Abstract: The developing apparatus includes a developer carrying roller rotatable in a first rotating direction, and a developer regulating member which regulates a thickness of a developer layer carried on the developer carrying roller, wherein at least a part of the developer regulating member is in pressure contact with a surface of the developer carrying roller to form an abutting portion between the developer carrying roller and the developer regulating member, the abutting portion having an abutting width W in a circumferential direction of the developer carrying member of 1.0 to 5.0 mm, wherein in the abutting portion, an abutting pressure has a maximum value in a first area, the first area having a width of 20% or less of the abutting width W from an upstream edge of the abutting portion in the rotating direction, and wherein an abutting pressure in a second area is 0.08 to 0.18 MPa.

Abstract: A light-guiding plate of an optical device has first light convergence portions and second light convergence portions. The light convergence portions each have optical surfaces that cause light to be emitted from an emission surface in directions in which the light substantially converges at or scatters from one convergence point or one convergence line, the convergence points or lines for the light convergence portions are different from each other, first and second images are formed by a collection of the convergence points or lines of the first and second light convergence portions, respectively, and in a case where an image is projected to a plane perpendicular to the emission surface and parallel to a light-guiding direction of the light-guiding plate, the first and second light convergence portions cause light to be emitted from the emission surface at a first angle and at a second angle, respectively.

Abstract: A weather strip including a bottom wall, a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall and in which an angle between the bottom wall and the first lateral wall is constant and an angle between the bottom wall and the second lateral wall is partially varied in a longitudinal direction is manufactured. The method includes: a first step of pre-forming the angle of the first lateral wall and the angle of the second lateral wall to be constant and equal to or larger than final maximum angles; a second step of regulating a boundary between the bottom wall and the second lateral wall from moving toward the first lateral wall by a regulating member; a third step of partially varying the angle of the second lateral wall by a movable roller; and a fourth step of forming the angle of the first lateral wall by a fine-movable roller.

Abstract: An optical device includes a light guide plate configured to guide light within a plane parallel to an emission surface, and a plurality of light focusing portions to which the light guide plate guides directional light. Each of the plurality of light focusing portions is provided with an optical surface configured to create from the directional light incident thereon emission light in a direction substantially converging on a single convergence point or convergence line in a space or to create emission light that substantially diverges from a single convergence point of convergence line in a space and exits from the emission surface. The plurality of light focusing portions are provided near the emission surface of the light guide plate, and each of the plurality of light focusing portions is formed along a predetermined line within a plane parallel to the emission surface.

Abstract: An optical device includes a light-guiding plate that guides light in a plane parallel to an emission surface that emits light, and a sensor for detecting an object located on an emission surface side using light that passes through a back surface opposite to the emission surface and through the emission surface. The light-guiding plate has light convergence portions that receive light guided by the light-guiding plate and each have optical surfaces that cause light to be emitted from the emission surface in directions in which the light substantially converges at or scatters from one convergence point or one convergence line in a space, and the convergence points or the convergence lines for the light convergence portions are different from each other, and an image is formed in the space on the emission surface side by a collection of the convergence points or the convergence lines.

Abstract: An optical device includes a light-guiding plate and light sources that each emit light to the light-guiding plate. The light-guiding plate has light convergence portions, the light substantially converges at or scatters from a convergence point or line, and an image is formed by a collection of the convergence points or lines, and a light convergence portion causes light to be emitted in directions in which the light substantially converges in or scatters from a range including a point located a first distance apart from the emission surface, and a second light convergence portion causes light to be emitted in directions in which the light substantially converges in or scatters from a range including a point located a second distance, which is longer than the first distance, apart from the emission surface, and the number of first light convergence portions is higher than the number of second light convergence portions.

Abstract: An optical device includes a light guiding plate which guides lights within the surface parallel to an emission surface, and light converging sections onto which the lights guided by the light guiding plate are incident, each of the light converging sections having an optical surface which allows an emitted light to be emitted from the emission surface in a direction where the emitted light is to be substantially converged on one convergence point or convergence line in space or to be substantially diverged from one convergence point or convergence line in space. The light converging sections are formed respectively along a predetermined line within the surface parallel to the emission surface, and the convergence points or the convergence lines are different from each other among the light converging sections, and an image is formed in space by an aggregation of the convergence points or the convergence lines.

