Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a cartridge including an image carrying member and a positioning portion, and an apparatus main body. The apparatus main body including an opening portion, a rotatable opening and closing member, the opening and closing member including an engaging portion and being rotatable between a first position and a second position, an engaged portion, an abutment portion that determines a position of the attached cartridge, and a pressing portion applying pressing force to the cartridge. The opening and closing member rotates from the first position to the second position against counterforce of the pressing force, and the engaging portion is provided in an area of the opening and closing member that is closer to the rotational axis than an area of the opening and closing member that receives the counterforce.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a first unit having an image bearing member, a second unit having a development member, an apparatus main body which includes an opening portion, an opening-closing member to open or close the opening portion, a first portion contacting with a part of the first unit to position the first unit to the apparatus main body, and a second portion arranged on an opposite side of the first portion with respect to the image bearing member, and a sandwiched unit movable between a first position at which the sandwiched unit is sandwiched between the first unit and the second portion and a second position at which the sandwiched unit is not sandwiched, wherein when the sandwiched unit is located at the first position, a part of the first unit is urged against the first portion by the sandwiched unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly; a cartridge including at least an image bearing member. The cartridge includes a tray drawable from the main assembly, wherein the cartridge is mountable to and dismountable from the tray in one direction and the opposite direction, respectively; and a light emission unit provided in the tray and including a plurality of light emission elements arranged in an axial direction of the image bearing member to form a latent image on the image bearing member. The cartridge is capable of being inserted into the tray by moving it in the one direction, in response to which the light emission unit is moved in a direction crossing with the one direction to an outside of a movement range of insertion of the cartridge.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, in which a light emission unit is disposed upstream from a belt in the insertion direction. In a state where the insertion of a cartridge into the apparatus main body is completed, in the normal direction to the surface of the belt, a distance from the surface of the transfer member to the rotational shaft of a photosensitive drum is longer than a distance from the surface of the belt to an image forming position where light emitted by the light emission unit forms an image on the surface of the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: A spacing mechanism includes a first member; a second member; a rotation shaft; an urged member supported by the second member; an urging member for urging the urged member against an urging force toward the first member to space the second member from the first member, a first gear and a load receiving portion rotatable integrally with the urging member; a second gear engaged with the first gear; an elastic member having one end fixed to the second member and another end contacted to the load receiving portion. When the shaft rotates from a predetermined rotational phase and the urged member is released from the urging member, the elastic member applies a load to the second member in a direction in which the second member is rotated.

Abstract: A spacing mechanism includes a first member; a second member; a rotation shaft; an urged member supported by the second member; an urging member for urging the urged member against an urging force toward the first member to space the second member from the first member, a first gear and a load receiving portion rotatable integrally with the urging member; a second gear engaged with the first gear; an elastic member having one end fixed to the second member and another end contacted to the load receiving portion. When the shaft rotates from a predetermined rotational phase and the urged member is released from the urging member, the elastic member applies a load to the second member in a direction in which the second member is rotated.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus including a fixing part that heats and fixes an unfixed toner image formed on a recording material, onto the recording material, an electric field generation member that forms an electric field in a space in which a component evaporated from a wax flows, the component being generated during the heating and fixing, and a collection member to which a voltage is applied, the collection member electrostatically collecting the component passing through the space in which the electric field has been formed. The image forming apparatus prevents conveyance failures resulting from evaporated components of a release wax adhering to parts within the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus including a fixing part that heats and fixes an unfixed toner image formed on a recording material, onto the recording material, an electric field generation member that forms an electric field in a space in which a component evaporated from a wax flows, the component being generated during the heating and fixing, and a collection member to which a voltage is applied, the collection member electrostatically collecting the component passing through the space in which the electric field has been formed. The image forming apparatus prevents conveyance failures resulting from evaporated components of a release wax adhering to parts within the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A driver assisting system calculates a risk perceived (RP) by a driver from the environment, and a potential risk. At least one actuator is coupled to a driver controlled input device (or a driver's seat) to provide a first force to the driver controlled input device to stimulate the driver with a first form of tactile stimulus thereby to forward the calculated risk perceived (RP) to the driver, and to provide a second force to the driver controlled input device to stimulate driver with a second form of tactile stimulus thereby to forward the calculated potential risk to the driver.

Abstract: A system assists a driver occupying a seat within a vehicle traveling on a road. The system includes sensing apparatus that senses a plurality of different types of conditions regarding the vehicle. Information apparatus provides information regarding the different types of conditions to the driver by respective different types of haptic inputs.

