Abstract: A developing device capable of preventing deterioration of the image quality, which is caused when a developer recovered by a developing roller re-adheres thereto, and an image forming apparatus equipped with the developing device. The developer conveyance amount on the upstream side of an agitation conveyance path in a developer conveyance direction becomes larger than the amount of developer to be transported from a recovery conveyance path to the agitation conveyance path, by making the developer conveyance amount on the upstream side of an agitating screw in the developer conveyance direction equal to or larger than the developer conveyance amount on the downstream side of a recovery screw in the developer conveyance direction. Accordingly, the amount of developer existing on the upstream side of the agitation conveyance path in the developer conveyance direction becomes small, whereby the developer can be delivered smoothly from the recovery conveyance path to the agitation conveyance path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having an image carrier for forming an electrostatic latent image and a developing unit for developing the electrostatic latent image with a two-component developing agent, the developing unit includes: a developing agent carrier for developing the electrostatic latent image to form a visible image, having inside thereof a development main magnetic pole for forming a bristle of a magnetic brush; and a plurality of magnetic poles for conveying the developing agent, wherein the developing unit performs a counter type contact developing method, and wherein, the development area is formed so that, a contact width of the bristle of the magnetic brush is 70% or less with respect to a development width, and a center position of the contact width is positioned on an upstream side with respect to a center position of the development width in a rotation direction of said image carrier.

Abstract: A metering roller for a printing machine utilising a high viscosity ink. The metering roller has an axle, a cylindrical roller body formed on the axle and an annular surface layer. The annular surface layer has a surface of a low surface energy and a pattern of a plurality of ink receiving recesses formed in the annular surface layer. The annular surface layer can be integral with the cylindrical roller body or separate from it and can be a plastic material. The annular surface layer has a surface energy in the range of from 18 to 46 dynes/cm.

Abstract: The developing device 100 comprises stirring-transfer means 122, 124, a magnetic roller 130, and a developing roller 140, that are disposed in a housing 110 which contains the two-component developing agent comprising the magnetic carrier and the non-magnetic toner, wherein volumetric mean particle size of the non-magnetic toner is set in a range from 6 to 11 ?m, and proportion of toner particles not larger than 4 ?m is set to 8% by number or less, thereby making it possible to prevent imaging defect (ghost) and sticking of the toner onto the developing roller from occurring.

Abstract: A developing device usable with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a driving shaft having a rotating force applying portion, and a movable member. The developing device is mounted to the moving member and includes a developing roller, and a coupling member that includes a rotating force receiving portion and a rotating force applying portion. The coupling member is capable of taking (i) a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force to the developing roller, (ii) a pre-engagement angular position taken before the coupling member is engaged with the rotating force applying portion, in which the coupling member is inclined away from the rotational force transmitting angular position, and (iii) a disengaging angular position, which enables the coupling member to disengage from the driving shaft, and inclines the coupling member away from the rotational force transmitting angular position, in a direction opposite to the pre-engagement angular position.

Abstract: During a first operation, at least one of a first pattern and a second pattern is formed on a first area of an image carrier, and at least the other pattern is formed on a second area of the image carrier. The first area corresponds to a half of the image carrier, while the second area corresponds to the remaining half of the image carrier. During a second operation, a second pattern is formed on an area of the image carrier where a first pattern is formed during the first operation, and a first pattern is formed on an area of the image carrier where a second pattern is formed during the first operation.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes 1st to Mth photosensitive drums, a forming unit, an image-carrying member, a detecting unit, and a calibrating unit. The 1st to Mth photosensitive drums are arrayed in numeric order in a first direction. Each of the photosensitive drums is rotatable and has a circumferential length D. M is an integer no less than 1. The forming unit forms a registration mark on each of the photosensitive drums. Each of the registration marks formed on each of the photosensitive drums has a color different from one another. The image-carrying member extends in the first direction. The registration marks formed on the photosensitive drums are transferred onto the image-carrying member in the numeric order. The registration marks transferred onto the image-carrying member are arrayed in the first direction. Neighboring registration marks are spaced by a distance L in the first direction. The detecting unit detects positions of the registration marks transferred onto the image-carrying member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus using a tandem-drum development, an indirect image-transfer method, and a vertical sheet supply path. An intermediate image-transfer member is angled relative to a horizontal line such that a rear side of the intermediate image-transfer member away from a recording sheet is lifted and a front side of the intermediate image-transfer member closer to the recording sheet is lowered. Further, image creating mechanisms of the tandem-drum development are aligned and arranged in parallel to a moving image transfer bed of the intermediate image-transfer member, such that one of the image creating mechanisms firstly forming an image faces the rear side of the moving image transfer bed and another one of the image creating mechanisms lastly forming an image faces the front side.

