Abstract: A color image forming apparatus of the present invention is, for example, a digital color copying machine arranged to include two image processing units (first and second image processing units) each having a photosensitive body. The first image processing unit forms a monochrome image and the second image processing unit forms a particular pattern or a trace pattern. According to this arrangement, the particular pattern or trace pattern can be added to a monochrome image while maintaining a printing rate as fast as a monochrome image printing rate. Consequently, an additional information of a color other than black can be combined with a monochrome image at the same printing rate as the monochrome image printing rate, thereby making it possible to provide a compact and inexpensive apparatus.

Abstract: In an image forming system in which a main body apparatus that forms an image and a plurality of optional apparatuses that can be retrofitted to the main body apparatus are combined, so that a sheet of recording material bearing on one side an image formed in an image forming section in the main body apparatus is switched back and then transported again to the image forming section, thereby allowing images to be formed on both the main and back sides of the sheet of recording material, of the plurality of optional apparatuses to be retrofitted to the main body apparatus, a specific optional apparatus is provided with a sheet receiving section for supporting the sheet of recording material to be switched back, at a portion opposite to the main body apparatus.

Abstract: A protecting cover and a pickup device, each having a hooking portion, are rotatably provided at the flank of an image forming apparatus. The rotational centers of the protecting cover and the pickup device and the hooking portions are arranged in such geometry that the hooking portions become engaged with each other only in the range from a predetermined trace intersection to the flank of the image forming apparatus when the protecting cover is rotated from its usage position toward its retracted position at the flank of the image forming apparatus. The pickup device is stopped at the starting position of engagement where the hooking portions are positioned at the trace intersection when sheet feed is not made, and is moved to the operating position when sheet feed is to be made. The protecting cover is constructed so as to rotate in linkage with the rotation of a paper feed tray which is rotatably provided at the flank of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus of the present invention is arranged so that a first eject tray is located at a position to which sheets are ejectable in such a manner that front and back surfaces of the sheets are not reversed after the sheets are subjected to predetermined processing. Further, the sheet transport apparatus of the present invention is provided with a first eject tray operation section for aligning leading edges of the sheets ejected to the first eject tray by changing a positional relation in a vertical direction between an upstream side and a downstream side of the first eject tray in a sheet transporting direction.

Abstract: It is determined whether or not a jammed document is necessarily returned to a document tray when a jam of the document is caused within a carrier path and, then, the elevation operation of the document tray is controlled on the basis of its result of the determination. Since the jammed sheet of which reading has not been completed should be returned to the document tray, the document tray is moved down. Since the jammed sheet of which reading has been completed should not be returned to the document tray, the document tray is maintained at a position as it is. When the apparatus stops due to the carrying jam, a time required for processing the document is shortened.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a metal oxide particle comprising tin atom, zinc atom, antimony atom and oxygen atom, having a molar ratio SnO2:ZnO:Sb2O5 of 0.01-1.00:0.80-1.20:1.00 and having a primary particle diameter of 5 to 500 nm; and a process for producing the metal oxide particle comprising the steps of: mixing a tin compound, a zinc compound and an antimony compound in a molar ratio SnO2:ZnO:Sb2O5 of 0.01-1.00:0.80-1.20:1.00; and calcining the mixture at a temperature of 300 to 900° C. The metal oxide particle is used for several purposes such as antistatic agents, UV light absorbers, heat radiation absorbers or sensors for plastics or glass, etc.

Abstract: In accordance with the state of a document tray upon powering on a power source, the elevation operation of a document tray is controlled. In the case that the document tray is located not at the highest position, not at the lowest position, but at a middle position upon powering on the power source, the document tray is allowed to remain at the middle position as it is without performing the elevation of the document tray. In the case that the document tray is located at the highest position, the document tray is moved down. By reducing the wasteful operation (the initial operation) after powering on the power source, it is possible to reduce the operation time and the efficient sheet processing can be realized.

Abstract: A vehicle seat having a load sensor arranged on a seat body for generating a load signal corresponding to a load applied to the seat body, a detecting means for detecting whether a seat belt is buckled to the vehicle seat and generating a detection signal, and a determining means for comparing the load signal and a predetermined value in response to the detection signal when the seat belt is buckled and judging that an adult is not seated on the seat body when the load signal is less than the predetermined value. The seated condition of the vehicle seat is detected properly by the determination result of the determining means.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus transfers a toner image formed on a photoconductor drum onto a sheet-like recording member while the sheet-like recording member is transported and attracted to a transfer belt, and comprises a jam handling control unit for detecting a transport fault of the sheet-like recording member, and for stopping the transport operation when the transport fault is detected. When the transport fault is detected in a section other than a fixing section, the jam handling control unit first causes the transport operation of the fixing section, and thereafter causes the transfer belt and the transport operation on the upstream side thereof to stop, and any sheet-like recording member remaining on the transfer belt so that the transport mechanism on the upstream side thereof is transported and stopped at the position spanning between the area of the fixing section and the area of the transfer belt.

Abstract: An occupant judging apparatus for a vehicle seat includes a load sensor assembled to a seat body, a controller for calculating a detected load value based upon an output load value of the load sensor and for performing an occupant judgment based upon a difference between the detected load value and a predetermined judging threshold value, and human body detecting means for detecting a human body approximately in contact with the seat body. The controller controls the occupant judgment based upon the detected load value and the predetermined judging threshold value in response to the detecting status of the human body by the human body detector.