Abstract: A driving assisting system for assisting a driver in operating a vehicle. The system includes a detection assembly configured to obtain environment information related to an environment around the vehicle. A risk potential calculation device is provided to calculate risk potential associated with the vehicle based on the environment information. A controller causes a reaction force determined based on the calculated risk potential to be transmitted to the driver via an operator controlled input device in response to the calculated risk potential being a first type of risk potential, and causes a pressure force determined based on the calculated risk potential to be transmitted to the driver via equipment of the vehicle in response to the calculated risk potential being a second type of risk potential. The operator controlled input device is used by the driver to control the driving of the vehicle, and the equipment is different from the operator controlled input device.

Abstract: A system assists a driver occupying a seat within a vehicle traveling on a road. The system includes sensing apparatus that senses a plurality of different types of conditions regarding the vehicle. Information apparatus provides information regarding the different types of conditions to the driver by respective different types of haptic inputs.

Abstract: A system assists a driver occupying a seat within a vehicle traveling on a road. The system includes sensing apparatus that senses a plurality of different types of conditions regarding the vehicle. Information apparatus provides information regarding the different types of conditions to the driver by respective different types of haptic inputs.

Abstract: A driver assisting system calculates a risk perceived (RP) by a driver from the environment, and a potential risk. At least one actuator is coupled to a driver controlled input device (or a driver's seat) to provide a first force to the driver controlled input device to stimulate the driver with a first form of tactile stimulus thereby to forward the calculated risk perceived (RP) to the driver, and to provide a second force to the driver controlled input device to stimulate driver with a second form of tactile stimulus thereby to forward the calculated potential risk to the driver.

Abstract: A driving assist method and system for assisting a driver operating a vehicle. An obstacle is detected and information of a legal speed restriction on vehicle speeds for a road which the vehicle is traveling on, is obtained. A first type risk perceived by the driver from the detected obstacle is calculated, and a second type of risk is determined by comparing the detected vehicle speed and the legal speed restriction. The calculated first and second type of risk are translated into different first and second forms of tactile stimulus, respectively, and are applied to the driver via a single device to forward the calculated first and second type of risk to the driver. The single device is the driver's seat or the driver controlled device.

Abstract: A driving assisting system for conveying risk information to a driver of a vehicle. The system includes a detector configured to acquire data related to a driving condition of the vehicle and an object in the vicinity of the vehicle, and a data processor configured to calculate a collision risk potential of the vehicle to collide with the object based on the data related to the driving condition of the vehicle and the object. Information related to the collision risk potential to the driver of the vehicle via a visual signal and a haptic signal.

Abstract: A driving assist system for a vehicle comprises a traveling condition recognition device that detects a state of the vehicle and a traveling environment of the vehicle; a risk potential calculation device that calculates a risk potential present around the vehicle based upon detection results obtained by the traveling condition recognition device; a reaction force adjustment device that adjusts reaction force characteristics of a vehicle operating device based upon the risk potential calculated by the risk potential calculation device; an external influence detection device that detects an external influence which will affect an operation of the vehicle operating device by a driver; and a reaction force correction device that corrects the reaction force characteristics of the vehicle operating device adjusted by the reaction force adjustment device, based upon detection results obtained by the external influence detection device.

Abstract: A driving assistance system and method for providing driving condition information to a driver via a seat with a haptic signal. A set of state signals of the vehicle with respect to a lane on the road is generated. The set of state signals include at least a lateral position signal that indicates a lateral positional relationship of the vehicle with respect to the lane and a heading angle signal that indicates a heading angle of the vehicle with respect to the lane. A haptic signal is generated based on the set of state signals to convey information regarding the lateral positional relationship of the vehicle with respect to the lane and the heading angle of the vehicle with respect to the lane.

Abstract: An accelerator pedal device according to the present invention includes: a pedal lever that is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to a vehicle body; a pedal member that is actuated by being stepped upon by a driver; a rotation support device that rotatably supports the pedal member upon the pedal lever so that an angle subtended between the pedal lever and the pedal member is variable; and a reaction force application device that applies a reaction force to the pedal member via the pedal lever.

Abstract: In display apparatus and method for an automotive vehicle in which an image display is mounted, a road map data image is stored in a storage medium, a mark representing the present position of the vehicle is superimposed on the road map data image, the road map data image is rotated on an image screen of the image display in accordance with a traveling direction of the vehicle while displaying the road map data image on an image screen of the image display, and a display form of the displayed road map data image is varied between a region of the road map data image which is near to a displayed position at which the vehicle is present and another region thereof which is remote from the displayed position thereof while rotating the road map data image on the image screen of the image display section.