Abstract: Rotation of photosensitive drums 21, 22, 23 and 24 is started and a full-color mode by a transfer roller drive unit is set for the exposing by an exposing unit 11. When the full-color mode is set, a transfer belt 25 contacts all the photosensitive drums 21, 22, 23 and 24. Then, after a paper sheet P passes through a secondary transfer roller 57, an all-separate mode by the transfer roller drive unit is set, and the rotation of the photosensitive drums 21, 22, 23 and 24 is stopped. When the all-separate mode is set, the transfer belt 25 separates from all the photosensitive drums 21, 22, 23 and 24.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus can uniformize the charged amount of toner on the intermediate transfer member and ensure a uniform transfer performance over the entire printing surface by means of a simple arrangement.

Abstract: A belt device includes a belt member, a detecting unit, and a preventing member. The belt member is stretched over a plurality of rollers and moves in a predetermined moving direction. The detecting unit detects deviation of the belt member in a belt width direction of the belt member. The preventing member is arranged near the detecting unit and prevents deviation of the belt member in a direction other than the moving direction and the belt width direction.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus has a heat member for heating an unfixed image and is configured so that a longitudinal center of the heat member becomes a conveyance center of the recording material, the image forming apparatus including a central portion temperature detection part adjacent to the conveyance center, an end portion temperature detection part for detecting an end portion temperature of the heat member, and a width detection part for detecting a lateral width of the recording material, wherein the width detection part is disposed at a side opposite to a side at which the end portion temperature detection part is disposed with respect to the conveyance center position of the recording material. The image forming apparatus achieves the control for error setting of the recording material based on the width detection part and the end portion temperature detection part.

Abstract: An apparatus to intermittently skive the paper and/or toner from a roller to prevent the paper and/or toner sticking to the roller and thus keep the paper moving along the transport path. The self-actuated skive intermittently touches the roller to minimize contact with the roller as the receiver moves along the transport path past the fuser by automatically optimizing the timing and force that the self-actuated skive touches the roller.

Abstract: In an induction heating fixing device according to the invention, a first induction heating coil that generates an induced current across the total length of a heat roller is provided on the outer circumference of the heat roller having a metal conductive layer. A second induction heating coil that generates an induced current at a central part of the heat roller is provided, which crosses the first induction heating coil and is arranged on the outer side than the first induction heating coil. With the first induction heating coil, the heat roller is heated across the total length without generating any uneven temperature. On-off control of the first induction heating coil and the second induction heating coil is carried out, and the temperature distribution in the longitudinal direction of the heat roller is kept constant irrespective of the size of a sheet paper P.

Abstract: A fixing unit which enables high-speed operation and miniaturization, and an image forming apparatus having the fixing unit, includes a heating member which is heated by a heat source, the heating member having a predetermined width; a rotating member to rotate in contact with the heating member; a driving member to rotate the rotating member; and a pressing member to press both sides of the heating member towards the driving member and to form a predetermined fixing nip between the rotating member and the driving member, wherein the heating member has a second moment of inertia which is set to maintain a fixing efficiency of 90% or more in a central portion of the heating member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing roller, a fixing belt which is made to rotate by a rotation force transferred from the fixing roller, a heat source which is mounted inside the fixing belt, a guide member, which is mounted inside the fixing belt, to guide the rotation of the fixing belt, and a belt meander preventing unit, which is mounted on the guide member, to elastically support both sides of the fixing belt and to prevent the fixing belt from meandering. Therefore, the sides of the fixing belt are elastically supported to gently absorb a reaction force acting on the end portion of the fixing belt, and accordingly it is possible to prevent the fixing belt from being damaged and meandering.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a magnetic field generating component that generates a magnetic field; a fixing member including a heat generating layer that is electromagnetically induced by the magnetic field to generate heat; a support disposed at an inner side of the fixing member; a pressure rotating body that applies pressure to the fixing member in the direction of the support; and a pair of magnetic circuit forming members that are disposed with the fixing member and the magnetic field generating component being placed therebetween and can be used while having either elastic deformation or plastic deformation applied thereto.

