Brother Kogyo Kabushiki-kaisha

Hidenori Hisada

Makoto Suzuki

Hiroshi Taira

Shougo Sato

Tomoaki Hattori

Susumu Kuzuya

Toshio Sakai

Kazunori Tanabe

Takakuni Sonoda

Naoya Kamimura

Kiyotaka Ohara

Shigeharu Katayama

Masashi Suzuki

Satoru Ishikawa

Hideaki Deguchi

Satoru Hattori

Ryota Kato

Ichiro Sasaki

Yukimasa Yoshida

Ikunobu Yoshiyama

Takauni Sonoda

There is provided an information processing device, comprising: a display unit configured to display at least one of a plurality of data files; an information providing unit configured to transmit, to a host computer, first information enabling a client device accessing the host computer to display information contained in the first information; a display switch unit configured to switch onscreen representation on the display unit between images corresponding to the plurality of data files; and a data changing unit configured to transmit, to the host computer, second information concerning an image corresponding to one of the plurality of data files currently displayed on the display unit in response to a fact that the onscreen representation on the display unit is switched.

Information processing device

In an image forming apparatus, a plurality of process units each including a photoconductor drum are arranged in tandem; a plurality of exposure units configured to expose the photoconductor drum to light are each disposed above and opposite to the corresponding photoconductor drum; an output tray configured to receive an ejected recording sheet on which an image has been formed is disposed above the plurality of exposure units; and an image reader unit configured to read an image of a source document is disposed above the output tray with a predetermined space provided between the image reader unit and the output tray.

Image forming apparatus with exposure units

In an image forming apparatus, a plurality of process units each including a photoconductor drum are arranged in tandem; a plurality of exposure units configured to expose the photoconductor drum to light to form an electrostatic latent image thereon are each disposed above and opposite to the corresponding photoconductor drum; an output tray configured to receive an ejected recording sheet on which an image has been formed is disposed above the plurality of exposure units; and an image reader unit configured to read an image of a source document is disposed above the output tray with a predetermined space provided between the image reader unit and the output tray. At least one of the exposure units and at least a part of the output tray are movable together into the predetermined space, whereby the plurality of process units are allowed to be pulled out in a direction of tandem arrangement thereof.

An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body and an original reading device disposed on top of the apparatus main body. A sheet supply cassette, a sheet discharge tray, an original feed tray, and the original discharge tray are oriented such that their lengthwise directions are aligned with the first horizontal direction, and are arranged to overlap with one another in the vertical direction. A pair of side walls is disposed at both widthwise ends of the sheet supply cassette, the sheet discharge tray, the original feed tray, and the original discharge tray. The both widthwise ends of these components are formed as edge portions. The pair of side walls covers an entire length of each of the edge portions, thereby supporting all of the sheet supply cassette, the sheet discharge tray, the original feed tray, and the original discharge tray.

Image forming apparatus having image reading function

When a guide lever is in a toner open position, a space is formed between an upper surface of the guide lever and a lower surface of a flat bed unit as a part of a transport path of a paper. Therefore, the paper is turned forward around in a generally U-shape in the transport path, and passes over a toner cartridge, then is ejected to an ejection tray. So the transport path can be increased in radius of curvature at the U-turn point thereof, and whereby a reliable feed of the paper with a reduced risk of paper jam can be achieved. Further, since a scanning unit is disposed below and adjacent to a process cartridge and the ejection tray so that it can overlap with the process cartridge and the ejection tray, and is disposed adjacent to a feed tray so that it can overlap upwardly with the feed tray, reduction in size of a laser printer can be achieved.

Image forming apparatus having an image scanning unit

A processing apparatus, including an image carrier which carries a developing-material image formed by developing an electrostatic latent image with a developing material, a transferring device which transfers the developing-material image from the image carrier to a transfer object, and a cover member which at least partly covers the transferring device. The cover member has one or more air-flow holes which allow an air to flow therethrough between an inner side thereof opposed to the transferring device and an outer side thereof opposite to the inner side.

Image forming apparatus including air-flow direction changing around transferring device

Upon depression of a copy execution button , an image recording apparatus executes a copy processing by causing an ink jet printer to record the image data read by an image reading part on recording paper. Alternatively, upon depression of the copy execution button , the image recording apparatus causes the ink jet printer to record the image data transmitted from a hand-scanner through a transmission cable K connecting the image recording apparatus and the hand-scanner which is capable of reading image information on an original.

Image recording apparatus and image reading apparatus connectable to the image recording apparatus

A transfer bias applying power supply applies a transfer bias current of a fixed amount to a transfer roller by executing a constant current control operation. A voltmeter measures the amount of voltage generated by the transfer roller . The generated voltage amount indicates the resistance of the transfer roller . A sheet type detecting program is executed to detect the size and thickness of a sheet . An amount of transfer bias current is selected dependently on: the detected size and thickness of the sheet ; and the measured generated voltage amount. The transfer bias applying power supply is controlled to apply the transfer roller with the transfer bias current of the selected amount. Accordingly, even when the size or the thickness of the sheet changes or even when the resistance of the transfer roller changes, it is possible to continue applying the transfer roller with an appropriate amount of transfer bias current that corresponds to the present size and the present thickness of the sheet and to the present resistance of the transfer roller . It is therefore possible to attain high quality transfer operation through the constant current control even when the type of the recording medium changes or the environmental humidity changes.

