Abstract: A press molding method of a glass optical element using a mold, the method including plural steps with pressurizing, in each of which load is imposed on a piece of glass material at a temperature above the glass transition temperature, and a step without pressurizing between two steps with pressurizing, wherein in a step without pressurizing between a first step with pressurizing and a second step with pressurizing, the second step with pressurizing being the next step with pressurizing after the first step with pressurizing, the temperature of the mold is reduced by 50 degrees centigrade or greater with respect to the temperature of the mold in the first step with pressurizing and then the mold is heated before the start of the second step with pressurizing.

Abstract: A flame-retardant urethane resin composition comprises a polyisocyanate compound, a polyol compound, a trimerization catalyst, a foaming agent, a foam stabilizer, and an additive, in which the trimerization catalyst is at least one selected from the group consisting of a nitrogen-containing aromatic compound, a carboxylic acid alkali metal salt, a tertiary ammonium salt, and a quaternary ammonium salt, and the additive comprises red phosphorus and at least one selected from the group consisting of a phosphoric acid ester, a phosphate-containing flame retardant, a bromine-containing flame retardant, a boron-containing flame retardant, an antimony-containing flame retardant, and a metal hydroxide.

Abstract: Provided are a polyol composition in which hard caking does not occur when stored for a long period of time, and a polyurethane foam using the same. The polyol composition comprises a polyol compound, a foaming agent, a filler, and a metal oxide fine particle, the foaming agent including a hydrofluoroolefin, and the metal oxide fine particle having a count number ratio of OH ions of a metal constituting the metal oxide fine particle with respect to a total count number of all ions measured using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry of 0.1 or less.

Abstract: A sheet discharge device includes a discharge member, a discharge tray and a stopper. The discharge tray includes a groove and a fixed magnetic body. The groove is formed along a discharge direction. The fixed magnetic body is disposed at a predetermined position along the groove. The stopper includes a guide piece, a contact piece and a moving magnet body. The guide piece is engaged with the groove in a slidable manner. With the contact piece, the leading edge of the sheet is allowed to be come into contact. The moving magnetic body generates a magnetic force in a direction in which the moving magnetic body and the fixed magnetic body are attracted each other. When the guide piece is slid along the groove and the moving magnetic body reaches the predetermined position, a resistance is applied to a sliding movement of the guide piece by the magnetic force.

Abstract: A post-processing device includes a discharge port through which a sheet is discharged, an intermediate tray, a discharge tray and an air sending part. The air sending part includes an upper air sending member, an upper switching member, a lower air sending member, a lower switching member and a controller. The upper air sending member generates a downward air flow from above the discharge port. The upper switching member is distributable the air flow generated by the upper air sending member to above the intermediate tray and to above the discharge tray. The lower air sending member generates an upward air flow from below the discharge port. The lower switching member is distributable the air flow generated by the lower air sending member to below the intermediate tray and to above the discharge tray. The controller controls the upper switching member and the lower switching member.

Abstract: A sheet discharge device includes a discharge member, a discharge tray and a stopper. The discharge tray includes a groove and a fixed magnetic body. The groove is formed along a discharge direction. The fixed magnetic body is disposed at a predetermined position along the groove. The stopper includes a guide piece, a contact piece and a moving magnet body. The guide piece is engaged with the groove in a slidable manner. With the contact piece, the leading edge of the sheet is allowed to be come into contact. The moving magnetic body generates a magnetic force in a direction in which the moving magnetic body and the fixed magnetic body are attracted each other. When the guide piece is slid along the groove and the moving magnetic body reaches the predetermined position, a resistance is applied to a sliding movement of the guide piece by the magnetic force.