Abstract: A fixing device forms, with use of an endless belt and a fixing roller that are positioned facing each other, a fixing nip by placing the endless belt in contact with the fixing roller while causing a pressing member to press the endless belt from an inner side thereof against the fixing roller, and fixes an unfixed image onto a recording medium when the recording medium passes through the fixing nip. The fixing device includes (i) a sheet member that is provided between the endless belt and the pressing member and thus reduces friction therebetween, (ii) a supporting mechanism that movably supports the sheet member, and (iii) a sheet member moving part that, when a predetermined condition is not satisfied, keeps the sheet member at rest, and when the predetermined condition is satisfied, moves the sheet member in a certain direction by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image forming device component that includes an elastomeric material having a surface and a triboelectric charging material that may be exposed on the elastomeric material surface. The triboelectric material may be exposed by a finishing process that results in removal of a portion of the material leaving voids in the surface. The surface may have a surface roughness in the range of about 0.1 to 5.0 Ra. The component may include a developer roller in an electrophotograhic printer and may provide contact electrification to a given toner during a printing operation.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus include a cleaning member to remove a waste toner remaining in a photoconductive medium and a housing to support the cleaning member, including a waste toner admission portion to provide a transfer path of the waste toner removed by the cleaning member, and a waste toner collecting portion to store the waste toner. The housing has a first thickness corresponding to the waste toner admission portion and a second thickness corresponding to the waste toner collecting portion so that the first thickness is smaller than the second thickness.

Abstract: There is provided a cleaning apparatus having a cleaning member that makes contact with a surface of an image holder and vibrates due to friction arising when the surface of the image holder moves, the image holder bearing an electrostatic latent image developed using a developer having toner containing a crystalline resin, and a cleaning member support unit that supports the cleaning member and increases the amplitude of the vibration of the cleaning member.

Abstract: A developer conveying member includes: a conveying member body; an end-portion supporting member; and a supported member including: a first radiation direction extending portion; and a second radiation direction extending portion, the end-portion supporting member including: a cylindrical portion, and the supporting portion defining: a through hole; and a groove.

Abstract: A developing unit includes a waste toner housing having an upper housing and a lower housing which face each other, at least one support unit to allow connection between the upper and lower housings, and to support facing surfaces of the upper and lower housings, and a toner housing which is disposed on a lower part of the waste toner housing and is spaced apart from the waste toner housing at a predetermined distance. Accordingly, the waste toner housing is prevented from being deformed by heat and pressure, and thus white lines on images, flowback of waste toner and insufficient cleaning, which are caused by interference with the light path due to deformation of the waste toner housing, can be reduced. Additionally, tolerance can be greatly reduced as a result of resolving the problem of deformation of the waste toner housing, so a developing unit having a smaller size can be provided.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus that generates print data sent to a printing device acquires variable information from a plurality of devices, the variable information being finalized when the printing device carries out printing. The apparatus selects variable information from the plural pieces of variable information acquired from the plurality of devices in accordance with its own operation environment and operating location. The apparatus then adds the selected variable information to the print data and outputs the resultant.

Abstract: Techniques for scanning and generating fingerprints for articles prior to the use of the articles. The fingerprinting of the articles is performed such that it is decoupled from the process of using the articles. As a result, the fingerprinting process does not act as a bottleneck to the use of the articles. In one embodiment, a printer is provided that is configured to generate fingerprints for paper sheets loaded into the printer prior to the paper sheets being available for printing. The pre-fingerprinted sheets are then made available for printing. In this manner, the process of fingerprinting of the paper sheets is decoupled from the printing operations performed by the printer. As a result, the fingerprinting process does not act as a bottleneck to the printing process.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording sheet storage unit for storing recording sheets substantially in an upright position, an image forming unit which forms an image on a recording sheet conveyed from the recording sheet storage unit, and a recording sheet receiving unit for storing the recording sheet conveyed from the image forming unit substantially in an upright position. In this image forming apparatus, a paper conveyance passage extends upward from a lower portion of the recording sheet storage unit toward the recording sheet receiving unit. The image forming unit positioned on the paper conveyance passage comprises a fixing device and a developer unit at least including a developer carrier, and the fixing device is arranged above the developer unit. Further, a developer receptacle for storing developer that is supplied to the image forming unit is arranged adjacent to one longitudinal end of the developer carrier.

