Abstract: Provided is a high-stability ion-selective membrane (ISM) containing a thallium porphyrin complex as an ionophore, the ISM containing: a compound represented by the following formula (1); a polymer; and a membrane solvent.

Abstract: In a banknote inspection device, a storage unit stores a first learning model generated using an image of a character with a hole as training data, and a second learning model generated using an image of a character without a hole as training data, and a recognition unit recognizes a serial number character that is a character forming a serial number of a banknote by using the first learning model when a character image, which is as image of the serial number character, has a hole, and recognize the serial number character by using the second learning model when the character image does not have a hole.

Abstract: External additive particles including a polymer containing a sulfur atom and a nitrogen atom, wherein the polymer includes a vinyl polymer moiety and a siloxane moiety, relative to a total number of carbon atoms, oxygen atoms, and silicon atoms constituting the external additive particles, a ratio of a number of the silicon atoms constituting the external additive particles is 4.0% or more and 25.0% or less, and in surfaces of the external additive particles analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, relative to a total number of carbon atoms, nitrogen atoms, oxygen atoms, silicon atoms, and sulfur atoms, a ratio of a number of the nitrogen atoms is 0.40% or more and 2.50% or less, and a ratio of a number of the sulfur atoms is 0.05% or more and 0.25% or less.

Abstract: An external additive particle includes a sulfur-containing polymer. The polymer includes a vinyl polymer moiety and a siloxane moiety. The proportion of the number of silicon atoms to the sum of the number of carbon atoms, the number of oxygen atoms, and the number of silicon atoms in the external additive particle is 4.0% or more and 25.0% or less, and sulfur atoms are contained in the surface of the external additive particle as detected by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

Abstract: In a banknote inspection device, a storage unit stores a first learning model generated using an image of a character with a hole as training data, and a second learning model generated using an image of a character without a hole as training data, and a recognition unit recognizes a serial number character that is a character forming a serial number of a banknote by using the first learning model when a character image, which is as image of the serial number character, has a hole, and recognize the serial number character by using the second learning model when the character image does not have a hole.

Abstract: An image forming method is disclosed having a charging step, an exposure step, a developing step and a transfer step. This method uses a toner which includes toner particles containing a binder resin and a colorant, and inorganic fine powder, and uses a photosensitive member which has on its surface depressed portions which are independent of one another. The depressed portions have openings having an average minor-axis diameter Lpc satisfying the relationship of Dg<Lpc<Dt (Dt represents the weight-average particle diameter of the toner, and Dg represents the maximum number-average particle diameter among number-average particle diameter(s) of one or two or more types of inorganic fine powder constituting the inorganic fine powder, and the toner has an average circularity of from 0.925 to 0.995.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member is disclosed which is excellent in cleaning performance, has improved durability, and suppresses image defects in various environments. The electrophotographic photosensitive member has a support and a photosensitive layer provided on the support. Depressed portions independent of one another are formed on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member so that the number of the depressed portions per 100 ?m square is 76 or more and 1,000 or less. The openings of the depressed portions have an average major axis diameter of more than 3.0 ?m and 14.0 ?m or less.

Abstract: A process for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member, which has the step of bringing i) the surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive member having at least a charge transport layer on a cylindrical support and ii) a mold having a fine unevenness surface profile into pressure contact with each other to transfer the fine unevenness surface profile to the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member. The mold and the support are so temperature-controlled as to be T3<T1<T2 where the glass transition temperature of the charge transport layer is represented by T1 (°C.), the temperature of the mold by T2 (°C.), and the temperature of the support by T3 (°C.).

Abstract: A process for making an electrophotographic photosensitive member is provided by forming a photosensitive layer on an electroconductive support. The photosensitive layer is provided with particularly excellent durability while retaining good electrophotographic performances when formed as a layer comprising a polymerizate of a hole-transporting compound having at least two chain polymerization function groups in its molecule represented by formula (1) below: (P1aAzP2)d)b??(1), wherein A denotes a hole-transporting group, P1 and P2 independently denote a chain polymerization function group and Z denotes a bonding organic group; a, b and d are independently an integer of at least 0 satisfying a+b×d?2 provided that if a?2, plural groups P1 can be identical or different; if b?2, plural groups Z can be identical or different; and if b×d?2, plural groups P2 can be identical or different.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member has a surface having a plurality of depressed portions, having a major-axis diameter Rpc of 0.1 to 10 ?m, a minor-axis diameter Lpc of 0.1 to 10 ?m and a deepest-part to opening distance Rdv of 0.1 to 10 ?m. Where the surface is equally divided into 4 regions in the rotational direction, which are then equally divided into 25 regions in the direction falling at right angles with the rotational direction, to obtain 100-spot regions A in total, and, in each thereof, square regions B of 50 ?m each per side one side of which is parallel to the rotational direction are provided and the regions B are each equally divided into 500 zones by straight lines parallel to the rotational direction, 400 to 499 lines among the straight lines pass through the depressed portions in each of the regions B.

