US4862288A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Printing apparatus with plural density control
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1987-10-27
•
Granted: 1989-08-29
•
Expires: 2007-10-27
Abstract
Abstract When a data control portion 300 receives a request for changing a density of picture elements from an external data processing apparatus, a printing control portion 200 defers exposure if it is before start of exposure, until a rotating speed of a polygon mirror 34 becomes constant. If exposure is being performed, the printing control portion 200 defers change of the density of picture elements until the exposure is completed. If printing is being performed in response to a printing request received till then, the printing control portion 200 defers change of the density of the picture elements until the printing is completed. In addition, the printing control portion 200 automatically sets an initial density value of picture elements designated by a printing density initialization switch 237, when power supply is turned on.
Inventors
- 👤 Makoto Sekiya
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 06:22
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/12; G06K15/1295; G06K15/128
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A printing apparatus for performing printing for each picture element based on printing data, comprising: printing means (31, 34, 217 and 218) for performing printing based on the printing data with a preset density of picture elements, means (200, 237, 250 to 253) for setting said printing means to enable the same to perform printing with a density of picture elements to be adopted, means (300) for receiving from outside a request for changing the density of picture element, determination means (202, 205 and 206) for determining whether printing is being performed by said printing means, and control means (202, 205 and 206) responsive to said receiving means and said determination means for retaining said request for changing the density picture elements until an end of printing when said request is received during printing by said printing means, and operating said setting means based on said change request after the end of the printing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
A printing apparatus for performing printing for each picture element based on printing data, comprising: printing means (31, 34, 217 and 218) for performing printing based on the printing data with a preset density of picture elements, means (200, 237, 250 to 253) for setting said printing means to enable the same to perform printing with a density of picture elements to be adopted, means (300) for receiving from outside a request for changing the density of picture element, determination means (202, 205 and 206) for determining whether printing is being performed by said printing means, and control means (202, 205 and 206) responsive to said receiving means and said determination means for retaining said request for changing the density picture elements until an end of printing when said request is received during printing by said printing means, and operating said setting means based on said change request after the end of the printing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A printing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said control means changes the density of picture elements after an end of printing corresponding to a final printing request when printing is being performed by said printing means based on a plurality of printing requests received theretofore.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
A printing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: means (251 to 253) for preparing a plurality of densities of picture elements to be set when power supply is turned on, and means (237 and 250) for selecting any one of said prepared plurality of densities of picture elements and operating said setting means based on said density.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A printing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said control means permits printing with a changed density of picture elements after an end of changing operation of said setting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
A printing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said printing means comprises: a laser beam source (31), a polygon mirror (34) to be rotated to scan a laser beam, and means (217) for modulating the laser beam based on the printing data, said setting means being adapted to change a rotating speed of said polygon mirror according to the request for changing density of picture elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A printing apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said control means permits printing with the changed density of picture elements after the rotating speed of said polygon mirror becomes constant.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
135 words
A printing apparatus for performing printing for each picture element based on printing data, comprising: image forming means for forming an image by a large number of picture elements on a photoconductor, while scanning a laser beam in a deflected manner by means of a rotating polygon mirror, means for changing a rotating speed of said polygon mirror in response to a request for changing a density of picture elements, means for determining whether the rotating speed of said polygon mirror is constant, and control means for deferring a start of exposure by said image forming means in response to said determination means until the rotating speed of said polygon mirror becomes constant, when the request for changing the density of picture element is issued before the start of exposure by said image forming means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
135 words
A printing apparatus for performing printing for each picture element based on printing data, comprising: image forming means for forming an image by a large number of picture elements on a photoconductor, while scanning a laser beam in a deflected manner by means of a rotating polygon mirror, means for changing a rotating speed of said polygon mirror in response to a request for changing a density of picture elements, means for determining whether the rotating speed of said polygon mirror is constant, and control means for deferring a start of exposure by said image forming means in response to said determination means until the rotating speed of said polygon mirror becomes constant, when the request for changing the density of picture element is issued before the start of exposure by said image forming means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
116 words
A printing apparatus for performing printing for each picture element based on printing data, comprising: means for forming an image by a large number of picture element on a photoconductor based on the printing data, means for changing a density of picture elements at the time of forming said image, in response to a request for changing the density of picture elements, determination means for determining whether exposure is being performed by said image forming means, and control means for deferring operation of said density change means in response to said determination means until exposure is completed, when the request for changing the density of picture elements is issued during exposure by said image forming means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
116 words
A printing apparatus for performing printing for each picture element based on printing data, comprising: means for forming an image by a large number of picture element on a photoconductor based on the printing data, means for changing a density of picture elements at the time of forming said image, in response to a request for changing the density of picture elements, determination means for determining whether exposure is being performed by said image forming means, and control means for deferring operation of said density change means in response to said determination means until exposure is completed, when the request for changing the density of picture elements is issued during exposure by said image forming means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A printing apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein said image forming means forms the image while scanning on said photoconductor a laser beam modulated based on the printing data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A printing apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein said control means operates in response to a request for changing the density of picture elements issued from outside.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
123 words
A printing apparatus for performing printing for each picture element based on printing data, comprising: printing means for performing printing with a density of picture elements preset based on the printing data, means for starting operation of said printing means in response to a printing request, means for changing the density of picture elements preset in said printing means in response to a request for changing the density of picture elements, and control means for deferring operation of said density change means until printing responsive to a final printing request is completed if a new request for changing the density of picture elements is issued when printing is being performed by said printing means based on a plurality of printing requests received theretofore.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
123 words
A printing apparatus for performing printing for each picture element based on printing data, comprising: printing means for performing printing with a density of picture elements preset based on the printing data, means for starting operation of said printing means in response to a printing request, means for changing the density of picture elements preset in said printing means in response to a request for changing the density of picture elements, and control means for deferring operation of said density change means until printing responsive to a final printing request is completed if a new request for changing the density of picture elements is issued when printing is being performed by said printing means based on a plurality of printing requests received theretofore.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
66 words
A printing apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein said printing means includes means for forming an image by a plurality of picture elements on a photoconductor while scanning a laser beam in a deflected manner by means of a rotating polygon mirror, and said density change means changes a rotating speed of said polygon mirror according to the request for changing density of picture elements.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A printing apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein said control means operates in response to a request for changing the density of picture elements issued from outside.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE2150343A1
Cited
GB1373773A
Cited
DE3022182A1
Cited
US4400101A
Cited
JPS59198076A
Cited
JPS59221165A
Cited
US4734715A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-08-28 | 1993-02-27 | 1993-08-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-08-28 | 1997-02-27 | 1997-08-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-08-28 | 2001-02-27 | 2001-08-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |