Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a fixing unit including a fixing roller, a sheet ejection tray, a switchback roller, a re-feeding roller, a first frame, a second frame, a first motor, a first transmission mechanism, a second motor, and a second transmission mechanism. The switchback roller is configured to rotate in a forward direction to convey a sheet to the tray and in a reverse direction to convey the sheet back toward the photosensitive drum. The first motor and the first transmission mechanism are disposed to the first frame. The first transmission mechanism is configured to transmit the drive force from the first motor to the fixing roller. The second motor and the second transmission mechanism are disposed to the second frame. The second transmission mechanism is includes a clutch mechanism configured to intermittently transmit the drive force from the second motor to the re-feeding roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a process unit configured to form a toner image on a sheet, a fuser configured to heat the sheet passed through the process unit thereby fixing the toner image onto the sheet, a re-conveyor configured to convey the sheet passed through the fuser to the process unit, and a controller configured to perform particular duplex printing including controlling, when a temperature of the fuser is a first temperature, the re-conveyor to convey the sheet passed through the fuser to the process unit in a first period of time, and controlling, when the temperature of the fuser is a second temperature higher than the first temperature, the re-conveyor to convey the sheet passed through the fuser to the process unit in a second period of time longer than the first period of time.

Abstract: A sheet conveyer, comprising: a 1st conveying roller; a 1st support part to support the 1st conveying roller; a 1st helical gear to rotate together with the 1st conveying roller and to generate thrust in a particular direction; a 2nd conveying roller; a 2nd support part to support the 2nd conveying roller; a 2nd helical gear to generate thrust in the particular direction; a 3rd helical gear to engage with the 1st helical gear; a 4th helical gear to engage with the 2nd helical gear; and a clutch to connect or disconnect transmission of a driving force between the 3rd helical gear and the 4th helical gear, wherein: when the clutch is disconnected, the 1st and 2nd conveying rollers are disposed at an initial position, and when the clutch is connected, the 1st and 2nd conveying rollers move from the initial position in the particular direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a fixing unit including a fixing roller, a sheet ejection tray, a switchback roller, a re-feeding roller, a first frame, a second frame, a first motor, a first transmission mechanism, a second motor, and a second transmission mechanism. The switchback roller is configured to rotate in a forward direction to convey a sheet to the tray and in a reverse direction to convey the sheet back toward the photosensitive drum. The first motor and the first transmission mechanism are disposed to the first frame. The first transmission mechanism is configured to transmit the drive force from the first motor to the fixing roller. The second motor and the second transmission mechanism are disposed to the second frame. The second transmission mechanism is includes a clutch mechanism configured to intermittently transmit the drive force from the second motor to the re-feeding roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a process unit to form an image onto a sheet. A fixer fixes the image to the sheet. A reverse roller makes a positive rotation to convey the sheet in a forward direction from the fixer, and makes an opposite rotation to convey the sheet in an opposite direction. A returner returns the sheet to the process unit. A branching member guides the sheet from the reverse roller to the returner. A first sensor detects the sheet. The controller controls the reverse roller to make the positive rotation at a circumferential speed higher than a speed of the sheet conveyed by the fixer, controls the reverse roller to wait for predetermined waiting time after the first sensor has detected a rear end of the sheet, and makes the waiting time shorter as a length of the sheet is greater.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a process unit to form a developer image on a sheet, a fuser to convey the sheet and fix the developer image on the sheet by the process unit, a first roller to convey the sheet exiting the fuser to be ejected outside a body of the image forming apparatus, and a driving unit to drive the first roller, is provided. The driving unit drives the first roller at a circumferential velocity higher than a sheet-conveying velocity to convey the sheet by the fuser. The driving unit increases the circumferential velocity of the first roller to be higher as the sheet-conveying velocity to convey the sheet by the fuser is higher.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a process unit configured to form a toner image on a sheet, a fuser configured to heat the sheet passed through the process unit thereby fixing the toner image onto the sheet, a re-conveyor configured to convey the sheet passed through the fuser to the process unit, and a controller configured to perform particular duplex printing including controlling, when a temperature of the fuser is a first temperature, the re-conveyor to convey the sheet passed through the fuser to the process unit in a first period of time, and controlling, when the temperature of the fuser is a second temperature higher than the first temperature, the re-conveyor to convey the sheet passed through the fuser to the process unit in a second period of time longer than the first period of time.

Abstract: A drive pulley (12) is formed by a piston-cylinder mechanism in which a seal ring (15) is set on an outer periphery of a fixed piston plate (16) that is in sliding contact with a cylinder inner peripheral surface (12d) of a cylinder (12b), and is driven by being supplied with hydraulic pressure. As a control parameter of a surface roughness shape of the cylinder inner peripheral surface (12d) of the drive pulley (12), a kurtosis (Rku) of a von choose curve and a skewness (Rsk) of the roughness curve, each of which is a height direction characteristic average parameter, are used. The cylinder inner peripheral surface (12d) is set to a surface having a surface roughness shape whose measurement values of the kurtosis (Rku) and the skewness (Rsk) are predetermined respective control values or less. With this, it is possible to surely suppress sliding abrasion of the liquid-tight seal member.

