Abstract: A water base ink for ink-jet recording comprises water, a coloring agent, a water-soluble organic solvent, and a benzotriazole-based metal-inactivating agent and alkanolamine. When the ink is used in an ink-jet recording apparatus which has the metal member containing nickel or nickel alloy in an ink supply passage, nickel is eluted from the metal member in an amount of not more than 50 ppm. The ink makes it possible to perform stable jetting operation for a long term without causing any deterioration of metal members of a discharge head due to the metallic corrosion and the elution of nickel into the ink.

Abstract: An image sensor including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a main scanning direction, a plurality of switching elements connected to respective ones of the photoelectric conversion elements, individually, and a controller for generating a clock signal to control the switching elements. The photoelectric conversion elements are divided into plural groups, each including a predetermined number (N) of the photoelectric conversion elements. The outputs from the photoelectric conversion elements in one group are read out simultaneously in response to the clock signal generated from the controller, thereby attaining a high speed reading of a document.

Abstract: A method of installing a device driver for a system including a multifunction device, a first terminal device and a second terminal device. The multifunction device is connected to the first terminal device. The first and second terminal devices are connected through a network. The first terminal device is installed with first and second device drivers respectively for first and second functions of the multifunction device. According to the method, when the second device is set to connect with the multifunction device through the first terminal device with respect to the first function, the first device driver is installed in the second terminal device with the second device driver installed as a part of the first device driver. When the first device driver installed in the second terminal device is initialized, and the second device driver is also initialized.

Abstract: During a normal update process, a password transmitted from a personal computer is compared with password already stored in a flash memory. When the passwords match, a transmitted program is written over the stored program. When a change mode is set by a user, the transmitted password is not compared with the stored password. The transmitted program is written over the stored program. Alternatively, even when the two passwords are compared and the two passwords do not match, if the change mode is being set, the transmitted program is written over the stored program. Accordingly, during the change mode, regardless of whether or not the transmitted password matches the stored password, the transmitted program is written over the stored program.

Abstract: A data communication system including a manager computer G capable of transmitting transmission firmware files to be written to a storage area in the ROM of a network interface controller (NIC) by TFTP and transmission firmware files to be written to a storage area in the ROM of a printer by LPR. Based on whether the files were transmitted by TFTP or LPR, the NIC determines whether to process them itself or direct them to the printer. Accordingly, such data can be reliably directed according to the type of protocol used for transmission, without being assigned an identifier.

Abstract: An ink-jet head includes a plurality of nozzles that eject ink, a first flat plate layer including at least one flat plate formed with an array of pressure chambers each communicating with a corresponding one of the nozzles, a second flat plate layer including at least one flat plate formed with a common ink chamber having a shape elongated in a direction of the array of the pressure chambers, an ink flow passage that communicates at one end with a corresponding one of the pressure chambers and at the other end with the common ink chamber, an ink supply passage connecting the common ink chamber and an ink supply source, a flat plate member in a shape of a thin film disposed between the first flat plate layer and the second flat plate layer, a filter formed at the flat plate member for filtering the ink, and a damper chamber formed by a flat plate fixed on the flat plate member on a side thereof opposed to the common ink chamber.

Abstract: A laser-beam printer includes a main unit and a plurality of tray units that can be stacked one upon the other under the main unit. Each of the tray units has a resist roller. The resist roller has a function of adjusting a deviation of a recording sheet fed from stacked sheets on a sheet supporting plate by a sheet feed roller and a function of feeding the recording sheet fed from a tray unit provided immediately below the main unit toward the main unit. A resist roller for adjusting a deviation of the recording medium is also provided upstream from an image forming unit in the main unit.

Abstract: A color blindness dialog box in a Properties window includes a color blindness process mode checkbox enabling a user to select a printing process designed for color blindness. When the color blindness process mode checkbox is checked, it is determined whether the image to be printed includes problematic areas for people with color blindness. If so, image data for these areas is extracted and displayed in a popup window. Subsequently, a borderline process is performed to form a borderline on either or both of the border areas and of text data and graphics data. Thus, the problematic areas are extracted and processed properly so that the problematic areas will become easy to distinguish.

Abstract: A sewing apparatus such as a household sewing machine includes a needle bar, a needle bar vertically moving mechanism, a needle bar position changing operation unit operated via the needle bar vertically moving mechanism to change a vertical position of the needle bar, a thread cassette having a thread accommodating section accommodating a supply of thread, a cassette mount to which the thread cassette is detachably attached, a cassette detector detecting the thread cassette attached to the cassette mount, and a needle bar position changing control unit controlling the needle bar vertically moving mechanism so that in a case where the needle bar position changing unit has been operated, the needle bar is changed from an upper stop position to a lower stop position or vice versa according to a position of the needle bar at the time of operation of the needle bar position changing unit when the thread cassette is attached to the cassette mount according to a result of detection by the cassette detector, the nee

Abstract: In a pointing device (1), strain sensors (7A-7D) are formed on a sensor substrate (2) at positions partially overlapping with a lower surface of a fixed part (5) of a stick member (3) so that a portion of the substrate (2) in which the largest stress concentrates by operation of an operating part (4) of the stick member (3) overlaps with each strain sensor (7A-7D). When such pointing device 1 is installed on a notebook-sized personal computer (20), the stick member (3) is operated to move a cursor (K) displayed on a liquid crystal display (23). Accordingly, the cursor (K) can accurately be moved by operation of the stick member with good operationality.

