Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive drum; a developing unit; and a casing. The developing unit includes a developing agent bearing member having an axis defining a first side and a second side in an axial direction. The casing supports the photosensitive drum and the developing unit. The casing has an opening at a position corresponding to the first side. The developing unit is detachable from and attachable to the casing through the opening. The developing unit is movable selectively to one of a proximity position, a separated position, and a pivoted position where the developing agent bearing member is pivotally moved about a portion of the developing agent bearing member at the second side from the separated position in a direction away from the photosensitive drum. The developing unit is detachable from and attachable to the casing along the axial direction in a state where the developing unit is at the pivoted position.

Abstract: Provided is a load port apparatus having a structure capable of resisting against a moment generated at a time of driving of a door increased in weight owing to upsizing. A pair of rectangular main bases, which project perpendicularly to an attachment surface of the load port apparatus and elongated parallel to the attachment surface, are coupled to each other with a coupling shaft, and the structural body including those components is fixed to the attachment surface through intermediation of I-shaped plates capable of being held in close surface contact with the attachment surface. Mechanisms of a door drive mechanism, a placing table, and the like are arranged on an inner side between the pair of main bases of the structural body.

Abstract: Motor control devices and methods are described herein. In one embodiment, such a device includes a fluid ejection head configured to eject a fluid onto a sheet that is on a downstream side from a transport driving roller along a supply direction of the sheet. The device also includes a first motor that provides a driving force for rotating a roll on which the sheet is wound, and a second motor that provides a driving force for driving the transport driving roller. The transport driving roller is on a downstream side from the roll along the supply direction of the sheet. The device also includes a motor control unit that simultaneously drives the first and second motors, and the motor control unit is configured to control an interpolation output that is given to the first motor while subjected to a change in a driving speed of the second motor.

Abstract: In a pod used in an FIMS system, diffusion of dust particles or the like adhering on the lid of the pod to the interior of the system is reduced. An engaged portion is provided inside the outer surface of the lid of the pod, and a flange portion provided around a pod opening to which the lid can be fitted is provided with an insertion hole that allows access to the engaged portion from the exterior space. A latch mechanism is supported on the pod body side surface of the flange portion in such a way that the latch mechanism can slide along a direction parallel to the side wall of the flange. An engagement portion of the latch mechanism reaches the engaged portion through the insertion hole, and the state of the latch mechanism changes between an engaged state and a disengaged state with movement of the latch mechanism.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of photosensitive members, an endless belt, and a separation mechanism. The photosensitive members are arranged in parallel with and spaced from one another and correspond to respective colors. The plurality of photosensitive members includes a first photosensitive member and at least one second photosensitive member. Each of the photosensitive members has a first end portion and second end portion that is opposite to the first end portion in a longitudinal direction of each of the photosensitive members. The endless belt contacts the photosensitive members. The separation mechanism is configured to swing the second photosensitive member around the first end portion of the second photosensitive member as a fulcrum between a contact position at which the second photosensitive member contacts the endless belt and a separated position at which the second photosensitive member is separated from the endless belt.

Abstract: An operating apparatus for game machine includes a depressing member, and a main body of the depressing member is provided with three engaging protrusions and two depressing protrusions that downwardly protrude. For example, the two depressing protrusions are provided between the three engaging protrusions. In response to a beating operation by a player, the right side of the depressing member is depressed, and then, an engaging portion of the engaging protrusion at the left side is engaged with a rear surface of an upper surface panel. Accordingly, the depressing member is sure to be depressed at the right side without being upwardly actuated, and a rubber switch depressed by the depressing protrusion is brought into contact with a board. At this time, a contact provided on the board and a contact provided on the rubber switch are brought into contact with each other, and an operation signal according to the beating operation is output to the game machine.

Abstract: A developing cartridge that maintains a pressing condition to press a developer carrier against the image carrier is described. The developing cartridge may include a coil spring that presses the developer carrier against the image carrier. The coil spring may include a handle that transmits a pressing force to the coil spring via the contacting member. By doing so, every time the developing cartridge is replaced, a new coil spring and handle can be provided for the color laser printer with the developing cartridge attached. Therefore, a constant pressure by the coil spring can be continuously maintained. Thus, a preferable pressure condition of the developer carrier against the image carrier can be continuously maintained.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include a sheet conveying belt that conveys a sheet to a position opposed to an image carrier, and a cleaning unit that cleans the sheet conveying belt. The sheet conveying belt may be driven by a first driving unit such as a first motor while the cleaning unit may be driven a second driving unit such as a second motor. In one or more arrangements, the second driving unit is independent from the first driving unit. Additionally or alternatively, the first driving unit may also be configured to drive an image carrier and/or a developing unit.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a casing having a guide, image forming portions configured to form images on a recording medium, and a drawer configured to be installed in and withdrawn from the casing along the guide in a first direction for installation and in a second direction for withdrawal opposite the first direction. The drawer may include a housing configured to house each image forming portion, a projecting portion coupled to the housing and protruding in the first direction, and a support portion coupled to the projecting portion. An engagement of the support portion with the guide regulates movement of the drawer upward or downward during installation and withdrawal.

Abstract: An operating apparatus for game machine includes a depressing member, and a main body of the depressing member is provided with three engaging protrusions and two depressing protrusions that downwardly protrude. For example, the two depressing protrusions are provided between the three engaging protrusions. In response to a beating operation by a player, the right side of the depressing member is depressed, and then, an engaging portion of the engaging protrusion at the left side is engaged with a rear surface of an upper surface panel. Accordingly, the depressing member is sure to be depressed at the right side without being upwardly actuated, and a rubber switch depressed by the depressing protrusion is brought into contact with a board. At this time, a contact provided on the board and a contact provided on the rubber switch are brought into contact with each other, and an operation signal according to the beating operation is output to the game machine.

