Abstract: An upper support for a wheel suspension system of a vehicle having a shock absorber, which comprises an inner member connected to a piston rod of the shock absorber, an outer sleeve member disposed radially outwardly of the inner member and fixed to the vehicle body, and an elastic body interposed between the inner and outer sleeve members. The outer member has an upper and lower stop portions formed at axially opposite open-end portions thereof, so as to extend radially inwardly. The elastic body is bonded at its inner circumferential surface to the outer circumferential surface of the inner member, and is held in close contact at its outer circumferential surface with the inner circumferential surface of the outer sleeve member, while being held in abutting contact at its axially opposite end faces with the upper and lower stop portions of the outer sleeve.

Abstract: Sales of products including consumables and supply parts often involve brokers or intermediary agents who interface consumers and manufacturers. A sales broker system and method of intermediating goods facilitate joint purchases of products, provide manufactures and suppliers with information on market accumulated by the sales brokers, as well as distribute sales information on new products. The joint purchase is managed by the intermediary in an efficient manner so that the consumer unit price is reduced. The market information is also managed by the intermediary so that the manufacturers enjoy accurate sales information based upon actual deliveries. Finally, the intermediary also facilitate to transmit the information on new products to target or potential clients.

Abstract: Sales of products including consumables and supply parts often involve brokers or intermediary agents who interface consumers and manufacturers. A sales broker system and method of intermediating goods facilitate joint purchases of products, provide manufactures and suppliers with information on market accumulated by the sales brokers, as well as distribute sales information on new products. The joint purchase is managed by the intermediary in an efficient manner so that the consumer unit price is reduced. The market information is also managed by the intermediary so that the manufacturers enjoy accurate sales information based upon actual deliveries. Finally, the intermediary also facilitate to transmit the information on new products to target or potential clients.

Abstract: An optical connector that provides a housing body 21 and a fixed part 22 that are installed so as to hold a backplane 3, and connects an optical connector plug 4b inserted into said housing body 21 via an installation hole in said backplane 3 and another optical connector plug 4a inserted into said housing body 21 from the direction opposite to that of said optical connector plug 4b, wherein flexible claws 25 projecting from both sides of said fixed part 22 engage said housing body 21 via said installation hole 30 in said backplane 3, and thereby said backplane 3 is held between said housing body 21 and said fixed part 22. Simply by adjusting the floating range (amount of floating) of the flexible claws 25 within said installation hole 30 the floating range (amount of floating) of the housing body 21 can be reliably set.

Abstract: Variable (coupling ratio) optical couplers 3-0 and 6-0 each have ports of two inputs and two outputs, and the coupling ratio of inputted light is variably controlled by drive circuits 4-1 and 7-1. In the optical 1+1 switching structure, the coupling ratio of the variable (coupling ratio) optical coupler 3-0 is controlled to be 50%:50%. The variable (coupling ratio) optical coupler 6-0 is controlled to have the coupling ratio of 100%:0% or 0%:100%. In the optical 1:1 switching structure, the coupling ratios of the variable (coupling ratio) optical couplers 3-0 and 6-0 are controlled to be 100%:0% or 0%:100%. When a performance monitor (0) 9-0 detects signal degradation, signal interruption, and the like, the system controller 1-0 sends an instruction signal and the control circuits 20-0 and 21-0 output control signals for controlling coupling ratios of the variable (coupling ratio) optical couplers 3-0 and 6-0, respectively.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer type image forming apparatus is provided, in which a secondary transfer unit includes a secondary transfer member having a contact transfer member disposed in contact with at least the surface of an intermediate transfer medium, a bias applying unit for applying a transfer bias to transfer a toner image on the intermediate transfer medium through the secondary transfer member to a transfer medium and an inverse transfer bias having the opposite polarity to the transfer bias, and a bias switching unit for switching the applied bias of the bias applying unit so that the transfer bias is applied to an image transfer area on the intermediate transfer medium and the inverse transfer bias is applied to an image non-transfer area on the intermediate transfer medium. The apparatus is also equipped with a disturbing member for disturbing (scraping out, sweeping off or the like) toner adhering to the contact transfer member.

