Abstract: The present invention provides a novel bioactive substance having an antitumor activity and a process for producing it, and a medical use thereof. Namely, it provides a 12-membered ring macrolide compound represented by the following formula obtained from the incubation solution of Streptomyces sp. Mer.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus easily and reliably realizes complicated 1-line processing by a simple method, and controls accumulation period for respective colors without any particular function such as shutters on the line sensor side. One line period is divided into a reading section for reading valid image data, a dummy section for sweeping electric charge accumulated in the reading section and for synchronization, and a section for setting accumulation periods for the respective colors. In the reading section, the line sensor is driven by a necessary transfer frequency, and in the other sections, the sensor is driven at a high speed.

Abstract: A multimedia processing system of the present invention comprises an application, a multimedia abstracting unit, and a multimedia processing module. The multimedia processing abstracting unit is comprised of: a logic module; a stream path for connecting each logic module; a stream pipe for transmitting/receiving data between each logic module and the application; and a correspondence managing unit which carries structural information of the logic module, the stream pipe, and the stream path for making correspondence between with the processing module. The correspondence managing unit updates the structural information every time each logic module is created and connected according to the command from the application and, thereafter, at the point where the stream pipe and stream path are connected, receives a LOCK command indicating confirmation of structure from the application. Thereby one corresponding processing module is confirmed and started.

Abstract: A sine wave electric signal whose frequency continuously varies within a predetermined frequency range is applied to a piezoelectric speaker, whereby a vibration frequency characteristic of the piezoelectric speaker is detected. A change of the frequency characteristic of the piezoelectric speaker when the piezoelectric speaker is brought into contact with concrete filled into a precast concrete form is detected based on the vibration frequency characteristic detected. With this unique feature, a filling status of concrete in the precast concrete form can exactly be detected independently of the hardness of water contained in the concrete and ambient temperature, and even if a temperature difference between air and the concrete is small.

Abstract: A sine wave electric signal whose frequency continuously varies within a predetermined frequency range is applied to a piezoelectric speaker, whereby a vibration frequency characteristic of the piezoelectric speaker is detected. A change of the frequency characteristic of the piezoelectric speaker when the piezoelectric speaker is brought into contact with concrete filled into a precast concrete form is detected based on the vibration frequency characteristic detected. With this unique feature, a filling status of concrete in the precast concrete form can exactly be detected independently of the hardness of water contained in the concrete and ambient temperature, and even if a temperature difference between air and the concrete is small.

Abstract: This invention has as its object to provide an image scanning method which can reduce the load of user operation, and can improve operation efficiency. To achieve this object, a scanning driver is started, and then the current scanning mode is detected on the basis of the previous scanning mode.

Abstract: In an image reading apparatus, required capacity of a memory for storing shading correction data is reduced, as well as the width of a standard white board for generating the shading correction data is shortened. These are achieved by sequentially generating the shading correction data corresponding to respective R, G and B components, independently, to share a data storage area necessary for generating shading correction data, further, by reversing a scanning direction when scanning a standard white board while illuminating it with light of the respective color components on generating the shading correction data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an original image scanning apparatus, a method of controlling the original image scanning apparatus, and a storage medium storing a control program for carrying out the method of controlling the original image scanning apparatus. The original image scanning apparatus includes an image sensor for converting a scanned original image into an electrical image signal, an A/D converter for converting the image signal into a digital signal, a unit adapted to transfer the digital image signal to an external apparatus, and a switch for starting a scan of the original is disclosed. The number of times the switch for starting is pressed per unit time is detected. A function of the original image scanning apparatus is changed in accordance with the detected number of times the switch is pressed per unit time.

Abstract: In image forming apparatuses producing recycled toner from residual toner and recycling the recycled toner, the toner composition changes, and the toner properties worsen, because the external additive contained in the collected residual toner that is collected with a cleaning portion decreases during the image formation. The residual toner that has been collected with the cleaning portion is conveyed through a conveyance path to a collected residual toner storage, and external additive is supplemented from an external additive cartridge, and mixed with being stirred to produce recycled toner. In a fresh toner storage, fresh toner and recycled toner are stirred, and when the amount of toner in a developing portion drops below a predetermined amount, toner is conveyed from the fresh toner storage through a conveyance path to the developing portion. The toner that has been conveyed to the developing portion is supplied to a photosensitive drum.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus easily and reliably realizes complicated 1-line processing by a simple method, and controls accumulation period for respective colors without any particular function such as shutters on the line sensor side. One line period is divided into a reading section for reading valid image data, a dummy section for sweeping electric charge accumulated in the reading section and for synchronization, and a section for setting accumulation periods for the respective colors. In the reading section, the line sensor is driven by a necessary transfer frequency, and in the other sections, the sensor is driven at a high speed.