Abstract: Image forming apparatuses include: a casing; an image forming unit removable from the casing in a first direction; and plural developer cartridges. The cartridges may be attached and detached with respect to the image forming unit in a second direction that is inclined toward the first direction. Other image forming apparatuses include: a casing; an exposure device; a plurality of cartridges configured to be attached and detached with respect to the casing in a first direction; and a recording medium transport system for transporting recording media adjacent the photosensitive members in a second direction. The first direction may be inclined with respect to the second direction, and at least a portion of optical paths of the light emitted from the exposure device may extend parallel with the first direction. Aspects also relate to image forming units, e.g., for use in image forming apparatuses as described above.

Abstract: To enable appropriate wafer mapping in the case where a wafer is stored at the highest level, which is provided as a reserve, of a pod, a load port apparatus drives a mapping frame that supports a sensor by a first driving unit that drives the mapping frame in a first direction parallel to the direction along which wafers in the pod are arranged in an overlapping manner and a second driving unit that drives the mapping frame in a second direction that crosses the first direction in such a way as to form an acute angle in the side in which the sensor starts the mapping.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of photosensitive members, an endless belt, and a separation mechanism. The photosensitive members are arranged in parallel with and spaced from one another and correspond to respective colors. The plurality of photosensitive members includes a first photosensitive member and at least one second photosensitive member. Each of the photosensitive members has a first end portion and second end portion that is opposite to the first end portion in a longitudinal direction of each of the photosensitive members. The endless belt contacts the photosensitive members. The separation mechanism is configured to swing the second photosensitive member around the first end portion of the second photosensitive member as a fulcrum between a contact position at which the second photosensitive member contacts the endless belt and a separated position at which the second photosensitive member is separated from the endless belt.

Abstract: A push-pull circuit comprising: a push-pull first switching element and second switching element; a first rectifier element; a third switching element for switching a pathway between conductance and cutoff, the pathway leading from a connection point between the first switching element and an inductive load via the first rectifier element to a connection point between a DC power source and a center tap of the inductive load; a second rectifier element; and a fourth switching element for switching a pathway between conductance and cutoff, the pathway leading from a connection point between the second switching element and the inductive load via the second rectifier element to a connection point between the DC power source and the center tap of the inductive load.

Abstract: A developing cartridge that maintains a pressing condition to press a developer carrier against the image carrier is described. The developing cartridge may include a coil spring that presses the developer carrier against the image carrier. The coil spring may include a handle that transmits a pressing force to the coil spring via the contacting member. By doing so, every time the developing cartridge is replaced, a new coil spring and handle can be provided for the color laser printer with the developing cartridge attached. Therefore, a constant pressure by the coil spring can be continuously maintained. Thus, a preferable pressure condition of the developer carrier against the image carrier can be continuously maintained.

Abstract: To suppress deformation of a portion to be clamped even when a load applied to the portion to be clamped is increased at the time of fixing a front opening unified pod (FOUP), a clamping arm pivotable between a retracting position and a clamping position about a rotational axis inclined relative to a bottom surface of the FOUP is arranged. The clamping arm is housed in a housing depression so that the clamping arm at the retracting position is situated below a surface of a mount base, and at the clamping position, protrudes from the surface of the mount base and becomes engageable with the portion to be clamped.

Abstract: A support member that supports a plurality of developer cartridges is configured to be moved in a predetermined direction between a mounted position and a pulled-out position. A moving mechanism is configured to move a supply member in the developer cartridge between a communication position and an interrupt position when the support member is in the mounted position. When the supply member is in the communication position, a supply opening and a reception opening are in communication with each other and the support member is incapable of moving in the predetermined direction. When the supply member is in the interrupt position, the supply member is moved away from the corresponding one of a plurality of image forming unit in the axial direction to interrupt communication between the supply opening and the reception opening and the support member is movable toward the pulled-out position in the predetermined direction.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a casing having a guide and a drawer configured to be movable between an inner position in which the drawer is located at an inner side of the casing and an outer position in which the drawer is located at an outer side of the casing. The drawer may include a plurality of photosensitive drums and a support disposed closer to a rear edge of the drawer than a front edge of the drawer. The guide may include a main guiding surface and one or more inclined surfaces. An engagement of the support with the one or more inclined surfaces of the guide regulates movement of the drawer upward or downward during movement of the drawer between the inner position and the outer position.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a moving member supports developing units and is movable between a mounted position and a pulled-out position. A drum supporting member integrally supports photosensitive drums. The drum supporting member is detachably supported by the moving member. An endless belt is disposed above the moving member when the moving member is disposed in the mounted position. The drum supporting member is configured so as to be detached upward from the moving member, while the moving member supports the developing units and the moving member is in the pulled-out position.

Abstract: Image forming apparatuses include: a casing; an image forming unit removable from the casing in a first direction; and plural developer cartridges. The cartridges may be attached and detached with respect to the image forming unit in a second direction that is inclined toward the first direction. Other image forming apparatuses include: a casing; an exposure device; a plurality of cartridges configured to be attached and detached with respect to the casing in a first direction; and a recording medium transport system for transporting recording media adjacent the photosensitive members in a second direction. The first direction may be inclined with respect to the second direction, and at least a portion of optical paths of the light emitted from the exposure device may extend parallel with the first direction. Aspects also relate to image forming units, e.g., for use in image forming apparatuses as described above.