Abstract: A humidity controlling apparatus comprises: a moisture absorbent (1) made of a macromolecular gelated moisture absorbing material which takes a first state being capable of absorbing moisture and a second state releasing in a liquid state the moisture absorbed in the first state, and which has a nature to change from the first state to the second state when a definite level of temperature or higher is attained, and return to the first state when the definite level of temperature or higher is no longer attained; and an energy converting particle (2) which is disposed so as to be buried inside the moisture absorbent and has a nature to generate heat when it is exposed to an external stimulus factor which is at least one of light, electric waves and a high frequency magnetic field.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an output shaft including a columnar part and a D cut part connected to the columnar part and having a D section, and an electromagnetic clutch including a cylindrical member fitted to the output shaft. The image forming apparatus further includes a key member. The key member includes a conductive member. When the D cut part of the output shaft is employed as an insertion tip side and the output shaft has been inserted to the cylindrical member from one side in an axial direction, the key member is configured to fill a space between the sectional circular part of the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member and the D cut part of the output shaft.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a driving force transmitting mechanism transmitting a driving force from a driving source to a rotating member through a plurality of coupled driving force transmitting members. The driving force transmitting mechanism has a supporting member and a drive case. The support member supports the driving source and the rotating members. The drive case is provided on the support member and forms a closed space with the supporting member. The closed space stores the driving force transmitting members. The drive case is formed with a sound insulating part. The sound insulating part has at least either one of concave and convex parts at a position closest to the coupling part of the driving force transmitting members.

Abstract: A metal belt (300) is an endless belt formed of a strip body. The metal belt (300) includes a belt overlapping portion in which at least two ring pieces (310a, 320a) formed by deformation due to a compressive stress inherent in the belt doubly overlap in a ring radial direction in a natural state where no external force is applied. Further, the metal belt (300) has a cross-sectional shape convex radially outwardly in a cross-section perpendicular to a circumferential direction of the belt in a state reached by annularly spreading the belt in the natural state.

Abstract: An X-ray detectable adhesive bandage includes: an adhesive protective member further including a substrate and an adhesive layer; and an absorbent member formed by layering, in order from bottom to top, at a prescribed site upon the adhesive protective member, a metallic foil further including a hot melt bonding agent layer, a long object which is formed by an X-ray detectable material being covered either in whole or in part by a covering object, and an absorbent pad. The absorbent member is configured from a prescribed metallic foil, a prescribed long object, and an absorbent pad such as a heat bonding layered body.

Abstract: A belt drive mechanism includes a plurality of pulleys and a belt made from a metal material and wound around the plurality of pulleys. Around the entire circumference of an outer peripheral surface of at least one of the plurality of pulleys, a swelling portion is formed to swell outward in a radial direction of the pulley. The swelling portion includes a first part having a larger swelling amount and a second part having a smaller swelling amount, the first part having a larger linear expansion coefficient than the second part.

Abstract: A driving device includes an endless metal belt having a strip shape, rotational members, and a polisher. The rotational members bear the metal belt to allow the metal belt to run circularly. The polisher is disposed so as to come in contact with the widthwise opposite end edges of the metal belt to thereby polish the opposite end edges of the metal belt in running.

Abstract: A power conversion apparatus is provided which includes a first DC/DC converter and a second DC/DC converter which are connected to each other in parallel, and a controller which changes a state of the second DC/DC converter between operation and stop, based on an input current or an output current of the power conversion apparatus, and at least one current threshold determined based on a first characteristic curve showing a relation between current and conversion efficiency in a state where the second DC/DC converter is stopped while the first DC/DC converter is operated and a second characteristic curve showing a relation between current and conversion efficiency in a state where the first DC/DC converter and the second DC/DC converter are operated.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a driving force transmitting mechanism transmitting a driving force from a driving source to a rotating member through a plurality of coupled driving force transmitting members. The driving force transmitting mechanism has a supporting member and a drive case. The support member supports the driving source and the rotating members. The drive case is provided on the support member and forms a closed space with the supporting member. The closed space stores the driving force transmitting members. The drive case is formed with a sound insulating part. The sound insulating part has at least either one of concave and convex parts at a position closest to the coupling part of the driving force transmitting members.

Abstract: A belt driving mechanism includes a plurality of pulleys and a belt wound around the pulleys and made of a metallic material. The pulleys include a driving pulley and a driven pulley. At least one of the pulleys includes an air supply portion. The air supply portion supplies an air from the interior of at least one of the pulleys toward the belt wound around the pulleys.

