Abstract: A seating pad assembly is provided for use by travelers to increase the comfort for a seat on a public transportation vehicle or at a public transit terminal. The seating pad assembly includes a cushion formed from a viscoelastic foam and having dimensions substantially conforming to the dimensions of at least the hip/thigh support and the back support of the seat. Thus, the viscoelastic foam will bridge hard points and pinch points of the seat and will efficiently support the traveler across the gap. The seating pad assembly further includes a removable cover, straps for holding the pad in a coiled condition and a carrying bag for transporting the pad assembly.

Abstract: A seating pad assembly is provided for use by travelers to increase the comfort for a seat on a public transportation vehicle or at a public transit terminal. The seating pad assembly includes a cushion formed from a viscoelastic foam and having dimensions substantially conforming to the dimensions of at least the hip/thigh support and the back support of the seat. Thus, the viscoelastic foam will bridge hard points and pinch points of the seat and will efficiently support the traveler across the gap. The seating pad assembly further includes a removable cover, straps for holding the pad in a coiled condition and a carrying bag for transporting the pad assembly.

Abstract: A child restraint includes a seat support and a juvenile seat mounted to swivel about an axis on the seat support. The seat support is adapted to set on a vehicle seat.

Abstract: A crank element is arranged rotatably between two support elements so as to prevent removal therefrom. The crank element is formed with a pair of generally inverted-L-shaped end portions each having a horizontal first end region and a vertical second end region bent from that first end region. Each of those two end portions is rotatably secured via retainer bush in each of two through-holes formed in the respective two support elements. The two through-holes each has an elongated hole region and a circular hole region. The retainer bush is resiliently deformable and has: a through-bore in which the first end region of crank element is rotatably support; and a groove portion in which the circular hole region of the through-hole is closely engaged.

Abstract: A backrest assembly has a backrest board pivotally attached in front of a backrest frame and a buffering resilient device connected between the backrest board and the backrest frame. The buffering resilient device has two resilient brackets with through holes penetrated by a transversal adjusting rod and has a rotating tube sleeving the transversal adjusting rod to be operationally stopped by a stop bar protruded from the backrest frame. Therefore, the backrest board has a resilient and buffering efficiency relative to the backrest frame by setting the buffering resilient devices. By rotating the transversal adjusting rod to different positions, the brackets of the buffering resilient device is extended in length, and resilience of the backrest assembly is changed.

Abstract: A framework fixed to the structure of a vehicle, which framework carries a generally planar seat proper via mobility structure for providing the seat proper with mobility relative to the framework. The seat proper is rigid and is suspended from the framework via a deformable structure which is deformable in at least one of the dimensions of the plane of the seat proper. The plane of the framework for supporting the seat proper is disposed above the plane of the seat proper that is supported by the framework, so as to impart a pendular type structure to the structure providing mobility to the seat proper relative to the framework.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor vehicle seat (2) comprising a seat part (6) which may be moved by means of a seat part mechanism (20) from an operating position into a non-operating position, a backrest (4) which may be swiveled by means of a backrest mechanism (8) about a swivel pin (10) in the direction of the seat part (6), and a coupling element (44) for coupling the movement of the backrest (4) to the movement of the seat part (6), the coupling element (44) cooperating with the backrest mechanism (8) and the seat part mechanism (20) such that the coupling element (44) exerts a tensile force on the seat part mechanism (20), in order to move the seat part (6) from the operating position into the non-operating position.

Abstract: An automotive seat reclining device includes a first rotation member connected to one of a seat back and a seat cushion and having an internal gear and a bearing sleeve coaxial with the internal gear, a second rotation member connected to the other of the seat back and the seat cushion and having an external gear and a bearing bore coaxial with the external gear, a pair of wedge members disposed in a circular eccentric space between the bearing sleeve and the bearing bore and a drive member inserted in the eccentric space to move the mesh of the internal and external gears by pushing the wedge members and rotate the second rotation member relative to the first rotation member. Each of the wedge members has an inner circumferential surface formed with a recessed section and two contact sections for contact with an outer circumferential surface of the bearing sleeve.

Abstract: An armrest is provided having sufficient area to support arms at a comfortable position. The armrest is capable of being stowed compactly to provide aisle width sufficient for passengers' walk-through, and also is capable of moved from its stowed position to its used position in a single motion. The armrest is mounted to a side portion of a seat back of a vehicle seat. The armrest includes an armrest main body and a pivot member supporting the armrest main body at the seat back side of the armrest main body. The armrest main body is pivotally attached to the side portion of the seat back via the pivot member, and the pivot member is skewed toward the vehicle rear at a substantial angle relative to a widthwise horizontal axis of the seat as it extends from a base to a distal end.

