Abstract: A damper device includes a cylinder body, and a piston body. At least one end of either the cylinder body or the piston body is linked to an object to be braked to brake a relative movement or a movement of the object to be braked. The cylinder body includes a blocking member made of a synthetic resin at a deep inner section opposing to the piston body. The blocking member is formed separately from the cylinder body, and installed in one end of a tubular-shaped body forming the cylinder body. The blocking member has a fluid passage section and a braking force variable member moved therein. The braking force variable member holds passage of a fluid passing through the fluid passage section at a time of a movement of the piston body in a direction leaving from the deep inner section.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing unit in which sheets are stacked, and a regulator in the housing unit including a body that has surfaces at which ends of the sheets are regulated. The apparatus further includes a stopper in the regulator, a retainer in the housing unit configured to engage with the stopper to lock the regulator to the housing unit, and a movement mechanism configured to move, when the body is pushed in a direction in which the regulator is to be moved, the stopper away from the retainer to disengage the stopper from the retainer.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device according to an aspect of the invention includes a guide member and a flexible guide assist member. The guide member constitutes a conveyance path for guiding a conveyed sheet. The guide assist member is provided in the guide member, the guide assist member is brought into contact with the conveyed sheet to apply a force to the sheet, and whereby the guide assist member assists the guidance of the sheet conveyance. The sheet conveyance device is characterized in that a sheet scanner is provided in the guide assist member. In the sheet scanner, photoelectric conversion devices formed by organic semiconductor devices are arranged.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device according to an aspect of the invention includes a conveyance roller pair which is rotated to convey a sheet by receiving a driving force from a motor conveying a sheet; a conveyance guide which guides the sheet conveyed by the conveyance roller pair; and sheet detection unit for detecting the sheet guided by the conveyance guide. In the sheet conveyance device, a sheet conveyance speed of the conveyance roller pair is controlled based on information from the sheet detection unit. The sheet detection unit is a sheet scanner having an optical sensor layer in which photoelectric conversion devices formed by combinations of organic transistors and organic photodiodes are continuously arranged in a matrix shape, and the sheet scanner is provided in an area of the conveyance guide in order to continuously detect the sheet conveyed by the conveyance roller pair in a predetermined area.

Abstract: A stress history recording system for recording a stress history, which includes a light emitting section including a stress-stimulated luminescent material that emits light in response to a mechanical external force, and a recording section for recording a history of a photoreaction generated due to light emission from the light emitting section. This achieves a technology for recording a stress history by using the stress-stimulated luminescent material.

Abstract: The present invention develops a new thermoplastic aromatic polymer in which metal oxide particles can be uniformly dispersed even without any special functional group in the polymer, and provides a high-performance polymer composite material including the thermoplastic aromatic polymer. A polymer composite material of the present invention includes: a polymer matrix including a thermoplastic aromatic polymer having both an ester bond and an ether bond; and metal oxide particles dispersed in the polymer matrix.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device blows air on a sheet stack supported on a tray, raises several sheets, attracts an uppermost sheet to an attraction conveying belt, and conveys the attracted sheet. The sheet feeding device includes a next-sheet detection mechanism for detecting the height of a second sheet subsequent to the uppermost sheet.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus provided with a tray which goes up and down with sheet stack being supported, a pickup roller which feeds the sheet on the tray a first detecting sensor which detects a object placed on the tray other than the sheets to be fed by the pickup roller, as the tray goes up.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus in which generation of a hollow at a separation roller can be prevented. A sheet separating and feeding portion 132 which separates and feeds sheets S one by one sent by a pickup roller 129 includes a feed roller 130 and a retard roller 131 which is arranged rotatably in the direction opposite to a sheet feeding direction and which is capable of rotating along with a rotation of the feed roller 130 while being press-contacted to the feed roller 130. Then, the feed roller 130 is rotated by a predetermined amount so as to rotate the retard roller 131 via the sheet S after job completion.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing unit in which sheets are stacked, and a regulator in the housing unit including a body that has surfaces at which ends of the sheets are regulated. The apparatus further includes a stopper in the regulator, a retainer in the housing unit configured to engage with the stopper to lock the regulator to the housing unit, and a movement mechanism configured to move, when the body is pushed in a direction in which the regulator is to be moved, the stopper away from the retainer to disengage the stopper from the retainer.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus is provided that can prevent image streaks due to dirt, stain or the like from being produced in an image of an original that is read while being conveyed. The image reading apparatus (A) includes an ADF (40) having a scanner unit (59) incorporated therein and comprised of a cylinder (60) having an outer peripheral surface thereof on which a plurality of read pixels (61) are arranged in a matrix. In reading an original (D), the scanner unit is rotatably driven in an original conveying direction at a circumferential speed approximately equal to an original conveying speed, and reads image information on the original passing through an image reading position (P1).

