Abstract: A welding apparatus provided with a base frame having a power source portion, an electrode die portion having a lower base portion and an upper base portion at least one of which is driven to ascend and descend to close to and part from each other, plural lower electrode portions attached to the lower base portion, and plural upper electrode portions attached to the upper base portion. Further, a lower contact conductor which electrically connects the lower electrode portions to the power source portion intermittently, and an upper contact conductor which electrically connects the upper electrode portions to the power source portion intermittently, are provided to the base frame side.

Abstract: A gazing point illuminating device is provided with: a light source; a direction changing mechanism for changing the lighting direction of the light source; a gazing direction detector for detecting the direction of the user's gazing line; and a controller for changing the lighting direction corresponding to the detected gazing direction. When, LEDs are used as the light source, and the light source is attached to the goggles worn by a user, the goggles can be useful gazing point illuminating device by themselves even if they do not include gazing point or direction detectors, because a person normally look straight ahead except for unusual occasions where he/she purposefully avert his/her gaze. Thus, an illuminating device fixed to a person's head for lighting forward is a gazing point illuminating device. It is preferred to provide an LED panel at the left and right ends of goggles.

Abstract: The invention provides near infrared absorbers showing high light-to-heat conversion efficiency and high sensitivity to laser beams whose emission region is within the range of 750 nm to 900 nm, plates for direct printing plate making, and novel compounds which can be used in such absorbers or plates. The compounds are polymethine compounds of the general formula (I) shown below and the near infrared absorbers comprise the polymethine compounds.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel phthalocyanine compounds, their intermediates and a process for their preparation. The inventive phthalocyanine compound absorbs in the near infrared region of the spectrum with a high absorption coefficient which features high solubility in solvents, good compatibility with resins and high aging resistance, thus finding application as a near infrared ray absorbing material or a light-heat conversion material with great advantage and to a process for producing the phthalocyanine compound. The novel phthalocyanine compound has the following general formula: ##STR1## wherein R represents alkyl or alkoxyalkyl; X represents halogen, alkylthio, phenylthio which may be substituted, or naphthylthio which may be substituted; M represents a couple of hydrogen atoms, a divalent metal, or a trivalent or tetravalent metal derivative. The near infrared ray absorbing and light-heat conversion materials containing the above phthalocyanine compound are also described.

Abstract: A device for cleaning a transfer belt of an image-forming machine in which the transfer belt is wound around a drive roller and a driven roller that are disposed at a predetermined distance, in parallel with each other and is positioned opposite a photosensitive material drum in a transfer zone. A fur brush which has an electrically conducting property is rotated in contact with the surface of the transfer belt. A bias voltage is applied to the fur brush, the bias voltage having a polarity the same as the polarity for electrically charging the toner of a toner image formed on the photosensitive material drum. An opposed electrode is disposed opposite the fur brush and in contact with the back surface of the transfer belt.

Abstract: A photothermal conversion material showing high sensitivity to the light of a semiconductor laser having an emission frequency band of 750 nm.about.900 nm with a high photothermal conversion efficiency and a planographic original plate fabricated by using the transducer are provided. This photothermal conversion material comprises a phthalocyanine compound of the following general formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 .about.R.sub.8 each represents alkyl or alkoxyalkyl; X.sub.1 .about.X.sub.8 each represents sulfur or NR.sub.9, where R.sub.9 is hydrogen or alkyl.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel phthalocyanine compound absorbing in the near infrared region of the spectrum with a high absorption coefficient which features high solubility in solvents, good compatibility with resins and high aging resistance, thus finding application as a near infrared ray absorbing material or a light-heat conversion material with great advantage and to a process for producing the phthalocyanine compound. The novel phthalocyanine compound has the following general formula: ##STR1## wherein R represents alkyl or alkoxyalkyl; X represents halogen, alkylthio, phenylthio which may be substituted, or naphthylthio which may be substituted; M represents a couple of hydrogen atoms, a divalent metal, or a trivalent or tetravalent metal derivative. The near infrared ray absorbing and light-heat conversion materials containing the above phthalocyanine compound are also described.

