Abstract: The present disclosure relates to novel particulate composite materials comprising a graphitic core particle associated with SiOx nanoparticles (0.2?X?1.8), and coated by a layer of non-graphitic carbon, e.g., pyrolytic carbon deposited by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Also included are processes for making such particles as well as uses and downstream products for the novel composite material, in particular as an active material in negative electrodes in Li-ion batteries.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions comprising at least one carbonaceous particulate material comprised of synthetic graphite particles having a BET specific surface area (SSA) of equal to or less than 4 m2/g, and further comprising between about 5 and about 75% (w/w) of at least one carbonaceous particulate material comprised of natural graphite particles coated with non-graphitic carbon and having a BET SSA of equal to or less than 8 m2/g. Such compositions are particularly useful as active material for negative electrodes in, e.g., lithium-ion batteries and the like in view of their overall favorable electrochemical properties, particularly for automotive and energy storage applications. The present disclosure also relates to the use of said non-graphitic carbon-coated natural graphite particles for preparing compositions that are suitable for being used as an active material in a negative electrode of, e.g., a lithium ion battery.

Abstract: According to embodiments, a sheet post-processing apparatus includes a processing tray, a vertical alignment section, a horizontal alignment section and a controller. The controller is configured to control the horizontal alignment section to shift the sheet to a first alignment position a predetermined distance from the center of the processing tray in the sheet width direction, control the horizontal alignment section to align the sheet in the sheet width direction at the first alignment position, and control the vertical alignment section to align the sheet in the conveying direction at the first alignment position, control the horizontal alignment section to realign the sheet at the first alignment position.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a motor of which driving current value changes according to a load, an image forming unit, a measuring unit, and a setting unit. The measuring unit forms an image on a medium by using a rotation body rotated by a motor. The measuring unit measures the driving current value of the motor. When a rotation speed of the motor is set to a first speed, the setting unit continues to set the first speed if the driving current value measured by the measuring unit falls within a first range. The setting unit sets a second speed lower than the first speed as the rotation speed if the driving current value measured by the measuring unit falls within a second range higher than the first range.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions comprising at least two different carbonaceous components, at least one being a surface-modified carbonaceous particulate material typically having a relatively high spring-back, and at least one other component being a carbonaceous particulate material (such as graphite) generally having a lower spring-back and/or a higher BET specific surface area than the surface-modified carbonaceous material component. Such compositions are particularly useful for making negative electrodes for lithium-ion batteries and the like in view of their beneficial electrochemical properties, particularly in automotive and energy storage applications.

Abstract: According to embodiments, a sheet post-processing apparatus includes a processing tray, a vertical alignment section, a horizontal alignment section and a controller. The controller is configured to control the horizontal alignment section to shift the sheet to a first alignment position a predetermined distance from the center of the processing tray in the sheet width direction, control the horizontal alignment section to align the sheet in the sheet width direction at the first alignment position, and control the vertical alignment section to align the sheet in the conveying direction at the first alignment position, control the horizontal alignment section to realign the sheet at the first alignment position.

Abstract: According to embodiments, a sheet post-processing apparatus includes a processing tray, a vertical alignment section, a horizontal alignment section and a controller. The controller is configured to control the horizontal alignment section to shift the sheet to a first alignment position a predetermined distance from the center of the processing tray in the sheet width direction, control the horizontal alignment section to align the sheet in the sheet width direction at the first alignment position, and control the vertical alignment section to align the sheet in the conveying direction at the first alignment position, control the horizontal alignment section to realign the sheet at the first alignment position.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a processing tray, a pushing member, and a movable guide. One or more sheets to be processed are placeable on the processing tray for sheet processing. The pushing member is configured to push an edge of the one or more sheets on the processing tray on an upstream side in a sheet conveying direction, by moving along a surface of the processing tray in the sheet conveying direction. The movable guide is movable to a sheet pressing position at which a distance between the surface of the processing tray and the movable guide is equal to or less than a height of the pushing member above the surface of the processing tray. The movable guide is at the sheet processing position when the pushing member moves along the surface of the processing tray in the sheet conveying direction.

Abstract: An elongated pillar garnish configured to be attached to a gap between a peripheral edge portion of a window pane of a vehicle and a pillar of the vehicle, the pillar garnish including: an elongated attachment member for attaching the pillar garnish to the gap; and an elongated decorative member assembled to a front surface side of the attachment member, in which the attachment member includes an elongated main body part, and a cover part provided to at least one end of the main body part in a longitudinal direction, in which the cover part has a covering portion covering at least a part of a front surface of the decorative member, and a supporting wall portion erected from the main body part toward the outer side and supporting the covering portion, and in which the supporting wall portion is provided along a direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A sheet binding apparatus includes a sheet conveyer, a tape holder, and first and second rollers. The sheet conveyer is configured to convey a sheet bundle with a leading end shifted, the sheet bundle having opposing first and second surfaces. The tape holder is configured to hold a tape at a position to which the leading end reaches such that the tape adheres to the leading end. The leading end with the tape passes and is pressed between the first and second rollers. The second roller is positioned upstream in the sheet forward direction from the first roller and to face the second surface of the sheet bundle. An angle between a line perpendicular to the sheet forward direction and a line passing rotational axes of the first and second rollers is greater than 0° and less than 90°.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a processing tray, a pushing member, and a movable guide. One or more sheets to be processed are placeable on the processing tray for sheet processing. The pushing member is configured to push an edge of the one or more sheets on the processing tray on an upstream side in a sheet conveying direction, by moving along a surface of the processing tray in the sheet conveying direction. The movable guide is movable to a sheet pressing position at which a distance between the surface of the processing tray and the movable guide is equal to or less than a height of the pushing member above the surface of the processing tray. The movable guide is at the sheet processing position when the pushing member moves along the surface of the processing tray in the sheet conveying direction.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a novel process for preparing isotropic carbonaceous composite particles with favorable crystallographic, morphological & mechanical properties, wherein relatively fine carbonaceous primary particles are coated with a carbonaceous binder precursor material, agglomerated and finally heat-treated at temperatures between about 1850 and 3500° C. to convert the binder precursor material to non-graphitic or graphitic carbon, thereby resulting in stable highly isotropic carbonaceous composite materials wherein the primary particles of the aggregate are held together by the carbonized/graphitized binder. The present disclosure also relates to the isotropic carbonaceous composite particles obtainable by the process described herein.

