Abstract: The object of an embodiment of the present invention is to improve the quality of a tobacco product. The present invention relates to a tobacco plant in which a mutation is introduced in a genome, the mutation causing suppression of a function of a specific endogenous gene.

Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating portion having one end provided with an opening, and drive receiving portion, a discharging portion including a receiving portion into which the one end of the accommodating portion is inserted, and a developer discharge opening, the accommodating portion being mounted to the discharging portion rotatably relative to the discharging portion; a sealing member sealing between the one end and the receiving portion; a projection radially projecting from an outer peripheral surface of the accommodating portion; and a first restricting portion and a second restricting portion provided on the receiving portion of the discharging portion at positions upstream and downstream of the projection, respectively in the inserting direction and contactable to the projection to restrict an inclination of the rotational axis of the accommodating portion relative to the inserting direction within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A developer supply container includes an accommodating portion, a discharging portion, a sealing member, a first restricting portion, and a second restricting portion positioned upstream of the first restricting portion with respect to an inserting direction of the accommodating portion. The seal member is provided between the first restricting portion and the second restricting portion with respect to a rotational axis direction of the accommodating portion.

Abstract: A developer supply container includes an accommodating portion, a discharging portion, a sealing member, a first restricting portion, and a second restricting portion positioned upstream of the first restricting portion with respect to an inserting direction of the accommodating portion. The seal member is provided between the first restricting portion and the second restricting portion with respect to a rotational axis direction of the accommodating portion.

Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating portion having one end provided with an opening, and drive receiving portion, a discharging portion including a receiving portion into which the one end of the accommodating portion is inserted, and a developer discharge opening, the accommodating portion being mounted to the discharging portion rotatably relative to the discharging portion; a sealing member sealing between the one end and the receiving portion; a projection radially projecting from an outer peripheral surface of the accommodating portion; and a first restricting portion and a second restricting portion provided on the receiving portion of the discharging portion at positions upstream and downstream of the projection, respectively in the inserting direction and contactable to the projection to restrict an inclination of the rotational axis of the accommodating portion relative to the inserting direction within a predetermined range.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable belt member, a first stretch roller, a second stretch roller, a rotary member, a conveyance roller, a pressing member, a driving source, and a control unit. The pressing member moves between a first position and a second position at which the pressing member projects to a conveyance path of the recording material than the first position. The driving source drives the pressing member. The control unit controls the driving source such that the pressing member is positioned at the first position if a basis weight of the recording material conveyed to the transfer nip portion is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value and the pressing member is positioned at the second position if the basis weight of the recording material conveyed to the transfer nip portion is greater than the predetermined value.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material, the apparatus including: a first helical gear and a second helical gear that are engaged with each other; and a driving portion that applies a driving force to the first helical gear, wherein at least one of the first helical gear and the second helical gear is a helical gear in which torsional rigidity in a tooth width direction of one side end in a width direction of the gear is larger than torsional rigidity in a tooth width direction of the other side end, and wherein a twist direction of helical teeth and a rotational direction of the first helical gear due to the driving portion are set such that the other side end is engaged earlier than the one side end.

Abstract: A belt feeding device includes a movable endless belt including a preventing guide provided through one-full circumference at each of end portions of the belt with respect to a widthwise direction perpendicular to a movement direction of the belt, and includes a plurality of rotatable rollers including a driving roller and a tension roller. The driving roller moves the belt by being rotationally driven about a rotational axis of which direction is fixed, and includes a tapered portion, at each of end portions thereof with respect to a rotational axis direction, which narrows in diameter from a central portion toward the end portion with respect to the rotational axis direction and which contacts the preventing guide. The tension roller rotates about a swingable rotational axis and a length of the tension roller is such that the belt during traveling is prevented from contacting the preventing guide.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material, the apparatus including: a first helical gear and a second helical gear that are engaged with each other; and a driving portion that applies a driving force to the first helical gear, wherein at least one of the first helical gear and the second helical gear is a helical gear in which torsional rigidity in a tooth width direction of one side end in a width direction of the gear is larger than torsional rigidity in a tooth width direction of the other side end, and wherein a twist direction of helical teeth and a rotational direction of the first helical gear due to the driving portion are set such that the other side end is engaged earlier than the one side end.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device has a sheet conveyance path formed by a guide member having a curved surface which is curved in a sheet conveyance direction, and a flexible sheet scanner is provided along the curved surface of the guide member, the flexible sheet scanner has an optical sensor layer in which photoelectric conversion devices formed by combinations of organic transistors and organic photodiodes are continuously arranged in a matrix shape.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus is provided that can prevent image streaks due to dirt, stain or the like from being produced in an image of an original that is read while being conveyed. The image reading apparatus (A) includes an ADF (40) having a scanner unit (59) incorporated therein and comprised of a cylinder (60) having an outer peripheral surface thereof on which a plurality of read pixels (61) are arranged in a matrix. In reading an original (D), the scanner unit is rotatably driven in an original conveying direction at a circumferential speed approximately equal to an original conveying speed, and reads image information on the original passing through an image reading position (P1).

