Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a fixing unit in which flickers can be effectively reduced while inhibiting electric current imbalance. The fixing unit comprises a fixing heater, a switching unit for switching the fixing heater on/off with an AC power source, and a control unit which controls the switching unit to switch in units of the half wave period of the AC power source AC, and a storing unit for storing a plurality of energization patterns which define the ways of performing the switch control. Each energization pattern corresponds to a control cycle which contains a three or more odd number of the half wave periods each of which is either an OFF period and an ON period, and all the half wave periods of the smaller in number of the ON periods and the OFF periods are not successively arranged.

Abstract: A cleaning device is provided in an image forming apparatus, and cleans an object to be cleaned. The cleaning device includes a cleaning member, a cleaning mechanism, a motor, a cleaning control portion, and a driving change portion. The cleaning member slides along the object to be cleaned. The cleaning mechanism causes the cleaning member to slide along the object to be cleaned. The motor drives the cleaning mechanism. The cleaning control portion drives the motor with a predetermined driving voltage being applied to the motor, and stops the driving of the motor after a predetermined driving time has elapsed. The driving change portion is able to change one or both of the driving time and the driving voltage.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, when it is determined that a pre-execution condition is satisfied, a cleaning unit is brought from a first state into a second state and is controlled to clean the bearing body. When it is determined that an execution condition is satisfied, a pattern acquisition is executed to form a pattern image on the bearing body by using an image forming section and to acquire characteristics of the pattern image based on detection results. The pre-execution condition includes a condition that a correlation value satisfies a first condition. The correlation value is correlated with an amount of deviation in characteristics of images formed by the image forming section. The execution condition includes a condition that the correlation value satisfies a second condition. The correlation value satisfies the first condition before satisfying the second condition.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image forming apparatus that has a developing unit, an intermediate transfer body, and a transfer roller and may prevent contamination of the transfer roller and a printing medium by the toner remaining in a test pattern forming area of the intermediate transfer body. The image forming apparatus includes a developing unit to allow an image to be formed by a developing agent, an intermediate transfer body provided with an image forming area and a test pattern forming area, the image being transferred from the developing unit to the image forming area and the test pattern forming area, and a transfer roller allowing the image to be transferred from the image forming area to a printing medium, wherein a maximum transfer length of the transfer roller is less than a maximum image forming length of the developing unit.

Abstract: A connector having a magnetically attractable support loosely attachable to an exterior surface of the replaceable item for use in an image forming device. The connector is interconnectable with a second connector of the image forming device, the second connector having a magnet and an electrical contact adjacent to an operating position of the replaceable item wherein when the connector is attached to the replaceable item and the replaceable item is in the operating position, a magnetic field draws the support away from the replaceable item and the electrical contact of the connector into operational contact with the electrical contact of the second connector. The mounting of the support allows the support to be drawn away from the replaceable item and remain attached thereto.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a development device, and a toner case. The apparatus main body includes an image carrier and a main body side connecting part including a main body side connector and a main body side housing. The toner case includes a case side connecting part including a case side connector and a case side housing. The development device is movable in a first direction as an approach/separation direction to the image carrier in a situation in which the development device is installed to the apparatus main body. The case side housing fits to the main body side housing and a case side terminal comes into contact with a main body side terminal in a situation in which the development device is installed to the apparatus main body and the toner case is installed to the development device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a roller pair, a paper dust collecting member, a scraping member, and a paper dust receiver. The paper dust collecting member can be drawn out from the apparatus main body and is disposed along an axis direction of the roller pair so as to collect paper dust adhered to one roller of the roller pair. The scraping member scrapes off paper dust adhered to the paper dust collecting member when the paper dust collecting member is moved in a draw-out direction. The paper dust receiver is disposed below the scraping member so as to receive the paper dust scraped off by the scraping member.

Abstract: A developer container includes: a developer chamber, provided with an opening, for accommodating a developer; a rotatable member rotatably supported in the developer chamber; and a sealing member for being removed at the opening by being wound up by the rotatable member, wherein the sealing member is provided in the developer chamber and includes a first end portion connected to the rotatable member and a second end portion sealing the opening. Sealing of the opening is made by bonding the sealing member along an edge of the opening. The developer container includes a first bonding portion provided upstream of the opening and a second bonding portion provided downstream of the opening with respect to an unsealing direction of the sealing member. A peeling-off force for peeling off the sealing member at a predetermined angle is larger at the first bonding portion than at the second bonding portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member unit, a development device, a developer collection mechanism and a unit support tray. The developer collection mechanism is arranged on a downstream side in a first direction where the development device and the image carrying member unit are fitted into the main body of the image forming apparatus and the toner discharge portion of the image carrying member unit is coupled to the developer collection mechanism. The unit support tray is provided such that the unit support tray can be moved horizontally in the first direction and a second direction where the development device and the image carrying member unit are removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus; the unit support tray is moved in the first or second direction such that the toner discharge portion and the developer collection mechanism are coupled or the coupling is cancelled.

