Abstract: A spacer displacement device for a wafer illumination unit comprises an actuator, a spacer which can be displaced between an active and an inactive position by the actuator, and a force transmission element which is coupled to the actuator. The force transmission element consists of wire.

Abstract: A cold pressure fix toner composition includes at least one C16 to C80 crystalline organic material having a melting point in a range from about 30° C. to about 130° C. and at least one C16 to C80 amorphous organic material having a Tg of from about ?30° C. to about 70° C. A method of cold pressure fix toner application includes providing the cold pressure fix toner composition, disposing the cold pressure fix toner composition on a substrate and applying pressure to the disposed composition on the substrate under cold pressure fixing conditions. The cold pressure fix toner compositions can be formed into latexes.

Abstract: A resin composition includes a compound represented by the following Formula (I) and a resin: wherein, in Formula (I), Ra represents a group represented by Formula (I-R), and each of Rb, Rc, and Rd independently represents an alkyl group; and in Formula (I-R), Re represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and e represents an integer of 0 to 3.

Abstract: A toner includes a crystalline polyester resin in an amount equal to or greater than 25% by mass. The toner satisfies the following formula when the toner is tested using a capillary rheometry measurement during which a pellet of the toner is pressed by a member while being heated: 0.3?(first temperature?second temperature)/(second temperature?third temperature)?1, where the first temperature is a temperature at which the member falls 4 mm, the second temperature is a temperature at which the member falls 2 mm, and the third temperature is a temperature at which the member starts to fall.

Abstract: A cold pressure fix toner composition includes at least one crystalline polyester material having a melting point in a range from about 30° C. to about 130° C. and at least one C16 to C80 amorphous organic material having a Tg of from about ?30° C. to about 70° C. A method of cold pressure fix toner application includes providing the cold pressure fix toner composition, disposing the cold pressure fix toner composition on a substrate, and applying pressure to the disposed composition on the substrate under cold pressure fixing conditions. A latex can be formed from the cold pressure fix toner composition.

Abstract: A resin composition includes a polyester resin which contains a structural unit derived from bisphenol A in an amount of 1% by weight or less with respect to the total amount of polyester resin; and a compound represented by the following Formula (I): wherein, in Formula (I), Ra represents a group represented by Formula (I-R), and each of Rb, Rc, and Rd independently represents an alkyl group; and in Formula (I-R), Re represents hydrogen or a methyl group, and e represent an integer from 0 to 3.

Abstract: A toner including: a pigment; polyester resin A that is insoluble in tetrahydrofuran (THF); and polyester resin B that is soluble in THF, wherein the toner satisfies requirements (1) to (3) below: (1) the polyester resin A includes one or more aliphatic diols including from 3 through 10 carbon atoms, as a component constituting the polyester resin A; (2) the polyester resin B includes at least an alkylene glycol in an amount of 40 mol % or more, as a component constituting the polyester resin B; and (3) a glass transition temperature (Tg1st) of the toner at first heating in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of the toner is from 20° C. through 50° C.

Abstract: Provided is an electrostatic latent image developing toner comprising toner matrix particles that comprise resin components comprising a vinyl resin as a main component and a crystalline resin, and a mold release agent. The electrostatic latent image developing toner includes a structural body in which a portion of the crystalline resin is in contact with the mold release agent, and a portion of the crystalline resin having a thread-like structure that is not in contact with the mold release agent, in cross-sections of the toner matrix particles.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor drum, a latent-image forming device, a developing device, a density detecting device, and a processing device. The density detecting device is configured to detect densities at a plurality of positions in a main-scanning direction on a developed image. The processing device is configured to acquire at least two light-amount correction tables respectively associated with at least two positions of the plurality of positions in the main-scanning direction on the developed image, the light-amount correction tables being for reducing density variations in a sub-scanning direction at the at least two positions, and correct, for each scan, a set point for setting an amount of light of a light source based on a difference in corresponding correction data between two light-amount correction tables respectively associated with two adjacent positions of the at least two light-amount correction tables.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge having a photosensitive drum and a drum drive input member; a developing cartridge configured to be movably mounted to the drum cartridge, the developing cartridge comprising a developing roller disposed so as to face the photosensitive drum and a developing drive input member; a drum drive transmission member configured to engage with the drum drive input member and configured to transmit drum driving force to the drum drive input member while permitting a positional gap of the drum drive input member within a predetermined range; and a developing drive transmission member configured to engage with the developing drive input member and configured to transmit developing driving force to the developing drive input member while permitting a positional gap of the developing drive input member within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A method for estimating an amount of toner remaining in a reservoir of a replaceable unit for an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes receiving by processing circuitry pulses from a sensor. The processing circuitry counts the number of the pulses received from the sensor. Upon receiving a request from a controller of the image forming device, the processing circuitry sends to the controller of the image forming device the count of the pulses received from the sensor and resets the count of the pulses received from the sensor.

