Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a discharge rollers pair, a sheet pressing member and a discharge tray. The sheet pressing member includes a first rotational shaft, a detection piece and a corrugation piece. The corrugation piece protrudes in a radial direction different from a protruding direction of the detection piece from the first rotational shaft. When the detection piece is turned at a first angle into a first posture, the corrugation piece is changed into a contact posture where the corrugation piece comes into contact with the sheet to apply stiffness on the sheet. When the detection piece is turned at a second angle into a second posture, the corrugation piece is changed into a retracting posture where the corrugation piece separates from the sheet.

Abstract: A device for forming a tissue fold includes a recess and an opening at the end of the recess. Tissue is drawn into the recess and through the opening using a tissue engaging element. As the tissue is drawn through the opening, the tissue layers are compressed together. A fastener is used to secure the tissue fold.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a display and a control unit. The control unit includes a processor and functions, when the processor executes a control program, as a screenshot executing section and a control section. The screenshot executing section acquires an image being displayed on the display. When an image is displayed on the display and a preset condition is satisfied, the control section causes the display to display a message indicating that the image can be acquired by the screenshot executing section.

Abstract: Embodiments of a store label booklet include a plurality of sheets stacked one on top of the other and connected to a binding that spans an entire thickness of the booklet, each sheet including a planar array of store labels. No release coating is used. In some embodiments, the label may include a printed stock side, a liner including a removable portion, and an adhesive located between the liner and the printed stock side. In other embodiments the booklet may include a cardstock with a printed stock side and an adhesive on the side opposite the printed stock side. Each store label may differ in orientation, size, or style and may contain different product information. Location information may be located on a binding of the booklet, on the label, or on both the binding and the label. The store labels may be printed in a predetermined order.

Abstract: A touch display device includes a transparent substrate, a first transparent touch layer, a plurality of first conductive traces, a ring-shaped transparent insulation layer, a ring-shaped metal layer, a polarizer, a first optical adhesive layer, and a transparent cover. The first transparent touch layer is arranged on the transparent substrate, the first conductive traces are arranged on the bezel region of the transparent substrate, the ring-shaped transparent insulation layer covers the first conductive traces, and the ring-shaped metal layer is arranged on the ring-shaped transparent insulation layer. The polarizer is arranged on the transparent substrate and the ring-shaped metal layer to cover the first transparent touch layer. The first optical adhesive layer and the transparent cover are sequentially arranged on the polarizer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a broadside-coupled directional coupler including a main line and a sub line which are broadside-coupled to each other is provided. The method includes at least two adjustment processes. A line width of a coupled line part of the sub line on a first surface of a dielectric substrate is adjusted wherein the dielectric substrate having a second surface being opposite to the first surface, and the second surface has a ground plane. A position of a boundary portion where the ground plane and the coupled line are in contact with each other is adjusted.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for helically installing a vortex-induced vibration (VIV) suppression fin about a tubular. The apparatus may include an outer ring member dimensioned to encircle an underlying tubular and an inner ring member positioned concentrically inward from the outer ring member. The inner ring member is configured to rotate with respect to at least one of the outer ring member or the tubular as the outer ring member moves along the tubular. The apparatus may further include a fin guide configured to receive a fin and helically position the fin along the tubular as the inner ring member rotates. A method of installing a vortex-induced vibration (VIV) suppression fin about a tubular may include removably attaching a VIV suppression fin to an installation member. The installation member may be positioned along a tubular and moved about the tubular to helically position the fin around the tubular.

Abstract: An appliance is provided herein. The appliance may include a power supply configured to receive Alternating Current (AC) power and supply Direct Current (DC) power, a driver circuit configured to receive the DC power and illuminate one or more light emitting diodes (LED), and a fade control circuit configured to direct the driver circuit to fade the one or more LEDs from an on-state to an off-state in a fade-out operation. The appliance may further include a first switching device configured to direct the fade circuit to perform a fade-out operation while the first switching device is in a first state, and a second switching device configured to maintain AC power to the power supply during the fade-out operation, and further configured to sever AC power to the power supply upon completion of the fade-out operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to glass composites, including filled glass composites and uses thereof. In particular examples, the composites provide improved thermal expansion characteristics. Also described are methods of forming such composites, such as by adding a particle filler to a glass mixture.

Abstract: Described herein are systems, methods, and apparatus for managing operations, for instance making orders and fulfilling orders, using one or more computing devices. In accordance with an example embodiment, an operations management system can include a self-order system, a self-payment system, and an order-fulfillment system. The self-order system, the self-payment system, and the order-fulfillment system can communicate with each other via a communication system that connects the systems, such as a wireless network for example. Using the operation management system, orders can be placed and fulfilled efficiently and with minimal personal interaction.

