms part of the curved transport path and guides a medium to a downstream side, and that is provided so as to be capable of pivoting at an outward side from the curved transport path, and that changes the size of a space of part of the curved transport path by pivoting. The medium guide member has a pivot axis that is in an upstream side direction of a guide surface that guides the medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive member configured to form a developer image thereon; a transfer member configured to transfer the developer image formed on the photosensitive member to a sheet; a conveyance roller configured to convey the sheet toward and between the photosensitive member and the transfer member; and a charge removal member configured to remove charges on the conveyance roller. The conveyance roller is arranged to face a surface of the sheet to which the transfer member faces. The charge removal member is provided at a position at which the charge removal member is not in contact with the conveyance roller, within a range in which charges on the conveyance roller can be discharged toward the charge removal member.

Abstract: A document scanner (10) includes an input tray (20) for holding documents; a transport system (45) for moving documents through the scanner; at least one document detection sensor (135A-135E) for detecting documents; an image capture device for capturing image data for a document; an image processor for determining characteristics of the document based on the image data; and wherein the processor compares characteristics of the document to ultrasonic data and excludes ultrasonic data which conflicts with image data.

Abstract: A method for scanning documents in a document scanner (10) includes transporting (45) documents from an input tray (20) to an document detection sensor (135A-135E); detecting documents with the document detection sensor; capturing image data for a document with an image capture device; determining characteristics of the document based on the image data with an image processor; comparing characteristics of the document to document detection sensor data; and excluding document detection sensor data which conflicts with the image data.

Abstract: An image reader includes a path switching part, located at a branch point that switches between a double-sided path and a single-sided path. The double-sided path defines a conveyance route that passes through a reading position from the branch point to enter a conveyance path that causes a document to make a U-turn, and then again passes through the reading position to be discharged to a paper discharge tray. The single-sided path defines a conveyance route that, without passing through the reading position, merges into the conveyance path from the branch point. Along the double-sided path, document detecting sensors provide detection results so that a collision determination part determines a possibility of a collision between documents, and if such a possibility is determined, the path switching part switches the double-sided path to the single-sided path to prevent the documents from colliding head-on with each other in the vicinity of the reading position.

Abstract: An image reader reads an image on a document while transporting it along a transport path. The image reader includes an image-reading unit, a document guide member and a size detector. The image-reading unit reads the image in a predetermined line width and generates image data based on the image. The document guide member is disposed along the document path and has a first mark thereon. The first mark extends in a main scanning direction of the image-reading unit and has a width greater than or equal to the predetermined line width. The size detector detects the size of the document based on image data read by the image-reading unit at a size detection position where the document overlaps with the first mark.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing apparatus and an image processing system which facilitate management against unauthorized use by creating a job log according to a usage status of a user. A creation section creates a different job log for each individual user. The job log has storage conditions of image data included in the job log set according to a storage level. The storage conditions are a color of an image, a resolution of the image data and whether or not necessary to create OCR data of the image data. To increase efficiency of a follow-up research by using such a job log, the storage level of the image data relating to the user having performed unauthorized use is raised.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a control section which detects an offset of a recording sheet being conveyed, the offset being in a main scanning direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the recording sheet; performs an offset regulation control which adjusts a main scanning direction image area signal in accordance with the offset; and forms a patch at a non-transfer area on an image carrier, wherein the control section performs a first control based on the offset of the recording sheet for the offset regulation control while a sub scanning direction image area signal is active for image forming on the recording sheet, and performs a second control for the offset regulation control while the image area signal in the sub scanning direction is inactive.

