Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording material, a first detection unit including a transmission unit for transmitting an ultrasonic wave and a reception unit for receiving the transmitted ultrasonic wave, first and second conveyance units for conveying the recording material, and a control unit. The first and second conveyance units form a loop on the recording material by conveying the recording material at different speeds. The control unit controls an image forming condition for forming an image on the recording material by the image forming unit, based on the ultrasonic wave received via the recording material in a period in which no loop is formed on the recording material by the first and second conveyance units.

Abstract: A printing system comprises: a printing unit configured to print an image on a sheet; and a control unit configured to control to perform creasing at a first pressure at a portion, corresponding to an edge of a spine cover, of the sheet on which the printing unit has printed the image, and perform creasing at a second pressure different from the first pressure at a portion of the sheet that corresponds to a hinge.

Abstract: A drive transmission device includes a driving power receiver, a first rotator drive transmission system, and a second rotator drive transmission system. The driving power receiver directly receives the driving power from an output shaft of the drive motor. The first rotator drive transmission system is configured to transmit the driving power from the driving power receiver to the respective first rotators of the first structure and the second structure. The second rotator drive transmission system is configured to switch a state of transmission of the driving power from the driving power receiver into a first transmission state in which the driving power is transmitted to the respective second rotators of the first structure and the second structure, and into a second transmission state in which the driving power is transmitted to the second rotator of the first structure alone.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus sequentially transfers toner images formed on a plurality of photosensitive drums onto an intermediate transfer member or a transfer material to form an image. The image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt provided with electrical conductivity, and a power supply for applying a voltage to a secondary transfer roller to pass a current from the secondary transfer roller to the plurality of photosensitive drums via the intermediate transfer belt, thus primarily transferring the toner images from the plurality of photosensitive drums onto the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: An elastic blade includes a contact edge to contact a contact object, an edge region including the contact edge, and a backup region different in at least one of material and physical property from the edge region and adjacent to the edge region on a cross section perpendicular to a direction in which the contact edge extends. The backup region is free of direct contact with the contact object. In the elastic blade, a converted elastic power X is from 57% to 90% and defined as X = S A S A + S B × e A + S B S A + S B × e B , where SA and SB represent cross-sectional areas of the edge region and the backup region on the cross section, eA and eB represent elastic powers of the edge region and the backup region, and t represents a thickness of the edge region in a direction perpendicular to the longer of two sides of the edge region on the cross section.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus that reduces replacement frequency for waste toner container, and efficiently performs waste toner accommodation with a waste toner container. The image forming apparatus includes a toner detection sensor detecting a quantity of a toner in a toner container; a waste toner detection sensor detecting an accommodation quantity of a waste toner removed from a photosensitive medium and accommodated in a waste toner container; a waste toner container full-state forecasting part that, upon toner detection sensor detecting empty state of toner container, forecasts whether waste toner container is filled up with waste toner before toner container newly loaded is emptied, on detection result by waste toner detection sensor; and a system control part that, upon waste toner container full-state forecasting part forecasting waste toner container being filled up, notifies a replacement message urging replacement of waste toner container to a panel part.

Abstract: A waste toner transporting device includes a waste toner passing passage, a waste toner collection container, a suction passage, a suction device, and a passing passage box. Through the waste toner passing passage, waste toner passes. The waste toner collection container collects the waste toner having passed through the waste toner passing passage. In the suction passage, suspended toner is sucked along with air inside a developing device. The suction device sucks the air inside the suction passage. Inside the passing passage box, the waste toner passing passage constituting part of the waste toner passing passage is formed. The suction passage constituting part of the suction passage is formed inside the passing passage box so as to be connected to the waste toner passing passage.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive drum; a developing cartridge including a developing roller; a developing pressing member for pressing the developing cartridge; a first developing guide; and a second developing guide. The developing cartridge is movable among a detachable position; a contact position at which the developing roller contacts the photosensitive drum; and a separated position at which the developing roller is separated from the photosensitive drum. The developing pressing member presses the developing cartridge to place the developing cartridge at the contact position. The developing pressing member is disabled from pressing the developing cartridge to place the developing cartridge at the separated position lower than the contact position. The first developing guide can guide movement of the developing cartridge between the detachable position and the contact position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly to which a cartridge including a developing device for developing the latent image on an image bearing member is detachably mountable, and a transfer unit, detachably mountable to the main assembly separately from the cartridge, for transferring a developer image formed on the image bearing member. The transfer unit includes a developing device contact-and-separation mechanism for moving the developing device between a contact position, where the developer carrying member contacts the image bearing member, and a spaced position where the developer carrying member is spaced from the image bearing member. The developing device contact-and-separation mechanism includes an engaging member engageable with the cartridge and movable, with respect to the transfer unit, between a first position where the developing device is placed in the contact position and a second position where the developing device is in the spaced position.

