Abstract: A fixing device includes a first heater and a second heater disposed inside a fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator. The first heater generates an increased amount of heat and includes a first heat generator having a first heating span in a longitudinal direction of the first heater. The second heater generates a decreased amount of heat and includes a second heat generator having a second heating span in a longitudinal direction of the second heater. A partition is interposed between the first heater and the second heater to define a first compartment having an increased size and accommodating the first heater and a second compartment having a decreased size and accommodating the second heater.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a nip formation pad that presses against a pressure rotator via an endless belt to form a fixing nip between the belt and the pressure rotator, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A fixing heater is disposed opposite at least a center span of a conveyance span of the belt in an axial direction thereof where the recording medium is conveyed to heat the belt. A first lateral end heater and a second lateral end heater are mounted on the nip formation pad and disposed opposite a first lateral end span and a second lateral end span of an inner circumferential surface of the belt in the axial direction thereof, respectively, to heat the belt. The second lateral end heater is electrically connected in series to the first lateral end heater.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a flexible, tubular fixing rotator rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and an opposed rotator disposed opposite the fixing rotator. A nip formation pad presses against the opposed rotator via the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the opposed rotator, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A fixing heater is disposed opposite at least a conveyance span of the fixing rotator in an axial direction thereof where the recording medium is conveyed to heat the fixing rotator. A lateral end heater is mounted on the nip formation pad and disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator at a lateral end of the fixing rotator in the axial direction thereof to heat the fixing rotator. A supplementary thermal conductor contacts the fixing rotator and the lateral end heater.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator and an opposed rotator pressed against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween. A primary heater is disposed opposite the fixing rotator in a circumferential span of the fixing rotator other than the fixing nip in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator. A heat shield is interposed between the primary heater and the fixing rotator and disposed outboard from at least a decreased size recording medium conveyance span of the fixing rotator spanning in an axial direction of the fixing rotator where a recording medium having a decreased size in the axial direction of the fixing rotator is conveyed. The heat shield shields the fixing rotator from the primary heater. A secondary heater is mounted on the heat shield to heat the fixing rotator.

Abstract: A nip formation assembly disposed opposite an opposed rotator via an endless belt includes a nip formation pad to press against the opposed rotator via the endless belt to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the opposed rotator, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A fixing heater is disposed opposite at least a center span of the endless belt in an axial direction thereof where the recording medium is conveyed. The fixing heater heats the endless belt. A lateral end heater is mounted on the nip formation pad and disposed opposite a lateral end span of an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt in the axial direction thereof. The lateral end heater heats the endless belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a conveyance passage unit, a fixing device, an optical sensor, a fixing condition adjuster, and a regulator. A recording medium passes through the conveyance passage unit. The fixing device fixes a toner image onto the recording medium. The optical sensor includes a light-emitting device and a light-receiving device to detect smoothness of the recording medium according to strength of light received. The fixing condition adjuster adjusts fixing conditions according to the smoothness detected. The regulator is disposed in the conveyance passage unit to regulate conveyance of the recording medium, such that at least a part of the recording medium passes through an irradiated area including an intersection that is determined by an emission angle of a first optical axis of light emitted by the light-emitting device and a reflection angle of a second optical axis of light received by the light-receiving device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device to form a toner image on a recording medium under a prescribed image forming condition, a fixing device to fix the toner image borne on the recording medium thereonto by heating the recording medium based on target fixing temperature, and a detector to detect a type of recording medium. The type is used in setting at least one of the image forming condition and the target fixing temperature. The inequality Tb>Ta is established when Ta represents a time period needed to reach a setting of fixing temperature allocated to the recording medium with its tip detected by the detector after detection of the tip and Tb represents a time period needed for the recording medium with its tip detected by the detector to reach the fixing device after detection of the tip.

Abstract: A power supply device comprises plural battery cells having electrode portions, and bus bars connecting the electrode portions of the plural battery cells each other. The bus bar comprises a thin portion thinner than the other portion formed in at least one part of the end edge of the bus bar, and are welded to the electrode portion of the battery cell through the thin portion. The electrode portion comprises a pedestal portion, and an electrode terminal projecting from the pedestal portion, and the thin portion is disposed at the side surface of the electrode terminal. By this, at the time of welding the bus bar the thin portion is directly welded to the electrode portion, and without using other parts of the welding ring or the like the welding process is streamlined.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a battery pack comprises a compressing step of stacking a plurality of flat secondary batteries, compressing and fixing in a pressed state of the flat secondary batteries constituting the battery staked member by applying a predetermined pressure in the stacking direction. Further, in the pressed shaping step, a pressing pressure of pressing the spiral electrode assembly is set, such that it is possible to insert the pressed electrode assembly into the outer can, and such that it is possible that the electrode assembly is swollen until the electrode assembly presses against the inner surface of the outer can when the electrode assemblies are swollen by the electrolyte injected into the outer can in the electrolyte injection step, and in the compressing step, the swollen electrode assemblies are pressed through the outer cans by pressing the outer cans of the flat secondary batteries.

Abstract: A battery pack comprises a battery staked member stacking a plurality of flat secondary batteries, end plates being disposed at both ends of the battery staked member, and binding bars being coupled to the end plates in a pressed state that the flat secondary batteries of the battery staked member are compressed and fixed in a predetermined binding pressure. The flat secondary batteries constituting the battery staked member comprise an electrode assembly of a spiral form in which a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate interposing a separator therebetween are wound, and an outer case airtightly storing the spiral electrode assembly and an electrolyte. The spiral electrode assemblies of the flat secondary batteries are pressed and made into a flat shape by a higher pressing pressure than the predetermined binding pressure in which the flat secondary batteries are bound by the binding bars.

