Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, an intermediate transfer belt, a brush roller, a drive mechanism, a contact control mechanism, and an operation control unit. The image forming unit includes a photoconductor drum, and forms a toner image on an outer circumferential surface of the photoconductor drum. The operation control unit is configured to perform a cleaning mode including cleaning the brush roller while an image forming operation is not being performed, cause the contact control mechanism to set the photoconductor drum and the intermediate transfer belt to the non-contact phase in the cleaning mode, and cause the drive mechanism, in the non-contact phase, to drive the brush roller to rotate at a rotation speed higher than a rotation speed of the brush roller in the image forming operation, and drive the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: A fixing device detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes: a pair of rotatable members forming a nip configured to fix a toner image on a recording material by heat and pressure; a receiving portion capable of receiving information corresponding to the width of a recording material from an external terminal so as to limit a use of the fixing device; and a storing portion configured to store the information received by the receiving portion.

Abstract: A fixing device including a belt having an endless shape, a heater provided on an inner surface side of the belt, and a pressing portion provided so as to contact the belt and form a nip portion. A groove-forming portion is provided so as to contact the belt. The groove-forming portion has a surface and a groove formed on the surface. The groove extends in a direction crossing a rotating direction of the belt.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating an image includes a cylindrical rotatable member including an electroconductive layer; a helical coil provided in the rotatable member, the coil having a helix axis extending along a generatrix direction of the rotatable member; a magnetic core provided in the coil and having an end portion; and a controller configured to control a frequency of an AC current supplied to the coil; wherein the image is heated by heat of the rotatable member heated by electromagnetic induction heat generation of the electroconductive layer, wherein the controller sets the frequency to a first frequency corresponding to a size of a recording material, and wherein the controller sets the frequency to a second frequency higher than the first frequency when a print ratio of the image is larger than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating unit including an endless belt and a heating plate, a fixing roller to form a nip portion, a frame including a first sidewall and a second sidewall, a first shaft that the fixing roller has, a second shaft disposed upstream of the nip portion, and a third shaft disposed downstream of the nip portion. One end portion of the first shaft, one end portion of the second shaft and one end portion of the third shaft are supported by the first sidewall. The other end portion of the first shaft, the other end portion of the second shaft and the other end portion of the third shaft are supported by the second sidewall. When viewed from the longitudinal direction, the nip portion is positioned in a triangle defined by imaginary lines connecting the first, second and third shafts to each other.

Abstract: The motor that drives a reverse unit, and a CPU configured to switch an image formation mode between a full color mode for forming an image using image forming stations and a black and white mode for forming an image using the image forming station are provided. If the image is formed on a first recording material supplied by a sheet feeding roller pair and subsequently an image is formed on a second recording material supplied by a sheet refeeding unit, the motor continuously drives the reverse unit. If the image formation mode for the first recording material is different from the image formation mode for the second recording material, the CPU switches the image formation mode to the full color mode, and forms the images on the first recording material and the second recording material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section that forms an image on a recording material; an operating section that is operated by a person; a first detecting portion that detects a person in a predetermined first area; a second detecting portion that detects the person in a second area that is smaller than the first area, the second area being separated from the first area or a portion of the second area overlapping the first area when viewed from above; and a switching unit that switches between a first condition in which the image forming apparatus consumes a first amount of electric power and a second condition in which the image forming apparatus consumes a second amount of electric power.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a first temperature sensor inside a space between frames, a second temperature sensor outside the space between the frames, and a controller that, in a case where a first temperature by the first temperature sensor is higher than an inside threshold temperature, and a second temperature by the second temperature sensor is higher than an outside threshold temperature, performs simplex image formation at a first speed when simplex image formation is specified, and performs duplex image formation at a second speed lower than the first speed when duplex image formation is specified, and in at least one of a case where the first temperature is equal to or less than the inside threshold temperature and a case where the second temperature is equal to or less than the outside threshold temperature, performs image formation at the first speed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner image forming section, a detection section, a variation calculation section, a user setting acquisition section, an adjustment ratio calculation section, and an adjustment section. The toner image forming section forms a toner image. The detection section detects a toner density of the formed toner image. The variation calculation section obtains a variation in toner density based on the detected toner density. The user setting acquisition section acquires a user setting concerning a degree of adjusting the toner density. The user setting is set by a user. The adjustment ratio calculation section calculates an adjustment ratio which is a ratio at which the user setting is reflected, in accordance with the variation in toner density. The adjustment section adjusts the toner density based on the variation in toner density, the user setting, and the adjustment ratio.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a humidity sensor element, a resistor, a clock supply section, a detection section and a determination section. The detection section detects a humidity on the basis of a divided voltage value obtained by the humidity sensor element and the resistor. The determination section acquires the divided voltage value at a first timing within a period from a rising edge to a falling edge of a first clock signal and at a second timing within a period from a falling edge to a rising edge of the first clock signal, and determines, on the basis of the divided voltage values thus acquired, whether or not the humidity detected by the detection section is normal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a printing assembly which includes a printing drum such as an impression drum, a pair of eccentric bearings between and on which the drum is mounted for rotation, a pair of self aligning bearings on which the eccentric bearings are supported, and a pair of frameless motors directly connected to the eccentric bearings in order to effect the rotation thereof through closed loop feedback control, in order to facilitate the automatic and accurate control of pressure level and uniformity along the nip of a printing press.

