Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Kouji Ishigaki

Takashi Saitoh

Shigeo Kurotaka

Yukio Sakano

Kyoji Omi

Michiyoshi Tachikawa

Fumio Kishi

Hiromi Okubo

Yoshio Kaneko

Takeshi Ukai

Toshiya Hikita

Yasuji Takagi

Hiroshi Takahashi

Yoshiyuki Kimura

Shinji Yamakawa

Kazuo Murai

Wataru Yasuda

Kazuyuki Nakahara

Hiroyasu Sumida

Moriyuki Koike

Midori Aida

Haruhiko Fukuda

Tadato Hashiguchi

Yoshihide Sonoda

Masaki Tokuhashi

Ken Amemiya

Masaru Tanaka

Keisuke Hayashi

Masato Yanagida

Takashi Bisaiji

Haruji Mizuishi

Takashi Hodoshima

Hiroshi Mizusawa

Chikara Imai

Yoshihiro Abe

Mayumi Ohori

Hiroyuki Ohkaji

Hideki Zenba

Kenzou Tatsumi

Yusuke Shimbo

An original image comprises a printed region on which a predetermined printed matter is realized and a background region on which no printed matter is realized. The shape of a peripheral zone in the original image comprises the shape of the background region, which shape exists particularly at the peripheral region of said original image. It is determined whether or not the original image comprises the special document by detecting the peripheral zone. Further, the original image has an outer-frame region, having a predetermined shape at the peripheral region of the original image. The determination is carried out using a result of measuring the width of the outer-frame region. Further, the width of the outer-frame region comprises a width along a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction extending along the outline of the original image.

Original-discrimination system for discriminating special document, and image forming apparatus, image processing apparatus and duplicator using the original-discrimination system

An image forming apparatus transfers a toner image from a photoconductive image carrier to a recording medium with a transfer roller and senses the density of a particular toner pattern formed on the image carrier with an optical sensor. A voltage of a first polarity opposite the polarity of the toner is applied to the transfer roller when the toner image is to be transferred to the recording medium. A voltage of a second polarity identical to the polarity of the toner is applied to the transfer roller when the toner pattern is to be moved between the image carrier and the transfer roller. Thus, even when a toner pattern is brought to the transfer roller, the transfer roller is not released from the photoconductive element.

Image forming apparatus with a voltage applying unit for image transfer

An original image comprises a printed region on which a predetermined printed matter is realized and a background region on which no printed matter is realized. The shape of a peripheral zone in the original image comprises the shape of the background region, which shape exists particularly at the peripheral region of said original image. It is determined whether or not the original image comprises the special document by detecting the peripheral zone. Further, the original image has an outer-frame region, having a predetermined shape, at the peripheral region of the original image. The determination is carried out using a result of measuring the width of the outer-frame region. Further, the width of the outer-frame region comprises a width along a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction extending along the outline of the original image.

Original-discrimination system for discriminating special document, and

The present invention relates to a special-document discriminating apparatus used for providing a counterfeit preventing function to a digital copy machine and the like, and to a managing system for an image forming apparatus having a special-document discriminating function. The special-document discriminating apparatus is provided with a ROM for discriminating a special-document such as paper money, which ROM is detachably attached to a controlling circuit board. Data used for determination may be learned from test pattern data input from the image forming apparatus, or the data may be input from an external unit via a communication line. The managing system for an image forming apparatus comprises an image forming apparatus and a managing apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus. Either the image forming apparatus or the managing apparatus has a special-document discriminating function. Additional information is sent from the image forming apparatus together with determination result information or detected data. Information used as reference for determination may be sent from the managing apparatus to the image forming apparatus.

Special-document discriminating apparatus and managing system for image

Image forming equipment of the type supplying a toner to a developing device thereof by using a cartridge which is filled with a toner. The cartridge has a sealed opening and is brought to a toner supply position in the equipment without having the opening unsealed by the operator. Even when the cartridge is pulled out during the loading operation, the toner is not scattered about. A new cartridge for replacing a used empty cartridge is brought to the toner supply position without requiring the operator to remove the empty toner. During the replacement, the toner remaining on the walls of the empty cartridge is prevented from being sprinkled.

Image forming equipment using a toner cartridge

A document feeder for feeding a plurality of different kinds of document to image forming equipment automatically, and a sheet finisher for sorting, stapling or otherwise finishing sheets inclusive of the documents. A drive source selectively drives a document support moving member in opposite directions to move document supports from an initial position to a document feed position and further to a stand-by position. This allows a particular document feeding operation to be effected with each of the document supports. Sheets are automatically stapled and then automatically removed from sheet accommodating members. A sheet receiving section collects such stapled and removed sheets.

