Abstract: When the type is to be changed from serum (preceding sample) to urine (current sample), “serum” is set to a preceding type and “urine” is set to a measurement type at number 1 in a condition number. At condition number 1, the wash type is pattern 1, with washing performed once with detergent 1. Where the preceding sample is serum and the current sample is CSF, the condition number is 2 and the wash type is pattern 2, with washing performed twice using detergent 1 and once with detergent 2. Where the preceding sample is urine and the current sample is CSF, the condition number is 3 and the wash type is pattern 3, with washing performed once with detergent 1, once with detergent 2, and once with water. In the case of pattern 4, washing is performed three times with detergent 1.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer is capable of ensuring sufficient nozzle cleaning and suppressing of deterioration in the accuracy of analysis. When it is judged that there remains no analysis item of the sample, a judgment is made on whether the sample dispensation quantity of the n-th sample dispensation is less than a dispensation quantity threshold value or not, and if less, a cleaning pattern is selected by making a judgment on whether or not all the sample dispensation quantities of the first through (n?1)-th sample dispensations are less than the dispensation quantity threshold value. If the sample dispensation quantity of the n-th sample dispensation is the dispensation quantity threshold value or more, another cleaning pattern selected by making the judgment on whether or not all the sample dispensation quantities of the first through (n?1)-th sample dispensations are less than the dispensation quantity threshold value.

Abstract: A welding method heats and pressurizes a contacting portion, where a first member and a second member made of resin are in contact with each other, by a pressing tool. The welding method has forming a step, forming a recessed portion, crushing a protrusion, and filling the recessed portion. The step is defined between the first member and the second member by providing the protrusion to the first member. The recessed portion is provided in a tip of the pressing tool. The protrusion of the first member is crushed in the recessed portion by being pressed toward the second member using the pressing tool. The recessed portion is filled with the molten portion of the first member and the molten portion of the second member such that a rim of an outer periphery of the recessed portion is dug into the first member and the second member.

Abstract: The automatic analysis device 100 is provided with: a specimen dispensing mechanism 101 that dispenses subject blood plasma and/or normal blood plasma to be added to correct the coagulation time of the subject blood plasma, into a plurality of specimen containers 103; reaction containers 104 that contain the subject blood plasma and/or the normal blood plasma; a reagent dispensing mechanism 106 that dispenses a reagent into the reaction containers 104; and a detecting unit 113 which applies light from a light source 115 to the subject blood plasma and/or the normal blood plasma to which the reagent is added in the reaction containers 104, and which measures the coagulation time on the basis of the obtained scattered light and/or transmitted light.

Abstract: A separation device includes an endless belt, a rotary body, a separation supporter, and a transfer mechanism. The separation supporter presses against an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt downstream from an area of contact between the endless belt and the rotary body in a recording medium conveyance direction to curve the endless belt toward an outer circumferential surface side of the endless belt at a greater curvature than a curvature of the endless belt at the area of contact between the endless belt and the rotary body. The transfer mechanism switches the separation supporter between a first position and a second position farther from the area of contact between the endless belt and the rotary body than the first position.

Abstract: When the type is to be changed from serum (preceding sample) to urine (current sample), “serum” is set to a preceding type and “urine” is set to a measurement type at number 1 in a condition number. At condition number 1, the wash type is pattern 1, with washing performed once with detergent 1. Where the preceding sample is serum and the current sample is CSF, the condition number is 2 and the wash type is pattern 2, with washing performed twice using detergent 1 and once with detergent 2. Where the preceding sample is urine and the current sample is CSF, the condition number is 3 and the wash type is pattern 3, with washing performed once with detergent 1, once with detergent 2, and once with water. In the case of pattern 4, washing is performed three times with detergent 1.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer is capable of ensuring sufficient nozzle cleaning and suppressing of deterioration in the accuracy of analysis. When it is judged that there remains no analysis item of the sample, a judgment is made on whether the sample dispensation quantity of the n-th sample dispensation is less than a dispensation quantity threshold value or not, and if less, a cleaning pattern is selected by making a judgment on whether or not all the sample dispensation quantities of the first through (n?1)-th sample dispensations are less than the dispensation quantity threshold value. If the sample dispensation quantity of the n-th sample dispensation is the dispensation quantity threshold value or more, another cleaning pattern selected by making the judgment on whether or not all the sample dispensation quantities of the first through (n?1)-th sample dispensations are less than the dispensation quantity threshold value.

Abstract: An indicator apparatus for a hybrid vehicle includes a display region having a range that extends between first and second ends of the display region. The display region displays a first mark to indicate to the driver a first state amount that changes in accordance with the output demand from the driver, a first edge of the first mark moving across the range between the first and second ends of the display region as the first state amount changes. A second mark having a second edge is displayed so that the second edge extends across and overlaps the display region, the second edge indicating to the driver a threshold at which switching occurs between an EV traveling mode and an HV traveling mode.

Abstract: A terminal of a liquid surface detection apparatus includes: a connecting portion that is provided in a connecting area exposed from a body; a bent portion that is continuous with the connecting area while the bent portion is bent on a bending side where the connecting area is exposed; and a projecting wall portion that is formed continuously with the connecting area together with a side of a base of the bent portion, while the projecting wall portion projects in a form of a standing wall from the connecting area. The body includes an extending portion that is securely joined to: a fixing part of a side surface of the bent portion located on a counter-bending side of the bent portion that is opposite from the bending side of the bent portion; and a fixing part of the projecting wall portion.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt, a drive rotator, a driven rotator, a rotation detector, and circuitry. The drive rotator contacts and rotates the endless belt. The driven rotator contacts an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt. The rotation detector detects a rotational speed of the driven rotator. The circuitry is operatively connected to the rotation detector to control a rotational speed of the drive rotator based on the rotational speed of the driven rotator detected by the rotational detector. The circuitry changes the rotational speed of the drive rotator when a recording medium bearing a toner image is not conveyed over the endless belt.