Abstract: To provide a cleaning blade having an elastic body portion containing urethane rubber and a support member supporting the elastic body portion. A free end portion of the elastic body has a first region in which the Young's modulus gradually decreases in the depth direction from the principal surface facing the surface of the member to be cleaned on the edge face side and a second region in which the Young's modulus does not vary in the depth direction from the principal surface on the side closer to the support member relative to the first region.

Abstract: When an outer diameter of a charging member is defined as Hc, a ratio of the circumferential velocity of the charging member to the circumferential velocity of an image bearing member is defined as Rc, an outer diameter of a developer bearing member is defined as Hd, and a ratio of the circumferential velocity of the developer bearing member to the circumferential velocity of the image bearing member is defined as Rd, the relationship Hc/Rc?Hd/Rd is satisfied.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, an image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a sound absorbing device utilizing a Helmholtz resonator, and a hinged exterior cover operable to open and close relative to the apparatus body. The hinged exterior cover is a hinged cover configured to pivot about a pivot shaft arranged at a lower end portion of the hinged exterior cover. At least a part of the hinged exterior cover has a multiplex structure made by overlaying a plurality of plate-like members on one another. The sound absorbing device is formed by utilizing space between two plate-like members of the plurality of plate-like members making up the multiplex structure as a cavity of the Helmholtz resonator.

Abstract: An imaging device, including a locking assembly connected to the frame of the imaging device and selectively engaged with the fuser assembly thereof when the fuser assembly is mounted to the frame. The locking assembly includes a lock member slidingly coupled to the frame between a first position in which the lock member engages with the fuser assembly for locking the fuser assembly to the frame and a second position in which the lock member is disengaged from the fuser assembly to allow the fuser assembly to be disconnected and removed from the frame. A lever mechanism is movably coupled to the frame and coupled to the lock member, wherein actuation of the lever mechanism moves the lock member between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: We describe a LCOS (liquid crystal on silicon) telecommunications light beam routing device, the device comprising: an optical input; a plurality of optical outputs; a LCOS spatial light modulator (SLM) in an optical path between said input and said output, for displaying a kinoform; a data processor, coupled to said SLM, configured to provide kinoform data for displaying said kinoform on said SLM; wherein said kinoform data defines a kinoform which routes a beam from said optical input to a selected said optical output; wherein said data processor is configured to input routing data defining said selected optical output and to calculate said kinoform data for routing said beam responsive to said routing data; and wherein said data processor is configured to calculate said kinoform data by: determining an initial phase pattern for said kinoform; calculating a replay field of said phase pattern; modifying an amplitude component of said replay field to represent a target replay field for said beam routing, reta

