Abstract: Provided is a relay server capable of reducing network traffic when collecting large amounts of sensor data from a large number of sensor terminals. A relay server that collects sensor data from a plurality of sensor terminals and uploads the sensor data to a central server via a network includes a data collection unit that collects the sensor data from the plurality of sensor terminals, a relay data creation unit that calculates a presence of spatial overlaps between the collected sensor data, removes overlaps between the sensor data, and creates relay data integrating the sensor data, and an upload unit that uploads the relay data to the central server.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, an image input portion, a transfer unit, a transfer voltage power supply, and a control portion. The transfer unit includes a transfer roller having a metal shaft and an elastic layer laid around the outer circumferential face of the metal shaft to form a transfer nip by keeping the elastic layer in pressed contact with an image carrying member, and transfers a toner image formed on the image carrying member to a recording medium as it passes through the transfer nip. The transfer unit includes, as the transfer roller, a first roller, and a second roller having a larger axial-size elastic layer compared to the first roller. The control portion arranges first or second roller opposite the image carrying member according to width-direction sizes of the recording medium and the image data fed to the image input portion.

Abstract: A transfer unit includes first and second rollers of which the second has an elastic layer larger in the axial direction than the first, a roller holder, and a switching cam. One of the first and second rollers is, by rotating the roller holder, arranged opposite the image carrying member and, by rotating the switching cam, arranged selectively either at a reference position to form a transfer nip or at a released position to lie away from the image carrying member. Let the length of the elastic layer of the first roller in the axial direction, the width of the effective image area on the image carrying member to which the toner image can be transferred, and the width of the recording medium of the maximum size allowing transfer using the first roller be L1, L3, and L4 respectively, L4<L1?L3?5 mm is fulfilled.

Abstract: A transfer unit includes, as transfer rollers, first and second rollers of which the second has an elastic layer larger in the axial direction than the first, first and second bearing members, a roller holder, first and second urging members, a switching cam, a driving mechanism, and a first pre-transfer guide. By rotating the roller holder, the first or second roller is arranged opposite an image carrier and, by rotating the switching cam, the first or second roller arranged opposite the image carrier is arranged selectively either at a reference position where the first or second roller is in pressed contact with the image carrier or at a released position where the first or second roller lies away from the image carrier. With the first or second roller arranged at the reference position, the first pre-transfer guide is arranged at a first guide position.

Abstract: A transfer unit includes, as transfer rollers, a first roller and a second roller of which the latter has an elastic layer larger in the axial direction than that of the former, a first bearing member, a second bearing member, a roller holder, a first urging member, a second urging member, a switching cam, a transfer voltage power supply, and a driving mechanism. By rotating the roller holder, one of the first and second rollers is arranged opposite an image carrying member and, by rotating the switching cam, the first or second roller arranged opposite the image carrying member is arranged either at a reference position at which, by being kept in pressed contact with the image carrying member, the first or second roller forms a transfer nip or at a released position at which the first or second roller lies away from the image carrying member.

Abstract: An assembly apparatus is for assembling a first member and a second member. The assembly apparatus includes a first gripping section, a second gripping section, and a driving section. The first gripping section includes a contact member and an elastic member. The second gripping section includes a contact member and an elastic member. The driving section drives the first and second gripping sections. The driving section drives the first and second gripping sections such that the contact member of the first gripping section and the contact member of the second gripping section make contact with the second member. The first and second gripping sections grip the second member through the two elastic members urging the respective contact members. The driving section drives the first and second gripping sections such that the first member and the second member are assembled.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of effectively compressing point cloud data output from the ranging sensor. A data compression apparatus of the present invention includes a data acquisition unit (121) which acquires point cloud data including a plurality of sets each including a direction and a distance from a ranging sensor (11), a data conversion unit (122) which converts directions and distances in the sets into color signals, an image generation unit (123) which generates a bitmap Image by mapping the color signals into a two-dimensional data structure in accordance with the directions, and an image compression unit (124) which applies a predetermined image compression technique to the bitmap image.

Abstract: A technique for compressing and transmitting data without hampering real-time performance can be offered. In a data compression transmission system for collecting data generated by a plurality of devices at a central server via a network, an intermediate server is arranged between the devices and the central server. Each of the devices includes a packet cache processing unit for converting the generated data to a hash value based on a cache. The intermediate server includes a packet cache processing unit for decoding the hash value to original data based on the cache, a buffering unit for aggregating the data and outputting the data as a long packet, and a compression encoding unit for compressing the data and generating encoded data.

Abstract: As a means for artificially inducing functional endosperm in a seed plant without fertilization, provided is a nucleic acid molecule that contains a base sequence encoding a polypeptide capable of inducing endosperm development, said nucleic acid molecule being to be transferred into the genome of the seed plant and expressed therein so as to induce endosperm development in the seed plant without fertilization.

