Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holding member, a developing unit that contains a developer containing toner particles and develops an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of the image holding member with the developer to form a toner image, a primary transfer unit that transfers the toner image formed on the image holding member to an intermediate transfer member, a second transfer unit that transfers the toner image transferred on the intermediate transfer member to a recording medium, and a guide unit that guides at least one of the image holding member and the intermediate transfer member to a primary transfer position such that a portion of the image holding member and a portion of the intermediate transfer member are disposed along with each other, wherein the specific toner defined in the specification is used.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photoreceptor having an overcoat layer and a cleaning unit that includes a cleaning blade and a tip of the cleaning blade contacts with the photoreceptor toward the direction opposite to the rotation direction, wherein the toner particle contains a crystalline polyester resin, an average circularity of the toner particles is from 0.955 to 0.971, a content ratio of the toner particles having a particle diameter of 4.5 ?m or more and less than 7.5 ?m and a circularity of 0.980 or more is from 16% by number to 40% by number, and a content ratio of the toner particles having a particle diameter of 7.5 ?m or more and less than 15 ?m and a circularity of 0.900 or more and less than 0.940 is 3% by number or less.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photoreceptor having an overcoat layer and a cleaning unit that includes a cleaning blade, a tip of which contacts with the electrophotographic photoreceptor, wherein the toner contains a toner particle which contains a binder resin containing a crystalline polyester resin, a colorant and a release agent, and an external additive, and the toner satisfies the following Expression: 2?tan ?P1?2.5, wherein tan ?P1 represents a maximum value of a mechanical loss tangent existing in a range where a complex elastic modulus is from 1×106 Pa to 1×108 Pa, which is measured at an angular frequency of 6.28 rad/sec and a strain amount of 0.3%.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holding member, a developing unit that contains a developer containing toner particles and develops an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of the image holding member with the developer to form a toner image, a primary transfer unit that transfers the toner image formed on the image holding member to an intermediate transfer member, a second transfer unit that transfers the toner image transferred on the intermediate transfer member to a recording medium, and a guide unit that guides at least one of the image holding member and the intermediate transfer member to a primary transfer position such that a portion of the image holding member and a portion of the intermediate transfer member are disposed along with each other, wherein the specific toner defined in the specification is used.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit that includes a heating and pressurizing member, and fixes the toner image by performing the operation of heating and pressurizing on the toner image on a recording medium twice or more times with the heating and pressurizing member, wherein the toner contains a toner particle which contains a binder resin containing a crystalline polyester resin, a colorant, and a release agent, and an external additive, and satisfies Expression: 2?tan ?P1?2.5, wherein tan ?P1 represents a maximum value of a mechanical loss tangent existing in a range where a complex elastic modulus is from 1×106 Pa to 1×108 Pa, which is measured at an angular frequency of 6.28 rad/sec and a distortion amount of 0.3%.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a guide unit that guides at least one of an image holding member and an intermediate transfer member to a primary transfer position provided by a primary transfer unit such that a portion of the surface of the image holding member and a portion of the surface of the intermediate transfer member are disposed along with each other, wherein a toner contains a toner particle which contains a binder resin containing a crystalline polyester resin, a coloring agent and a releasing agent, and an external additive, and satisfies Expression: 2?tan ?P1?2.5, wherein tan ?P1 represents a maximum value of a mechanical loss tangent existing in a range where a complex elastic modulus is from 1×106 Pa to 1×108 Pa, which is measured at an angular frequency of 6.28 rad/sec and a strain amount of 0.3%.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to devices, systems and methods of producing high energy density batteries having a semi-solid cathode that is thicker than the anode. An electrochemical cell can include a positive electrode current collector, a negative electrode current collector and an ion-permeable membrane disposed between the positive electrode current collector and the negative electrode current collector. The ion-permeable membrane is spaced a first distance from the positive electrode current collector and at least partially defines a positive electroactive zone. The ion-permeable membrane is spaced a second distance from the negative electrode current collector and at least partially defines a negative electroactive zone. The second distance is less than the first distance.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes an anode, a semi-solid cathode, and a separator disposed therebetween. The semi-solid cathode includes a porous current collector and a suspension of an active material and a conductive material disposed in a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte. The porous current collector is at least partially disposed within the suspension such that the suspension substantially encapsulates the porous current collector.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to porous spacers for applying a preload on one or more electrochemical cells disposed in a battery pack. In some embodiments, a battery pack can include a plurality of electrochemical cells. A porous spacer is disposed between each of the plurality of electrochemical cells such the porous spacer can be centrally located with respect to the mid-point of adjacent electrochemical cells. The porous spacer can be sized and shaped to contact in the range of about 50% to about 100% of a surface area of each adjacent electrochemical cell such that the porous spacer exerts a preload on a central portion or any combination of predetermined area of the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to spacers for applying a preload on one or more electrochemical cells disposed in a battery pack. In some embodiments, a battery pack can include a plurality of electrochemical cells. A spacer is disposed between each of the plurality of electrochemical cells such the spacer is centrally located with respect to the mid-point of adjacent electrochemical cells. The spacer can be sized and shaped to contact in the range of about 2% to about 50% of a surface area of each adjacent electrochemical cell such that the spacer exerts a preload on a central portion of the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing unit that stores a developer containing a toner and develops an electrostatic charge image on a image holding member by the developer to form a toner image, a transfer unit that transfers the toner image on the image holding member onto a recording medium, and a fixing unit that performs an operation of heating and pressing twice or more to the toner image on the recording medium by at least one heating and pressing member which contacts with the toner image, wherein the toner has a sea and island structure of a sea portion containing a binder resin and an island portion containing a release agent, a maximum frequent value and a skewness in distribution of eccentricity B of the island portion is 0.75 to 0.95 and ?1.10 to ?0.50, respectively, and eccentricity B is defined in the specification.

