Abstract: In a drive mechanism, a two-stage gear has an input gear and a sun gear. A planetary gear is engaged with both of outer teeth of the sun gear and inner teeth of a ring gear. A carrier, which is capable of rotating together with a rotational shaft, supports the planetary gear, and outputs drive force. A drive force transmission switching member switches between a connecting state connecting the two-stage gear and the carrier such that they rotate together via the rotational shaft, and a separating state separating the two-stage gear and carrier such that they rotate relative to each other. A one-way clutch allows the ring gear to rotate in one of a pair of opposite directions about the central axis of the rotational shaft, and prohibits the ring gear from rotating in the other one of the pair of opposite directions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image-forming mechanism; a reconveying roller; an electric motor; and a transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism is configured to operate in one of a reverse-rotation transmission mode for reversing a direction of a rotational force received from the electric motor to transmit the reversed rotational force to the reconveying roller and a normal-rotation transmission mode for transmitting the rotational force to the reconveying roller without reversing the direction of the rotational force. The transmission mechanism includes an interrupting unit for interrupting transmission of a rotational force from the reconveying roller to the electric motor at least when a sheet is being conveyed in the image-forming mechanism. The transmission mechanism is configured to interrupt transmission of the rotational force received from the electric motor to the reconveying roller when a sheet is being conveyed in the image-forming mechanism.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a reconveying unit including a reconveying roller; and a second transmission mechanism. The second transmission mechanism transmits a drive force to the reconveying roller and includes: an input gear; an output gear; an intermediate gear including first and second gears; and first and second swinging gears. The first toothless part of the first gear and the second toothless part of the second gear are provided at such a position that, when the intermediate gear is rotated by a drive force transmitted from the input gear through the second swinging gear while the second swinging gear meshes with the second toothed part of the second gear and the output gear meshes with the first toothed part of the first gear, the first toothless part reaches a position confronting the output gear and then the second toothless part reaches a position confronting the second swinging gear.

Abstract: In a switching control device of a vehicle control device, when a vehicle is in a non-traveling condition, an operating method for a pressing operation, which is carried out with respect to a push switch in relation to a switching control for switching an operating state of a drive source of the vehicle or a power supply state to a vehicle mounted device of the vehicle, in a case that the operating state of the drive source of the vehicle or the power supply state to the vehicle mounted device of the vehicle is switched from off to on, differs from an operating method for a pressing operation in a case that the operating state or the power supply state is switched from on to off.

Abstract: In a drive mechanism, a two-stage gear has an input gear and a sun gear. A planetary gear is engaged with both of outer teeth of the sun gear and inner teeth of a ring gear. A carrier, which is capable of rotating together with a rotational shaft, supports the planetary gear, and outputs drive force. A drive force transmission switching member switches between a connecting state connecting the two-stage gear and the carrier such that they rotate together via the rotational shaft, and a separating state separating the two-stage gear and carrier such that they rotate relative to each other. A one-way clutch allows the ring gear to rotate in one of a pair of opposite directions about the central axis of the rotational shaft, and prohibits the ring gear from rotating in the other one of the pair of opposite directions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a reconveying unit including a reconveying roller; and a second transmission mechanism. The second transmission mechanism transmits a drive force to the reconveying roller and includes: an input gear; an output gear; an intermediate gear including first and second gears; and first and second swinging gears. The first toothless part of the first gear and the second toothless part of the second gear are provided at such a position that, when the intermediate gear is rotated by a drive force transmitted from the input gear through the second swinging gear while the second swinging gear meshes with the second toothed part of the second gear and the output gear meshes with the first toothed part of the first gear, the first toothless part reaches a position confronting the output gear and then the second toothless part reaches a position confronting the second swinging gear.

Abstract: A smart entry system includes an unlocking sensor, a locking sensor, a smart control unit, and a central control unit. The unlocking sensor detects an operator's intention of unlocking a door. The locking sensor detects the operator's intention of locking the door. The smart control unit confirms whether the operator is an authorized user. The central control unit opens or closes a door lock when the unlocking sensor or the locking sensor is operated and the operator is a regular operator. The central control unit opens the door lock when the unlocking sensor and the locking sensor are operated substantially at the same time while the door lock is in a closed state.

Abstract: A developer cartridge may include: a first gear having a small-diameter gear portion and a large-diameter gear portion; and a second gear including: a first columnar portion centered on a second axis; a second columnar portion having a smaller diameter than the first columnar portion; a first engagement portion extending along a portion of a peripheral surface of the first columnar portion and engageable with the small-diameter gear portion; a second engagement portion extending along a portion of a peripheral surface of the second columnar portion and positioned closer to a housing than the first engagement portion in an axial direction and engageable with the large-diameter gear portion; and a protruding portion protruding in the axial direction and rotatable together with the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion. The second engagement portion may engage the large-diameter gear portion after the first engagement portion engages the small-diameter gear portion.

Abstract: A developing cartridge may include: a casing; a first gear; and a second gear. The first gear may include: a small-diameter gear portion and a large-diameter gear portion. The second gear may include: a first columnar portion; a second columnar portion; a first engaging portion; a second engaging portion; and a protrusion. The first engaging portion may be provided at the first columnar portion and may be engageable with the small-diameter gear portion. The second engaging portion may be provided at the second columnar portion and positioned closer than the first engaging portion to the casing in the axials direction. The second engaging portion may be engageable with the large-diameter gear portion. The protrusion may be rotatable together with the first and second engaging portions. The second engaging portion may be engageable with the large-diameter gear portion after the first engaging portion has engaged with the small-diameter gear portion.

