Abstract: A reading device includes: plural transport rolls that transport a document along a transport path, include a discharge roll disposed on a most downstream side of the transport path, and rotate and do not rotate in synchronization with one another; an opening and closing unit that exposes or covers an upstream portion of the transport path; plural detectors that are provided apart from one another along the transport path, detect a transported document, and include a discharge detector that is disposed on a most downstream side of the transport path and is disposed on an upstream side relative to the discharge roll in a document transport direction; a reader that reads an image formed on a transported document in a downstream portion of the transport path; and a controller that stops the plural transport rolls once upon occurrence of a document jam inside a device body by controlling the transport rolls and rotates the transport rolls for only a predetermined period in a case where the discharge detector is d

Abstract: A process cartridge including an image bearing member; a lubricant applicator, which includes a lubricant application member configured to apply a solid lubricant to the surface of the image bearing member; and a smoothing member configured to smooth the applied solid lubricant, and at least one of a charging device, a developing device and a cleaning device, wherein the amount of the solid lubricant present on a portion of surface of the image bearing member, which is located between the lubricant application member and the smoothing blade, is from 0.11 to 1.2 mg/m2. The smoothing member is preferably a blade having a JIS-A hardness of not less than 79°. The process cartridge is preferably assembled by a method including setting the lubricant smoothing member, the lubricant and the lubricant application member to a housing of the process cartridge; and then setting the image bearing member to the housing.

Abstract: A process cartridge including an image bearing member; a lubricant applicator, which includes a lubricant application member configured to apply a solid lubricant to the surface of the image bearing member; and a smoothing member configured to smooth the applied solid lubricant, and at least one of a charging device, a developing device and a cleaning device, wherein the amount of the solid lubricant present on a portion of surface of the image bearing member, which is located between the lubricant application member and the smoothing blade, is from 0.11 to 1.2 mg/m2. The smoothing member is preferably a blade having a JIS-A hardness of not less than 79°. The process cartridge is preferably assembled by a method including setting the lubricant smoothing member, the lubricant and the lubricant application member to a housing of the process cartridge; and then setting the image bearing member to the housing.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a laser stimulating ray source for emitting a laser beam, a base made of transparent material and bearing thereon an image carrier which carries a fluorescence image formed by a fluorescent substance which can be excited and can release fluorescent light in response to irradiation by the laser beam, a laser beam scaner for upwardly scanning a bottom surface of the image carrier borne on the base with the laser beam emitted from the laser stimulating ray source through the base, a light detector provided below the base for photoelectrically detecting fluorescent light released from the image carrier, and an image carrier receiving portion provided on the base and containing a substance having a refractive index larger than that of air and closer to that of the image carrier than that of air, the substance filling gaps between the image carrier and the base.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a laser stimulating ray source for emitting a laser beam, a base made of transparent material and bearing thereon an image carrier which carries a fluorescence image formed by a fluorescent substance which can be excited and release fluorescent light in response to irradiation by the laser beam, a laser beam scaner for upwardly scanning a bottom surface of the image carrier borne on the base with the laser beam emitted from the laser stimulating ray source through the base, light detector provided below the base for photoelectrically detecting fluorescent light released from the image carrier and an image carrier receiving portion provided on the base and containing substance having a refractive index larger than that of air and closer to that of the image carrier than that of air, the substance filing gaps between the image carrier and the base.

Abstract: A belt-shaped member cut into a predetermined length is fed from a feeding devices to a tire forming drum and is wound on its cylindrical peripheral surface. Center portions of the opposite ends of the belt-shaped member are pushed to be joined to each other and the side portions of at least one of the opposite ends of the belt-shaped member are held by upper and lower holding pawls. Such holding pawls are swung along an arcuate path so that both side portions of the opposite ends of the belt-shaped member are drawn near each other to abut against each other. The abutting end portions are pushed toward the peripheral surface of the drum by pushing devices for joining them together.

Abstract: A belt-shaped member cut into a predetermined length is fed from a feeding devices to a tire forming drum and is wound on its cylindrical peripheral surface. Center portions of the opposite ends of the belt-shaped member are pushed to be joined to each other and the side portions of at least one of the opposite ends of the belt-shaped member are held by upper and lower holding pawls. Such holding pawls are swung along an arcuate path so that both side portions of the opposite ends of the belt-shaped member are drawn near each other to abut against each other. The abutting end portions are pushed toward the peripheral surface of the drum by pushing devices for joining them together.