Abstract: A method and system modify a rasterized digital image to reduce registration artifacts, the image having a black plane and a color plane by determining if a pixel is part of a connected black region and if the pixel is part of a connected color region. It is determined if the pixel is part of a connected black region and a connected color region that are contiguous. A dilation operation is performed on the color plane value of the pixel if the pixel is part of a connected black region and a connected color region that are contiguous.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a duplex scanning apparatus. The duplex scanning apparatus includes a sheet input tray for placing a stack of documents thereon. For performing duplex scanning operations on the stack of paper sheets, the documents are successively scanned from the bottommost one to the uppermost one. As a consequence, the scanned documents are stacked in the sheet ejecting tray in the same order as that of the original stack.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an input unit to receive an image of a print media fed through an automatic document feeder (ADF), a first storage unit to store the input image as predetermined data form, a computing unit to detect a lead edge of the print media and compute a skew level of the input image, a skew correcting unit to read the stored data through a direct memory access (DMA) processing, and carry out de-skewing with respect to the input image according to the computed skew level, an image processing unit to carry out image processing with respect to the de-skewed image, and an output unit to output the resultant image of the image processing. As a result, efficient processing of de-skewing is provided.

Abstract: An image formation device has an image formation section, a pattern image detection section and a registration correction section. The image formation section forms an image to be outputted and a pattern image on an image-bearing body, the pattern image is formed at a non-image creation region outside an image creation region at which the outputted image is formed. The pattern image detection section detects a position of the pattern image for detecting positional offset of the image. The registration correction section corrects the positional offset based on the detected position of the pattern image.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a document stacking tray on which documents are stacked, a feed roller for picking up, one sheet at a time, the documents that are stacked on the document stacking tray, a curved transporting path through which the document is transported, and a CCD reading unit and a CIS reading unit for reading images from the document. The document stacking tray includes a electric tray for raising or lowering the document within a range of a height of the curved transporting path, so as to feed the document to the feed roller. With such an arrangement, it is possible to provide an image reading device and an image forming apparatus that are capable of separating and transporting a large number of documents and efficiently reading images from the documents even when the documents are thick.

Abstract: An image scanning apparatus with a preview function includes a scanning unit that scans a plurality of documents to obtain scanned images of the plurality of documents; a display unit; and a control unit that controls the display unit to display the scanned images of the plurality of documents as preview images of the plurality of documents.

Abstract: An auto document feeder which loads and feeds a document to a read position provided on a read surface of a reader, the auto document feeder including a conveying device having an upstream roller placed upstream of the read position and a downstream roller placed downstream of the read position, the conveying device conveying the loaded document through the read position, a stabilizing roller provided upstream of the read position and opposing to the read surface, the stabilizing roller stabilizing movement of the document conveyed by the conveying device, and a guide member provided downstream of the read position and opposing to the read surface, the guide member guiding the document conveyed by the conveying device, wherein the following relationship is established the thickness of the document<a gap between the read surface and the stabilizing roller<a gap between the read surface and the guide member.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus which is capable of performing color misregistration correction, and registration of images and a recording sheet while reducing the toner consumption amount. An image forming section is caused to form a first reference image having a first density for adjusting a density of an adjusting image, and a second reference image having a second density different from the first density. A sensor detects the first reference image and the second reference image. The first density is determined as a density of the adjusting image, if an output signal level of the sensor at a time of detection of the first reference image is not lower than a predetermined value, and the output signal level of the sensor at a time of detection of the second reference image is lower than the predetermined value.

Abstract: A document reading apparatus includes a document feed device configured to separate documents and to feed the documents one by one from a paper feed tray, an image reading device configured to read an image of each the documents at a reading position provided on a reading glass plate, and a document holding member arranged on a front surface side of the reading glass plate at a position opposing the image reading device. The document reading apparatus also includes a first and a second reading pattern mark provided on the document holding member at a first and second position opposing the surface of the reading glass plate, respectively. The first and second reading pattern marks have a length which is greater than a width of each of the documents.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus comprises a conveyance rotating body for conveying an original document, an image reading sensor for reading an image of the original document being conveyed by the conveyance rotating body, and a plate-like member for pressing the original document being conveyed by the conveyance rotating body against an image reading surface of the image reading sensor, wherein the plate-like member is curved such that the central part thereof as viewed in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the original document first comes in contact with the image reading sensor.

