Abstract: The retrieval condition acquisition unit receives a logical operation expression of the keywords as a retrieval condition from a user. The matching document retrieval unit acquires a list of the document IDs corresponding to the keywords inputted, from the word index of the document information storage unit, and applies a specified logical operation to the result to acquire the matching document IDs. The related keyword calculation unit acquires the keywords extracted from the matching documents retrieved by the matching document retrieval unit as the related keywords, and calculates the degrees of relatedness of each of the matching documents. The related part extraction unit accumulates the degrees of relatedness of the related keywords as to each of the matching documents, and extracts the sentences with the appearance orders in the text kept, in the order of the sentence having a higher accumulated value, until the total length of the sentences extracted becomes longer than a predetermined length.

Abstract: A surface emitting semiconductor laser is formed from a substrate having a first mirror formed thereon. The first mirror includes semiconductor layers of a first conductivity type. A second mirror is formed over the substrate and includes semiconductor layers of a second conductivity type. An active region is disposed between the first and second mirrors, with a current confining layer being disposed between the first and second mirrors. A compound semiconductor layer is formed over the second mirror and an electrode is formed on the compound semiconductor layer. A protective film covers the compound semiconductor layer and partially covers the electrode. The electrode is formed by a lift-off process and uses an opening-pattern that is formed by plasma ashing.

Abstract: It is an exemplified object of the present invention to provide a printing system for printing a Web page and printing method using the printing method that can initiates printing without requiring long wait after a print command is transmitted.

Abstract: A gloss-imparting device for imparting a gloss on a color image, the gloss-imparting device has a transparent toner image-carrying body, a transparent toner image-forming unit, a heating/pressurizing unit, and a cooling/releasing unit. The transparent toner image-carrying body carries a transparent toner image formed of a transparent toner thereon. The transparent toner image-forming unit forms the transparent toner image on the transparent toner image-carrying body. The heating/pressurizing unit heats and pressurizes the transparent toner image and the base material to bring them into contact. The cooling/releasing unit cools the transparent toner image and releases the base material from the transparent toner image-carrying body. The transparent toner image is transferred and fixed onto the base material by the heating/pressurizing unit.

Abstract: In a pipeline process in which plural image processing sections (image processing modules), for example, an image inputting section 131, a histogram producing section 132, and a binarizing section 133 are connected in a pipeline manner, each of the image processing sections 131, 132, and 133 is provided with a function of reinitializing a state to cause each process to be again performed with being started from the beginning of an image, whereby image data to be processed can be reread.

Abstract: A mold used to form a magnetic member includes a mold body having a mold opening, a mold support that supports the mold cavity, and a mold insert. The mold insert is disposed in the mold opening of the mold body to form a mold cavity. The mold insert is coated with a coating to protect the mold body from chemical attack and abrasive wear of the mold material. The coating comprises an electroless nickel layer formed on or over the mold insert, and a chromium nitride layer formed on or over the electroless nickel layer. The mold insert can be formed of beryllium-copper (Be—Cu).

Abstract: The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to anticurl backing layers useful in electrostatography. More particularly, the embodiments pertain to an electrostatographic imaging member with an improved anticurl backing layer including a low surface energy polymeric material to prevent curling and reduce friction, and a process for making and using the member.

Abstract: A nanocomposite composition includes aerogel components and polymeric components and is capable of absorbing water in an amount that is less than an amount that can be absorbed by the polymeric resin components. The nanocomposite has decreased hydrophilicity and improved mechanical and electrical characteristics. Charging members, such as bias transfer rolls and bias transfer belts, include the nanocomposite material.

Abstract: A system for effecting payment for a print job includes a mobile device interfacing contactlessly with a document machine having a print engine, and a processor in communication with the mobile device. The processor is configured to authorize a print job and effect payment for the print job. A method of effecting payment for a print job includes the step of interfacing contactlessly with a document machine via a mobile device. The method may include receiving a print job via the mobile device, verifying at least one of the identity of the user and the validity of a payment vehicle. If at least one of the identification is verified and the payment vehicle is validated, the method includes authorizing the print job, performing the print job, and deducting payment via a payment processor in accordance with at least one parameter of the print job.

Abstract: A needle guard includes a clip with a canting wall to grip the needle shaft and a distal wall to block the tip thereof, wherein the canting and distal walls may be interconnected by an angled strut, a spring member, such as a leaf spring, may have a portion extending past an edge of the strut to bias the clip to grip the needle shaft, and the distal wall may be or include a stylus and have an L-shape to define a lip to help block the needle tip. The clip may have a depending heel to help pivot the clip about a ledge to grip the needle shaft. A needle support may be provided to limit flexure of the needle which might otherwise allow the needle to come loose from the clip. Arrangements for limiting rotation of the needle hub and needle guard housing are provided, as is a protective shroud to reduce the risk of inadvertent activation of the needle guard. Further, the needle guard may be used with a catheter assembly. Also provided is an improved duckbill release mechanism.