Abstract: A developer quantity control blade is provided which can sufficiently impart charge to toner and which allows bleeding of a material from a blade member to be suppressed even in application of a voltage. The developer quantity control blade includes a supporting member and a blade member, wherein the blade member is composed of a thermoplastic elastomer composition including a block copolymer having a polyamide structure and a polyether structure, and an ion conductive agent; in the blade member, a quantity of an extraction component to be extracted with methyl isobutyl ketone as a solvent is 0.5% by mass or more and 2.4% by mass or less; and a quantity of a molecule having a molecular weight of 5000 or less in the extraction component is 70% by mass or more.

Abstract: A developer quantity control blade is provided which can sufficiently impart charge to toner and which allows bleeding of a material from a blade member to be suppressed even in application of a voltage. The developer quantity control blade includes a supporting member and a blade member, wherein the blade member is composed of a thermoplastic elastomer composition including a block copolymer having a polyamide structure and a polyether structure, and an ion conductive agent; in the blade member, a quantity of an extraction component to be extracted with methyl isobutyl ketone as a solvent is 0.5% by mass or more and 2.4% by mass or less; and a quantity of a molecule having a molecular weight of 5000 or less in the extraction component is 70% by mass or more.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for producing a conductive rubber roller having small aspect ratios of inner and outer diameters, having a stable measure of its inner diameter, having uniform cell distribution and being free from non-uniformity of hardness and electrical resistance in the peripheral direction. The process has a step of continuously extruding a tube composed of a specific unvulcanized rubber composition from a rubber extruder in a microwave vulcanizing unit, and a step of foaming and vulcanizing the tube by using a microwave irradiator having a microwave irradiation zone 4 m or less in length while being transported at given speed. The foamed rubber tube has an inner diameter 20 to 35% smaller than the outer diameter of the conductive core material over the whole region in the lengthwise direction, and the conductive core material is press-fitted into the foamed rubber tube without using any adhesive.

Abstract: A surface illumination device has a light source and a light guide plate having a light-emitting surface. The light guide plate guides light from the light source such that the light is emitted from a display region of the light-emitting surface. A plurality of first deflection patterns having deflection inclined surfaces and a plurality of second deflection patterns having deflection inclined surfaces are formed in the display region in at least one of the light-emitting surface of the light guide plate and an opposite surface to the light-emitting surface. When viewed from a direction perpendicular to the light-emitting surface of the light guide plate, the first deflection pattern is disposed such that an angle formed by a line normal to the deflection inclined surface and a direction connecting the light source and the first deflection pattern is less than or equal to 30°.

Abstract: A surface illumination device has a light source, and a light guide plate having a light-emitting surface. The light guide plate guides light from the light source such that the light is emitted from a display region of the light-emitting surface. A plurality of deflection patterns having deflection inclined surfaces are formed in the display region in at least one of the light-emitting surface of the light guide plate and an opposite surface to the light-emitting surface. A light control structure that reduces light is provided on at least part of at least one of the light-emitting surface of the light guide plate and a surface except the opposite surface to the light-emitting surface, the light being reflected toward the display region by the surface.

Abstract: A surface illumination device has a light source and a light guide plate having a light-emitting surface. The light guide plate guides light from the light source such that the light is emitted from a display region of the light-emitting surface. A plurality of first deflection patterns having deflection inclined surfaces and a plurality of second deflection patterns having deflection inclined surfaces are formed in the display region in at least one of the light-emitting surface of the light guide plate and an opposite surface to the light-emitting surface. When viewed from a direction perpendicular to the light-emitting surface of the light guide plate, the first deflection pattern is disposed such that an angle formed by a line normal to the deflection inclined surface and a direction connecting the light source and the first deflection pattern is less than or equal to 30°.

