Abstract: A polybenzimidazole production method for producing the polybenzimidazole including a repeating unit represented by the following formula (1): wherein Rf is —SO2—, —O—, —CO—, an alkylene group optionally containing a substituent, or a group represented by the following formula (a): two Xs are each individually a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group; and R1 is a divalent organic group, the production method including a step (1-1) of polymerizing a tetramine compound and a dicarboxylic acid derivative compound to provide a polybenzimidazole precursor polyamide, and a step (1-2) of dehydrocyclizing the polybenzimidazole precursor polyamide.

Abstract: A compound for use as a cross-linking agent represented by the following formula (1) wherein R1 is —SO2—, —O—, —CO—, an optionally substituted alkylene group, a group represented by the following formula (2) or a single bond; and two As are each independently an aromatic ring group containing a 5- or 6-membered aromatic ring and optionally containing a substituent, where the aromatic ring group contains a substituent in the case where the aromatic ring group is a monocyclic aromatic ring group containing a 6-membered aromatic hydrocarbon ring. Also disclosed is a composition containing the cross-linking agent.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet feeding cassette, which is detachable with respect to a sheet feeding cassette mounting portion provided on an image forming device body. The sheet feeding cassette includes a storage portion that stores a paper sheet, a first regulator provided on a bottom portion of the storage portion that regulates the position of a paper sheet, and a movable placement plate that upwardly pushes a paper sheet stored in the storage portion. The movable placement plate includes a second regulator that regulates the position of a paper sheet having a different size to the size of a paper sheet that can be regulated by the first regulator.

Abstract: An operation guidance assistance system includes a controller executing operation guidance of an image generation apparatus and a display displaying the operation guidance. The controller: obtains, when the image generation apparatus develops an error, information on a site of the error with an imaging apparatus; identifies a member-to-be-operated in accordance with the information on the site of the error in the image generation apparatus, the member-to-be-operated being a subject to the operation guidance for clearing the error; obtains, from the information on the site of the error, information on a hand of a user carrying out an operation of the image generation apparatus; displays, on the display, the information on the site of the error including the information on the hand of the user; and displays operation guidance assistance information to guide the user through the operation in accordance with a sequence of the operation guidance.

Abstract: A vacuum joint has a simple structure and thus is capable of connecting and disconnecting vacuum pipes very easily and quickly. A vacuum utilization device includes this vacuum joint. A vacuum joint of the present invention includes: a first coupling member having a tubular shape and adapted to be attached to a connection end of a vacuum pipe; and a second coupling member having a tubular shape and adapted to be attached to a connection end of a vacuum pipe. The first coupling member has an axial front end with a substantially flat contact surface that contains a ferromagnetic material, and the second coupling member has an axial front end with a substantially flat contact surface that contains a ferromagnetic material. At least one of the contact surface of the first coupling member and the contact surface of the second coupling member includes a magnet.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet feeding cassette, which is detachable with respect to a sheet feeding cassette mounting portion provided on an image forming device body. The sheet feeding cassette includes a storage portion that stores a paper sheet, a first regulator provided on a bottom portion of the storage portion that regulates the position of a paper sheet, and a movable placement plate that upwardly pushes a paper sheet stored in the storage portion. The movable placement plate includes a second regulator that regulates the position of a paper sheet having a different size to the size of a paper sheet that can be regulated by the first regulator.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuser includes a fixing belt including a conductive layer, an induction-current generating section to electromagnetically induction-heat the conductive layer, an opposed section to form a nip in cooperation with the fixing belt, an auxiliary heat generating section electromagnetically induction-heated by the induction-current generating section, and a moving section to move the auxiliary heat generating section with respect to the fixing belt.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuser includes a fixing belt including a conductive layer, an induction-current generating section to electromagnetically induction-heat the conductive layer, an opposed section to form a nip in cooperation with the fixing belt, an auxiliary heat generating section electromagnetically induction-heated by the induction-current generating section, and a moving section to move the auxiliary heat generating section with respect to the fixing belt.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuser including a heating section which heats a hot-melt visualizing material fixed to a sheet medium and the sheet medium, a heat generator which increases the temperature of the heating section in accordance with supply of power, a temperature detector which detects the temperature of the heating section, and a controller which outputs temperature information during the increasing of the temperature on the basis of the temperature of the heating section detected by the temperature detector while the temperature of the heating section increases so that notification can be provided that fusing is possible for an image only using a single color hot-melt visualizing material.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuser includes a fixing belt including a conductive layer, an induction-current generating section to electromagnetically induction-heat the conductive layer, an opposed section to form a nip in cooperation with the fixing belt, an auxiliary heat generating section electromagnetically induction-heated by the induction-current generating section, and a moving section to move the auxiliary heat generating section with respect to the fixing belt.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a fuser including a cylindrical fixing belt, a heating member, an auxiliary heat generating member, a plurality of heat pipes, a pressurizing pad, and a pressurizing roller. The heating member heats the fixing belt. The auxiliary heat generating member auxiliary heats the fixing belt. The plural heat pipes are sparsely arranged in the center in the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary heat generating member and more densely arranged at the ends in the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary heat generating member than in the center. The pressurizing pad is arranged on the inside of the fixing belt. The pressurizing roller is arranged in contact with the outer circumference of the fixing belt. The pressurizing roller presses the fixing belt against the pressurizing pad.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a fuser including a cylindrical fixing belt, a heating member, an auxiliary heat generating member, a plurality of heat pipes, a pressurizing pad, and a pressurizing roller. The heating member heats the fixing belt. The auxiliary heat generating member auxiliary heats the fixing belt. The plural heat pipes are sparsely arranged in the center in the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary heat generating member and more densely arranged at the ends in the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary heat generating member than in the center. The pressurizing pad is arranged on the inside of the fixing belt. The pressurizing roller is arranged in contact with the outer circumference of the fixing belt. The pressurizing roller presses the fixing belt against the pressurizing pad.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuser includes a fixing belt including a conductive layer, an induction-current generating section to electromagnetically induction-heat the conductive layer, an opposed section to form a nip in cooperation with the fixing belt, an auxiliary heat generating section electromagnetically induction-heated by the induction-current generating section, and a moving section to move the auxiliary heat generating section with respect to the fixing belt.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuser including a heating section which heats a hot-melt visualizing material fixed to a sheet medium and the sheet medium, a heat generator which increases the temperature of the heating section in accordance with supply of power, a temperature detector which detects the temperature of the heating section, and a controller which outputs temperature information during the increasing of the temperature on the basis of the temperature of the heating section detected by the temperature detector while the temperature of the heating section increases so that notification can be provided that fusing is possible for an image only using a single color hot-melt visualizing material.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuser including a heating unit configured to heat a toner to be fused on a sheet medium and the sheet medium, a temperature detecting unit configured to detect temperature of the heating unit, and a control unit configured to stop power feed to the heating unit according to the temperature of the heating unit detected by the temperature detecting unit and a condition until completion of the fusing specified in advance.

