Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Tadao Koike

Hiroshi Takahashi

Koichi Noguchi

Koichi Tsunoda

Hiroo Kitagawa

Kenji Fukumizu

Fumihiko Ishikawa

Satoshi Kanda

Nobuyuki Yanagawa

Kenji Kojima

Toshio Watanabe

Katsuo Sakai

Takaaki Yanagisawa

Hideya Furuta

Akio Katsumata

Tadaaki Kanno

Sakae Ota

Kouichi Noguchi

Toshiaki Kameyama

Toyoji Ishikawa

Tkaaki Yanagisawa

Kohichi Tsunoda

Kouichi Tsunoda

A method and an apparatus for controlling toner density detection in an electrophotographic-type image forming apparatus in which the control of various parts can be performed easily, the image forming process can be effectively done without deteriorating the productivity of the copying operation, the number of contacting/detaching operations of the transferring belt apparatus can be made small (minimized), and the toner can be prevented from dispersing whereby the reliability of controlling the toner density detection can be raised. In such a method and apparatus for controlling the toner density detection, the time interval of the transferring process is established to either a long interval or a short interval. When the time interval of the transferring process is the long interval, a transferring belt apparatus is detached from a photosensitive body, a standard density pattern is formed on the photosensitive body, and the density of the standard density pattern is detected by a density detecting unit. On the contrary, when the time interval of the transferring process is the short interval, the above-mentioned standard density pattern is not formed at all.

Method of controlling toner density detection

In an image forming device provided with a copy mode of forming an image on the rear surface of a one-surface-copied recording paper and another copy mode of forming am image on both surfaces of the recording paper, the image forming device is provided with a function of selecting the recording paper which is capable of obtaining the desired copy only by selecting and executing the mode of copying without paying attention to the type of the recording paper accommodated in the paper feeding apparatus (whether it is both-surfaces-blank or one-surface-copied). The image forming device further has an image-existence/absence detector for detecting whether the image has been already copied on one surface of the recording paper accommodated in the paper feeding apparatus, and a controller for selecting the paper feeding tray accommodating the recording paper of the size and type fitted to the both-surfaces-copying mode in accordance with the detection signal received from the image existence/absence detector.

Image forming device with a function of selecting recording paper

An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a mechanism, mounted in the housing, for forming images on a medium, an operation panel formed on the housing, the mechanism being driven in accordance with an operating instruction input from the operation panel by an operator, a microphone, provided in the housing, for detecting a noise generated by a driving of the mechanism, and a noise canceling unit for outputting an acoustic wave to an area adjacent to the operation panel of the housing, the acoustic wave being generated based on the noise detected by the microphone so that the acoustic wave and a noise present in the area cancel out, whereby the noise present in the area is reduced.

Image forming apparatus having system for reducing noise

An image forming apparatus reduces the level of noise escaping therefrom via an opening. The noise is generated from a motor which drives an image forming part in the image forming apparatus, from a radiator fan which radiates heat inside the apparatus to the outside via the opening, and from an exhaust fan which passes harmful air through a filter and then exhausts harmless air to the outside via the opening. The image forming apparatus generates a predetermined sound wave and collides it with the noise so that the predetermined sound wave and noise cancel each other out.

Image forming apparatus which reduces noise generated therefrom

A paper conveying mechanism in an image forming apparatus has an image forming body section of a manual operating type provided with a forward conveying path for conveying a discharged sheet of recording paper having an image thereon on front and rear sides of the image forming apparatus; an after-treatment device for after-treating the sheet of recording paper and arranged in parallel to a side portion of the image forming body section; a perpendicular conveying path for conveying the sheet of recording paper discharged from the forward conveying path in a direction approximately perpendicular to the forward conveying path, the perpendicular conveying path being connected to the forward conveying path such that the sheet of recording paper is fed to the after-treatment device; a paper feeder for feeding the sheet of recording paper in the forward conveying path; a paper feeder for feeding the sheet of recording paper in the perpendicular conveying path; and a common change-over mechanism additionally disposed in the paper feeders in the forward and perpendicular conveying paths and selectively switching a conveying operation of the sheet of recording paper and a stopping operation thereof. The other paper conveying mechanisms are also shown.

Paper conveying mechanism in image forming apparatus

A paper handling device for an image forming apparatus accurately positions paper sheets having been driven out of the apparatus with their center being in register with a reference at a predetermined position for executing stapling or similar processing. The device shifts the discharged paper sheets to a one-side reference position while truing them up at a center reference position. Therefore, the paper sheets are located at the one-side reference position with accuracy and thereby stapled or otherwise processed accurately. The device simplifies the movement of an instrument for implementing such processing. A stack of discharged sheets, whether they are so processed or not, can be readily taken out from the device with no regard to the paper size. A pair of paper guide members urge paper sheets in such a manner as to enhance further accurate positioning of the latter.

