Abstract: A method for compensating signal distortions of signals polarized to each other in an optical wavelength division multiplex transmission system, comprising the steps of providing a first signal being obtained from a first polarized signal and a second signal being obtained from a second polarized signal, the first and second polarized signals being polarized with respect to each other, determining a first signal quality for the first signal, generating a first error signal in dependence of the first signal quality, and subtracting the first error signal from the first signal.

Abstract: A wavelength multiplexed signal transmitted through an inter-node transmission path is demultiplexed to a wavelength band by a first optical demultiplexer and after having its path changed by a first matrix switch, the obtained signal is again wavelength-multiplexed by a first optical multiplexer and then output to the inter-node transmission path. On the other hand, signals to be subjected to processing on a wavelength basis are demultiplexed on a wavelength basis by a second optical demultiplexer capable of demultiplexing an arbitrary wavelength band through a link and after having their paths changed by a second matrix switch, the obtained signals are again multiplexed to a wavelength band by a second optical multiplexer, subjected to the same processing as that of the above-described wavelength band and output to the inter-node transmission path.

Abstract: A bottom level detection device is disclosed for a burst mode optical receiver. The receiver includes a converter for converting a burst mode signal into a voltage signal and an automatic gain controller for automatically controlling a gain of the converter. The bottom level detection device detects a bottom level of an output signal from the converter and controls the automatic gain controller on the basis of the detected bottom level. The bottom level detection device includes an amplification circuit for receiving the output signal from the converter at its first input terminal and a fed-back output signal from the device at its second input terminal, respectively, and amplifying a difference between the received signals, a detector for detecting a bottom level of an output signal from the amplification circuit, and an output buffer.

Abstract: A fixing unit fixes a developing material deposited on a recording medium by heating and pressing the recording medium. The fixing unit includes two heating members that apply heat to the recording medium and two temperature-sensitive shutoff devices. The two temperature-sensitive shutoff devices are connected in series with a corresponding one of the heating members. Each of the temperature-sensitive shut-off devices includes a first heat-sensitive shut-off element and a second heat-sensitive shut-off element. The first heat-sensitive shut-off element shuts off electric power to the corresponding one of the two heating members when a temperature of a surface of the corresponding one of the two heating members exceeds a certain value. The second heat-sensitive shut-off element shuts off electric power to the corresponding one of the two heating members when a temperature of a surface of the second one of the two heating members exceeds a certain value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner image forming portion for forming a toner image on a first image bearing member, a first transferring portion for transferring, onto a second image bearing member, the toner image on the first image bearing member, a second transferring portion for transferring, onto a transferring material, the toner image on the second image bearing member, a cleaning unit including a cleaning member abutting on the surface of the second image bearing member, and a transferring material recognizing portion for recognizing a type of the transferring material. The toner image forming portion forms a toner image for cleaning on the first image bearing member in accordance with information about a type of the transferring material that is recognized by the transferring material recognizing portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention comprises an apparatus body having a document table portion on which a document is placed, a scanning unit provided inside the apparatus body to optically scan an image of the document placed on the document table portion, an image forming unit for forming a developer image on a photosensitive drum in accordance with the image information scanned by the scanning unit, a transfer charger for transferring the developer image formed by the image forming unit on a sheet, a fixing unit for fixing the developer image transferred by the transfer charger on the sheet, an ejecting roller for ejecting the sheet on which the developer image is fixed by the fixing unit to the outside, a sheet receiving unit provided below the scanning unit inside the apparatus body to receive the sheet ejected from the ejecting roller, and a blowing unit for blowing cool air to the sheet receiving unit along a lower surface part of the scanning unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming cartridges removably mounted to an apparatus body one above the other is disclosed. Structural members each partition off a space between nearby image forming cartridges mounted to the apparatus body. The apparatus is capable of obviating banding ascribable to the vibration of the cartridges.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic endless belt having a beltlike substrate, a meandering-preventive member and a position detection member, the meandering-preventive member is disposed on the inner-periphery side of one end portion of the beltlike substrate, the position detection member is disposed on the outer-periphery side of the other end portion of the beltlike substrate, and the meandering-preventive member and the position detection member are 200 mm to 250 mm away from each other in the width direction of the electrophotographic endless belt. The beltlike substrate contains a thermoplastic resin as a binder resin, and the beltlike substrate has a 25 &mgr;m×25 &mgr;m surface total current value of from 300 nA to 2,000 nA at the time of application of 100 V as measured by SPM.