Abstract: While a general-purpose interface circuit and another general-purpose interface circuit are provided so as to transmit/receive data between a host appliance and a device appliance, when the general-purpose interface of the device appliance happens to hang up, a control section transmits a reset signal via a dedicated interface circuit. When a dedicated interface circuit provided on the side of the device appliance receives this reset signal and then outputs this received reset signal to the general-purpose interface circuit, the general-purpose interface circuit is reinitiated.

Abstract: Electrodes are embedded in a biased charge roller of a xerographic device. The electrodes, which may run the length of the roller, are deposited on an insulating substrate. A semi-conductive conformable layer of a flexible elastomer covers the electrodes. The semi-conductive conformable layer limits current flow between electrodes and relaxes charge deposited on the roller surface. Stationary pre-nip and post-nip contacts apply the bias to the imbedded electrodes. The electrodes in the post nip region are biased to VPOST. The electrodes positioned in the pre-nip regions are either grounded or biased to VPRE<VPOST. The electroded biased charge roller may generate air breakdown in the post nip region, resulting in highly uniform charging.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a toner accumulating member disposed nearer to the housing than the cleaning blade and the lower seal are, wherein the toner accumulating member accumulates the toner at a tip of the cleaning blade, the toner accumulating member has at least one opening, and the following condition is satisfied: 0%<S(O)/S(C)?50%, wherein S(O) is a total opening area obtained by summing areas of all openings, and S(C) is an area of a rectangle defined by two sides having the same length as a length of the cleaning blade in its longitudinal direction and two sides having the same length as a distance between the lower end of the toner accumulating member and a position at the same height on the toner accumulating member as the lower end of the cleaning blade.

Abstract: When a retrieve request of a service is issued, a service retrieving apparatus according to the present invention sets a retrieve range of services within a wide-area network based upon both a service retrieving request source and a service use condition in accordance with both a geographical view point and communication conditions of networks. The service retrieving apparatus is installed in each of plural networks which constitute the wide-area network, detects a service server contained in each of these networks, and acquires service information. The acquired service information is also notified to the service retrieving apparatus of other networks.

Abstract: A part determination device used in an apparatus having a replacement part, including an identification information acquisition section that acquires individual identification information for identifying a replacement part from the replacement part, an information acquisition section that acquires information indicating whether or not the replacement part is an approved part from the replacement part, a determination section that determines whether or not a replacement part is an approved part based on information acquired by the information acquisition section, and a first registration section that, when it is determined by the determination section that a replacement part is not an approved part, registers individual identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition section in a predetermined first storage region.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising a conductive substrate, and at least one layer, which contains a polymeric compound having a repeating unit selected from repeating units represented by the following general formulas (I) to (III), provided on the conductive substrate, as well as an electrophotographic process cartridge and an image forming apparatus using the electrophotographic photoreceptor. In general formulas (I) to (III), R1a and R1b each independently represent an alkylene group, X represents an arylene group or an alkylene group, Y represents a divalent aromatic group, and n represents a repeating unit number.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a digital imaging system or a light lens based imaging system. More specifically, the present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for calculating toner age and, additionally, carrier age using a toner concentration sensor and the amount of material dispensed. Both of these quantities can be used to ensure image quality by anticipating or diagnosing problems in image quality, which may be caused by toner age or carrier age.

Abstract: A fixing device to be installed in an image forming apparatus includes a housing for defining the fixing device. In the housing, a heating member which heats a recording medium onto which a toner image is transferred to fix the image and a pressing member which is brought into press contact with the heating member are provided. In the housing, a first conveyance path and a second conveyance path which has a path different from the first conveyance path is formed. A switching member which switches a destination of the recording medium to the first conveyance path or the second conveyance path is arranged in the housing. As a result, when the image recording medium is sent to a paper reversing device installed in the image forming apparatus, the length of a conveyance path extending to the switching member can be shortened.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for continuously printing plural images has an empirical calibration part that performs color calibration processing based on a test image printed on recording paper, a predictive calibration part that performs color calibration processing based on a reference value that has been determined in advance, and a controller that allows the empirical calibration part and the predictive calibration part to perform color calibration processing. In the case where recording paper is switched and plural images are printed, the controller allows the empirical calibration part to perform color calibration processing when predetermined type of recording paper is used, and allows the predictive calibration part to perform color calibration processing when recording paper of other type is used.

Abstract: The invention provides an aqueous ink composition, which comprises at least: 1) an alkali neutralized product of a copolymer containing constituent units of: (i) at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of alkene, styrene, styrene derivatives, vinyl naphthalene, and vinyl naphthalene derivatives; (ii) at least one monomer selected from monomers containing an acidic group that ion dissociate; and (iii) at least one ?,?-ethylenic unsaturated carboxylic acid alkyl ester; 2) a pigment; and 3) an aqueous medium, wherein the alkali neutralized product of the copolymer in the aqueous ink composition forms micelle aggregations with an average diameter being set in the range of 10 nm to 300 nm. A manufacturing method of the aqueous ink composition and an image forming method using the aqueous ink composition are also provided.