Abstract: A document feeder configured to sequentially feed and eject document sheets so as to insert each document sheet under a stack of already-ejected document sheets. The document feeder includes a feed tray configured to be loaded with the document sheets to be fed, a catch tray configured to be loaded with the document sheets ejected thereon, a feeding mechanism configured to convey the document sheets from the feed tray to the catch tray, a counter configured to count a total number of the document sheets conveyed by the feeding mechanism, and a controller configured to take drive control of the feeding mechanism. The controller is configured to, when the total number counted by the counter exceeds a predetermined value, interrupt driving the feeding mechanism.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of carrying out color misregistration correction at an appropriate time and providing a high-quality image free from color misregistration. A toner image is formed on the basis of an input image information signal. A width of the toner image is determined on the basis of the input image information signal, before forming the toner image in a predetermined area. The width of the toner image formed in the predetermined area is detected. The detected width of the toner image is compared with the determined width of the toner image. It is judged on the basis of the comparison result whether or not color misregistration is present.

Abstract: The lengths of an OUT path and an IN path are made longer than the length of a document of a main size in a traveling direction. The document of the main size stands by for conveyance in a direction of a READ document glass in a state where the entire document is contained in the OUT path or the IN path. The entrance speed of the document into the OUT path or the IN path is equal to the read speed of a scanner. The leading edge of a subsequent document is overlapped on the trailing edge of a preceding document, and the document is conveyed to the READ document glass.

Abstract: In an intermediate transfer part (100), a bead 107 is formed on an inner side of an intermediate transfer belt (102), which is rotated by an intermediate transfer belt drive roller (101). Driven roller bearings (104a, 104b) support an intermediate transfer belt driven roller (103). The intermediate transfer belt driven roller (103) is movable in a thrust direction. Ends of the intermediate transfer belt driven roller (101) and the intermediate transfer belt driven roller (103) interfere with a bead (107) so as to restrict a deflection of the intermediate transfer belt in the thrust direction. The intermediate transfer belt driven roller (103) is movable in the thrust direction against a deflection of the intermediate transfer belt (102).

Abstract: An image reading apparatus having a movable image reading unit, a locking mechanism locking the image reading device, and a position sensor. The image reading unit has an engaged portion. The lock mechanism has an engaging portion that engages the engaged portion. A first detected portion changes its position in accordance with the movement of the engaging portion. The position sensor detects the image reading unit when the image reading unit is in a first position, and detects the first detected portion when the engaging portion engages with the engaged portion.

Abstract: An image formation device has an image formation section, a pattern image detection section and a registration correction section. The image formation section forms an image to be outputted and a pattern image on an image-bearing body, the pattern image is formed at a non-image creation region outside an image creation region at which the outputted image is formed. The pattern image detection section detects a position of the pattern image for detecting positional offset of the image. The registration correction section corrects the positional offset based on the detected position of the pattern image.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus has an original placing portion on which an original is placed, a feed portion for feeding the original placed on the original placing portion to convey the original from one end side of an original plate onto the original plate, a conveying rotary member for conveying the original on the original plate, a reversing and conveying portion for reversing the front side and back side of the original conveyed to the other end side of the original plate by the conveying rotary member, and conveying the reversed original from the other end side onto the original plate, an image reading unit for reading the image of the original stopped on the original plate while being moved, and a control portion for controlling the driving of the conveying rotary member.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus has a skew conveying correction roller pair 2 for conveying a sheet, skew conveying detection sensors 3a and 3b for respectively detecting a skew of a sheet and a sheet-end-position detection sensor 4 for detecting the side position of the sheet. The skew conveying correction roller pair 2 is skewed by a skew amount obtained by adding a first skew amount for correcting the skew of a sheet detected by the skew conveying detection sensor 3a and 3b and a second skew amount ?2 for correcting the side position of a sheet detected by the sheet-end-position detection sensor 4. After the sheet is nipped by the skew conveying correction roller pair 2, the skew conveying correction roller pair 2 is skewed by the first skew amount ?1.