Abstract: A cartridge unit to discharge toner via a toner outlet and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus are provided. The cartridge unit includes a shutter unit movable between an opening position in which the toner outlet is opened and a closing position in which the toner outlet is closed in a first direction, and a lever unit movable in a second direction across the first direction, and connected to the shutter unit such that the shutter unit moves in the first direction when the lever unit moves in the second direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a transmission unit, a reception unit, a control unit configured to obtain a time period until the reception unit receives a first ultrasonic wave via a first recording material and an amplitude value thereof at a reference temperature, obtain a time period until the reception unit receives a second ultrasonic wave via a second recording material and an amplitude value thereof at a different temperature, control an image formation condition for forming the image on the first recording material on the basis of the amplitude value of the first ultrasonic wave, obtain a difference time period between reception of the first and second ultrasonic waves, and control an image formation condition for forming the image on the second recording material on the basis of the difference time period and the amplitude value of the second ultrasonic wave.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a primary heat generator and a secondary heat generator to heat an endless belt and a temperature detector, disposed opposite the secondary heat generator, to detect a temperature of the endless belt. The secondary heat generator includes an inboard edge and an outboard edge disposed outboard from the inboard edge in an axial direction of the endless belt. The secondary heat generator has an inboard length defined between a center of a detection span of the temperature detector and the inboard edge in the axial direction of the endless belt. The secondary heat generator further has an outboard length defined between the center of the detection span of the temperature detector and the outboard edge in the axial direction of the endless belt. The secondary heat generator defines a ratio of the outboard length to the inboard length that is greater than 7/3.

Abstract: Provided is a fixing device including a pair of end deformation restraint members. A restraint body 35 of the end deformation restraint member has an insertion part 38 which is inserted into both end portions of a fixing belt, and restrains deformation of belt end portions by holding both end portions of the fixing belt, which slides on an outer peripheral surface of the insertion part 38, from inside in the insertion part 38. The insertion part 38 is continued in a belt rotation direction with no gap.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming portion capable of forming an image on a recording medium; an operation portion for performing an operation of the image forming apparatus; a push button which is arranged in a surface of the operation portion, and with which a signal of stopping an image forming action performed by the image forming portion is input; a receiving portion provided in the operation portion so as to be able to receive a radio signal from a communication component by placing the communication component transmitting the radio signal so as to face the receiving portion; and at least a central portion of the push button located at a position recessed from the surface of the operation portion.

Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus of an image forming apparatus is provided. The paper feeding apparatus includes a pickup unit configured to rotate about a first axis, a swing member configured to rotate about a second axis, and to move the pickup unit from a contact location to a separation location by pressing the pickup unit, an elastic member configured to provide an elastic force to the swing member, and a rotation limiter configured to limit a rotation angle at which the swing member rotates, wherein a momentum of the swing member is less than a momentum of the pickup unit, while the swing member presses the pickup unit and rotates.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a chassis having a first opening on a first side, photosensitive members, an intermediate transfer belt arranged to have a surface thereof facing the photosensitive members, primary-transfer members, a secondary-transfer roller, a first feed roller, a cleaner device, a waste toner container, which is removably installed in the chassis through the first opening and settled in a position opposite from the photosensitive members across the intermediate transfer belt, a connector, a first feeding path extending in a range between the first feed roller and the secondary-transfer roller, and a second feeding path being formed in clearance between the intermediate transfer belt and the waste toner container to convey a recording sheet being inserted through a sheet inlet and merging into the first feeding path in the vicinity of the first feed roller.

