Author: claimsbot

1. A heater controller of a refrigerator, wherein the refrigerator is provided with a dispenser connected to a water tank by means of a water supply pipe, comprising:
a heater mounted at a side of the water tank in order to generate heat;
a first temperature sensor mounted on an outer surface of the water tank in order to sense an outer surface temperature of the water tank;
a second temperature sensor for sensing an ambient temperature at a position of the refrigerator; and
a microcontroller in which ranges of a water temperature in the water tank estimated based on the outer surface temperature of the water tank and the ambient temperature of the refrigerator are set, the microcontroller controlling the heater to be turned onoff based on the water temperature in the water tank and the ambient temperature of the refrigerator.
2. A heater control method of a refrigerator, wherein the refrigerator is provided with a dispenser connected to a water tank by means of a water supply pipe, comprising:
a first temperature sensing step for sensing an outer surface temperature of the water tank;
a temperature estimation step for estimating a water temperature in the water tank based on the outer surface temperature of the water tank sensed in the first temperature sensing step;
a heater control step for controlling a heater to be turned onoff by comparing the water temperature in the water tank estimated in the temperature estimation step with reference values;
a second temperature sensing step for sensing an ambient temperature at a position of the refrigerator;
a first heat energy output step for controlling the heater to be turned onoff at intervals of a first predetermined time if the ambient temperature sensed in the second temperature sensing step is over a predetermined temperature (E \xb0 C.); and
a second heat energy output step for controlling the heater to be turned onoff so that the heater is turned on for a longer time than while the heater is turned off if the ambient temperature sensed in the second temperature sensing step is below a certain temperature (F \xb0 C.) (wherein E>F).
3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein in the first heat energy output step, the predetermined temperature (E \xb0 C.) is about 25\xb0 C., and the heater is turned onoff at the intervals of the first predetermined time of 30 minutes.
4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein in the second heat energy output step, the certain temperature (F \xb0 C.) is about 15\xb0 C., and the heater is controlled to be turned on for 50 minutes and turned off for 10 minutes.
5. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein in the heater control step, the reference value for turning on the heater is 7\xb0 C., and the reference value for turning off the heater is 3\xb0 C.

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 sheet process device comprising:
first stack means for stacking thereon sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus;
second stack means for stacking thereon the sheets transferred from said first stack means;
a transfer unit for transferring the sheets as a sheaf of sheets from said first stack means to said second stack means; and
transfer control means for controlling, in a case where a size of the sheet discharged to said first stack means is equal to or smaller than a predetermined size, said transfer unit to transfer the sheets as the sheaf of sheets from said first stack means to said second stack means every time a first predetermined number of sheets are stacked on said first stack means, and for controlling, in a case where the size of the sheet discharged to said first stack means is larger than the predetermined size, said transfer unit to transfer the sheets as the sheaf of sheets from said first stack means to said second stack means in response to that a second predetermined number of sheets are stacked on said first stack means,
wherein the second predetermined number is smaller than the first predetermined number.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said transfer control means controls said transfer unit to transfer the sheets as the sheaf of sheets from said first stack means to said second stack means in response to that a last sheet of one group is stacked on said first stack means.
3. A device according to claim 1, further comprising:
adjustment means for adjusting the sheets on said first stack means at either one of a first adjustment position and a second adjustment position; and
adjustment control means for changing the adjustment position of said adjustment means in response to that a last sheet of one group is stacked on said first stack means.
4. A sheet process device comprising:
a first tray for stacking thereon sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus;
a second tray for stacking thereon the sheets transferred from said first tray;
a transfer unit for transferring the sheets as a sheaf of sheets from said first tray to said second tray; and
a controller for controlling, in a case where a size of the sheet discharged to said first tray is equal to or smaller than a predetermined size, said transfer unit to transfer the sheets as the sheaf of sheets from said first tray to said second tray every time a first predetermined number of sheets are stacked on said first tray, and for controlling, in a case where the size of the sheet discharged to said first tray is larger than the predetermined size, said transfer unit to transfer the sheets as the sheaf of sheets from said first tray to said second tray in response to that a second predetermined number of sheets are stacked on said first tray,
wherein the second predetermined number is smaller than the first predetermined number.
