Abstract: The present invention is to provide a flexographic printing plate having high ink transferability and making it possible to perform printing with a high ink density in a solid portion, a flexographic printing plate precursor, a method for manufacturing a flexographic printing plate, and a method for manufacturing a flexographic printing plate precursor. A flexographic printing plate of the present invention includes a relief layer including a non-image area and an image area having an uneven structure formed on a surface, in which the uneven structure is composed of recessed portions consisting of a plurality of grooves and projecting portions other than recessed portions, each of the plurality of grooves has a length of at least 30 ?m, all of the plurality of grooves are grooves having a line edge roughness in a range of 0.5 to 2.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sampler for providing a sample for high-performance liquid chromatography, in which a volume of liquid to be taken up into a cylinder can be aspirated by means of a first drive and can be compressed to a high pressure level by means of a second drive independent of the first drive or can be decompressed from this level in a controlled manner.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a sheet bundle binding device capable of easily removing some sheets from a sheet bundle that has been subjected to staple-free binding. A corner Sc of a first sheet bundle which is accumulated on a processing tray is subjected to proper binding using a staple needle by a staple binding unit. Then, a corner of a second sheet bundle obtained by accumulating additional sheets on the first sheet bundle is pressed and deformed between crimping toothed parts of a staple-free binding unit to temporarily bind the second sheet bundle. Thus, the additional sheets can easily be removed from the second sheet bundle.

Abstract: A solar wireless autofill system is presented. The solar wireless autofill system can include a liquid level sensor to sense a level of liquid in a container and a wireless transmitter to receive the level of liquid in the container from the liquid level sensor and to send a signal to a receiver when the level of liquid in the container is below a predefined level. The signal is not sent to the receiver when the liquid in the container is in motion. The receiver can receive the signal and cause additional liquid to be added to the container in response to the signal.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a conveying member, an image forming unit, an image reading unit, a background member and a color sample member. The image reading unit reads a surface of long paper being conveyed by the conveying member, the surface having an image formed by the image forming unit. The long paper is conveyed by the conveying member to pass through between the image reading unit and the background member and avoid passing through between the image reading unit and the color sample member. A switch between a first arrangement where the image reading unit faces the background member via the long paper and a second arrangement where the image reading unit faces the color sample member is made by moving the image reading unit or by moving the background member, the color sample member and the conveying member.

Abstract: A hydrogen sensor includes a hydrogen-sensing unit and a transistor connected to the hydrogen-sensing unit. The hydrogen-sensing unit includes a substrate made of an elastic material, a thin film made of transition metal or alloy thereof, disposed on the surface of the substrate and having a plurality of nanogaps formed therein, and an electrode formed on the thin film. The hydrogen-sensing unit is connected with a source (or drain) or a gate of the transistor via a connector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a first sensor configured to output a signal in response to detecting passage of each sheet fed by a sheet feeder, a second sensor configured to output a signal in response to detecting passage of each sheet re-conveyed by a re-conveyance unit, and a controller configured to acquire a passing time period during which a preceding sheet fed by the sheet feeder is passing through the first sensor, based on the signal from the first sensor, determine an adjustment time period between a time when a leading end of the preceding sheet re-conveyed by the re-conveyance unit is detected based on the signal from the second sensor and a time for the sheet feeder to feed a subsequent sheet toward the image forming unit, and control the sheet feeder to feed the subsequent sheet toward the image forming unit with timing adjusted based on the determined adjustment time period.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that holds an image, which is formed by developing a latent image and which is transferred onto a recording medium, a developing device that is disposed adjacent to the image carrier and that develops the latent image, a light-reflection-type sensing unit that is disposed below the developing device in a vertical direction and that detects the image on the image carrier, and a guiding member that guides the recording medium, which is transported between the developing device and the sensing unit, and that covers an upper side of the sensing unit in the vertical direction in a state where a space is ensured on an optical path of the sensing unit.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes: a drawer portion that includes a pair of conveying rollers which convey a sheet; a conveying portion that includes a pair of separating rollers which convey the sheet; and a controller that controls operations of the drawer portion and the conveying portion such that, the pair of separating rollers are separated from each other if a jam of a sheet occurs in a state in which a subsequent sheet subsequent to a preceding sheet spans the drawer portion and the conveying portion, the pair of conveying rollers convey the subsequent sheet to a part between the pair of separating rollers, the separation of the pair of separating rollers is released, and the pair of separating rollers convey the subsequent sheet along with the preceding sheet to a position at which the subsequent sheet does not span the drawer portion and the conveying portion using.

Abstract: A sheet storage cassette includes a cassette body, a cassette cover, and a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism includes a lock member swingably provided on a back-surface side of the cassette cover and engageable with a locking pin provided in the cassette insertion portion, and a biasing member biasing the lock member in a direction toward engagement with the locking pin. Along with an operation of inserting the cassette body into the cassette insertion portion, the lock member engages with the locking pin. In a state where the cassette body is inserted in the cassette insertion portion, by inserting a thin-plate shaped release member into a gap between the cassette cover and an exterior member arranged under and adjacent to the cassette cover, the lock member is caused to swing to release the engagement with the locking pin.