Abstract: A post-processing device includes a discharge port through which a sheet is discharged, an intermediate tray, a discharge tray and an air sending part. The air sending part includes an upper air sending member, an upper switching member, a lower air sending member, a lower switching member and a controller. The upper air sending member generates a downward air flow from above the discharge port. The upper switching member is distributable the air flow generated by the upper air sending member to above the intermediate tray and to above the discharge tray. The lower air sending member generates an upward air flow from below the discharge port. The lower switching member is distributable the air flow generated by the lower air sending member to below the intermediate tray and to above the discharge tray. The controller controls the upper switching member and the lower switching member.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device has a supporting frame that supports a pick-up roller and that moves downward when a sheet is fed, a stepping motor that rotates the pick-up roller and moves the supporting frame downward, and a control portion that starts driving the stepping motor when a job is started and then increases a frequency of the pulse signal to a target frequency. The control portion keeps the frequency of the pulse signal not more than ½ of the target frequency at least until the pick-up roller touches the sheet first.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device has a supporting frame that supports a pick-up roller and that moves downward when a sheet is fed, a stepping motor that rotates the pick-up roller and moves the supporting frame downward, and a control portion that starts driving the stepping motor when a job is started and then increases a frequency of the pulse signal to a target frequency. The control portion keeps the frequency of the pulse signal not more than ½ of the target frequency at least until the pick-up roller touches the sheet first.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a document feeder and a reader. The document feeder includes a document tray and feeds an original document loaded on the document tray. The reader includes an original glass plate, a reading unit, and a document separating member. At least one of the document feeder and the reader is provided with a fan that creates an air flow. A first duct is provided in a housing of the reader. The document separating member is provided with a plurality of first discharge holes through which the air flowing through the first duct is discharged. A second duct is provided in a housing of the document feeder. The wall of the document feeder is provided with a plurality of second discharge holes through which the air flowing through the second duct is discharged.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a document feeder and a reader. The document feeder includes a document tray and feeds an original document loaded on the document tray. The reader includes an original glass plate, a reading unit, and a document separating member. At least one of the document feeder and the reader is provided with a fan that creates an air flow. A first duct is provided in a housing of the reader. The document separating member is provided with a plurality of first discharge holes through which the air flowing through the first duct is discharged. A second duct is provided in a housing of the document feeder. The wall of the document feeder is provided with a plurality of second discharge holes through which the air flowing through the second duct is discharged.

Abstract: A hinge structure includes an attachment recessed part, an attachment member, a first rotating body and a second rotating body. The attachment recessed part is configured to have inlet and outlet part in an upper part thereof. The attachment member is configured so that an upper end part thereof is pivotably connected to the document cover. The first rotating body is configured to be provided in the apparatus main body so as to come into contact with a side of the document mounting surface of the attachment member in the inlet and outlet part in the attachment recessed part. The second rotating body is configured to be provided in a lower part of the attachment member so as to come into contact with the attachment recessed part at an opposite side of the position in which the first rotating body is provided.

Abstract: A hinge structure includes an attachment recessed part, an attachment member, a first rotating body and a second rotating body. The attachment recessed part is configured to have inlet and outlet part in an upper part thereof. The attachment member is configured so that an upper end part thereof is pivotably connected to the document cover. The first rotating body is configured to be provided in the apparatus main body so as to come into contact with a side of the document mounting surface of the attachment member in the inlet and outlet part in the attachment recessed part. The second rotating body is configured to be provided in a lower part of the attachment member so as to come into contact with the attachment recessed part at an opposite side of the position in which the first rotating body is provided.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus 1 is provided with an apparatus main body 2 for performing a predetermined process on a sheet, a cover 34 openable and closable relative to the apparatus main body 2, a light emitting unit 51 provided in the apparatus main body 2 and including an emission source 511 for generating light, a control board 512 for controlling the emission source 511 and causing it to generate the light and wiring 513 electrically connected to the control board 512, and a display member 52 provided in the cover 34, arranged to face the emission source 511 and including an incident portion 521 on which the light is incident, an output portion 522 for outputting the light to the outside and a light guide portion 523 for guiding the light from the incident portion 521 to the output portion 522.

