Abstract: A hydraulic control device for an automatic transmission capable of preventing engine racing and tie-up by controlling disengagement side oil pressure in accordance with an input torque and an oil temperature. Gear-change execution controller U4 controls drain timings T1 and T3 and a drain gradient &dgr;P of the disengagement side oil pressure acting on the frictional engagement elements of the disengagement side according to the magnitude of the input torque and elevation of the oil temperature in torque phase control wherein both the engagement side oil pressure and the disengagement side oil pressure are controlled.

Abstract: An endless toner transport which connects a developing device with a cleaning device is disposed so as to pass through these devices in their respective longitudinal directions. The mixing of toner can be enhanced by returning recovered toner to the developing device and by supplying fresh toner to the cleaning device by using the toner transport itself, whereby the reuse of recovered toner and the reduction of the quantity of fresh toner used can be conducted more effectively. In the processes of transporting toner from the developing device to the cleaning device and from the cleaning device to the developing device, toner can effectively be stirred and mixed by utilizing oscillation or the like generated in the endless toner transport which can be in the form of a coil spring so that an additional stirring member is not required, thereby allowing the developing device, and hence the entire image forming apparatus, to be greatly reduced in size.

Abstract: A residual recording material amount detector for a laser printer of the present invention is provided with a continuous dot number detecting device for counting a number of continuous video signals for modulating a laser light source, a toner consumption data storage device for storing a toner consumption per number of continuous dots, and an integrated toner consumption storage device implemented by a nonvolatile memory for storing an integrated value of toner consumptions at the time of forming a series of dots calculated by the continuous dot number detecting device and the toner consumption data storage device. According to the residual recording material amount detector for the laser printer of the present invention, the toner consumption can be detected correctly irrespective of the kind of data to be printed.

Abstract: An endless toner transport which connects a developing device with a cleaning device is disposed so as to pass through these devices in their respective longitudinal directions. The mixing of toner can be enhanced by returning recovered toner to the developing device and by supplying fresh toner to the cleaning device by using the toner transport itself, whereby the reuse of recovered toner and the reduction of the quantity of fresh toner used can be conducted more effectively. In the processes of transporting toner from the developing device to the cleaning device and from the cleaning device to the developing device, toner can effectively be stirred and mixed by utilizing oscillation or the like generated in the endless toner transport which can be in the form of a coil spring so that an additional stirring member is not required, thereby allowing the developing device, and hence the entire image forming apparatus, to be greatly reduced in size.

Abstract: An electrophotographic recording apparatus comprising a sheet feeder for feeding a sheet of recording paper to a sheet feed inlet; an image forming unit for forming a printing image onto a photosensitive drum based on printing data and transferring the printing image onto the sheet; and a fixing unit for fixing the transferred image on the sheet, in which these units are arranged vertically. The apparatus further comprises a device for reversing and returning the sheet to the photosensitive drum to enable the photosensitive drum to transfer a second printing image onto the opposite side of the sheet.

Abstract: An automatic transmission for an automotive vehicle has a plurality of friction devices for selectively coupling a number of rotary elements in a planetary gear mechanism to one another, and a hydraulic circuit for controlling changeover of the friction devices. The hydraulic circuit includes a regulator valve for generating line pressure, a manual valve for selectively changing over the line pressure to the hydraulic circuit, a plurality of shift solenoids for directly controlling engaging hydraulic pressure of the friction devices by duty control when a shift is made, and a plurality of relay valves controlled by the solenoid valves, wherein the solenoid valves are duty-controlled independently of one another. With such an arrangement, one accumulator is sufficient and the number of valves can be reduced, so that the valve body can be made more compact. In addition, highly precise shock control is possible with regard to all shift conditions.

Abstract: An electrophotographic recording apparatus comprising these units which are arranged vertically: a sheet feeder for feeding a sheet of recording paper to a sheet feed inlet; an image forming unit for forming a printing image onto a photosensitive drum based on printing data and transferring the printing image onto the sheet; and a fixing unit for fixing the transferred image on the sheet. The apparatus further comprises a sheet switching guide mechanism by which the head end of the sheet is switched to both upper and lower directions. When the sheet switching guide mechanism is set to the upper direction, the printed sheet is forwarded by a sheet guide member to thereby pass through the printing path the sheet has already been through with the rear side of the sheet being the front, and the printing data is written from the last line during this process.

Abstract: In collecting toner waste from the surface of an image carrier within an image forming apparatus, the toner waste is removed from an image carrier with a cleaning blade. The cleaning blade is at the top of a stack which leads to a storage container. The top of the stack is positioned near the bottom of the image carrier. A sealing member disposed opposite the cleaning blade at the top of the stack conforms to the curved surface of the image carrier and in combination with the cleaning blade and image carrier enclose the top of the stack. Toner waste is thereby prevented from splashing and oozing through the stack during and/or after a copying/printing cycle.

