Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a main controller and an engine controller. When an error occurs in an image forming engine, the engine controller sends to the main controller status information representative of original conditions set up before the error and error information representative of the error and causes a second relay to interrupt the application of an AC voltage to a heater controller. The main controller stores the received status information in its memory and turns off a first relay to thereby interrupt the application of the AC voltage to a second power supply. After recovery from the error, the main controller again turns on the first relay and thereby causes the engine controller to restore the original conditions represented by the status information.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus or a cartridge detachably attachable to the image forming apparatus is provided, wherein the apparatus comprises developer container for containing developer, developer amount detecting means for detecting an amount of the developer contained in the developer container, a memory for memorizing information concerning the amount of the developer detected by the detecting means and output means for outputting the information concerning the amount of the developer, and the output means outputs the information concerning the developer memorized in the memory until the detection result of the detecting means is confirmed.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus has a photoreceptor 1, a charger 2, a latent image write unit 3, a developing device 4, and a performance maintaining controller 5, wherein the performance maintaining controller 5 executes a performance maintaining initial sequence A for agitating and charging a developer G uniformly to such a degree that aggregating of the developer G in the developing device 4 is at least eliminated under the condition that the image formation apparatus is first used and also executes a performance maintaining sequence B for uniformly agitating and charging the developer G in the developing device 4 at least based on elapsed time since the immediately preceding image formation mode.

Abstract: An image forming device, having a contact-type transfer carrying unit for improving the separation property of the transfer paper from an image supporter, such as a photoreceptor, is provided. The belt resistance from the applying current to the transfer belt and the actually applied voltage is determined to control to switch the front-end current switching timing and the current between the transfer papers. If the belt resistance is lowered, the timing for switching the front-end current is delayed and the current between the transfer papers is reduced. If the belt resistance is increased, the timing is advanced and the current is increased. The bias current is applied in a non-image region on the transfer paper, rather than the region between papers in conventional art.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a first sequence group operates after input of a print signal and a second sequence group is started up at timing when a temperature T of a fixing device has reached a certain temperature T1 after the input of the print signal or timing for which a temperature rising curve is calculated from a time for the temperature T to reach a certain temperature T2 from the temperature T1 during temperature rising of the fixing device. With this image forming apparatus, it becomes possible to reduce unnecessary operations of a developing device and a photosensitive drum and extend a usable life of the developing device even if image formation and temperature rising of the fixing device are performed in parallel.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a latent image support which supports an electrostatic latent image. A charging unit charges a surface of the image support. A latent image formation unit forms an electrostatic latent image on the image support surface. A developing unit develops the latent image with toner to form a toner image. A transfer unit transfers the toner image from the image support to a recording medium. A ransnsport unit transports the recording medium so that the image support surface is countered to a surface of the recording medium. The surface of the image support has a coefficient of friction ranging from 0.1 to 0.7 according to Euler belt method, and a difference between a speed of the image support and a speed of the recording medium is below 1%, and the image support has an outermost surface containing a filler and a binder resin.

Abstract: An endless belt including an endless body having opposite side edges and an interior surface, and a pair of spaced apart parallel guides bonded to the interior surface of the endless body at positions adjacent to the side edges thereof and extending longitudinally along the side edges, wherein each of the guides is made of an elastic material and has inside and/or outside surfaces having specific roughness.

Abstract: An image fusing unit of a liquid electrophotographic unit for fusing an image developed by a developer which is a mixture of toner particles and liquid solvent and transferred onto a sheet of paper includes a charging portion installed on a transfer path of the paper for applying electric potential in a direction in which the toner is in close contact with the paper, a drying portion for drying the image by directly contacting and heating the paper, and a fusing portion for fixing the image to the paper by heating and pressing the paper. Thus, the efficiency of heat can be improved by drying in the direct contact method. Also, by closely pressing the toner against the paper prior to drying, the disadvantage according to the contact type drying method, that is, the toner adheres to a contact member, can be solved.

