Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Panasonic Communications Co., Ltd.

Hiroshi Terada

Hajime Yamamoto

Akinori Toyoda

Kenji Asakura

Hideki Tatematsu

Masaru Imai

Syuichi Watanabe

Masahiko Nakamura

Noboru Katakabe

Narito Shibaike

Naoaki Ishimaru

Satoshi Kikuya

Seiko Minamide

Yoshihito Urata

Osamu Zaitsu

Nobuo Genji

Tatsuo Nakatsugawa

Masakazu Naito

Masanori Yoshikawa

Atsushi Sogami

Kouichi Takamine

Yuzo Kawano

Yoshitaka Kitaoka

Kazumasa Hayashi

Masahiro Aizawa

Noriyuki Tajima

Atsushi Hirose

Hiroshi Komakine

Hidenori Kunishige

Noboru Miyaji

Hayato Kamada

Toshinori Morikawa

Akimasa Sato

Michiaki Nobuoka

The present invention holds the source document feeding direction downstream edge of a printed sheet ejected above a source document feed tray by means of a top ejection platform functioning as a printed sheet holding section in an area apart from source document feed rollers functioning as a source document feeding section. As a result, a printed sheet ejected onto top ejection platform is not fed automatically by source document feed rollers. Therefore, a printed sheet that has undergone image formation can be ejected without obstruction above source document feed tray of an automatic document feeder, checking and removal of a printed sheet are facilitated, and convenience is improved.

Image forming apparatus

Communication device of the portable terminal receives a function changing program. Function changing device is realized by executing the function changing program A cooperation device of the controlled apparatus controls the controlled apparatus by operating in cooperation with the function changing program on the portable terminal. With such a construction, the portable terminal can be used as a pointing device of the controlled apparatus.

Portable terminal, controlled apparatus controlled by portable terminal, and cooperation system

An image heating device comprises a cylindrical heating roller with a Curie temperature of 210&#xb0; C., a magnetization coil for magnetizing the heating roller with an alternating magnetic field, which is arranged inside the heating roller, and a nip portion for heating a recording material that carriers a toner image with heat from the heating roller, while the recording material is being conveyed along said nip portion. The ratio between the amount of heat generated in said heat-generating member at Curie temperature or higher to the amount of heat generated at room temperature in said heat-generating member is not more than &#xbd;. With this configuration, the heating roller can regulate its own temperature to stabilize at a temperature that is suitable for fixing, and the problems of partial overheating or underheating, unstable heat generation, or damage of the device can be eliminated.

Image heating device and image forming device using the same

An image heating device having a predetermined amount of heat generation with a small electric current. The device includes a heat-generating roller ( ) having magnetism and conductivity, an exciting coil ( ) opposed to the peripheral face of the heat-generating roller ( ) and adapted for allowing the heat-generating roller ( ) to generate heat with electromagnetic induction. The exciting coil ( ) is composed of a bundle of 60 copper wires of a 0.2 mm diameter are extended in the direction of the rotation axis of the heat-generating roller ( ) and they are circumferentially wound along the circumferential direction of the heat-generating roller ( ). The bundled wires are arranged in close contact with each other in the circumferential direction of the heat-generating roller ( ) so as to cover the upper half of the heat-generating roller ( ).

Image heating device and image forming apparatus using the same

An image heating device having a predetermined amount of heat generation with a small electric current. The device comprises a heat-generating roller ( ) having magnetism and conductivity, an exciting coil ( ) opposed to the peripheral face of the heat-generating roller ( ) and adapted for allowing the heat-generating roller ( ) to generate heat with electromagnetic induction. The exciting coil ( ) is composed of a bundle of 60 copper wires of a 0.2 mm diameter are extended in the direction of the rotation axis of the heat-generating roller ( ) and they are circumferentially wound along the circumferential direction of the heat-generating roller ( ). The bundled wires are arranged in close contact with each other in the circumferential direction of the heat-generating roller ( ) so as to cover the upper half of the heat-generating roller ( ).

An image heating device having a predetermined amount of heat generation with a small electric current. The device has a heat-generating roller having magnetism and conductivity, and an exciting coil opposed to the peripheral face of the heat-generating roller and adapted for allowing the heat-generating roller to generate heat with electromagnetic induction. The exciting coil is composed of a bundle of copper wires extended in the direction of the rotation axis of the heat generating roller. The wires are circumferentially wound along the circumferential direction of the heat-generating roller. The bundled wires are arranged in close contact with each other in the circumferential direction of the heat-generating roller so as to cover the upper half of the heat-generating roller.

A color electrophotographic apparatus with a developing unit for one color larger than the developing units for the other colors, comprising a first optical path where the laser signals irradiated from a laser exposure device reach a mirror at the central portion of a columnar assembly of image forming units and a second optical path where the laser signals reflected by the mirror reach and expose the photoconductor of the image forming unit at the image forming position formed between two adjacent developing units is provided.