Paper jogging and aligning apparatus with stapling capabilities for a

An automatic document feeder for an image forming apparatus comprises first and second document trays each for stacking thereon one or more documents. A document feeding unit is provided for feeding the documents one by one from the first document tray in order from the uppermost one of the documents, while reversing the same upside down. A reversing convey unit is provided for receiving the document fed from the optical exposure portion and for feeding the same in a first direction toward the second document tray while reversing the same upside down, as well as a second direction opposite to the first direction. A first change-over member is provided for selectively connecting the optical exposure portion to the document feeding unit or the reversing convey unit. A second change-over member is movable between a first position for leading the document fed from the optical exposure portion toward the reversing convey unit, and a second position for leading the document toward the second document tray when the document is fed by the reversing convey unit in the second direction. A third change-over member is provided for selectively leading the document fed by the reversing convey unit in the first direction to the second document tray or the optical exposure portion.

Automatic document feeder provided with three movable claws for

An automatic document feeder (ADF) used with an image processing apparatus, such as copier, has an original table for stacking thereon a plurality of originals to be scanned. A first and second receiving trays are each provided for receiving therein the originals. A first conveying mechanism is provided for conveying the originals from the feeding tray to an original supporting station of the ADF in order from the uppermost original and is able to reverse each of the originals upside down while conveying the same. A second conveying mechanism is provided for conveying a single-sided original from the station to the first receiving tray, without reversing the original upside down, after the scanning of one side of the original has been completed. A third conveying mechanism is provided for removing a double-sided original from the station and then returning the original to the station, while reversing the original upside down, after the scanning of one side of the original has been completed. A fourth conveying mechanism is further provided for conveying the double-sided original from the station to the second receiving tray, while reversing the original upside down, after the scanning of the other side of the original has been completed.

Automatic document feeder

A copying apparatus operable in a two-side copy mode has two exclusive switchback transport paths which are selectively usable for refeeding paper sheets each carrying an image on one side thereof from a refeed tray. One of the switchback transport paths is assigned to paper sheets of size A4 and smaller sizes which are fed sideways, while the other is assigned to paper sheets of sizes greater than A4.

Copying apparatus operable in a two-side copy mode

A duplex copying method of making duplex copies from one-side originals, using an electrophotographic duplex copying machine provided with an ADF and an original detection means capable of detecting the presence or absence of original document in an original input tray of the ADF, and a means for detecting whether copying is performed on a front, odd-numbered side of a transfer sheet or a back, even-numbered side of a transfer sheet, and a sheet transportation change-over means for changing the transportation so as to discharge a one-side copy sheet, with the image side down, onto a copy sheet output tray, without transporting the copy sheet to the stations for forming images on the back side thereof, when it is detected that there is no original in the original input tray of the ADF during the detection of the front side copying in a one-side original - duplex copy mode.

Duplex copying method

A dual-color electrophotographic copier includes a first photosensitive drum having a first layer comprised of a photoconductive material sensitive to light of a first selected color and a second layer formed on the first layer from a photoconductive material sensitive to light of a second selected color and a second photosensitive drum having a third layer comprised of a photoconductive material sensitive at least to the first selected color. A light image from the same original may be applied to the first and second drums simultaneously to form electrostatic latent images on the first and second drums. These images may be developed by differently colored toner and the toner images may be transferred to the same transfer paper superposingly to obtain a dual-color copy image.

Dual-color copier

A sheet feeding cassette which is capable of receiving manually inserted sheets is disclosed to eliminate the need to provide a copying apparatus with a device for receiving manually inserted sheets when the copying apparatus uses a sheet feeding cassette for sheet feeding. For readily receiving manually inserted sheets when the cassette is in position in the copying apparatus, the cassette includes a pressure plate responsive to the action of a sheet feeding pressure applying member, an upper lid capable of opening and closing even when the cassette is in position in the copying apparatus, and a member operative to cause the sheet feeding pressure applying member to act or stop its action in conjunction with the opening and closing of the upper lid. Sheets other than those which are usually contained in the cassette can be readily and positively manually fed readily and positively to the copying apparatus as desired for the purpose of producing copies.

Sheet feeding cassette for copying apparatus capable of receiving

A cleaning device for a photoelectrostatic copying apparatus has a cleaning blade and a cleaning roller adapted to be brought into pressing engagement with a photosensitive member to effect cleaning thereof after transfer printing. The cleaning blade is brought out of contact with the photosensitive member and the cleaning roller is either brought out of contact with the photosensitive member or has its contact pressure reduced when the apparatus is inoperative, whereby damage to the photosensitive member due to the pressing engagement of the photosensitive member with the blade and the roller can be avoided or minimized.

Cleaning device for photoelectrostatic copying apparatus

A device for positioning a movable reflector of an optical system of an electrophotographic copying apparatus for forming an optical image of an original on a photosensitive member is disclosed wherein the movable reflector is secured to a reference plate supported by a bracket pivotally mounted on a housing which has a plurality of positioning stoppers. The reference plate supporting the reflector has a plurality of reference surfaces. Contact is made between each of the surfaces and a corresponding one of the positioning stoppers in a predetermined position. Plate springs are mounted between the reference plate and the bracket so as to absorb shock which is produced when the reference surfaces on the reference plate are brought into contact with the respective positioning stoppers. The plate springs further perform the function of positively forcing the reference surfaces on the reference plate against the respective positioning stoppers.

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Tokyo, Japan

Tadao Koike