Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which an original reading portion is disposed in an upper portion of the apparatus main body, a feed portion is disposed in a lower portion of the apparatus main body, and a printing portion is disposed between the original reading portion and the feed portion as an image forming system, is configured as follows. A paper post-processing portion that can perform a plurality of types of paper post-processing for recording paper transported from the apparatus main body after printing by the printing portion is finished, and a discharge portion to which recording paper is discharged after paper post-processing by the paper post-processing portion is finished, are disposed in a space of the apparatus main body formed by the original reading portion, the printing portion, and the feed portion.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a sheet post-processing apparatus includes an ejection path that successively feed sheets each with an image found thereon from an ejection outlet. A processing tray is disposed under the ejection outlet to temporarily store sheets fed from the ejection path. A port processing unit performs post processing such as binding and punching. The post processing unit is located under the ejection path and is provided with a cooling fan that sends air toward the post processing unit.

Abstract: A metal material comprises a Zn—Al—Sn based alloy (ZAS alloy) and Cu diffused in the alloy, wherein Cu is diffused into the inside of the alloy to a depth from the surface of 0.5 mm or more, the concentration of Cu decreases from from the surface of the ZAS alloy towards the inside thereof, and there is present no specific interface between Cu and the ZAS alloy; and a method for producing the metal material involves applying, to the surface of the ZAS alloy, an agent comprising a solvent and, dispersed therein, a material containing Cu such as a Cu powder and a Cu—Mn alloy powder and preferably, dispersed or dissolved therein, a reducing agent capable of reducing an oxide film present on the surface of the ZAS alloy, and heating the ZAS alloy having the agent applied thereon, to thereby diffuse Cu into the alloy.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a scanner section, an image forming section, and a functional unit. The scanner section is configured to read image information by scanning an image bearing side of a document sheet. The image forming section is located above or below the scanner section with a space section provided therebetween and is configured to perform image formation processing on a recording medium based on the image information read. The space section has at least one open vertical side. The functional unit is removably fitted into the space section through the open side.

Abstract: A paper feeder includes a storage section, a feed path, a delivery section, and a receiving section. The storage section is configured to store therein plural sheet members to be fed to a processing apparatus which is operative to perform processing on the sheet members. The feed path allows each of the plural sheet members fed from the storage section to pass therethrough in a feed direction toward the processing apparatus. The delivery section is located most downstream on the feed path in the feed direction. The feed path is open to exterior in the delivery section. The receiving section is located upstream of the feed path in the feed direction for communication with a delivery section of a separate paper feeder having an identical construction with the present paper feeder when the separate paper feeder is disposed upstream of the present paper feeder in the feed direction.

Abstract: Mechanism unit(s) 6 functioning as automatic-feed cassette(s) and mechanism unit(s) 7 functioning as manual-feed tray(s) together form a single integral module, constituting hybrid paper supply module 5. Manual-feed mechanism unit(s) 7 is or are arranged below transport paths 36, 37, which extend toward printing unit(s) 3. Furthermore, path(s) along which recording paper P taken up from automatic-feed cassette mechanism unit(s) 6 is transported and path(s) along which recording paper P taken up from manual-feed mechanism unit(s) 7 is transported are made to intersect within the module, decreasing length(s) of respective path(s).

Abstract: A furnace for melting and holding aluminum materials, the furnace being characterized in that the furnace comprises: a pre-heating tower for pre-heating aluminum blocks, a melting crucible furnace which receives a supply of aluminum blocks from the pre-heating tower at a position immediately under the pre-heating tower, and a holding crucible furnace which receives a continuous supply of molten aluminum from the melting crucible furnace at a position side-by-side with the melting crucible furnace, and that an exhaust gas resulting from combustion in the melting crucible furnace can be supplied to the inside of the pre-heating tower as an ascending current for heat exchange with aluminum blocks, the furnace being capable of continuous melting and energy savings.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus containing: a paper feed portion; a processing portion; a paper output portion; a paper transport path defined from the paper feed portion to the paper output portion by way of the processing portion, by components arranged opposing both sides or surfaces of a paper sheet to be transported; and a side panel cover, which is integrated with the components opposing one of the paper sheet's surfaces on one side of an apparatus body, being among the components constituting the paper transport path, wherein the side panel cover is adapted to move horizontally with respect to the apparatus body; wherein the paper transport path includes a primary transport path defined from the paper feed portion to the paper output portion by way of the processing portion, by components opposing both sides or surfaces of the paper sheet to be transported, and an auxiliary transport path defined from the paper output portion to the paper feed portion, by components opposing both sides or surfaces of the

