Abstract: The present invention relates to a non-magnetic toner for developing electrostatic latent images, having; an average degree of roundness of not less than 0.960, a standard deviation of degree of roundness of not more than 0.040, a value of D/d50 of not less than 0.40, in which D=6/(&rgr;·S) (&rgr; is a true density of toner (g/cm3), and S is a BET specific surface area of toner (m2/g)); d50 is an average weight particle size of toner, and an adhesive stress of 6 g/cm2 or less under a compression of 1 kg/cm2. The non-magnetic toner for developing electrostatic latent images provides high-quality images not only in low-speed areas, but also in high-speed areas, and has a superior transferring properties.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a non-magnetic yellow toner for use in full-color image forming apparatuses, such as full-color electrostatic copying machines and full-color laser beam printers, comprising:non-magnetic toner particles containing a binder resin having an acid value of 1 to 30 KOHmg/g, and a coloring material composed of a compound classified as C. I. pigment yellow 180;the toner particles having a roundness of 0.94 to 1.0, a standard roundness deviation of not more than 0.045, and a volume mean particle size of 2 to 9 .mu.m.

Abstract: An orifice for a pressure-type flow rate controller, which can be produced by a simple method at a low cost, that provides a linearity--between the pressure P1 on the upstream side of the orifice and the flow rate--over a wide range of the pressure ratio P2/P1 of the pressure P2 on the downstream side of the orifice to the upstream pressure P1 and that permits adjustment with ease of flow characteristics among a plurality of orifices. The orifice comprises an inlet taper 1 in the shape of a bugle and a short narrowed straight section 2 adjoining the inlet taper 1, both formed by cutting one opening end of a preliminary hole 6 made in an orifice plate D, and further comprises a short inner taper 3 and an enlarged straight section 4 connecting with the taper 3 which are formed by enlarging the preliminary hole 6 at the other opening end, the short inner taper 3 adjoining the narrowed straight section 2 on one side and neighboring the enlarged straight section 4 on the other side.

Abstract: A pressure-type flow rate control apparatus for use especially in the gas supply system in semiconductor manufacturing facilities. The flow control apparatus is provided with a bore-variable orifice, which permits easy switching of the fluid flow rate control range as well as size reduction of the pressure-type flow control apparatus, and offers other advantages including improved gas replaceability, prevention of dust formation, and reduced manufacturing costs of the flow control system.

Abstract: A dot code recorded on an information recording medium consists of a data code corresponding to the contents of multimedia information to be reproduced, and a pattern code for determining a read reference point for the data code. The pattern code consists of pattern dots arranged at predetermined positions with respect to the data code, and markers arranged at predetermined positions with respect to the pattern dots and used to detect the pattern dots. In an information reproduction system for optically reading and reproducing a dot code from an information recording medium on which such a dot code is recorded, the dot code is imaged by an image input section. A data read reference point determining section then recognizes the pattern code from the picked-up image, and determines a data read reference point for reading the data code. A data reading section reads the data code on the basis of the data read reference point determined by the data read reference point determining section.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a binder carrier comprising at least magnetic particles and a binder resin. The binder resin contains a thermoplastic silicone-modified acrylic resin which is a copolymer of a polydiorgano-siloxane macromer having an acrylic functional group and a radical-polymerizable organic monomer.The binder carrier of the present invention a long-life binder carrier which eliminates the possibility of carrier deterioration due to toner components, such as a charge-controlling agent and an after-treatment agent, and which is less liable to deteriorate in its chargeability.

Abstract: A dot code recorded on an information recording medium consists of a data code corresponding to the contents of multimedia information to be reproduced, and a pattern code for determining a read reference point for the data code. The pattern code consists of pattern dots arranged at predetermined positions with respect to the data code, and markers arranged at predetermined positions with respect to the pattern dots and used to detect the pattern dots. In an information reproduction system for optically reading and reproducing a dot code from an information recording medium on which such a dot code is recorded, the dot code is imaged by an image input section. A data read reference point determining section then recognizes the pattern code from the picked-up image, and determines a data read reference point for reading the data code. A data reading section reads the data code on the basis of the data read reference point determined by thus data read reference point determining section.

Abstract: A device for tightening a plurality of threaded members at the same time with proper torque without necessitating a cumbersome procedure of rotating the members one by one through a specified small angle at a time and without unequivalent tightening of the members, the tightening device (1) comprises two rotary shafts (6) each provided at a forward end thereof with a wrench portion (8) fittable to the threaded member (44), motors (3) for individually driving the rotary shafts (6) and a control unit (9) for detecting the tightening torque of each threaded member (44) and controlling the motor (3) based on the detected value to ensure proper tightening, the control unit (9) checking the tightening torque of each threaded member (44) as to whether the torque is within a predetermined range and whether the difference in tightening torque between the threaded members (44) is within a predetermined range.

Abstract: The present invention relates to developer comprising a toner and/or a carrier;the toner comprising:toner particles comprising colored resin-particles containing at least a binder resin and a colorant, and inorganic fine particles fixed on the surface of the colored resin-particles,the toner particles having an average degree of roundness of not less than 0.960 and a standard deviation of degree of roundness of not more than 0.040;and carrier having an average degree of roundness of not less than 0.940 and a standard deviation of degree of roundness of not more than 0.055.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a binder carrier, comprising at least magnetic particles and a binder resin, characterized in that the binder resin comprises a thermoplastic silicone-modified acrylic resin and an amino-group-containing resin. The binder carrier is capable of preventing carrier degradation caused by toner ingredients such as a charge-control agent and a post-processing agent for the toner. The binder carrier of the present invention has a long life with less susceptibility to degradation in charging performance, and makes it possible to quickly charge the toner sufficiently.

