Abstract: An optical imaging device, including an imaging unit and a measuring device. The imaging unit includes a first optical element group having at least one first optical element, which contributes to the imaging. The measuring device determines an imaging error, which occurs during the imaging, using a capturing signal. The measuring device includes a measurement light source, a second optical element group and a capturing unit. The measurement light source emits at least one measurement light bundle, The second optical element group includes an optical reference element and a second optical element, which guide the measurement light bundle onto the capturing unit, to generate the capturing signal. Each second optical element has a defined spatial relationship with a respective one of the first optical elements, The second optical elements differ from the first optical elements. The measuring device determines the imaging error with the capturing signal.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a mirror module, in particular for a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus, including a mirror, which has a mirror body and an optically effective surface. The mirror body has a first material, and a supporting structure for connecting the mirror body to an objective structure. The supporting structure has a second material. The first material and the second material differ in terms of their coefficients of thermal expansion by less than 0.5*10?6K?1 in a temperature range around an operating temperature which is reached by the mirror module during operation in the region of the connection of the mirror body to the supporting structure.

Abstract: An electrostatic charge image developing toner includes toner mother particles containing at least a binder resin, elastomer particles including a first oil, and inorganic particles including a second oil, wherein a viscosity of the first oil is equal to or higher than a viscosity of the second oil.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an electrostatic latent image developing toner containing: a binder resin; and a releasing agent, wherein the binder resin contains a crystalline polyester resin; an endothermic peak top temperature of the electrostatic latent image developing toner is 70° C. or more measured with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in a heating-up period of the toner; and a heat value ?Hc(L) is 15% or less with respect to a heat value ?Hc, wherein the heat value ?Hc(L) is a heat value in the range of (an exothermic peak top temperature rc?7° C.) or less; and the heat value ?Hc is a heat value of the total exothermic peak measured with DSC in a heating-down period of the toner.

Abstract: In a toner containing a resin, a pigment, and a pigment dispersant, the resin contains a polar resin having an acid value of 2.0 to 30.0 mgKOH/g, and the pigment dispersant has the structure represented by the following formula (1) and a polymer moiety bonded thereto.

Abstract: Disclosed are cold pressure fix toner compositions that include a core of a colorant, and a mixture of a co-polyester-co-polydimethylsiloxane and an amorphous resin, and a polymer shell thereover.

Abstract: A cylindrical shaft of a roller has facing surfaces which form a depression-protrusion-shaped portion of a joint of the cylindrical shaft and which face or make contact with each other and moreover which extend in a direction non-parallel to an axial direction of the cylindrical shaft, and the facing surfaces are inclined at a predetermined engagement angle with respect to a circumferential direction. A generating line of a circumferential surface of a coating layer that coats an outer circumference of the cylindrical shaft and a generating line of a circumferential surface of a photosensitive drum cross each other at a crossing angle smaller than the engagement angle.

Abstract: An optical writing device and an image forming apparatus incorporating the optical writing device. The optical writing device includes two or more light sources, a pixel clock generator to measure a scanning speed of one of the two or more light sources and generate a pixel clock of a cycle corrected according to the measured scanning speed, a pulse data generation and output unit to generate pulse width data and shift data for the pixel clock generated by the pixel clock generator to output the generated pulse width data and the generated shift data for each one of the two or more light sources, and a plurality of image pulse generation and output units to generate an image pulse. In the optical writing device, the plurality of image pulse generation and output units are supplied with the pixel clock in common.

Abstract: An adjustment method of an optical scanning device, in which an uppermost position at an incident surface of the image forming lens, through which a light beam being deflected and scanned passes, and a lowermost position at the incident surface of the image forming lens, through which a light beam being deflected and scanned passes, are detected in a height direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction in an effective range corresponding to a latent image formation target range on the scanning target surface, and a center height between the uppermost position and the lowermost position is allowed to approximately coincide with a height of a bus line of the image forming lens at the incident surface of the image forming lens.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing, a toner container, a latch mechanism, a toner sensor, a determination section, and a locking control section. The latch mechanism locks the toner container in the casing. When the determination section determines that a detection result of the toner sensor is greater than an amount range of remaining toner in a nearly empty state, the locking control section controls the latch mechanism to lock the toner container in the casing. When the determination section determines that a detection result of the toner sensor falls in the amount range of remaining toner in the nearly empty state, the locking control section controls the latch mechanism to unlock the toner container in the apparatus main body in response to an unlocking operation input through an operation input section.