Abstract: An elongated pillar garnish configured to be attached to a gap between a peripheral edge portion of a window pane of a vehicle and a pillar of the vehicle, the pillar garnish including: an elongated attachment member for attaching the pillar garnish to the gap; and an elongated decorative member assembled to a front surface side of the attachment member, in which the attachment member includes an elongated main body part, and a cover part provided to at least one end of the main body part in a longitudinal direction, in which the cover part has a covering portion covering at least a part of a front surface of the decorative member, and a supporting wall portion erected from the main body part toward the outer side and supporting the covering portion, and in which the supporting wall portion is provided along a direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet tray on which one or more sheets to be processed are placed, an adhesive applying unit, and a pressing member. The adhesive applying unit has an end portion that faces the sheet tray and holds an adhesive material and is configured to move towards the sheet tray up to a position at which the end portion is in contact with or proximate to a sheet on the sheet tray and apart from the sheet tray. The pressing member is configured to move into and out of a moving path of the adhesive applying unit. The pressing member is pressed against a sheet on the sheet tray by the adhesive applying unit, when the pressing member is in the moving path of the adhesive applying unit and the adhesive applying unit moves towards the sheet tray.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to novel particulate composite materials comprising a graphitic core particle associated with SiOX nanoparticles (0.2?X?1.8), and coated by a layer of non-graphitic carbon, e.g., pyrolytic carbon deposited by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Also included are processes for making such particles as well as uses and downstream products for the novel composite material, in particular as an active material in negative electrodes in Li-ion batteries.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a novel process for preparing isotropic carbonaceous composite particles with favorable crystallographic, morphological & mechanical properties, wherein relatively fine carbonaceous primary particles are coated with a carbonaceous binder precursor material, agglomerated and finally heat-treated at temperatures of between about 1850 and 3500° C. to convert the binder precursor material to non-graphitic or graphitic carbon, thereby resulting in stable highly isotropic carbonaceous composite materials wherein the primary particles of the aggregate are held together by the carbonized/graphitized binder. The present disclosure also relates to the isotropic carbonaceous composite particles obtainable by the process described herein.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a sheet processing apparatus comprises a processing tray, a longitudinal alignment mechanism, a horizontal alignment mechanism and an interlocking mechanism. The processing tray can stack a sheet. The longitudinal alignment mechanism includes a rotatable paddle. The longitudinal alignment mechanism can align the sheets stacked on the processing tray in a sheet conveyance direction. The horizontal alignment mechanism includes a horizontal alignment plate movable in a sheet width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction. The horizontal alignment mechanism can align the sheets placed on the processing tray in the sheet width direction. The interlocking mechanism interlocks the paddle in the sheet width direction in synchronization with the movement of the horizontal alignment plate in the sheet width direction.

Abstract: An image erasing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a sheet supply portion that supplies a sheet and an ejector. A first conveying path conveys the sheet from the sheet supply portion toward the ejector. A reader arranged on the first conveying path reads an image on the sheet. A second conveying path branches from the first conveying path at a downstream of the reader on the first conveying path and merges with the first conveying path at an upstream of the reader on the first conveying path. An erasing unit is arranged on the second conveying path. A conveying path changing portion is arranged at a branching portion. An operating portion receives a setup of the processing to the sheet. A controller changes a conveying path of the sheet in accordance with the setup received by the operating portion before the sheet is supplied from the sheet supply portion.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a sheet post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment includes a paddle member and a controller. The paddle member rotates around a rotating shaft, presses a plurality of sheets held on a processing tray against a stopper and aligns ends of the sheets in a sheet transport direction. After the ends of the sheets in the sheet transport direction are aligned, the controller further rotates the paddle member, and stops rotation of the paddle member in a state that the paddle member comes in contact with the sheets held on the processing tray.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a first tray that holds a sheet transported to the sheet processing apparatus in a sheet transport direction. A second tray is provided below the first tray and holds the sheet moved from the first tray. A first member, when the sheet is moved from the first tray to the second tray, rotates about a turning shaft, and presses a first portion of the sheet toward the second tray by making a pressing portion of the first member contact with the first portion. A second member, when the sheet is moved from the first tray to the second tray, protrudes toward the second tray at a position between the turning shaft and the pressing portion of the first member, and presses a second portion of the sheet toward the second tray, the second portion being located downstream of the first portion.