Abstract: An image forming apparatus prints an image on a sheet. The image forming apparatus includes a casing, a plurality of open/close devices, a plurality of fans, and a control device. The casing includes a plurality of openings and a plurality of ventilation holes. The plurality of open/close devices are attached to the casing, and configured to open and close the respectively corresponding openings. The plurality of fans each generate an airflow from inside of the casing to a corresponding one of the plurality of ventilation holes. The control device controls operation of the plurality of fans. The control device also detects occurrence of an event that restricts execution of the printing, identifies a type of the event, selects at least one of the plurality of fans according to the type of the event, and drives the selected fan.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus prints an image on a sheet. The image forming apparatus includes a casing, a plurality of open/close devices, a plurality of fans, and a control device. The casing includes a plurality of openings and a plurality of ventilation holes. The plurality of open/close devices are attached to the casing, and configured to open and close the respectively corresponding openings. The plurality of fans each generate an airflow from inside of the casing to a corresponding one of the plurality of ventilation holes. The control device controls operation of the plurality of fans. The control device also detects occurrence of an event that restricts execution of the printing, identifies a type of the event, selects at least one of the plurality of fans according to the type of the event, and drives the selected fan.

Abstract: An electric storage device includes an electrode assembly, a case that includes a defining wall and houses the electrode assembly, a sealing member that is arranged on the defining wall, and a conductive member that is electrically connected to the electrode assembly, the conductive member being supported by the sealing member. At least a portion of the defining wall where the sealing member is arranged includes an aluminum-based metallic material. The sealing member includes a material that is softer than the material for the at least a portion of the defining wall where the sealing member is arranged. The sealing member includes polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) resin and an elastomer. The elastomer is contained in an amount of 2% to 20% by weight. The conductive member is crimped in such a manner that the sealing member is pressed against the defining wall.

Abstract: There is provided a battery assembly wherein assembly can be facilitated by reducing the number of components to be assembled, by integrally fixing resin plates (52, 62) on the inside of metal plates (51, 61) of end plates (5, 6). A laminated battery body (3) is constituted by adjacently arranging battery holders (2) made of resin forming cooling passages (4) between a plurality of batteries (1) and holding such batteries (1) on both sides between other batteries (1). The metal plates (51, 61) and resin plates (52, 62) that are integrally fixed on the inside of these metal plates are provided on the outside of the batteries (1) at both ends of the laminated battery body (3). Thus, the batteries (1) are held by the resin plates (52, 62), and the end plates (5, 6) are respectively arranged to form the cooling passages (4) between these batteries (1) and the metal plates (51, 61). The laminated battery body (3) is fixed in a clamped manner by fixing means clamping these end plates (5, 6).

Abstract: An electric storage device includes an electrode assembly, a case housing the electrode assembly, a plastic member arranged at an outer surface of the case and including a joining surface facing the outer surface of the case, an external terminal supported by the plastic member and electrically connected to the electrode assembly, a sealing member arranged at the outer surface of the case, the sealing member including a joining surface facing the outer surface of the case, and an auxiliary terminal supported by the sealing member, the auxiliary terminal extending from inside to outside the case, being electrically connected to the electrode assembly, and being electrically connected to the external terminal. The plastic member includes a material having a hardness greater than a hardness of the sealing member.

Abstract: An electric storage device includes an electrode assembly, a case that includes a defining wall and houses the electrode assembly, a sealing member that is arranged on the defining wall, and a conductive member that is electrically connected to the electrode assembly, the conductive member being supported by the sealing member. At least a portion of the defining wall where the sealing member is arranged includes an aluminum-based metallic material. The sealing member includes a material that is softer than the material for the at least a portion of the defining wall where the sealing member is arranged. The sealing member includes polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) resin and an elastomer. The elastomer is contained in an amount of 2% to 20% by weight. The conductive member is crimped in such a manner that the sealing member is pressed against the defining wall.

Abstract: An image reading device includes: a document conveyance section configured to convey an original document placed on a document loading chute; an original glass plate allowing the document conveyed from the document conveyance section to pass thereover; a reading unit that includes a light-emitting part including first, second, and third light sources and configured to emit light toward the document at a predetermined document reading position and a light-receiving part configured to receive light reflected on the document; a housing including a hollow letting part of light from the light-emitting part out of the image reading device; a foreign matter detecting section configured to detect a foreign matter on the original glass plate; and an operation control section configured to control the operation of the light-emitting part and, upon detection of the foreign matter, allow the light-emitting part to emit light in a different color from when reading the document.

Abstract: An image reading device includes: a document conveyance section configured to convey an original document placed on a document loading chute; an original glass plate allowing the document conveyed from the document conveyance section to pass thereover; a reading unit that includes a light-emitting part including first, second, and third light sources and configured to emit light toward the document at a predetermined document reading position and a light-receiving part configured to receive light reflected on the document; a housing including a hollow letting part of light from the light-emitting part out of the image reading device; a foreign matter detecting section configured to detect a foreign matter on the original glass plate; and an operation control section configured to control the operation of the light-emitting part and, upon detection of the foreign matter, allow the light-emitting part to emit light in a different color from when reading the document.

