Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printing unit configured to print an image on a sheet; a first exit path from which the sheet with the image printed thereon by the printing unit is discharged while being reversed; a second exit path from which the sheet with the image printed thereon by the printing unit is discharged without being reversed; and a switch member configured to be pivotably arranged so as to switch between the first exit path and the second exit path. The first exit path passes above a pivot center of the switch member, and the second exit path passes below the pivot center.

Abstract: A gas spring includes a cylinder, a piston working in the cylinder, a piston rod with one end secured to the piston and another end extending out of the cylinder through one end thereof, and a seal ring slidably disposed in the cylinder and slidably and sealingly engaging with the piston rod. A gas passage is formed between the seal ring and the piston rod when the seal ring and the piston rod are positioned at a predetermined positional relationship. A seal supporting member is provided to prevent displacement of the seal ring toward the piston when the gas passage has been formed.

Abstract: A door closer includes a horizontally disposed inner cylinder receiving oil therein, an outer cylinder surrounding the inner cylinder and receiving gas and oil in an annular spaced defined around the inner cylinder, a piston slidably fitted in the inner cylinder, a piston rod secured to the piston and extending out of the cylinders for connection to a door, a passage disposed at one end of the inner cylinder for communicating the interior of the inner cylinder with the annular space, a valve member movably mounted on the piston rod and normally at a position spaced from the piston for cooperating with the passage so as to reduce the effective passage area of the passage in the end portion of outward movement of the piston rod relative to the cylinders.

Abstract: A spring device including a piston slidably disposed in an inner cylinder of a dual inner and outer cylinder with a piston rod secured thereto and extending to the outside of the cylinder through a rod guide closing one end of the inner cylinder, an oil passage formed in the rod guide and connecting an annular chamber between the inner and outer cylinders with the interior of the inner cylinder, and a device for supplying a force on the piston to project the piston rod outwardly, in which a guide member is supported on the piston rod with a coil spring interposed between the guide member and the piston, and the guide member is adapted to contact the rod guide to control the oil flowing through the oil passage when the piston rod moves outward by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A device for adjusting the length of a gas spring is disclosed. This device includes an operating lever pivotally supported on a bracket rigid with the outer peripheral surface of the body proper of a gas spring. The operating lever has an outer end portion suited for operation, and an inner end portion inserted in the body proper of the gas spring. The device further includes a length-adjusting valve for the gas spring, which valve is actuated by the inner end portion of the operating lever, when the operating lever is operated by moving its outer end portion.

Abstract: A device for controlling the opening or closing speed of a door includes a piston-piston rod assembly slidably fitted in the inner tube of a dual tube hydraulic cylinder. Oil is enclosed in the inner tube and in a portion of the outer tube, and a high pressure gas is enclosed in the outer tube for affording a force on the assembly to project the piston rod outwardly of the cylinder. A mechanism controls oil flow in the cylinder when the piston moves in one direction in the cylinder. A device converts the reciprocal movement of the piston rod into opening-closing movement of the door.

Abstract: A method for filling gas into a sealed cylinder device having a rod guide closing one end thereof and guiding a rod slidably therethrough comprising the steps of forming the rod guide to have a cavity consisting of a cylindrical portion to retain a seal therein and an inwardly divergent portion continuous with the cylindrical portion, displacing the seal inwardly so as to form an annular gap between the outer periphery of the seal and the wall of the divergent cavity portion, filling gas into the cylinder device through the annular gap, and displacing the rod outwardly to carry the seal therewith so as to displace the seal into the cylindrical cavity portion, whereby the seal is thereafter retained in its position due to gas pressure in the cylinder.