Abstract: An image forming unit includes a cartridge and a unit frame. The cartridge has a cartridge-grip. The unit frame is configured to accommodate the cartridge. The unit frame includes a first plate, a second plate, a first beam, and a second beam. The first plate has a through hole. The first beam extends between the first plate and the second plate. The first beam includes a frame-grip disposed between an upper end of the first beam and a lower end of the first beam. The second beam extends between the first plate and the second plate. When the cartridge is accommodated in the unit frame, a distance between the lower end of the first beam and an upper end of the frame-grip is smaller than a distance between the lower end of the first beam and an upper end of the cartridge-grip.

Abstract: A rotation driving force transmitting member is disposed between a motor section and a main body of a photoreceptor drum. The rotation driving force transmitting member has a convex member which is provided on the photoreceptor drum side and includes a twisted convex portion with an elliptical cross-section and a concave member which is provided on the motor section side and includes a twisted concave portion with an elliptical cross-section, the concave portion being fitted in the convex portion. The rotation driving force transmitting member transmits rotation driving force by the motor section to the photoreceptor drum via the convex member and the concave member in a state where the convex member is subjected to a drawing force toward the concave member side, due to rotation of the motor section in a state where the convex portion and the concave portion are fitted in each other.

Abstract: A brilliant toner includes toner particles which at least contain a brilliant pigment, a binder resin, and a release agent; and an external additive, wherein a ratio (X/Y) of a specific surface area X (m2/g), calculated from a projected image of the toner particles, to a BET specific surface area Y (m2/g) of the toner particles is from 0.3 to 1.0.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge supporting member for supporting a plurality of drum cartridges each including a photosensitive drum, wherein the drum cartridge supporting member is movable, with respect to an axial direction of the photosensitive drum, between a first position inside a main assembly of the image forming apparatus and a second position, outside the main assembly, in which the drum cartridges are mountable and dismountable; a guide portion for guiding a plurality of developing cartridges each including a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum, wherein the guide portion individually guides the developing cartridges mountably to and demountably from the main assembly in an axial direction of the developing roller; and a moving mechanism for moving the developing cartridge mounted in the main assembly between a developing position in which the electrostatic latent image is to be developed and a retracted position in wh

Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include a casing, and a plurality of image carriers arranged in parallel along one direction in the casing and formed with an electrostatic latent image. The apparatus can further include a plurality of developing agent carriers opposed to the image carriers, for visualizing the electrostatic latent image by feeding a developing agent to the image carriers, and a plurality of developing agent cartridges, arranged in parallel in the one direction to be opposed to the developing agent carriers in the longitudinal direction of the developing agent carriers, and configured to be together attachable/detachable to/from the casing along the one direction, for accommodating the developing agent fed to the developing agent carriers.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming device configured to form a toner image on a sheet; a fixing device, including first and second rotatable members for forming a nip, configured to fix the toner image formed on the sheet by the image forming device; a mounting portion to which the fixing device is detachably mountable substantially along a longitudinal direction thereof; a pressing mechanism configured to press the first rotatable member toward the second rotatable member by entrance thereof, along a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, into a space of the mounting portion through which the fixing device passes during mounting and demounting; and a retracting mechanism configured to retract the pressing mechanism from the space.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section including an image carrier and a developing device, and a developer recovery mechanism. The developing device includes, a developer carrier, and a developer discharge portion. The image forming section incorporates a developing device employing a first developing method where toner is caused to adhere to the image carrier by a magnetic brush formed on the developer carrier, or a developing device having a toner carrier between the developer carrier and the image carrier, and employing a second developing method where a toner layer is formed on the toner carrier by a magnetic brush formed on the developer carrier, and toner is caused to adhere to the image carrier by the toner layer formed on the toner. These developing devices, in the image forming section, each have a same positional relationship between the developer discharge portion and an image-carrier rotation shaft.

