Abstract: An image-reading portion switches between a storage state in which a conveying path extends substantially vertically along a front surface of a main unit and a usage state in which the conveying path extends diagonally downward. In the storage state, the entire device can be made suitably compact, whereas in the usage state, the operability of the image-reading portion is enhanced.

Abstract: An upper die 7 that is fixed to a ram 4d of a press machine 1 includes a forming punch 9 for conducting drawing, forming and listing, upper die-side cutting edges 13a for conducting trimming, and flat-face piercing punches 11 for conducting flat-face piercing, to respectively a work W in cooperation with a lower die 8. The lower die 8 is provided with a forming die 12 corresponding to the upper die 7, and a large piercing die 14, lower die-side cutting edges 8e and a flat-face piercing die 8a which are disposed at the forming die 12. A side-face working apparatus 17, including a rotating base 18 and a reciprocating base 19, is disposed at the side of the lower die 8 to conduct side-face press working to a side-face portion 3g of the work W jointly with the lower die 8.

Abstract: There is provided a multilayer film which is useful as a refractive polarizer film or a semi-transparent film. The multilayer film comprises a first layer comprising of a polyester whose main recurring unit is ethylene-2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylate and a second layer comprising mainly of a thermoplastic resin which is different from the polyester of the first layer, wherein at least one of the first and second layers contains 0.001 to 0.5 wt % of inert fine particles having an average particle diameter of 0.01 to 2 &mgr;m; the first and second layers each have a thickness of 0.05 to 0.3 &mgr;m and are laminated alternately to form a laminate comprising at least 11 layers; the laminate is oriented at least in one direction; and the second layer has a lower refractive index than the first layer at least in one direction. This multilayer film has excellent handling properties such as film formability and windability and an easily adjustable reflectance.

Abstract: A biaxially oriented polyester film which has good thickness nonuniformity in both longitudinal and transverse directions, uniform physical properties in a transverse direction and high strength in a longitudinal direction. This film has such characteristic properties that (a) an F-5 value in a longitudinal direction of 13 kg/mm2 or more, (b) a thickness nonuniformity in each of both longitudinal and transverse directions of 8% or less, and (c) a difference in the heat shrinkage factor of 0.02 to 0.2% per 1 m in a transverse direction, said heat shrinkage factor being measured at 105° C. in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An ink jet printer includes a print head having ink nozzles, which is movable in a direction across the feeding path. A supply mechanism is provided at one side of the feeding path, which supplies ink to the print head located in the ink supply station. A maintenance mechanism is provided at the other side of the feeding path, which operates a predetermined operation. The ink jet printer is further provided with a first clutch which transmits the rotation of the actuator to the supply mechanism only when the print head is located in the above-mentioned one side, and a second clutch which transmits the rotation of the actuator to the maintenance mechanism only when the print head is located in the above-mentioned the other side. With this, the supply mechanism and the maintenance mechanism are actuated by a common actuator.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes a head for ejecting ink and a carriage for conveying the head. When the cartridge has moved to a maintenance area and rotates a lever, the rotational force is transformed into a force for causing a pressing plate supporting a strip to move against the nozzle, by means of bevel gears, a pressing piece and a pivot arm. The strip comes in contact with the nozzle surface to wipe ink. The recording apparatus has a pump for applying a pressure to the interior of the head for purging the head and a conveyer for conveying the strip to refresh the part of the strip opposing the head. The pump and conveyer can be driven by a common motor which is also used for conveying the recording medium. The driving source used for the recording apparatus is shared thus making it possible to achieve a simplified configuration of the recording apparatus.

Abstract: An ink jet recorder includes a recording head, a carriage for reciprocating the head, a sheet conveying roller, a motor for driving the roller, a maintenance mechanism and an ink supply mechanism. The driving force from the motor can be transmitted through a first clutch to the maintenance mechanism, and through a second clutch to the ink supply mechanism. One of the clutches is connected to a turn lever, and the other is connected to a shift lever. Each of the clutches can be switched mechanically by the carriage engaging with the associated lever. The single motive power source can drive a plurality of mechanisms. There is no need of a special switch for changing over the source.