Abstract: A sheet transport device includes a transport unit that transports a sheet, an endless belt that transmits a driving force from a motor to the transport unit, a rotary member that rotates by being pressed by the sheet transported by the transport unit, and a sensor that generates a signal in accordance with rotation of the rotary member. The rotary member is arranged in such a manner that a portion of the rotary member faces an inner peripheral portion of the endless belt.

Abstract: A curl correcting apparatus includes rollers, a motor, and a clutch portion. The rollers are curl correction-use rollers which are arranged in parallel to each other in a pressure-contact state and which are different in hardness. The motor is a motor capable of rotating in forward and reverse directions relative to a correction-amount adjusting portion that changes and adjusts a distance to the rollers as a result of an eccentric cam that integrally rotates in accordance with a rotation amount of a rotation shaft, pressing against the rollers. The clutch portion transmits a rotary driving force of the motor to the rollers during the forward rotation and to a rotation shaft during the reverse rotation.

Abstract: The curl correction device includes a first guide that guides a sheet to a nip portion between a first rotation member and a second rotation member, a support portion that rotatably supports the first guide about a fulcrum on the downstream side of the first guide, and a restriction portion that restricts a rotation of the first guide rotating about the fulcrum by being in contact with the first guide. The first guide is rotatable about the fulcrum so as to become separated from the restriction portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a body; an openably closable drawer unit including an image forming section to form an image on a recording medium; and a circuit board. The circuit board is disposed in a substantial center of the drawer unit in a direction in which the drawer unit is pulled out of the body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier unit, a developing device, and an intermediate transfer body. The image forming apparatus body includes a positioning member having a positioning hole for inserting a positioning pin in a mounting direction and a guiding member including a guide rail portion for guiding the image carrier unit when mounting and removing the image carrier unit. The image carrier unit includes a sliding portion that slides with respect to the guide rail portion. When the image carrier unit is drawn from a mounted state where the image carrier unit is mounted to the image forming apparatus body, the sliding portion is drawn by a predetermined distance in parallel with the rotation shaft direction and then moves in a direction where the image carrier retreats from the developing device and the intermediate transfer body, along the guide rail portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an output gear that is driven by a drive source, a transmitting member that meshes with the output gear in such a manner as to be capable of advancing toward and retracting from a driving object and transmits a rotational driving force to the driving object, a guiding portion provided coaxially with the output gear and that guides the transmitting member in a direction of advancement or retraction of the transmitting member, and a locking member provided between the output gear and the transmitting member and that limits a movement of the transmitting member from a side of the output gear toward the driving object.

Abstract: A device adapted to clean a photoconductor. The device can include a blade and an absorbent element. The absorbent element can be made from an absorbent material. The absorbent element can be arranged in front of the blade as viewed in the movement direction.

