Abstract: A foreign body detection system includes a first point cloud acquisition unit and a second point cloud acquisition unit as a point cloud acquisition means, an alignment unit, and a foreign body detection unit. The point cloud acquisition means acquires a point cloud by controlling a first fixed-point three-dimensional LiDAR scanner in such a way that the first fixed-point three-dimensional LiDAR scanner performs scanning in a scanning range including a monitoring target in a scanning range and generates a point cloud. The alignment unit aligns the point cloud and known three-dimensional shape data about the monitoring target with each other. The foreign body detection unit detects a foreign body in contact with the monitoring target, based on the point cloud and the aligned three-dimensional shape data.

Abstract: A first point cloud acquisition unit controls a first fixed-point three-dimensional LiDAR scanner in such a way that the first fixed-point three-dimensional LiDAR scanner performs scanning in a low-density scanning range including a monitoring target in a scanning range and generates a low-density point cloud. An alignment unit aligns the low-density point cloud and known three-dimensional shape data about the monitoring target with each other. A scanning range determination unit determines a high-density scanning range including the monitoring target in a scanning range and also being narrower than the low-density scanning range, based on a result of the alignment by the alignment unit. A second point cloud acquisition unit controls the first fixed-point three-dimensional LiDAR scanner in such a way that the first fixed-point three-dimensional LiDAR scanner performs scanning in the high-density scanning range and generates a high-density point cloud.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a chassis, an absorbent structure placed on the chassis and elastic elements attached under tension to the chassis so as to extend across an absorbent structure region of the chassis occupied by the absorbent structure and to extend outward beyond opposite side edges of the absorbent structure. An elongation percentage of the elastic elements 6 is relatively low in the absorbent structure region as well as in first side regions outside opposite side edges of the absorbent structure and the elongation percentage is relatively high in second side regions outside the first side region and gradually increases as the elastic elements draw away from the first side regions toward the second side regions.

Abstract: A package for individually packaged good of absorbent article includes an individually packaged good having a main body portion and a pair of extended portions; a bag body housing individually packaged goods; and a box body that houses the bag body housing the individually packaged goods, in which the individually packaged goods are housed in the bag body such that a position of the extended portions is aligned; the bag body is housed in the box body such that a pair of side faces, to which the pair of extended portions is directed, is positioned to face a pair of opposite internal faces of the box body; and a length L1 between ends of the pair of extended portions of the individually packaged good, in a state in which the extended portions are straightened, is greater than a length L2 between the pair of internal faces of the box body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a scanner motor and a rotary polygonal mirror which is driven by the scanner motor to rotate, and reflects a modulated beam emitted from a light source by a plurality of reflection surfaces. The image forming apparatus includes a rotation and carrier unit which, while rotating, carries an image formed on the basis of a laser beam reflected by the rotary polygonal mirror, a speed detection unit which detects a rotation speed of the rotation and carrier unit. The image forming apparatus includes a tracking characteristic detection unit which detects a tracking delay of the scanner motor from a target rotation speed and a control unit which controls, on the basis of the rotation speed detected by the speed detection unit and a tracking characteristic detected by the tracking characteristic detection unit, a rotation speed of the scanner motor that drives the rotary polygonal mirror.

Abstract: Adjustment processing is suitably executed in accordance with the type of post processing. To accomplish this, an image forming apparatus includes, for example, an adjustment part, specifying part, and control part. The adjustment part performs at least one of adjustment operation for an image formation position and adjustment operation for an image formation density by forming adjustment patterns using a developing material on an image carrier and measuring the adjustment patterns. The specifying part specifies the size of an image to be formed on a sheet and the content of post processing in case of executing a job which requires post processing on the sheet. The control part controls, in accordance with the size of the image and the content of the post processing, whether to perform the adjustment operation by the adjustment part concurrently with the formation of an image made from a job requiring post processing.

Abstract: A lignocellulose-based molded product is made by mixing furan resin with steam-treated lignocellulose-based material, and molding the resulting mixture by applying heat and pressure.

Abstract: A technique for reducing downtime that accompanies the execution independently of adjustment processing for maintaining image quality and the execution of finishing processing relating to a printing medium. In order to apply the finishing processing to the printing medium in a finishing processing unit, an image forming apparatus to which this technique is applied sets a time between sheets that extends from end of image formation regarding a first sheet of the printing medium to start of image formation regarding a second sheet of the printing medium transported following the first sheet of the printing medium in the image forming unit, and executes adjustment processing, which is for maintaining image quality in the image forming unit, within the set time between sheets.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms an image by scanning on a photosensitive member in the main-scanning direction with a plurality of beams aligned in the sub-scanning direction. To detect differences in the main-scanning length of each beam on a photosensitive member, patterns for correction are formed on the photosensitive member using first and second beams at both ends among the plurality of beams. The positions of a first pixel and a last pixel in the main scanning direction on the photosensitive member, which pixels are to be formed by a third beam arranged between the first and second beams, are determined based on the detected first and second locations of the first and second test patterns respectively formed by the first and second beams, without forming a third test pattern by the third beam.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus comprises an endless belt for heating an image on a recording material. A heating member is provided for heating a part of the endless belt and a contact member is provided for contacting an inner surface of the belt. A stand-by control unit is operable in a stop period in which the heating member effects heating with the belt at rest and in a rotation period in which the belt is rotated, and a drive stop control unit is provided for stopping the endless belt at a position that the contact member contacts at least a part of a portion of the endless belt that has been opposed to the heating member in a previous stop period.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus whereby waiting time (downtime), which is required for forming an image by automatic adjustment relating to image formation density or image formation position, is made shorter than in the prior art. When an image having a size equal to or less than a prescribed size is formed is formed in this apparatus, the image to be formed is placed on an image carrier in such a manner that a vacant area for forming an adjustment pattern can be reserved on the image carrier. As a result, automatic adjustment relating to image formation density or image formation position can be executed while an image is formed.

