Abstract: An apparatus and method to update patch image formation frequency, in which an electrostatic latent image is formed on an image supporting object, and the electrostatic latent image is developed with a toner. The image formation apparatus includes a developing unit, a toner supply unit for supplying the toner to the developing unit, a patch image density detecting unit for detecting the density of a patch image formed on the image supporting object, a toner density detecting unit for detecting the density of the toner held in the developing unit, and a control unit that adjusts a generating interval of the patch image according to a detection result of the patch image density detecting unit.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus, and an image formation method are disclosed. An electrostatic latent image is formed on an image supporting object, and the electrostatic latent image is developed (made visible) with a toner. The image formation apparatus includes a developing unit, a toner supply unit for supplying the toner to the developing unit, a patch image density detecting unit for detecting the density of a patch image formed on the image supporting object, a toner density detecting unit for detecting the density of the toner held in the developing unit, and a control unit connected to the patch image density detecting unit and the toner density detecting unit on an input side of the control unit, and connected to the toner supply unit on an output side of the control unit, wherein the control unit adjusts a generating interval of the patch image according to a detection result of the patch image density detecting unit.

Abstract: A separable tow of elongated polymeric filaments comprises a plurality of distinct sub-tows lightly and individually and separably joined, as by light crimping together along their edges or, if uncrimped, joined by presence of moisture, and capable of being packed into a container and later removed and separated. The filaments are preferably acrylic and have a total fineness of about 300,00-1,500,000 denier and the sub-tows each of which has a total fineness of about 50,000-250,000 denier, with a filament fineness of about 1-2 denier, and each sub-tow has a degree of entanglement of about 10-40 m−1 as measured by the hook drop test. The separable tow is made of a plurality of sub-tows, after separately drawing the sub-tows and subsequently removably joining the sub-tows into a single tow.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image carrier for forming a toner image thereon. A conveyor conveys a synthetic resin sheet. An image transferring device transfers the toner image from the image carrier to the synthetic resin sheet being conveyed by the conveyor. A fixing device is located downstream of the image carrier in a direction of sheet conveyance for fixing the toner image transferred to the synthetic resin sheet. The fixing device includes a heat roller capable of contacting the synthetic resin sheet. The heat roller is freely rotatable and caused to rotate by the synthetic resin sheet being conveyed by the conveyor when the sheet contacts the heat roller.

Abstract: A printer or similar electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on an optical disk or similar synthetic resin sheet is disclosed. The apparatus of the present invention exerts a preselected pressure for each of image transfer and image fixation to thereby insure high quality images. Further, the apparatus matches the moving speed of the surface of a synthetic resin sheet and the peripheral speed of an image carrier or that of a fixing member. In addition, the apparatus protects the image carrier and fixing member from damage and prevents a parting agent from depositing on at least the image forming range of the image carrier.

Abstract: A printer or similar electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on an optical disk or similar synthetic resin sheet is disclosed. The apparatus of the present invention exerts a preselected pressure for each of image transfer and image fixation to thereby insure high quality images. Further, the apparatus matches the moving speed of the surface of a synthetic resin sheet and the peripheral speed of an image carrier or that of a fixing member. In addition, the apparatus protects the image carrier and fixing member from damage and prevents a parting agent from depositing on at least the image forming range of the image carrier.

Abstract: A printer or similar electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on an optical disk or similar synthetic resin sheet is disclosed. The apparatus of the present invention guarantees a sufficient period of time for fixation to thereby obviate defective fixation while producing as great a number of prints as possible. At the same time, the apparatus of the present invention saves energy and space and accurately matches the peripheral speed of a heat roller and the conveying speed of the synthetic resin sheet.

Abstract: A separable tow of elongated polymeric filaments comprises a plurality of distinct sub-tows lightly and individually and separably joined, as by light crimping together along their edges or, if uncrimped, joined by presence of moisture, and capable of being packed into a container and later removed and separated. The filaments are preferably acrylic and have a total fineness of about 300,00-1,500,000 denier and the sub-tows each of which has a total fineness of about 50,000-250,000 denier, with a filament fineness of about 1-2 denier, and each sub-tow has a degree of entanglement of about 10-40 m−1 as measured by the hook drop test.

Abstract: A separable tow of elongated polymeric filaments comprises a plurality of distinct sub-tows lightly and individually and separably joined, as by light crimping together along their edges or, if uncrimped, joined by presence of moisture, and capable of being packed into a container and later removed and separated. The filaments are preferably acrylic and have a total fineness of about 300,00-1,500,000 denier and the sub-tows each of which has a total fineness of about 50,000-250,000 denier, with a filament fineness of about 1-2 denier, and each sub-tow has a degree of entanglement of about 10-40 m−1 as measured by the hook drop test. The separable tow is made of a plurality of sub-tows, after separately drawing the sub-tows and subsequently removably joining the sub-tows into a single tow.

Abstract: By using carbon fibers having a fineness of 25,000 deniers or more, the present invention provides a carbon fiber package including a cheese winding package or a coreless package in which an outside diameter of the package, a diameter of a bobbin or an inside diameter of the package, and a winding width are regulated in the specific ranges, a square-end type package in which a yarn width per fineness, wind angles at the start of winding and at the end of winding, and shifting of the yarn are regulated in the specific ranges, and a carbon fiber packed member in which an average bulk density is regulated in a specific range. Those carbon fiber packages and the carbon fiber packed member solve troubles and inconveniences during use, and also packages which have a high winding density and which do not break easily can be obtained.

Abstract: A heat treatment furnace for fiber for heat-treating a fiber bundle (yarn) formed of many continuous filaments in hot gas while running the yarn. The heat treatment furnace has a plurality of heat treatment chambers provided in a furnace body. The temperature in each individual heat treatment chamber is independently adjusted to a temperature which is different from the temperatures in the other heat treatment chambers. Thereby, the heat treatment furnace can be made small and is able to heat-treat fiber efficiently.This heat treatment furnace is useful, particularly, as a heat treatment furnace (an oxidizing heat treatment furnace, or a oxidizing furnace) for producing an oxidized fiber needed to produce a carbon fiber.

Abstract: A heat treatment furnace for fiber for heat-treating a fiber bundle (yarn) formed of many continuous filaments in hot gas while running the yarn. The heat treatment furnace has a plurality of heat treatment chambers provided in a furnace body. The temperature in each individual heat treatment chamber is independently adjusted to a temperature which is different from the temperatures in the other heat treatment chambers. Thereby, the heat treatment furnace can be made small and is able to heat-treat fiber efficiently.This heat treatment furnace is useful, particularly, as a heat treatment furnace (an oxidizing heat treatment furnace, or a oxidizing furnace) for producing an oxidized fiber needed to produce a carbon fiber.