Abstract: A developing cartridge may include a housing configured to hold toner. The cartridge may further include a developing roller including a developing roller shaft, a supply roller including a supply roller shaft, a developing electrode and a supply electrode. The developing electrode and supply electrode may be configured to guide an electrical contact of an image forming apparatus in one or more directions. In some examples, the developing electrode and supply electrode may have angled surfaces that extend toward one another.

Abstract: A cartridge detachably attachable to a main body of an image forming apparatus is provided. The cartridge includes a rotary member and a cartridge coupler. The cartridge coupler includes a transmission member coupled to a rotation axis of the rotary member, a receiving member connected to a set coupler provided in the main body for transmission of power, and a connection member connecting the transmission member and the receiving member together. The receiving member has an Oldham structure allowing movement relative to the transmission member in an axial direction. The receiving member is movable to a first position at which a rotation axis of the receiving member is misaligned with a rotation axis of the transmission member in an attachment or detachment direction, and to a second position at which the rotation axis of the receiving member is aligned with the rotation axis of the transmission member.

Abstract: A process cartridge, including a process cartridge housing, a photosensitive drum driving component, a driving force receiver, a flange component and a control mechanism. Opening parts are arranged on the driving force receiver and a retaining component is arranged on the process cartridge. When the control mechanism controls the driving force receiver to retract, the retaining component keeps the driving force receiver at a position non-interferential with a driving head of an image forming device. The driving force receiver and the flange component of the process cartridge are disengaged in a retracting state. In this state, the driving force receiving protrusion do not interfere with the front end column body of a machine driving head, and the process cartridge can be mounted and dismounted more smoothly.

Abstract: An end member (30) comprises: a tubular bearing member (40); and a shaft member (50), wherein the shaft member comprises: a shaft-like rotating shaft (51) which is disposed coaxially to the bearing member, and moves in the shaft line direction by rotating around a shaft line with respect to the bearing member; and a tip end member (55) which is disposed coaxially to the rotating shaft, and where a rotating force receiving member (58) provided with an engaging member (60) which engages with a driving shaft (70) of the image forming apparatus main body is disposed at a tip end, wherein a rotating force around the shaft line is transmitted to the rotating force receiving member, the rotating shaft, and the bearing member, in this order, and the rotating force receiving member moves to be inclined with respect to the shaft line.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator and a method for displaying a computer generated hologram are disclosed. The spatial light modulator includes a plurality of MEMS units arranged in an array, each of the MEMS units corresponds to a pixel of a computer generated hologram and includes a sensing device, a light shielding portion and a driving device. The sensing device is configured for receiving position information that is obtained through Roman encoding a pixel corresponding to an MEMS unit including the sensing device and the position information is transmitted to the driving device by the sensing device. The driving device is configured for controlling the light shielding portion to move to a position corresponding to the position information in response to the received position information of the light shielding portion when the present frame is displayed.

Abstract: A timepiece component includes a core made of material suitable for electroforming, containing nickel-phosphorus or made of nickel-phosphorus, which core is, at least locally, coated with a surface layer of gold or gold alloy, to improve its tribological behaviour in areas including the surface layer of gold or gold alloy. The component is made by a fabrication method that includes the steps consisting in preparing a composition suitable for creating a solid core by a LIGA or electroforming method; shaping the solid core by a LIGA or electroforming method; coating the solid core, at least locally in areas subject to friction, with a gold or gold alloy surface layer.

