Abstract: A support reception unit issues a reception number in response to an application for support from a client and notifies the client of the reception number and a guidance for a call connection. A wait state management unit allocates into a queue the reception number sent from a call connection by telephone, holds the call connection and notifies the client, for display, of a current wait state and wait time points increased as a wait time elapses, until a support client becomes available for response. When the support client has become available for response, a support start unit confirms start of support for the client and, as a result of a confirmation response, connects by an extension the held call connection to the support client. A support end unit adds the wait time points to be accumulated and stores them at the point of time when the call connection with the supporter is terminated.

Abstract: A dielectric ceramic composition containing a first component and a second component (25 to 80 wt %) is used. The first component is a complex oxide represented by Formula: xZrO2-yTiO2-zL(1+u)/3M(2−u)/3O2 (L is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Zn, Co, and Mn, and M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb and Tb. x, y, z, and u are numerical values represented by x+y+z=1, 0.10≦x≦0.60, 0.20 ≦y≦0.60, 0.01≦z≦0.70, 0≦u≦1.90). The second component is a glass composition containing an oxide of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si, B, Al, Ba, Ca, Sr, Zn, Ti, La, and Nd.

Abstract: A method for adjusting the gap between an upper nozzle of a wire electric discharge machine includes placing a spacer member of a known thickness between a forward end of the upper nozzle and a workpiece. The forward end of the upper nozzle is brought into contact with the spacer member, so that the forward end of the upper nozzle is prevented from coming into direct contact with the workpiece. A Z-axis position of the upper nozzle is controlled on the basis of the thickness of the spacer member and the desired nozzle gap to set the gap between the forward end of the upper nozzle and the workpiece to a predetermined value. In controlling the Z-axis position of the upper nozzle, correction is made to compensate for a deformation of the upper guide, the spacer member, the workpiece, and the upper nozzle, and/or for a displacement of the upper guide resulting from a pressure of a working fluid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composite magnetic body containing metallic magnetic powder and thermosetting resin and having a packing ratio of the metallic magnetic powder of 65 vol % to 90 vol % and an electrical resistivity of at least 104 &OHgr;·cm. When a coil is embedded in this composite magnetic body, a miniature magnetic element can be obtained that has a high inductance value and is excellent in DC bias characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composite magnetic body containing metallic magnetic powder and thermosetting resin and having a packing ratio of the metallic magnetic powder of 65 vol % to 90 vol % and an electrical resistivity of at least 104 &OHgr;·cm. When a coil is embedded in this composite magnetic body, a miniature magnetic element can be obtained that has a high inductance value and is excellent in DC bias characteristics.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, which includes: an image bearing member, a charging member for charging the image bearing member, the charging member bearing electrically conductive particles that contact the image bearing member, and a developer carrying member for carrying a developer provided with toner and electrically conductive particles, the developer carrying member being applied a voltage to develop an electrostatic image formed on the image bearing member with the developer and being capable of collecting a residual developer on the image bearing member, wherein the developer carrying member is provided in such a manner that the developer carrying member opposes the image bearing member via a gap of 150 &mgr;m or more and 250 &mgr;m or less.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a rotatable charging member, forming a nip with the image bearing member, for electrically charging the image bearing member; developing structure for developing an electrostatic image formed on the image bearing member to form a toner image, the developing structure supplying electroconductive particles to the image bearing member, wherein the electroconductive particles are fed to the nip by the image bearing member; and transferring structure for transferring the toner image onto a recording material at a transfer position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composite magnetic body containing metallic magnetic powder and thermosetting resin and having a packing ratio of the metallic magnetic powder of 65 vol % to 90 vol % and an electrical resistivity of at least 104 &OHgr;·cm. When a coil is embedded in this composite magnetic body, a miniature magnetic element can be obtained that has a high inductance value and is excellent in DC bias characteristics.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member; a charging rotatable member, contactable to the image bearing member at a contact position, for electrically charging the image bearing member, the charging rotatable member being rotatable for counterdirectional peripheral movement relative to rotation of the image bearing member at the contact position; developing means for developing an electrostatic image formed on the image bearing member with a developer, the developing means being capable of collecting a residual developer from the image bearing member; and wherein start of rotation of the charging rotatable member is simultaneous with or prior to start of rotation of the image bearing member.

Abstract: A dielectric ceramic is made of a sintered body of a complex oxide including at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Ti and Mn, at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Zn and Co, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb and Ta, wherein, the complex oxide is represented by a formula xZrO2-yTiO2-zA(1+w)/3B(2−w)/3O2 where ‘A’ in the formula denotes at least one element selected from the group (A) consisting of Mg, Zn and Co, ‘B’ denotes at one element selected from the group (B) consisting of Nb and Ta; x, y, z and w denote values in the respective ranges of 0.20≦x≦0.55, 0.40≦y≦0.55, 0.05≦z≦0.25, and 0≦w≦0.30, and x, y and z have a relationship represented as x+y+z=1; MnO is present in a range of 0.1 mol % to 1.

