Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a conveyance unit to convey a transfer medium, a first image forming unit to form a monochrome image transferred at a first transfer position onto the transfer medium, and a second image forming unit disposed downstream from the first image forming unit in a direction of conveyance of the transfer medium, including an intermediate transfer body to form a multi-colored toner image on the intermediate transfer body. The multi-colored toner image is transferred onto the transfer medium at a second transfer position. The conveyance unit is separated from the intermediate transfer body at the second transfer position in a monochrome mode to form the monochrome image using only the first image forming unit, and contacts the intermediate transfer body at the second transfer position in a full-color mode to form a full-color image using both the first and second image forming units.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image formation unit that forms a black toner image, and a detachable second image formation unit that forms a color toner image. A first toner supply unit is provided to supply the black toner to the first image formation unit. A second toner supply unit is provided to supply one of a black and component color toner to the first and second image formation units in accordance with a color mode. A first conveyance path is provided to convey the black toner to the first image formation unit. A second conveyance path is also provided to convey the component color toner stored in the second toner container section to the second image formation unit. The second toner supply unit is selectively connected to one of the first and second conveyance paths in accordance with the color mode.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a latent image bearing member; a charging device charging the surface of the latent image bearing member; a latent image forming device forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the latent image bearing member; a developing device supplying toner to the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image; a cover film supplying device supplying a cover film to the surface of the latent image bearing member at a cover film supplying position located on an upstream side from the development position so that the toner image is formed on the cover film covering the surface of the latent image bearing member; and a cover film separating device separating the cover film bearing the toner image thereon from the surface of the image bearing member before the cover film bearing the toner image thereon reaches the cover film supplying position.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the conventional cheese-like foods prepared by using soymilk and production method thereof, such as necessity for soymilk in a special composition with its oils and sugars removed and elongation of the production period until completion for aging by molding. The present invention relates to a method of producing a cheese-like food, comprising the steps of preparing a curd by fermenting soymilk with a lactic bacterium having protease activity, heating the curd, and filtering the curd.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel water-soluble soybean polysaccharide which is produced by imparting a function of stabilizing a protein in a pH range around the isoelectric point of the protein to a water-soluble soybean polysaccharide. Also disclosed is a novel dispersion stabilizer which enables to stabilize the dispersion of a protein in a pH range around the isoelectric point of the protein. Further, disclosed is a acidic protein food/beverage comprising the dispersion stabilizer. A crosslinked product of a water-soluble soybean polysaccharide extracted from a soybean seed raw material can improve the dispersion stability of a milk protein in a pH range around the isoelectric point of the protein. By using the water-soluble soybean polysaccharide, an acidic protein food/beverage having a low viscosity can be produced.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide water-soluble dietary fiber obtained by hot water extraction from cacao husks, and to use the water-soluble dietary fiber for addition to acidic protein foods such as milk component-containing beverages, dispersion stabilizers for chocolate beverages and the like, coating agents with improved coatability, age resistors for starch-containing food products, and shelf-life extenders for foods and beverages which continue to maintain their microbiostatic properties even when added only in small amounts.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes multiple image forming units disposed adjacent to and horizontally aligned with each other to form respective single non-black color images, a first transfer member to sequentially transfer and overlay the respective single non-black color images thereon for forming a composite color image, a black image forming unit disposed separately from the multiple image forming units including a black image carrier and a black image developing unit, a second transfer member to transfer the black image from the black image forming unit onto a recording medium, a first cleaning unit to clean the surface of the black image carrier, and a second cleaning unit to clean the surface of the second transfer member. The black toner removed from the surface of the black image carrier is collected to the black image developing unit.

Abstract: Emulsifying agents of the natural polvymer type, especially polysaccharide type, attain excellent emulsion stability and give a stable emulsion. However, their emulsifying power is not always high and these emulsifying agents have been still insufficient in giving an emulsion having a small particle diameter. A polymer-type emulsifying agent is provided which has high emulsifying power and with which an emulsion having a small emulsified-particle diameter can be obtained. The emulsifying agent, which is of the natural polymer type having high emulsifying power, is an emulsifying agent containing as an active ingredient a composite of a polysaccharide with a specific protein which was contained in soybean and has a proline content of 10% or higher and a molecular weight of 50,000-80,000 Da.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer device, a voltage applicator, a current sensor, and a discharge detector. The transfer device transfers a toner image from one surface to another by developing an electrical field across a transfer gap when provided with a transfer bias. The voltage applicator applies a stepped test voltage to the transfer device. The current sensor senses a current flowing to the transfer device during application of the test voltage the discharge detector detects an electrical discharge occurring in the transfer gap based on a rate of increase of the sensed current.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a method of practically obtaining a natural antioxidant, which gives a sense of security to consumers when added to foods, by efficiently taking out an antioxidant component from soybeans. It is confirmed that a hot water extract obtained by extracting a soybean seeds with hot water at a high temperature exceeding 100° C. under weakly acidic conditions has an antioxidant effect. A low-molecular weight fraction of this hot water extract is further fractionated by taking advantage of a difference in solubility in a water-containing organic solvent or using an appropriate filter suitable for the molecular weight size to thereby efficiently give a highly antioxidant fraction.

