Abstract: Disclosed is a virtual-space providing apparatus, which is connected to a user terminal via a network, and which provides the user terminal with various kinds of services through a three-dimensional virtual space created in the network, the virtual-space providing apparatus includes a virtual room providing server for imitating a real room of a user using the user terminal, and for providing the virtual room, which can be browsed using the user terminal connected via the network, on the three-dimensional virtual space; virtual store providing server for providing the user terminal connected via the network with the virtual store, the virtual store selling virtual commodities imitating real commodities, on the three-dimensional virtual space; and a benefit-information transmitting medium, wherein, when the user purchases a virtual commodity in the virtual store provided by the virtual store providing server using the user terminal, benefit information showing benefit of purchasing the virtual commodity is tran

Abstract: A toner for use in the development of electrostatic latent images contains colored particles including at least a binder resin, a coloring agent and a releasing agent, and an external additive. An average circularity of the toner is 0.975 or more; a median of arithmetic average height distribution of the toner is 0.05 ?m or more and not more than 0.12 ?m; and a fluctuation of arithmetic average height is not more than 35. Preferably, a value of 90% accumulation of the arithmetic average height distribution of the toner is less than 0.15 ?m; and a fluctuation of number average particle size and a fluctuation of circularity of the toner are not more than 25 and not more than 2.5, respectively. The electrostatic latent image developer contains the foregoing toner and a carrier, and the image forming method uses the foregoing toner or the foregoing developer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a toner for developing an electrostatic latent image comprising of: toner particles containing at least a binder resin, a colorant and a releasing agent; wherein a volume-average particle diameter of the toner particles is in a range of about 5 to 8 ?m; an average of shape factor SF1 of the toner particles is in a range of about 125 to 140; and an arithmetical mean undulation height of the surface of the toner particles at the 90% point on the cumulative distribution curve is in a range of about 0.15 to 0.25 ?m. Further, the present invention provides an electrostatic latent image developer containing the toner. The invention also provides a method for producing the toner.

Abstract: An electrophotographic toner contains a resin, a colorant and a releasing agent. The releasing agent has a solidifying point of from 79° C. to 109° C., and one peak in an endothermic curve measured by a differential scanning calorimeter. A difference between temperature to give a maximum endothermic peak of the releasing agent and an end-set temperature of the releasing agent is within 10° C. A melt viscosity of the releasing agent at 110° C. is in a range of from 4 mPa.s to 9 mPa.s. The releasing agent in one particle of the toner forms 3 or more domains. Domains having a ratio of a major axis to a minor axis which is in a range of from 5 to 15 occupy 90% or more by number based on the total number of domains.

Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic image is provided, which contains at least a binder resin, a colorant and a releasing agent, the releasing agent, has an endothermic peak temperature measured by a differential scanning calorimeter of from 60 to 100° C., and an endothermic amount a of the releasing agent per unit weight (J/g) at temperatures equal to or lower than a glass transition onset temperature of the binder resin measured by a differential scanning calorimeter, a total endothermic amount b of the releasing agent per unit weight (J/g) and a volume average particle diameter c (?m) of the toner has the relationship: 0.05?a/(b×c)?0.6.

Abstract: The toner for electrostatic charged image development of the present invention is characterized in that it contains at least a binder resin, a mold releasing agent and magnetic metal particles, and the solubility of the magnetic metal particles in a 1 mol/l aqueous HNO3 solution at 50° C. is 500 mg/g·l or less.

Abstract: The toner for electrostatic charged image development of the present invention is characterized in that it contains at least a binder resin, a mold releasing agent and magnetic metal particles, and the solubility of the magnetic metal particles in a 1 mol/l aqueous HNO3 solution at 50° C. is 500 mg/g·l or less.

Abstract: Semiconductor elements composing a semiconductor device are formed on a semiconductor substrate. Wirings composed of copper or an alloy mainly composed of copper are formed in wiring layers through interlayer insulation films to connect the semiconductor elements to each other. When the wirings are formed, a temperature of the wirings is held in a first temperature zone covering 40° C. of a temperature at which a stress migration is most accelerated.

Abstract: A carrier for the development of an electrostatic latent image, comprising a core material and a resin coating the core material therewith, wherein the coating resin comprises a copolymer of at least four kinds of monomers including: (1) a monomer containing a carboxyl group; (2) an acrylic acid alkylester monomer or methacrylic acid alkylester monomer, containing a C1-C3 linear alkyl group; (3) an acrylic acid alkylester monomer or methacrylic acid alkylester monomer, containing a C4-C10 linear alkyl group or C3-C10 branched alkyl group; and (4) a monomer containing fluorine. Also disclosed is a two-component developer for the development of an electrostatic latent image, comprising a toner and the carrier.

Abstract: The present application provides a deoxidizer comprising an alkaline compound, silicon, a porous substance, water and at least one organic acid selected from the group consisting of ascorbic acid, isomers thereof and phenol derivatives where pH of an extract when 1 g of the deoxidizer is extracted with 10 ml of water is 8 or lower. The deoxidizer does not generate hydrogen gas and achieves an excellent deoxidizing ability even at from weakly alkaline to acidic regions. When a suppressant for generation of hydrogen is further added to the deoxidizer, generation of hydrogen is suppressed even when the pH is 10 or lower and an excellent deoxidizing ability can be maintained as well. Those deoxidizers do not interfere with the food test using a metal detector.

