Abstract: Building-integrated photovoltaic devices can be provided, which function as sensors, wherein the output parameters from the device are used to provide information about light intensity and ambient temperature, in addition to providing power, to an intelligent building energy management system.

Abstract: An ink ribbon includes a core and a mounting section. The core is configured to be wound with an ink ribbon tape. The mounting section is mounted with an identification information recording part in which identification information of the ink ribbon tape is recorded to be inputtable and outputtable. The mounting section includes at least one hole section which supports at least one end portion of the core to be rotatable. The mounting section covers at least a part of the core via the ink ribbon tape wound around the core in a state where the core is rotatable.

Abstract: A printer includes a conveying roller, a print head, a tension applying section and a guide roller. The conveying roller conveys a print medium. The print head conveys an ink ribbon tape, and performs printing on the print medium. The tension applying section is provided at an upstream side of the print head with respect to a conveyance direction of the ink ribbon tape, and allows tension applied to a center region along a width direction of the ink ribbon tape to be higher than tension applied to both end regions of the ink ribbon tape. The guide roller is provided between the print head and the tension applying section at the upstream side of the print head with respect to the conveyance direction of the ink ribbon tape, and applies tensile force to the ink ribbon tape outward along the width direction.

Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet recording apparatus including: a transporting roller; a driven roller provided opposite the transporting roller to sandwich the recording medium between the driven roller and the transporting roller, while moving in an approaching-departing direction based on a thickness of the recording medium; a first biasing member biasing the driven roller to the transporting roller; a platen; a recording portion configured to jet ink droplets from nozzles; and a cooperative portion moving along with the movement of the driven roller in the approaching-departing direction to move the platen.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus according to one exemplary embodiment includes an actuator, a nozzle plate, a supply unit, a discharging unit, and a circulating unit. The actuator includes a pressure chamber which accommodates ink, and changes volume of the pressure chamber. The nozzle plate opens to the pressure chamber and includes a nozzle having a diameter of 20 ?m to 40 ?m. The supply unit supplies the ink to the pressure chamber. The discharging unit collects the ink from the pressure chamber. The circulating unit circulates the ink in the supply unit, the pressure chamber, and the discharging unit. In the ink, an average particle size in laser diffraction type particle distribution measurement is from 0.4 ?m to 6.5 ?m, the average particle size is substantially the same as a particle size in 50% integrated value, and a particle size in 90% integrated value is double or less the particle size in 50% integrated value.

Abstract: A liquid-consuming apparatus includes: a tank including a liquid chamber, an upstanding wall facing a particular direction, and an inlet formed in a surface of the tank; a liquid-consuming unit consuming liquid stored in the liquid chamber; a cover rotatable between a covering position where the upstanding wall is covered with the cover and an exposure position where the upstanding wall is exposed, around a rotation axis extending in a further direction; and a casing including an engaging target part which holds the cover in the covering position, and supporting the tank, liquid-consuming unit, and cover. The cover includes: an engaging part to engage with the engaging target part in the state that the cover is in the covering position; and a tab which is subjected to an operation for releasing an engagement between the engaging part and the engaging target part.

Abstract: A gear pump for transporting a fluid includes a pump casing; and a gear assembly which is accommodated in the pump casing. The gear assembly includes a driving gear, a driven gear that mashes with the driving gear, a driving gear shaft to which the driving gear is attached, a driven gear shaft to which the driven gear is attached, and a bearing frame that rotatably supports the driving gear shaft and rotatably supports the driven gear shaft.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus includes a cutting blade that cuts a medium and a casing that holds the cutting blade. The casing has a first passageway in which the medium passing through contacts the cutting blade and a second passageway in which the medium passing through does not contact the cutting blade.

Abstract: Provided is an inkjet recording ink composition, which has excellent ejection stability and enables the production of a printed material that has excellent water resistance and scratch resistance. Disclosed is an inkjet recording ink composition, which contains a wax emulsion having an average particle diameter of 140 nm or less and containing a polyolefin-based wax with a melting point of 85° C. or more and 120° C. or less, a resin emulsion, a pigment, and an aqueous solvent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermal print head and a thermal printer that can deliver improved printing quality. The thermal print head includes a main substrate with a main surface, heating elements arranged along a main scanning direction, and a protection layer that covers the heating elements. A belt-shaped heating glaze layer is between the main surface and the heating elements, extends along the main scanning direction, and bulges towards the direction where the main surface faces. The surface shape of the protection layer has an equivalent radius of curvature Re between 6200 ?m and 15000 ?m. The equivalent radius of curvature Re is calculated by Hq and Wq. Hq is ¼ of the maximum height Hm of the bulging portion of the protection layer including the heating glaze layer. Wq is the width of the bulging portion along a sub-scanning direction, measured at a height equal to Hm minus Hq.

