Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Takamasa Hayashi

Hiroyuki Nagashima

Toshitaka Semma

Toshitaka Senma

Kazuyuki Shimada

Masumi Sato

Jun Sasaki

Tomonori Tanaka

Yoshiya Inoue

Shigeyuki Araki

Goro Mori

Tatsuo Hirono

Tomoatsu Imamura

Yukio Tagawa

Masami Miyajima

Takeo Ohashi

Hirofumi Nishiwaki

Takundo Isobe

Kunio Tomiyasu

Masaru Takahashi

Kohichi Kanaya

Masahiro Yamamoto

Tooru Nagatsuma

An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an apparatus body. An image forming device included in the apparatus is at least partly implemented by a replaceable part. A counter counts prints output by the apparatus with the replaceable part. A memory and a first nonvolatile memory are built in the apparatus body. A second nonvolatile memory is built in the replaceable part. A controller writes a limit number of prints particular to the replaceable part in the first nonvolatile memory, stores, after image forming operation, a cumulative number of prints counted by the counter in the memory and second nonvolatile memory, and reports the time for replacing the replaceable part when the cumulative number stored in the memory exceeds the limit number of prints stored in the first nonvolatile memory.

Image forming apparatus and replaceable part and IC chip for the same

A process cartridge including a nonvolatile memory is removably mounted to an image forming apparatus also including a nonvolatile memory. Information representative of the conditions of use of the cartridge, which varies due to repeated operation, is written to both of the two memories. On the start-up of the apparatus, the information is first read out of the memory of the apparatus. Image forming conditions are set up in accordance with the amount of remaining toner and the cumulative number of prints output, which are included in the information, so that operating conditions are optimized in order to quicken image formation. Subsequently, the information is read out of the memory of the process cartridge and compared with the data stored in the memory of the apparatus. If the two data do not compare equal, then the data of the memory of the apparatus is updated in order to set new operating conditions.

Image forming apparatus and replaceable part and integrated circuit chip for the same

In a double-sided image forming apparatus and method, back-side images are developed on a first middle transfer belt prior to developing of front-side images on the first middle transfer belt, and the back-side images are transferred to a second middle transfer belt. The number of back-side images allowed to be supported at a time on the second middle transfer belt is determined. The number of back-side images are developed on the first middle transfer belt prior to developing of the same number of front-side images on the first middle transfer belt. The front-side image of the first middle transfer belt and the back-side image of the second middle transfer belt are simultaneously formed on both sides of a copy sheet.

Double-sided image forming apparatus and method

An image forming apparatus with a scanner and a method of controlling it are disclosed. Different kinds of images are combined by a simple and rapid procedure. When the scanner is connected to the apparatus, various kinds of functions available are used in an easy-to-understand and convenient way. Also disclosed are a printer with a scanner which can be readily loaded with handwritten characters, types, letterings and so forth to convert them to a font. Further, the image forming apparatus with a scanner, the method of controlling it, and the printer with a scanner are capable of easily filling a document to be prepared by the operator with a desired fill pattern, e.g., a handwritten pattern.

Image forming apparatus with a scanner and method of controlling the same

An image forming apparatus which forms an image on a recording medium at a number of different dot densities. The image forming apparatus includes a light source part for emitting a light beam, a light detection part for detecting a light beam from the light detection part detecting a light beam from the light source part and for supplying a signal indicative of a power of the detected light beam when a monitored voltage obtained by the light beam is approximately equal to a reference voltage, a memory part for storing a number of power data corresponding to the number of different dot densities, an input part for inputting a first dot density selected, a power data control part for supplying a signal indicative of a changed power data which is changed from a value of said power of the detected light beam with a power data stored in the memory means which is located by the selected first dot density, and a driving part for operating the light source with the signal from the power data control part allowing the light source to emit a light beam with the changed power, the changed power being appropriate for forming an image on the recording medium at the selected first dot density.

Image forming apparatus with plural dot densities

An image forming apparatus capable of changing the diameter of a dot in the main and subscanning directions to form various kinds of dots and thereby high resolution images with tones. A data converting circuit separates input image data into pulse width modulation data and power modulation data and distributes them to a pulse width modulating circuit and a power modulating circuit. The pulse width modulating circuit changes the duration of a laser beam issuing from a laser diode to change the diameter of a dot in the main scanning direction. The power modulating circuit changes the exposing energy of the laser beam per unit area and unit time in order to change the dot diameter in the subscanning direction. The modulating circuits control an image writing device in cooperation so as to produce a high resolution image with tones.

Image forming apparatus capable of forming an image by dots having

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Tokyo, Japan

Takamasa Hayashi