Abstract: An electrophotographic photoconductor includes an electroconductive substrate, a photoconductive layer arranged over the electroconductive layer with or without the interposition of an undercoat layer, and a surface top layer containing a crosslinkable resin arranged over the photoconductive layer, the photoconductive layer includes a charge generation layer containing a charge generating material, and a charge transport layer containing a charge transporting material, in which the surface top layer is substantially free from hydroxyl groups and residual uncured portions.

Abstract: An image forming method, includes: forming a latent electrostatic image on a latent electrostatic image carrier; developing the latent electrostatic image with a toner to thereby form a visible image; transferring the visible image to a recording medium; and fixing the image transferred to the recording medium. The latent electrostatic image carrier includes: a support, a photoconductive layer on the support, and a surface protective layer on the support. The surface protective layer includes a reactant made by cross-linking the following: an electric charge transporting material which comprises a reactive functional group, a cross-linking resin, and a fluorine surfactant. The toner comprises an inorganic fine particle which defines an effective inorganic fine particle amount in a range of 0.8% by mass to 3.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoconductor having at least a photoconductive layer on an electrically conductive support, in which a surface layer of the photoconductive layer can be obtained by curing at least a free-radical-polymerizable monomer having no electron transporting structure, represented by general formula (A) and a one-functional free-radical-polymerizable compound having an electron transporting structure, wherein R71, R72, R73, R74, R75, and R76 are described in the specification.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a photoreceptor having an electroconductive substrate, a photosensitive layer overlying the electroconductive substrate, and a protection layer including an inorganic filler in an amount of from 3 to 25% by weight based on total weight of the protection layer and a binder resin, and overlying the photosensitive layer. The apparatus further including a charger, an irradiator, an image developer, and a transferer transferring a toner image onto a transfer material. The apparatus also includes a cleaner cleaning the photoreceptor, including a rotatable core and a looped brush fiber provided on the surface of the rotatable core so as to contact the photoreceptor. A top of the looped brush fiber is positioned on an upstream side from a root of the looped brush fiber relative to a rotating direction of the rotatable core.

Abstract: A device and a process for producing a corrugated plate having a plurality of bent-into-contact portions extending in parallel on one face of a metal plate employs a number of steps. A first pressing step sequentially molds a plurality of U-shaped bent portions in the metal plate. A second pressing step sequentially molds the bent-into-contact portions by sequentially crushing the plurality of U-shaped bent portions. In the first pressing step, the U-shaped bent portions are fed in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the U-shaped bent portions, and positioned, and are pressed in a state in which the position is released. In the second pressing step, another face of the metal plate is pressed flat while molding the bent-into-contact portions by pressing the U-shaped bent portions from both sides.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a photoreceptor having an electroconductive substrate, a photosensitive layer overlying the electroconductive substrate, and a protection layer including an inorganic filler in an amount of from 3 to 25% by weight based on total weight of the protection layer and a binder resin, and overlying the photosensitive layer. The apparatus further including a charger, an irradiator, an image developer, and a transferer transferring a toner image onto a transfer material. The apparatus also includes a cleaner cleaning the photoreceptor, including a rotatable core and a looped brush fiber provided on the surface of the rotatable core so as to contact the photoreceptor. A top of the looped brush fiber is positioned on an upstream side from a root of the looped brush fiber relative to a rotating direction of the rotatable core.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes an electroconductive substrate. A charge generation layer overlies the electroconductive substrate. A first charge transport layer overlying the charge generation layer includes a first charge transport material (D1) and a first binder resin (R1). A second charge transport layer overlying the first charge transport layer includes a filler, a second charge transport material (D2) and a second binder resin (R2). The first and second charge transport layers have a total thickness of from 5 to 25 ?m. A weight ratio (D1/R1) of the first charge transport material (D1) to the first binder resin (R1) in the first charge transport layer is greater than a weight ratio (D2/R2) of the second charge transport material (D2) to the second binder resin (R2) in the second charge transport layer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a photoreceptor which includes an electroconductive substrate, a photosensitive layer including a charge generation material and a charge transport material and located overlying the electroconductive substrate, and a protective layer including an inorganic filler having an average particle diameter (d) and a binder resin; and an imagewise light irradiator configured to irradiate the photoreceptor with a laser light beam having a wavelength of (&lgr;) to form a light spot having a diameter (L) in the minor axis direction thereof on a surface of the photoreceptor, wherein the relationship 0.1<3.75×10−3L/&lgr;<d/&lgr;<0.5 is satisfied. An image forming method is also provided which includes irradiating a surface of the photoreceptor with a laser beam such that the above-mentioned relationship is satisfied.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoconductor includes an electroconductive substrate, a charge generation layer, and a charge transport layer formed by using a halogen-free solvent, arranged in this order, in which the charge generation layer contains a charge generation material having an average particle diameter smaller than a surface roughness of a plane where the electroconductive substrate is arranged, and a polyvinyl acetal resin having a ratio Mw/Mn of a weight-average molecular weight Mw to a number-average molecular weight Mn is 2.2 or more.

Abstract: In circulating type food and drink transport apparatus (EQU), a plurality of plates (5A) is located on a circular link chain (4) including a chain driving section (DV) and a chain driven section (FR) with a predetermined clearance. The circular link chain is guided and carried by a traveling lane (1). The lower portion of the traveling lane is closed using a substantially U-shaped receiver (9). The chain driving section and the chain driven section are movable in accordance with a manual operation. The link chain is loosened, and thereby, the traveling lane (1) is securely cleaned.