Abstract: The development is performed under a condition that |Q2|−|Q1|/|Q1≦±0.45. Here, Q1 denotes an average amount of charge on toner held on a development roller and carried toward a development region immediately before development. Q2 denotes an average amount of charge on toner immediately before development held and carried toward the development region in the state immediately after development of an electrostatic latent image on a development drum. This is effective to allow the amount of charge q/m on toner held on the development roller to have a variation rate of 45% or below and an afterimage rate R within 2%.

Abstract: A recording medium carrier system of an image forming apparatus is constituted by independent units as a paper supply cassette, a paper feed unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a paper ejecting unit. An intermediate transfer unit in the transfer unit is provided with an intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image formed on a photoconductive drum is primarily transferred at a primary transfer position and which secondarily transfers the toner image on a recording medium at a secondary transfer position, and a driving roller for circulating the intermediate transfer belt. The primary transfer position is arranged close to the driving roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus operable in a duplex print mode of the present invention includes a heat pipe contacting an intermediate image transfer belt and formed with fins to be cooled off by a fan. A press roller, a plurality of press rollers or a guide plate contacts the inner surface of the intermediate image transfer belt at a position where it faces the heat pipe, increasing the area over which the belt and heat pipe contact each other. This configuration promotes the efficient transfer of heat from the belt to the heat pipe and thereby solves troubles ascribable to heat.

Abstract: In a fuser, a cooling structure (5) is disposed so that a bend angle (&agr;) of apart bent during the time between an endless belt (3) coming in contact with a press cooling face (5a) of the cooling structure (5) and exiting from the press cooling face (5a) is placed in the range of 0° C.<&agr;≦7° C. A fixing belt has a minute hardness of 0.1 to 5 at least on the belt surface coming in contact with toner T and preferably has a gloss degree of 75 or more on the belt surface.

Abstract: The image heating apparatus has a heater and a rotary member rotated while contacting with the heater, and the rotary member has a metal layer contacting with the heater.

Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning a toner from a surface of a cylindrical latent image carrier having; a cleaning blade mechanism which includes a cleaning blade arranged so that a tip edge portion on a first surface of the cleaning blade contacts with the surface of the cylindrical latent image carrier, and a supporting member positioned on a second surface at a base end portion of the cleaning blade to urge the cleaning blade to contact with the surface of the cylindrical latent image carrier; and a laminar vibration-damping member whose base end portion is held by the supporting member on the second surface of the cleaning blade, wherein, on a tip end portion of the vibration-damping member, a plurality of slits are formed so that a plurality of tab portions are formed to be arranged in the axial direction of the cylindrical latent image carrier.

Abstract: It is intended to obtain outputs of insert sheets suitable for an inserter without delay. Thus, it is controlled to sort sheets on which pages of an image, being the print object in a mode to output the sheets to be set to an inserter provided in another apparatus having such the inserter, of first type in a series of images having plural pages were formed respectively, on the basis of information based on the inserter provided in the another apparatus.

Abstract: A continuous-medium-box feeding device feeds a continuous-medium box to a printing device printing on a continuous medium fed from the continuous-medium box containing the continuous medium. The continuous-medium-box feeding device comprises a set table capable of sliding between a first position and a second position adjacent to the first position, and a stand-by table capable of sliding between the first position and a third position adjacent to the second position. At the first position, the continuous medium can be fed from the continuous-medium box to the printing device. At the second position, the continuous-medium box can be removed from the set table. At the second and third positions, a continuous-medium box containing a continuous medium to be printed on next can be placed on the stand-by table. In the continuous-medium-box feeding device, the stand-by table can feed the continuous-medium box on the set table positioned at the first position.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved compact media web electrophotographic printer including photographic full-color, and an automatic web feeding and cutting registration apparatus and method for media web and closely spaced printouts. This apparatus comprises an improved media web-handling unit for feeding from a recording roll, and an improved sensing system for precisely cutting the printout at a desired controlled length.

