Abstract: An image forming unit forms test images of a color of the same type as a first color using toner of a second color and toner of a third color, transfers first and second test images, fixes the test images on a sheet, controls a sensor to read the test images, determines sampling timings for the test images based on an output signal related to the first test image outputted from the sensor using a color filter of a fourth color, acquires a result of reading the test images based on a reading result of the test images on the sheet by the color sensor using a color filter of the first color and the sampling timing, and determines a transfer voltage based on the result of reading the test images.

Abstract: There is provided a reading apparatus that includes a conveyance roller, a light source, a light transmission member, a line sensor having a plurality of pixels and configured to receive reflected light from a sheet via the light transmission member while the sheet is conveyed by the conveyance roller, and a controller. The controller is configured to perform acquiring an output value of a first pixel, an output value of a second pixel, and an output value of a third pixel, determine a first value based on the output value of the second pixel and a first coefficient, determine a second value based on the output value of the third pixel and a second coefficient, and determine read data based on the output value of the first pixel, the first value, and the second value. The first coefficient is larger than the second coefficient.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet; a line sensor configured to read a sheet having test images formed thereon while the sheet having the test images formed thereon is conveyed; and a controller configured to: control the image forming unit to form the test images on the sheet; control the line sensor to read the sheet having the test images formed thereon; obtain read data related to the test images, the read data being output by the line sensor; and control, based on the read data, a geometric characteristic of an image to be formed on a sheet by the image forming unit, wherein the controller is configured to determine, in a reading area of the line sensor, whether dust is detected in a first area.

Abstract: An image forming unit forms test images of a color of the same type as a first color using toner of a second color and toner of a third color, transfers a first and second test images, fixes the test images on a sheet, controls a sensor to read test images, determines sampling timings for the test images based on an output signal related to the first test image outputted from the sensor using a color filter of a fourth color, acquires a result of reading the test images based on a reading result of the test images on the sheet by the color sensor using a color filter of the first color, and the sampling timing, and determines a transfer voltage based on the result of reading the test images.

Abstract: There is provided a reading apparatus that includes a conveyance roller, a light source, a light transmission member, a line sensor having a plurality of pixels and configured to receive reflected light from a sheet via the light transmission member while the sheet is conveyed by the conveyance roller, and a controller. The controller is configured to perform acquiring an output value of a first pixel, an output value of a second pixel, and an output value of a third pixel, determine a first value based on the output value of the second pixel and a first coefficient, determine a second value based on the output value of the third pixel and a second coefficient, and determine read data based on the output value of the first pixel, the first value, and the second value. The first coefficient is larger than the second coefficient.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet; a line sensor configured to read a sheet having test images formed thereon while the sheet having the test images formed thereon is conveyed; and a controller configured to: control the image forming unit to form the test images on the sheet; control the line sensor to read the sheet having the test images formed thereon; obtain read data related to the test images, the read data being output by the line sensor; and control, based on the read data, a geometric characteristic of an image to be formed on a sheet by the image forming unit, wherein the controller is configured to determine, in a reading area of the line sensor, whether dust is detected in a first area.

Abstract: A smelting reduction method comprising (a) charging a carbonaceous material and an ore into a reacting furnace to directly contact the carbonaceous material and the ore; (b) reducing the ore until at least a part of the ore is metallized, the resultant reduced ore containing at least a part of metallized metal being produced; (c) charging the carbonaceous material and the ore containing at least a part of the metallized metal from step (b) into a smelting furnace having a metal bath; and (d) blowing a gas containing 20% or more of oxygen into the metal bath in the smelting furnace to produce molten iron.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for manufacturing molten metal at low cost and high productivity by melt-reducing a metal oxide and/or a metal hydroxide such as iron ore. To do this, at least the metal oxide and/or the metal hydroxide such as iron ore is preliminarily mixed, preliminarily mixed and granulated, or preliminarily mixed and molded with a carbonaceous material to prepare a mixture of raw materials. The mixture of raw materials is preliminarily reduced in a prereduction furnace of rotary hearth type, rotary kiln type, or the like to average metallization degree of the metal oxide and/or the metal hydroxide from 5 to 55%, which is then charged to a melting furnace for metal smelting, where the mixture of the raw materials is melted and finally reduced using the carbonaceous material as the reducing agent and using the combustion heat of the carbonaceous material and of carbon monoxide generated in the furnace as the major heat source.

