Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a process unit having a developer container for containing a developer; an apparatus main body having an opening and a unit accommodation section into which the process unit is inserted through the opening and detachably accommodated; and a cover for closing the opening in a state that the process unit is accommodated in the unit accommodation section, the cover being integrally provided with the process unit.

Abstract: In a state that a termination edge of a recording medium aligns with a termination edge of a region opposing a recording head (nozzle surface), a sticking force acting on the recording medium is set to be at least equal to or greater than the weight of a part (a portion having a length) of the recording medium protruding from a separation start position toward the downstream side in a conveying direction.

Abstract: Cleaning liquid stored in a first storage tank is absorbed by a sponge via a passage formed in a tube and a holder, and then applied onto a conveyance belt when the sponge comes into contact with the conveyance belt. Here, even when air bubbles enter into the cleaning liquid supplied to the sponge, the air bubbles are discharged to the outside through an air discharging hole formed in the holder.

Abstract: The invention provides a copying system that can perform copying processing for a color original document within a short time. In a color copying system, images on a color original document are read by a scanner of a multi-function center (MFC), as analog RGB data. The analog RGB data is converted into digital binary CMYK data by an ASIC. The converted digital binary CMYK data is transmitted to a PC. The binary CMYK data is image data that can be printed by a printer of the MFC, so that the binary CMYK data does not have to be converted in the PC. Therefore, when the binary CMYK data for all pages of the original documents is received by a color copying application of the PC, the binary CMYK data is then sequentially transmitted to the MFC in the order of printing by the printer of the MFC, according to the copying designation by an operator. The color copying system can accurately perform the copying processing for the color original document within a short time.

Abstract: When a new developer cartridge is initially mounted in an image-forming device, a toothed part of a sensor gear disposed in the cartridge is brought into meshing engagement with an agitator drive gear disposed in the image-forming device. The sensor gear is driven while its toothed part is in meshing engagement with the agitator drive gear and driving of the sensor gear is stopped when its toothless part opposes the agitator drive gear. One or more contact protrusions are formed on the sensor gear to be movable therewith. An information-detecting mechanism detects how many contact protrusions are formed on the sensor gear during driving of the sensor gear. Based on the detection results, whether the mounted developer cartridge is a new product or not is determined, and information on the maximum sheets to be printed with the mounted developer cartridge is acquired.

Abstract: A liquid supplying apparatus for supplying a liquid to an ejecting device. The liquid supplying apparatus includes a liquid storage device, a supply device, a first gas-permeable membrane, and a gas blocking liquid. The liquid storage device, including a reservoir having an atmosphere communication hole in an upper portion of the reservoir, stores the liquid. The supply device applies pressure to the liquid and supplies the liquid to the liquid storage device. The first gas-permeable membrane, which is permeable to gas but impermeable to liquid, is disposed in the atmosphere communication hole. The gas blocking liquid, filled in the atmosphere communication hole on the atmosphere side of the first gas-permeable membrane, prevents entry of gas from the atmosphere side.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an electrostatic latent image bearing member; a toner cartridge; a developing member; a transfer member; a development cartridge; a development contact; and electrical connection units. The toner cartridge is removably coupled to the development cartridge. The development cartridge incorporates at least the developing member. The development contact is provided on the toner cartridge and is configured to receive a voltage to be applied to the developing member. The electrical connection units are provided on the toner cartridge and the development cartridge, respectively, and apply the voltage from the development contact to the developing member when the toner cartridge and the development cartridge are coupled to each other.

Abstract: There is provided a device information management system, including a server, a client and a device in which the server and the client are configured to communicate with each other via a first communication channel while the client and the device are configured to communicate with each other via a second communication channel different from the first communication channel and device information is transmitted from the device to the client via the second communication channel and from the client to the server via the first communication channel and registered in a database of the server. The device includes a device-side information supplying unit configured to supply the device information to the client via the second communication channel.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a first driven roller that forms a first nip portion with a driving roller; a second driven roller that forms a second nip portion with the driving roller at a downstream side of the first nip portion; a first transfer passage into which the sheet passed through the first nip portion and sent from the second nip portion is transferred by a forward rotation of the driving roller: a second transfer passage into which the sheet passed through the first nip portion is transferred by the forward rotation of the driving roller without passing through the second nip portion; and a third transfer passage into which the sheet is transferred by a reverse rotation of the driving roller after a rear end of the sheet has passed through the first nip portion by the forward rotation of the driving roller.

Abstract: Three-dimensional shape detecting means comprises: projection means which projects pattern light; image capturing means which captures a pattern light projection image of a subject on which the pattern light is projected; pattern light position extracting means which extracts a position of the pattern light projected on the subject based on the pattern light projection image captured by the image capturing means; three-dimensional shape calculation means which calculates three-dimensional shape of the subject based on the position of the pattern light extracted by the pattern light position extracting means; storage means which stores color value data of the pattern light projection image captured by the image capturing means; hue parameter calculation means which calculates hue parameters corresponding to a main hue forming the pattern light in units of pixels based on the color value data stored in the storage means; luminance parameter calculation means which calculates luminance parameters in units of pix

Abstract: A developer cartridge is configured to be detachably mounted in an apparatus main body and to accommodate developer. The developer cartridge includes a drive member and a display portion. The drive member is configured to be driven to move by a driving force when the developer cartridge is mounted in the apparatus main body. The display portion is configured to move together with the drive member. The display portion displays identification information relating to the developer cartridge in an optically readable manner. A detecting portion optically detects the identification information when the display portion is in a first position, and optically detects presence or absence of the developer in the developer cartridge when the display portion is in a second position different from the first position. An information determining portion determines information on the developer cartridge based on the identification information detected by the detecting portion.

