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: There is provided manganese oxide having a pore volume fraction of no greater than 20% for pores with diameters of 10 ?m or greater, as measured by mercury porosimetry, and a tap density of 1.6 g/cm3 or greater, and a method for producing it. There is also provided a method for producing a lithium manganese composite oxide using the manganese oxide.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a pressing rotary body to press against a fixing rotary body. A pivotable pressure lever rotatably mounts the pressing rotary body. A pressurization cam assembly pivots the pressure lever to press the pressing rotary body against the fixing rotary body and release pressure between the pressing rotary body and the fixing rotary body. A pivotable cleaning unit includes a cleaning web separably contacting the pressing rotary body to clean the pressing rotary body, a pressure adjuster contacting the cleaning web to separably press the cleaning web against the pressing rotary body, a take-up reel to reel up the cleaning web, and a supply reel to reel out the cleaning web. A cleaning unit cam assembly contacts the cleaning unit to pivot the cleaning unit to press against and separate from the pressing rotary body.

Abstract: To provide trimanganese tetraoxide from which a lithium manganese oxide with less fusion of particles by firing i.e. necking phenomenon is obtained. Trimanganese tetraoxide characterized in that the pore volume of pores having pore diameters of from 0.3 to 2 ?m is at least 0.1 mL/g. The pore volume of pores having pore diameters of from 0.5 to 1 ?m is preferably at least 0.03 mL/g.

Abstract: To provide trimanganese tetraoxide having a high tap density and a uniform particle size distribution, and its production process. Trimanganese tetraoxide having a tap density of at least 1.5 g/cm3 and a relative standard deviation of the particle size of at most 40%. A process for producing such trimanganese tetraoxide, which comprises a step of mixing a manganese aqueous solution and an alkaline aqueous solution so that the oxidation-reduction potential is at least 0 mV and OH?/Mn2+ (mol/mol) is at most 0.55.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an exciting coil to generate a magnetic flux and a heat generation layer disposed opposite the exciting coil to generate heat by the magnetic flux from the exciting coil. A temperature sensitive magnetic body, disposed opposite the exciting coil via the heat generation layer, obtains and loses magnetism at a temperature defined by a Curie temperature by composition adjustment to selectively create a heating region and a non-heating region of the heat generation layer. A degausser is made of a non-magnetic material having an electrical resistivity smaller than an electrical resistivity of the temperature sensitive magnetic body. The degausser is disposed opposite the exciting coil with an interval in a range of from about 4.2 mm to about 8.2 mm.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heat roller, a fuser member, an endless belt, a pressure member, a first rotation transmitter, a second rotation transmitter, a rotation sensor, a controller, a first biasing member, and a second biasing member. The heat roller is rotatable around a rotational axis thereof while subjected to induction heating. The fuser member is disposed parallel to the heat roller. The endless belt is looped for rotation around the heat roller and the fuser member. The pressure member is disposed opposite the fuser member via the endless belt. The first rotation transmitter is connected to the rotational axis of the heat roller to rotate around a rotational axis thereof upon rotation of the heat roller. The second rotation transmitter engages the first rotation transmitter to rotate around a rotational axis thereof upon rotation of the first rotation transmitter.

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 fixing device fixes a toner image on a recording medium by heating the recording medium, with a heating area and a non-heating area selected in accordance with a magnetic flux and a repulsive magnetic flux. The fixing device includes a heat generating layer, an exciting coil, and a demagnetizing member. The heat generating layer generates heat. The exciting coil generates the magnetic flux, and thereby inductively heats the heat generating layer. The demagnetizing member faces the heat generating layer in the non-heating area. The demagnetizing member generates the repulsive magnetic flux against the magnetic flux generated by the exciting coil, and thereby demagnetizes the magnetic flux and suppresses the heating. Further, the demagnetizing member has a demagnetization effect different between at least a portion of the non-heating area adjacent to the heating area and the remaining portion of the non-heating area.

Abstract: A communication unit periodically transmits a request signal toward a prescribed range. When a transmitter exists in the range where the request signal can be received, it sends identification information in a responsive manner. A comparison ECU compares the identification information provided from the communication unit with a predetermined value, and if both of them match with each other, notifies a matching notification to a power source management ECU. On receipt of the matching notification from the comparison ECU, the power source management ECU notifies a lighting-up request for providing an instruction for lighting-up of a light-emitting unit to a body ECU. Upon receipt of the lighting-up request, the body ECU activates a lighting-up command LON. As a result, the light-emitting unit is lit up and notifies a user of the position of a charging port.

Abstract: A travel control device selects the travel modes of the hybrid vehicle that includes a battery configured to be charged with electric power from an external power source, an MG configured to generate a driving force for running with the electric power of the battery, and an engine configured to generate a driving force for running. The travel control device includes a second estimating unit and a drive switching unit. The second estimating unit estimates an expected charging time at a destination where the battery can be charged. The drive switching unit increases a usage frequency of the EV mode until reaching to the destination in a case where the expected charging time estimated by the second estimating unit is longer than a case where expected charging time is short.

