Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes: an opposite roller switching mechanism which switches an opposite roller forming a transfer nip to a second opposite roller of which the outer diameter is different from the outer diameter of a first opposite roller; a paper type information acquirer which acquires the type information of a recording medium used; and a controller which controls the opposite roller switching mechanism based on the type information acquired from the paper type information acquirer.

Abstract: An embedded sensor apparatus for enabling wireless signal transmission while protecting an embedded sensor is disclosed. In various embodiments, an embedded sensor apparatus may comprise a substrate with a cavity, a wireless sensor embedded in the cavity of the substrate, a protective cover coupled to the wireless sensor, and a ferrite layer covering the protective cover. Further, the embedded sensor apparatus may comprise an electromagnetic reflector coupled between the wireless sensor and the substrate. In addition, the ferrite layer may be a ferrite plug, a deposited ferrite layer, or a combination thereof. Furthermore, in various embodiments, covering the protective cover with the ferrite layer may comprise depositing the ferrite layer on the protective cover using a cold spray process. In another embodiment, covering the protective cover with the ferrite layer may comprise depositing the ferrite layer on the protective cover using a thermal spray process.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement for a rotatable element comprises two coils capable of being driven by oscillatory drive signals to generate electromagnetic fields. The coils are in different positions overlying a cylindrical portion of the rotatable element that has a target feature configured to interact with the generated electromagnetic fields when the target feature is aligned with the coils. Alignment between the target feature and the coils occurs at angular positions of the rotatable element that are offset for respective coils. Thus, by detecting a characteristic of the signals developed across the coils allowing derivation of an angular velocity signal representative of angular velocity. Also, the degree of interaction between the target feature and the electromagnetic fields varies with the axial position of the rotatable element, differentially between the coils, allowing derivation of an axial position signal representative of the axial position of the rotatable element.

Abstract: An aircraft having an avionics system comprising a plurality of avionics equipment and a system of connections, the avionics equipment incorporating protection means for providing protection against indirect effects of lightning, the system of connections including wired connections and connectors between the wired connections. The avionics system has at least one avionics equipment with protection means that are insufficient for providing total protection against the indirect effects of lightning when the equipment is incorporated in the structure, which equipment is connected to at least one connector including a resistor connected in series relative to at least one wired connection secured to the resistive connector.

Abstract: Provided is a process cartridge by which the stability of an image having a high print percentage can be obtained even when high-density loading is performed. The process cartridge is a process cartridge in which a toner having a uniaxial collapse stress at the time of a maximum consolidation stress of 10.0 kPa of 2.0 kPa or more and 4.5 kPa or less, and a total energy measured after its compression of 70 mJ or more and 95 mJ or less is stored in a toner container in a state in which the container has a loading density of 0.70 g/cm3 or more.

Abstract: Removal control performing both first and second control in series is performed. The first control involves rotating the plurality of developer bearing members in a state in which the developing bias is applied to the plurality of developer bearing members so that force acting on opposite-polarity particles from a normally charged toner in the direction of moving the particles from the developer bearing member toward the image bearing member. The second control involves rotating one developer bearing member at a faster circumferential velocity than the other developer bearing member in a state in which the developing bias is applied to the plurality of developer bearing members or the developing bias is turned off so that the force acting on the opposite-polarity particles from the normally charged toner in the direction of moving the particles from the developer bearing member toward the image bearing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a storage chamber configured to store developer, a plurality of sheet members disposed between a first electrode and a second electrode and disposed in the storage chamber, and a detecting portion configured to detect an output value relating to the capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode. The amount of the developer is detected on the basis of the degree of deterioration of any one of the plurality of sheet members and the output value.

Abstract: A sample-and-hold circuit is provided. The sample-and-hold circuit includes an input one or more dedicated capacitive elements, one or more parasitic capacitive elements connected to said one or more dedicated capacitive elements, an output, a group of switches, and a control unit. The control unit controls said switches so as to interconnect said input, said one or more dedicated capacitive elements, and said output in a cyclic manner in accordance with a sample-and-hold cycle.

