Abstract: Provided is an analyzing program for a laboratory test, which stores a measurement program for concurrently processing inspection cartridges regarding all the combinations of prepared reaction and measurement patterns, the analyzing program causing an analyzing apparatus to execute the processes of reading the reaction and measurement patterns of the inspection cartridges in each of which one of the reaction and measurement patterns prepared in advance is provided, invoking a measurement program corresponding to a combination of the read reaction and measurement patterns, and performing reaction and measurement in accordance with the invoked measurement program.

Abstract: Provided is an electrophotographic magnetic sealing member for sealing magnetic toner contains a magnetic material and a binder resin. The magnetic material at least includes Nd and Fe, and further includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sr and Ba, at least one element selected from the group consisting of Pr and La, at least one element selected from the group consisting of B, Si, In, and P, and an Al element. The magnetic material has a residual magnetic flux density of 270 mT to 500 mT, an intrinsic coercive force of 400 kA/m to 850 kA/m, and a maximum energy product of 10.0 kJ/m3 to 40.0 kJ/m3. The electrophotographic magnetic sealing member contains 3.0 parts by mass to 15.0 parts by mass of the binder resin based on 100.0 parts by mass of the magnetic material.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for producing a conductive rubber roller having small aspect ratios of inner and outer diameters, having a stable measure of its inner diameter, having uniform cell distribution and being free from non-uniformity of hardness and electrical resistance in the peripheral direction. The process has a step of continuously extruding a tube composed of a specific unvulcanized rubber composition from a rubber extruder in a microwave vulcanizing unit, and a step of foaming and vulcanizing the tube by using a microwave irradiator having a microwave irradiation zone 4 m or less in length while being transported at given speed. The foamed rubber tube has an inner diameter 20 to 35% smaller than the outer diameter of the conductive core material over the whole region in the lengthwise direction, and the conductive core material is press-fitted into the foamed rubber tube without using any adhesive.

Abstract: To provide a blade for electrophotographic apparatus that can have much superior durability as being made low frictional at its touching part and also improved in bonding force between the touching part and the blade member, a blade for electrophotographic apparatus is provided which has a blade member having a touching part which is to come into touch with an object member, and a support member which holds the blade member; the touching part being formed of a material which is different from that for the blade member; the touching part having a touching face having a coefficient of static friction which is smaller than that of a surface of the blade member; and the touching part having a joint surface at which the touching part is joined with the blade member which joint surface has a center line average roughness Ra of from 0.5 ?m to 10.0 ?m.

Abstract: A cleaning blade for an electrophotographic apparatus including a thermosetting polyurethane elastomer blade member, in which in the blade member, a concentration of nitrogen is gradually increased from an inside of a contact region to contact the image bearing member toward the surface of the contact region; and a relationship between an amount of the concentration of nitrogen to be changed ?1=N0?N5 and an amount of the concentration of nitrogen to be changed ?2=N5?Ne is ?1>?2 wherein a concentration of nitrogen in the surface N0 is not less than 1.5 wt % and not more than 20.0 wt %, a concentration of nitrogen Ne at a depth in which the concentration of nitrogen is no longer changed is not less than 0.7 wt % and not more than 10 wt %, and N5 is a concentration of nitrogen at a depth of 5 ?m.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for producing a conductive rubber roller having small aspect ratios of inner and outer diameters, having a stable measure of its inner diameter, having uniform cell distribution and being free from non-uniformity of hardness and electrical resistance in the peripheral direction. The process has a step of continuously extruding a tube composed of a specific unvulcanized rubber composition from a rubber extruder in a microwave vulcanizing unit, and a step of foaming and vulcanizing the tube by using a microwave irradiator having a microwave irradiation zone 4 m or less in length while being transported at given speed. The foamed rubber tube has an inner diameter 20 to 35% smaller than the outer diameter of the conductive core material over the whole region in the lengthwise direction, and the conductive core material is press-fitted into the foamed rubber tube without using any adhesive.

