Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a mascara applicator capable of being fitted to the curved bases of eyelashes to lift up eyelashes, providing voluminousness to the eyelashes by adhering a mascara to the bases of the eyelashes, widely applying the mascara so that the eyelashes expand in the form of a fan, properly and widely applying the mascara to detailed parts such as the tail and inner corner of the eye, as well as lower eyelashes, and also obtaining an all direction expansion mascara application result.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device comprising a supply roller for feeding sheets mounted on a tray, a drive shaft for supporting the supply roller and rotationally driving the same, first and second supporting arms swingably supported on the drive shaft, a feed roller rotatably supported on the first and second supporting arms, a feed roller transmission mechanism for rotating the feed roller in conjunction with the rotation of the supply roller, first and second transmission mechanisms for swinging the first and second supporting arms, and first and second resilient retaining members which are capable of retaining the first and second supporting arms, the first and second transmission mechanisms shifting the timings that the respective first and second supporting arms are swung against the corresponding resilient retaining members. An automatic sheet transfer device comprising this sheet feeding device. An electrophotographic image forming device comprising this automatic sheet transfer device.

Abstract: A biodegradable gas barrier vessel comprising 100 parts of mass of a biodegradable polyester resin having a polylactic acid content of not less than 50% by mass and 0.1 to 10 parts by mass of a phyllosilicate. The degree of crystallization as measured by X-ray diffractometry is not less than 15%, and the coefficient of oxygen permeation as measured under conditions of 20° C. and relative humidity 90% is not more than 50 ml·mm/m2·day·MPa. Since the biodegradable polyester resin reinforced with the phyllosilicate has excellent heat resistance, the molded product can be heat treated at an elevated temperature. Such enhanced heat treatment conditions can further enhance the degree of crystallization of the polyester resin and thus can contribute to significantly improved gas barrier properties.

Abstract: A resin composition which reduces hydrolysis thereof and reduces the color change thereof at the time of heating and a resin molded object which reduces hydrolysis thereof and reduces quality change of content therein are provided. The resin composition includes a resin and an organically modified layered silicate in which a substituted silyl group having a substituted or non-substituted alkyl group bonds to a layered silicate. The resin molded object is obtained by molding a resin composition including a resin and an organically modified layered silicate in which a substituted silyl group having a substituted or non-substituted alkyl group bonds to a layered silicate.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing device includes a stacker for stacking and storing sheets therein, a feeder for receiving sheets and feeding the sheets toward the stacker, a folder for folding a set of sheets stored in the stacker, a preparatory processor, which is located upstream from the folder, for processing sheets preparatory to folding of a set of sheets, a presser for pressing the set of sheets stored in the stacker at a portion processed by the preparatory processor so as to push the set of sheets into the folder, and a controller for controlling the stacker, the feeder, the folder, the preparatory processor and the presser. The controller controls the preparatory processor not to process a sheet that will be an outermost sheet of a folded set of sheets.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a mascara applicator capable of being fitted to the curved bases of eyelashes to lift up eyelashes, providing voluminousness to the eyelashes by adhering a mascara to the bases of the eyelashes, widely applying the mascara so that the eyelashes expand in the form of a fan, properly and widely applying the mascara to detailed parts such as the tail and inner corner of the eye, as well as lower eyelashes, and also obtaining an all direction expansion mascara application result.

Abstract: There is provided a cosmetic material removing agent including an expansive clay mineral and a dextrin fatty acid ester. There is provided a cosmetic material removing device including the cosmetic material removing agent as described above and a container for containing and feeding the cosmetic material removing agent.

Abstract: A cosmetic applicator having bristles which are prevented from becoming rough and spreading. The cosmetic applicator has a shaft section and bristles. The shaft section has at least one recess formed in the outer circumferential surface of a head of a cylindrical shaft body along the longitudinal direction of the shaft section. The bristles are arranged in at least one row along the longitudinal direction and project from interior of the recess beyond the outer circumferential surface of the head of the shaft body.

Abstract: A biodegradable gas barrier vessel comprising 100 parts of mass of a biodegradable polyester resin having a polylactic acid content of not less than 50% by mass and 0.1 to 10 parts by mass of a phyllosilicate. The degree of crystallization as measured by X-ray diffractometry is not less than 15%, and the coefficient of oxygen permeation as measured under conditions of 20° C. and relative humidity 90% is not more than 50 ml·mm/m2·day·MPa. Since the biodegradable polyester resin reinforced with the phyllosilicate has excellent heat resistance, the molded product can be heat treated at an elevated temperature. Such enhanced heat treatment conditions can further enhance the degree of crystallization of the polyester resin and thus can contribute to significantly improved gas barrier properties.

Abstract: A resin composition which reduces hydrolysis thereof and reduces the color change thereof at the time of heating and a resin molded object which reduces hydrolysis thereof and reduces quality change of content therein are provided. The resin composition includes a resin and an organically modified layered silicate in which a substituted silyl group having a substituted or non-substituted alkyl group bonds to a layered silicate. The resin molded object is obtained by molding a resin composition including a resin and an organically modified layered silicate in which a substituted silyl group having a substituted or non-substituted alkyl group bonds to a layered silicate.

Abstract: A compact and maintenance-free image reading apparatus capable of preventing deterioration in image quality due to suspended foreign matter by being provided with a spacer that is mounted on a reading transparent member on a surface thereof opposite the side thereof at which a reading unit is disposed and at a position upstream from an original document reading position relative to an original document conveyance direction, wherein the spacer is configured such that height of a downstream end thereof relative to the original document conveyance direction decreases toward the downstream direction.

Abstract: A sheet accommodating device comprising a sheet-laid tray including a processing tray and a carrying tray; a discharge tray; a sheet accommodating unit; first, second and third sheet transporting paths for leading the discharged sheet to the sheet-laid tray, the sheet accommodating unit and the discharge tray, respectively; a transporting and aligning device for moving the sheet discharged onto the sheet-laid tray toward an alignment reference position; a detector for detecting a vertical position of an upper surface of the sheet on the carrying tray; a tray position adjusting device for adjusting the vertical position of the carrying tray based on a result of detection by the detector ; controller for raising or lowering the carrying tray; and others, the second sheet transporting path extending through the escape position of the processing tray, as well as a sheet processing system including a combination of the sheet accommodating device and an image forming apparatus.