Abstract: Systems and methods of detecting ground faults in energy storage and/or generation systems that can detect ground faults on the DC and/or AC side of an energy storage/generation system, and generate warning signals and/or shutdown at least part of the system upon detection of such ground faults. The systems and methods can monitor levels of DC voltages and amplitudes of AC voltages occurring on the positive and negative side of a DC bus with respect to ground on the DC side of the energy storage and/or generation system, and process the monitored DC voltage levels and AC voltage amplitudes to detect a ground fault. Having detected such a ground fault, the systems and methods can generate a warning signal and/or shutdown at least part of the system, for example, by disconnecting a DC energy system from the DC bus, and/or by disabling a DC-to-AC bidirectional inverter included in the system.

Abstract: When calculating a toner consumption amount that is based on a dot count value of raster data, the toner consumption amount can be estimated more accurately by taking into consideration density control as well as pulse width control, which are used as part of image formation processing.

Abstract: A developing device includes a casing to contain developer and a developer bearer disposed in the casing to bear developer, and a rough face repellent to developer is disposed inside the casing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member; a transfer unit that includes a transfer member, first and second separating portions configured to separate ends of the transfer member that are on one side and on another side, respectively, from the image carrying member; an engaging unit that includes first and second engaging portions configured to engage with the first and second separating portions, respectively, the engaging unit being configured to separate the transfer member from the image carrying member when the first engaging portion engages with the first separating portion and the second engaging portion engages with the second separating portion; and a regulating member configured to regulate a movement of the engaging unit. The engaging unit is moved by the regulating member from the one side toward the other side or from the other side toward the one side.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which can prevent deformation of a sheet due to heat generated at a fixing section as much as possible, and can reduce the amount of waste paper even when the sheet is partially deformed, in which: an upper fixing section and a lower fixing section form a fixing nip for conveying a continuous sheet in a tightly sandwiching manner in a state where the upper fixing section and the lower fixing section are in pressure contact with each other; the upper fixing section and the lower fixing section are separated from each other when image formation is not performed; and a detection section detects deformation of the continuous sheet at a closest part between the upper fixing section and the lower fixing section.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus for forming an image and test patterns. The image formation apparatus includes a storage unit that stores dither matrix data used to form the image and the test patterns; and an image formation unit that forms the test patterns based on the dither matrix data. A number of tones of the test patterns to be formed by the image formation unit is changed and the number of tones is determined based on a size of the dither matrix data and a number of bits per pixel within the dither matrix data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet stacking portion, a feed portion, a transfer portion transferring a toner image on a sheet fed by the feed portion, and a switching portion. The switching portion switches the sheet stacking portion between a grounded condition in which the sheet stacking portion is electrically earthed and an insulated condition in which the sheet stacking portion is electrically insulated. The sheet stacking portion is switched into the insulated condition in a state in which the transfer bias is applied and the sheet stacking portion is switched into the grounded condition in a state in which no transfer bias is applied.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main casing, a plurality of photosensitive drums, a retaining unit, and an endless belt. The retaining unit retains the plurality of photosensitive drums, and is movable between an internal position within the main casing and an external position outside of the main casing. The endless belt is configured to contact the plurality of the photosensitive drums, when the retaining unit is in the internal position and retains the plurality of the photosensitive drums therein. The retaining unit includes a plurality of pressing portions configured to exert pressure on the plurality of photosensitive drums toward the endless belt, when the retaining unit is in the internal position and retains the plurality of the photosensitive drums therein.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a variation abnormality in an air-fuel ratio between cylinders according to the present invention is configured to calculate a value representing a change in an air-fuel ratio based on an output of an air-fuel ratio sensor that is provided in an exhaust passage in a predetermined operating state in which fuel is injected from a fuel injection valve, perform, to the calculated value, sensitivity correction in accordance with a sensitivity of the sensor based on the output of the sensor during fuel-cut operation and outside atmospheric pressure correction based on outside atmospheric pressure, and determine the presence or absence of a variation abnormality in an air-fuel ratio between cylinders by comparing the corrected value with a predetermined value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first leg part that supports a housing; a second leg part that supports the housing at a position away from the first leg part; and a third leg part that supports the housing, the third leg part being disposed, so as to be pivotable relative to the housing, at a position where a triangle is formed by connecting the first leg part, the second leg part, and the third leg part.

