Abstract: A remote controller (4) for watercraft (6) includes a rod (21) extending downward from the free end part of a lever along a lengthwise direction thereof, a lock release button (14) slidably provided in the free end part so as to be slidable in a first direction different from the lengthwise direction of the lever, and a conversion mechanism provided between the lock release button and the first end of the rod to covert a movement of the lock release button in the first direction to a movement of the rod in a second direction extending along the lengthwise direction of the lever.

Abstract: A folding device for folding continuous paper, which is previously provided with fold lines at given intervals, along the fold lines in a zigzag pattern. The folding device comprises a feeding member of the continuous paper, a swinger fin that swings using its one end as a fulcrum like a pendulum in synchronization with the fold lines while feeding the continuous paper into its inside, and a table to be surmounted by the continuous paper that has been folded. The swinger fin includes a feed roller pair for feeding the continuous paper while sandwiching the paper therebetween, and at least a pair of guide plates facing each other with a given gap therebetween, in which the continuous paper is fed through the gap. One of the feed rollers constructing the feed roller pair and one of the guide plates, which are located on one side of the continuous paper, can be integrally opened or detached from the swinger fin.

Abstract: An image forming method and image forming apparatus in which a toner image formed on an image carrier (11) through steps of discharging, main charging, exposure and development is transferred to a recording medium (S) and then fixed as an image using flash light. The image forming apparatus (10) has a secondary charger (17) for secondarily charging the image carrier to have the same polarity as a polarity given by a main charger (12) and a surface potential larger in absolute value than a surface potential given by the main charger.

Abstract: The present invention can provide an electrophotographic apparatus and electrophotographic method which are less affected by dot gain, can realize smooth gray scale expression, are high in gray scale reproducibility, and are hard to generate moire. In an embodiment of the present invention, a continuous tone image is binarized by using the frequency modulation screening, to form a latent image free from the generation of moire and high in relative resolution. The latent image thus formed is developed using a liquid developer, to form a thin toner layer, for forming a toner image less in the generation of mechanical and optical dot gain.

Abstract: An electrographic printing apparatus and method obtain high-quality images without the occurrence of transfer nonuniformity when toner images are transferred from a latent image carrier to an intermediate transfer medium. The apparatus and method record a toner image present on the latent image carrier by transferring and fixing the toner image to a recording medium via the intermediate transfer medium having an elastic layer on a surface thereof. The printing apparatus has a tensile spring for pressing the intermediate transfer medium against the latent image carrier, and the pressing force of the tensile spring is set so that the straightness in the width direction on the surface of the elastic layer is not larger than the height of the toner image.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printer includes: a photosensitive drum; a latent image forming portion for forming electrostatic latent images on the photosensitive drum based on print information; a developing portion for developing the electrostatic latent images using toner; an intermediate transfer drum for receiving the toner images from the photosensitive drum; a transportation portion for delivering a recording medium; and a transfer roll for transferring the toner image from the intermediate transfer roll to the recording medium. A pressure force P.sub.1 between the photosensitive drum and the intermediate transfer drum is less than a pressure force P.sub.2 between the transfer roll and the intermediate transfer drum. P.sub.1 and P.sub.2 may also have the relationship P.sub.1 .gtoreq.P.sub.2 sin.theta., where .theta.

Abstract: A method for printing on a metal item includes the step of successively forming a plurality of electrostatic latent images based on print information color-separated into yellow, magenta, cyan and black, on a photosensitive drum. The electrostatic latent images are successively developed by toners of different colors corresponding to the color-separated print information. A multicolor toner image is formed on an intermediate transfer medium having a cushion layer thereon by successively repeating a process in which the toner images are transferred to the intermediate transfer medium in layers. The multicolor toner image is transferred onto a surface of a metal item. Thereafter, the multicolor toner image is fixed on the surface of the metal item.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printer includes a photosensitive drum, an exposure device for successively forming a plurality of electrostatic latent images based on the color-separated print information on the photosensitive drum and a developing device for successively developing the electrostatic latent images into toner images by toners of different colors corresponding to the print information. An intermediate transfer medium is pressed against the photosensitive drum so that the toner images on the photosensitive drum are successively transferred to the intermediate transfer medium to form a multicolor toner image on the intermediate transfer medium. A transporting medium is used for feeding and delivering a recording medium, which the multicolor toner image formed on the intermediate transfer medium is to be transferred to and fixed on, to and from the intermediate transfer medium.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printer is provided with: a photosensitive drum; a feeding device which feeds a continuous recording sheet; a transfer device which transfers a toner image formed on the photosensitive surface of the drum onto the sheet; a cleaning device which removes residual developer from the photosensitive surface; and a photographic fixing device which fixes the toner image to the sheet. The feeding device includes an endless belt which is located on the downstream side of the drum with reference to the sheet-feeding direction and which travels in one direction. The feeding device also includes a charger which electrically charges the endless belt, so as to allow the sheet to be electrostatically attracted on the endless belt.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for rolling a cylindrical blank in pressed contact with shaped rolling or die faces of rolling dies to generate, on the periphery of the blank, plural teeth corresponding to a profile of the die faces of the dies. The blank is rolled bidirectionally on the die faces of the dies, first in one of opposite directions and subsequently in the other direction. The blank is fed along its axis of rolling while it is rolled bidirectionally, to push the same between the dies for axially progressive rolling engagement thereof with the die faces. The rolling dies may be of reciprocating flat type or rotating cylindrical type. The feeding motion of the blank may be temporarily stopped upon a temporary stop of the rolling movements of the blank at the end of a first movement thereof in one of the opposite directions.