Abstract: A sheet separating device is attached to a fixing device. The fixing device includes: a fixing member that is a rotary body having a heating unit; and a pressing member that is pressed against and is brought into contact with the fixing member. The fixing device conveys a sheet material that carries unfixed toner thereon through a nip section formed by the fixing member and the pressing member so as to fix the unfixed toner image to the sheet material. The sheet separating device includes: at least one nozzle member that discharges compressed gas from the direction of a nip outlet toward the nip section along the fixing member. The nozzle member is rotatably supported by a shaft member that is provided parallel to the fixing member and includes a gas flow passage through which compressed gas is supplied to the nozzle member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a conveyance passage unit, a fixing device, an optical sensor, a fixing condition adjuster, and a regulator. A recording medium passes through the conveyance passage unit. The fixing device fixes a toner image onto the recording medium. The optical sensor includes a light-emitting device and a light-receiving device to detect smoothness of the recording medium according to strength of light received. The fixing condition adjuster adjusts fixing conditions according to the smoothness detected. The regulator is disposed in the conveyance passage unit to regulate conveyance of the recording medium, such that at least a part of the recording medium passes through an irradiated area including an intersection that is determined by an emission angle of a first optical axis of light emitted by the light-emitting device and a reflection angle of a second optical axis of light received by the light-receiving device.

Abstract: A sheet separation mechanism including a compressed air generator, a first nozzle to eject compressed air onto a leading edge of a sheet, a control valve provided between the compressed air generator and the first nozzle to control a flow of the compressed air, and a second nozzle provided between the control valve and the first nozzle. The control valve controls the compressed air to be simultaneously ejected from both the first nozzle and the second nozzle.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device to form a toner image on a recording medium under a prescribed image forming condition, a fixing device to fix the toner image borne on the recording medium thereonto by heating the recording medium based on target fixing temperature, and a detector to detect a type of recording medium. The type is used in setting at least one of the image forming condition and the target fixing temperature. The inequality Tb>Ta is established when Ta represents a time period needed to reach a setting of fixing temperature allocated to the recording medium with its tip detected by the detector after detection of the tip and Tb represents a time period needed for the recording medium with its tip detected by the detector to reach the fixing device after detection of the tip.

Abstract: A power source apparatus provided with a battery stack having a plurality of rectangular shaped rechargeable battery cells stacked together, a circuit board carrying electronic circuitry electrically connected with the rechargeable battery cells, a circuit board holder disposed on the upper surface of the battery stack that establishes circuit board storage space to hold the circuit board, and a conducting shield plate installed on top of the circuit board holder that closes-off at least the upper surface of the circuit board storage space holding the circuit board inside.

Abstract: A boring device includes a base on which a work is placed, a cutting tool inserted into the through hole of the work, a rotatingly driving device for rotating the cutting tool, and supporting jigs for supporting the cutting tool by bush surfaces. The cutting tool includes a tool body having a main flow path and second branch flow paths and cutting edges formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tool body. Recessed pockets are formed in the outer peripheral surface of the cutting tool at the respective portions opposed to the bush surfaces of the support jigs. A set screw is detachably fitted to each of the second branch flow paths. The set screw includes an orifice allowing the upstream side and the downstream side of each of the second branch flow paths to communicate with each other.

Abstract: An assembled battery comprises: multiple cells 30 each having external terminals including a negative electrode terminal 50 and a positive electrode terminal; a bus bar 40 which connects the external terminal of one of two adjacent cells 30 and that of the other thereof; an electrically-conductive connecting member 70 which connects the external terminal and the bus bar 40 by welding to the external terminal and the bus bar 40; a welding portion 80 welded to the bus bar 40 and the connecting member 70; and a welding portion 82 welded to the external terminal and the connecting member 70. The connecting member 70 comprises an intervening portion 70b connected to the welding portion 80, and a main body portion 70a extending from the intervening portion 70b to the welding portion 82. The intervening portion 70b has a thickness that is smaller than that of the main body portion 70a.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a fixing device to fix a toner image on a recoding medium; a compressed air generator to generate a compressed air; an air nozzle to inject the compressed air to separate the recording medium having the fixed toner image from the fixing device; a first switching unit to switch the air nozzle between injection and termination, which is provided upstream from the air nozzle; and a buffer unit to retain the compressed air, which is provided upstream from the air nozzle and downstream from the first switching unit.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes: a battery cell stack obtained by stacking a plurality of battery cells; and a cover case surrounding an outside of the battery cell stack, in which a resin is poured between the battery cell stack and the cover case, achieving a waterproof structure of making the battery cell stack waterproof. This allows prevention of water entering from an outside, thereby preventing unintentional electric conduction or corrosion. A gap between the battery cell stack and the cover case is also eliminated to prevent the harmful influence on the battery cell stack due to condensation inside the cover case.

Abstract: A power supply device includes a battery block that includes battery cells, and fasteners that securely hold the battery block. Each of the cells includes an exterior container, a wound electrode, a sealing plate, and a connector. The container has a rectangular exterior shape, and opens on one face. The electrode includes electrode and separator sheets that are wound so that the electrode and separator sheets are alternately superposed on each other. The sealing plate closes the opening of the container. The connector is fastened to the sealing plate and electrically connected to the electrode. The electrode has a thickness smaller than the opening width of the container. The electrode is suspended by connectors so that the electrode is spaced away from the bottom of the container. The fastener securely holds the battery block so that the electrodes are interposed between the interior surfaces of the containers.