Abstract:
A heating apparatus includes a heater, a current-feed switching circuit configured to switch turning-on/off of current-feeding from an AC power source to the heater, thereby feeding current from the AC power source to the heater at a predetermined current-feed ratio, a temperature detector configured to detect a heating temperature of the heater, anda current-feed controller configured to control the current-feed ratio of the current-feed switching circuit such that the detection temperature of the temperature detector falls within a target range. The current-feed controller performs at least one pair of ON lock current-feed control to fix the current-feed ratio to almost 100% in a first period and OFF lock current-feed control to fix the current-feed ratio to almost 0% in a second period every predetermined control period of the current-feed switching circuit.
Abstract:
A fixing device configured to thermally fix a developing agent image to a recording sheet includes a fixing belt having a tubular shape defining an inner space, a heat generating member, a nip member, and a stay which are disposed in the inner space of the fixing belt, and a rotating member disposed outside the inner space of the fixing belt. The fixing belt is nipped between the nip plate and the rotating member. The stay comprises a first receiving portion and a second receiving portion which are positioned upstream and downstream of the heat generating member, respectively, in a conveying direction of the recording sheet and are configured to receive a force exerted from the rotating member to the nip member. The heat insulator is disposed between the nip member and one of the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion of the stay.
Abstract:
A support frame portion is divided into a first support-frame half-portion and a second support-frame half-portion along a virtual reference dividing plane. A raised portion is integrally formed with each of side walls in a pair of the first web half-portion, projecting toward the second web half-portion beyond the virtual reference dividing plane. A raised portion is integrally formed with each of side walls in a pair of the second web half-portion, projecting toward the first web half-portion beyond the virtual reference dividing plane. A recessed portion is formed in each of the side walls in the pair of the first web half-portion, and is fitted with the raised portion corresponding thereto of the second web half-portion. A recessed portion is formed in each of the side walls in the pair of the second web half-portion, and is fitted with the raised portion corresponding thereto of the first web half-portion.
Abstract:
A light emitting device for emitting pulse lights synchronized with a pulse signal is provided. A light receiving device for receiving the pulse lights reflected by or penetrating an object to be detected is provided. A signal processing circuit for detecting whether the object exists or not, based on a light receiving signal from the light receiving device. A synchronization timing circuit for generating the pulse signal used for emitting a plurality of pulse lights in one cycle is provided. The signal processing circuit detects the plurality of pulses and outputs a detection signal for indicating whether the object exists or not.
Abstract:
A transistor includes an NPN transistor provided with an N-type emitter, a P-type base, an N-type collector, an emitter diffusion region and a collector compensation diffusion region around the base and the emitter for decreasing a saturation voltage and a parasitic PNP transistor in a region where the NPN transistor is formed, the parasitic PNP transistor operating under saturation of the NPN transistor.
Abstract:
A retarder brake automatic control system capable of causing a vehicle to run downhill at a speed set by a speed setter, in which a vehicle speed is automatically controlled by means of a microcomputer. The microcomputer includes a fault detector which detects abnormality in factors for safety running of the vehicle, and controls a retarder brake so as to cause the vehicle to run at an appropriate speed in accordance with the output of the fault detector.
Abstract:
A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet includes: a tubular flexible fusing member; a heater; a nip member; and a backup member. The tubular flexible fusing member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The heater is disposed in the internal space and radiates radiant heat. The nip member is disposed in the internal space and receives the radiant heat from the heater. The inner peripheral surface is in sliding contact with the nip member. The backup member provides a nip region in cooperation with the fusing member upon nipping the fusing member between the backup member and the nip member. The nip member has a surface confronting the heater. The surface includes a first heat absorption region having a first heat absorption ratio of a predetermined value and a second heat absorption region having a second heat absorption ratio higher than the first heat absorption ratio. The second heat absorption region is positioned at a region of the surface overlapping with the nip region.
Abstract:
A developer supply device is provided, which includes a transfer board including an activating section and an always-transferring section. The activating section is disposed in a position close to a developer holding member and lower than a position where development agent is transferred onto the developer holding member. The activating section is supplied with an activating voltage for making the development agent leave a developer transfer path and drop into the developer storage section during an activating process performed at an initial stage of a developer transferring operation while supplied with the transfer bias voltage after the activating process. The always-transferring section is disposed across a position facing the developer storage section to a position lower than and adjacent to the activating section, and always supplied with a transfer bias voltage during the developer transferring operation.
Abstract:
An LED drive circuit is an LED dive circuit that receives an alternating voltage to drive an LED, and includes a current remove portion that removes a current from a current supply line that supplies an LED drive current to the LED. If an input current to the LED drive circuit is an unnecessary current, the LED does not light because of current removal by the current remove portion. If the input current to the LED drive circuit turns into the LED drive current from the unnecessary current, the current remove portion decreases the amount of current removed.