1-7. (canceled)
8. A method for manufacturing a copper alloy sheet, sequentially comprising:
a hot rolling process;
a cold rolling process;
a recrystallization thermal treatment process; and
a cold finishing rolling process,
wherein a hot rolling initial temperature of the hot rolling process is 800\xb0 C. to 920\xb0 C., a cooling rate of a copper alloy material in a temperature range from a temperature after final rolling to 350\xb0 C. or 650\xb0 C. to 350\xb0 C. is 1\xb0 C.second or more,
a cold working rate in the cold rolling process is 55% or more,
the recrystallization thermal treatment process includes a heating step of heating the copper alloy material to a predetermined temperature, a holding step of holding the copper alloy material at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time after the heating step and a cooling step of cooling the copper alloy material to a predetermined temperature after the holding step, and
in the recrystallization thermal treatment process, when a peak temperature of the copper alloy material is denoted by Tmax (\xb0 C.), a holding time in a temperature range of a temperature 50\xb0 C. lower than the peak temperature of the copper alloy material to the peak temperature is denoted by tm (min), and the cold working rate in the cold rolling step is denoted by RE (%), 540\u2266Tmax\u2266780, 0.04\u2266tm\u22662, and 450\u2266{Tmax\u221240\xd7tm\u221212\u221250\xd7(1\u2212RE100)12}580.
9. A method for manufacturing a copper alloy sheet, sequentially comprising:
a hot rolling process;
a cold rolling process;
a recrystallization thermal treatment process; and
a cold finishing rolling process,
wherein a hot rolling initial temperature of the hot rolling process is 800\xb0 C. to 920\xb0 C., a cooling rate of a copper alloy material in a temperature range from a temperature after final rolling to 350\xb0 C. or 650\xb0 C. to 350\xb0 C. is 1\xb0 C.second or more,
a cold working rate in the cold rolling process is 55% or more,
the recrystallization thermal treatment process includes a heating step of heating the copper alloy material to a predetermined temperature, a holding step of holding the copper alloy material at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time after the heating step and a cooling step of cooling the copper alloy material to a predetermined temperature after the holding step,
in the recrystallization thermal treatment process, when a peak temperature of the copper alloy material is denoted by Tmax (\xb0 C.), a holding time in a temperature range of a temperature 50\xb0 C. lower than the peak temperature of the copper alloy material to the peak temperature is denoted by tm (min), and the cold working rate in the cold rolling step is denoted by RE (%), 540\u2266Tmax\u2266780, 0.04\u2266tm\u22662, and 450\u2266{Tmax\u221240\xd7tm\u221212\u221250\xd7(1\u2212RE100)12}580,
the recovery thermal treatment process includes a heating step of heating the copper alloy material to a predetermined temperature, a holding step of holding the copper alloy material at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time after the heating step and a cooling step of cooling the copper alloy material to a predetermined temperature after the holding step, and
in the recovery thermal treatment process, when a peak temperature of the copper alloy material is denoted by Tmax2 (\xb0 C.), a holding time in a temperature range of a temperature 50\xb0 C. lower than the peak temperature of the copper alloy material to the peak temperature is denoted by tm2 (min), and the cold working rate in the cold rolling step is denoted by RE2 (%), 160\u2266Tmax2\u2266650, 0.02\u2266tm2\u2266200, and 100\u2266{Tmax2\u221240\xd7tm2\u221212\u221250\xd7(1\u2212RE2100)12}360.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letter Patent of the United States is:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a paper feeding section configured to separate and feed piled recording paper;
an image forming section configured to form images in order on said fed recording paper;
a paper turning-over section configured to switch back said recording paper on a paper conveying path extending from said paper feeding section to said image forming section and to turn over a front tip end of said recording paper and a rear tip end of said recording paper;
a paper re-feeding section configured to re-feed said recording paper having the image formed on a first side surface thereof by said image forming section to said paper re-feeding section; and
wherein said recording paper is turned over from said paper re-feeding section to said image forming section and is fed again to said image forming section.
2. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 1,
wherein a conveying speed of said paper re-feeding section is higher than a conveying speed of said image forming section.
3. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 1,
wherein a paper conveying speed of said paper re-feeding section is substantially equal to a conveying speed of said paper feeding section.
4. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 1,
wherein, after formation of images on plural pages of said first surface of said recording paper, said recording paper re-fed from said paper re-feeding section and said recording paper fed from said paper feeding section are set so as to alternately advance to said paper turning-over section.
5. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 1,
wherein a paper re-feed stopping position is provided to temporarily stop re-feeding of said recording paper to said paper re-feeding section; and
wherein a timing is controlled so as to cause said recording paper to advance to said paper turning-over section from the paper re-feeding path.
6. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 1,
wherein said image forming section comprises an electrophotographic image forming section.
7. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 1,
wherein said image forming section comprises a digital electrophotograph image forming section provided with a digital writing-in section.
