Abstract: A sheet feeder has a tray on which a sheet to be fed is to be placed. A lift plate is at a feeding end of the tray and has a first end at an upstream side in a feeding direction connected rotatably to the tray. The lift plate is displaceable between a feeding posture where a second end at a downstream side in the feeding direction is lifted up and a retracted posture where the second end is lower than in the feeding posture due to its own weight. A biasing member gives a biasing force to an elevating member in a direction to lift the lift plate to the feeding posture. A lowering mechanism gives a pressing force against the force of the biasing member to lower the lift plate to the retracted posture.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus is provided with a carriage accommodating an optical unit for image reading, a driving member for moving the carriage, a guide rail, a guide-rail engaging portion engaged with the guide rail, a holding portion for holding the driving member, a guide plate and a claw portion. The claw portion presses the guide-rail engaging portion against the guide rail by partially deforming the driving member to produce a tensile force in the driving member and causing the tensile force to act on the first end portion of the carriage, and produces such a rotation moment for biasing the first end portion of the carriage in a first direction parallel with a sub scanning direction and, on the other hand, biasing the second end portion of the carriage in a second direction opposite to the first direction and parallel with the sub scanning direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image formation portion forming an image onto a recording medium in an electro-photographic process. An acquisition portion acquires image data and a storage portion stores in advance first and second image formation conditions for the electro-photographic process. A condition setting portion sets the first image-formation condition for an image formation operation, if data indicating a bar code is not included in image data acquired by the acquisition portion, and sets the second image formation condition for an image formation operation if image data indicating a bar code is included in image data acquired by the acquisition portion. A control portion allows the image formation portion to execute an image formation operation based on image data acquired by the acquisition portion according to the image formation condition set by the condition setting portion.

Abstract: In the case of a vehicle door with an inside door part and an outside door part which are connected to an inner and outer door shaft reinforcing device, a mirror base of a vehicle exterior rearview mirror is held at a corner of the door. The mirror base is supported on a reinforcing element arranged within the vehicle door. The reinforcing element is arranged between a support of the outer door shaft reinforcing device and a further support of the inner door shaft reinforcing device.

Abstract: An air guiding device (8) is mounted in the rear end (2) of a passenger motor vehicle (1) and a setting-out mechanism (7) is connected to the underside of the air guiding device (8) for moving the air-guiding device (8). A collar (14) with a streamlined profile extends from the air guiding device (8) and surrounds the setting-out mechanism (7). Thus, the end of the setting-out mechanism (7) that faces toward the air guiding device (8) is concealed, and there is an optimum flow around the setting-out mechanism (7) in the region of the setting-out mechanism (7) when the air guiding device (8) is deployed.

Abstract: A method for controlling a drivetrain for a hybrid vehicle is provided. The drivetrain has at least one internal combustion engine, a torque converter and an operational link to at least one drivable axle, an electrical energy store, and an electrical machine, which is usable as a generator for charging the electrical energy store during a recuperation operation. The electrical machine is provided on the pump wheel and the operational link being provided on the turbine wheel of the torque converter. A torque is introduced from the drivable axle via the operational link and through the turbine wheel into the liquid of the torque converter in recuperation operation in order to be dissipated as heat.

Abstract: A connector has a housing (10) from the rear surface of which wires (200) are to be drawn out, and a cover (70) to be mounted on the housing (10) for specifying a draw-out direction of the wires (200) at a position facing the rear surface of the housing (10). A plurality of spaced apart legs (77) are formed on a peripheral portion of the cover (70) and project toward the housing (10) for engaging the housing (10). Spaces (60) for exposing the wire (200) drawn out from the rear surface of the housing (10) are defined between the legs (77) with the cover (70) mounted on the housing (10).

Abstract: An image output system includes a computer and a complex machine connected to the computer. A password generating section of the complex machine, in a case where a user ID transmitted from a transmitting section of the computer is stored in a HDD, generates a password which is different from the user ID, and the transmitting section transmits the password generated by the password generating section. A controller, in a case where the password received by a password receiving section and the password transmitted from the password transmitting section to the computer, controls an image forming section to output image data which is not combined with electronic watermark information by an electronic watermark information combining section.