Abstract: This invention relates to an image forming apparatus with a transfer unit for transferring toner electrically to an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoreceptor onto a copy sheet. The image forming apparatus has a transfer electrode charge supply means for supplying electric charges to a transfer electrode provided in the transfer unit to electrically attract the toner onto the copy sheet and control means for controlling the quantity of electric charges to be supplied to the photoreceptor via the transfer electrode from the transfer electrode charge supply means based on a photoreceptor inflow current flowing to the photoreceptor through the charge send/receive means and on a photoreceptor outflow current flowing out from the photoreceptor through a ground wire connecting the photoreceptor and the ground. The charge send/receive means, other than the transfer unit, sends and receives electric charges to and from the photoreceptor.

Abstract: An image-transfer and sheet-separating apparatus transfers an image toner-developed from a positive latent image and retained on a photoconductor drum onto a copy sheet, and subsequently separates the sheet from the photoconductor drum. A bias voltage including a sheet peel-separating AC voltage superimposed on an image-transferring DC bias voltage is applied to a transfer roller which presses on the photoconductor drum. A post image-transfer charge-stripping element removes charge from the copy sheet and is disposed in a portion of the sheet-transport stream forward of a nipping position at which the transfer roller presses against the photoconductor drum. Thus, charge remaining on the copy sheet is discharged, ensuring high efficiency in image transfer and accordingly reducing the incidence of failure in the separation of the copy sheet from the photoconductor drum. The bias voltage is within the range of 500 V and 2000 V and specifically, the AC and DC biases are within the range of 1000 V and 1500 V.

Abstract: A multi-directional driving mechanism includes a moving plate supported rotatably on a supporting shaft and having an input portion and a plurality of output portions, a solenoid coupled to the input portion of the moving plate for causing the moving plate to pivot through a predetermined angle, and a plurality of coupling members each having one end coupled to the plurality of output portions provided on the moving plate. A transfer device for an image forming machine has contacting/separating mechanisms for moving a transfer belt unit, a moving mechanism for moving a cleaning blade, and the multi-directional driving mechanism, the other end each of the plurality of coupling members of the multi-directional driving mechanism being coupled to the contacting/separating mechanisms or the moving mechanism.

Abstract: A transfer device for an image forming machine has a belt unit including a driving roller, a driven roller disposed at a distance from the driving roller, a transfer belt looped between the driving roller and the driven roller, and a transfer roller disposed opposite an image bearing member with the transfer belt interposed therebetween; a contacting/separating device for moving the belt unit between a transfer position and a non-transfer position; and a voltage source for applying a predetermined voltage onto the transfer roller. The transfer roller is disposed apart from the transfer belt, and when the belt unit is brought to the transfer position by the contacting/separating device, the transfer roller presses the transfer belt against the image bearing member. Another embodiment includes a cleaning blade disposed apart from the transfer belt, and which in the transfer position contacts the transfer belt.

Abstract: An image forming machine equipped with a transfer belt unit includes a safety detecting means for detecting the completion of setting of an opening/closing member constituting the image forming machine, and a controlling means for controlling the operation of a driving means for a driving roller on the basis of a signal from the safety detecting means. When the safety detecting means signals the completion of the setting after signaling the incompletion of the setting, the controlling means controls the driving means so as to perform a reverse driving, thereby driving the driving roller reversely by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A joint structure includes an extrudate member and an elongated mating member, in which the extrudate member has a closed sectional structure portion and has its one end joined to the elongated mating member such that the longitudinal axis of the extrudate member intersects the longitudinal axis of the elongated mating member. The one end of the extrudate member includes an integral joint portion of a shape matched to the shape of an outer surface of the mating elongated member so as to encircle at least a portion of the elongated mating member. The joint portion is bonded to the outer surface of the mating member at its longitudinally intermediate portion by brazing, spot-welding or the like.