Abstract: A timepiece component comprising a dry, self-lubricating surface layer, consisting entirely of boric acid, having a thickness of 50 nanometres to 1 micrometre. A method for coating a timepiece component with a self-lubricating surface layer, including dissolving, at ambient temperature, boric acid H3BO3 granules or powder in a solvent chosen from among water, isopropanol, propanol, methanol, methyl propanol, glycol ethylene, glycerol, acetone, in a proportion of 0.01% to 1.0% by mass; mixing and agitating the solution; dipping the component to be coated in this solution; removing the component from the solution and allowing the liquid phase to evaporate, with the surface forming the surface layer kept away from any foreign bodies, until evaporation is complete; and repeating the dipping and evaporation steps until the desired layer thickness is obtained, from 10 nanometres to 1 micrometer, or more particularly from 50 nanometres to 1 micrometre.

Abstract: A thermal compensation system is provided for a liquid-filled inflexible chamber of a device. The chamber has at least one exposed, at least partially transparent surface allowing an outside observer to observe at least one liquid and comprises a mechanism accommodating thermal expansion and/or contraction of the liquids. The mechanism is disposed so as to be substantially invisible to the observer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for receiving an expiry time in a smart clip and one of timing and counting down to the expiry time comprises coupling an electronic receiver to the smart clip and connecting a timer to the electronic receiver are disclosed. Receiving the expiry time by the electronic receiver, and one of timing and counting down to the expiry time by the timer are also disclosed. Other features and embodiments of the invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: In the present invention a new atomic clock is proposed comprising: at least one light source adapted to provide an optical beam, at least one photo detector and a vapor cell comprising a first optical window, said optical beam being directed through said vapor cell for providing an optical frequency reference signal, said photo detector being adapted to detect said optical frequency reference signal and to generate at least one reference signal, wherein—said atomic clock comprises a first optical waveguide arranged to said first optical window, said first optical waveguide being arranged to incouple at least a portion of said optical beam, said first optical waveguide being sized and shaped so that said first guided light beam is expanded,—a first outcoupler is arranged to outcouple at least a portion of said guided light beam to said vapor cell,—the thickness t of the atomic clock is smaller than 15 mm.

Abstract: A circuit includes a time delta detector configured to receive an input clock signal and a reference clock signal and generate a delta pulse signal and a reference pulse signal. A comparison circuit is configured to receive the delta pulse signal and the reference pulse signal. The comparison circuit generates an output indicative of a bit of a time difference between the input clock signal and the reference clock signal. A control circuit is configured to receive the output from the comparison circuit. The control circuit maintains a count of the time difference between the input clock signal and the reference clock signal.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece comprises a receiver configured to receive satellite signals containing time information from positioning information satellites; an interface member; a timekeeping reception controller configured to execute a timekeeping reception process in response to a timekeeping reception operation of the interface member; and a positioning reception controller configured to execute a positioning reception process in response to a positioning reception operation of the interface member. The timekeeping reception controller starts the timekeeping reception process if the interface member is operated continuously for a first set time, and continues the timekeeping reception process if operation of the interface member is released before a second set time passes, the second set time being longer than the first set time, and operation switches from the timekeeping reception process to the positioning reception process if the interface member is operated for the second set time.

Abstract: A cam profile data creation apparatus sets cam profile data in which a phase of a drive shaft is associated with a displacement (set displacement) of a driven shaft, a rotation speed of the drive shaft, and an allowable error for the displacement of the driven shaft. A displacement (predictive displacement) of the driven shaft when the drive shaft rotates at the set rotation speed is found based on the set cam profile data, the set displacement and the predictive displacement are displayed to be comparable, and further a form of the display is changed depending on whether an error between the set displacement and the predictive displacement falls within the range of the allowable error.