Abstract: A packing kit for packing a container which contains a fluid together with a first gas, and thereby providing a package including the container, the packing kit including a packing bag which is adapted to fluid-tightly accommodate the container together with a second gas, a non-gas-tight case which accommodates the packing bag together with a third gas and which has a rigidity to restrain an expansion of the packing bag in a low-pressure environment where a portion of the third gas leaks from the non-gas-tight case and accordingly a pressure of the third gas becomes lower than a pressure of the second gas, and a volume-ratio reducing device which is provided inside of at least the non-gas-tight case so as to reduce a ratio of a volume of the third gas to a volume of the second gas.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes a body, a developer cartridge, a first detecting unit, a second detecting unit and a controller. The developer cartridge accommodates developer therein and detachable from the body. The developer cartridge includes an information member disposed, when the developer cartridge is mounted on the body, in at least one of a first position and a second position different from the first position in accordance with information with respect to the developer cartridge. The first detecting unit detects that the information member is disposed at the first position. The second detecting unit detects that the information member is disposed at the second position. The controller determines the information with respect to the developer cartridge based on the detecting result of at least one of the first detecting unit and the second detecting unit.

Abstract: An optical scanner includes a scanning unit having a reflecting surface that reflects a laser beam and scans the laser beam in a primary scanning direction, a laser beam radiation unit that radiates laser beams to the reflecting surface from directions at predetermined angles to a reference plane, which is orthogonal to the reflecting surface and extending along the primary scanning direction, and optical members provided on optical paths of the laser beams after reflections. The laser beam radiation unit radiates the laser beams, in such a manner that, an angle on a plane orthogonal to the reference plane between a first and second optical paths is larger than an angle between the first and third optical paths, the second and third optical paths being adjacent to one side and other side of the first optical path, respectively. The optical member on the second optical path is nearer the reflecting surface than the third optical path.

Abstract: An image-recording device including a carriage, a recording head, a guide rail, a flexible flat cable, a flexible ink supply tubes, and a top cover. The recording head is provided at the carriage. The guide rail extends in a widthwise direction of a recording medium fed in a feeding direction perpendicular to the widthwise direction. The flat cable has a broad surface extending in a horizontal direction and bent into U-shape so that an upper region of the flat cable faces the top cover whereas a lower region of the flat cable faces the base. The carriage is reciprocally movable in the widthwise direction. The flat cable is oriented upward from the carriage at a prescribed angle with respect to a horizontal plane and extends in the widthwise direction, so that at least the U-shaped bent portion of the flat cable is in continuous contact with the top cover.

Abstract: A tray and a method thereof that uses the tray including a surface with a first end and a second end opposite to the first end a projection extending away from the surface and from the second end of the surface and a recess formed below the surface and from the projection toward the first end.

Abstract: A scanning unit for use in an image-forming device includes, for example, four light sources that emit light beams corresponding to yellow, magenta, cyan and black images. The light beams are scanned over the corresponding photosensitive drum with the use of a single polygon mirror and four optical reflection systems each including reflection mirrors. The curved orientation of the scan lines on the photosensitive drum can be equalized for all four light beams by regulating the number of reflection mirrors, that is, by setting the number of reflection mirrors to an even number or an odd number.

Abstract: During a first rotation of a photoconductor, latent electrostatic images for color correction processing patterns are formed on the photoconductor, and the latent electrostatic images are developed into the color correction processing patterns in each of four colors, and then densities of the patterns on the photoconductor are detected. During a second rotation of the photoconductor, each color of the patterns is recovered back into a developer device.

Abstract: A sheet feed table has a plurality of ribs formed on a surface thereof. The ribs extend in a sheet feeding direction and are disposed at a predetermined interval in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction. An air duct is provided between the adjacent ribs. An ink passage opening is formed in an image forming region where a print head moves to form an image. Disposed below the ink passage opening is an ink receiving chamber in which an ink absorber is disposed. A suction opening that communicates with the air duct is disposed upstream and downstream of the image forming region in the sheet feeding direction. A suction device is connected such that the air is sucked through the suction openings into a negative pressure chamber provided on an underside of the sheet feed table. The negative pressure chamber and the ink receiving chamber are separated from each other.

Abstract: A method of determining an operating drive voltage of an ink-jet head which has an actuator and which ejects, as a result of driving of the actuator, ink droplets toward a recording medium during a relative movement of the ink-jet head and the recording medium for performing recording, the ink-jet head being configured such that an ejection speed of the ink droplets varies depending upon a drive voltage to be applied to the actuator, the method including: recording a first record pattern as a result of driving of the actuator by application of a tentatively determined first test voltage and a second record pattern as a result of driving of the actuator by application of a second test voltage different from the first test voltage, so that the first record pattern and the second record pattern are superposed on each other; and judging whether or not the first test voltage is proper as the operating driving voltage, based on an appearance of a superposed pattern formed by superposition of the first pattern and t