Abstract: A planar light source includes: a support member; a light guide member disposed on the support member and having a light source positioning part; and a light source disposed on the support member while being in the light source positioning part of the light guide member. The support member includes: an insulation base having a first face positioned closer to the light source and a second face positioned opposite the first face, a first conductive layer disposed on the first face of the insulation base and electrically connected to the light source, an adhesive layer disposed on and in contact with the first face of the insulation base and the first conductive layer, and a light reflecting sheet disposed on the adhesive layer.

Abstract: A tool driving device for cutting includes a spindle and an electric motor. A user carries the tool driving device by hand to use the tool driving device. The spindle has a holder for holding a tool for the cutting. The holder is disposed at a distal portion of the spindle. The electric motor rotates the spindle. A thrust bearing is attached to a housing of the electric motor. The spindle is contacted to the thrust bearing so that cutting resistance in a rotation axis direction of the spindle, transmitted from the tool to the spindle, is applied to the thrust bearing.

Abstract: A tool driving device for hole processing includes a spindle, an electric motor, a guide, an electric actuator, a sensor and a controller. The spindle has a holder for holding a tool for the hole processing. The holder is disposed at a distal portion of the spindle. The electric motor rotates the spindle. The guide has a positioning member for positioning the tool driving device to the workpiece. The electric actuator advances and retreats the spindle relatively to the guide in a rotation axis direction of the spindle. The sensor measures cutting resistance transmitted from the tool to the spindle. The controller is configured to control the electric motor and the electric actuator based on the cutting resistance measured by the sensor so that a rotating speed and a feeding speed of the spindle become a rotating speed and a feeding speed according to the cutting resistance.

Abstract: According to one implementation, a tool driving device includes a drill chuck, a motor, a casing and a vibrating mechanism. The drill chuck holds a drill. The motor is configured to rotate the drill chuck. The casing houses the motor. The vibrating mechanism is configured to periodically reciprocate the drill chuck relatively to the casing in a tool axis direction during rotation of the drill chuck. The vibrating mechanism is configured to distance the drill chuck from the casing at a first speed smaller than a second speed for bringing the drill chuck close to the casing.

Abstract: An engine system is provided, including a controller which controls devices of an engine at a given engine speed so that, when a demanded engine load is a first load, a mass ratio (G/F) of intake air inside a cylinder (containing fresh air and burnt gas) to fuel is a first G/F and mixture gas inside the cylinder combusts by flame-propagation, when the demanded load is a second load (<the first load), the G/F is a second G/F (>the first G/F) and an injection center-of-gravity is at a timing such that the entire mixture gas combusts by CI combustion, and when the demanded load is between the first and second loads, the G/F is at a third G/F (between the first and second G/Fs) and the injection center-of-gravity is at a later timing such that at least part of the mixture gas combusts by the CI combustion.

Abstract: An engine system is provided, including a controller which estimates an intake-valve-closing temperature inside a cylinder. When an engine operates at a given speed and a demanded engine load is a first load or a second load (>the first load), the controller controls so that a mixture gas inside the cylinder combusts by compression ignition, and controls so that, at the first load, the entire mixture gas combusts by compression ignition when the intake-valve-closing temperature is above a first temperature, and at least part of the mixture gas combusts by flame propagation when the intake-valve-closing temperature is below the first temperature, whereas at the second load, the entire mixture gas combusts by compression ignition when the intake-valve-closing temperature is above a second temperature (<the first temperature), and at least part of the mixture gas combusts by flame propagation when the intake-valve-closing temperature is below the second temperature.

Abstract: An engine system is provided, including a controller which estimates a mass ratio (G/F) of intake air inside a cylinder (containing fresh air and burnt gas) to fuel, and controls devices of an engine at a given engine speed so that, while a demanded engine load is a first load, at least part of a mixture gas inside the cylinder combusts by flame-propagation when the estimated G/F is below a first G/F, and the entire mixture gas combusts by compression ignition when the estimated G/F is above the first G/F, whereas while the demanded load is a second load (>the first load), at least part of the mixture gas combusts by flame-propagation when the estimated G/F is below a second G/F (<the first G/F), and the entire mixture gas combusts by compression ignition when the estimated G/F is above the second G/F.

Abstract: An engine system is provided, including a controller which controls devices of an engine at a given engine speed so that, when a demanded engine load is a first load, a mass ratio (G/F) of intake air inside a cylinder (containing fresh air and burnt gas) to fuel is a first G/F and mixture gas inside the cylinder combusts by flame-propagation, when the demanded load is a second load (<the first load), the G/F is a second G/F (>the first G/F) and an injection center-of-gravity is at a timing such that the entire mixture gas combusts by CI combustion, and when the demanded load is between the first and second loads, the G/F is at a third G/F (between the first and second G/Fs) and the injection center-of-gravity is at a later timing such that at least part of the mixture gas combusts by the CI combustion.

Abstract: An engine system is provided, including a controller which estimates a mass ratio (G/F) of intake air inside a cylinder (containing fresh air and burnt gas) to fuel, and controls devices of an engine at a given engine speed so that, while a demanded engine load is a first load, at least part of a mixture gas inside the cylinder combusts by flame-propagation when the estimated G/F is below a first G/F, and the entire mixture gas combusts by compression ignition when the estimated G/F is above the first G/F, whereas while the demanded load is a second load (>the first load), at least part of the mixture gas combusts by flame-propagation when the estimated G/F is below a second G/F (<the first G/F), and the entire mixture gas combusts by compression ignition when the estimated G/F is above the second G/F.

