Abstract: A sheet information output apparatus comprising an application member for applying external force to a sheet, a receiving member in opposition to the application member for receiving the external force, and an output unit for outputting a signal corresponding to the application of the external force. The receiving member has a depressed portion having a support portion for aerially supporting the sheet, a slope face provided inside the support portion and a bottom face. The smallest length of the supported sheet W, a depth from the support portion to the bottom face d, and a length of the application member in a direction of the smallest length at height d when the application member is brought into contact with the bottom face s satisfy [(W?s)/2>5d].

Abstract: To provide new image forming apparatus and a printing method that can obtain information on image forming by using terahertz waves. An image forming apparatus includes a stock unit for stocking a media stack made of a plurality of media with images formed on; an electromagnetic wave generation unit for generating a terahertz wave to radiate on the media stack; an electromagnetic wave detection unit for detecting the terahertz wave propagated in a laminating direction of the media stack; a memory unit for storing reference data; a processing unit for generating data related to an image forming state from the detection signal from the electromagnetic wave detection unit, information on the number of sheets of the medium, and information on the image formed on the medium; and a comparative unit for comparing the data generated by the processing unit and the reference data stored in the memory unit.

Abstract: Upon fixing fine particulate active element members AE1 to AE3, which are carbon nanotube, rod-shaped semiconductor crystal, or the like, in an electronic device at predetermined positions thereof respectively, a method for producing an electronic device includes: dispersing the fine particulate active element members in a dielectric liquid 12 and filling the liquid in a space between a process-objective substrate 20 and a mask 1 which is placed opposite to the substrate and which has predetermined pattern electrodes P1C, P1L, P1R formed therein; and applying a predetermined voltage to the predetermined electrodes to concentrate the fine particulate active element members at positions which correspond to positions of the pattern electrodes, respectively. In this state, a light is irradiated to the substrate and the fine particulate active element members in the liquid so as to fix the fine particulate active element members to the substrate by a photochemical reaction.

Abstract: A motor rotates a cam, thereby pulling up an external force application member while compressing an application spring. After that, the motor releases the external force application member to impact a sheet material. An impact force caused at a time when an external force receiving member receives an external force application member through the sheet material is detected by a piezoelectric element. When an electric power supply to the motor is stopped, a retraction spring allows the motor to idle through a wheel and rotates the cam to allow the external force application member to retract to a highest position.

Abstract: An external force application unit is allowed to impact on a sheet material, and an external force detection unit detects an impact force through the sheet material. Further, there is provided a push-in sensing unit for detecting abnormality of the sheet material entering a space between the external force application unit and the external force detection unit. When the push-in sensing unit detects the abnormality, a control circuit operates a motor to rotate a cam, thereby moving the external force application unit to be retracted in a direction in which the external force application unit is moved away from an entering position of the sheet material.

Abstract: Information (particularly, water content) of a sheet material which changes during progression of processing is estimated with higher accuracy and information output or (image formation) processing is performed. The water content estimation method of the present invention includes: detecting a first information regarding moisture contained in a sheet material; detecting a second information regarding a factor affecting information regarding the moisture contained in the sheet material; predicatively computing an estimation of a water content of the sheet material based on the first information and the second information; and adjusting processing conditions for image formation based on the estimation of the water content which is computed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an information detecting device capable of reducing fluctuation in detection accuracy. A recording sheet P transported through a transport path comes into contact with a displacing member, and, in this state, a motor is driven to rotate a cam, and the resilient force of a coil spring causes a pressurizing member to collide with the recording sheet P. The impact force at that time is detected by a detection sensor, and transmitted to a sheet material information obtaining means. Then, on the basis of the detection result, it is possible to detect the type, density, thickness, surface irregularities, etc. of the recording sheet P. At this time, the recording sheet P is in contact with the displacing member, whereby it is possible to reduce fluctuation in detection accuracy due to positional deviation of the recording sheet P.

Abstract: A detecting apparatus for detecting information of at least a portion of a stack of sheet media includes an illuminating unit and a detecting unit. The illuminating unit illuminates a side of the stack of sheet media, or a portion thereof with electromagnetic waves. The detecting unit detects electromagnetic waves transmitted through or reflected by the stack of sheet media, or a portion thereof. The detecting apparatus is adapted to compare information of the electromagnetic waves detected by the detecting unit with information about attenuation of electromagnetic waves due to moisture contained in the sheet medium, and detect information of the moisture content of at least a portion of the stack of sheet media.

Abstract: A device for identifying types of sheet materials has a detecting unit for detecting information regarding moisture of a sheet material; external force applicator for applying an external force to the sheet material; information obtaining unit for obtaining information according to a force that is attenuated by the presence of the sheet material when the external force is applied to the sheet material by the external force applicator; and a judging unit for identifying the type of the sheet material based on the information obtained from the detecting unit and the information obtained from the information obtaining unit.

Abstract: A moisture data-acquiring device has a force-applying unit for applying an external force to a sheet, a force-receiving unit for receiving the external force through the sheet, a signal outputting unit for outputting a signal reflecting a mechanical property of the sheet which unit is placed on at least one of the force-applying unit and the force-receiving unit, and a moisture data-acquiring unit for acquiring data on moisture of the sheet based on the signal from the signal outputting unit.