Abstract: An election ballot printing system includes a printer support structure which carries a printer. The printer and printer support structure are coupled together so that movement between them is restricted. A printer feed tray extension is carried by the printer support structure, wherein the printer feed tray extension includes a ramp and opposed guide rails which extend along the ramp. The opposed guide rails are positioned to guide a ballot into an input port of the printer.

Abstract: The present application is directed to image forming devices with option trays to introduce media into a media path. One embodiment include the image forming device having a body with a front, back, top, and bottom sides. The sides may form an interior space to contain an imaging unit. The imaging unit may include elements for producing toner images. A media path may extend in a substantially vertical orientation within the interior space. An integrated tray may be positioned at the bottom side of the body and include a first input tray and a manual feed inlet on the front side of the body. Each of first input tray and manual feed inlet form sections of the media path. An option tray may he operatively connected to the bottom side of the body, and may include a second input tray and a multi-purpose feeder. The option tray further lengthens the media path and provides additional avenues to introduce media sheets into the media path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the lateral position of a moving sheet in a sheet registration system. A side edge sensor is moved from a known location until the side edge of the moving sheet is detected. A signal is generated indicative of the position of the side edge when it is detected. The position of the side edge as indicated by the signal is used along with skew of the sheet to determine the lateral position of the sheet.

Abstract: A conveying device that conveys a recording medium includes an aligning member into which the leading edge of a recording medium bumps and a control unit that changes conveyance speed of the recording medium moving on a conveying path to bump into the aligning member.

Abstract: A duplex image forming apparatus includes a driving unit which has driving rollers and driven rollers to reversely feed the paper printed on the first surface to a duplex printing part or discharge the paper printed on the first and second surfaces, and a separation unit which separates the driven rollers from the driving rollers while the paper printed on the first surface is reversely fed and registered by duplex rollers of the duplex printing part. Accordingly, when the paper is registered by the duplex rollers, because the paper is not caught in the driving rollers and the driven rollers, the paper can be easily registered.

Abstract: The invention describes a sheet conveying device having a feed tray for storing sheets, a first conveying path for conveying a first sheet in a first direction, a feed roller that feeds the sheets in the feed tray to the first conveying path, a second conveying path that connects the first conveying path and the feed tray, and conveys the first sheet in a direction opposite the first direction, and a multiple feed guide in the second conveying path, which has a guide for guiding the first sheet between the feed roller and the feed tray, and an overlying portion which overlies the feed tray on one side of the feed roller. The feed roller feeds the first sheet that was fed to the first conveying path, and was guided by the multiple feed guide, back to the first conveying path. A duplex printer incorporates this sheet conveying device.

Abstract: A recording device includes a feed tray for storing sheets, a first conveying path, an arm having one end attached to a pivot, and a roller attached to the other end of the arm. The roller feeds the sheet to the first conveying path. A recording unit is positioned in the first conveying path, and records an image onto the sheet. The recording device also includes a second conveying path between the pivot and the feed tray, and a path changing unit. The path changing unit moves between a first position, where it discharges the sheet, and a second position, where it conveys the sheet to the second conveying path. The arm moves between a third position where the roller contacts the sheets in the feed tray, and a fourth position where the roller is above the second conveying path.

Abstract: The present invention supplied an excellent printer which can print on a thick print medium without deformation of character. In the printer, a tension spring is respectively furnished on both ends of a carriage shaft which slidably supports a carriage carrying a print head, and pulls the carriage shaft upward; a carriage shaft gear is respectively fixed the both ends of the carriage shaft and engages with rack furnished on a side frame; the carriage shaft only moves up and down; and when a print medium P whose thickness is a predetermined thickness or over is fed, the carriage does not incline, but evenly moves upward through rotation of the carriage shaft gear.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for extending printing device availability detect a level of printing consumable, compare the detected level of printing consumable to a threshold level, provide a selection of printing modes if the detected level of printing consumable is less than the threshold level, and control the printing device to print in the selected printing mode. Printing device availability-extending modes include printing in a lower resolution, simulating black with a composite of colors, and/or printing in a substitute color when the level of one or more colors is low. The methods disclosed are applicable to a variety of printing devices including laser printers, ink-jet printers, LED printers, plotters, facsimile machines, digital copiers and multi-function printing devices.

