Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Corporation

Other

Nobuo Manabe

Kyosuke Taka

Norio Tomita

Toshio Yamanaka

Yoshikazu Harada

Ayumu Oda

Takaharu Motoyama

Hidekazu Sakagami

Mitsuharu Yoshimoto

Syoichiro Yoshiura

Osamu Fujimoto

Manabu Matsumoto

Takayuki Ohno

Kazunobu Takahashi

Shohichi Fukutome

Hideaki Kadowaki

Tomomi Tanaka

Shinichi Takeda

Motoaki Okitsu

Kohichi Yamauchi

Kan Mukai

Takao Horiuchi

Yoshitaka Okahashi

Masanobu Yamamoto

Koji Katamoto

Hiroaki Uchiyama

Shoichi Fukutome

Kohichi Nakamura

Eiji Kamimura

Ayuma Oda

Tosikazu Kitaura

A paper feeding apparatus used in a state where the apparatus accumulates paper sheets for an image forming apparatus to form images thereon and the paper feeding apparatus is attached to a main body of the image forming apparatus, wherein an engaging-holding member is provided for an exterior wall face of the paper feeding apparatus, and the engaging-holding member engages and holds the paper feeding apparatus with an exterior housing of the image forming apparatus so as to enable the paper feeding apparatus to move into/from the exterior housing of the image forming apparatus, is provided for an exterior wall face of the paper feeding apparatus, and wherein the engaging-holding member is provided for a specific one of the exterior wall faces of the paper feeding apparatus corresponding to the moving direction determined according to the specification of the image forming apparatus.

Paper feeding apparatus

A plurality of first base images are formed from a base color output in accordance with a predetermined adjustment value. A plurality of first correction images are formed on the first base images from a correction color to be a subject for correction output in accordance with a predetermined adjustment value. The first correction images are displaced within a predetermined range. The first adjustment value is determined from changed adjustment values. The second base images are formed from the base color output in accordance with the predetermined adjustment value, and the second correction images are formed from the correction color output in accordance with a plurality of adjustment values determined based on the first adjustment value. The second adjustment value having an extreme is determined from a plurality of adjustment value candidates. Finally, the adjustment value for the correction color is corrected to the determined second adjustment value.

Method of correcting adjustment value for image forming apparatus, image forming apparatus, and memory medium

A plurality of first base images for a base color are formed in accordance with a predetermined adjustment value. A plurality of first correction images for a correction color to be a subject for correction are formed on the first base images in accordance with a predetermined adjustment value. The first correction images are displaced within a predetermined range. The first adjustment value is determined from changed adjustment values. The second base images for the base color are formed in accordance with the predetermined adjustment value while the second correction images for the correction color are formed in accordance with a plurality of adjustment values determined based on the first adjustment value. One second adjustment value having an extreme is determined from the plurality of adjustment value candidates. These processes are repeated to determine a final adjustment value. The adjustment value for the correction color is corrected to the determined final adjustment value.

Method of correcting adjustment value for image forming apparatus, image forming apparatus, and recording medium

An image-forming unitin a complex device A forms a correction-use image onto a sheet in accordance with data, in such a manner that the correction-use image thus formed partly on and partly off the sheet and includes edges of the sheet, the date being preliminarily determined in accordance with a size of the sheet. An image-detecting sectionreads that portion of the correction-use image which is transferred on an image-transfer beltas the correction-use image is formed by the image-forming unit. A correction value is calculated in accordance with data thus obtained by the image-detecting section. A control section then causes a data storing section to store the correction value. The control section reads out the correction value when forming an image in the complex device A, and forms the image, performing correction of the image, using the correction value for correcting an image-forming condition regarding how the image is formed on the sheet. The image-forming condition, such as a position and a copy-scale, can be adjusted, even if using an unadjusted reading apparatus.

