Abstract: A touch panel has a display region for an operation screen and senses an outer object touching the display region. A vibrator unit applies vibration to the display region. In response to the touch panel sensing the object, a response controller unit instructs the vibrator unit to apply to the display region vibration responsive to the object. The response controller unit checks whether an image processing unit is under waiting or operating condition at the time the touch panel senses the object, and when the image processing unit is under the operating condition, sets the responsive vibration to a level lower than when the image processing unit is under the waiting condition.

Abstract: A multi-feed detection apparatus for detecting multi-feed of a sheet conveyed along a paper path is provided. The apparatus includes a first movement amount sensor disposed on the paper path to face a first surface of the sheet to detect a movement amount of the sheet; a second movement amount sensor disposed, on the paper path, in a position at which the first movement amount sensor is disposed to face a second surface of the sheet to detect a movement amount of the sheet; and a determination portion configured to determine that a conveyance state of the sheet is multi-feed when a difference between the movement amount of the sheet detected by the first movement amount sensor and the movement amount of the sheet detected by the second movement amount sensor is equal to or greater than a threshold.

Abstract: An operation panel that is incorporated in an apparatus generating vibration during operation, and displays an operation screen of the apparatus to receive operation from a user includes: a touch panel that includes a display area of the operation screen, and detects contact between an external object and the display area; a vibration generation unit that applies vibration to the display area; a vibration storage unit that stores a spectrum of vibration generated by operation of the apparatus as a spectrum of background vibration; and a response control unit that checks whether the apparatus is in a standby state or an operating state, and causes the vibration. generation unit to apply vibration indicating a first spectrum to the display area when the apparatus is in the standby state, and vibration indicating a second spectrum to the display area when the apparatus is in the operating state.

Abstract: An image display and photographing system includes a display device configured to display a target image on a surface; a photographing device configured to photograph the surface; a first detector configured to detect that an object moves away from a space between the surface and the photographing device; a second detector configured to detect that, after the first detector detects that the object moves away from the space, the surface is touched at a predetermined position; a third detector configured to detect that, after the second detector detects that the surface is touched at the predetermined position, the object moves away from the space; and a photographing control portion configured to control, after the third detector detects that the object moves away from the space, the photographing device to photograph the surface.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a plurality of heating units which individually heat a plurality of areas of a fixing member; an acquisition unit which acquires information on an image forming range and a non-image forming range of the recording sheet for each of the plurality of divided heating areas; and a control unit which performs first control for controlling the corresponding heating unit such that a contact portion of the image forming range of the recording sheet has a target fixing temperature when the image forming range contacts the fixing member at the contact portion of the image forming range, and second control for controlling the corresponding heating unit such that a contact portion of the non-image forming range of the recording sheet has a temperature lower than the fixing temperature when the non-image forming range contacts the fixing member at the contact portion of the non-image forming range.

Abstract: A multi-feed detection apparatus for detecting multi-feed of a sheet conveyed along a paper path is provided. The apparatus includes a first movement amount sensor disposed on the paper path to face a first surface of the sheet to detect a movement amount of the sheet; a second movement amount sensor disposed, on the paper path, in a position at which the first movement amount sensor is disposed to face a second surface of the sheet to detect a movement amount of the sheet; and a determination portion configured to determine that a conveyance state of the sheet is multi-feed when a difference between the movement amount of the sheet detected by the first movement amount sensor and the movement amount of the sheet detected by the second movement amount sensor is equal to or greater than a threshold.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a gasket material that is capable of preventing corrosion caused by sulfur element, can be used as a seal part for a product that is easily damaged by corrosion, such as an electronic part, and is capable of forming a tight seal under low surface pressure with a material having low rigidity and inadequate reliability such as to have a blowhole, and that can prevent reduction in bolt axial load without producing plastic flow (setting) under pressure. The purpose is achieved by a gasket material in which a foamed rubber layer having a closed cell structure is formed, via an adhesive layer, on at least one side of a metal plate, wherein the foamed rubber layer comprises a carboxyl group-modified nitrile rubber, the expansion ratio of the foamed rubber layer is 2.0 to 3.0, and the foamed rubber layer is crosslinked with an epoxy compound.