Abstract: A position adjustment mechanism (90) includes a rack (91) fixed onto an upper surface of a second hinge member (87), a worm gear 93 that meshes with the rack (91), a handle (95) that rotates the worm gear (93), and a lever (97) that presses the second hinge member (87) against the first hinge member (85) to fix the second hinge member (87) to the first hinge member (85). The lever (97) is operated to release the pressure on the second hinge member (87) so that the handle (95) is operated, to thereby adjust a tilt of the document conveying device (27) with respect to the image reading portion (6) without using a tool and the like. After the adjustment, the lever (97) is operated to press the second hinge member (87), to thereby position the document conveying device (27) precisely at a position after the adjustment.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus 1 is provided with an apparatus main body 2 for performing a predetermined process on a sheet, a cover 34 openable and closable relative to the apparatus main body 2, a light emitting unit 51 provided in the apparatus main body 2 and including an emission source 511 for generating light, a control board 512 for controlling the emission source 511 and causing it to generate the light and wiring 513 electrically connected to the control board 512, and a display member 52 provided in the cover 34, arranged to face the emission source 511 and including an incident portion 521 on which the light is incident, an output portion 522 for outputting the light to the outside and a light guide portion 523 for guiding the light from the incident portion 521 to the output portion 522.

Abstract: A position adjustment mechanism (90) includes a rack (91) fixed onto an upper surface of a second hinge member (87), a worm gear 93 that meshes with the rack (91), a handle (95) that rotates the worm gear (93), and a lever (97) that presses the second hinge member (87) against the first hinge member (85) to fix the second hinge member (87) to the first hinge member (85). The lever (97) is operated to release the pressure on the second hinge member (87) so that the handle (95) is operated, to thereby adjust a tilt of the document conveying device (27) with respect to the image reading portion (6) without using a tool and the like. After the adjustment, the lever (97) is operated to press the second hinge member (87), to thereby position the document conveying device (27) precisely at a position after the adjustment.

Abstract: A sheet separating/conveying mechanism 30 has an upper unit 30a in which a paper feed roller 31 and other components are arranged and a lower unit 30b in which a separating roller 32, an arm member 36, and other components are arranged. The arm member 36 is U-shaped as seen in a plan view by being composed of a left and a right movable lever 36a that are mutually parallel and that make contact with both ends of a center shaft 23b and a pivot shaft 36b that supports the movable levers 36a so that they are rotatable in a direction indicated by arrow BB?. The movable levers 36a have locking holes 39 formed at the tip ends thereof, and the lower ends of tension springs 38 are locked in those locking holes 39. The lower unit 30b is fitted with an applied force adjusting member 45 on which locking portions 42a and 42b are formed to protrude therefrom leftward and rightward that permit adjustment of the positions at which the upper ends of the tension springs 38 are locked.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling an optical cable comprises a spacer paying-out portion 7, a stationary ribbon supply unit 9, a gathering portion 14 and a taking-up portion 21. The spacer paying-out portion 7 supplies a spacer 2 having a spiral groove in the surface of a long spacer body from a supply reel 1 while revolving around a line axis X-X. The stationary ribbon supply unit 9 supplies a plurality of optical fiber ribbons 11. The gathering portion 14 forms the optical fiber ribbons 11 sent out of the stationary ribbon supply unit 9 into a cable core 15 by holding the optical fiber ribbons 11 within the spiral groove of the spacer 2 sent out of the spacer paying-out portion 7 and running forward while rotating on its center axis. The taking-up portion 21 winds the cable core 15 on a taking-up reel 20 while revolving around the line axis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an extrusion coating apparatus having a structure which is capable of correctly forming and applying a coating layer with a desirable cross-sectional form even when thermal distortion occurs in its extrusion unit. This extrusion coating apparatus comprises an extrusion unit extruding a thermoplastic resin while heating the resin, a coating unit providing a coating layer of the thermoplastic resin from the extrusion unit around a linear body pulled at a predetermined tension, and various distortion-absorbing structures absorbing the distortion in the extrusion unit caused by heating the thermoplastic resin.