Abstract: Provided is a charging member contamination determining device including plural units that includes a charging member, a member to be charged and a measuring section that measures a discharging current value between the charging member and the member to be charged, a calculating section that calculates a difference between current values measured by two units among the plural units, and a determining section that determines the presence or absence of contamination in the charging member based on the difference between the current values for each combination of two units calculated by the calculating section.

Abstract: Provided is a cleaning device including a brush roll that removes residual toner remaining on a surface of a toner image carrier provided in an electrophotographic apparatus, and a pressure detector that contacts the surface of the brush roll with preload, and outputs a detected pressure value to a determination unit that is provided in the electrophotographic apparatus to determine the adhesion state of toner to the brush roll.

Abstract: Provided is the following developer carrying member. The member has high charge-providing performance even under a high-temperature, high-humidity environment, and its surface layer hardly peels off its elastic layer even after long-term standing under the high-temperature, high-humidity environment. The developer carrying member comprises a mandrel, an elastic layer including a silicone rubber, and a surface layer covering a surface of the elastic layer, and the surface layer comprises a binder resin, and a copolymer having structural units of formula (1) and formula (2). R1 represents an alkyl group having 10-18 carbon atoms, R2 represents a methyl group or a hydrogen atom, R3 represents an alkylene group having 1-4 carbon atoms, X? represents a chloride ion, a bromide ion, or a p-toluenesulfonic acid ion, R4 represents a methyl group or a hydrogen atom, and R5 represents an alkylene group having 1-4 carbon atoms.

Abstract: There is provided a displacement sensor which can precisely detect the amount of displacement given by an operator. A touch sensor which is a type of the displacement sensor has a piezoelectric element, a voltage converting unit and a detecting unit. The piezoelectric element instantaneously generates a voltage proportional to a pressing force (the amount of pressing). The voltage converting unit converts the voltage generated by the piezoelectric element, into a voltage proportional to a transition determined based on a predetermined time constant determined by an impedance of a resistor of the voltage converting unit and capacitances of a capacitor and the piezoelectric element, and a pressing force. The detecting unit integrates output voltages of the voltage converting unit, and calculates the pressing force (the amount of pressing) based on an integration value.

Abstract: A high quality developing member that is excellent in deformation recovery property under a high temperature and that also satisfies filming resistance under a low temperature is provided. The developing member of the present invention includes a mandrel, an elastic layer formed on the outer periphery surface of the mandrel, and a surface layer covering the outer periphery surface of the elastic layer, wherein the surface layer contains a first resin and a second resin, the first resin has a particular structure between adjacent two urethane linkages, and the second resin is a resin having a particular structure and having a glass transition point Tg of 20° C. or higher and 120° C. or lower.

Abstract: Disclosed is a magnetic annealing apparatus including a carrier conveyance region and a workpiece conveyance region. The carrier conveyance region includes: a first mounting table where a carrier is disposed; second mounting tables where carriers are disposed to convey workpieces from the carrier conveyance region to the workpiece conveyance region; a storage unit that stores carriers; and a carrier conveyance mechanism that performs carrying-out/carrying-in of the carriers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a magnetic annealing apparatus which performs a magnetic annealing on workpieces held in a workpiece boat by using a horizontal superconducting magnet as a magnetic field generating unit. The magnetic annealing apparatus includes a carrier configured to accommodate the workpieces before the magnetic annealing process; and a workpiece conveyance mechanism configured to convey the workpieces held in the carrier to the workpiece boat. The workpiece conveyance mechanism is capable of holding the workpieces in either a horizontal state or in a horizontal state.

Abstract: Gasification of carbon-containing raw material into gasified gas and recovery of CO2 are enabled at the same pressure throughout a system.

Abstract: In an oxyfuel combustion boiler system, nitrogen gas separated by an air separation unit (ASU) is supplied as carrier gas to a pulverizer for drying and pulverization of fuel. A fluid mixture of the nitrogen gas from the pulverizer with pulverized fuel is supplied to a powder separation device where the pulverized fuel is separated. The separated pulverized fuel is mixed with the primary recirculated flue gas and supplied to a burner.

Abstract: Provided is a precoated fin material for heat exchangers that allows the construction of a fin structure in which frost formation at the time of heater operation can be prevented to the extent possible, and under such a condition that condensation is liable to occur on a fin surface, a water droplet of condensed water can be quickly removed by bringing the water droplet into contact with a hydrophilic film, and as a result, a favorable heat exchange function can be maintained without any increase in ventilation resistance. Also provided is a heat exchanger including such fin structure.

Abstract: In an oxygen mixer for an oxygen combustion boiler, circulating exhaust gas heated in a rotary preheater is mixed with oxygen. Resultant mixed gas is guided to a boiler furnace through a combustion gas duct having bends. At the bend closest to the rotary preheater in the combustion gas duct, an oxygen injection nozzle is arranged to have a plurality of injection ports for injection of oxygen into circulating exhaust gas.

Abstract: Construction of an electric power-steering apparatus is achieved that, by stably suppressing backlash of an output shaft 6a of an electric motor 5 over a long period of time, is able to stably reduce vibration and strange noise that occurs during operation. The front end section of the output shaft 6a and the base end section of a worm 7 are connected such that torque can be transmitted and such that relative displacement in the axial direction is possible. An elastic member 31 having an elastic force in a direction that separates the output shaft 6a and worm 7 is provided in the connecting section between the output shaft 6a and the worm 7. Due to the elastic force of the elastic member 31, together with the tandem arrangement contact angles, the preload is applied to a pair of ball bearings 14a, 14b that support the output shaft 6a with respect to the motor case 13 such that the output shaft 6a can rotate freely.

