Abstract: A method for manufacturing a metal clad laminate having a film and a metal layer formed of a foundation layer and an upper layer includes the steps of forming the foundation layer on at least a part of a surface of the film by plating to obtain a first laminate; forming the upper layer on the first laminate by plating to obtain a second laminate; and heating the second laminate to obtain the metal clad laminate. Further, the film is a flexible thermoplastic polymer film, the foundation layer is formed of a nickel alloy, the upper layer is formed of copper, at least one of the foundation layer and the upper layer has a compression stress before the step of heating the second laminate, and the metal clad laminate shrinks in a planar direction of the film during the step of heating the second laminate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming an image using a consumable supply; a cover attached to the image forming unit; an energy accumulation unit for accumulating energy when the cover is closed; an energy initializing unit for initializing a level of the energy accumulated in the energy accumulation unit when the cover is opened; an energy detection unit for detecting whether the level of the energy accumulated in the energy accumulation unit is initialized; and a state correction unit for correcting a state of the image forming unit according to a detection result of the energy detection unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units; a pair of supporting members for supporting both end portions of each of the image forming units; and a leg portion abutting against a mounting surface at a lower surface of each of the supporting members.

Abstract: A device capable of adhering to and moving along the surface of an object, comprising: the main casing comprising an outer casing and an inner casing; an outer sealing member mounted at the opening of the outer casing, part of which is caused to contact the surface of the object; an inner sealing member mounted at the opening of the inner casing, part of which is caused to contact the surface of the object; and a means for moving along the surface of the object while maintaining the distance between the main casing and the surface of the object at a certain distance; wherein the outer casing, the outer sealing member and the inner sealing member, together with the surface of the object, define Area I, and the inner casing and the inner sealing member, together with the surface of the object, define Area II; wherein the pressure of fluid in Area I is maintained at a lower level than the pressure of fluid surrounding the Device, and the pressure of fluid in Area II is maintained at a higher level than the pres

Abstract: Lectin is extracted from seeds of bitter gourd (also known as balsam pear or Momordica charantia). A blood type checking reagent for checking a blood type includes the lectin. The lectin extracted from seeds of bitter gourd preferably has a molecular weight between 100,000 and 170,000 measured with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in existence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS-PAGE). A method of checking a blood type includes the steps of: extracting lectin from seeds of bitter gourd (also known as balsam pear or Momordica charantia); preparing a blood type checking reagent containing the lectin; and checking a blood type using the blood type checking reagent.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image supporting member; a developer supporting member for attaching developer to the image supporting member to form a developer image; a regulation member for forming a thin layer of the developer on the developer supporting member; a charge adjustment member for receiving a charge adjustment voltage and contacting with the thin layer of the developer formed on the developer supporting member to adjust a charge amount of the developer; and a charge adjustment voltage switching unit for switching the charge adjustment voltage applied to the charge adjustment member between an image forming voltage upon forming an image and a non-image forming voltage during a preparation operation.

Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus is provided with a print medium storage device for storing a print medium. The print medium storage device includes a guide member for guiding the print medium thus stored; an engaging portion for engaging the guide member at a specific position; an engaged portion for engaging the engaging portion; an operation portion disposed to be movable for separating the engaging portion from the engaged portion; and an abutting portion for abutting against the operation portion to move the operation portion when the print medium storage device is situated at a first position, and for separating from the operation portion when the print medium storage device is situated at a second position.

Abstract: An image processing device includes an image input device for inputting image information; a control device for converting the image information into an electric file input through the image input device; a display device for displaying file name candidates; a selection device for selecting and specifying a file name candidate selected by a user from the file name candidates displayed on the display device; and a first storage device for storing an image data file. The control device stores the image data file in the first storage device. In the image data file, the file name specified by the selection device corresponds to the electrical file of the image information.

Abstract: An intermediate electrical connector for connecting two electrical connectors includes a blade assembly formed of a plurality of blades and a ground plate attached to the blades; a plurality of terminals disposed on each of the blades and extending in parallel to each other; and a holding member for holding the blade assembly. The intermediate electrical connector may further include an intermediate portion disposed between the holding members.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a plurality of terminals, a housing and a shield plate. The terminals are arranged and held in the housing. The shield plate is formed by bending a metal plate and attached to the housing. The housing includes a sidewall and an edge wall at an end portion of the sidewall. The shield plate includes a shield portion covering an outer surface of the sidewall and a held. The held portion is supported on a holding portion disposed on the edge wall of the housing. The shield portion includes a regulating portion capable of abutting against the outer surface of the sidewall. The regulating portion regulates deformation of the shield portion when the shield plate is attached to the housing.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a receiving unit for receiving a control command including first identification information; an identification information obtaining unit for obtaining the first identification information from the control command thus received; a storage unit for storing second identification information related to a specific user; an identification information comparing unit for comparing the first identification information with the second identification information; and a control command processing unit for performing a first process when the first identification information matches to the second identification information and performing a second process when the first identification information does not match to the second identification information.