Abstract: A detector detects the presence of a roll of a strip-like material within a cassette in a maintenance unit used in an ink-jet printer. The detector has a first movable part to rotate and press a switch when the cassette is not positioned at the predetermined mounting position, and a second movable part to rotate and press the switch when less than a predetermined amount of the strip resides in the cassette. The detector, based on the pressed state of the switch, detects whether the maintenance operation can be started. The detector has a pair of pivot arms which each have a similar shaped portion to the other so as to fold into each other and which project into the interior of the cassette when no roll resides in the cassette. When there is a roll inside the cassette, one arm comes in contact with the roll so that the arms retract from the cassette by folding the similar shaped portions into each other.

Abstract: The present invention provides multilayered film made of the multiple layers characterized in that at least one polymer layer (A) comprising the aromatic polyester(A), and at least one polymer layer(B) comprising olefinic polymer(B), which is containing silica or cross-linked silicone resin particles with an average particle diameter of 0.01 to 2 microns, with the melt flow index (MFR value) of 0.5 to 50 g/10 min., are laminated alternately with adhesion among these layers ranging from 0.1 to 20 g/cm. wherein the polymer layer A forming the outermost layer; and the number of electric discharge marks is 5 or less per square meter on the polymer layer A when the polymer layers A and B are separated; further, said multilayered film provides the film products with minimum inclusion of foreign substances or electric discharge marks, since a minimum amount of electric charge is produced when they are separated from said multilayered film.

Abstract: A multi-layered film comprises a polyolefin first layer and at least one second layer composed of polyester or polyphenylene sulfide adjacent to the polyolefin layer, said polyolefin first layer containing 0.001 to 1% by weight of a quaternary phosphonium salt of sulfonic acid, and wherein the adhesion between the polyolefin first layer and the at least one second layer is 0.1 to 20 g/cm. A single-layer film composed of either the polyolefin first layer or the second layer can be readily peeled off the multi-layered film and casting of a highly uniform multi-layered film can be carried out at high speed.

Abstract: A process for forming a coating having a constant thickness on at least one surface of a running film, which comprises continuously providing at least one surface of a running film with a first coating liquid film having a thickness greater than an intended thickness, transferring the first coating liquid film onto a roll which is in contact with the running film and rotates in the direction counter to the running direction of the running film, changing the first coating liquid film into a second coating liquid film having an intended constant thickness with a metering means, on the roll which rotates in the counter direction, and then transferring the second coating liquid film having the constant thickness onto the running film; and an apparatus therefor.

Abstract: An elongated toner box extending in a horizontal direction has a cylindrical portion where a toner discharge port is formed. A wrapping member serving as a shutter is rotatably disposed over the cylindrical portion for selectively shutting off the toner discharge port. The wrapping member has a circular shape concentrical with the cylindrical portion. A developing case is provided to which the toner box is detachably installable. The developing case has a wall confronting the toner box, and a toner inlet port is formed at the wall. A toner inlet shutter is slidably movably supported to the partition wall. When the wrapping member opens and closes the toner discharge port, the wrapping member is positioned close to the outer surface of the toner box and does not largely protrude from the toner box. Further, the discharge port shutter and the inlet port shutter are movable in interlocking relation with each other.

Abstract: An elongated toner box extending in a horizontal direction has a cylindrical portion where a toner discharge port is formed. A wrapping member serving as a shutter is rotatably disposed over the cylindrical portion for selectively shutting off the toner discharge port. The wrapping member has a circular shape concentrical with the cylindrical portion. A developing case is provided to which the toner box is detachably installable. The developing case has a wall confronting the toner box, and a toner inlet port is formed at the wall. A toner inlet shutter is slidably movably supported to the partition wall. When the wrapping member opens and closes the toner discharge port, the wrapping member is positioned close to the outer surface of the toner box and does not largely protrude from the toner box. Further, the discharge port shutter and the inlet port shutter are movable in interlocking relation with each other.

Abstract: In a cassette type sheet supplying device, two or more adjoining spaces for installing standard cassettes therein are joined into a continuous space to enable a large cassette to be installed in the space in lieu of two stantard cassettes. When no cassette is installed or a standard cassette is installed, a paper feeding unit is pulled to the paper feeding position by a spring, and a claw portion of a lock material engages lock holes formed on paper feeding unit side frames so that the paper feeding unit is held to the paper feeding position. When the large cassette is inserted in the cassette installation space, a lock release projection formed on the large cassette comes in contact with a projection of the lock material and extends it to the outside. At this time, the claw portion comes off from the lock hole. When the large cassette is further inserted, the paper feeding unit is pushed through a cushion material.