Abstract: An optical connector that provides a housing body 21 and a fixed part 22 that are installed so as to hold a backplane 3, and connects an optical connector plug 4b inserted into said housing body 21 via an installation hole in backplane 3 and another optical connector plug 4a inserted into said housing body 21 from the direction opposite to that of fixed part 22 engage said housing body 21 via said installation hole 30 in said backplane 3, and thereby said backplane 3 is held between said housing body 21 and said fixed part 22. Simply by adjusting the floating range (amount of floating) of the flexible claws 25 within said installation hole 30 the floating range (amount of floating) of the housing body 21 can be reliably set. Thereby, when the housing body 21 engages the printed board housing, the dimensional error is offset reliably by the floating of the housing body 21, and the engagement is carried out smoothly.

Abstract: An optical crossconnect apparatus which includes one terminal connected to a transmission path from one optical transmission terminal station and another terminal connected to a transmission path from another optical transmission terminal station, a first optical signal switch having “M1” ports and “N1” ports, through which the optical signal can pass, a second optical signal switch having “M2” ports and “N2” ports, through which the optical signal can pass, and “L” optical signal repeaters, one end connected to the “N1” ports of the first optical signal switch, and the other end connected to the “N2” ports of the second optical switch. The “N1” and the “N2” ports are equal to “L” optical signal repeaters.

Abstract: An optical crossconnect apparatus which includes one terminal connected to a transmission path from one optical transmission terminal station and another terminal connected to a transmission path from another optical transmission terminal station, a first optical signal switch having “M1” ports and “N1” ports, through which the optical signal can pass, a second optical signal switch having “M2” ports and “N2” ports, through which the optical signal can pass, and “L” optical signal repeaters, one end connected to the “N1” ports of the first optical signal switch, and the other end connected to the “N2” ports of the second optical switch. The “N1” and the “N2” ports are equal to “L” optical signal repeaters.

Abstract: A tandem type image forming apparatus having plural image forming bodies and an intermediate transfer belt is provided, in which the intermediate transfer belt can be spaced from the image carrying bodies without causing any damage on the intermediate transfer belt. A retracting unit is provided which retracts a belt module along with a secondary transfer module such that a belt-shaped intermediate transfer belt is spaced from all of image carrying bodies.

Abstract: An apparatus and techniques for reducing the electrostatic sticking of a transfer member to the image carrying body of an image forming apparatus. The visible image on the image carrying body is formed by charged participles. A collective transfer unit collectively transfers the visible image from the image carrying body to a transfer member. A transfer member judging unit judges whether a transfer member exists downstream of and in the vicinity of a transfer position of the collective transfer unit. A pre-stop processing unit for preventing, if the transfer member presence judging unit judges that a transfer monitor exists when the stopping unit stops the device, the transfer member from electrostatically sticking to the image carrying body.

Abstract: The method and system are disclosed for reducing an optical surge in an optical data communication system that includes at least pair of optical lines, optical switches and optical amplifiers to maintain high reliability in data transmission. The optical surge is substantially reduced or suppressed by assuring a proper timing of the optical switch operation based upon a predetermined elapsed time or a predetermined safe amplification gain of the optical amplifier.

Abstract: An optical signal switching apparatus that maintains an optical switch to a specified state even when noise is generated during the turning on and/or off of power to an optical switch control unit which controls the optical switch. The optical switch control unit includes an optical switch driving unit, a power supply and a power supply surveillance unit. When a specified condition of the power supply is not satisfied, a control signal is generated by the power supply surveillance unit. Upon detection of the control signal the optical switch driving unit, fixes the state of the optical switch to a previously set state without regard to the input to the optical switch driving unit.