Abstract: A timepiece pallet fork for a mechanical oscillator including an arbor allowing the timepiece pallet fork to oscillate about a pivot axis, first and second pallets configured to alternatively engage with an escapement wheel when the timepiece pallet fork oscillates, the first pallet being displaceable with respect to the arbor by absorption of energy, the first pallet being displaceable from a first upstream waiting position to a first downstream stopping end position which is offset compared to the first upstream waiting position, and a first arm having an intermediate section including an elastic bend, one end of the arm being fixed with respect to the arbor to form a first fixed end, the intermediate section of the first arm being located between the first fixed end and the first pallet and returning the first pallet towards the first upstream waiting position by the intermediate section being elastically deformable from a first configuration into a second configuration.

Abstract: Balance with inertia adjustment for timepieces, including a hub defining the pivot axis of the balance, a rim, a web extending between a lower plane and an upper plane on either side of a median plane, the web including at least one arm connecting the rim to the hub, the arm including a housing configured to receive and hold in place at least one inertia block. According to the invention, the inertia block has a front face and a rear face and is integrated in the balance arm, so that the front face and rear face are substantially in the upper plane and the lower plane.

Abstract: Grand date calendar display device for a watch movement comprising a first disc and a second disc, arranged to display, on certain dates, first date values by combining symbols borne by said first disc and symbols borne by said second disc, and on other dates, second date values by symbols borne only by said second disc. The first disc is a modified units display disc, bearing a first series of symbols comprising a first sequence of at most nine first consecutive units numerals truncated by at least a second units numeral with respect to the complete series of ten units, and the second disc is a modified tens display disc including a second series of symbols for the display of at least the tens of the date, comprising at least one combination of two numerals formed of a tens numeral and a second units numeral.

Abstract: A device for detecting and synchronizing a position of at least one first wheel of a timepiece mechanism for an electronic analog wristwatch, includes this first wheel extending in a plane. The detection and synchronization device includes at least one light source emitting a light beam and at least one light detection system. A first light-reflecting element projects from one of an upper or lower surfaces of the first wheel of the timepiece mechanism. The light source and the light detection system are arranged so that in a determined position of the first wheel of the timepiece mechanism, the light beam emitted by the light source is reflected by the first light-reflecting element in the direction of the light detection system. The detection and synchronization device is housed within a case of the wristwatch.

Abstract: An electronic interval timer in a dodecahedron case is described. The timer is set by turning uppermost one of 11 faces; and reset by turning uppermost the 12th face. In one embodiment, the timer is free of buttons, knobs, springs, time displays, electronic visual indicators and openings in the case. Time interval completion is announced via audible tones or speech. An aggregate time interval may be set equal to the sum of legends on more than one face. The timer detects carrying such that a running time interval is not modified. The timer may be programmed via a sequence of uppermost sides. Modes may be selected via shaking or tapping. Time remaining may be announced, an interval cleared, or an interval restarted responsive to detected motion. Other polyhedral shapes may be used. Claims include a method of setting a time interval; and specific ordering of face legends.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wearable device with wireless transmission. The wearable device includes: a first exterior member configured to operate at a first frequency band; a second exterior member configured to operate at a second frequency; and a connecting member configured to electrically insulate the first exterior member from the second exterior member, so the wearable device is able to operate at the first frequency band and the second frequency band simultaneously. A frame structure of the wearable device is formed by stacking the first exterior member, the connecting member and the second exterior member in sequence from top to bottom. In addition, a method for manufacturing the same is also provided in the present invention.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a communication unit that performs communication with an external apparatus; a timekeeping unit that performs timekeeping of time; and a control unit, after completion of a connection with the external apparatus using the communication unit, updates time of the timekeeping unit using time information when being in a state where time can be set by obtaining the time information from the external apparatus.

Abstract: A pick-and-place machine and method includes use of a passive component feeder cartridge including a feeder gear. Rotation of the feeder gear causes a component-bearing tape to be fed through the feeder cartridge. A pickup head includes a vacuum nozzle to pick up the components from the tape and a rack gear to engage and drive the feeder gear of the feeder cartridge via translational motion of the pickup head when operatively disposed with respect to a selected feeder cartridge.

