Abstract: The porous sound-absorbing material manufactured is light and has excellent heat resistance to be applicable to the exhaust nozzle etc. of a jet engine, can effectively absorb noise as that from a jet engine, over a wide range of frequencies, is free from variations in porosity, and provides stable performance characteristics. An essential feature thereof is the formation of a skeleton of the material, with aggregates containing voids. Thus, a porous sound-absorbing material having a skeleton of aggregates with first voids is described, wherein diameters of first voids of the aggregates are 50 ?m to 100 ?m, approximately, and diameters of second voids between the aggregates are 100 ?m to 600 ?m.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus of the type that a toner image, which is transferred onto an intermediate transfer member, onto a sheet material, is transferred onto a sheet material, which is capable of reducing the possibility of leading end misalignment even if there is a delay in conveyance of the sheet material. An image forming device forms an image on a photosensitive member. An image carrier carries an image. A first transfer device transfers the image carried by the image carrier onto a sheet. A second transfer device transfers the image transferred onto the image carrier onto a sheet. A feeding device feeds the sheet. A conveying device conveys the sheet fed by the feeding device to the second transfer device. A controller controls the conveying device to cause the sheet to be temporarily stopped at a first location and a second location between the feeding device and the second transfer device.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus which is capable of reducing a period of time required for obtaining an image output, in the case of changing the image forming operation from a monochromatic image formation to a color image formation during execution of the image forming operation. A plurality of image forming units form images and overlap images the formed images onto a transfer material. A preparation for image formation is started in a first mode in which image formation is carried out by the plurality of image forming units while image formation is being carried out in a second mode in which image formation is carried out by at least one of the image forming units. The image formation is carried out in the first mode after the image formation in the second mode is completed.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus capable of setting up a tab sheet mode-operating and configuring environment in which an effective tab sheet mode output can be obtained by simple selecting and designating operations, A designating device designates a type of sequence of tabs of each of tab sheet bundles set in the sheet feed devices such as cassettes 21a-21d and multi manual feed tray 27 etc. A determining device is responsive to a user's instruction for feeding tab sheets and selection of a combination of one of the sheet feed devices and one of the sheet discharge devices such as face-up discharge tray 2 and face-down discharge tray 3, for determining whether a combination of the selected sheet feed device, the selected sheet discharge device, and the type of sequence of tabs of the tab sheet bundle set in the selected sheet feed device is valid or not.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus which, when switching operation from color image forming operation to monochromatic image forming operation, forms a monochromatic image on each of a prescribed number of sheets by stopping a part of the functions of yellow, magenta and cyan image forming sections of the color image forming operation, and thereafter, forms a monochromatic image only with a black-only image forming section, thereby permitting extension of service life of the image forming sections, while improving the productivity.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus which is capable of securing a time period for measuring the base reflected light quantity required for the base correction, and at the same time, reducing a time period required for the entire image density control. An image forming unit includes an image carrier disposed to be exposed to light to have a latent image formed thereon, an electrostatic charger that charges the image carrier to a predetermined polarity, a developing device that visualizes the latent image formed on the image carrier to form a visible image, and an endless belt onto which the visible image is transferred. A CPU controls the image forming unit to form predetermined detection patterns on the endless belt. The detection patterns and the quantity of reflection light from the endless belt are detected. The CPU corrects the detected detection patterns based on the detected quantity of reflection light.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus which is capable of quickly performing measurements required for obtaining a proper image density. The image forming apparatus having a plurality of image forming apparatuses performs an image density adjustment control process by carrying out a maximum density control process at a reference image forming speed, and carrying out a density gradation control process at each of the plurality of image forming speeds. Image forming conditions for carrying out the density gradation control process at speeds other than the reference image forming speed are determined by performing operation on image forming conditions determined by the maximum density control process carried out at the reference image forming speed.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus capable of setting up a tab sheet mode-operating and configuring environment in which an effective tab sheet mode output can be obtained by a simple operation of selecting feeding of tab sheets and a destination of discharge of the tab sheets. A controller is responsive to instruction of feeding of the tab sheets, for providing control to automatically select the cassettes 21a-21d or the multi manual feed tray 27 or the deck 28 that can feed tab sheets that enable a valid image transfer result to be obtained, according to a sheet discharge destination selected by a user for the face-up discharge tray 2 or the face-down discharge tray 3 and a page order designated for the cassettes 21a-21d or the multi manual feed tray 27 or the deck 28, which is indicated by sheet management information.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus of the type that a toner image, which is transferred onto an intermediate transfer member, onto a sheet material, is transferred onto a sheet material, which is capable of reducing the possibility of leading end misalignment even if there is a delay in conveyance of the sheet material. An image forming device forms an image on a photosensitive member. An image carrier carries an image. A first transfer device transfers the image carried by the image carrier onto a sheet. A second transfer device transfers the image transferred onto the image carrier onto a sheet. A feeding device feeds the sheet. A conveying device conveys the sheet fed by the feeding device to the second transfer device. A controller controls the conveying device to cause the sheet to be temporarily stopped at a first location and a second location between the feeding device and the second transfer device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit that performs thermal fixation for a sheet on which a developer has been transferred, and a controller that sets a temperature of the fixing unit at one of a first temperature for fixing a developer expressing a monochrome image on a sheet and a second temperature for fixing developers expressing a color image on a sheet, wherein if a color page is contained in an image forming job, the controller sets the temperature of the fixing unit at the second temperature and starts the image forming job.

