Abstract: A sheet discriminator, which can be included in an image forming apparatus, includes an optical information detector, a sheet distinguisher, and a sheet thickness detector. The optical information detector includes a light emitter to emit light to a recording medium and a light receiver to receive the light and detects information of the recording medium. The sheet distinguisher distinguishes a type of the recording medium based on the information detected by the optical information detector. The sheet thickness detector includes a displacement gauge to sandwich the recording medium with an opposing member disposed facing the displacement gauge and to move from an initial position thereof and a displacement detector to detect an amount of displacement of the displacement gauge. The sheet thickness detector detects a thickness of the recording medium based on detection results obtained by the displacement detector.

Abstract: A plug includes a plurality of plug contacts arranged in a row and a plug housing. The plurality of plug contacts each include first bending portion and the like. The first bending portions and the like are aligned in a direction where the plurality of plug contacts are arranged. The receptacle includes second metal parts and a receptacle housing. When the plug and the receptacle are mated, the plurality of plug contacts of the plug are brought into contact with the plurality of respective second metal parts of the receptacle. When the plug contacts are brought into contact with the respective second metal parts, each of the second metal parts exerts a resistance force against pull-out of the plug from the receptacle. An auxiliary metal fitting exerts a resistance force with different magnitude from the magnitude of the receptacle contact.

Abstract: A plug connector includes first contacts, a first housing comprising a guide portion and holding the first contacts, and a first metal member. The first metal member is attached to the guide portion and covers at least parts respectively of an upper surface of the guide portion and three outer surfaces of an end wall portion of the guide portion. A receptacle connector includes second contacts, a second housing holding the second contacts, and a second metal member. The second housing comprises a to-be-guided portion outside an arrangement range of the second contacts. The to-be-guided portion is adapted to be fitted to the guide portion and is formed by a U-shaped wall. The second metal member is attached to the to-be-guided portion and covers at least parts respectively of an upper surface of the to-be-guided portion and two inner surfaces of the U-shaped wall.

Abstract: This connector is capable of engaging with a mating-side connector along the vertical direction. The connector is provided with a housing, a plurality of contacts, and a seal member. The housing has a top surface in the vertical direction, and an accommodation part recessed downward from the top surface. The contacts are held in the housing. The contacts are partially accommodated in the accommodation part. The seal member has a contact part and an accommodated part. The contact part is located on the top surface of the housing. The accommodated part extends from the contact part into the accommodation part. The accommodated part is held inside the accommodation part.

Abstract: A sheet discriminator includes a sheet loader on which a recording medium is loaded, an information detector to detect information of the recording medium loaded on the sheet loader, and a sheet distinguisher to distinguish a type of the recording medium based on the information detected by the information detector. The information detector detects the information of the recording medium with the recording medium being inserted between the sheet loader and the information detector. An image forming apparatus incorporates the sheet discriminator and an image forming part to form an image on the recording medium.

Abstract: A connector is mateable with a mating connector along an up-down direction under a mounted state where the connector is mounted on a circuit board. The mating connector is mounted on a mating circuit board. The connector comprises a housing, a regulation member and a contact. The regulation member has an insulation portion and a metal portion. The insulation portion is supported by the metal portion. The metal portion is fixed to the housing. The contact is press-fit in the housing from below to be held by the housing. The contact has a connection portion and a resilient portion. The connection portion is fixed to an upper surface of the circuit board under the mounted state. The resilient portion has a lower-end portion. The lower-end portion of the resilient portion is located below the connection portion and located right above the insulation portion. The resilient portion is resiliently deformable downward.

Abstract: A sheet discriminator, which is incorporated in an image forming apparatus and an image forming system, includes a sheet loader on which a recording medium is loaded, an information detector including a light emitter to emit light to a surface of the recording medium loaded on the sheet loader and a light receiver to receive the light emitted by the light emitter and detecting information of the recording medium, a sheet distinguisher to distinguish a type of the recording medium based on the information detected by the information detector, and a light emission controller to control activation and stop of the light emitter and activate the light emitter before the information detector starts detection of the information of the recording medium.

Abstract: A connector is mateable with a mating connector along an up-down direction under a mounted state where the connector is mounted on a circuit board. The mating connector is mounted on a mating circuit board. The connector comprises a housing, a regulation member and a contact. The regulation member has an insulation portion and a metal portion. The insulation portion is supported by the metal portion. The metal portion is fixed to the housing. The contact is press-fit in the housing from below to be held by the housing. The contact has a connection portion and a resilient portion. The connection portion is fixed to an upper surface of the circuit board under the mounted state. The resilient portion has a lower-end portion. The lower-end portion of the resilient portion is located below the connection portion and located right above the insulation portion. The resilient portion is resiliently deformable downward.

Abstract: A connector includes a plurality of contacts, a housing made of a predetermined material and a reinforcement member. The housing holds the contacts. The housing includes a bottom portion extending in a longitudinal direction of the connector. The reinforcement member is, at least in part, embedded in the bottom portion of the housing via insert-molding. The reinforcement member has a rib portion extending in the longitudinal direction. The rib portion has a reversed U- or V-shape cross-section and is filled with the predetermined material of the housing.

Abstract: A connector has a contact and a housing. The contact has a fixed portion, a contact portion, a spring portion and a held portion. The spring portion supports the contact portion. The held portion is located between the fixed portion and the spring portion. The housing has a sidewall portion and a bottom portion The sidewall portion is located outward of the spring portion in a predetermined direction and holds the held portion. The bottom portion is located under the spring portion in a vertical direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction. The housing has a gap between a lower surface of the spring portion and the bottom portion. The bottom portion and the sidewall portion hide the contact except the fixed portion both when the connector is seen from below along the vertical direction and when the connector is seen from the outside along the predetermined direction.

Abstract: A plug includes a plurality of plug contacts arranged in a row and a plug housing. The plurality of plug contacts each include first bending portion and the like. The first bending portions and the like are aligned in a direction where the plurality of plug contacts are arranged. The receptacle includes second metal parts and a receptacle housing. When the plug and the receptacle are mated, the plurality of plug contacts of the plug are brought into contact with the plurality of respective second metal parts of the receptacle. When the plug contacts are brought into contact with the respective second metal parts, each of the second metal parts exerts a resistance force against pull-out of the plug from the receptacle. An auxiliary metal fitting exerts a resistance force with different magnitude from the magnitude of the receptacle contact.

Abstract: A plug connector 1 includes a plug-side housing 5 and plug-side power supply contact 5A which is held by the plug-side housing 5 and in which a power supply current flows, the plug-side power supply contact 5A comprises at least a pair of integrally formed spring contact portions 15A and 15B each having a bent-plate shape, and the pair of contact portions 15A and 15B are provided so that their flat surfaces face each other.