Abstract: There is provided an electricity demand regulating system which estimates a load amount of an individual equipment whose measurement information can not be acquired and improves estimation accuracy of an electricity demand amount in a power system. The electricity demand regulating system for managing electric energy used by a consumer according to an operation state of the power system includes a storage part to store measurement information of a consumer equipment, and a generation part to generate a load pattern indicating a load amount tendency from the measurement information of the equipment stored in the storage part. A load amount of an equipment whose measurement information is not stored in the storage part is estimated from the load pattern generated by the generation part, and an electricity demand amount of the consumer is obtained based on the measurement information and the estimated load amount.

Abstract: The power transmission apparatus may include a battery, a motor generator that is switchable between a driving state and a power generation state, at least a load, an inverter to switch the motor generator to any of the driving state and the power generation state, a charging state detecting means to detect a charged amount C of the battery, an absorbing horsepower detecting means to detect the absorbing horsepower Lp of the load, and a control device to switch the motor generator to any of the power generation state and the driving state by means of the inverter, based on the absorbing horsepower Lp detected by the absorbing horsepower detecting means and the charged amount C of the battery that is detected by the charging state detecting means.

Abstract: A computer-enabled system, method, and medium provides intellectual property analyses, for example, patent claim charts, respective to the analyzed intellectual property and a target product or other intellectual property. Analyses are stored to enable searching/reporting across multiple analyses. Units of the analysis are associated with context, inherited, e.g., from the intellectual property document's assignment to a relative role within the organizational hierarchy; and associated with a context derived from the analysis itself. The analysis and respective documents and/or targets of the analysis can be searched/retrieved/analyzed from the hierarchical analysis, the context analysis, and/or the content of the analysis. Each analysis need not be stored as a separate document. The representation of the analysis may by static or dynamic.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a switching unit configured to switch between supply and cutoff of power to the information processing apparatus, a driving unit configured to cause the switching unit to be OFF-state to cut off the supply of power to the information processing apparatus, and a control unit configured, in a case where a predetermined condition is satisfied, to drive the driving unit to cause the switching unit to be OFF-state, in which, if the supply of power to the information processing apparatus is not cut off in response to the control unit driving the driving unit, the control unit reboots the information processing apparatus.

Abstract: A method includes determining a type of controller used by an electronic device and determining a connector configuration of the electronic device. The method further includes selectively cutting one or more wires of a ribbon cable of a user interface circuit in response to determining the type of controller to configure the user interface circuit for operation with the type of controller.

Abstract: Based on an actual temperature upstream of a roll stand, a predicted temperature is estimated for when strip sections of the strip will roll through the roll stand. The predicted temperature is used to predict material moduli, which is used to control a regulating device that influences a roll gap for the roll stand and to parameterize a roll gap control system. A roll gap profile is predicted based on the predicted temperatures, and is compared with a nominal roll gap profile. A regulating variable that influences a profile of a roll gap is set. The regulating variable is then corrected based on the comparison with the nominal roll gap profile. The predictions are made using a prediction horizon corresponding to a plurality of consecutive sections of the strip. Control is performed for both an operator side and a drive side of the strip.

Abstract: A system manages human machine interface (HMI) applications for industrial control and automation. Software instructions stored on a tangible, non-transitory media and executable by a processor receive data indicative of a manufacturing/process control system being monitored and display a user interface indicative of a status of the manufacturing/process control system being monitored wherein the status is based on the received data.

Abstract: An input device includes a touch panel and a control unit. The touch panel is configured to be switched between a normal operation mode and a special operation mode. The control unit is configured to control the touch panel. In the special operation mode, the control unit is configured to: generate a special-operation-mode-based input portion based on a continuous contact with the touch panel; and accept a release of the continuous contact with the touch panel as an input to the special-operation-mode-based input portion.

Abstract: A control system and method for controlling electromagnetic drive pumps as, for example, electromagnetic driven membrane pumps are provided in which the control system is formed by at least one microprocessor and at least one sensor, whose microprocessor controls the power supply to at least one electromagnet whose changes in emitted magnetic field causes at least one moving part, directly or indirectly, to perform an oscillating pumping movement. The control system includes at least one positioning sensor which senses the moving part's position in the electromagnetic driven pump. By using the positioning sensor's measurements, the pump can be controlled with great accuracy.

