Abstract: There are provided a chip for micro chemical systems which can obviate the need of alignment at every measurement and can improve the measurement sensitivity and reduce the variation of measurement, and a micro chemical system using the chip. A thermal lens spectrometry system 10 comprises: a micro chemical chip 2 having a groove 1 into which a sample solution is injected; a rod lens 3 disposed on the micro chemical chip 2 at a predetermined spacing above the groove 1; a lens holder 9 disposed above the micro chemical chip 2; a securing section 4; an optical fiber 5; a ferrule 6 secured by the securing section 4 above the rod lens 3; a light source unit 7 connected to the optical fiber 5, and a detection device 8 disposed below the micro chemical chip 2. The securing section 4 comprises a seating 32 laid on the micro chemical chip 2, and a metal split sleeve 33 for fitting the ferrule 6 and the lens holder 9 at the outside thereof.

Abstract: There are provided a microchemical system capable of acquiring a highly accurate TLM output value and a method for calculating TLM output thereof. A microchemical system 1 comprises: a microchemical chip having a channel with a depth t in which a sample flows; an exciting light source 13 adapted to irradiate the sample with an exciting light through an objective lens 10 with a numerical aperture NA; a detecting light source 14 adapted to irradiate the sample with a detecting light coaxially with the exciting light through the objective lens 10; and a PD adapted to receive a transmitted light when the detecting light transmits the sample before and after formation of a thermal lens 12. When a TLM output is calculated in the microchemical system 1 on the basis of a received light amount of the PD, the depth t (?m) is set to the range of 75?t?300, the numerical aperture NA is set to the range of 0.04?NA?0.

Abstract: In a supply passage assembly having a toner passage arranged under a toner bottle for conveying toner supplied from the toner bottle to a developing unit arranged below, a toner conveying pipe for forming the toner passage is formed of an elastic material and a toner conveying pipe deforming member is arranged adjacent to the toner conveying pipe for elastically deforming the toner conveying pipe.

Abstract: A supply passage assembly arranged under a toner bottle for conveying toner supplied from the toner bottle to a developing unit arranged below, includes: a toner passage having a toner input port at top and a toner discharge port at bottom and incorporating rotators for agitating the toner supplied from the toner bottle and is constructed so that the toner passage includes a first swing member for agitating toner near the toner input port and a second swing member for agitating toner near the toner discharge port.

Abstract: A CMOS sensor scans an image that is either on a transfer material carrier or on a transfer material that is placed on the transfer material carrier. A sampling timing controller samples an image signal at a predetermined sampling rate and computes a position of a predetermined pattern contained within the sampled image signal. A speed computation processor computes a moving speed of either the transfer material carrier or the transfer material, based on the position of the predetermined pattern thus sampled at the predetermined sampling rate and computed, as well as the predetermined sampling rate. The image region that the CMOS sensor scans is determined in accordance with the rotational speed of the drive motor and the sampling rate.

Abstract: A microchemical system according to which measurement can be carried out with high sensitivity. The microchemical system 1 has a two-wavelength multiplexing device in which gradient index rod lenses 501 and 502 are connected together at an end face of each thereof and a dielectric multi-layer film filter 503 is formed between these end faces. Exciting light and detecting light is multiplexed by the two-wavelength multiplexing device, and then the exciting light and the detecting light are guided to an optical fiber unit 10 through an optical fiber 101 with a single mode. The optical fiber unit 10 has built therein a gradient index rod lens 102 at a leading end thereof, and the exciting light and the detecting light are irradiated onto a sample from the gradient index rod lens 102.

Abstract: Accumulation and coagulation of toner inside a vertically-disposed toner carrying path is properly prevented. The toner carrier apparatus includes: a toner carrier pipe which includes therein a toner carrying path through which toner is carried and is disposed so that the toner carrier path vertically extends; a pipe supporting member which supports the toner carrier pipe in such a way as to allow the toner carrier pipe to be vertically movable; a rotational member and operation wings, which cause the toner carrier pipe to reciprocally move in the vertical direction and horizontally swing; and a knocking mechanism which horizontally hits the toner carrier pipe.

Abstract: A detection method that can measure a plurality of measured substances in a fluid test sample at the same time, easily perform qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis, and reduce measurement errors between excitation energies of the measured substances, and a microchemical system using the detection method. A probe light with a wavelength of 780 nm CW-oscillated from a probe light source 16 is irradiated on measured substances in a minute channel 1, excitation lights with wavelengths of 658 nm and 532 nm, respectively, are modulated into plurality of flashing excitation lights with frequencies 1 kHz and 1.2 kHz and a duty factor of 50% and irradiated on the measured substances in the minute channel 1, the probe light refracted by a thermal lens formed by the irradiated flashing excitation lights is detected with respect to individual frequency components at the same time, and a signal of the detected probe light is guided from a PD 21 to a PC 24 as a signal processing apparatus via an IV amplifier 22.

Abstract: A fluorescence analysis optical multiplexer/demultiplexer, a fluorescence analysis optical module, a fluorescence analyzer, a fluorescence/photothermal conversion spectroscopic analyzer, and a fluorescence analysis chip, according to which LIF analysis can be carried out easily and with high sensitivity, and moreover photothermal conversion spectroscopic analysis can be carried out easily and simultaneously with the LIF analysis. A microchemical system 100 as the fluorescence analyzer is comprised of a fluorescence analysis optical module 100a, a probe 50 that condenses exciting light onto a sample solution in a channel 204 inside a fluorescence analysis chip 20, and a sample stage 21 on which the fluorescence analysis chip 20 is mounted.