Abstract: A surface illumination device has a light source, a light guide plate that has a light-emitting surface and an opposite surface opposite to the light-emitting, wherein the light guide plate emits light introduced from the light source from a display region of the light-emitting surface, and a plurality of deflection patterns that are formed in the display region in at least one of the light-emitting surface and the opposite surface. The display region has a certain drawing pattern expressed by a set of the deflection patterns. Some of the plurality of deflection patterns are arrayed along an edge of the certain drawing pattern so as to rim the certain drawing pattern.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for producing a conductive rubber roller having small aspect ratios of inner and outer diameters, having a stable measure of its inner diameter, having uniform cell distribution and being free from non-uniformity of hardness and electrical resistance in the peripheral direction. The process has a step of continuously extruding a tube composed of a specific unvulcanized rubber composition from a rubber extruder in a microwave vulcanizing unit, and a step of foaming and vulcanizing the tube by using a microwave irradiator having a microwave irradiation zone 4 m or less in length while being transported at given speed. The foamed rubber tube has an inner diameter 20 to 35% smaller than the outer diameter of the conductive core material over the whole region in the lengthwise direction, and the conductive core material is press-fitted into the foamed rubber tube without using any adhesive.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for producing a conductive rubber roller having small aspect ratios of inner and outer diameters, having a stable measure of its inner diameter, having uniform cell distribution and being free from non-uniformity of hardness and electrical resistance in the peripheral direction. The process has a step of continuously extruding a tube composed of a specific unvulcanized rubber composition from a rubber extruder in a microwave vulcanizing unit, and a step of foaming and vulcanizing the tube by using a microwave irradiator having a microwave irradiation zone 4 m or less in length while being transported at given speed. The foamed rubber tube has an inner diameter 20 to 35% smaller than the outer diameter of the conductive core material over the whole region in the lengthwise direction, and the conductive core material is press-fitted into the foamed rubber tube without using any adhesive.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for producing a conductive rubber roller having small aspect ratios of inner and outer diameters, having a stable measure of its inner diameter, having uniform cell distribution and being free from non-uniformity of hardness and electrical resistance in the peripheral direction. The process has a step of continuously extruding a tube composed of a specific unvulcanized rubber composition from a rubber extruder in a microwave vulcanizing unit, and a step of foaming and vulcanizing the tube by using a microwave irradiator having a microwave irradiation zone 4 m or less in length while being transported at given speed. The foamed rubber tube has an inner diameter 20 to 35% smaller than the outer diameter of the conductive core material over the whole region in the lengthwise direction, and the conductive core material is press-fitted into the foamed rubber tube without using any adhesive.

Abstract: A process for producing a conductive rubber roller having a conductive core material and a rubber layer provided thereon. The rubber layer contains at least acrylonitrile rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber and a blowing agent, and has a gas generation rate of from 2 ml/g·min to 4 ml/g·min at 170° C. to 230° C. The process has a vulcanizing and foaming step of vulcanizing and foaming the rubber layer by using a microwave vulcanizing furnace which provides hot air and irradiation with microwaves. A temperature of a heating atmosphere in the microwave vulcanizing furnace in the vulcanizing and foaming step is so controlled that a ratio of initial vulcanizing time T10 to initial foaming time Tp10, T10/Tp10, of the rubber layer is from 1 or more to less than 3 and the T10 is within 90 seconds.

Abstract: A transfer roller is provide that less cause faulty image which is used in electrophotographic process such as copiers and laser-beam printers, in particular, used on the inner side of an intermediate transfer belt of a full-color image forming apparatus. It is a transfer roller which has a shaft and provided on the periphery thereof at least two conductive foamed rubber layers; the layers having an outermost layer which has a foamed rubber mean cell size of from 10 ?m or more to less than 100 ?m and an inner layer which has a foamed rubber mean cell size of from 100 ?m or more to 500 ?m or less; and, as measured in an environment of 23° C./55% RH, the roller having a resistance Rx of from 5.6 or more to 7.0 or less in Log Rx and the inner layer having a resistance Ry of from 5.0 or more to 7.0 or less in Log Ry.

Abstract: A switch module with lighted key has a cover sheet having an adhesive layer on a rear surface, a dome-shaped contact spring adhered on a rear surface of the cover sheet by the adhesive layer, a substrate including a fixed contact switched to an electrically conducted state or an insulated state with the contact spring, and a light guide sheet arranged on a front surface side of the cover sheet. One or more recesses are formed in a region facing the contact spring of at least one of a front surface and a rear surface of the light guide sheet so as not to penetrate toward a surface on an opposite side.