Abstract: A heating embossing roll has a base surface on which a plurality of embossing portion is formed. An elongated material passes between the heating embossing roll and a heating flat roll so that the elongated material is pressed by the embossing portions of the heating embossing roll. The embossing portion is formed to have a height from the base surface that varies by section.

Abstract: An induction heating device includes: a rectifying circuit that rectifies an AC power supply; a smoothing capacitor that smooths the rectified output to obtain a DC power supply; a first and a second inverters each composed of a heating coil, a resonance capacitor, and a switching element, and connected to the smoothing capacitor in parallel; a first and a second oscillating circuits that supply drive signals to the switching elements; and a controller that controls drive of the first and second oscillating circuits. The controller alternately drives the first and second oscillating circuits, and controls a drive time ratio of the first and second oscillating circuits so that a power change amount generated every time the drive is switched between the first and second oscillating circuits is not more than a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A sealing member is attached to a second member attached to and detached from a first member having a first opening through which powder passes and having a second opening that communicates with the first opening when the second member is coupled to the first member, and prevents the powder from leaking from a coupling portion between the first opening and the second opening. The sealing member includes: a first elastic member with a first surface arranged on the second member; and a second elastic member arranged on at least a part of a periphery of the first elastic member and having hardness different from that of the first elastic member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of cleaning steel sheet, said method of cleaning steel sheet feeding a cleaning solution activated by ultrasonic waves of a frequency of 0.8 MHz to 3 MHz to a surface of steel sheet at an angle inclined by 1 to 80° with respect to a line perpendicular to the surface of the steel sheet in a direction opposite to the running direction, thereby enabling megasonic waves to be applied to cleaning of running steel sheet and improving the cleaning effect and cleaning speed, and a continuous cleaning system of steel sheet.

Abstract: A conventional induction heating cooker which operates two inverters at the same time, with only one input current detecting circuit provided, cannot measure each of input currents to each of the plurality of inverters, and cannot control input powers by feedback control on input currents. In the induction heating cooker which has a plurality of inverters, when the input power varies to the inverter which has less input power supplied, the variation hardly influences the cooking. The induction heating cooker according to the present invention fixes the operating frequency for the inverter which has less input power supplied and performs the feedback control of the input current for the inverter which has bigger input power supplied.

Abstract: A cleaning device comprises: a to-be-cleaned member; a cleaning member that cleans the surface of the to-be-cleaned member; a conveying member that conveys a substance removed from the surface of the to-be-cleaned member to outside of the device; a rotatable collecting member that conveys with its surface the substance toward the conveying member; and a partitioning member that guides the substance from the collecting member to the conveying member. The collecting member comprises a conveying portion that carries and conveys the substance; and a protrusion that protrudes toward an upstream side of the conveying portion in a rotating direction of the collecting member. One end of the partitioning member faces the rotating collecting member, and the other end faces the conveying member. The conveying portion and the protrusion are brought into contact with the partitioning member by the rotation of the collecting member.

Abstract: A paper conveyance device comprises: a conveyance member having a conveyance surface for conveying a recording medium, the conveyance member extending in a first direction along a front-rear direction of the image forming apparatus that has an opening member for exposing inside of the apparatus, and including a handle disposed on an exposure surface of the opening member, and a swing pivot point that is used to swing the conveyance member around the first direction to expose the conveyance surface when the handle is operated in the open state. The handle is disposed in at least one position in a range between positions near a center of the conveyance member in the first direction. The positions are a certain distance away from the center of the conveyance member along the first direction.

Abstract: The waste toner container includes: a waste toner detection unit configured to detect a state in which a toner surface of waste toner at that position is displaced up to a ceiling portion or near the ceiling portion. The waste toner detection unit includes: a flexibility member installed so as to cover an opening portion formed in the ceiling portion or a side wall and is configured to be deformed by a direct or indirect push by the waste toner; and a movable member formed so as to contact the flexibility member from outside of the container and so as to be displaced by the direct or indirect push by the waste toner interposing the flexibility member such that displacement thereof is detected by a detection unit. The displacement of the movable member is limited by a regulating member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearer on which a latent image is formed and developed into a toner image; a transfer member that is arranged so as to come in contact with or face the image bearer to form a transfer position; a cleaning unit that removes and collects untransferred toner; a guide member that guides conveyance of the recording medium; a neutralizing light source that irradiates a position downstream of the transfer position and upstream of the cleaning unit in a running direction of the image bearer with neutralizing light which is incident on and reflected by the recording medium sent out from the transfer position and/or the guide member; and a shielding member that blocks light such that the image bearer is not irradiated directly with a part or whole of neutralizing light emitted from the neutralizing light source.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearer on which a latent image is formed and developed into a toner image; a transfer member that is arranged so as to come in contact with or face the image bearer to form a transfer position; a cleaning unit that removes and collects untransferred toner; a guide member that guides conveyance of the recording medium; a neutralizing light source that irradiates a position downstream of the transfer position and upstream of the cleaning unit in a running direction of the image bearer with neutralizing light which is incident on and reflected by the recording medium sent out from the transfer position and/or the guide member; and a shielding member that blocks light such that the image bearer is not irradiated directly with a part or whole of neutralizing light emitted from the neutralizing light source.

