Abstract: To provide an optical connector promoting reliability by reducing insertion loss of an optical fiber and downsized, there is provided an optical connector plug having a ferrule including a cylindrical member for the ferrule for holding an optical fiber and a flange member provided at a rear end portion of the cylindrical member for the ferrule, an urge spring provided on a side of a rear end portion of the flange member of the ferrule, and a plug housing for holding the ferrule and the urge spring directly at inside thereof and directly engaged with an optical connector adapter inserted with a front end portion of the ferrule to carry out optical connection, in which the plug housing is formed with a slit capable of inserting the optical fiber in a radius direction thereof at a portion of an outer periphery thereof over an axial direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polystyrene sulfonate-containing gel preparation for therapy of hyperpotassemia, wherein the particle size of polystyrene sulfonate is controlled within the range of at least 5-100 &mgr;m, the viscosity of its solution before gelation is adjusted depending on the particle size by adding a thickening agent, and the polystyrene sulfonate particles after gelation is uniformly dispersed therein. More preferably, a water-displacing agent is contained, whereby the amount of water in the preparation is reduced. This gel preparation does not cause a sense of foreign matter or a sense of roughness in the oral cavity upon ingestion and intake, thus making it unnecessary to drink water for ingestion, and further its water content is low, so that control of water intake is made easy, even in the case of a patient with renal insufficiency who is subjecting to restriction in intake of water to significant improve the quality of life of the patient.

Abstract: An optical functioning component in which strength is maintained while miniaturization is achieved and a number of parts can be decreased to reduce a cost is provided. In an optical functioning component including an attenuation ferrule provided on its front end side and having an attenuation mechanism, an optical connection sleeve for holding a rear end of the ferrule, a frame for holding the ferrule and the optical connection sleeve and a housing for holding the frame so that the frame can move axially and freely by a predetermined amount, a front end side of the housing has a roughly equal shape to a front end of a plug housing of an optical connector-plug connectable to an optical connector-adaptor engaged with the former front end side, and a rear end of the housing has a shape that the optical connector-plug with the plug housing removed can engage.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector has a stop ring having an end portion having an outer periphery and an optical fiber cable having a strength member extending from an end thereof. An adhesive material is disposed over the end portions of the stop ring and the optical fiber cable so that at least a portion of the strength member of the optical fiber cable is embedded in the adhesive material. A heat-shrinkable tube has an inner surface and is disposed on the adhesive material so that the portion of the strength member is disposed between the inner surface of the heat-shrinkable tube and the outer periphery of the stop ring.

Abstract: A cleaning sheet for a fuser member, comprising an ultrafine fibers-containing portion including (a) first ultrafine fibers formed from a resin having a softening point of higher than 230° C., having a non-circular cross-sectional shape, and having a fiber diameter of not more than 10 &mgr;m, and (b) second ultrafine fibers formed from a resin having a softening point of 150 to 230° C., and having a fiber diameter of not more than 10 &mgr;m, wherein at least one surface of the cleaning sheet is contained in the ultrafine fibers-containing portion, and the second ultrafine fibers in a surface portion containing the surface are deformed by press-attaching is disclosed.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector assembly has a holding member and a housing having a cavity for receiving the holding member. The holding member has a first surface, a second surface, grooves formed in the first surface for holding respective ferrules each supporting an optical fiber element, and through-holes for respectively receiving therethrough the optical fiber elements and for communicating the grooves with the second surface. The housing has a base surface, through-holes extending through the base surface, and side surfaces defining with the base surface a cavity for receiving the holding member so that the through-holes of the holding member are communicated with the through-holes of the housing for receiving therethrough the optical fiber elements.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having at least two of a plurality of functions including copying, facsimile and printer functions includes a main power switch that is provided on an outer surface of the apparatus and a cover to cover the main power switch. The cover is capable of opening and closing. Because the main power switch cannot be operated unless the cover is opened, when a user inadvertently tries to turn off the main power switch, for example, at the end of a day, the user must first touch the cover and is thereby reminded that the switch which the user is trying to turn off, is actually the main power switch for the apparatus. Thus, the main power switch is prevented from being inadvertently or unconsciously turned off.

Abstract: A universal optical connector adapter that can be used to connect optical connector plugs of the same or different types having ferrules fixed at ends of optical fibers. The universal adapter has first and second housings each having at one end a coupling portion for detachably coupling with an optical connector plug of a given type and on an opposite end a base plate having a reference plane. A cylindrical coupling member is rotatably held inward of the coupling portion of the first housing and incorporates a sleeve for fitting ferrules into opposite sides thereof. A male thread is provided on an outer periphery of the coupling cylindrical member and a female thread is provided in the coupling portion of the second housing on a side opposite to that in which an optical connector plug is coupled. The female thread is removably couplable with the male thread.

Abstract: An endless track includes an iron link belt, a continuous pad, and a connecting device. The iron link belt includes a link unit assembly constructed of a plurality of link units connected to each other. Each link unit includes a pair of links. The iron link belt may include a plate welded to the pair of links and extending perpendicularly to a direction in which the link unit assembly extends. The continuous pad includes the same number of core metal plates as that of the link units, and a single rubber belt covering and being vulcanization-adhered to a ground opposing surface of each of the core metal plates. The rubber belt extends continuously over all of the core metal plates. The rubber belt may include a small thickness portion positioned between two adjacent core metal plates. The connecting device connects the iron link belt and the continuous pad.