Abstract: A transfer device of an image forming machine has a belt unit comprising a pair of supporting plates disposed with a predetermined spacing, a driving roller journaled rotatably at one end portion of the pair of supporting plates, a driven roller journaled rotatably at the other end portion of the pair of supporting plates with a predetermined spacing from the driving roller, a transfer roller disposed between the driving roller and the driven roller, journaled rotatably on the pair of supporting plates, and given a predetermined voltage, and a transfer belt looped among the driving roller, the driven roller and the transfer roller, and disposed opposite an image bearing member. The transfer belt of the belt unit is formed so as to have a width larger than the spacing between the pair of supporting plates, and is disposed such that its side end portions surround at least part of the pair of supporting plates.

Abstract: A transfer device for an image forming machine has a driving roller, a driven roller disposed at a distance from the driving roller, a transfer belt extending between the driving roller and the driven roller, a transfer roller disposed opposite an image bearing member, with the transfer belt interposed therebetween and pressing the transfer belt against the image bearing member, and a voltage source for applying a predetermined voltage onto the transfer roller. The transfer roller consists of a rotating shaft and a roller portion mounted on the rotating shaft, and the hardness of the roller portion is set to result in a compression of 0.45 to 2.00 mm at a linear pressure of 3 g/cm. The volume resistivity of the roller portion of the transfer roller is set at 10.sup.2 to 10.sup.9 ohm-centimeters.

Abstract: The improved two types of crystal modification of 2-m-toluidino-3-methyl-6-di-n-butylaminofluoran, as well as the crystalline toluene adduct thereof have high solubility in inner-phase solvent(s). Recording materials that use those compounds as electron donating color formers exhibit particularly good performance in various characteristics such as whiteness of the background, its storage stability, color rendition, sensitivity for color formation and image storage stability.

Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning an endless transfer belt which is made of elastic material and stretched between a first roller and a second roller, one of the two rollers being adapted for driving the belt, the transfer belt being able to come into contact with a copy sheet on one stretch side of the transfer belt to convey the copy sheet in a direction from the first roller to the second roller. The cleaning device is provided with a cleaning blade member for removing toner from the belt. The cleaning blade member is disposed on the other stretch side of the transfer belt and near the second roller, being pressed perpendicularly against an outside surface of the belt, and having a leading end portion which is flexed and capable of coming into a line contact with the belt over an entire width of the belt when the belt is driven. The amount of pressing force of the blade against the belt will be adjusted depending on the sensed temperature of the belt.

Abstract: An image-transfer and sheet-separating apparatus transfers an image toner-developed from a positive latent image and retained on a photoconductor drum onto a copy sheet, and subsequently separates the sheet from the photoconductor drum. A sheet peel-separating AC voltage and an image-transferring DC bias voltage is applied to a transfer roller which presses on the photoconductor drum. The AC voltage is applied to the transfer roller when a transport-forward end of the sheet is located between the transfer roller and the photoconductor drum, and subsequently the DC voltage is applied to the transfer roller. A post image-transfer charge-stripping element removes charge from the copy sheet and is disposed in a portion of the sheet-transport stream forward of a nipping position at which the transfer roller presses against the photoconductor drum.

Abstract: The improved .beta.-type crystal modification of 2-(3-methylanilino)-3-methyl-6-diethylaminofluoran has high solubility in inner-phase solvents. The compound is very useful as a color former for pressure-sensitive recording materials and thermal recording materials. Recording materials that use this compound as color former exhibit good performance in various characteristics such as whiteness of the background, its storage stability, color rendition, sensitivity for color formation and color fastness of image.

Abstract: This invention relates to a cyanine compound represented by the formula (1) ##STR1## wherein X is a lower alkoxy, Y is a lower alkyl or a lower alkoxy, R.sub.1 is a lower alkyl, or a lower alkyl substituted with at least one of C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, hydroxy, sulfo, carboxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl amino, acetoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy carbonyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 sodium sulfonate, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 sodium carboxylate, alkyl amino methyl, acetoxy methyl, and methoxyl carbonyl methyl, and Z.sup.