Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Corporation

Sharp Corporation

Masakiyo Okuda

Kazuyuki Ohnishi

Hideaki Hagihara

Junichi Kajiwara

Masanobu Deguchi

Takahiro Fukunaga

Toshihisa Matsuo

Shinji Kato

Atsushi Narukawa

Yoshiteru Mori

Souichi Takata

Yoshiyuki Nakai

Shoichiro Yoshiura

Kazuo Nakamura

Shunju Anzai

Kimihito Yamasaki

Michiaki Nishimura

Kiwamu Morita

Yoshihisa Miwa

Akira Mitsuyama

Osamu Nakayama

Yasushi Nakanishi

Masanori Toyoda

Takashi Nishimachi

Masanori Mori

Haruyoshi Ikeda

Takeshi Murakami

Yukio Nakai

Kazuhiko Yamakawa

Yukinari Sato

Kazuyuki Ougita

Akihiko Iwasaki

An image processing device includes a scanner, which reads a plurality of images and inputs them as multivalue digital image data; a matching data producing section which, based on the inputted multivalue image data, produces matching data for joining the respective inputted images; a post-processing section, which binarizes the image data of each image inputted by the scanner; a joining section, which synthesizes the respective inputted images into a single image by joining the binary data produced by the post-processing section, which corresponds to the image data of the respective inputted images, on the basis of the matching data produced by the matching data producing section; and a printer for outputting the image joined by the joining section. Thus an image processing device can be provided which is capable of joining any type of image, whether from written characters, halftone dot, or photographic originals, and of performing this joining processing at high speed.

Image processing device and image processing method

A document feeder includes: a document detecting device arranged on the top of the copier body, for detecting a document inserted from the outside; a feed roller arranged adjacent to the document detecting device, on the top of the copier body, for feeding an inserted document into a space between the original table and the original cover, in response to the detection of a document by the document detecting device; and an original cover lifting device arranged on the top of the copier body, for lifting the original cover to create a gap between the original table and the original cover, in response to the detection of a document by the document detecting device. Alternatively, the feed roller further has a rotary cam on its shaft, so that the cam rotates to lift the original cover up as the feed roller rotates in the document feeding direction. Then, after the document is fed in place, the feed roller is reversely rotated in a constant time, whereby the document cover is sunk to press the document onto the original table.

Document feeder and cover for an image forming apparatus

A feed roller for feeding a document is disposed between a control panel and an original table on the top of a copier body. A document stocker provided rotatably relative to an original cover on the original table is rotated so as to cover the control panel, whereby the original cover is raised from the original table to create some clearance. In this situation, a document is inserted through the document stocker from a document inserting port. The document thus inserted is detected by the operation of a detecting lever, which activates the feed roller to convey the inserted document to the original table. As the rear part of the document thus conveyed is detected by the operation of the detecting lever, the feed roller is deactivated. In this condition, copying operation is carried out so that an image of the document conveyed onto the original table is formed.

Image forming apparatus with a document feeder

A xerographic apparatus which allows simple attachment and detachment of a corona charger type transferring device, wherein the apparatus includes a first engagement section which matches a first positioning protrusion section provided at the holder located at one end of the corona charger type transferring device, a second engagement section which matches a second elastically deformable protrusion section for engagement with the xerographic device and which is provided at the holder located at the other end, biasing means for biasing the transferring device upward, and a first sidewall having an opening section which is located facing the second protrusion section in order to confine the site of the second protrusion section to be subjected to elastic deformation by pressing and allows application of pressure therethrough.

Xerographic apparatus with a detachable corona charger

An forming apparatus of the present invention is provided with a waste-toner transport unit that is installed separately from a photoreceptor drum cartridge. The waste-toner transport unit is pivoted so that the photoreceptor drum cartridge is easily removed from a machine main body. This arrangement makes it possible to miniaturize the photoreceptor drum cartridge and to use the waste-toner transport unit repeatedly. In another image forming apparatus of the present invention, a developer-supplying container, a waste-toner container, and a waste-developer container for receiving excessive developer that has been overflown from the developer tank are integrally formed into a container unit. This arrangement makes it possible to reduce the volumes of the containers in accordance with the respective supplying quantities of developer. Further, a pressing mechanism is provided so that upon replacing the container unit, the developer tank is brought apart from and close to the photoreceptor drum simultaneously with the pivotal movement of the container unit. This arrangement makes it possible to reduce the number of steps that are taken in the replacing operation as well as to prevent misoperations such as caused by negligence of duty in pressing the developer tank toward the photoreceptor.

Image forming apparatus

A paper feeder for use in copiers has a feed roller, a conveying roller and a registration roller. The apparatus further includes a feeding-conveying drive section for driving the conveying roller in synchronization with the rotation of the feed roller, and a conveying-registration drive section for driving the conveying roller in synchronization with the rotation of the registration roller. By this structure, the peripheral velocity of the rollers when the feed roller and conveying roller rotate can be set up higher than the peripheral velocity of the rollers when the registration roller and conveying roller rotate. An alternative construction of the apparatus includes a feeding-conveying drive section in which the conveying roller is driven through the conveying roller gear and conveying roller clutch and a conveying-registration drive section in which the conveying roller is driven through a pulley disposed on the rotary shaft of the registration roller, a timing belt and a clutch-equipped pulley disposed on the rotary shaft of the conveying roller. In this construction, the conveying roller is made to be able to be driven either by the feeding-conveying drive section or by the conveying-registration drive section.

