Seiko Epson Corporation

Mitsuaki Maruyama

Shigeru Sawada

Hiroshi Niki

Yasuhiro Gyoutoku

Seiji Mochizuki

Satoshi Kaneta

Kenji Aoki

Hiroyuki Aizawa

Masahiro Koiwai

Shinichi Kasai

Jun Tsujimoto

Hitoshi Nakagawa

Masahiko Takeshita

Taketoshi Ichikawa

Hiroshi Hiki

Kouichi Higashimura

Kazuyoshi Watanabe

Takashi Oguchi

Mamoru Shimizu

Kenji Sawada

The object of the present invention is to ensure information sharing in a factory and enhance the production efficiency. The management system of the present invention utilizes a liquid crystal projector PRJ to project an image of management information on a large-scaled display in the factory. A screen SCR is located at a specific position that allows each worker to simultaneously recognize the display and the object of the display (for example, in the case of a storehouse, the storage status of products). The contents of the display are varied according to the location of the display: for example, (1) instructions and actual conditions of storage of products in the storehouse; and (2) requirement of parts from assembly lines to a parts warehouse and status of delivery of parts from the parts warehouse. In a staff room of managers, information with regard to a first process, which is upstream most in the work flow in the factory (status of carrying-in work of parts and materials from outside) and information with regard to a last process, which is downstream most in the work flow (status of shipment) are displayed simultaneously. Such display enables workers in various sections and managers to accurately grasp the working status in the factory in real time, thus attaining the smooth operations and enhancing the production efficiency.

Management of working status with large-scaled display

An electrophotographic recording apparatus comprising a sheet feeder for feeding a sheet of recording paper to a sheet feed inlet; an image forming unit for forming a printing image onto a photosensitive drum based on printing data and transferring the printing image onto the sheet; and a fixing unit for fixing the transferred image on the sheet, in which these units are arranged vertically. The apparatus further comprises a device for reversing and returning the sheet to the photosensitive drum to enable the photosensitive drum to transfer a second printing image onto the opposite side of the sheet.

Clamshell-type electrophotographic duplex printer

A page printer having a housing body and including a gate roller, a developing unit, a photosensitive drum unit, a fixing unit and a sheet discharging roller arranged on the front side of the housing body in the order stated from above so that the printing sheet conveying path is substantially vertical to reduce floor area required for installation. An optical writing unit is provided on the rear side of the housing body. Guide members are provided on the housing body to readily mount or demount the photo-sensitive drum unit. Further, a shield board is disposed between the photo-sensitive drum unit and the fixing unit so that the printing sheet will not be stained by toner scattering from the photo-sensitive drum.

Page printer

An electrophotographic recording apparatus comprising these units which are arranged vertically: a sheet feeder for feeding a sheet of recording paper to a sheet feed inlet; an image forming unit for forming a printing image onto a photosensitive drum based on printing data and transferring the printing image onto the sheet; and a fixing unit for fixing the transferred image on the sheet. The apparatus further comprises a sheet switching guide mechanism by which the head end of the sheet is switched to both upper and lower directions. When the sheet switching guide mechanism is set to the upper direction, the printed sheet is forwarded by a sheet guide member to thereby pass through the printing path the sheet has already been through with the rear side of the sheet being the front, and the printing data is written from the last line during this process.

Electrophotographic recording apparatus

A page printer is provided which includes a housing having a lateral side plate that is formed from an electrically conductive material, with a gate roller, a developing unit, a photosensitive drum unit, a fixing unit and a paper discharging roller mounted in the housing. The electronic circuitry for controlling the page printer is disposed in a side portion of the housing with the lateral side plate disposed between the electronic circuitry and the units.

Page printer with electrically conductive lateral side plate

A page printer having a housing body and including a gate roller, a developing unit, a photo-sensitive drum unit, a fixing unit and a sheet discharging roller arranged on the front side of the housing body in the order stated from above so that the printing sheet conveying path is substantially vertical to reduce floor area required for installation. An optical writing unit is provided on the rear side of the housing body. Guide members are provided on the housing body to readily mount or demount the photo-sensitive drum unit. Further, a shield board is disposed between the photo-sensitive drum unit and the fixing unit so that the printing sheet will not be stained by toner scattering from the photo-sensitive drum.

In a page printer, a gate roller, a developing unit, a photo-sensitive drum unit, a fixing unit and a sheet discharging roller are mounted on the open front side of a housing body in the order stated from above, thus forming a substantially vertical sheet conveying path. As a result, the installation floor area is reduced. In the rear portion of the housing, and a transferring unit and a sheet guide member are provided on the cover of the housing body. Thus, the light beam generating unit and the photo-sensitive drum are maintained unchanged in position at all times. A cut sheet feeder is mounted over the housing body so that it is movable back and forth, thus facilitating the inspection and maintenance of the printer.

An image forming apparatus employing a face-down delivery system in which the plane of the recording medium at any position relative to any other position assumed by the recording medium beginning with a stacking tray and ending with a delivery tray does not exceed 90.degree.. The apparatus includes a detachable cartridge which includes a photosensitive member, a charging device and a cleaning device. In one preferred embodiment, register rollers and fixing rollers are positioned relative to each other such that a substantially zero angular deviation exists in the path traveled by the recording medium between these two pairs of rollers.

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Nagano, Japan

Mitsuaki Maruyama