Abstract: An image forming system has a sheet deck assembly, an image forming apparatus, and a feeding buffering apparatus with plural feeding buffer trays for temporarily storing sheets of printing paper fed from plural printing paper decks of the sheet deck assembly. The feeding buffering apparatus feeds the temporarily stored sheets to the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which is capable of bringing processing devices, such as sheet feed devices and post-processing devices connected respectively to the image forming apparatus, into operable states in timing optimal for carrying out an image forming job, thereby improving productivity and operation rate of the image forming apparatus as well as saving energy. A print job is analyzed to determine at least one sheet feed device and at least one post-processing device to be used in executing the print job, and states of the determined devices are checked to determine at least one of the sheet feed device and the post-processing device to be caused to start a preparatory operation in advance before the print job is executed. Power supply to the at least one of the sheet feed device and the post-processing device is turned on in timing such that the preparatory operation is completed in time for the start of execution of the print job.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus provided with a fan for blowing air against sheets stacked on a sheet tray, a position detecting sensor for detecting the position of the sheets floated up by the fan, and a tray lifting and lowering mechanism for lifting and lowering the sheet tray. The tray lifting and lowering mechanism is controlled on the basis of a result of detection by the position detecting sensor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which conveys waste toner includes a buffer portion 101 capable of temporarily containing the waste toner and a waste toner container 102 capable of containing the waste toner and a waste toner container 102 capable of containing the waste toner. The waste toner is dominantly contained in the waste toner container 102 compared with the buffer portion 101. When the waste toner container 102 is filled with the waste toner, the waste toner can be contained in the buffer portion 101. An engine controller 120 detects whether the buffer portion 101 is filled with the waste toner 112 or not through a buffer portion waste toner full state detection sensor 105. When the buffer portion 101 is filled with the waste toner 112, the engine controller controls so that a conveyance operation by a first waste toner pipe 103 and an image forming operation are stopped.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of grouping a plurality of sheet storage units for feeding sheets of a same type in an image forming operation. The image forming apparatus includes a plurality of storage units for storing sheets and a sheet feeder operable to feed the sheets from the plurality of storage units. The apparatus also includes a grouping unit allowing a user to group the storage units based on the type of sheets. A controller controls the sheet feeder to feed sheets from the group of storage units such that when one storage unit becomes empty, the controller controls the sheet feeder to feed sheets from another storage unit of the group of storage units.

Abstract: A storage receptacle is usable in a map pocket without requiring an intermediate adapter ring. The storage receptacle only uses part of the storage space within the map pocket, and leaves the rest of the space available for maps or other personal items. The receptacle may be dimensioned to use less than half the space of the vehicle door pocket. In a selected illustrative embodiment, a storage receptacle is adapted to receive and store glasses therein, such as eyeglasses or sunglasses. The storage receptacle includes a receptacle case made from a strong plastic material, and may also include a liner made from a material such as foam padding, cloth, and/or flocking provided on an inner wall of the receptacle case, to protect glasses which may be stored therein.

Abstract: A sheet supplying apparatus having a plurality of sheet decks for supplying sheets connected in series, and provided with a controller for controlling the feeding of the sheets of each sheet deck, wherein each sheet deck has a sheet stacking portion for supporting the sheets thereon, a sheet conveying path for guiding the sheets from an upstream side to a downstream side, and a joining conveying path joining the sheet conveying path for guiding the sheets from the sheet stacking portion to the sheet conveying path, wherein the sheet decks are connected in such a manner that the respective sheet conveying paths are connected thereto, and the controller judges the position of the sheet deck for supplying a sheet preceding by one the sheet supplied in predetermined order when the sheets are supplied in order from each sheet deck and controls so as to pre-feed the sheet in the predetermined order to the vicinity of the upstream side of a joining point between the sheet conveying path in the sheet deck for supplyi

Abstract: A storage receptacle is usable in a map pocket without requiring an intermediate adapter ring. The storage receptacle only uses part of the storage space within the map pocket, and leaves the rest of the space available for maps or other personal items. The receptacle may be dimensioned to use less than half the space of the vehicle door pocket. In a selected illustrative embodiment, a storage receptacle is adapted to receive and store glasses therein, such as eyeglasses or sunglasses. The storage receptacle includes a receptacle case made from a strong plastic material, and may also include a liner made from a material such as foam padding, cloth, and/or flocking provided on an inner wall of the receptacle case, to protect glasses which may be stored therein.

Abstract: The present apparatus comprises a vacuum process chamber 100 that contains an upper electrode 110 having a conductive plate 115 with gas supply holes for supplying a process gas and a lower electrode 130 having a platform on which a sample is to be mounted; process gas supply means 117 for supplying the process gas to the gas supply holes in the upper electrode 110 and exhaust means 106 for exhausting the vacuum process chamber; a high frequency power supply 121 for applying a high frequency power to the upper electrode to generate a plasma between the upper and lower electrodes; a high frequency bias power supply 122 for applying a high frequency power to the upper electrode to generate a direct current bias potential in the upper electrode; and abnormal discharge determination means 152 for determining whether an abnormal discharge has occurred or not based on the direct current bias potential generated in the upper electrode.

