Abstract: An optical encoder is provided in which a disk is prevented from eccentric rotation. An optical encoder comprises a shaft (2) supported on a bearing (3) in a housing (1), a rotating disk (4) having a code pattern and fixed to the shaft (2), a photodetector element (12) which receives light passing through the rotating disk (4) from a light-emitting element (10) and converts it into an electric signal, and a substrate (13) on which is mounted a circuit for detecting a signal in the electric signal. The shaft (2) is inserted in a hole (4a) opened in the center of the rotating disk (4), the backside of which is seated on a step (2a) of the shaft (2). The optical encoder further comprises a spacer (5) fitted loosely over the shaft (2) and placed on an adhesive (6) spread on the rotating disk (4), a ring (7) for fixing the spacer (5) and the disk (4) tentatively to the shaft (2), and adhesive (8) spread on the spacer (5), the ring (7) and the shaft (2).

Abstract: In an image reading device having a sheet-through mechanism, a controller controls a stepping motor to decelerate an image reading system when the image reading system is moved to a reference white plate reading position, and controls a stepping motor drive electric current to decrease when the image reading system reads a reference white plate. When the image reading system finishes reading the reference white plate, the controller controls the stepping motor drive electric current to increase so as to rapidly decelerate the image reading system. The controller further controls the stepping motor such that a moving speed of the image reading system to an original document reading position is lower than a moving speed of the image reading system to the reference white plate reading position.

Abstract: A bulky sheet material having three-dimensional protrusions 10 is disclosed. The sheet material comprises a first layer 1 and a second layer 2 adjacent to the first layer 1. The first layer 1 and the second layer 2 is partly joined together at joints 3 in a prescribed pattern. The first layer 1 has a number of raised portions which are located among the joints 3. The second layer 2 comprises a material which exhibits elastomeric behavior. The bulky sheet material 10 exhibits elastomeric behavior as a whole and breathability.

Abstract: A process for the production of a highly chemically stable hydrophilic ODS packing material made of silica gel for liquid chromatography that causes hardly any peak tailing. ODS groups are chemically bonded to a silica gel having a specific surface area of 200 to 300 m2/g, which is then subjected once or twice to end capping including high temperature end capping so as to efficiently remove or deactivate active silanol groups.

Abstract: The present invention provides an architectural material obtained by forming a decorative layer containing calcium carbonate as a binder component on the surface of a base material, and laminating a ventilating protective sheet having a peeling strength of 200 to 4000 mN on the surface of the decorative layer without interposing an adhesive layer separately, and a process for producing the architectural material. The architectural material has excellent soiling resistance or abrasion resistance, and is highly practical.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the type forming a toner image on a photoconductive drum or similar image carrier, transferring it to a paper or similar transfer medium via an intermediate transfer body, e.g., belt, and fixing it on the medium by a fixing device is disclosed. Just after the transfer of a toner image of the last color which is to lie over the other toner images on the intermediate transfer belt, the peripheral speed of the belt is switched to a comparatively low speed matching a fixing and paper transport speed. At this instant, the belt is moved away from the drum. The length of the transfer medium and the distance between a paper transfer position and a fixing position is compared. For a relatively short transfer medium, the peripheral speed of the belt is not switched to the low speed.

Abstract: To provide cramp mechanism for cramping a disk medium (3) with an even cramp load without needing special process such as heating shrinkage fit, the cramp mechanism comprises a disk cramper (4) having an inside opening and a cramping part (A) for cramping the disk medium (3), a cylindrical wall provided on a spindle hub (2) having the same center axis with a spindle motor (7), and a cramp nut (5). The outside surface of the cylindrical wall is configured to make a clearance fit at a fitting part (B) with the inside opening of the disk cramper (4), and the inside surface of the cylindrical wall is made tapered and provided with screw threads. On condition that the disk cramper (4) is added with a pre-load for cramping the magnetic disk medium (3), the cramp nut (5) is screwed onto the spindle hub (2) engaging with the screw threads with a tightening force (C) so as to deform the fitting part (B) to make a close fit with the disk cramper (4).

Abstract: The image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises an operating unit for displaying a mode setting screen for obtaining a desired image and inputting a processing mode by means of selecting one of the keys, a system control unit for executing a control processing according to the processing mode inputted from the operating unit, an image processing unit for executing a specified image processing to the image data according to a control signal from the system control unit, and an image display unit for switchably displaying image data prior to and after processing outputted from the image processing unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer member which moves in one direction with a surface thereof facing and contacting an image carrier so as to transfer toner images for multiple colors from the image carrier to the intermediate transfer member to form at least one toner image page having the multiple colors superimposed thereon. An image transfer device transfers the toner image page on the intermediate transfer member to a recording medium or sheet, and a cleaning device, which is movable into contact with or away from the intermediate transfer member at predefined times, cleans the intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: A transparent heater panel having a transparent substrate, a transparent conductive layer formed on the transparent substrate, electrodes formed on the transparent conductive layer and a transparent protective layer formed on the transparent conductive layer except portions reserved for the electrodes with the end faces of the transparent conductive layer corrosion treated with a transparent protective plastic member or an anticorrosive; and a process for producing the same. The heater panel has improved durability against pollutants, environmental durability, reliability and light transmission.