Abstract: A connector eliminates any restriction in the arrangement of connecting pins, and makes a unit to be connected compact. A male type connector assembly includes a connector body formed with a cavity portion for receiving a female type connector assembly therein. A unit mounting an electronic device thereon is hierarchically connected to the connector body. The connector body and unit of the female type connector assembly are connected together through a contact. When the male type connector assembly and the female type connector assembly are connected together, the contact is connected to a receptacle contact mounted on the female type connector assembly.

Abstract: A developing device, includes; a developing roller supporting and conveying mono component toner to a photoreceptor having a static latent image; a supplying roller pressed against the developing roller and rotated so as to supply the toner to the developing roller. In order to perform beneficial supply of the toner to the developing roller, bias voltages are applied so as to generate an electric field which will cause the toner between the developing roller and the supplying roller to be attracted to the developing roller. At a predetermined time before completion of development, the bias voltage applied to the supplying roller is switched so as to create an electric field which will cause the toner to be attracted to the supplying roller. Thus the toner residing between the developing roller and supplying roller after development is removed, whereby it is possible to prevent toner from sticking to that area on the developing roller, after development.

Abstract: A connector eliminates any restriction in the arrangement of connecting pins, and makes a unit to be connected compact. A male type connector assembly includes a connector body formed with a cavity portion for receiving a female type connector assembly therein. A unit mounting an electronic device thereon is hierarchically connected to the connector body. The connector body and unit of the female type connector assembly are connected together through a contact. When the male type connector assembly and the female type connector assembly are connected together, the contact is connected to a receptacle contact mounted on the female type connector assembly.

Abstract: In a mono component toner developing device, a developing roller supporting and conveying the mono component toner is arranged in contact with a photoreceptor supporting a static latent image. A supplying roller is arranged opposing the developing roller with a predetermined contact depth. The supplying roller has a pair of driven gears fixed at both ends of the rotational shaft thereof for being rotated so as to be meshed with a pair of driving gears rotated by a driving motor. The rotational force of the driving gears, acting at a coupling position, is used to deflect the supplying roller toward the developing roller side, whereby the supplying roller is pressed in approximately uniform contact with the developing roller across its full length along the shaft.

Abstract: A developing unit having an elastic blade which is provided with rectangular holes along the width in the area between its abutment portion against a developing roller and the supported end.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes: a first rotary member; a second rotary member having an elastic surface and adapted to be rotated in contact with the first rotary member. A contact depth controlling roller is kept in rotative free engagement with each end of a shaft of the second rotary member and having an outer circumferential surface abutting against the first rotary member and an inner circumferential surface abutting against the shaft of the second rotary member for keeping a contact depth of the second rotary member abutting against the first rotary member at a predetermined level. A controller is provided so as to rotate the second rotary. This structure, for example, eliminates the need for bearings.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a photoreceptor drum and a developing roller supported in the developing unit for retaining and conveying the developer, and further has a sealed viscous fluid damper having a viscous fluid sealed therein, arranged coaxially with the rotary shaft of the photoreceptor drum.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a toner carrier for transferring toner to a development position, a layer-thickness regulating member for forming a toner layer having a predetermined thickness on the toner carrier by making contact in a leading edge or a surface of a vicinity of the leading edge with the toner carrier, and a supplier for supplying a one-component toner to the toner carrier. Also combined with the layer-thickness layer is a vibration absorbing device allowing the toner to be applied in a uniform thickness. The vibration absorbing device can also be a sealing member located on the toner carrier. Each sealing member can be two different materials effective to absorb vibration.

Abstract: A switching element and a protective resistance are connected between a developing roller and a developing bias source. A switching element switches on and off a connection between the developing roller and the developing bias source. A protective resistance is connected to the switching element in series. There is a controller and a bias stabilizer. The controller switches on the switching element when a developing bias voltage is to be applied to the developing roller and switches off the switching element when the developing roller is caused to be in an electrically floating state without applying the developing bias voltage, and which bias stabilizer is disposed between the developing roller and a ground and maintains a predetermined stable voltage only when the switching element is switched on. The structure enables a high-quality image to be formed with a low power consumption.

Abstract: To prevent scattering of toner when an image forming operation is started and ended in a developing process using one-component toner, a rotatable developing roller in contact with a photosensitive member carrying a static latent image, which is used to carry and feed one-component toner, is provided in a developing tank containing one-component toner. Initially, toner is fed to a feed roller, then passed through a toner restricting member which is pressed against the developing roller to restrict the amount of toner to be fed, so that a layer of toner is formed at a fixed thickness and fed into a developing area in contact with the photosensitive member. Thus a static latent image is produced on the developing roller. In this process, a developing bias voltage Va is supplied to the developing roller, a restricting voltage Vb is supplied to the toner restricting member so as to fix the thickness of the toner layer, and a supply voltage Vc is supplied to the feed roller to control the supply of toner.