Abstract: A toner case includes a case main body and a rotating member. The rotating member is rotatable around a rotation axis. A side wall of the case main body has a base part, a recess part and a bearing part. The base part is formed so as to cross a direction of the rotation axis. The recess part is recessed inward in the direction of the rotation axis with respect to the base part. The bearing part protrudes outward in the direction of the rotation axis from the recess part and supports one end portion of the rotating member in the direction of the rotation axis. An outer end portion in the direction of the rotation axis of the bearing part is positioned closer to an inner side in the direction of the rotation axis than an outer face of the base part.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a cartridge is provided with a case and a transportation member. The case includes a first chamber, a second chamber, and a passage. The first chamber communicates with a discharging port and accommodates a developing agent. The second chamber is positioned distant from the discharging port compared to the first chamber and accommodates a toner. The passage allows the discharging port to communicate with the second chamber. The transportation member transports the toner, which is supplied to the passage from the second chamber, toward the discharging port.

Abstract: A developer carrying member is disposed below a storage chamber of a frame and has a surface configured such that a plurality of dielectric portions are dispersed on a conductive portion, an upper region of the storage chamber of the frame is enlarged further in a horizontal direction than a lower region in which the developer carrying member is disposed, and the frame has a lower guide surface and includes a curved surface having a tangent plane inclined at a first angle equal to or greater than a degree of an angle of repose of the developer and less than 90 degrees, in an inner wall of the lower region, and an upper guide surface includes a curved surface having a tangent plane inclined at a second angle that is less than the first angle relative to a horizontal plane in an inner wall of the upper region.

Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a barrel having an opening, a transmission cap rotatably disposed to the barrel and blocking the opening, a sealing tape, and a toner conveying shaft rotatably disposed inside the barrel. The transmission cap has an outlet and an inner drive portion. The sealing tape has a first end sealing the outlet, and a second end fixedly mounted to the barrel. The toner conveying shaft has a driven portion. During a rotational period of the transmission cap, the first end of the sealing tape detaches from the outlet first, and then the inner drive portion abuts against the driven portion. When the transmission cap continuously rotates, the toner conveying shaft is driven by the transmission cap to rotate. As such, the transmission cap can drive the toner conveying shaft to synchronously rotate after the transmission cap brings the sealing tape to detach from the outlet.

Abstract: A developer container includes a developer containing portion capable of containing a developer, a discharge port through which the developer contained in the developer containing portion is discharged, and a storing portion configured to store the developer to be discharged through the discharge port. The storing portion is in fluid communication with an inside of the developer containing portion and the discharge port. In addition, a displacement portion is provided in the storing portion and arranged to be displaceable, and includes a displaceable shaft portion configured to extend along the storing portion and a coil spring which biases the displaceable shaft portion. A rotatable member is provided above the storing portion and has first and second portions arranged in a rotational direction of the rotatable member, the first portion being contactable to a part of the shaft portion and the second portion not being contactable to the shaft portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly; a door; a discharging portion provided in the main assembly and provided with a first opening for discharging toner; and a toner receptor detachably mounted to the door to accommodate the toner, the toner receptor being provided with a second opening cooperative with the first opening to form a toner flow passage, wherein the receptor is movable, in a state that it is mounted on the door, between a contacting position in which the receptor contacts the discharging portion such that the second opening is in fluid communication with the first opening and a spacing position in which the receptor is spaced from the discharging portion, and wherein the receptor mounted on the door is movable between the contacting and the spacing positions in a direction inclined with respect to a contact plane of the discharging portion relative to the receptor.

