Abstract: An image-forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet-like material, having an image-forming unit for forming a toner image on the sheet-like material, and a heated roller for heating the sheet-like material with the toner image. The heated roller includes a surface layer having a heat-shrunk fluorine resin. A pressure roller is arranged in rolling contact with the heated roller, for pressing the sheet-like material against the heated roller. A member for providing at least one of the following conditions: a) temperature at the surface of the heated roller of at least 200.degree. C.; b) a pressure between the heated roller and the pressure roller of at least about 72.5 N; c) a hardness of the surface of the pressure roller of at least about 40.degree. (ASKER-C system); and d) an elastic surface layer on the pressure roller having a thickness of at most about 50 .mu.m and which comprises a fluorine resin.

Abstract: A compact image forming apparatus which occupies a small floor area even though it has optional units connected to it. The apparatus includes an image forming device, a paper-reversing device attached to a side of the image forming device, a paper-feeding unit, a large-capacity paper-feeding unit, and a large-capacity storage unit. The image forming device and the paper-reversing device are mounted on the paper-feeding unit, which, in turn, is mounted on the large-capacity paper-feeding unit. The large-capacity paper-feeding unit is mounted on the large-capacity storage unit. The total bottom area of the image forming device and the paper-reversing section attached to the side of the image forming device is substantially equal to the top area of the paper-feeding unit, that of the large-capacity paper-feeding unit, and that of said large-capacity storage unit.

Abstract: An image forming system for forming an image on a sheet includes a first receiving section and a second receiving section. A first transporting section transports the sheet-to the first receiving section. A second transporting section transports the sheet to the second receiving section. A selecting section selects either the first receiving section or the second receiving section. A detector detects that the second receiving section is in an abnormal condition while the selecting section selects the second receiving section. The selection of the selecting section is changed from the second receiving section to the first receiving section corresponding to the detection of the detector. The second transporting section is driven until all the sheets in the second transporting section are transported to the second receiving section.

Abstract: A memory card includes a card body having an integrated circuit incorporated therein, and having a plurality of internal and external electric signal-connection terminals. The respective terminals of the integrated circuit are electrically connected to a plurality of electric signal-carrying members. The electric signal-carrying members have contact terminals for electrical connection to a card information-processing unit. The contact terminals are exposed on the upper surfce of the card body. The memory card has a protective cover which is slidably movable in two predetermined directions on the card surface. When the memory card is in use, the protective cover is movable in one of the two predetermined directions, whereby the respective contact terminals are exposed, and when the memory card is not being used, it is movable in the other direction, whereby it covers the respective contact terminals. The protective cover has a surface which faces the card body.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a transfer medium is set to be fed. Transfer materials are set to be selectively fed in such a manner that each transfer material has a monochromatic color agent and an identification code assigned thereto, or a plurality of color agents and identification codes assigned thereto. A first feeding means feeds the transfer medium, while a second feeding means feeds the transfer material. A transfer portion transfers a color agent of the transfer material fed by the second feeding means to a transfer medium fed by the first feeding means in accordance with printing data. A detecting means detects the identification code of the transfer material. A controlling means discriminates the type of transfer material in accordance with the identification code detected by the detecting means. The controlling means changes the printing mode in accordance with this discrimination result.

Abstract: In a method for continuous casting of steel, a slab having good quality is obtained by inspecting the profile of the unsolidified region of the slab in the transverse direction thereof during casting and controlling the cooling pattern so that the profile matches a pre-determined standard profile.

Abstract: A printing apparatus wherein a transfer printing medium brought from the feed reel by the pinched transfer printing medium-forwarding mechanism is superposed on one unimpressed sheet after another supplied from a sheet-feeding means; data is impressed on the printing plane of the sheet; the pinching of the transfer printing medium by said transfer printing medium-forwarding mechanism is effected by means of a link mechanism interlockingly with the superposition of the printing head block on the transfer printing medium, and the disengagement of the transfer printing medium from said transfer printing medium-forwarding mechanism is effected also by means of said link mechanism interlockingly with the release of the printing head block from the transfer printing medium; and the above-mentioned pinching and disengagement of the transfer printing medium are respectively carried out by a single operation, thereby simplifying the loading of said transfer printing medium on the subject printing apparatus.