Abstract: A sealing member is attached to a second member attached to and detached from a first member having a first opening through which powder passes and having a second opening that communicates with the first opening when the second member is coupled to the first member, and prevents the powder from leaking from a coupling portion between the first opening and the second opening. The sealing member includes: a first elastic member with a first surface arranged on the second member; and a second elastic member arranged on at least a part of a periphery of the first elastic member and having hardness different from that of the first elastic member.

Abstract: The present application provides Lactobacillus gasseri CP2305 strain (FERM BP-11331), Lactobacillus gasseri CP2305s strain (NITE BP-1405), or, a derivative strain (for example, a cold-tolerant derivative strain) derived from Lactobacillus gasseri CP2305 strain (FERM BP-11331) or the CP2305s strain, a method for producing the same, a stress-induced bowel disorder-alleviating agent comprising the derivative strain, a treated product thereof, or a mixture thereof as an active ingredient, and food additives, animal additives, animal feeds, and pharmaceutical compositions containing the agent.

Abstract: A paper conveyance device comprises: a conveyance member having a conveyance surface for conveying a recording medium, the conveyance member extending in a first direction along a front-rear direction of the image forming apparatus that has an opening member for exposing inside of the apparatus, and including a handle disposed on an exposure surface of the opening member, and a swing pivot point that is used to swing the conveyance member around the first direction to expose the conveyance surface when the handle is operated in the open state. The handle is disposed in at least one position in a range between positions near a center of the conveyance member in the first direction. The positions are a certain distance away from the center of the conveyance member along the first direction.

Abstract: The waste toner container includes: a waste toner detection unit configured to detect a state in which a toner surface of waste toner at that position is displaced up to a ceiling portion or near the ceiling portion. The waste toner detection unit includes: a flexibility member installed so as to cover an opening portion formed in the ceiling portion or a side wall and is configured to be deformed by a direct or indirect push by the waste toner; and a movable member formed so as to contact the flexibility member from outside of the container and so as to be displaced by the direct or indirect push by the waste toner interposing the flexibility member such that displacement thereof is detected by a detection unit. The displacement of the movable member is limited by a regulating member.

Abstract: A cleaning device comprises: a to-be-cleaned member; a cleaning member that cleans the surface of the to-be-cleaned member; a conveying member that conveys a substance removed from the surface of the to-be-cleaned member to outside of the device; a rotatable collecting member that conveys with its surface the substance toward the conveying member; and a partitioning member that guides the substance from the collecting member to the conveying member. The collecting member comprises a conveying portion that carries and conveys the substance; and a protrusion that protrudes toward an upstream side of the conveying portion in a rotating direction of the collecting member. One end of the partitioning member faces the rotating collecting member, and the other end faces the conveying member. The conveying portion and the protrusion are brought into contact with the partitioning member by the rotation of the collecting member.

Abstract: A foamed sole according to the present invention includes a foam molding containing a rubber component and a resin component, wherein the maximum value of a loss factor [tan ?] at a frequency of 10 Hz and at 30° C. to 80° C. of the foam molding is 0.18 or less, and a peak of a loss factor [tan ?] at a frequency of 10 Hz of the foam molding lies within the range of 100° C. or higher. The foamed sole has a feature that it hardly shrinks when it is heated.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an effective means and method for activating vagal afferent nerve. The present invention provides a vagus nerve activator comprising bacterial cells and/or a treated product of a lactic acid bacteria as active ingredient(s).

Abstract: An induction cooker comprises: first and second inverters [[(11a, 11b)]] each of which is connected in parallel to the smoothing capacitor and has a DC power supply converted to AC by first and second switching elements to supply high-frequency power to first and second heating coils [[(4a, 4b)]]; first and second oscillation circuits [[(7a, 7b)]] which supply a driving signal to the respective first and second switching elements; and a control unit [[(10)]] which controls driving of the first and second oscillation circuits. The control unit [[(10)]] controls the first and second oscillation circuits by alternately driving the first and second oscillation circuits and causes a switched-off side heating coil of the first and second heating coils to maintain low-power heating without causing the switched-off side heating coil of the first and second heating coils to stop heating each time the control unit switches the first and second oscillation circuits to drive.

Abstract: A conventional induction heating cooker which operates two inverters at the same time, with only one input current detecting circuit provided, cannot measure each of input currents to each of the plurality of inverters, and cannot control input powers by feedback control on input currents. In the induction heating cooker which has a plurality of inverters, when the input power varies to the inverter which has less input power supplied, the variation hardly influences the cooking. The induction heating cooker according to the present invention fixes the operating frequency for the inverter which has less input power supplied and performs the feedback control of the input current for the inverter which has bigger input power supplied.

Abstract: An induction heating device includes: a rectifying circuit that rectifies an AC power supply; a smoothing capacitor that smooths the rectified output to obtain a DC power supply; a first and a second inverters each composed of a heating coil, a resonance capacitor, and a switching element, and connected to the smoothing capacitor in parallel; a first and a second oscillating circuits that supply drive signals to the switching elements; and a controller that controls drive of the first and second oscillating circuits. The controller alternately drives the first and second oscillating circuits, and controls a drive time ratio of the first and second oscillating circuits so that a power change amount generated every time the drive is switched between the first and second oscillating circuits is not more than a predetermined amount.