Abstract: A system and method in a combined cycle power plant includes a processor modeling plant level performance by considering the interrelation between outputs of the gas turbine and the steam turbine. The model can be computational, predictive, or both. The model may be used to control subsystems of the plant (including the gas turbine and the steam turbine) to achieve a target plant performance. The model may also be used to diagnose or maintain subsystems of the combined cycle power plant.

Abstract: An example method includes receiving a conditional device parameter in a processor from a process control device, determining if functionality associated with the process control device is available, where the conditional device parameter indicates if the functionality is available, and displaying the conditional device parameter within a graphic via a user interface if the functionality is available.

Abstract: Regarding a method for operating an industrial controller, a control program executable in a processor that is arranged in the industrial controller is subdivided into a main block and several program blocks. The program blocks are processed under event control that takes a processing priority into consideration. The processor includes a multi-core processor having a plurality of independent sub-processors. The method includes assigning the main block to a first sub-processor, and executing a part program associated with the main block in the first sub-processor. The method also includes assigning each of the several program blocks to the additional sub-processors, and executing the part programs associated with the program blocks in the respective sub-processors. The method further includes operating a control device to evaluate as input variables the processing priority and an event assigned to the respective program block, and switching the sub-processors into active or inactive state using the evaluation.

Abstract: There is provided a field device for downloading a new software through a field bus from a host system and replacing a current software which is currently executed with the new software. The field device includes: a history information generation and management section which generates and stores history information of the current software when the new software is downloaded from the host system.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to learn and share remote commands are disclosed. An example method to configure a playback device to be controlled by a remote control includes receiving by the playback device a first code for a first command from the remote control. The example method includes identifying by the playback device a second code for a second command based on the received first code. The example method includes receiving by the playback device the second code from the remote control. The example method includes executing the second command by the playback device.

Abstract: An intelligent lighting ceiling fan control method comprises following steps: receiving a first lighting ceiling fan control signal; transferring first lighting ceiling fan control signal to a lighting ceiling fan control module for adjusting the brightness of a lighting device or the rotation rate of a fan device; configuring a timing control profile data according to a user operation; generating and transferring a second lighting ceiling fan control signal to the lighting ceiling fan control module according to the timing control profile data for adjusting the brightness of the lighting device or the rotation rate of the fan device when a trigger time is past. This application can effectively make the lighting ceiling fan automatically operate according to the trigger time, and provide better user experiences to the user.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine controller comprising a sensor module (4), an evaluation module (9) and a control module (5), and the sensor module (4) has a convertor which converts a mechanical variable acting on the sensor module (4) into a proportional electric characteristic variable, and the evaluation module (9) is connected via a first signal connection (8) to the sensor module (4) and via a second signal connection (11) to the control module (5). The evaluation module (9) generates a signal profile from the detected electric signal by means of an analysis of potential and/or change, which is compared with at least one reference signal profile stored in a memory means of the evaluation module (9) by means of a comparison module of the evaluation module (9), from which the control signal is generated. Furthermore, at least one of the two signal connections (8, 11) is based on a wireless design.

Abstract: In order to easily verify an operation of the machine tool, a machining support apparatus includes a machining monitoring unit 112, a simulation processing unit 113, and a display unit 150. The machining monitoring unit 112, upon receiving a notification indicating detection of a simulation start code programmed in a machining program from a machine tool controller controlling a machine tool via a communication device 130, renders the machine tool controller to stop the machine tool. The simulation processing unit 113 simulates instructions from the simulation start code to a simulation end code in the machining program, while the machine tool is stopped. And the display unit 150 displays a simulation performed in the simulation processing unit.

Abstract: Automation system with computerized numerical control includes at least two data processing levels, particularly a data block preparation level and a data block processing level, and a clock time-registering unit assigned to the particular data processing levels for registering clock times of subsystems in the particular data processing levels, and a unit for comparing the clock times—and relating them to each other in terms of time—registered for the particular data processing levels.