Abstract: A toner case is directly or indirectly connected to a housing 31 that contains toner at a first connection portion 43 and a second connection portion 44, and includes: a bracket portion 33 that is formed so as to link the first connection portion 43 and the second connection portion 44; protrusions 51 and 52 that are formed on the bracket portion 33, allow for attachment of the housing 31 to an apparatus body of a specific model, and do not allow for attachment of the housing 31 to the apparatus body of other models except for the specific model; and a functional member 55 that is installed on the bracket portion 33 and that fulfills a predetermined function.

Abstract: A toner housing container includes: a container body housing a toner; a conveying portion; a pipe receiving port; and an uplifting portion. Flow rate index of the toner measured by powder rheometer and represented by “flow rate index=(total energy at a rotation speed of 10 mm/s)/(total energy at a rotation speed of 100 mm/s)” is in a range of “1.8?flow rate index?6.5”. Container body includes protruding portion protruding from container body interior side of container opening portion toward one end of container body. Uplifting portion includes: uplifting wall surface extending from container body internal wall surface toward protruding portion; and curving portion curving to conform to protruding portion. When the toner housing container is mounted on the toner conveying device, the protruding portion is present between the curving portion and the toner receiving port of the conveying pipe being inserted.

Abstract: Toner housing container includes: container body mountable on toner conveying device and housing toner supplied into toner conveying device; conveying portion provided in container body and conveying toner from longer direction one end of container body to other end at which container opening portion is provided; pipe receiving port provided at container opening portion and receiving conveying pipe fixed to toner conveying device; and uplifting portion to move toner conveyed by conveying portion toward toner receiving port of conveying pipe. Toner has loose apparent density of 0.28 g/cm3 to 0.53 g/cm3. Container body includes protruding portion protruding from container body interior side of container opening portion toward one end. Uplifting portion includes uplifting wall surface extending from internal wall surface of container body toward protruding portion, and curving portion curving to conform to protruding portion.

Abstract: A developer container includes: an accommodating frame, provided with an opening through which a developer is passable, for accommodating the developer; a first shutter and a second shutter which are movable between an open position where the opening opens and a closed position where the opening is closed; a first lever, provided on the first shutter, for moving the first shutter by being urged and moved; and a second lever, provided on the second shutter, for moving the second shutter by being urged and moved. Each of the first shutter and the second shutter is moved from the closed position to the open position by moving the first shutter and the second shutter in mutually spacing direction to open the opening.

Abstract: A developer container includes: an accommodating portion accommodating a developer and being provided with an opening through which the developer is passable; a shutter member for opening and closing the opening; a projection for moving the shutter member; and a guiding portion for guiding the projection. When said projection is pushed in a pushing direction, the projection is moved in a direction different from the pushing direction by being guided by the guiding portion in contact with the guiding portion and thereafter is moved in the pushing direction, thereby to move the shutter member to open the opening.

Abstract: A developer unit for an image forming apparatus is provided. The developer unit includes a developer device with a developer agent carrier and a developer agent supplier, and a developer agent container, which contains the developer agent and is arranged in a lower position with respect to the developer device. The developer agent container is formed to have a fitting wall, which is curved inward at a position to be adjacent to the developer device. The fitting wall is formed to have a feeding opening and a collecting opening. The developer unit is further provided with a first conveyer, which is rotated about a rotation axis to sweep an inner surface of the developer agent container and convey the developer agent toward the feeding opening, and a second conveyer, which is arranged along the developer agent supplier and conveys the developer agent toward the collecting opening.

Abstract: Toner housing container includes: container body housing a toner; conveying portion conveying the toner from longer direction one end of container body to its other end at which container opening portion is provided; pipe receiving port receiving a conveying pipe fixed to toner conveying device; and uplifting portion moving the toner toward toner receiving port of conveying pipe. Toner has molecular weight distribution having a peak in a range of 103 to 104, and has C/R of from 0.03 to 0.55 between peak height C attributed to crystalline polyester resin and R attributed to non-crystalline resin when measured by FT-IR after stored at 45° C. for 12 hours. Container body includes protruding portion protruding from container body interior side toward the one end. Uplifting portion includes uplifting wall surface extending from container body internal wall surface toward protruding portion. Protruding portion is present between uplifting wall surface and toner receiving port.

Abstract: A toner housing container includes: container body; conveying portion; pipe receiving port; and uplifting portion. Container body includes; protruding portion protruding from container body interior side of container opening portion to one end of container body; and shutter member moving between closing and opening positions to close and open container opening portion. Uplifting portion includes: uplifting wall surface extending from container body internal wall surface toward protruding portion; and curving portion curving to conform to protruding portion. Shutter member moves from closing to opening position upon push by conveying pipe. When toner housing container is mounted on toner conveying device, protruding portion is present between curving portion and toner receiving port of conveying pipe inserted and extends along shutter member moving region. Toner has bulk density of ?0.399 g/cm3 when toner housing container is shaken up-and-down 10 times at 25° C.