Abstract: A printing apparatus is provided that can display information necessary for recovery during operation of the printing apparatus to a user at low cost. The printing apparatus of the present invention performs printing upon receiving print information generated by a print information generation apparatus, and the printing apparatus can communicate with an external processing apparatus such as a portable telephone held by the user. The printing apparatus further has a short-range data communication unit performing wireless personal area network communication such as infrared communication, and transmits printing apparatus information showing the status of the printing apparatus such as error messages about the printing apparatus to the external processing apparatus via the short-range data communication unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing RFID labels includes a feeding roller drive shaft configured to feed a base tape provided with a plurality of types of RFID circuit elements having an IC circuit part storing information and a tag antenna and corresponding to each of a plurality of types of communication frequency, and an antenna configured to perform information transmission and reception using the plurality of types of communication frequencies with respect to the plurality of types of the RFID circuit elements of a tag label tape with print being fed, and when a RFID label production command for producing a RFID label is input from an operation terminal, a central control part control in coordination so that the plurality of types of RFID labels using the plurality of types of RFID circuit elements, respectively, corresponding to the command is produced in a lump sum.

Abstract: A printing calorimetric control device of the present invention is configured to comprise a reception section which receives a designation for a colorimetry position on a predetermined image; a printing control section which prints an image on a print medium on the basis of image data which represent the predetermined image; a determination section which determines a position when a colorimetry section is caused to perform colorimetry on the predetermined image printed on the print medium on the basis of the designation; a conveyance section which conveys the print medium for which printing has been completed on the basis of the position thus determined; and a colorimetric control section which acquires a colorimetry value of the colorimetry position of the designation by causing the colorimetry section to execute colorimetry on the basis of the position thus determined.

Abstract: A tape drive comprising two motors, two tape spool supports on which spools of tape may be mounted, each spool being drivable by a respective one of the motors, and a controller. The controller controls the energization of the motors such that the tape may be transported in at least one direction between spools mounted on the spool supports. The controller is configured to store a plurality of motor control data items, each data item being associated with a respective tension value. The controller is operative to monitor tension in a tape being transported between spools mounted on the spool supports; read a motor control data item based upon the monitored tension; generate a motor control signal based upon the read motor control data item; and apply the motor control signal to at least one of the motors.

Abstract: A keyboard. A membrane circuit assembly is disposed on a base plate. A key base is disposed on the membrane circuit assembly and comprises a first metal conducting portion and a second metal conducting portion. The first and second metal conducting portions are connected to a power source. An activating body is movably connected to the key base and comprises a third metal conducting portion and a fourth metal conducting portion. The third and fourth metal conducting portions are detachably connected to the first and second metal conducting portions, respectively. A light-emitting element is disposed on the activating body and connected to the third and fourth metal conducting portions. A keycap is disposed on the light-emitting element and connected to the activating body. The keycap drives the activating body to move, enabling the third and fourth metal conducting portions to respectively connect to the first and second metal conducting portions.

Abstract: An image printing device comprising a load unit that loads a plurality of overlapped printing media; a printing unit that performs a printing process for the printing media transported from the load unit; a moving unit that is movable in a predetermined main scanning direction; a printing medium detecting unit that is mounted to the moving unit and detects a signal relating to a presence of a printing medium; a position detecting unit that detects a position of the moving unit; and a control unit that determines a change in the presence of the printing medium based on the detected signal from the printing medium detecting unit at a time when the moving unit is moved at a predetermined timing in the printing process, sets one or more measured position based on the position of the moving unit at a time when the presence of the printing medium changes, determines that duplicate transport with a horizontal discrepancy occurs when a width calculated based on the measured position is approximately the same as a the

Abstract: An image forming system includes a sheet accommodating section, an image forming section, a term management section, a detecting section, and a display section. The sheet accommodating section has a plurality of sheet trays each accommodating therein printing sheets with advertisement. The term management section has stored therein information on a term of validity of the advertisement as advertisement term information connected with a sheet tray. The detecting section detects whether or not the advertisement is currently valid, based on the advertisement term information. Also, the detecting section determines during printing whether or not the term of validity of the advertisement on the printing sheets accommodated in a sheet tray being used in printing has expired. The display section displays information that a sheet tray other than the sheet tray being used is present which accommodates therein printing sheets each carrying an advertisement which is currently valid, if any.

