Abstract: (A) A first lithium-ion battery is prepared. (B) A capacity loss of the first lithium-ion battery is detected. (C) Capacity restoration treatment is performed on the first lithium-ion battery having a detected capacity loss to produce a second lithium-ion battery. The first lithium-ion battery includes at least a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte solution. The electrolyte solution contains a lithium salt, a solvent, and an additive in advance of the detecting a capacity loss. The additive has an oxidation potential. The oxidation potential is higher than an OCP of the positive electrode in the first lithium-ion battery having a state of charge of 100%. The capacity restoration treatment involves charging the first lithium-ion battery in such a way that at least part of the additive is oxidized.

Abstract: (A) A first lithium-ion battery is prepared. (B) A capacity loss of the first lithium-ion battery is detected. (C) Capacity restoration treatment is performed on the first lithium-ion battery having a detected capacity loss to produce a second lithium-ion battery. The first lithium-ion battery includes at least a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte solution. The electrolyte solution contains a lithium salt, a solvent, and an additive in advance of the detecting a capacity loss. The additive has an oxidation potential. The oxidation potential is higher than an OCP of the positive electrode in the first lithium-ion battery having a state of charge of 100%. The capacity restoration treatment involves charging the first lithium-ion battery in such a way that at least part of the additive is oxidized.

Abstract: (A) A first lithium-ion battery is prepared. (B) A capacity loss of the first lithium-ion battery is detected. (C) Capacity restoration treatment is performed on the first lithium-ion battery having a detected capacity loss to produce a second lithium-ion battery. The first lithium-ion battery includes at least a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte solution. The electrolyte solution contains a lithium salt, a solvent, and an additive in advance of the detecting a capacity loss. The additive has an oxidation potential. The oxidation potential is higher than an OCP of the positive electrode in the first lithium-ion battery having a state of charge of 100%. The capacity restoration treatment involves charging the first lithium-ion battery in such a way that at least part of the additive is oxidized.

Abstract: Provided is a method by which the degraded performance of a lithium ion secondary battery containing phosphorus atoms (P) in a nonaqueous electrolytic solution can be restored by subjecting the lithium ion secondary battery in which a coating film including P is formed on a positive electrode surface, to a comparatively simple treatment. The degraded performance recovery method for a lithium ion secondary battery disclosed herein includes an ultrasound treatment step of applying ultrasound to the lithium ion secondary battery. In the ultrasound treatment step, the frequency of the generated ultrasound is 900 kHz or higher, and the period of time in which the ultrasound is applied to the lithium ion secondary battery continuously is 5 min or more.

Abstract: A power line retaining member that houses, in a groove, a power line for connecting two separate components of an image forming device, the power line being a bare metal wire that has elasticity. The power line retaining member includes a guide and a restricting portion. The guide includes two side walls, internal wall surfaces of the two side walls and a bottom surface between the internal wall surfaces being electrically insulative and defining the groove, the guide holding the power line in an elastically deformed shape. The restricting portion is disposed on an internal wall surface that the power line exerts a restoring force against, the restricting portion restricting movement of the power line in a direction away from the bottom surface.

Abstract: A contact spring is constituted by a bare wire and accommodated in a bent groove of a wire support guide. A non-linear connection is realized via the bare wire between two parts disposed apart from each other within an image forming apparatus. One end of the contact spring is connected with one of the two parts, the other end of the contact spring is connected with the other part via the bent groove, and a coil-shaped or zigzag-shaped elastic portion of the bare wire is in a portion accommodated in the bent groove.

Abstract: Provided is a method by which the degraded performance of a lithium ion secondary battery containing phosphorus atoms (P) in a nonaqueous electrolytic solution can be restored by subjecting the lithium ion secondary battery in which a coating film including P is formed on a positive electrode surface, to a comparatively simple treatment. The degraded performance recovery method for a lithium ion secondary battery disclosed herein includes an ultrasound treatment step of applying ultrasound to the lithium ion secondary battery. In the ultrasound treatment step, the frequency of the generated ultrasound is 900 kHz or higher, and the period of time in which the ultrasound is applied to the lithium ion secondary battery continuously is 5 min or more.

Abstract: A power line retaining member that houses, in a groove, a power line for connecting two separate components of an image forming device, the power line being a bare metal wire that has elasticity. The power line retaining member includes a guide and a restricting portion. The guide includes two side walls, internal wall surfaces of the two side walls and a bottom surface between the internal wall surfaces being electrically insulative and defining the groove, the guide holding the power line in an elastically deformed shape. The restricting portion is disposed on an internal wall surface that the power line exerts a restoring force against, the restricting portion restricting movement of the power line in a direction away from the bottom surface.

Abstract: A contact spring constituted by a bare wire and accommodated in a bended groove of a wire support guide, realizing non-linear connection via the bare wire between two parts disposed apart from each other within an image forming apparatus, in such a manner that one end of the contact spring is connected with one of the two parts, and that the other end of the contact spring is connected with the other part via the bended groove, includes a coil-shaped or zigzag-shaped elastic portion of the bare wire in a portion accommodated in the bended groove.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus provided with an operation panel receiving instructions from a user by touch operations, a stylus pen used to perform the touch operations, and a pen holder holding the stylus pen, the pen holder including an opening for insertion of the stylus pen from outside of the pen holder, and a storage section storing the stylus pen. The storage section includes a first hollow portion with a first bottom and a second hollow portion with a second bottom lower than the first bottom. The stylus pen is stored in the storage section by being inserted through the opening, proceeding along the first bottom to enter the second hollow portion, and slanting, upon a center of gravity of the stylus pen passing a boundary between the first bottom and the second bottom, so that a tip of the stylus pen points downwards.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus provided with an operation panel receiving instructions from a user by touch operations, a stylus pen used to perform the touch operations, and a pen holder holding the stylus pen, the pen holder including an opening for insertion of the stylus pen from outside of the pen holder, and a storage section storing the stylus pen. The storage section includes a first hollow portion with a first bottom and a second hollow portion with a second bottom lower than the first bottom. The stylus pen is stored in the storage section by being inserted through the opening, proceeding along the first bottom to enter the second hollow portion, and slanting, upon a center of gravity of the stylus pen passing a boundary between the first bottom and the second bottom, so that a tip of the stylus pen points downwards.

Abstract: An operation panel device with a display surface is provided with mounted on an image forming apparatus. The operation panel device includes first and second panels that are relatively movable along a plane parallel to the display surface. The first panel is fixed to the image forming apparatus. The second panel is disposed opposite to the image forming apparatus with respect to the first panel. A projection area of the second panel to the plane parallel to the display surface is smaller than a projection area of the first panel. Each of the first and second panels includes a first group of keys disposed in a region that is exposed independent from relative positions of the first and second panels. The first panel includes a second group of keys disposed in a region that is exposed only when the first panel and second panels do not overlap each other.