Abstract: A cleaning device cleans off a toner from a surface of a member rotating in a first direction. The cleaning device includes a blade made of an elastic material including a tip portion with a slanting portion that is pressed against the surface in a second direction counter to the first direction. A supporter supports the blade. An angle between the slanting portion and a longitudinal direction of the blade is obtuse. The slanting portion is pressed against the surface at a surface pressure of 2.0 MPa or more.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a movable body to be charged and a charger including a charging member that contacts or adjoins the body to be charged and applies a voltage, including an AC component, to the charging member for thereby charging the body. A protection substance for protecting the surface of the body from deterioration ascribable to charging is caused to exist on the body. The number of particular elements, contained in the protection substance and detected by an X-ray photon spectral analyzer (XPS) in a zone where the charging member charges the body, is held in a particular ratio to the total number of all elements constituting the outermost surface of the body and also detected by the XPS.

Abstract: In a copy control method, during a process for the acquisition of a data copy at a designated time, a recovery period of time can still be reduced when an input/output request is issued for copy source data at the designated time. For a system that includes a first storage device in which data are stored, a second storage device that obtains a data copy, and a host computer that writes data to the first storage device, the second storage device obtains blank input/output requests that are issued at predetermined time intervals if the host computer does not generate an input/output request for the first storage device, and the second storage device determines that a time closest to a predetermined data copy acquisition time, which is a target time for the acquisition of a data copy, is a copy execution time for the acquisition of a data copy.

Abstract: An expansion valve includes a valve body having a valve body hole, a first passage, a bottomed valve chamber, a second passage, a third passage and a guide member disposed in the valve body hole between the first passage and the third passage. The valve body hole has a first valve body hole portion and a second valve body hole portion of different diameters forming a valve body step between the second passage and the first passage. The guide has a first guide portion and a second guide portion of different diameters forming a guide portion step. The guide is sized to be slidably received by the valve body hole in a close-fitting relationship with the first valve body hole portion receiving the first guide portion, the second valve body hole portion receiving the second guide portion and the valve body step and the guide portion step contacting each other.

Abstract: A cleaner for cleaning a surface of a rotating material, including an elastic blade arranged to counter the rotating material while a tip of the elastic blade is contacted with the surface of the rotating material to clean the surface of the rotating material, wherein the elastic blade has a first surface facing the rotating material, and a second surface opposite to the first surface thereof, and wherein the elastic blade has a recessed portion, which has a bottom surface and a wall, in a rear portion of the second surface; and a support plate configured to support the elastic blade, wherein the support plate has a first surface facing the rotating material, a second surface opposite to the first surface and a tip surface, wherein the elastic blade is connected with the support plate in such a manner that the bottom surface and the wall of the recessed portion of the blade are contacted with the first surface and the tip surface of the support plate, respectively.

Abstract: A blade of a cleaning device includes two surfaces: an upstream side surface and a downstream side surface. The two surfaces adjoin each other with respect to a contact edge of the blade. The upstream side surface has a longer dimension in the direction orthogonal to the contact edge than that of the downstream side surface. A horizontal portion of a blade holder that restricts a warp in the blade is bonded on an opposed surface to the upstream side surface of the blade. The blade is held via the horizontal portion with a vertical portion of the blade holder supported by the main body of the cleaning device in a downstream of a normal line to a contact point on a photoconductor surface in contact with the contact edge, in the photoconductor-surface moving direction.

Abstract: A voltage hold circuit which holds an input signal voltage includes a voltage comparator unit configured to output a result of comparison between a voltage of an externally inputted control signal and a voltage of an outputted analog hold signal, a digital value hold unit configured to increase or decrease a hold value which is a digital value it holds, based on the comparison result, and to output a digital hold signal which is a digital value generated based on the hold value, and a D/A converter unit configured to convert the digital hold signal to an analog value for output as the analog hold signal.

Abstract: An expansion valve has a solenoid relief valve equipped in an air conditioner for decompressing and expands a refrigerant and supplies the same to an evaporator. A high-pressure refrigerant from a compressor enters a valve chamber. The refrigerant traveling towards the evaporator flows through a first passage. The refrigerant returning from the evaporator toward the compressor flows through a second passage. A valve seat is disposed between the valve chamber and the first passage. A valve body has a refrigerant chamber disposed in parallel to the valve seat and communicates the valve chamber and the first passage. A valve device is capable of coming into contact with and separating from the valve seat. A power element drives the valve device. A solenoid relief valve is disposed between the refrigerant chamber and the first passage.

Abstract: A computer includes a management computer connected to a host computer, first and second primary storage systems, first and second secondary storage systems, a primary external storage system connected to the first and second primary storage systems and a secondary external storage system connected to the first and second secondary storage systems. The management computer controls to start copying as processing for storing copied data in the second storage area into a fourth storage area in response to a command for starting processing for storing copied data in the first storage area into a third storage area.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a movable body to be charged and a charger including a charging member that contacts or adjoins the body to be charged and applies a voltage, including an AC component, to the charging member for thereby charging the body. A protection substance for protecting the surface of the body from deterioration ascribable to charging is caused to exist on the body. The number of particular elements, contained in the protection substance and detected by an X-ray photon spectral analyzer (XPS) in a zone where the charging member charges the body, is held in a particular ratio to the total number of all elements constituting the outermost surface of the body and also detected by the XPS.