Abstract: A secure software execution mechanism appropriate for software circulation is provided. At a sender site 312, an executable file 332 and a data file 334 processed by the executable file are encapsulated. The remaining two files 336 and 338 do not physically exist in a pot 320 at the sender site, and an archive file 320 is transferred to a receiver site 314. At the receiver site 314, intangible files 336 and 338 within a pot may be mapped to a file 354 in a local file system or a file 356 within another pot 350 and processed using a file 334 in a pot or the mapped file 354 or 356 by executing a program 332, in conformity with the specification of a security policy 340.

Abstract: A secure software execution mechanism appropriate for software circulation is provided. At a sender site 312, an executable file 332 and a data file 334 processed by the executable file are encapsulated. The remaining two files 336 and 338 do not physically exist in a pot 320 at the sender site, and an archive file 320 is transferred to a receiver site 314. At the receiver site 314, intangible files 336 and 338 within a pot may be mapped to a file 354 in a local file system or a file 356 within another pot 350 and processed using a file 334 in a pot or the mapped file 354 or 356 by executing a program 332, in conformity with the specification of a security policy 340.

Abstract: The antithrombotic medical material of the present invention is a medical material having, on the surface, a coating comprising graft copolymer in which monomer containing a quaternary ammonium group and hydrophilic monomer are grafted to a hydrophobic polymer, and an anticoagulant such as heparin is fixed to a depth of at least 45% from the coating surface and, furthermore, the film thickness in which anticoagulant has been fixed is at least 3 m.

Abstract: An ink feeder comprises a plurality of ink tanks for storing inks and wetting water, disposed in a transverse direction of an ink fountain roller, a vane wheel disposed at the bottom of an ink tank, an ink pump for feeding ink, an ink feed blade for adjusting the quantity of ink supplied from the ink pump to the ink fountain roller to a constant value, and a coupling for transmitting the driving force of a single motor to the vane wheel and the ink pump provided to each ink tank. The ink tanks, the ink pump, the ink feed nozzle, the ink feed pipe and the ink feed blade mechanism may be built into one unit, and this unit can be fitted to and removed from the main body of the printing press. The ink feeder may be equipped with an ink scraper comprising scraped ink separators arranged parallel in the axial direction of the scraping doctor support device.

Abstract: An optical scanner includes a light source including a laser diode for emitting a laser beam, and an optical deflector such as a rotary polygonal mirror for deflecting the laser beam to thereby produce a scanning laser beam. The laser diode is protected from being overheated by arranging the light source in a heat insulating chamber or by cooling the light source with the air flow circulated by the rotation of the rotary polygonal mirror in cooperation with a curved guide plate.

Abstract: A compact type bar code reader for detecting a bar code symbol provided on a surface of an article. The bar code reader includes a laser beam generation unit for generating the laser beam to be irradiated onto a bar code symbol, and a focus unit for determining a focus of the laser beam, and a scanning pattern forming unit for forming various scanning patterns of the laser beam. The bar code reader also includes a light reflection unit for reflecting the laser beam to and from the bar code symbol, a light collection unit for collecting the laser beam reflected from the bar code symbol, and a light reception unit for receiving the laser beam collected by the light collection unit, and converting it to an electrical signal.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of high sensitivity luminescence analysis using, as an enhancer, 2-hydroxy-9-fluorenone, the compound expressed by the following formula ##STR1## or an oxazole compound expressed by the formula ##STR2## in the formula R.sub.1 representing hydrogen, C.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 (here, n representing a positive integer of 1 to 4), XC.sub.n H.sub.2n (here, X representing F, Cl, Br or I, and n representing a positive integer of 1 to 4), C.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 CO.sub.2 (n being as defined above), a phenyl group, a naphthyl group, C.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 C.sub.6 H.sub.4 (n being as defined above), YC.sub.6 H.sub.4 (Y representing F, Cl, Br, I or a phenyl group) or XYC.sub.6 H.sub.3 (X and Y being as defined above).

Abstract: A semiconductor laser driving circuit has a semiconductor laser for emitting a laser beam according to a drive power. A photodetector is provided for effecting photo-electric conversion of the laser beam to output a corresponding electric signal. A monitoring circuit is connected for monitoring the electric signal to output a monitor signal indicative of variation in intensity of the laser beam. A controlling circuit is connected for comparing the monitor signal with a given reference signal to output a control signal according to difference therebetween. A powering circuit is operative according to the control signal to apply to the semiconductor laser a drive power effective to eliminate the difference. An abnormality detecting circuit is provided for comparing the monitor signal with a given limit signal which is set different from the reference signal to detect abnormality to output an abnormality signal.

Abstract: An article detection device includes: a light emission unit for emitting a detection light for irradiation onto an article, and a light reception unit for receiving a light reflected from the article. The article detection device also includes; an analog-to-digital converter for converting the reflected light to a digital signal, a first register for storing the digital signal after being sampled using a first sampling signal having a first period, and a second register for storing the digital signal after being sampled using a second sampling signal having a second period shorter than the first period.