Abstract: There is provided a fault detecting apparatus for detecting a fault in an electric circuit including connecting circuits and an aggregating circuit. The fault detecting apparatus includes a fault detector that detects a fault when at least one of connecting circuit current detectors detects that a current flows and an aggregating current detector detects that a current does not flow.

Abstract: In a fixing device for fixing a toner image to a recording medium by heating and pressing the recording medium with transferred toner image between a heat fixing member and a pressure member, a fixing-member housing is disposed on an outer peripheral side of the heat fixing member, while a reflection member is attached to an inner side of the fixing-member housing opposed to the heat fixing member. Air blown by an air blower is circulated through space between the fixing-member housing and the heat fixing member.

Abstract: A light source device includes a light source configured to emit a laser beam; a lens through which the laser beam emitted from the light source passes; and a holder member for holding the light source and the lens; wherein the holder member is provided with an opening through which the laser beam is outputted; wherein the lens is bonded with the holder member at whole circumference of the opening by an adhesive material without contact with the holder member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device, an ejection device and a conveyance guide. The fixing device is configured to fix a toner image onto a sheet. The ejection device is configured to eject the sheet having fixed toner image by the fixing device. The conveyance guide is configured to guide the sheet along a conveyance path from the fixing device to the ejection device. The conveyance guide is provided with a plurality of main ribs formed along a sheet conveyance direction so as to be located inwardly by a predetermined length from both side edges of sheets of a plurality of sizes in a sheet width direction intersecting with the sheet conveyance direction. The conveyance guide is provided with a sub-rib formed to be lower than the main ribs arranged at a space where the interval between the main ribs is wider than a predetermined interval.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion configured to form a toner image. The image forming portion includes: a photosensitive body; a charging device; an exposure device; a toner supply device; and a transfer device. A continuously printed amount, which has been attained by the image forming portion while the image forming portion has formed toner images continuously with a time interval between every two successive image-forming timings having a length shorter than or equal to a prescribed length, is determined. A charging voltage to be applied to the charging device is set based on a sum of a reference charging voltage and a correction value, the reference charging voltage being determined based on a target surface potential of the photosensitive body, the correction value being determined based on the continuously printed amount.

Abstract: An impedance matching element is disclosed which can be used for voltage and/or current sensing or indicating devices used in medium voltage systems in order to improve signal integrity of output signals in comparison with known sensing devices. To enhance sensing accuracy and provide higher output signal immunity against interferences and impedance mismatches, the electric field sensor and/or the magnetic field sensor can be connected to the impedance matching element which allows connection to an independent analog measuring device and is powered from an energy harvester, with an impedance matching electronic board.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit including a rotating member and being configured to form an image on a paper sheet in accordance with print job data; a rotation position detecting unit configured to detect a rotation position of the rotating member; an image density detecting unit configured to detect a density in an image formed on an image carrier; an image information analyzing unit configured to analyze image information in the print job data; a density profile managing unit configured to form a correction patch image on the image carrier, and create and manage a density profile indicating periodical density unevenness; a correction data creating unit configured to create correction data; a density correcting unit configured to perform density correction; and a density correction control unit configured to predict an appearance of periodical density unevenness, and set conditions for the density correction.

Abstract: A cleaning blade includes an elastic member including a contact portion to contact the surface of a member to be cleaned and remove an extraneous matter adhering to the surface of the member. The contact portion includes a modified portion including at least one of an impregnated portion including a first cured material formed of a first curing composition in a thickness direction from the surface of the contact portion; and a surface layer formed of a second curing composition on the surface of the contact portion. The surface of the modified portion has a tack maximum value not greater than 3.0 [gf/mm2].

Abstract: A shim coil arrangement is provided for a magnetic resonance tomography system. The shim coil arrangement includes a printed circuit board, a plurality of spacers, and at least one shim coil. The plurality of spacers are arranged on the printed circuit board. The at least one shim coil is arranged on the printed circuit board.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a process cartridge detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming device. The process cartridge includes a housing, a coupling component provided at one end of the housing for receiving rotational driving force from a driving head inside the electrophotographic image forming device, and a limiting protrusion provided at the other end of the housing. The limiting protrusion abuts a lateral wall in the electrophotographic image forming device when the process cartridge is installed into the electrophotographic image forming device, and a guiding surface is provided at the limiting protrusion. Further, the guiding surface abuts the lateral wall in the electrophotographic image forming device, and a rotational axis of the coupling component inclines with respect to a rotational axis of the driving head when the process cartridge is detached from the electrophotographic image forming device.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical heat roller, a heating element, a pressure roller, and an auxiliary roller. The heating element is provided inside the heat roller and configured to apply heat to the heat roller. The pressure roller is configured to be pressed against the heat roller to form, with the heat roller, a nip area where a recording paper sheet is to be nipped. The auxiliary roller is provided inside the heat roller and configured to be pressed toward the pressure roller with a peripheral wall of the heat roller in between. An outer peripheral surface of the auxiliary roller pressed against an inner peripheral surface of the heat roller is formed into an inverted crown shape so that an outside diameter of the auxiliary roller gradually decreases from both axial ends of the auxiliary roller toward an axial center thereof.