8. An image forming apparatus comprising:
paper feeding means for separating and feeding piled recording paper;
image forming means for forming images in order on said fed recording paper;
paper turning-over means for switching back said recording paper on a paper conveying path extending from said paper feeding means to said image forming means and turning over a front tip end of said recording paper and a rear tip end of said recording paper;
paper re-feeding means for re-feeding said recording paper having the image formed on a first side surface thereof by said image forming means to said paper re-feeding means; and
wherein said recording paper is turned over from said paper re-feeding means to said image forming means and is fed again to said image forming means.
9. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 8,
wherein a conveying speed of said paper re-feeding means is higher than a conveying speed of said image forming means.
10. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 8,
wherein a paper conveying speed of said paper re-feeding means is substantially equal to a conveying speed of said paper feeding means.
11. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 8,
wherein, after formation of images on plural pages of said first surface of said recording paper, said recording paper re-fed from said paper re-feeding means and said recording paper fed from said paper feeding means are set so as to alternately advance to said paper turning-over section.
12. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 8,
wherein a paper re-feed stopping position is provided for temporarily stopping re-feeding of said recording paper to said paper re-feeding means; and
wherein a timing is controlled for causing said recording paper to advance to said paper turning-over means from the paper re-feeding path.
13. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 8,
wherein said image forming means comprises an electrophotographic image forming means.
14. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 8,
wherein said image forming means comprises a digital electrophotographic image forming means provided with a digital writing-in means.
15. A method of forming an image in an image forming apparatus comprising the steps of:
separating and feeding piled recording paper by use of a paper feeding section;
forming images in order on said fed recording paper by use of an image forming section;
switching back said recording paper on a paper conveying path extending from said paper feeding section to said image forming section;
turning over a front tip end of said recording paper and a rear tip end of said recording paper; and
re-feeding said recording paper having the image formed on a first side surface thereof by said image forming section to said paper re-feeding section,
wherein said recording paper is turned over from said paper re-feeding section to said image forming section and is fed again to said image forming section.
16. The method of forming the image as defined in claim 15,
wherein a conveying speed of said paper re-feeding section is higher than a conveying speed of said image forming section.
17. The method of forming the image as defined in claim 15,
wherein a paper conveying speed of said paper re-feeding section is substantially equal to a conveying speed of said paper feeding section.
18. The method of forming the image as defined in claim 15,
wherein, after formation of images on plural pages of said first surface of said recording paper, said recording paper re-fed from said paper re-feeding section and said recording paper fed from said paper feeding section are set so as to alternately advance to said paper turning-over section.
19. The method of forming the image as defined in claim 15,
wherein a paper re-feed stopping position is provided to temporarily stop re-feeding of said recording paper to said paper re-feeding section; and
wherein a timing is controlled so as to cause said recording paper to advance to said paper turning-over section from the paper re-feeding path.
20. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a printer engine configured to form an image on recording paper;
a paper piling and accommodating section configured to pile and accommodate said recording paper;
a paper feeding device configured to separate said piled recording paper sheet by sheet and to convey said separated recording paper to said printer engine through a paper conveying path for conveying said recording paper;
a temporary paper accommodating section provided on said paper conveying path and configured to temporarily accommodate said recording paper taken out from said paper piling and accommodating section;
a paper turning-over device configured to cause said temporary paper accommodating section to accommodate said recording paper conveyed from said paper piling and accommodating section from a front tip end of said recording paper and to switch back said recording paper and send out said recording paper toward said printer engine such that a rear tip end of said recording paper accommodated in said temporary paper accommodating section becomes the front tip end thereof; and
a paper processing device provided in said temporary paper accommodating section and configured to perform an operation to said recording paper.
21. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 20,
wherein said paper processing device is a lateral registration apparatus configured to perform lateral registration for said recording paper when said paper turning-over device is put in a state of releasing said recording paper in said temporary paper accommodating section; and
wherein said temporary paper accommodating section is configured to accommodate an entire length of said recording paper.
22. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 21, further comprising:
a registration roller provided upstream of said temporary paper accommodating section on said paper conveying path and in front of said printer engine; and
wherein a distance from said lateral registration apparatus on said paper conveying path to said registration roller is shorter than a recording paper length.
23. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 20,
wherein said processing device is provided in said temporary paper accommodating section; and
wherein said paper processing device moves in a direction perpendicular to a surface of said recording paper accommodated in said temporary paper accommodating section and stamps said paper surface.
24. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 20,
wherein said processing device is provided in outlet and inlet portions of said temporary paper accommodating section; and
wherein said processing device performs said operation to said recording paper at times of accommodating and sending out said recording paper.
25. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 24,
wherein said processing device is a compensation device configured to compensate for paper curling of said recording paper as said operation.
26. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 24,
wherein said processing device is a temperature adjustment device configured to adjust a temperature of said recording paper as said operation.
27. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 26,
wherein said temperature adjustment device comprises a heat pipe.
28. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 24,
wherein said processing apparatus is a cleaning device configured to remove dust or dirt attached to said recording paper as said operation.
29. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 24,
wherein said processing device is a metal roller configured to press said recording paper as said operation.
30. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 24,
wherein said processing device is a painting apparatus configured to paint said recording paper with a predetermined coating agent as said operation.
31. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a printer engine configured to form an image on recording paper;
a paper piling and accommodating section configured to pile and accommodate said recording paper;
a paper feeding device configured to separate said piled recording paper sheet by sheet and to convey said separated recording paper to said printer engine through a paper conveying path for conveying said recording paper;
a temporary paper accommodating section provided on said paper conveying path and configured to temporarily accommodate said recording paper taken out from said paper piling and accommodating section;
a paper sending-back path configured to send back said recording paper having the image formed thereon by said printer engine to said temporary paper accommodating section; and
a paper turning-over device configured to cause said temporary paper accommodating section to accommodate said recording paper conveyed from said paper piling and accommodating section and said recording paper conveyed through said paper sending-back path from a front tip end of said recording paper and to switch back said recording paper toward said printer engine such that a rear tip end of said recording paper accommodated in said temporary paper accommodating section becomes the front tip end thereof.
32. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 31, further comprising:
a lateral registration compensating device configured to perform lateral registration compensation of said recording paper in said temporary paper accommodating section.
33. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 31, further comprising:
a skew compensating device configured to perform skew compensation of said recording paper in said temporary paper accommodating section.
34. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 32, further comprising:
a skew compensating device configured to perform skew compensation of said recording paper in said temporary paper accommodating section.
35. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 20,
wherein said printer engine performs said image formation with an electrophotographic method.
36. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 35,
wherein said printer engine performs said image formation with a digital electrophotographic method in which a digital optical writing apparatus is used for optical writing of an electrostatic latent image onto a photosensitive body.
37. A printer comprising:
an image forming apparatus as defined in claim 20;an input terminal configured to receive input of image data; and
a control section configured to control said image forming apparatus and to cause said image forming apparatus to perform image formation based on said input image data on a recording paper.
38. A copying machine comprising:
an image reading-out apparatus configured to read out image data of an original document;
an image forming apparatus as defined in claim 20;
a control section configured to control said image reading-out apparatus and said image forming apparatus, and to cause said image forming apparatus to perform image formation based on said image data of said original document read out by said image reading-out apparatus on a recording paper.
39. A facsimile device set comprising:
an image reading-out apparatus configured to read out image data of an original document;
an image forming apparatus as defined in claim 20;
a transmittingreceiving apparatus configured to transmitreceive image data through a network between said facsimile device set and an external apparatus; and
a control section configured to control said image reading-out apparatus, said image forming apparatus, and said transmittingreceiving apparatus, to transmit said image data of said original document read out by said image reading-out apparatus to said external apparatus through said network by use of said transmittingreceiving apparatus, and to cause said image forming apparatus to perform image formation based on said image data received from said external apparatus through said network by use of said transmittingreceiving apparatus on a recording paper.
40. A complex machine comprising:
an image reading-out apparatus configured to read out image data of an original document;
an image forming apparatus as defined in claim 20;
a transmittingreceiving apparatus configured to transmitreceive image data through a network between said complex machine and an external apparatus;
an input terminal configured to receive said image data;
an output terminal configured to output said image data; and
a control section configured to control said image reading-out apparatus, said image forming apparatus, and said transmittingreceiving apparatus, to cause said image forming apparatus to selectively perform image formation based on said image data received at said input terminal, to output said image data of said original document read out by said image reading-out apparatus to said external apparatus through said output terminal, and to transmit said image data of said original document read out by said image reading-out apparatus to said external apparatus through said network by use of said transmittingreceiving apparatus or to cause said image forming apparatus to perform image formation on said recording paper based on said image data received from said external apparatus through said network by use of said transmittingreceiving apparatus on a recording paper.
41. An image forming apparatus comprising:
printer engine means for forming an image on recording paper;
paper piling and accommodating means for piling and accommodating said recording paper;
paper feeding means for separating said piled recording paper sheet by sheet and for conveying said separated recording paper to said printer engine means through a paper conveying path for conveying said recording paper;
temporary paper accommodating means provided on said paper conveying path and for temporarily accommodating said recording paper taken out from said paper piling and accommodating means;
paper turning-over means for causing said temporary paper accommodating means to accommodate said recording paper conveyed from said paper piling and accommodating means from a front tip end of said recording paper and for switching back said recording paper and sending out said recording paper toward said printer engine means such that a rear tip end of said recording paper accommodated in said temporary paper accommodating means becomes the front tip end thereof; and
paper processing means provided in said temporary paper accommodating means for performing an operation to said recording paper.
42. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 41,
wherein said paper processing means is a lateral registration means for performing lateral registration for said recording paper when said paper turning-over means is put in a state of releasing said recording paper in said temporary paper accommodating means; and
wherein said temporary paper accommodating means can accommodated an entire length of said recording paper.
43. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 42, further comprising:
registration roller means provided upstream of said temporary paper accommodating means on said paper conveying path and in front of said printer engine means; and
wherein a distance from said lateral registration apparatus on said paper conveying path to said registration roller means is shorter than a recording paper length.
44. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 41,
wherein said processing means is provided in said temporary paper accommodating means; and
wherein said processing means moves in a direction perpendicular to a surface of said recording paper accommodated in said temporary paper accommodating means and stamps said paper surface.
45. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 41,
wherein said processing means is provided in outlet and inlet portions of said temporary paper accommodating means; and
wherein said processing means performs said operation to said recording paper at times of accommodating and sending out said recording paper.
46. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 45,
wherein said processing means is a compensation means for compensating for paper curling of said recording paper as said operation.
47. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 45,
wherein said processing means is a temperature adjustment means for adjusting temperature of said recording paper as said operation.
48. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 47,
wherein said temperature adjustment means comprises a heat pipe.
49. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 45,
wherein said processing apparatus is a cleaning means for removing dust or dirt attached to said recording paper as said operation.
50. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 45,
wherein said processing means is a metal roller for pressing said recording paper as said operation.
51. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 45,
wherein said processing means is a painting means for painting said recording paper with a predetermined coating agent as said operation.
52. An image forming apparatus comprising:
printer engine means for forming an image on recording paper;
paper piling and accommodating means for piling and accommodating said recording paper;
paper feeding means for separating said piled recording paper sheet by sheet and conveying said separated recording paper to said printer engine means through a paper conveying path for conveying said recording paper;
temporary paper accommodating means provided on said paper conveying path for temporarily accommodating therein said recording paper taken out from said paper piling and accommodating means;
paper sending-back path means for sending back said recording paper having an image formed thereon by said printer engine means to said temporary paper accommodating means; and
paper turning-over means for causing said temporary paper accommodating means to accommodate said recording paper conveyed from said paper piling and accommodating means and said recording paper conveyed through said paper sending-back path means from a front tip end of said recording paper and for switching back said recording paper toward said printer engine means such that a rear tip end of said recording paper accommodated in said temporary paper accommodating means becomes the front tip end thereof.
53. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 52, further comprising:
lateral registration compensating means for performing lateral registration compensation of said recording paper in said temporary paper accommodating means.
54. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 52, further comprising:
skew compensating means for performing skew compensation of said recording paper in said temporary paper accommodating means.
55. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 53, further comprising:
skew compensating means for performing skew compensation of said recording paper in said temporary paper accommodating means.
56. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 41,
wherein said printer engine performs said image formation with an electrophotographic method.
57. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 56,
wherein said printer engine means performs said image formation with a digital electrophotographic method in which a digital optical writing means is used for optical writing of an electrostatic latent image onto the photosensitive body.
58. An image forming method comprising the steps of:
forming an image formation on recording paper with a printer engine;
piling and accommodating said recording paper in a paper piling and accommodating section;
separating said piled recording paper sheet by sheet and conveying said separated recording paper to said printer engine through a paper conveying path for conveying said recording paper;
temporarily accommodating said recording paper taken out from said paper piling and accommodating section in a temporary paper accommodating section on said paper conveying path;
causing said temporary paper accommodating section to accommodate said recording paper conveyed from said paper piling and accommodating section from a front tip end of said recording paper;
switching back said recording paper and sending out said recording paper toward said printer engine such that a rear tip end of said recording paper accommodated in said temporary paper accommodating section becomes the front tip end thereof, by use of a paper turning-over device; and
processing said recording paper by use of a paper processing device provided in said temporary paper accommodating section for performing an operation to said recording paper.
59. The image forming method as defined in claim 58,
wherein said paper processing device is a lateral registration apparatus for performing lateral registration for said recording paper when said paper turning-over device is put in a state of releasing said recording paper in said temporary paper accommodating section; and
wherein said temporary paper accommodating section can accommodate an entire length of said recording paper.
60. The image forming method as defined in claim 59, further comprises the steps of;
providing a registration roller upstream of said temporary paper accommodating section on said paper conveying path and in front of said printer engine; and
making a distance from said lateral registration apparatus on said paper conveying path to said registration roller shorter than a recording paper length.
61. The image forming method as defined in claim 58, further comprising the steps of:
providing said processing device in said temporary paper accommodating section;
moving said paper processing device in a direction perpendicular to a surface of said recording paper accommodated in said temporary paper accommodating section; and
performing stamping on said paper surface.
62. The image forming method as defined in claim 58, further comprising the steps of:
providing said processing device in outlet and inlet portions of said temporary paper accommodating section; and
causing said processing device to perform said operation to said recording paper at times of accommodating and sending out said recording paper.