Abstract: A printing control apparatus performs print processing by sequentially spooling print data received from a data processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium in units of a job and the spooled print data is analyzed in units of a job. The printing control apparatus spools the print data in a memory. When print processing is interrupted during processing of print data which has been spooled in advance, an execution schedule of each spooled job is changed so as to preferentially execute a job of spooled print data capable of being printed by analyzing the cause of the interruption of printing.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a maximum/minimum density detecting unit which detects a center pixel of a matrix of N×N pixels in image data that has a maximum or minimum density. A determination unit determines whether the absolute value of a difference between an average of densities of diagonal pixels of the matrix and a density of the center pixel is larger than a threshold value. A peak pixel detecting unit detects peak pixels of the matrix, each peak pixel being the center pixel having a maximum or minimum density, and the absolute value of the difference with respect to the center pixel being larger than the threshold value. A dot region detecting unit detects one of neighboring pixels of the matrix as being a dot region based on the number of the peak pixels in a target region and the number of the peak pixels in each of neighboring regions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a keyboard that comprises a plurality of touch areas that represent symbols such as letters of the Latin script, Greek script, Hebrew script, Arabic script, or Cyrillic script. The touch areas are arranged in groups that include at least two of the touch areas. Each of the groups includes touch areas that are arranged in a distinctive shape that incorporates one or more of the symbols or parts of the symbols. A user enters a symbol by touching a part of the distinctive shape that is recognized with the symbol.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for sublimating at least one sublimation dye on at least one side of a web. The sublimation station includes a plurality of sensors which senses a web temperature and controls a plurality of heating elements, such as infrared lamps to control the web temperature so that it is maintained within a desired sublimation temperature range.

Abstract: A color printer with a single photo sensor for detecting the position of the ink ribbon. A single photo sensor is place so that it can detect transparent and opaque sections of the ink ribbon. The ribbon winds at a constant speed, so the pattern of transparent and opaque sections periodically repeats. The controller can use the periodicity of the transparent and opaque sections to calculate which dye frame the print head is positioned over. Using this information, the printer can advance the ink ribbon to the desired dye frame for printing onto the photo paper.

Abstract: An ergonomic keyboard having a mount and a plurality of keys arranged in a plurality of unbroken adjacent rows is provided. Each row is comprised of an arcuate portion, a left portion, and a right portion. The left and right portions extend tangentially from the left and right sides of the arcuate portion, respectively. The arcuate portion, of each row is convex to the user side of the keyboard, and at least two keys in each arcuate portion are elongated. Alphanumeric indicia on the keys can be arranged in the QWERTY pattern.

Abstract: An applicator for a correction fluid includes a stem, an applicator tip including foam, and a flexor within the foam portion. The applicator preferably has a flexibility of at least 0.0005 inch of deflection per gram of force.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a broom provided with a regulator for controlling the flow of floor cleaning and treatment products.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an applicator for a fabric treatment composition and its application. More specifically the invention relates to a versatile, effective convenient to apply fabric treatment applicator. Claimed and described is an applicator for a fabric treatment composition, which does not require rinsing, comprising an application device, which induces a certain frictional stress upon fabric.

Abstract: A document holder includes a case body having an elongate base part, and first and second casing parts. The elongate base part has opposite longitudinal edges, a bottom surface, and a top surface. The top surface is mounted with a ring binder unit that is adapted for binding removably loose-leaf document holding sheets. Each of the first and second casing parts has an outer casing surface, a recessed inner casing surface opposite to the outer casing surface, and a hinge edge connected pivotally to a respective one of the longitudinal edges of the base part such that the first and second casing parts are movable between folded and unfolded positions relative to the base part.

Abstract: A multiple-direction bendable tube structure comprises a tube cut into a primary section and a secondary section joined by a clamp; a groove provided axially in the wall of the end where the secondary section connects the primary section; a positioning member inserted by a core pin pivoted to the clamp between free ends of the clamp attached with a fast wrench; the positioning member inserted into the groove to form at its inner end a conic stopper protruding inside the primary section while a longitudinal groove corresponding to the conic stopper of the positioning member being formed on the tube surface where the secondary section inserted into the primary section; a fixing member is connected to the end of the secondary section; and an elastic cord connects the fixing member and the buffer stop for the end having the fixing member of the secondary section to be inserted into the primary section and secured therein by the clamp provided with the fast wrench, or having the buffer stop to move until restricte