Abstract: A control method of an intelligent home includes: A: collecting operation and utilization information of home appliances by the user, recording it as operation habits and storing them in a default database; B: looking up the database to determine whether there is a second operation recorded in an operation habit of a first operation correspondingly when detecting that the user performs the first operation to a home appliance; and C: automatically performing the second operation in the operation habits of the user to home control the home appliance when the second operation is found in the database correspondingly. The present invention makes the intellectual home more humane, intelligent and energy-saving.

Abstract: This document presents a system and method for defining and controlling moods and experiences associated with one or more spaces within a residential or commercial property. Moods and experiences may be defined by the user to present specified settings for audio, lighting, security, or other parameters that contribute to a mood for a given space. Timing and triggers may be created and saved with the moods and experiences to permit automatic, delayed, and cascading ambiance settings for one or more spaces.

Abstract: Identifying errors with home HVAC systems and notifying the homeowner of the error and potential remedial steps can be useful. In some embodiments, a method is provided including receiving, at an electronic device, a temperature value and an airflow value from sensors located at a vent grate of the HVAC system. A temperature delta value can be calculated using the temperature value and an ambient temperature value. The temperature delta value can be compared with predetermined temperature delta threshold value. The airflow value can be compared with predetermined airflow threshold value. Based on comparing the temperature delta value step and/or the comparing the airflow value step, an error with the HVAC system can be identified. A notification of the error and subsequent potential remedial steps can be sent from the electronic device to the homeowner.

Abstract: Certain embodiments relate to systems and methods for monitoring and improving the efficiency by which systems maintain building environments. A building management system may analyze values observed by sensors and other devices and determine whether the observed values fall within a range. If the observed values do not fall within the range and the building's control system has not taken appropriate action to ensure that the observed values do fall within the range, the building may generate a floor plan specifying where the failure occurred. A building ranking system may rank a plurality of buildings based upon their relative efficiency. The building ranking system may determine each building's efficiency based on a set of parameters related to the building's energy usage that are normalized for weather, occupancy, and other external parameters.

Abstract: A numerical control device includes a multicore CPU for outputting a position command value of a servomotor, an ASIC including a servo controller, which outputs a current command value to an amplifier for driving the servomotor, and another processor, and a DSP for reading the position command value and controlling the servomotor such that the servomotor moves to a position indicated by the position command value. The CPU and the ASIC are connected through a plurality of serial interfaces.

Abstract: A numerical controller of the invention includes a multi-core processor having a plurality of central processing unit (CPU) cores. Herein, importance is assigned in advance to each of a plurality of processes related to numerical control, and load distribution of the multi-core processor is performed by allocating the respective processes to the plurality of CPU cores based on the assigned importance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a programmable switching system having N interconnected switching devices (ISDs), each of the ISDs having a unique network address. An ISD includes a switch operating in switching mode and programming mode, a communication interface, a microprocessor, and a memory. The microprocessor controls operation of ISDs when switch is in switching mode and programs ISD when switch is in programming mode. The memory includes a network address storage, and firmware. When the firmware is executed at the microprocessor, firmware is configured to: communicate with all ISDs of programmable switching system through communication interface over a network, receive user's inputs at switches of ISDs, and in response of the received user's inputs, to program ISDs, when switch is in programming mode, and receive user's input at the switch to perform switching functions of the ISD, when the switch is in switching mode.

Abstract: A server apparatus includes a terminal-side receiver for receiving, via a first network, information including appliance information that identifies an electric appliance, from a terminal apparatus operable by a user, an appliance-side receiver for receiving, via a second network, information including an identifier of the electric appliance and information about a state of the electric appliance, and a storage unit that stores the appliance information received by the terminal-side receiver and the identifier of the electric appliance, for which it is judged, from the information about the state of the electric appliance received by the appliance-side receiver, that the appliance state has been changed, in association with each other, upon reception of trigger information by the terminal-side receiver.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating an electronic device based on environmental information are provided. The electronic device includes sensors functionally connected to the electronic device; and at least one processor configured to: receive, at least one sensor of the sensors, environmental information corresponding to a surrounding area of the electronic device, determine a risk level based on the environmental information, perform a first function if the risk level satisfies a first condition, and perform a second function if the risk level satisfies a second condition different from the first condition.

