Abstract: A flexible member includes a reinforced area reinforced by first and second reinforcement portions, wherein: the area is defined by the posterior edge of a first reinforcement portion and the anterior edge of a second reinforcement portion; the first and second reinforcement portions are smoothly continuous with each other without gaps; the perimeter of the area is completely surrounded by the first and second reinforcement portions; the virtual first center line of the area extends obliquely forward and upward; and the angle formed between the first center line and the tread surface of the sole is about 40° to 55°.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a tryptanthrin-containing indigo-plant leaf extract particularly suitable for application to the skin. The present invention provides a method for producing a tryptanthrin-containing indigo-plant leaf extract, the method comprising filtering a mixture of a concentrated ethanol extract of indigo-plant leaves and a polyhydric alcohol, and collecting the filtrate. The present invention further provides an indigo-plant leaf extract produced by this method.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical rotatable heating member; a nip-forming member having a first surface and a second surface opposite from the first surface and contacting an inner surface of the rotatable heating member at the first surface; a supporting member having a supporting surface, contacting the second surface, for supporting the nip-forming member; and a pressing member for forming a nip in cooperation with the nip-forming member though the rotatable heating member. A recording material on which an image is formed is heated at the nip while being feed through the nip, and the image is fixed on the recording material. The supporting surface of the supporting member supports the second surface of the nip-forming member so that the nip-forming member is swingable relative to the supporting member about an axis substantially parallel with a rotational axis of the cylindrical rotatable heating member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive member configured to be rotated; scanning means for scanning, by light corresponding to image data, the photosensitive member that is charged, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member; and a contacting member in contact with the photosensitive member to form a nip portion. In a correction mode in which a shift of an image is corrected based on a detection result obtained by detecting, at the nip portion, an electrostatic latent image for correction formed on the photosensitive member by the scanning means, a width of the electrostatic latent image for correction is equal to or more than a width of the nip portion in a rotation direction of the photosensitive member.

Abstract: A fixing device fixes an image on a sheet, and includes a rotatable member having an electroconductive layer; a helical coil provided inside the rotatable member and having a helix axis extending in a generatrix direction of the rotatable member; a magnetic member provided inside a helical configuration portion formed by the coil, the magnetic member not forming a loop outside the rotatable member; and a controller for controlling electric power supplied to the coil. The electroconductive layer generates heat by electromagnetic induction caused by the magnetic flux produced by an alternating current through the coil to fix the image on the sheet by the heat from the rotatable member. The controller limits the maximum electric power supplied to the coil, in accordance with the temperature of the magnetic member.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an image on a sheet, the fixing device includes a rotatable member having an electroconductive layer; a helical coil provided inside rotatable member and having a helix axis extending in a generatrix direction of the rotatable member; a magnetic member provided in inside a helical configuration portion formed by the coil, the magnetic member does not form a loop outside the rotatable member; and a controller for controlling electric power supplied to the coil, wherein the electroconductive layer generates heat by electromagnetic induction caused by magnetic flux produced by an alternating current through the coil to fix the image on the sheet by the heat from the rotatable member, and wherein the controller limits maximum electric power supplied to the coil, in accordance with a temperature of the magnetic member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive member configured to be rotated; scanning means for scanning, by light corresponding to image data, the photosensitive member that is charged, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member; and a contacting member in contact with the photosensitive member to form a nip portion. In a correction mode in which a shift of an image is corrected based on a detection result obtained by detecting, at the nip portion, an electrostatic latent image for correction formed on the photosensitive member by the scanning means, a width of the electrostatic latent image for correction is equal to or more than a width of the nip portion in a rotation direction of the photosensitive member.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating a toner image in a nip while conveying a recording material on which the toner image is held is provided. The image heating apparatus includes: a heater configured to generate heat by being supplied with electric power from an AC power source; a rotatable heating member configured to be heated by the heater; a pressing member configured to form the nip in contact to the rotatable heating member; a temperature detecting portion configured to detect a temperature of the heater or the rotatable heating member; and a controller configured to set the electric power supplied to the heater every renewal cycle depending on a detected temperature by the temperature detecting portion. The renewal cycle is shorter in a rise period of the heater than in a period in which the recording material is conveyed in the nip.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a fixing condition such as a target control temperature of a heater is changed depending on whether a first resistance heating element and a second resistance heating element of the heater are connected in series or in parallel such that a similar fixing performance is achieved regardless of whether the first resistance heating element and the second resistance heating element are connected in series or in parallel.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a tryptanthrin-containing indigo-plant leaf extract particularly suitable for application to the skin. The present invention provides a method for producing a tryptanthrin-containing indigo-plant leaf extract, the method comprising filtering a mixture of a concentrated ethanol extract of indigo-plant leaves and a polyhydric alcohol, and collecting the filtrate. The present invention further provides an indigo-plant leaf extract produced by this method.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating a toner image in a nip while conveying a recording material on which the toner image is held is provided. The image heating apparatus includes a heater for generating heat by being supplied with electric power from an AC power source; a rotatable heating member for being heated by the heater; a pressing member for forming the nip in contact to the rotatable heating member; a temperature detecting portion for detecting a temperature of the heater or the rotatable heating member; and a controller for setting the electric power supplied to the heater every renewal cycle depending on a detected temperature by the temperature detecting portion. The renewal cycle is shorter in a rise period of the heater than in a period in which the recording material is conveyed in the nip.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a fixing condition such as a target control temperature of a heater is changed depending on whether a first resistance heating element and a second resistance heating element of the heater are connected in series or in parallel such that a similar fixing performance is achieved regardless of whether the first resistance heating element and the second resistance heating element are connected in series or in parallel.