Abstract: A toner cartridge for use in a printer includes a developing roller and an electrode. The toner cartridge is mountable in the printer by moving in a mounting direction and removable from the printer by moving in a removal direction. The developer roller supplies toner to a photosensitive member of the printer. The electrode is for electrically connecting with a bias supply electrode of the printer to supply a bias to the developing roller. The electrode moves, in a direction from outside the housing toward the interior of the housing and orthogonal to the mounting direction and the removal direction, under contact with the printer while the developing cartridge is being mounted in the printer. The electrode is electrically connected with the bias supply electrode of the printer while the developing cartridge is mounted in the printer.

Abstract: A call system for performing a voice call by an Internet call function using a known telephone terminal. In a multifunction machine serving as the telephone terminal, the output destination and the input source of audio signals input/output from/to a transmitter/receiver may be switched to an audio I/F. In the switched state, audio based on audio signals input/output from/to an outside source through the audio I/F is output/input from the transmitter/receiver. Therefore, when the multifunction machine is connected to a PC having the Internet call function such that audio signals can be input/output through an audio cable, an indirect audio call by the Internet call function with the transmitter/receiver is available. When an incoming call from a telephone line network is received, reception of the incoming call is notified so that a user can confirm the reception of the incoming call during the voice call by the Internet call function.

Abstract: An IP telephone apparatus for executing a telephone call through a computer network. The IP telephone apparatus includes: a main unit; a telephone line connection unit connected to a telephone network; an external telephone connection unit connectable to an external telephone; a dialing start command detection unit configured to detect an IP telephone dialing start command; an audio signal input/output unit that inputs/outputs an audio signal; a handset validation unit configured to selectively validate one of a handset of the main unit and a handset of the external telephone; an audio signal path switching unit that switches a connection target of the validated handset from the telephone line connection unit to the audio signal input/output unit when the IP telephone dialing start command is detected so that the audio signal input/output unit can be transmitted to the network terminal through the computer network.

Abstract: An Internet telephone system is provided with an Internet terminal device capable of connecting with the Internet and transmitting and receiving audio signals for a voice communication. The Internet terminal has a communication unit through for transmitting/receiving the audio signals to/from the Internet. The Internet terminal device has a first interface for outputting/inputting the audio signals for the voice communication and a multifunction device having a telephone function and an Internet telephone function. The multifunction device has a sound input/output unit, a second interface that interfaces between the sound input/output unit and the first interface, a third interface that interfaces between the sound input/output unit and a public telephone network, and a switching system that switches the second interface and the third interface depending on whether the telephone function is used or the Internet telephone function is used.

Abstract: A color laser printer includes a second cleaner, that has a second cleaning roller, a second cleaning box, a second removing roller and a waste toner storage portion, in its casing. In the color laser printer, only the second cleaning roller, which captures toner remaining on an intermediate transfer belt, moves to contact and separate from the intermediate transfer belt while the second cleaning box, the second removing roller and the waste toner storage portion are fixed to the casing of the color laser printer. Therefore, the structure of the color laser printer is simplified, thereby reducing its manufacturing cost.

Abstract: The invention includes a driving pulley mounted to a carriage driving motor fixed to a chassis frame of a facsimile apparatus, a following pulley mounted to a bracket that is movably mounted along a guide groove provided in a chassis frame, and a timing belt rotated around the driving pulley and the following pulley. The top end of a guide shaft protruded from a base block of the bracket, is movably supported by a support portion uniformly protruded from the chassis frame. A compression spring provided to the guide shaft is arranged between the support portion and the bracket, and presses the bracket to apply tension to the timing belt. The bracket is restricted so as not to approach the driving pulley using a stopper fixed to the chassis frame. Therefore, the tension of the timing belt for reciprocatingly moving the carriage mounting the print head, is not loosened.

Abstract: The invention provides a photosensitive member cartridge, that has, for example, a case including a bottom wall, an upper wall, and side walls. A photosensitive drum and a transfer roller are rotatably disposed in a space surrounded by the bottom wall, the upper wall, and the side walls. The bottom wall extends below the transfer roller. A developer cartridge, having a developing roller, is set on the extending portion of the bottom wall.

Abstract: When the printer 10 receives a request signal from one of the administrative computer G and the computers 20 indicating that the user has used the mouse 53 to click the “Edit” button displayed on the CRT monitor 55 (S4), then the printer 10 transmits data for the edit wizard 201 for modifying setting items displayed in the print function settings wizard 202 to the administrative computer G or the computer 20 corresponding to the ID data set attached to the request signal. The user uses the mouse 53 to click on either “Display on” or “Display off” next to each setting item in the edit wizard 201 displayed on the CRT monitor 55 (S6), enabling the user to re-edit setting items displayed in the print function settings wizard 202 (S7-S13).

Abstract: An image forming device includes an image forming section and an image reader section disposed above the image forming section. A main casing that houses the image forming section is formed with a sheet discharge opening formed in either its front or rear surface. A sheet discharge tray is provided to the outside of the main casing at a position under the discharge opening. The sheet discharge tray holds sheets discharged through the discharge opening.

Abstract: A color laser printer includes an intermediate transfer belt, a capture roller for capturing residual toner from the intermediate transfer belt, and a removing roller for removing the toner captured by the capture roller. The capture roller moves to contact and separate from the intermediate transfer belt, and rotates while in contact with the removing roller whether in contact with or separated from the intermediate transfer belt.