Abstract: A system and method for mounting an object to a support utilizes a push-pin that is adapted to be pushed or screwed into the support (such as a wall), without necessitating the use of hammers, screwdrivers, drills, etc. The push-pin has a novel head that includes resilient “grippers” for providing a friction fit within a hole or channel of the object (such as a shelf) to be mounted to the support. In an exemplary embodiment, the grippers are a plurality of resilient annular rings sized to be slightly larger in diameter than the dimension of the mating hole or channel so that when the mating hole or channel of the object engages with the larger diameter rings, the rings are deformed slightly upon entering the hole or channel, thereby, providing a friction fit between the head of the pin and the object to be mounted to the support.

Abstract: A self fixturing adhesive attachment is provided for securely mounting an attachment component such as a threaded stud on the surface of a substrate. The self fixturing attachment includes a base fixture carrying the attachment component and defining a base surface for receiving a selected curable bonding agent thereon. A resilient pressure sensitive adhesive member has a first portion carried by the attachment component at a blind side thereof, a second portion secured to the base fixture, and a third portion extending therebetween. Following pressed mounting of the base fixture with bonding agent thereon onto the substrate, the attachment component is movable to press the first portion of the pressure sensitive adhesive member into adherence with the substrate, resulting in stretched elongation of the third portion thereof to pull the base fixture with a positive force toward the substrate for the duration of the bonding agent cure time.

Abstract: A snap latch drum release assembly includes a multiple of latches which engage the inner diameter of a plate spaced away from a rotary drum to lock and unlock the rotary drum of a drain cleaning machine without the need for tools. As the latches engage a plate on the drum, no shaft grooves are located in the shaft to weaken it. The snap latch drum release assembly is mounted on a support frame assembly. Lifting of an actuating handle engages pins in the latch surfaces to overcome their spring bias and simultaneously drive the latches away from the plate to allow release of the drum. To mount the drum, the drum shaft is pushed into the sleeve and the latches are received onto the latch plate.

Abstract: A skateboard rail is metal tubing welded on top of legs also made of metal which hold the tubing above ground level. The legs are welded to base plates which are also made of metal and prevent the railslide bar from tipping over. The legs can be adjustable by placing a smaller leg into a larger leg and held in place by putting a pin or bolt in the aligned holes. The skateboard rail provides as an obstacle which skateboarders or rollerbladers or bicycles can perform tricks on by sliding across the top surface.

Abstract: A rumble strip cutter machine having a nonoscillating main frame supported on round, ground-engaging operational support wheels with an oscillating moving frame generally coplanar within the main frame, moving slightly out of the common plane during oscillatory motion effected through crank action driven by an operational support wheel. A grinder brush is mounted central under the moving frame between the frame pivot pin and the crank connection. An engine is mounted over the brush also on the moving frame drives the brush and by its weight forces the brush into pavement below. For nonoperational transport at highway speeds the main frame is lifted off of its operational support wheels by a pair of hydraulically-actuated auxiliary wheels at the main frame rear end. The front operational wheels are lifting off of the ground by rotating and locking a trailer tongue on the main frame front end toward the frame.

Abstract: A ditch forming apparatus makes the finishing touches on the ground work whereat the ditch is to be formed, pours the concrete, screeds the concrete, and finishes the surface of the concrete. The apparatus uses a hopper with and open top and an open bottom to receive as well as pour the concrete. An extension on the front of the apparatus has a pair of sloped sides joined by a flat bottom making the final shaping of the ground prior to concrete pour. The back edge of the open bottom screeds the concrete while a skid attached to the rear of the apparatus finishes the surface of the poured concrete, the skid having surfaces that are generally parallel with the sides of the extension.

Abstract: A pouch (18), made of a water absorbent polymer that expands and becomes a gel in consistency upon absorbing water and that is biodegradable, is placed in each bag (10) of lesser volume. After the flood conditions have subsided, an opening (12) in each bag (10) is unsealed to drain the bags (10) of the biodegradable gel, as by squeezing the bag (10) to force the gel from the bag (10). The collapsed bags (10) are re-stored for future use and the gel is biodegraded as by disposition the conventional sewage system.