Abstract: A method for producing a cleaning blade including at least a strip-shaped elastic blade, the method including: (1) a step of producing an elastic blade preform formed of a polyurethane rubber; (2) a step of impregnating at least a part, which is to contact an image bearer, of the elastic blade preform with an ultraviolet-curable composition including a (meth)acrylate compound; (3) a step of immersing the part impregnated of the elastic blade preform in a washing solvent to remove the ultraviolet-curable composition including the (meth)acrylate compound remaining on a surface of the impregnated part; and (4) a step of curing the ultraviolet-curable composition including the (meth)acrylate compound that has impregnated the elastic blade preform to produce an elastic blade.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing in which an image forming unit is to be mounted, a support that supports an image reading device in a state where the image reading device is separated from the housing, and a guiding portion in which a guide part, which is formed on a to-be-mounted surface of an add-on device in such a manner as to project, is to be inserted such that the guide part is guided by the guiding portion. Engagement holes with which engagement portions, which are formed on the to-be-mounted surface of the add-on device in such a manner as to project, are to be engaged such that the engagement portions are positioned by the engagement holes are formed in a mounting surface of the housing on which the add-on device is to be mounted.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section that forms a toner image, an output section, a sheet transport unit that transports in a region above the image forming section a sheet onto which the toner image has been fixed toward the output section in a substantially horizontal direction, a first air blowing device that applies on an upper side of the sheet being transported an airflow directed from a downstream side to an upstream side in a sheet transport direction of the sheet transport unit, and a second air blowing device that applies an airflow directed from the downstream side to the upstream side in the sheet transport direction of the sheet transport unit in a region that is on an upper side of the image forming section and on a lower side of the sheet.

Abstract: Provided is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a developing device attached to/detached from a main body; a memory unit provided in the developing device to transfer information related to the developing device to the main body, and a contact portion for connecting to the main body; and a connection portion provided in the main body, and connecting to the contact portion when the developing device is attached to the main body, wherein one of the connection portion and the contact portion has a first location, where the connection portion or the contact portion is inclined with respect to the first direction of the developing device, and a second location, where the connection portion or the contact portion is in parallel with the first direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, an output section, a sheet transport unit, an air blowing device, and an air exhaust device. The image forming section forms a toner image. The sheet transport unit transports in a region above the image forming section a sheet onto which the toner image has been fixed. A first channel causes air to pass from a downstream side to an upstream side in a sheet transport direction, the air blowing device applies an airflow by using the first channel, a second channel causes the air to pass from the downstream side to the upstream side in the sheet transport direction, and the air exhaust device exhausts the air by using the second channel.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet discharging apparatus including a discharge unit configured to discharge a sheet on which a toner image has been heated and fixed, a stacking unit configured to stack the sheet discharged by the discharge unit, a suction unit configured to suck air over the stacking unit, and a cooling unit configured to blow air over the stacking unit on a downstream side of an air suction by the suction unit in a sheet discharge direction by the discharge unit.

Abstract: A cooling unit has a cooling fan, a duct configured to guide air supplied from the cooling fan and having a shape extending along an axial direction of a photosensitive member, and a plurality of air outlet portions provided in the duct so as to be apart from each other in the axial direction. Air discharged from the plurality of air outlet portions is supplied to the inside of an image forming unit by utilizing a space as an air duct.

Abstract: A plate for creating holograms or other light-bending or diffractive microstructures on web-shaped or sheet-shaped printing substrates includes a relief for a relief printing process. The relief is formed of one or more raised dies and one or more adjacent depressions. A non-metallic microrelief for printing or embossing the microstructure is provided exclusively on the dies. The plate may be manufactured in a process in which a primary plate has a negative of the microrelief and the microrelief is created by molding the negative.

Abstract: A device, system and method for holographic 3D imaging. The device includes a laser light source that delivers a laser beam; an aperture disc including at least two pinholes, the laser beam being filtered by the pinholes so that a reference wave and an object wave are generated; a sample having a first area containing an object to be imaged and a second area without any object, in which the first area and the second area are illuminated by the object wave and the reference wave respectively; and an image sensor that captures an off-axis hologram for reconstructing an image of the object, in which the reference wave and the object wave are interfered on the image sensor and the hologram is captured based on an interference pattern of the reference wave and the object wave.

Abstract: A holographic system for temporary traffic management creates brightly illuminated holographic images, simulating familiar traffic control devices such as an orange cone and a white pillar. The system is comprised of a software application which securely controls a series of holographic projectors. The system improves visibility for traffic control during road construction projects, or at the scene of an emergency. All of the projectors provide tracking devices which are keyed to the user, enabling their recovery when lost or stolen.

