Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha

Minolta Camera Co., Ltd.

Tadafumi Shimizu

Masazumi Ito

Hiroyuki Ideyama

Tsugihito Yoshiyama

Yoshihiko Hatta

Yoshiaki Hata

Yoshiaki Takano

Masahide Ueda

Yoshifumi Shibata

Manabu Kamitamari

Kadotaro Nishimori

Kadotari Nishimori

Tadashi Ohira

Takashi Onishi

Yasuhiro Kusuda

Shinichiro Tabuchi

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is connectable to an external device through a communication line, and includes an image forming device for forming an image on paper and a device for setting specified set conditions in the image forming device. The image forming apparatus performs image forming operation corresponding to the set conditions, and further includes a receiving device for receiving a control signal from the communication line and a transmission device for transmitting the set conditions through the communication line in response to reception of the control signal.

Image forming apparatus with improved efficiency of maintenance control

A control system of image forming apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of image forming apparatus and a control unit connected to each of the image forming apparatus through a communication line, and each of the image forming apparatus includes a data transmitting device for transmitting information related to a consumption amount of consumable products to the control unit through the communication line, and the control unit includes a receiving device receiving the information transmitted from the image forming apparatus and determines a stock amount of the consumable products which a user of the image forming apparatus has on the basis of the information received by the receiving device.

Efficient control system of image forming apparatus

A control system of image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a plurality of image forming apparatus and a control unit connected to each of said image forming apparatus through a communication line. Each of said image forming apparatus includes a detecting device for detecting contents of maintenance work for the image forming apparatus, and a transmitting device for transmitting the work data showing the detected results by the detecting device to the control unit through the communication line. The control unit includes a receiving device for receiving the work data transmitted from one of the image forming apparatus and a memory for storing the received work data.

Image forming apparatus with improved maintenance control

An image forming apparatus wherein the copying operation is performed not only in an automatic density specifying mode but also in a manual density specifying mode according to select by an operator. When the ratio of the frequency of select of the manual density specifying mode to the frequency of select of the automatic density specifying mode has exceeded a predetermined value, the image forming apparatus is adapted to execute an image adjustment process by detecting the state of components, for example, charge wires for the purpose of adjusting the density of copy images formed in the automatic density specifying mode.

Image forming apparatus

A control system of image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes image forming apparatus and a portable maintenance device connectable thereto. The image forming apparatus transmits first condition data indicating conditions of the apparatus to the portable maintenance device when the portable maintenance device is connected thereto, and the portable maintenance device receives the condition data from the image forming apparatus when it is connected to the image forming apparatus. Also, the portable maintenance device can be input second condition data indicating conditions of the image forming apparatus, and displays at least one piece of stored guide information on the basis of the first and second condition data.

Image forming apparatus capable of efficient maintenance work

A copying apparatus for forming a hard copy image through an electrophotographic process includes an image forming apparatus which can form an image on a recording paper in various density levels, and a diagnostic unit for discriminating the image forming apparatus into three states of being capable of forming a proper image, being operable but incapable of forming a proper image, and being incapable of operation. Since the image forming states of the copying apparatus are divided into three stages, appropriate operation is performed in the copying apparatus using the electrophotographic process in response to the state of the machine.

Image forming apparatus having self-diagnostic function relating to the

An image forming apparatus for forming hardcopy images by electrophotographic process using a developing device for toner developing and chargers for charging and discharging by corona discharge, the image forming apparatus having cleaners for removing toner adhering to a charge wire of each charger, each cleaner is operated when a predetermined amount of toner has been supplied to the developing device. In another example, each cleaner is operated when a toner accommodating bottle becomes empty and is detached from the image forming apparatus.

Image forming apparatus with charge wire cleaners

An image forming apparatus includes a corona charger, a surface electrometer and a memory provided around a photoreceptor drum. When power supply of the image forming apparatus is turned on, an image adjusting process is carried out. In the image adjusting process, level of charging the corona charger is changed stepwise, the surface potential on the photoreceptor drum at the time is measured by the surface electrometer and the result of measurement is stored in the memory. When image forming process is carried out subsequently, the charge level of the corona charger is set based on the data stored in the memory.