Abstract: A photographic device eliminates photometric errors that occur in photometry, obtains a more accurate exposure, and shortens the time required for photometry. The device includes an orientation position detector and photographic mode setter, which outputs photographic conditions based on a set photographic mode. A photometer divides the subject field into multiple regions and analyzes the light. An exposure calculator calculates the exposure value based on the output of the photometer. A memory stores weighing coefficients corresponding to multiple light brightness patterns. A tilt switch position orientation detector determines the position of the camera. A selector selects the weighing coefficients from the memory, based on the photographic mode setting component output and the position of the camera. A frequency analyzer then analyzes the output frequency of the photometer. A re-calculator re-calculates the exposure value based on the result of the frequency analyzer and the selection of the selector.

Abstract: A fault tolerant computer which executes the cache flush operation at a high speed and has the real time characteristic. A processor module is equipped with a cache memory so that the entry address of the updated cache block within the cache memory is stored in a stack. The cache flush is effected only with respect to the entry address in the stack when a recovery-point setting condition due to a timer or the like is satisfied. A memory module has an arrangement doubled in the same storage physical space and is equipped with a buffer memory for temporarily storing the transferred cache block, so that the cache block is simultaneously transferred to a pair of buffer memories.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mono-component developing method comprising the steps of: supplying a mono-component developer containing a toner particles having an average shape factor (SF value) of 100 to 150 to a developer transporting member;regulating the developer on the developer transporting member by a regulating member to form a thin developer-layer on the transporting member;transporting the thin developer-layer by the transporting member to develop an electrostatic latent image; andafter development, making a residual developer on the developer-transporting member in contact with a static erasing member applied with a voltage having a polarity opposite to a charging polarity of the toner particles,and also provides a mono-component developing machine for effectuate the above method.

Abstract: A mono-component developing method, comprising the steps of:supplying a mono-component developing agent containing a toner onto a developer-supporting member that is aligned face to face with an image-supporting member;regulating the developing agent on the developer-supporting member by a regulating member installed in contact with the developer-supporting member; anddeveloping an electrostatic latent image formed on the image-supporting member by the toner,wherein the toner has a weight-average particle size (d.sub.50) in the range of 4 to 10 .mu.m, an average degree of roundness of not less than 0.950 and a standard deviation of degree of roundness of not more than 0.040, and more preferably the toner has a specific value of a surface shape characteristic D/d.sub.50, and a specific ratio d.sub.50 /Ra of the toner weight-average particle size (d.sub.50) to the surface roughness (Ra) of the developer-supporting member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a non-magnetic toner for developing electrostatic latent images, having;an average degree of roundness of not less than 0.960,a standard deviation of degree of roundness of not more than 0.040,a value of D/d.sub.50 of not less than 0.40, in which D=6/(.rho..multidot.S) (.rho. is a true density of toner (g/cm.sup.3), and S is a BET specific surface area of toner (m.sup.2 /g)); d.sub.50 is an average weight particle size of toner, andan adhesive stress of 6 g/cm.sup.2 or less under a compression of 1 kg/cm.sup.2. The non-magnetic toner for developing electrostatic latent images provides high-quality images not only in low-speed areas, but also in high-speed areas, and has a superior transferring properties.

Abstract: A toner is provided for electrostatic latent image developing which exhibits desirable smearing, offset and filming characteristics during copying, and which has excellent toner flow characteristics and chargeability properties. The toner of the present invention contains at least a binder resin containing polyethylene wax, and at least polypropylene wax, and colorant. The toner of the present invention is made by a process whereby polyethylene wax is added to a binder resin to form a mixture. The mixture is then added or mixed with a colorant and polypropylene wax.

Abstract: The present invention provides a toner, comprising;toner particles containing at least a binder resin and a colorant, and having an average degree of roundness from 0.960 to 1.0 and a standard deviation of degree of roundness of not more than 0.040; andsilica particles having an average primary particle size of 16 to 28 nm, in which the number of particles (A) that are less than 15 nm in particle size, the number of particles (B) that are between 15 and 30 nm in particle size and the number of particles (C) that are larger than 30 nm is in relation of B/A>4 and B/C>4.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a negatively chargeable developing agent for mono-component development comprising;toner particles containing a binder resin and a colorant; andinorganic fine particles which are treated with a hydrophobicizing agent and a surface treating agent having a cationic group, the inorganic fine particles externally added to the toner particles and having a blow-off charge quantity (Q) -800<Q<0 .mu.C/g relative to iron oxide particles, the negatively chargeable developing agent being suitable for use in a mono-component developing device and image-forming apparatus.

Abstract: A system of the invention for supervising piping work comprises a machine for performing piping work such as welding of pipes or tightening of pipe joints under predetermined conditions, check means for checking whether the piping work has been executed properly based on predetermined values of piping work conditions and actual piping work data, a host computer for accumulating the predetermined values of piping work conditions, the actual piping work data and the result of checking, and communication means for transmitting the predetermined values of piping work conditions, the actual piping work data and the result of checking.

Abstract: A coded data output apparatus comprises an image data input or generation section, a resolution parameter specifying section, a resolution parameter modifying section and an image data output section. The image data input or generation section inputs or generates data for a dot code image to be printed. The resolution parameter specifying section specifies parameter data relating to the resolution of the image data input or generated by the image data input or generation section. The resolution parameter modifying section modifies the parameter data relating to the resolution specified by the resolution parameter specifying section according to the characteristic specific to the applied plate making apparatus. The image data output section outputs the input or generated image data according to the parameter data relating to the resolution and modified by the resolution parameter modifying section.