Abstract: In a gas flow-using powdery and granular material fluidization transporting method and apparatus using airflow, an apparatus is provided to feed out powdery and granular material into a transporting tube provided for pneumatically transporting the powdery and granular material. The feeding out apparatus includes intracontainer-pressure means (23a, 23b) for detecting the pressure in a storage container, intra-transporting tube-pressure detecting means (25a, 25b), and pressurized-gas regulating means (17a). In addition, a plurality of discharging ports is provided, and transporting tubes are individually connected with the discharging ports. The discharging ports and transporting tubes are selectively used to pneumatically transfer the powdery and granular material. Moreover, steps of detecting a clogging and taking countermeasures against it are provided. In a blowing method, a high-temperature gas is used, and the amount of a carrier gas is regulated.

Abstract: The refining method of low carbon molten iron comprises the steps of supplying the de-sulfurizing agent into the molten iron and agitating it so as to carry out the de-sulfurization, heating or carburizing the molten iron before or after the de-sulfurizing step, and de-carburizing the de-sulfurized metal in the decarburization treating furnace. The molten iron is produced by charging ores reduced until being metallized in the smelting reduction furnace. As the carbonaceous materials, powder coke, oil coke or waste plastic are used. As the iron source, the sintered ores of small grain size are used.

Abstract: A method for recovering zinc oxide comprises the steps of: agglomerating a dust; charging the agglomerate to a molten iron in a melting furnace; collecting a dust generated from the melting furnace; recycling a part of the collected dust and recovering another part of the collected dust. An apparatus for recovering zinc oxide comprises: an agglomeration unit for agglomerating a dust containing iron oxide and zinc oxide; a melting furnace for accepting the agglomerate and for holding the molten iron for reducing the dust; and at least two units of dust collector for collecting the dust containing zinc oxide generated from the melting furnace.

Abstract: A method for recovering zinc oxide comprises the steps of: agglomerating a dust; charging the agglomerate to a molten iron in a melting furnace; collecting a dust generated from the melting furnace; recycling a part of the collected dust and recovering another part of the collected dust. An apparatus for recovering zinc oxide comprises: an agglomeration unit for agglomerating a dust containing iron oxide and zinc oxide; a melting furnace for accepting the agglomerate and for holding the molten iron for reducing the dust; and at least two units of dust collector for collecting the dust containing zinc oxide generated from the melting furnace.

Abstract: A method for controlling a flow rate of gas for prereducing ore comprises the steps of prereducing ore in a prereduction furnace having a fluidized bed with a gas generated in a smelting reduction furnace and controlling a pressure of gas generated in the smelting reduction furnace and introduced into the prereduction furnace, thereby controlling the actual flow rate of gas introduced into the prereduction furnace. An apparatus for controlling a flow rate of gas for prereducing ore comprises a flow passage for introducing gas generated in a smelting reduction furnace into a prereduction furnace and a gas pressure control valve positioned in the flow passage.

Abstract: A prereduction furnace of a smelting reduction facility of iron ore includes of a fluidizing prereduction chamber at an upper part of the prereduction furnace wherein iron ores are fed and prereduced, a gas blowing chamber at a lower part of the prereduction furnace wherein a reducing gas is fed, a ceramic main body of a distributor mounted between the fluidizing prereduction chamber and the gas blowing chamber, a metal box attached to the bottom side of the ceramic main body, which prevent adhesion of dust in the reducing gas, nozzles passing through the ceramic main body and through the metal box for injecting the reducing gas in the blowing chamber, into the prereduction chamber and a discharge pipe for discharging prereduced iron ores mounted at a bottom center portion of the prereduction chamber and extending through the ceramic main body, through the metal box, and through a bottom of the gas blowing chamber.

Abstract: A prereduction furnace of a smelting reduction facility comprises a fluidizing prereduction chamber in the upper part of the prereduction furnace wherein iron ores are fed and prereduced, a gas blowing chamber installed in the lower part of the prereduction furnace wherein a reducing gas is fed, a distributor for separating the fluidizing prereduction chamber from the gas blowing chamber, and a discharge pipe for discharging the prereduced ore from the fluidizing prereduction chamber. The distributor includes a body of refractory material, a metal plate installed on the bottom of the body, nozzles passing through the body and the metal plate, metallic pipes inserted in the nozzles, and cooling pipes connected to the metal plate. A metallic box may be installed below the metal plate for providing passages for gas flow. A bottom plate may be installed spacedly below the metal plate, with nozzles passing therethrough. The distributor may comprise a rigid thick plate and a refractory layer thereon.