Paper feeder

An automatic exposure control device for use in a copying machine in which a light source for illuminating the light to an original document is controlled based on the signal representing the light amount of the original document sensed by a light senses. There are two kinds of HIGH level limiter for limiting the upper limit of the power supplied to the light source. The HIGH level limiters are selected depending on whether the amount of light of the light source has been raised sufficiently or not, whereby over exposure copy or foggy copy can be prevented.

Automatic exposure device

A position detector outputs an electrical signal of a level corresponding to a pressed position. The detector has at least three reference points, each reference region begin set therebetween. When the position detector is pressed, the region to which the pressed position belongs is discriminated, and the pressed position is operated relative to the two reference points defining the region, on the basis of the previously stored outputs from the reference points and the output from the pressed position. The position detector has a strip of upper and lower electrode both with wiring members and a grounded conductor provided under the lower electrode. The upper and lower electrodes and the wiring members for the electrodes are disposed so that they are positioned inwardly of the periphery of the conductor at least by the distance equal to that from the upper surface of the upper electrode to the upper surface of the conductor. The electromagnetic effects to the apparatus are absorbed in the grounded conductor, protecting the electrodes and wiring members from noise. On the upper surface of the upper electrode is attached are a plurality of touch protrusions.

Position input apparatus encluding a position detector input apparatus

In an original document size detecting arrangement, one or more pairs of a light emitting element and a light receiving element are located on both sides of the original document platform so that the detection light emitted from the light emitting element travels to the light receiving element along the top surface of the original document platform spaced therefrom a predetermined value. Since the detection light travels along the surface of the original document platform, when an original document is placed on the platform, the detection light is interrupted by the original document. A detecting element is provided for detecting whether the detection light enters into the light receiving element or whether the detection light is interrupted so that the detecting element can generate a detection signal showing the size of the original document.

Optical apparatus for detecting document size for use in a copying

An automatic document feeder, made a part of a two-side copying machine which selectably operates in one-side or two-side copying mode of operation, has a pre-feeder which advances a document to be copied next from its original position to a waiting position before reaching a copying position on a document table. A selecting device is further included for controlling the pre-feeder such that the pre-feeder does not function when the second surface of a document is being copied in two-side copying mode of operation.

Automatic document feeder

A copying machine for copying an original in the form of a double-spread page placed on an original stand or carriage such that the original is accurately divided when copied onto two sheets of paper. The copying machine includes a control device for controlling a copy start position of an original copy operation by a time difference determined between a reference position timing of an original scanning and a sheet feed start timing, and is operable regardless of a selected magnification.

Copying machine

An automatic document feeder for an electrophotographic copying machine comprises a plurality of document trays each for piling a plurality of documents thereon, a plurality of document exhaust trays each for receiving the documents, document exhaust rollers rotating to transport the documents into one of the plurality of document exhaust trays, and a switching gate for selecting the way of transporting the documents into anyone of the plurality of document exhaust trays. A document transport belt is provided for transporting the documents. The document exhaust rollers and the document transport belt can be driven in bidirectional directions.

In a copying machine in which a plurality of copies are made on a plurality of sheets of copy paper transferred from one or more paper cassettes, there are provided means for detecting the amount of the copy paper present in paper storing means, designating means for designating the number of paper to be copied, means for judging whether the amount of the copy paper present in said paper storing means exceeds the number of the copy paper designated by said designating means in a period after said paper storing means is set in the copying machine and before beginning of transferring of the copy paper to paper process means and means for alarming that the sheet number of the copy paper is more than the amount of the paper present in said paper storing means.

Copying machine with a copy paper detection device

A copying machine which can stop or interrupt a copying operation of reserved originals even when it is still in the middle of a copying operation so as to permit the copying of un-reserved originals. The interruption takes place when a human body sensor detects a person coming up to the copying machine, or when a timer counts up a predetermined time. Also, the copying machine has a first counter which counts a first predetermined time after the end of the copying operation. If no copying operation is performed during the first predetermined time, a second counter starts to count a second predetermined time immediately after the first predetermined time. During the counting of the second predetermined time, a copy start button is made invalid. When the second predetermined time is counted, the reserved copying operation starts.

Copying machine with a reservation function

A document copying system which is arranged to automatically collect copied paper sheets accommodated in a sorter in a classified state upon completion of the copying function for one original document group, and also to collect discharged original documents, capable of continuously effecting the copying operation including the classification work with respect to the plurality of original document groups, thus making it possible to realize an unattended copying operation over a long period of time.

Growing community of inventors

Ikoma-gun, Japan

Masakiyo Okuda