Abstract: A sheet information output apparatus comprising an application member for applying external force to a sheet, a receiving member in opposition to the application member for receiving the external force, and an output unit for outputting a signal corresponding to the application of the external force. The receiving member has a depressed portion having a support portion for aerially supporting the sheet, a slope face provided inside the support portion and a bottom face. The smallest length of the supported sheet W, a depth from the support portion to the bottom face d, and a length of the application member in a direction of the smallest length at height d when the application member is brought into contact with the bottom face s satisfy [(W?s)/2>5d].

Abstract: Provided is a sheet material discrimination apparatus including: an impact force applying member for colliding with the surface of a sheet material, an impact force receiving member for receiving the impact force applying member through the sheet material, a detecting unit for outputting an electric signal corresponding to an impact force received by the impact force receiving member, and a cushioning material for absorbing the impact force transmitted to the detecting unit, wherein a support member having a bending rigidity higher than the bending rigidity of the detecting unit with respect to the impact force is arranged between the detecting unit and the cushioning material.

Abstract: Provided is a discrimination apparatus including: an impact application unit for applying an impact to an object to be discriminated; a signal output unit for outputting a signal corresponding to an impact applied by the impact application unit; a discrimination unit for discriminating the object to be discriminated on basis of the signal from the signal output unit; and a pressure-receiving position correction member having a pressure-receiving part for receiving an impact force applied by the impact application unit, and an action part for acting the impact force received at the pressure-receiving part on a predetermined site of the signal output unit.

Abstract: An environment sensor (11) for measuring the temperature and humidity can be miniaturized and can respond at high speed. The environment sensor (11) includes a temperature sensing portion (111) having a temperature-sensitive material (1) made of a metal oxide, and a humidity-sensing portion (112) which is formed on the same substrate as the temperature sensing portion (111) and measures the ambient humidity by using a change in electrical characteristics. At least one of a pair of electrodes (2, 3) of the temperature sensor (111) is integrated with an electrode of the humidity-sensing portion (112).

Abstract: A sheet material identifying device for identifying the kind of sheet material by applying vibration on the sheet material. The identifying device has a vibrator for applying vibration on the sheet material, a vibration sensor for detecting, via the sheet material, vibration applied by the vibrator, a device for changing a vibrating state between the vibrator and the vibration sensor, and an identifying section for identifying the kind of sheet material based on a detection result of the vibration sensor. Also, an image forming apparatus making use of the sheet material identifying device and a method of identifying the kind of sheet material are provided.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a signal output apparatus including an impact application unit configured to generate and apply an impact to a sheet material, an impact reception unit configured to receive the applied impact, a signal output unit configured to output a signal in response to the impact received by the impact reception unit from the impact application unit and a calibration unit configured to calibrate at least one of the impact applied by the impact application unit and the signal output from the signal output unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is an information detecting device capable of reducing fluctuation in detection accuracy. A recording sheet P transported through a transport path comes into contact with a displacing member, and, in this state, a motor is driven to rotate a cam, and the resilient force of a coil spring causes a pressurizing member to collide with the recording sheet P. The impact force at that time is detected by a detection sensor, and transmitted to a sheet material information obtaining means. Then, on the basis of the detection result, it is possible to detect the type, density, thickness, surface irregularities, etc. of the recording sheet P. At this time, the recording sheet P is in contact with the displacing member, whereby it is possible to reduce fluctuation in detection accuracy due to positional deviation of the recording sheet P.

Abstract: This invention serves to solve the problem of the large irradiation angle upon an observation target of an inclined illuminator type medical binocular microscope, and the problem of structural complexity and light attenuation of a coaxial illuminator type microscope. The microscope A includes the illumination system 2 comprised of the illumination unit 6 with the condensing lens 6d attached at a front tip of the illumination unit, disposes the illumination system retaining member 7 in close proximity to the two observation optical systems structured at the body tube 3, defines the plane 8 including the prescribed lenses of the objective lenses of the left and right observation optical systems 1 (secondary objective lens 1b) arranged closest to the observation target, and arranges the optical axis 2a of the illumination system 2 inside the circle 9 having a diameter connecting the optical axis 1a of the two observation optical systems with respect to the plane 8.

Abstract: A sheet material information-detecting apparatus is provided which is capable of detecting the type of a sheet material even if the sheet material is anisotropic. When recording paper sheet P is fed, feed rollers 1a and 1b are moved to narrow the nip of the rollers and front edge of recording paper sheet is pushed thereto to correct the oblique feed. Thereafter, external force is applied to recording paper sheet P by external force applying member 2. A signal based on the external force is detected by signal detecting means 3, and sheet material information-acquiring means 5 identify the type of the recording paper sheet. Owing to the oblique feed correction, the type of the sheet material can be identified precisely even if the sheet material is anisotropic.

Abstract: A device for identifying types of sheet materials comprises: a detecting unit for detecting information regarding moisture of a sheet material; external force applying means for applying an external force to the sheet material; information obtaining means for obtaining information according to a force that is attenuated by the presence of the sheet material when the external force is applied to the sheet material by the external force applying means; and a judging unit for identifying the type of the sheet material based on the information obtained from the detecting unit and the information obtained from the information obtaining means. According to the device, the type of a sheet material can be detected even when the sheet material is not marked in advance with number code or other information, and the water content of the sheet material can be detected as well.