Abstract: A first rotating axis and a second rotating axis are respectively connected to one of a sun gear, a ring gear, and a planetary gear carrier of a first planetary gear train and a second planetary gear train. One of the sun gear, ring gear, and planetary gear carrier of the first planetary gear train is fixed to a frame, and one of the other elements is synchronized in revolution. One corresponding sun gear, ring gear, and planetary gear carrier of the second planetary gear train is rotatably mounted. A rotation degree of the rotatably mounted sun gear, ring gear, and planetary gear carrier of the second planetary gear train is measured. Then, a phase difference with respect to rotations of the first rotating axis and the second rotating axis can be detected.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer, having a print head for jetting ink, an ink supply tube connecting between an ink tank and the print head, an ink supply pump interposing in the ink supply tube, an ink return tube connecting between and the print head and the ink tank, an ink return pump interposing in the ink return tube, a controller for controlling the ink supply pump and the ink return pump to fill the print head with ink in the ink tank, the volume of ink supplied by the ink return pump is greater than the volume of ink returned by the ink return pump in filling mode. Thus a foreign matter in the ink-jet nozzles of the print head can be cleaned by flowing out a foreign matter in the ink-jet nozzles.

Abstract: In a multi-drop system, a drive pulse voltage for increasing a volume of an ink chamber is applied for a time of AL, a drive pulse voltage for decreasing the volume of the ink chamber is subsequently applied for a time of 2AL, application of the drive pulse voltage is thereafter paused for a time of AL, and the same timing operation is thereafter repeated again to perform emission of an ink drop a plurality of times, where AL is a time required for a pressure wave in an ink chamber to be transmitted from an end to the other end in the ink emission direction. The drive pulse voltage for emitting a last ink drop forming a part of a one-dot liquid drop is applied for a time of 2AL, application of the drive pulse voltage is thereafter paused for a time of AL, and a dumping pulse voltage is thereafter applied in a direction in which the volume of the ink chamber is decreased.

Abstract: A technique for transferring at least a part of inks of a plurality of colors onto a recording web sheet in superposition by heating the inks with a thermal head, and by passing the recording web sheet and an ink ribbon, superposed with each other, between the thermal head and a platen. The recording web sheet has a plurality of interconnected pores which have openings formed in a surface of the recording web sheet, and a proportion of a total area of the openings of the pores is more than 50% and less than 80% of a total surface area of the recording web sheet. A proportion of a number of the openings of the pores having a pore diameter of 5-35 .mu.m is more than 50% of a total number of the openings of the pores, and a proportion of a number of the openings of the pores having a pore diameter of at least 35 .mu.m is less than 5% of the total number of the openings of the pores.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes a full-wave rectifier circuit for rectifying an AC voltage from a commercial power source, a smoothing condenser connected is series with an inductor and a diode between output terminals of the full-wave rectifier circuit, a light source unit containing a series circuit of light emitting diodes and connected in parallel with the smoothing condenser, a MOSFET connected in series with the inductor between the output terminals of the full-wave rectifier circuit, and a control circuit for performing switching control of the MOSFET. In particular, the control circuit is constituted such that a voltage across the smoothing condenser is set higher than a peak of an input voltage input to the smoothing condenser through the diode and equal to a total sum of forward voltage drops of the light emitting diodes at a time of igniting the light source, under the switching control.

Abstract: A power supply device and a discharge lamp lighting device which are capable of reducing high harmonic elements and improving a crest factor. A full-wave rectifying circuit is connected to a commercial AC power supply. A first capacitor, a diode and second capacitor, having a smaller capacitance than the first capacitor, are connected to the full-wave rectifying circuit. A partially smoothed circuit consisting of a charge capacitor, an inductor and a diode is connected to the second capacitor. A parallel resonance circuit and a collector-emitter of a transistor are connected to the partially smoothed circuit. The parallel resonance circuit consists of a primary winding of an inverter transformer and a first resonance capacitor. A second resonance capacitor is connected between the emitter and the collector of the transistor. Filaments of a fluorescent lamp are connected to a secondary winding of the inverter transformer. A starting capacitor is connected to the filaments.

Abstract: In a power supply circuit, a rectification circuit is coupled to a partial smoothing circuit, and an inverting circuit. The rectification circuit includes a rectifier coupled to a primary capacitor. The partial smoothing circuit includes a first, second, and third diode coupled together with the third diode in reverse polarity with the first and second diodes. The partial smoothing circuit also includes a series combination of a choke coil and a smoothing capacitor disposed in parallel with the second diode. A diode extends from the partial smoothing circuit to the inverting circuit. In one embodiment, the inverting circuit includes a main capacitor in parallel with a combination of a winding and an auxiliary capacitor. A switching means is coupled to the inverting circuit and the rectification circuit.

Abstract: An optical code reader includes a reading window, a reading control circuit for sensing an image of a 2-dimensional code via the reading window in a state where the reading window is set within a preset distance from the 2-dimensional code and converting the sensed image into image data, a guide light source for applying a guide light beam to permit the 2-dimensional code to be guided within the reading range of the reading control circuit, and a portable frame having an opening used as the reading window, for accommodating the reading control circuit and guide light source. In the optical code reader, the guide light beam indicates the center of the reading range and is applied from the guide light source except for a period during which the image of the 2-dimensional code is sensed by the reading control circuit.