Abstract: A user can cause a servo motor to perform desired operation without occurrence of overshoot and hunting while being unconscious of a maximum torque that can be output from the servo motor. A control device that implements model following control includes a feedforward controller that implements sliding mode control.

Abstract: A numerical controller of the invention includes an overlap control unit that detects a reference value minimizing a synthesized velocity for a plurality of control axes calculated based on table format data in an overlap period in which the synthesized velocity is equal to or lower than a threshold set in advance, that finds an overlap quantity as an amount in the reference value of overlapping of travels of the control axes after the detected reference value with travels of the control axes before the detected reference value, that advances the travels of the control axes after the reference value minimizing the synthesized velocity by the overlap quantity, and that calculates post-correction travels resulting from superposition of the travels of the control axes after the reference value on the travels of the control axes before the reference value minimizing the synthesized velocity.

Abstract: A numerical control device includes a CPU for outputting a position command value of a servomotor; an IC including a servo controller for outputting a current command value to an amplifier for driving the servomotor, and an I/O unit for inputting and outputting an external signal; a DSP for reading the position command value and performing control so as to move the servomotor to a position indicated by the position command value; and an inter-device communication path between the CPU and the IC. The IC includes an internal bus connected to a communication interface connected to the inter-device communication path, and the I/O unit; and an internal communication path for directly transmitting a signal between the servo controller and the I/O unit without passing through the internal bus.

Abstract: A servo control device according to the present invention performs speed control or torque control for controlling speed or torque of a servo motor based on a speed command or a torque command by an analogue input voltage, and performs positional control for controlling a position of the servo motor based on feedback from the servo motor, includes a command switching unit determining that a command voltage by the analogue input voltage enters a dead zone of the command voltage which is registered in advance and determined as stopping, and when detecting that the command voltage enters the dead zone, the command switching unit ceases the speed control or the torque control to perform deceleration stop by the positional control by distribution processing of a movement command regarding an actual speed when the speed control or the torque control is ceased as an initial speed.

Abstract: Operator and quality information can be traced during manufacturing processes. It can be determined whether an operator requesting access to the manufacturing process is authorized. If authorized, the operator can be granted access to the manufacturing process. Quality information including one or more quality checks associated with the operator can be received. It can be determined whether the one or more quality checks pass predetermined quality requirements. If the quality checks pass the predetermined quality requirements, identification information can be generated. The identification information can be used to apply a traceable output on a part associated with the manufacturing process. Traceability reports can be generated that include the operator identification and the quality information and that can be reviewed by external computing systems.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, systems, and computer-readable media for the fault detection and identification in an aircraft that may occur in real time during a flight, or any time the aircraft is operating. For example, a controller may receive and calculate various parameter values at various times during an aircraft flight, and compare those values to baseline values in order to determine if a fault has occurred. Additionally, the controller may identify a fault that has occurred by comparing a calculated fault signature value with a fault signature database comprising fault signatures and their associated faults.

Abstract: An intrinsically-safe handheld field maintenance tool includes a controller, a process communication module, and a display. The process communication module is configured to communicate with a field device using a process communication protocol. The display is coupled to the controller. A user interface module is also coupled to the controller and is configured to receive user input. The controller is configured to detect a user input help request and provide a video output on the display in response to the user input help request.

Abstract: A control device for a machine tool, said control device being provided with a display unit that displays machining information and a display control unit that generates an image to display on said display unit. The display control unit is designed so as to divide up the display region of the display unit, generating a plurality of subregions. Via input from an operator, the sizes of said subregions can be changed. The display control unit changes the display format of the machining information in accordance with the machining information to be displayed and the sizes of the subregions.

Abstract: A method, system, and/or computer program product configure a manufacturing device. One or more processors generate a first inflation expectation value (IEV), which incorporates a price of the first good, and a second IEV that incorporates a price of the second good. The processor(s) compare an accuracy of the first IEV to an accuracy of the second IEV in predicting a future inflation index. In response to the first IEV more accurately predicting the future inflation index than the second IEV, one or more component positioning devices configure future configurations of the manufacturing device based on an inflation expectation described in the first IEV.