Abstract: A semiconductor light-emitting device and a method for manufacturing the same can include a wavelength converting layer located on at least one semiconductor light-emitting chip in order to emit various colored lights including white light. The semiconductor light-emitting device can include a base board, the chip mounted on the base board and a transparent plate disposed on the wavelength converting layer including a spacer and a phosphor having a high density. The wavelength converting layer can be formed in a thin uniform thickness between the transparent plate and a top surface of the chip using the spacer so as to extend toward the transparent plate. The semiconductor light-emitting device can be configured to improve light-emitting efficiency of the chip by using the thin wavelength converting layer including the phosphor having a high density, and therefore can emit a wavelength-converted light having a high light-emitting efficiency from a small light-emitting surface.

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: There is provided a method for producing a light emitting device having a small light emitting area and showing high light extraction efficiency. An uncured resin 13? is dropped on either one or both of a light emitting element 11 and a tabular member 14 in such an amount that the resin is maintained on them by surface tension, the light emitting element 11 and the tabular member 14 are piled up with the uncured resin 13? maintained between them and on a side of the light emitting element by surface tension of the uncured resin 13? to form an uncured resin layer 13? having an inclined side 130, and then the resin layer 13 is cured. The tabular member is constituted with a material having an alkali metal oxide content of 0.2% by weight or lower.

Abstract: A voltage detection terminal (27a-27e, 27aa-27ee, 27aaa-27eee) and a discharge terminal (21a-21e) are connected to a peripheral edge portion of a collector (4a-4e) of a bipolar battery (2). Assuming a first straight line (Da1) that connects a centroid of the collector (4a-4e) and the voltage detection terminal (27a-27e) and a second straight line (Da2) that is orthogonal to the first straight line (Da1), the discharge terminal (21a-21e) is disposed on an opposite side of the second straight line (Da2)-the voltage detection terminal (27a-27e). A requirement relating to measurement of a voltage of the collector (4a-4e) and a requirement relating to discharge are thereby both satisfied.

Abstract: A bipolar battery (2) is constructed by laminating a plurality of bipolar electrodes (3), each constituted by a layer-form collector (4), a positive electrode active material layer (5) disposed on one surface of the collector (4), and a negative electrode active material layer (6) disposed on another surface of the collector (4), via an electrolyte layer (7). A voltage detection terminal (21a, 21b) is attached to a peripheral edge portion of the collector (4). By disposing a voltage detection terminal (21b) of an adjacent collector (4) on an opposite side of a second straight line (Da2), which passes through a centroid (O) of the collector (4) and is orthogonal to a first straight line (Da1) that connects the voltage detection terminal (21a) to the centroid (O) of the collector (4), a state of charge within an identical unit cell (15) is made even.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotary fuser member, a rotary pressure member, a first media stripper, and a second media stripper. The rotary fuser member is subjected to heating. The rotary pressure member is pressed against the fuser member to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is passed in a media conveyance direction under heat and pressure as the fuser and pressure members rotate together. The first media stripper includes at least one pneumatic nozzle disposed adjacent to the fuser member to direct compressed gas toward the fixing nip along the fuser member for stripping the recording medium from the fuser member. The second media stripper includes at least one contact finger disposed in contact with the pressure member to slide against the pressure member during rotation for stripping the recording medium from the pressure member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an exciting coil and a heat generator disposed opposite the exciting coil. The heat generator includes a heat generation layer disposed opposite the exciting coil to generate heat by a magnetic flux from the exciting coil and a temperature sensitive magnetic body disposed opposite the exciting coil via the heat generation layer to obtain and lose magnetism at a temperature defined by a Curie temperature by composition adjustment to selectively create a heating region and a non-heating region of the heat generation layer. A degausser is disposed opposite the heat generator and made of a non-magnetic material having an electrical resistivity smaller than that of the temperature sensitive magnetic body. A holder contacting and supporting the degausser is disposed inboard from a lateral edge of the degausser and outboard from a lateral end of the exciting coil in a longitudinal direction of the degausser.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a pressing rotary body to press against a fixing rotary body. A pivotable pressure lever rotatably mounts the pressing rotary body. A pressurization cam assembly pivots the pressure lever to press the pressing rotary body against the fixing rotary body and release pressure between the pressing rotary body and the fixing rotary body. A pivotable cleaning unit includes a cleaning web separably contacting the pressing rotary body to clean the pressing rotary body, a pressure adjuster contacting the cleaning web to separably press the cleaning web against the pressing rotary body, a take-up reel to reel up the cleaning web, and a supply reel to reel out the cleaning web. A cleaning unit cam assembly contacts the cleaning unit to pivot the cleaning unit to press against and separate from the pressing rotary body.

Abstract: A lighter and smaller light-emitting device (for use in a vehicle lighting unit) using a light-emitting body and a manufacturing method of the light-emitting body are provided. The light-emitting device can include a light source configured to emit light for excitation, and a light-emitting body configured to absorb excitation light to emit fluorescence light. The light-emitting body can include: a first light-transmitting member with a plate shape and having a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and an outer peripheral surface between the first surface and the second surface; a phosphor layer disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the first light-transmitting member; a second light transmitting member disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the phosphor layer; and a light-shielding member (such as a reflection film) configured to cover the first surface.