Abstract: A main body is separable into a static body and a movable body along a carrier path extending from a sheet feeding unit to a sheet discharge unit, and the static body is provided with an image forming unit. The movable body can be slid straightly with respect to the static body. The carrier path can be wide open along the entire length thereof by sliding the movable body, facilitating the removal of stuck sheet from the carrier path.

Abstract: A liquid developer electrophotographic apparatus and method for developing one or more successive color images on a previous color image formed on a latent image retaining body, wherein peeling off the prior color image is prevented by establishing a reversible electrophoretic transfer efficiency of toner particles in the prior toner image to be not greater than 60% in the liquid developer for the successive color image while applying an electrical potential difference between the latent image retaining body and a developing electrode for the successive developing step(s). A resin content of the toner particles forming the previous color image may be selected to achieve the reversible electrophoretic transfer efficiency of 60% or less.

Abstract: Image forming apparatus which form an image on a substrate and uses a liquid developer containing toner particles and a solvent. One embodiment includes a latent image retaining body, a first developing surface facing the latent image retaining body at a first development station, a latent image forming unit, and a second developing surface facing the latent image retaining body at a second development station. The latent image retaining body has a photosensitive layer which has a dielectric constant &egr;P [C2/Nm2] and an average thickness dp [m]. The photosensitive layer retains an image developed by the first developing surface and a latent image comprising image and non-image regions formed by the latent image forming unit. The second developing surface is supplied with a developing electrical potential having an electrical potential difference &Dgr;V from an electrical potential of non-image region of the latent image.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for reducing accumulation of toner from the surface of an electrode member in a development unit of an electrostatographic printing or copying apparatus by providing an organometallic coating composition including an organometallic material on at least a portion of the electrode member.

Abstract: An electrophotographic color image forming apparatus including a multiple number of photoreceptors for multiple development colors including black, is constructed such that the photoreceptors satisfy the following relation:—

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conditioning a moving transport web for neutralizing or modifying polar charge density and net charge density on the moving transport web included, for example, in an electrostatographic printer. The web conditioning includes a charging station which has a first stage including two open-wire AC corona chargers facing one another across the transport web, and downstream, a second stage including two gridded AC corona chargers facing one another across the transport web. The grids of the gridded AC corona chargers are preferably grounded, the AC waveforms for energizing the corona wires of the open-wire chargers and the gridded chargers are preferably quasi-trapezoidal with no applied DC offsets, with preferably preselected asymmetries in the spacings from the web in the first and second stages.

Abstract: The image heating apparatus comprises a heating member, a flexible sleeve, a guide member, a flange member, and a pressure member forming a nip part to nip and convey the heating member and the recording material through the sleeve. In this structure, in a recording material movement direction, a sliding-rubbing part of the flange member on a downstream side of the nip part has a shape to project the sleeve toward the downstream side, whereby an offset of image can be suppressed.

Abstract: In a fuser, a cooling structure (5) is disposed so that a bend angle (&agr;) of a part 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: A fixing device includes an abutting member arranged at a position between an upstream side of a fixing roller and a downstream side of a heating roller in a moving direction of a fixing belt so as to abut against the fixing belt and expand a fixing region. The fixing device may also include a first supporting member and a second supporting member, which supports the fixing belt, etc., with respect to the first supporting member. An angle, formed between an approaching direction of a sheet-like recording medium and a line tangential to an upstream end of the fixing region in the moving direction of the fixing belt, is set equal to 20° or larger.