Abstract: A patient table includes a table body configured for bearing a patient, a connecting rod structure configured for supporting the table body, and a spring structure. The connecting rod structure is operable such that the table body may perform a lifting motion between a high position and a low position. Both ends of the spring structure are fixed. At least a first end of the spring structure is hinged to the connecting rod structure. The spring structure may be used for driving the lifting motion of the connecting rod structure and/or bearing the table body. The patient table may be used for nuclear magnetic resonance imaging equipment.

Abstract: A method for checking the operation of a photovoltaic module of a photovoltaic power station. The module has a positive terminal, a negative terminal and a number of solar cells, in particular thin-layer solar cells. An electric field emitted by the photovoltaic module as a result of solar radiation is measured at an exposed measurement location during the operation of the power station and the electrical voltage present between the positive terminal and the negative terminal is determined from the measured electric field. A corresponding measuring instrument has a sensor to be placed near the photovoltaic module so as to measure the electric field strength. A rod or wand may be used to position the sensor, or a robot may be configured for automatic travel on the photovoltaic module.

Abstract: A waste toner collecting device includes an intermediate collection box, a conveying path, a conveying screw, an exhaust path and a floating toner collection chamber. The conveying path is provided in the intermediate collection box. The conveying screw is rotatable in the conveying path. Through the exhaust path, air containing a floating toner is sucked and passed. The floating toner collection chamber is provided on a part of the exhaust path in the intermediate collection box. The floating toner collection chamber has a discharge opening opened to an inside of the intermediate collection box and a discharge door. Rotation of the conveying screw in a normal direction turns the discharge door into a storage position where the discharge opening is closed. Rotation of the conveying screw in a reverse direction turns the discharge door into a discharge position where the discharge opening is opened.

Abstract: In a cartridge, a housing has a developer accommodating portion and includes a first side wall and a second side wall. A coupling member is disposed at a position opposite to the developer accommodating portion with respect to the first side wall. A detection body is disposed at a position opposite to the developer accommodating portion with respect to the second side wall. A first driving force transmission member is positioned at the same side with the coupling member with respect to the first side wall, and transmits driving force from the coupling member to a rotating member. A second driving force transmission member is positioned at the same side with the detection body with respect to the second side wall, and transmits driving force from the rotating member to the detection body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image carrier carrying a toner image; a transfer member made with an ion conductive material and forming a transfer nip by being pressed by the image carrier; and a power supply continuously applying a transfer bias voltage to the transfer member as a plurality of print media pass through the transfer nip. The transfer bias voltage has a predetermined polarity. A control section determines whether the resistance of a nip-margin area has exceeded a predetermined resistance threshold, the nip-margin area being a marginal portion of the transfer nip through which no print medium passes. When the determination of the control section is affirmative, the power supply applies a reverse-bias voltage to the transfer member, the reverse-bias voltage having an opposite polarity to the transfer bias voltage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a body with an aperture, a processing unit movable between an inside position and an outside position, and a transfer unit, is provided. The processing unit includes first and second drum cleaners to remove waste toner from first and second photosensitive drums respectively; and a waste toner conveyer including a conveyer tube longitudinally extending in a movable direction of the processing unit, a port, a conveyer screw located inside the conveyer tube, and a shutter movable between an opening position and a closed position to open and close the port. The transfer unit includes a belt unit with a belt arranged to contact the first photosensitive drum and the second photosensitive drum, and a belt cleaner including a container with an opening which communicates with the port of the conveyer tube when the processing unit is in the inside position.

Abstract: A method for forming a pressure sensor includes forming a base of a sapphire material, the base including a cavity formed therein; forming a sapphire membrane on top of the base and over the cavity; forming a lower electrode on top of the membrane; forming a piezoelectric material layer on an upper surface of the lower electrode, the piezoelectric material layer being formed of aluminum nitride (AIN); and forming at least one upper electrode on an upper surface of the piezoelectric material layer.

Abstract: A system includes a first galvanic isolator, a second galvanic isolator, a sensor, and a monitoring module. The first galvanic isolator includes a first electrical insulator. The second galvanic isolator is connected in series with the first galvanic isolator and includes a second electrical insulator. The sensor generates a first output signal based on an electrical characteristic of one of the first and second electrical insulators. The monitoring module, based on the first output signal, selectively generates a signal indicative of a failure of at least one of the first and second electrical insulators.

Abstract: Deriving a clean timing signal from a waveform is disclosed. A sensor-of-interest (SOI) sample set and a waveform sample set that correspond to the SOI sample set in time is collected. The waveform sample set is partitioned into a plurality of waveform sample subsets, and the SOI sample set is partitioned into a plurality of SOI sample subsets, each SOI sample subset corresponding to one of the plurality of waveform sample subsets. A plurality of waveform sample subset angular speeds is determined, wherein each waveform sample subset angular speed corresponds to a different waveform sample subset. An aggregate mean angular speed based on the plurality of waveform sample subset angular speeds is determined. Each SOI sample subset is resampled to the aggregate mean angular speed based on the corresponding waveform sample subset angular speed to generate a plurality of resampled SOI subsets.