Abstract: An apparatus includes: an image forming portion that forms an image on a medium; a fixing device removably mounted to an apparatus body to fix the image to the medium, the fixing device including a first rotator that contacts the medium, a second rotator that contacts the first rotator, a movable member movable in first and second directions in which the first and second rotators are moved closer to and away from each other, respectively, an urging member, a first end of which is mounted to the movable member and which urges the movable member in the first direction, and a first support portion that supports a second end of the urging member; a cam member that moves the movable member in the second direction; a shaft member to which the cam member is mounted; and a second support portion that supports the shaft member and the first support portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which utilizes a communication device is disclosed. A communication unit of a housing which corresponds to an antenna portion is provided at a position at which the communication unit can be seen without obstruction from the upper side. A communication device such as a smartphone can be brought close to or into contact with the communication unit readily. Accordingly, wireless communication between the antenna portion and the communication device can be established.

Abstract: An apparatus includes: an image forming portion that forms an image on a medium; a fixing device removably mounted to an apparatus body to fix the image to the medium, the fixing device including a first rotator that contacts the medium, a second rotator that contacts the first rotator, a movable member movable in first and second directions in which the first and second rotators are moved closer to and away from each other, respectively, an urging member, a first end of which is mounted to the movable member and which urges the movable member in the first direction, and a first support portion that supports a second end of the urging member; a cam member that moves the movable member in the second direction; a shaft member to which the cam member is mounted; and a second support portion that supports the shaft member and the first support portion.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating unit, an endless belt body that follows rotation of the heating unit, and a pressing unit that faces the heating unit with the endless belt body interposed therebetween. The pressing unit includes a retaining body that rotatably retains the endless belt body, a pressing-area-forming portion that is a part of the retaining body, and a pressing member provided on an upstream side of the retaining body with respect to the pressing-area-forming portion in a direction of rotation of the endless belt body, the pressing member being a metal plate that is bent along a line extending in a longitudinal direction thereof. The pressing unit is movable relative to the heating unit between a position where a pressing area is formed by the pressing-area-forming portion and the pressing member and a position where the pressing area is formed by the pressing member.

Abstract: A semiconductor chip transmits a request signal which requests notification of the setting state of a chip identifier to another semiconductor chip connected to one of the upstream and downstream, receives a response signal indicating the setting state of the chip identifier and the value of the chip identifier, as a response to the request signal, and performs a chip identifier setting process based on the response signal. When receiving a request signal from another semiconductor chip connected to the other of the upstream and downstream, the semiconductor chip transmits a response signal indicating the setting state of the chip identifier and the value of the chip identifier, as a response to the request signal.

Abstract: An ink containing device comprises an ink cartridge and an adaptor. The ink cartridge comprises a first main body comprising a chamber configured to store ink, an ink outlet portion disposed on a first surface of the first main body configured to direct the ink from the chamber to an exterior of the first main body wherein the first surface faces a first direction, and an electrical interface disposed on the first main body. The adaptor is configured to be in an attached state with the ink cartridge. The adaptor comprises a second main body comprising a first contact disposed on a particular surface facing a particular direction, and a second contact disposed on a further surface and electrically connected to the first contact, wherein the second contact is electrically connected to the electrical interface in the attached state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which utilizes a communication device is disclosed. A communication unit of a housing which corresponds to an antenna portion is provided at a position at which the communication unit can be seen without obstruction from the upper side. A communication device such as a smartphone can be brought close to or into contact with the communication unit readily. Accordingly, wireless communication between the antenna portion and the communication device can be established.

Abstract: There are provided an acidic gas absorbing agent that is large in recovery amount of an acidic gas. The acidic gas absorbing agent comprising an amine compound represented by general formula (1), and an acidic gas removing method and an acidic gas removing apparatus using the absorbing agent: wherein R1 represents a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms; R2 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or a hydrogen atom; R3 and R4 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or a hydrogen atom; and R5 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating unit, an endless belt body that follows rotation of the heating unit, and a pressing unit that faces the heating unit with the endless belt body interposed therebetween. The pressing unit includes a retaining body that rotatably retains the endless belt body, a pressing-area-forming portion that is a part of the retaining body, and a pressing member provided on an upstream side of the retaining body with respect to the pressing-area-forming portion in a direction of rotation of the endless belt body, the pressing member being a metal plate that is bent along a line extending in a longitudinal direction thereof. The pressing unit is movable relative to the heating unit between a position where a pressing area is formed by the pressing-area-forming portion and the pressing member and a position where the pressing area is formed by the pressing member.

Abstract: There is provided an acidic gas absorbing agent that is large in absorption amount and high in absorption rate of an acidic gas per unit volume and can prevent the diffusion of ingredients of the absorbing agent. The acidic gas absorbing agent includes an amino acid salt of formula 1 or formula 2 and an amine compound of formula 3. wherein COOMe represents a carboxylate group; Me represents an alkali metal. R1 and R2 represent an C1-4 alkylene chain; R3 represents a cycloalkyl group; R4 represents a hydrogen atom or an C1-4 alkyl group; and R5 represents a hydroxyalkyl group.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion and a fixing device. The image forming portion forms a developer image on a recording medium. The fixing device is removably mounted to an image forming apparatus body, and fixes the developer image formed by the image forming portion to the recording medium. The fixing device includes a first rotator, a second rotator, and a pressing mechanism. The second rotator contacts the first rotator to form an interposition region in which the recording medium is interposed between the first rotator and the second rotator. The pressing mechanism presses the first rotator and the second rotator against each other. The image forming apparatus further includes a change mechanism that changes a force with which the pressing mechanism presses the first rotator and the second rotator against each other. The change mechanism is mounted to the image forming apparatus body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion and a fixing device. The image forming portion forms a developer image on a recording medium. The fixing device is removably mounted to an image forming apparatus body, and fixes the developer image formed by the image forming portion to the recording medium. The fixing device includes a first rotator, a second rotator, and a pressing mechanism. The second rotator contacts the first rotator to form an interposition region in which the recording medium is interposed between the first rotator and the second rotator. The pressing mechanism presses the first rotator and the second rotator against each other. The image forming apparatus further includes a change mechanism that changes a force with which the pressing mechanism presses the first rotator and the second rotator against each other. The change mechanism is mounted to the image forming apparatus body.