Abstract: In a key cylinder a stopper plate is pressed into an imposing hole of a rotor, latching to a body and also intruding into engagement grooves of a second sleeve. When an authentic key is inserted into the rotor and rotated, a first sleeve is not rotated, and a second sleeve is rotated through the stopper plate. When a false key is inserted into the rotor the first sleeve rotates and the second sleeve is slid to the rear by slide bars, therefore the stopper plate separates from the engagement grooves, and the second sleeve is not rotated. The stopper plate has the function of being able to stop the movement of the rotor in the forward-rearward direction, and also the function of making the second sleeve rotatable by the rotation of the rotor, and so the construction of the key cylinder is simplified.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which can reduce color shift and image blurring caused by increased temperature in the apparatus and form high-quality images without causing an increase in the cost and size of the apparatus. An image sensor unit reads surface patterns of an intermediate transfer belt. A digital signal processor (DSP) controls the movement of the belt in a transverse direction perpendicular to a moving direction thereof based on the surface patterns of the belt read by the image sensor unit.

Abstract: The portability of a mechanical key and a locking/unlocking key having the mechanical key is improved. The mechanical key is housed in a portable device in such a manner that a key plate is folded into two at a portion formed with an inner groove. Thus, the housing space for housing the mechanical key can be reduced and the portable device can be made smaller. Accordingly, the portability of the locking/unlocking key can be improved.

Abstract: A particle discharge apparatus includes cylindrical particle discharge unit(s) having toner dispensing outlet(s) provided at upper portion(s) on one side of particle discharge unit(s), and particle discharge outlet(s) provided at lower portion(s) on the other side of particle discharge unit(s); and conveyor screw(s), provided at the interior of particle discharge unit(s), having rotatable shaft(s) and helical conveyor vane(s) secured to rotatable shaft(s). The conveyor vane(s) is/are divided into first vane segment(s) and second vane segment(s); and wherein there is/are vaneless region(s), where no portion of conveyor vane(s) is present, between first vane segment(s) and second vane segment(s).

Abstract: A portable device having compact size while accommodating a mechanical key therein. The mechanical key has an opening and an internal space, which are in communication with each other. An engagement member, arranged in the internal space, is movable between a first position where it partially projects from the opening and a second position where it is accommodated in the internal space. A resilient member, which urges the engagement member from the second position toward the first position is arranged in the internal space, includes a fixing portion fixed to the mechanical key in the internal space. The portable device further includes a case having a key accommodation portion for removably accommodating the mechanical key. The key accommodation portion includes an engaged portion that is engaged with the engagement member when the mechanical key is accommodated in the key accommodation portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which enables easy management of proofs in a printing process. An image forming apparatus 299 is provided with a reader unit 50, a transfer charger 220, color sensors 274-1 to 274-4, a printer controlling unit 21. The reader unit 50 inputs image data for forming an image on a sheet having an RFID tag 701. The transfer charger 220 generates a transfer image for forming the image on the sheet based on the inputted image data. The color sensors 274-1 to 274-4 measure image formation conditions of the transfer image. The printer controlling unit 21 writes the measured image formation conditions into the RFID tag 701.

Abstract: When an abnormality factor occurs in a second heating device, a sheet located upstream of a branch portion is discharged onto a discharge tray through a second conveying path. After the abnormality factor in the second heating device is removed and the sheet discharged to the discharge tray through the second conveying path is set in a paper refeeding tray, a sheet feeding portion feeds the sheet set in the paper refeeding tray to the second heating device.

Abstract: In the developing apparatus including a developing bath and a toner transport pipe for supplying toner to the developing bath, a toner supply portion opening/closing mechanism is provided, that includes a shutter member for opening and closing a toner supply port of the toner transport pipe that is contained in a base portion of the toner transport pipe, a shaft for moving the shutter member back and forth in a longitudinal direction of the developing bath, a second spring member provided such that the shaft is inserted therein, a first spring member for supporting the shaft detachably to the shutter member through its extension and contraction, and a lever member for extending and contracting the first spring member through its releasing and closing.

Abstract: A portable device includes a main body, which has a mechanical key retainer, and a mechanical key, which is removably retained in the mechanical key retainer. An engagement projection extends from the mechanical key in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the mechanical key is inserted into the mechanical key retainer. The engagement projection is formed from a resilient material. The mechanical key retainer includes an engagement recess for engaging the engagement projection when the mechanical key is retained in the mechanical key retainer. This structure reduces the size of the portable device and improves portability of the portable device.

Abstract: A particles supply apparatus is equipped with cylindrical particles discharge unit(s) provided with particles discharge outlet(s) at lower portion(s) thereof, and is equipped with cylindrical shutter cap(s) covering outside circumferential surface(s) of particles discharge unit(s). Shutter cap(s) is/are provided with opening(s) for opening and/or closing particles discharge outlet(s) of particles discharge unit(s), and shutter cap(s) is/are disposed so as to be capable of moving in substantially parallel fashion with respect to axial direction(s) of particles discharge unit(s) while rotating in helical fashion.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus comprises: a fixing rotary body; a rotary body provided with an interval from the fixing rotary body; an endless belt rotating in a condition in which it is wound around the fixing rotary body and the rotary body; a pressure rotary body which makes a pressure contact with the fixing roller across the endless belt; a heater for heating a recording material conveyed by the endless belt; a cooling unit for cooling a recording material conveyed by the endless belt and heated by the heater; and an error detecting means for detecting an error in conveyance of the recording material.