Abstract: Embodiments described in this application relate generally to a system, an apparatus and/or methods for manufacturing electrodes by infusion electrolyte into compacted electrode materials. In some embodiments, a working electrode materials can be produced using an infusion mixing and manufacturing process. In some embodiments, a single-sided finished electrode can be produced directly from a dry powder mixture using an infusion mixing and manufacturing process. In some embodiments, a double-sided finished electrode can be produced directly from a dry powder mixture using an infusion mixing and manufacturing process. The electrodes produced by an infusion mixing and manufacturing process generally perform better than those produced by non-infusion processes.

Abstract: An energy storage device includes: a container; a terminal disposed outside the container or a current collector disposed inside the container; a conductive member penetrating the container and connected to the current collector or the terminal; and a fixing member joining the current collector or the terminal and the conductive member to each other.

Abstract: An energy storage device includes a positive electrode current collector, a negative electrode current collector and a separator disposed between the positive electrode current collector and the negative electrode current collector. The separator is spaced from the positive electrode current collector, thereby at least partially defining a positive electroactive zone, and the separator may be spaced from the negative electrode current collector, thereby at least partially defining a negative electroactive zone. The energy storage device includes a semi-solid electrode with a thickness in the range of about 200 ?m to about 2,000 ?m, located in the positive electroactive zone and/or the negative electroactive zone. The semi-solid electrode may also include a suspension of an ion-storing solid phase material in a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods described herein relate to the manufacture and use of single pouch battery cells. In some embodiments, an electrochemical cell includes a first current collector coupled to a first portion of a pouch, the first current collector having a first electrode material disposed thereon, a second current collector coupled to a second portion of the pouch, the second current collector having a second electrode material disposed thereon, and a separator disposed between the first electrode material and the second electrode material. The first portion of the pouch is coupled to the second portion of the pouch to enclose the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to devices, systems and methods of producing high energy density batteries having a semi-solid cathode that is thicker than the anode. An electrochemical cell can include a positive electrode current collector, a negative electrode current collector and an ion-permeable membrane disposed between the positive electrode current collector and the negative electrode current collector. The ion-permeable membrane is spaced a first distance from the positive electrode current collector and at least partially defines a positive electroactive zone. The ion-permeable membrane is spaced a second distance from the negative electrode current collector and at least partially defines a negative electroactive zone. The second distance is less than the first distance.

Abstract: A developing device includes a storing unit that stores an electrostatic charge image developing toner, and a developer holding member that is provided to have a gap with an image holding member and holds the toner on a surface, wherein the developing device develops an electrostatic charge image formed on a surface of the image holding member by the toner on the developer holding member through a non-contact development to form a toner image, and wherein the toner has a sea and island structure of a sea portion containing a binder resin and an island portion containing a release agent, a maximum frequent value in distribution of the eccentricity B of the island portion is from 0.75 to 0.95, and a skewness in the distribution of the eccentricity B is from ?1.10 to ?0.50, and the eccentricity B is defined in the specification.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photoreceptor, a charging unit; an electrostatic latent image forming unit, a developing unit that stores a developer containing a toner, a transfer unit, a cleaning unit and a fixation unit, wherein the toner has a sea and island structure of a sea portion containing the binder resin and an island portion containing the release agent, a maximum frequent value of the eccentricity B of the island portion containing the release agent is in a range of from 0.75 to 0.95, and a skewness of the eccentricity B is in a range of from ?1.10 to ?0.50.

Abstract: A developing device includes a storing unit that stores an electrostatic charge image developing toner, and a developer holding member that is provided to have a gap with an image holding member and holds the toner on a surface, wherein the developing device develops an electrostatic charge image formed on a surface of the image holding member by the toner on the developer holding member through a non-contact development to form a toner image, and wherein the toner has a sea and island structure of a sea portion containing a binder resin and an island portion containing a release agent, a maximum frequent value in distribution of the eccentricity B of the island portion is from 0.75 to 0.95, and a skewness in the distribution of the eccentricity B is from ?1.10 to ?0.50, and the eccentricity B is defined in the specification.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing unit that stores a developer containing a toner and develops an electrostatic charge image on a image holding member by the developer to form a toner image, a transfer unit that transfers the toner image on the image holding member onto a recording medium, and a fixing unit that performs an operation of heating and pressing twice or more to the toner image on the recording medium by at least one heating and pressing member which contacts with the toner image, wherein the toner has a sea and island structure of a sea portion containing a binder resin and an island portion containing a release agent, a maximum frequent value and a skewness in distribution of eccentricity B of the island portion is 0.75 to 0.95 and ?1.10 to ?0.50, respectively, and eccentricity B is defined in the specification.