Abstract: A process for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member. The electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a conductive support and a surface layer provided thereon containing at least a resin. The process has the step of forming a plurality of depressed portions on the surface layer by irradiation with laser light having a wavelength of 400 nm or less and having an output characteristic of a pulse width of 100 ns or less.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member has, on the surface of its photosensitive layer, has a plurality of depressed portions which are independent from one another, and, where the major-axis diameter of each depressed portion is represented by Rpc and the depth that shows the distance between the deepest part of each depressed portion and the opening thereof is represented by Rdv, the depressed portions each have a ratio of depth to major-axis diameter, Rdv/Rpc, of from more than 1.0 to 7.0 or less.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member hard to cause the problem of chatter and wear-out of the cleaning blade and the problem of a rubbing memory, and both a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus having the photosensitive member are provided. The peripheral surface of the photosensitive member has a plurality of dimple-shaped concaves, a 10-point average roughness Rzjis (A) as measured by sweeping along the circumference of the peripheral surface of the photosensitive member is 0.3 to 2.5 ?m, a 10-point average roughness Rzjis (B) as measured by sweeping along the generating line of the peripheral surface of the photosensitive member is 0.3 to 2.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member has a surface having a plurality of depressed portions, having a major-axis diameter Rpc of 0.1 to 10 ?m, a minor-axis diameter Lpc of 0.1 to 10 ?m and a deepest-part to opening distance Rdv of 0.1 to 10 ?m. Where the surface is equally divided into 4 regions in the rotational direction, which are then equally divided into 25 regions in the direction falling at right angles with the rotational direction, to obtain 100-spot regions A in total, and, in each thereof, square regions B of 50 ?m each per side one side of which is parallel to the rotational direction are provided and the regions B are each equally divided into 500 zones by straight lines parallel to the rotational direction, 400 to 499 lines among the straight lines pass through the depressed portions in each of the regions B.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member is disclosed which is excellent in cleaning performance, has improved durability, and suppresses image defects in various environments. The electrophotographic photosensitive member has a support and a photosensitive layer provided on the support. Depressed portions independent of one another are formed on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member so that the number of the depressed portions per 100 ?m square is 76 or more and 1,000 or less. The openings of the depressed portions have an average major axis diameter of more than 3.0 ?m and 14.0 ?m or less.

Abstract: A process for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member is disclosed. The electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a conductive support and a surface layer provided thereon containing at least a resin. The process has the step of forming a plurality of depressed portions on the surface layer by irradiation with laser light having a wavelength of 400 nm or less and having an output characteristic of a pulse width of 100 ns or less.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member has, on the surface of its photosensitive layer, has a plurality of depressed portions which are independent from one another, and, where the major-axis diameter of each depressed portion is represented by Rpc and the depth that shows the distance between the deepest part of each depressed portion and the opening thereof is represented by Rdv, the depressed portions each have a ratio of depth to major-axis diameter, Rdv/Rpc, of from more than 1.0 to 7.0 or less.

Abstract: A process for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member, which has the step of bringing i) the surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive member having at least a charge transport layer on a cylindrical support and ii) a mold having a fine unevenness surface profile into pressure contact with each other to transfer the fine unevenness surface profile to the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member. The mold and the support are so temperature-controlled as to be T3<T1<T2 where the glass transition temperature of the charge transport layer is represented by T1 (° C.), the temperature of the mold by T2 (° C.), and the temperature of the support by T3 (° C.).

Abstract: An image forming method is disclosed having a charging step, an exposure step, a developing step and a transfer step. This method uses a toner which includes toner particles containing a binder resin and a colorant, and inorganic fine powder, and uses a photosensitive member which has on its surface depressed portions which are independent of one another. The depressed portions have openings having an average minor-axis diameter Lpc satisfying the relationship of Dg<Lpc<Dt (Dt represents the weight-average particle diameter of the toner, and Dg represents the maximum number-average particle diameter among number-average particle diameter(s) of one or two or more types of inorganic fine powder constituting the inorganic fine powder, and the toner has an average circularity of from 0.925 to 0.995.

Abstract: A process for making an electrophotographic photosensitive member is provided by forming a photosensitive layer on an electroconductive support. The photosensitive layer is provided with particularly excellent durability while retaining good electrophotographic performances when formed as a layer comprising a polymerizate of a hole-transporting compound having at least two chain polymerization function groups in its molecule represented by formula (1) below: (P1BAZP2)d)b??(1), wherein A denotes a hole-transporting group, P1 and P2 independently denote a chain polymerization function group and Z denotes a bonding organic group; a, b and d are independently an integer of at least 0 satisfying a+b×d?2 provided that if a?2, plural groups P1 can be identical or different; if b?2, plural groups Z can be identical or different; and if b×d?2, plural groups P2 can be identical or different.