Abstract: Timepiece sub-assembly including a balance spring stud arranged to be fastened to a balance cock, and a balance spring comprising an outer coil and an end plate of larger section than that of the outer coil, this stud including a housing arranged, in a first free state of the sub-assembly, to loosely contain the end plate with tangential mobility with respect to the outer coil, and, in a second immobilised state of the sub-assembly, to immobilise the end plate to which the housing is joined by a layer of adhesive covering a change-of-section shoulder and which forms a mechanical seal for the balance spring in a longitudinal direction of the housing, and the end plate includes an eye communicating with the layer in the second immobilised state.

Abstract: A microsystem for setting the rate of a timepiece oscillator, including a wheel/inertia block including an off-centre unbalance and a toothing and arranged to pivot with respect to a base plate of the microsystem, which includes an actuator driving a first active click arranged to drive the toothing, and includes a device for stopping the toothing in position, wherein the actuator is a thermomechanical actuator arranged to convert a flow of light energy into a displacement of a distal end of the thermomechanical actuator, which carries a first active click or directly controls a movement of a first active click, and the microsystem is capable of incorporation in a watch including a crystal transparent to predetermined wavelengths ranges and allowing the passage of a light ray to regulate the microsystem.

Abstract: Whether a bright state or a dark state is established is determined each time a motor is driven one step, based on a presence or absence of a passing of light through a detection hole disposed in a detection wheel that rotates associated with rotations of a hand wheel coupled with the motor. A switching position X is identified at which the dark state is switched to the bright state when the dark state is determined and thereafter the bright state is determined. A position one step after the identified switching position X is set to be a reference position X+1 of the hand wheel. The reference positions X+1 and X?1 can thereby be set after a driving mechanism is assembled.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a secondary battery; a constant voltage generation circuit that is driven in accordance with the secondary battery; a control logic circuit that is driven with a constant voltage generated by the constant voltage generation circuit and controls the constant voltage generation circuit; and a starting circuit that outputs a control signal for operating the constant voltage generation circuit in correspondence to an initialization signal input from outside in a case in which the constant voltage generation circuit is stopped.

Abstract: A method for managing an operation for a watch to exit standby mode, the watch being provided with a dial having a digital display, and placed into a standby mode, in which the dial is off, includes storing, in a memory of the watch, an algorithm for detecting a transition sequence, the algorithm parameterized from a set of predetermined, fixed data indicative of a transition sequence; acquiring a set of variable data using a sensor including an accelerometer for measuring variable data on the acceleration of the watch in three directions, and/or a gyroscope for measuring variable data on the position of the watch in three directions; processing the variable data using the algorithm to obtain a concordance value of the set of processed variable data; and, if the resulting concordance value is higher than a threshold, triggering the exit of the dial having the digital display from standby mode.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes a rectifier which converts AC of a power source to DC, an inverter which converts DC to AC for a motor, a voltage amplitude calculation unit which calculates a power source voltage amplitude value, a power failure recovery detection unit which determines whether or not the AC input side has transitioned to a power failure state or a power recovery state on the basis of the power source voltage amplitude value, a protection operation command unit which outputs a protection operation command when a reference time has elapsed from a time point at which the AC input side transitioned to the power failure state, a time measurement unit which measures an elapsed time from when the AC input side transitioned to the power recovery state, and a condition change unit which changes the power failure reference voltage value and/or the reference time.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a multiplex control apparatus includes first to Nth input modules to convert input signals to input values, where N is an integer of three or more, and first to Nth operation modules to operate the input values to generate output values. The apparatus further includes first to Nth output modules to convert the output values to output signals outputted to a majority decision module, and first to Nth power supply modules to supply power to the first to Nth input, operation and output modules, respectively. An Xth output module is configured so that an output signal line between the Xth output module and the majority decision module is placed in an open state that is a safe-side status, if power supply from an Xth power supply module to the Xth output module is at a stop, where X is an integer from 1 to N.

