Abstract: A binding device includes: a binding unit that forms multiple asperities on a recording material bundle constituted by rectangular recording materials, and binds the recording material bundle, wherein, in oblique binding in which the multiple asperities are arranged on a corner portion of the recording material bundle in a direction inclined to one of both sides constituting the corner portion of the recording material bundle, a binding position by the binding unit reaches at least one of the both sides constituting the corner portion of the recording material bundle, and, in parallel binding in which the multiple asperities are arranged along a side of the recording material bundle, a binding position by the binding unit does not reach any side of the recording material bundle.

Abstract: A recording-medium binding device includes a first tooth row and a second tooth row. The first tooth row and the second tooth row to be engaged with the first tooth row cooperate with each other to pinch a recording medium batch. The first tooth row and the second tooth row include at least one first region and at least one second region adjacent to the at least one first region. When the first tooth row and the second tooth row are engaged with each other, teeth of the first tooth row and teeth of the second tooth row overlap one another in a tooth height direction by a first engagement overlapping amount in the at least one first region and by a second engagement overlapping amount in the at least one second region. The second engagement overlapping amount is larger than the first engagement overlapping amount.

Abstract: A binding apparatus includes: a first pressing member that presses a recording-medium stack from one side of the recording-medium stack; a second pressing member that faces the first pressing member and presses the recording-medium stack from the other side of the recording-medium stack; and a suppressing part provided in at least one of the first pressing member and the second pressing member, the suppressing part suppressing damage to recording media that may be caused when a recording-medium stack including a smaller number of sheets than the maximum number of sheets that can be bound is bound with the first pressing member and the second pressing member.

Abstract: A fixing-tool mounting device mounting a fixing tool including a curved surface formed in accordance with a shape of a body surface on a body part of a subject onto the body part of the subject set to a predetermined posture angle, including: a moving mechanism moving the fixing tool in at least one axial direction relative to the body of the subject; an angle adjustment mechanism adjusting an angle of the fixing tool around at least one axis relative to the body of the subject; and a pressure detecting portion configured to, after the fixing tool contacts with the body part of the subject, detect a pressure generated between the fixing tool and the body part.

Abstract: A controller of an in-home controller receives, via a terminal communicator, input data related to a manager registration transmitted from a terminal device. The controller performs a manager registration based on the received input data. Also, the controller generates user registration request data containing a user ID and a password extracted from the received input data, a controller ID read from data storage. The controller transmits the generated user registration request data to an external server via a wide-area communicator.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image and a guiding member that guides a sheet on which the image has been formed by the image forming unit. At least one of irregularities and holes are formed on or in a surface of the guiding member that guides the sheet.

Abstract: A controller for controlling electrical devices in a dwelling is configured to display an energy-saving mode setting screen on a display that is a touch panel or the like in accordance with an operation by a user. Then, the controller is configured to receive a designation of a condition for an energy-saving control on the electrical devices in the dwelling on the energy-saving mode setting screen. Then, the controller is configured to set the respective energy-saving modes of the electrical devices via a home network based on the received condition.

Abstract: A sheet binding device includes a first tooth-shaped member that has plural arranged teeth, and a second tooth-shaped member that has plural arranged teeth, bites the first tooth-shaped member to clamp and bind sheets in cooperation with the first tooth-shaped member, and is tilted relative to the first tooth-shaped member from a beginning of biting to a completion of biting.

Abstract: A holding device wherein: a holding tool including a curved and rigid surface formed in accordance with a shape of a body surface of a body part of a subject along with an adhesive layer having adhesiveness to a skin surface of the subject on the curved and rigid surface side; an elongated arm member having one end portion to which the holding tool is attached; and a fixing tool for fixing the arm member to a fixed object, attached to an end portion of the arm member on the side opposite to the end portion on the side to which the holding tool is attached.

Abstract: A buffer member (13) which abuts on a front surface side of a panel periphery of a display panel is made of a material having a light shielding property and has a portion, which extends over substantially the whole length of a side, along at least one of the respective sides of a rectangular display region. A buffer member (14) which abuts on a back surface side thereof has a portion, which extends over a range of a side except both the end portions thereof, along at least one of the respective sides of the rectangular shape. Accordingly, deformation of the display panel is reduced and it is possible to prevent light leakage in a peripheral portion of the display screen.

