Abstract: An optical sensor has a light emission section and a light reception section so arranged as to sandwich an opening part of a toner container from both sides when the toner container is attached, and a shutter slides in conjunction with the attachment and detachment of the toner container and has a top surface member opening and closing a toner exhaust port of a cleaning device and a side surface member transmitting and blocking light of the optical sensor. A slit orthogonal to a sliding direction of the shutter is formed at the side surface member of the shutter, and the control section performs detection of attachment and detachment of the toner container based on a waveform pattern of light transmitted through the slits which pattern appears in a signal of the optical sensor.

Abstract: To provide an approval system associated with an approval workflow that identifies a signature document. A document management server for managing document data is connected with a client terminal (CLT) via an in-house LAN. Also, a seal to be affixed to a paper containing document specification information establishes a communication to the CLT. The seal reads the document specification information and user's fingerprint information and transmits the resulting pieces of information and impression information to the CLT. The document management server receives the document specification information, the fingerprint information and the impression information to confirm a coincidence between the received fingerprint and matching fingerprint and to confirm a coincidence between a set of the received document specification information and the received impression information and a set of matching document specification information and matching impression information, and to notify an approval situation to the CLT.

Abstract: A function providing system for providing a function to an image forming apparatus includes a server and a function relaying circuit. The server provides a function for the image forming apparatus. The function relaying circuit is located outside the image forming apparatus, the function relaying circuit providing the function to the image forming apparatus. The function relaying circuit uses the function corresponding to an instruction from the image forming apparatus, and the function relaying circuit transmits a use result of the function to the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: Provided is an electronic device and an authentication method able to restrict and disable an operation when a third person other than an authorized user who is registered as a user, and prevent information leakage without requiring the user a complicated operation. At a time when an operator inputs an authentication request by any one of the user identification numbers, when first information inputted via the input part is coincided with the first password related to the user identification number for which the authentication request is inputted, and when characteristic data at a time when the first information is inputted falls within a specified range of a histogram of the databases related to the user identification number for which the authentication request is inputted, the operator is authenticated as the user for which the authentication request is inputted.

Abstract: A system for use with a fluid-containing body having a body wall with an opening and defining a body interior, and for use with a device to be inserted and extracted by said system via said opening into the fluid-containing body, said system having a central axis and comprising: a proximal portion configured for being attached to the body wall when mounting the system in said opening, and having a first chamber configured for receiving said device therein; a sealable interface having a first side facing said first chamber and a second side in a direction opposite said first chamber and defining a distal area configured for receiving said device from said first chamber; said sealable interface, when unsealed, being configured to allow passage therethrough of the device along said central axis between the first chamber and the distal area; a pressure regulating mechanism configured for regulating pressure within said first chamber between pressure at an upper exterior of the proximal portion and pressure at the

Abstract: Provided is a document reading device that can cause an image processing part to execute automatically image processing operations corresponding to respective plural functions, depending on a document mounting condition on a platen without performing a setting operation on a panel part. A system control part causes a document detection sensor to detect a part (periphery) of the document. The image processing operations corresponding to respective plural functions are made on image data of the document read by a scanner part. Further, when the platen cover plate open-close detection sensor detects that the platen cover plate is closed, the image processing part is allowed to execute a function that is assigned to the document detection part that has read the document.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus and a sorting method allowing paper sheets to be sorted by size or thickness from a bundle of documents that have been already printed with no need for adding a sensor, or the like, or during the time for printing preparation, or the like. The image forming apparatus includes a first detecting part, a paper discharging part and a control part. The first detecting part detects the pass of an edge part of the document. The control part determines the length of a document along the direction of conveyance from the time required from the moment when the document reaches the first detecting part to the moment when it pass the first detecting part, determining the sorting destination.

Abstract: A toner includes a plurality of toner particles each including a toner core and a shell layer disposed over the surface of the toner core. The shell layer includes a thermosetting portion substantially composed of a water-insoluble thermosetting resin and a thermoplastic portion substantially composed of a water-insoluble thermoplastic resin. At least a part of the thermoplastic portion has a shape of a film with projections and recesses and is located on the surface of the toner core. At least a part of the thermosetting portion is located on the thermoplastic portion. The part of the thermosetting portion located on the thermoplastic portion has a shape of a film along the shape of the thermoplastic portion.

Abstract: A job control device includes a display, a storage circuit, an execution circuit, a status display, a cancel circuit, a recovery display, and a recovery control circuit. The execution circuit performs a job. The recovery display displays a second operation screen on the display. The second operation screen includes a selection display field and a second input portion. The selection display field selectably displays the cancel jobs stored in the storage circuit. The second input portion is configured to receive a recovery instruction for performing the cancel job selected in the selection display field again. The recovery control circuit causes the execution circuit to perform the cancel job corresponding to the recovery instruction when the recovery instruction is input.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is connected to a plurality of computers via a network, and the image forming apparatus which spools and sequentially processes each of jobs received from the plurality of computers includes: a job management section receiving and managing the jobs transmitted from the computers; and a control section, upon reception of a new job from the computer by the job management section, calculating a scheduled end time of the new job based on a number of prints required for executing the new job, a print speed of the image forming apparatus, and a scheduled end time of the job on standby, and notifying the calculated scheduled end time to the computer which has transmitted the new job.