Abstract: An auto document feeder which loads and feeds a document to a read position provided on a read surface of a reader, the auto document feeder including a conveying device having an upstream roller placed upstream of the read position and a downstream roller placed downstream of the read position, the conveying device conveying the loaded document through the read position, a stabilizing roller provided upstream of the read position and opposing to the read surface, the stabilizing roller stabilizing movement of the document conveyed by the conveying device, and a guide member provided downstream of the read position and opposing to the read surface, the guide member guiding the document conveyed by the conveying device, wherein the following relationship is established the thickness of the document<a gap between the read surface and the stabilizing roller<a gap between the read surface and the guide member.

Abstract: The ADF 11 is a device for feeding an original document toward an original document scanning position R, comprising an original document loading unit 31, paper feeding roller 51, pressure sensor 33 and lift plate drive unit 35. The original document loading unit 31 comprises a lift plate 41 allowing an original document to be loaded and vertically movable in an original document loading direction. The paper feeding roller 51 is disposed above the lift plate 41 disposed at the lowermost position with an interval therebetween, and is capable of moving upwardly in coordination with a force received from below from the lift plate 41. The pressure sensor 33 is capable of detecting upward pressure on the paper feeding roller 51. The lift plate drive unit 35 causes the lift plate 41 to be lowered upon detection of upward pressure on the paper feeding roller 51.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet transport device having: a registration roller to transport a sheet after correcting a skew of the sheet; a drive source to drive the registration roller; a frame body; and a rotation resisting body which is connected to the registration roller on one side and is connected to the frame body on the other side, to create a resisting force against a rotation of the registration roller in a sheet transport direction.

Abstract: One embodiment of a mechanism may include a member having a first axis and a surface non-concentric with said first axis, a first gear rotatably mounted on said member at a second axis different from said first axis, and a device coupled to either of said member or said first gear to rotate said member when said first gear rotates about said second axis.

Abstract: A sensor module is able to sense at least one aspect of objects produced by a plurality of object sources. Since one sensor module or set of sensor elements is used to examine output from the plurality of object sources, sensor to sensor variation is removed as a source of error. In a multi-engine document processor, information from the sensor module is used to adjust process actuators, adjust image data and/or generate scheduling constraints to improve output consistency. For example, facing pages of a document are rendered only on marking engines operating within a predetermined tolerance of one another. Image data may be altered so that related images are within the measured capabilities of a plurality of marking engines. System actuators, such as xerographic actuators, of selected marking engines are adjusted to improve output consistency between marking engines.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit installed in a main body of the image forming apparatus and a tray stack including stacked media supplying units for supplying the media piece from selected one of the stacked media supplying units to the image forming unit. The tray stack is detachable from and attachable to the main body. The tray stack includes a register installed only in uppermost one of the stacked media supplying units. The register functions to correct skew of the media piece with respect to a transport direction along which the media piece is transported and then feed the media piece to the image forming unit.

Abstract: A frame image (210) with 5-mm wide margins is formed on a paper sheet on the basis of the leading end and widthwise end positions of the paper sheet (107) detected by a contact image sensor (CIS) (204) in an adjustment mode. After that, this paper sheet (107) is circulated to a feed position via a circulating path (206) and paper convey path (205), and the CIS (204) detects the frame image position formed on the circulated paper sheet and its paper end portion so as to detect errors from the 5-mm wide margins. Correction values which can cancel these errors are stored in a correction parameter storage unit (71), and forming start timing control is made using these correction values upon forming an image in an actual job. In this way, an image forming apparatus which can detect the paper feed timing with high precision, can eliminate deterioration of the image position precision due to mounting errors and durability of components, and can always precisely adjust the image position is provided.