Abstract: A battery includes a battery container containing a power generating element, a lid plate covering a top opening of the battery container, and including a baffling portion, whose upper surface includes at least one of a first projecting portion and a first recessed portion, and an external terminal including a base portion and a second projecting portion that projects upward from the base portion. The base portion is engaged with the baffling portion of the lid plate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a job executing portion, a mode setting portion, and an operating portion. The operating portion accepts a function unit setting operation for setting a job executing mode in a function unit, the mode setting portion sets the job executing mode in the function unit based on the function unit setting operation accepted by the operating portion, and the job executing portion executes a job in the job executing mode set by the mode setting portion.

Abstract: A light guide includes: an incident surface, an exit surface and two reflective surfaces. The incident surface allows light emitted from a light source to be incident thereon. The exit surface extends in a main scanning direction and allows the incident light to exit the light guide therethrough. Two reflective surfaces are located opposite to the exit surface to extend in the main scanning direction and are configured to reflect the incident light toward the exit surface. One of the reflective surfaces includes a plurality of light reflecting patterns formed integrally therewith and having an oval hemispherical prism shape. The other reflective surface is a separate surface from the one reflective surface and is formed in a planar shape that enables attachment of a reflective member allowing the incident light to be reflected thereon toward the exit surface.

Abstract: An illumination device includes a light source and a columnar light guide including: an incident surface provided at least one longitudinal end of the light guide and allowing light emitted from the light source to enter the light guide therethrough; a diffusing surface which forms one side surface of the light guide extending along an optical axis of the incident light entering the light guide through the incident surface and has a row of light diffusion patterns provided to diffuse the incident light; and an exit surface located opposite to the diffusing surface, extending along the optical axis, and allowing light diffused by the diffusing surface to exit the light guide therethrough. The light diffusion patterns have a prismatic shape rising toward the exit surface and are provided on the diffusing surface from D1/2×8 or greater distance from the incident surface where D represents the diameter of the light guide.

Abstract: A battery includes a battery container containing a power generating element, a lid plate covering a top opening of the battery container, and including a baffling portion, whose upper surface includes at least one of a first projecting portion and a first recessed portion, and an external terminal including a base portion and a second projecting portion that projects upward from the base portion. The base portion is engaged with the baffling portion of the lid plate.

Abstract: A battery includes a power generating element, a battery container containing the power generating element, a lid plate covering a top opening of the battery container, the lid plate including a metal plate and a baffling portion including an integral portion of the lid plate that extends from the lid plate, and an insulating member provided on the lid plate. Corners of the insulating member fit to corners of the baffling portion.

Abstract: An illumination device includes a light source and a columnar light guide including: an incident surface provided at least one longitudinal end of the light guide and allowing light emitted from the light source to enter the light guide therethrough; a diffusing surface which forms one side surface of the light guide extending along an optical axis of the incident light entering the light guide through the incident surface and has a row of light diffusion patterns provided to diffuse the incident light; and an exit surface located opposite to the diffusing surface, extending along the optical axis, and allowing light diffused by the diffusing surface to exit the light guide therethrough. The light diffusion patterns have a prismatic shape rising toward the exit surface and are provided on the diffusing surface from D1/2×8 or greater distance from the incident surface where D represents the diameter of the light guide.

Abstract: Provided is a battery assembly that is lightweight while ensuring sufficient bonding strength that is required between frames, as well as a method of manufacturing the same. The battery assembly includes a plurality of cell units that are integrated together, each of the plurality of cell units including: a cell having a metal case; and a plastic frame that is integrally formed with an outer surface of the case, wherein the cell units are integrated together by having the frames of adjacent ones of the cell units joined together through surfaces thereof.

Abstract: A light guide includes: an incident surface, an exit surface and two reflective surfaces. The incident surface allows light emitted from a light source to be incident thereon. The exit surface extends in a main scanning direction and allows the incident light to exit the light guide therethrough. Two reflective surfaces are located opposite to the exit surface to extend in the main scanning direction and are configured to reflect the incident light toward the exit surface. One of the reflective surfaces includes a plurality of light reflecting patterns formed integrally therewith and having an oval hemispherical prism shape. The other reflective surface is a separate surface from the one reflective surface and is formed in a planar shape that enables attachment of a reflective member allowing the incident light to be reflected thereon toward the exit surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a job executing portion, a mode setting portion, and an operating portion. The operating portion accepts a function unit setting operation for setting a job executing mode in a function unit, the mode setting portion sets the job executing mode in the function unit based on the function unit setting operation accepted by the operating portion, and the job executing portion executes a job in the job executing mode set by the mode setting portion.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a battery in which current collecting connector 2 and 3 and groups 1d and 1e of metal foil of a power generating element 1 can be easily connected, respectively, and a method of manufacturing the same. First plate portions 2b and 3b which respective protruding ends of metal foil of the groups 1d and 1e of metal foil of the power generating element 1 come in contact with or close to and second plate portions 2c and 3c protruding from the first plate portions 2b and 3b toward the power generating element 1 and disposed only at one outer side portions of the groups 1d and 1e of metal foil are provided to the other portions of the current collecting connectors 2 and 3 of the invention and the groups 1d and 1e of metal foil are welded to the second plate portions 2c and 3c.

Abstract: A battery includes a power generating element, a battery container containing the power generating element, a lid plate covering a top opening of the battery container, the lid plate including a metal plate and a baffling portion including an integral portion of the lid plate that extends from the lid plate, and an insulating member provided on the lid plate. Corners of the insulating member fit to corners of the baffling portion.