63. The image forming method as defined in claim 62,
wherein said processing device is a compensation device for performing compensation for paper curling of said recording paper as said operation.
64. The image forming method as defined in claim 62,
wherein said processing device is a temperature adjustment device for adjusting a temperature of said recording paper as said operation.
65. The image forming method as defined in claim 64,
wherein said temperature adjustment device is a heat pipe.
66. The image forming method as defined in claim 62,
wherein said processing apparatus is a cleaning device for removing dust or dirt attached to said recording paper as said operation.
67. The image forming method as defined in claim 62,
wherein said processing device is a metal roller for pressing said recording paper as said operation.
68. The image forming method as defined in claim 62,
wherein said processing device is a painting apparatus for painting said recording paper with a predetermined coating agent as said operation.
69. An image forming method comprising the steps of:
forming an image on recording paper with a printer engine;
piling and accommodating said recording paper in a paper piling and accommodating section;
separating said piled recording paper sheet by sheet and conveying said separated recording paper to said printer engine through a paper conveying path for conveying said recording paper;
temporarily accommodating said recording paper taken out from said paper piling and accommodating section in a temporary paper accommodating section on said paper conveying path;
sending back said recording paper having an image formed thereon by said printer engine to said temporary paper accommodating section by use of a paper sending-back path;
causing said temporary paper accommodating section to accommodate said recording paper conveyed from said paper piling and accommodating section and said recording paper conveyed through said paper sending-back path from a front tip end of said recording paper; and
switching back said recording paper toward said printer engine such that a rear tip end of said recording paper accommodated in said temporary paper accommodating section becomes the front tip end thereof by use of a paper turning-over device.
70. The image forming method as defined in claim 69, further comprising the step of:
performing lateral registration compensation of said recording paper in said temporary paper accommodating section, by use of a lateral registration compensating device.
71. The image forming method as defined in claim 69, further comprising the step of:
performing skew compensation of said recording paper in said temporary paper accommodating section, by use of a skew compensating device.
72. The image forming method as defined in claim 70, further comprising the step of:
performing skew compensation of said recording paper in said temporary paper accommodating section, by use of a skew compensating device.
73. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a printer engine configured to form an image on recording paper;
a paper piling and accommodating section configured to pile and accommodate said recording paper;
a paper feeding device configured to separate said piled recording paper sheet by sheet and to convey said separated recording paper to said printer engine through a paper conveying path for conveying said recording paper;
a temporary paper accommodating section provided on said paper conveying path and configured to temporarily accommodate said recording paper taken out from said paper piling and accommodating section;
a paper turning-over device configured to cause said temporary paper accommodating section to accommodate said recording paper conveyed from said paper piling and accommodating section from a front tip end of said recording paper and to switch back said recording paper and send out said recording paper toward said printer engine such that a rear tip end of said recording paper accommodated in said temporary paper accommodating section becomes the front tip end thereof;
a first control device configured to control said paper feeding device and said paper turning-over device such that a preceding recording paper sent out toward said printer engine and a subsequent recording paper just subsequent to said preceding recording paper are at least partially superposed on each other; and
a processing device provided in said temporary paper accommodating section and configured to perform an operation.
74. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 73,
wherein said first control device controls said paper feeding device and said paper turning-over device so as to superpose the rear tip end of said preceding recording paper in the conveying direction on the front tip end of said subsequent recording paper in the conveying direction.
75. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 73,
wherein said first control device performs said control operation such that a distance between said preceding recording paper and said subsequent recording paper at a time of said superposition is made shorter than the distance therebetween before an occurrence of said superposition.
76. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 73,
wherein, when said recording paper in said temporary paper accommodating section is released, said paper turning-over device is a lateral registration device configured to perform lateral registration of said recording paper; and
wherein said temporary paper accommodating section can accommodate an entire length of said recording paper.
77. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 73, further comprising:
a registration roller provided at a position in front of said printer engine upstream of said temporary paper accommodating section on said conveying path and configured to perform a registration operation of said recording paper; and
wherein a distance from said lateral registration device in said conveying path to said registration roller is shorter than a length of said recording paper.
78. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 73,
wherein said processing device is a stamping device provided in said temporary paper accommodating section and is configured to perform a stamping operation on a surface of said recording paper by moving in a direction perpendicular to said recording paper in said temporary paper accommodating section; and
wherein said temporary paper accommodating section is in a state of a linear straight line.
79. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 73,
wherein said processing device is provided at an inletoutlet portion of said temporary paper accommodating section and is configured to perform said operation at times of accommodating and sending out said recording paper.
80. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 79,
wherein said processing device is a compensation device configured to compensate for curling of said recording paper as said operation.
81. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 79,
wherein said processing device is a temperature adjusting device configured to adjust a temperature of said recording paper as said operation.
82. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 81,
wherein said temperature adjusting device is a heat pipe.
83. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 79,
wherein said processing device is a cleaning device configured to remove dust or dirt attached to said recording paper as said operation.
84. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 79,
wherein said processing device is a metal roller configured to press said recording paper as said operation.
85. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 79,
wherein said processing device is a painting device configured to paint a predetermined coating material on a surface of said recording paper as said operation.
86. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 73, further comprising:
a return conveying device configured to return said recording paper having an image formed by the printer engine to said temporary paper accommodating section so as to accommodate said recording paper from the front tip end of said recording paper in said temporary paper accommodating section.
87. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 86,
wherein said processing device is a lateral registration compensating device configured to perform lateral registration compensation for said recording paper in said temporary paper accommodating section.
88. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 86,
wherein said processing device is a skew compensating device configured to perform skew compensation for said recording paper in said temporary paper accommodating section.
89. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 73,
wherein said printer engine performs said image formation with an electrophotographic method.
90. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 89,
wherein said printer engine performs an operation of optically writing an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive body at a time of image formation by use of a digital optically-writing device with a digital electrophotographic method.
91. A printer comprising:
an image forming apparatus as defined in claim 73,
an input terminal configured to receive an input of image data; and
a second control device configured to control said image forming apparatus and to perform image formation on said recording paper based on said input image data.
92. A copying machine comprising:
an image reading apparatus configured to read out image data of an original document;
an image forming apparatus as defined in claim 73,
a second control device configured to control said image reading apparatus and said image forming apparatus and to perform image formation on said recording paper by use of said image forming apparatus based on said image data of the original document read out by said image reading apparatus.
93. A facsimile device set comprising:
an image reading apparatus configured to read out image data of an original document;
an image forming apparatus as defined in claim 73,
a transmittingreceiving apparatus configured to transmitreceive said image data through a network between said facsimile device set and an external apparatus; and
a second control device configured to control said image reading-out apparatus, said image forming apparatus and said transmittingreceiving apparatus, to transmit said image data of said original document read out by said image reading-out apparatus to said external apparatus through said network by use of said transmittingreceiving apparatus, and to cause said image forming apparatus to perform image formation based on said image data received from said external apparatus through said network by use of said transmittingreceiving apparatus on a recording paper.
94. A complex machine comprising:
an image reading apparatus configured to read out image data of an original document;
an image forming apparatus as defined in claim 73,
a transmittingreceiving apparatus configured to transmitreceive said image data through a network between said complex machine and an external apparatus;
an input terminal configured to receive an input of said image data;
an output terminal configured to output said image data; and
a second control section configured to control said image reading-out apparatus, said image forming apparatus, and said transmittingreceiving apparatus, to cause said image forming apparatus to selectively perform image formation based on said image data received at said input terminal, to output said image data of said original document read out by said image reading-out apparatus to said external apparatus through said output terminal, and to transmit said image data of said original document read out by said image reading-out apparatus to said external apparatus through said network by use of said transmittingreceiving apparatus or to cause said image forming apparatus to perform the image formation on said recording paper based on said image data received from said external apparatus through said network by use of said transmittingreceiving apparatus on said recording paper.
95. An image forming apparatus comprising:
printer engine means for performing image formation on recording paper;
paper piling and accommodating means for piling and accommodating said recording paper;
paper feeding means for separating said piled recording paper sheet by sheet and conveying said separated recording paper to said printer engine means through a paper conveying path for conveying said recording paper;
temporary paper accommodating means provided on said paper conveying path for temporarily accommodating said recording paper taken out from said paper piling and accommodating means;
paper turning-over means for causing said temporary paper accommodating means to accommodate said recording paper conveyed from said paper piling and accommodating means from a front tip end of said recording paper and for switching back said recording paper and sending out said recording paper toward said printer engine means such that a rear tip end of said recording paper accommodated in said temporary paper accommodating means becomes the front tip end thereof;
first control means for controlling said paper feeding means and said paper turning-over means such that a preceding recording paper sent out toward said printer engine means and a subsequent recording paper just subsequent to said preceding recording paper are at least partially superposed on each other; and
processing means provided in said temporary paper accommodating means for performing an operation.
96. A method of forming an image comprising the steps of:
performing image formation on recording paper by use of a printer engine;
piling and accommodating said recording paper in a paper piling and accommodating section;
separating said piled recording paper sheet by sheet by use of a paper feeding device;
conveying said separated recording paper to said printer engine through a paper conveying path for conveying said recording paper;
temporarily accommodating said recording paper taken out from said paper piling and accommodating section in a temporary paper accommodating section on said paper conveying path;
causing said temporary paper accommodating section to accommodate said recording paper conveyed from said paper piling and accommodating section from a front tip end of said recording paper and for switching back said recording paper and sending out said recording paper toward said printer engine such that a rear tip end of said recording paper accommodated in said temporary paper accommodating section becomes the front tip end thereof, by use of a paper turning-over device;
controlling said paper feeding device and said paper turning-over device such that a preceding recording paper sent out toward said printer engine and a subsequent recording paper just subsequent to said preceding recording paper are at least partially superposed on each other, by use of a first control device;
providing a processing device in said temporary paper accommodating section; and
performing an operation by use of said processing device.
97. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a printer engine configured to form an image on recording paper;
a paper piling and accommodating section configured to pile and accommodate said recording paper;
a paper feeding device configured to separate said piled recording paper sheet by sheet and to convey said separated recording paper to said printer engine through a paper conveying path for conveying said recording paper;
a temporary paper accommodating section provided on said paper conveying path and configured to temporarily accommodate said recording paper taken out from said paper piling and accommodating section;
a paper turning-over device configured to cause said temporary paper accommodating section to accommodate said recording paper conveyed from said paper piling and accommodating section from a front tip end of said recording paper and to switch back said recording paper and send out said recording paper toward said printer engine such that a rear tip end of said recording paper accommodated in said temporary paper accommodating section becomes the front tip end thereof;
a first control device configured to control said paper feeding device and said paper turning-over device such that a preceding recording paper sent out toward said printer engine and a subsequent recording paper just subsequent to said preceding recording paper are at least partially superposed on each other; and
a return conveying device configured to return said recording paper after finishing image formation at said printer engine to said temporary paper accommodating section so as to enable said recording paper to accommodate into said temporary paper accommodating section from the front tip end of said recording paper.
98. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 97,
wherein said first control device is further configured to control said paper feeding device and said paper turning-over device so as to superpose the rear tip end side of said preceding recording paper in the conveying direction on the front tip end side of said subsequent recording paper in the conveying direction.
99. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 97,
wherein said first control device performs said control operation such that a distance between said preceding recording paper and said subsequent recording paper at a time of said superposition is made shorter than a distance therebetween before an occurrence of said superposition.
100. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 97,
wherein a speed of conveying said recording paper with said return conveying device is higher than a speed of conveying said recording paper with said paper feeding device.
101. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 97,
wherein a speed of conveying said recording paper with said return conveying device is substantially equal to a speed of conveying said recording paper with said paper feeding device.
102. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 97, further comprising:
a second control device configured to control said return conveying device and said paper feeding device such that, after practicing image formation on plural pages of a first surface of said recording paper, said recording paper re-fed from said return conveying device and said recording paper fed from said paper feeding device are set so as to alternately advance to said temporary paper accommodating section.
103. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 97, further comprising:
a third control device configured to control said return conveying device such that the returning recording paper is temporarily stopped, and thereby taking a timing of causing said recording paper to advance from said return conveying device to said temporary paper accommodating section.
104. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 97,
wherein said printer engine performs image formation with an electrophotographic method.
105. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 97,
wherein said printer engine performs an operation of optically writing an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive body for the image formation by use of a digital optically-writing device with a digital electrophotographic method.
106. An image forming apparatus comprising:
printer engine means for performing image formation on recording paper;
paper piling and accommodating means for piling and accommodating said recording paper;
paper feeding means for separating said piled recording paper sheet by sheet and conveying said separated recording paper to said printer engine means through a paper conveying path for conveying said recording paper;
temporary paper accommodating means provided on said paper conveying path for temporarily accommodating said recording paper taken out from said paper piling and accommodating means;
paper turning-over means for causing said temporary paper accommodating means to accommodate said recording paper conveyed from said paper piling and accommodating means from a front tip end of said recording paper and for switching back said recording paper and sending out said recording paper toward said printer engine means such that a rear tip end of said recording paper accommodated in said temporary paper accommodating means becomes the front tip end thereof;
first control means for controlling said paper feeding means and said paper turning-over means such that a preceding recording paper sent out toward said printer engine means and a subsequent recording paper just subsequent to said preceding recording paper are at least partially superposed on each other; and
return conveying means for returning said recording paper after finishing image formation at said printer engine means to said temporary paper accommodating means so as to enable said recording paper to accommodate into said temporary paper accommodating means from the front tip end of said recording paper.
107. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 106, further comprising:
second control means for controlling said return conveying means and said paper feeding means such that, after practicing image formation on plural pages of a first surface of said recording paper, said recording paper re-fed from said return conveying means and said recording paper fed from said paper feeding means are set so as to alternately advance to said temporary paper accommodating means.
108. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 106, further comprising:
third control means for controlling said return conveying means such that the returning recording paper is temporarily stopped, and thereby taking a timing of causing said recording paper to advance from said return conveying means to said temporary paper accommodating means.