Abstract: A cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt comprises a ventricular catheter and an electroactive polymer actuated valve for regulating the drainage rate of CSF from the brain ventricle of a patient. The shunt system also comprises a distal catheter for discharge of the CSF to a separate location in the patient's body such as the peritoneal cavity or atrium of the heart. The electroactive polymer actuated valve regulates the flow rate of CSF through a predetermined threshold pressure, which can be adjusted and programmed externally from the patient's body by means of an external control unit signal, as well as through a signal indicated by an internal sensor or an electroactive polymer transducer. The sensor also communicates a signal to the external control unit for indicating the internal pressure at a single location or multiple locations throughout the fully implanted shunt assembly.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a developing housing having a developer accommodating chamber; a developer bearing member which is supported rotatably inside a developing housing, and which holds on a circumferential surface thereof a two-component developer composed of a magnetic carrier and toner; a toner bearing member which is supported rotatably with respect to the developer bearing member inside the developing housing, and to which the toner in the developer held on the developer bearing member adheres electrostatically; and a toner recovery tray which has an opening in an upper end thereof, and which is installed removably in the developing housing below the developer bearing member and the toner bearing member.

Abstract: A motor vehicle door has a triangular pane, a lowerable side pane, and a guide rail for guiding the lowerable side pane being provided between the triangular pane and the lowerable side pane. Here, the guide rail is fixedly connected to a window frame, to an inner window slot and to a mirror reinforcement.

Abstract: A waterproof connector has a deformation space (35) for a locking lance (30) that opens in the front surface of a housing (10). A wall surface (41) of a base end part of the locking lance (30) is located at a back side of the deformation space (35). In the process of inserting a terminal fitting (90) into a cavity (26), the locking lance (30) is resiliently deformed toward the deformation space (35) with a base end thereof as a support. When the terminal fitting (90) is inserted properly into the cavity (26), the locking lance (30) resiliently returns to retain the terminal fitting (90) in the cavity (26). A recess (42) is formed in the wall surface (41) of the base end portion of the locking lance (30).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for obtaining a sub-resolution spatial information of a sample labeled with at least one type fluorescent label. The sub-resolution spatial information has localization information about the positions of fluorescent molecules of the at least one type fluorescent label in at least one spatial direction. The method acquires localization image data by employing fluorescence localization microscopy. The acquired localization image data is processed to obtain the localization information about the positions of fluorescent molecules of the at least one type fluorescent label in at least one spatial direction. The step of processing includes determining in each of the detected images of the series the positions of the barycenters of the detected fluorescence emission distributions from the single fluorescent molecules of the one or more fluorescent labels in at least one spatial direction.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for a component (6) and a drive element (11, 12) for the component. The drive element has a housing (9). The component is produced by a primary forming process, such as die-casting, thixomolding or plastic injection molding so that a region of the component defines the housing of the drive element. The component and the housing are distinguished by a low weight and a small structural space requirement.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image bearing member on which a toner image is to be formed. A transfer roller contacts a surface of the image bearing member for transferring a toner image on the image bearing member to one side of a transfer medium by applying a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image on the image bearing member from the other side of the transfer medium. A biasing member biases the transfer roller toward the image bearing member. The transfer roller is shaped such that the outer diameter of a first part corresponding to the width of a specified sheet size is constant and the outer diameters of second parts located closer to opposite ends of the transfer roller than the first part are gradually increased toward the outer sides in an axial direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a processor, a storage unit for storing a program and data, a function unit for performing functional operations; and an interactive input/output unit. The storage unit includes first storage areas, second storage areas, and third storage areas, which are hierarchized. The program causes the processor to display specified information allotted to the first storage areas on the interactive input/output unit. If one first storage area is selected, information of the second storage areas related to the selected first storage area is displayed on the interactive input/output unit. If one second storage area is selected, information of files in the third storage areas included in the selected second storage area and the names of processes to be performed to the files are displayed on the interactive input/output unit. If the file and process are selected, the process is performed to this file.

Abstract: A transformer accepts an AC voltage from an AC power source, transforms the AC voltage, and supplies the transformed AC voltage to first rectifying circuits. Similarly, another transformer accepts an AC voltage from an AC power source, transforms the AC voltage, and supplies the transformed AC voltage to second rectifying circuits. The first rectifying circuits convert the accepted AC voltage into a positive DC voltage, and the second rectifying circuits convert the accepted AC voltage to a negative DC voltage. The positive DC voltage and the negative DC voltage then are superimposed and outputted to a secondary side of a transformer in the AC circuits. The AC voltage outputted from the transformers in the AC circuits and the DC voltage formed by superimposing the positive and negative DC voltages outputted from the first and second rectifying circuits are further superimposed, and supplied to each developing section.