Abstract: A device may communicate with a client device to provide, via a user interface of the client device, a set of prompts regarding an entity. The device may detect one or more user interactions with the user interface associated with indicating a set of responses to the set of prompts. The device may process data identifying the set of responses to the set of prompts to generate a set of scores for a set of recommendations based on processing the data identifying the set of responses to the set of prompts. The device may determine a ranking of the set of recommendations based on the set of scores. The device may select one or the set of recommendations based on the ranking. The device may communicate with the client device to provide information associated with the set of recommendations based on selecting the set of recommendations.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming portion, a fixing device, a temperature sensing device, and a control portion. The fixing device has a fixing member having a heated rotary member and a pressing member forming a fixing nip by making contact with the heated rotary member. The temperature sensing device senses the surface temperature of at least one of the heated rotary member and the pressing member in a plurality of regions in the axial direction. The control portion estimates the thickness distribution of the surface layer of at least one of the heated rotary member and the pressing member in the axial direction based on the time taken for the surface temperature in the plurality of regions to reach the predetermined temperature, and thereby estimates the lifetime of at least one of the heated rotary member or the pressing member based on the estimated thickness distribution.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a plurality of image forming portions, an intermediate transfer belt having an elastic layer, a plurality of primary transfer members, a contact-separation mechanism, a secondary transfer member, a driving device, a voltage applying device, and a control portion. The contact-separation mechanism is switchable between an all-color pressure state where the primary transfer members are all in pressed contact with the image carrying members via the intermediate transfer belt and an all-color apart state where the primary transfer members are all away from the intermediate transfer belt. At first power-on, the control portion starts driving the image carrying members and the intermediate transfer belt in the all-color apart state, then transits to the all-color pressure state, and then ejects toner from the developing device to the image carrying members to reduce the surface friction coefficient on the image carrying members and the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: A target bipyridine compound is synthesized with high purity and a high yield in a simple and safe manner in a short period of time. A method for synthesizing a di-tert-butyl-2,2?-bipyridine compound is provided, and the method includes a step of reacting, in a reaction solvent, a tert-butylpyridine compound with a dispersion product obtained by dispersing an alkali metal in a dispersion solvent. A method for synthesizing a bipyridine compound having no substituents is also provided, and the method includes a step of reacting, in a reaction solvent, pyridine with a dispersion product obtained by dispersing an alkali metal in a dispersion solvent.

Abstract: A touch panel includes a substrate, at least a connecting pad and at least a strengthening sheet. The substrate has a display area and a periphery area around the display area. The connecting pad is disposed in the periphery area. The strengthening sheet is disposed in the periphery area and at an edge of the connecting pad.

Abstract: Several defibrillators, defibrillator architectures, defibrillator components and methods of operating defibrillators are described. In one aspect, a defibrillator (as for example an automated external defibrillator) that can be powered by a mobile communication device such as a smart cellular phone or a tablet computer is described. Utilizing a phone (or other mobile communication device) as the power supply for an external defibrillator allows the external defibrillator to be smaller and, in some circumstance, removes the need for a battery that stores sufficient energy for shock delivery—which would need to be checked and/or replaced on a regular basis. Additionally, when desired, certain control functionality, computation, data processing, and user instructions can be handled/presented by the mobile communications device thereby further simplifying the defibrillator design and improving the user experience.

Abstract: A toner includes toner particles each including a toner mother particle and an external additive adhering to a surface of the toner mother particle. The external additive includes silica particles. The silica particles each include a silica base, a first surface treatment layer covering the silica base, and a second surface treatment layer covering the first surface treatment layer. The first surface treatment layer contains a carboxy-modified silicone oil. The second surface treatment layer contains a specific copolymer including a first repeating unit represented by general formula (I) shown below and a second repeating unit represented by general formula (II) shown below. The silica particles have a non-ring-opened oxazoline group content of at least 1 ?mol/g and no greater than 500 ?mol/g as measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Abstract: To provide an image forming system capable of preventing printing that is not intended by a user, an image forming system includes a server capable of storing image data and an image forming apparatus connected to the server via a network and configured to form an image. The image forming apparatus includes an inquiring unit, a determining unit, a requesting unit, and an instructing unit. The inquiring unit is configured to inquire the server for a printing condition of the image data in a case where an input of a registration ID is accepted by an accepting unit, the printing condition being registered in association with the image data. The requesting unit is configured to request the server for downloading of the image data in a case where the determining unit determines that the image forming apparatus conforms with the printing condition. The instructing unit is configured to control an image forming unit to form the image on a sheet, based on the image data downloaded from the server.

Abstract: A switch control circuit includes a positive voltage bias node, a voltage-regulated positive supply rail coupled to the positive voltage bias node, a charge pump coupled to a charge pump supply node, and a current source positive supply rail coupled to the charge pump supply node and configured to supply the charge pump.