Abstract: Durable flat panels are connectable at their edges and are of appropriate shape and dimension to be quickly and simply assembled and secured into a closed hollow prismatic module configuration. A dense fill material is loaded onto the bottom panel prior to closure providing mass for strength and stability against impacts. The flat panels may be hingeably interconnected and foldable to optionally form a compact stackable configuration for storage and transport. A multiplicity of such modules may be positioned and connected to form a continuous massive wall for such uses as reducing damaging wave action, preventing beach erosion, directing water in flood areas, and providing highway barriers for guidance and safety.

Abstract: A method comprises conducting a permeable-reactive barrier (PRB) treatment of a contaminated aqueous medium and in-well monitoring effectiveness of the permeable-barrier treatment. A system comprises a PRB zone to treat a contaminated groundwater and an in-well sensor located within a gradient of the contaminated groundwater or within the PRB zone to sense a characteristic of the groundwater.

Abstract: In an apparatus for pneumatically conveying powder substances in a pipe system, wherein a volume is sucked in with reduced pressure and discharged with increased pressure for being passed further along, provided within the pipe system is at least one metering chamber, which can be alternately filled and emptied by way of a control member, for metering the powder substance. Connected to the metering chamber are on the one hand—with the interposition of a filter—a gas pressure conduit and a suction conduit and on the other hand a feed conduit and a discharge conduit.

Abstract: A ribbon tooth and the method of making the same in which a photochemical process is used to form a tooth which, when raised above the plane of the base material in which it is formed, presents a sharpened edge portion to the surface of a work piece such that movement of the tooth across the work piece will result in the removal of a controlled amount of material therefrom.

Abstract: A boring bit includes a body having a spirally formed flute in an outer periphery thereof and a tool engaging end is connected to a first end of the body. A recess is axially defined in a second end of the body and a radial threaded hole is defined radially in the body and communicates with the recess. A lead portion has an engaging portion on a first end thereof and a threaded lead screw on a second end of the lead portion. The engaging portion is received in the recess and a bolt is engaged with the threaded hole and contacts the engaging portion. The threaded lead screw is easily replaced by removing the bolt.

Abstract: A portable decking system for use in conventional van trailers. The decking system includes at least one load bar connected between logistic posts on opposite side-walls of the trailer, at least one deck plate that is pivotably attachable and securable to a load bar using brackets, a lifting device connected to an end of the trailer for vertically displacing an end of a deck plate, and at least one support bar attached to the underside of a deck plate to secure the deck plate for transportation. Each of the components of the portable decking system are removable to allow for portability, storage, and ease of installation into van trailers.

Abstract: A sealable fastener for insertion into an fastener opening in a receiving structure includes a fastener shank including a shank first end having a shank first end wall and a shank second end having a shank second end wall, a shank side wall extending between the shank first end wall and the shank second end wall and a circumferential channel recessed into the shank side wall; and a sealant delivery passageway having a delivery passageway entry port in the shank second end and extending to a delivery passageway exit port opening into the circumferential channel; so that a flowable sealant placed in the fastener opening is drivable into the delivery passageway entry port as the fastener shank is inserted into the fastener opening, so that the sealant flows through the sealant delivery passageway and exits through the delivery passageway exit port and flows into and around the circumferential channel, creating a circumferential seal between the fastener shank and the fastener opening in the receiving structure.

Abstract: A sealable fastener for insertion into a fastener opening bore in a receiving structure includes a fastener shank including a shank first end having a shank first end wall and a shank second end having a shank second end wall, a shank side wall extend between the shank first end wall and the shank second end wall and a circumferential channel recessed into the shank side wall; and a sealant delivery passageway having a passageway entry port in the shank first end and extending to a passageway exit port opening into the circumferential channel; so that a flowable sealant injected into the passageway entry port flows through the sealant delivery passageway and exits through the passageway exit port and flows into and around the circumferential channel, creating a circumferential seal between the fastener shank and the fastener opening in the receiving structure.

