Abstract: A powder collection device includes a collection container configured to store powder collected and a powder amount detector including a pair of electrodes. The powder amount detector detects an amount of powder in the collection container based on capacitance between the pair of electrodes.

Abstract: An object of the present disclosure is to provide a secondary battery having excellent cyclability by using a sulfur-based active material as a negative-electrode active material while preventing a reaction between an eluted polysulfide and a positive electrode. The metal-ion secondary battery comprises a negative electrode comprising a sulfur-containing compound as a negative-electrode active material, a positive electrode and an electrolyte, and has a polymer gel layer on a surface of the positive electrode.

Abstract: Provided is a sulfur-based active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a large charge/discharge capacity and excellent cycle characteristics which is inexpensively and easily provided, an electrode comprising the sulfur-based active material, and a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprising the electrode, as well as a producing method thereof. The sulfur-based active material is obtainable by calcinating a raw material, the raw material comprising (1) a heat-expandable particle comprising an outer shell comprising an acryl-based copolymer and a hydrocarbon included inside the outer shell, the heat-expandable particle having an expansion starting temperature of 150° C. or lower, and (2) sulfur.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel organic sulfur material which is capable of improving a charge/discharge capacity and cycle characteristics, an electrode comprising the organic sulfur material, that is, a positive electrode or a negative electrode, and a lithium-ion secondary battery comprising the electrode. Provided is an organic sulfur material comprising a sulfur-modified acrylic resin, wherein an acrylic resin has peaks around 756 cm?1, around 1066 cm?1, around 1150 cm?1, around 1245 cm?1, around 1270 cm?1, around 1453 cm?1, and around 1732 cm?1 in an FT-IR spectrum.

Abstract: Provided is an organic sulfur material comprising a sulfur-modified acrylic resin, wherein an acrylic resin is at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of (a) a polymer of at least one selected from the group consisting of acrylate compounds represented by CH2?C(R11) COOR12 (wherein, R11 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and R12 is an alkyl group.) and (b) a polymer of at least one selected from the group consisting of acrylate compounds above and at least one selected from the group consisting of diacrylate compounds represented by CH2?C(R21)COO—Y—OCO (R22) C?CH2 (wherein, each of R21 and R22 is the same or different and is a methyl group, etc., Y is a hydrocarbylene group, etc., wherein the hydrocarbylene group may have a substituent selected from a hydroxyl group and an alkyl group.).

Abstract: The present invention provides a sulfur-based active material prepared using an inexpensive polymer material as a starting material and a method of preparing the sulfur-based active material. A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery such as a lithium-ion secondary battery provided with an electrode comprising the sulfur-based active material has a large charging and discharging capacity and an excellent cyclability.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sulfur-based active material prepared using an inexpensive polymer material as a starting material and a method of preparing the sulfur-based active material. A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery such as a lithium-ion secondary battery provided with an electrode comprising the sulfur-based active material has a large charging and discharging capacity and an excellent cyclability.

Abstract: A powder amount detector detects an amount of powder in a powder container of a cylindrical shape arranged horizontally. The powder amount detector includes a pair of measuring electrodes configured to detect capacitance between the pair of measuring electrodes to detect the amount of powder. The pair of measuring electrodes is disposed around the powder container. One of the pair of measuring electrodes has a flat shape, and the other of the pair of measuring electrodes has an arc shape following a shape of the powder container.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing roller to rotate in a predetermined direction of rotation and opposed to or in contact with an image bearer to form a development range, a cover to cover the developing roller downstream from the development range in the predetermined direction of rotation, a sheet member cantilevered by the cover to contact the developing roller with a flat face of the sheet member while trailing along the predetermined direction of rotation at a position downstream from the development range. The cover includes a large gap portion to form a first gap in a first predetermined range in the predetermined direction of rotation and a small gap portion disposed adjacent to and downstream from the large gap portion in the predetermined direction of rotation to form a second gap smaller than the first gap in a second predetermined range in the predetermined direction of rotation.

Abstract: A powder container includes a powder chamber for containing powder for forming images, a powder outlet formed in a face of the powder container, and a shutter assembly to open and close the powder outlet and including first and second shutters. The first shutter is movable between a sealing position to close the powder outlet and an open position to open the powder outlet and includes a pressed member to cancel retention of the first shutter at the sealing position. The second shutter includes a pressing projection that interferes with the pressed member of the first shutter and is movable between a shielding position to cover the pressed member without interference between the pressing projection and the pressed member and a releasing position to press the pressed member with the pressing projection.

