Brother Kogyo Kabushiki-kaisha

Hiroshi Morisaki

Kenji Sakakibara

Michitoshi Akao

Tokunori Katoh

Takesi Izaki

Takeshi Izaki

Masanari Kobayashi

Kazuhiro Hayamizu

Shin Asai

Masatoshi Kokubo

Tokunori Kato

Kazumasa Makino

Jun Morikawa

Naoyuki Hatta

Hideo Yoshihara

Kazunobu Asai

Masayoshi Oosaki

Hiroko Ishikawa

Satoshi Matsushita

Jun Okajima

Yousuke Ito

Daisuke Matsumoto

Tetsuro Matsuno

Jing Yang

Atsunori Katoh

Ken Izaki

An image reader is provided, which includes a controller that when a PC-scan mode is set as an output mode, the controller controls an image output unit to output second read data of a second side of a document sheet at each time when a storage unit stores the second read data output from a second image reading unit on a line-by-line basis, controls the storage device to store first read data of a first side of the document sheet during a time period from a time when a leading end of the document sheet reaches a reading position of a first image reading unit to a time when a trailing end of the document sheet passes through a reading position of the second image reading unit, and controls the image output unit to sequentially output the first read data stored on the storage unit, after completely outputting the second read data.

Image reader

An image data is generated by scanning an original. The image data is converted and stored into a RAM. Preview data is generated from the converted data and then displayed on a display unit. When a transmission command is received after the display unit displays the display data, the converted data is transmitted to a prescribed destination.

Communication device capable of displaying preview of transmission data

A printer is provided that includes a printing unit, a detector that outputs a detection signal corresponding to one of a remaining amount of coloring agent and a consumed amount of coloring agent, and a controller configured to perform a switching process. In the switching process, when determining, based on the detection signal, that a usable amount of coloring agent is more than a first reference value, the controller controls the printing unit to perform a normal printing operation to print an original image based on image data. Meanwhile, in the switching process, when determining, based on the detection signal, that the usable amount of coloring agent is equal to or less than the first reference value, the controller controls the printing unit to perform a show-through cancellation printing operation to print an image that is formed by removing an image recognized as a show-through image from the original image.

Printer and computer-readable storage medium for controlling the same

A multifunction device has a plurality of functions. The multifunction device includes an input unit, a general-purpose process unit, a single specific process unit, and an output unit. The input unit receives image data. The general-purpose process unit implements a plurality of tasks for each of the plurality of functions. The plurality of tasks includes compression of the image data in a compression format and expansion of the image data which has been compressed. The single specific process unit is controlled by the general-purpose process unit. The specific process unit implements only two tasks, one task being compression of the image data in the compression format for each of the plurality of functions, the other task being expansion of the image data which has been compressed for each of the plurality of functions. The output unit outputs the image data. The general-purpose process unit determines which the general-purpose process unit or the specific processing unit should implement the compression/expansion.

Multifunction device having parallel processing function for data compression and expansion

There is provided an image reading device, which comprises an illumination unit configured to diffuse light from light sources in a predetermined scanning direction to illuminate an object with diffused light, a reading unit having photoreceptors aligned in the predetermined scanning direction to receive light reflected from the object, a detection unit configured to detect lighting status of the light sources; and a controller that obtains an image of the object by using a normal one of the light sources as a main light source if at least one of the light sources is in an abnormal state.

Image reading device

A printing system includes a printing device and a controlling system. The printing device is capable of printing images on a recording sheet. The printing device includes a first sheet type setting system that sets first sheet data representing a type of the sheet. The controlling device is capable of communicating with the printing device, and includes a second sheet type setting system that sets second sheet data representing a type of the sheet. The printing system further includes a comparing system that compares the first sheet data with the second sheet data. The printing device performs the printing operation in accordance with a comparison result of the comparing system.

Printing system

In a facsimile device, a CPU determines whether or not a recording sheet is conveyed normally based on the conveyance state detected by a detecting portion. When the CPU determines that the recording sheet has been conveyed normally, the CPU increases the conveying speed in a stepwise manner based on the current conveying speed until the conveying speed reaches maximum speed. Therefore, according to the present facsimile device, when conveyance of the recording sheet is normally performed at a specified conveying speed, the number of failures of conveyance of the recording sheet can be reduced compared to a facsimile device, in which the conveying speed is set at maximum speed of conveyance by a sheet feed roller. Also, the recording sheet can be conveyed at as high speed as possible.