Abstract: An exposing device is composed of a photosensitive drum having a surface partitioned into a plurality of exposure areas in a main scanning direction, for carrying an image formed by exposing the surface, a laser light source for emitting a laser beam, a polygon mirror for rotating at a constant speed to scan the surface of the photosensitive drum in the main scanning direction with the laser beam from the laser light source, and an exposure control circuit for producing items of emission data for one line while the number of emission data items for one dot is varied for each exposure area, and for supplying the emission data items for one line to the laser light source in response to a print clock pulse.

Abstract: A head driving device includes an ink-jet head having a large number of ink chambers arranged side by side and separated by piezoelectric elements, FETs for connecting electrodes of the ink chambers to a +Vcc power source line, FETs for connecting the electrodes of the ink chambers to a -Vcc power source line, bi-directional switches for connecting the electrodes of the ink chambers to a ground line, selectors each for selecting one of a plurality of pulse signals in which at least one of the pulse width and pulse interval is different according to gradation data, sequencers for generating sequence signals according to the pulse signals from the selectors, and decoders for decoding the sequence signals into driving signals and supplying them to the FETs and bi-directional switches.

Abstract: A facsimile apparatus generating a monitor report. The facsimile apparatus stores kinds of causes of communication troubles and codes corresponding to the kinds of causes of the communication troubles. A control circuit recognizes an occurrence of the communication troubles during facsimile communication, self-diagnoses the cause of the occurrence of the communication troubles, and searches for a corresponding code. A monitor list then includes the cause of the occurrence of the communication troubles in accordance with communication trouble information if the communication trouble information has been stored.

Abstract: A platen is located at a print position in a sheet path leading from a sheet supply position through the print position to a sheet delivery position, and a thermal head having an edge portion at which a plurality of heating elements are arranged in a line is held by a head holder, wherein the thermal head is positioned so that the heating elements are kept in contact with the platen through the sheet path at the print position and that the heating elements are directed to a downstream side of the sheet path. With this arrangement, the heating elements of the thermal head can be located close to the sheet delivery position, so that just after a leading sheet after printed is delivered, the next sheet can be printed.

Abstract: An image reader includes guide plates for defining an original convey path, a conveying mechanism for conveying an original along the original convey path, an optical reading section for illuminating the original fed by the conveying mechanism and for reading image information on the basis of reflection light from the original, and a mounting member for mounting the conveying mechanism and the optical reading section on the guide plate. In particular, the guide plate has a plurality of openings arranged in a direction of original conveyance, the conveying mechanism has a plurality of rollers protruding into the original convey path through the openings, for rotating to convey the original, and the mounting member has a plurality of supporting portions disposed beside the openings, for rotatably supporting the rollers.

Abstract: A power-assisting device for use with a bicycle includes a hollow shaft which is adapted to be rotatably supported in a hanger lug of the bicycle. The hollow shaft is restricted to movement along a rotation center line thereof, and has (i) a first end portion adapted to be projected out of the hanger lug and detachably attached to a rear wheel drive gear, and (ii) a second end portion adapted to be projected out of the hanger lug and detachably attached to an input gear. A crank shaft is rotatably supported in a center hole of the hollow shaft. The crank shaft is restricted to movement along a rotation center line thereof, and has first and second end portions extending out of the hollow shaft and adapted to be detachably attached to a first and second ones of a pair of pedal-equipped crank arms.

Abstract: A self-scanning checkout device includes a registration section having a stationary scanner for permitting a customer to input article information for a purchased article, a counter arranged on the downstream side from the registration section in the article moving direction, for receiving a purchased article which has been registered thereon, and a monitoring section for monitoring a movement of the purchased article. The monitoring section sets an article registration flag when information of the purchased article is read by the stationary scanner, checks the article registration flag when the passage of an article is detected by article sensors disposed near and on the downstream side from the reading position of the stationary scanner, resets the article registration flag when the article registration flag is detected to be set, and issues an alarm indicating the passage of an unregistered article when the article registration flag is detected to be reset.

Abstract: A lounger-type air manager comprises a lounger body (1) including a seat portion (2) and a backrest portion (3) provided on the rear end of the seat portion, bags (4, 5, 10) provided in the seat portion and the backrest portion and adapted to inflate and deflate when compressed air is fed thereinto and discharged therefrom, and a compressed air control device (11) for controlling the feed and discharge of the compressed air into and from the bags. The bag in the seat portion is fixed at its rear edge portion on the backrest side to the seat portion, and the bag in the backrest portion is fixed at its upper end portion to the backrest portion.

Abstract: A deviation test pattern includes a reference scale printed by one reference printing unit among a plurality of printing units arranged to print overlaid images of yellow, magenta, cyan and black. The reference scale has a plurality of scale bars arranged in a main-scanning direction at a pitch of 30 dots. Particularly, the deviation test pattern further includes a difference scale printed adjacent to and in parallel to the reference scale by a printing unit other than the reference printing unit. The difference scale has a plurality of scale bars arranged in the main-scanning direction at a pitch of 29 dots (or 31 dots).