Abstract: A powder amount detector detects an amount of powder in a powder container of a cylindrical shape arranged horizontally. The powder amount detector includes a pair of measuring electrodes configured to detect capacitance between the pair of measuring electrodes to detect the amount of powder. The pair of measuring electrodes is disposed around the powder container. One of the pair of measuring electrodes has a flat shape, and the other of the pair of measuring electrodes has an arc shape following a shape of the powder container.

Abstract: A powder collection device includes a collection container configured to store powder collected and a powder amount detector including a pair of electrodes. The powder amount detector detects an amount of powder in the collection container based on capacitance between the pair of electrodes.

Abstract: A powder container includes a powder chamber for containing powder for forming images, a powder outlet formed in a face of the powder container, and a shutter assembly to open and close the powder outlet and including first and second shutters. The first shutter is movable between a sealing position to close the powder outlet and an open position to open the powder outlet and includes a pressed member to cancel retention of the first shutter at the sealing position. The second shutter includes a pressing projection that interferes with the pressed member of the first shutter and is movable between a shielding position to cover the pressed member without interference between the pressing projection and the pressed member and a releasing position to press the pressed member with the pressing projection.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel sulfur-based positive-electrode active material which can largely improve cyclability of a lithium-ion secondary battery, a positive electrode comprising the positive-electrode active material and a lithium-ion secondary battery comprising the positive electrode. The sulfur-based positive-electrode active material is one comprising: a carbon skeleton derived from a polymer composed of a monomer unit having at least one hetero atom-containing moiety, and sulfur incorporated into the carbon skeleton as the carbon skeleton is formed from the polymer by heat treatment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sulfur-based active material prepared using an inexpensive polymer material as a starting material and a method of preparing the sulfur-based active material. A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery such as a lithium-ion secondary battery provided with an electrode comprising the sulfur-based active material has a large charging and discharging capacity and an excellent cyclability.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sulfur-based active material prepared using an inexpensive polymer material as a starting material and a method of preparing the sulfur-based active material. A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery such as a lithium-ion secondary battery provided with an electrode comprising the sulfur-based active material has a large charging and discharging capacity and an excellent cyclability.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing roller to rotate in a predetermined direction of rotation and opposed to or in contact with an image bearer to form a development range, a cover to cover the developing roller downstream from the development range in the predetermined direction of rotation, a sheet member cantilevered by the cover to contact the developing roller with a flat face of the sheet member while trailing along the predetermined direction of rotation at a position downstream from the development range. The cover includes a large gap portion to form a first gap in a first predetermined range in the predetermined direction of rotation and a small gap portion disposed adjacent to and downstream from the large gap portion in the predetermined direction of rotation to form a second gap smaller than the first gap in a second predetermined range in the predetermined direction of rotation.

Abstract: A powder container includes a powder chamber for containing powder for forming images, a powder outlet formed in a face of the powder container, and a shutter assembly to open and close the powder outlet and including first and second shutters. The first shutter is movable between a sealing position to close the powder outlet and an open position to open the powder outlet and includes a pressed member to cancel retention of the first shutter at the sealing position. The second shutter includes a pressing projection that interferes with the pressed member of the first shutter and is movable between a shielding position to cover the pressed member without interference between the pressing projection and the pressed member and a releasing position to press the pressed member with the pressing projection.

Abstract: An object of the present disclosure is to provide a new sulfur-based positive-electrode active material which can improve cyclability of a lithium-ion secondary battery while maintaining a charging and discharging capacity, a positive-electrode comprising the positive-electrode active material, and a lithium-ion secondary battery comprising the positive-electrode. The sulfur-based positive-electrode active material is one comprising doped nitrogen atoms obtainable by heat-treating a starting material comprising a chain organic compound and sulfur under an atmosphere of a nitrogen atom-doping gas.

Abstract: A powder supply device includes a powder conveyance path and a pair of electrodes to supply powder from a powder container. The powder conveyance path is configured to transport the powder in the powder container. The pair of electrodes is disposed at least in part in or on the powder conveyance path. The powder supply device is configured to detect an amount of powder in the powder conveyance path based on change of capacitance between the pair of electrodes.