Abstract: The present invention provides a heterocyclic compound having an orexin type 2 receptor agonist activity. A compound represented by the formula (I): wherein each symbol is as described in the specification, or a salt thereof has an orexin type 2 receptor agonist activity, and is useful as an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of narcolepsy.

Abstract: A toner-and-developer supply device includes a toner container to contain toner and a developer container to contain a developer. The toner container has a toner discharge port, and the toner container is rotatable about a rotational axis to transport the toner toward the toner discharge port. The developer container has a toner-and-developer discharge port. The developer container is rotatably coupled to the toner container to transport the developer toward the toner-and-developer discharge port when the toner container rotates in a given direction relative to the developer container.

Abstract: A toner-and-developer supply device includes a toner container to contain toner and a developer container to contain a developer. The toner container has a toner discharge port, and the toner container is rotatable about a rotational axis to transport the toner toward the toner discharge port. The developer container has a toner-and-developer discharge port. The developer container is rotatably coupled to the toner container to transport the developer toward the toner-and-developer discharge port when the toner container rotates in a given direction relative to the developer container.

Abstract: An imaging system comprises a stirring-conveyance member to supply developer to a developing roller. The stirring-conveyance member includes a spiral structure to convey the developer and a reverse spiral structure disposed downstream the spiral structure in a conveying direction of the developer. The reverse spiral structure has a maximum outer diameter at an upstream end in the conveying direction and a minimum outer diameter at a downstream end in the conveying direction. The minimum outer diameter is approximately ? or less, of the maximum outer diameter.

Abstract: A toner cartridge for an imaging apparatus includes a housing to accommodate toner, and an inlet port and an outlet port formed in the housing. The outlet port supplies the toner to a developing device of the imaging apparatus. The inlet port receives a residual toner removed from an image carrier of the developing device as a recycled toner.

Abstract: A toner cartridge for an imaging apparatus includes a housing to accommodate toner, and an inlet port and an outlet port formed in the housing. The outlet port supplies the toner to a developing device of the imaging apparatus. The inlet port receives a residual toner removed from an image carrier of the developing device as a recycled toner.

Abstract: An imaging system comprises a stirring-conveyance member to supply developer to a developing roller. The stirring-conveyance member includes a spiral structure to convey the developer and a reverse spiral structure disposed downstream the spiral structure in a conveying direction of the developer. The reverse spiral structure has a maximum outer diameter at an upstream end in the conveying direction and a minimum outer diameter at a downstream end in the conveying direction. The minimum outer diameter is approximately ? or less, of the maximum outer diameter.

Abstract: To provide an electromagnetic valve with less parts count of components for opening-closing operation. An electromagnetic valve 2 includes a solenoid unit 4 including a cylinder-shaped coil 10 with a flow path formed at an inner circumferential side of the coil 10, a valve body portion 20, a plate spring portion 22 urging the valve body portion 20 toward a valve seat 16 formed on an end face 14 on a downstream side in a flow direction of the flow path 12 out of end faces of the solenoid unit 4, and a casing 8 accommodating the solenoid unit 4, the valve body portion 20 and the plate spring portion 22.

Abstract: To provide an electromagnetic valve with less parts count of components for opening-closing operation. An electromagnetic valve 2 includes a solenoid unit 4 including a cylinder-shaped coil 10 with a flow path formed at an inner circumferential side of the coil 10, a valve body portion 20, a plate spring portion 22 urging the valve body portion 20 toward a valve seat 16 formed on an end face 14 on a downstream side in a flow direction of the flow path 12 out of end faces of the solenoid unit 4, and a casing 8 accommodating the solenoid unit 4, the valve body portion 20 and the plate spring portion 22.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first memory, a second memory, a processor configured to perform an initialization process including adding data that generates a first error to initialization data and storing the initialization data together with the added data in the first memory to initialize the first memory, and a controller configured to perform an exchanging process including, when a second error occurs in the second memory during reading or writing data from or to the second memory, copying the data stored in the second memory into the first memory and switching, using a selector, a memory for use in writing and reading data from the second memory to the first memory. The processor is configured to read data from the first memory and the second memory and detect a failure of the selector or a failure of the exchanging process depending on whether the first error occurs or not.

Abstract: Provided is a shutter device having a fail-safe function to prevent occurrence of overheating even when an actuator becomes inoperable. The shutter device includes a shutter valve (11) which opens and closes an air port, a lever (14a) having one end connected to a rotating shaft (16) of the shutter valve and the other end connected to an actuator (12), and biasing means which biases the shutter valve in an opening direction. Opening/closing of the shutter valve is controlled by the actuator rotating the lever when opening of the shutter valve is between the fully-open and predetermined opening, and the shutter valve is closed by wind pressure of travelling wind when the opening of the shutter valve is between the predetermined opening and the fully-closed.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first memory, a second memory, a processor configured to perform an initialization process including adding data that generates a first error to initialization data and storing the initialization data together with the added data in the first memory to initialize the first memory, and a controller configured to perform an exchanging process including, when a second error occurs in the second memory during reading or writing data from or to the second memory, copying the data stored in the second memory into the first memory and switching, using a selector, a memory for use in writing and reading data from the second memory to the first memory. The processor is configured to read data from the first memory and the second memory and detect a failure of the selector or a failure of the exchanging process depending on whether the first error occurs or not.

