Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Yoshiaki Kanmoto

Toshiyuki Inokuchi

Takashi Yokota

Motoaki Kawazu

Noboru Murayama

Yasuhiro Tabata

Toyokazu Satomi

Hiroyasu Shijo

Mitsuo Hasebe

Setsuo Soga

Akio Katsumata

Shigeru Yamazaki

Kenichirou Asada

Isamu Shibata

Yoshio Fukushima

Yasumori Nagahara

Kiyoto Nagasawa

Kohtaroh Yonenaga

Takanobu Fujioka

Haruhiko Fukuda

Daisuke Abe

An image reading apparatus includes a projector for projecting light through a translucent film so as to produce a projected image from an original image on the film, a correction part for adjusting a quantity of the light, an image sensor for reading out an image from the projected image and outputting an analog signal indicating the read-out image, a signal conversion part for converting the analog signal into a digital signal indicating the read-out image, and a control part for measuring a peak value of digital signals supplied by the signal conversion part with respect to an effective range of the original image, and for allowing the correction part to adjust appropriately the quantity of the projected light in response to the measured peak value of the digital signals.

Apparatus for reading image from original image on translucent film with

An image forming apparatus includes a fixing speed setting unit for selectively setting the fixing speed in accordance with a desired mode of operation, a fixing unit for fixing a reproduced image of an original formed on a image forming medium at a variable fixing speed in accordance with the fixing speed setting unit, and a scanning unit provided with opto-electrical elements arranged in one line extended laterally to a predetermined scanning direction for optically receving an image of the original through the opto-electrical elements. The opto-electrical elements are carrying out a scanning operation in the predetermined scanning direction with varied scanning speed by changing a sweep spacing of an image data with averaging every N line of the image data in accordance with the operation mode with using every N-1 lines of the image data to reproduce the image of the original on the image forming medium.

Image reproducing apparatus

A device detects the radiating output from a semiconductor laser and compares a detected signal with a reference signal in a comparator. An up/down counter is controlled an output signal from the comparator to supply the semiconductor laser with a current proportional to a count output from the up/down counter. The current supplied to the semiconductor laser is controlled and held so as to equalize the input signals to the comparator at all times.

Device for controlling the radiating output of a semiconductor laser

A device for carrying out the shading correction of an image signal is provided. The present device includes an image sensor capable of scanning a reference density reflecting plate over a predetermined number of times along different scanning lines and averaging means for taking an average among the repeated scannings thereby forming an error-free reference data to be later used in the operation of shading correction.

Shading correction device

A solid-state scanning apparatus for scanning the surface of an original to convert light information into electrical signals suitable for application to a facsimile system is provided. The scanning apparatus comprises a stationary original holder, on which an original to be scanned is placed, a stationary optical system including a solid-state line sensor comprised of at least two CCD image sensing devices arranged in a line to carry out the split scanning with a predetermined overlapping scanning section between the two adjacent scanning sections, a pair of first and second storing devices provided for each of said CCD image sensing devices, a control circuit for controlling the operation of the CCD image sensing devices and the storing devices, and a reciprocatingly movable mirror system for leading the light information of the original to the solid-state line sensor.

Solid-state scanning apparatus

An alarm system for the copying machine for giving the audio or visual alarm signal when an operator leaves a copying machine without taking a master or original out of it after a copying operation. The alarm system includes a master detection means for detecting whether or not a master or original is set on a master or original stand and either a copy detection means for detecting whether or not one or more copies are present in a copy discharge tray or an operator detection means for detecting whether an operator is within a predetermined range from the copying machine. The alarm system is activated if, after a predetermined number of copies have been printed, the copy detection means detects the absence of a copy in the discharge tray or the operator detection means detects that the operator is out of a predetermined range when the master or original detection means detects the presence of the master on the master or original stand, whereby the audio or visual warning signal is given to the operator so as to take out the master or original.

Alarm or warning device for signaling left-behind master or original

An improved focusing position detection apparatus is capable of detecting a focusing position speedily by use of a single photoelectric conversion element array. The photoelectric conversion element array is positioned so that the opposite end portions of the element array are at different distances, physically or optically, from an object and the photoelectric conversion element array is divided into three portions, the opposite end portions and an intermediate portion, and the electric output from each portion of the photoelectric conversion element is analyzed, whereby the moving direction of an optical system for obtaining the focusing position is determined.

Focusing position detection apparatus

An original document for facsmile transmission or the like is fed over a horizontal transparent platen by rollers for scanning. A light source illuminates the document and a mirror reflects a light image of a linear portion of the document perpendicular to the direction of movement horizontally to a converging lens. The light image from the lens is reflected upwardly by another mirror onto the light receiving surface of a linear photosensor array. The light receiving surface of the array faces downwardly, minimizing accumulation of dust thereon. A light baffle in the form of a box is provided between the first mirror and converging lens and is formed with apertures for the light image to pass therethrough. A scan drive and amplifier circuit for the array is mounted closely adjacent thereto while a signal processing circuit comprising a quantization means is mounted on the box and electrically connected to the drive unit. The various units of the apparatus are individually detachable for ease of servicing. The arrangement of the various units prevents heat and stray light from the light source from reaching and affecting the array.

Optoelectronic scanning apparatus

An optical system scans an original document vertically and focusses an image of a linear portion of the document onto a photosensor array which comprises a large number of photosensor elements arranged in a line. The photosensor elements are sequentially enabled always in one direction to effect horizontal scan of the linear portion of the document. The optical system alternately scans up and down to maximize the vertical scanning speed. Reversal means control the optical system and photosensor array to effect rightward and leftward horizontal scan when the vertical scan direction is upward and downward respectively. The optical system may comprise two imaging systems to project erect and inverted images on the photosensor array respectively, the reversal means comprising a shutter for selectively unblocking the imaging systems. Alternatively, the output signals of the photosensor elements may be stored in a bi-directional shift register or a random access memory with a bi-directional address counter, and read out in a direction corresponding to the direction of vertical scan.

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Tokyo, Japan

Yoshiaki Kanmoto