Abstract: A transfer device includes a first parallel four-joint link mechanism in which base end portions of a pair of first links are rotatably connected to a first link base and distal end portions of the first links are rotatably connected to an intermediate link base, a second parallel four-joint link mechanism in which base end portions of a pair of second links are rotatably connected to the intermediate link base and distal end portions of the second links are rotatably connected to a second link base, and a belt transmission mechanism including a pair of first pulleys respectively connected to the first links, a second pulley connected to one of the second links, and a belt provided around the first pulleys and the second pulley. The belt transmission mechanism transmits a rotational driving force such that the first links and the second links rotate in opposite directions to each other.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a first parallel four-joint link mechanism in which base end portions of a pair of first links are rotatably connected to a first link base and distal end portions of the first links are rotatably connected to an intermediate link base, a second parallel four-joint link mechanism in which base end portions of a pair of second links are rotatably connected to the intermediate link base and distal end portions of the second links are rotatably connected to a second link base, and a belt transmission mechanism including a pair of first pulleys respectively connected to the first links, a second pulley connected to one of the second links, and a belt provided around the first pulleys and the second pulley. The belt transmission mechanism transmits a rotational driving force such that the first links and the second links rotate in opposite directions to each other.

Abstract: A reception apparatus receiving a stream delivered by multicast through a network includes: a stream receiving a stream of a first channel as a viewing stream and one or more streams of second channels as viewing candidate streams; a buffer section storing the streams of the channels received by the stream reception section; a reproduction processing section performing processing for viewing the stream stored as the viewing stream in the buffer section; and a channel causing, when an instruction to switch over, as a viewing target, from the first channel to any one of the second channels of the streams being received as the viewing candidate streams is input, the reproduction processing section to process as the viewing stream the stream corresponding to the second channel and stored in the buffer section, and the stream to receive the stream as the viewing stream.

Abstract: A content reproduction method is provided, which acquires, from a data transmission apparatus, first streaming data that is used to play a content at a first speed, and records the first streaming data on a storage medium. The content reproduction method plays the content at the first speed, based on the stored first streaming data. The content reproduction method also starts acquisition of second streaming data in response to a varied-speed reproduction request for the content, wherein the second streaming data is used to play the content at a second speed, and plays the content at a transition speed based on the stored first streaming data, in response to the varied-speed reproduction request. The content reproduction method plays the content at the second speed based on the second streaming data, after the acquisition of the second streaming data progresses to a reproduction preparation complete state.

Abstract: There is provided a receiving device including: a receiving unit that receives a packet stream; an oscillator; a measuring unit that performs a measuring operation; an acquiring unit that reads the newest time stamp read from the packet stream received by the receiving unit and the newest measurement value measured by the measuring unit with a predetermined period, from a point of time when the packet stream starts to be received; a calculating unit that calculates an accumulation value of the time stamps and the measurement values acquired by the acquiring unit; a comparing unit that compares a difference between the accumulation value of the time stamps and the accumulation value of the measurement values calculated by the calculating unit, and a value corresponding to a network jitter; and a frequency control unit that controls the oscillation frequency of the oscillator based on the comparison result by the comparing unit.

Abstract: A content playback device has a processor, a memory, a data acquisition portion that acquires streaming data for content from a data transmission device, and a storage portion that stores the acquired streaming data in a storage medium. The content playback device also has a playback portion that plays back the content based on the stored streaming data, a playback control portion that causes the playback portion to halt playback of the content in response to a halt playback request, and an acquisition control portion. The acquisition control portion causes the data acquisition portion to stop acquisition of the streaming data in response to the halt playback request, and causes the data acquisition portion to restart acquisition of the streaming data in response to a resume playback request. The storage portion stores, in the storage medium, the streaming data acquired in response to the resume playback request, starting from a position at which acquisition of the streaming data was stopped.

Abstract: A reception apparatus receiving a stream delivered by multicast through a network includes: a stream reception section receiving a stream of a first channel as a viewing stream and one or more streams of second channels as viewing candidate streams; a buffer section storing the streams of the channels received by the stream reception section; a reproduction processing section performing processing for viewing the stream stored as the viewing stream in the buffer section; and a channel processing section causing, when an instruction to switch over, as a viewing target, from the first channel to any one of the second channels of the streams being received as the viewing candidate streams is input, the reproduction processing section to process as the viewing stream the stream corresponding to the second channel and stored in the buffer section, and the stream reception section to receive the stream as the viewing stream.

Abstract: There is described a color image forming apparatus, which makes it possible to prevent the intermediate transfer belt from slacking. The apparatus includes a plurality of image bearing members; an intermediate transfer belt onto which a full color toner image is formed; a driving roller to drive the intermediate transfer belt; a transfer unit to transfer the full color toner image onto a sheet; a cleaning unit to remove residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt; a first tension applying unit, located upstream from the transfer unit in a circulating direction of the intermediate transfer belt, to apply a first tension onto the intermediate transfer belt; and a second tension applying unit, located downstream from the cleaning unit in the circulating direction of the intermediate transfer belt, to apply a second tension onto the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: There is provided a receiving device including: a receiving unit that receives a packet stream; an oscillator; a measuring unit that performs a measuring operation; an acquiring unit that reads the newest time stamp read from the packet stream received by the receiving unit and the newest measurement value measured by the measuring unit with a predetermined period, from a point of time when the packet stream starts to be received; a calculating unit that calculates an accumulation value of the time stamps and the measurement values acquired by the acquiring unit; a comparing unit that compares a difference between the accumulation value of the time stamps and the accumulation value of the measurement values calculated by the calculating unit, and a value corresponding to a network jitter; and a frequency control unit that controls the oscillation frequency of the oscillator based on the comparison result by the comparing unit.

