Author: claimsbot

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming unit detachably mountable to a main body of an image forming apparatus, the image forming unit comprising:
a first unit including an image bearing member; and
a second unit including an intermediate transfer member to which transferred is a toner image formed on said image bearing member;
wherein the toner image on said intermediate transfer member is transferred to a recording material; and
at least either of said first and second units is attachable to and detachable from said image forming unit.
2. An image forming unit according to claim 1, wherein said second unit further includes charging means for charging the toner on said intermediate transfer member, in order to transfer the toner on said intermediate transfer member to said image bearing member.
3. An image forming unit according to claim 2, wherein the toner image on said image bearing member is transferred to said intermediate transfer member simultaneous with the transfer of the toner charged by said charging means from said intermediate transfer member to said image bearing member.
4. An image forming unit according to claim 1, wherein, in a state where said image forming unit is mounted to the main body of said image forming apparatus, at least either of said first and second units is movable.
5. An image forming unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said first unit includes cleaning means for removing the toner on said image bearing member.
6. An image forming unit according to claim 5, further comprising containing means for containing the toner collected by said cleaning means.
7. An image forming unit according to claim 6, wherein said first unit includes said containing means.
8. An image forming unit according to claim 6, wherein, in a state where said image forming unit is mounted to the main body of said image forming apparatus, said image bearing member is positioned above said intermediate transfer member and said containing means is positioned below said intermediate transfer member.
9. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming unit detachably mountable to a main body of said image forming apparatus,
wherein said image forming unit includes a first unit including an image bearing member, and a second unit including an intermediate transfer member to which transferred is a toner image formed on said image bearing member,
the toner image on said intermediate transfer member is transferred to a recording material, and
at least either of said first and second units is attachable to and detachable from said image forming unit.
10. An image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said second unit further includes charging means for charging the toner on said intermediate transfer member, in order to transfer the toner on said intermediate transfer member to said image bearing member.
11. An image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the toner image on said image bearing member is transferred to said intermediate transfer member simultaneous with the transfer of the toner charged by said charging means from said intermediate transfer member to said image bearing member.
12. An image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, in a state where said image forming unit is mounted to the main body of said image forming apparatus, at least either of said first and second units is movable.
13. An image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein said first unit includes cleaning means for removing the toner on said image bearing member.
14. An image forming apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising containing means for containing the toner collected by said cleaning means.
15. An image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said first unit includes said containing means.
16. An image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein, in a state where said image forming unit is mounted to the main body of said image forming apparatus, said image bearing member is positioned above said intermediate transfer member and said containing means is positioned below said intermediate transfer member.
17. An image forming unit detachably mountable to a main body of an image forming apparatus, the image forming unit comprising:
an image bearing member;
an intermediate transfer member to which transferred is a toner image on said image bearing member,
wherein the toner image on said intermediate transfer member is transferred to a recording material; and
containing means for containing the toner collected from said image bearing member by cleaning means,
wherein, in a state where said image forming unit is mounted to the main body of said image forming apparatus, said image bearing member is positioned above said intermediate transfer member and said containing means is positioned below said intermediate transfer member.
18. An image forming unit according to claim 17, wherein the toner on said intermediate transfer member is transferred to said image bearing member and is contained in said containing means.
19. An image forming unit according to claim 18, further comprising charging means for charging the toner on said intermediate transfer member, prior to the transfer of the toner on said intermediate transfer member to said image bearing member.
20. An image forming unit according to claim 17, wherein the toner collected from said image bearing member is contained through a toner conveying path in said containing means.
21. An image forming unit according to claim 20, further comprising a rod-shaped member for preventing toner clogging in said toner conveying path.
22. An image forming unit according to claim 21, wherein an end of said rod-shaped member is supported by a rotary member at a position out of the center of rotation thereof.
23. An image forming unit according to claim 22, wherein said rod-shaped member has a bent form.
24. An image forming unit according to claim 22, wherein said rod-shaped member is maintained free at the other end, and is rocked by the rotation of said rotary member.