Abstract: An optical connector adapter has an optical connection sleeve having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion. A sleeve holder has a first cylindrical member having a first through-hole receiving the first end portion of the optical connection sleeve. The sleeve holder is disposed in a tubular housing which has a second cylindrical member having a second through-hole receiving the second end portion of the optical connection sleeve. Engagement members engage the sleeve holder and the housing together in a state that a first end of the first cylindrical member and a first end of the second cylindrical member are abutted against each other. Engagement convex portions project radially inward at respective second ends of the first cylindrical member and the second cylindrical member for regulating movement of the optical connection sleeve in an axial direction.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector for connecting an optical fiber cable to a ferrule comprises a tubular body having a first end portion for connection to a peripheral surface of a ferrule, a second end portion for connection to a peripheral surface of an optical fiber cable, a step portion interconnecting the first end portion to the second end portion, and a clamping portion for clamping the optical fiber cable to the ferrule. The clamping portion extends inwardly from a terminal end of the second end portion towards the central axis of the tubular body but does not project lengthwise from the terminal end of the second end portion in the direction of the central axis. The first end portion, the second end portion, the step portion and the clamping portion of the tubular body have approximately the same wall thickness.

Abstract: A ferrule for use in an optical connector enabling effective suppression of the increase in the insertion loss resulting from repeated attachments/detachments of the optical connector. In the ferrule for use in the optical connector, a plurality of grooves 17 are formed in a fitting surface 16A of a ferrule main body 11 located between the ferrule main body 11 and a connection sleeve SL. And, a ferrule 2 for use in an optical connector, a plurality of concentric annular grooves 27 are formed in a connection end surface 24 of the ferrule main body 21 having a connection end 22A of the optical fiber 22 exposed thereon.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having at least two of a plurality of functions including copying, facsimile and printer functions includes a main power switch that is provided on an outer surface of the apparatus and a cover to cover the main power switch. The cover is capable of opening and closing. Because the main power switch cannot be operated unless the cover is opened, when a user inadvertently tries to turn off the main power switch, for example, at the end of a day, the user must first touch the cover and is thereby reminded that the switch which the user is trying to turn off, is actually the main power switch for the apparatus. Thus, the main power switch is prevented from being inadvertently or unconsciously turned off.

Abstract: Variable optical attenuator and system are offered that permit fine adjustment of the amount of shielding, eliminate variations in the amount of shielding, and facilitate positioning. The variable optical attenuator is mounted in a region of a collimated beam formed between a pair of opposite optical systems. The attenuator continuously attenuates the collimated beam. The attenuator comprises a shielding plate and a pushing means for pushing against one face of the shielding plate, placing it in position, and producing flexural deformation. The shielding plate has a fixed base-end portion and a front-end portion that is so held as to be a free end. At least the base-end portion consists of a leaf spring. The amount by which the collimated beam is shielded by the front end is varied according to the amount of flexural deformation of the shielding plate.

Abstract: A finisher for an image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a path for conveying a stapled paper stack and located at a high level so as to reduce the length of a path preceding the above path. This reduces the possibility of a paper jam in the finisher and operation time. A tray included in the finisher is located at a high level in accordance with the height of the path assigned to a stabled paper stack. The tray can therefore be located at a position allowing the operator to pick up papers in a natural position. A guide guides the staple cassette into and out of the stapler body alone. Such a simple configuration insures the accurate insertion and removal of the staple cassette.

Abstract: A picture signal processing method is provided for processing a picture signal containing information including main picture portion and non-picture portions. This method comprises: detecting boundary portions existing between the main picture portion and the non-picture portions of the picture signal; performing inter-field interpolation treatment to produce an interpolation scanning signal; and using the interpolation scanning signal to perform inter-field interpolation treatment on boundary portions between the main picture portion and the non-picture portions of the picture signal, so as to ensure a clearly visible display of the boundary portions.

Abstract: A cleaning sheet for a fuser member, comprising an ultrafine fibers-containing portion including (a) first ultrafine fibers formed from a resin having a softening point of higher than 230° C., having a non-circular cross-sectional shape, and having a fiber diameter of not more than 10 &mgr;m, and (b) second ultrafine fibers formed from a resin having a softening point of 150 to 230° C., and having a fiber diameter of not more than 10 &mgr;m, wherein at least one surface of the cleaning sheet is contained in the ultrafine fibers-containing portion, and the second ultrafine fibers in a surface portion containing the surface are deformed by press-attaching is disclosed.

Abstract: A clamp ring for connecting a tensile strength member to the periphery of a rear end portion of a ferrule retaining part for holding a ferrule, in which an optical fiber of an optical fiber cable incorporating a coated optical fiber and the tensile strength member surrounding the coated optical fiber is inserted and fixed with an outer covering of the optical fiber cable stripped off from its terminal portion, the clamp ring comprising a first annular portion which fits on the periphery of the rear end portion of the ferrule retaining part, a second annular portion located in the back of the first annular portion, the second annular portion having a smaller diameter than the first annular portion, a step portion interconnecting the second annular portion and the first annular portion, and a clamping portion extending inward from the rear end of the second annular portion in such a way that the extreme end of the clamping portion secures the periphery of the optical fiber cable, in which the first annular port

Abstract: An endless track includes an iron link belt, a continuous pad, and a connecting device. The iron link belt includes a link unit assembly constructed of a plurality of link units connected to each other. Each link unit includes a pair of links. The iron link belt may include a plate welded to the pair of links and extending perpendicularly to a direction in which the link unit assembly extends. The continuous pad includes the same number of core metal plates as that of the link units, and a single rubber belt covering and being vulcanization-adhered to a ground opposing surface of each of the core metal plates. The rubber belt extends continuously over all of the core metal plates. The rubber belt may include a small thickness portion positioned between two adjacent core metal plates. The connecting device connects the iron link belt and the continuous pad.

Abstract: A production method of a heat-treated steel member includes the steps of: shaping a steel material of low-carbon boron steel containing about 0.05-0.30% carbon by weight into a predetermined configuration to bc a shaped material; and heat-treating the shaped material, said heat-treating, includes quench-hardening only.