Adjusting method for image-forming apparatus and image-forming apparatus

Focus adjustment of an optical writing unit is performed based on an image of a test pattern formed on a paper sheet. The pattern includes bars of density levels associated with adjustment quantity information indicating numerical values corresponding to the numbers of rotation of adjustment motors and adjustment screws. The density levels decrease as the amount of displacement of the unit with respect to a photosensitive drum increases. A focus adjustment device accepts an input of the numerical values indicated beside the unprinted bars of the lowest density levels and causes the motors to turn by the numbers of rotation indicated by the input numerical values to move the unit to the position of correct focus. It is possible to perform focus adjustment of the unit with ease and high accuracy regardless of whether the unit is for forming binary or multi-valued images.

Method and device for focus adjustment of optical writing unit and image forming apparatus incorporating the focus adjustment device

An adjustment method for an image forming device, for adjusting image forming condition with respect to a sheet by using image forming means. The adjustment operation is performed in such a manner that: a first image, that is used for detecting scanning error of an image scanning device, is formed on an image carrying body and then transferred from the image carrying body to the sheet, the first image being formed over at least three corners of the sheet while extending outside the sheet. The sheet with the first image is scanned by the image scanning device to figure out a scanning error amount of the image scanning device, and a correction value of image forming condition of the image forming means is found in consideration of the scanning error amount. The image forming condition with respect to the sheet is modified based on the correction value.

Adjustment method of image forming device, image forming device, adjustment method of image forming system, image forming system, and adjustment method of image scanning device

This invention provides an optical writing device to be supported at a predetermined position in an image forming apparatus, as well as an image forming apparatus provided with the optical writing device. The optical writing device has a support unit supporting an optical writing head. The support unit includes a first block and a second block supporting one end and the other end of the LED writing head, respectively, and a connecting member interconnecting the first block and the second block while maintaining a positional relationship between the first block and the second block. The connecting member of the support unit is made most easily deformable among the parts constituting the optical writing device.

Optical writing device and image forming apparatus

The image forming apparatus includes: an image data input section for reading a document as image data; a target value memory section for storing a target value of an input/output characteristic value when a reference document is read; a comparator for comparing the image data of the reference document and the target value so as to create a new input/output characteristic value; a fixed value memory section for storing a difference in input/output characteristic values as a fixed value between an original document and a copy document; and an adder for adding the fixed value to the image data of the reference document so as to output a resultant value to the comparator. By the provision of the fixed value memory section and the adder, the image forming apparatus can set a plurality of input/output characteristic values by reading the reference document once, thus reducing time for the procedure of setting the respective input/output characteristic values.

Image processing apparatus and method for the fast and accurate calibration of the same using actual and pseudo reference image data

An image adjustment method for an image forming apparatus in which an adjustment image is formed by transferring a plurality of reference images formed by a color component to be the reference among a plurality of color components and a plurality of images to be adjusted, which are formed by other color component to be adjusted, onto a transfer medium so that the images to be adjusted are superposed on the reference images, the density of the formed adjustment image is detected, and an image forming position of the other color component to be adjusted is adjusted based on the detected density of the adjustment image. The density of the surface of the transfer medium is detected, and the position of forming the image to be adjusted is adjusted, based on the detected density of the surface of the transfer medium and the detected density of the adjustment image.

Image adjustment method and image forming apparatus

Images based on each of a plurality of color components are formed; the formed images are transferred on each transfer medium to form an image quality determining image; the image quality of the image quality determining image is determined on the basis of the detected density thereof, an adjustment image is formed by overlaying and transferring an image of other color component to be adjusted to the reference image of the reference color image out of the plurality of color components, on the transfer medium; the density of the adjustment image is detected; and the image forming position of the other color component to be adjusted is adjusted on the basis of the detected density. At the time of executing the color matching adjustment process for detecting the overlaid state of color component images, it is determined whether a specified time has passed or not since the previous adjustment process, a specified number of images are formed or not, environments are changed or not, and the power source is turned on or off or not. When it is predicted that the quality of the formed image is out of an appropriate range, a quality checking image is formed, its image quality is checked, and the color matching adjustment process is executed only when it is within an appropriate range.