Abstract: A pull printing system includes a plurality of storage destination devices that store printing data for pull printing, and a priming data transmitter. The printing data transmitter transmits the printing data for the pull printing to at least one of the plurality of storage destination devices. The printing data transmitter selects a storage destination device to which to transmit the printing data from among the plurality of storage destination devices based on specific conditions of each of the plurality of storage destination devices and on specific requirements with respect to the conditions.

Abstract: Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses are presented for using cross-domain communication to allow manufacturers and other sellers to use cloud/Internet-based products catalog services without sacrificing the search-engine optimization benefit of catalog pages hosted within the manufacturer's domain. The Same Origin Policy used by many browsers may disallow direct communication to the manufacturer's domain for corporate web site and other functions, on the one hand, and an external domain for an efficiently hosted products catalog, on the other. Some embodiments present the use of the JSONP protocol for cross-domain retrieval of a Catalog Widget that is configured to retrieve product catalog information directly from the external domain. In these embodiments, search-engine optimization is furthered by the efficient production of numerous catalog pages that originate from the external domain yet appear to users and search engine crawlers to be within the manufacturer's domain.

Abstract: There is provided an improved solution for performing beacon broadcasting in a device-to-device communication network. The solution comprises selecting, by a node capable of entering a device-to-device communication network, a channel for broadcasting wherein the selection is based on at least one of the following: the characteristics of the node and the state of the node; and causing a broadcast of information related to at least part of the properties of the node on the selected channel.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes a belt conveying unit, a recording unit, an end-portion position detection sensor, a background member, and a rotary driving unit. The end-portion position detection sensor is arranged in an upstream of the belt conveying unit in a recording medium conveyance direction, and uses a reflected light to detect a position of an end portion of the recording medium in a recording medium width direction intersecting with the recording medium conveyance direction. The background member is arranged facing a detection surface of the end-portion position detection sensor. The background member is rotatable around a shaft extending along the recording medium width direction. The background member has an outer peripheral surface at least in a region facing the detection surface of the end-portion position detection sensor. The outer peripheral surface has two or more regions having mutually different colors circumferentially dividing the outer peripheral surface.

Abstract: A method and control apparatus for a wireless communication system is disclosed for providing grouping of sets of paired communication devices into groups of paired communication devices at least in part based on information about other paired communication devices. The information is determined based on detection by at least one of the communication devices in a relevant set of paired communication devices.

Abstract: A linear compressor is provided. The linear compressor includes a machined spring. An inner back iron assembly is fixed to the machined spring at a middle portion of the machined spring. A driving coil is operable to move the inner back iron assembly in order to reciprocate a piston within a chamber of a cylinder assembly.

Abstract: Computing device docking systems are disclosed. According to an aspect, a computing device docking system includes a docking station component having an opening defined within a surface. The system includes a pin including a body and an end having a member extending laterally from the body. The end of the pin is receivable within an opening of a computing device component for attaching the computing device component to the docking station. The pin is moveable within the opening between a first position and a second position. In the first position, at least a portion of the body and at least a portion of the member is positioned within the opening of the docking station component. In the second position, at least a portion of the body is within the opening and the member is outside of the opening of the docking station component.

Abstract: A server device is connected with a plurality of electronic devices in a communicable manner and configures a setting for a desired electronic device out of the plurality of electronic devices. The server device includes a device location management section and a setting determination section. The device location management section acquires location information representing current locations of the electronic devices. The setting determination section refers to settings for other electronic devices, out of the plurality of electronic devices, located at a short distance from the current location of the desired electronic device to determine the setting for the desired electronic device.

Abstract: A spacer frame assembly and method of assembly includes a substantially linear channel having first and second ends. The substantially linear channel that when assembled includes at least four sides and corresponding corners between each of the sides. The spacer frame assembly also has a connecting structure located at one of the first and second ends and an opposite frame end located at the other of the one of first and second ends. The opposite frame end has an inner channel for receiving a nose portion of the connecting structure. The spacer frame assembly also includes a stop extending from the connecting structure for locating the opposite frame end when in the assembled position.

Abstract: A robotic retail wall is presented allowing for the dispensing of merchandise within a retail location. The robotic wall includes commodity products and robotics that pick and deliver products to consumers in response to input at a kiosk. The robotics and products are separated from a retail space by a transparent barrier, allowing consumers in the retail space to view the actions of the robotics in retrieving a product. Behind the robotic wall is a product stocking area, where commodity products can be added to the robotic wall with assistance from the robotics.