Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Hidetake Tanaka

Yasushi Nakazato

Shigeru Yamazaki

Koji Yamanobe

Tomonori Tanaka

Noriyuki Terao

Junichi Ikeda

Hiroo Kitagawa

Toshihiro Tsukagoshi

Keiichi Iwasaki

Iwao Hamaguchi

Satoru Numakura

Naoki Tsumura

Koji Oshikiri

Hiroyuki Kimbara

Hiroaki Kotabe

Masahiko Banno

Yutaka Maita

Atsuhiro Oizumi

Akio Niki

Osamu Kuramochi

An information processor that is connected to at least one other information processor via a network, includes a detecting unit that detects an optional device to be used for information processing, as a target optional device, installed on the other information processor, an issuing unit that issues an access request to use the target optional device to the other information processor, a receiving unit that receives an access permission for access to the target optional device from the other information processor, and a processing unit that performs the information processing with the target optional device.

Information processor configured to detect available space in a storage in another information processor

A high-speed serial switch fabric is configured to perform a mapping of a traffic class that is capable of differentiating traffics onto a virtual channel. The high-speed serial switch fabric connects a plurality of devices. A traffic-class setting unit sets, when a conflict occurs between devices connected to the high-speed serial switch fabric, the traffic class for each of traffics in the devices having the conflict. A channel setting unit assigns each of set traffic classes to different virtual channels, and gives a priority of data communication to each of the set traffic classes.

High speed serial switch fabric performing mapping of traffic classes onto virtual channels

An image forming system includes an image forming mechanism, optional units including at least one recording medium feed unit, and at least one recording medium eject unit. The image forming mechanism includes a transport mechanism for taking the recording medium from one of the optional units and for ejecting the recording medium to one of the optional units in accordance with first control data and second control data defining transport characteristics of the transport mechanism, and a sending part for sending the optional units the first control data through a serial signal line. Each of the optional units includes a memory for storing a plurality of different control data defining different transport characteristics of each optical unit, a receiving part for receiving the first control data sent from the sending part, a selecting part for selecting one of the different control data so as to conform to the first control data sent from the sending part, and a sending part for sending the transport mechanism the selected one of control data. The selected one of control data serves as the second data used in the transport mechanism of the image forming mechanism.

Image forming system

A modular type image forming system includes a laser printer main unit and a plurality of optional units, such as a both side processing unit, a large quantity paper feeding unit and a mail box unit, each of which is operatively coupled to said main unit through a commonly usable optical fiber cable through a commonly usable connector. Each unit has its own CPU and serial communications between the CPUs of different units may be carried out through the optical cables. The CPU of the main unit may determine the identity of each of the optional units connected thereto through such communications. The main unit also includes an interface circuit through which the main unit is operatively coupled to each of the optional units. The interface circuit includes a port selector which establishes a connection pattern between the main and optional units in accordance with the identity information of each of the optional units connected. When paper is fed into a transportation path, paper ID is assigned to the paper and retained until the paper is discharged. If the paper is removed from the path without passing a predetermined location, the same image is printed again.

Duplex image forming system with number of single side printed sheets in

An image forming system includes a printer main body and optional units coupled thereto through a serial communication line. Each of the optional units has its own device identification code. The printer system main body includes a table memory for storing logical identification codes each of which is assigned one of the device identification codes. Each of the optional units includes a memory for storing its own device identification code and the logical identification codes which has been assigned to its own device identification code, and a discerning circuit for discerning whether one of the logical identification codes sent from the printer main body is identical to its own assigned logical identification code stored in the memory. The printer main body receives paper from one of the optional units related to one of the logical identification codes sent by the printer main body, and ejects paper to one of the optional units related to one of the logical identification codes sent by the printer main body.

A modular type image forming system includes a laser printer main unit and a plurality of optional units, such as both side processing unit, a large quantity paper feeding unit and a mail box unit, each of which is operatively coupled to said main unit through a commonly usable optical fiber cable through a commonly usable connector. Each unit has its own CPU and serial communications between the CPUs of different units may be carried out through the optical cables. The CPU of the main unit may determine the identity of each of the optional units connected thereto through such communications. The main unit also includes an interface circuit through which the main unit is operatively coupled to each of the optional units. The interface circuit includes a port selector which establishes a connection pattern between the main and optional units in accordance with the identity information of each of the optional units connected. When paper is fed into a transportation path, paper ID is assigned to the paper and retained until the paper is discharged. If the paper is removed from the path without passing a predetermined location, the same image is printed again.

Image system with connection to operational units

A control system for a laser printer and other image recorders stores history data including the number of prints produced by a photoconductive element and occurrences of various kinds of failures, and displays the history data at suitable timings. The control system, therefore, displays data which may be referenced in the event of a failure of the image recorder.

Control device for an image recorder

A lateral registration adjusting device for use in an optical writing system, such as a laser beam printer, is provided. When a sheet of recording paper has arrived at a registration roller which is driven to rotate intermittently in association with the rotation of a photosensitive drum, a discrepancy between the sheet of recording paper and a reference position in the lateral direction transverse to the direction of transportation of the sheet of recording paper is detected. Based on this information of lateral discrepancy, the writing start position for writing an image on the photosensitive drum in a scan line is adjusted such that the lateral discrepancy is absorbed. Thus, when the image is formed on the drum and then transferred onto the sheet of recording paper, there is obtained a predetermined relative positional relationship between the sheet of recording paper and the image in the lateral direction at all times.

Lateral registration adjusting device for use in a laser beam printer

A printer capable of operating in a bidirectional printout mode by converting a print code to pattern data and using a print head in which print elements are arranged in a plurality of arrays. A buffer control is provided for controlling in a ring structure entry and retrieval of pattern data into and out of an image buffer. A detachable font cassette stores the pattern data and data associated with print configurations. A pattern data store stores print pattern data in blocks for each of the print element arrays.

Dot matrix printer control and storage device

An adjustable servo-system for controlling the operating condition of its servo-motor adjustably includes an indicator unit capable of indicating a new optimum operating time to be used. The operator can set the new optimum operating time in the servo-system just by looking at the indicator.

Servo-system having an adjustment indicator

A method and apparatus for automatically adjusting an operation time of a servosystem into a predetermined allowable range, either from the outside or from the inside. An average operation time of the servosystem is calculated and then an amount of level shift is calculated from the resulting average operation time. Based on the resulting level shift, the operation time of the servosystem is stepwisely shifted at a given time interval. After the shift, an average operation time of the servosystem is calculated again. This is repeated until the average operation time enters the allowable range.

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Tokyo, Japan

Hidetake Tanaka