US 6,661,982 B2 · Image forming apparatus

Abstract

An image forming apparatus is controlled so that, in a standby state before an image forming part becomes able to perform image forming, documents are successively conveyed to a predetermined read position on a platen glass by a document feeder and images are read from all the documents, and so that, at the time of document image reading in the standby state, operating noise from the document feeder is reduced.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims10

Dependent claims

An image forming apparatus which forms an image on a sheet, comprising:

document conveying means for conveying a document to a predetermined read position;
reading means for reading an image from the document conveyed to the read position;
an image forming part which forms an image on the basis of document image information read by said reading means;
detecting means for detecting a standby state before a state in which image forming on the sheet can be performed;
and
controlling means for performing in the standby state a control process in which documents are successively conveyed to the read position by said document conveying means on the basis of a detection signal from said detecting means to read images from all the documents, so as to reduce operating noise from said document conveying means at the time of document image reading in the standby state.

3 more elements

An image forming apparatus which forms an image on a sheet, said apparatus comprising:

document conveying means for conveying a document to a predetermined read position;
reading means for reading an image from the document conveyed to the read position;
a document reversing discharge part which reserves the document after the conveyance to the read position and after reading, and which discharges the reversed document;
an image forming part which forms an image on the basis of document image information read by said reading means;
a recording sheet reversing discharge part which reverses a recording sheet on which an image is formed by said image forming part, and which discharges the reversed recording sheet;
detecting means for detecting a standby state before a state in which image forming on the sheet can be performed;
and
controlling means for performing, in the standby state, a control process in which documents are successively conveyed to the read position by said document conveying means on the basis of a detection signal from said detecting means to read images from all the documents, for reversing and discharging the documents, for initiating image forming performed by said image forming part, and for reversing and discharging recording sheets on which images have been formed.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description6,047 words

Summary1,359 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having document conveying means for conveying a document to a predetermined read position. More particularly, the present invention relates to a silent image forming apparatus in which document conveying means can operate with reduced operating noise during a document reading process in a standby state.

#2. Description of Related Art

Brief description of the drawings12 figures

#FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a construction of a copying machine which is an example of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a construction of the automatic document feeder shown in FIG. 1;

#FIG. 3 is an enlarged diagram of a document feeding part in the automatic document feeder;

Detailed description4,440 words

#Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

#FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a digital copying machine as an example of an image forming apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

#FIG. 1 illustrates the digital copying machine 100 and a digital copying machine main unit 101 (hereinafter referred to as “main unit”). An automatic document feeder 103 is provided as document conveying means on the upper surface of the main unit 101. A reading device 104 is provided as reading means in an upper section of the main unit 101. An image forming part 105 including a photosensitive body drum 5 provided as an image bearing body is provided in a middle section of the main unit 101.

Facts

Application

10/160,172Filed 4 Jun 2002

Priority

JP 2001-1729827 Jun 2001

Published

US 2002/0186984 A112 Dec 2002

Granted

9 Dec 2003

Term ended

26 Jun 2022

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 22 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification11 codes

G03G 15/5004
Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode…:…
G03G 15/60
Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern: apparatus which relate to the handling of originals
H04N 1/0057
Handling of original or reproduction media, e.g. cutting, separating, stacking: conveying sheets before or after scanning
H04N 1/00588
Conveying sheets before or after scanning: to the scanning position

Timeline

7 Jun 2001Priority claimedJP 2001-172982
4 Jun 2002Application filedUS 10/160,172
9 Aug 2002Assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaishaassignment of assignor's interest
12 Dec 2002PublishedUS 2002/0186984 A1
9 Dec 2003GrantedUS 6,661,982 B2
26 Jun 2022Term endedEstimated, includes 22 days of adjustment

Image forming apparatus

Life of this patent

Image forming apparatus

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims10

Description6,047 words

Drawings

Classification11 codes

Life of this patent

Description6,047 words