Abstract: A computer system having a keyboard with a numeric cluster incorporating calculator operation keys which operate cooperatively with a calculator emulation software application to perform calculator functions such as memory operations, subtotaling, and grand totaling. A keyboard having calculator operation keys. A computer calculation emulation software application to receive and operate on messages from keyboard calculator operation keys.

Abstract: A computer keyboard having a key with a rocking motion in addition to a vertical motion. Typing the key in the vertical motion types the standard character for the key, while typing the key in its rocking motion types the Shifted character for the key.

Abstract: A computer keyboard having textured home keys, Enter key, Delete key, Backspace key, and Tab key to render said keys identifiable by touch.

Abstract: A printer having a housing, including a bottom wall, a front wall, and a cover pivotally attached to the housing and rotatable between an open and a closed position. A tray is provided for supporting print media from below wherein the tray is pivotally attached to the housing for movement between a printer operational position and a printer non-operational position, wherein the tray is disposed between the cover and the front wall when the tray is in the printer non-operational position.

Abstract: A method and assembly for applying a liquid solution of a hydrocarbon, such as mineral spirits, and a solvent, such as Naphtha, to welding wire being conveyed to a welding electrode in a welding system for increasing feed ability, cleansing weld wire and increasing electrical conductivity. An applicator assembly containing the solution is mounted adjacent the weld wire at apposition between the weld wire supply and the weld gun. The applicator assembly may include a replenishable absorbent member such as a felt pad, to apply the solution.

Abstract: A slider for a solid paste dispenser has a planar base portion and a tubular portion projecting from the center of the base portion into a solid paste. A screw rod extends through the base and tubular portions and is engaged therewith in threaded manner, and the tubular portion has as an integral part thereof a radially outwardly extending protrusion or a number of such protrusions so formed as to satisfy the equation S0−SM≧S1+S2+ . . . +Sn where S0 stands for the area (cm2) of the upper surface of the base portion, S1 to Sn each stand for the area (cm2) of the lower surface of one of the n protrusions, and SM stands for a maximum area (cm2) of S1 to Sn in which each of S0 and S1 to Sn excludes the area occupied by the tubular portion.

Abstract: [PROBLEM] For ring binders of externally fitted types it is an essential requirement that they do not interfere with the turning of loose leaves. Conventional binders have had too broad backbone plates supporting binder rings to permit smooth turning of the leaves.

Abstract: The end connector assembly (12) for a gas spring (44) enables the connector body to be connected with and disconnected from a ball (14) on the end of a ball stud (16) by relatively moving the connector body (26) and ball along a path generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the gas spring (44) to which the connector body (26) is connected. The ball (14) enters the connector body (26) through an opening (32) in the body's front surface, that is, the surface generally perpendicular to the gas spring's longitudinal axis. A slot in the body's bottom surface, that is, the surface facing the ball (14), accommodates the shaft portion (22) of the ball stud (16), adjacent the ball (14), as the ball moves into or out of the connector body (26) through the opening (32).

Abstract: The invention concerns a system for fixing an object to a plate via a washer, wherein the object is linked to the washer and the plate comprises a structure to retain the object by butting the washer against said structure. The invention is characterized in that said structure is a hemispheric or cylindrical conical dome of the plate. The dome has a convex or a concave surface against which the washer is butted. The invention also concerns a method for fixing an object on a plate via a washer designed to be linked to the object, characterized in that it consists in deforming the plate by swaging to provide it with a hemispheric or cylindrical conical dome and in driving the washer relative to the dome to retain the object on the plate by butting the washer against the dome.

Abstract: A clamping device for securing a mechanical driven component to a drive shaft. The clamping device including a clamping member having a securing mechanism that fixedly secures the clamping member to the drive shaft. The clamping device further includes an elongate cylindrical hub member unitarily formed with the clamping member with the hub member having an outer circumference configured to secure to a mechanical driven component.

