Abstract: A solar cell has a passivation film formed on a crystalline silicon substrate that has at least a p-n junction, and an electrode formed by printing and heat-treating a conductive paste. The solar cell has a first electrode comprising an extraction electrode, which extracts photogenerated carriers from the silicon substrate, formed so as to contact the silicon substrate and a second collector electrode, which collects the carriers collected at the extraction electrode, formed so as to contact the first electrode. Other than the point of contact between the first electrode and the second electrode, at least, the second electrode contacts the silicon substrate only partially or not at all. By leaving the passivation film between the collector electrode and the silicon, either completely or partially, the solar cell reduces charge losses at electrode/silicon interfaces, improves the short-circuit current and open voltage, and yields improved characteristics.

Abstract: A finisher deforms a fold end portion of a sheet bundle with a lower pressing plate and an upper pressing plate. A pressing unit holds a sheet bundle so that the fold end portion is positioned between the lower pressing plate and the upper pressing plate. A third pressing roller includes a third pressing surface that presses the fold end portion of the sheet bundle between the lower pressing plate and the upper pressing plate. The third pressing roller moves in between the lower pressing plate and the upper pressing plate. The third pressing roller or the pressing unit moves so that the third pressing surface of the third pressing roller presses the fold end portion at a predetermined position based on a tip of the fold end portion. The fold end portion projects after the sheet bundle is held between the lower pressing plate and the upper pressing plate.

Abstract: A configuration includes the adhesive member to adhesively bond components together and a thermo-expandable material to expand upon being heated in the way of being disposed between at least one of the components adhesively bonded together by the adhesive member and the adhesive member and to push the adhesive member in a direction of getting apart from at least one of the components.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle provided with an electrically operated continuously-variable transmitting portion and a step-variable transmitting portion, which control apparatus permits an adequate control of a shifting action of the step-variable transmitting portion, while reducing deterioration of fuel economy of the hybrid vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle for cargo handling is equipped with a storage unit for storing a password, a password input unit, and a control unit for controlling selection of a normal operating mode with no restrictions on travel capability or cargo handling capability, an emergency operating mode where at least the travel capability of the vehicle is restricted, and a travel prohibited mode where neither the normal operating mode nor the emergency operating mode is selected. The control unit determines whether password entry is required when the vehicle is powered on and controls selection of the normal operating mode when password entry is required or when a correct password is entered, the emergency operating mode when emergency operation is indicated, or the travel prohibited mode when the normal and emergency operating modes are not selected within a predetermined specific amount of time or within a specific number of times of operation.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle provided with an electrically operated continuously-variable transmitting portion and a step-variable transmitting portion, which control apparatus permits an adequate control of a shifting action of the step-variable transmitting portion, while reducing deterioration of fuel economy of the hybrid vehicle.

Abstract: In a sheet processing apparatus that is required for high productivity, it is needed to execute skew correction of a sheet in a short time. Thus, when the sheet is struck against a roller or a skew correction member at a high speed to execute skew correction, it may cause a scratch or a noise caused by an impact. Accordingly, the sheet is struck against a skew correction stopper that is moving at a speed slower than a sheet conveyance speed to execute skew correction.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet stacking unit, a binding unit, a folding unit, a conveyance unit, a press unit, a grasping unit, and a control unit. The binding unit performs binding processing on a sheet bundle stacked in the sheet stacking unit. The folding unit folds the sheet bundle that is subjected to binding processing. The conveyance unit conveys the folded sheet bundle. The press unit presses a fold line portion of the conveyed sheet bundle. The grasping unit is separate from the conveyance unit and switches between a first state in which the grasping unit grasps the conveyed sheet bundle to fix the sheet bundle in position and a second state in which the grasping unit does not grasp the conveyed sheet bundle. The control unit shifts the grasping unit to the first state and causes the press unit to press the sheet bundle.

Abstract: A sheet bundle treatment apparatus may include a folding device, a conveying unit, a flattening device, and a control unit. The folding device performs a folding process on a sheet bundle to produce a folded sheet bundle. The conveying unit conveys the folded sheet bundle. The flattening device performs a flattening process to press a folded portion of the sheet bundle from the folded portion toward a fore edge to flatten the folded portion after the conveyance of the sheet bundle. The control unit causes the sheet bundle to be conveyed at a first velocity when the flattening process is not to be performed, and causes the sheet bundle to be conveyed at a second velocity which is slower than the first velocity when the flattening process is to be performed, thereby stopping the sheet bundle at a position where the flattening process is to be performed.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a conveying portion which can move a sheet in a sheet conveying direction and in a sheet width direction, a moving portion which moves the conveying portion in the sheet width direction, a punching portion which punches a hole in the sheet, and a pressing portion which presses an upstream end of the sheet. The sheet forms a first loop to correct skew feeding while the sheet is conveyed with its downstream end abutted against the conveying portion in the sheet conveying direction. The conveying portion conveys the sheet. The moving portion moves the conveying portion in the sheet width direction to correct lateral registration of the sheet. The pressing portion presses an upstream end of the sheet in the sheet conveying direction and forms a second loop of the sheet to correct skew feeding. The sheet is positioned with reference to the pressing portion.

Abstract: An image forming system including an image forming apparatus, which is configured to form an image on a sheet according to an input print job, and a plurality of postprocessing apparatuses, which is configured to execute postprocessing on a sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus, includes a supply unit configured to supply the plurality of postprocessing apparatuses with a signal, which instructs a batch power supply to the plurality of postprocessing apparatuses, and a control unit configured, after the plurality of postprocessing apparatuses have been powered on by the supply unit instructing the batch power supply, to discontinue a power supply to a second postprocessing apparatus, which is connected further downstream of a first postprocessing apparatus provided most downstream in a direction of conveying the sheet in the input print job, of the plurality of postprocessing apparatuses.

