Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to perform image formation on a sheet, a casing configured to house the image forming unit, an operation unit configured to receive an operation performed by a user, an electric wire extending from the casing to be connected to the operation unit and configured to transmit an electrical signal, a reinforcing member provided separate from and independent of the electric wire, the reinforcing member interconnecting the casing and the operation unit, and a covering configured to enclose therein the electric wire and the reinforcing member, wherein the reinforcing member is fixed to the casing and the operation unit in such a manner that a distance between a portion fixed to the casing and a portion fixed to the operation unit in the reinforcing member is shorter than a total length of the electric wire.

Abstract: A path generation device is configured to generate a path along which a mobile object is to travel. The device comprises a planner module configured to plan a steering angle and a steering angular velocity for the mobile object to travel from a start position to a goal position by generating first and second isosceles triangles connecting the start position and the goal position based on the start position of the mobile object, a start position traveling direction being a traveling direction of the mobile object at the start position, the goal position of the mobile object, and a goal position traveling direction being a traveling direction of the mobile object at the goal position. The device comprises a curved path applying module configured to apply a first curved path along legs of the first isosceles triangle and apply a second curved path along legs of the second isosceles triangle.

Abstract: An obstacle detection device includes: a position and posture detector; a detection-disallowed-area setter; a detection-allowed-area determiner; and an obstacle detector. The position and posture detector detects a position and a posture of an object. The detection-disallowed-area setter sets an obstacle-detection disallowed area in which the object is undetectable as an obstacle based on the position and the posture of the object detected by the position and posture detector. The detection-allowed-area determiner determines an obstacle-detection allowed area in which the object is detectable as the obstacle based on the obstacle-detection disallowed area set by the detection-disallowed-area setter. The obstacle detector detects the obstacle in the obstacle-detection allowed area determined by the detection-allowed-area determiner. The detection-disallowed-area setter sets an area that encloses the object as the obstacle-detection disallowed area.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on paper, an operation unit, and a controller to receive an execution signal and control the image forming unit. The operation unit includes a touch panel display to receive a touch operation by a user, and to display an execution icon to be touched by the user to enable the operation unit to transmit the execution signal to the image forming apparatus. The operation unit further includes a cable connected to the operation unit to transmit the execution signal to the controller, an exterior cover configured to form an exterior, and an insertion member disposed on a side opposite to a side where the touch panel display is disposed on an outside of the exterior cover to pass fingertips of the user through when the user operates the operation unit while holding up the operation unit.

Abstract: In a multilayer coil component, a coil is configured by electrically connecting coil conductors respectively provided in magnetic body layers constituting an element body and metal magnetic particles have a normal particle having an ellipsoidal shape and flat particles having an ellipsoidal shape flatter in a thickness direction than the normal particle. A plurality of the normal particles and at least one of the flat particles disposed such that a surface (reference surface) including a major axis direction orthogonal to the thickness direction and a minor axis direction is along the forming surface of the coil conductor in the magnetic body layer are arranged in the lamination direction of the magnetic body layers between the coil conductors.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion configured to form an image on a sheet; a mounting portion on which an IC card reader which includes a lighting portion where light indicating an operation state comes on and which is used for user authentication is mounted; a reader cover mounted on the mounting portion and covering the IC card reader, wherein the reader cover is provided with a plurality of openings, either one of the openings opposing the lighting portion of the IC card reader; and a light transmission sheet provided on the reader cover and covering the openings, wherein transmittance of visible light for the light transmission sheet is 5% or more and 25% or less.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming unit, a housing having a top face, an operation unit freely placed on the housing top face, a touch panel, and a supporting base. The image forming unit forms an image on a sheet. The operation unit is freely placed on the housing top face and accepts a user operation for causing the image forming unit to execute image formation. The operation unit includes a touch panel having a display face on which information about the image formation is displayed and accepting touch operation performed by a user. The supporting base supports the touch panel so that an inclination angle of the display face inclined with respect to the housing top face becomes one of 5 degrees or more and 45 degrees or less when the operation unit is placed on the housing top face.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable operation portion including a switchable display screen portion, a frame holding the display screen portion; a light-emitting diode to light up, flashes, or turns off; a light source substrate provided with the light emitting diode; a light guide member which is fixed to an edge on a front side of the main assembly with respect to the display screen portion and which is provided with an emission opening through which the light emitted by the light emitting diode is directed to an outside. The light guide member is fixed such that a plane of the light emission opening of the light guide member is within a range of 45°±15° with respect to the display screen portion. The emission opening of the light guide member faces the light emitting surface of the light emitting diode.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method for producing a lyophilized composition of viable cells of Rhizobium bacteria having high viable cell viability, and a lyophilized composition of viable cells of Rhizobium bacteria having desirable long-storage survivability, among others. The lyophilized composition of viable cells of Rhizobium bacteria having high viable cell viability and desirable long-storage survivability can be obtained when a composition containing viable cells of Rhizobium bacteria and more than 10 mass % moisture is lyophilized to bring the moisture content to 10 mass %, and the drying is ended before the moisture content becomes less than 5 mass % so that the composition after the lyophilization contains the viable bacteria and 5 to 10 mass % of moisture.