Abstract: An assembly apparatus assembles a first component and a second component. The assembly apparatus includes a gripping section, a correcting section, and a driving section. The gripping section grips the first component. The correcting section corrects positional shift of the first component relative to the second component. The driving section drives the correcting section. The correcting section includes a first mechanism connected to the gripping section and a second mechanism connected to the driving section. The first mechanism has a first tapered portion on a surface opposite to the gripping section. The second mechanism has a second tapered portion on a surface opposite to the driving section. The second tapered portion has a substantially identical shape to the first tapered portion. The first tapered portion is placed on the second tapered portion.

Abstract: In a structure body, a lower-layer portion includes four first column portions, a bottom frame portion, and a first partition frame portion, an upper-layer portion includes four second column portions, a top frame portion, and a second partition frame portion. The bottom frame portion is welded to lower end portions of the first column portions. The first partition frame portion is welded to upper end portions of the first column portions. The second column portions are formed to continue to the lower-layer portion and vertically extend on extension lines of the first column portions. The top frame portion is welded to upper end portions of the second column portions. The second partition frame portion is welded to the second column portions at a position between the first partition frame portion and the top frame portion. Each of the first column portions is thicker than each of the second column portions.

Abstract: A gripping mechanism includes a holder, a gripping roller, and a lever. The gripping roller is housed within the holder and grips an object between the roller and an inner surface of the holder. The lever releases gripping of the object by pushing the gripping roller upward. Preferably, the holder includes two plate sections which support a weight of the gripping roller. An opening is located between the two plate sections. The opening receives insertion of the object. One of the two plate sections is inclined relative to a vertical direction.

Abstract: A gripping mechanism (3) includes a gripping roller (32) and a holder (31) that houses the gripping roller (32). A gripped portion (42) of a first component (4) is gripped between an outer surface of the gripping roller (32) and an inner surface of the holder (31) through action of gravity acting on the gripping roller (32). Preferably, the gripping roller (32) includes a core (321) that is cylindrical or columnar in shape and a covering section (322) that is an elastic body covering a circumferential surface of the core (321). Preferably, the covering section (322) has a circumferential surface with a friction coefficient greater than a friction coefficient of the circumferential surface of the core (321).

Abstract: A gripping mechanism includes an inclined surface, a rolling element, and a facing gripping part. The inclined surface is a surface inclined to a vertical direction. The rolling element freely rolls obliquely upward and downward on the inclined surface. The facing gripping part is arranged to face the inclined surface and forms an opening space with an end of the inclined surface, the opening space being narrower than a diameter of the rolling element. The rolling element includes: a core member forming a core of the rolling element; an annular member that is provided around the core member and has elasticity; and a plurality of ribs each of which is interposed between an outer periphery of the core member and an inner periphery of the annular member, and forms a gap between the core member and the annular member.

Abstract: In a structure body, a lower-layer portion includes four first column portions, a bottom frame portion, and a first partition frame portion, an upper-layer portion includes four second column portions, a top frame portion, and a second partition frame portion. The bottom frame portion is welded to lower end portions of the first column portions. The first partition frame portion is welded to upper end portions of the first column portions. The second column portions are formed to continue to the lower-layer portion and vertically extend on extension lines of the first column portions. The top frame portion is welded to upper end portions of the second column portions. The second partition frame portion is welded to the second column portions at a position between the first partition frame portion and the top frame portion. Each of the first column portions is thicker than each of the second column portions.

Abstract: The present invention offers a network management technique that can realize effective acquisition of various data transmitted from terminals, while reducing the network congestion. In a network management system including a plurality of terminals that can transmit data, a plurality of destination devices that perform respective predetermined processes based on the data, a relay device arranged between them, and a management device communicable with the terminals, the destination devices, and the relay device, the management device receives a request regarding required data from the destination devices; and, in response to the request, instructs to integrate data items that are to be relayed to individual destination devices.

Abstract: As a means for artificially inducing functional endosperm in a seed plant without fertilization, provided is a nucleic acid molecule that contains a base sequence encoding a polypeptide capable of inducing endosperm development, said nucleic acid molecule being to be transferred into the genome of the seed plant and expressed therein so as to induce endosperm development in the seed plant without fertilization.

Abstract: A charge control device for an in-vehicle battery includes a control unit that obtains a neglect resistance increase rate as a reversible resistance component based on an SOC of the battery and a temperature of the battery when the battery is not charged/discharged, and that obtains a permissible charge current value to the battery based on the obtained neglect resistance increase rate.

Abstract: An image forming unit of an image forming apparatus includes a developing device and a toner replenishing unit that replenishes the developing device with toner. The toner replenishing unit includes an upper toner container, a lower toner container, a toner conveyance unit. The upper toner container and the lower toner container are disposed in a staggered manner in an apparatus body.

Abstract: A charge control device for an in-vehicle battery includes a control unit that obtains a neglect resistance increase rate as a reversible resistance component based on an SOC of the battery and a temperature of the battery when the battery is not charged/discharged, and that obtains a permissible charge current value to the battery based on the obtained neglect resistance increase rate.