Abstract: Disclosed is a phosphorus paste for diffusion that is used in continuous printing of a phosphorus paste for diffusion on a substrate by screen printing. The phosphorus paste for diffusion does not undergo a significant influence of ambient humidity on viscosity and has no possibility of thickening even after a large number of times of continuous printing. The phosphorus paste for diffusion is coated on a substrate by screen printing for diffusion layer formation on the substrate. The phosphorus paste for diffusion includes a doping agent containing phosphorus as a dopant for the diffusion layer, a thixotropic agent containing an organic binder and a solid matter, and an organic solvent. The doping agent is an organic phosphorus compound.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for printing multiple copies of a document, the document having N (where N is an integer) pages, includes an image forming unit configured to print images on a plurality of sheets according to an input print job, a sheet stacking unit configured to stack sheets printed by the image forming unit, and a control unit configured to divide a print job which prints M (where M is an integer) copies of each of the N pages of the document into a plurality of print operations in a case where a group mode in which sheets are stacked into N groups, each group having M copies of a respective page of the document, is set in the print job, wherein each of the plurality of print operations is for printing less than M copies of each of the N pages of the document.

Abstract: An accumulated use time for cargo handling vehicles is accurately displayed by a time measuring device even if the time measuring device fails and is replaced. Units such as a display unit and a control unit of the cargo handling vehicle each include a time measuring device and a storage device. The device may perform in a synchronization mode in which the difference between the accumulated use times of both devices is made the same and a synchronization inhibition mode in which the accumulated use times are not changed. The accumulated use times are communicated between the function units, and the accumulated use time of the cargo handling vehicle and the absolute value of the difference between the accumulated use times of both measuring devices are taken into consideration. The appropriate mode is selected and the time measurement is carried out in the selected mode.

Abstract: An accumulated use time measuring method for cargo handling vehicles and a cargo handling vehicle both enable accurate continuation of the use time till a display unit containing a time measuring device is replaced even if the time measuring device fails and prevention of false alteration after shipping while infallibly resetting the time measuring device to zero when the time measure device is shipped from the factory. The function units such as a display unit and a control unit of the cargo handling vehicle each include a time measuring device and a storage device. A synchronization mode in which the difference between the accumulated use times of both devices is made the same and a synchronization inhibition mode in which the accumulated use times are not changed and the time measurement is continued are provided.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus including first and second stacking trays configured to stack sheets, a detection unit configured to detect a sheet stacking amount on the first stacking tray, a setting unit configured to set an upper limit on stacking amount for controlling the sheet stacking amount that is less than a maximum sheet stacking amount on the first stacking tray, and a control unit configured to stop stacking of sheets on the first stacking tray and stack sheets on the second stacking tray in a case where the sheet stacking amount which is detected by the detection unit reaches the upper limit on stacking amount that is set by the setting unit.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus capable of high-speed and accurate detection of a lateral displacement and a skew of a sheet. A motor laterally shifts the sensors during sheet conveyance by a conveying motor, to determine first and second positions of the sheet lateral edge detected respectively by first and second sensors. A finisher controller determines a third position of the lateral edge of the sheet closer to a sheet trailing edge, based on the first and second positions and an amount of conveyance of the sheet from when the first position is detected to when the second position is detected. A lateral displacement of the sheet is corrected by laterally shifting the sheet according to the third position of the sheet lateral edge.

Abstract: A sheet processing system capable of performing lateral shift correction of a sheet in an upstream sheet processing apparatus based on an amount of lateral shift to be caused by conveying thereof into a downstream sheet processing apparatus. A side edge sensor of a stacker detects a lateral shift amount of a sheet conveyed into the stacker. A stacker controller corrects lateral shift of the sheet by a shift unit. A side edge sensor of a finisher disposed downstream of the stacker detects a lateral shift amount of a sheet conveyed into the finisher. The finisher sends the detected lateral shift amount to the stacker. The stacker receives the lateral shift amount from the finisher, and the stacker controller corrects lateral shift of subsequent sheets based on both the lateral shift amount detected in the stacker and the lateral shift amount sent from the finisher.

Abstract: The use time till a display unit including an hour meter (a time measuring device) is replaced can be continued even if the time measuring device fails, and false alteration after shipping can be prevented while infallibly resetting the hour meter to zero when the vehicle equipped with the hour meter is shipped from the factory. The cargo handling vehicle includes a first storage device for accumulatively storing the vehicle use time measured by a first time measuring device provided in a display unit of the vehicle and a second storage device for accumulatively storing the vehicle use time measured by a second time measuring device provided in a control device. The control device allows the first and second storage devices to communicate the accumulated use times stored therein when the electric power of the vehicle is turned on. The control device compares the accumulated use times and writes the longer accumulated use time in the storage device storing the shorter one.

Abstract: In a vehicle control unit for controlling a vehicle based on a detection signal obtained from a shift range detecting unit that detects a shift range selected by a shift operating unit, a vehicle speed detecting unit that detects a vehicle speed, and an engine rpm detecting unit that detects an engine rpm, when the detected vehicle speed is less than a reference vehicle speed, the shift range detecting unit detects that a shift switching operation is carried out from a neutral to a forward range or a reverse range, and the engine rpm detecting unit detects that the engine rpm is not less than a predetermined value until a time not less than a predetermined time is elapsed from when the shift switching operation is detected, a control for prohibiting a shift change of a transmission in accordance with the shift switching operation is carried out.