Apparatus and method for conveying sheet member

A technique is proposed to provide an appropriate notification in accordance with the state of occurrence of conveyance errors. The level of maintenance required to normalize a conveying function is determined depending on the number of errors, and a notification is provided by displaying a message to a user or by transmitting a message to a service center depending on the level of maintenance. Since the message to the user indicates a specific content of maintenance to normalize the conveying function, the user can normalize the conveying function by taking appropriate measures. On the other hand, since the message to the service center indicates the required level of maintenance, a service person of the service center can normalize the conveying function by going to a place where a multi-function machine, for example, is installed and repairing the multi-function machine.

Conveying apparatus, notification method and computer-readable medium for indicating a level of maintenance required

An ink jet recording apparatus includes a conveying mechanism configured to sequentially convey recording sheets, and a detector including a light source and a light-receiving element. The detector is configured to detect an edge position of each of the recording sheets. The apparatus also includes an ink jet recording head configured to eject ink droplets on each of the recording sheets, and a scanning carriage configured to move in a main scanning direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. The detector and the ink jet recording head are mounted to the scanning carriage. The apparatus also includes a determining unit for determining one or more characteristics of each of the recording sheets, and a storing unit configured to store the edge position of each of the recording sheets and the one or more characteristics of each of the recording sheets. Moreover, the apparatus includes a controller, and when the edge position of each of the recording sheets is within a predetermined edge position range, the controller is configured to control the ejection of ink droplets on a subsequent recording sheet, which sequentially is conveyed after a last of the recording sheets is conveyed, based on the edge position and the on e or more characteristics of each of the plurality of the recording sheets.

Ink jet recording apparatus

An image reading device includes a main body and an openable cover. A sheet feed path is defined inside the cover. An intermediate portion of the sheet feed path is exposed to the top surface of the main body, thereby the top surface defines a part of the sheet feed path at the intermediate portion. The cover is provided with a sheet feed mechanism. Feeding of the sheet is terminated when the cover is opened. The image reading device further includes a sheet location detection system that detects a location of the sheet when the feeding of the sheet is terminated, and a controller determines whether the sheet is to be discharged from the sheet feed path, when the cover is closed, in accordance with a location of the sheet detected by the sheet location detection system.

To enable a main terminal device to implement specific functions in cooperation with a sub terminal device, when a fax machine serving as the main terminal device stores conversion request data in a shared area of its RAM (S), a personal computer serving as the sub terminal device generates converted image data based on the conversion request data stored on the fax machine end and stores the resulting data on the fax machine end. Subsequently, the fax machine reads the converted image data stored by the personal computer and transmits this image data. In this way, the fax machine can direct the personal computer to execute part of the process simply by storing request data in a shared area of the RAM, thereby transmitting converted image data in cooperation with the personal computer.

Data processing system for a multi-function device

A document reading device is provided with a reading unit for reading a document and generating image data corresponding to an image formed on the document. The image data is stored in an external memory that is detachably attached to a slot of the device. The operation for storing the image data to the external memory is interrupted if the external memory is removed from the slot after the document reading is started. Thereafter, when the external memory is reattached to the document reading device, the image storing operation is restarted.

Document reading device

The invention provides a image duplicating apparatus capable of forming images for duplication using standard four ink colors in a standard color style, or using more ink colors than the standard ink colors when duplicating images read from an original on a recording paper. A CPU determines which of the single-copying mode, where images read from the original are duplicated on a sheet of the recording paper, or the multi-copying mode, where images read from the original are duplicated on the sheets of the recording paper, is set. When it is determined that the multi-copying mode is set, the CPU starts duplicating in the standard color style. When it is determined that the single-copying mode is set, the CPU starts duplicating in the fine color style.

Image duplicating apparatus and storage medium

A multi-function peripheral device and method for printing from a multi-function peripheral device are presented. When a facsimile function is executed, half of an empty area of a flex memory and a FAX transmission/reception memory are set as a FAX transmission/reception memory. When a printer function is executed, half of an empty area of the flex memory and a printer memory are set as a printer memory. When a printer priority function is executed, all the empty area of the flex memory and the printer memory are set as a printer memory.

Multi-function peripheral device and method for printing from the multi-function peripheral device

A multi-function peripheral device serves as a peripheral device for an information processing unit and is capable of simultaneously executing a plurality functions by multi-task processing. The multi-function peripheral device includes: a transmission/reception unit that transmits and receives data, for performing a plurality of functions, between the multi-function peripheral device and the information processing device; a transmission unit that transmits and receives data to and from a remote transmission device via a transmission line; and a reception speed control unit that, when the transmission unit and the transmission/reception unit operate simultaneously, reduces reception speed at which the transmission/reception unit receives data from the information processing device.

Growing community of inventors

Aichi-ken, Japan

Hiroshi Morisaki