Abstract: A cleaning device including a cleaning blade configured to clean a surface of a cleaning target that is moving. A leading edge which is formed between lower and leading surfaces of the cleaning blade is obtuse-angled with respect to the lower surface and is in contact with the surface of the cleaning target during use. The leading surface of the cleaning blade is curved outward when the cleaning blade is not in contact with the cleaning target.

Abstract: A connector to electrically connect a rotary body having a shaft, the connector includes a connecting terminal, electrically connected to either a power supply or ground, to contact the shaft of the rotary body either at least two points or along a line; and a posture adjuster to hold the connecting terminal to adjust the posture of one of the connecting terminal and the rotary body to maintain contact between the connecting terminal and the shaft of the rotary body.

Abstract: A rerunning load is reduced for reducing the risk of exceeding a specified termination time after abnormally ending a job net. Even if the same data processed by jobs within a job net is replaced with split data of sub-jobs and some of sub-jobs have been abnormally ended, the job net is continued. For each split data, a state and/or an execution server ID of each job are stored, and the progress of a job net is managed. Only split data whose state is not “normal” is to be processed by rerunning. Based on states of execution servers, on whether or not intermediate files transferred between jobs is shared among execution servers, and on whether or not an output file is deleted after ending the subsequent job, it is judged whether or not intermediate files can be referred to and from what job the rerun is to be performed.

Abstract: A computer system and method which stores path definition information including a storage ID, a volume ID, and validities of paths between a host computer and a first or second storage system identified by the storage ID for accessing a volume identified by the volume ID in one of the storage systems, sends an I/O request via the paths, based on the path definition information, receives information indicating the storage and volume IDs, and updates the path definition information. During initial copying from the second to the first volume, validity corresponding to a first path is set to “Invalid” and validity corresponding to a second path is set to “Valid”. After completion of initial copying, the validity corresponding to the first path included in the path definition information is changed to “Valid.

Abstract: A sheet collecting apparatus has a sheet transport path for transporting a sheet, a tray device for bearing and storing sheets, a regulation stopper for regulating the sheet, a holding path to temporarily hold a sheet, an alignment roller to transport the sheet, and a control device for controlling transport of the sheet. The alignment roller adjusts a level of pressing force acting on the sheet transported onto the tray device. The control device has a first operation mode and a second operation mode. In the first operation mode, the alignment roller applies a transport force to the sheet by a predetermined pressing force after a rear end of the sheet is carried into the tray device, while in the second operation mode, changing the pressing force applied to the sheets from the alignment roller from a first pressing force to a second pressing force and applying varied transport force.

Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning a surface moving member such as an image carrier of an image forming apparatus, and a process cartridge having the cleaning device. The cleaning device has a cleaning member that is brought into uniform abutment against the surface moving member in a longitudinal direction of the surface moving member. A high removing performance can be obtained while preventing the abrasion of the surface moving member and the cleaning blade, and the state of abutment between the surface moving member and the cleaning blade is securely maintained over time.

Abstract: A data storing system include a first and second storage system, each including a cache memory and a disk drive, and a third storage system coupled to the first and second storage systems and including a third disk drive to provide a third logical volume based on the third disk drive. First and second write data is transmitted from the first storage system to the second storage system according to copy pair management information. A certain storage system, which is one of the first and second storage systems, destages the second write data from a cache memory of the certain storage system to the third logical volume in the third storage system according to a volume and storage conversion table in the certain storage system.

Abstract: A sheet collecting apparatus has a sheet discharge outlet, a tray device for bearing and storing sheets, a regulation stopper disposed in the tray device; a forward/backward rotation roller, a roller lifting/lowering device, a sheet pressing guide disposed between the forward/backward rotation roller and the regulation stopper; a pressing force reducing device for reducing a pressing force, and a control device for controlling the forward/backward rotation roller, the roller lifting/lowering device and the pressing force reducing device. The control device is configured to rotate forward the forward/backward rotation roller in the operating position to move forward a carried-in sheet in the sheet discharge direction by a predetermined distance, and then rotate backward the forward/backward rotation roller. The control device has two operation modes that are selectively executed a first operation mode and a second operation mode.

Abstract: A blade, including: a cut surface provided by obliquely cutting a part of a tip surface to set an angle forming a tip ridge portion of the blade as an obtuse angle, wherein the tip ridge portion is configured to be pressed to a surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a laminated blade member including multiple layers made of materials different in permanent set value and a holding member to hold the blade member. The multiple layers include an edge layer formed of a material higher in permanent set value among the materials and a backing layer disposed against a distal surface of the edge layer. The laminated blade member includes a leading edge where an edge portion of the edge layer contacting a cleaning target is located and a trailing edge where the holding member supports the blade member. A ratio of a thickness of the edge layer to a thickness of the backing layer at the trailing end of the blade member is smaller than a ratio thereof at the leading edge of the blade member.

Abstract: A cleaning device cleaning a moving surface of a cleaning target includes a laminate-structured blade member including multiple layers made of materials different in permanent set value, a holding member to hold a proximal end of the laminate-structured blade member, and a plurality of slits. An edge layer of the multiple layers is formed of a material higher in permanent set value than any other one of the materials of the multiple layers and includes a distal-end edge portion corresponding to a leading end ridgeline portion contacting the cleaning target. The plurality of slits are formed over an area of a surface of the edge layer ranging from the proximal end of the blade member where the holding member holds the blade member toward the distal-end edge portion and extend in a direction perpendicular to a moving direction of the surface of the cleaning target.

Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning a moving surface of a cleaning target includes a laminated blade member including multiple layers including a proximal edge layer, each of the multiple layers made of materials different in permanent set value and a holding member to hold a distal end of the blade member. A proximal edge portion of the blade member at a free, leading end opposite the distal end of the blade member held by the holding member brought into contact with the surface of the cleaning target to clean the surface undergoes a linear pressure reduction rate of approximately 90% or higher.

Abstract: A data storing system include a first and second storage system, each including a cache memory and a disk drive, and a third storage system coupled to the first and second storage systems and including a third disk drive to provide a third logical volume based on the third disk drive. First and second write data is transmitted from the first storage system to the second storage system according to copy pair management information. A certain storage system, which is one of the first and second storage systems, destages the second write data from a cache memory of the certain storage system to the third logical volume in the third storage system according to a volume and storage conversion table in the certain storage system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cleaning device that allows the obtaining of a high level of removal performance while reducing wear between a plate-shaped elastic member and a cleaning-targeted surface moving member, while also being able to stably maintain the contact status between the surface moving member and the plate-shaped elastic member, and an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge provided therewith.

Abstract: A batch job multiplex processing method which solves the problem that a system which performs multiplex processing including parallel processing on plural nodes cannot cope with a sudden increase in the volume of data to be batch-processed using a predetermined value of multiplicity, for example, in securities trading in which the number of transactions may suddenly increase on a particular day. The method dynamically determines the value of multiplicity of processing including parallel processing in execution of a batch job on plural nodes. More specifically, in the method, multiplicity is determined depending on the node status (node performance and workload) and the status of an input file for the batch job.

Abstract: A composition for promoting root nodule formation, which can be easily applied to soil or plants, and enables efficient formation of root nodules, and a method for promoting root nodule formation using the composition are provided. A composition for promoting root nodule formation, which comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of a nucleoside, a nucleotide, and a nucleobase such as inosine, as an active ingredient, is applied to a leguminous plant to promote root nodule formation of the plant.