Color electrophotographic apparatus having a split toner reservoir

An image heating device comprises a cylindrical heating roller with a Curie temperature of 210.degree. C., a magnetization coil for magnetizing the heating roller with an alternating magnetic field, which is arranged inside the heating roller, and a nip portion for heating a recording material that carries a toner image with heat from the heating roller, while the recording material is being conveyed along said nip portion. The ratio between the amount of heat generated in said heat-generating member at Curie temperature or higher to the amount of heat generated at room temperature in said heat-generating member is not more than 1/2. With this configuration, the heating roller can regulate its own temperature to stabilize at a temperature that is suitable for fixing, and the problems of partial overheating or underheating, unstable heat generation, or damage of the device can be eliminated.

Color image forming apparatus comprising a regular mode and a high speed

A multi-color electrophotographic apparatus is provided which includes a casing having an access cover, an image transfer belt unit for transferring a multi-colored image formed thereon a recording sheet, and an image-forming assembly having a plurality of image-forming units. Each image-forming unit includes a photoconductor and a developer storing therein toner of a single different color for forming a different color toner image on each photoconductor. The image-forming assembly is arranged to be movable between operative and inoperative positions. The operative position is such that each image-forming unit lies at an image-forming station with the photoconductor thereof in engagement with an image transfer belt of the image transfer belt unit to transfer the toner image formed thereon in registration with one another to the image transfer belt for forming the multi-colored image. The inoperative position is such that all the photoconductors of the image-forming assembly are out of engagement with the image transfer belt for allowing an apparatus operator to unload the image transfer belt unit from the casing through the access cover without damaging each photoconductor due to rubbing with the image transfer belt.

Multi-color electrophotographic printer having multiple image forming

A color electrophotographic apparatus for forming color images has advantages of compact and simple construction, easy positioning of an exposure position and easy inspection. The apparatus includes a plurality of rotatable image forming units corresponding to the number of colors, each of the units including a pivotable photosensitive member on which a toner image is formed and a developing device containing a color toner. The apparatus further includes an exposure device for exposing a toner image by emitting a signal light from outside of the image forming units and a mirror for reflecting the signal light to an exposure position, the mirror being placed in the neighbor of a rotation axis.

Color electrophotographic apparatus and image forming units used therein

A color electrophotographic apparatus using a plurality of image forming units. The entire image forming unit group moves by rotation, and a toner image is transferred on an intermediate transfer belt at an image forming position. The intermediate transfer belt is variable in speed, and while the image forming unit group is moving, it is stopped or runs at low speed. The hopper in the image forming unit is divided into two sections. The toner is supplied the image forming position, and when the toner remainder sensor detects no remaining toner, the image forming unit group rotates by one revolution or more, and then the toner remainder is detected again to judge presence or absence of toner remainder. At this time, the toner in the toner hopper is agitated by the agitating member and the shape of the inner wall. After rotary move of the image forming unit group, each image forming unit is initialized sequentially. The side walls of the signal light optical path are composed of image forming units, and the color of the side walls is black. The gap between two adjacent signal forming units is 20 mm or less. One erase lamp of the photosensitive member is provided near the image forming position. During rotary motion of the image forming unit group, it is controlled so as not to disturb the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt.

Color electrophotographic apparatus having an intermediate transfer belt

An electrophotographic apparatus includes a photoconductor drum, also known as an electrostatic latent image holding member, with a magnet placed therein. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the magnetic drum. Then, the drum is brought into contact with a magnetic developer, or toner, in a developer reservoir to have the magnetic developer attached to the photoconductor drum surface by a magnetic force. A removing roller, having an AC voltage applied thereto, is passed in close vicinity of the magnetic drum with the resultant development of images because toner remains at image areas only. In the electrophotographic apparatus, the photoconductor drum, the removing roller or both include two magnetic poles. A device for increasing friction force of the surface of the photoconductor drum, of the removing roller or both may also be provided.

Electrophotographic apparatus of improved low image density

An electrophotographic method and an apparatus employed for effecting the method, in which a photoreceptor drum having a fixed magnet member in it is employed. After forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoreceptor drum, the photoreceptor surface is brought into contact with the magnetic developing material within a developing material hopper so as to attract the developing material onto the surface of the photoreceptor drum by magnetic force. When the photoreceptor surface further passes an electrode roller, the toner remains only at the image portion for development into a visible toner image. As a force for removing the magnetic developing material from the photoreceptor surface, a resultant force of a magnetic force connecting the photoreceptor drum and the electrode roller and an electrostatic force connecting the photoreceptor drum and the electrode roller, is employed. Thus, the present invention provides the novel electrophotographic method and the apparatus for executing the method, which is simple in construction and a compact in size, and capable of providing images with a high resolution.

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Ikoma, Japan

Hiroshi Terada