Abstract: A sling chair includes a back frame member having side rails held in substantially parallel relation by a pair of cross bar members. In one embodiment, the cross bar members are generally curved so as to extend away from the back faces of the side rails, forming a concave back structure which can receive a sling member and, eventually, a seated occupant. The cross bar members are adapted to retain the sling member in secure fashion through upper and lower backrest assemblies, resulting in better support and more efficient assembly. This also facilitates separate provisioning of decorative features to improve the chair's aesthetic qualities.

Abstract: At a side portion 22 of a seat back frame, not only does a rear first extending portion 52 bend and extend from a frame side plate portion 30 toward a seat back inner side at an obtuse angle, but also, in a vicinity of a central portion of a rear flange portion 50, a rear second extending portion 54 bends and extends from the rear first extending portion 52 further toward the seat back inner side. Therefore, even if a relatively large load toward a rear of a vehicle acts on the seat back frame and compressive stress is generated at an intermediate portion of the rear flange portion 50 in a heightwise direction of a seat back, it is difficult for cross-sectional collapsing to arise, and the load can be effectively supported at the frame side plate portion 30. There can be provided a seat back frame for a vehicle which can suppress an amount of bending deformation at the time of a rear collision, without leading to an increase in weight.

Abstract: A seat back support for seat cushioning to be attached thereto and provide a seat component is disclosed. In addition, a process for making the seat back support is also disclosed. The seat back support can have first panel and a second panel. The first panel can have a base portion and a raised portion extending outwardly from the base portion, and the second panel can have a corrugated structure with a channel portion extending from a joining surface. The second panel is fixedly attached to the first panel by having at least part of the raised portion melt and re-solidified while in contact with the joining surface of the second panel.

Abstract: At a vehicle seat 10, a cushion material 18 is provided at a frame 14 for a sitting portion of a seat frame 12, such that a seat cushion 20 is formed. An upper cushion member (three-dimensional solid knit fabric) 86, which is a surface layer portion of the cushion material 18, is stretched at the frame 14 for the sitting portion, and is layered on a cloth spring material 18 which is a lower layer portion of the cushion material 18. When the cloth spring material 68 is pressed and flexes downward due to pushing-against force which is based on body weight of a seated person at a time of sitting on the seat cushion 20, at regions of the cloth spring material 68 which are pushed by ischial tuberosities of the seated person, tensile forces of extension coil springs 80, which are forces in the pushing direction, act, and directions of tension of the cushion material 18 are in three dimensions.

Abstract: A seat includes a tray, a net mounted on the tray and a supporting device provided between the tray and the net. Thus, when a user sits on the seat, the net takes a proportion of the user's weight while the supporting device takes another proportion of the user's weight.

Abstract: A buckle holding structure for holding a buckle unit on a seat cushion, the buckle unit having: a belt of which one end is fixed to a vehicle body; and a buckle fixed to the other end of the belt, the buckle holding structure including: a band that has elasticity, has a predetermined width, and is folded in a U shape to form a folded portion, wherein both ends of the band are fixed to a rear end of the seat cushion so as to be disposed on the same plane in a width direction of the band; the belt of the buckle unit is inserted into a gap formed between both ends of the band, which is fixed to the rear end of the seat cushion, and the folded portion; and the buckle is caught by the folded portion.

Abstract: A dump apron for a dump truck, the apron pivotally mounted around a lower end of the dump opening at the rear of the dump body, and movable in response to the tilt position of the dump body between a lower flow-channeling position and a raised tailgate-securing position. In the tailgate-securing position the apron serves to seal leaks of the loaded material around the tailgate, and to function as a secondary lock to back up the tailgate's primary latching or locking mechanism. In the preferred form, the apron is held at an acute angle to the closed tailgate in the raised tailgate-securing position, forming a trough for collecting particulate material leaking around the tailgate from the loaded dump bed, and allowing visual inspection of the lower end of the tailgate and the tailgate's primary lock.

