Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha

Yoshihiko Hatta

Masazumi Ito

Hiroyuki Ideyama

Tsugihito Yoshiyama

Tadafumi Shimizu

Yoshiaki Hata

Yoshiaki Takano

Yoshifumi Shibata

Manabu Kamitamari

Kadotaro Nishimori

Naoyoshi Kinoshita

Kadotari Nishimori

Yasuyuki Matsuuchi

Toshikazu Higashi

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

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 electrophotographic image forming apparatus employing a two-component developer including toner and carrier comprises: a developing unit containing the developer; a toner concentration sensor provided on the developing unit for detecting the concentration of the toner included in the developing unit; a comparing apparatus for comparing a value detected by the toner concentration sensor with a prescribed concentration reference value; a supplying apparatus for supplying toner to the developing unit; a controlling apparatus for controlling toner supply by the supplying apparatus based on the result of comparison by the comparing apparatus; and a detecting apparatus for detecting whether or not a detachable member whose attachment influences the detection of the toner concentration sensor is attached near the developing unit. The controlling apparatus changes the amount of toner supply by the supplying apparatus based on detected value from the toner concentration sensor in response to the detection output from the detecting apparatus.

Image forming apparatus having a plurality of developing units each

A copying machine for carrying out simplex, duplex and composite copying operations, wherein a sheet is re-fed to an image forming section in a duplex or composite copying mode. The machine includes two sheet discharge sections, a size evaluating device for judging the size of a sheet in the course of sheet transport, and a reversible roller pair disposed adjacent one of the discharge sections. When the sheet has a size fit for re-feeding for a second image formation in the duplex copying mode, the reversible roller pair is controlled to re-feed the sheet in a switchback fashion to the image forming section. When the sheet is too small, the reversible roller pair discharges the sheet through to the discharge section.

Copy apparatus having plural copy sheet discharge trays for different

Copying apparatus is provided in which outline copying for only a designated area of an original image can be easily selected. An area for the outline copying can be designated and images inside and outside the designated area can be copied in different colors. The arrangement includes a plurality of keys for designating an area of an original image to be copied and a scorotron charger for causing a potential in areas other than the outline portions of an electrostatic latent image, formed on a photoreceptor drum, to be substantially equal to a potential in an area containing the image. An eraser unit is provided for erasing the charge in an area where development is not required and a developing device develops the electrostatic latent image. A transfer charger is provided for transferring the image developed by the developing device onto copying paper. When an area of the original images designated and an outline image forming mode is selected by the operator of the machine, two copy operations are performed to composite an outlined image formed inside or outside the designated area and a normal image formed in the area which does not include the outline image so that a composite image is copied onto the copy paper.

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Toyokawa, Japan

Yoshihiko Hatta