Abstract: An ink set for inkjet recording includes: a first ink containing a black dye and a polyamine; and a second ink containing a black pigment having a coat of an anionic resin. An inkjet recording method includes: ejecting a first ink containing a black dye and a polyamine onto a recording medium through an inkjet recording head; and ejecting a second ink containing a black pigment having a coat of an anionic resin onto the first ink ejected on the recording medium through an inkjet recording head.

Abstract: A metal belt (300) is an endless belt formed of a strip body. The metal belt (300) includes a belt overlapping portion in which at least two ring pieces (310a, 320a) formed by deformation due to a compressive stress inherent in the belt doubly overlap in a ring radial direction in a natural state where no external force is applied. Further, the metal belt (300) has a cross-sectional shape convex radially outwardly in a cross-section perpendicular to a circumferential direction of the belt in a state reached by annularly spreading the belt in the natural state.

Abstract: A photosensitive member refreshing device includes an image bearing member, an exposure device, a developing device, a detecting section, a cleaning section, and a control section. The image bearing member has a photosensitive roller rotatable about a rotation axis. The exposure device exposes the photosensitive roller to light according to an exposure pattern. The developing device supplies a toner to the photosensitive roller to form a toner image corresponding to the exposure pattern on the photosensitive roller after the exposure device has exposed the photosensitive roller to light. The detecting section detects the toner image on the image bearing member. The cleaning section cleans a surface of the photosensitive roller. The control section controls the exposure pattern based on a result of detection by the detecting section.

Abstract: In image reading apparatus, reading control portion causes image reading portion to read at least line of image data when pivoting angle of cover member with respect to document sheet table has changed from angle exceeding predetermined detection angle to angle equal to or less than detection angle. Photoelectric conversion portion is disposed in area that is out of predetermined maximum readable size area in image reading portion, and is covered by cover member when cover member is closed. Data correcting portion corrects image data read by reading control portion, based on output of photoelectric conversion portion output when pivoting angle has changed from angle exceeding detection angle to angle that is equal to or less than detection angle. Document sheet width detecting portion detects width, in main scanning direction, of document sheet placed on document sheet mounting surface, based on image data corrected by data correcting portion.

Abstract: Described herein are various configurations and designs for an external flash device. The external flash device can attach to a camera device, such as a mobile phone or smartphone, to provide enhanced flash performance to an internal flash of the camera device. An adjustable arm of the external flash device can include a sensor positionable to receive an optical transmission, such as a flash from the camera device. The adjustable arm can allow the external flash to function with various camera devices. In response to receiving and detecting the optical transmission, the external flash can activate one or more light emitting units to generate a flash that is synchronized with the capture of an image by the camera. One or more light emitting arrays can be included in the external flash to provide greater flash brightness or more than one color temperature of light emitting units.

Abstract: Multiple suction holes are formed in a conveyance belt of a conveyor device. A suction unit is arranged on one of surfaces of the conveyance belt. The suction unit includes a unit case. The unit case includes a plurality of cells arranged side by side in the width direction of the conveyance belt and in a conveyance direction of paper. A fan is provided in each of the plurality of cells.

Abstract: A method for controlling lighting devices includes providing the lighting devices. Each lighting device includes two or more LEDs, an AC/DC or DC/DC power converter, a controller/processor electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter, a light emitting diode (LED) current control circuit communicably coupled to the controller/processor and electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter and the two or more LEDs. One or more control signals are generated using the controller/processor and sending the one or more control signals to the LED current control circuit. An on/off signal having a cycle time for each LED is generated using the LED current control circuit in response to the one or more control signals and sending the on/off signal to each LED. A blended light is produced having a specified color based on how long each LED is turned ON and/or OFF during the cycle time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a first motor for rotating a roller for transporting recording paper includes a second motor supplied with electric power from the same power line as the first motor, a driver circuit connected to the power line and generating driving electric power based on electric power from the power line to feed the driving electric power to the second motor, and a controller controlling, on detecting a jam of the recording paper and an open state of a cabinet cover, the driver circuit such that driving electric power is supplied from the power line to the second motor.

Abstract: A cradle for use with a load-bearing pallet and a shipping container is disclosed and comprises a support portion, an arresting portion and a base portion. The support portion, in use, is disposed beneath and supporting the pallet. The pallet, in use, is disposed in the container between the container sides. The arresting portion, in use, arrests horizontal sliding motion of the pallet relative to the support portion. The base portion, in use, is disposed on the floor of the container and spreads the load of the pallet, the support portion and the arresting portion over the floor of the container to within the capacity of the container. The base portion further is adapted to permit the pallet to be deposited onto and removed from the support portion by the truck using the rear doors of the container. A method for shipping steel coils using the cradle is also disclosed.

