Abstract: A hot stamped steel includes a base material, a plated layer that is formed on a surface of the base material, and an oxide film that is formed on a surface of the plated layer; chemical composition of the plated layer contains 20.00 to 45.00 mass % of Al, 10.00 to 45.00 mass % of Fe, 4.50 to 15.00 mass % of Mg, 0.10 to 3.00 mass % of Si, 0.05 to 3.00 mass % of Ca, 0 to 0.50 mass % of Sb, 0 to 0.50 mass % of Pb, 0 to 1.00 mass % of Cu, 0 to 1.00 mass % of Sn, 0 to 1.00 mass % of Ti, 0 to 0.50 mass % of Sr, 0 to 1.00 mass % of Cr, 0 to 1.00 mass % of Ni, and 0 to 1.00 mass % of Mn with a remainder of Zn and impurities; and chemical composition of the oxide film contains 20.0 to 55.0 at % of Mg, 0.5 to 15.0 at % of Ca, 0 to 15.0 at % of Zn, and 0 at % or more and less than 10.0 at % of Al with a remainder of O and a total of 5.0 at % or less of impurities, and the adhesion amount of the oxide film per one surface is in a range of 0.01 to 10 g/m2.

Abstract: The hot-dip plated steel material includes a steel material and a hot-dip plated layer disposed on a surface of the steel material, the hot-dip plated layer has a certain chemical composition, and the hot-dip plated layer has a diffraction intensity obtained from a result of X-ray diffraction measurement, the diffraction intensity satisfying a certain relationship.

Abstract: The hot-dip plated steel material includes a steel material and a hot-dip plated layer disposed on a surface of the steel material, the hot-dip plated layer has a certain chemical composition, and the hot-dip plated layer has a diffraction intensity obtained from a result of X-ray diffraction measurement, the diffraction intensity satisfying a certain relationship.

Abstract: A power semiconductor module includes: a circuit body having a power semiconductor element and a conductor member connected to the power semiconductor element; a case in which the circuit body is housed; and a connecting member which connects the circuit body and the case. The case includes: a first heat dissipating member and a second heat dissipating member which are disposed in opposed relation to each other while interposing the circuit body in between; a side wall which joins the first heat dissipating member and the second heat dissipating member; and an intermediate member which is formed on the periphery of the first heat dissipating member and connected to the side wall, the intermediate member including a curvature that is projected toward a housing space of the case.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a conveyance path configured to guide a recording sheet conveyed from a sheet placement portion, passing through a sheet feeder unit, a nip portion between a photoconductor and transfer member, a fixing device, and a sheet ejection unit in this order; and a re-conveyance path configured to guide the sheet conveyed from the fixing device to an upstream-side path which constitutes part of the conveyance path extending upstream from the photoconductor. The re-conveyance path branches off from the conveyance path at a position downstream from the fixing device and extends to pass through a space between the photoconductor and the exposure device. The re-conveyance path includes a switchback mechanism configured to reverse a traveling direction of a sheet conveyed along the re-conveyance path after passing through the space between the photoconductor and the exposure device and to convey the sheet toward the upstream-side path.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device for use in an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus may include a sheet holder configured to be removed from and attached to the apparatus body and to hold a stack of sheets therein; an actuator including a base portion pivotally attached to the apparatus body via a first shaft and a movable portion pivotally attached to the base portion via a second shaft and extending toward the sheet holder; and a detector configured to detect a position of the base portion. The actuator may be configured such that the base portion and the movable portion pivot in response to the detector detecting the position of the base portion. The movable portion may be configured to pivot in a removal direction in which the sheet holder is removed from the apparatus body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a conveyance path configured to guide a recording sheet conveyed from sheet placement portion, passing through sheet feeder unit, a nip portion between photoconductor and transfer member, fixing device, and sheet ejection unit in this order; and a re-conveyance path configured to guide the recording sheet conveyed from the fixing device to an upstream-side path which constitutes part of the conveyance path extending upstream from the photoconductor. The re-conveyance path is branched off from the conveyance path at a position downstream from the fixing device and extends to pass through a space between the photoconductor and the exposure device. The re-conveyance path includes a switchback mechanism configured to reverse a traveling direction of a recording sheet conveyed along the re-conveyance path after passing through the space between the photoconductor and the exposure device and to convey the recording sheet toward the upstream-side path.

Abstract: A power semiconductor module includes: a circuit body having a power semiconductor element and a conductor member connected to the power semiconductor element; a case in which the circuit body is housed; and a connecting member which connects the circuit body and the case. The case includes: a first heat dissipating member and a second heat dissipating member which are disposed in opposed relation to each other while interposing the circuit body in between; a side wall which joins the first heat dissipating member and the second heat dissipating member; and an intermediate member which is formed on the periphery of the first heat dissipating member and connected to the side wall, the intermediate member including a curvature that is projected toward a housing space of the case.