Abstract: When a document detector provided on a document tray is ON (S11: YES), a controller judges whether or not a document is of a standard size, on the basis of a document size table stored in a storing unit (S12). When the document is of a standard size (S12: YES), after a predetermined time has elapsed (S13: YES), the controller elevates/lowers the document tray on the basis of a detection output of a guide-in roller position detector and causes the document tray to wait in a state capable of supplying and conveying the topmost layer of documents immediately. An image forming apparatus thus constructed can make a judgment as to whether or not to execute supply and conveyance of documents, according to the mount state of the documents.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus transfers a toner image formed on a photoconductor drum onto a sheet-like recording member while the sheet-like recording member is transported and attracted to a transfer belt, and comprises a jam handling control unit for detecting a transport fault of the sheet-like recording member, and for stopping the transport operation when the transport fault is detected. When the transport fault is detected in a section other than a fixing section, the jam handling control unit first causes the transport operation of the fixing section, and thereafter causes the transfer belt and the transport operation on the upstream side thereof to stop, and any sheet-like recording member remaining on the transfer belt so that the transport mechanism on the upstream side thereof is transported and stopped at the position spanning between the area of the fixing section and the area of the transfer belt.

Abstract: A passenger determination device includes a load sensor attached to a seat main body, a controller for calculating a detected load value on the basis of an outputted load value of the load sensor and for determining a passenger on the basis of a large and small relationship between the detected load value and a predetermined determination threshold value, a load variations detecting device for detecting variations of the detected load value when the large and small relationship between the detected load value and a predetermined determination threshold value changes and a prohibition device for prohibiting from changing the determination of the passenger by the change of the large and small relationship between the detected load value and a predetermined determination threshold value when the detected load variations is small.

Abstract: When a transfer and conveyance belt mechanism has already started moving and a recording sheet has just passed through a cyan color photoreceptor drum, photoreceptor drums for cyan, magenta and yellow colors have not yet abutted on the transfer and conveyance belt. Then, only when the recording sheet has passed through the yellow color photoreceptor drum, the photoreceptor drums for cyan, magenta and yellow abut transfer and conveyance belt at the same time.

Abstract: An attachment structure installs a load sensor between a seating portion of a vehicle seat and a vehicle body through an attachment structure unit. The attachment structure unit includes a first attachment bracket for holding one end of the strain unit, and a second attachment bracket for holding the other end of the strain unit. At least a pair of attachment structure units are arranged at right and left portions of a front side, right and left portions of a back side, or right and left portions of the front and back sides of the seating portion relative to the vehicle seat and the first attachment brackets of the attachment structure units of the right and left are connected to each other through a connecting rod.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to allow secure identification of an image forming apparatus from an image on a recording medium on which the black image has been formed, thereby preventing leakage of secret information on the black image securely. A driving roller, a tensioning roller and a supporting member are supported to a frame so as to be movable in upward and downward directions, and a portion spacing mechanism moving an elevating rod in upward and downward directions by rotation of a motor is provided. At a time of the black-image forming process, the driving roller, the tensioning roller and the supporting member are moved downward by the portion spacing mechanism, a transfer conveying belt and transferring devices are spaced from photosensitive drums included in image forming stations for forming magenta and cyan images, and only the image forming process regarding a black image and an image of identification information obtained at image forming stations are made effective.

Abstract: When in single-sided capturing mode(s), because image(s) of both sides of first original sheet(s) is or are captured by first and second capturing components 10, 23, front side(s) of the original(s) being identified based on the image(s) of both sides of the original(s), and either first or second capturing components 10, 23 being used to capture only image(s) of front side(s) of second and any subsequent original sheet(s), front side(s) of respective original(s) may be captured regardless of whether front side(s) of respective original(s) in original tray 22 face upward or downward. Furthermore, because during capturing of second and any subsequent original sheet(s), capturing of image(s) of back side(s) of original(s) by whichever of first and second capturing components 10, 23 is or are not engaged in capturing is aborted, lamp(s) for exposure belonging to this or these capturing components being turned OFF, reduction in power consumption is permitted.

Abstract: A card slot defines a space for receiving an IC card. A contact block has a plurality of contacts on one surface for contacting a plurality of contact points, respectively which are provided on one surface side of the IC cared received inside the card slot. A supporting mechanism movably supports the contact block in the vertical direction to the one surface of the IC card received inside the card slot, swingingly around a first axis line which passes through the center of the plurality of contacts of the contact block in the inserting direction of the IC card, and swingingly around a second axis line which passes through the center of the plurality of contacts of the contact block in the inserting direction of the IC card. An elastic member abuts against the contact block at one point only and applies a force to press the plurality of contacts of the contact block against one surface side of the IC card.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus transfers a toner image formed on a photoconductor drum onto a sheet-like recording member while the sheet-like recording member is transported and attracted to a transfer belt, and comprises a jam handling control unit for detecting a transport fault of the sheet-like recording member, and for stopping the transport operation when the transport fault is detected. When the transport fault is detected in a section other than a fixing section, the jam handling control unit first causes the transport operation of the fixing section, and thereafter causes the transfer belt and the transport operation on the upstream side thereof to stop, and any sheet-like recording member remaining on the transfer belt so that the transport mechanism on the upstream side thereof is transported and stopped at the position spanning between the area of the fixing section and the area of the transfer belt.

Abstract: In an image forming system in which a main body apparatus that forms an image and a plurality of optional apparatuses that can be retrofitted to the main body apparatus are combined, so that a sheet of recording material bearing on one side an image formed in an image forming section in the main body apparatus is switched back and then transported again to the image forming section, thereby allowing images to be formed on both the main and back sides of the sheet of recording material, of the plurality of optional apparatuses to be retrofitted to the main body apparatus, a specific optional apparatus is provided with a sheet receiving section for supporting the sheet of recording material to be switched back, at a portion opposite to the main body apparatus.