Abstract: A fixing apparatus is used that has: a first rotation member; an elongated heater disposed in an internal space of the first rotation member, and having a heat generating member and a substrate on which the heat generating member is provided; a temperature sensing unit that detects a temperature of the heater; a heater holder that holds the heater; a second rotation member that forms a nip portion with the heater, across the first rotation member; a reservoir unit that stores grease that is supplied between the first rotation member and the heater; and an elastic member that encloses the temperature sensing unit, such that a toner image formed on a recording material is heated and fixed at the nip portion.

Abstract: A tubular fixing member including a substrate, an elastic layer, an interlayer, and a surface layer are laminated in this order, in which “E1<E2” is satisfied in a case where a storage elastic modulus of the elastic layer is denoted by E1 and a storage elastic modulus of the interlayer is denoted by E2.

Abstract: A method of evaluating a power storage device includes at least [a] to [f] below. [a] A power storage device is prepared. [b] A charge level of the power storage device is adjusted to produce a first potential difference between a positive electrode and a negative electrode. [c] The positive electrode or the negative electrode is selected as a reference electrode. [d] After the charge level is adjusted, an operation to insert a conductive rod-shaped member into a stack portion along a direction of stack of the positive electrode and the negative electrode is performed while a second potential difference between the reference electrode and the rod-shaped member is measured. [e] The rod-shaped member is stopped. [f] The power storage device is evaluated based on a state of the power storage device after the rod-shaped member is stopped.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes: a non-magnetic substrate; and a sensitive element 31 having a longitudinal direction and a short direction, provided with uniaxial magnetic anisotropy in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction, and sensing a magnetic field by a magnetic impedance effect, wherein the sensitive element 31 includes plural soft magnetic material layers 105a to 105d and plural non-magnetic material layers 106a to 106c configured with a non-magnetic material and laminated between the plural soft magnetic material layers 105a to 105d, and the soft magnetic material layers 105a to 105d facing each other with each of the non-magnetic material layers 106a to 106c interposed therebetween are antiferromagnetically coupled.

Abstract: A thermal fixer includes a first thermal fixing roller and a second thermal fixing roller. The first thermal fixing roller includes a first heater. The second thermal fixing roller is pressed to the first thermal fixing roller. The second thermal fixing roller includes a second heater and has a diameter, a rigidity, and a surface releasability substantially identical to the first thermal fixing roller.

Abstract: A method of evaluating an all-solid-state battery includes preparing the all-solid-state battery. A charge level of the all-solid-state battery is adjusted to produce a first potential difference between a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The positive electrode or the negative electrode is selected as a reference electrode. After the charge level is adjusted, an operation to insert a conductive rod-shaped member into a stack portion along a direction of stack of the positive electrode and the negative electrode is performed while a second potential difference between the reference electrode and the rod-shaped member is measured. The rod-shaped member is stopped. The all-solid-state battery is evaluated based on a state of the all-solid-state battery after the rod-shaped member is stopped.

Abstract: Embodiments of this application disclose an arc detection method for performing protection in an energy storage system, and a related apparatus, to improve accuracy of arc detection in an energy storage system, promptly take an arc extinguishing measure, and reduce a probability of causing a safety hazard. The method in the embodiments of this application includes: A control apparatus obtains an electrical signal at an electrical connection point in an energy storage system. The control apparatus determines a frequency domain amplitude based on a frequency domain characteristic of the electrical signal. When the frequency domain amplitude is greater than a preset amplitude, the control apparatus controls the energy storage system to perform an arc extinguishing and protection operation on the electrical connection point.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heater including a substrate and a resistance heating element disposed on the substrate, an endless belt, a first temperature sensor disposed at a position opposed to the heater and configured to detect a temperature at a center part of the heater in a longitudinal direction of the heater; and a second temperature sensor disposed at a position opposed to the heater and configured to detect a temperature at an end part of the heater in the longitudinal direction of the heater. The second temperature sensor is disposed at a position located on an outer side of the resistance heating element in the longitudinal direction of the heater.

Abstract: A fixing film having an endless shape, comprising at least a base material, an elastic layer, and a release layer in this order, the release layer comprising a tube containing a fluorine resin, and a value of Xe to Xm is 1.20 or more, where when, in a chart of an X-ray diffraction peaks obtained by measuring the release layer with a reflection X-ray diffraction method, a maximum X-ray diffraction strength at 2?=17 to 19° is defined as Ic, a maximum X-ray diffraction strength at 2?=39.5 to 40.5° is defined as Ia, and a value of Ic/Ia is defined as X, Xe represents an average value of X in an edge region, and Xm represents an average value of X in a central region.

Abstract: Selecting one conveyance mode from a plurality of conveyance modes includes a first selection process of selecting the one conveyance mode based on a detection temperature of a temperature sensor from a first time point at which rotation of a fixing rotator is started to a second time point at which a particular period elapses from the first time point. The first selection process includes: determining whether an initial temperature is higher than or equal to a first temperature, the initial temperature being a detection temperature of the temperature sensor when a print instruction is received; in response to determining that the initial temperature is lower than the first temperature, setting the particular period to a first period; and in response to determining that the initial temperature is higher than or equal to the first temperature, setting the particular period to a second period longer than the first period.