5. A device according to claim 4, wherein said controller controls said transfer unit to transfer the sheets as the sheaf of sheets from said first tray to said second tray in response to that a last sheet of one group is stacked on said first tray.
6. A device according to claim 4, further comprising:
an adjuster for adjusting the sheets on said first tray at either one of a first adjustment position and a second adjustment position;
wherein said controller changes the adjustment position of said adjuster in accordance with that a last sheet of one group is stacked on said first tray.
7. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet;
a first tray for stacking thereon sheets transferred from said image forming unit;
a second tray for stacking thereon the sheets transferred from said first tray;
a transfer unit for transferring the sheets as a sheaf of sheets from said first tray to said second tray; and
a controller for controlling, in a case where a size of the sheet discharged to said first tray is equal to or smaller than a predetermined size, said transfer unit to transfer the sheets as the sheaf of sheets from said first tray to said second tray every time a first predetermined number of sheets are stacked on said first tray, and for controlling, in a case where the size of the sheet discharged to said first tray is larger than the predetermined size, said transfer unit to transfer the sheets as the sheaf of sheets from said first tray to said second tray in response to that a second predetermined number of sheets are stacked on said first tray,
wherein the second predetermined number is smaller than the first predetermined number.
8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said controller controls said transfer unit to transfer the sheets as the sheaf of sheets from said first tray to said second tray in response to that a last sheet of one group is stacked on said first tray.
9. An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:
an adjuster for adjusting the sheets on said first tray at either one of a first adjustment position and a second adjustment position,
wherein said controller changes the adjustment position of said adjuster in accordance with stacking of a last sheet of one group on said first tray.
10. A sheet process device comprising:
stagnation means for temporarily stagnating received sheets;
first stack means for stacking thereon the sheets;
carrier means for carrying the sheets to said first stack means without stagnating them in said stagnation means, and carrying at least one stagnated sheet together with a newly received sheet to said first stack means after stagnating at least one of the sheets in said stagnation means;
second stack means for stacking thereon the sheets transferred from said first stack means;
a transfer unit for transferring the sheets as a sheaf of sheets from said first stack means to said second stack means;
transfer control means for controlling said transfer unit to transfer the sheets when a predetermined number of sheets as the sheaf of sheets are stacked on said first stack means andor when a last sheet of one group is stacked on said first stack means; and
carrier control means for controlling said carrier means to cause said stagnation means to stagnate the succeeding sheets in a case where the predetermined number of sheets are stacked on said first stack means, and for controlling said carrier means to cause said stagnation means to stagnate the sheets of a next group even if the predetermined number of sheets are not stacked on said first stack means, in a case where the last sheet of one group is stacked on said first stack means,
wherein said carrier control means controls said carrier means not to cause said stagnation means to stagnate the last sheet of the one group.
11. A sheet process device comprising:
a stagnator for temporarily stagnating received sheets;
a first tray for stacking thereon the sheets;
a carrier for carrying the sheets to said first tray without stagnating them in said stagnator, and carrying the stagnated sheets together with a newly received sheet to said first tray after stagnating at least one of the sheets in said stagnator;
a second tray for stacking thereon the sheets transferred from said first tray;
a transfer unit for transferring the sheets as a sheaf of sheets from said first tray to said second tray;
a transfer controller for controlling said transfer unit to transfer the sheets as the sheaf of sheets when a predetermined number of sheets are stacked on said first tray andor when a last sheet of one group is stacked on said first tray; and
a carrier controller for controlling said carrier to cause said stagnator to stagnate the succeeding sheets in a case where the predetermined number of sheets are stacked on said first tray, and for controlling said carrier to cause said stagnator to stagnate the sheets of a next group even if the predetermined number of sheets are not stacked on said first tray, in a case where the last sheet of one group is stacked on said first tray,
wherein said carrier controller controls said carrier not to cause said stagnator to stagnate the last sheet of the one group.
12. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet;
a stagnator for temporarily stagnating sheets transferred from said image forming unit;
a first tray for stacking thereon the sheets;
a carrier for carrying the sheets to said first tray without stagnating them in said stagnator, and carrying the stagnated sheets together with a newly received sheet to said first tray after stagnating at least one of the sheets in said stagnator;
a second tray for stacking thereon the sheets transferred from said first tray;
a transfer unit for transferring the sheets as a sheaf of sheets from said first tray to said second tray;
a transfer controller for controlling said transfer unit to transfer the sheets as the sheaf of sheets when a predetermined number of sheets are stacked on said first tray andor when a last sheet of one group is stacked on said first tray; and
a carrier controller for controlling said carrier to cause said stagnator to stagnate the succeeding sheets in a case where the predetermined number of sheets are stacked on said first tray, and for controlling said carrier to cause said stagnator to stagnate the sheets of a next group even if the predetermined number of sheets are not stacked on said first tray, in a case where the last sheet of one group is stacked on said first tray,
wherein said carrier controller controls said carrier not to cause said stagnator to stagnate the last sheet of the one group.

1. A low temperature fusing dry electrographic toner composition comprising:
a plurality of dry toner particles, wherein the toner particles comprise polymeric binder comprising at least one amphipathic copolymer comprising one or more S material portions and one or more D material portions;
wherein the dry electrographic toner composition comprises a non-volatile plasticizer in an amount effective to reduce the First Heat Exposure Tg by at least about 10\xb0 C. as compared to a like electrographic toner composition that does not comprise non-volatile plasticizer, and wherein the plasticizer is sufficiently non-volatile that the Second Heat Exposure Tg will not increase by an amount greater than about 5\xb0 C. above the First Heat Exposure Tg.
2. The dry toner composition of claim 1, wherein the plasticizer is present in an amount of from about 0.01 to about 6% (ww) of the dry electrographic toner composition.
3. The dry toner composition of claim 1, wherein the plasticizer is present in an amount of from about 0.02 to about 2% (ww) of the dry electrographic toner composition.
4. The dry toner composition of claim 1, wherein the plasticizer is present in an amount of from about 0.04 to about 1.2% (ww) of the dry electrographic toner composition.
5. The dry toner composition of claim 1, wherein the plasticizer is present in an amount sufficient to reduce the First Heat Exposure Tg to no less than 38\xb0 C.
6. The dry toner composition of claim 1, wherein the plasticizer is present in an amount sufficient to reduce the First Heat Exposure Tg to no less than 50\xb0 C.
7. The dry toner composition of claim 1, wherein the plasticizer is present in an amount sufficient to reduce the First Heat Exposure Tg to no less than 60\xb0 C.
8. The dry toner composition of claim 1, wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of straight, branched or cyclo-C10-C30 alkyl compounds; straight, branched or cyclo-C10-C30 alkyl phthalate compounds; straight, branched or cyclo-C4-C30 alkyl phosphate compounds; straight, branched or cyclo-C10-C30 alkyl esters; C12-C30 isoparaffinic solvents; and mixtures thereof.
9. The dry toner composition of claim 1, wherein the plasticizer is a non-volatile machining oil.
10. The dry toner composition of claim 1, wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of methyl oleate, dibutyl phthalate, tributyl phosphate, and hydrocarbon fluids with a normal paraffin content greater than about 95%.
11. A method of preparing a low temperature fusing dry electrographic toner composition comprising:
a) providing a plurality of dry toner particles, wherein the toner particles comprise polymeric binder comprising at least one amphipathic copolymer comprising one or more S material portions and one or more D material portions; and
b) providing non-volatile plasticizer in the dry electrographic toner composition in an amount effective to reduce the First Heat Exposure Tg by at least about 10\xb0 C. as compared to a like electrographic toner composition that does not comprise non-volatile plasticizer, and wherein the plasticizer is sufficiently non-volatile that the Second Heat Exposure Tg will not increase by an amount greater than about 5\xb0 C. above the First Heat Exposure Tg.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the non-volatile plasticizer is provided after preparation of the toner particles.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the non-volatile plasticizer is provided in a reaction solvent during preparation of the toner particles, and wherein in a drying step to remove the reaction solvent, plasticizer remains with the toner particles in an amount effective to reduce the First Heat Exposure Tg by at least about 10\xb0 C. as compared to a like electrographic toner composition that does not comprise non-volatile plasticizer, and wherein the plasticizer is sufficiently non-volatile that the Second Heat Exposure Tg will not increase by an amount greater than about 5\xb0 C. above the First Heat Exposure Tg.

