Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a body of the image forming apparatus; an opening and closing unit that is supported by the body of the image forming apparatus so as to rotate relative to the body of the image forming apparatus and that opens and closes an inside of the body of the image forming apparatus, the opening and closing unit having a rotating shaft; a first coupling unit that has a first tube portion and a second coupling unit that has an extension portion a bent portion, and a second tube portion. When the opening and closing unit has been moved to an open position where the opening and closing unit opens the inside of the body of the image forming apparatus, a contact part at which the opening and closing unit is to be in contact with the second coupling unit is in contact with the bent portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a body of the image forming apparatus; an opening and closing unit that is supported by the body of the image forming apparatus so as to rotate relative to the body of the image forming apparatus and that opens and closes an inside of the body of the image forming apparatus, the opening and closing unit having a rotating shaft; a first coupling unit that has a first tube portion having a tube shape and having an inside through which the rotating shaft of the opening and closing unit passes, the first coupling unit being supported by the opening and closing unit; and a second coupling unit that has an extension portion supported by the body of the image forming apparatus and extending toward the first coupling unit, a bent portion having a first end portion that is connected to an end portion of the extension portion and being formed to be bent relative to an extension direction of the extension portion and to extend toward the rotating shaft, and a second tube portion disp

Abstract: An opening and closing mechanism includes an opening and closing door that is rotatably supported to be movable between a closed position where an opening of an apparatus body is covered and an opened position where the opening is opened, a link member provided in the apparatus body and rotatably supported by a rotary shaft, a guide member having a first guide surface that moves while being in contact with the link member in a case where the opening and closing door moves to the closed position and a second guide surface that moves while being in contact with the link member in a case where the opening and closing door moves to the opened position, and a switching member that guides the link member from the first guide surface to the second guide surface, in which the switching member includes a root portion and an arm extending from the root portion to an opposite side to the apparatus body, and a first rotational moment toward the first guide surface using the root portion as an axis is applied to the arm.

Abstract: A plastic molded gear capable of reducing teeth knocking noises due to backlash during engagement. A protruding portion 5 for eliminating backlash is formed so as to protrude from both end portions in facewidth directions on one tooth flank 6 of each tooth 2, and the protruding portion 5 is not formed on the other tooth flank 12 of the tooth 2. If the protruding portion 5 is elastically deformed so as to absorb backlash, the protruding portion 5 has the same plane as that of the one tooth flank 6, and the other tooth flank 12 of the tooth 2 serves as a main power transmission surface. With this construction, the protruding portion 5 elastically contacts the tooth flank of a companion gear engaged with the plastic molded gear, so that the elastic deformation of the protruding portion 5 absorbs rotational energy of the companion gear during intermittent rotation.

Abstract: In a worm wheel 1 having a plurality of teeth 2 on the outer periphery thereof for meshing with a worm, each of the teeth 2 is crowned from substantially central portions 2a toward both end portions 2b, 2c in facewidth directions to form non-contact portions, which do not contact the worm, in the substantially central portions 2a and both end portions 2b, 2c in facewidth directions. A lubricant is filled in the non-contact portions, which do not contact the worm and which are formed in and near the substantially central portion 2a in facewidth directions, to reduce frictional resistance during meshing.

Abstract: There is provided a plastic molded gear capable of reducing teeth knocking noises due to backlash during engagement. A protruding portion 5 for eliminating backlash is formed so as to protrude from both end portions in facewidth directions on one tooth flank 6 of each tooth 2, and the protruding portion 5 is not formed on the other tooth flank 12 of the tooth 2. If the protruding portion 5 is elastically deformed so as to absorb backlash, the protruding portion 5 has the same plane as that of the one tooth flank 6, and the other tooth flank 12 of the tooth 2 serves as a main power transmission surface. With this construction, the protruding portion 5 elastically contacts the tooth flank of a companion gear engaged with the plastic molded gear, so that the elastic deformation of the protruding portion 5 absorbs rotational energy of the companion gear during intermittent rotation.

Abstract: A resin gear is formed by connecting a rim having teeth on the outer periphery thereof to a hub by means of a substantially annular web having a thin portion which is thinner than the rim and which is curved in facewidth directions, the thin portion being elastically deformable so as to allow a relative displacement in radial directions between the rim and the hub while preventing a relative displacement in rotational directions between the rim and the hub.

Abstract: An impeller for a circumferential current pump is injection molded and can be used as it is without being polished. The impeller (7) is provided with a plurality of vane grooves (12) on an outer periphery of a synthetic resin disc-like member (8) rotated by a motor, and is rotatably received with a substantially disc-like space (6) formed between a pump casing (4) and a pump cover (5). A disc-like recess portion (14) is formed in both side surfaces (10, 11) of the disc-like member (8). A formation is performed so that a ratio (L/2t) between the sum (t1+t2=2t) of a gap (t1) between one side surface (10) and the pump casing (4) and a gap (t2) between another side surface (11) and the pump cover (5), and a size (L=R0−H−R1) obtained by subtracting a radical groove length (H) of the vane groove (12) and a radial size (R1) of the recess portion (14) from a radial size (R0) of the disc-like member (8) satisfies a relation 66≦(L/2t).

Abstract: In order to improve the efficiency of test and debug procedure based on delarative program understanding of a program described by a logical language, the operation which has been executed for each procedure is grasped. On the basis of information relating to the grasped operation, the operation range of each procedure is expressed clearly by making thick only sides which have actually operated among four sides of a box-shaped figure surrounding each head term and end body term of each clause included in each procedure.

Abstract: Yeast is continuously cultured in a vapor condensate by adding a neutralizing agent and nutritive agents to the vapor condensate produced from the evaporation of spent sulfite liquor; inoculating said vapor condensate with Candida, Pichia or Hansenula yeast; continuously culturing said yeast in said inoculated vapor condensate; and continuously supplying unsterilized vapor condensate to control the sulfurous acid concentration and the pH of said inoculated vapor condensate.