Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion forming a toner image on a sheet, a rotatable heating member and a rotatable pressing member for fixing, at a nip, the toner image formed on the sheet by the image forming portion, an executing portion for executing a cleaning mode for cleaning the rotatable heating member by introducing, into the nip, the sheet on which a predetermined toner image is formed by the image forming portion, a re-introducing mechanism for re-introducing the sheet, into the nip, which has passed through the nip and then has been turned upside down, and a shifting mechanism for shifting a sheet position so that when a single sheet is introduced twice into the nip in the cleaning mode by using the re-introducing mechanism, positional relationships of a first-time sheet and a second-time sheet relative to the rotatable heating member with respect to a widthwise direction of the rotatable heating member are made different from each other.

Abstract: Compensated pressure sensor includes a MEMS pressure sensor die having resistors RA and RD connected in series in a first leg of a Wheatstone bridge and resistors RB and RC connected in series in a second leg of the Wheatstone bridge; a first and second fuse; and a first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth resistor; wherein: a first end of the first resistor is connected in series with the first leg of the bridge and a first end of the second resistor is connected in series with the second leg of the bridge; the first fuse is connected, at a first end, to a first output of the bridge, and at a second end, to a second end of the third resistor and to a first end of the second fuse; the second fuse is connected, at a second end, to a second output of the bridge; a first end of the third resistor is connected to an input to the bridge and to a first end of the fourth resistor; a second end of the fourth resistor is connected to a second end of the first resistor, a second end of the second resistor and a fir

Abstract: An exhaust duct provided on a back surface side of an image forming apparatus, and including a plurality of air ducts through which air inside the apparatus is exhausted toward outside the apparatus, a plurality of filters provided in the plurality of air ducts, respectively, and which removes a fine particle included in the air exhausted through the air ducts, and a filter case that houses the plurality of filters in a manner that the filters are able to be taken out from the filter case are included, and the filter case is provided in a drawable manner to one of side surface sides in a right and left direction or to an upper surface side in an up and down direction of the image forming apparatus, from a front surface side to a back surface side of the image forming apparatus, with respect to the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: To provide a conductive member for an electrophotographic machine that is capable of preventing hardening degradation of a surface layer that is caused by an ionic conductive agent contained in a conductive rubber elastic body layer, allowing the surface layer to be improved in durability. A conductive member 10 for an electrophotographic machine includes a conductive rubber elastic body layer 14 containing crosslinked rubber and an ionic conductive agent, and a surface layer 16 provided on an outer periphery of the conductive rubber elastic body layer 14, wherein the surface layer 16 contains a polymer and polyphenol. Examples of the polyphenol include a tannin, gallic acid, ellagic acid, pyrogallol, catechin, and chlorogenic acid.

Abstract: A sensor having a transmission line acting as a probe and an electronic circuit measures liquid levels. The sensor circuit uses a periodic signal generator to produce a carrier wave, which stimulates the transmission line, through a complex network coupling element. The complex impedance network forms a voltage divider with the transmission line, wherein the output of the voltage divider, is demodulated with an AM demodulator, such as a thermally compensated peak detector. This demodulated signal is related to the dielectric constant, and thus the liquid level of the material surrounding the partially submerged transmission line probe. The liquid level and the demodulated signal may be offset, scaled and linearized with a microcontroller containing signal processing routines, linearizing equations, stored calibration constants and look up tables.

Abstract: A thermal-type flowmeter includes a chip package. The chip package is formed through encapsulation with a resin of a sensor element, a drive circuit, a metal lead frame adapted to have mounted thereon the sensor element and the drive circuit, and a temperature detecting element. The chip package has an exposed structure in which a surface of the sensor element having the diaphragm is exposed. The temperature detecting element is mounted on the lead frame via an electrically conductive member.

Abstract: A sensor module having a sensor housing, at least one piezoelectric converter element that is disposed in the sensor housing, and at least one insulating member that is disposed in the sensor housing alongside the converter element. The insulating member has on its outer periphery at least one recess in which a contacting system of the converter element extends. A pressure-measuring glow plug having a sensor module of this kind is also described.

Abstract: A thermal airflow sensor includes a semiconductor device, a protective film a bonding wire, and a resin. The resin covers over a part of the semiconductor device so that the bonding wire is covered with the resin and the region including a thin-wall portion is exposed. The protective film is not covered with the resin and has an outer peripheral edge located outside the thin-wall portion.

Abstract: A fixing portion 18c for suppressing movement of a developer bag 16 when the developer bag 16 is unsealed by moving a sealing member 19 is provided. By this, unsealing becomes easy.

Abstract: The disclosed structure includes a belt-shaped conveying member configured to convey developer. The conveying member includes a partitioning portion, which is a partition for developer contained in a casing with respect to a conveying direction in which the developer is conveyed, wherein, when the developer container is new, a first developer amount which is an amount of the developer contained at an upstream side that is upstream of the partitioning portion in the conveying direction, is larger than a second developer amount which is an amount of the developer contained at a downstream side that is downstream of the partitioning portion in the conveying direction.