25. An image forming unit according to claim 17, wherein, in a state where said image forming unit is mounted to the main body of said image forming apparatus, said intermediate transfer member is positioned in an inclined state with respect to said image forming apparatus.
26. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming unit detachably mountable to a main body of an image forming apparatus, the image forming unit including an image bearing member, an intermediate transfer member to which transferred is a toner image on said image bearing member, and containing means for containing the toner collected from said image bearing member by cleaning means,
wherein the toner image on said intermediate transfer member is transferred to a recording material, and
in a state where said image forming unit is mounted to the main body of said image forming apparatus, said image bearing member is positioned above said intermediate transfer member and said containing means is positioned below said intermediate transfer member.
27. An image forming apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the toner on said intermediate transfer member is transferred to said image bearing member and is contained in said containing means.
28. An image forming apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising charging means for charging the toner on said intermediate transfer member, prior to the transfer of the toner on said intermediate transfer member to said image bearing member.
29. An image forming apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the toner collected from said image bearing member is contained through a toner conveying path in said containing means.
30. An image forming apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising a rod-shaped member for preventing toner clogging in said toner conveying path.
31. An image forming apparatus according to claim 30, wherein an end of said rod-shaped member is supported by a rotary member at a position out of the center of rotation thereof.
32. An image forming apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said rod-shaped member has a bent form.
33. An image forming apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said rod-shaped member is maintained free at the other end, and is rocked by the rotation of said rotary member.
34. An image forming apparatus according to claim 26, wherein, in a state where said image forming unit is mounted to the main body of said image forming apparatus, said intermediate transfer member is positioned in an inclined state with respect to said image forming apparatus.
35. An image forming apparatus according to claim 26, wherein, in a state where said image forming unit is mounted to the main body of said image forming apparatus, a recording material conveying path is formed below said image forming unit.
36. An image forming apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising an electric power supply unit is provided below said recording material conveying path, wherein electric power supply paths from said electric power supply unit are provided on both sides of said recording material conveying path.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A mechanical seal comprising a mating ring as a sliding member fixed to a rotation axis, a cartilage fixed to a housing, and a seal ring attached to said cartilage for sliding with respect to said mating ring; wherein
said cartilage comprises;
an outer peripheral portion fixed to said housing,
an inner peripheral portion placed around said rotation axis and provided with said seal ring, and
a back portion substantially perpendicular to the direction of said rotation axis connecting said outer peripheral portion and said inner peripheral portion; and

a bending portion bending in a direction of said rotation axis, is formed on said back portion of said cartilage in a ring shape taking said rotation axis as a center.
2. The mechanical seal as set forth in claim 1, wherein a groove portion having a concave shape in cross section is formed on said back portion of said cartilage in said ring shape taking said rotation axis as a center.
3. The mechanical seal as set forth in claim 1, wherein said back portion of said cartilage is formed so that axial positions of said back portion direction differ between an interior area and an exterior area in radial direction of said rotation axis; and a step portion connecting said interior area and the exterior area is formed in said ring shape taking said rotation axis as a center.

1. A pattern recognition method for identifying which category of a plurality of categories an input pattern matches, the method comprising:
calculating similarities of the input pattern with respect to respective categories;
converting the calculated similarities of the input pattern with respect to the respective categories into first evaluation values based on a first table which stores first evaluation values for similarities of respective categories, the first evaluation values being calculated from correct distribution information and incorrect distribution information;
calculating second evaluation values based on the calculated first evaluation values for the respective categories and prior probabilities for the respective categories stored in a second table indicating prior probabilities of the respective categories; and
selecting a category corresponding to a maximum value of the calculated second evaluation values.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the categories are characters.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the first table stores a ratio between a probability of the similarity under a condition that the input pattern matches the character and a probability of the similarity under a condition that the input pattern does not match the character.
4. The method according to claim 2, which further comprises:
accumulating the calculated similarities of the respective characters and information indicating a character as a correct solution for the input pattern in association with each other, and in which the first table is updated based on the accumulated information.
5. The method according to claim 3, which further comprises:
accumulating the calculated similarities of the respective characters and information indicating a character as a correct solution for the input pattern in association with each other, and in which the first table is updated based on the accumulated information.
6. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing program instructions for:
performing a similarity calculation function of calculating similarities of an input pattern with respect to respective categories;
performing a first evaluation value calculation function of converting the similarities of the input pattern with respect to the respective categories, which are calculated by the similarity calculation function, into first evaluation values based on a first table which stores first evaluation values for similarities of respective categories the first evaluation values being calculated from correct distribution information and incorrect distribution information;
performing a second evaluation value calculation function of calculating second evaluation values based on the first evaluation values for the respective categories, which are obtained by the first evaluation value calculation function, and prior probabilities for the respective categories stored in a second table indicating prior probabilities of the respective categories; and
performing a maximum value selection function of selecting a category corresponding to a maximum value of the second evaluation values which are calculated by the second evaluation value calculation function.
7. The medium according to claim 6, wherein the categories are characters.
8. A pattern recognition apparatus for identifying which category of a plurality of categories an input pattern matches, the apparatus comprising:
a similarity calculation unit configured to calculate similarities of the input pattern with respect to respective categories;
a first table configured to store first evaluation values for similarities of respective categories, the first evaluation values being calculated from correct distribution information and incorrect distribution information;
a first evaluation value calculation unit configured to convert the similarities of the input pattern with respect to the respective categories, which are calculated by the similarity calculation unit, into first evaluation values based on the relationship indicated by the first table;
a second evaluation value calculation unit configured to calculate second evaluation values based on the first evaluation values for the respective categories, which are obtained by the first evaluation value calculation unit, and prior probabilities for the respective categories stored in a second table indicating prior probabilities of the respective categories; and
a maximum value selection unit configured to select a category corresponding to a maximum value of the second evaluation values, which are calculated by the second evaluation value calculation unit.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the categories are characters.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An image-sensing device, comprising:
a first plate;
a second plate opposite to the first plate; and
at least one image-sensing element disposed between the first plate and the second plate, the image-sensing element comprising:
a lens;
a holder for holding the lens; and
an image sensor for sensing light from the lens and generating an image signal, the image sensor opposite to the lens.
2. The image-sensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image-sensing element further comprises a bottom plate disposed on the second plate.
3. The image-sensing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the image sensor is disposed on the bottom plate.
4. The image-sensing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the holder is secured to the first plate and the bottom plate by adhesive.
5. The image-sensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first plate and the second plate are made of transparent material.
6. The image-sensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holder is made of a multi-layer material.
7. The image-sensing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of signal lines for transmitting the image signal generated by the image sensor, a plurality of power lines for supplying power to the image sensor, and a plurality of ground lines, the signal lines, the power lines, and the ground lines are electrically connected to the image sensors.
8. An electronic device, comprising:
a monitor comprising a display screen; and
an image-sensing device disposed on the screen, comprising:
a first plate;
a second plate opposite to the first plate; and
at least one image-sensing element disposed between the first plate and the second plate, the image-sensing element comprising:
a lens;
a holder for holding the lens; and
an image sensor for sensing light from the lens and generating an image signal, the image sensor opposite to the lens.
9. The electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the image-sensing element further comprises a bottom plate disposed on the second plate.
10. The electronic device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the image sensor is disposed on the bottom plate.
11. The electronic device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the holder is secured to the first plate and the bottom plate by adhesive.
12. The electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first plate and the second plate are made of transparent material.
13. The electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the holder is made of a multi-layer material.
14. The electronic device as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a plurality of signal lines for transmitting the image signal generated by the image sensor, a plurality of power lines for supplying power to the image sensor, and a plurality of ground lines, the signal lines, the power lines, and the ground lines are electrically connected to the image sensors.
15. A display device comprising:
a monitor comprising a display screen defined along a first plane; and
an image-sensing device extending along a second plane neighboring said first plane so as to be disposed beside said display screen, said image-sensing device comprising a plurality of image-sensing elements dispersing throughout said image-sensing device so that a dispersing area of said plurality of image-sensing elements covers partially said display screen.
16. The display device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said plurality of image-sensing elements are disposed between a first plate and a second plate, which are made of transparent material, of said image-sensing device.