Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus according to an aspect of the invention includes conveying suction belts which have a function of rotating an adsorbed sheet and a function of conveying the sheet; a suction fan 112 which adsorbs the sheet to the belts; CCDs which detect a position and an skew in a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction while the sheet is adsorbed to the belts; and a control device for driving the belts to rotate the sheet according to signals of CCDs in order to correct an attitude of the sheet adsorbed to the belts.

Abstract: When printing image data obtained by an input device, the present invention is intended to effectively utilize the color reproduction area of the printer. An image data processing method of the present invention comprises the steps of scale-down shifting a first color space point outside a maximum color reproduction area of an output unit to a second color space point within the maximum color reproduction area of the output unit; computing an amount of shift by which the first color space point is shifted to the second color space point; converting the second color space point to a third color space point within a color reproduction area smaller than the maximum color reproduction area of the output unit; and outputting an image to the output unit using image data obtained by scale-up shifting the third color space point to a fourth color space point within the maximum color reproduction area of the output unit based on the computed shift amount.

Abstract: An electronic keyboard instrument in which the efficiency of sound emission is enhanced by preventing a soundboard portion having a large vibration amplitude from being hidden by a musical score plate to make sound emission of the soundboard to be hardly hindered by the musical score plate. A musical stand device is disposed rearward of a key-depression part of a keyboard and right above the soundboard, and has a musical score plate disposed close to and parallel to an upper surface of the soundboard when the musical score plate is in a fallen state. The soundboard is excited for sound production by transducers disposed on a lower surface of the soundboard. The transducers are disposed at positions where the transducers do not overlap, as viewed in plan, the musical score plate which is in the fallen state.

Abstract: The fixing unit satisfies following three conditions. That is, (1) 2.4×103×d/(TC×t)<T0, where d is a thickness of the unfixed toner layer in meters, TC is a thermal conductivity of toner in W/mK, and t is the fixing time in seconds; (2) a temperature Ttop of a topmost layer of the toner layer is not greater than the minimum temperature TOFF at which the hot offset of the surface of the first fixing member occurs when the fixing time is set to 1 seconds; and (3) a temperature Tbot of a bottommost layer of the toner layer that is in contact with the recording medium is not less than the lower limit temperature TMIN for fixing of the surface of the first fixing member when the fixing time is set to 1 second.

Abstract: An image processing method of performing various image correction processes to a photographed image and printing the photographed image comprises the steps of: inputting image information to which photographing condition information is added; analyzing the characteristic of the input image information; performing an imago correction process of improving image quality to the photographed image on the basis of the characteristic of the analyzed image information; discriminating the photographing condition information added to the photographed image; and determining an image correction process to be performed in a step of performing the image correction process on the basis of the photographing condition information discriminated in the discriminating step, whereby it becomes possible to provide a high quality print-output result of reflecting the intention of a user at a time of photographing.

Abstract: A pad conditioning apparatus and method for conditioning a surface of a polishing pad which is used in a polishing apparatus for polishing works, having a bending or deflecting or elastic member and a supporting section to support a base end of the bending or deflecting or elastic member, wherein the bending or deflecting or elastic member elastically deforms upon contact of a vicinity of a tip end of the bending or deflecting or elastic member with the polishing pad, so that a pressure necessary to condition the pad is generated. A pad preparation apparatus using the pad conditioner; and a pad preparation method using the same, enable even conditioning of a polishing pad of an elastic body by following a surface of the polishing pad.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a polishing method and a polishing apparatus that can secure an even polished shape and can remove slurry that has contributed to polishing and contains polishing by-product to the outside of a pad efficiently to reduce scratches due to the polishing by-product, and can suppress consumption of slurry to the minimum to realize cost reduction during running for mass production.

Abstract: An image transfer device provided in an image forming apparatus in which, employing an endless belt as an intermediate transfer member, image transfer is performed at nip positions of a primary transfer portion and secondary transfer portion. Generation of warp in the transferred image resulting from transmission of fluctuations in load and torque of the endless belt generated at the nip position of one transfer portion nip to the nip position of the other transfer portion is prevented. The endless belt is turned between rollers and the endless belt is individually driven at the primary transfer portion and secondary transfer portion by drive sources to generate deflection between the primary transfer portion and the secondary transfer portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier for bearing a visible image thereon, an endless transfer-fixing belt stretchedly disposed between a plurality of spanning members, a pressure member for pressing the transfer-fixing belt to the image carrier while contacting a backside of the transfer-fixing belt at the transfer nip, and a heater for heating the visible image. The visible image on the image carrier is transferred onto the front surface of the transfer-fixing belt at the transfer nip and is transported to the transfer-fixing nip while heated by the heater, where the visible image is transferred and fixed on a recording member. The transfer-fixing belt is stretchedly arranged such that the transfer-fixing belt travels in a direction substantially perpendicular to a pressure direction of the pressure member in the proximity of the transfer nip.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a fixing member to be heated and a pressure-contacting member for pressure contacting the fixing member. The fixing apparatus directs and conveys a recording member through a nip formed between the fixing member and pressure applying member in such a manner that a toner image carried on a recording member contacts the fixing member in order to be fixed thereto with heat and pressure. The fixing apparatus is configured to direct a tip margin of the recording member toward the pressure applying member across a virtual linear extension line drawn from a downstream end to upstream end of the nip when only the tip margin exits from the nip. A fixing member side separation device may be separately provided from the surface of the fixing apparatus so as to separate the recording member exiting from the nip. A gap formed between the downstream end of the nip and the tip of the fixing member side separation device is set smaller than the width of the tip margin.