Abstract: A replenishing developer housing container according to the present invention includes: a container body housing a replenishing developer; a conveying portion; a pipe receiving port; and an uplifting portion, wherein the replenishing developer contains a toner and a carrier, wherein the container body includes a protruding portion protruding from a container body interior side of the container opening portion toward one end of the container body and a curving portion curving so as to conform to the protruding portion, wherein the uplifting portion includes an uplifting wall surface extending from an internal wall surface of the container body toward the protruding portion, wherein the protruding portion is provided such that when the replenishing developer housing container is mounted on the replenishing developer conveying device, the protruding portion is present between the curving portion and the replenishing developer receiving port of a conveying pipe being inserted.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a cartridge for use therewith are provided. The image forming apparatus includes a main body; a cartridge that stores a developer; a supporting member that receives the cartridge; and a side cover that covers the supporting member, where the supporting member is rotatably supported by the main body. The supporting member pivots between a reception position at which the cartridge is received into the main body and an exposure position at which the cartridge is exposed from the main body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit including a plurality of photoconductor drums arranged in tandem; a conveyor belt arranged opposite to the photoconductor drums and configured to convey a recording sheet; and a cleaning unit including a cleaning member positioned in contact with the conveyor belt and configured to collect substance adhering to the conveyor belt, and a receptacle configured to store the substance collected by the cleaning member. The cleaning member is arranged on the same side as the image forming unit with respect to the conveyor belt and upstream from the image forming unit as viewed in a sheet conveyance direction along which the recording sheet is conveyed on the conveyor belt, and the image forming unit and the cleaning unit are pulled out together from a main body of the image forming apparatus toward an upstream side of the sheet conveyance direction.

Abstract: A development device includes a developer container that contains developer; a rotatable electrostatic latent image carrier that forms an electrostatic latent image thereon, being arranged below the developer container; a rotatable developer carrier that provides the developer to the electrostatic latent image carrier so that the electrostatic latent image is developed with the developer to form a developer image; and rotatable first and second developer supply members that supply the developer to the developer carrier. Wherein the first developer supply member and the second developer supply member are arranged next to each other and facing the developer carrier, and an outer diameter (D12) of a central portion of the first developer supply member in a rotation axis direction is smaller than outer diameters (D11, D13) of two end portions of the first developer supply member.

Abstract: A developing device configured to develop a latent image formed on an image bearing member includes a rotatable developing-agent bearing member configured to bear developing agent, a developing container configured to form a developing-agent storage chamber that stores the developing agent, a developing-agent regulating portion provided in the developing container to regulate an amount of the developing agent born on the developing-agent bearing member, a support portion configured to support the developing-agent bearing member movably relative to the developing-agent regulating portion, and a pressurizing member configured to pressurize the developing-agent bearing member toward the developing-agent regulating portion. A contact portion of the developing-agent regulating portion with the developing-agent bearing member is fixed to the developing container without forming a gap from the developing container on a downstream side in a pressurizing direction of the pressurizing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a generation tendency determining section to determine, before execution of a job, whether or not this job is a large-amount generation tendency job that is likely to generate a large amount of ultrafine particles. When the current job is determined to be the large-amount generation tendency job and a toner adhesion status value is equal to or higher than a first predetermined threshold representing an amount of toner adhering to a surface of a fixing member, cleaning of the fixing unit is performed before execution of the job. On the other hand, when the current job is determined to be a small-amount generation tendency job or the toner adhesion status value is less than the predetermined first threshold, the job is executed without cleaning the fixing unit.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt member, a fixed member that is in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the belt member, a heating member configured to heat the belt member, and a pressing member including at least a pressing roller that includes an elastic surface layer and presses the belt member against the fixed member from an outer circumferential side of the belt member in such a manner as to form a fixing part through which a recording object carrying an unfixed image is made to pass. A center, in a direction of rotation of the pressing roller, of a contact part of the fixed member that is in contact with the pressing roller through the belt member resides at a position that is displaced toward an entrance side of the fixing part with respect to a center of rotation of the pressing roller.

Abstract: A fixing belt includes an inner layer, serving as a sliding layer, in which filler particles having an aspect ratio of 5 or more are oriented substantially in the longitudinal direction of the fixing belt.

