Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an outer cover in which an air intake and an exhaust outlet are formed, an image forming unit, a fixing device to fix an image on a recording medium and including a fixing casing in which a sheet inlet and a first exhaust opening are formed, and a thermal shield disposed above the sheet inlet of the fixing device and between the fixing device and a component adjacent to the fixing device, an air channel to guide air sucked in through the air intake to the exhaust outlet, defined by the thermal shield as well as the fixing casing. The first exhaust opening formed in the fixing casing communicates with the air channel formed by the thermal shield and the fixing casing to merge the hot air discharged from the fixing device into the air flowing in the air channel.

Abstract: In an interlock device for turning a switch on and off in accordance with closing and opening of a plurality of covers covering a body of an electronic apparatus, one striker protrudes from each of the covers. An engagement member is provided inside the body of the electronic apparatus to move in a predetermined direction to contact and separate from the switch to turn the switch on and off. All the strikers contact the engagement member to turn on the switch when all the covers are closed. At least one of the strikers separates from the engagement member to turn off the switch when the corresponding cover is opened.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a exposure device as a light source, a developer container storing developer and attached to a main body of the image forming apparatus perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the photoconductor, a developing unit and a photoconductor unit having a photoconductor for bearing a latent image thereon each detachably attached to the main body substantially in the same direction as the developer container. An exposure device displacing mechanism displaces the exposure device between a first position enabling the exposure device to function as the light source and a second position disabling the exposure device to function as the light source. The photoconductor unit is detached when the developer container is either displaced from an initially attached position or is removed from the main body and the exposure device displacing device has displaced the exposure device to the second position.

Abstract: A bush for isolating a stabilizer from vibration, is adapted to be fitted from the open end of an axle beam having a substantially U-shaped cross-section, to a stabilizer bar passing through the inside of the axle beam. The bush includes a fitting hole and an opening for guiding the bar into the fitting hole. The opening has a pair of first projections facing each other and a pair of second projections facing each other. When the opening becomes engaged with the bar, the first and second projections sequentially and individually contact with the bar and elastically deform in the direction in which the opening opens. When the fitting hole has engaged with the bar, the bush makes contact with the inner surface of the beam and elastically deforms in the direction in which the opening closes, and this causes the second projections to make contact with the first projections.

Abstract: An interlock system includes first and second racks movable in parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction between opening and closing positions in conjunction with opening and closing of the first cover, respectively. A housing is provided to slidably accommodate the first and second racks in the longitudinal direction. A pinion unit is provided and is sandwiched by the first and second racks. The first and second racks have meshing sections respectively meshing with the pinion unit at one side surfaces extending in the longitudinal direction facing each other. The pinion unit slides in the longitudinal direction by a prescribed length in conjunction with movement of at least one of the first and second racks. The interlock switch is turned on and off in accordance with a sliding length of the pinion unit in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A housing structure includes a first structure, which has body frames and a first shaft supported by the body frames, a second structure to be movably supported between an opened position and a closed position by the first shaft, and a positioning device to position the second structure in relation to the first structure in the closed position. The positioning device includes a first engagement portion provided on the first structure, a second engagement portion provided on the second structure and engaged with the first engagement portion in the closed position, a first biasing device to bias the second engagement portion toward the second structure, and a second biasing device to bias the second engagement portion toward the first structure. The positioning device positions the second structure in relation to the first structure by biasing forces of the first biasing device and the second biasing device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer belt that conveys a transfer material, and a photosensitive body that catches the transfer material between the photosensitive body and the transfer belt and that transfers a toner image to the transfer material. The transfer belt is driven in conjunction with the opening action of the front cover, and the photosensitive body is separated from the transfer belt in conjunction with the opening action of the front cover.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording sheet; an image reading unit provided above the image forming unit so as to open and close with respect to the image forming unit; an automatic document feeder provided above the image reading unit so as to open and close with respect to the image reading unit; and an open-close regulation mechanism that regulates opening and closing movements of the automatic document feeder so that when the image reading unit is closed with respect to the image forming unit, the automatic document feeder is capable of opening with respect to the image reading unit, and when the image reading unit is opened with respect to the image forming unit, the automatic document feeder is prevented to open with respect to the image reading unit.