Abstract: A sheet bonding machine bonds together a first sheet and a second sheet including an adhesion layer formed on one side thereof, covered with a release paper, includes a transport unit to transport the first sheet unidirectionally, a feeder to feed the second sheet obliquely toward the first sheet, a separation unit, a reel, an adhesion point, and a tensioner. The release paper is removed from the second sheet by the separation unit located upstream from the contact portion, and reeled by the reel. The second sheet adheres to the first sheet via the adhesion layer 91b at the adhesion point located downstream from the separation unit. The tensioner is located upstream from the separation unit and keeps the second sheet taut.

Abstract: A sheet cutter cuts an adhesion sheet and includes a pair of blades including a first blade including a blade edge and a second blade opposing the first blade and including a blade edge. The pair of blades cuts a border of the adhesion sheet. The adhesion sheet is formed by adhering a first sheet, at least a part of which is transparent and bears a mirror image, to a non-transparent second sheet including an adhesive layer, to oppose the mirror image on the first sheet against the adhesive layer of the second sheet.

Abstract: A pasting apparatus includes a pasting member operative to paste a non-transparent medium onto an image-formed surface of a transparent medium; and a conveying member that conveys the non-transparent medium to the pasting member by electrostatic adsorption.

Abstract: A heating unit heats an image-printed medium including a transparent recording medium and a non-transparent recording medium with an image sandwiched between the transparent recording medium and the non-transparent recording medium.

Abstract: A sheet laminator includes a bonding unit and a restricting unit. The bonding unit bonds a first sheet to a second sheet that includes an adhesive layer. The restricting unit restricts movement of any one of the first sheet and the second sheet thereby preventing bonding between the first sheet and the second sheet before the first sheet and the second sheet reach the bonding unit.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a cancer metastasis inhibitor which shows a potent effect of inhibiting cancer metastasis comparable to bikunin, has no side effect and can be obtained in a large amount at a low cost. As the results of studies on the cancer metastasis inhibitory effect by administration of soybean Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (KTI), a potent activity of inhibiting cancer metastasis was found out. Since KTI is contained in soybean whey, which is yielded in a large amount in preparing isolated soybean protein and the like from soybeans, and soybean whey can be obtained at a low cost, KTI extracted and purified in a large amount from soybean whey is clinically applicable.

Abstract: A sheet adhering apparatus includes an adhering device to convey a first sheet at a first conveyance speed and a second sheet at a second conveyance speed different from the first conveyance speed. The adhering device causes the second sheet to obliquely contact and adhere to the first sheet at a given adhering angle.

Abstract: A sheet bonding machine for bonding first sheet and a second sheet together includes a transport part, an angling member, and a pressure bond part. The transport part is configured to transport the first sheet and the second sheet and contact the first and the second sheet against each other at a predetermined angle. The angling member is configured to bend at least one of the first sheet and the second sheet. The pressure bond part is provided downstream of a contact position between the first sheet and the second sheet and configured to bond together with pressure the first sheet and the second sheet contacted against each other.

Abstract: Emulsifying agents of the natural polvymer type, especially polysaccharide type, attain excellent emulsion stability and give a stable emulsion. However, their emulsifying power is not always high and these emulsifying agents have been still insufficient in giving an emulsion having a small particle diameter. A polymer-type emulsifying agent is provided which has high emulsifying power and with which an emulsion having a small emulsified-particle diameter can be obtained. The emulsifying agent, which is of the natural polymer type having high emulsifying power, is an emulsifying agent containing as an active ingredient a composite of a polysaccharide with a specific protein which was contained in soybean and has a proline content of 10% or higher and a molecular weight of 50,000-80,000 Da.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a cancer metastasis inhibitor which shows a potent effect of inhibiting cancer metastasis comparable to bikunin, has no side effect and can be obtained in a large amount at a low cost. As the results of studies on the cancer metastasis inhibitory effect by administration of soybean Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (KTI), a potent activity of inhibiting cancer metastasis was found out. Since KTI is contained in soybean whey, which is yielded in a large amount in preparing isolated soybean protein and the like from soybeans, and soybean whey can be obtained at a low cost, KTI extracted and purified in a large amount from soybean whey is clinically applicable.