109. A method of forming an image comprising the steps of:
performing image formation on recording paper by use of a printer engine;
piling and accommodating said recording paper in a paper piling and accommodating section;
separating said piled recording paper sheet by sheet by use of a paper feeding device;
conveying said separated recording paper to said printer engine through a paper conveying path for conveying said recording paper;
temporarily accommodating said recording paper taken out from said paper piling and accommodating section in a temporary paper accommodating section on said paper conveying path;
causing said temporary paper accommodating section to accommodate said recording paper conveyed from said paper piling and accommodating section from a front tip end of said recording paper and for switching back said recording paper and sending out said recording paper toward said printer engine such that a rear tip end of said recording paper accommodated in said temporary paper accommodating section becomes the front tip end thereof, by use of a paper turning-over device;
controlling said paper feeding device and said paper turning-over device such that a preceding recording paper sent out toward said printer engine and a subsequent recording paper just subsequent to said preceding recording paper are at least partially superposed on each other, by use of a first control device; and
returning said recording paper after finishing image formation at said printer engine to said temporary paper accommodating section so as to enable said recording paper to accommodate into said temporary paper accommodating section from the front tip end of said recording paper, by use of a return conveying device.
110. The method of forming an image as defined in claim 109 further comprising the step of:
controlling said return conveying device and said paper feeding device such that, after practicing image formation on plural pages of a first surface of said recording paper, said recording paper re-fed from said return conveying device and said recording paper fed from said paper feeding device are set so as to alternately advance to said temporary paper accommodating section, by use of a second control device.
111. The method of forming an image as defined in claim 109 further comprising the step of:
controlling said return conveying device such that returning recording paper is temporarily stopped, and thereby taking a timing of causing said recording paper to advance from said return conveying device to said temporary paper accommodating section, by use of a third control device.
112. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a printer engine configured to form an image on a recording paper;
a paper pilling and accommodating section configured to pile and accommodate said recording papers;
a paper feeding device configured to separate said piled recording paper sheet by sheet and to convey said separated recording paper to said printer engine through a paper conveying path for conveying said recording paper;
a temporary paper accommodating section provided on said paper conveying path and configured to temporarily accommodate said recording paper taken out from said paper pilling and accommodating section;
a paper turning-over device configured to cause said temporary paper accommodating section to accommodate said recording paper conveyed from said paper piling and accommodating section from a front tip end of said recording paper and to switch back said recording paper and send out said recording paper toward said printer engine such that a rear tip end of said recording paper accommodated in said temporary paper accommodating section becomes the front tip end thereof;
a control device configured to control said paper feeding device and said paper turning-over device such that a distance between a preceding recording paper sent out toward said printer engine and a subsequent recording paper just subsequent to said preceding recording paper are nullified; and
a processing device provided in said temporary paper accommodating section and configured to perform an operation.
113. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 112, wherein said control device controls said paper feeding device and said paper turning-over device so as to nullify the distance between the rear tip end side of said preceding recording paper in the conveying direction and the front tip end side of said just subsequent recording paper in the conveying direction.
114. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a printer engine configured to form an image on recording paper;
a paper piling and accommodating section configured to pile and accommodate said recording paper;
a paper feeding device configured to separate said piled recording paper sheet by sheet and to convey said separated recording paper to said printer engine through a paper conveying path for conveying said recording paper;
a temporary paper accommodating section provided on said paper conveying path and configured to temporarily accommodate said recording paper taken out from said paper piling and accommodating section;
a paper turning-over device configured to cause said temporary paper accommodating section to accommodate said recording paper conveyed from said paper piling and accommodating section from a front tip end of said recording paper and to switch back said recording paper and send out said recording paper toward said printer engine such that a rear tip end of said recording paper accommodated in said temporary paper accommodating section becomes the front tip end thereof;
a first control device configured to control said paper feeding device and said paper turning-over device such that a distance between a preceding recording paper sent out toward said printer engine and a subsequent recording paper just subsequent to said preceding recording paper are nullified; and
a return conveying device configured to return said recording paper after finishing image formation at said printer engine to said temporary paper accommodating section so as to enable said recording paper to be accommodated into said temporary paper accommodating section from the front tip end of said recording paper.
115. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 114, wherein said first control device controls said paper feeding device and said paper turning-over device so as to nullify a distance between the rear tip end side of said preceding recording paper in the conveying direction and the front tip end side of said subsequent recording paper in the conveying direction.
116. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 114, wherein said first control device performs said control operation such that the distance between said preceding recording paper and said subsequent recording paper at a time of said superposition is made shorter than the distance therebetween before an occurrence of said superposition.
117. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 114, wherein said image forming apparatus farther comprises a second control device configured to control said return conveying device and said paper feeding device such that, after practicing image formation on plural pages of a first surface of said recording paper, said recording paper re-fed from said return conveying device and said recording paper fed from said paper feeding device are set so as to alternately advance to said temporary paper accommodating section.
118. The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 114, wherein said image forming apparatus further comprises a third control device configured to control said return conveying device such that the returning recording paper is temporarily stopped, and thereby taking a timing of causing said recording paper to advance from said return conveying device to said temporary paper accommodating section.