Abstract: An improvement in a skew adjustment system used in correcting skew between a document handler and a scan tub includes curved slots in a base portion of the document handler that are positioned for rotation over protruding members projecting from the surface of a movable portion of a hinge connecting the document handler to the scan tub. Rotation of the document handler generates a virtual pivot point what will increase the angular adjustment between the scan tub and the document handler while minimizing the misalignments.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for limiting movement of medium on an imaging apparatus comprising positioning the medium against an imaging surface, moving a moveable surface to sandwich the medium between the imaging surface and the moveable surface, and passing air through at least one opening disposed to reduce forces acting on the medium that are caused by air currents generated adjacent the imaging surface when the moveable surface is moved.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus having an image deviation correction function of the present invention measures passing waveforms of correction patterns on a transfer belt printed in the main scanning direction in a relationship of a reflected image and correction patterns thermally fixed on a sheet of paper by detection sensors and from measured results, obtains main scanning magnification Sp2 and center position deviation amount ZCR for double-side horizontal deviation correction with high accuracy. During double-side image forming, a toner image on the first side is printed at a main scanning magnification of 100%, while a toner image on the second side is printed using a correction signal to which main scanning magnification Sp2 and center position deviation amount ZCR are applied, thus horizontal deviation of double-side image forming is corrected.

Abstract: A frame image (210) with 5-mm wide margins is formed on a paper sheet on the basis of the leading end and widthwise end positions of the paper sheet (107) detected by a contact image sensor (CIS) (204) in an adjustment mode. After that, this paper sheet (107) is circulated to a feed position via a circulating path (206) and paper convey path (205), and the CIS (204) detects the frame image position formed on the circulated paper sheet and its paper end portion so as to detect errors from the 5-mm wide margins. Correction values which can cancel these errors are stored in a correction parameter storage unit (71), and forming start timing control is made using these correction values upon forming an image in an actual job. In this way, an image forming apparatus which can detect the paper feed timing with high precision, can eliminate deterioration of the image position precision due to mounting errors and durability of components, and can always precisely adjust the image position is provided.

Abstract: A paper transferring device for an image forming apparatus includes a plurality of guide members forming a paper transferring path connecting a paper feeding device and a photosensitive drum, a feeding roller disposed on a side of the paper transferring path adjacent to the photosensitive drum, the feeding roller transferring a paper incoming along the paper transferring path to the photosensitive drum, at least one transferring roller disposed on the paper transferring path between the feeding roller and the paper feeding device, the transferring roller transferring the paper picked-up from the paper feeding device to the feeding roller, and a paper leading edge aligning unit for aligning a leading edge of the paper so that the leading edge of the paper is parallel to a rotation axis of the feeding roller prior to entering the feeding roller to prevent the paper from being skewed.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a stacking tray for stacking a sheet, a sheet feeding device for feeding the sheet, a register device for aligning a leading edge of the sheet fed by the sheet feeding device, a recognition device for recognizing a state that the sheets stacked on the stacking tray have different widths, and a setting device for setting a feeding distance according to a result of the recognition device. A control device controls the sheet feeding device to feed the sheet for the feeding distance.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an abnormality detecting device for detecting the abnormality of the sheet, an abnormal sheet containing portion for containing therein the sheet of which the abnormality has been detected, a normal sheet containing portion for temporarily containing therein a normal sheet of which the abnormality has not been detected, and a controlling portion for controlling the image forming portion so that the abnormal sheet is contained in the abnormal sheet containing portion, and that an image formed on the abnormal sheet may be formed on a predetermined subsequent sheet subsequent to the abnormal sheet. The normal sheet between the abnormal sheet and the predetermined subsequent sheet is contained in the normal sheet containing portion after the abnormal sheet is contained in the abnormal sheet containing portion, and the normal sheet contained in the normal sheet containing portion is delivered after the predetermined subsequent sheet has been delivered.