Abstract: A cleaning blade for an electrophotographic apparatus including a thermosetting polyurethane elastomer blade member, in which in the blade member, a concentration of nitrogen is gradually increased from an inside of a contact region to contact the image bearing member toward the surface of the contact region; and a relationship between an amount of the concentration of nitrogen to be changed ?1=N0?N5 and an amount of the concentration of nitrogen to be changed ?2=N5?Ne is ?1>?2 wherein a concentration of nitrogen in the surface N0 is not less than 1.5 wt % and not more than 20.0 wt %, a concentration of nitrogen Ne at a depth in which the concentration of nitrogen is no longer changed is not less than 0.7 wt % and not more than 10 wt %, and N5 is a concentration of nitrogen at a depth of 5 ?m.

Abstract: A blade for an electrophotographic apparatus is provided which is prevented from turning up, achieves wear resistance, and has excellent cleaning properties. The blade is composed of a support member and a blade member formed of a thermosetting polyurethane elastomer, which are joined together. The blade member has a structure in which a nitrogen concentration continuously increases from the inside of a contact part coming into contact with a counterpart member toward the surface of the contact part.

Abstract: A mold for use in producing a molded body of an elastomer has a holding layer and a releasing layer on an inner periphery surface of a main body of a die. The releasing layer is formed of an addition two-component liquid silicone having a polysilazane-based or polysiloxane-based chain as a main chain, contains 0.5 mass % or less of a component which volatilizes at a curing temperature of a liquid elastomer raw material, does not contain silica, has International Rubber Hardness Degree of 50 to 85 degrees, and contains a solid lubricant having an average particle size of 2 to 20 ?m. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing a blade for an electrophotographic apparatus by using the mold and a developer amount controlling blade having specific load length ratio and ten-point average roughness in which a blade member is manufactured with the method.

Abstract: A cleaning blade is provided which does not cause contamination of other parts even when being stored for a long period of time in a high temperature and high humidity environment. The cleaning blade is set in an image forming apparatus employing an electrostatic transfer process, including a blade member and a support member to rub and remove residual toner remaining on a photosensitive drum provided to the image forming apparatus, in which the total amount of nitrogen-containing compounds extracted with methanol from the cleaning blade is 12 ?g or less per cm of the cleaning blade in its longitudinal direction.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for producing a conductive rubber roller having small aspect ratios of inner and outer diameters, having a stable measure of its inner diameter, having uniform cell distribution and being free from non-uniformity of hardness and electrical resistance in the peripheral direction. The process has a step of continuously extruding a tube composed of a specific unvulcanized rubber composition from a rubber extruder in a microwave vulcanizing unit, and a step of foaming and vulcanizing the tube by using a microwave irradiator having a microwave irradiation zone 4 m or less in length while being transported at given speed. The foamed rubber tube has an inner diameter 20 to 35% smaller than the outer diameter of the conductive core material over the whole region in the lengthwise direction, and the conductive core material is press-fitted into the foamed rubber tube without using any adhesive.

Abstract: A developer level control blade is provided which can form a developer layer on a developer carrying member in a proper thickness and in a uniform state and can keep the developer, in particular, color toner particles from melt-adhering to the charge control face so that faulty images such as lines and non-uniformity can be kept from occurring. Also provided is a process for manufacturing this developer level control blade. The process for manufacturing the developer level control blade is characterized by having the steps of extruding a blade member material melted to liquefy, covering therewith a support member thin-plate metal member at an edge portion thereof to join the both together, and cooling the blade member material to solidify, followed by cutting in a preset length.

Abstract: A copolymer obtained by copolymerizing at least one monomer selected from specific acrylate or methacrylate monomers, at least one monomer selected from specific amino group-containing monomers and at least one monomer selected from specific polar group-containing monomers. A resin for electrophotographic functional component parts, which contains this copolymer, a developing roller in which a cover layer serving as a surface layer contains the copolymer as a positive charge control resin, and an electrophotographic apparatus that includes the developing roller.

Abstract: A process for producing a conductive rubber roller having a conductive core material and a rubber layer provided thereon. The rubber layer contains at least acrylonitrile rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber and a blowing agent, and has a gas generation rate of from 2 ml/g·min to 4 ml/g·min at 170° C. to 230° C. The process has a vulcanizing and foaming step of vulcanizing and foaming the rubber layer by using a microwave vulcanizing furnace which provides hot air and irradiation with microwaves. A temperature of a heating atmosphere in the microwave vulcanizing furnace in the vulcanizing and foaming step is so controlled that a ratio of initial vulcanizing time T10 to initial foaming time Tp10, T10/Tp10, of the rubber layer is from 1 or more to less than 3 and the T10 is within 90 seconds.

