Abstract: A gripping mechanism (3) includes a gripping roller (32) and a holder (31) that houses the gripping roller (32). A gripped portion (42) of a first component (4) is gripped between an outer surface of the gripping roller (32) and an inner surface of the holder (31) through action of gravity acting on the gripping roller (32). Preferably, the gripping roller (32) includes a core (321) that is cylindrical or columnar in shape and a covering section (322) that is an elastic body covering a circumferential surface of the core (321). Preferably, the covering section (322) has a circumferential surface with a friction coefficient greater than a friction coefficient of the circumferential surface of the core (321).

Abstract: A receptacle includes a pair of spare terminals that are located on both sides of a plurality of receptacle terminals in a longitudinal direction and are short-circuited. A plug includes a pair of relay electrodes that respectively come in contact with the pair of spare terminals when the plug is connected to the receptacle. A connector inspection instrument includes a conduction detecting circuit and a pair of terminal support portions supporting a pair of inspection terminals, and a displacement mechanism. The displacement mechanism supports one or both of the pair of terminal support portions in such a way as to displace the one or both of the pair of terminal support portions in a width direction to narrow or widen an interval between the pair of inspection terminals.

Abstract: An assembly apparatus is for assembling a first member and a second member. The assembly apparatus includes a first gripping section, a second gripping section, and a driving section. The first gripping section includes a contact member and an elastic member. The second gripping section includes a contact member and an elastic member. The driving section drives the first and second gripping sections. The driving section drives the first and second gripping sections such that the contact member of the first gripping section and the contact member of the second gripping section make contact with the second member. The first and second gripping sections grip the second member through the two elastic members urging the respective contact members. The driving section drives the first and second gripping sections such that the first member and the second member are assembled.

Abstract: A gripping mechanism includes a holder, a gripping roller, and a lever. The gripping roller is housed within the holder and grips an object between the roller and an inner surface of the holder. The lever releases gripping of the object by pushing the gripping roller upward. Preferably, the holder includes two plate sections which support a weight of the gripping roller. An opening is located between the two plate sections. The opening receives insertion of the object. One of the two plate sections is inclined relative to a vertical direction.

Abstract: A gripping mechanism (3) includes a gripping roller (32) and a holder (31) that houses the gripping roller (32). A gripped portion (42) of a first component (4) is gripped between an outer surface of the gripping roller (32) and an inner surface of the holder (31) through action of gravity acting on the gripping roller (32). Preferably, the gripping roller (32) includes a core (321) that is cylindrical or columnar in shape and a covering section (322) that is an elastic body covering a circumferential surface of the core (321). Preferably, the covering section (322) has a circumferential surface with a friction coefficient greater than a friction coefficient of the circumferential surface of the core (321).

Abstract: A gripping method is for gripping an object using a gripping mechanism including a roller and a frame that houses the roller. The gripping method includes a first stage and a second stage. In the first stage, the gripping mechanism moves relative to the object such that a first portion of the object is gripped between an outer surface of the roller and an inner surface of the frame. In the second stage, the gripping mechanism further moves relative to the object such that the roller is lifted by a second portion of the object before gripping of the object is released.

Abstract: A gripping mechanism includes an inclined surface, a rolling element, and a facing gripping part. The inclined surface is a surface inclined to a vertical direction. The rolling element freely rolls obliquely upward and downward on the inclined surface. The facing gripping part is arranged to face the inclined surface and forms an opening space with an end of the inclined surface, the opening space being narrower than a diameter of the rolling element. The rolling element includes: a core member forming a core of the rolling element; an annular member that is provided around the core member and has elasticity; and a plurality of ribs each of which is interposed between an outer periphery of the core member and an inner periphery of the annular member, and forms a gap between the core member and the annular member.

Abstract: An image forming unit of an image forming apparatus includes a developing device and a toner replenishing unit that replenishes the developing device with toner. The toner replenishing unit includes an upper toner container, a lower toner container, a toner conveyance unit. The upper toner container and the lower toner container are disposed in a staggered manner in an apparatus body.

Abstract: A gripping method is for gripping an object using a gripping mechanism including a roller and a frame that houses the roller. The gripping method includes a first stage and a second stage. In the first stage, the gripping mechanism moves relative to the object such that a first portion of the object is gripped between an outer surface of the roller and an inner surface of the frame. In the second stage, the gripping mechanism further moves relative to the object such that the roller is lifted by a second portion of the object before gripping of the object is released.

Abstract: A gripping mechanism includes a holder, a gripping roller, and a lever. The gripping roller is housed within the holder and grips an object between the roller and an inner surface of the holder. The lever releases gripping of the object by pushing the gripping roller upward. Preferably, the holder includes two plate sections which support a weight of the gripping roller. An opening is located between the two plate sections. The opening receives insertion of the object. One of the two plate sections is inclined relative to a vertical direction.