Abstract: Upon receiving a check request 300 from a management system 250, a controller 230 sends a switching request 310 to an optical switch driver 165. The optical switch driver 165 sends a drive signal 320, and an optical switch 160 switches from a first transmission line 120 to a second transmission line 130. A receive signal performance monitor 190 sends a sensing result 330 for the second transmission line 130 to the controller 230. The controller 230 sends a switch-back request 340, and the optical switch 160 switches from the second transmission line 130 to the first transmission line 120. Based on information from the receive signal performance monitor 190, a first transmission line optical sensor 210, and a second transmission line optical sensor 220, the controller 230 performs a sensing result save 360 in a memory 240. A management system 250 saves a results report 400 from the controller 230 in a memory device.

Abstract: An upper support for a wheel suspension system of a vehicle having a shock absorber, which comprises an inner member connected to a piston rod of the shock absorber, an outer sleeve member disposed radially outwardly of the inner member and fixed to the vehicle body, and an elastic body interposed between the inner and outer sleeve members. The outer member has an upper and lower stop portions formed at axially opposite open-end portions thereof, so as to extend radially inwardly. The elastic body is bonded at its inner circumferential surface to the outer circumferential surface of the inner member, and is held in close contact at its outer circumferential surface with the inner circumferential surface of the outer sleeve member, while being held in abutting contact at its axially opposite end faces with the upper and lower stop portions of the outer sleeve.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus effectively prevents scattering of a toner image transferred to an intermediate transfer belt. The image forming apparatus has an image carrier 1 on which a toner image T formed according to image data is held; an intermediate transfer belt 3 disposed facing the image carrier 1 and supported on so as to move circularly about plural rollers 2 with tension applied; a first bias transfer unit 4 for sequentially transferring a toner image T on image carrier 1 to intermediate transfer belt 3; and a second bias transfer unit 6 for batch transferring the toner image T on intermediate transfer belt 3 to a recording medium 5; and a potential holding unit 8 for holding the surface potential of the first contact member 7 at or above the charge potential of the back of intermediate transfer belt 3, and disposed to the contact member 7 first contacting the intermediate transfer belt 3 after it passes the first bias transfer unit 4.

Abstract: An optical signal switching apparatus that maintains an optical switch to a specified state even when noise is generated during the turning on and/or off of power to an optical switch control unit which controls the optical switch. The optical switch control unit includes an optical switch driving unit, a power supply and a power supply surveillance unit. When a specified condition of the power supply is not satisfied, a control signal is generated by the power supply surveillance unit. Upon detection of the control signal the optical switch driving unit, fixes the state of the optical switch to a previously set state without regard to the input to the optical switch driving unit.

Abstract: A route from a departure point to a destination point is searched. When a route R1 does not exist in a search area A1 which is in the form of an ellipse focusing a departure point S and a destination point E, the area is expanded to a search area A2 to find a route R2.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus is capable of preventing contamination of the rear surface of paper while minimizing the deterioration of the surface of the transfer roll. The image forming apparatus has an intermediate transfer belt for carrying a toner image visualized by a toner, a transfer roll pressed against the intermediate transfer belt, and a cleaning brush that is rotatable in contact with the transfer roll. This transfer roll acts to transfer the toner image carried on the belt to paper. The cleaning brush makes contact with the transfer roll to stir the toner adhering to the transfer roll.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a transfer unit T2 including the inside transfer roll 29, the outside transfer roll 30 transfers the toner image from the toner image holding belt B onto the recording sheet that passes through the transfer region Q4 when transfer voltage is applied to between the inside transfer roll 29 and the outside transfer roll 30; electric-field adjusting conductive member 51 disposed in proximity to and along the inner side of the toner image holding belt B leaving the transfer region Q4 at a position located downstream of the transfer region Q4; and electric-field adjust-potential applying means 53; 54 applies a potential, which weakens an electric field developed between the outside transfer roll 30 and the inside transfer roll 29 in a region located downstream of the transfer region Q4, to the electric-field adjusting conductive member 51.