Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha

Minolta Camera Co., Ltd.

Masamichi Kishi

Hiroya Sugawa

Munehiro Nakatani

Akio Nakajima

Kiyoshi Emori

Takayuki Ariyama

Koji Shakushi

Takeshi Morikawa

Kaoru Tada

Yoshihiko Hirota

Shigeru Moriya

Hirokazu Yamada

Motomi Kawamura

A copying machine having the ability to read and store an image of an original document in a memory means is provided. An operator can interrupt a copying process of the original document and enter an image of a subsequent document into the copying machine and have it reproduced at a subsequent time period which can be preset. The copying machine can reserve and reproduce the reserved image, even if there is an inadvertent activation of an off switch on the power supply.

Copying machine with reserved copying at a predetermined time period

An image forming apparatus which includes an electrophotographic copying machine operable to form an image on a recording paper and a laser printer operable to form an image on a recording paper independently of the copying machine. The copying machine includes a paper feeder from which the recording papers are selectively supplied to an electrophotographic image forming station in the copying machine and to a paper supply unit in the laser printer. The image forming apparatus also includes a paper recirculating unit operable at a specific timing to replenish the recording paper, supplied from the paper feeder, onto the paper supply unit in the laser printer.

Image forming apparatus having two image forming units

An image reading apparatus having a high-contrast mode of operation for reading character images and a halftone mode of operation for reading halftone images, including an image sensor converting optical image information into electric signals, an optical system for projecting an image on a document onto the image sensor, a threshold signal generator capable of generating a plurality of first threshold signals and operative to output one of the first threshold signals, a threshold signal generator capable of generating a plurality of second threshold signals and operative to output one of the second threshold signals, a mode selector circuit for selecting the high-contrast or halftone mode of operation, a density selector circuit for selecting the first threshold signal during the high-contrast mode of operation and the second threshold signal during the halftone mode of operation, and a combination of circuit networks for outputting halftone image signals during the high-contrast mode of operation on the basis of the electric signals from the image sensor and the first threshold signal from the first threshold signal generator and outputting high-contrast image signals during the halftone mode of operation on the basis of the electric signals from the image sensor and the second threshold signal from the second threshold signal generator.

Image reading apparatus

The improvement of a complex machine comprises a host computer, a duplicator, a laser printer, and a sheet supply unit. In a first sheet supply mode a sheet is supplied from the sheet supply unit to the duplicator; and in a second sheet supply mode a sheet is supplied from the sheet supply unit to the printer. The complex machine further comprises sheet transfer mode selecting means for selecting one of an interruption mode wherein the sheet supply mode currently set up is interrupted to proceed to a selected sheet supply mode, a wait mode wherein the selected sheet supply mode is effected after completing the process of the sheet supply mode currently set, and a rejection mode wherein proceeding to the selected sheet supply mode is rejected when either one of the first and second sheet supply modes is currently set up and the other one of the two sheet supply modes is selected concurrently. With the above-mentioned operation, an arbitrary selection among the interruption mode, wait mode, and rejection mode is enabled.

Complex machine comprising a host computer, a duplicator, a laser

An image forming apparatus is provided with a host computer, a copier, and a printer operable in response to instructions from the host computer. Upon receipt of image information from the host computer, the printer forms an image on a first sheet whereas the copier forms on a second sheet an image of a document placed on a document platform. The apparatus is further provided with a document conveying device for conveying to the document platform the first sheet as a document on which the image has been formed by the printer. The apparatus has at least two drive modes: a single drive mode at which all the transcripts are prepared by sole use of the printer and a double drive mode at which the first sheet having the image formed by the printer is conveyed by the document conveying device so that the rest of transcripts are prepared by the copier.

Image forming apparatus capable of minimizing time required for

A plurality of index members are arranged at desired positions on an end portion of a platen glass, the members being movable in a scanning direction of a scanner. A black mark is provided on a rear surface of each index member, and the mark as well as the original are read by an image reader, so that the positions of the index members can be detected. When one of the index members is detected as the scanner is moved, the image signals of the original included in the scanning region of the scanner are not outputted until the next index member is detected. In this manner, by continuously outputting image signals only of the desired areas of the original, the column skip edition can be readily and surely carried out.

