Abstract: A fixing device includes at least one separator including a pawl separatably contacting a fixing rotary body to separate a recording medium discharged from a fixing nip formed between the fixing rotary body and a pressing rotary body from the fixing rotary body; at least one first rotary body rotatably supported by the at least one separator to contact and guide the recording medium separated by the pawl in a recording medium conveyance direction; at least one second rotary body disposed downstream from the first rotary body in the recording medium conveyance direction to contact and guide the recording medium guided by the first rotary body in the recording medium conveyance direction; and at least one brush mounted on an outer circumferential surface of at least one of the first rotary body and the second rotary body.

Abstract: A mechanism for guiding a recording medium into a nip formed between a first rotary member subjected to heating, and a second rotary member pressed against the first rotary member includes a guide member and a biasing member. The guide member is disposed upstream from the nip to guide the recording medium therealong. The biasing member is connected to the guide member to mechanically bias the guide member. The guide member is subjected to a constant biasing force from the biasing member and to a pressure force from the recording medium. The pressure force is opposite the biasing force and variable with a stiffness of the recording medium being guided. The guide member is movable to different operational positions depending on the biasing and pressure forces acting thereon.

Abstract: A guide device includes a fixing exit guide, a first rotary body, a second rotary body disposed downstream from the first rotary body in a recording medium conveyance direction and partially protruding from a guide face through a slot of the fixing exit guide to contact and support an image side of a recording medium conveyed over the second rotary body, and at least one guide rib mounted on the guide face of the fixing exit guide and extending substantially in the recording medium conveyance direction. The guide rib includes a contact face contacting the image side of the recording medium and a downstream end disposed downstream from the contact face in the recording medium conveyance direction to overlap the second rotary body in cross-section taken along a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the second rotary body.

Abstract: A fixing device, including a fixing member; an opposing member contacting the fixing member to form a fixing nip; plural separation assisting members; a contact direction biasing member contacting an end of the auxiliary separation members to the surface of the fixing member; a contact and release switching member switching contacting the end of the auxiliary separation members to the surface of the fixing member and releasing the end of the auxiliary separation members therefrom; a fixing exit guide member guiding a recording medium to a discharge direction and separated from the fixing member by the separation assisting member; a first rotating member near the auxiliary separation members downstream from an end thereof; and a second rotating member guiding a recording medium guided by the fixing exit guide member in the recording medium conveyance direction while rotating.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a temperature controller that controls a temperature of a fixing rotary body based on the temperature of the fixing rotary body detected by a temperature detector so as to heat the fixing rotary body to a plurality of preset target temperatures that includes a first target standby temperature, a target fixing temperature, a target idle temperature, and a second target standby temperature. When the target fixing temperature is lower than the first target standby temperature, the temperature controller separates a pressing rotary body from the fixing rotary body to idle the fixing rotary body for a predetermined idle time period before a fixing operation starts. After the fixing operation, the temperature controller controls a heater to change the temperature of the fixing rotary body to the second target standby temperature.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a separator presser that presses against a plurality of separators to separate the plurality of separators from a fixing rotary body that contacts an opposed rotary body to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes. A single driver is connected to the separator presser to separate the separator presser from the plurality of separators. An entering recording medium detector is disposed upstream from the fixing nip in a conveyance direction of the recording medium to detect the recording medium. A controller is connected to the driver to control the driver based on a detection signal sent from the entering recording medium detector to change a contact time period for which the plurality of separators contacts the fixing rotary body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a plurality of developing devices each having a plurality of guide parts on both lateral sides, a frame body having a plurality of guide members configured to receive the guide parts of the developing devices, a front door for receiving and removing the developing devices from the frame body, and a position regulating member having a plurality of regulating parts and a connecting part configured to connect each regulating part, the position regulating member having an L-shape to regulate movement of the plurality of developing devices, each end of the regulating part configured to be placed between the guide part and the guide member, and the connecting part configured to be placed between the developing devices and the front door.

Abstract: A fixing device is disclosed, including: a fixing rotative body, a heat source, and a control part. The control part conducts a printing temperature control which varies an ON ratio per unit time of the heat source based on a detection result of the temperature detecting part to maintain a printing target temperature in a printing state, conducts a waiting temperature control which performs an ON/OFF control based on the detection result of the temperature detecting part to maintain a waiting target temperature in a waiting state after a printing operation ends, and conducts a forcible ON control which forcibly turns on the heat source for a predetermined time before starting the ON/OFF control when the detection result of the temperature detecting part after the printing operation ends is lower than the waiting target temperature.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes: a plurality of lens groups arranged on an optical axis; and at least one reflection surface arranged on the optical axis for bending the optical axis into a plurality of optical axis segments. Among the optical axis segments, at least two lens groups are arranged on different optical axis segments. The lens barrel further includes a lens drive section including a first driving source, for moving the at least two lens groups along the different optical axis segments respectively by using the first driving source.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a plurality of developing devices each having a plurality of guide parts on both lateral sides, a frame body having a plurality of guide members configured to receive the guide parts of the developing devices, a front door for receiving and removing the developing devices from the frame body, and a position regulating member having a plurality of regulating parts and a connecting part configured to connect each regulating part, the position regulating member having an L-shape to regulate movement of the plurality of developing devices, each end of the regulating part configured to be placed between the guide part and the guide member, and the connecting part configured to be placed between the developing devices and the front door.