Abstract: A content reproduction method is provided, which acquires, from a data transmission apparatus, first streaming data that is used to play a content at a first speed, and records the first streaming data on a storage medium. The content reproduction method plays the content at the first speed, based on the stored first streaming data. The content reproduction method also starts acquisition of second streaming data in response to a varied-speed reproduction request for the content, wherein the second streaming data is used to play the content at a second speed, and plays the content at a transition speed based on the stored first streaming data, in response to the varied-speed reproduction request. The content reproduction method plays the content at the second speed based on the second streaming data, after the acquisition of the second streaming data progresses to a reproduction preparation complete state.

Abstract: A content playback device has a processor, a memory, a data acquisition portion that acquires streaming data for content from a data transmission device, and a storage portion that stores the acquired streaming data in a storage medium. The content playback device also has a playback portion that plays back the content based on the stored streaming data, a playback control portion that causes the playback portion to halt playback of the content in response to a halt playback request, and an acquisition control portion. The acquisition control portion causes the data acquisition portion to stop acquisition of the streaming data in response to the halt playback request, and causes the data acquisition portion to restart acquisition of the streaming data in response to a resume playback request. The storage portion stores, in the storage medium, the streaming data acquired in response to the resume playback request, starting from a position at which acquisition of the streaming data was stopped.

Abstract: There is described a color image forming apparatus, which makes it possible to prevent the intermediate transfer belt from slacking. The apparatus includes a plurality of image bearing members; an intermediate transfer belt onto which a full color toner image is formed; a driving roller to drive the intermediate transfer belt; a transfer unit to transfer the full color toner image onto a sheet; a cleaning unit to remove residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt; a first tension applying unit, located upstream from the transfer unit in a circulating direction of the intermediate transfer belt, to apply a first tension onto the intermediate transfer belt; and a second tension applying unit, located downstream from the cleaning unit in the circulating direction of the intermediate transfer belt, to apply a second tension onto the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device-authentication system capable of efficiently performing authentication before using a service through a network. A CE device (3) includes a browser (9) for accessing a service server (4) and an authentication module (7) for allowing an authentication server (5) to perform device authentication. A device-authentication plug-in (8) is a plug-in having a function of starting the authentication module (7). The device-authentication plug-in (8) can be specified by a predetermined MIME format, and the browser (9) starts the device-authentication plug-in (8) after receiving an EMBED tag having the MIME format.

Abstract: The present invention is a high strength copper alloy that is superior to mechanical properties, workability, corrosion resistance and economy. The present invention discloses high strength copper alloy characterized in that said copper alloy consists essentially of 4 to 19 mass percent of Zn, 0.5 to 2.5 mass percent of Si and the remaining mass percent of Cu, wherein said mass percent of Zn and said mass percent of Si satisfy the relationship Zn-2.5.Si=0 to 15 mass percent; mean grain size D of crystalline structure of said copper alloy distributes in 0.3 &mgr;m≦D≦3.5 &mgr;m; and 0.2% yield strength in recrystallization state of said copper alloy is higher than 250 N/mm2.

Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning a toner from a surface of a cylindrical latent image carrier having; a cleaning blade mechanism which includes a cleaning blade arranged so that a tip edge portion on a first surface of the cleaning blade contacts with the surface of the cylindrical latent image carrier, and a supporting member positioned on a second surface at a base end portion of the cleaning blade to urge the cleaning blade to contact with the surface of the cylindrical latent image carrier; and a laminar vibration-damping member whose base end portion is held by the supporting member on the second surface of the cleaning blade, wherein, on a tip end portion of the vibration-damping member, a plurality of slits are formed so that a plurality of tab portions are formed to be arranged in the axial direction of the cylindrical latent image carrier.

Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning a toner from a surface of a cylindrical latent image carrier having; a cleaning blade mechanism which includes a cleaning blade arranged so that a tip edge portion on a first surface of the cleaning blade contacts with the surface of the cylindrical latent image carrier, and a supporting member positioned on a second surface at a base end portion of the cleaning blade to urge the cleaning blade to contact with the surface of the cylindrical latent image carrier; and a laminar vibration-damping member whose base end portion is held by the supporting member on the second surface of the cleaning blade, wherein, on a tip end portion of the vibration-damping member, a plurality of slits are formed so that a plurality of tab portions are formed to be arranged in the axial direction of the cylindrical latent image carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine or a printer having a two-beam optical scanning unit, includes a pair of semiconductor laser beam emitters, each emitter generating a respective laser beam. A beam composition prism composes the two laser beams and a photoreceptor is provided for holding an image written with the two laser beams. A defector deflects the two laser beams onto the photoreceptor in a primary scanning direction so that the two laser beams are emitted on a primary scanning plane. Two supporting members each respectively supports one of the pair of semiconductor laser beam emitters. A moving member is provided for moving at least one of the two supporting members so that at least one of the two laser beams is movably adjusted so as to have a predetermined emitting direction.