Abstract: A decorative bench barrier serves the function of providing security for buildings, memorials, and people, while at the same time providing aesthetically pleasing seating suitable for long term use on city streets, in parks, and in other areas. The decorative bench barrier is constructed from one or more reinforced precast concrete elements which include a wide base, a central seating region, and a top back rest. The reinforced precast concrete elements are made in straight sections and radius sections. The radius sections are preferably either 45° or 90°. The sections are interconnectable so that a circular, square, serpentine or other suitable configuration for the bench barrier can be assembled on site.

Abstract: A cover system in use with a pavement slab, a communicating and downwardly extending manhole tube extending from the slab. The system includes a substantially annular shaped and three dimensional frame, encased within the pavement slab and such that a top edge extending surface of the frame lies substantially flush with a corresponding top edge surface of the slab. The frame further includes an inwardly facing, annular extending and recessed ledge in communication with the manhole tube. A cover is seatingly engaged and supported upon the recessed ledge, such that an upper edge surface of the cover is substantially flush with the top edge extending surface of the frame. A plurality of locking fasteners are arrayed at an angle relative to a perpendicular axis extending through the cover and the frame.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon mooring and transfer system includes a tower resting on the seabed, a vessel containing hydrocarbons, anchoring elements having at least four spaced-apart anchoring members connected via a respective anchor line to the vessel. A hydrocarbon transfer duct extends between a coupling position, located between the bow and stern of the vessel and the tower. The system includes at least six anchoring members, at least four of which are connected to the vessel, the vessel being attachable to at least two different groups consisting of four anchoring members in at least two orientations.

Abstract: A floating platform for recovery of oil and gas from offshore oil and gas fields includes a hull having a portion located substantially below the water surface, and including a portion thereof which extends above the water surface. The platform is anchored to the seabed by one or more tendons secured to the base of the hull and the seabed. The playload capacity of the floating platform is increased without redesigning the structural design of the hull by attaching a column extension or mounting a detachable buoyancy module to the lower end of the hull for accomodating changing platform pay load requirements.

Abstract: A riser guide is for use on a floating offshore platform, the platform comprises a topsides and a substructure having a lower pontoon, and at least one riser extends from a subsea location to the topsides. A number of riser guides are located in a guide housing which is secured to the platform. Each riser guide comprises a support arm rotatably mounted in the guide housing. A roller for laterally guiding the riser is rotatably mounted in an end of the support arm. A vertically movable wedge which is used for lifting the guide housing is connected to the support arm. During lifting of the guide housing the wedge lifts the support arm and the roller to an inactive position. When installing the riser guides, the guide housing and the riser guides are placed around the riser at the topsides, and lowered down in place by lifting gear connected to the wedges.

Abstract: An anchor, which is secured in a bore with a mortar, has an anchor member (12) located in the bore, a load application member (11) projecting out of the bore, at least one mixing element (13, 13′) for mixing components of the mortar, a drive element (20, 20′) provided on the anchor member (12) for setting in motion the at least one mixing element (13, 13′), and a trigger (21) for actuating the drive element (20, 20′) which automatically sets in motion the mixing member (15) upon actuation of the trigger means (21).

Abstract: An improved polyurethane/geotextile composite is prepared from a polyurethane forming composition in which a liquefied monomeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) is used as the isocyanate component. Such composites may be used to line canals and/or ditches by applying the geotextile soaked with polyurethane forming composition to the surface to be lined before the polyurethane-forming reaction has been completed and allowing the polyurethane to cure in place. These composites are characterized by improved physical and mechanical properties and the ability to withstand dramatic changes in the temperature of the environment in which they are employed.

Abstract: A system unloads material, such as bulk quantities of dry product, from a container, such as a railroad hopper car, in a fast and efficient manner. The container defines an interior adapted to contain a product and includes a product discharge section adapted to allow the product to pass therethrough. The material unloading system includes a product outlet line adapted to communicate with the product discharge section. The product outlet line includes a product outlet adapted to allow the product to pass therethrough. A source of pressurized fluid communicates with the product outlet line and is adapted to move product from the product discharge section to the product outlet. A source of vacuum communicates with the product outlet and is adapted to unload the product from the product outlet.