Abstract: A method and a device for aligning sheets. The device includes a first and a second supporting stop for supporting the sheet against gravity in a first non-aligned position of the sheet. The device further includes two alignment stops and an actuator for moving the sheet from the first non-aligned position to a second aligned position. In the second aligned position, a substantially straight edge of the sheet contacts the two alignment stops and the first supporting stop supports the sheet while the second supporting stop does not support the sheet.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder of the invention has a conveying roller for conveying a document sheet to a document reading position on a platen facing a document image reading portion. The automatic document feeder contains a pickup guide for picking up the fore end of a document sheet scanned at the document reading position and a pressing piece for pressing a document sheet being conveyed against the pickup guide at a curved portion provided by the platen and the pickup guide. The pressing piece is fixed at an upstream side of the document reading position, extending from the fixed position across the document reading position and is made free at a downstream portion. Further, this document feeder is provided with a document sheet deflecting device for deflecting a document sheet toward a paper discharge stacker. The document deflecting device is a plate spring being capable of swaying within a specified range.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for sequentially superimposes images formed by a plurality of image forming stations for forming images of different colors, respectively, on a transferring material born and transported by a transferring material transporting member, which forms a misregister detection mark on the transferring material transporting member, illuminates to read the mark, calculates a misregister amount of the read misregister detection mark, and corrects the misregister of an image based on calculated results, wherein the apparatus adjusts an illuminating light amount according to a color of a misregister detection mark.

Abstract: A document feeder which has a feed roller for feeding a document picked up from a tray toward a reading position, a first pair of rollers which is located immediately before the reading position, a second pair of rollers which is located immediately after the reading position, and a document sensor. After the leading edge of the document transported by the feed roller comes to the first pair of rollers, the feed roller keeps rotating for a specified time, whereby, registration of the document is carried out. In response to a signal which is generated when the document sensor detects the trailing edge of the document, feeding of a next document is started.

Abstract: In a recording apparatus for stably conveying a recording medium to a recording portion by a convey belt, the recording medium is passed through a nip of a pair of separation supply rollers and enters into a nip between a convey belt and a driven roller and thereafter is conveyed by the convey belt to a recording portion. When a leading end of the recording medium is detected by a recording medium detect sensor, the supply roller is disengaged from the separation roller, so that the convey belt is not subjected to the influence of the pair of separation supply rollers via the recording medium and when a trailing end of the recording medium is detected by a recording medium detect sensor, the driven roller is disengaged from the convey belt, so that the recording medium is not subjected to conveyance resistance from the driven roller.

Abstract: First and second patterns are located outside of an image reading area. A first pattern comprises a plurality of lines each extending at a fixed angle with respect to a sub-scan direction. A second pattern comprises a plurality of lines each extending at a fixed angle but having a reverse direction with respect to the sub-scan direction. An image reading portion reads the first and second patterns. A position error measuring portion measures first and second image reading position errors corresponding to different angle oblique lines of the first and second patterns of image data obtained as a result of reading the first and second patterns, respectively. The position error measuring portion compensates for position deviations of the first and second patterns using the first and second image reading position errors, and obtains position-deviation-compensated image reading position errors.

Abstract: Lights passing in the range of an optical path L1 to an optical path L2 are blocked off by a lead register 201 and, therefore, the light from a light source is prevented from reaching the range of a position P1 to a position P2. Lights in the range of an optical path L2 to an optical path L3 are allowed to pass through the end portion 203a of a platen glass 203. As a result of this, when an edge erasing processing is not executed, if a manuscript A is present in the range of the position P1 to a position P3, then a shadow is recorded in a recording sheet. To avoid this, a reference position RP, which is used as a reference when reading the images of the manuscript A, is set at a position which is more distant from the end portion 203a than the position P3. This prevents the recorded images from being influenced by variations in the quantity of light caused by the lead register 201 and end portion 203a.