Abstract: A fixing device thermally fixes an unfixed image onto a sheet through heat of a heating body that is heated through electromagnetic induction, the fixing device including an excitation coil generating flux for heating the heating body; one or more core members disposed opposite the heating body with respect to the excitation coil; a thermo-electric conversion element disposed farther from the excitation coil than the core members; and a thermally conductive member connected to the excitation coil and to a heat-absorbing face of the thermo-electric conversion element, transferring heat from the excitation coil to the thermo-electric conversion element.

Abstract: A photographing system includes a photographing device configured to photograph a surface; a detector configured to detect a change in a position of an object in a space between the surface and the photographing device; and an obtaining portion configured to obtain an image of an area of the surface by the photographing device when the detector detects the change, the area being not viewed by the photographing device before the change due to interruption of the object and being viewed by the photographing device after the change.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a plurality of heating units which individually heat a plurality of areas of a fixing member; an acquisition unit which acquires information on an image forming range and a non-image forming range of the recording sheet for each of the plurality of divided heating areas; and a control unit which performs first control for controlling the corresponding heating unit such that a contact portion of the image forming range of the recording sheet has a target fixing temperature when the image forming range contacts the fixing member at the contact portion of the image forming range, and second control for controlling the corresponding heating unit such that a contact portion of the non-image forming range of the recording sheet has a temperature lower than the fixing temperature when the non-image forming range contacts the fixing member at the contact portion of the non-image forming range.

Abstract: In a wristbhaving a label-like structure, fracturing notches for preventing unauthorized use are positioned where the two ends of the band are to be glued together. If temporary peeling of the glued ends is attempted, the wristband breaks reliably and it is difficult to return it to the original state. If fracturing notches (11) are formed on either a first winding region (6) or a second winding region (7), which are positioned at left and right ends of the printing region (5). The wristband is configured so that a ring shape can be formed by overlapping and adhering the adhesive layer on the rear surface of one of shape, the first winding region (6) or the second winding region (7) onto the other winding region. An adhesion position check mark (15, 16) is formed on either the first winding region (6) or the second winding region (7).

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an unfixed toner image on a recording sheet by passing the recording sheet through a fixing nip and applying heat and pressure to the recording sheet, the fixing device comprising: a heater including a resistance heater part and a supporting member, the resistance heater part having a positive resistance-temperature characteristic in a temperature range above a predetermined level, and the supporting member being insulative and supporting the resistance heater part such that the resistance heater part applies heat to the recording sheet; a current detector detecting a current supplied to the resistance heater part; and an abnormality determiner determining whether the resistance heater part has an abnormality, based on an initial current detected by the current detector at a predetermined time after a beginning of power supply to the resistance heater part and before the temperature of the resistance heater part reaches the predetermined level.

Abstract: To improve characteristics of a semiconductor device (semiconductor laser), an active layer waveguide (AWG) comprised of InP is formed over an exposed part of a surface of a substrate having an off angle ranging from 0.5° to 1.0° in a [1-1-1] direction from a (100) plane to extend in the [0-1-1] direction. A cover layer comprised of p-type InP is formed over the AWG with a V/III ratio of 2000 or more. Thereby, it is possible to obtain excellent multiple quantum wells (MQWs) by reducing a film thickness variation of the AWG. Moreover, the cover layer having side faces where a (0-11) plane almost perpendicular to a substrate surface mainly appears can be formed. A sectional shape of a lamination part of the cover layer and the AWG becomes an approximately rectangular shape. Therefore, an electrification region can be enlarged and it is possible to reduce a resistance of the semiconductor device.

