Abstract: The invention relates to a device for controlling the variation of the power and/or the speed of a load (2), such as an asynchronous, synchronous, universal motor, a transformer, an inductance, a condenser or a resistor, comprising a switch (5) placed on a phase (4) of a single-phase or multiphase alternating-current supply-circuit (3), this switch (5) being associated with means (6) for controlling the cyclic ratio .alpha./T in which .alpha. corresponds to the time of opening and closing of the circuit (3) by the switch (5) and T to the period of the phase (4) on which this latter is placed. In fact, the switch (5) is of the bidirectional MOS, IGBT or bipolar transistor switch type, this switch (5) being associated with means (9) for controlling the switching time, of the DRIVER type, capable of extending the switching time at closing so that it be within a range from 10 microseconds to 1 millisecond.

Abstract: A power plant operating on steam for producing electric power including a plurality of integrated power plant unit modules each having a steam turbine responsive to the steam and producing heat depleted steam, a steam condenser associated with the steam turbine operating at a pressure no less than atmospheric pressure for collecting non-condensable gases and condensing the heat depleted steam and vaporizing organic fluid applied to the condenser, a closed organic Rankine cycle turbine operating on the organic fluid and a single electric generator driven by the steam turbine and the organic Rankine cycle turbine for producing electric power, and also including means for supplying in parallel the steam to each steam turbine in each of the modules. A method for producing electric power using steam is also described.

Abstract: An automatic focusing apparatus having an object distance data detecting mechanism having an optical system which includes a focusing lens assembly which can be driven by a motor, and a mechanism for detecting an angular velocity of the motor. The optical system further includes a motor driving mechanism for driving the motor in a direction and at an angular velocity based on object distance data obtained by the object distance data detecting mechanism to move the focusing lens assembly, and a mechanism for controlling the motor. When the motor is instructed to be stopped, the angular velocity is reduced to a predetermined value. The controlling mechanism is effected in accordance with the angular velocity detected by the velocity detecting means.

Abstract: A method of fusing and fixing a liquid toner image on a substrate. The image includes a carrier liquid and a non-volatile portion including thermoplastic toner particles which are plasticized by the carrier liquid at a predetermined temperature. The non-volatile portion of the liquid toner, in the absence of the carrier liquid, has a viscosity of not less than 2.times.10.sup.6 centipoise at a temperature of 122.+-.1.degree. C. The method includes fusing and fixing the toner image on the substrate by heating the toner image to at least the predetermined temperature while pressing the toner image against the substrate.

Abstract: A DCT processing circuit outputs DCT coefficients based on image data stored in an image memory. The DCT coefficients are quantized by a quantization processing circuit, then input to a Huffman encoding processing circuit and an inverse quantization processing circuit. In the inverse quantization processing circuit, the DCT coefficients are reproduced. The differences between the reproduced DCT coefficients and the DCT coefficients output from the DCT processing circuit are determined as the quantized error data by subtractors. An error data synthesizing unit stores the error data in a fourth component of a JPEG format and inputs the error data to the Huffman encoding processing circuit. The output signals of the quantization processing circuit and the output signals of the error data synthesizing unit are Huffman encoded and recorded to an IC memory card.

Abstract: An imaging system including an image bearing surface and an intermediate transfer member operative for transfer of toner images from the image bearing surface to a transfer surface of the intermediate transfer member and for subsequent transfer to a substrate.The intermediate transfer member includes a compressible layer, a backing layer disposed away from said image bearing surface and a heating layer. The heating layer is disposed intermediate backing layer and said transfer surface.

Abstract: A connector includes a connector housing and a branched joint terminal for branching a primary line to a plurality of secondary lines. The connector housing has a plurality of terminal housing extending parallel to each other and opening at the front side for accommodating one terminal connected to the primary line or to the secondary line (5B). The connector housing is provided with grooves extending between the side walls thereof and crossing the terminal housing. Thus extended formed groove is also opened at the front side for receiving the joint terminal therein. When joint terminal is placed in the groove, the first and second terminals accommodated in the terminal housing are electrically connected through the joint terminal so that the primary line is branched and connected to the secondary terminals.

Abstract: Electrical connector casings comprising a female casing member and a male casing member the male casing member, wherein includes an inclined elastic bar fastened at a point partway along its length to an abutment and the female casing member has a passage adapted to receive the elastic bar. Partway along the length of this passage is a projection on the path of the abutment and having, on the side facing the opening of the female casing member, a steep edge joining at right angles to a part joining at right angles a .retaining steep edge which, with the abutment, locks the two casing members together.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the quality of an illuminating device, such as an elongated lamp, that is useable with an imaging device, such as a scanner. Electrical power is supplied to the lamp so that it emits a light beam. The light beam is then measured and a determination is made as to whether the emitted light of the lamp is within one or more predetermined values, which include overall brightness, stabilized output power, and profile flatness values.