Abstract: In a front suspension device for an automotive vehicle, in which wheel support members of right and left front wheels are coupled with each other via a steering unit, outer ends of two lower arms are pivotally attached to the wheel support members, and inner ends of two lower arms are pivotally attached to a vehicle body via a resilient member, there are provided a damping device equipped with a coil spring and attached to one of the two lower arms at its lower end and to the vehicle body at its upper end respectively, and a suppression (rotational torque absorption) device for suppressing a toe-change of the front wheels caused by a rotational torque applied according to extension and contraction of the coil spring of the damping device.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes: a plurality of lens groups arranged on an optical axis; and at least one reflection surface arranged on the optical axis for bending the optical axis into a plurality of optical axis segments. Among the optical axis segments, at least two lens groups are arranged on different optical axis segments. The lens barrel further includes a lens drive section including a first driving source, for moving the at least two lens groups along the different optical axis segments respectively by using the first driving source.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an anti-inflammatory agent and an anti-inflammatory medical material, which have a good anti-inflammatory effect and high safety. The present invention relates to an anti-inflammatory agent and an anti-inflammatory medical material, which contain as an active ingredient a polyphosphoric acid that is particularly 1 type of liner phosphoric acid represented by a general formula Hn+2(PnO3n+1) (wherein n denotes an integer between 3 and 800) or a mixture of 2 or more types of such linear phosphoric acid.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device using a lead frame composed of a plate-like body having a non-planar upper surface and a planar under surface. The plate-like body includes a first thin portion for mounting a semiconductor chip with pad electrodes, first thick portions radially arranged for forming lead electrodes respectively corresponding to the pad electrodes of the semiconductor chip, a second thin portion between pairs of the first thick portions, a third thin portion peripherally surrounding the first thick portions, and a second thick portion surrounding the third thin portion. The semiconductor chip and the lead electrodes are sealed to the same surface as all of the thin portions with a resin, after making a connection between the pad electrodes and the lead electrodes with connecting wires.

Abstract: A camera having a zooming function, including plural lens groups, a fixed frame fixed to a main body of the camera, a cam member engaging with the fixed frame so that the cam member is movable in the optical axis direction of the lens groups, and plural lens group supporting frames each engaging with the cam member and supporting each of the plural lens groups so that the lens group supporting frames may move in the optical axis direction to move the lens groups in the optical axis direction.

Abstract: A semiconductor device using a lead frame as a wiring base member, in which a plurality of lead electrodes connected to a semiconductor chip through a connecting lead are arranged around the semiconductor chip having an upper surface and an under surface, and the semiconductor chip, connecting means and lead electrodes are integrally sealed. Each of the lead electrodes includes a thin internal lead portion having a connection part with the connecting means on the upper surface side, and a thick external electrode portion protruding toward the under surface side to form a connection part to outside. The seal resin layer has an underside which forms substantially the same surface as the under surface of the internal lead portion of the lead electrodes, and the external electrode portion protrudes downward from the underside of the seal resin layer.

Abstract: A polyphosphate-collagen complex, comprising at least one polyphosphate bound to collagen, a process for preparing the complex, and a method for promoting tissue regeneration using the complex.

Abstract: A semiconductor device using a lead frame as a wiring base member, in which lead electrodes connected to a semiconductor chip through a connecting lead are arranged radially around the semiconductor chip having an upper surface and an under surface. The semiconductor chip, connecting leads, and lead electrodes are integrally sealed in a resin. Each of the lead electrodes includes a thin internal lead portion having a connection part on an upper surface side, and a thick external electrode portion protruding toward an under surface side to form a connection part. The resin has an underside which is substantially co-planar with the under surface of the internal lead portion of the lead electrodes, and the external electrode portion protrudes from the underside of the resin.

Abstract: A lead frame for a semiconductor device using the lead frame as a wiring base member includes a plate-like body having a non-planar upper surface and a planar under surface. The plate-like body includes a first thin portion for mounting a semiconductor chip having pad electrodes, first thick portions radially arranged around the first thin portion for forming lead electrodes respectively corresponding to the pad electrodes, a second thin portion located between pairs of the first thick portions, a third thin portion peripherally surrounding the first thick portions, and a second thick portion surrounding the third thin portion. The first, second, and third thin portions have substantially the same thickness. A concave part having a circumferential portion is defined by the thin portions, and a projecting part is defined by the thick portions.

Abstract: In a lead frame, L-shaped support tapes are applied to inner leads and suspension leads. Ends of the support tapes are overlapped with each other at the suspension leads to form, together, a rectangular ring shape. Since the support tapes are L-shaped, when the overlapped portions are positioned at the suspension leads, there are only two overlapped portions of the support tapes at the suspension leads. Thus, the number of overlapped portions requiring accurate alignment is reduced. Moreover, the L-shaped support tapes can be cut from the material for the support tape with higher efficiency.