Abstract: A vehicle is a hybrid vehicle including an engine driven by fuel, and the vehicle includes a motor-generator driven by electric power and a charge plug to which a connector is removably connected, the charge plug being capable of at least one of being supplied with electric power from the connector and supplying electric power to the connector. An engine is arranged to be offset toward one side surface and the charge plug is provided in the other side surface.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide an automatic analysis device capable of efficiently performing a plurality of analyses, while reducing the footprint and cost of the device. Provided is an automatic analysis device characterized by being provided with containers for containing samples, one rack for placing the containers thereon, and a control unit, the control unit generating, with respect to the one rack, a plurality of registration patterns in which information of the positions where the containers are disposed, and information of the samples contained in the containers are correlated with each other, storing the registration patterns thus generated, applying, to the one rack, one registration pattern selected from among the registration patterns thus stored, and analyzing the samples. Also provided is an analysis method using the device.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator and a slider that slides over the fixing rotator. A cam presses the slider against the fixing rotator. The cam includes a cam rear disposed opposite a rear end of the fixing rotator in an axial direction thereof and a cam front disposed opposite a front end of the fixing rotator in the axial direction thereof. A controller rotates the cam to a first slide position where the cam rear presses the slider against the fixing rotator, a second slide position where the cam rear and the cam front press the slider against the fixing rotator, a third slide position where the cam front presses the slider against the fixing rotator, and an isolation position where the cam rear and the cam front do not press the slider against the fixing rotator.

Abstract: A separation device includes a separator that separates a recording medium from a rotator and a plurality of recesses disposed on a conveyance path side face of the separator over which the recording medium is conveyed in a recess span in a recording medium conveyance direction and at least in a conveyance span where the recording medium is conveyed. The plurality of recesses includes a first recess extending in a first extension line that is oblique relative to the recording medium conveyance direction and a second recess being adjacent to the first recess in a direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction. The second recess extends in a second extension line that is oblique relative to the recording medium conveyance direction and overlaps the first extension line of the first recess in the direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction to define an overlap span.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a heating rotator, an endless belt entrained around the fixing rotator and the heating rotator, and a pressure rotator to press against the fixing rotator via the endless belt. A first rotation transfer device is disposed on the heating rotator to transmit a torque of the heating rotator. A second rotation transfer device is disposed opposite the first rotation transfer device, and pressed against the first rotation transfer device by a biasing member. A rotation detector is disposed on a rotary shaft of the second rotation transfer device to detect rotation of the heating rotator. A pressure control mechanism moves the pressure rotator to and away from the endless belt to change a pressure force of the pressure rotator in response to detection of an increased or decreased rotational frequency of the heating rotator from a given rotational frequency by the rotation detector.

Abstract: A separation device includes an endless belt, a rotary body, a separation supporter, and a transfer mechanism. The separation supporter presses against an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt downstream from an area of contact between the endless belt and the rotary body in a recording medium conveyance direction to curve the endless belt toward an outer circumferential surface side of the endless belt at a greater curvature than a curvature of the endless belt at the area of contact between the endless belt and the rotary body. The transfer mechanism switches the separation supporter between a first position and a second position farther from the area of contact between the endless belt and the rotary body than the first position.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator and a slider that slides over the fixing rotator. A cam presses the slider against the fixing rotator. The cam includes a cam rear disposed opposite a rear end of the fixing rotator in an axial direction thereof and a cam front disposed opposite a front end of the fixing rotator in the axial direction thereof. A controller rotates the cam to a first slide position where the cam rear presses the slider against the fixing rotator, a second slide position where the cam rear and the cam front press the slider against the fixing rotator, a third slide position where the cam front presses the slider against the fixing rotator, and an isolation position where the cam rear and the cam front do not press the slider against the fixing rotator.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a pressing rotator, an oil applicator, a first adjuster, a surface modifier, a second adjuster, and a processor. The fixing rotator contacts a recording medium bearing a toner image. The pressing rotator forms a fixing nip with the fixing rotator. The oil applicator is pressed against at least one of applied members of the fixing rotator and pressing rotator. The first adjuster adjusts contact/separation of the oil applicator with respect to the applied member. The surface modifier contacts the fixing rotator to modify a surface thereof. The second adjuster adjusts contact/separation of the surface modifier with respect to the fixing rotator. The processor allows the surface modifier to modify the fixing rotator surface after the oil applicator contacts the applied member, and the oil applicator to separate from the applied member after the surface modifier is separated from the fixing rotator.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first rotator rotatable in a given direction of rotation and a second rotator contacting the first rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A heater is disposed opposite and heats at least one of the first rotator and the second rotator. An abutment separably contacts the first rotator to refresh an outer circumferential surface of the first rotator. A mover is connected to the abutment to move the abutment with respect to the first rotator. A degradation estimator is operatively connected to the mover to estimate a degradation level of the outer circumferential surface of the first rotator and control the mover to move the abutment with respect to the first rotator according to the degradation level of the first rotator.

Abstract: A separation device separates a recording medium ejected from a fixing nip formed between a first rotator and a second rotator from the first rotator. The separation device includes a separator including a front end disposed opposite the fixing nip and the recording medium and a plurality of recesses disposed on the front end of the separator at least in a conveyance span on the separator where the recording medium is conveyed. The plurality of recesses includes a first recess extending in a first extension line that is oblique relative to a recording medium conveyance direction and a second recess adjacent to the first recess and extending in a second extension line that is oblique relative to the recording medium conveyance direction. The second extension line overlaps the first extension line in a direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction to define an overlap span.