Abstract: A system usable to adapt an optical device to calculate a condition value. The system utilizes data from an optical device about a field of vision to calculate a condition value such as temperature for a target within the field of vision. The system makes use of an adapter connected to the optical device for transmitting adapter output data and a converter that accesses the adapter output data to calculate the condition value. The adapter components can weigh less than 3 ounces, and encompass a volume of less than 4 cubic inches, making it suitable for deployment on a drone, or remotely operated vehicle.

Abstract: Described are an apparatus and a method for printing a high aspect ratio and/or specific vertical geometry pattern. The apparatus operates in a multi-pass printing mode and includes one or more paste dispensing mechanism configured to dispense a high viscosity paste to form a pattern on a substrate. At least one paste dispensing mechanism is configured to dispense the paste to a segment of the pattern printed at an earlier pass. The paste is dispensed to the relevant segment of the pattern earlier printed before the paste printed at the earlier made pass is dry or what is termed “wet-on-wet” printing.

Abstract: Liquid supply or reservoir therefore having multiple compartments, each compartment to hold a distinct liquid, comprising multiple liquid outlets, each fluidically connected to one of the compartments, multiple clearance cut outs disposed at a pitch equal to a pitch of the compartments to accommodate protrusions of a dispenser, and at least one latch protruding outwards from a supply wall.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a sheet includes a recording section which records the image on the sheet in a transport passage for transporting the sheet in a transport direction and multiple plates which are spaced apart from each other in a widthwise direction. These multiple plates include a first type of plate and a second type of plate. Plates of a first type of plate are configured to overlap a sheet when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction and the widthwise direction, while plates of the second type of plate do not.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for sublimating printed images onto two or more products substantially simultaneously are disclosed. Software components are configured to receive input of a desired number of products to sublimate, and then determine a spatial arrangement of the printed images on transfer media to sublimate the desired number of products substantially simultaneously. The apparatus is configured to print the images onto the media according to the spatial arrangement, then position the media onto a substrate. The products are automatically placed on the media proximate to their corresponding printed images. The apparatus manipulates the media to substantially surround the products and places at least one image onto each side of each product to be sublimated. One or more heating platens engage the media to sublimate the images. The heating platens are configured, using a control, to sublimate multiple products substantially simultaneously in a single thermal cycle.

Abstract: A printer includes a body, a lid, and a restriction member. The body includes a holder configured to accommodate a roll of a recording sheet. The lid is attached to the body to be opened and closed relative to the body. The restriction member is pivotably attached to the bottom of the holder, and includes a contact part urged toward the interior of the holder. The contact part is urged to contact the peripheral surface of the roll accommodated in the holder.

Abstract: A library system includes a plurality of drive modules for reading and writing storage media, typically magnetic tapes. The library system includes: (i) a picker for loading and unloading cartridges into, and out of, the drive modules; and/or (ii) a label printing drive integrated into the library system. The label printing drive receives a cartridge in the same way any of the drive modules receives a cartridge. The picker loads the cartridge in an identical way as the other drive modules and the label printing drive.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a recording section which is provided over a transport passage for transporting a sheet in a transport direction and which has nozzles for discharging an ink onto the sheet; a platen which is provided under the recording section with the transport passage intervening therebetween and which has a plurality of ribs provided to support the sheet while being separated from each other in a widthwise direction of the transport passage perpendicular to the transport direction, the respective ribs protruding upwardly and extending in the transport direction; and a plurality of holding members which are provided to be positioned between the plurality of ribs in the widthwise direction of the transport passage over the platen on an upstream side in the transport direction from the nozzles and which abut against an upper surface of the sheet and press the sheet toward the platen.

Abstract: A dispersed white ink contains TiO2, wherein the TiO2 includes particles contained in a thermoplastic polymer resin matrix and wherein the particles have a maximum interparticle distance of less than 1.0 ?m and exhibit a statistical variance of less than 0.02. A process for manufacturing the dispersed white ink is also provided.

Abstract: There is provided an intermediate transfer member used in an image forming method including applying a treatment liquid onto an intermediate transfer member, forming an intermediate image by applying an ink onto the intermediate transfer member coated with the treatment liquid so as to form dots having an average diameter of R, and transferring the intermediate image to a recording medium. The intermediate transfer member includes a surface having recessed portions therein. The surface of the intermediate transfer member has a projected area S1 and an actual surface area S2 satisfying the relationship 1.1?S2/S1?5.