Abstract: A coating apparatus is described for coating the surface of a center or core of chewing gum with a sugarcoated layer. The apparatus includes a cylindrical fixed tub having a bottom and an inner fixed circumferential wall. A rotating plate is mounted on the bottom of the fixed tub so as to be coaxial with the fixed tub. The surfaces of the rotating plate and the fixed tub are determined to allow the smooth transfer of the gum centers from the rotating plate to the inner fixed circumferential wall of the fixed tub. The inner fixed circumferential wall of the fixed tub is configured with ridges so as to reduce the tendency of the gum centers to adhere to the wall and to increase the coating area and the drying area of the gum centers.

Abstract: Hydroxymethyl-substituted polyfunctional phenols, expressed by the following structure:

Abstract: A color image apparatus which has a cooling arrangement to help prevent a plurality of light-scanning units for respective colors therein from being adversely influenced by heat from a thermally fixing unit within the apparatus. In a space portion where all light-scanning units are housed, an air-exhausting fan is provided in the vicinity of the light-scanning unit nearest to the thermally fixing unit, and an air hole is formed at a position farthest from the thermally fixing unit. Additionally a temperature sensor is mounted on the light-scanning unit nearest to the thermally fixing unit. Rotation speed of the air-exhausting fan is controlled so that the temperature detected by the sensor does not exceed a predetermined temperature limit.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which a unit can be attached to the apparatus body in a status where a correct positional correlation between a photoconductive drum and each of other process devices mounted on a unit is maintained. A photoconductive drum is positioned within a copier body by a rotating drive shaft, and the other process devices mounted on a process unit are positioned within a copier body by a boss and a locking member. The boss positions the rotating drive shaft within the copier body. Since the locking member is fitted onto a front-side end of the rotation drive shaft, the locking member is positioned within the copier body by the rotating drive shaft. The other process devices mounted on the process unit are positioned within the copier body by the rotating drive shaft via the boss and the locking member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a photoreceptor drum on which a toner image is formed, a transfer drum for transferring the toner image formed to transfer paper by bringing the transfer paper into contact with the photoreceptor drum, and a pair of register rollers for supplying the transfer paper to the transfer drum at a predetermined time and for curling the transfer paper in an arc. The register rollers include first and second rollers pressed against each other, the first roller being a predetermined hardness and the second roller being a hardness larger than the first roller. The transfer drum is disposed on the same side as the second roller with respect to an imaginary tangent line touching the surface of the second roller at one end of a contact section between the first and second rollers.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a photoreceptor drum on which a toner image is formed, a transfer drum for transferring the toner image to paper by bringing the paper into contact with the photoreceptor drum, the transfer drum having a dielectric layer, a semi-conductive layer and a conductive layer laminated in this order from the paper side, a power source which is connected to the conductive layer so as to apply a predetermined voltage to the conductive layer, and a conductive roller for pressing the paper against a surface of the dielectric layer so as to produce a potential difference between the conductive layer and the paper. The potential difference induces charges of the same polarity as the voltage applied to the conductive layer on the surface of the dielectric layer, and charges of the opposite polarity on a back surface of the paper pressed against the surface of the dielectric layer.