Abstract: Provided herein is a culturing method for bacteria of the genus Rhizobium whereby a low viscosity can be maintained in a culture solution during the culturing of and at the end of culturing of said bacteria, and that enables easy and efficient post-procedures, including concentration and separation of viable bacteria, among others. This is achieved by growing Rhizobium bacteria by liquid culture using a medium containing a disaccharide (for example, maltose, trehalose, lactose, sucrose) accounting for at least 25 mass % of the carbon source in the medium while maintaining a pH of 5.0 to 7.0 in the culture solution throughout the course of the culture, namely from the beginning of the culturing to the end of the culturing of said bacteria.

Abstract: A display device usable with an image forming apparatus includes a liquid crystal unit including a liquid crystal screen and a frame supporting the liquid crystal screen; a supporting member of metal supporting the liquid crystal unit; and an insulative spacer providing a space between the frame and the supporting member at a position of the frame corresponding to an outside area of a display area of the liquid crystal screen.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion configured to form an image on a sheet; a mounting portion on which an IC card reader which includes a lighting portion where light indicating an operation state comes on and which is used for user authentication is mounted; a reader cover mounted on the mounting portion and covering the IC card reader, wherein the reader cover is provided with a plurality of openings, either one of the openings opposing the lighting portion of the IC card reader; and a light transmission sheet provided on the reader cover and covering the openings, wherein transmittance of visible light for the light transmission sheet is 5% or more and 25% or less.

Abstract: A path generation device is configured to generate a path along which a mobile object is to travel. The device comprises a planner module configured to plan a steering angle and a steering angular velocity for the mobile object to travel from a start position to a goal position by generating first and second isosceles triangles connecting the start position and the goal position based on the start position of the mobile object, a start position traveling direction being a traveling direction of the mobile object at the start position, the goal position of the mobile object, and a goal position traveling direction being a traveling direction of the mobile object at the goal position. The device comprises a curved path applying module configured to apply a first curved path along legs of the first isosceles triangle and apply a second curved path along legs of the second isosceles triangle.

Abstract: Provided is a position and posture estimation system including: a laser sensor that detects a distance to a pallet; a plane equation calculation unit that calculates a plane equation of a front surface of the pallet on the basis of detection data of the laser sensor; and an estimation computation unit that estimates the position and the posture of the pallet by using the plane equation of the front surface of the pallet which is calculated by the plane equation calculation unit. The estimation computation unit calculates a yaw angle, a pitch angle, and a roll angle of the pallet as the posture of the pallet.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electronic-component includes a step of forming a laminate substrate including a plurality of laminates disposed in a direction intersecting with a lamination direction via a division portion by laminating a plurality of insulator layers, and a step of singulating the plurality of laminates by removing the division portion. The step of forming the laminate substrate includes a step of forming an insulator resist layer containing an insulating material on a base material, the insulating material being a constituent material of each of the insulator layers and a step of forming the insulator layer by curing the insulator resist layer by exposure, except for at least an insulator resist portion corresponding to the division portion. The division portion including the insulator resist portion is removed by development in the step of singulating.

Abstract: A method for producing a multilayer coil component includes forming, on a main face of a substrate, a first coil conductor extending along the main face having conductivity, forming a second coil conductor and a third coil conductor apart from each other in a direction in which the first coil conductor extends and each extending from the first coil conductor in a first direction orthogonal to the main face, and forming a fourth coil conductor electrically connected to an end of the second coil conductor opposite to the first coil conductor and extending along the main face. The forming the first coil conductor includes forming, on the main face, a first insulator layer provided with a first penetration portion having a shape corresponding to the first coil conductor and exposing a part of the main face, and forming, by plating, the first coil conductor in the first penetration portion.

Abstract: A position and posture estimation apparatus includes: a laser sensor configured to be disposed on at least one of left and right sides of a forklift, to emit laser light to a side surface of a pallet lifted by a fork, and to receive reflected light of the laser light and acquire a laser measurement point group; and an estimation calculation unit configured to estimate a. position and a posture of the pallet with respect to the fork based on the laser measurement point group acquired by the laser sensor.

Abstract: An electronic component according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes an element body and a terminal electrode. The element body includes an outer surface provided with a depression. The terminal electrode is disposed on the element body. The terminal electrode includes a first electrode portion and a second electrode portion. The first electrode portion is disposed in the depression. The second electrode portion protrudes from the depression. The second electrode portion is thicker than the first electrode portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an operating portion which is capable of displaying a software key and which is not provided with a hardware key; an input device which is a separate member from the operating portion, which is provided adjacent to a right side of the operating portion when the image forming apparatus is seen from a position opposing the operating portion, and which is provided with a hardware key; an IC card reader which is a separate member from the operating portion and the input device, which is provided adjacent to a right side of the input device when the image forming apparatus is seen from a position opposing the input device, and which is configured to receive user information from an IC card; and a holding member configured to integrally hold the input device and the IC reader.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable operation portion including a switchable display screen portion, a frame holding the display screen portion; a light-emitting diode to light up, flashes, or turns off; a light source substrate provided with the light emitting diode; a light guide member which is fixed to an edge on a front side of the main assembly with respect to the display screen portion and which is provided with an emission opening through which the light emitted by the light emitting diode is directed to an outside. The light guide member is fixed such that a plane of the light emission opening of the light guide member is within a range of 45°±15° with respect to the display screen portion. The emission opening of the light guide member faces the light emitting surface of the light emitting diode.