Abstract: A separating claw unit includes: a separating claw provided beside and against a surface of an image carrier on which a toner image to be transferred to a recording paper sheet in a nip area between the image carrier and a transfer section is to be formed, the separating claw being configured to separate the recording paper sheet having passed through the nip area off the surface of the image carrier in a direction away from the surface of the image carrier; and a cushion guide provided next to the separating claw to extend beyond the separating claw in the direction away from the surface of the image carrier, held elastically and displaceably away from the surface of the image carrier, and configured to come into contact with the recording paper sheet to guide the recording paper sheet downstream in a direction of conveyance of the recording paper sheet.

Abstract: A printer that produces objects from liquid conductive material is disclosed. In one embodiment, the print head has a chamber for containing liquid conductive material surrounded by an electromagnetic coil. A DC pulse is applied to the electromagnetic coil, resulting in a radially-inward force on the liquid conductive material. The force on the liquid conductive material in the chamber results in a drop being expelled from an orifice. In response to a series of pulses, a series of drops fall onto a platform in a programmed pattern, resulting in the formation of an object.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a sheet bundle binding device having both a staple binding unit and a staple-free binding unit, capable of performing binding in two stages of proper binding and temporary binding so as to obtain a desired binding force and to easily remove some sheets from a bound sheet bundle. A binding control section determines, based on user's settings, whether or not to perform first binding in which a first sheet bundle Sb1 is subjected to the proper binding using the staple binding unit or staple-free binding unit and determines whether or not to perform second binding in which a second sheet bundle obtained by accumulating additional sheets on the first sheet bundle is subjected to the temporary binding using the staple-free binding unit so as to control binding forces with which the first and second sheet bundles are bound.

Abstract: A base portion includes a cam surface formed around a support pin. A turning portion includes: a slide member provided movably in directions toward and away from the support pin; and a coil spring urging the slide member. The slide member is designed to slide on the cam surface while turning, together with an openable body, about the support pin. The cam surface includes a first sliding surface, a second sliding surface, and a third sliding surface. The first sliding surface presses the slide member back in a direction of closing of the openable body. The second sliding surface presses the slide member back in a direction of opening of the openable body. The third sliding surface presses the slide member back in the direction of closing of the openable body.

Abstract: An ink composition useful for digital offset printing applications comprises a photochromic material and a plurality of curable compounds. The compounds have Hansen solubility parameters as described herein, and the resulting ink composition is both compatible with certain dampening fluids and has certain rheological properties, including a low viscosity. The photochromic ink compositions are useful for providing security information in certain printing applications.

Abstract: The blanket cylinder of a printing press is used to remove oleophobic debris from an imaged dry printing member. Following imaging—e.g., imagewise exposure of the printing member to radiation that ablates the layer below the oleophobic layer, or de-anchors it from the oleophobic layer without ablation—the printing member is brought into rolling contact with the blanket cylinder, and the press is operated “on impression.” This rolling contact may remove not only the oleophobic top layer but ablation debris of the underlying imaging layer as well.

Abstract: A liquid level measurement device and method for a wastewater tank or tanks in a recreational vehicle may be implemented by attaching a visual liquid level measuring module (such as a liquid level sight or a mechanical pressure gage) to the inlet of a gate valve that is configured for attachment to the outlet of a recreational vehicle wastewater dump system. The visual liquid level measuring module is configured to entirely fit inboard of the sidewalls of the recreational vehicle and underneath the floor of the recreational vehicle. The liquid level of the wastewater tank may be measured by (a) closing the gate valve, (b) opening a shutoff valve upstream of the gate valve but downstream of the wastewater tank, and (c) reading the level of the liquid indicated by the visual liquid level indicating device.

Abstract: An ink-based digital printing system for variable data lithographic printing includes an imaging member having a surface configured to absorb dampening fluid. A dampening fluid patterning system jets dampening fluid onto the imaging member surface according to image data to form a dampening fluid pattern. The system includes a transfer member that receives the jetted dampening fluid pattern from the imaging member at a dampening fluid loading nip for subsequent inking of the dampening fluid pattern to form an ink pattern. The ink pattern is transferred to a substrate from the transfer member at an ink pattern transfer nip.

Abstract: Certain embodiments include a sensor system for measuring chlorine concentration in water. The sensor system can have a manifold including one or more flow passages for receiving fluid flow. The sensor system can have a probe for measuring chlorine concentration in fluid communication with a flow passage of the one or more flow passages of the manifold. The probe can have a probe body oriented to direct incoming fluid from one or more flow passages of the manifold toward an end of the probe body. The probe can have a plurality of flutes defined on an outer surface of the probe body. The flutes can be shaped and oriented to direct fluid from the end proximal to the electrodes, back toward the one or more flow passages of the manifold.

Abstract: A method for marking an article is disclosed which includes providing an article including a substrate, the substrate including a surface and a surface material, and forming a design on the surface of the substrate by applying a marking material to the surface wherein applying the marking material includes an additive manufacturing technique. Another method for marking an article further includes the surface having a first surface and second surface, the second surface defining a depression relative to the first surface, and forming a design on the surface of the substrate by applying a marking material to the second surface, the marking material forming a marking surface which is substantially flush with the first surface. The marked article formed by the methods includes a microstructure derived from the additive manufacturing technique.