Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a conveying unit that conveys a recording medium; a liquid droplet ejection head that ejects liquid droplets onto the recording medium; an emission unit that emits a detection beam and a reference beam, which is farther from a conveying surface of the conveying unit than the detection beam, along the conveying surface of the conveying unit, the emission unit being provided upstream of the liquid droplet ejection head in a conveying direction of the recording medium; a light receiving unit that receives the detection beam and the reference beam emitted from the emission unit; and a floating determination unit that determines whether the recording medium is floated, based upon a magnitude of a difference between an amount of light of the detection beam received by the light receiving unit and an amount of light of the reference beam received by the light receiving unit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method which can suppress the occurrence of set off when recording media are stacked on a discharge unit. Ink droplets are ejected to a sheet by inkjet heads in a drawing section, and an image is fixed to the sheet by heating in a fixing section. After that, during the sheet is conveyed by a conveying belt, cooling air is sent to plural fans by a cooler such that the cooling air is blown against the fans, and air is blown to the sheet by the plural fans. Accordingly, the sheet which is after fixing is cooled. The sheet, which has been cooled during being conveyed by the conveying belt, is stacked on a discharge tray.

Abstract: The present invention provides a paper seasoning apparatus and an inkjet recording apparatus including a paper seasoning apparatus, capable of seasoning paper configured in a paper stack, and separating the paper stacks by introducing separation plates between sheets of the paper. Namely, separation plates for separating paper into specific numbers of sheets are introduced from a plate feeding apparatus into a housing of a paper seasoning apparatus. A separation plate lowering device lowers the separation plate that is supporting a paper stack. Seasoning is performed by blowing air from an air blowing device against the paper stack.

Abstract: A seasoning apparatus includes: a table on which a stack of paper sheets is loaded; a ceiling plate which is arranged above the table to cover an upper side of the paper stack on the table; a front side plate and a rear side plate which are arranged to oppose to each other at front and rear sides of the paper stack on the table, at least one of the front and rear side plates being advanceable and retractable relatively to each other; a right-hand side plate and a left-hand side plate which are arranged to oppose to each other at a right-hand side and a left-hand side of the paper stack on the table, at least one of the right-hand and left-hand side plates being advanceable and retractable relatively to each other; and an air blowing device which blows air horizontally toward the paper stack on the table.

Abstract: An air blowing apparatus includes: a paper stack accommodating section which forms a paper stack accommodating space for accommodating a stack of paper; and an air blowing device which blows air toward an edge of each sheet of paper of the stack of paper accommodated in the paper stack accommodating space, wherein the paper stack accommodating section includes a curved surface which faces a paper surface of the stack of paper, and the curved surface extends in an air blowing direction of the air blowing device and has a curvature in a direction perpendicular to the air blowing direction of the air blowing device.

Abstract: Blocking members are respectively provided at a conveyance direction upstream side and downstream side of a head unit of an inkjet recording device. The two blocking members are provided radially extending from an area near an outer peripheral surface of an image formation drum, and extend across a width direction of a paper, and respectively cover both conveyance direction sides of the head unit. An end of each blocking member near to the image formation drum is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the drum by a predetermined distance. Between an inkjet line head and a blocking member is provided a fan that blows air along a droplet ejection direction towards a vicinity of the outer peripheral surface of the image formation drum, thereby preventing heat from the image formation drum from being transmitted to an ejection direction distal end of the inkjet line head.

Abstract: An apparatus and method which can suppress the occurrence of set off when recording media are stacked on a discharge unit. Ink droplets are ejected to a sheet by inkjet heads in a drawing section, and an image is fixed to the sheet by heating in a fixing section. After that, during the sheet is conveyed by a conveying belt, cooling air is sent to plural fans by a cooler such that the cooling air is blown against the fans, and air is blown to the sheet by the plural fans. Accordingly, the sheet which is after fixing is cooled. The sheet, which has been cooled during being conveyed by the conveying belt, is stacked on a discharge tray.

Abstract: A continuous form printing apparatus includes: a conveying unit that conveys a web (continuous paper); an image forming section for front surface printing that records an image on a front surface of the web; an ink drying section that delivers a warm air flow to and dries the web; a seasoning device that delivers outside air to, to thereby adjust the moisture of, the web; and an image forming section for back surface printing that records an image on a back surface of the web. The continuous form printing apparatus also includes: an ink drying section that delivers a warm air flow to and dries the web after back surface printing; and a seasoning device that delivers outside air to, to thereby adjust the moisture of, the web. According to the above configuration, the moisture content of a continuous recording medium such as continuous paper can be made uniform.

Abstract: The present invention provides a paper seasoning apparatus and an inkjet recording apparatus including a paper seasoning apparatus, capable of seasoning paper configured in a paper stack, and separating the paper stacks by introducing separation plates between sheets of the paper. Namely, separation plates for separating paper into specific numbers of sheets are introduced from a plate feeding apparatus into a housing of a paper seasoning apparatus. A separation plate lowering device lowers the separation plate that is supporting a paper stack. Seasoning is performed by blowing air from an air blowing device against the paper stack.

Abstract: A seasoning apparatus includes: a table on which a stack of paper sheets is loaded; a ceiling plate which is arranged above the table to cover an upper side of the paper stack on the table; a front side plate and a rear side plate which are arranged to oppose to each other at front and rear sides of the paper stack on the table, at least one of the front and rear side plates being advanceable and retractable relatively to each other; a right-hand side plate and a left-hand side plate which are arranged to oppose to each other at a right-hand side and a left-hand side of the paper stack on the table, at least one of the right-hand and left-hand side plates being advanceable and retractable relatively to each other; and an air blowing device which blows air horizontally toward the paper stack on the table.