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 mapping sensor system for detecting positions of flat objects arranged randomly in recesses of a storage device, each of said flat objects having an edge, and a thickness, said mapping sensor system comprising:
a moveable carrier which is moveable with respect to said storage device across said flat objects and that rigidly supports a mapping sensor unit; and
memory means for recording data about said positions and thicknesses of said flat objects in said storage device and for controlling operation of said moveable carrier in accordance with said recorded data;
said mapping sensor unit comprising:
a light source that generates a light beam;
a beam shaper having means for transforming said light beam into a substantially flat light beam directed toward said flat objects substantially parallel to said flat objects and having a thickness in a cross section perpendicular to the direction of said flat light beam comparable with said thickness of said flat objects; and
at least one light-receiving means for sensing a light beam reflected from said edge.
2. The mapping sensor system of claim 1, wherein said at least one light receiving means has a sensitivity threshold lower than intensity of said light beam reflected from said edge but higher than a reflected light beam other than said light beam reflected from said edge.
3. The mapping sensor system of claim 2, wherein said threshold is controlled and adjusted with the use of an electronic synchronous detection circuit.
4. The mapping sensor system of claim 1, wherein said each said flat objects has a structural feature which can be a source of false signal or absence of a signal generated by said mapping sensor system and wherein said reflected light beam other than said light beam reflected from said edge is a light beam selected from a beam reflected from said structural feature and a beam reflected from said storage device.
5. The mapping sensor system of claim 4, wherein said threshold is controlled and adjusted with the use of an electronic synchronous detection circuit.
6. The mapping sensor system of claim 4, wherein said moveable carrier is an end effector of an industrial robot, said flat objects are semiconductor wafers, and said structural feature is a notch on said edge.
7. The mapping sensor system of claim 6, wherein a projection of said substantially flat beam onto said edge is equal to or wider than said notch and wherein means for transforming said light beam into a substantially flat light beam comprises at least one cylindrical lens.
8. The mapping sensor system of claim 7, wherein said light source is a laser diode and said at least one light-receiving means is a photodiode.
9. The mapping sensor system of claim 1, wherein said beam shaper has beam splitting means for splitting said light beam of said light source into a plurality of spaced individual beams directed towards said edge substantially parallel to said flat objects and having a thickness in a cross section perpendicular to the direction of said flat light beam comparable with said thickness of said flat objects, said system being further provided with a plurality of light-sensitive members in a number corresponding to the number of said individual beams and arranged on said moveable carrier so as to sense individual beams reflected from said edge in response to incidence of said individual beams emitted from said beam shaper.
10. The mapping sensor system of claim 9, wherein said threshold is controlled and adjusted with the use of an electronic synchronous detection circuit.
11. The mapping sensor system of claim 10, wherein said beam splitting means comprises an array of at least two cylindrical microlenses, said mapping sensor unit being connected to memory means and generates an output signal sent to said actuating means only when at least one of said light-sensitive members senses at least one of said individual beams reflected from said edge.
12. The mapping sensor system of claim 11, wherein each said light-sensitive members of said plurality has a sensitivity threshold lower than intensity of light beams reflected from said edge but higher than reflected light beams other than said light beams reflected from said edge.
13. The mapping sensor system of claim 12, wherein said each said flat objects has a structural feature which can be a source of false signal or absence of a signal generated by said mapping sensor system and wherein said reflected light beam other than said light beam reflected from said edge is a light beam selected from a beam reflected from said structural feature and a beam reflected from said storage device.
14. The mapping sensor system of claim 10, wherein said moveable carrier is an effector of an industrial robot, said flat objects are semiconductor wafers, and said structural feature is a notch on said edge.
15. The mapping sensor system of claim 14, wherein a projection of said substantially flat beam onto said edge is equal to or wider than said notch.
16. The mapping sensor system of claim 15, wherein said light source is a laser diode and said at least one light-receiving means is a photodiode.
