Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a control method for an exposure shutter of an image forming apparatus includes, opening the shutter only to a slit glass for monochrome when monochrome printing is performed, and opening the shutter to slit glasses for monochrome and color when color printing is performed.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a control method for an exposure shutter of an image forming apparatus includes, opening the shutter only to a slit glass for monochrome when monochrome printing is performed, and opening the shutter to slit glasses for monochrome and color when color printing is performed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a laser unit using a seal member whose central and peripheral portions will not affect each other to produce strain during mounting and which can be handled as a single component. In the laser unit 100 according to the present invention, a central portion 41 and a peripheral portion 42 of a seal member 40 used are separated from each other by slits 43. Therefore, when the seal member 40 is mounted, the central and peripheral portions will not affect each other to increase strain. In addition, because the central and peripheral portions are connected to each other at several points by bridging portions 44, the seal member 40 can be handled as a single component, which is very convenient.

Abstract: The present invention provides a laser unit using a seal member whose central and peripheral portions will not affect each other to produce strain during mounting and which can be handled as a single component. In the laser unit 100 according to the present invention, a central portion 41 and a peripheral portion 42 of a seal member 40 used are separated from each other by slits 43. Therefore, when the seal member 40 is mounted, the central and peripheral portions will not affect each other to increase strain. In addition, because the central and peripheral portions are connected to each other at several points by bridging portions 44, the seal member 40 can be handled as a single component, which is very convenient.

Abstract: The present invention provides a laser unit using a seal member whose central and peripheral portions will not affect each other to produce strain during mounting and which can be handled as a single component.

Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a detection unit 1 having capacities C1 and C2 varied by a predetermined external action, a reference detection 2 unvaried by the predetermined external action, a first oscillator 31 and 32 for generating a detection frequency signal according to the capacities C1 and C2 of the detection unit 1, a second oscillator 33 for producing a reference frequency signal according to the capacity of the reference unit 2, and measuring circuits 34, 35, 36 and 37 for measuring the number of the periods of the detection frequency signal within a predetermined period of the reference frequency signal to produce a measured signal. The sensor can minimize a detection error, and directly convert the change of capacity into a pulse signal (digital signal) without convertion into an analog, so that the circuit construction be simplified and realized at a reduced cost.

Abstract: An inference device for discriminating an earthquake includes an ON/OFF signal generating means for generating an ON/OFF signal corresponding to an oscillatory wave, a characteristic parameter extracting means for extracting at least one of three characteristic parameters consisting of an ON period, an ON time sum total and a maximum ON time value based on the generated ON/OFF signal, and an inference means for inferring for each ON period based on the extracted characteristic parameter whether or not an earthquake happens.