Abstract: An image forming system has a sheet deck assembly, an image forming apparatus, and a feeding buffering apparatus with plural feeding buffer trays for temporarily storing sheets of printing paper fed from plural printing paper decks of the sheet deck assembly. The feeding buffering apparatus feeds the temporarily stored sheets to the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus has a first conveying unit for conveying a sheet, a second conveying unit for conveying a sheet in merging with the first conveying unit and a sheet merging overlapping device. At a junction between the first and second conveying unit, the sheet merging overlapping device overlaps the sheet conveyed by first conveying unit with the sheet conveyed by the second conveying unit in a sheet conveyance direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided which includes a sheet containing section for containing sheets, a conveying member and a conveying path for conveying the sheets, at least one optical sensor that is arranged in the conveying path and has a light emitting element and a light receiving element for detecting presence or absence of a sheet on the conveying path, a driver for changing an amount of emitted light of the optical sensor, a sheet supply operation detecting section for detecting a supply operation of the sheets contained in the sheet containing section, and a control section for adjusting an amount of emitted light of the optical sensor according to an output of the sheet supply operation detecting section.

Abstract: The present apparatus comprises a vacuum process chamber 100 that contains an upper electrode 110 having a conductive plate 115 with gas supply holes for supplying a process gas and a lower electrode 130 having a platform on which a sample is to be mounted; process gas supply means 117 for supplying the process gas to the gas supply holes in the upper electrode 110 and exhaust means 106 for exhausting the vacuum process chamber; a high frequency power supply 121 for applying a high frequency power to the upper electrode to generate a plasma between the upper and lower electrodes; a high frequency bias power supply 122 for applying a high frequency power to the upper electrode to generate a direct current bias potential in the upper electrode; and abnormal discharge determination means 152 for determining whether an abnormal discharge has occurred or not based on the direct current bias potential generated in the upper electrode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus reverses a sheet, on one side of which an image has been formed in an image forming section, transports the sheet back to the image forming section, and forms an image on the other side of the sheet, the apparatus has an inlet feed path for transporting a sheet, on one side of which an image has been formed; a switchback path for withdrawing the sheet transported from the inlet feed path; a plurality of reverse feed paths branching from the switchback path at plural positions, each of the reverse feed paths transporting a sheet while reversing the sheet; and a re-feed path for transporting the reversed sheet from any of the reverse feed paths back to the image forming section.

Abstract: There are provided an image forming apparatus which is capable of efficiently performing necessary actions to thereby reduce downtime. At least one job can be registered. Image formation is performed according to the at least one registered job. Action objects are detected on which actions necessary for the image forming apparatus should be taken.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus has a vacuum vessel, a processing chamber arranged in the vacuum vessel and supplied with gas, a support electrode arranged in the processing chamber to support an object to be processed, a radio frequency providing unit for supplying a radio frequency in UHF or VHF band, and a magnetic field generating unit for generating a magnetic field in the processing chamber, wherein the radio frequency providing unit includes an antenna having a groove or step formed in its surface opposing the process object, whereby plasma of high density and high uniformity can be generated in a wide parameter region.

Abstract: In producing a product foamed molding by molding into a specified shape a foamed product obtained by foaming a kneaded product obtained by kneading a fibrous material with an aqueous solution, followed by drying, an aqueous solution in which a binder mainly composed of gelatin and/or glue having a jelly strength of 130 Bloom or more is dissolved is used as the aqueous solution, whereby the generation of depressions in a pockmark form on a surface of the product foamed molding can be prevented to increase the yield of the product, and the specific gravity of the product can be reduced, thus being able to produce the foamed molding such as a cushioning material excellent in elastic performance economically, continuously and in large amounts.

Abstract: A transceiver for inducing electric fields according to data to be transmitted in an electric field propagating medium, and carrying out at least data transmission by using induced electric fields, is formed by a transmission unit configured to modulate the data to be transmitted by generating alternating current signals having a prescribed frequency, and transmit modulated signals obtained by modulating the data to be transmitted, and a resonance causing unit configured to cause a series resonance with a parasitic capacitance appearing between a ground for the transmission unit and an Earth ground and a parasitic capacitance appearing between the electric field propagating medium and the Earth Ground.

Abstract: The quantity of light of an optical sensor including a light emission portion and a light reception portion is adjusted through calculation before sheet detection is performed. In order to perform the light quantity adjustment, a voltage to be applied to the light emission portion of the optical sensor is obtained by performing calculation based on a relation between a voltage applied to the light emission portion before the adjustment and an output from the light reception portion before the adjustment. Then, it is judged whether the obtained voltage exists within a predetermined range and, if a positive result is obtained, the light quantity adjustment is ended. Further, a signal requesting the cleaning of the optical sensor is outputted in accordance with a value of the obtained voltage.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus permits keeping predetermined sheet intervals, even when sheet conveyance is temporarily discontinued and then resumed, after resumption of conveyance. The sheet conveying apparatus has a first roller which feeds sheets at predetermined sheet intervals, and a second roller which conveys a plurality of sheet fed from the first roller. After temporarily discontinuing conveyance of the plurality of sheets, conveyance of the plurality of sheets is resumed by use of the first roller and the second roller. The variation in the sheet interval caused when temporarily discontinuing sheet conveyance is corrected upon resumption of sheet conveyance.