Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming station; a mounting portion for mounting one of fixing devices each including a first roller and a second roller which cooperate to form a nip for fixing a toner image on a sheet fed from the image forming station, a rubbing roller configured to rub a surface of the first roller, a storing portion capable of storing information; a counter for counting sheets fed to the fixing device mounted on the mounting portion and to store number indicative of the number counted by the counter in the storing portion of the fixing device; and an executing portion for effecting a rubbing treatment to the first roller of the fixing device, when the number counted by the counter on the basis of the number in the storing portion of the fixing device mounted on the mounting portion exceeds a predetermined number.

Abstract: An image forming system which can recognize the network configuration in real time is provided. The image forming system comprises an image forming apparatus for performing image formation and one or more accessory devices capable of establishing communication with the image forming apparatus via network bus. The image forming apparatus stores identification information which identifies each of the one or more accessory devices. The accessory device detects a communication state of the network bus to notify the image forming apparatus or accessory device which is adjacent of occurrence of communication error not via the network bus. When the occurrence of the communication error of the network bus is notified from the accessory device which is adjacent, the image forming apparatus realizes the network configuration in real time and erases the identification information stored.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a movable regulation member that regulates a trailing edge side position of a sheet stack stored in a storage portion in a sheet feeding direction, a trailing edge detection portion, movable together with the regulation member, that detects a sheet surface on the trailing edge side of the sheet stack, and a control unit that detects whether the regulation member is positioned to an end surface on the trailing edge side of the sheet stack based on a detection result by the trailing edge detection portion, and that causes a display unit to provide a warning if the regulation member is not positioned to the end surface, wherein, if a predetermined sheet with thicknesses different between leading edge and trailing edge sides thereof in the sheet feeding direction is set by a setting unit, the control unit does not cause the display unit to provide the warning.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a containing unit, a lifting and lowering unit, a loosening unit, a feed unit, a sheet-surface detection unit, an aligning member, a trailing-edge detection unit, a double-feed detection unit, and a control unit. Sheets, of a sheet bundle contained in the containing unit and lifted and lowered, are loosened by blowing air into the sheet bundle and fed. An end face of the contained sheet bundle is aligned on a trailing-edge side. The trailing-edge detection unit moves with the aligning member and detects a sheet surface of a top of the sheet bundle on the trailing-edge side. Where double feed from the containing unit is detected, a detection operation detects, in consideration of a trailing-edge detection unit result, whether the aligning member is located at a position at which the end face of the sheet bundle on the trailing-edge side is aligned.

Abstract: The image forming system comprises an accessory device and an image forming apparatus, the accessory device for storing device identification information for identifying its own device, and the image forming apparatus to which the accessory device is connected. The image forming apparatus stores the device identification information of the accessory device included in the image forming system. Further, the image forming apparatus receives a participation notification which requires participating in the image forming system from a new accessory device including the device identification information. If the device identification information included in the received participation notification is not stored, the image forming apparatus stores the information. If already stored, the image forming apparatus discards the participation notification.

Abstract: An image forming system which can recognize the network configuration in real time is provided. The image forming system comprises an image forming apparatus for performing image formation and one or more accessory devices capable of establishing communication with the image forming apparatus via network bus. The image forming apparatus stores identification information which identifies each of the one or more accessory devices. The accessory device detects a communication state of the network bus to notify the image forming apparatus or accessory device which is adjacent of occurrence of communication error not via the network bus. When the occurrence of the communication error of the network bus is notified from the accessory device which is adjacent, the image forming apparatus realizes the network configuration in real time and erases the identification information stored.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus that restricts conveyance of sheets to a post-processing apparatus which has become incapable of continuing a post-processing operation. The sheet conveying apparatus is communicably connected to the post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing on a sheet bundle formed by sheets. The sheet conveying apparatus includes a conveying unit for conveying sheets and an escape tray for receiving conveyed sheets which are not conveyed to the post-processing apparatus. A value corresponding to the number of sheet bundles formed by conveyed sheets is counted. A CPU circuit section determines based on communication with the post-processing apparatus whether or not the post-processing operation can be continued thereby. When it is determined that the post-processing operation cannot be continued, the CPU circuit section switches the sheet conveying destination from the post-processing apparatus to the escape tray, based on the counted value.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a containing unit, a lifting and lowering unit, a loosening unit, a feed unit, a sheet-surface detection unit, an aligning member, a trailing-edge detection unit, a double-feed detection unit, and a control unit. Sheets, of a sheet bundle contained in the containing unit and lifted and lowered, are loosened by blowing air into the sheet bundle and fed. An end face of the contained sheet bundle is aligned on a trailing-edge side. The trailing-edge detection unit moves with the aligning member and detects a sheet surface of a top of the sheet bundle on the trailing-edge side. Where double feed from the containing unit is detected, a detection operation detects, in consideration of a trailing-edge detection unit result, whether the aligning member is located at a position at which the end face of the sheet bundle on the trailing-edge side is aligned.