Abstract: A method of producing a synthetic board involves the step of heat-pressing a mixture. The mixture includes lignocellulosic material containing lignocellulose and polybutylene succinate-based resin serving as an adhesive.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which can improve image formation capability to a satisfactory degree while curbing the rise in running cost. An image forming device forms adjustment images having different densities on an image support member having a higher optical reflectivity than an optical reflectivity of the adjustment images. A reading reads the adjustment images. An output from the reading device is read at a predetermined number of readings or time interval between readings based on the densities of the adjustment images susceptible to the optical reflectivity of the image support member.

Abstract: A lignocellulose-based molded product is made by mixing furan resin with steam-treated lignocellulose-based material, and molding the resulting mixture by applying heat and pressure.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus generates a PWM signal corresponding to input image data and controls a timing of a light source to emit a light beam based on the PWM signal in order to perform tone reproduction. The image forming apparatus includes a data processing unit configured to generate the PWM signal for one pixel based on image data for continuous two pixels in the image data. The data processing unit selects an origin of pulse growth in generation of the PWM signal for one pixel in accordance with the image data for the two pixels to generate the PWM signal.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer member position detection unit configured to detect a position of the intermediate transfer member to output an image forming operation start signal, a pattern detection unit configured to detect a registration correction pattern formed on the intermediate transfer member based on the image forming operation start signal, a misregistration variation detection unit configured to read the registration correction pattern detected by the pattern detection unit based on the image forming operation start signal and to generate a reference clock signal based on the read registration correction pattern, and a polygonal mirror drive motor control unit configured to adjust a rotation speed of the polygonal mirror drive motor based on the reference clock signal generated by the misregistration variation detection unit.

Abstract: To detect differences in the main-scanning length of each beam on a photosensitive member, patterns for correction are formed on the photosensitive member using only beams (L1, LN) at both ends among a plurality of beams aligned in a sub-scanning direction. The patterns are transferred onto an intermediate transfer belt and detected with photosensors, a difference ?LN of scanning length between a 1-st line and a N-th line is calculated, and a difference ?Li of scanning length of a i-th line is calculated by ?Li=?LN×(i/N?1) so as to proportionally distribute ?LN to the i-th line. The scanning lengths of lines are respectively corrected to be equal each other using the obtained differences ?Li of scanning length. Thus, an image forming apparatus and a control method that reduce a decline in image quality, even when scanning incident angles of laser beams onto a photosensitive member differ for each of beams on forming images by scanning a multiple lines with a multiple beams, can be provided.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a chassis, an absorbent structure placed on the chassis and elastic elements attached under tension to the chassis so as to extend across an absorbent structure region of the chassis occupied by the absorbent structure and to extend outward beyond opposite side edges of the absorbent structure. An elongation percentage of the elastic elements 6 is relatively low in the absorbent structure region as well as in first side regions outside opposite side edges of the absorbent structure and the elongation percentage is relatively high in second side regions outside the first side region and gradually increases as the elastic elements draw away from the first side regions toward the second side regions.

Abstract: The texture of a starchy food (for example, biscuits, cookies, cakes, breads, cream puffs, coated and fried foods, snack foods, wheat noodles, Chinese noodles, etc.) is highly improved by using soybean protein in a smaller amount than in the conventional methods. The effect of improving the food texture somewhat varies depending on the water activity of a food. In the case of a food having a high to moderate water content, it is intended to achieve a soft texture, a favorable feeling on the tongue and a high meltability in the mouth. In the case of a food having a low water activity such as baked goods or toast, on the other hand, it is intended to achieve a crispy and light texture. In the case of wheat noodles and Chinese noodles, it is intended to achieve a flexible texture with an adequate elasticity.

Abstract: To detect differences in the main-scanning length of each beam on a photosensitive member, patterns for correction are formed on the photosensitive member using only beams (L1, LN) at both ends among a plurality of beams aligned in a sub-scanning direction. The patterns are transferred onto an intermediate transfer belt and detected with photosensors, a difference ?LN of scanning length between a 1-st line and a N-th line is calculated, and a difference ?Li of scanning length of a i-th line is calculated by ?Li=?LN×(i/N?1) so as to proportionally distribute ?LN to the i-th line. The scanning lengths of lines are respectively corrected to be equal each other using the obtained differences ?Li of scanning length. Thus, an image forming apparatus and a control method that reduce a decline in image quality, even when scanning incident angles of laser beams onto a photosensitive member differ for each of beams on forming images by scanning a multiple lines with a multiple beams, can be provided.