Abstract: A drive transmission device includes rotatable shafts, a first transmission mechanism that transmits first driving force, and a second transmission mechanism that transmits second driving force. The first driving force causes a specific rotatable shaft to rotate in a first rotation direction. The second driving force causes the specific rotatable shaft to rotate in a second rotation direction. The second transmission mechanism includes first and second gears, and a switching member that switches between coupling and decoupling of the first and second gears. While the first and second gears are coupled, the second driving force is transmitted to the specific rotatable shaft. The first transmission mechanism includes a cut-off member that cuts off transmission of the first driving force to the specific rotatable shaft upon the second driving force being transmitted to the specific rotatable shaft while the first driving force is being transmitted to the specific rotatable shaft.

Abstract: A driving circuit for a switching element includes a main current wiring and a substrate. The main current wiring has a flat surface and carries a main current. The substrate has a flat surface mounted on the flat surface of the main current wiring and includes a coil disposed inside. The coil is disposed so as to interlink with a magnetic flux generated depending on the main current of the switching element and is electrically connected such that the coil receives the pulse signal of the signal source and transmits the pulse signal to a control terminal of the switching element.

Abstract: A drive transmission device includes rotatable shafts, a first transmission mechanism that transmits first driving force, and a second transmission mechanism that transmits second driving force. The first driving force causes a specific rotatable shaft to rotate in a first rotation direction. The second driving force causes the specific rotatable shaft to rotate in a second rotation direction. The second transmission mechanism includes first and second gears, and a switching member that switches between coupling and decoupling of the first and second gears. While the first and second gears are coupled, the second driving force is transmitted to the specific rotatable shaft. The first transmission mechanism includes a cut-off member that cuts off transmission of the first driving force to the specific rotatable shaft upon the second driving force being transmitted to the specific rotatable shaft while the first driving force is being transmitted to the specific rotatable shaft.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressing member and a separating member. The fixing member is provided with a sheet passing region and a non-sheet passing region. The separating member has a separating plate and a restricting piece. The restricting piece is provided with a curving surface on a region including the contacting portion with the non-sheet passing region. The curving surface has a first curving area and a second curving area. The first curving area is provided on a downstream side from the contacting portion in a rotating direction of the fixing member. The second curving area is provided on an upstream side from the contacting portion in the rotating direction of the fixing member. The second curving area has a radius of curvature larger than that of the first curving area.

Abstract: A metal belt (300) is an endless belt formed of a strip body. The metal belt (300) includes a belt overlapping portion in which at least two ring pieces (310a, 320a) formed by deformation due to a compressive stress inherent in the belt doubly overlap in a ring radial direction in a natural state where no external force is applied. Further, the metal belt (300) has a cross-sectional shape convex radially outwardly in a cross-section perpendicular to a circumferential direction of the belt in a state reached by annularly spreading the belt in the natural state.

Abstract: A power conversion apparatus is provided which includes a first DC/DC converter and a second DC/DC converter which are connected to each other in parallel, and a controller which changes a state of the second DC/DC converter between operation and stop, based on an input current or an output current of the power conversion apparatus, and at least one current threshold determined based on a first characteristic curve showing a relation between current and conversion efficiency in a state where the second DC/DC converter is stopped while the first DC/DC converter is operated and a second characteristic curve showing a relation between current and conversion efficiency in a state where the first DC/DC converter and the second DC/DC converter are operated.

Abstract: A driving device includes a motor, a pulley, a metal belt, a first unit, a second unit, a biasing member and a detector. The motor includes a drive shaft. The pulley includes an output shaft extending in parallel to the drive shaft. The pulley is rotatably supported on the first unit with the output shaft as a rotary shaft and the circumferential surface is arranged at a distance from the drive shaft in a radial direction of the rotation. The second unit supports the motor and is slidable relative to the first unit. The biasing member biases the second unit in a direction to move the drive shaft away from the output shaft in a state where the metal belt is mounted between the drive shaft and the pulley. The detector detects a change in an inter-axial distance between the drive shaft and the output shaft.

Abstract: A driving device includes an endless metal belt having a strip shape, rotational members, and a polisher. The rotational members bear the metal belt to allow the metal belt to run circularly.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressing member and a separating member. The fixing member is provided with a sheet passing region and a non-sheet passing region. The separating member has a separating plate and a restricting piece. The restricting piece is provided with a curving surface on a region including the contacting portion with the non-sheet passing region. The curving surface has a first curving area and a second curving area. The first curving area is provided on a downstream side from the contacting portion in a rotating direction of the fixing member. The second curving area is provided on an upstream side from the contacting portion in the rotating direction of the fixing member. The second curving area has a radius of curvature larger than that of the first curving area.

Abstract: The belt driving mechanism of the present invention includes: a driving pulley; a driven pulley; a looped transmission belt extended over the driving pulley and the driven pulley; a first holding member that bearing-supports and holds the driving pulley; a second holding member that bearing-supports and holds the driven pulley, and is combined with the first holding member; and a biasing member that biases the first holding member and the second holding member to be separated, in a state in which the first holding member and the second holding member are combined.