Abstract: A process cartridge according to one aspect of the invention comprises: an image carrier configured to carry a developer image and having a transfer position capable of transferring the developer image to a recording sheet; and an elastically-deformable cantilever-shaped guide plate including a distal end portion being unsupported, and having a first surface and a second surface that is opposite to the first surface. A leading end of the recording sheet is guided on the first surface in a conveying direction, such that the leading end is guided toward the transfer position after the leading end is brought into contact with the image carrier. The distal end portion of the guide plate is bent toward the second surface side to form a bent portion.

Abstract: When a developer cartridge is not attached to an image formation apparatus body frame, a developer electrode included with the cartridge is disposed at a retract position at which the developer electrode does not protrude outside the cartridge. This protects the developer electrode from damage possibly caused by interference or contact with other components. After the developer cartridge is attached to the body frame, when the developer roller is rotated, the developer electrode is displaced to a connection position at which the developer electrode protrudes outside the cartridge (and is connected to a power supply electrode provided with the body frame).

Abstract: A sheet feeding device for use in an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus may include a sheet holder configured to be removed from and attached to the apparatus body and to hold a stack of sheets therein; an actuator including a base portion pivotally attached to the apparatus body via a first shaft and a movable portion pivotally attached to the base portion via a second shaft and extending toward the sheet holder; and a detector configured to detect a position of the base portion. The actuator may be configured such that the base portion and the movable portion pivot in response to the detector detecting the position of the base portion. The movable portion may be configured to pivot in a removal direction in which the sheet holder is removed from the apparatus body.

Abstract: An image-reading portion switches between a storage state in which a conveying path extends substantially vertically along a front surface of a main unit and a usage state in which the conveying path extends diagonally downward. In the storage state, the entire device can be made suitably compact, whereas in the usage state, the operability of the image-reading portion is enhanced.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that includes: a process unit; a driving source; a first driving unit that rotates when a rotation driving force generated by the driving source is transmitted; and a connection switching unit that switches between a transmission state in which the rotation driving force is transmitted to the first driving unit and a non-transmission state. The process unit includes: a transmission permission unit that switches a state of the connection switching unit into the transmission state, when the process unit exists at a process mounting location with respect to the image forming apparatus; and a second driving unit that joints with the first driving unit when the process unit exists at the process mounting location and rotates a rotation driving subject in the process unit by a rotation force of the first driving unit.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes a photosensitive drum, a transfer roller, a guide plate for guiding the paper toward the photosensitive drum, and a sponge fixed to the bottom surface of the guide plate. The sponge is softer than the guide plate, so that it can absorb vibrations in the guide plate when the trailing edge of the paper leaves the guide plate.

Abstract: A process cartridge according to one aspect of the invention comprises: an image carrier configured to carry a developer image and having a transfer position capable of transferring the developer image to a recording sheet; and an elastically-deformable cantilever-shaped guide plate including a distal end portion being unsupported, and having a first surface and a second surface that is opposite to the first surface. A leading end of the recording sheet is guided on the first surface in a conveying direction, such that the leading end is guided toward the transfer position after the leading end is brought into contact with the image carrier. The distal end portion of the guide plate is bent toward the second surface side to form a bent portion.

Abstract: An upper die 7 that is fixed to a ram 4d of a press machine 1 includes a forming punch 9 for conducting drawing, forming and listing, upper die-side cutting edges 13a for conducting trimming, and flat-face piercing punches 11 for conducting flat-face piercing, to respectively a work W in cooperation with a lower die 8. The lower die 8 is provided with a forming die 12 corresponding to the upper die 7, and a large piercing die 14, lower die-side cutting edges 8e and a flat-face piercing die 8a which are disposed at the forming die 12. A side-face working apparatus 17, including a rotating base 18 and a reciprocating base 19, is disposed at the side of the lower die 8 to conduct side-face press working to a side-face portion 3g of the work W jointly with the lower die 8.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes a photosensitive drum, a transfer roller, a guide plate for guiding the paper toward the photosensitive drum, and a sponge fixed to the bottom surface of the guide plate. The sponge is softer than the guide plate, so that it can absorb vibrations in the guide plate when the trailing edge of the paper leaves the guide plate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that includes: a process unit; a driving source; a first driving unit that rotates when a rotation driving force generated by the driving source is transmitted; and a connection switching unit that switches between a transmission state in which the rotation driving force is transmitted to the first driving unit and a non-transmission state. The process unit includes: a transmission permission unit that switches a state of the connection switching unit into the transmission state, when the process unit exists at a process mounting location with respect to the image forming apparatus; and a second driving unit that joints with the first driving unit when the process unit exists at the process mounting location and rotates a rotation driving subject in the process unit by a rotation force of the first driving unit.

Abstract: When a developer cartridge is not attached to an image formation apparatus body frame, a developer electrode included with the cartridge is disposed at a retract position at which the developer electrode does not protrude outside the cartridge. This protects the developer electrode from damage possibly caused by interference or contact with other components. After the developer cartridge is attached to the body frame, when the developer roller is rotated, the developer electrode is displaced to a connection position at which the developer electrode protrudes outside the cartridge (and is connected to a power supply electrode provided with the body frame).