Abstract: A developer cartridge including a first gear having a first engagement part provided along a circumferential surface of the first gear, and a first trigger protruding from the circumferential surface, and a second gear having a small diameter gear part configured to be engaged to the first engagement part, a large diameter gear part rotatable together with the small diameter gear part, and a second trigger configured to contact and rotate the first gear, wherein the large diameter gear part is configured to receive a driving force and rotate to thus move from a first position at which the large diameter gear part can rotate relative to the second trigger to a second position at which the large diameter gear part rotates together with the second trigger, and wherein the second trigger is configured to rotate together with the large diameter gear part to thus contact the first trigger.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a superconducting wire material in which the superconducting current is not saturated even when a superconducting layer is made into a thick film, and a superconducting wire material. In the method a superconducting layer is formed on a metal substrate interposed by an intermediate layer, the method including heating the metal substrate up to the film-formation temperature of a superconducting film for forming the superconducting layer, forming a superconducting film having a film thickness of at least 10 nm and no more than 200 nm on the intermediate layer, and reducing the metal substrate temperature to a level below the film-formation temperature of the superconducting film, and the superconducting film-formation, including the heating, the film-formation, and the cooling, are performed a plurality of times.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image-forming mechanism; a reconveying roller; an electric motor; and a transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism is configured to operate in one of a reverse-rotation transmission mode for reversing a direction of a rotational force received from the electric motor to transmit the reversed rotational force to the reconveying roller and a normal-rotation transmission mode for transmitting the rotational force to the reconveying roller without reversing the direction of the rotational force. The transmission mechanism includes an interrupting unit for interrupting transmission of a rotational force from the reconveying roller to the electric motor at least when a sheet is being conveyed in the image-forming mechanism. The transmission mechanism is configured to interrupt transmission of the rotational force received from the electric motor to the reconveying roller when a sheet is being conveyed in the image-forming mechanism.

Abstract: In a switching control device of a vehicle control device, when a vehicle is in a non-traveling condition, an operating method for a pressing operation, which is carried out with respect to a push switch in relation to a switching control for switching an operating state of a drive source of the vehicle or a power supply state to a vehicle mounted device of the vehicle, in a case that the operating state of the drive source of the vehicle or the power supply state to the vehicle mounted device of the vehicle is switched from off to on, differs from an operating method for a pressing operation in a case that the operating state or the power supply state is switched from on to off.

Abstract: Disclosed is a battery device including a battery enclosure incorporating a battery cell. The battery device further includes an output terminal that outputs power of the battery cell. The battery enclosure includes a first surface, a second surface, a first step surface, a second step surface, a first engaging portion, a second engaging portion, a first groove, and a second groove formed in the second step surface and the second engaging portion, and a recess is provided in at least one of the first step surface and the second step surface.

Abstract: A smart entry system includes an unlocking sensor, a locking sensor, a smart control unit, and a central control unit. The unlocking sensor detects an operator's intention of unlocking a door. The locking sensor detects the operator's intention of locking the door. The smart control unit confirms whether the operator is an authorized user. The central control unit opens or closes a door lock when the unlocking sensor or the locking sensor is operated and the operator is a regular operator. The central control unit opens the door lock when the unlocking sensor and the locking sensor are operated substantially at the same time while the door lock is in a closed state.

Abstract: Disclosed is a battery device including a battery enclosure incorporating a battery cell. The battery device further includes an output terminal that outputs power of the battery cell. The battery enclosure includes a first surface, a second surface, a first step surface, a second step surface, a first engaging portion, a second engaging portion, a first groove, and a second groove formed in the second step surface and the second engaging portion, and a recess is provided in at least one of the first step surface and the second step surface.

Abstract: In a sheet-conveying apparatus, a first arm is disposed between a pick roller and a downstream end of a separator in a conveying direction in which a sheet is conveyed, and a second arm disposed downstream of the separator in the conveying direction. The first arm is movable from a non-detection position to a detection position when contacted by a sheet. The second arm is movable from a non-detection position to a detection position when contacted by a sheet. The sheet-conveying apparatus further includes a sensor configured to output a sensor-signal corresponding to positions of the first and second arms. The sensor outputs a first signal when at least one of the first arm and the second arm is disposed in the detection position. The sensor outputs a second signal other than the first signal when both the first and second arms are disposed in the detection positions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a textured substrate for forming an epitaxial film, including a textured metal layer on at least one surface of the layer, the textured metal layer including a copper layer having a cube texture, the textured metal layer having, on a surface of the layer, palladium added in an amount of 10 to 300 ng/mm2 per unit area, the hydrogen content of the surface of the textured metal layer being 700 to 2000 ppm. This textured substrate is produced through a step of adding 10 to 300 ng/mm2 per unit area of palladium by strike plating to a surface of the copper layer having a cube texture.

Abstract: Erroneous insertion of a battery into an imaging device is prevented. In a battery loading and unloading mechanism, a battery 2 is formed with projecting portions at longitudinal both ends of a back surface and along the back surface, the back surface being a surface opposite to an insertion surface of the battery, whereby even the battery formed in a flat rectangular parallelepiped and having the almost-square main surface can be prevented from being erroneously inserted into the device. The projecting portion has an inclined surface acutely inclined with respect to the back surface, and when the battery is unloaded from the device, unloading of the battery from the device is accelerated by the inclined surface undergoing contact pressure of the retaining means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a textured substrate for epitaxial film formation, comprising a textured metal layer at least on one side, wherein the textured metal layer includes a copper layer having a cube texture and a nickel layer having a thickness of 100 to 20000 nm formed on the copper layer; the nickel layer has a nickel oxide layer formed on a surface thereof, having a thickness of 1 to 30 nm, and including a nickel oxide; and the nickel layer further includes a palladium-containing region formed of palladium-containing nickel at an interface with the nickel oxide layer. The top layer of the textured substrate, i.e. the nickel oxide layer, has a surface roughness of preferably 10 nm or less.