Abstract: An attachment assist device includes an engagement member provided in one of a main body and a retractable unit, a catch portion provided in the other of the two, to engage the engagement member when the retractable unit is positioned at a drawing start position, and a drawing unit provided in the main body, to draw the retractable unit to a drawing completion position in the main body against multiple resistive forces acting on the retractable unit. On a projection plane on which the retractable unit is projected in an attachment direction, an engagement position where the engagement member engages the catch portion is disposed inside a rectangular area defined by two opposing corners respectively positioned at points of action of two of the multiple resistive forces acting on the retractable unit while the retractable unit moves from the drawing start position to the drawing completion position.

Abstract: A zinc-based metal plated steel sheet is excellent in tribological properties during press forming. An oxide layer containing crystalline 3Zn(OH)2·ZnSO4·xH2O is formed on a plated surface. The oxide layer has a thickness of 10 nm or more. The crystalline oxide layer is composed of 3Zn(OH)2·ZnSO4·3-5H2O.

Abstract: A zinc-based metal plated steel sheet is excellent in tribological properties during press forming. An oxide layer containing crystalline 3Zn(OH)2.ZnSO4. xH2O is formed on a plated surface. The oxide layer has a thickness of 10 nm or more. The crystalline oxide layer is composed of 3Zn(OH)2.ZnSO4.3-5H2O.

Abstract: The invention relates to a needle-punched nonwoven fabric wherein short fibers of polylactic acid containing an epoxy compound account for 20 to 40 mass % while short fibers of polyethylene terephthalate account for 80 to 60 mass %, the metsuke (weight per unit surface area) being 100 to 200 g/m2, and the tensile strength per metsuke at 20° C. being 0.30 to 0.60 (N/cm)/(g/m2) in the longitudinal direction and 0.48 to 0.90 (N/cm)/(g/m2) in the lateral direction. The present invention provides needle-punched nonwoven fabrics that are low in environment load, high enough in durability to serve as interior finishing material for automobiles, and high in stretchability during molding.

Abstract: A method for producing a galvanized steel sheet includes contacting a steel sheet with a zinc-containing aqueous solution having a zinc ion concentration of 1 to 100 g/l, contacting the steel sheet with an aqueous solution with a pH of 6 to 14, washing the steel sheet with water, and then drying the steel sheet. An example of the zinc-containing aqueous solution is a solution containing zinc sulfate. According to the method, an oxide layer which has an average thickness of 10 nm or more and which principally contains zinc is formed on the steel sheet and the galvanized steel sheet can be stably produced at high speed in a reduced space so as to have excellent press formability.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a galvanized steel sheet, includes: galvanizing a steel sheet; bringing the surface of the steel sheet into contact with an aqueous solution containing zinc ion in the range of 5 to 100 g/l as the zinc ion concentration, having a pH of 4 to 6, and having a liquid temperature of 20 to 70° C., holding the steel sheet for 1 to 60 seconds; and then washing and drying the steel sheet. The solution containing zinc is preferably one containing zinc sulfate, for example. According to the method, a galvanized steel sheet having an oxide layer having an average thickness of 10 nm or more and mainly containing zinc formed on the surface of the steel sheet and having excellent press formability can be stably manufactured in a short time.

Abstract: In a recording sheet feeder, a recording sheet tray moving mechanism moves a recording sheet tray between an upper position, at which an uppermost recording sheet of a plurality of recording sheets loaded on the recording sheet tray contacts a feed roller, and a lower position, at which the uppermost recording sheet separates from the feed roller. A first eccentric cam and a second eccentric cam rotate to press down the recording sheet tray. A driving force switch member drives the recording sheet tray moving mechanism when a driver rotates in a first direction, and rotates a feed roller driving shaft mounted with the feed roller when the driver rotates in a second direction.

Abstract: A disclosed sheet conveying apparatus includes a first conveying unit configured to convey a sheet in a first sheet conveying direction; and a second conveying unit arranged on a downstream side of the first conveying unit in the first sheet conveying direction and configured to convey the sheet conveyed by the first conveying unit in a second sheet conveying direction different from the first sheet conveying direction. At least the second conveying unit acts as a holding/conveying unit with a holding section to hold and convey the sheet and includes a moving/guiding unit arranged along an outer side of a sheet conveying path extending between the first conveying unit and the second conveying unit. The moving/guiding unit moves/guides the sheet toward the holding section of the second conveying unit, and is arranged in a discontinuous manner along a sheet width direction orthogonal to the first sheet conveying direction so as to contact at least one part of the sheet in the sheet width direction.

Abstract: A sheet feed device includes a sheet tray and a guide unit. The sheet tray is configured to store a recording medium including a recording sheet. The guide unit is configured to support detachably the sheet tray. The guide unit includes a rotary member that is configured to contact an outer bottom surface of the sheet tray while contacting an outer side surface of the sheet tray, and rotate with mounting and detachment of the sheet tray. An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing a latent image on a surface thereof, an exposure unit for exposing the image bearing member to form the latent image, a developing unit for developing the latent image with toner to form a visible image, a transfer unit for transferring the visible image onto the recording medium, and the sheet feed device.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device, that can be included in an image forming apparatus, includes first and second conveying units configured to hold and convey a sheet, a first sheet conveying path between the first and second conveying units, and a registration unit to change a positional condition of the sheet conveyed by the second conveying unit. In at least one embodiment, the second conveying unit includes a moving and guiding unit and a rotary conveyance unit facing each other and forming a sheet holding section therebetween to hold and convey the sheet, and the moving and guiding unit and the rotary conveyance unit are disposed in the vicinity of the first conveying unit so that a distance between the second conveying unit and the registration unit is relatively increased.