Abstract: An ignition system for an internal combustion engine, comprising: a tubular insulating member which has a through-hole;a tubular terminal which is mounted in an upper portion of the through-hole; an ignition coil which has a first terminal;the first terminal being fitted into an upper portion of the terminal so as to be electrically connected to the terminal; a coiled spring which is attached to a lower portion of the terminal and is loosely fitted into a lower portion of the through-hole; a spark plug which has a second terminal fitted into the through-hole from a lower portion of the insulating member; the second terminal being brought into contact with the coiled spring so as to be electrically connected to the coiled spring; and a buckling preventive portion for reducing an inside diameter of the through-hole, which is provided at a portion of the through-hole between the lower portion of the terminal and an upper portion of the second terminal so as to prevent buckling of an intermediate portion of the c

Abstract: A parts feeder for feeding parts that are disposed on a carrier having a base tape and an adhesive tape. Parts are disposed above holes which are formed at equal intervals on the base tape, and the parts are held by an adhesive tape adhered to a lower surface of the base tape. The feeder includes a pitched feeding mechanism for intermittently feeding the carrier tape at a predetermined pitch, a separating mechanism for separating the adhesive tape from the base tape in synchronization with the feeding of the carrier tape at an adhesive tape separating stage, and a pressing mechanism for pressing the parts disposed on the base tape against the base tape prior to the separation of the adhesive tape from the base tape at the adhesive tape separating stage.

Abstract: An apparatus for installing a curved mirror used in a scanning optical system is provided. The apparatus his a curved mirror assembly that includes a wall and a reference surface which is formed on a surface of said wall. The apparatus also has a stationary member with which the scanning optical system is provided and to which the curved mirror assembly is secured. The curved mirror assembly is secured to the stationary member by using the reference surface without the reflecting surface coming in contact with the stationary member.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printer includes a fixing unit having a movable pressure roller, movable toward and away from a heat roller. The heat roller of the fixing unit is above a plane formed between a pair of discharge rollers and a tractor, so that the paper path between the tractor and the discharge rollers is straight when the pressure roller is retracted, and the paper path is bent when the pressure roller is moved to contact the heat roller. The paper path is bent by a guide member upstream of the pressure roller so that the path is not bent around the pressure roller itself.

Abstract: A device for positioning a tip portion of a continuous form provided in a laser printer when the continuous form is set in the laser printer. The device includes a pair of fixing rollers provided at a position separated by a predetermined interval from a photosensitive drum, a tractor unit, a feed sensor, a tip sensor, and a control unit. The tractor unit is provided between the fixing rollers and the photosensitive drum to feed the continuous form toward the fixing rollers, the feed sensor outputs feed pulses in accordance with an amount fed of the continuous form, the tip sensor senses the tip portion of the continuous form. The control unit counts the number of feed pulses sensed by the feed sensor to feed one page of the continuous form so as, to discharge one page from the outlet mouth of the printer when a positioning of the tip portion is needed.

Abstract: A battery terminal clamp that clamps firmly to the battery post by tightening a bolt from the horizontal direction to improve the productivity of the bolt tightening operation. The battery terminal clamp has, on a terminal clamp main body, a ring-shaped post fitting member continuous to the cable fitting member, and a pair of right and left tightening members continuous to the respective free ends of the post fitting member and having a gap therebetween. The tightening members are brought together by a nut and bolt to close the free ends of the post fitting member continuous thereto, thus clamping the battery terminal to the outside circumference of the battery post. The pair of right and left tightening members projecting from the post fitting member are provided at a rising slope of a predetermined angle to the post fitting member.

Abstract: Apparatus having the dual function of display and optical mapping of transparencies which includes a viewing surface to which a transparency is adjacent, a segmented surface underlying the viewing surface and having a plurality of segments at least two of which have a controllable opacity, at least one photodetector underlying the segmented surface which detects light passing through the viewing surface and the segmented surface and generates detected light signals responsive to the intensity of the detected light and a mapping system which, in an opacity determination mode, sequentially varies of the opacity of selected segments and which determines the opacity of portions of the transparency based on signals supplied during such sequential variation.

Abstract: A branch joint box comprising: a base plate; and a pair of connector coupling portions which are, respectively, formed on opposite faces of the base plate so as to confront each other; the base plate being formed with a plurality of insertion openings for inserting therethrough bus bars each including an elongated base portion and at least one pair of tabs extending from opposite sides of the base portion, respectively; the insertion openings extending through the base plate so as to communicate the connector coupling portions with each other; wherein the bus bars are secured in the insertion openings, respectively such that the tabs project into the connector coupling portions, respectively.

Abstract: A collimating lens system comprises a chromatic aberration correction element and a converging lens which has both surfaces formed of a convex aspherical surface. The converging lens has no aberrations except chromatic aberration. The chromatic aberration correction element has small refractive power adapted to correct a chromatic aberration of the converging lens, and the element is constructed of positive and negative lenses cemented to each other. The positive lens and the negative lens have almost the same refractive index, and have different dispersion.