Abstract: A hydrogen-absorbing alloy is represented by the general formula Ln1-xMgxNiy-a-bAlaMb (where Ln is at least one element selected from the rare-earth elements, Zr, Ti, and Y, M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, Mn, Fe, Co, Ga, Zn, Sn, In, Cu, Si, P, B, and Zr, 0.05?x?0.35, 0.05?a?0.30, 0?b?0.5, and 2.5?y<3.3). The Ln in the general formula includes Sm as its main component, and the hydrogen-absorbing alloy has an electrochemical capacity of 300 mAh/g or greater. An alkaline storage battery containing a negative electrode containing the hydrogen absorbing alloy.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nonaqueous electrolyte battery including a battery element contained in an outer covering member composed of a laminated film and sealed therein by heat seal, and a gas absorbable material interposed between the outermost layer of the outer covering member and the battery element. Such a battery is advantageous in that even if gas occurs in the battery element, the laminated film as the outer covering member is prevented from being swelled.

Abstract: In a polymer electrolyte battery including a battery element having a cathode and an anode coiled through a polymer electrolyte, a section of the battery element perpendicular to the coiling axis has a curved form. As compared with a polymer electrolyte battery having a flat plate type battery element curved, the former battery has an extremely low possibility of short-circuit at the end of an electrode and excellent battery characteristics.

Abstract: The composition of hydrogen storage alloy particles used in a negative plate of an alkaline secondary battery is expressed by a general formula: (Laa Prb Ndc Zd)1-w Mgw Niz-x-y Alx Ty. In the formula, Z is an element selected from the group consisting of Ce and others, and T is an element selected from the group consisting of V and others. Subscripts a, b, c and d fall in ranges of 0?a?0.25, 0<b, 0<c, and 0?d?0.20, respectively, and satisfy the relationship expressed by a+b+c+d=1, where 0.20?b/c?0.35. Subscripts x, y, z and w fall in ranges of 0.15?x ?0.30, 0?y?0.5, 3.3?z?3.8, and 0.05?w?0.15, respectively.

Abstract: A battery in which the relative positions of a cathode, an anode and a separator are maintained with high precision is provided. A cathode and an anode face each other with a polymer electrolyte including a polymer and a separator in between. In each of the cathode and the anode, an active material layer is disposed on a current collector. Exposed regions where the active material layers are not disposed on the current collectors and the separator are adhered to each other with the polymer electrolyte in between. Thereby, even under a high-temperature environment, the heat shrinkage of the separator can be prevented, and heat generation due to the generation of a short-circuit current can be prevented.

Abstract: An alkaline storage cell has a positive electrode, a negative electrode containing a hydrogen storage alloy, and an alkaline electrolyte. The hydrogen storage alloy has a composition expressed by a general expression: ((PrNd)?Ln1-?)1-?Mg?Ni?-?-?Al?T?, where Ln represents at least one element chosen from a group consisting of La, Ce, etc., T represents at least one element chosen from a group consisting of V, Nb, etc., and subscripts ?, ?, ?, ? and ? represent numerical values which satisfy 0.7<?, 0.05<?<0.15, 3.0???4.2, 0.15???0.30 and 0???0.20.

Abstract: A humidity-conditioning sheet 10 excellent in reversibility and responsiveness of a moisture adsorbing/desorbing ability of rapidly adsorbing moisture at high ambient humidity and conversely rapidly desorbing adsorbed moisture at low ambient humidity includes a sheet-shaped humidity-conditioning layer 7 formed by bonding together, with a thermoplastic resin powder 4, humidity-conditioning particles 3 which reversibly adsorb and desorb water vapor. The void ratio of the humidity-conditioning layer 7 is 5% or more.