Abstract: A fixing device thermally fixes an unfixed image onto a sheet through heat of a heating body that is heated through electromagnetic induction, the fixing device including an excitation coil generating flux for heating the heating body; one or more core members disposed opposite the heating body with respect to the excitation coil; a thermo-electric conversion element disposed farther from the excitation coil than the core members; and a thermally conductive member connected to the excitation coil and to a heat-absorbing face of the thermo-electric conversion element, transferring heat from the excitation coil to the thermo-electric conversion element.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an excitation coil, a fixing member heated by electromagnetic induction by the excitation coil, a magnetic shunt alloy member, a Curie temperature of which is higher than a target fixing temperature, a determiner that determines whether the temperature of a non-sheet passing region of the fixing member is about to reach the Curie temperature, and a power controller that controls power supplied to the excitation coil. Until the determiner determines that the Curie temperature is about to be reached, the power controller performs feedback control to provide power to the excitation coil. When the determiner determines that the Curie temperature is about to be reached, the power controller switches to fixed power control so that a difference between power supplied when the Curie temperature is about to be reached and power supplied after reaching the Curie temperature falls within an allowable range.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a temperature measuring unit, configured to measure the temperature in regions that extend partially along the outer surface of a heating rotating body, which includes a resistance heating layer, in the circumferential direction and are aligned in the direction of the axis of rotation of the heat rotating body, and a control unit configured to sample temperatures, measured by the temperature measuring unit in each of the regions, over the entire outer surface of the heating rotating body in the circumferential direction by causing the heating rotating body to rotate while supplying a predetermined amount of power to the resistance heating layer, and to determine whether an abnormality has occurred in the resistance heating layer based on the difference between the maximum temperature and the minimum temperature among the sampled temperatures in each region.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a gasket material that is capable of preventing corrosion caused by sulfur element, can be used as a seal part for a product that is easily damaged by corrosion, such as an electronic part, and is capable of forming a tight seal under low surface pressure with a material having low rigidity and inadequate reliability such as to have a blowhole, and that can prevent reduction in bolt axial load without producing plastic flow (setting) under pressure. The purpose is achieved by a gasket material in which a foamed rubber layer having a closed cell structure is formed, via an adhesive layer, on at least one side of a metal plate, wherein the foamed rubber layer comprises a carboxyl group-modified nitrile rubber, the expansion ratio of the foamed rubber layer is 2.0 to 3.0, and the foamed rubber layer is crosslinked with an epoxy compound.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fixing device that can interrupt power supply to the resistive heat layer more reliably than the conventional technology, for example, at occurrence of abnormality. Electrodes 52a and 52b are provided on a circumferential surface of a fixing roller that includes a resistive heat layer that generates heat by receiving power supply, and power is supplied to the resistive heat layer when power supplying electrodes 54a and 54b that are electrically connected to an electric power source 55 are slidingly in contact with the electrodes 52a and 52b. An insulating tape 522a is attached on the electrode 52a, and the drive controller 59 rotates a motor 58 until the electrode 52a and the insulating tape 522a are in contact with each other, so that power supply to the resistive heat layer is interrupted.

Abstract: The opposite side of a connecting intermediate section 32A of a diaphragm 32 to that of a first end section 32B extends from the connecting intermediate section 32A as a second end section 32C side that folds back towards the tube outside in an inside out reversed state. The diameter of the second end portion 32C is set larger than the diameter of the connecting intermediate section 32A. The second end portion 32C is fitted over an end on a chamber member 22 side of an outer tube member 60 and fixed with press contact against the outer tube member 60 by a band 72.

Abstract: In a wristbhaving a label-like structure, fracturing notches for preventing unauthorized use are positioned where the two ends of the band are to be glued together. If temporary peeling of the glued ends is attempted, the wristband breaks reliably and it is difficult to return it to the original state. If fracturing notches (11) are formed on either a first winding region (6) or a second winding region (7), which are positioned at left and right ends of the printing region (5). The wristband is configured so that a ring shape can be formed by overlapping and adhering the adhesive layer on the rear surface of one of shape, the first winding region (6) or the second winding region (7) onto the other winding region. An adhesion position check mark (15, 16) is formed on either the first winding region (6) or the second winding region (7).