Abstract: An engine system is provided, including a controller which estimates an intake-valve-closing temperature inside a cylinder. When an engine operates at a given speed and a demanded engine load is a first load or a second load (>the first load), the controller controls so that a mixture gas inside the cylinder combusts by compression ignition, and controls so that, at the first load, the entire mixture gas combusts by compression ignition when the intake-valve-closing temperature is above a first temperature, and at least part of the mixture gas combusts by flame propagation when the intake-valve-closing temperature is below the first temperature, whereas at the second load, the entire mixture gas combusts by compression ignition when the intake-valve-closing temperature is above a second temperature (<the first temperature), and at least part of the mixture gas combusts by flame propagation when the intake-valve-closing temperature is below the second temperature.

Abstract: A fixation apparatus includes a fixation belt, an opposing rotating body, and a nip forming member. A nip most upstream portion corresponding to a most upstream portion of a fixation nip portion in a direction of transportation of a recording medium is defined in the nip forming member. The nip forming member includes a curved nip upstream portion which is provided at the nip most upstream portion and projects with respect to the opposing rotating body. The nip upstream portion is shaped to produce a speed difference between a side of a toner image where the toner image and the fixation belt are in contact with each other in a thickness direction of the recording medium and a side of the toner image where the toner image and the recording medium are in contact with each other in the thickness direction.

Abstract: A fixation apparatus includes a fixation belt, an opposing rotating body, and a nip forming member. A nip most upstream portion corresponding to a most upstream portion of a fixation nip portion in a direction of transportation of a recording medium is defined in the nip forming member. The nip forming member includes a curved nip upstream portion which is provided at the nip most upstream portion and projects with respect to the opposing rotating body. The nip upstream portion is shaped to produce a speed difference between a side of a toner image where the toner image and the fixation belt are in contact with each other in a thickness direction of the recording medium and a side of the toner image where the toner image and the recording medium are in contact with each other in the thickness direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an operating state and a non-operating state with power consumption smaller than in the operating state. The image forming apparatus includes a fixing device for fixing a toner image on a print material by heat, a fan for discharging heat from the image forming apparatus, and a control unit for controlling operation of the fan. When a non-operating time from shifting to the non-operating state to shifting to the operating state is shorter than a predetermined time, the control unit allows the fan to operate with predetermined power in the operating state. When the non-operating time is equal to or longer than the predetermined time, the control unit stops the fan or allows the fan to operate with power smaller than the predetermined power in the operating state.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes: a fixer that fixes a toner image onto a sheet by heat and pressure, and includes: a heat source; a first rotary member that is heated by the heat source; a temperature sensing unit that senses a temperature of the first rotary member; and a second rotary member that forms a nip with the first rotary member for applying heat and pressure to the sheet; and a controller that calculates a nip width of the nip in a passing direction of the sheet with use of a rotation period and a rest period of the first rotary member during which the heat source operates, and changes a target temperature of the first rotary member in accordance with the calculated nip width.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having: an image supporting member; an electrostatic latent image forming section; and a developing device. In the developing device, a supply member receives toner, polish and antifriction at a supply part. The supply member supplies the toner, the polish and the antifriction to a developing roller while conveying the toner, the polish and the antifriction in a predetermined direction along a rotation axis of the image supporting member. A developing roller develops an electrostatic latent image by supplying the toner, the polish and the antifriction to the image supporting member. A toner patch is formed on the image supporting member, in a facing area capable of facing the developing roller, such that the amount of toner adhering to the image supporting member decreases with increasing distance in the predetermined direction from the supply part. A cleaner removes the toner patch from the image supporting member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an operating state and a non-operating state with power consumption smaller than in the operating state. The image forming apparatus includes a fixing device for fixing a toner image on a print material by heat, a fan for discharging heat from the image forming apparatus, and a control unit for controlling operation of the fan. When a non-operating time from shifting to the non-operating state to shifting to the operating state is shorter than a predetermined time, the control unit allows the fan to operate with predetermined power in the operating state. When the non-operating time is equal to or longer than the predetermined time, the control unit stops the fan or allows the fan to operate with power smaller than the predetermined power in the operating state.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes: a fixer that fixes a toner image onto a sheet by heat and pressure, and includes: a heat source; a first rotary member that is heated by the heat source; a temperature sensing unit that senses a temperature of the first rotary member; and a second rotary member that forms a nip with the first rotary member for applying heat and pressure to the sheet; and a controller that calculates a nip width of the nip in a passing direction of the sheet with use of a rotation period and a rest period of the first rotary member during which the heat source operates, and changes a target temperature of the first rotary member in accordance with the calculated nip width.

Abstract: A fuser for thermally fixing a toner image on a recording medium includes: an endless fusing belt configured to transfer heat to the toner image; a heat source configured to heat the fusing belt; a detection unit configured to detect peripheral inward deformation of the fusing belt; and a power cut-off unit configured to cut off power supplied to the heat source upon detection of the peripheral inward deformation of the fusing belt by the detection unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having; an image supporting member; an electrostatic latent image forming section; and a developing device. In the developing device, a supply member receives toner, polish and antifriction at a supply part. The supply member supplies the toner, the polish and the antifriction to a developing roller while conveying the toner, the polish and the antifriction in a predetermined direction along a rotation axis of the image supporting member. A developing roller develops an electrostatic latent image by supplying the toner, the polish and the antifriction to the image supporting member. A toner patch is formed on the image supporting member, in a facing area capable of facing the developing roller, such that the amount of toner adhering to the image supporting member decreases with increasing distance in the predetermined direction from the supply part. A cleaner removes the toner patch from the image supporting member.

Abstract: A fuser for thermally fixing a toner image on a recording medium includes: an endless fusing belt configured to transfer heat to the toner image; a heat source configured to heat the fusing belt; a detection unit configured to detect peripheral inward deformation of the fusing belt; and a power cut-off unit configured to cut off power supplied to the heat source upon detection of the peripheral inward deformation of the fusing belt by the detection unit.