Abstract: Provided is a battery capable of preventing the entry of water even if a sealing width is reduced. A battery element comprising a cathode and an anode is accommodated in a film-shaped casing. The casing includes a metal layer, a resin layer disposed on a side of the metal layer closer to the battery element with an adhesive layer in between, and a resin layer disposed on a side of the metal layer opposite to the side where the resin layer is formed with an adhesive layer in between. The adhesive layer has a water vapor transmission rate of 800 g/m2·day or less for a thickness of 25 ?m at 40° C. and 90% RH and a thickness of 10 ?m or less. Thereby, even if the sealing width is reduced, the entry of water into the battery can be prevented.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including: a print unit; an instruction unit for giving an instruction to start a printing operation; and a print control unit for controlling the printing operation according to the instruction to start the printing operation from the instruction unit, in which, when there is no instruction to start a subsequent printing operation after the executing of the printing operation to the recording medium according to the instruction to start the printing operation from the instruction unit, the print control unit executes a first post-processing operation for completing the printing operation, and the print control unit determines an operation to be performed after the executing of the first post-processing operation based on whether or not the instruction to start the subsequent printing operation is received during the executing of the first post-processing operation.

Abstract: An alkaline storage cell has a positive electrode, a negative electrode containing a hydrogen storage alloy, and an alkaline electrolyte. The hydrogen storage alloy has a composition expressed by a general expression: Ln1-?Mg?Ni?-?-?T?Al?, where Ln represents at least one element chosen from a group consisting of La, Ce, etc., T represents at least one element chosen from a group consisting of V, Nb, etc., and subscripts ?, ?, ? and ? represent numerical values which satisfy 0.05<?<0.12, 3.40???3.70, 0.01???0.15 and 0.15???0.35.

Abstract: A nickel metal hydride secondary battery includes hydrogen storage alloy particles in a negative electrode. The hydrogen storage alloy has a composition expressed by a general formula (LaaSmbGdc“A”d)1-wMgwNixAly“T”z, where “A” and “T” each represent at least one element selected from a group consisting of Pr, Nd, etc., and a group consisting of V, Nb, etc., respectively; subscripts a, b, c and d satisfy relationship expressed by a>0, b?0, c>0, 0.1>d?0, and a+b+c+d=1; and subscripts w, x, y and z fall in a range expressed by 0.1?w?0.3, 0.05?y?0.35, 0?z?0.5, and 3.2?x+y+z?3.8.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte capable of obtaining superior discharge characteristics and a battery using it are provided. A cathode (21) and an anode (22) are wound with a separator (24) in between. After that, the wound body is contained inside a package member. Then, an electrolytic composition containing a solvent, polyvinyl acetal or the derivative thereof, and lithium hexafluorophosphate is added thereto. Polyvinyl acetal or the derivative thereof is polymerized by using lithium hexafluorophosphate as a catalyst. Thereby, a polymer electrolyte (23) is formed, and the discharge characteristics are improved.

Abstract: The negative electrode of an alkaline storage cell contains a rare earth-Mg—Ni hydrogen storage alloy. The rare earth-Mg—Ni hydrogen storage alloy has a composition expressed by a general formula: (A?Ln1-?)1-?Mg?Ni?-?-?Al?T? wherein A represents one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Pr, Nd, Sm and Gd and including at least Sm, Ln represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of La, Ce, and the like, T represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of V, Nb, and the like, and subscripts ?, ?, ?, ? and ? represent numerical values which respectively satisfy 0.4??, 0.05<?<0.15, 3.0???4.2, 0.15???0.30 and 0???0.20.

Abstract: A positive electrode plate (3) of a nickel-metal hydride rechargeable cell contains nickel hydroxide particles (18), a coating layer (19) covering at least a part of a surface of each nickel hydroxide particle (18) and mainly composed of a cobalt compound having an average valence of cobalt more than 2, and Nb-based particles (15) and Y-based particles (16) distributed among the nickel hydroxide particles (18). A negative electrode plate (4) contains a hydrogen storage alloy having a Co content of equal to or less than 2.0% by mass, a separator (5) contains fiber having a sulfo group, and an alkaline electrolyte solution contains sodium hydroxide as a main solute.