Abstract: A member moving mechanism includes a moving member movable in first positive and negative directions, a moved member that moves in second positive and negative directions when the moving member moves, a belt member connecting the moving member to the moved member, a belt-member guide member, an openable-closable cover engaged with the moving member, a first biasing member that biases the moved member in the second negative direction, and a second biasing member that biases the moving member in the first positive direction with a biasing force larger than that of the first biasing member. The moving member moves in the first positive direction with the biasing force of the second biasing member when the openable-closable cover moves in an opening direction, while the moving member moves in the first negative direction against the biasing force of the second biasing member when the openable-closable cover moves in a closing direction.

Abstract: In an image-forming device, a waste developer material accommodating part is provided integrally with a developer material accommodating part and is configured to accommodate waste developer material collected by a recovering unit. A waste developer material conveying mechanism is connected to both of the recovering unit and the waste developer material accommodating part and conveys the waste developer material from the recovering unit to the waste developer material accommodating part. The waste developer material conveying mechanism includes a conveying member that is disposed outside the waste developer material accommodating part and that is coupled to a center region of the waste developer material accommodating part along an axial direction of the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that can form images on both surfaces of a recording medium is provided. The apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium, a switchback roller that switches back the recording medium fed from the image forming unit, and first and second feed portions. The first feeding portion may include a feed roller assembly that feeds the recording medium in a switchback direction while moving the recording medium to a first side in a widthwise direction perpendicular to the switchback direction. The second feeding portion may feed the recording medium fed by the first feeding portion toward the image forming unit.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a sheet conveying unit that conveys a sheet including a drive roller, a driven roller, and a rotary encoder provided on a rotational axle of one of the drive roller and the driven roller; a conveying amount measuring unit that measures a conveying amount of the sheet; a first detection unit positioned downstream of the sheet conveying unit, the first detection unit being positioned apart from the drive roller and the driven roller not to overlap with the drive roller and the driven roller in the conveying direction; a second detection unit positioned upstream of the sheet conveying unit; and a conveying distance calculation unit that calculates a conveying distance of the sheet based on the measured result by the conveying amount measuring unit and the detected results detected by the first detection unit and the second detection unit.

Abstract: The various embodiments of the present invention provide writing instrument sheaths and methods of fabricating and using the writing instrument sheaths. In an embodiment, the writing instrument sheath includes a contiguous wall and a polymer layer that provides a comfortable and controllable writing experience.

Abstract: A cosmetic fluid dispenser, comprising in combination a generally tubular body, a generally tubular body extension forming a cosmetic fluid container, a longitudinally elongated wand received endwise into the container, the wand having a fluid applicator at one end of the wand to contact the fluid, and means responsive to manual relative rotation of the body and extension to progressively bodily displace the wand endwise to a removal position in which a portion of the wand projects from the body, for grasping and pull-out of the wand from the body, whereby the removed wand may be used to cosmetically dispense fluid from the applicator, following which the wand is returned to the body, and endwise retraction into the body and body extension.

Abstract: This cosmetic application device (1) includes an application tool (2) and a container (3), the application tool (2) being insertable into and removable from the container (3) through an opening (33) of the container (3). When the application tool (2) is tilted in a state where the fixation between the lid body (23) of the application tool (2) and the mouth/neck section (32) of the container (3) has been released and the lower end section (23d) of the lid body (23) is located at a position within the height-wise length of the mouth/neck section (32), the front end of the application section (21) of the application tool (2) is made to contact an inner wall in the vicinity of the bottom section of the containing section (31) of the container (3).

Abstract: An apparatus for carrying and dispensing chalk for use by an athlete engaged in an activity such as gymnastics, weight lifting, rock climbing or other sports in which reduction of moisture from the palms of the hands and replacing it with friction to grip, a bar, dumbbell, rock, or other surface is essential to successfully execute and prevail in the activity. The chalk carrying and dispensing apparatus of the invention is lightweight, compact and capable of attaching to the body with straps, clips, or other means as well as attaching to clothing by adhesive or stitching means for easy access of the chalk with either hand of the athlete.

