Minolta Company, Ltd.

Hiroharu Tanaka

Eiichi Yoshida

Takeshi Morikawa

Yoichi Kawabuchi

Tomoyuki Atsumi

Takatsugu Kuno

Toshiyuki Yamashita

Sumiko Nishimura

Hiroshi Sugiura

Hiroyasu Ito

Tatsutoshi Yamada

Koji Naito

Hidenobu Nakamura

Hiroyuki Asai

Junko Takuwa

A copying machine performs a panel operation necessary for copying at a step Sand performs ACS determination for determining whether an original image is a color image, a monochrome image or an indefinite image at a step S. Then, the copying machine performs copying at a step Saccording to a print mode responsive to a result of ACS determination. At this time, a printed paper for an indefinite image is discharged to a discharge position different from that for another printed paper. The copying machine displays the result of the ACS determination on an operation panel at a step S. Therefore, an original determined as the indefinite image can be recognized at a glance so that a countermeasure can be immediately taken if reprinting is necessary. Consequently, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of immediately performing proper processing on an original image by readily detecting an improper result of printing caused by false determination as to whether the original image is a color image or a monochrome image.

Image determining apparatus capable of properly determining image and image forming apparatus utilizing the same

The image forming apparatus is capable of storing a plurality of jobs in memory, and the stored plurality of jobs are printed and output in the storage sequence. A permitted time for exclusive use of the image forming apparatus to print a first job (print time upper limit) can be set and changed by a user using an operation panel. When the permitted time has elapsed after starting printing of the first job, the first job is interrupted and printing of another job is started. This arrangement prevents delaying the printing of other jobs due to the continuous printing of the first job over a long time period.

Image forming apparatus having a multi-job function and method of using same

An apparatus and method for processing paper ejected from an image forming device includes the use of a plurality of bins for sorting the paper ejected from the image forming device into packets and for housing the packets. A tray for stacking the packets is provided, along with a packet conveying device for conveying the packets from the plurality of bins to the tray. A detection device is included for detecting the maximum amount of paper that can be stacked onto the tray. A control device is also included which performs a number of controlling functions such as halting the packet conveying device, counting the number of empty bins from which the packets have already been removed and transmitting the number to an image forming device controller, in addition to controlling the guidance of the paper subsequently ejected from the image forming device in the empty bins.

Apparatus and method for automatically finishing copies after the maximum storage tray capacity has been exceeded

An image forming apparatus stores a plurality of jobs. When a process for a job is temporarily stopped due to any trouble of the apparatus or interruption, the job is not automatically resumed if an image reader and a printer operate for the same job. If the image reader and the printer operate for different jobs, only the printing operation is automatically resumed. In this case, the reading operation of the image reader is not automatically resumed.

Image forming apparatus with improved operability

An image forming system has a folding unit which can fold in two a sheet of paper at a position being slightly offset from the center of the sheet of paper. When an index mode is designated and a location where an index sheet is to be inserted, an index sheet which size is twice the size of a sheet of regular paper is supplied and fed to the folding unit, then is folded and fed to a tray where sheets of regular paper are stacked.

Image forming apparatus having a folding unit

In an image forming apparatus, first in a printing delay process, it is determined whether or not a specific mode is set. When it is determined that a specific mode is set, printing is inhibited until images to be printed are accumulated in a memory, and whether or not originals are mixed originals (of assorted sizes) is detected. If it is determined that originals are mixed ones, start of printing is inhibited. Since printing cannot be executed when a specific mode in which mixed originals cannot be handled is set, an image forming apparatus capable of automatically handling mixed originals can be provided.

Image forming apparatus capable of handling mixed originals easily

In an image processing apparatus, determination is made whether an interruptive print wait state is attained during interruptive printing. When determination is made that the apparatus is in an interruptive print wait state, an interruption recover process is effected. Then, the apparatus returns to the normal mode prior to interruption. Thus, an image processing apparatus is provided that can have the waiting time caused by an interruption in the normal job reduced.

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Toyokawa, Japan

Hiroharu Tanaka