Transfer control for an image forming apparatus

A picture signal processing apparatus and method is presented that determines whether there is an odd or even-number field signal in the picture signals received, by referring to flags that are turned on or off in accordance with the result of odd and even-number field detection. If the odd and even-number field flags are on, an image processing operation A is performed. If the odd-number field flag is on and the even-number field is off, an image processing operation B is performed. If the odd-number field flag is off and the even-number field is on, an image processing operation C is performed. In accordance with whether there is an odd or even-number field signal in the received picture signals, an appropriate image processing operation is selected from the different operations. That is, the received picture signals are processed in a mode suitable to the signals, so as to generate suitable image data. By automatically switching the picture signal conversion mode to an appropriate mode in accordance with the picture signals received, the apparatus and method eliminate the need for a user to perform a troublesome switching operation.

Picture signal processing apparatus and method

An image forming device includes: a photosensitive drum that rotates in a rotational direction; a scanner unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive body; a developing unit that has an operating condition for developing the electrostatic latent image using toner; a transfer unit that transfers the toner image from the photosensitive body to the recording body; a cleaning roller disposed downstream from the transfer unit with respect to the rotational direction at a predetermined leveling position adjacent to the photosensitive body and having an adsorption mode, wherein the cleaning roller uses the potential difference between itself and the photosensitive drum to adsorb residual toner from the photosensitive drum, and a release mode, wherein the cleaning roller uses the potential difference between itself and the photosensitive drum to release residual toner back onto the photosensitive drum; and a controller for switching the cleaning roller into its adsorption mode when a lead edge of an image forming portion of the photosensitive body reaches the leveling position.

Image forming device with leveling unit having a width equal to or less

An image forming apparatus is provided that includes a photosensitive drum; a laser scanner unit; a developing roller; a transfer roller; and a cleaning device. The cleaning device absorbs residual toner left on the surface of the photosensitive drum after a transfer process from the surface of the photosensitive drum by using a potential difference from the photosensitive drum in an absorption mode and for blowing off and dispersing the absorbed toner to the surface of the photosensitive drum by using another potential difference from the photosensitive drum in a blowing-off mode. The apparatus further includes a first power supply that provides a first voltage different from an electric potential of the ground to the cleaning device; a second power supply that provides a second voltage different from the electric potential of the ground and different from the first voltage to the photosensitive drum; and a switch for switching the image forming apparatus to the absorption mode by connecting the cleaning device to the ground and for switching the image forming apparatus to the blowing-off mode by connecting the cleaning device to the first power supply.

Image forming apparatus

An image recording apparatus for recording a latent image of an original color image onto an elongated web photosensitive recording medium by separating the color of the color image into a plurality of colors by creating a plurality of mask members, and exposing the same part of the photosensitive recording medium to each of the plural mask members by appropriately colored light. The tension applied to the photosensitive recording medium is detected by a sensor at a slack buffer location between an exposing unit and a developing unit when development of one latent image and exposure of a following latent image are carried out simultaneously. The driving speed for a motor for driving the buffer is changed by a control unit according to the tension of the photosensitive recording medium as detected by the sensor. Accordingly, when the driving speed of the buffer motor varies relative to speed of the developing unit causing a change in tension applied to the photosensitive recording medium during the simultaneous exposure and development operations, the driving speed of the buffer motor is adjusted by the control unit so that the tension of the photosensitive recording medium is maintained to be constant. Therefore, fluctuation in the tension of the photosensitive recording medium is prevented.

Image recording apparatus capable of maintaining a constant tension in a

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a photosensitive recording medium by exposing the photosensitive recording medium to light by way of a mask member which is placed on an exposure station. The apparatus comprises a first transport device which transports the mask member through the exposure station and a second transport device which transports the photosensitive recording medium through the exposure station. A first exposure unit irradiates light upon the photosensitive record medium by way of said mask member at the exposure station to record an image formed on the mask member on the photosensitive recording medium. Alternatively, when a mask member is not used, a second exposure unit directs light through an auxiliary member having a light-passing image thereon to project and record the light-passing image onto the photosensitive recording medium.

Image recording apparatus having secondary exposure unit

In a printing device, all the print data is printed out without any print command when a predetermined time is counted after a reception buffer has run out of data. It is also possible to ensure an error-free, proper automatic print operation by providing a facility of discriminating between suspension of data transmission for the reason of processing and real stop of data transmission and another facility of selecting whether or not to carry out the automatic printing.

Printing device having time counting means to control printing from page

An image recording apparatus using a set of mask members and having mask position adjusting device. A transparent mask member supporting plate is provided at the exposure position. Each of the mask member is delivered upon the mask member supporting plate by two pairs of rollers. In this mask delivery, a mask image surface faces upwardly. An elongated photosensitive recording medium is positioned immediately above the mask member supporting plate so as to guide the medium at the exposure position. Further, an exposure device including a light source and color filters is positioned below the mask member supporting plate. The mask member undergoes positional adjustment at the exposure position. For this, the mask member supporting plate is supported on a positioning frame which is movable in a direction perpendicular to the mask member moving direction. The position of the mask member with respect to the running direction thereof is controllable by controlling rotations of two pairs of rollers, and the mask position with respect to its tranverse direction is controllable by controlling the movement of the positioning frame.

Growing community of inventors

Tokoname, Japan

Hidenori Hisada