Abstract: An attachment assist device includes an engagement member provided in one of a main body and a retractable unit, a catch portion provided in the other of the two, to engage the engagement member when the retractable unit is positioned at a drawing start position, and a drawing unit provided in the main body, to draw the retractable unit to a drawing completion position in the main body against multiple resistive forces acting on the retractable unit. On a projection plane on which the retractable unit is projected in an attachment direction, an engagement position where the engagement member engages the catch portion is disposed inside a rectangular area defined by two opposing corners respectively positioned at points of action of two of the multiple resistive forces acting on the retractable unit while the retractable unit moves from the drawing start position to the drawing completion position.

Abstract: A zinc-based metal plated steel sheet is excellent in tribological properties during press forming. An oxide layer containing crystalline 3Zn(OH)2.ZnSO4.xH2O is formed on a plated surface. The oxide layer has a thickness of 10 nm or more. The crystalline oxide layer is composed of 3Zn(OH)2.ZnSO4.3-5H2O.

Abstract: An easy-to-use, inexpensive, and small sheet conveying device, which can stably and separately convey not only sheets of a fixed size that are normally used, but also highly rigid sheets and special sheets, and can further separately convey a bent sheet reliably. In a sheet conveying path switching device having a sheet carrying-in path and a switching separating nail, outlines of two separating/conveying paths out of a plurality of separating/conveying paths positioned on a downstream side of the switching separating nail are configured by a movable belt surface, the two separating/conveying paths being located closer to the separating nail than the other separating/conveying paths.

Abstract: In a recording sheet feeder, a recording sheet tray moving mechanism moves a recording sheet tray between an upper position, at which an uppermost recording sheet of a plurality of recording sheets loaded on the recording sheet tray contacts a feed roller, and a lower position, at which the uppermost recording sheet separates from the feed roller. A first eccentric cam and a second eccentric cam rotate to press down the recording sheet tray. A driving force switch member drives the recording sheet tray moving mechanism when a driver rotates in a first direction, and rotates a feed roller driving shaft mounted with the feed roller when the driver rotates in a second direction.

Abstract: A first conveying unit conveys a sheet. A second conveying unit conveys the sheet conveyed by the first conveying unit in a direction different from a sheet conveying direction of the first conveying unit, and is disposed on a downstream side in the sheet conveying direction of the first conveying unit. A guiding unit reduces a sheet conveying load. The guiding unit is disposed in an outer area of a sheet conveying path formed between the first conveying unit and the second conveying unit.

Abstract: A plasma display device of high luminous efficiency is provided. In a plasma display device for performing driving including at least an address period and a sustain-discharge period for emission display, the sustain-discharge period includes a pulse application period and an open period, a voltage of an electrode to which a relatively positive voltage is applied in a sustain-discharge electrode pair in a pulse application period immediately before the open period is set as Vsp, and the voltage of the other electrode is set as Vsn, Vsp-Vsn has a significantly negative value in the open period, and light is emitted by a discharge in the open period.

Abstract: A sheet feed device includes a sheet tray and a guide unit. The sheet tray is configured to store a recording medium including a recording sheet. The guide unit is configured to support detachably the sheet tray. The guide unit includes a rotary member that is configured to contact an outer bottom surface of the sheet tray while contacting an outer side surface of the sheet tray, and rotate with mounting and detachment of the sheet tray. An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing a latent image on a surface thereof, an exposure unit for exposing the image bearing member to form the latent image, a developing unit for developing the latent image with toner to form a visible image, a transfer unit for transferring the visible image onto the recording medium, and the sheet feed device.

Abstract: A crimped yarn includes a synthetic fiber which contains an aliphatic polyester resin (A) and a thermoplastic polyamide resin (B) and exposed area ratio of the aliphatic polyester resin (A) with respect to fiber surface area is 5% or less and a crimp is imparted to a multifilament comprising said synthetic fiber, and a fiber structure containing said crimped yarn as at least a part thereof. Furthermore, a crimped yarn in which the aliphatic polyester resin (A) and the thermoplastic polyamide resin (B) are constituted of a polymer alloy type synthetic fiber, or a crimped yarn constituted by a sheath/core type composite fiber in which the core component comprises the aliphatic polyester resin (A) or a polymer alloy of the aliphatic polyester resin (A) and the thermoplastic polyamide resin (B) and the sheath component comprises the thermoplastic polyamide resin (B), and a fiber structure containing said crimped yarn as at least a part thereof.

Abstract: A plasma display panel and an imaging device realize a high luminous efficiency, a long lifetime and stable driving. The plasma display panel uses a discharge-gas mixture containing at least Xe, Ne and He. A Xe proportion of the discharge-gas mixture is in a range of from 2% to 20%, a He proportion of the discharge-gas mixture is in a range of from 15% to 50%, the He proportion is greater than the Xe proportion, and a total pressure of the discharge-gas mixture is in a range of from 400 Torr to 550 Torr. A width of a voltage pulse to be applied to an electrode serving as an address electrode is 2 ?s or less.

Abstract: A plasma display panel and an imaging device realize a high luminous efficiency, a long lifetime and stable driving. The plasma display panel uses a discharge-gas mixture containing at least Xe, Ne and He. A Xe proportion of the discharge-gas mixture is in a range of from 2% to 20%, a He proportion of the discharge-gas mixture is in a range of from 15% to 50%, the He proportion is greater than the Xe proportion, and a total pressure of the discharge-gas mixture is in a range of from 400 Torr to 550 Torr. A width of a voltage pulse to be applied to an electrode serving as an address electrode is 2 ?s or less.