Abstract: Magnets are arranged at intervals along a stroke direction with an interposed space. Magnetic pole surfaces of adjacent ones of the magnets have opposite poles. A detector is arranged with a gap in a gap direction against a magnetic pole surface of each of the magnets and acquires a sine signal and a cosine signal as detection signals of phases corresponding to the positions of the magnets, based on a change in a magnetic field received from the magnets according to movement of the detector relative to the detection object in the stroke direction. A signal processor acquires the sine signal and the cosine signal from the detector, generates, based on the sine signal and the cosine signal, an arctangent signal corresponding to a stroke amount of the detection object relative to the detector, and acquires the arctangent signal as a position signal.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer member, a cleaning member, and an image forming unit having a developer carrier. During an image forming job, when a ratio of an amount of toner consumed to a distance that the developer carrier is rotationally driven is greater than a threshold value, the image forming unit forms a first toner supply image for supplying toner to the cleaning member in a predetermined period that is from a time at which a first toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer member to a time at which a second toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer member. When the ratio is less than the threshold value, the image forming unit forms a second toner supply image for supplying toner to the cleaning member in the predetermined period and having a density that is higher than a first toner supply image density.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a fixing unit including a rotary member pair configured to form a first nip portion, a cooling unit configured to form a second nip portion, a drive unit, an obtaining unit configured to obtain information regarding torque of the drive unit, and a control unit. In a state where the recording material is nipped by the first nip portion and the second nip portion, if the information is equal to or less than a threshold value, the control unit is configured to set a conveyance speed of the cooling unit at a first speed larger than a conveyance speed of the fixing unit, and if the information is larger than the threshold value, the control unit is configured to set the conveyance speed of the cooling unit at a second speed smaller than the conveyance speed of the fixing unit.

Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. A first electrical contact and a second electrical contact are positioned on a first longitudinal end of the housing. The first electrical contact is electrically connected to processing circuitry positioned on the housing. The second electrical contact is electrically connected to an imaging component positioned on the housing. The first electrical contact is positioned higher than the second electrical contact. A first drive coupler and a second drive coupler are positioned on a second longitudinal end of the housing. The first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are positioned higher than a first rotational axis of the first drive coupler. The first electrical contact is positioned higher than a second rotational axis of the second drive coupler and the second electrical contact is positioned lower than the second rotational axis.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including a blade moving mechanism that can inhibit a blade from moving from a retracted position to a contact position even when an external force is exerted. The image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member that bears a developer image, a transfer belt to which the developer image is transferred, the blade that comes into contact with the transfer belt to collect a developer, a rotating member that rotates to act on the blade and move the blade between the contact position, where the blade contacts the transfer belt, and the retracted position, where the blade is away from the transfer belt, and a regulating member that regulates movement of the blade, which has moved from the contact position to the retracted position, from the retracted position to the contact position.

Abstract: A heating device for heating a medium on which an image can be formed includes a cylindrical belt, a first heating unit, and a second heating unit. The first and second heating units are inside the cylindrical belt and face an inner circumferential surface of the belt. A controller is configured to control the heating units to generate heat. When the medium is to be heated to reach an image fixing temperature at which the image can be fixed to the medium, the controller controls the first and second heating units to both generate heat. After the medium is heated to the image fixing temperature, the controllers control the first heating unit to generate heat, but not the second heating unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit including a tubular film, a pressure roller, and a heater including a heating element. The apparatus further includes a control unit configured to calculate an accumulated electrical energy supplied to a portion of the heating element. The portion of the heating element is located in an area corresponding to a second area of the nip portion. The second area is an area of the nip portion through which the recording material conveyed to the nip portion is not passed. The control unit is configured to determine an operation of heat leveling, which is performed for leveling a heat distribution in the nip portion after the recording material had passed the nip portion, based on the calculated accumulated electrical energy.

Abstract: An energy storage apparatus 20 includes: energy storage devices B1 to B4; a cutoff switch 40 that cuts off current of the energy storage device; a parallel circuit 70 including a rectifier element 75 in which a discharge direction is set to a forward direction, the parallel circuit 70 being connected in parallel to the cutoff switch 40; a first current sensor 50 that measures the current of the energy storage devices B1 to B4; a discharge circuit 90 that discharges an inspection current to the first current sensor 50 through a discharge path including the parallel circuit 70 using the energy storage device as a power source; and a controller 80. The controller 80 determines whether the first current sensor 50 correctly measures the current based on a measurement value of the inspection current Ib.

Abstract: A belt cleaning blade has a contact site that comes into contact with at least a surface of a belt which is a member to be cleaned, in which the contact site is configured with polyurethane rubber including hard segments and soft segments, and in a cross section of the contact site, a ratio X of domains of the hard segments to a total area of the cross section is 14.9% or more and 25.1% or less, and a ratio Y of an area of domains of the hard segments having an area of 200 nm2 or more and 1,000 nm2 or less to a total area of the domains of the hard segments in the cross section is 17.8% or more and 46.5% or less.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing unit, a temperature sensor, and a controller. The fixing unit includes a fixing member with which a medium on which a developer image is transferred comes into contact and a heat source that supplies heat to the fixing member. The temperature sensor measures temperature of a surface with which the medium comes into contact in the fixing member. The controller outputs information indicating an abnormality of temperature detection by the temperature sensor if an estimation value of temperature of the fixing member is larger than a predetermined reference value.