Abstract: A shearer-loader drive subassembly having a rotatably mounted drive sprocket, a transmission gear connected to the sprocket in a rotationally fixed manner, at least one releasable guide shoe provided for guiding the shearer loader on a rack arrangement, and a housing base plate, on which a bearing tube is supported and fastened in a rotationally fixed manner. The guide shoe is fastened by a pin which passes through the inner bore of the bearing tube and forms the pivot bearing for the guide shoe. A bearing sleeve rotatably supported on the bearing tube by a bearing may be arranged between the drive sprocket and the bearing tube, onto which bearing sleeve the drive sprocket may be pushed in a releasable manner.

Abstract: A wheel on a vehicle having a flat tire may be protected by attaching a first semi-cylindrical shell having a first planar end to the wheel, and attaching a second semi-cylindrical shell to the first semi-cylindrical shell. The first semi-cylindrical shell and the second semi-cylindrical shell are secured together so as to form a cylindrical shell of diameter having a cylindrical wall which covers a tread surface of the flat tire. The first semi-cylindrical shell is attached to the wheel to cover a first portion of a tread surface of the flat tire; and, after attaching the first semi-cylindrical shell, the wheel is rotated. The first portion of the tread surface does not contact a ground surface prior to the rotation step, but does contact a ground surface through the first semi-cylindrical shell after the rotation step. A connector for connecting the semi-cylindrical shells to the wheel is also disclosed.

Abstract: A hubcap for a wheel end assembly of a heavy-duty vehicle seals an outboard end of the wheel end assembly. The wheel end assembly includes a wheel hub formed with a cavity that contains lubricant, and the hubcap positively engages and mounts on the outboard end of the wheel hub to prevent the escape of lubricant and the ingress of contaminants. The integrally-formed hubcap includes a generally cylindrical sidewall and an outboard wall that extends generally perpendicular to the sidewall. A lip extends inboardly from and a shoulder extends radially outwardly from an inboard end of the sidewall, and the lip and shoulder cooperate to positively mechanically engage the outboard end of the wheel hub. An O-ring is disposed between the lip and the wheel hub to provide a seal. The hubcap also is adapted to accommodate components of a tire inflation system and other auxiliary components.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an adjustable width drive axle including: a main axle body including a telescoping portion disposed at each end of the main axle body; a sprocket affixed to each end of the main axle body, the sprocket designed to engage a drive unit; a first spacer removably affixed to the sprocket, the first spacer disposed around the telescoping portion of the main axle body; and a hub removably affixed to an end of the first spacer opposite the sprocket, wherein one or more additional spacers may be interposed between the first spacer and the hub or between the sprocket and the first spacer to adjust the width of the axle.

Abstract: A system for providing enhanced force and motion stability and management for a tow-vehicle towing a trailer assembly is disclosed. The system includes a tow-vehicle with an electronic stability enhancing system in communication with a processor with memory, and sensors located on the tow-vehicle are used for detecting engagement with a trailer and communicating with a trailer electrical system and the processor. Computer instructions instruct the processor to identify specifications representing the tow-vehicle and the trailer and to calculate at least one force, at least one motion, and combinations thereof, affecting the tow-vehicle and trailer assembly. Computer instructions provide instructions for braking to at least one wheel of the tow-vehicle using the at least one force, the at least one motion, the electronic stability enhancing system, and the specifications of the tow-vehicle towing the trailer assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus to enable the automatic release of a railway vehicle hand brake system from either side of the vehicle comprises a source of fluid pressure engageable with the vehicle. A release cylinder, operable by fluid pressure, is connected to a hand brake mechanism. A valve is connected intermediate the source of fluid pressure and the release cylinder causing the release cylinder to release the hand brake system. A first valve actuator is disposed on a first side of the vehicle and is connected intermediate the valve and the source of fluid pressure. A second valve actuator is disposed on an opposed second side of the vehicle and is connected intermediate the valve and the source of fluid pressure. Both the first and second valve actuators cause the valve to initiate communication of fluid pressure from the source of fluid pressure to the release cylinder.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronically regulatable vehicle brake system with traction control, in which a master cylinder is connected indirectly via a hydraulic unit to at least one wheel brake. The hydraulic unit has electromagnet valves and an externally triggerable pressure generator, for modulating the wheel brake pressure, optionally independently of the driver. For preventing wheel slip, the pressure generator is connected by its intake side to an intake conduit, among other things, that is controllable by an intake valve. To enhance the dynamics and improve the regulatability of a vehicle brake system, a self-aspirating pressure fluid storage unit is connected to the intake conduit and makes an aspiration volume available to the pressure generator.