Abstract: A tire building system comprises a band drum, a shaping drum, and a belt forming machine having two oscillating or rotating belt drums, in which the band drum and the shaping drum are arranged on the same axis in opposing relationship, a band transfer is disposed therebetween on the axis in such a manner as to reciprocate, the belt forming machine is arranged in parallel to the axis, and a belt transfer is disposed between the belt drum and the shaping drum in such a manner as to move in the axial direction and the direction normal to the axis.

Abstract: Method of transferring and setting bead part assemblies for tires, which comprises providing a bead part assembly stocking part in which a number of bead part assemblies is stacked one on top of the other in tiers through separators, an emptied separator collecting part disposed in the proximity of the bead part assembly stocking part, a tire building machine for thereon receiving bead part assemblies and building tires, bead part assembly holding means for picking up bead part assemblies one at a time and a separator holding means for picking up the separators one at a time; the step of causing the bead part assembly holding means to pick up a bead part assembly from the bead part assembly stocking part and carry the picked-up bead part assembly to the tire building machine and the step of causing the separator holding means to pick up a separator from the bead part assembly stocking part and carry the picked-up separator to the emptied separator collecting part.

Abstract: In a tire building apparatus comprising a band drum 1, a shaping drum 2, and a belt forming machine 101 having two belt drums 3 which can be oscillated or cyclically moved, the band drum 1 and the belt forming machine 101 are disposed on the same axis in opposing relationship, the shaping drum 2 is disposed so that it can be reciprocated between the position on the aforesaid axis and the standby position while maintaining the parallel condition with respect to the aforesaid axis, and a band transfer 4 and a belt transfer 5 are disposed so that they can be reciprocated along the aforesaid axis between the band drum 1 and the belt forming machine 101.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a tread pickup device which can pick up a tread on a truck reliably without manpower. The device comprises a plurality of short first forks for scooping up a front edge of the tread placed on the truck and holding the tread, long second forks which are arranged adjacent to the first forks and inserted throughout the total width of the tread, and a mechanism for raising and moving the first and second forks together with the tread.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a tread centering device which automatically detects the position of tread center and holds it in a straight form even when the center of tread is not positioned in a straight form. The device mainly comprises a plurality of detectors for detecting a groove for centering the tread, a holding plate which is inserted into the detected groove, and a mechanism which moves said holding plate transversely to align said groove in a straight form.

Abstract: An apparatus joins opposite ends of a tread on a rotary drum in a tire making machine. Besides the rotary drum, the apparatus includes a conveyor having two lateral endless loops and a guide in the form of rollers interposed between the loops. The conveyor is disposed upstream of the rotary drum. Clamping mechanisms are provided to clamp the respective sides of the tread at a rear end thereof to the endless loops of the conveyor, respectively. A tread placed on the endless loops of the conveyor is maintained in relative position by the guide. The actual length of the tread on the conveyor is measured. The front end of the tread is adhered to the rotary drum and the opposite sides of the tread at the rear end thereof are clamped to the conveyor. The conveyor and drum are then driven at appropriate speeds based on the length of the tread to cause the ends thereof to be joined on the drum. Movable grippers can be provided to stretch the rear end of the tread at the sides thereof into abutment with the front end.

Abstract: A band conveying device with a vacuum attraction mechanism comprises a base frame, a traveling carriage movable on the base frame and a plurality of band holding units arranged in a row and provided on the traveling carriage perpendicularly with respect to a traveling direction thereof. A plurality of vacuum pads for attracting and holding a band with a vacuum are arranged in an annular form and attached to the band holding units. The vacuum pads are divided into the two vacuum systems. Each of at least two vacuum systems is provided with a vacuum pressure switch and an electromagnetic valve for shutting off its vacuum system when its degree of vacuum decreases below a given level.

Abstract: An automatic joining apparatus for automatically joining an attachment start edge and an attachment finish edge of a carcass play cut into a length somewhat shorter than a circumferential length of a former drum and wound around the former drum, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a pair of magnet-containing drive rollers movable in the axial direction of the former drum while being held in contact with the proximity of the attachment start edge of the carcass ply and the proximity of the attachment finish edge thereof to join the attachment start edge and the attachment finish edge together, and a pair of gathering rollers movable in the axial direction of the former drum behind the magnet-containing drive rollers while being held in contact with the proximity of the attachment start edge and the proximity of the attachment finish edge to join the attachment start edge and the attachment finish edge together.