Abstract: A first storage system sets a storage area of a first disk drive as a first volume, and misrepresents an identifier of the storage system and an identifier of the first volume. A second storage system sets a storage area of a second disk drive as a second volume, and misrepresents an identifier of the storage system and an identifier of the second volume. The first storage system copies data of the first volume in the second volume. The second storage system copies data of the second volume in the first volume. A management computer determines whether there is a match between the data of the first volume and the data of the second volume. When it is determined that there is not match, the host computer accesses only one of the first volume and the second volume that stores the latest data.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus including at least a moving body to be charged, a charging device for charging the body to be charged using discharge caused by applying a voltage to a charging member provided in contact with or proximity to the body to be charged, a latent image formation device for forming a latent image on a surface of the body to be charged which is charged by the charging device, and a development device for depositing toner on an image portion of the latent image formed by the latent image formation device, wherein an elastic displacement ratio ?e for the surface of the body to be charged is equal to or greater than 40% which is defined by the following formula, elastic displacement ratio ?e (%)=[(maximum displacement)-(plastic displacement)]/(maximum displacement)×100, and the image formation apparatus further includes a protective material feeding device for depositing a protective material on at least a discharge area of the surface of the body to be charged.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a movable body to be charged and a charger including a charging member that contacts or adjoins the body to be charged and applies a voltage, including an AC component, to the charging member for thereby charging the body. A protection substance for protecting the surface of the body from deterioration ascribable to charging is caused to exist on the body. The number of particular elements, contained in the protection substance and detected by an X-ray photon spectral analyzer (XPS) in a zone where the charging member charges the body, is held in a particular ratio to the total number of all elements constituting the outermost surface of the body and also detected by the XPS.

Abstract: A method of forming a MEMS structure over active circuitry in a semiconductor body includes forming active circuitry in a semiconductor body, and forming the MEMS structure over the active circuitry, wherein at least a portion of the MEMS structure spatially overlaps the active circuitry.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved structure for assembling components in an expansion valve used in air conditioners. An expansion valve body 30 has a valve chamber 35 and a passage 32 through which refrigerant from a compressor enters. The refrigerant passing through a flow path between a valve means 32b and an orifice 32a is sent through a passage 321 toward an evaporator. The refrigerant returning from the evaporator passes through a passage 34 and flows toward the compressor. A power element 36 operates the valve means 32b in response to the thermal load of the evaporator and controls the flow rate of refrigerant. The lower end of a spring 32d disposed within the valve chamber 35 and biasing the valve means 32b toward the orifice 32a is supported by a sealing member 150 that is inserted to an opening 35a of the valve chamber and fixed to position via a crimping portion K1.

Abstract: A force/virial calculator selects one of a plurality of miniature cells divided from a basic cell having a periodic boundary condition, sequentially selects a particle included in the miniature cell, and calculates a force exerted by the particle on a particle intended for calculation. A sum total calculator accumulates the value of the force exerted on the particle intended for calculation by each of the particles included in the miniature cell, derived in the force/virial calculator, to derive the sum total of the forces, and supplies the sum total of the forces to the force/virial calculator. The force/virial calculator multiplies the sum total of forces by a constant value previously determined for the miniature cell, thereby deriving a virial exerted by the miniature cell on the particle intended for calculation.

Abstract: Overload of communication lines and the drop of through-put of task processing in a center computer is prevented. The center computer executes a plurality of task processing, writes the execution result to a center storage device and remote copies the same data to a plurality of remote storage devices. At this time, the center computer acquires loads of communication lines through load measurement portions and stops the execution of a part of the task processing involved with the transmission of the copy data through the communication line when its load exceeds a predetermined threshold value. When the center storage device and the remote storage devices switch the transmission route of the copy data to other route, the center computer starts again the execution of the task processing previously stopped and starts again the remote copy.

Abstract: The invention provides an expansion valve maintaining the functions of the prior art expansion valve and at the same time realizing a simple arrangement with less components and less required number of assembly steps, and enabling to cut down assembly costs. A first passage 11 through which refrigerant flowing toward an evaporator 2 travels and a second passage 12 through which refrigerant flowing from the evaporator 2 toward a compressor 3 travels are formed within a valve body 10. In response to the temperature of the refrigerant traveling in the second passage 12, a valve actuating member 40? actuates a valve means 20 disposed in the valve body 10 to control the flow of the refrigerant entering the evaporator 2. A seal member 50 sealing the area between the first and second passages 11 and 12 is disposed between the valve body 10 and the valve actuating member 40?. A stopper portion 44 of the seal member 50 is integrally formed in advance to the valve actuating member 40?.

Abstract: A cleaning device and process cartridge including the same for an image formation apparatus, which prevents cleaning failures due to toner slipping past a blade, based on an equation for the force of toner particle rotation and the restraining force. Toner on an image carrier is removed by a blade. The relation between the blade and the image carrier satisfies the equation f(?)=?2??1×(Ntp/Nbt+cos?)>0. Here ?1 is the friction coefficient between toner and image carrier, ?2 is the friction coefficient between toner and blade, Ntp is the adhesive force between toner and image carrier, Nbt is the force received by the toner from the blade, and ? is the angle formed by the blade and image carrier (the cleaning angle).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a cleaning brush positioned upstream of a blade nip in the direction of movement of the surface of a photoconductive drum. To prevent toner from accumulating at the blade nip, the surface of the photoconductive drum is moved in the direction opposite to the regular direction for image formation, conveying toner accumulated in a wedge-shaped space upstream of the blade nip 2n to a position where the cleaning brush removes it. With this configuration, the image forming apparatus can stably clear spherical toner particles left on the drum over a long period of time.