Abstract: An acid gas absorbent of which recovery amount of acid gas such as carbon dioxide is high, and an acid gas removal device and an acid gas removal method using the acid gas absorbent are provided. The acid gas absorbent of the embodiment comprising at least one type of tertiary amine compound represented by the following general formula (1). (In the above-stated formula (1), either one of the R1, R2 represents a substituted or non-substituted alkyl group of which carbon number is 2 to 5, and the other one represents a substituted or non-substituted alkyl group of which carbon number is 1 to 5. The R3 represents a methyl group or an ethyl group, and the R4 represents a hydroxyalkyl group. The R1, R2 may either be the same or different, and they may be coupled to form a cyclic structure.

Abstract: An ink cartridge comprises a main body comprising a first surface, a second surface, and a chamber, configured to store ink, disposed between the first surface and the second surface; an ink outlet portion disposed on the first surface of the main body configured to direct the ink from the chamber to an exterior of the main body; and an electronic circuit board disposed on the main body. The electronic circuit board comprises an electrical interface, a first portion facing a second direction that intersects a first plane that is perpendicular to the first direction, a second portion facing a third direction away from the ink outlet portion that intersects a second plane that is parallel to the first direction, and a connecting portion between the first portion and the second portion. The electrical interface is disposed on an area of the electronic circuit board including the connecting portion.

Abstract: A liquid ejection device includes a liquid ejection head including a surface formed with nozzles arranged in a first direction, a head moving unit reciprocating the liquid ejection head along a line parallel to the surface and perpendicular to the first direction, a conveyor portion conveying the recording medium in the first direction, and a corrugate mechanism disposed upstream or downstream of the liquid ejection head in the first direction and forming the recording medium in a predetermined corrugated shape. A controller determines an ejection timing for ejecting liquid from ones of the nozzles appropriate to a corrugated shape formed in the recording medium while the liquid ejection head is moved, a memory that stores ejection timing information, and a gap sensor that moves with the liquid ejection head to determine a gap between the recording medium and the liquid ejection surface in the second direction.

Abstract: Provided is a friction modifier for a top coating agent for a hexavalent chromium-free trivalent chromium chemical conversion coating film or chromium-free chemical conversion coating film, said friction modifier including a polyoxyalkylene fatty acid ester.

Abstract: Provided is a black coupling member for vehicles, comprising a trivalent chromium black chemical conversion film and a black coating film upon the trivalent chromium black chemical conversion film, on the surface of a zinc-plated metal substrate. The trivalent chromium black chemical conversion film is formed using a hexavalent chromium-free trivalent chromium black chemical conversion treatment solution having a Zn ion concentration of no more than 20 g/L. The lightness (L) of the trivalent chromium black chemical conversion film is no more than 33. The black coating film includes a black chemical conversion component, a modified organopolysiloxane, and a friction coefficient-adjustment component. The black chemical conversion component content is 2-25 wt % relative to 100 wt % of the black coating film. The lightness (L) is no more than 28.

Abstract: There is provided an acidic gas absorbing agent that is large in absorption amount and high in absorption rate of an acidic gas per unit volume and can prevent the diffusion of ingredients of the absorbing agent. The acidic gas absorbing agent includes an amino acid salt of formula 1 or formula 2 and an amine compound of formula 3. wherein COOMe represents a carboxylate group; Me represents an alkali metal. R1 and R2 represent an C1-4 alkylene chain; R3 represents a cycloalkyl group; R4 represents a hydrogen atom or an C1-4 alkyl group; and R5 represents a hydroxyalkyl group.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first rotary member; a second rotary member that is in contact with the first rotary member and presses a recording medium passing therethrough; a heating member that heats a contact area; a first support member supporting the first rotary member from inside so as to be in contact with the second rotary member; a second support member supporting the first support member and switchable between states in which it is in contact with and separated from the first support member; a first urging-force applying member attached to the second support member and urging the second and first support members against the second rotary member; a second urging-force applying member disposed between the first and second support members; and a switching member via which the first and second support members are switched between states in which they are in contact with and separated from each other.

Abstract: An ink cartridge comprises a main body comprising a first surface, a second surface, and a chamber, configured to store ink, disposed between the first surface and the second surface; an ink outlet portion disposed on the first surface of the main body configured to direct the ink from the chamber to an exterior of the main body; and an electronic circuit board disposed on the main body. The electronic circuit board comprises an electrical interface, a first portion facing a second direction that intersects a first plane that is perpendicular to the first direction, a second portion facing a third direction away from the ink outlet portion that intersects a second plane that is parallel to the first direction, and a connecting portion between the first portion and the second portion. The electrical interface is disposed on an area of the electronic circuit board including the connecting portion.