Abstract: A toner supplying roller is provided in which a polyurethane foam layer can be obtained without decreasing the reactivity of the polyurethane material, and in which contamination by a catalyst remaining in the polyurethane foam layer is suppressed, so that a good image can be obtained. Moreover, the toner supplying roller has suitable aperture cells in the surface, suitably performs the scraping off of the development residual toner and toner supply between the toner supplying roller and the developing roller, and forms a uniform toner thin film on the developing roller, so that a good image can be obtained. In a toner supplying roller including a polyurethane foam layer that is formed on the mandrel periphery using a polyurethane material including a polyol and a polyisocyanate, the polyol and the polyisocyanate have an amine number of 3 mg KOH/g or more and 15 mg KOH/g or less in total.

Abstract: To provide a blade for electrophotographic apparatus that can have much superior durability as being made low frictional at its touching part and also improved in bonding force between the touching part and the blade member, a blade for electrophotographic apparatus is provided which has a blade member having a touching part which is to come into touch with an object member, and a support member which holds the blade member; the touching part being formed of a material which is different from that for the blade member; the touching part having a touching face having a coefficient of static friction which is smaller than that of a surface of the blade member; and the touching part having a joint surface at which the touching part is joined with the blade member which joint surface has a center line average roughness Ra of from 0.5 ?m to 10.0 ?m.

Abstract: A method of producing an electrophotographic blade member includes a continuous molding groove in an peripheral surface and an endless belt, in which the blade member includes a polyurethane resin cured a polyurethane composition having a viscosity of 500-3,000 mPa·s and including A)-D), and a position at which the composition is injected is set, on the belt, opposing to the groove, the position being away from a portion at which the molding drum and the belt are first contacted on an upstream for a moving direction of the belt: A) polyisocyanate; B) adipate-based polyester polyol having a number average molecular weight of 1,000-4,000; C) chain extender having a molecular weight of 200 or less; D) isocyanurate-forming catalyst at 20 to 500 ppm and a urethane-forming catalyst at 200-1,500 ppm.

Abstract: A transfer roller is provide that less cause faulty image which is used in electrophotographic process such as copiers and laser-beam printers, in particular, used on the inner side of an intermediate transfer belt of a full-color image forming apparatus. It is a transfer roller which has a shaft and provided on the periphery thereof at least two conductive foamed rubber layers; the layers having an outermost layer which has a foamed rubber mean cell size of from 10 ?m or more to less than 100 ?m and an inner layer which has a foamed rubber mean cell size of from 100 ?m or more to 500 ?m or less; and, as measured in an environment of 23° C./55% RH, the roller having a resistance Rx of from 5.6 or more to 7.0 or less in Log Rx and the inner layer having a resistance Ry of from 5.0 or more to 7.0 or less in Log Ry.

Abstract: A conductive rubber roller having a rubber layer on a conductive core material. The rubber composition constituting the rubber layer contains a rubber component and a filler. The rubber component contains an epichlorohydrin rubber. The filler includes carbon black (A) having a nitrogen adsorption specific surface area (N2SA) of 20 m2/g to 40 m2/g and having a dibutyl phthalate (DBP) oil absorption of 80 ml/100 g to 100 ml/100 g and carbon black (B) having a nitrogen adsorption specific surface area (N2SA) of 15 m2/g or less and having a dibutyl phthalate (DBP) oil absorption of 40 ml/100 g or less. The carbon black (A) is in a content of 10 parts by mass to 30 parts by mass and the carbon black (B) is in a content of 20 parts by mass to 60 parts by mass or less, based on 100 parts by mass of the rubber component.

Abstract: To provide a positive charge control resin with which an electrophotographic functional component part coming into contact with a toner can be made chargeable in a polarity reverse to the polarity of the toner, and which has superior dispersibility in, and compatibility with, a main binder. The present invention is a positive charge control resin having a copolymer obtained by polymerizing specific acrylate or methacrylate monomer, amino-group-containing monomer(s) and carboxyl-group-containing monomer(s) as copolymerization components.