Abstract: Main actual color is reproduced unsatisfactory in some cases according to prior art. An image processing method is provided in which the component values of hue, saturation and lightness of an image represented by image data are independently changed. The hue change amount is made different at each hue angle, the saturation change amount is made different for each hue angle and each saturation value, and the lightness change amount is made different at each hue angle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pad conditioner for dressing a surface of a polishing pad which is used in a polishing apparatus for polishing works, comprising: a substrate disposed opposite to the polishing pad; a plurality of pellets removably attached to the substrate; and a plurality of linear elastic members which have tip ends and are implanted into the pellets, wherein upon contact of the tip ends of the linear elastic members with the polishing pad, the linear elastic members elastically deform, so that a pressure necessary for conditioning the pad is generated in order to maintain a change in conditioning capability within a predetermined range and have a wide margin for adjusting a height of the conditioner.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a fixing member to be heated and a pressure-contacting member for pressure contacting the fixing member. The fixing apparatus directs and conveys a recording member through a nip formed between the fixing member and pressure applying member in such a manner that a toner image carried on a recording member contacts the fixing member in order to be fixed thereto with heat and pressure. The fixing apparatus is configured to direct a tip margin of the recording member toward the pressure applying member across a virtual linear extension line drawn from a downstream end to upstream end of the nip when only the tip margin exits from the nip. A fixing member side separation device may be separately provided from the surface of the fixing apparatus so as to separate the recording member exiting from the nip. A gap formed between the downstream end of the nip and the tip of the fixing member side separation device is set smaller than the width of the tip margin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high strength heat treated steel wire for spring having a tensile strength of 2000 MPa or more which is coiled in the cold state and can achieve both sufficient atmospheric strength and coilability and spring steel used for that steel wire, that is, a high strength heat treated steel wire for a spring characterized by comprising, by mass %, C: 0.5 to 0.9%, Si: 1.0 to 3.0%, Mn: 0.1 to 1.5%, Cr: 1.0 to 2.5%, V: over 0.15 to 1.0%, and Al: 0.005% or less, controlling N to 0.007% or less, further containing one or two of Nb: 0.001 to less than 0.01% and Ti: 0.001 to less 0.005%, and having a tensile strength of 2000 MPa or more, having cementite-based spheroidal carbides and alloy-based spheroidal carbides in a microscopic visual field satisfying an area percentage of carbides with a circle equivalent diameter of 0.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member to bear an electrostatic latent image on the surface thereof, a transfer-fixing member disposed adjacent to the image baring member, including a transfer surface onto which the toner image is transferred from the image bearing member, a first pressure member to meet and press against the transfer-fixing member to form a nip therebetween, a heating member to heat a recording medium, provided upstream of the nip in a direction of transport of the recording medium, and a transport guide member to change a contact area of the recording medium and the heating member in accordance with a thickness or a resilience of the recording medium. When the recording medium passes the nip, the toner image is pressed and fixed on the recording medium.

Abstract: A transfer and fixing device as means for heating a recording medium prior to transfer and fixing, without risk of fire, superior in energy efficiency, and able to stably heat irrespective of the thickness of the recording medium; and an imaging forming apparatus comprising such a transfer and fixing device comprising: a transfer and fixing member by which an image is transferred; a pressurizing member that forms a nip by pressure contact with the transfer and fixing member and pressurizes and fixes the image on the recording medium that passes through the aforementioned nip; a radiant heat source that is arranged on the upstream side of the nip in the direction of transport of the recording medium; and a thermoconductive member that is heated by the radiant heat source and heats the recording medium when in contact, wherein a radiant heat region is provided, between the nip and the thermoconductive member, where the recording medium is heated by radiant heat from the radiant heat source.

Abstract: Provided are a heat-pump cooler (A) having a first circulation channel (1) and a heater circulator (B) having a second circulation channel (8). A water-cooling condenser (3) in the first circulation channel (1) is placed in the second circulation channel (8), and causes the first coolant to release its heat to the second coolant. The second circulation channel (8) includes a passage switching valve (14) for switching the passage between a passage passing a radiator (10) and a radiator bypass passage (13). During a heating operation, the passage switching valve (14) causes the second coolant to flow into the radiator bypass passage (13), and the air heated by a heater core (12) is introduced as air-conditioned air into the vehicle cabin. During a cooling operation, the passage switching valve (14) causes the second coolant to flow into the radiator (10), and the air cooled by an evaporator (6) is introduced as air-conditioned air into the vehicle cabin.

Abstract: A transfer unit for use in an image forming apparatus includes a transfer belt, and a counter member. The transfer belt, having a given circumferential length, receives an un-fixed image, formed of an image developer, from an image carrier at a first nip, which is defined between the transfer belt and the image carrier. The counter member faces the transfer belt to form a second nip with the transfer belt. The un-fixed image is transferred from the transfer belt to a recording medium passing through the second nip. A slack portion is generated in the transfer belt, when a front edge of the recording medium passes through the second nip. The slack portion of the transfer belt being generated in a first portion of the transfer belt returning from the second nip to the first nip.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus which can always provide an excellent processed image, an analysis unit analyzes condition information representing a condition at a time when an image is obtained and being included in image information, and determines an algorithm of an image correction process for the image based on the analyzed result.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a polishing method and a polishing apparatus that can secure an even polished shape and can remove slurry that has contributed to polishing and contains polishing by-product to the outside of a pad efficiently to reduce scratches due to the polishing by-product, and can suppress consumption of slurry to the minimum to realize cost reduction during running for mass production.