Abstract: In a pod used in an FIMS system, an engaged portion is provided on the outer surface of the lid of a pod. A through hole is provided in a flange portion that is provided around the pod opening and in which the lid is to be received. The through-hole allows access to the engaged portion from the external space. A latch mechanism is supported on the pod body side surface of the flange portion in such a way that it can slide in a direction parallel to the side wall of the flange. The engagement portion of the latch mechanism reaches the engaged portion through the aforementioned through-hole. Movement of the latch mechanism brings the engagement portion into an engaging state and a disengaged state.

Abstract: When an image to be printed is specified in a print system for printing images, a telephone number or e-mail address is entered as a contact destination to be contacted when printing ends. At the conclusion of printing, the entered contact destination is so notified. Upon being so notified of end of printing, the user returns to the location at which the print system has been installed. Since the user will thus know when printing ends, the user can make effective utilization of time until printing ends.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tactile sensor which can reproduce a sensor surface in contact with a sensing object and contribute to a reduction in cost of an automation system which utilizes an industrial robot, the tactile sensor including: a contact-portion unit 12 composed of a flexible material; a contact-portion housing unit 11 which surrounds and houses the contact-portion unit in a removable state while forming a posture so that a top portion of the contact-portion unit may project; and a strain sensing element 15 or a pressure sensing element embedded into the contact-portion housing unit.

Abstract: A fixing device has a frame, a heating roller, a press roller, a peeler, a guide member, and a wheel. The heating roller includes a roller rotation axis and a cylindrical surface. The press roller is pressed against the cylindrical surface to feed a recording medium together with the heating roller along a feeding path. The peeler has a peeling surface having a leading edge, where the peeling surface faces the feeding path. The guide member faces the peeling surface to guide the recording medium to downstream of the feeding path. The guide member is movable between a near position and a far position relative to the peeling surface. The wheel is positioned in a manner that a part of the circumferential edge protrudes from the peeling surface to the guiding member in a virtual plane perpendicular to the wheel rotation axis.

Abstract: A transfer chamber is partitioned into a second chamber in which a transfer robot moving through an opening portion which can be opened/closed by a door is arranged, and a minute first chamber which serves as a FIMS system and includes a door capable of retaining a lid of a pod. The second chamber maintains a state in which an inert gas constantly circulates owing to minute nitrogen while having a pressure higher than that inside the first chamber. The first chamber is normally sealed while an oxide gas is suppressed in advance. In addition, at a time of transferring wafers, a partial pressure of the oxide gas is lowered with use of a downflow which is caused by the inert gas. Further, the first chamber and the second chamber are communicated with each other after a level of the partial pressure is confirmed with use of an oxygen level meter.

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 prevent an overload from being imposed on a door drive mechanism when driving a door increased in weight due to upsizing so that reproducibility of a stop position of the door can be ensured, provided is a load port apparatus in which the door drive mechanism for driving the door in a direction perpendicular to an opening-portion forming plane is constituted by: a rotary cylinder capable of pivoting a cam follower from an angle of 0° to an angle of 180°; and a slider including a cam groove capable of housing the cam follower within a plane perpendicular to a rotational axis of the rotary cylinder, the cam groove extending in a vertical direction, and in which the door is supported by the slider.

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: An image forming apparatus that includes: a sheet conveying belt that conveys a sheet to a position opposed to an image carrier; a cleaning unit that cleans the sheet conveying belt; a first driving unit that drives the sheet conveying belt; a second driving unit that drives the cleaning unit, the second driving unit being independent from the first driving unit; and a sheet conveying mechanism that conveys the sheet separately from the sheet conveying belt, wherein the second driving unit drives at least a part of the sheet conveying mechanism.

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: 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 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 image forming apparatus may include an intermediate transfer belt for transferring, onto a sheet, a developer image that has been transferred from an image carrier to the intermediate transfer belt. The image forming apparatus may also include a cleaning unit that cleans the sheet conveying belt. The image forming apparatus that may also include a first driving unit that drives the intermediate transfer belt; a second driving unit that drives the cleaning unit, wherein the second driving unit is independent from the first driving unit; and a sheet conveying mechanism that conveys the sheet, wherein the second driving unit drives at least a part of the sheet conveying mechanism.

Abstract: A process for producing metallic ultra-fine powder, which can use a raw material which is spread over a wide range, and control freely the grain size of the metallic powder to be produced, at low cost and high safety. The process for producing the metallic ultra fine powder consists of using a burner and a furnace which can generate a high temperature reductive atmosphere, and an apparatus for separating gas which is generated in the furnace from powder to recover the powder. The burner has a function of blowing a powdery metallic compound as a raw material into a high temperature reductive flame. The raw material powder is efficiently heated in airflow of a high temperature reductive flame, thereby being reduced rapidly into metallic ultra-fine powder. At this time, the grain size of the metallic ultra-fine powder is controlled by adjusting the oxygen ratio (i.e.

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: A process for producing metallic ultra-fine powder, which can use a raw material which is spread over a wide range, and control freely the grain size of the metallic powder to be produced, at low cost and high safety. The process for producing the metallic ultra fine powder consists of using a burner and a furnace which can generate a high temperature reductive atmosphere, and an apparatus for separating gas which is generated in the furnace from powder to recover the powder. The burner has a function of blowing a powdery metallic compound as a raw material into a high temperature reductive flame. The raw material powder is efficiently heated in airflow of a high temperature reductive flame, thereby being reduced rapidly into metallic ultra-fine powder. At this time, the grain size of the metallic ultra-fine powder is controlled by adjusting the oxygen ratio (i.e.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body casing, a device that is positioned within a main body casing and having a function, a displacement member positioned in a main body casing and capable of displacement between an initial position and a stop position which causes the device to perform an action, a string-like connection that is connected between the displacement member and a cover member and that displaces the displacement member from the initial position to the stop position in synchronization with the opening operation of the cover member. The string-like connection, and the displacement member in the stop position, constitute an opening restricting device capable of restricting the opening angle of a cover member to a prescribed angle.

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: The substrate storage pod includes an engagement portion in an outer side surface of a lid of the pod, and an insertion slot through which the engagement portion can be accessed from an external space; the insertion slot is formed in a flange portion arranged around the periphery of an opening in the pod and into which the lid can be fitted, and a latch mechanism supported so as to be slidable in a direction parallel to a flange side wall in a pod main body-surface of the flange portion. An engaging portion of the latch mechanism reaches the engagement portion via the insertion slot. The engagement portion is switched between an engaged state and a non-engaged state in response to movement of the latch mechanism.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes a main casing, a process casing, a photosensitive member, a charger, a first duct member, a fan, and a duct moving unit. The process casing is accommodated in the main casing and removably mounted thereon. The process casing has a casing inlet formed therein. The photosensitive member is disposed in the process casing. The charger is disposed in the process casing for charging a photosensitive member. The first duct member has a duct outlet. The fan blows air on the charger through the duct outlet of the first duct member and the casing inlet. The duct moving unit moves the first duct member between a first position in which the duct outlet of the first duct member is adjacent to the casing inlet formed in the process casing, and a second position in which the duct outlet is separated farther from the casing inlet than in the first position.