Abstract: A feeding unit is detachably attached to a sheet cassette in which sheets are loaded. The feeding unit includes a sheet tray on which sheets are loaded, and a fan for blowing air against the side surface of a stack of sheets loaded on the sheet tray, the sheet tray and the fan being held in a case.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, on the surface of a material to be measured for stress analysis which has a stress-induced luminescent material layer formed thereon, a distortion energy is disclosed which is transmitted from a base material of a stress-induced luminescent material to the stress-induced luminescent material with high efficiency. The material to be measured for stress analysis has, on the surface thereof, a coating film layer, which emits light upon exposure to a change in distortion energy. The coating film layer is formed of a synthetic resin layer containing stress-induced luminescent particles, and the modulus of elasticity of a base material is not less than 1.0 GPa. The thickness of the coating film layer is preferably 1 ?m to 500 ?m.

Abstract: An image reading device which is capable of enhancing productivity in reading bound originals, such as a book, a magazine, or a document. A sheet-scanner device implementing the image reading device includes a sheet scanner as a reader part for reading an image on an original. The sheet scanner comprises a sheet-like substrate formed thereon with a light-emitting layer that can emit light spontaneously, and a light-receiving layer on which a plurality of reading pixels are arranged. The sheet scanner is mounted in the sheet-scanner device such that the sheet scanner can be drawn out onto and in from the original.

Abstract: Provided is a stress history recording system for recording a stress history, which includes a light emitting means including a stress-stimulated luminescent material that emits light in response to a mechanical external force, and a recording means for recording a history of a photoreaction generated due to light emission from the light emitting means. This achieves a technology for recording a stress history by using the stress-stimulated luminescent material.

Abstract: A feeding unit is detachably attached to a sheet cassette in which sheets are loaded. The feeding unit includes a sheet tray on which sheets are loaded, and a fan for blowing air against the side surface of a stack of sheets loaded on the sheet tray, the sheet tray and the fan being held in a case.

Abstract: A feeding unit is detachably attached to a sheet cassette in which sheets are loaded. The feeding unit includes a sheet tray on which sheets are loaded, and a fan for blowing air against the side surface of a stack of sheets loaded on the sheet tray, the sheet tray and the fan being held in a case.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device blows air on a sheet stack supported on a tray, raises several sheets, attracts an uppermost sheet to an attraction conveying belt, and conveys the attracted sheet. The sheet feeding device includes a next-sheet detection mechanism for detecting the height of a second sheet subsequent to the uppermost sheet.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device according to an aspect of the invention includes a sheet conveyance path formed by a guide member having a curved surface. The curved surface is curved in a sheet conveyance direction. In the sheet conveyance device, a flexible sheet scanner is provided along the curved surface of the guide member, and the flexible sheet scanner has an optical sensor layer in which photoelectric conversion devices formed by combinations of organic transistors and organic photodiodes are continuously arranged in a matrix shape.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device according to an aspect of the invention includes a conveyance roller pair which is rotated to convey a sheet by receiving a driving force from a motor conveying a sheet; a conveyance guide which guides the sheet conveyed by the conveyance roller pair; and sheet detection unit for detecting the sheet guided by the conveyance guide. In the sheet conveyance device, a sheet conveyance speed of the conveyance roller pair is controlled based on information from the sheet detection unit. The sheet detection unit is a sheet scanner having an optical sensor layer in which photoelectric conversion devices formed by combinations of organic transistors and organic photodiodes are continuously arranged in a matrix shape, and the sheet scanner is provided in an area of the conveyance guide in order to continuously detect the sheet conveyed by the conveyance roller pair in a predetermined area.