Abstract: The substrate storage pod includes a pod case for housing a substrate, and an opening, a lid member which closes and seals the opening, a buffer space which is defined in the lid member, an air-supply port for supplying a replacement gas into the buffer space; and multiple holes which are arranged so as to establish communication between the buffer space and an inner plate of the lid member in a state of being fit-inserted to the opening of the pod case, for sending out the replacement gas into the hollow inner space, the replacement gas having been supplied into the buffer space, the inner plate facing the hollow inner space of the pod case. With this, pressure variation of the replacement gas in supply pipes is blocked, and hence replacement-gas flow in a stable laminar state free from disturbance can be obtained.

Abstract: A gear system is provided. The gear system includes a driven gear, which is rotated by driving force from a driving gear, a base member to support the driven gear, and a bearing structure, including a shaft and a shaft hole to rotatably support the shaft, by which the driven gear is rotatably attached to the base member. One of the shaft and the shaft hole is provided to the driven gear, and the other of the shaft and the shaft hole is provided to the base member. The bearing structure has a lubricant reservoir in a slidable section, in which the shaft and the shaft hole are slidably in contact with each other when the driven gear is rotated by the driving force from the driving gear, the lubricant reservoir containing lubricant to lubricate the slidable section.

Abstract: An opening-angle restricting device includes a main casing, a cover member, a string member, a take-up unit, and a stopper unit. The main casing has an inner space for accommodating an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium. The cover member is coupled to the main casing via a hinge. The cover member has an inner side that faces the inner space when the cover member is closed. The string member has one end fixed to the main casing. The take-up unit is provided at the inner side of the cover member. The take-up unit is configured to pay out and take up the string member. The stopper unit restricts paying out of the string member when an amount of payout in the string member reaches a predetermined amount, thereby restricting an opening angle of the cover member at a predetermined angle.

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 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.

Abstract: With a game system, a timing fetch section fetches an input-timing for input data determined to be valid by an input-determination section, and an evaluation section compares the fetched input-timing and a reference-timing, and evaluates an operation with an operation section by a player or a sound-input action performed in answer to a first or second direction-mark. An input-reception section receives first and second input data generated based on an operation-detection of the operation section a sound-detection of the sound-detection section, respectively, and an input-determination section compares the first and second input data, determines that the first input data is valid when it is determined that the operation with the operation section by the player and the sound-input action by the player overlap within a given period, based on the first and second input data, and determines that the first and second input data are valid in other cases.

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 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.

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: A first guide member includes a concave-shaped guide surface. A recording medium such as a sheet fed by register rollers takes a curved position while being fed in a sheet feeding direction such that the leading edge of the sheet slides on the guide surface. A space is defined between the sheet and the guide surface due to the stiffness of the sheet. Thus, the sheet smoothly curves. When a speed of conveying the sheet by the register rollers is faster than a speed of conveying the sheet by a conveying belt, slack in the sheet is allowed in the space defined between the sheet and the guide surface. Therefore, the sheet can be stably conveyed without applying excessive load to the sheet or a sheet conveying device.

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: A developer cartridge includes a developer roller, a receiving unit for receiving a driving force, a transmitting unit for transmitting the driving force from the receiving unit to the developer roller, and a transferring unit for transferring the drive force from the receiving unit to the transmitting unit. The transferring unit is connected with both the receiving unit and the transmitting unit. A relative position of the receiving unit and the transmitting unit is movable while the transferring unit is connected to both the receiving unit and the transmitting unit.

Abstract: An elastic member for urging a developer carrier in the direction of an image carrier is located in a casing of a developer cartridge. Since the elastic member will be new whenever the developer cartridge is replaced, an urging force of the elastic member will not deteriorate over time. Thus, a proper pressing state of the developer carrier on the image carrier is maintained. Thus, the amount of toner supplied from the developer carrier to the image carrier is stable. Thereby, a picture of high quality can be formed continuously without poor development by poor pressure between the developer carrier and the image carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided which includes a process unit including image formation units, each of the image formation units having an image carrier, a charger, and a developing device, a scanner unit disposed facing the process unit and configured to expose the image carrier in each of the image formation units to light, and a fixing device disposed in the first direction with respect to the process unit. Also, the image forming device includes a first passage configured to channel air between the process unit and the scanner unit to an outlet in the first direction and a second passage configured to channel air in the vicinity of the fixing device to the outlet in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes: a housing; an endless belt; a plurality of process units; and a plurality of scanner units. Each scanner unit and each process unit are inclined obliquely to a vertical direction. At least a part of each process unit is inserted into and removed from the housing in an obliquely inclined direction.

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 of the invention also relate to image forming units, e.g., for use in image forming apparatuses as described above.

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 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: 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.