Abstract: In an unstable driving situation of a vehicle with an electronically controlled hydraulic brake system with a front/rear split of brake circuits, for instance during a lane change, the inlet valve of one of the two front wheel brakes may be closed for the ESC in order to raise the pressure in only the other wheel brake of the brake circuit. If then the vehicle runs the risk of tipping over, ARP sets in. The vehicle path needs to be readjusted to reduce lateral forces. The ARP demands a pressure build-up in the curve-outer front wheel brake. The corresponding inlet valve will be opened for the ARP to allow a pressure build-up. However, the ESC may still demand a higher pressure on the initially actuated wheel brake to counter understeering. In this event, the inlet valve of the curve-inner wheel brake, which is under high pressure from the ESC intervention, will remain open to allow a cross-flow of brake fluid from the ESC wheel to the ARP wheel.

Abstract: A replaceable wear pad for a crawler track of a tracked vehicle includes base plates for fastening thereto wear pads in a detachable manner, the wear pad includes a tread and a bottom side lying opposite to the tread and facing the base plate, the wear pad containing at least one reinforcing element, and the reinforcing element being molded-in by the wear pad material, the reinforcing element includes at least two holes and the wear pad includes cavities that run coaxially to the holes of the reinforcing element and, coming from the bottom side, end above the reinforcing element and at a distance to the same with the cavities serving the purpose of accommodating fastening devices which are fastened to the reinforcing element of the wear pad.

Abstract: A guard for the axle seal of a wheeled tractor being an annular steel structure that bridges the plane of the seal between a spindle and final drive including a pair of axially spaced flanges having circular outer peripheries, at least one of the outer peripheries of the flanges being sized to produce a narrow gap seal with a circular interior surface of a wheel rim, a hub extending axially between the flanges and spaced radially inward of said flange outer peripheries, the flanges, hub and interior wheel surface defining an annular space adapted to trap debris.

Abstract: A medication container is designed for secure storage of medications and other controlled substances. The container top has a sloped configuration which resists the stacking of medical files and other objects atop it (which might obscure view of the container), and it also includes a curved sliding front door allowing both a frontal and top view of medications within the container. The door is locked by use of two separate locks, one intended for a pharmacist or other medication control officer, and one by the personnel administering the medication to patients, whereby either of these parties may independently access the interior of the container. The container is also preferably designed to rapidly have a removable medication tray installed within or removed from its interior, and to rapidly be fixed to a medication cart, patient bedside table, or other structure.

Abstract: A dishwasher comprising a base structure on which a tub is mounted. It comprises a top structure connected to the base structure by the strut-shaped members providing a cage-shaped support structure around the tub.

Abstract: A bathroom fixture has slide-mounted pullout drawers that extend diagonally forward from its sides. The fixture can be a lavatory with a vanity base in which one or more drawers are slidably mounted. The slide mechanism for each drawer includes a fixed race and telescoping rail supporting the drawer from underneath and another fixed race and telescoping rail mounted between a side wall of the drawer and a vertical support member. Both telescoping slides are mounted diagonally with respect to the front and the associated side of the vanity.

Abstract: A closing device for a drawer comprising an elongate hollow housing which includes front and rear portions, a rotating member slidably mounted in the front portion and a resilient member mounted in the rear portion. The front portion includes first and second portions with the first portion having a rotation-preventing internal surface and the second portion having a rotation-admitting internal surface. A locking step is defined by the differing internal cross sections of the first and second portions. The rotation of the rotating member in the first portion is prevented by the internal shape of the first portion relative to the external shape of the rotating member. The rotating member has an angular slot for receiving a guiding pin which is downwardly extending from the bottom surface of a top roller guide.

Abstract: A retaining mechanism for a slide assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, a holding member, a blocking member and a fixed plate. The second rail is slidably connected to the first rail. The holding member has a fixed end and slots. The fixed end is fixedly connected to the first rail. The blocking member has a fixed end and an engaging section, and is located between the holding member and the first rail. The fixed end of the blocking member corresponds to the fixed end of the holding member and is fixedly connected to the first rail. The engaging section corresponds to the slots of the holding member. The fixed plate is fixedly connected to the second rail and corresponds to the slots of the holding member.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a locating structure for slide rail, comprising a guide rail which is a rectangular plate disposed with a respective inward-turn slide groove on both sides of its bottom plate, wherein at least two locating holes at the predetermined locating positions are machined to form on the surface of the bottom plate; a slider which is a short frame whose slide plate on top extends to form a respective slide wing on its both sides corresponding to the slide grooves to form a socketingly connection, wherein a respective receiving hole is manufactured to form on both sides of the slide plate, a spring frame, disposed on the bottom of the slide plate and manufactured to form a ball hole on its bottom to socketingly connected with a rolling ball, extends upward an predetermined length from its both sides, respectively, and then bends inward to form a turn portion, respectively, one of which connects downward with a spring plate whose bottom contacts with the rolling ball and the other of whi