Image forming apparatus using measured data to adjust the operation level

A sheet feeding apparatus comprising a sheet supporting device for supporting a stack of sheets, a vacuum transporting device adapted to suck a top sheet of the stack and transport it, and a device adapted to locate forcibly at least two portions of the top sheet away from the vacuum transporting device so as to corrugate the top sheet.

Sheet feeding apparatus

Image forming apparatus having self-diagnostic function

An image forming method and an image forming apparatus whereby the density of a toner image of a reference pattern hvaing a predetermined density is measured, based on which image forming conditions are controlled. The image forming conditions is at least one of the quantity of exposure light given to a document, the charging amount with which a photosensitive body is charged and the voltage applied to a developing device. The toner image is formed only at an optional point set in a direction of a rotary shaft of the photosensitive body for measuring the density. Therefore, a waste of toners can be prevented. Moreover, since the density of the toner image formed at the optional point in the direction of the rotary shaft of the photosensitive body is measured, correction of the density can be carried out at the optional point.

Image forming method and image forming apparatus in which the density of

An image forming apparatus which detects the cause of the image unevenness in the image formation of an electrostatic recording system used for a copying machine, laser beam printer or the like, and automatically takes measures responding thereto. This image forming apparatus includes a surface potential sensor for detecting charge unevenness after charging a photoconductive drum by a charger and a toner density sensor for detecting toner adhesion unevenness after developing by a developing unit, and based on the results of detections of these sensors, when charge unevenness exits, the apparatus judges that the cause of the image unevenness is an abnormal state of the charger, and cleans a charge wire, and when no charge unevenness exists and density unevenness exists, the apparatus judges that the developing unit is abnormal, and displays this abnormality and inhibits the operation of the apparatus. The apparatus further includes a toner sensor for detecting density unevenness after transfer, and when density unevenness is detected by this sensor, it is judged that the cause of the image unevenness is an abnormal state of a transferring charger, and displays this abnormality and inhibits the operation of the apparatus.

Abnormal charge and toner density detecting system and method for use in

Sheet transport device with easy sheet jam handling. The device comprises a first sheet transport path which includes a feed roller rotatable in forward and reverse directions and a pair of transport rollers separable from each other, and a second sheet transport path connected to the first path which includes an openable frame. When the frame is opened, the transport rollers are separated from each other and the feed roller is driven reversely. The device further comprises a display which indicates the position where a jammed sheet is located.

Sheet transport device with easy sheet jam handling

A cleaning device for wire electrode of corona discharger, for example, for use in electrophotographic image forming apparatus, which automatically cleans the wire electrode by relative movement of the wire electrode and cleaning member adapted to contact the wire electrode. Driving of a motor for the relative movement is temporarily stopped at a predetermined time or in response to occurrence of trouble of the relative movement, and started again, whereby the relative movement starts certainly.

Cleaning device for wire electrode of corona discharger

A paper feeder for an image forming apparatus, which includes an intermediate tray for temporarily accommodating a paper having an image already formed on at least one side thereof, a paper feeding roller for feeding out the paper stored in the intermediate tray, a first support for supporting the paper feeding roller in such a manner as to be moved between a paper feeding position at which the paper feeding roller is allowed to contact the paper and a retracting position at which the paper feeding roller is separated from the paper. An oblique travel preventing roller is also provided, disposed parallel to the axis of the paper feeding roller and adapted to prevent the paper from being advanced obliquely. A second support supports the oblique travel preventing roller in such a manner as to be moved between the paper feeding position at which the oblique travel preventing roller is allowed to contact the paper and the retracting position at which the oblique travel preventing roller is separated from the paper. A driving mechanism moves the paper feeding roller and the oblique travel preventing roller to the retracting position.

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Toyokawa, Japan

Tadafumi Shimizu