Abstract: An electrical connector for connecting a flat conductive member includes a housing made of an electrical insulating material and including a terminal holding groove, and a terminal held in the terminal holding groove for contacting with the flat conductive member. The terminal holding groove includes a first groove portion and a second groove portion. The groove portion has a first groove width, and the second groove portion has a second groove width smaller than the first groove width. The terminal includes an upper arm portion, a lower arm portion extending in parallel with the upper arm portion, and a combining portion combining the upper arm portion and the lower arm portion. The lower arm portion includes a connecting portion accommodated in the first groove portion and to be soldered to a circuit board. The upper arm portion includes a pressing portion for pressing the flat conductive member.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing and a terminal. The terminal is disposed in the housing. The terminal includes a pressing portion for receiving a wire and a connecting portion extending from the pressing portion. The pressing portion includes two elastic arm portions and a pressing groove portion between the elastic arm portions. The elastic arm portions includes a base portion extending from a connecting portion, a first arm portion extending from the base portion toward an opening portion of the pressing groove portion, a transition portion in a curved shape at a distal end portion of the first arm portion, and a second arm portion extending toward the base portion in parallel to the first arm portion. The elastic arm portions contact with the wire at inner edge portions of the second arm portions when the wire is inserted into the pressing groove portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a receiving unit for receiving image information including first user information; a detection unit for detecting the first user information from the image information; an input unit for inputting second user information and a process; a comparison unit for comparing the first user information with the second user information; and a control unit for limiting an input through the input unit when the comparison unit determines that the first user information is different from the second user information.

Abstract: A fixing device fixes a recording medium with a toner image transferred thereon. The fixing device includes an endless belt heated with a heating member; a first pressing member contacting with the endless belt and extending the endless belt together with the heating member; a second pressing member for pressing the endless belt and sandwiching the endless belt together with the first pressing member; and a high thermal conductive member contacting with an inner surface of the endless belt and disposed along a direction crossing a direction that the endless belt moves.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units each having an image supporting member, a developer supporting member, and a cleaning member for cleaning developer on the image supporting member. The image forming apparatus further includes a transfer device for transferring a developer image to a medium; a fixing device for fixing the developer image to the medium; a first detection unit for detecting a first physical value of an external environment of the image forming apparatus; a second detection unit for detecting a second physical value of an internal environment of the image forming apparatus; and a control unit for determining whether at least one of the image forming units performs a developer discard mode in which developer is discarded according to the first physical value, the second physical value, and a distance between the one of the image forming units and the fixing device.

Abstract: A medium transportation apparatus is provided with a plurality of medium transportation units, a drive source, a sun gear connected to the drive source, a planetary gear engaging the sun gear for transmitting a drive force to one of the medium transportation units according to a rotational direction of the sun gear, and a rotational load member for applying a rotational load to the planetary gear. The rotational load member is disposed on an outer side relative to a rotational shaft of the planetary gear in a radial direction of a rotational shaft of the sun gear.

Abstract: A socket for an electric component provided with a plurality of contact pins in a socket body. The contact pin each have a lower contact part that is electrically conductive with a contact point on a substrate, an upper contact part that contacts the terminal of the electric component when pressure is applied, and an upper spring part that is located between the lower contact part and the upper contact part, that is elastically deformed when pressure is applied, and that, by its elasticity, presses the upper contact part against the terminal. The contact pins are each formed in such a shape that the location of the contact point with respect to the terminal does not change when pressure is applied and the upper contact part is rotated about the contact point (contact projection) of the upper contact part and the terminal.

Abstract: A drive circuit includes a drive element for supplying a drive current to a driven element; a control voltage generation circuit for outputting a control voltage to the drive element to generate the drive current through inputting a reference voltage; and a switch section for shutting down the reference voltage when the driven element is not driven so that the control voltage decreases to a level not to generate the drive current.

Abstract: A surface light source device improves the quality of illumination without producing dark lines between neighboring light guide plates even when a plurality of light guide plates are used in combination. This surface light source device is formed by combining a plurality of LED/light guide plate units, and light guide plate (4) has: light emitting area (8) of a square shape from a plan view; extended area (10) which is positioned extending outward from a pair of neighboring sides (8a) and (8b) in four sides (8a) to (8d) defining the outer rim of this light emitting area (8); and incidence surface area (11) on which light from LED (6) is incident. Each light guide plate (4) has a symmetrical shape with respect to one of the diagonal lines of light emitting area (8), and is combined by making its orientation uniform in the same direction.