Abstract: A stretcher has a rectangle-shaped subject placement portion on which a subject is placed and a carrying device carrying the subject placement portion, comprising: a switching part switched to any one of at least two states; and a switching device switching a state of the switching part in accordance with a supplied gas pressure. The at least two states include a state in which the switching part prevents movement of the subject placement portion and a state in which the switching part allows the movement.

Abstract: Provided is a boot band that is configured for preventing the occurrence of buckling in the inner-layer portion of a band body. In the boot band, by applying a diameter-reducing tightening force on the band body when an engagement pawl of an inner-layer portion of the band body has entered a top-end engagement hole of an outer-layer portion of the band body, the top-end engagement hole rides over the engagement pawl. Buckling is prevented by providing, at the area of the top-end engagement hole opposite where the engagement pawl enters therein, a guide that faces the engagement pawl.

Abstract: An operating table includes a patient placement table for placing and securing a patient in a required posture; a main body for supporting the patient placement table; engaging pieces for removably coupling the patient placement table to the main body; and a motor for rotating the patient placement table with a head-feet direction of the patient as a rotation axis to hold the patient placement table at any given rotation angle.

Abstract: A buffer member (13) which abuts on a front surface side of a panel periphery of a display panel is made of a material having a light shielding property and has a portion, which extends over substantially the whole length of a side, along at least one of the respective sides of a rectangular display region. A buffer member (14) which abuts on a back surface side thereof has a portion, which extends over a range of a side except both the end portions thereof, along at least one of the respective sides of the rectangular shape. Accordingly, deformation of the display panel is reduced and it is possible to prevent light leakage in a peripheral portion of the display screen.

Abstract: In an appliance control system, a receiver receives, from a terminal device used by a first user, an instruction for remotely controlling an appliance installed in a home. A determiner determines whether a second user is present in a location in which an appliance-to-be-instructed is installed. When it is determined that the second user is not present in a location in which the appliance-to-be-instructed is installed, an appliance controller controls the appliance on the basis of the instruction. On the other hand, when it is determined that the second user is present in the location in which the appliance-to-be-instructed is installed, the appliance controller does not control the appliance.

Abstract: First electrical power meters measure electrical power supplied from a commercial power system to a residence. A second electrical power meter measures electrical power generated by a distributed power source. Third power meters measure electrical power supplied to each of a plurality of electric devices. A auxiliary memory stores the power measurement results. An inputter is used for selecting an object included in an image displayed by a display part. Each time a user uses the inputter to select an object included in the image, the controller changes the image displayed by the display part to a new image in accordance with the selected object.

Abstract: A novel coumarin derivative or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and also to provide a pharmaceutical agent containing such a compound as an active ingredient is provided. The coumarin derivative or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof exhibits an excellent suppressive action to the destruction of cartilage and suppressive action to the proliferation of synovial cells in a pharmacological test where the release of sulfated glycosaminoglycans (sGAG) and the proliferation of synovial cells are used as indicators whereby it is very useful as an active ingredient of a pharmaceutical composition such as a preventive or therapeutic agent for arthropathy such as osteoarthritis or chronic rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract: A device information acquirer acquires device information collected by a controller. A floor plan editor edits a simplified floor plan of a home by individually adding a configuration of a room where an electric device is installed, in accordance with a user operation. A device icon positioner positions an icon of the electric device in each room in the floor plan edited by the floor plan editor, in accordance with the user operation. A layout generator generates layout information for the electric device in the home, based on the edited floor plan and the positioned icon.

Abstract: A controller for controlling electrical devices in a dwelling is configured to display an energy-saving mode setting screen on a display that is a touch panel or the like in accordance with an operation by a user. Then, the controller is configured to receive a designation of a condition for an energy-saving control on the electrical devices in the dwelling on the energy-saving mode setting screen. Then, the controller is configured to set the respective energy-saving modes of the electrical devices via a home network based on the received condition.

Abstract: A controller stores an apparatus-room association table in which an apparatus installed in a home is associated with a room in the home, and stores a room-user association table in which the room in the home is associated with the user. The controller determines whether the user is inside the home, and updates a user status. When the user status changes, the controller determines the apparatus corresponding to the user whose user status has changed, and controls the determined apparatus to execute a predetermined process based on the apparatus-room association table and the room-user association table.