Canon Kabushiki Kaisha

Yoichi Toyokura

Satoshi Nagata

Akihiro Nakamura

Junichi Kimizuka

Shigeru Ueda

Shinichiro Maekawa

Yutaka Tokura

Satoshi Egawa

Masamichi Akashi

Yoji Kaneko

Soya Endo

Masaki Unishi

Hitoshi Machino

Masami Kashiwazaki

Akira Nakaya

Yutaka Murakami

Yukio Kanakubo

Hiroharu Takahashi

Takuto Harada

Yuichi Higuchi

Hiroshi Atobe

Osamu Hosoda

Maiko Suenaga

If an optional paper feeding deck or furnisher, or paper stacker, is connected to an image forming apparatus (such as a printer), such optional devices are to be controlled by connecting the paper conveyance control apparatus to control those options. Such an image forming apparatus has a video controller to convert the printer language sent from a high-order device such as a host computer, into a bit map data and a printer engine to print the bit map data. Such a paper conveyance control apparatus, being electrically connected to the video controller, has a memory to be shared with the video controller. The video controller writes the job schedule in the shared memory. The paper conveyance control apparatus controls the optional device according to the written job schedule.

Apparatus to control optional paper conveyance device and image processing apparatus using the same

If an optional paper feeding deck or furnisher, or paper stacker, is connected to an image forming apparatus (such as a printer), such optional devices are to be controlled by connecting the paper conveyance control apparatus to control those options. Such an image forming apparatus has a video controller to convert the printer language sent from a high-order device such as a host computer, into bit map data and a printer engine to print the bit map data. Such a paper conveyance control apparatus, being electrically connected to the video controller, has a memory to be shared with the video controller. The video controller writes the job schedule in the shared memory. The paper conveyance control apparatus controls the optional device according to the written job schedule.

A dot pattern is generated by using scalable font data on the basis of received print data, and then printed. One scalable font set corresponds to two kinds of dot pattern generating modes. One generates a dot pattern with quality being given precedence, and the other generates a dot pattern with speed being given precedence and for printing at high speed, though quality inferior. The two modes are switchable to perform printing to fit user's needs.

Image recording apparatus and control method thereof

An output apparatus and method receives first information from an external source, generates second information based on the received first information, and outputs the generated second information. The apparatus includes a selector for discriminating the received first information by comparing a code included in the first information with codes provided in a number of analyzers and for selecting one of the number of analyzers suitable for the first information. The apparatus also includes a controller for skipping the received first information when the selector can select no suitable analyzer, when no data is input for a predetermined time to an input interface via which the first information was received, or until the input interface is switched.

Output apparatus and method in which a suitable analyzer is selected for

A printing apparatus is provided with a main body including a video controller, having video signal generation device for generating a video signal from image information based on a recording command from an external apparatus and control device, and with a supervisory controller including optional unit control device for controlling at least an optional unit connectable to the main body. The video controller includes a process time informing device for informing the supervisory controller of an image development process time, and the supervisory controller includes a paper transport time memory for storing the paper transport time from the optional paper feed source to the entrance of the printing apparatus, a comparator for comparing the process time informed by the process time informing device with the paper transport time stored in the paper transport time memory, and a paper feed source changing device for changing the paper feed source in case the comparator identifies that the process time is shorter. The supervisory controller effects change of the order of process, determination of the paper feed unit, continuation of the printing process in case of paper jamming. There is provided a printing apparatus for printing text data received from an external apparatus, including paper feed units and paper ejecting units provided as standard components and paper feed units and paper ejecting units connectable as optional units, wherein an optimum combination is selected among the usable ones among the above-mentioned paper feed and ejecting units.

Printing apparatus and control device for option equipment connected

An image processing apparatus includes a plurality of analyzers for analyzing externally input different printer languages, a bit map development memory shared by the plurality of analyzers, and a converting unit for converting the input printer language into a common printer language to cause the development memory to perform bit map development. An information processing apparatus includes the converting unit and an output interface for outputting the common printer language to the image processing apparatus having the bit map development memory.

Apparatus capable of combining inputs from two different printer

An output apparatus includes a memory to store data representing a plurality of forms, an instructor to instruct the generation of a list of stored forms, and an output unit to output the form list with an indication where in the memory each of the forms is stored.

Apparatus and method for generating and outputting a list of a plurality

When an optional unit (40, 50) is mounted, a video controller (27) serving as main control unit sends various control commands to a supervising controller (101) through an interface (114). The supervising controller (101) controls an engine controller (26) through an interface (29) while controlling the optional unit (40, 50) in accordance with the received control commands, thereby recording an image. When no optional unit is mounted (when the optional units 32, 40, 50 are absent), the video controller (27) directly controls the engine controller (26) through an interface (28), thereby recording an image. With the above arrangement, the supervising controller (101) serving as a control unit associated with optional units can be attached/detached.

Image recording apparatus and option control apparatus

An information outputting method and apparatus monitors a depressing state of a predetermined key. Depressing the predetermined key switches between ordinary display modes of a plurality of displays such as LEDs allocated to a predetermined state of information alarms and a special display mode. After completion of the switching instruction, either one of the information display processings allocated to the displays which are sequentially turned on is started in accordance with a depression instructing state of the key. The instruction information is input through a key input device of an operation panel of the apparatus.

Information output apparatus and method utilizing multi-function mode

An output apparatus receives print data from an external apparatus, analyzes the received print data, converts the analyzed print data into image data and stores the converted image data in a frame memory. The image data stored in the frame memory is checked and compressed in response to the check.

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Yokohama, Japan

Yoichi Toyokura