Abstract: A toner case includes a case main body, a shutter mount and a shutter. The case main body contains a toner to be replenished to a development device provided in an apparatus main body and is detachably attached to the apparatus main body. The case main body has an opened face on which a discharge port is arranged and the discharge port corresponds to a replenishment port of the development device in a state where the case main body is attached to the apparatus main body. The shutter mount is provided to form a gap between the opened face of the case main body and the shutter mount. The shutter is provided between the opened face of the case main body and the shutter mount to be slidable to open and close the discharge port. The shutter mount includes a film which comes into sliding contact with the shutter.

Abstract: A cartridge (1) to connect to a printer, the cartridge comprising a powder reservoir (2), a carrier (5) holding authenticity information (7, 9), a powder flow stimulator (3) in or near the reservoir (2), coupled to the carrier (5) so that a first stimulator movement displaces at least part of the carrier (5).

Abstract: The disclosed structure includes a belt-shaped conveying member configured to convey developer. The conveying member includes a partitioning portion, which is a partition for developer contained in a casing with respect to a conveying direction in which the developer is conveyed, wherein, when the developer container is new, a first developer amount which is an amount of the developer contained at an upstream side that is upstream of the partitioning portion in the conveying direction, is larger than a second developer amount which is an amount of the developer contained at a downstream side that is downstream of the partitioning portion in the conveying direction.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a method of controlling a fixing device includes heating a heat unit to a predetermined temperature, and while the heat unit is being heated to the predetermined temperature, rotating a pressure unit that is configured to be moved between a contact position, a separation position, and a semi-contact position. The pressure unit is positioned at the semi-contact position after the heat unit is heated to the predetermined temperature. The pressure unit is moved from the semi-contact position to the contact position before transporting a medium between the heat unit and the pressure unit. The pressure unit is moved from the contact position to the separation position via the semi-contact position after a fixing operation on the medium is completed.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fixing device includes determination means for determining the size of a medium, heating means for including plural heat-generating members which are two-dimensionally arranged such that the heat-generating members are lined up along two parallel lines or more which are vertical to a transport direction of the medium and divided at locations on the parallel lines, and are disposed so as to come into contact with an inner side of the rotating body, and a switching unit which switches individual conduction, and heats the medium, pressing means for forming a nip by performing pressing and contact at a position of the plural heat-generating members, and heating control means for selecting a group of the heat-generating members which are lined up in the two-dimensional arrangement, conducting the selected group of the heat-generating members, and controlling the heating means.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt that is endless and rotatable in a rotation direction and a nip former stretching the fixing belt. A pressure rotator presses against the nip former via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the pressure rotator, through which a recording medium is conveyed. A presser is disposed downstream from an exit of the fixing nip in the rotation direction of the fixing belt. The presser brings the fixing belt into contact with the pressure rotator. A mover is coupled to the presser to move the presser between a contact position where the presser brings the fixing belt into contact with the pressure rotator and an isolation position where the presser isolates the fixing belt from the pressure rotator.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image holding member that has an outer circumferential surface in which a radius length from a center in the image holding member varies to be the longest N times and the shortest N times during one rotation of the image holding member wherein N is an integer of 2 or more, and that holds a latent image while being rotated, a developing member that develops the latent image of the image holding member with a developer, a rotation unit that rotates the developing member by a number of an integer multiple of the N during the one rotation of the image holding member, and an output unit that outputs a developer image of the image holding member to a recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, an image density detector, and an output change device configured to cause the image forming device to form a test toner image while cyclically changing a charging power based on a charging change pattern and a developing bias based on a developing change pattern, generate an image density fluctuation pattern of the test toner image in a rotation direction of a latent image bearer, generate a writing change pattern to cyclically change a power of latent image writing based on the image density fluctuation pattern of the test toner image and one of the charging change pattern and a correlative pattern correlated with the charging change pattern. The output change device is configured to cyclically change the power of latent image writing based on the writing change pattern during image formation according to a user command.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member configured to bear a toner image formed using a liquid developer containing toner particles and a carrier liquid, a transfer member, an input portion into which information on a kind of a recording material is inputted, an adjusting device configured to adjust an amount of the carrier liquid of the toner image, and an executing portion configured to execute an operation of the adjusting device depending on the information when the toner image is in the adjusting position. The executing position executes either of a plurality of operations including a first operation in which the amount of the carrier liquid of the toner image is increased, a second operation in which the amount of the carrier liquid is decreased, and a third operation in which the amount of the carrier liquid is not adjusted.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes at least a load unit, a driving unit that drives the load unit, and a controller that controls the driving unit. The controller determines that at least one of the load unit and the driving unit malfunctions if a velocity change time period that the driving unit has taken to reach a second velocity from a first velocity is off a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: Image formation is properly performed by suppressing an influence on a transfer property in the image formation due to variation in a toner particle charge amount. An image forming apparatus comprises a developing device for performing development using developer including a charged toner particle, a toner supply container for supplying the toner particle to a development unit, and a CPU for controlling a toner particle amount supplied to the developing device. The CPU calculates a toner consumption amount consumed by the development. Then, from the result, the CPU calculates a toner supply amount which makes the toner charge amount in the developing device constant. Then, the CPU supplies the toner of the calculated amount to the developing device.