Abstract: A nickel metal hydride battery includes particles of hydrogen storage alloys in the negative electrode. Such hydrogen storage alloys have a composition expressed by a general formula: (LaaSmbAc)1-wMgwNixAlyTz. In the formula, A and T denote at least one element selected from the groups consisting of: Pr, Nd, and the like; and V, Nb, and the like, respectively, the subscripts a, b, and c satisfy the relationship given by: a>0; b>0; 0.1>c?0; and a+b+c=1, and the subscripts w, x, y, and z fall within the range given by: 0.1<w?1; 0.05?y?0.35; 0?z?0.5; and 3.2?x+y+z?3.8.

Abstract: A battery capable of suppressing the swollenness and improving the capacity and the like is provided. The battery includes a spirally wound electrode body (20) in which a cathode and an anode are layered with a separator and an electrolyte in between and spirally wound inside a package member (30) made of an aluminum laminated film. The cathode or the anode contains, as an absorber, a graphite material in which an average face distance d002 of (002) planes of a hexagonal crystal obtained by X-ray diffraction method is from 0.3354 nm to 0.3370 nm, and a peak belonging to a (101) plane of a rhombohedral crystal can be obtained by the X-ray diffraction method. Thereby, gas can be absorbed and thus swollenness can be suppressed. In addition, the battery characteristics such as the capacity can be improved.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary cell includes an electrode body including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator, the positive electrode and the negative electrode being arranged to oppose each other with the separator therebetween, and being rolled or stacked; a nonaqueous electrolyte solution; and an exterior package for accommodating the electrode body and the nonaqueous electrolyte solution. A polymeric support is provided between the separator and at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and the ratio (MO/MA) of the amount (MO) of the nonaqueous electrolyte solution present between the electrode body and the exterior package to the amount (MA) of the nonaqueous electrolyte solution present in the exterior package is 0.04 or less.

Abstract: An electrode for a battery includes an electrode sheet, a lead, and a metal piece. The electrode sheet has a collector, an active material layer formed on the collector, and a lead connecting portion which is configured as an exposed extension of the collector, on both surfaces of which the active material layer is not formed. The lead connecting portion, the lead, and the metal piece are overlapped to and joined to each other. With this configuration, even if a contact area between the lead connecting portion and the lead is small, an electric resistance at the joined portion between the lead connecting portion and the lead becomes small, with a result that it is possible to enhance the strength of the joined portion and to enhance the discharge load characteristic of the battery.

Abstract: A bicycle generator hub is mounted to the front fork of a bicycle and includes a hub shaft, a hub shell, bearings, a generator mechanism and first and second magnetic flux recirculation members. The hub shaft is non-rotatably mounted to the front fork. The hub shell is disposed around the surface of the hub shaft. The bearings are disposed between the hub shell and the hub shaft to enable the hub shell to rotate relative to the hub shaft. The generator mechanism has a coil mounted to the hub shaft and a magnet unit disposed such that the generator mechanism generates electric power via the rotation of the hub shell relative to the hub shaft. The first and second magnetic flux recirculation members are disposed on the hub shaft or the hub shell and return a leaked magnetic flux to the coil.

Abstract: The composition of hydrogen storage alloy particles used in a negative plate of an alkaline secondary battery is expressed by a general formula: (Laa Prb Ndc Zd)1-w Mgw Niz-x-y Alx Ty. In the formula, Z is an element selected from the group consisting of Ce and others, and T is an element selected from the group consisting of V and others. Subscripts a, b, c and d fall in ranges of 0?a?0.25, 0<b, 0<c, and 0?d?0.20, respectively, and satisfy the relationship expressed by a+b+c+d=1, where 0.20?b/c?0.35. Subscripts x, y, z and w fall in ranges of 0.15?x?0.30, 0?y?0.5, 3.3—z?3.8, and 0.05?w?0.15, respectively.