Abstract: A partitioning member for dividing a connecting pipe into at least two exhaust passageways is provided in the connecting pipe, which is attached to an exhaust side of a silencer. A valve mechanism is operable to vary the passageway area of one of the exhaust passageways. With this structure, for example, when an engine is rotating at low revs, exhaust gas is discharged from the exhaust passageway without the valve mechanism, while when the engine is rotating at high revs exhaust gas is simultaneously discharged from the exhaust passageway having no valve mechanism and a passageway provided with the valve mechanism. Therefore, it is possible to reduce exhaust noise when the engine is rotating at low revs.

Abstract: A partitioning member for dividing a connecting pipe into at least two exhaust passageways is provided in the connecting pipe, which is attached to an exhaust side of a silencer. A valve mechanism is operable to vary the passageway area of one of the exhaust passageways. With this structure, for example, when an engine is rotating at low revs, exhaust gas is discharged from the exhaust passageway without the valve mechanism, while when the engine is rotating at high revs exhaust gas is simultaneously discharged from the exhaust passageway having no valve mechanism and a passageway provided with the valve mechanism. Therefore, it is possible to reduce exhaust noise when the engine is rotating at low revs.

Abstract: A control device for an antilock braking system is disclosed. When a target angle of a crankshaft provided to a servomotor of an ABS that is closer to a turning limit than to a predetermined updating stop angle, the target angle is set at the updating stop angle or the vicinity thereof. An expander piston is displaced to an open end side corresponding to the turning limit of the crankshaft by an elastic force of a return spring after being displaced to a position corresponding to an updating stop angle for the crankshaft or the vicinity thereof. This arrangement permits reliable, accurate displacement of the expander piston to a predetermined position corresponding to a turning limit of the crankshaft without causing the servomotor to consume needless electric current.

Abstract: An ABS return control device for retracting an expander piston to an ABS non-operation position by turning a crank mechanism by a servomotor includes a first procedure of driving the servomotor with a position precedent to a turning limit. At the turning limit, the movement of the crank mechanism is limited by a stopper member. A target angle and a second procedure of driving the servomotor by updating the target angle with the turning limit is further disclosed. The ABS return control device permits reduction of a conventional actuator in size and weight by controlling the kinetic energy of a positioning member of the crank mechanism turned by a servomotor at the time of collision against the stopper member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus usable with a process cartridge comprising an image bearing member and a process device actable on the image bearing member includes guide device, contactable with the process cartridge, for guiding in the loading direction the process cartridge to be loaded into a main assembly of the apparatus; a positioning device for positioning the process cartridge, which is in the disengaged state from the guide device, into the loading location; and a pressing device for pressing the process device onto the positioning device.

Abstract: A keyhole-shutter structure includes a cylindrical protector block. An upper portion of the protector block includes an approximately square housing portion. A shutter plate is fitted in the housing portion. A cap is placed on the protector block. The bottom of the housing portion has right and left receiving planes for receiving the shutter plate, and a recess formed between the right and left receiving planes in such a manner as to be curved downwardly. Since a recess is provided between right and left receiving planes for receiving a shutter plate, even if the shutter plate is somewhat deformed, the deformed portion interferes to a lesser extent with the recess. Accordingly, a key can be easily inserted into a keyhole even if the shutter plate is somewhat deformed.

Abstract: A module connecting mechanism of an electrophotographic apparatus includes an engine module having an electrophotographic process section, a supplying module for supplying a transfer sheet to the electrophotographic process section, and a conductive module connecting mechanism for connecting an installation section of the supplying module with an installation section of the engine module electrically. A common plane extending substantially in parallel with the direction of connecting the supplying module with the engine module is formed over the supplying module and the engine module in order to connect the supplying module and the engine module at the installation portions electrically, wherein the engine module is superposed on the supplying module.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, for forming an image on a recording material. The image forming apparatus includes a first guiding device for guiding the process cartridge toward a predetermined mounting position when the process cartridge is mounted to the image forming apparatus. The first guiding device is disposed upstream of the predetermined mounting position with respect to a mounting movement direction of the process cartridge. A second guiding device is provided for guiding the process cartridge toward the predetermined mounting position when the process cartridge is mounted to the image forming apparatus The second guiding device is disposed (i) closer to the predetermined position than the first guiding device, and (ii) downstream of the first guiding device with respect to the mounting movement direction. Also provided is a feeding device for feeding the recording material.

Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material. The process cartridge includes an image bearing member, a process device for acting on the image bearing member, which includes a developing device for developing an image on the image bearing member, a frame, and a projection disposed on the upper surface of the frame and extending toward the developing device, the projection having (i) an upward inclined surface, (ii) a flat surface continuing from the upper inclined surface, and (iii) a downward inclined surface that is inclined toward the developing device.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a sheet material accommodating device for accommodating sheet materials, a sheet material feeding device for feeding the sheet materials from the sheet material accommodating device, an image recording device for recording images on the sheet materials fed by the feeding device, sheet material refeeding device for refeeding to the image recording device through a refeeding passage the sheet material on which an image has been formed by the image recording device, a sheet material reversing device for reversing the sheet material and conveying it to the image recording device, the sheet material reversing device being disposed downstream of the refeeding passage with respect to a movement direction of the sheet material substantially within a projection area of the sheet material accommodating device.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus having a sheet re-supplying path. The re-supplying path for supplying a sheet on which the image has been formed by the image forming apparatus back to the image forming apparatus. A rotatable feeding member is disposed in the sheet re-supplying path for pinching and feeding a leading end portion of a previous sheet, a second rotatable feeding member is disposed at an upstream side of the rotatable feeding member and is in the sheet re-supplying path for permitting the entrance of a next sheet in a condition that a trailing portion of the previous sheet is situated in the second rotatable feeding member, and a controller for permitting the second rotatable feeding member to feed the next sheet after the trailing end of the previous sheet fed by the rotatable feeding member has passed through the second rotatable feeding member.

Abstract: A sheet obliquely conveying apparatus is provided with a pair of sheet conveying rollers including a forwardly and reversely rotatable drive roller and a follower roller rotatable in contact with the drive roller, and bearing structure for rotatably supporting the shaft of the follower roller. The dimension of the bearing portion of the bearing structure which supports one end of the shaft of the follower roller is greater generally along the direction of conveyance of a sheet material than the dimension of the bearing portion of the bearing structure which supports the other end of the shaft of the follower roller. The apparatus is further provided with a resilient device generally parallel to the direction of conveyance of the sheet material for pressing the shaft of the follower roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus usable with a process cartridge having an improved positioning mechanism between the process cartridge and an optical system of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus. The process cartridge and the optical system are freely movable supported in the main assembly, and positioning portions of the process cartridge and the optical system are abutted to a positioning member fixed to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A dynamic pressure fluid bearing, and particularly a dynamic pressure fluid bearing for effectively ensuring a minute gap between the shaft of the dynamic pressure fluid bearing and a bearing. More particularly, fluid intervenes between the shaft and the bearing and these two rotate relative to each other in a non-contact state, and a part or the whole of the bearing is formed of resin and the resin is endowed with electrical conductivity.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for rotationally driving a member to be rotated about a rotating shaft, said apparatus including a central fixed shaft, a hollow shaft rotatably mounted on the central shaft through bearings, a member adapted to be rotated with the hollow shaft, a rotor held by the hollow shaft, and a stator fixedly supported opposed to the rotor.

Abstract: A fuel filler system for an automotive vehicle includes a safety flange shielding the filler tube cap from the edges of the body panel opening through which the fuel filler tube passes. The flange may be threaded so as to be easily attached to or removed from the filler tube. Alternatively, an elastic seal may be installed to ensure a fluid-tight seal between the filler tube and the body panel. In addition, a second fluid-tight seal may be provided by a sealing member forming part of a bracket fixing the filler tube to the outside of the opening in the body panel.