Abstract: A belt feeding device includes a belt, a first roller, an opposing roller, a second roller, and a brush roller. (|D2s?D2m|/2)×10???(|D2s?D2m|/2)×(b/(a+b)) is satisfied, where D2m is a minimum diameter of the first roller, D2s is a maximum diameter of the first roller, ? is an entering amount of the opposing roller into the brush roller with respect to a reference line A between a portion of the first roller having the minimum diameter D2m and the second roller, a is a distance between a line passing through a rotation center of the first roller and a line passing through a rotation center of the opposing roller, and b is a distance between a line passing through a rotation center of the second roller and a line passing through the rotation center of the opposing roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a printing section, a cooling mechanism, a suction adjustment mechanism, and a controller. The printing section includes a fixing unit for heating a sheet having a toner image put on it, and discharges the sheet after fixing. The cooling mechanism includes a suction port, a blower motor for rotating a fan, and a blowing duct for blowing air onto the sheet. The suction adjustment mechanism moves a suction adjustor between an open position where the suction port is open and a shut position where the suction port is closed. The controller moves the suction adjustor the closer to the shut position the smaller the set thickness of the sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a process unit, a controller, and a fixing unit including a heater. The process unit is configured to form a developer image on a sheet. The heater is configured to be applied with an AC voltage, and to heat the sheet to thereby fix the developer image to the sheet. The controller is configured to perform: executing a continuous supply control in which the heater is continuously energized; acquiring an initial voltage dropping level of the AC voltage and a recovery time during the executing the continuous supply control; and setting a power supply control to control energization of the heater for starting up the heater on the basis of the acquired initial voltage dropping level and the acquired recovery time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a first storage section configured to store image information to be printed; a printing section configured to include a decolorable recording material and non-decolorable recording material and print an image based on the image information stored in the first storage section with the decolorable recording material in a case in which the image meets a predetermined condition; a second storage section configured to store emphasis information for emphasizing a specific image; and a control section configured to control the printing section to print an image indicated by the emphasis information stored in the second storage section with the decolorable recording material in a case in which the image meets the predetermined condition existing in the image information stored in the first storage section.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a cleaning device includes a conveying member and a plurality of scraping pieces. The conveying member has a rotating shaft and a spiral blade formed around the rotating shaft. The conveying member is configured to be rotated around an axis to convey a toner removed from an image carrier in a direction of the axis. The plurality of scraping pieces are arranged in the direction of the axis. The plurality of scraping pieces are configured to be turnable so as to alternately come into contact with the rotating shaft and the spiral blade to scrape the toner adhered on the rotating shaft. A width of the scraping piece in the direction of the axis is equal to or below ½ of a gap between the adjacently arranged scraping pieces in the direction of the axis.

