Abstract: An autonomous mobile body includes: a traveling unit including a drive wheel and a chassis and configured to move straight and turn and move in a left and right; a second unit disposed at an upper portion of the traveling unit and including a top plate and an oscillating mechanism for performing oscillating motion of moving around a vertical axis with reference to the traveling unit; and a control unit configured to, upon causing the autonomous mobile body to move to a destination, when the autonomous mobile body turns and moves in either a left direction or a right direction, execute control to cause the second unit to perform oscillating motion in the same direction to bring the second unit into an oscillating state, and to perform oscillating motion in an opposite direction before changing from turning movement to straight movement to cause the second unit to return from the oscillating state to a non-oscillating state.

Abstract: An autonomous mobile body includes: a traveling unit includes a drive wheel and a chassis and configured to travel straight forward and backward and turn left and right; an upper unit disposed at an upper portion of the traveling unit and including a vibration damping mechanism configured to damp a vibration caused by the straight traveling and the turning of the traveling unit; a first control unit configured to control the traveling unit; and a second control unit configured to control the upper unit. The first control unit and the second control unit acquire information indicating motion states of each other's units, and control the traveling unit and the upper unit such that the units operate in conjunction with each other based on the acquired information.

Abstract: An autonomous mobile body includes: a first unit including a drive wheel and a chassis and configured to move straight and turn and move left and right; a second unit disposed at an upper portion of the first unit and including a top plate and an oscillating mechanism for performing oscillating motion of moving around a vertical axis with reference to the first unit; an obstacle detection unit configured to detect a surrounding obstacle; and a control unit configured to, when the obstacle detection unit detects an obstacle in a traveling direction of the autonomous mobile body during movement of the autonomous mobile body, upon controlling the first unit to change the traveling direction of the autonomous mobile body to avoid the obstacle, control the second unit to perform oscillating motion before changing the traveling direction.

Abstract: A ring tray for honeycomb substrate firing, the ring tray supporting a honeycomb substrate having cell flow channels partitioned by cell walls, so that the flow channel direction is vertical during substrate firing, the ring tray including a ring-shaped frame part, a support part further inside than the frame part, and a connecting part connecting the frame part and support part, and the ring tray being configured so that when the honeycomb substrate is mounted on the ring tray, the support part does not contact an outer peripheral edge of a lower end surface of the honeycomb substrate, and contacts a portion of an internal region of the lower end surface of the honeycomb substrate, and is thus able to support the lower end of the honeycomb substrate, and the frame part and the connecting part do not contact the lower end surface of the honeycomb substrate.

Abstract: A coating film having excellent adhesion, even without the presence of a chemical conversion film treatment as an undercoat, and a metal automotive part having the coating film. A powder is deposited by powder-coating onto the surface of a metal automotive part that has been quenched after simultaneously forging, and tempering the metal automotive part and bake-hardening the deposited powder to form a skin film on the surface of the metal automotive part. The surface of the metal automotive part before the powder is powder-coated thereon is a work-hardened material surface that has not been subjected to a chemical conversion filming treatment.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a development cartridge, a toner cartridge, and a controller. The development cartridge includes a development roller, a development chamber, and a development memory. The toner cartridge includes a case in which toner is stored, a toner supply unit configured to supply toner from the case into the development chamber, and a toner memory. The controller stores, in the development memory, information regarding a cumulative received toner amount and a cumulative toner consumption amount. The controller subtracts the cumulative toner consumption amount from the cumulative received toner amount to find a difference, and causes the toner supply unit to supply a first predetermined amount of toner into the development chamber when the difference is equal to or smaller than a first threshold value. The controller stores, in the toner memory, information regarding the cumulative supplied toner amount.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body including a display, a drum cartridge configured to be mounted to the main bod, a toner cartridge configured to be mounted to the drum cartridge, and a controller. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a developing chamber configured to accommodate toner, and a drum memory. The toner cartridge includes a housing configured to accommodate the toner. The controller is configured to store, in the drum memory, a cumulative toner receiving amount which is a cumulative amount of the toner supplied from the toner cartridge and received in the developing chamber, a cumulative toner consumption amount which is a cumulative amount of the consumed toner, and a cumulative drum printing sheet number which is a number of sheets on which an image is formed.