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a body, a compartment within the body, a container within the compartment, a door movable along a first direction with respect to the body and rotatable along a second direction, and a lifting mechanism supporting and elevating the container when the door rotates along the second direction. The lifting mechanism includes a hinge connecting the door with a frame connected with the rail assembly and allowing the door to rotate in the second direction, and at least one lifting bars coupled to the door and supporting and elevating the container when the door rotates about the hinge in the second direction.

Abstract: A refrigerator having a mounting structure capable of easily and conveniently achieving the mounting process for elements to be installed in an inner case. The refrigerator includes a first body including an inner case, an outer case, and a urethane foam filled between the inner case and the outer case, a coupling hole formed through the inner case, a mounting member coupled to the coupling hole at a first outside of the inner case by a first end of the mounting member and provided with a fastening hole, the mounting member being fixed between the inner case and the outer case by the urethane foam when the urethane foam is filled, and a fastening member fastened to the fastening hole at a first inside of the inner case.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a universal shelf assembly that can be mounted in either a stationary configuration or a sliding configuration. The shelf assembly includes a shelf unit having a base portion surrounded by a peripheral frame. The peripheral frame includes front, rear and opposing side frame members that include a mounting boss and a locating tab. When mounted in the stationary configuration, the shelf unit is mounted directly to a support unit through the mounting boss and locating tab. Conversely, when mounted in the sliding configuration, the shelf unit is mounted indirectly to a support unit. Arranged between the support unit and the shelf unit are glide members. The glide members include structure that cooperates with the mounting boss and locating tab that both secure the shelf unit and enable the shelf unit to shift relative to the support unit.

Abstract: A liquid jetting device includes a plurality of nozzles provided in a liquid jetting head, a charge-discharge actuator provided in correspondence with each nozzle, and a driving section for applying a driving signal to the charge-discharge actuator to jet liquid from the corresponding nozzle. The liquid jetting device includes a driving wave-form signal generating section configured to generate a driving wave-form signal as a basis of a signal for controlling a drive state of the actuator. A driving signal generating section is configured to amplify the driving wave-form signal generated by the driving wave-form signal generating section using a charge-use transistor and a discharge-use transistor connected in a push-pull configuration, and output a driving signal.

Abstract: A pneumatic ink-jet system is applied in an inkjet printer and uses a negative pressure generator, which is designed according to the Bernoulli's Theory, with a stable airflow in a certain speed to generated stable pressure inside at least one inkpot and at least one print head. Therefore, the at least one print head is kept in an appropriate wet state and the quality of printing is enhanced. Moreover, a top surface of the ink inside the at least one inkpot can be controlled to be higher than the at least one print head, so the pneumatic ink-jet system can be applied in a large format inkjet printer.

Abstract: Various embodiments of an apparatus and method for lifting an imaging head are disclosed.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus, which records a image on a recording medium using a recording head provided with a plurality of ink discharge ports, comprises a rotative platen having a plurality of supporting pieces arranged at predetermined intervals; rotation means for rotating the platen; conveyance means for conveying the recording medium; control means for controlling the rotation means to rotate the platen in the conveying direction of the recording medium in synchronism with the conveyance of the recording medium when recording is performed near the edge of the recording medium conveyed by the conveyance means. With the structure thus arrange, this ink jet recording apparatus is capable of performing the entire area recording (no margin recording) on a recording medium without staining the platen that supports the recording medium at the time of recording.