Abstract: A metal cutting insert for the chip-forming cutting (e.g., grooving) of metal workpieces includes a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side surface interconnecting the top and bottom surfaces. A front end of the insert forms a straight cutting edge, and a rear end of the insert forms a convexly curved abutment surface which abuts a concavely curved support surface of a holder. The abutment surface and the support surface have equal radii. The bottom surface of the insert comprises a V-shaped tongue which fits within a V-shaped groove of the holder. The side surface includes a front portion that forms an acute angle with the top surface, and a pair of intermediate portions that are convergent in a direction away from the cutting edge.

Abstract: A device for machining a solid carbide bar, which comprises means suitable to support the bar and turn the bar during machining, and a wheel for cutting the bar, which is supported by means suitable to move the wheel toward and away from the bar.

Abstract: A guide (12) for setting the depth of cut of a rotary cutting tool, or other hand-held power tool, which automatically locks into a desired position to set the depth of a cut without requiring manual operation of a locking knob or similar structure. The depth guide is released from the locked position by actuation of a release switch (94). The depth guide includes a depth guide base (50), a depth guide shaft (52) attached to the depth guide base, and an automatic locking and release mechanism (54) coupled to the depth guide shaft. The automatic locking and release mechanism and depth guide shaft may be mounted in a handle (24) of the hand-held power tool, such as a detachable handle, for mounting the depth guide to the tool.

Abstract: A spindle assembly for a machine tool includes a hollow spindle body, a pull rod movable within the spindle body, and a cutter inserted into the spindle body. An insert rod is connected removably to the cutter by an adapter, and is inserted into the spindle body. A chuck unit is disposed within the spindle body, and is retained on the pull rod so as to move with the pull rod. Each of the paw members is formed with an inward flange that is turnable to engage an outward flange on an end of the insert rod when the pull rod is moved within the spindle body, thereby locking the cutter on the spindle body.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a skid assembly for use with a cargo container. In one particular embodiment, the skid assembly comprises an elongate member having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface; a plurality of side extensions spaced at predetermined intervals along the side surface; and at least two locking fittings, attached to the upper surface, for removably attaching the skid assembly to at least two corresponding castings located on the lower surface of a cargo container. Alternately, the skid assembly may comprise: an elongate member having an upper surface, a lower surface, two end surfaces, and an end extension extending from each of the two end surfaces for slideably engaging at least two elongate tracks of a cargo locking system.

Abstract: An easy to use cargo restraining barrier device designed to keep fragile or spillable items in a vehicle's trunk or cargo area from sliding or tipping during transport. This versatile device is comprised of a length of flexible material of any cross-sectional shape that will fit snuggly against cargo and restrain it from undesirable movement. This barrier device is placed in position by the user to restrain cargo and is secured to trunk or cargo area carpet via Velcro hook-type pads bonded at intervals to the barrier's underside. The versatility of this device is derived from its flexible construction and its ability to conform to the various shapes of cargo items which is a distinct advantage over prior art. The simplicity of construction of this device offers potential economic advantages in cost to manufacture over prior art.

Abstract: A floor pocket assembly for use in securing a load to a vehicle floor. A pair of slightly spaced coaxial circular plates are bolted to the floor and a connector means is snapped over the top plate by means of a U-shaped member on one planar side thereof, and held in place by a spring loaded pin means which extends into the bore of the two circular plates.

Abstract: An improved nail fastener for boarding nails and particularly to a nail fastener adopted for use on fragile boards and panels such as gypsum boards mainly comprises a shank, a flange formed on one end of the shank, a drill bit formed on another end of the shank, a screw thread section formed on the peripheral surface of the shank and a center hole formed in the center of the shank for accommodating a screw nail. The shank has at least two debris troughs formed thereon. Each debris trough is extended diagonally from a blade nib of the drill bit to a front section of the screw thread section.