Abstract: A medium transport apparatus includes a feeding roller configured to rotate around a rotational axis. A guide rail extends along the rotational axis. A slider is supported by the guide rail and movable along the rotational axis. A rotatable pinch roller is configured to clamp medium between the feeding roller and the pinch roller to move the medium. A lever is connected to the pinch roller and movable to change a clamping state with respect to the medium between the feeding roller and the pinch roller. An arm is connected to the slider and configured to take an engaging position where the arm moves the lever to change the clamping state when the slider moves along the rotational axis and a standby position where the arm is not engaged with the lever when the slider moves along the rotational axis.

Abstract: The present application is directed to devices and methods of protecting an input tray of an image forming apparatus. One embodiment of a device may include a mounting bracket that is attached to and positioned within an interior of the image forming apparatus. A cover may be movably attached to the mounting bracket. The cover may be positionable between a first retracted orientation positioned within the interior of the image forming apparatus and a second extended orientation positioned over a portion of the input tray that extends outward from the interior of the image forming apparatus. A biasing member may be operatively connected to the cover to bias the cover towards the first retracted orientation.

Abstract: A stackable printer module includes a housing surrounding a frame. The housing defines footing holes and print head assemblies are housed within the housing. The print head assemblies are configured to engage with print media and effect double-sided printing on the print media. A print media loading mechanism is housed within the housing and includes a pair of opposed endless drying belts between which the printed print media can be loaded. Feet extend from the housing and are spaced apart to engage in respective footing holes defined in the housing of another printer module so that the printer modules can be stacked together.

Abstract: A case for use with a stenotype machine, portable computer, and cables, power supply equipment, memory devices, as well as paper, writing utensils, and the like to form a mobile workstation. The case includes a top, a bottom, and a circumscribing sidewall, the top removably or hingedly attached to the side wall to cover an interior that is divided into multiple compartments, including at least a first compartment to store the portable computer, a second compartment to store the stenotype machine, and a third compartment to store cables for data and power that are connected to the computer and stenotype machine, the sidewall having an access opening for the stenotype machine to deploy for use while remaining attached to the case, and the case further including a bottom wall to which a stand is removably attached.

Abstract: Procedure for dispensing depilatory wax in a regulated manner, comprising the steps of positioning, in an inverted position, a container (2) of wax (1a) with an outlet opening (3) for said wax in such a way that the outlet opening (3) is in the lowest part of the container (2); heating it, directly inside the container, until it melts the wax in the container by inserting into the wax a heating element (11) that passes through the outlet opening (3) of the container (2), so that the wax (1a), by gravity, flows out of the container through the outlet opening (3); and regulating the quantity of wax to be dispensed. A device for performing said procedure comprising a container (2) and a dispenser device (8) that can be attached to each another, the dispenser device (8) having a valve element (5) for dispensing the wax and a heating means (11) for heating the wax.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a press-type cosmetic container with an anti-press means. That is, a cosmetic container adopts the way of pressing to output the material therein. More particularly, the press cover of the cosmetic container is stopped by a block to prevent discharging or leaking the material in the cosmetic container.

Abstract: A cap for a writing instrument includes a cap body having a peripheral wall formed with an elongated mounting recess, a retaining cover removably mounted in the mounting recess of the cap body, and a magnet mounted between the cap body and the retaining cover. Thus, the cap and the writing instrument are attached to the surface of a whiteboard or other metal by the magnetic force of the magnet, so that a user can use the writing instrument easily and conveniently, thereby facilitating the user using the writing instrument, and thereby preventing the writing instrument from being lost.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing fluid, such as soap for washing items such as dishes and the like, is disclosed having a piston mechanism with a seal between a piston head and cylinder. The apparatus may include a one-way valve to prevent fluid from entering a soap storage reservoir. The apparatus may include a sponge head portion for scrubbing the items, for instance, and for receiving soap dispensed by the apparatus.