Abstract: coating film having excellent adhesion, even without the presence of a chemical conversion film treatment out as an undercoat and a metal automotive part having the coating film. A powder is deposited by powder-coating onto the surface of a metal automotive part that has been quenched after simultaneously forging, and tempering the metal automotive part and bake-hardening the deposited powder to form a skin film on the surface of the metal automotive part. The surface of the metal automotive part before the powder is powder-coated thereon is a work-hardened material surface that has been not been subjected to a chemical conversion filming treatment.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a motor, a photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a main memory, and a controller. The controller is configured to perform storing a first rotation number and a second rotation number in the main memory. The first rotation number is the rotation number of the photosensitive drum rotated in a first state where the photosensitive drum rotates and the developing roller is stopped. The second rotation number is the rotation number of the photosensitive drum rotated in a second state where the photosensitive drum rotates and the developing roller rotates. The controller is further configured to perform, in a case where the photosensitive drum rotates, determining a total deterioration quantity of the photosensitive drum which is a cumulative deterioration quantity of the photosensitive drum based on the first rotation number and the second rotation number.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body including a display, a drum cartridge configured to be mounted to the main bod, a toner cartridge configured to be mounted to the drum cartridge, and a controller. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a developing chamber configured to accommodate toner, and a drum memory. The toner cartridge includes a housing configured to accommodate the toner. The controller is configured to store, in the drum memory, a cumulative toner receiving amount which is a cumulative amount of the toner supplied from the toner cartridge and received in the developing chamber, a cumulative toner consumption amount which is a cumulative amount of the consumed toner, and a cumulative drum printing sheet number which is a number of sheets on which an image is formed.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive drum, a motor, and a drum gear train configured to transmit a driving force from the motor to the photosensitive drum. The drum gear train includes a first gear, a second gear and a first clutch. The first gear is rotatable about a first axis upon receipt of the driving force. The second gear is rotatable about the first axis and configured to receive the driving force from the first gear and to transmit the driving force to the photosensitive drum. The first clutch is switchable between a first transmission state where the driving force is transmitted from the first gear to the second gear and a first transmission cutoff state where the transmission of the driving force from the first gear to the second gear is cut off.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a development cartridge, a toner cartridge, and a controller. The development cartridge includes a development roller, a development chamber, and a development memory. The toner cartridge includes a case in which toner is stored, a toner supply unit configured to supply toner from the case into the development chamber, and a toner memory. The controller stores, in the development memory, information regarding a cumulative received toner amount and a cumulative toner consumption amount. The controller subtracts the cumulative toner consumption amount from the cumulative received toner amount to find a difference, and causes the toner supply unit to supply a first predetermined amount of toner into the development chamber when the difference is equal to or smaller than a first threshold value. The controller stores, in the toner memory, information regarding the cumulative supplied toner amount.

Abstract: Provided is a heat treatment apparatus (1), including: a heating unit (2), which is configured to inductively heat a workpiece (W) to a target temperature; and a drive mechanism, which is configured to move a plurality of the coaxially held workpieces (W) relative to the heating unit (2) being in an energized state in an axial direction of the workpiece (W), wherein the heating unit (2) includes: a plurality of coil members (11) respectively including a ring-shaped coil portion (11a) arranged coaxially with the workpiece (W) so as to be capable of surrounding the workpiece (W); and a frame body (21), which is configured to support each of the plurality of coil members (11) so as to be movable in the axial direction of the workpiece while maintaining the coaxial arrangement between the coil portions (11a).