Image adjusting method and image forming apparatus

An average concentration value is detected within a measurement area (about 10 dots) corresponding to the pitch of a detection pattern in the total color matching adjustment range (100 dots), and from a value detected as a local maximum value, a candidate for correction value for the exposure timing of an adjustment image is acquired within the color matching adjustment range. This process is carried out for two types of detection patterns having different pitches thereby to acquire two candidates. A correction value for the exposure timing is determined from a candidate shared by the two detection patterns. At the time of color matching adjustment, the wasteful consumption of the developer or the like is suppressed, while carrying out the color matching adjustment efficiently within a short time.

Image adjusting method, image forming apparatus and memory product

When an instruction to execute a color registration adjustment process is given (S), an image forming apparatus deactivates a sheet feed driving section and a fixing unit (S), stops communications with external devices (S), invalidates control sensors excluding an operation section, a door sensor, and sensors involved in formation of images for adjustment (S), stops a fan (S), and then executes the color registration adjustment process by forming reference lines and correction lines on a transfer belt and detecting misregistration between them (S). With this image adjustment method, it is possible to reduce wasteful consumption of developer and efficiently execute the color registration adjustment in a short period of time.

Each of a plurality of combined images is formed separately for each image carrier with respect to a length related to the circumference length (Dp&#xd7;&#x3c0;) of the image carrier. There is provided a combined-image adjusting section for forming a combined image so that a density detecting section detects the density of the combined image at plural and substantially equal pitches within a range of at least one circumference length (Dp&#xd7;&#x3c0;) of the image carrier, or so that the density detecting section detects the density average value of the combined image at plural and substantially equal pitches within a range of at least one circumference length (Dp&#xd7;&#x3c0;) of the image carrier.

Image forming apparatus and color superimposition adjustment method of image forming apparatus

Assuming the photosensitive drum for black as a reference, the phase of the adjacent photosensitive drum for cyan leads by about 60 deg. Similarly, the phase of the photosensitive drum for magenta leads by about 120 deg., and the phase of the photosensitive drum for yellow leads by about 180 deg. The phase of each photosensitive drum is shifted to thereby make it possible to shift the phase of driving unevenness. By shifting the phase, even the distance between adjoining transfer positions corresponding to the image forming stations is set shorter than the circumference of the photosensitive drum, the variation of each photosensitive drum due to driving unevenness with respect to the printing medium passing through the transfer position can be kept congruent with the others.

Image forming apparatus including a plurality of closely spaced transfer stations for sequentially transferring aligned, superimposed image portions to a printing medium

An object of the invention is to reproduce a faithful image irrespective of thermal expansion of a light-scanning unit and to reproduce a faithful image without enhancing the strength of the light-scanning unit excessively. A pair of supporting portions of a light-scanning unit, each having a flat face, are supported in linear contact with a right column-shaped supporting member provided with the apparatus body. The light-scanning unit is provided on the supporting member near to a starting position where writing image data on a photosensitive body with a scanning line is started in a main scanning direction so as not to be mutually displaced relative to the supporting member. Thereby, the light-scanning unit is allowed to extend in the longitudinal direction of the supporting member due to thermal expansion of the light-scanning unit. Also, an elongated supporting member made of stainless steel penetrates a base body of a light-scanning unit made of synthetic resin which scans in scanning line of laser light on the photosensitive body to exposure, to support the light-scanning unit. The center of gravity of the light-scanning unit is positioned near to the supporting member and vertically below the supporting member, to make the moment acting on the light-scanning unit small and hold the light-scanning unit in a stable state. The supporting member suppresses deformation of the base body due to thermal expansion.

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Yamatokooriyama, Japan

Nobuo Manabe