Image reading apparatus capable of reading desired image areas

An image forming apparatus for forming a color image in a plurality of colors including a plurality of image forming units which are different in image forming color from each other, a spatial frequency detector for detecting a spatial frequency relating to an image of a prescribed color for every portion of an image to be formed, and a control unit for controlling the image forming units to perform image formation by one of the image forming units in a portion belonging to that having a high spatial frequency within portions to be subjected to image formation in the prescribed color while performing image formation by overlapping a plurality of colors through at least two of the image forming units in a portion belonging to that having a low spatial frequency on the basis of a detection output from the spatial frequency detector. Method steps for improving image color reproducibility are also described.

Color image forming method and apparatus for improved image color

A facsimile apparatus comprising a receiver for receiving a data transmitted through a line; image forming device for forming a toner image on a recording paper in accordance with the data; thermal fixing device for fixing the toner image on the recording paper by heating; detecting apparatus for detecting an operating condition of the receiver and outputting a signal in accordance with the receiving condition; and temperature controlling device for controlling an operating condition of the thermal fixing device based on the signal from the detecting apparatus.

Facsimile apparatus

An image forming apparatus which includes an exposing device for projecting light onto an original so as to form an electrostatic latent image of an original image on a photosensitive surface of a photoreceptor, a reading device for reading the original image through separation per predetermined color in a reading picture element unit, a designating device for designating the color to be erased, an erasing device for erasing desired region of the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive surface of the photoreceptor per erasing picture element unit, a converting device for converting color data in the reading picture element unit into color data in the erasing picture element unit, a display device for displaying the region to be erased based on the color data in the erasing picture element unit, and a control device for controlling the erasing device based on the color data in the erasing picture element unit obtained through conversion of the color designated by the designating device, by the converting device.

Image forming apparatus capable of forming copied images edited from an

An image reader comprising a variable magnification system for moving a lens disposed between an image of a document and an image sensor is disclosed. The focus adjustment is performed by moving the image sensor in a direction parallel to an optical axis of the lens. An initializing processing is finished without the focus adjustment in case the image formed on the image sensor is in the infocus condition when the power is supplied to the image reader and the magnification is the equal last magnification.

Image reader

An image reading and editing apparatus utilizing: a CCD for reading an image signal concerning light intensity of an image of an original, an attribute memory storing attribute data for defining how the image data is to be processed, said attribute data being set for each small section by which an entire image region of the original is divided, an operation panel for designating an arbitrary small area out of the entire image region and setting attribute data for each of the small sections, an image data processing circuit for outputting the image signal based on the stored attribute data, and an external output apparatus for composing a plurality of images based on the outputted image signal to form a composite image.

Apparatus and method for reading and digitally editing multiple images

When an original comprised of a plurality of areas different half tone images is read, any one of the areas is designated at first. A magnification rate of projection for eliminating moire pattern is set and the image of the original is projected on the image sensor at this magnification rate to be converted into electrical data. The electrical data is electrically reduced at a reducing magnification rate which is in correspondence with the magnification rate of projection. Among the reduced electrical data, only those for the designated area are half tone processed and outputted, and the image of that area is printed on a paper. Thereafter, designation of other areas is carried out and the electrical data is outputted by similar processing. The images of these areas are printed on the same paper, whereby all images of the original are formed on the paper without moire pattern.

Image processing apparatus capable of eliminating moire pattern

A color image reading apparatus according to the present invention processes by shifting of a sensor element one by one, output signals from three sensor elements consisting of each one picture element of a one-dimensional image sensor sensing one of three primary colors respectively. The sensor elements read any image so that printing data can be increased apparently up to three times of the picture element density of the sensor. A circuit is provided for thinning out the printing data for assuring adaptability to various printers.

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Osaka, Japan

Masamichi Kishi