Abstract: The viscosity of a puncture-preventing sealant (7) is set in a range of 25 to 35 dPa·s, and a thixotropy index is set in a range of 6.5 to 11.0, the sealant (7) being filled in a sealant chamber (6) defined to extend along an outer periphery of an air chamber (5) in a tire (T). When the tire (T) is being rotated by traveling of a vehicle, the viscosity of the sealant (7) is reduced by a stirring action provided by a vibration or a centrifugal force of the sealant (7), whereby the sealant (7) can be diffused uniformly in the sealant chamber (6). When the vehicle has been stopped and the stirring action has been extinguished, the viscosity of the sealant (7) is increased, whereby the sealant (7) is maintained in a state in which it has been diffused uniformly in the sealant chamber (6) without flowing downwards in the sealant chamber (6) by gravitation. Therefore, even when the vehicle is travelling at a high speed, the generation of a vibration and a noise can be prevented.

Abstract: An organic electroluminescent element has a first electrode, a second electrode and an organic electroluminescent layer. The first electrode has a first luminescent region and a first terminal extending from the first luminescent region. The second electrode has a second luminescent region and a second terminal extending from the second luminescent region. The first electrode is made of a material having a higher volume resistivity than the second electrode. The organic electroluminescent layer is interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first luminescent region and the second luminescent region respectively contact the organic electroluminescent layer. A length of a boundary between the first luminescent region and the first terminal is greater than a length of a boundary between the second luminescent region and the second terminal.

Abstract: An electrode of the organic EL device includes a substantially rectangular electrode region that contacts an organic layer, a terminal section to which an external drive circuit is connected, and a conductive section that electrically connects the terminal section to the electrode region. The conductive section includes a first joint connected to the terminal section, a second joint connected to the outer periphery of the electrode region, and a conductive section main body that extends between the first joint and the second joint to electrically connect the first joint to the second joint. Therefore, the difference of magnitude between currents flowing at respective positions in a luminous region in the organic EL device is lessened.

Abstract: An organic electroluminescent element has a first electrode, a second electrode and an organic electroluminescent layer. The first electrode has a first luminescent region and a first terminal extending from the first luminescent region. The second electrode has a second luminescent region and a second terminal extending from the second luminescent region. The first electrode is made of a material having a higher volume resistivity than the second electrode. The organic electroluminescent layer is interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first luminescent region and the second luminescent region respectively contact the organic electroluminescent layer. A length of a boundary between the first luminescent region and the first terminal is greater than a length of a boundary between the second luminescent region and the second terminal.

Abstract: An electrode of the organic EL device includes a substantially rectangular electrode region that contacts an organic layer, a terminal section to which an external drive circuit is connected, and a conductive section that electrically connects the terminal section to the electrode region. The conductive section includes a first joint connected to the terminal section, a second joint connected to the outer periphery of the electrode region, and a conductive section main body that extends between the first joint and the second joint to electrically connect the first joint to the second joint. Therefore, the difference of magnitude between currents flowing at respective positions in a luminous region in the organic EL device is lessened.

Abstract: The viscosity of a puncture-preventing sealant (7) is set in a range of 25 to 35 dPa·s, and a thixotropy index is set in a range of 6.5 to 11.0, the sealant (7) being filled in a sealant chamber (6) defined to extend along an outer periphery of an air chamber (5) in a tire (T). When the tire (T) is being rotated by traveling of a vehicle, the viscosity of the sealant (7) is reduced by a stirring action provided by a vibration or a centrifugal force of the sealant (7), whereby the sealant (7) can be diffused uniformly in the sealant chamber (6). When the vehicle has been stopped and the stirring action has been extinguished, the viscosity of the sealant (7) is increased, whereby the sealant (7) is maintained in a state in which it has been diffused uniformly in the sealant chamber (6) without flowing downwards in the sealant chamber (6) by gravitation. Therefore, even when the vehicle is travelling at a high speed, the generation of a vibration and a noise can be prevented.