Abstract: Speech coding uses a periodic excitation signal source, a non-periodic signal excitation source, a synthesizing unit, a filter, and an error evaluating unit. The synthesizing unit synthesizes a periodic excitation signal and a non-periodic excitation signal output from the above-mentioned sources to generate an excitation sound source signal. The filter regenerates an input speech signal from the excitation sound signal. The error evaluating unit controls the periodic excitation signal source and the non-periodic excitation signal source so that the above-mentioned units output periodic and non-periodic excitation signals which minimize a difference of the regenerated signal from an input speech signal. When the error is minimized, the above-mentioned sound source is supplied to a feedback excitation signal modifying unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image scanner, a sensor for determining that the image sensor has scanned the front edge of a document, and a controller using main scanning line synchronizing signals and an output signal of the sensor as reference signals. In response to the reference signals, the controller causes at least a writing unit to start writing each image data of particular color and causes a transfer medium driving circuit to start driving a transfer medium. The apparatus allows image components of different colors to be transferred to the transfer medium one above the other in accurate registration.

Abstract: In a color image forming apparatus, an electrostatic latent image based on image data is formed onto a photosensitive body. A toner image of the electrostatic latent image is transferred to an intermediate transfer belt. Final toner images are transferred to a transfer material together. Plural original images are synthesized and written onto the intermediate transfer belt by an image processing unit and a writing unit. A process of this image synthesis is displayed in a display of a display editor. The image processing unit and a main control panel write the synthesized images in accordance with a synthetic condition. The toner images finally formed on the intermediate transfer belt are transferred to the transfer material together. Accordingly, the images can be synthesized accurately and the color image forming apparatus can be simply constructed and can be cheaply manufactured. Color image forming methods are also shown.

Abstract: An absorbent article having, as a back sheet, a porous sheet obtainable by preparing, by melt blending, a melt blended solution comprising 30 to 90 parts by weight of a crystalline polyolefin and 10 to 70 parts by weight of a compound with which the crystalline polyolefin is miscible and in which the crystalline polyolefin will dissolve at or above the melting point of the crystalline polyolefin but which will phase separate below the melting point of the crystalline polyolefin, molding the blended solution into a sheet, and stretching the sheet in at least one direction. The crystalline polyolefin is a polypropylene having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) to number average molecular weight (Mn) ratio (Mw/Mn) of no more than 6.0.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image scanner, a sensor for determining that the image sensor has scanned the front edge of a document, and a controller using main scanning line synchronizing signals and an output signal of the sensor as reference signals. In response to the reference signals, the controller causes at least a writing unit to start writing each image data of particular color and causes a transfer medium driving circuit to start driving a transfer medium. The apparatus allows image components of different colors to be transferred to the transfer medium one above the other in accurate registration.

Abstract: A device for regenerating a sheet-like recoding medium which feeds a printed sheet-like recording medium. A regenerating treatment unit eliminates a image formed on the recording medium. The recording medium is then discriminated and separated based on whether the regenerated recording medium is reusable or not and whether the regenerated recording medium is to be treated again by the regenerating treatment unit, and a storing unit stores the separated reusable recording medium. Further, a control section controls the regenerating treatment unit to treat the regenerated recording medium again when the regenerated recording medium is judged to be treated again by the regenerating treatment unit.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a device for regenerating a sheet-like recording medium comprising a means for feeding a printed sheet-like recording medium, a regenerating treatment means having a step for eliminating image formed on said recording medium, a means for discriminating and separating the recording medium whether the treated recording medium is reusable or not and a means for storing the separated reusable recording medium.

Abstract: A speaking apparatus having a handfree conversation function, provided with an echo canceler which can cancel the echo caused by direct acoustic coupling between a speaker and a microphone positioned in a system having a casing, a ground surface and a speech switching circuit. In the apparatus, the amount of insertion attenuation of the transmitted and received signal is set with an upper limit of the amount of attenuation sufficient for cancelling the echo caused by the indirect acoustic coupling determined by the location where the speaking apparatus is used. In addition, the echo canceler and the speech switching circuit share optimum functions to obtain an excellent speaking quality apparatus with an inexpensive and small sized processing circuit.

Abstract: A magnetic head positioning mechanism includes at least one rotatable magnetic disk medium, a magnetic head, and a carriage. A magnetic signal is recorded in the rotatable magnetic disk medium. The magnetic head is moved on the magnetic disk medium to record/reproduce the magnetic signal. The carriage movably holds the magnetic head and has an insulating surface on which an electric wiring line for connecting the magnetic head to a control board is formed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a device for regenerating a sheet-like recording medium comprising a means for feeding a printed sheet-like recording medium, a regenerating treatment means having a step for eliminating image formed on said recording medium, a means for discriminating and separating the recording medium whether the treated recording medium is reusable or not and a means for storing the separated reusable recording medium.