Abstract: In the ground fault detecting circuit, one terminals of first to third resistance elements are connected to first to third AC lines, respectively, the other terminals of the first to third resistance elements are commonly connected to one terminal of a fourth resistance element, and the other terminal of the fourth resistance element is connected to a line of a ground voltage. On the basis of a voltage across the terminals of the fourth resistance element, the ground fault detecting circuit detects whether a ground fault has occurred or not. Since a current does not flow through the fourth resistance element in the normal state and flows through the fourth resistance element after the occurrence of a ground fault, it is possible to detect the occurrence of the ground fault at a high accuracy.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes: a main assembly; a holding unit detachably mountable to the main assembly; a portion-to-be-engaged provided on the main assembly; a rotatable member, provided in the holding unit, for feeding a sheet; and a guiding member for guiding feeding of the sheet. The guiding member is provided in the holding unit and includes an engaging portion engageable with the portion-to-be-engaged. The guiding member is movable between an engaging position where the portion-to-be-engaged and the engaging portion are engaged with each other to guide the sheet and a guiding position where the portion-to-be-engaged and the engaging portion are disengaged from each other to guide demounting and mounting of the holding unit.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus has an abutment portion attached to a holding portion movably in first and second directions. The abutment portion is configured such that a movable range of the abutment portion is restricted by a second restricting portion from a first movable range in a state in which the move of the holding portion is restricted by the first restricting portion to a second movable range in a state in which the restriction on of the holding portion is released by the releasing portion. The movable range of the second movable range is narrower than a movable range of the first movable range.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable fixing member configured to heat and fix, onto a recording material, a toner image formed on the recording material, a restriction member configured to restrict movement of the rotatable fixing member in a generatrix direction of the rotatable fixing member, and a capture member configured to capture a component vaporized by heat. The capture member is arranged to face a curved surface portion of the rotatable fixing member and is positioned by the restriction member.

Abstract: This thyristor starter includes a control angle operation portion including a function or a table showing relation between a rotation speed of a synchronous machine and a phase control angle of an inverter and finding a phase control angle having a value in accordance with the rotation speed of the synchronous machine found by a speed operation portion. The phase control angle varies from a minimum value to a maximum value in accordance with the rotation speed of the synchronous machine, and a rate of increase in phase control angle relative to the rotation speed of the synchronous machine is varied in a plurality of steps in accordance with the rotation speed of the synchronous machine.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes an abutment portion attached to a holding portion movably in first and second directions. The abutment portion is configured such that a movable range of the abutment portion is restricted by a second restricting portion from a first movable range in a state in which the move of the holding portion is restricted by the first restricting portion to a second movable range in a state in which the restriction on of the holding portion is released by the releasing portion. The movable range in the second direction of the second movable range is narrower than a movable range in the second direction of the first movable range.

Abstract: In the ground fault detecting circuit, one terminals of first to third resistance elements are connected to first to third AC lines, respectively, the other terminals of the first to third resistance elements are commonly connected to one terminal of a fourth resistance element, and the other terminal of the fourth resistance element is connected to a line of a ground voltage. On the basis of a voltage across the terminals of the fourth resistance element, the ground fault detecting circuit detects whether a ground fault has occurred or not. Since a current does not flow through the fourth resistance element in the normal state and flows through the fourth resistance element after the occurrence of a ground fault, it is possible to detect the occurrence of the ground fault at a high accuracy.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable fixing member configured to heat and fix, onto a recording material, a toner image formed on the recording material, a restriction member configured to restrict movement of the rotatable fixing member in a generatrix direction of the rotatable fixing member, and a capture member configured to capture a component vaporized by heat. The capture member is arranged to face a curved surface portion of the rotatable fixing member and is positioned by the restriction member.

Abstract: An encoder structure includes a sensor head unit 6 installed in an irrotational part, a rotative magnetic ring unit 4 that is positioned close to the sensor head unit 6 and has a north pole and a south pole arranged alternately on a circumference thereof, and a groove unit 7 formed in at least one of spaces between the north pole and the south pole located on a surface of the magnetic ring unit 4. Thus, deposits such as iron particles are easily drained away with muddy water because a part where the iron particles tend to be accumulated along a magnetic flux functions as a groove-like path. Additionally, accumulated iron particles remain inside the groove unit 7 that is concave shaped. Accordingly, prevention of damage to the sensor head unit 6 is achieved.

Abstract: A pedal supporting structure for a vehicle includes a pedal bracket secured to a dash board, a pedal shaft for swingably supporting a pedal arm, a pin member for mounting the pedal shaft on the pedal bracket and a separation member secured to a support beam. An arm section of the separation member has a guide slot capable of a relative displacement of a pin member inserted to the pedal shaft and contacting the slanted surface. The arm section of the separation member has a slanted surface at the middle thereof. When an external force larger than a specified value is applied to a front part of the vehicle, due to the relative displacement between the pedal bracket and the separation member, the pin member comes out of the pedal shaft and as a result the pedal arm is separated from the pedal shaft.

Abstract: A pedal supporting structure for a vehicle includes a pedal bracket secured to a dash board, a pedal shaft for swingably supporting a pedal arm, a pin member for mounting the pedal shaft on the pedal bracket and a separation member secured to a support beam. An arm section of the separation member has a guide slot capable of a relative displacement of a pin member inserted to the pedal shaft and contacting the slanted surface. The arm section of the separation member has a slanted surface at the middle thereof. When an external force larger than a specified value is applied to a front part of the vehicle, due to the relative displacement between the pedal bracket and the separation member, the pin member comes out of the pedal shaft and as a result the pedal arm is separated from the pedal shaft.

Abstract: A pedal supporting structure includes a pedal bracket secured at a front end thereof to a dash panel and secured at a rear end thereof to a support beam, a pedal shaft for swingably supporting a pedal arm and a pressure member disposed in front of the pedal shaft. When an external force larger than a specified value is exerted, a front part of the pedal bracket is constituted to be more easily deformed than other parts of the pedal bracket. When the front part of the pedal bracket is deformed, the pressure member presses the pedal shaft in a backward direction. As a result, the pedal shaft is disengaged from the pedal bracket due to a relative displacement between the pedal shaft and the pedal bracket.