Abstract: An air blowing apparatus includes: a paper stack accommodating section which forms a paper stack accommodating space for accommodating a stack of paper; and an air blowing device which blows air toward an edge of each sheet of paper of the stack of paper accommodated in the paper stack accommodating space, wherein the paper stack accommodating section includes a curved surface which faces a paper surface of the stack of paper, and the curved surface extends in an air blowing direction of the air blowing device and has a curvature in a direction perpendicular to the air blowing direction of the air blowing device.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser for surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay apparatus includes a first pipette device on a first pipette head, and a second pipette device on a second pipette head. In a standby state, the first pipette head is set in an upper position, a coil spring and a stopper set the second pipette head together with the first pipette head, and locate the second pipette head in a high position. While the first and second pipette devices are in an aspirating position, a driving mechanism sets the first pipette head in a lower position. A blocking mechanism sets the second pipette head in a high position against the coil spring. First, third and fifth pipette tips is positioned lower than second, fourth and sixth pipette tips, to access a well. The first to sixth pipette tips, while in an assay position, are equally lowered.

Abstract: Blocking members are respectively provided at a conveyance direction upstream side and downstream side of a head unit of an inkjet recording device. The two blocking members are provided radially extending from an area near an outer peripheral surface of an image formation drum, and extend across a width direction of a paper, and respectively cover both conveyance direction sides of the head unit. An end of each blocking member near to the image formation drum is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the drum by a predetermined distance. Between an inkjet line head and a blocking member is provided a fan that blows air along a droplet ejection direction towards a vicinity of the outer peripheral surface of the image formation drum, thereby preventing heat from the image formation drum from being transmitted to an ejection direction distal end of the inkjet line head.

Abstract: A sensor unit of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay system includes a transparent dielectric medium. A thin film has a first surface and a sensing surface. The first surface is connected with the dielectric medium to constitute an interface. The sensing surface is back to the first surface, for detecting (bio) chemical reaction. A flow cell block has a flow channel for flowing of the sample to the sensing surface. Attenuated total reflection of illuminating light is checked at the interface, to analyze interaction between ligand and analyte as samples. The flow channel includes a first inner surface, disposed opposite to the sensing surface to extend along, for passing the sample to flow between. The first inner surface has a height, defined with reference to the sensing surface, and in a range of 200-500 microns.

Abstract: A flow cell device is incorporated in the sensor unit for surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay. A box shaped flow cell body has a lower surface, and is disposed in contact of the lower surface with a sensing surface for detecting reaction of sample. Two flow channels are formed in the flow cell body, for flow of the sample. Each of the flow channels include a fluid passageway, formed in the lower surface, for flow of the sample in contact with the sensing surface. Two end cavities are formed in an upper surface of the flow cell body and open therein, to extend from ends of the fluid passageway. The flow channels are arranged adjacent to one another, disposed to extend in a direction of the flow. Fluid passageways of the flow channels are overlapped partially on one another in a flow cell longitudinal direction of the flow cell body.

Abstract: A measuring unit for use in a sensor utilizing the phenomenon of attenuation in total internal reflection includes a dielectric block which is transparent to a light beam and has a flat and smooth surface on which a film layer is formed, and a flow passage member held in close contact with the film layer. The flow passage member is provided with a passage comprising a supply passage extending from an inlet of the flow passage member to a measuring portion and a discharge passage extending from the measuring portion to an outlet of the flow passage member.

Abstract: A sensor unit of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay system includes a transparent dielectric medium. A thin film has a first surface and a sensing surface. The first surface is connected with the dielectric medium to constitute an interface. The sensing surface is back to the first surface, for detecting (bio) chemical reaction. A flow cell block has a flow channel for flowing of the sample to the sensing surface. Attenuated total reflection of illuminating light is checked at the interface, to analyze interaction between ligand and analyte as samples. The flow channel includes a first inner surface, disposed opposite to the sensing surface to extend along, for passing the sample to flow between. The first inner surface has a height, defined with reference to the sensing surface, and in a range of 200-500 microns.

Abstract: A sensor unit of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay system includes a transparent dielectric medium. A thin film has a first surface and a sensing surface. The first surface is connected with the dielectric medium to constitute an interface. The sensing surface is back to the first surface, for detecting (bio)chemical reaction. A flow cell block has a flow channel for flowing of the sample to the sensing surface. Attenuated total reflection of illuminating light is checked at the interface, to analyze interaction between ligand and analyte as samples. The flow channel includes a first inner surface, disposed opposite to the sensing surface to extend along, for passing the sample to flow between. The first inner surface has a height, defined with reference to the sensing surface, and in a range of 200-500 microns.

Abstract: A temperature regulation method of a microfluidic chip for controlling a temperature of a liquid accumulated in a reaction channel formed in a flat plate of the microfluidic chip, the method includes: heating the reaction channel to a reaction temperature; and at the same time as the reaction channel is heated to the reaction temperature, keeping a first channel communicating with one end of the reaction channel and a second channel communicating with an opposite end of the reaction channel at the same temperature different from the reaction temperature by heating or cooling.

Abstract: A surface plasmon resonance sensor unit includes a prism. A thin film has a first surface and a sensing surface. The first surface overlies the prism to constitute a thin film/prism interface. The sensing surface immobilizes a sample in sample fluid. Illuminating light is applied to the interface in a form satisfying a condition for total internal reflection, to create attenuated total reflection in the illuminating light reflected by the interface. An angle of incidence of the illuminating light upon the attenuated total reflection is changed upon (bio)chemical reaction of the sample on the sensing surface. The sensor unit includes an enclosing cover, secured to the prism, for covering the sensing surface. A lower recess is formed in the prism, and positioned at the sensing surface. The lower recess constitutes a flow channel for flow of the sample fluid on the sensing surface.