Abstract: The fixing apparatus includes a cylindrical film, a nip member in contact with a film inner surface, wherein the nip member extends in a film longitudinal direction; a heater provided in a film hollow portion, a roller forming a nip portion where the recording material is conveyed and heated to fix the image on the recording material; a support member supporting the nip member, wherein a cross section of the support member perpendicular to the film longitudinal direction has a U-shape, and two end portions forming an opening portion in the U-shape support the nip member, an insulation member provided between the two end portions and the nip plate, and a reflection member surrounding the heater between the nip member and the support member, wherein the reflection member reflects the radiation heat of the heater toward the nip member.

Abstract: The fixing apparatus includes a cylindrical film, a nip portion forming member in contact with the film, a pressure member that forms the nip portion with the nip portion forming member through the film, a heater configured to heat the film by emitting a radiant light, the heater being arranged in a hollow portion of the film, a first shielding member arranged between the nip portion forming member and the heater, and a second shielding member movable between a first position in which the second shielding member is positioned in a region between the first shielding member and the nip portion forming member, and a second position in which the second shielding member is positioned in a region, where the nip portion forming member does not exist, between the heater and the film. The second shielding member has a slit through which the radiant light passes.

Abstract: The fixing apparatus includes a cylindrical film, a nip member in contact with a film inner surface, wherein the nip member extends in a film longitudinal direction; a heater provided in a film hollow portion, a roller forming a nip portion where the recording material is conveyed and heated to fix the image on the recording material; a support member supporting the nip member, wherein a cross section of the support member perpendicular to the film longitudinal direction has a U-shape, and two end portions forming an opening portion in the U-shape support the nip member, an insulation member provided between the two end portions and the nip plate, and a reflection member surrounding the heater between the nip member and the support member, wherein the reflection member reflects the radiation heat of the heater toward the nip member.

Abstract: This invention provides a storage module formed using a plurality of storage cells. The each storage cell includes a storage unit that stores a charge, a polyhedral container that houses the storage unit and has two opposing surfaces, and a pair of electrode terminals that output and input the charge of the storage unit. The electrode terminals include a positive electrode terminal that projects externally from an end portion of the container and has a joint surface that is formed to be substantially coplanar with one of the two opposing surfaces of the container and joined to an electrode terminal of an adjacent storage cell, and a negative electrode terminal that projects externally from the end portion of the container and has a joint surface that is formed to be substantially coplanar with another of the two surfaces and joined to an electrode terminal of an adjacent storage cell.

Abstract: The fixing apparatus includes a cylindrical film, a nip portion forming member in contact with the film, a pressure member that forms the nip portion with the nip portion forming member through the film, a heater configured to heat the film by emitting a radiant light, the heater being arranged in a hollow portion of the film, a first shielding member arranged between the nip portion forming member and the heater, and a second shielding member that is movable between a first position in which the second shielding member is positioned in a region between the first shielding member and the nip portion forming member, and a second position in which the second shielding member is positioned in a region, where the nip portion forming member does not exist, between the heater and the film, wherein the second shielding member has a slit through which the radiant light passes.

Abstract: A sound pickup device is designed for an imaging apparatus including an objective lens and a camera casing. The sound pickup device includes first and second microphone holders fixed to the camera casing and each having an inner wall surface neighboring and facing a surface of the camera casing. First and second microphone units are held by the first and second microphone holders, respectively. The first and second microphone holders are located at left and right sides of the camera casing respectively while being separated from each other in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the objective lens. The aforesaid surface of the camera casing forms a sound reflecting surface which reflects incoming sound. Each of the first and second microphone units has a sound pickup surface facing the sound reflecting surface to pick up the sound reflected by the sound reflecting surface.

Abstract: A storage module is constituted by a plurality of storage cells housed respectively in resin cases. A storage device includes a flexible tube that is welded to the respective cases and connected to the respective storage cells in order to discharge a gas from the respective storage cells, and a valve that opens and shuts off discharge of the gas from the tube. As a result, a gas vent pipe structure exhibiting a superior sealing property is realized.

Abstract: A sound pickup device is designed for an imaging apparatus including an objective lens and a camera casing. The sound pickup device includes first and second microphone holders fixed to the camera casing and each having an inner wall surface neighboring and facing a surface of the camera casing. First and second microphone units are held by the first and second microphone holders, respectively. The first and second microphone holders are located at left and right sides of the camera casing respectively while being separated from each other in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the objective lens. The aforesaid surface of the camera casing forms a sound reflecting surface which reflects incoming sound. Each of the first and second microphone units has a sound pickup surface facing the sound reflecting surface to pick up the sound reflected by the sound reflecting surface.

Abstract: This invention provides a storage module formed using a plurality of storage cells. The each storage cell includes a storage unit that stores a charge, a polyhedral container that houses the storage unit and has two opposing surfaces, and a pair of electrode terminals that output and input the charge of the storage unit. The electrode terminals include a positive electrode terminal that projects externally from an end portion of the container and has a joint surface that is formed to be substantially coplanar with one of the two opposing surfaces of the container and joined to an electrode terminal of an adjacent storage cell, and a negative electrode terminal that projects externally from the end portion of the container and has a joint surface that is formed to be substantially coplanar with another of the two surfaces and joined to an electrode terminal of an adjacent storage cell.