Abstract: An installation instruction conveying device. In one embodiment, the installation instruction conveying device is comprised of a first surface having instructions visibly disposed thereon for installing a component. The installation instruction conveying device is further comprised of a means for adhering said installation instruction conveying device to a component installation location. The installation instruction conveying device prevents the installation of the component at the component installation location unless the installation instruction conveying device is removed from said component installation location.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image bearing member; and a charging member forming a nip with the image bearing member to charge the image bearing member. Conductive particles are provided in the nip and a time factor &agr; represented by a following equation satisfies a condition &agr;>15: &agr;=2&pgr;·k·Nc·(W/Vc)/(&rgr;·Cd·Z) Z=−0.5·1n(&pgr;·k·Nc)−1n({square root over (&bgr;)}·D/2) (&bgr;=1.

Abstract: A wire electric discharge machine capable of preventing a straightness error from being caused by consumption of a wire electrode, to thereby eliminate insufficient machining. A correction angle &phgr; is predetermined for preventing the straightness error of the workpiece due to consumption thereof. Correction amounts d1′, d2′ on a program plane and an upper surface of a workpiece, respectively, are determined based on the predetermined correction angle &phgr;, and are added to or subtracted from a predetermined offset amount depending on a wire electrode radius and an electric discharging gap, to thereby determine corrected offset amounts d1, d2 on the program plane and the upper surface of the workpiece, respectively. Correction amounts dlo, dup for lower and upper wire guides in an offset direction are obtained based on the corrected offset amounts d1, d2, respectively, so that motion paths of upper and lower wire guides relative to the workpiece are determined.

Abstract: A device for deterring displacement of a cable is effectuated in an embodiment of the invention by an enclosure that envelopes the cable and an affixing mechanism that couples the enclosure to the cable, where the cable is oriented in an assembly such that the enclosure contacts a feature internal to the assembly and deters displacement of the cable.

Abstract: A green sheet including a binder containing an acrylic resin having no polar group and a ceramics material in powder is prepared, and connection via are formed in the green sheet. Further, a conductor layer having virtually no voids is placed on the green sheet and a mask is also placed on the conductor layer. Then, the conductor layer is patterned by wet-etching so that wiring is formed thereon. A plurality of the green sheets thus formed are laminated, and a binding sheet, which contains an inorganic composition that has virtually no sintering shrinkage at the firing temperature of the multi-layered body as a main component, is formed on either both surfaces or one surface of the laminated body, and this is then fired, and thereafter, the binding sheet is removed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composite magnetic body containing metallic magnetic powder and thermosetting resin and having a packing ratio of the metallic magnetic powder of 65 vol % to 90 vol % and an electrical resistivity of at least 104 &OHgr;·cm. When a coil is embedded in this composite magnetic body, a miniature magnetic element can be obtained that has a high inductance value and is excellent in DC bias characteristics.

Abstract: An installation instruction conveying device. In one embodiment, the installation instruction conveying device is comprised of a first surface having instructions visibly disposed thereon for installing a component. The installation instruction conveying device is further comprised of a means for adhering said installation instruction conveying device to a component installation location. The installation instruction conveying device prevents the installation of the component at the component installation location unless the installation instruction conveying device is removed from said component installation location.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an image bearing member, and a charging member for forming a nip with the image bearing member thereby charging the image bearing member, wherein conductive particles are provided in the nip, wherein a time factor a represented by a following equation satisfies a condition &agr;>15:

Abstract: An aspherical reference surface 2 is manufactured with such a shape accuracy that an interference band appears according to the aspherical shape of a surface 1 to be measured, an aspherical wave front 3 is formed using the reference surface, and a large aspherical surface is measured from interference within a short time. The aspherical reference surface is an aspherical surface optical element 10 manufactured by fly-cutting or ELID-grinding, that produces the interference band from light reflected from the aspherical surface and predetermined reference light, and thereby measures the shape of the aspherical surface from interference. The aspherical surface optical element should be an aspherical reflecting mirror with such a shape accuracy that an interference band is generated and parallel light is reflected in the direction normal to the surface to be measured. Thus, the shape can be measured in a short time without using an aspherical surface standard.

Abstract: A device for deterring displacement of a cable is effectuated in an embodiment of the invention by an enclosure adapted to envelope the cable and an affixing mechanism adapted to couple the enclosure to the cable, where the cable is oriented in an assembly such that the enclosure contacts a feature internal to the assembly and deters displacement of the cable.