Abstract: A recovery mechanism comprises a recovery unit for performing a recovery process for recovering from clogging or contamination by ink in the nozzle array constituted by a plurality of nozzles. A conveyance mechanism supports and conveys, downstream, a recording medium that is conveyed from the upstream area of a conveyance path and handed over. A power control unit makes a control unit control the shutoff of a power supply to the nozzle array drive unit that drives the nozzle array when an abnormality occurs in the supporting and conveying of the recording medium that is performed by the conveyance mechanism in the recording process using the ink jetted from a plurality of nozzles or when the recovery unit makes contact with the nozzle array during recovery of the nozzle array in the recovery process.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus can form a high-quality image while acquiring a stable conveyance performance. A conveyance belt (21) conveys a recording medium (12) by attracting the recording medium (12) by an electrostatic force. A recording head (7) discharges liquid droplets toward the recording medium (12) being conveyed by the conveyance belt (21). Alternating positive and negative electric charges are applied onto the conveyance belt (21). A conveyance speed is controlled in accordance with a charge period length of the alternating positive and negative electric charges applied onto the conveyance belt (21).

Abstract: With this invention, compatibility between an image forming apparatus and a component mounted on the image forming apparatus is precisely checked. A cartridge, as the component, stores its ID (first information) and an ID (second information) of the image forming apparatus that can use the cartridge. The image forming apparatus stores its ID (third information) and an ID (fourth information) of the cartridge that can be used in the image forming apparatus. Then, when the fourth information includes the first information or the second information includes the third information, it is decided that the cartridge mounted in the image forming apparatus can be used. When the fourth information does not include the first information and the second information does not include the third information, it is decided that the cartridge mounted in the image forming apparatus cannot be used.

Abstract: The inkjet recording apparatus includes: a head which ejects ink droplets of light-curable ink to a print medium to form an image on the print medium; a light irradiating device which is located at a downstream side of the head, and irradiates light from a light source onto the ink droplets immediately after the ink droplets have been deposited on the print medium; and a control device which controls the light irradiating device in such a manner that luminous energy irradiated onto a region of the print medium where bleeding of the ink droplets would be conspicuous is greater than luminous energy irradiated onto another region of the print medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ink-jet recording apparatus having a nozzle provided on a nozzle face of an ink-jet head and a cleaning device for cleaning the nozzle face. The cleaning device contains a gas with a solubility in water lower than that of air in water.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a storage system are disclosed.

Abstract: A desktop printer unit having a printhead cartridge, capping mechanism, a media input assembly, a media output assembly and a transfer mechanism. The printhead cartridge defines an ink reservoir and has a pagewidth printhead integrated circuit having a plurality of micro-electromechanical nozzle arrangements and the capping mechanism for the nozzles. The transfer mechanism transfers printing media from the input assembly past the printhead integrated circuit to the output assembly.

Abstract: A wiper, a cleaning device, and an inkjet image forming device including the wiper and the cleaning device. The cleaning device includes a carrier moving in a lengthwise direction of a nozzle unit, the length of the nozzle unit corresponding to a width of a printing medium, a driving element moving the carrier forwards and backwards, and a wiper mounted on the carrier and removing ink adhered to the nozzle unit, wherein the wiper includes a belt member which is supported by a plurality of pulleys and circularly moves along a predetermined path and a cleaning member which is attached to an outer circumference of the belt member and removes the ink adhered to the nozzle unit while rotating in contact with the nozzle unit. Accordingly, an absorption capacity of the wiper is increased using the belt type wiper. Furthermore, since the absorption capacity of the wiper is increased, a replacement cycle for replacing the wiper is extended, thereby increasing the life span of the wiper.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for spitting are disclosed.

Abstract: A position detecting device for detecting a position of an object, includes a light emitting portion that emits light, a light receiving portion that receives the light from the light emitting portion, and a scale that is arranged between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion, and includes a position detecting pattern and a smear detecting pattern. The position detecting pattern has a first light transmitting portion for transmitting the light from the light emitting portion and a first light interception portion for intercepting the light from the light emitting portion which are alternately arranged in a detection range of the object. The smear detecting pattern for detecting smear of the scale has a second light transmitting portion for transmitting the light from the light emitting portion and a second light interception portion for intercepting the light from the light emitting portion which are alternately arranged.

Abstract: A device for printing a web moving in a direction (YB), wherein ink jets print on the web a printing width across its direction (YB) of advancement while traversing a printing station. The printing station includes one or more printer heads that produce ink jets over a footprint width which is narrower than the intended printing width over the web. One or more shaping elements bestow on the web traversing the printing station a V-shape so that the web is at least locally oriented oblique to the linear array of nozzles that project the ink. The ink from the printer head(s) is thus printed over the intended printing width of the web.