Abstract: To remove also VOC gas generated from the discharged sheets, an image forming apparatus comprises an image forming unit which forms an image on a sheet; a tray on which sheets on which images are formed by the image forming unit are stacked; a suction device which sucks air from the surrounding space of sheets stacked up on the tray; and a VOC removing unit which removes VOC contained in the air sucked by the sucking device.

Abstract: To remove also VOC gas generated from the discharged sheets, an image forming apparatus comprises an image forming unit which forms an image on a sheet; a tray on which sheets on which images are formed by the image forming unit are stacked; a suction device which sucks air from the surrounding space of sheets stacked up on the tray; and a VOC removing unit which removes VOC contained in the air sucked by the sucking device.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device according to an aspect of the invention includes a guide member and a flexible guide assist member. The guide member constitutes a conveyance path for guiding a conveyed sheet. The guide assist member is provided in the guide member, the guide assist member is brought into contact with the conveyed sheet to apply a force to the sheet, and whereby the guide assist member assists the guidance of the sheet conveyance. The sheet conveyance device is characterized in that a sheet scanner is provided in the guide assist member. In the sheet scanner, photoelectric conversion devices formed by organic semiconductor devices are arranged.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device according to an aspect of the invention includes a conveyance roller pair which is rotated to convey a sheet by receiving a driving force from a motor conveying a sheet; a conveyance guide which guides the sheet conveyed by the conveyance roller pair; and sheet detection unit for detecting the sheet guided by the conveyance guide. In the sheet conveyance device, a sheet conveyance speed of the conveyance roller pair is controlled based on information from the sheet detection unit. The sheet detection unit is a sheet scanner having an optical sensor layer in which photoelectric conversion devices formed by combinations of organic transistors and organic photodiodes are continuously arranged in a matrix shape, and the sheet scanner is provided in an area of the conveyance guide in order to continuously detect the sheet conveyed by the conveyance roller pair in a predetermined area.

Abstract: If a next endpoint in a line segment is determined to be neither in a first nor a second reference direction passing through a base endpoint, a point obtained by projecting the next endpoint onto a straight line in the first reference direction passing through the base endpoint or a straight line in the second reference direction passing through the base endpoint is set as a correction endpoint. If the next endpoint is determined to be in the first or second reference direction passing through the next endpoint, the next endpoint is set as a new base endpoint. If the next endpoint is determined to be in neither the first reference direction passing through the base endpoint nor the second reference direction, the correction endpoint is set as a new base endpoint. Each endpoint of the plurality of line elements is subjected to the above process so as to generate a simplified shape.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a sheet bundle boundary detecting unit which detects a boundary of sheet bundles added to a sheet storage case, and a control unit which controls a feeding condition of sheet feeding unit based on a detection result of the sheet bundle boundary detecting unit. With this, overlapping-feeding and misfeeding at the boundary between the sheet bundles are reliably prevented.

Abstract: Print jobs having a mixture of first image sheets and second image sheets are sorted to a first image forming device and a second image forming device. After image formation is performed on sheets by the respective image forming devices, radio frequency IC tags (RFID tags) are affixed to the sheets, in which attribute information including post-processing information and page identification information is written. Sheet bundles produced by the respective image forming devices are separately set to a post-processing device. The post-processing device reads out the attribute information stored in the radio frequency IC tags, and the sheets are selectively fed from the respective sheet bundles while conforming to the page order. Thereafter, the post processing is performed.

Abstract: A duct for an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, the duct includes a discharge opening for discharging air; a fan, mounted to a neighborhood of the discharge opening, for discharging the air; first and second openings for suction of air; a first guiding portion, having first and second openings, for guiding the sucked air; a separation member, provided in the first guiding portion, for separating a flow of the air sucked by the first opening and a flow of the air sucked by the second opening; a second guiding member, disposed overlapped with the first guiding portion, for guiding the air guided by the first guiding portion; a first interconnection opening for feeding the air from the first opening to the second guiding portion; a second interconnection opening for feeding the air from the second opening to the second guiding portion, wherein the first interconnection opening is disposed closer to the discharge opening than the second interconnection opening, and wherein the

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material, the apparatus including: a first helical gear and a second helical gear that are engaged with each other; and a driving portion that applies a driving force to the first helical gear, wherein at least one of the first helical gear and the second helical gear is a helical gear in which torsional rigidity in a tooth width direction of one side end in a width direction of the gear is larger than torsional rigidity in a tooth width direction of the other side end, and wherein a twist direction of helical teeth and a rotational direction of the first helical gear due to the driving portion are set such that the other side end is engaged earlier than the one side end.