Abstract: A receptacle includes a pair of spare terminals that are located on both sides of a plurality of receptacle terminals in a longitudinal direction and are short-circuited. A plug includes a pair of relay electrodes that respectively come in contact with the pair of spare terminals when the plug is connected to the receptacle. A connector inspection instrument includes a conduction detecting circuit and a pair of terminal support portions supporting a pair of inspection terminals, and a displacement mechanism. The displacement mechanism supports one or both of the pair of terminal support portions in such a way as to displace the one or both of the pair of terminal support portions in a width direction to narrow or widen an interval between the pair of inspection terminals.

Abstract: A gripping mechanism includes an inclined surface, a rolling element, and a facing gripping part. The inclined surface is a surface inclined to a vertical direction. The rolling element freely rolls obliquely upward and downward on the inclined surface. The facing gripping part is arranged to face the inclined surface and forms an opening space with an end of the inclined surface, the opening space being narrower than a diameter of the rolling element. The rolling element includes: a core member forming a core of the rolling element; an annular member that is provided around the core member and has elasticity; and a plurality of ribs each of which is interposed between an outer periphery of the core member and an inner periphery of the annular member, and forms a gap between the core member and the annular member.

Abstract: An assembly apparatus is for assembling a first member and a second member. The assembly apparatus includes a first gripping section, a second gripping section, and a driving section. The first gripping section includes a contact member and an elastic member. The second gripping section includes a contact member and an elastic member. The driving section drives the first and second gripping sections. The driving section drives the first and second gripping sections such that the contact member of the first gripping section and the contact member of the second gripping section make contact with the second member. The first and second gripping sections grip the second member through the two elastic members urging the respective contact members. The driving section drives the first and second gripping sections such that the first member and the second member are assembled.

Abstract: An image forming unit of an image forming apparatus includes a developing device and a toner replenishing unit that replenishes the developing device with toner. The toner replenishing unit includes an upper toner container, a lower toner container, a toner conveyance unit. The upper toner container and the lower toner container are disposed in a staggered manner in an apparatus body.

Abstract: An image forming unit of an image forming apparatus includes a developing device and a toner replenishing unit that replenishes the developing device with toner. The toner replenishing unit includes an upper toner container, a lower toner container, a toner conveyance unit, and a replenishment control unit. The upper toner container and the lower toner container are disposed in a staggered manner in an apparatus body. When the upper toner container becomes empty, the replenishment control unit controls the toner replenishing unit so as to replenish the developing device with the toner from the lower toner container.

Abstract: A belt driving device includes a plurality of rollers, an endless belt, a contact surface, and a non-contact surface. The rollers include a driving roller that is rotationally driven. The endless belt is stretched between the rollers such that a predetermined tension is applied to the endless belt, and the endless belt protrudes from opposite end portions of the rollers in an axis direction of each of the rollers. The contact surface is formed at a first end portion of at least one of the rollers and comes in contact with the endless belt. The first end portion is located on a meandering direction side of the endless belt. The non-contact surface is formed at each of second end portions of the rollers and doesn't come in contact with the endless belt. The second end portions are located on a side opposite to the meandering direction of the endless belt.

Abstract: An image forming unit of an image forming apparatus includes a developing device and a toner replenishing unit that replenishes the developing device with toner. The toner replenishing unit includes an upper toner container, a lower toner container, a toner conveyance unit, and a replenishment control unit. The upper toner container and the lower toner container are disposed adjacently to each other in a vertical direction in an apparatus body. When the upper toner container becomes empty, the replenishment control unit controls the toner replenishing unit so as to replenish the developing device with the toner from the lower toner container.

Abstract: A belt driving device includes a plurality of rollers, an endless belt, a contact surface, and a non-contact surface. The rollers include a driving roller that is rotationally driven. The endless belt is stretched between the rollers such that a predetermined tension is applied to the endless belt, and the endless belt protrudes from opposite end portions of the rollers in an axis direction of each of the rollers. The contact surface is formed at a first end portion of at least one of the rollers and comes in contact with the endless belt. The first end portion is located on a meandering direction side of the endless belt. The non-contact surface is formed at each of second end portions of the rollers and doesn't come in contact with the endless belt. The second end portions are located on a side opposite to the meandering direction of the endless belt.

Abstract: In a rotating device, a pair of cuts are formed in an end portion of a metal-made cylindrical body to which a pressure is applied, at positions that face in a diameter direction. A support portion of a synthetic-resin-made bush rotatably supports the cylindrical body. In a state where a center of the cylindrical body matches a rotation center line of the bush, and a first diameter direction connecting respective centers in a circumferential direction of the cuts matches a second diameter direction connecting centers in the circumferential direction of a pair of engaging portions, each interval in the circumferential direction between the engaging portions and edge portions of the cuts is equal to or larger than an interval in a direction perpendicular to the rotation center line between an outer circumferential surface of the support portion and an inner circumferential surface of the end portion.

Abstract: An image forming unit of an image forming apparatus includes a developing device and a toner replenishing unit that replenishes the developing device with toner. The toner replenishing unit includes an upper toner container, a lower toner container, a toner conveyance unit, and a replenishment control unit. The upper toner container and the lower toner container are disposed adjacently to each other in a vertical direction in an apparatus body. When the upper toner container becomes empty, the replenishment control unit controls the toner replenishing unit so as to replenish the developing device with the toner from the lower toner container.