Abstract: Provided is a developing member capable of exerting stable performance under various environments. The developing member comprises a mandrel, an elastic layer formed on a periphery of the mandrel, and a surface layer covering a peripheral surface of the elastic layer. The surface layer contains a polyurethane and zinc oxide particles dispersed in the polyurethane, and the polyurethane has, between two adjacent urethane bonds, one or both of structures selected from structures according to the following item (A) and the following item (B): (A) a structure represented by the following structural formula (1), and one or both of structures selected from a structure represented by the following structural formula (2) and a structure represented by the following structural formula (3); and (B) a structure represented by the following structural formula (4).

Abstract: A high quality developing member that is excellent in deformation recovery property under a high temperature and that also satisfies filming resistance under a low temperature is provided. The developing member of the present invention includes a mandrel, an elastic layer formed on the outer periphery surface of the mandrel, and a surface layer covering the outer periphery surface of the elastic layer, wherein the surface layer contains a first resin and a second resin, the first resin has a particular structure between adjacent two urethane linkages, and the second resin is a resin having a particular structure and having a glass transition point Tg of 20° C. or higher and 120° C. or lower.

Abstract: To realize a practical structure capable of increasing the number of frictional engagement sections between members that are relatively displaced in response to adjustment of a front-rear position of a steering wheel, in a portion of a front end section of an outer column 11b that opposes to an intermediate section of an adjustment bolt 17a, there is formed a slit 33 that is long in the axial direction of this outer column 11b, and in a portion of the intermediate section of the adjustment bolt 17a that opposes to this outer column 11b, there is provided a pressing member 37, this pressing member 37 pressing the outer circumferential surface of the outer column 11b radially inward, with the rotation of the adjustment bolt 17a, and when fixing the front-rear position, with the rotation of the adjustment bolt 17a, a pair of supporting plate sections 23, which constitute a nipping (fixed) bracket 22a, nipping a nipped (movable) bracket 24a, and at the same time, the pressing member 37 bringing the inner circumfe

Abstract: In a steering apparatus including a column 46, a column 42, a bracket 21 movable with respect to the column 42 upon a secondary collision, a member 81 attaching to the moving bracket 21 and absorbing impact energy with making plastic deformation, a guide bracket 61 fixed to the column 46 and having a guide groove 63 guiding movement of the column 42, and a guide pin 71 fixed to the bracket 21 and movable with the bracket 21 with being guided by the guide groove 63, the guide bracket 61 includes a gap forming portion 61e forming a gap 61d between the guide bracket 61 and the bracket 21, a member 81 is latched to the guide bracket 61 and includes an extending portion extending along the gap 61d, thereby providing a steering apparatus not necessary to fix an end of an impact-energy-absorption member to a vehicle-body-side bracket upon attaching the steering apparatus to the vehicle body, or not restricting a shape of a connecting member by the impact-energy-absorption member.

Abstract: A developing roller including a mandrel, an elastic layer provided on the mandrel and containing a cured material of an addition curable-type dimethyl silicone rubber, and a surface layer containing a urethane resin that covers the circumferential surface of the elastic layer. The urethane resin has a structure represented by the following formula (1), and one or both structures selected from a structure represented by the following formula (2) and a structure represented by the following formula (3) between two adjacent urethane linkages.

Abstract: Provided is a developing member capable of exerting stable performance under various environments. The developing member comprises a mandrel, an elastic layer formed on a periphery of the mandrel, and a surface layer covering a peripheral surface of the elastic layer. The surface layer contains a polyurethane and zinc oxide particles dispersed in the polyurethane, and the polyurethane has, between two adjacent urethane bonds, one or both of structures selected from structures according to the following item (A) and the following item (B): (A) a structure represented by the following structural formula (1), and one or both of structures selected from a structure represented by the following structural formula (2) and a structure represented by the following structural formula (3); and (B) a structure represented by the following structural formula (4).

Abstract: Provided is a method of reforming a produced gas to reform tar contained in the produced gas from a gasification furnace. Quick lime comes in contact with a produced gas (3) from a gasification furnace (2) in a reformer (1) such that the quick lime absorbs carbon dioxide in the produced gas to generate calcium carbonate, and reforming reaction of the tar is performed with calcium as a catalyst using heat of reaction emitted during that time. In addition, as the calcium carbonate of the reformer (1) is supplied and burnt in a reforming agent regenerator (8), the quick lime is regenerated and supplied into the reformer (1) again. According to the above configuration, it is possible to provide a method and device for reforming a produced gas that are capable of simplifying equipment and operation thereof.

Abstract: A steering apparatus has a column 46, a column 42 fitted to the column 46 and able to make collapsing movement or move, a bracket 21 attached to a vehicle body in such a way that it can be detached with the column 42 by an impact force of a secondary collision, a guide bracket 61 fixed to the column 46 and having a guide groove 63, and a pin 71 fixed to the bracket 21 and movable with the bracket 21 while being guided by the guide groove 63. The guide bracket 61 has a flat plate portion 61d that is not contact with the bracket 21. A guide groove 63 is provided in the flat plate portion 61d. The pin 71 has a head portion 713 at the top having a diameter larger than its shaft portion. The apparatus has a gap setting portion that is in abutment with the upper surface of the bracket 21 when the pin 71 is fixed to the bracket 21 to set the distance between the lower surface of the head portion 713 and the upper surface of the bracket 21 to a predetermined value.