Abstract: Production processes of an inorganic fiber-bonded ceramic component comprising inorganic fibers mainly comprising Si, M, C and O, an inorganic substance mainly comprising Si and O and boundary layers comprising carbon as a main component; and an inorganic fiber-bonded ceramic component comprising inorganic fibers which are composed mainly of a sintered structure of SiC and contain specific metal atoms and boundary layers composed mainly of carbon, wherein a preliminary shaped material is set in a carbon die, covered with a carbon powder and then hot-pressed to load a pseudo-isotropic pressure on the preliminary shaped material; and a highly heat-resistant inorganic fiber-bonded ceramic component almost free from the occurrence of peelings of surface fibers or delamination, wherein fibers are aligned in a surface shape.

Abstract: The porous sound-absorbing material manufactured is light and has excellent heat resistance to be applicable to the exhaust nozzle etc. of a jet engine, can effectively absorb noise as that from a jet engine, over a wide range of frequencies, is free from variations in porosity, and provides stable performance characteristics. An essential feature thereof is the formation of a skeleton of the material, with aggregates 5 containing voids 6.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording sheet including a special sheet, and a controller for allowing the image forming unit to carry out an image forming sequence which forms an image on the recording sheet, wherein the controller allows the image forming unit to control a cleaning operation of the image forming unit in response to image formation on the special sheet by the image forming unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit that performs thermal fixation for a sheet on which a developer has been transferred, and a controller that sets a temperature of the fixing unit at one of a first temperature for fixing a developer expressing a monochrome image on a sheet and a second temperature for fixing developers expressing a color image on a sheet, wherein if a color page is contained in an image forming job, the controller sets the temperature of the fixing unit at the second temperature and starts the image forming job.

Abstract: A spread spectrum communication apparatus for communicating through a plurality of communication channels corresponding to a plurality of diffusion codes comprises a selector to select the number of communication channels which are used in accordance with a communication partner, and a communication unit to communicate with the communication partner through the communication channels of the number selected by the selector. The communication unit has a division unit to divide transmission data in accordance with the number of communication channels selected. The selector selects the number of communication channels in accordance with whether the communication partner is a color terminal or a black and white terminal, or in accordance with a processing speed of the communication partner, or in accordance with whether the communication partner processes binary image data or processes multivalue image data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising an image forming device for forming an image on a sheet, plural discharged sheet stacking device for stacking the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming device, and a control device for selecting the discharged sheet stacking device according to the image forming job of the image forming device and for selecting the discharged sheet stacking device based on the material information of the sheet, wherein the control device selects the discharged sheet stacking device based on the material of the sheet in preference to the image forming job. The image forming job is a stapling job, a sorting job or a non-stapling and non-sorting job. There is also provided an informing device for informing a fact that the discharged sheet stacking device is selected based on the material of the sheet in preference to the image forming job.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a developer replenishing mechanism in which a developer replenishing apparatus is provided with a storing container containing a developer therein and capable of discharging the developer therefrom, and detachably attachable to a main body of the developer replenishing apparatus, and a carrying member provided in the storing container for carrying the developer. A control device interrupts the discharging operation of the storing container, and thereafter resumes the discharging operation of the storing container after the storing container is detached with respect to the main body of the developer replenishing apparatus and is again attached thereto, and thereafter inhibits the developing operation of the developing apparatus and interrupts the discharging operation of the storing container when it is detected at the second time by the detecting means that the driving load is not less than the predetermined value.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus with capabilities for determining the direction of image on an original document when said document is read by a reader. The direction of the image is automatically determined by performing character recognition of the characters associated with the image and thereby determining the direction of the characters. The image is then assumed to have the same direction as the characters, thus it is possible to read images of different directions and assembly them in a single direction for subsequent processing. The process can be adaptable to provide either processing speed or high productivity.

Abstract: A screen printing apparatus 199, 169 has a roll paper vibrating device which vibrates roll paper in contact with the lower surface of a screen mask in a direction perpendicular to a moving direction of the roll paper while the roll paper is being moved in contact with the lower surface of the screen mask. Thereby, the roll paper in contact with the lower surface of the screen mask is moved in a waveform-shape pattern. Therefore, the cumulative contact area of the roll paper on the lower surface of the mask is increased, and it is possible to efficiently remove residue, such as paste attached onto the lower surface of the screen mask of the printing apparatus and paste attached inside pattern openings of the screen mask, to maintain a good printing performance.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus for reversing/discharging sheets on which images are formed, control is performed to form mirror images on sheets and discharge the sheets, on which the mirror images are formed, without reversing them in accordance with the type of sheet on which images are to be formed, thereby adjusting the output order of the sheets without increasing the sheet output time and causing any damage on the sheet.