Abstract: Provided is a heat treatment apparatus (1), including: a conveying device (10), which is configured to convey a rod-shaped workpiece (W) at a predetermined velocity along an axial direction of the workpiece (W); and a heating device (2) including a heating coil (3) configured to inductively heat the workpiece (W) being conveyed to a quenching temperature, wherein the heating coil (3) includes a first heating section (3A) and a second heating section (3B), which are coupled to each other in series along the axial direction of the workpiece (W), and is electrically connected to a single high-frequency power supply (4), and wherein a coil pitch (D2) of the second heating section (3B) arranged relatively on a front side in a conveying direction for the workpiece (W) is larger than a coil pitch (D1) of the first heating section (3A) arranged relatively on a rear side in the conveying direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a motor, a photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a main memory, and a controller. The controller is configured to perform storing a first rotation number and a second rotation number in the main memory. The first rotation number is the rotation number of the photosensitive drum rotated in a first state where the photosensitive drum rotates and the developing roller is stopped. The second rotation number is the rotation number of the photosensitive drum rotated in a second state where the photosensitive drum rotates and the developing roller rotates. The controller is further configured to perform, in a case where the photosensitive drum rotates, determining a total deterioration quantity of the photosensitive drum which is a cumulative deterioration quantity of the photosensitive drum based on the first rotation number and the second rotation number.

Abstract: A support apparatus includes a base member, an intermediate member, an upper member, a pair of first rails provided at the base member, the pair of first rails extending in a first direction, and a pair of second rails provided at the upper member, the pair of second rails extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The intermediate member includes a pair of first rollers engaging with the first rails and a pair of second rollers engaging with the second rails. The intermediate member constitutes a first pendulum mechanism that allows an oscillation of the upper member in the first direction and a second pendulum mechanism that allows an oscillation of the upper member in the second direction. The intermediate member includes a first drive portion that drives the first rollers to rotate and a second drive portion that drives the second rollers to rotate.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive drum, a motor, and a drum gear train configured to transmit a driving force from the motor to the photosensitive drum. The drum gear train includes a first gear, a second gear and a first clutch. The first gear is rotatable about a first axis upon receipt of the driving force. The second gear is rotatable about the first axis and configured to receive the driving force from the first gear and to transmit the driving force to the photosensitive drum. The first clutch is switchable between a first transmission state where the driving force is transmitted from the first gear to the second gear and a first transmission cutoff state where the transmission of the driving force from the first gear to the second gear is cut off.

Abstract: A drive apparatus includes a rail, a shaft, and a motion body. At least a part of the rail is curved such that an opening groove of the rail is curved when the rail is seen from a side orthogonal to an axial direction. The shaft includes flexibility. The shaft includes an engagement portion which is formed in a spiral shape at a circumferential surface thereof. The motion body includes a case portion and an engaged portion held by the case portion so as to be movable, the engaged portion extending inside the rail through the opening groove from an outward of the rail, the engaged portion engaged with the engagement portion of the shaft. The engaged portion is movable in a first direction, and includes an orientation fixed relative to the case portion in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction.

Abstract: A drive apparatus includes a rail, a shaft, and a motion body. At least a part of the rail is curved such that an opening groove of the rail is curved when the rail is seen from a side orthogonal to an axial direction. The shaft includes flexibility. The shaft includes an engagement portion which is formed in a spiral shape at a circumferential surface thereof. The motion body includes a case portion and an engaged portion held by the case portion so as to be movable, the engaged portion extending inside the rail through the opening groove from an outward of the rail, the engaged portion engaged with the engagement portion of the shaft. The engaged portion is movable in a first direction, and includes an orientation fixed relative to the case portion in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction.

Abstract: A forging method for a shaft member includes preforming at least one of a plurality of enlarged diameter portions to obtain a semi-finished member, and forming a remainder of the enlarged diameter portions in the semi-finished member using a mold. The mold includes a punch, split dies, and a workpiece receiving member. The forming of the remainder of the enlarged diameter portions includes allowing the semi-finished member having the at least one of the enlarged diameter portions to be placed on the workpiece receiving member, cramping the semi-finished member in its radial direction by closing the split dies, and filling the semi-finished member into forming surfaces of the split dies by the pressure applied by the punch under the state in which the semi-finished member is cramped.