Abstract: In an interlock device for turning a switch on and off in accordance with closing and opening of a plurality of covers covering a body of an electronic apparatus, one striker protrudes from each of the covers. An engagement member is provided inside the body of the electronic apparatus to move in a predetermined direction to contact and separate from the switch to turn the switch on and off. All the strikers contact the engagement member to turn on the switch when all the covers are closed. At least one of the strikers separates from the engagement member to turn off the switch when the corresponding cover is opened.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet feed cassette including: a main container on which sheets are mounted; a sub container slidably attached to the main container; and first slidable portions that are arranged on sidewalls of each of the main container and the sub container, and that are formed in a U-shape.

Abstract: A housing structure includes a first structure, which has body frames and a first shaft supported by the body frames, a second structure to be movably supported between an opened position and a closed position by the first shaft, and a positioning device to position the second structure in relation to the first structure in the closed position. The positioning device includes a first engagement portion provided on the first structure, a second engagement portion provided on the second structure and engaged with the first engagement portion in the closed position, a first biasing device to bias the second engagement portion toward the second structure, and a second biasing device to bias the second engagement portion toward the first structure. The positioning device positions the second structure in relation to the first structure by biasing forces of the first biasing device and the second biasing device.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet feed cassette including: a main container on which sheets are mounted; a sub container slidably attached to the main container; and first slidable portions that are arranged on sidewalls of each of the main container and the sub container, and that are formed in a U-shape.

Abstract: An image forming device includes an openable panel disposed on a side of the image forming device. The panel includes a pair of carrying rollers, a transcribing roller and a pair of discharging sheet carrying rollers.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording sheet; an image reading unit provided above the image forming unit so as to open and close with respect to the image forming unit; an automatic document feeder provided above the image reading unit so as to open and close with respect to the image reading unit; and an open-close regulation mechanism that regulates opening and closing movements of the automatic document feeder so that when the image reading unit is closed with respect to the image forming unit, the automatic document feeder is capable of opening with respect to the image reading unit, and when the image reading unit is opened with respect to the image forming unit, the automatic document feeder is prevented to open with respect to the image reading unit.

Abstract: An opening and closing means is disposed on a side of the main body, and provides a pair of carrying means, a transcribing roller and a pair of discharging sheet carrying means. Thereby, there can be provided the image forming apparatus easy to access to sheet remaining in the apparatus.

Abstract: An information processing system has a first information processing device having a first wireless communicator for receiving and sending data information from and to a base station by wireless communication and a display for displaying first level information. A second information processing device has a second wireless communicator for receiving and sending data information from and to the first information processing device by wireless communication and a display for displaying second level information corresponding to a sub-level of the first level information displayed by the display of the first information processing device.

Abstract: To provide a wrist mounting type electronic apparatus facilitating attachment and detachment thereof. The wrist mounting type electronic apparatus is constituted by a main body bent substantially in an L-like shape and straps comprising a hard material. An inserting portion is provided at a front end of the strap on one side and is inserted into an inserted portion of the pivotable strap on other side. The inserted portion is penetrated with a bar member which is engaged with a small diameter hole of the inserting portion. Thereby, the wrist mounting type electronic apparatus can be mounted to the wrist. A hinge of the strap is provided with a coil spring and a state of opening the strap relative to a cabinet of the main body is maintained so far as the strap is not engaged.

Abstract: A life estimation device which numerically measures the damage to a machine such as an engine accurately to estimate, the life of the machine accurately without requiring skill. A load map (B) of the two-dimensional distribution of the operation parameters of an engine is made. In accordance with the weighted integration time &agr;i·ki at each level (Bi) of the load map (B), the actual damage &dgr;=&Sgr;&agr;i·ki to the engine for a certain lapse of time &tgr; is calculated. By operating the engine beforehand, a correspondence relation L2 between the magnitude of the damage &dgr; and the life H is predetermined. The life H1 corresponding to the calculated actual damage &dgr;1 is determined in accordance with the predetermined correspondence relation L2 and the H1 is outputted as the estimated life of the engine.

Abstract: An information processor and a personal authentication method arranged to easily and securely perform authentication using living-body information on a person whose identification is to be authenticated. The information processor has an input section for inputting living-body information (fingerprint pattern) representing a unique feature of a person whose identification is to be authenticated, a collation section for collating the input living-body information with living-body information registered in a collation data storage section in advance, and a transmission section for transmitting authentication data to an external unit on the basis of the result of the collation.