Abstract: A radiation diaphragm apparatus, which is adapted to form a radiation field, which is an exposed area of an object to be examined by radiation from a radiation source, comprises a plurality of diaphragm elements which are closely arranged in a first direction and movable along a second direction substantially normal to the first direction and each of which has a hole of a given shape formed to penetrate through it in the first direction, a shaft penetrating through the hole of each of the diaphragm elements, and a wear-resistant surface member coating the shaft. The shaft supports each of the diaphragm elements at a point of contact with the periphery of the hole. The diaphragm elements move along the second direction with support by the shaft.

Abstract: A recording medium has a first recording area on which recording information is recorded, and a second recording area on which management information for managing the recording information is recorded. The second recording area includes a bit rate recording area for recording a bit rate.

Abstract: A hydraulic control apparatus for a single action cylinder includes a switch valve for supplying fluid to and draining fluid from the cylinder, a cylinder side passage connected to the cylinder, a switch valve side passage connected to the switch valve, and a valve body accommodation chamber. The valve body accommodation chamber linearly extends between the cylinder side passage and the switch valve side passage. An on-off valve is located in a vicinity of a first end of the valve body accommodation chamber. The on-off valve defines a first back pressure chamber. A flow control valve is located in a vicinity of a second end that is opposite to the first end. The flow control valve defines a second back pressure chamber. The on-off valve and the flow control valve are separated from each other by a partitioning member.

Abstract: A digital data recording/reproducing apparatus which divides each of information data pieces into a plurality of cells, further divides each of the cells into a series of a plurality of units, and records the units. The digital data recording/reproducing apparatus has means for recording a required time for reproduction until the head position of a unit is reached, with reference to the head position of an information data cell to which a cell belongs, as a unit start time, in addition to each of the units, and means for recording a cell start time (Ts) equal to a required time for reproduction until the head position of each of the cells is reached, and a required time for reproduction (Ps) of each of the cells in a management data region.

Abstract: A recording medium has a first recording area on which recording information is recorded as a set of recording units, and a second recording area on which control information for controlling the recording information to be recorded on the first recording area is recorded. Identifying information for identifying a management condition of the recording information recorded on the first recording area is also recorded on the second recording area at every recording unit.