Abstract: A hair care formulation is disclosed that enhances visual and/or tactile qualities of the hair. Embodiments of the formulation include a pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), a glycyrrhizinic acid, a pantothenic acid, a pyrrolidone, an antimicrobial agent, zinc, and an antioxidant. The formulation may be included in separate hair care products, such as a shampoo, conditioner and scalp serum. In a particular embodiment, the formulation is included in a daily shampoo, a deep cleansing shampoo, a daily conditioner, a deep conditioner, and a scalp serum. In some of these examples, each of the hair care products contain at least 10 vitamins, minerals, and herbs, such as swertia extract, ginseng extract, saw palmetto extract, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), zinc pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, superoxide dismutase, dipotassium glycyrrhizate, green tea extract, and tea tree oil.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a photoreceptor having an electroconductive substrate, a photosensitive layer overlying the electroconductive substrate, and a protection layer including an inorganic filler in an amount of from 3 to 25% by weight based on total weight of the protection layer and a binder resin, and overlying the photosensitive layer. The apparatus further including a charger, an irradiator, an image developer, and a transferer transferring a toner image onto a transfer material. The apparatus also includes a cleaner cleaning the photoreceptor, including a rotatable core and a looped brush fiber provided on the surface of the rotatable core so as to contact the photoreceptor. A top of the looped brush fiber is positioned on an upstream side from a root of the looped brush fiber relative to a rotating direction of the rotatable core.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes an electroconductive substrate. A charge generation layer overlies the electroconductive substrate. A first charge transport layer overlying the charge generation layer includes a first charge transport material (D1) and a first binder resin (R1). A second charge transport layer overlying the first charge transport layer includes a filler, a second charge transport material (D2) and a second binder resin (R2). The first and second charge transport layers have a total thickness of from 5 to 25 &mgr;m. A weight ratio (D1/R1) of the first charge transport material (D1) to the first binder resin (R1) in the first charge transport layer is greater than a weight ratio (D2/R2) of the second charge transport material (D2) to the second binder resin (R2) in the second charge transport layer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a photoreceptor which includes an electroconductive substrate, a photosensitive layer including a charge generation material and a charge transport material and located overlying the electroconductive substrate, and a protective layer including an inorganic filler having an average particle diameter (d) and a binder resin; and an imagewise light irradiator configured to irradiate the photoreceptor with a laser light beam having a wavelength of (&lgr;) to form a light spot having a diameter (L) in the minor axis direction thereof on a surface of the photoreceptor, wherein the relationship 0.1<3.75×10−3L/&lgr;<d/&lgr;<0.5 is satisfied. An image forming method is also provided which includes irradiating a surface of the photoreceptor with a laser beam such that the above-mentioned relationship is satisfied.

Abstract: A photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate and a photosensitive layer which is formed on the electroconductive substrate and which includes a charge generation material, wherein the charge generation material comprises an organic pigment and wherein the photosensitive layer further includes at least one ion selected from the group consisting of K+, Na+, NO3−, HCOO−, NO2−, Cl−, Br−, and NH4+ or one or more water-soluble inorganic salts.

Abstract: A photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate; a charge generation layer formed overlying the electroconductive substrate and including as a charge generation material a titanyl phthalocyanine crystal having an X-ray diffraction spectrum such that a maximum diffraction peak is observed at a Bragg (2&thgr;) angle of 27.2°±0.2° when a specific X-ray of Cu-K&agr; having wavelength of 1.542 Å irradiates the titanyl phthalocyanine crystal; and a charge transport layer formed on the charge generation layer and including a binder resin, a charge transport material, water and tetrahydrofuran, wherein a weight ratio of the water to the tetrahydrofuran in the charge transport layer is from 1/50 to 1/0.5.

Abstract: A photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate; a charge generation layer formed overlying the electroconductive substrate and including as a charge generation material a titanyl phthalocyanine crystal having an X-ray diffraction spectrum such that a maximum diffraction peak is observed at a Bragg (2&thgr;) angle of 27.2°±0.2° when a specific X-ray of Cu-K&agr; having wavelength of 1.514 Å irradiates the titanyl phthalocyanine crystal; and a charge transport layer formed on the charge generation layer and including a binder resin, a charge transport material, water and tetrahydrofuran, wherein a weight ratio of the water to the tetrahydrofuran in the charge transport layer is from 1/50 to 1/0.5.

Abstract: A photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate and a photosensitive layer which is formed on the electroconductive substrate and which includes a charge generation material, wherein the charge generation material comprises an organic pigment and wherein the photosensitive layer further includes at least one ion selected from the group consisting of K+, Na+, NO3−, HCOO−, NO2−, Cl−, Br−, and NH4+ or one or more water-soluble inorganic salts.

Abstract: In a nozzle plate production method and apparatus, a metallic sheet material is punched to form nozzle holes therein by using a press having punches. Each of the punches includes a tapered conical portion, a straight cylindrical portion, and a rounded interconnecting portion. The interconnecting portion smoothly interconnects the conical portion and the cylindrical portion. Nibs produced on a bottom surface of the sheet material at the nozzle holes by the nozzle hole punching are removed by use of a tape grinding machine. A top surface and the bottom surface of the sheet material are buffed to provide a predetermined level of surface roughness. Burrs produced on the top and bottom surfaces of the sheet material at the nozzle holes by the buffing are removed by ultrasonic cleaning.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoconductor composed of an electroconductive substrate, and a photoconductive layer consisting of a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer successively formed on the substrate in this order, the charge transport layer containing a carbon-carbon double-bond-containing charge transporting material, and a carbon-carbon double-bond-containing monomer or polymer, which serves as a binder resin, and readily reacts with the above-mentioned charge transporting material by the application of light or heat thereto.