Abstract: A collector-type applicator implement includes: a barrel body having a front barrel and a main barrel on a rear side of the front barrel, the main barrel being fitted with the front barrel; a collector having comb-like fins and arranged in a front part of the barrel body; and, a storage space defined in a rear part of the barrel body for storing an application liquid. The collector is covered by front barrel and the main barrel and configured to be held inside the barrel body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a brush, specifically a toothbrush, a head part with a cleaning structure that includes bristles, a hand part and a neck part, a cavity of at least one outlet opening for an active substance being located in the head or neck part. In one embodiment, the cavity incorporates an active substance element, which contains the active substance in a carrier material and releases said substance in a controlled manner when it comes into contact with water. In another embodiment, the cavity is adapted to the shape of an active substance element by means of defined external contours. Volume of the cavity is 1-2 times and no more than 4 times greater than the volume of the active substance element, ensuring that the latter is surrounded by water during use. This allows the active substance to be metered and ensures that the brush is easy to use.

Abstract: A locking ring metal (10) includes binder rings (12, 14, 16) each formed by a pair of complementary shaped binder ring halves. Each ring half has an end attached to a frame (18, 20). The frames are movable relative to each other to open and close the binder rings. The frames are installed in housing (22) at one end of which a trigger (11) is mounted. A travel bar (34) installed within the housing above the frames and not connected to the trigger includes blocking elements (50) which, when in position, prevent movement of the frames to lock the binder rings in their closed position. A coil spring (48) attached to the travel bar and housing biases the travel bar in the direction to open the binder rings.

Abstract: Provided in one embodiment is a method of joining one or more articles together using pressurized fluid to deform a bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy material and form a mechanical interlock between the respective surfaces joined together.

Abstract: The object is to provide a universal joint that, has a secure range of motion, does not deviate from the center of rotation, and does not generate bending moments between itself and a joint that links a plurality of movable members. A plurality of movable members (3A-3F and 3a-3f) and a spherical member (2) that links the plurality of movable members are provided, curved node sections (q) are formed on the movable members and are brought into contact with the spherical member (2), and by causing one of the plurality of movable members (3A) to rotate such that the curved node section thereof rotates along the surface of the spherical member (2), another one of the plurality of movable members (3B) is caused to rotate along the surface of the spherical member.

Abstract: A telescopic side arm for a refuse vehicle has an inner and outer boom. A mounting assembly secures the outer boom with a refuse vehicle. A plurality of bearing pads is positioned between the inner and outer booms to provide smooth movement between the inner and outer booms. A plurality of shims is associated with the bearing pads to assure a tight fit between the inner and outer booms.

Abstract: The invention relates to a release device for the upper rail and the lower rail of a longitudinal seat adjustment system of a motor vehicle seat. A release device is provided, which release device has a lever that preferably rotatably supported on the upper rail of the vehicle seat. An end of said lever interacts with the locking means and optionally releases the locking means. A handle is provided at the other end. If said handle is operated, the lever moves, preferably rotates, relative to the upper rail from a passive position of the lever to a release position of the lever and moves the locking means from a locking position of the locking means to a releasing position. In order to ensure that the release device automatically moves into a passive position of the release device, in which passive position the release device does not interact with the locking means in a releasing manner, a spring element is provided, which preloads the lever into the passive position of the lever.

Abstract: A process is provided for seam welding advanced high strength steel sheets together. Respective end portions of first and second advanced high strength steel sheets are placed in overlapping contact with one another, and subjected to first and second weld passes. In the first weld pass, a seam welder including weld electrodes operate at a first-pass applied current and a first-pass pressure and are moved relative to the overlapping end portions at a first-pass carriage speed to establish a weld seam containing a weld nugget with a martensite phase. In the second weld pass, the weld electrodes operate at a second-pass applied current and a second-pass pressure and move relative to the weld seam at a second-pass carriage speed selected to fuse microcracks, lap openings, and porosity in the seam, relieve the residual stress in the joint, and temper the martensite phase of the weld nugget, and thereby form a weld joint.

Abstract: In joining members to be joined (1, 1) by heating the members to be joined (1, 1) that are mated with intervening an insert (2) while applying opposing loads to the members to be joined (1, 1), so as to allow eutectic reaction to occur between the members to be joined (1, 1) and the insert (2) to discharge a eutectic melt from a joining plane along with an oxide film (1a) of the members to be joined, the members to be joined (1) are brought into contact with the insert (2) so that the oxide film (1a) is broken by a stress concentrating means previously provided at least one of joining portions breaks to produce a starting point of the eutectic reaction.

Abstract: A tie bolt for joining two parts together has a shaft. The shaft in turn has a primary thread for engaging a first part and a secondary thread for engaging a second part, wherein the primary thread and the secondary thread have different pitches. The tie bolt may be used to join together any two parts which are to be locked together to transmit torque.