Abstract: A fuel injection apparatus including a plurality of throttle bodies, a fuel supply pipe to supply fuel to upstream and downstream side injectors; connecting pipes to connect the fuel supply pipe to the upstream side injectors and the downstream side injectors; upstream side branch passages to supply fuel branched from the fuel supply pipe to the respective upstream side injectors; downstream side branch passages to supply fuel branched from the fuel supply pipe to the respective downstream side injectors; a nip angle of the upstream side injectors is larger than a nip angle of the downstream side branch passages against the intake flow direction of the intake passage; and the nip angle of the downstream side branch passages is larger than a nip angle of the downstream side injectors against the intake flow direction of the intake passage.

Abstract: A diesel engine in which a lubrication oil on the wall surface of the cylinder liner is prevented from being burned and diluted, and a smoke resulting from the local lack of air in the combustion chamber is also prevented from being generated. The diesel engine comprises a group injection hole nozzle 20 and a piston 110. A step 115 having a height gradually increased toward the radial outer circumference of the piston is formed over the entire circumference of the top surface 111 of the piston. Furthermore, a tilted part 115b is formed as the step surface of the step 115.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing tank, a developing roller, a supply toner carrying path, and a supply toner diffusion screw. A partition board provided parallel to the developing roller in the developing tank has, in an axial direction of the supply toner diffusion screw, a first region and a second region lower than the first region. The first region is located so as to face a region perpendicularly below a toner supply opening, and the second region is located so as not to face the region perpendicularly below the toner supply opening.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner cartridge supporting member which is movable between an insertion position and a draw-out position. An information storage device is provided on a toner cartridge that is mounted on the toner cartridge supporting member. A connector that is configured to engage the information storage device is provided on the image forming apparatus. The connector is movable in a moving direction of the toner cartridge supporting member. When a toner cartridge on the toner cartridge supporting member moves toward the draw-out position, the connector moves with and remains engaged with the information storage device for part of the movement so that information can be read from or written to the information storage device before the toner cartridge arrives at the draw-out position.

Abstract: A toner cartridge includes: a toner holding container having an outlet formed thereon; a partition wall separating the inside of toner holding container to a toner discharging portion in which the outlet is formed and a toner stirring portion other than the toner discharging portion; a toner discharging member axially and rotatably supported in the toner discharging portion for carrying the toner contained in the toner discharging portion to the outlet; a toner stirring member axially and rotatably supported in the toner stirring portion for stirring and carrying to the toner discharging portion the toner in the toner stirring portion; and an upper lid with a recess formed to surround, like a tunnel, the toner discharging member at a portion above the outlet, together with the partition wall and the toner holding container.

Abstract: A fuel injection apparatus including a plurality of throttle bodies, a fuel supply pipe to supply fuel to upstream and downstream side injectors; connecting pipes to connect the fuel supply pipe to the upstream side injectors and the downstream side injectors; upstream side branch passages to supply fuel branched from the fuel supply pipe to the respective upstream side injectors; downstream side branch passages to supply fuel branched from the fuel supply pipe to the respective downstream side injectors; a nip angle of the upstream side injectors is larger than a nip angle of the downstream side branch passages against the intake flow direction of the intake passage; and the nip angle of the downstream side branch passages is larger than a nip angle of the downstream side injectors against the intake flow direction of the intake passage.

Abstract: A diesel engine in which a lubrication oil on the wall surface of the cylinder liner is prevented from being burned and diluted, and a smoke resulting from the local lack of air in the combustion chamber is also prevented from being generated. The diesel engine comprises a group injection hole nozzle 20 and a piston 110. A step 115 having a height gradually increased toward the radial outer circumference of the piston is formed over the entire circumference of the top surface 111 of the piston. Furthermore, a tilted part 115b is formed as the step surface of the step 115.

Abstract: The development device of the present invention has a rotating shutter supported rotatably between a supply opening formed on a toner supply device and a receiving opening formed on a developing tank. The rotating shutter has an open section extending in the axial direction of the roller-shaped main section as well as opened in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction thereof, opening and shutting the supply opening in conjunction with attachment and detachment operation of the developing tank. The rotating shutter shuts the supply opening by covering the supply opening with the outer surface of the roller-shaped main section, and opens the supply opening by communicating the supply opening and the receiving opening through the open section. Thus, it is possible to prevent the leakage of toner even after repetitively performing the attachment and detachment operation of the developing tank.