Image forming equipment with reserve mode to prevent unauthorized

Copier with document support moving means

An image density control method for an image forming apparatus of the type forming a latent image of a document image on a photoconductive element and developing the latent image by a toner to produce a toner image by an electrophotographic procedure. A background pattern whose density is substantially the same as the background density of a document, i.e., a light pattern is illuminated to electrostatically form a latent image thereof on the photoconductive element. The latent image is developed by the toner, and the density of the resultant toner image is optically sensed by an image density sensor. A change in background density due to contamination or an increase in background potential, for example, is detected. Based on the detected change in background density, a quantity of light for imagewise exposure or similar factor dictating the developing ability is corrected, i.e., it is controlled to the light side if the density has been shifted to the dark side. The detection of the background density and the control for correction are effected only when the charge retaining ability of the photoconductive element is stable.

Image density control method for an image forming apparatus

A device incorporated in image forming equipment for adjusting the output of an image density sensor which optically senses the density of a toner image formed on a photoconductive element and representative of a reference pattern. The density sensor is made up of a light emitting element and a light-sensitive element. Thresholds divide an output range wherein the output characteristic of the sensor does not change into a plurality of subranges having the optimal output associated with the background of the photoconductive element as the center value. The sensor senses the background of the photoconductive element at predetermined intervals. Whether or not to adjust the output of the sensor is determined on the combination of the subrange where the resulting output of the sensor lies and the number of times that the former lies in the latter. The sensor output, i.e., a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) duty to be fed to the light emitting element is changed to control the adjusted output associated with the background to the optimal value.

Device for adjusting output of image density sensor incorporated in

A copier, facsimile transceiver, printer or similar electrophotographic image forming apparatus uses a toner cartridge whose volume decreases when released a toner. A cartridge collecting section for collecting toner cartridges is lower in height than the cartridge when the cartridge is filled with a toner. The cartridge has top plate, a bottom plate and sides which are implemented by an elastic member or a film-like member. The cartridge collecting section, a waste toner tank and a photoconductive element storing section are constructed into a unit which is removable from the apparatus body.

Image forming apparatus

A structure of a toner cartridge removably mounted on a developing unit of an image forming apparatus. Once a toner end mode is set due to the exhaustion of toner which is accommodated in the toner cartridge, it is prevented from being reset unless the empty cartridge is replaced with a full toner cartridge. The toner cartridge has a member capable of resetting a toner and mode only when the cartridge is loaded in a cartridge container for the first time. This member is sensed by a sensor when the toner cartridge is inserted in the cartridge container. After the toner cartridge is inserted in the cartridge container the member along with a seal are removed from the toner. This member is sensed by a sensor when the toner cartridge is inserted in the cartridge container. After the toner cartridge is inserted in the cartridge container the member along with a seal are removed from the toner cartridge.

Toner cartridge for an image forming apparatus

An electrophotographic copier, facsimile machine, laser printer or similar image forming apparatus having a photoconductive element. The apparatus corrects a bias voltage for development, amount of charge, amount of exposure or similar image forming factor on the basis of an inactive state of the photoconductive element. When the duration of the inactive state is short and does not need a correction of the image forming factor, an image forming procedure is executed immediately. When the inactive state has lasted a long time, the image forming factor is corrected before the start of an image forming procedure.

Image forming apparatus which corrects the image forming factors in

An image density control method for an image forming apparatus for forming a plurality of exclusive patterns on a photoconductive element, or image carrier, and controlling an image forming condition based on the exclusive patterns so as to control image density. The exclusive patterns include a high density black pattern and a low density white pattern. While a scanner included in the apparatus is brought to and held at a predetermined position, a latent image of the low densit white pattern is electrostatically formed on the photoconductive element. While the scanner is in a reciprocating motion, a latent image of the high density black pattern is formed on the photoconductive element. The plurality of patterns formed on the photoconductive element are sensed to correct toner density and background output based on sensed values, whereby accurate image density control is promoted.

Image density control method using exclusive patterns for an image

An image density control method for an image forming apparatus of the type forming a latent image of a document image on a photoconductive element and developing the latent image to form a toner image by an electrophotographic procedure. A background pattern is implemented as a light pattern having a low density and provided independently of a reference density pattern. The light pattern is illuminated to form a latent image thereof on the photoconductive element, and the latent image is developed by a toner. The density of the resultant toner image is sensed by an image density sensor. Such a procedure allows a change in background density ascribable to contamination, increase in background potential and so forth to be detected. The light pattern may be replaced with a leading edge portion of a document if the leading edge portion has a density corresponding to the background density. Then, the latent image of the background pattern will be formed under exactly the same conditions as the latent image of an ordinary image, i.e., without any limitations as to the position of the pattern.

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Yokohama, Japan

Kouji Ishigaki