Abstract: A coloring compound comprises a triphenylmethane structure having specific substituents.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes first and second heat generating elements arranged adjacent to each other, and a control portion that controls power supplied to the first and second heat generating elements, and that is capable of individually controlling the first and second heat generating elements, the first and second heat generating elements being respectively controlled so as to maintain a control temperature. When an image exists in a second region on the recording material heated by the second heat generating element, and an image does not exist in a first region on the recording material heated by the first heat generating element, the control portion sets the control temperature of the second heat generating element, when heating the second region, in accordance with a distance between an end section of the image in the second region and a boundary of the first region and the second region.

Abstract: Provided is an electrophotographic belt sustainably excellent in toner removal performance. The electrophotographic belt has an endless shape and has grooves on an outer surface thereof, each of the grooves extending in a circumferential direction and being in non-parallel with the circumferential direction, and the outer surface is composed only of a first region in which the number of the grooves in a direction orthogonal to the circumferential direction is “n” and a second region in which the number of the grooves in the direction orthogonal to the circumferential direction is larger than the “n”, the first region and the second region being arranged alternately in the circumferential direction, and the “n” being an integer of 1 or more.

Abstract: An optical element including a first layer (011) made of a medium having optical anisotropy, wherein a difference between refractive indexes nh and nl (nh>nl) at a central wavelength ? for first and second polarized lights which enter the optical element and whose polarization directions are different from each other is at least 0.1, and wherein conditions (nt1?nl)·(nl?nt2)?0 and nt1<nl are satisfied, where nt1 and nt2 denote refractive indexes of a second layer (012) and a third layer (013) optically adjacent to the first layer in both sides of the first layer and made of isotropic media at the central wavelength.

Abstract: This method of distributing a document comprises: a step of receiving a request for obtaining the document; a step of controlling the access rights to the document; the distribution of the document if it is available locally and access thereto is authorized; and the sending of the address of a second system likely to contain this document in the contrary case.

Abstract: Provided is a recording medium provided with a porous ink-receiving layer containing thermoplastic resin particles and an inorganic pigment laminated on a substrate, wherein the pore radius distribution curve of said porous ink-receiving layer has a maximum peak in a pore radius range of from 1 &mgr;m to 10 &mgr;m and at least one peak in a pore radius range of from 0.001 &mgr;m to 0.1 &mgr;m and the total volume of pores having radii of from 0.1 &mgr;m to 20 &mgr;m is not less than 0.5 cm3/g.

Abstract: A system of data storage tables (10A) include an extendable subject table (12) for storing subject UID entries, and an extendable element table (16) for storing UID element entries and aggregate UID entries and role UID entries. The UIDs stored in the tables specify relationships between the UIDs, and collectively define a tangle (10B) of connecting paths. The tangle spreads out between subject nodes corresponding to subject UIDs, and aggregation nodes corresponding to aggregate UIDs, and role nodes corresponding to role UIDs. Each subject node and aggregation node and role node is path connected through the tangle to other subject UIDs and aggregate UIDs and role UIDs defining the relationship between the UIDs in the tables.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a process cartridge detachable from the main body of the apparatus, wherein the process cartridge has an image bearing member and a process device for performing a process on the image bearing member. The image forming apparatus has a frame including a process cartridge positioning portion and a guide member, and a transfer device. The guide member included with the frame guides the recording medium to the process cartridge positioned by the process cartridge positioning portion, and the process cartridge positioning portion and the guide member are formed integrally With the frame by a molding method.

Abstract: A recorder having an ink re-supply system for a moving ink tank has a movable record element for recording data, a first tank movable with the record element, a fixed second tank, a recording liquid path connecting the two tanks, and a supply device for supplying recording liquid during periods when the recording liquid path is established. Structure is also provided for connecting and disconnecting the recording liquid path. The connection/disconnection structure includes an opening through which part of the recording liquid path extends. The recorder can also include a flexible curtain blade for protecting the inside of the recording liquid path and through which the recording liquid path extends when it is established by the connection/disconnection means structure.

Abstract: A photoconductive member comprises a support, a photoconductive layer constituted of an amorphous material containing silicon atoms as matrix and containing hydrogen atoms or halogen atoms, and an intermediate layer provided between them, said intermediate layer having a function to bar penetration of carriers from the side of the support into the photoconductive layer and to permit passage from the photoconductive layer to the support of photocarriers generated in the photoconductive layer by projection of electromagnetic waves and movement of the photocarriers toward the side of the support, and said intermediate layer being constituted of an amorphous material containing silicon atoms and oxygen atoms as constituents.