17. The mapping sensor system of claim 1, wherein said beam shaper unit comprises an anamorphotic objective consisting of a cylindrical lens and an array of cylindrical microlenses arranged on the optical path from said light source to said edge for splitting said light beam of said light source into a plurality of spaced individual beams directed towards said edge substantially parallel to said flat objects and having a thickness in a cross section perpendicular to the direction of said flat light beam comparable with said thickness of said flat objects, said system being further provided with a plurality of light-sensitive members in a number corresponding to the number of said individual beams and arranged on said moveable carrier so as to sense individual beams reflected from said edge in response to incidence of said individual beams emitted from said beam shaper.
18. The mapping sensor system of claim 17, wherein said threshold is controlled and adjusted with the use of an electronic synchronous detection circuit.
19. The mapping sensor system of claim 18, wherein each said light-sensitive member of said plurality has a sensitivity threshold lower than intensity of light beams reflected from said edge but higher than reflected light beams other than said light beams reflected from said edge.
20. A method of mapping a pattern of flat objects arranged randomly in recesses of a storage device, each of said flat objects having an edge, and a thickness, said method comprising:
providing a mapping sensor system having a moveable carrier that rigidly supports a mapping sensor unit and memory means for recording data about said positions of said flat objects in said storage device and for controlling operation of said moveable carrier in accordance with said recorded data, said mapping sensor unit comprising: a light source that generates a light beam; a beam shaper and at least one light-receiving means for sensing a light beam reflected from said edge;
moving said moveable carrier across said flat objects in said storage device;
sending a light beam from said light source to said beam shaper and transforming said light beam into at least one substantially flat beam having a thickness comparable with said thickness of said flat objects;
directing said substantially flat beam onto said edge of each of said flat objects;
detecting the presence of said flat objects in said positions in said storage device by sensing with said at least one light-receiving means a light beam reflected from said edge;
recording the position of each of said flat objects in said memory means when said light beam reflected from said edge is sensed by said at least one light-receiving means for obtaining mapping data; and
controlling operation of said moveable carrier in accordance with said mapping data.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein said at least one light receiving means has a sensitivity threshold lower than intensity of said light beam reflected from said edge but higher than intensity of a reflected light beam other than said light beam reflected from said edge.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein said threshold is controlled and adjusted with the use of an electronic synchronous detection circuit.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein each of said flat objects has a structural feature which can be a source of false signal or absence of a signal generated by said mapping sensor system and wherein said reflected light beam other than said light beam reflected from said edge is a light beam selected from a beam reflected from said structural feature and a beam reflected from said storage device.
24. A method of mapping a pattern of flat objects arranged randomly in recesses of a storage device, each of said flat objects having an edge, and a thickness, said method comprising:
providing a mapping sensor system having a moveable carrier that rigidly supports a mapping sensor unit and memory means for recording data about said positions of said flat objects in said storage device and for controlling operation of said moveable carrier in accordance with said recorded data, said mapping sensor unit comprising: a light source that generates a light beam; a beam shaper and a number of light-receiving means for sensing light beams reflected from said edge;
moving said moveable carrier across said flat objects in said storage device;
sending a light beam from said light source to said beam shaper and splitting said light beam into a plurality of substantially flat individual beams the number of which is equal to said number of said light-receiving means, said flat individual beams having a thickness comparable with said thickness of said flat objects;
directing said substantially flat beams onto said edge of each of said flat objects;
detecting the presence of said flat objects in said positions in said storage device by sensing with said light-receiving means at least one light beam reflected from said edge;
recording the position of each of said flat objects in said memory means when said at least one light beams reflected from said edge is sensed by said at least one light-receiving means for obtaining mapping data; and
controlling operation of said moveable carrier in accordance with said mapping data.
25. The mapping sensor system of claim 24, wherein said at least one light receiving means has a sensitivity threshold lower than intensity of said light beam reflected from said edge but higher than intensity of a reflected light beam other than said light beam reflected from said edge.
26. The mapping sensor system of claim 25, wherein said each said flat objects has a structural feature which can be a source of false signal or absence of a signal generated by said mapping sensor system and wherein said reflected light beam other than said light beam reflected from said edge is a light beam selected from a beam reflected from said structural feature and a beam reflected from said storage device.
27. The method of claim 25, wherein said threshold is controlled and adjusted with the use of an electronic synchronous detection circuit.