Abstract: A butterfly valve 100 provided in a flow path for a first fluid flowing through a heat exchanger. The butterfly valve 100 includes: a valve plate 110 provided in the flow path; a shaft 120 for rotatably supporting the valve plate 110 in the flow path; and at least one valve plate auxiliary member 130 in contact with at least one plate surface 111a, 111b of the valve plate 100, the valve plate auxiliary member 130 having an extending portion 131 extending radially outwardly from an outer peripheral surface 112 of the valve plate 110. The valve plate auxiliary member 130 is made of a material having a lower Young's modulus than that of the valve plate 110.

Abstract: A device includes a rotator having a rotation axis, a belt, a nip forming member surrounded by the belt, a holder holding the nip forming member, a first stay supporting the holder, an urging member urging the first stay toward the rotator, a second stay, and a connector. The nip forming member is configured to, with the rotator, pinch the belt to form a nip. The first stay extends in a width direction parallel to the rotation axis. The second stay is positioned upstream of the first stay in a moving direction of the belt at the nip. The moving direction is perpendicular to the width direction. The connector extends through at least one of the first stay and the second stay to connect the first stay to the second stay.

Abstract: A detection kit for a detection target, including, on a support, an introduction portion into which a sample containing the detection target is introduced, a plurality of mixing portions each configured to provide a mixture of the sample that is introduced into the introduction portion and that is distributed and a signaling substance that can provide a signal, and bonding portions each including a bonding substance that can be selectively bonded to the detection target and the signaling substance in each of the mixtures provided in the plurality of mixing portions, wherein the amounts or concentrations of the signaling substance disposed in the plurality of mixing portions are different from each other.

Abstract: The transfer sheet comprises a support and a transfer layer capable of separating from the support and of fixing a toner image formed by an electrophotographic printer, wherein an average value of a surface roughness of the transfer layer is 0.5 to 3.5 &mgr;m. The transfer layer may comprise a thermoplastic resin and a fine particle. A weight ratio of the thermoplastic resin to the fine particle is about 50/50 to 99/1. The thermoplastic resin may be a thermoplastic polyurethane-series resin, and the fine particle may be a polyethylene fine particle having a mean particle size of about 1 to 100 &mgr;m.

Abstract: The transfer sheet comprises a support and a transfer layer capable of separating from the support and of fixing a toner image formed by an electrophotographic printer, wherein an average value of a surface roughness of the transfer layer is 0.5 to 3.5 &mgr;m. The transfer layer may comprise a thermoplastic resin and a fine particle. A weight ratio of the thermoplastic resin to the fine particle is about 50/50 to 99/1. The thermoplastic resin may be a thermoplastic polyurethane-series resin, and the fine particle may be a polyethylene fine particle having a mean particle size of about 1 to 100 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A neutralized printing paper which is made of a base paper and a cationic compound applied on a printing surface of the base paper. The paper has a surface pH value ranging from 6.0 to 7.5.

Abstract: An image having suitable color-tone and density is formed on a recording medium so that a full-color image of an excellent color-tone depending on a OHP can be projected, wherein a CCD separates colors of an original image to read it for converting into a RGB digital signal by an A/D conversion circuit, the process corresponding to a required image signal forming condition is executed by image process means for the digital signal to generate an image signal for outputting it to an LD driver, and a full-color image forming apparatus for forming a color image on a recording medium utilizing plural kinds of color materials based on the image signal comprises the image processing means for executing a gradation conversion process for the signals of C, M and Y in a LUT 1 circuit and executing a different gradation conversion process for a black signal Bk in a LUT 2 circuit different from a LUT 1 circuit.

Abstract: An electrophotographic decalcomania transfer medium comprising a polymer resin film formed on the surface side of a base material essentially consisting of paper, in which the polymer resin film on the surface side comprises an adhesion layer and a transfer layer, and the back side of the base material is provided with a backing layer comprising a polymer resin. The backing layer is formed such that it partially covers the surface of the base material, instead of covering the entire surface thereof.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes image an bearing member or members; a movable recording material carrying member for carrying a recording material, with an image being transferred at a transfer position from the image bearing member or members onto a recording material carried on the recording material carrying member; and there are a plurality of recesses extending in a direction of movement of the recording material carrying member, provided on the surface of the recording material carrying member that carries the recording material.

Abstract: Transfer paper for outputting color images, suitable for use as a transfer member used in a color electrophotographic apparatus capable of forming a multi-color toner image by using at least two colors of single-color toner. The paper has a whiteness degree of 85% or more and an opaqueness degree of 90% or more. A method of forming a color image includes the steps of transferring a color toner image to transfer paper having a whiteness degree of 85% or more and an opaqueness degree of 90% or more, and heatingly fixing the color toner image.