Abstract: A drum unit includes a photosensitive drum, a side plate, a cleaning unit, a waste-toner conveyor unit. The photosensitive drum has a first drum body and a second drum body, each having a photosensitive layer and a supported portion extending from one end of the drum body in a first direction along a rotational axis of the photosensitive drum. The side plate supports the supported portions. The cleaning unit has cleaners and conveyors corresponding to the drum bodies so as to remove waste toner from the photosensitive drums and convey the waste toner removed by the cleaners in the first direction. The waste-toner conveyor unit has a collecting conveyor configured to convey the waste toner conveyed by the. The collecting conveyor is disposed between the side plate and the drum bodies. The collecting conveyor is disposed below the first conveyor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photoreceptor that includes a conductive substrate, an organic photosensitive layer provided on the conductive substrate, and an inorganic protective layer provided on the organic photosensitive layer; a charging unit that charges a surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor; an electrostatic latent image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on a charged surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor; a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor to thereby form a toner image, by using a developer which contains a toner, and a carrier in which a ratio occupied by carrier particles having a particle diameter of 50 ?m or greater is equal to or smaller than 1% by number; and a transfer unit that transfers the toner image to a surface of a recording medium.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for measuring the clamping force applied to a substrate by clamping elements of a substrate holder. The apparatus include a pneumatic cylinder, a two position, three way valve and a pressure gauge. In a first position of the valve, the gauge and a bore of the cylinder are vented or pre-pressurized. In a second position of the valve, the bore and gauge are isolated. The methods include placing the apparatus with the valve in the first position between clamping elements set to a non-clamping position, moving the valve to the second position, setting the clamping elements to a clamping position and reading a pressure on the gauge.

Abstract: A fixing device 23 according to the present invention includes: a fixing roller 25 for fixing a toner image onto a sheet of paper; a plurality of separation claws 40 in contact with the fixing roller 25 to separate the sheet of paper, onto which the toner image is fixed, from the fixing roller 25; a holder 28 for supporting the plurality of separation claws 40; and a slide mechanism 30 for sliding the holder 28 along a longitudinal direction of the fixing roller 25.

Abstract: A humidification device for humidifying a sheet, comprising a control unit that rotates a water-supply roller in a separate state where the water-supply roller and a humidification roller are separated from each other.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a developer carrying member for developing an electrostatic image on the image bearing member; a first gear provided on the developer carrying member and a second gear driving-connected to the first gear; and a supporting portion for rotatably supporting the second gear. The supporting member is mounted on a frame of the process cartridge through a vibration damping member having a vibration transmission performance lower than that of at least the supporting portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section configured to form an image on a recording paper sheet and a housing accommodating the image forming section. The housing includes: an enclosed and bottomed housing body having an enclosed sidewall and a bottom formed continuously and integrally with the sidewall; and a lid removably attached to the housing body to cover an opening of the housing body. The image forming section is separate from the housing body and is placed on top of the bottom in the housing body. When the lid is removed from the image forming apparatus and the image forming section is lifted above the opening, the image forming section is taken out of the housing body through the opening and the housing body is removed from the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: Non-contacting caliper measurements of free standing sheets such as porous polymer and paper detect mid-IR interferometric fringes created by the reflection of light from the top and bottom surfaces of the sheet. The technique includes directing a laser beam at a selected angle of incidence onto a single spot on the exposed outer surface wherein the laser beam comprises radiation having a wavelength in the 3-50 micron range and scanning the laser beam through a selected angle range as the laser beam is directed onto the exposed outer surface and measuring the intensity of an interference pattern that forms from the superposition of radiation that is reflected From the exposed outer surface and from the inner surface. Thickness can be extracted from the fringe separation in the interference pattern. Rotating and focusing elements ensure that the spot position on the sheet remains the same while varying the incident angle.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing an EL display apparatus including a light-emitting portion in which a light emitting layer is disposed between a pair of electrodes, a thin film transistor array device for controlling light emission of the light-emitting portion, and an EL display panel in which a plurality of pixels of colors of R, G, and B are disposed. After production of the EL display panel, an inspection step is performed to apply, to each of the pixels, a voltage which is preset for each of the colors of R, G, and B of the pixels, the voltage applied in the inspection step is a potential difference that is a reverse bias voltage opposite to an anode voltage and a cathode voltage during lighting, and the potential difference allows a faulty pixel to turn to a dead dot.

Abstract: In a developing cartridge, a developing roller including a developing roller shaft is configured to rotate around a first rotational axis extending in predetermined extending direction and to carry developer thereon. The cartridge also includes a developing electrode formed of a conductive material and to be electrically connected to the developing roller shaft. The developing electrode includes a main part and a protrusion protruding from the main part in the extending direction. The protrusion has a first portion, which corresponds to a circumferential surface of the protrusion. The cartridge further includes a gear having gear teeth on circumferential portion of the gear. The gear rotates about the protrusion and includes a covering portion covering the first portion and being rotatable with the gear.