Abstract: Apart installation structure for a vehicle for attaching a part to a vehicle body through a bracket using an access hole established in the vehicle body and a surrounding portion of the access hole, comprises a bolt including a head capable of passing through the access hole and a thread section projecting from the head and passing through the access hole, a plate member including an opening section and capable of being attached to the thread section through the opening section, a nut for being screwed onto the thread section and for tightening the surrounding portion, the plate member and the bracket altogether, and a rotation stopper provided on the bracket for contacting the head after passing through the opening section and the access hole so as to restrict a rotation when the nut is screwed in.

Abstract: A locking fastener assembly comprising a nut and a washer. The nut and washer each have opposed load bearing surfaces which include a series of annularly extending, slightly inclined faces forming shallow undulations around each surface. The load bearing surface on the nut is generally spherically convex and the load bearing surface on the washer is generally spherically concave. The nut rotates as it is installed while the washer is prevented from rotating so that the undulating bearing surface on the nut slides over the undulating bearing surface on the washer against ever increasing resistance until the assembly is properly seated and the nut is effectively prevented from counter-rotating by interference between opposed, inclined faces. A concave clamping surface is formed on the outer end of the washer on a radially extending flange. The flange flexes when the assembly is installed and resiliently urges the washer against the nut.

Abstract: An anti-loosening nail exclusively for wood includes an annular fix plate, a recess formed on an upper surface of the annular fix plate, and a hollow post extending down from the center section of the fix plate. The recess communicates with the center hole of the hollow post, and a washer is placed in the recess. When a screw is inserted in the center hole of the post, it screws with female threads formed in an upper portion of the center hole, and further engages with the washer to prevent the screw from loosen off of itself.

Abstract: A fastener element such as a bolt (or a nut) includes: a base portion having a coupling portion such as a male-threaded shank integrally formed with the base portion (or a female-threaded hole formed in the base portion) and a head portion protruding upwardly from the base portion; and a cap member made of aluminum alloy or the like capped on the head portion, with the cap member made as diversified decorative or functional features for selectively capping the head portion of the fastener element.

Abstract: A screw feed belt assembly includes multiple screws, multiple washers and a belt body. Each of the screws has a head portion on one end of a shank portion. Each of the washers is sleeved on the shank portion of a respective one of the screws and has a diameter not greater than that of the head portion. The belt body includes an elongated back strap, and at least one strip attached to the back strap and cooperating with the back strap so as to confine multiple spaced-apart positioning holes. The shank portion of each of the screws is inserted into a corresponding one of the positioning holes such that the screws are retained on the belt body and such that each of the washers is disposed between the head portion of the respective one of the screws and the strip of the belt body.

Abstract: A combination book binding machine with a plastic coil forming machine, whereby a plastic spiral coil is formed at a first raised temperature, then cut to a length sufficient for the plastic spiral coil to bind a book, cooled and then advanced toward a receiving coil conveyor of a coil binding machine, for binding the book with a plastic coil at the lowered cooled temperature. The binding machine and method for spirally binding a sheaf of papers into a book uses an adjustable speed drive to rotate the cooled flexible plastic spiral coil into respective holes in the book. The book has a plurality of holes in a row adjacent one edge of the book to receive the leading edge of the plastic spiral binding coils. A cylindrically shaped mandrel is spaced apart from a glidable block. The plastic pre-formed spiral binding coil is fed onto the mandrel from the distal end thereof, with the leading edge of the binding element facing and spaced apart from the book.

Abstract: An apparatus for the insertion of treatment devices and materials into an in-service main pipe, which includes four main features. These features include the following: a casing hermetically mounted on the main pipe; a structure to seal access and exit compartments of the casing from the inside; access and exit containers hermetically attached to the casing; and a structure to transfer treatment devices and materials into and within the main pipe. The access container is provided with the magazine for the supply of boxes with repair sleeves. Provided with the main pipe is a smooth covering for casing sealing ability.