Abstract: An image forming paper comprises at least pulp, wherein the paper has a spectral reflectance of at least 85% for light diffused-reflected therefrom in a wavelength range of from 440 nm to 640 nm, and a spectral reflectance distribution in which the difference between the maximum and minimum values of the spectral reflectance of the light in the above wavelength range is 5% or less. Therefore, since the amount of light reflected by the paper is large and the reflectance in blue to red regions is constant, color chroma of a color image on the paper is enhanced particularly in green to red regions, and a color reproduction area of the color image is enlarged.

Abstract: A transfer paper for color electrophotography has an intermediate layer and transfer layers respectively provided on the surface side and back side of the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer has a surface resistivity which is higher than the surface resistivity of the transfer layers. The transfer paper has a basis weight of from 100 g/m.sup.2 to 160 g/m.sup.2. The surface of the transfer paper has a Bekk smoothness within the range of from 100 seconds to 200 seconds.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording paper sheet for ink-jet recording with on-demand type heads having a multi-nozzle comprises a recording layer formed on one face of a base paper sheet to give a basis weight of the recording paper of from 150 to 250 g/m.sup.2 with a coating color which contains a pigment and a binder, the pigment containing synthetic silica having a BET specific surface area ranging from 250 to 500 m.sup.2 /g at a content of not less than 80% by weight of the pigment, the binder containing casein and styrene-butadiene rubber, the weight ratio of the pigment to the binder ranging from 1.8 to 2.4, the recording layer having coating solid in an amount ranging from 15 to 25 g/m.sup.2, and surface roughness by ten-point-height of the recording layer ranging from 0.5 to 5 .mu.m, and the paper sheet being curled at a maximum curling height ranging from 0 to 20 mm in A4 paper size with the printed face upside.

Abstract: A color image forming method and apparatus in which toner patterns, formed by toners of different colors, on an image bearing member, can be detected by a single sensor. Near-infrared light is emitted from an LED at each formation of a single-colored pattern on the photosensitive drum and the amount of near-infrared light reflected from the drum is detected by the sensor, for the purpose of effecting gradation control.

Abstract: An image forming paper comprises at least pulp, wherein the paper has a spectral reflectance of at least 85% for light diffused-reflected therefrom in a wavelength range of from 440 nm to 640 nm, and a spectral reflectance distribution in which the difference between the maximum and minimum values of the spectral reflectance of the light in the above wavelength range is 5% or less. Therefore, since the amount of light reflected by the paper is large and the reflectance in blue to red regions is constant, color chroma of a color image on the paper is enhanced particularly in green to red regions, and a color reproduction area of the color image is enlarged.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording material bearing member that bears recording material; an image forming device for forming an image on the recording material carried on the recording material carrying member, in an image forming station; and a discharger for discharging the recording material after the image is formed on the recording material, the discharger including an outside discharger disposed adjacent an image bearing surface side of the recording material; wherein a discharging operation of the discharger is changed in response to a rigidity of the recording material. Specifically, the discharging power is rendered weaker or stops its operation when the rigidity is larger than a specific value.

Abstract: Transfer paper for outputting color images, suitable for use as a transfer member used in a color electrophotographic apparatus capable of forming a multi-color toner image by using at least two colors of single-color toner. The paper has a whiteness degree of 85% or more and an opaqueness degree of 90% or more. A method of forming a color image includes the steps of transferring a color toner image to transfer paper having a whiteness degree of 85% or more and an opaqueness degree of 90% or more, and heatingly fixing the color toner image.

Abstract: A printing paper is provided which is neutral paper as the base paper comprising an ink-penetration retarder on a printing face to retard penetration of liquid ink containing a nitrogen compound, a substance as an internal additive of the paper to absorb ammonia or an ammonium ion released from the nitrogen compound in the ink, and a water-soluble inorganic salt in an amount ranging from 0.01 to 0.2% by weight. Printing methods are also provided which use the above printing paper.

Abstract: Transfer paper for outputting color images, suitable for use as a transfer member used in a color electrophotographic apparatus capable of forming a multi-color toner image by using at least two colors of single-color toner. The paper has a whiteness degree of 85% or more and an opaqueness degree of 90% or more. A method of forming a color image includes the steps of transferring a color toner image to transfer paper having a whiteness degree of 85% or more and an opaqueness degree of 90% or more, and heatingly fixing the color toner image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an over laid image on a transfer material includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member movable along an endless path, a latent image forming device for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member, a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image with toner, and a transfer device for transferring the toner image onto the transfer material. The latent image forming device includes a controller for changing a latent image forming condition go as to reduce a potential difference between a latent image potential formed in a first rotation of the photosensitive drum at the start of image forming operation and a latent image potential in a subsequent rotation, and a latent image to be developed is formed from the first rotation without pre-rotation effected until the charge potential of the photosensitive member is stabilized.