Abstract: In an image forming device, the developing unit, photosensitive drum and/or cleaning unit are assembled into a removable unitary cartridge. A mounting device includes at least one latch for releasably retaining the cartridge on the device through engagement with a projection on the cartridge. The latch includes a camming surface pivotably displaceable by engagement with the projection so as to permit passage of the projection into a notch of the mounting device and returning to a latch position upon such passage.

Abstract: A page printer is provided which includes a housing having a lateral side plate that is formed from an electrically conductive material, with a gate roller, a developing unit, a photosensitive drum unit, a fixing unit and a paper discharging roller mounted in the housing. The electronic circuitry for controlling the page printer is disposed in a side portion of the housing with the lateral side plate disposed between the electronic circuitry and the units.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus in which first color image signals of an original are separated into a plurality of color images and the optical information of the color image is converted to an electrical signal for each pixel of the image. The first color image signal is processed to generate a second color image signal which corresponds to each of the pixels, has a plurality of bits and carries density data and color data, the color data designating which one of a plurality of predetermined colors the color of the pixel belongs to, and image processing device for processing the second color image signal.

Abstract: A page printer having a housing body and including a gate roller, a developing unit, a photo-sensitive drum unit, a fixing unit and a sheet discharging roller arranged on the front side of the housing body in the order stated from above so that the printing sheet conveying path is substantially vertical to reduce floor area required for installation. An optical writing unit is provided on the rear side of the housing body. Guide members are provided on the housing body to readily mount or demount the photo-sensitive drum unit. Further, a shield board is disposed between the photo-sensitive drum unit and the fixing unit so that the printing sheet will not be stained by toner scattering from the photo-sensitive drum.

Abstract: In a page printer, a gate roller, a developing unit, a photo-sensitive drum unit, a fixing unit and a sheet discharging roller are mounted on the open front side of a housing body in the order stated from above, thus forming a substantially vertical sheet conveying path. As a result, the installation floor area is reduced. In the rear portion of the housing, and a transferring unit and a sheet guide member are provided on the cover of the housing body. Thus, the light beam generating unit and the photo-sensitive drum are maintained unchanged in position at all times. A cut sheet feeder is mounted over the housing body so that it is movable back and forth, thus facilitating the inspection and maintenance of the printer.

Abstract: A color image processing technique using optics to separate an original color image into a plurality of colors. These colors are photoelectrically converted to electric signals. Color information signals are then generated from these electric signals. The color information signals are coded by comparing them with a threshold value. An individualized set of such threshold values is provided for each of the plurality of colors. In one embodiment, a luminance signal is provided from the color information signals. The luminance signal is utilized in response to a monochrome code selection signal to enable the original color image to be reproduced as a monochrome image. Color gamut information and color density information of the color gamut can be obtained from the color information signals during a first scan of a document bearing the color image.

Abstract: In storing toner waste collected from the surface of an image carrier within an image forming apparatus, the toner waste is compressed within a container by a resilient cantilever member. A diaphragm located within the container expands through an opening of the container based on the pressure exerted on the diaphragm by the compressed toner waste. Upon traveling a predetermined distance, the diaphragm forces a switch to close which triggers an alarm indicating that the container is full of toner waste.

Abstract: An image processing method and apparatus wherein document information is separated by using an optical device into two colors that are complementary to each other, converted photo-electrically and processed by using a photo-electric conversion device, and extracted on the basis of the result of processing by using a color extraction information generation device, and a color information designated by the color extraction information of the color extraction information generation device is stored in a color information storage device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus employing a face-down delivery system in which the plane of the recording medium at any position relative to any other position assumed by the recording medium beginning with a stacking tray and ending with a delivery tray does not exceed 90.degree.. The apparatus includes a detachable cartridge which includes a photosensitive member, a charging device and a cleaning device. In one preferred embodiment, register rollers and fixing rollers are positioned relative to each other such that a substantially zero angular deviation exists in the path traveled by the recording medium between these two pairs of rollers.

Abstract: Surimi suitable for the production of Kamaboko (fish meat jelly) can be obtained at high yield by compounding (1) a salt-soluble protein fraction prepared by mincing fish meat taken from raw fish into a sol-form, water-washing the resulting sol and dewatering and then subjecting the same to a salt-solution treatment, with (2) heat-denaturated water-soluble protein fractions prepared by heating to coagulation water-soluble protein fractions leached out in the water-wash and salt-solution treatment.

Abstract: A method for preparing a fish meat powder capable of forming KAMABOKO is disclosed. The method involves forming a slurry of fish meat in a neutral buffer solution containing divalent metal ions and polyvalent weak-acid anions. The anions are present in an amount sufficient to sequester the metal ions. The slurry is converted to a fish meat powder by spray-drying.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus employing a face-down delivery system in which the plane of the recording medium at any position relative to any other position assumed by the recording medium beginning with a stacking tray and ending with a delivery tray does not exceed 90.degree.. The apparatus includes a detachable cartridge which includes a photosensitive member, a charging device and a cleaning device. In one preferred embodiment, register rollers and fixing rollers are positioned relative to each other such that a substantially zero angular deviation exists in the path traveled by the recording medium between these two pairs of rollers.