Abstract: In an information processing apparatus, if the number of specific items of a plurality of setting items included in pre-registration information selected by a selection portion is equal to or less than a threshold, a change portion changes a setting content of the specific item to a content within a range of use authority. A setting screen display portion displays a setting screen for setting the specific item whose setting content has been changed by the change portion. A second display control portion displays an authentication screen if the setting content of the specific item is set on the setting screen so as to be outside the range of the use authority.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes the following: a stamp shape data generation unit configured to generate stamp shape data indicating a shape of a stamp image, wherein the stamp image includes stamp color data indicating a color of the stamp image; a stamp combining unit configured to (i) generate planes of the stamp shape data corresponding to color components of the stamp color data, wherein a color density of each plane of the stamp shape data is equal to a color density of a corresponding color component of the stamp color data, and (ii) combine the planes of the stamp shape data with respective planes of image data to form a combined image; and an output execution unit configured to execute an output operation on the combined image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner case, an apparatus main body, and a cover. The toner case includes a case main body, a shutter, and an operation part. The case main body has a discharge port discharging a toner. The shutter opens/closes the discharge port. The operation part is connected to the shutter. The operation part is movable between a port closing position where the operation part makes the shutter close the discharge port and interferes with the cover and an port opening position where the operation part makes the shutter open the discharge port and permits the cover to be closed. When the cover is closed in the state in which the operation part is located at the port closing position, the cover presses the operation part and the operation part moves from the port closing position to the port opening position.

Abstract: A light adjusting system for use with sport simulation equipment and a method of adjusting a state of operation of at least one light source used with golf simulation equipment is provided. The light adjusting system comprises a data interface, a light controller, an operations processor, and a storage device. The data interface is in communication with the sport simulation equipment. The light controller is in communication with at least one light source. The operations processor is in communication with the data interface and the light controller. The storage device is in data communication with the operations processor. The storage device includes at least one lighting profile. In response to communication between the sport simulation equipment and the data interface, the operations processor accesses the at least one lighting profile on the storage device and adjusts a state of operation of the at least one light source using the light controller.

Abstract: The preview unit displays on a display a preview image of image data in the image data retaining unit. The position receiving unit receives a position that user designates on the preview image displayed on the display. The selection receiving unit receives a user selection of additional information retained in the additional information retaining unit. The information imparting unit imparts the additional information received by the selection receiving unit to the position received by the position receiving unit. The image processing unit extracts a page imparted with the additional information from the image data in the image data retaining unit, and executes the processing associated with the additional information.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressuring member, a pressing member and a sheet member. The sheet member is disposed between the fixing belt and the pressing member. The sheet member includes a sliding contact part, an upstream side fixed part, a downstream side fixed part and a loose part. The sliding contact part comes into sliding contact with the inner circumference face of the fixing belt. The upstream side fixed part is fixed to the pressing member at an upstream side of the sliding contact part. The downstream side fixed part is fixed to the pressing member at a downstream side of the sliding contact part. The loose part is formed in at least one of an area between the sliding contact part and the upstream side fixed part and an area between the sliding contact part and the downstream side fixed part.

Abstract: A system and process for removing divalent ions from a MEG feed stream is presented. The system includes a chemical treatment tank where chemicals are mixed with the feed stream to form insoluble carbonate and hydroxide salts. The system also includes a membrane-type solid-liquid separation unit that receives the feed stream from the chemical treatment tank and separates it into a filtrate containing MEG and a retentate containing the insoluble salts. The system may also include washing the retentate to remove additional MEG, which is then recycled to a MEG regeneration or reclamation process. The system may also include a dryer that receives waste slurry from the solid-liquid separation unit and dries it to form a solid waste, thereby facilitating its handling, storage, and disposal.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for electronically determining whether a vehicle is likely to satisfy the requirements of a certified-pre-owned (CPO) vehicle according to a certification program.

Abstract: A method and apparatus digitally receive data for a property selected from a group consisting of: digitally retrieved digitized property records system data for the property; a digitally retrieved graphic of the property; and an input nature of a claim regarding the property. Based on the received data, and initial hierarchical scripted claim questionnaire is displayed. An estimate for the property is displayed utilizing responses to the modified questionnaire.

Abstract: A charger (100) provides a self aligning, compliant connector with multiples degrees of freedom. The charger (100) comprises a housing having an aperture (132) through which a charger connector (110) is mounted via an interior interface formed of convex protrusions (115) and concave recesses (135) that provide a predetermined range of rotational motion and self-alignment for the charger connector (110) within the aperture (132) thereby facilitating mating with a corresponding connector of a radio. Compliant pads (120) apply a compressible force to further control the rotational motion of the charger connector (110).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a developing unit, a cleaning unit, and a heating element. The heating element for heating the image bearing member includes: a substrate having a length corresponding to an entire region of the image bearing member in a longitudinal direction of the image bearing member; and a plurality of resistor chips mounted on the substrate. At least either resistance values or spacing intervals of the resistor chips vary in a longitudinal direction of the substrate to ensure that the surface temperature distribution of the image bearing member heated by the heating element is uniform.