Abstract: A video-audio recording and reproducing apparatus (101) has a built-in stereo microphone (21a, 21b) and an external microphone connection terminal (32). The external microphone connection terminal (32) is connected to a binaural microphone (3) to be attached to the ears of a photographer (300). When the binaural microphone (3) is used to collect ambient sounds, an audio signal to be recorded on a recording medium is switched from an audio signal from the built-in stereo microphone (21a, 21b) to a binaural audio signal from the binaural microphone (3). The photographer (300) puts the binaural microphone (3 (31a, 31b)) on his or her ears and collects ambient sounds around the photographer (300) including a sound emanating from an object. The object is photographed with a camera unit (11). The recording medium records the binaural audio signal, a photographed video signal, and a binaural flag signal.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a conductive member provided in a conveying path of a recording material, a voltage applying device for applying a voltage to the conductive member, a current detecting device for detecting a current flowing in the conductive member when the recording material passes through the conductive member to which a voltage is applied by the voltage applying device, and a judgment device for judging, based on an output from the current detecting device, whether a conductive foreign object is present on the recording material. Thus there is provided an image forming apparatus capable of detecting a foreign object attached to a recording material by a simple method.

Abstract: The sheet material identification apparatus, includes a sensor adapted to bring a probe having a built-in piezoelectric element into contact with a surface of sheet material being conveyed, and thereby to generate electric detection signals corresponding with irregularities of the sheet material surface; an identification part adapted to identify types of sheet material based on detection signals outputted from the above described sensor; and a correct part adapted to correct fluctuations in detection features of the above described sensor based on detection output of the above described sensor at the time when the above described sensor has detected correction sheet material having a predetermined surface roughness.

Abstract: A video-audio recording and reproducing apparatus (101) has a built-in stereo microphone (21a, 21b) and an external microphone connection terminal (32). The external microphone connection terminal (32) is connected to a binaural microphone (3) to be attached to the ears of a photographer (300). When the binaural microphone (3) is used to collect ambient sounds, an audio signal to be recorded on a recording medium is switched from an audio signal from the built-in stereo microphone (21a, 21b) to a binaural audio signal from the binaural microphone (3). The photographer (300) puts the binaural microphone (3 (31a, 31b)) on his or her ears and collects ambient sounds around the photographer (300) including a sound emanating from an object. The object is photographed with a camera unit (11). The recording medium records the binaural audio signal, a photographed video signal, and a binaural flag signal.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording material, the apparatus including a conveying roller for conveying a recording material, the conveying roller including a metal core and an elastic layer provided outside the metal core, wherein the metal core has, in a central portion in the longitudinal direction thereof, a straight shape area having a substantially uniform diameter along the longitudinal direction and tapered shape areas, on both sides of the straight shape area, in which a diameter gradually decreases toward ends in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the elastic layer has, in a central portion in the longitudinal direction thereof, a straight shape area having a substantially uniform diameter along the longitudinal direction and inverted crown shape areas, on both sides of the straight shape area, in which a diameter gradually increases toward ends in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a conductive member provided in a conveying path of a recording material, a voltage applying device for applying a voltage to the conductive member, a current detecting device for detecting a current flowing in the conductive member when the recording material passes through the conductive member to which a voltage is applied by the voltage applying device, and a judgment device for judging, based on an output from the current detecting device, whether a conductive foreign object is present on the recording material. Thus there is provided an image forming apparatus capable of detecting a foreign object attached to a recording material by a simple method.

Abstract: The sheet material identification apparatus, includes a sensor adapted to bring a probe having a built-in piezoelectric element into contact with a surface of sheet material being conveyed, and thereby to generate electric detection signals corresponding with irregularities of the sheet material surface; an identification part adapted to identify types of sheet material based on detection signals outputted from the above described sensor; and a correct part adapted to correct fluctuations in detection features of the above described sensor based on detection output of the above described sensor at the time when the above described sensor has detected correction sheet material having a predetermined surface roughness.

Abstract: A surface discriminating device for a recording material includes a probe having a fixed first end portion and a second end portion capable of contacting with the recording material, the probe being adapted to contact with and move relative to the recording material to thereby scan the recording material, and a piezoelectric element provided between the first end portion and the second end portion of the probe. The surface of the recording material is discriminated by the output from the piezoelectric element during the scanning of the recording material by the probe, the probe having a bent portion on the second end portion side.

Abstract: A surfaceness discriminating device for a recording material includes a probe having a fixed first end portion and a second end portion capable of contacting with the recording material, the probe being adapted to contact with and move relative to the recording material to thereby scan the recording material, and a piezoelectric element provided between the first end portion and the second end portion of the probe, the surfaceness of the recording material being discriminated by the output from the piezoelectric element during the scanning of the recording material by the probe, the probe having a bent portion on the second end portion side.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image heating apparatus in which an image on a recording material is heated by heat from a heater via a film, and the film contacts a surface of the heater opposite to a surface thereof on which heat generating members are provided.

Abstract: A CD player plays a disk in which sound data (data to be controlled) and sound field data (control data) are mixed. A reproduction signal is supplied to an AV amplifier in an interface format of IEC60958 or IEC61937. A DIR receives the reproduction signal. A DSP extracts the sound field data from the reproduction signal, and writes the data into a rewritable memory.