Abstract: A system is provided that is configured to receive a manufacturing process plan for a product including a plurality of component parts joined by fasteners, with the manufacturing process plan including process definitions that describe process operations in which component parts are worked to manufacture of the product. The system is configured to generate graphical views for respective process operations of the manufacturing process plan in which fastener locations are worked for installation of respective fasteners to join component parts of the product, and output the graphical views. The graphical view of a process operation may graphically depict one or more component parts and only those of the fastener locations on the one or more component parts worked during the process operation, with any others of the fastener locations on the same or other component parts being hidden from the graphical view.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for attribute-based manufacturing quality control is provided. A specification for manufacturing a part feature is maintained in a database, the specification including a nominal. Also maintained in the database are one or more measurements for the feature on a plurality of parts manufactured in accordance with the specification, each of the measurements associated with one or more attributes, each of the attributes identifying at least one of a circumstance relating to how that measurement was made and how the feature was manufactured. A user selection of one or more of the attributes is received. Each of the measurements that is associated with all of the selected attributes is identified. A score indicative of how close the identified measurements are to the nominal is calculated and displayed.

Abstract: The operation state of a servo motor is monitored and output to a user before automatic termination of power to the motor. A servo system includes a servo motor and a safety unit. The safety unit cuts off electric power to the servo motor when at least one of a speed, a position, acceleration, an amount of movement, a movement direction, and torque of the servo motor is outside a first operation range. Furthermore, the safety unit outputs a warning when at least one of the speed, the position, the acceleration, the amount of movement, the movement direction, the torque is within the first operation range, but is outside a second operation range that is narrower than the first operation range. User controls allow reduced operation when outside the second operation range.

Abstract: A voice-based method to control unmanned vehicles (UV) or robots that makes use of the UV or robot state and context information to constrain the output of automatic speech recognition (ASR) language models (LM) to improve the ASR accuracy and robustness in controlled and adverse environments. The voiced interaction between the human user and the machine provides a natural human-machine interface that is easy and straightforward for the human being, and reduces users' training requirements.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a vehicle having one or more computing devices that may receive instructions to pick up a passenger at a pickup location and determine when the vehicle is within a first distance of the pickup location. When the vehicle is within the first distance, the computing devices may make a first attempt to find a spot to park the vehicle and wait for the passenger. When the vehicle is unable to find a spot to park the vehicle on the first attempt, the computing devices may maneuvering the vehicle in order to make a second attempt to find a spot to park the vehicle and wait for the passenger. When the vehicle is unable to find a spot to park the vehicle on the second attempt, the computing devices may stop the vehicle in a current lane to wait for the passenger.

Abstract: A rapid transition floating vessel that is able to follow the yaw motions of a turret moored floating vessel is provided. The rapid transition floating vessel includes a system and processes for dynamically positioning the floating vessel alongside a turret moored floating vessel whereby the floating vessel remains at a safe distance while being connected to the turret moored floating vessel. This is achieved by the floating vessel following the yaw motions of the turret moored floating vessel as the turret moored floating vessel weathervanes about a center of the turret moorings.

Abstract: A transport arrangement system operates to receive a transport request from a user, and to make a selection of a vehicle type for the user based at least in part on a set of criteria associated with the transport request or user information. For example, the determination of whether an autonomous vehicle is to be provided can be based at least in part on the destination specified with the transport request.

Abstract: A mobile object control system includes a mobile object body, a distance measurement unit provided in the mobile object body to measure a distance between the mobile object body and an object present in front of the mobile object body with infrared rays, a movement control unit controlling the movement of the mobile object body based on a measurement result obtained by the distance measurement unit and moving path information, a moving direction limit information storage unit storing moving direction limit information as information on limiting a moving direction of the mobile object body, and a moving path information generation unit generating the moving path information based on the moving direction limit information. The moving direction limit information is information on limiting the moving direction in which a predetermined amount or more of infrared rays emitted from an external light source are radiated onto the mobile object body.