Abstract: Provided is a cleaning blade including: an elastic member; and a supporting member supporting the elastic member. The elastic member includes a free end portion, and the free end portion has an edge and a first surface and a second surface that form the edge. At least one of the first surface and the second surface has a hardened surface. The following expression (1): 0.1?DHs?0.4 and the following expression (2): DHs<DHm are satisfied, where DHs (mN/?m2) represents a dynamic hardness of the hardened surface, and DHm (mN/?m2) represents a maximum value of the dynamic hardness obtained in a positional range in which a distance L from the edge on a straight line that bisects an angle of the edge in a cross-section of the elastic member orthogonal to a longitudinal direction thereof satisfies 0 ?m<L?100 ?m.

Abstract: An access door of an imaging device is movable between a raised closed position, a lowered open position, and a raised open position. A linkage assembly includes a lower link connected to the access door using a first revolute joint and an upper link connected to the access door using a compound joint. The compound joint is transformable between a prismatic joint and a second revolute joint, with the compound joint forming the prismatic joint as the access door moves between the raised closed position and the lowered open position and forming the second revolute joint as the access door moves between the lowered open position and the raised open position. The compound joint as the prismatic joint allows translational motion of the access door relative to the upper link. The compound joint as the second revolute joint allows rotational motion of the access door relative to the upper link.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a movement member arranged to move a cartridge and is movable between a first position for disposing the cartridge at a position where image formation is possible and a second position where the cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the movement member. At least one coupling provided in the cartridge is, when the movement member is at the first position, moved to a drive position where the coupling is arranged to engage with a drive member to rotate at least one rotating member, and while the movement member is being moved from the second to first positions, the at least one coupling is at an inclined position.

Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus including a main assembly and a detachably supported supporting member movable between a first position where the cartridge is provided at an image formable position, and a second position retracted from the first position. The cartridge includes a supported portion for being supported by contacting with a supporting portion provided in the supporting member when the supporting member is in the second position, and a suppressed portion for suppressing rotation of the cartridge about the supported portion by engaging with a suppressing portion in the supporting member when the supporting member is in the second position. When the supporting member is at the first position, the supported portion is spaced from the supporting portion and the suppressed portion is spaced from the suppressing portion.

Abstract: A cartridge that can be inserted in an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus by moving along an axial direction of an image bearing member includes the image bearing member, a frame configured to support the image bearing member, a storage member configured to store therein information on the cartridge, and include an electrical contact, and a first pressed section and a second pressed portion configured to be pressed by the apparatus main body. The electrical contact is disposed between the first pressed section and the second pressed section, and is configured to be in contact with the main body contact on a lower side in a state where the cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to forming nano- and/or micro-replication directly embossed in a bulk solidifying amorphous alloy comprising a metal alloy by superplastic forming of the bulk solidifying amorphous alloy at a temperature greater than a glass transition temperature (Tg) of the metal alloy.

Abstract: A timepiece with a tourbillon unit, including a base plate, cage placed rotatably on the base plate and being connected to a fourth pinion, a balance placed on the cage, and an escape wheel that is placed on the cage and that is in work connection with the balance, a balance stop device being capable to be brought into engagement with the balance, wherein it further includes a zero-setting device for the angular orientation of the cage.

Abstract: A configurable watch stand capable of supporting and charging a smart watch, such as an Apple Watch is disclosed. The watch stand includes a base support, a multisided open-ended sleeve extending from the base support, and a post configured to be removably inserted into an opening of the sleeve and fixedly positioned thereon. The post includes an angled support surface that is configured to retain a watch charger and a helical groove that encircles the exterior of the post that is configured to receive and manage a cable wrapped thereabout. The base support may be sloped and may include a lip structure on one side, a cable management system on the underside, and a wireless charging surface on the top side. The height and/or orientation of the angled support surface relative to the base may be configurable or adjustable.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a parameter set of a perishable product. According to the invention it is contemplated that an identification (ID) representing the perishable product is detected by a reading device, that the identification of the ID prompts a detection of the parameter set of the product, that a comparison between the identified parameter set and a reference parameter set is carried out, and that a control signal is generated and represented based on the comparison. The present invention further relates to a control system designed for implementing the method.