Abstract: The invention enables methods, systems and computer program products for control system optimization. The invention comprises retrieving from an engineering information repository, control system engineering information corresponding to an implemented control system. Based on the retrieved control system engineering information, a plurality of function blocks and function block interconnections corresponding to the implemented control system are identified. At least one group of function blocks is identified from among the plurality of function blocks corresponding to the implemented control system. Identification of the group of function blocks is based on identification of one or more attributes shared by each function block within the identified group of function blocks. The invention thereafter generates a control system topology based on the identified function blocks, identified function block interconnections, and identified group of function blocks.

Abstract: A novel method for adaptive Nonlinear Model Predictive Control (NMPC) of multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) systems, called Sampling Based Model Predictive Control (SBMPC) that has the ability to enforce hard constraints on the system inputs and states. However, unlike other NMPC methods, it does not rely on linearizing the system or gradient based optimization. Instead, it discretizes the input space to the model via pseudo-random sampling and feeds the sampled inputs through the nonlinear plant, hence producing a graph for which an optimal path can be found using an efficient graph search method.

Abstract: A system configured to receive and automatically analyze various types of information, including, without limitation, information from energy generators, information from non-generation resources, information on the facility status, information on user behavior, information on user's short-term energy needs (e.g. over-ride any algorithm due to immediate charging need), information on renewable generation, including, without limitation, solar, wind, biomass and/or hydro, and information on environmental conditions including, without limitation, barometric pressure, temperature, ambient light intensity, humidity, air speed, and air quality.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns estimating the number of people within building-based device networks. Increasingly, local area network (LAN) devices are capable of sensing people (e.g. smart appliances). Features of building layout, and physical arrangement of devices provide that only a subset of sensor data patterns can be accounted for by a single user (e.g. simultaneous activation of a smart TV and a motion sensor). Over time, a central controller (e.g. LAN gateway) can gather these building-specific sensor patterns and learn single occupant characteristics for a network (e.g. features or boundaries of single occupant capability). In one embodiment, the central controller generates a single occupancy criterion (e.g. a building-specific test), comprising single occupant characteristics, operable to test a subset of sensor data for single occupancy.

Abstract: A demand prediction system includes a receiver, a memory, an extractor, a model generator and a predictor. The extractor is configured to extract consumption periods for branch circuits, during each of which power is consumed once. The model generator is configured to generate models. Each model includes: an order in which the consumption periods have occurred; amounts of electric power respectively consumed during the consumption periods; and start time points and duration times, of the consumption periods. The model generator is further configured to calculate transition probabilities between the models. The predictor configured to predict, as a prediction result, an amount of electric power that is demanded in a prediction period defined as a time period after a determination time point, based on: a certain model in past before the determination time point, of the models; and a transition probability corresponding to the certain model.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling the position of a control object using a multi-stage actuator. In some embodiments, a multi-stage actuator is provided with first and second actuation stages adapted to position a control object. A control circuit includes a multi-tap lattice structure and parallel first and second multiple regression filters coupled to respective taps of the multi-tap lattice structure. The control circuit concurrently generates and applies first and second disturbance rejection signals to the respective first and second actuation stages to compensate a disturbance signal component in a position error signal (PES) indicative of position error of the control object.

Abstract: A system includes a control system and a field device. The control system is configured to communicate data with one or more field devices. The field device includes a sensor module configured to monitor a process in the control system. The field device also includes a communication module configured to detachably couple to both a display configured to display information related to the monitored process and an upgrade module configured to control a software or firmware upgrade process associated with the sensor module.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for controlling one or more intelligent devices. In the method, the apparatus stores configuration information that includes at least one identification that identifies at least one intelligent device, an execution operation corresponding to each intelligent device, and an execution condition corresponding to each execution operation. When a target execution condition is satisfied, the apparatus determines a target intelligent device and a target execution operation corresponding to the target execution condition by querying the configuration information according to the target execution condition. The apparatus then instructs the target intelligent device to perform the target execution operation.