Abstract: A device for fastening tubular objects includes a C-shaped mounting rail (3) and a rail nut formed of a hollow profile having at least two constriction areas (13a, 13b and 14a, 14b) defining a through-opening (8) which is formed by two hollow cylindrical sections (9a, 9b) extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the through-opening (8) and having respective inner thread sections (10a, 10b) for receiving a fastening element there between.

Abstract: The present invention is a sleeve for receiving a pip pin. The sleeve includes a cylindrical housing. The housing has an axis and defines a bore along that axis. There are a plurality of spaced-apart annular lands to find within the bore. Each land is arranged to engage a plurality of locking balls on a shaft of a pip pin to secure the pip pin in the bore.

Abstract: An anchoring screw with double heads and triple threads of different depths of thread mainly includes a polygonal flange (or a polygonal sunken cavity) formed on the screw for fastening use. The screw has an upper section and a lower section forming respectively two bolts which have different screw thread specifications. One of the bolts has at least triple threads equally spaced from one another. The triple threads have different depths of thread. Thus the bolt of triple threads can provide an effective balance function when fastened into a construction hole to maintain a firm fastening without skewing. The screw threads of different depths of thread can also gather extruded cement debris when the screw is fastened into the construction hole to produce a stronger fastening effect. As there is no expansion incurred, the wall or board does not crack. Therefore the interval between the construction holes may be shortened, and number of construction holes may be effectively increased in a given unit area.

Abstract: A binding apparatus (10) facilitates a convenient, one-stage load-and-close binding system. The apparatus has a base (12) and a pivotable former door (18) movable between open and closed positions. A series of hooks (40) are provided to hold an open binder relative to the base for loading sheets (17) onto the open binder ringlets (26). The apparatus has three former surfaces or bars, including parallel opposed first (30) and second (32) former bars, as well as an adjacently-positioned third (34) former bar oriented generally perpendicularly to the first and second former bars. Generally, the binding apparatus is operable to squeeze a wire binder (22) between the opposed first and second forming bars to close the wire ringlets. Both spine (24) and free (28) ends of the wire ringlets for maintaining proper alignment.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic warehouse that enables an operator to work in an area located above his or her height as required. An automatic warehouse 1 comprises a pair of racks 3, 3 each provided with a large number of shelves 2 arranged in a vertical and lateral directions, and a transfer device 4 that moves between the pair of racks 3, 3. Work plates 7 can be arranged between the pair of racks 3, 3. Each of the work plates 7 comprises support members 8, 18 and 28 that bridge across the racks 3, 3 and plate materials 9 that can be freely attached to and removed from the support members 8, 18 and 28. The support members 8, 19 can be attached to and removed from corresponding body materials (struts 11, connection materials 12, or masts 13) constituting a frame of the automatic warehouse 1. The constituent members (plate materials 9 and support members 8, 18) of the work plate 7 can be housed inside the automatic warehouse 1 and outside a route for the transfer device 4.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a material container discharge assembly includes: a main frame assembly; material container impactors engaged to the main frame assembly; a discharge receiving gate having a material container receiving aperture and first, second, and third movable plates, where the first and third plates are movable between an open and closed position and further define a second plate receiving area for receiving the opposed second plate when the second plate and the first and third plates are in the closed position; and a substantially circular access chamber spaced below the material container receiving aperture that includes at least two access doors on substantially opposite sides of the chamber that operate to substantially air tight seal when closed and a sealing system having a sealing device movable between a disengaged position and an engaged position, where the engaged position operates to seal the container in position.

Abstract: An elevator delivery system is used with a truck body or trailer to facilitate loading and unloading cargo. The elevator delivery system includes a platform and drive mechanism for raising and lowering the platform. A control system and various types of switches allow the operator to control the raising and lowering of the platform.