Abstract: A carrier for the development of an electrostatic latent image, comprising a core material and a resin coating the core material therewith, wherein the coating resin comprises a copolymer of at least four kinds of monomers including: (1) a monomer containing a carboxyl group; (2) an acrylic acid alkylester monomer or methacrylic acid alkylester monomer, containing a C1-C3 linear alkyl group; (3) an acrylic acid alkylester monomer or methacrylic acid alkylester monomer, containing a C4-C10 linear alkyl group or C3-C10 branched alkyl group; and (4) a monomer containing fluorine. Also disclosed is a two-component developer for the development of an electrostatic latent image, comprising a toner and the carrier.

Abstract: In order to prevent a deck tower from collapsing because two or more decks are drawn at the same surface side of the deck tower, stopper mechanisms for preventing the deck from being drawn are provided at deck shelves at the upper and lower tiers. A deck apparatus includes a stopper member for preventing the decks from being drawn, which is movably mounted, so that the stopper mechanisms at the upper and lower tiers may be linked with each other. It also includes a locking arm for when the stopper member at any shelf is moved to release the deck from being locked, preventing the stopper members at the remaining shelves from moving. The locking arm allows only an deck to be alternatively drawn.

Abstract: Disclosed is a virtual-space providing apparatus, which is connected to a user terminal via a network, and which provides the user terminal with various kinds of services through a three-dimensional virtual space created in the network, the virtual-space providing apparatus includes a virtual room providing server for imitating a real room of a user using the user terminal, and for providing the virtual room, which can be browsed using the user terminal connected via the network, on the three-dimensional virtual space; virtual store providing server for providing the user terminal connected via the network with the virtual store, the virtual store selling virtual commodities imitating real commodities, on the three-dimensional virtual space; and a benefit-information transmitting medium, wherein, when the user purchases a virtual commodity in the virtual store provided by the virtual store providing server using the user terminal, benefit information showing benefit of purchasing the virtual commodity is tran

Abstract: A carrier for two-component electrostatic-charged image developer, at least the surface of which is coated with a resin, is provided. The apparent density &rgr; (g/cm3) of the carrier, the mean particle diameter D (cm) of the carrier, and the specific area S (cm2/g) of the carrier core material satisfy the following conditions: 600≦S≦1500 10/(D×&rgr;)−S≦300. A two-component developer and an image-forming process using the carrier are also provided.

Abstract: A library apparatus is provided with a cartridge forced exit station for forcibly discharging a defective cartridge for safe removal by an operator. The cartridge forced exit station includes a storage rack for accepting the defective from an operating space side of a transferring mechanism in the interior of the library apparatus. The storage rack houses the defective cartridge. The storage rack is configured to selectively prevent access between a cartridge storage space in the storage rack and the operating space side.

Abstract: Provided are a toner for electrophotography, a method for producing it, and a method of image formation with it. The toner fuses little in the apparatus where it is produced, and its productivity is high. The toner has good characteristics including charging characteristics and coloring characteristics, and the amount of coarse grains in the toner is small. The method for producing the toner includes a step of kneading at least a toner-forming material to prepare a kneaded mixture, a step of grinding and classifying at least the kneaded mixture to prepare toner grains, and a step of mixing at least an external additive in the toner grains. In the method, an inorganic oxide containing the same metal element at least for its core is added to the system in all of the kneading step, the grinding and classifying step and the external additive-mixing step.

Abstract: Provided is an image-forming method including a step of forming a layer of a developer on a surface of a developer support member disposed facing a latent image support member, a developing step of developing an electrostatic latent image on the latent image support member using the layer of the developer formed to obtain a toner image, a transferring step of transferring the toner image onto a transfer material and a fixing step of fixing the transferred toner image, wherein the developer support member has therein a development magnetic pole in which a magnetic force of a main pole is 100 mT or more, said developer having a toner and a carrier which has a volume average particle diameter of 50 .mu.m or less, and image formation method is conducted at a process speed of 200 mm/sec or more.

Abstract: A cartridge access station in a library apparatus for providing safe loading/unloading of a cartridge while maintaining a simple and compact arrangement of the library apparatus. The cartridge access station includes an communication space for establishing direct communication and connection between an operating space for a transferring mechanism in the interior of a library apparatus and an external space of the library apparatus. A rack is provided in the communication space to guide the entry/exit of a cartridge from both sides of the operating space and the external space and to hold the cartridge within the communication space.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrostatic image developer comprising a toner and a carrier wherein the toner includes toner particles having an average particle diameter of 3 to 9 .mu.m, a hydrophobic silica microparticles having a BET specific surface area of 40 to 120 m.sup.2 /g, and a hydrophobic titanium compound microparticles having a BET specific surface area of 40 to 250 m.sup.2 /g; and wherein the carrier is a resin coated carrier having a coating layer of a resin. The electrostatic image developer can improve the environmental dependency of charging, power fluidity, resistance to caking of a toner and reduced change in charging with time course to provide an image with an excellent image quality for a long period of time.

Abstract: There is provided an electrostatic charge image developing toner comprising at least a binder resin, a coloring agent, and an aromatic hydrocarbon copolymer resin, wherein, in a toner particle, the percentage of dispersed aromatic hydrocarbon copolymer resin particles having a longitudinal diameter of 2.0 .mu.m or greater among the total number of dispersed aromatic hydrocarbon copolymer is 10% or less. The toner has superior effects of excellent grindability and not melting and adhering to apparatuses, without there being any adverse effect on basic abilities of the toner such as electrostatic charge property, fixing property, color, and the like.