Abstract: A fixing device detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes: a pair of rotatable members forming a nip configured to fix a toner image on a recording material by heat and pressure; a receiving portion capable of receiving information corresponding to the width of a recording material from an external terminal so as to limit a use of the fixing device; and a storing portion configured to store the information received by the receiving portion.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating unit, an endless belt body that follows rotation of the heating unit, and a pressing unit that faces the heating unit with the endless belt body interposed therebetween. The pressing unit includes a retaining body that rotatably retains the endless belt body, a pressing-area-forming portion that is a part of the retaining body, and a pressing member provided on an upstream side of the retaining body with respect to the pressing-area-forming portion in a direction of rotation of the endless belt body, the pressing member being a metal plate that is bent along a line extending in a longitudinal direction thereof. The pressing unit is movable relative to the heating unit between a position where a pressing area is formed by the pressing-area-forming portion and the pressing member and a position where the pressing area is formed by the pressing member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing device main body and a fixing cover. The fixing device main body has an opening across a back portion and an upper portion of a conveying passage of a recording sheet. The fixing cover openably/closably covers the opening by rotatably supported with a first axle as a rotational central axle. The first axle extends in width direction of the recording sheet in a lower end of the back portion of the opening. The fixing cover includes a first fixing cover portion and a second fixing cover portion. The first fixing cover portion covers the back portion of the conveying passage and its lower end portion is rotatably supported with the first axle as the rotational central axle. The second fixing cover portion covers the upper portion of the conveying passage and has a bendable structure with respect to the first fixing cover portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a circuit arrangement for detecting a capacitance of a capacitive component and/or a change in the capacitance of a capacitive component, which circuit arrangement comprises, inter alia a monostable flipflop controllable by a control signal and having at least two inputs and one output, wherein a first input of the flipflop is provided for the control signal, and a second input is connected to a capacitive component. The circuit arrangement further comprises a conversion device, which is connected to the output of the monostable flipflop, and an evaluation unit, which is connected to the conversion device in order to evaluate the signal voltage and from this to generate at least one detection value, which indicates the capacitance and/or a change in the capacitance of the capacitive component.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing, a cover configured to pivot between a covering position and an exposing position, a shaft portion provided to one of the casing and the cover, a bearing portion provided to the other one, and a retaining mechanism configured to retain the cover at the exposing position. The cover includes a contactable portion configured to, when the cover pivots between the covering position and the exposing position, contact the retaining mechanism. The retaining mechanism includes a retaining member configured to restrict the cover from pivoting from the exposing position to the covering position, and an urging member urging the retaining member toward the contactable portion. The casing includes a frame, the frame including a guide section configured to guide a sheet. The frame of the casing includes one of the shaft portion and the bearing portion and supports the retaining mechanism.

Abstract: A developer cartridge includes: a first rotary body having at least one detected part; and a second rotary body. The first rotary body is configured to rotate between a first position, in which a transmission part is disposed opposite the second rotary body, and a second position, in which a non-transmission part is disposed opposite the second rotary body. The first rotary body includes a contacted part. A photosensitive body cartridge includes a moving member. When the moving member is in a third position, the moving member contacts the contacted part of the first rotary body disposed in the second position, causing the first rotary body to rotate to the first position. Thereafter, in association with rotation of the first rotary body, the moving member moves to a fourth position, in which the moving member is unable to contact the contacted part.

Abstract: A toner supply device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a toner case configured to contain toner; and a mounting member on which the toner case is detachably mounted. The mounting member includes: a toner receiving portion configured to receive the toner discharged from the toner case; and a toner holding portion configured to hold the toner received by the toner receiving portion. The toner holding portion includes a movable portion disposed below the toner receiving portion. The movable portion is provided so as to be able to lift and lower relative to the toner receiving portion.

Abstract: A detector of a magnetic field probe includes a first wiring pattern formed on a first surface of a multilayer substrate and having a predetermined inclination with respect to an axial line direction of the magnetic field probe, a second wiring pattern formed on a second surface and having the predetermined inclination with respect to the axial line direction, and a first penetrating via penetrating through the multilayer substrate in the thickness direction and connecting a front end portion of the first wiring pattern and a front end portion of the second wiring pattern. A rear end portion of the first wiring pattern is connected to a conductor pattern configuring a strip line and a rear end portion of the second wiring pattern is connected to ground patterns configuring the strip line.

Abstract: A test path compensating circuit may include a plurality of electrical paths electrically coupling a plurality of test pads to a test target circuit. The test path compensating circuit may include a control voltage generation circuit configured to generate a plurality of control voltages. The test path compensating circuit may include a plurality of voltage-control delay circuits electrically coupled to the plurality of electrical paths, respectively, and configured to control delay amounts of input test signals received from one or more of the plurality of test pads, based on one or more of the plurality of control voltages, and provide output test signals to the test target circuit.

Abstract: A method of detecting an arc fault in a power circuit includes injecting an AC-signal into the power circuit and measuring a response signal that is related to the injected AC-signal in the power circuit. The method further includes determining a frequency response of the power circuit from the response signal, analyzing the frequency response, and identifying a preferred frequency. A signal related to AC-current flowing in the power circuit within the preferred frequency range is measured and an occurrence of an arc fault in the power circuit is signaled depending on the measured signal. A system for detecting an arc fault is designed to perform a method as described before.

Abstract: A developer accommodating container for accommodating a developer includes: a toner seal member for unsealably sealing an opening of the developer accommodating container; an unsealing member, connected to an end portion of the toner seal member, for unsealing the opening by moving at least a part of the toner seal member; and an auxiliary unsealing member for assisting unsealing by changing a pulling direction of the toner seal member by the unsealing member. The auxiliary unsealing member includes a shaft portion or a projected portion. The shaft portion or the projected portion extends in a longitudinal direction of the developer accommodating container.

Abstract: To provide an intermediate transfer belt having a high ability to transfer images to recording media with irregular surface, and an image forming apparatus including the intermediate transfer belt. The intermediate transfer belt includes a base layer and an elastic layer formed on the base layer, the elastic layer being formed of a rubber composition, wherein the intermediate transfer belt satisfies a specific relational expression.