Abstract: When information about weight of a sheet indicates weight less than a predetermined weight, a sheet stacking apparatus configured to align sheets to be stacked on a stacking tray discharges the sheet onto the stacking tray while overlapping the sheet with another sheet by an overlapping unit, and, when the information about the weight of the sheet indicates weight not less than the predetermined weight, the sheet stacking apparatus discharges the sheet onto the stacking tray without overlapping the sheet with another sheet by the overlapping unit.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus that is capable of aligning a sheet bundle accurately even if sheet types like sheet sizes are different, and is capable of setting a reference position depending on a selected finish. A conveyance unit conveys a sheet. A sheet stacking unit stacks sheets conveyed by the conveyance unit as a sheet bundle. A stapler applies a staple process to the sheet bundle stacked on the sheet stacking unit. A position determination unit determines a staple position at which the staple process is applied to the sheet bundle. An alignment unit aligns the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit in a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveyance direction with respect to one of both sides parallel to the sheet conveyance direction. The alignment unit determines the one side as a reference side depending on the staple position determined by the position determination unit.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus for performing post-processing on a sheet having an image formed thereon. A stapling section or a scoring section performs processing on a sheet and a sheet bundle. The upper limit value of a sheet count of sheets processable at a time by the post-processing unit is equal to N (N is an integer). A buffer path performs buffer processing for retaining a conveyed sheet, placing the retained sheet and a sheet following the retained sheet one on the other, and conveying the superimposed sheets as a sheet bundle. A CPU controls the buffer path the stapling section or the scoring section such that when the processing is being performed on the sheet or the sheet bundle, the buffer processing is performed on a following sheet, and that the processing is performed on each sheet bundle having been subjected to the buffer processing.

Abstract: A resin composition having excellent light diffusion property and hue and a molded article thereof. The light-diffusing resin composition comprises 100 parts by weight of a resin component containing a polycarbonate (component A) and a polycarbonate-polydiorganosiloxane copolymer (component B) and 0.05 to 10.0 parts by weight of a light diffusing agent (component C), wherein the component B is a polycarbonate-polydiorganosiloxane copolymer in which polydiorganosiloxane domains having an average size of 0.5 to 40 nm are existent in a polycarbonate matrix.

Abstract: A transparent resin composition having light guiding properties, alight guide molded article and a surface light source body. The resin composition comprises a polycarbonate (component A) and a polycarbonate-polydiorganosiloxane copolymer (component B) and has light-guiding ability, wherein (i) the component B contains a specific carbonate unit and a specific organosiloxane unit; (ii) the content of a polydiorganosiloxane block is 0.001 to 1.0 wt % based on the total weight of the resin composition; and (iii) the component B has polydiorganosiloxane domains having an average size of 0.5 to 40 nm existent in a polycarbonate matrix.

Abstract: When information about weight of a sheet indicates weight less than a predetermined weight, a sheet stacking apparatus configured to align sheets to be stacked on a stacking tray discharges the sheet onto the stacking tray while overlapping the sheet with another sheet by an overlapping unit, and, when the information about the weight of the sheet indicates weight not less than the predetermined weight, the sheet stacking apparatus discharges the sheet onto the stacking tray without overlapping the sheet with another sheet by the overlapping unit.

Abstract: A polycarbonate resin composition for light guides which has excellent light guiding properties and flame retardancy, a light guide and a surface light source body. The light guide is formed from a resin composition which comprises (A) 100 parts by weight of a polycarbonate resin (component A) and (B) 0.001 to 0.1 part by weight of a metal salt-based compound (component B).

Abstract: A sheet buffer apparatus retains a sheet to be conveyed to a post-processing unit and is configured to perform post-processing for a sheet. The apparatus comprises a buffer unit configured to perform buffer processing to retain a sheet to be conveyed to the post-processing unit and overlay the sheet to be retained and a succeeding sheet, a determination unit configured to determine whether a sheet is inhibited from the buffer processing by the buffer unit, and a control unit configured, when the determination unit determines that the sheet succeeding the sheet to be retained is a sheet for which the buffer processing is inhibited, to control the buffer unit not to perform the retaining of the sheet to be retained.

Abstract: When information about weight of a sheet indicates weight less than a predetermined weight, a sheet stacking apparatus configured to align sheets to be stacked on a stacking tray discharges the sheet onto the stacking tray while overlapping the sheet with another sheet by an overlapping unit, and, when the information about the weight of the sheet indicates weight not less than the predetermined weight, the sheet stacking apparatus discharges the sheet onto the stacking tray without overlapping the sheet with another sheet by the overlapping unit.

Abstract: An arrangement possible/impossible determination part of a piping order edit device: refers a pipe constituting a pipe list as a pipe subjected to determination; searches a main-branched pipe relationship database for a given pipe using identification information on the pipe subjected to determination as a search key; acquires a main pipe and a branched pipe corresponding to the searched given pipe; and, if there is a branched pipe positioned before the pipe subjected to determination in the pipe list or if there is a main pipe positioned after the pipe subjected to determination in the pipe list, the “arrangement possible/impossible” of the pipe subjected to determination is set at “impossible”.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes an alignment member to align a sheet stacked on a stacking tray in a width direction perpendicular to a direction in which the sheet is discharged. When stacking a plurality of sheets on the stacking tray, the sheet stacking apparatus lowers the stacking tray, so that a predetermined distance is maintained between the top surface sheet and a sheet discharge port. If the stacking tray is lowered to a predetermined position while the alignment unit is executing an alignment operation at a first position, the sheet stacking apparatus lowers the alignment member to a second position lower than the first position and causes the alignment member to execute the alignment operation at the second position.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes a discharge unit, a stacking tray, an acquisition unit, a shift control unit, and an alignment unit. The shift control unit controls a stacking position of a sheet in a sheet width direction in response to shift information acquired by the acquisition unit. The alignment unit aligns a sheet staked on the stacking tray and moves to a position that abuts on a side edge of the sheet in the sheet width direction to align the sheet. The shift control unit controls a stacking position of a second sheet to stack the second sheet on a second position or on a first position depending on where a first sheet is stacked and on shift information of the second sheet.