Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha

Minolta Camera Co., Ltd.

Koji Wakamiya

Tomohiko Masuda

Tsukasa Yagi

Ken Matsubara

Hirohisa Kitano

Kenichi Wada

Itaru Saito

Atsushi Fujita

Kouichi Shingaki

An image forming apparatus which comprises a light shutter disposed between a source of light and an image carrier, which is electrostatically charged to a predetermined polarity, and capable of exhibiting a light transmissivity which varies according to a voltage applied to the light shutter. A first voltage of a predetermined direction is applied to the light shutter according to image information during a first period in which a first area of the image carrier passes across the light shutter, to form the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier. This electrostatic latent image is subsequently developed into a toner image. In order to substantially recover the light shutter from a light-induced fatigue, i.e., internal polarization of an electro-optical material forming the light shutter, a second voltage of a direction counter to the predetermined direction is applied to the light shutter during a second period in which a second area of the image carrier passes across the light shutter.

Image forming apparatus

A recording apparatus has both a copier function and a fax printing function. The recording apparatus is provided with a photoconductive member, an original table on which an original is placed, and a scanner for scanning the original placed on the original table to project an image of the original onto the photoconductive member so that an electrostatic latent image may be formed on the photoconductive member. An optical print head is provided for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive member based on an electric signal. Accordingly, the recording apparatus has two modes, a copy mode in which an electrostatic latent image is formed by an operation of the scanner and a print mode in which an electrostatic latent image is formed by an operation of the optical print head. A plurality of sensors are provided for detecting the operation of the scanner, which is controlled by a controller in each of the copy mode and the print mode. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductive member is transferred as a visible image on a recording medium by a transfer unit.

Recording apparatus

A light printer with a light shutter having an array of electro-optical elements is disclosed. The light printer provides with a detection circuit for monitoring temperature and/or time dependent variations regarding the electro-optical elements of the light shutter and a driving voltage control circuit for controlling an optimum driving voltage of the light shutter according to results detected by the detection circuit.

Light printer with photoelectric light quantity control means

A light signal generating device having a plurality of electro-optical light shutter elements which are turned on and off individually in accordance with image data. The light shutter elements are connected to individual electrodes each, and also connected to a common electrode. The common electrode and a power source for supplying a voltage to the individual electrodes are connected with a grounding line. Discharge lines are disposed between the common electrode and the grounding line, and switching elements are disposed on the discharge lines so as to prevent discharge currents, which are drawn from the light shutter elements at falls of the driving voltage, from flowing into the grounding line.

Light signal generating device using electro-optical light shutter array

A method of driving an electro-optical light shutter for use in a recording apparatus. According to the method, an electric field of a predetermined direction is applied to the light shutter during a recording period and a further electric field having a direction opposite to the predetermined direction is applied to the light shutter during a waiting period.

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Osaka, Japan

Koji Wakamiya