Abstract: The invention relates to automatically commissioning of devices of a networked control system, particularly to automatically commissioning of wireless switches in lighting control systems. A basic idea of the invention is to derive from an installation constraints with regard to a networked control system and to consider these constraints during an automatic commissioning process based on signal strength processing. This may help to improve the reliability of commissioning based on signal strengths.

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to end devices (e.g., meters, sensors, pumps, etc.) of an industrial monitoring system or an industrial control system. A system includes an end device having processing circuitry configured to execute instructions stored in at least one memory device to enable the end device to collect and store a plurality of measurements of operational parameters of a monitored system in the at least one memory device according to a dynamic mapping that is updatable.

Abstract: A high accuracy on-chip thermal sensor includes an integrated circuit and sensing elements. The thermal sensor finds application in various mobile and battery powered devices and includes a processor that analyzes a measured temperature signal and decides if the thermal sensor operates in low or high power operational mode, or if the device's CPU is to be reset. A method utilizing the thermal sensor includes making comparisons to two threshold temperatures and operating at low power mode below the first threshold temperature, high power mode between the two threshold temperatures and causing reset if the second threshold temperature is exceeded. Low power operational mode includes a lower clock frequency, lower bias current and lower power consumption. Higher power operational mode is used when the upper threshold temperature is being approached and includes a higher data sampling frequency and more accurate temperature control and uses higher power.

Abstract: The invention relates to controlling power consumption of a group of plurality of groups of power consuming devices by determining power consumption control value for controlling power consumption of devices of the group by use of at least one of the following: load shedding flexibility value of at least one group of plurality of groups, wherein the load shedding flexibility value of the corresponding group indicates maximum amount of power, by which power consumption of devices of the corresponding group can be reduced such that minimum power consumption permissible in the corresponding group is maintained; load restoration flexibility value of the at least one group of plurality of groups, wherein the load restoration flexibility value of the corresponding group indicates maximum amount of power, by which the power consumption of devices of the corresponding group can be increased such that maximum power consumption permissible in the corresponding group is maintained.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a method and system for reducing building energy consumption is provided. The method is provided for saving building energy consumption by obtaining at least one energy use strategy in association with a current or future activity in a building. The method includes aggregating activity data from at least one system associated with the current or future activity and estimating an energy demand level based at least on the aggregated activity data. The method also includes generating at least one energy use strategy based at least on the estimated energy demand.

Abstract: The present invention implements a model-tracking motor control apparatus for stabilizing behavior of a controlled object. The control apparatus (1) includes: a motor control part (20), generating a driving torque instruction value used to enable the servo motor (2) to perform driving based on a detection value of an encoder (4) that performs detection on a rotational state of a servo motor (2); and a model control part (10), generating a model torque instruction value, and outputting the model torque instruction value to the motor control part (20), where the model control part (10) has a model torque limiter (104) that limits the model torque instruction value within a first limit range.

Abstract: There is provided a transmitter. The transmitter includes: a display portion; an first input receiver configured to receive a first selecting operation for selecting one of setting items and a second selecting operation for selecting one of setting values; and a second input receiver configured to receive a switching operation for sequentially switching the setting values of the selected setting item, wherein the second input receiver is rotated in a first rotation direction or in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction; and a first controller configured to display the setting values of the selected setting item on the display portion such that the setting values are sequentially switched in a forward direction or a backward direction when the second input receiver is rotated in the first rotation direction or the second rotation direction by the switching operation.

Abstract: System and method for propagating control results in an environment is disclosed. An entity with a data store to store selective designation of a control result for propagation by an entity is provided. The entity is configured to propagate the designated control results to another entity. The designation of propagation of control result is based on a relationship between the entity and another entity.

Abstract: A method for controlling an appliance is provided. The method includes: receiving a notification message from a control device, wherein the notification message includes address information regarding the control device; receiving quality data of a target object from an appliance configured to process the target object, wherein the quality data of the target object is obtained by measuring quality of the target object by the appliance; and sending an appliance control prompt to the control device according to the address information when determining that the quality data of the target object does not reach a threshold, wherein the appliance control prompt is configured to prompt a user of the control device to start the appliance for processing the target object.