Abstract: In a method of dynamically configuring functions of a machine, an agent is provided to a first machine, thereby receiving a projectable space instance. The projectable space instance is configured in a second machine for creating a workspace and transmitted to the first machine based on a predefined protocol. The projectable space instance is parsed with the agent to automatically build a working environment for operating therein a projected workspace corresponding to the workspace created by way of the projectable space instance.

Abstract: A control device, by which a user causes a servo motor to perform desired operation without being conscious of a maximum torque of the servo motor while easily understanding the transmission characteristic, selects which one of sliding mode control and PID control is adopted to control a servo motor based on at least one of a position deviation and a velocity deviation.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes a memory and a setting selector. The memory is configured to store setting items each relating to a motor, and the setting sequence to sequentially set the setting items. The setting selector is connected to the memory and configured to select a newly selected item from among the setting items based on the setting sequence, a user input, and a currently selected item of the setting items.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for generating minimal cut-sets for highly integrated large systems. The method includes receiving a system model (102) and a scenario (104), and obtaining a dependency array (300) from the system model (102) according to the scenario, with the dependency array (300) including at least one case (302). The method includes selecting a case (302) in the dependency array (300). The method includes querying a cut-set repository (110) to determine if a cut-set for a component (200) in the case (302) is already stored, and retrieving said cut-set; and if a cut-set is not stored, generating the minimal cut-set for the component (200). And the method includes computing a final cut-set list (112) by expanding the dependency array (300) using the cut-set for the component (200). The method improves the efficiency of cut-set generation applied to manufactured systems with great number of components.

Abstract: An automated fastener insert installation system for composite panels is provided. A first module receives and secures a composite panel with respect to an origin of a first coordinate system, wherein the composite panel has opposed major surfaces and defines an insert-receiving orifice extending through one of the major surfaces, and is secured such that one of the major surfaces is externally accessible. A second module engages each of a plurality of fastener inserts with an installation aide. Third module determines a configuration of the orifice defined by the composite panel, selects a corresponding one of the fastener inserts engaged with the installation aide, inserts the selected fastener insert into the orifice, and dispenses an adhesive material through the installation aide and into the orifice about selected fastener insert such that the adhesive material secures the selected fastener insert within the orifice. Associated systems are also provided.

Abstract: First and second machine tools machine a workpiece and transmit machine status information each representing the status thereof to a server. A measurement device measures the workpiece machined by the first machine tool and transmits workpiece information representing a status of a defective workpiece to the server.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for providing a standard operating procedure associated with a monitoring system of facility are described herein. One method includes determining a plurality of parameters associated with a facility having a monitoring system, accessing a library of SOP templates to determine a particular SOP template having a correlation with the plurality of parameters, allowing a user to create an SOP by customizing the particular SOP template, and associating the created SOP with the plurality of parameters.

Abstract: A testing system for testing an Electronic Control Module (ECM) of a machine is provided. The testing system comprises a host system and a hardware-in-loop (HIL) system. The HIL system includes a simulation model having one or more latency-sensitive test cases associated with the machine. The HIL system includes a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to simulate the one or more latency-sensitive test cases in response to a test initiation trigger signal from the host system. The testing system further includes an input/output (I/O) unit. The input/output unit is configured to communicate with the processor and an ECM under test.

Abstract: An operation monitoring device monitors operations of machining devices in a machining line. Information on a workpiece stocker that constitutes the machining line is acquired, and a current workpiece stock number for the workpiece stocker is updated based on the acquired information. The necessity of change of machining speeds of the machining devices constituting the machining line is determined based on the current stock number for the workpiece stocker. Based on the result of the determination, change of the machining speeds is commanded to the machining devices located before and behind the workpiece stocker in the machining line.

Abstract: A monitoring system of a spinning line (1) comprises detection devices (20) associated to textile machines and main storage means (60), placed in a control room remote with respect to the spinning line (1) and remote processing means (80) operatively connected with the main storage means (60) for processing a huge amount of data (Big Data), to implement a predictive maintenance.