Abstract: A discharging member includes an electrically conductive knit fabric, a support member, and a first magnet member. The conductive knit fabric is knitted into a cylindrical shape with use of yarn formed by twisting together a plurality of metal fibers. The support member is cylindrical shaped and inserted in the conductive knit fabric. The first magnet member is placed inside the support member. With the conductive knit fabric grounded or with a voltage applied to the conductive knit fabric, the discharging member is placed in noncontact with a discharged member in such a fashion that the first magnet member is opposed to the discharged member with the support member and the conductive knit fabric interposed therebetween.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided comprising a signal processing module configured with at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to: receive signaling containing information about a stiffness of a concrete mixture; and determine an average bubble size of gas contained in the concrete mixture, based at least partly on the signaling received. The signal processing module may be configured to provide corresponding signaling containing information about the average bubble size of gas contained in the concrete mixture. The signal processing module may be configured to determine the pressure inside air bubbles and determine an average air bubble size of the gas contained in the concrete mixture, based at least partly on the pressure determined inside the air bubbles.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a developing electrode and a supply electrode. The developing electrode includes a first electrical contact in contact with a developing roller shaft, and a second electrical contact positioned closer to the developing roller shaft than a second agitator gear is to the developing roller shaft. The second electrical contact is positioned farther from the developing roller shaft than the first electrical contact is from the developing roller shaft. The supply electrode includes a first electrical contact in contact with the supply roller shaft, and a second electrical contact positioned closer to the developing roller shaft than the second agitator gear is to the developing roller shaft. The second electrical contact of the supply electrode is positioned farther from the developing roller shaft than the second electrical contact of the developing electrode is from the developing roller shaft.

Abstract: An example is a lens mirror array in which a plurality of optical elements, which comprises a first lens surface formed at the top of convex portion protruding outwards for converging light, a protrusion which includes a first mirror surface that reflects the light emitted from the first lens surface at the top and a light-shielding surface that has side walls at two sides thereof with respect to a light advancing direction and prevents advance of the light through the side walls, a second mirror surface that reflects the light reflected by the first mirror surface of the protrusion and a second lens surface that images the light emitted from the second mirror surface on an image plane, is arranged in a horizontal scanning direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in determining the relative vapor pressure of a fluid in an environment in which the apparatus is located, the apparatus comprising a first layer (512) configured to enable a flow of charge carriers from a source electrode (505) to a drain electrode (506), a second layer (513) configured to control the conductance of the first layer (512) using an electric field formed between the first (512) and second layers (513) and a third layer (514) positioned between the first and second layers to prevent a flow of charge carriers therebetween to enable formation of the electric field, wherein the second layer (513) is configured to exhibit a charge distribution on interaction with the fluid, the charge distribution giving rise to the electric field between the first (512) and second (513) layers, and wherein the second layer (513) is configured such that the charge distribution and electric field strength are dependent upon the relative vapor pressure of the fluid in the environment (516), thereb

Abstract: ABSTRACT The present invention lies in the field of automated analysis apparatuses and relates to a method for transferring a liquid volume from a first liquid vessel into a second liquid vessel. The method ensures increased pipetting accuracy, even from liquid vessels which have foam on the surface of the liquid.

Abstract: A belt tension adjustment mechanism provided on an inner side of an endless intermediate transfer belt and applying a tension to the intermediate transfer belt being rotated when a toner image is transferred on the intermediate transfer belt, said belt tension adjustment mechanism includes a holder having an opening section at one surface thereof; and an elastic member contained to be fixed in the holder while being compressed in a running direction of the intermediate transfer belt and having a convex section, wherein the convex section protrudes from the opening section of the holder toward a direction orthogonal to an image transfer surface of the intermediate transfer belt and is in direct contact with the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: An object information acquiring apparatus includes: a plurality of detecting elements each receiving an acoustic waves having propagated from an object irradiated with light and outputting an electrical signal; a probe that supports the plurality of detecting elements so that a high-resolution region in which directivity axes of at least part of the plurality of detecting elements converge is formed; a processor acquiring specific information on the object using the electrical signal; and a memory storing correction data for correcting the electrical signals output by the plurality of detecting elements, and used when the processor acquires the specific information.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly; an image forming portion for forming an image on a sheet; an openable member rotatably supported by the main assembly; a first feeding guide provided on the openable member; a second feeding guide provided in the main assembly, wherein when the openable member is closed, a sheet feeding path for feeding the sheet is formed by the first and second feeding guides; a hole provided in the first feeding guide; and an illumination device, provided on the openable member, for illuminating at least a part of the second feeding guide through the hole when the openable member is open.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing a contact mechanics test on a substrate includes a stylus, a core configured to engage the stylus against the substrate, a stylus engagement mechanism configured to induce a contact load or a penetration depth to the stylus, a core engagement mechanism configured to maintain contact of the core and to move the core along the substrate surface, a frame configured to be fixed with respect to the apparatus or to be moved together with the core engagement mechanism as an assembly, a frame engagement mechanism configured to engage the frame with the substrate surface; and a substrate monitoring device configured to measure characteristics of substrate contact response and/or collect material machined from the substrate. Methods of performing a contact mechanics test are also provided.