Abstract: A continuous melting apparatus for a low melting point metal is disclosed. The apparatus includes a melting furnace main body (5) forming a combustion chamber (6) surrounded by a refractory lining, a crucible (1) formed with a tapping orifice (2) at an appropriate position of a body and housed at the center portion of said combustion chamber, a burner (8) provided on a side wall portion of said melting furnace main body (5) for heating said crucible (1) in said combustion chamber (6) and a receptacle (6, 13) for receiving a melt flowing out through said tapping orifice (2) of said crucible (1). In the continuous melting apparatus, with employing a melting method of burner heating type which is inexpensive, easy to handle and maintenance, with successfully minimizing oxidation loss which was the shortcoming of the burner type. Also, generation of corundum on the furnace wall surface due to reaction of the aluminum melt and the furnace wall can be successfully avoided.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying apparatus capable of exhibiting an excellent exhaust gas purifying capability and restoring the capability to an initial level even after running for a long period of time. An electrification mesh section electrostatically negatively charges useless particulates contained in exhaust gas and a purification filter section adsorbs thereon the particulates thus charged, resulting in the particulates being separated from the exhaust gas. Also, when the purification filter is made of carbon fiber or carbon particles or the denitration filter section is additionally provided, a reduction in concentration of nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas is accomplished as well. In a reactivation unit, cleaning liquid cleans the purification filter section to remove useless particulates therefrom, so that an exhaust gas purification capacity of the exhaust gas purifying apparatus may be restored to a level substantially equal to an initial level thereof.

Abstract: A contaminated air purifying apparatus capable of decreasing particles such as dust floating in air, soot produced by a combustion engine and the like and air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) contained in exhaust gas. Particulates such as dust, soot and the like are electrostatically negatively charged and collected in a purifying filter section by coulombic force. NOx is converted into N.sub.2 and CO.sub.2 by an action of carbon fiber or carbon particles, resulting in decreased in concentration. The carbon fiber and carbon particles are preferably modified into an increased surface area of 200 to 2000 m.sup.2 /g.

Abstract: A muffling and denitrating apparatus capable of lowering a level of noise generated by a combustion engine and reducing a concentration of NOx in exhaust gas of the engine. Sound-damping and denitration are accomplished by a carbon fiber or particle layer arranged in the apparatus. Exhaust sound is adsorbed by carbon fibers or carbon particles, resulting in a sound pressure thereof being reduced. NOx is converted into N.sub.2 and CO.sub.2, to thereby be decreased in concentration. Carbon fibers and/or carbon particles for the carbon fiber or particle layer are preferably treated or modified with nitrogen monoxide gas or a nitric acid solution, resulting in having an increased surface area as large as 80 to 2000 m.sup.2 /g.

Abstract: In order to accomplish the aforementioned and other objects, a resin muffler, according to the invention, is formed of a heat-resistantive synthetic resin having a property of visco-elastic plasticity in a predetermined temperature range. In the visco-elastic temperature range, the motion of the molecular chain segment of the material resin comes to be relaxed to exhibit noise creative pulsating energy dissipation owing to emission as heat energy. Since the resin muffler thus absorbs noise creative energy by dissipation at around the visco-elastic temperature range and transform the energy into the heat energy which may be emitted by radiation.

Abstract: A thin film electroluminescence device is disclosed which comprises are electrode formed on a transparatent substrate, one dielectric layer formed on the electrode, an emitting layer containing Group IIIb-Vb compound as a host material and positive trivalent element ions added as a luminescence center to the host material, the other dielectric layer formed on the emitting layer, the other electrode provided on the other dielectric layer.

Abstract: An optical system for scanning a medium with a beam spot includes a light beam generator, a deflector for deflecting the light beam in a predetermined direction and in deflection plane, and an imaging optical system between the deflector and the medium for imaging the light beam from the deflector on the medium as a beam spot, the imaging optical system having at least one lens element mode of a moisture absorbing material. The lens element has a shape in which the dimension in a direction parallel to the deflection plane of the light beam is greater than the dimension in a direction perpendicular to the deflection plane of the light beam. A device mitigates any influence on the imaged condition of the light beam on the medium caused by the lens element being subjected to moisture.