Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a composite pigment which can be dispersed and made into paint in a manner that saves labor compared with conventional flat emulsion paints, and which can achieve concealing properties and low glossiness (a luster reduction effect) without separately adding a matting agent. This composite pigment contains an inorganic compound and/or an organic compound, and a fixed extender pigment.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide: a composite pigment, and production method thereof, which can suppress luster of a coating film by modifying an inorganic coloring pigment, and which can be used in various applications such as low-gloss (luster reduction effect) pigments and matte pigments; a paint composition which can achieve both an excellent coating film texture and also the property of having low gloss and luster even when added to a coating film; and a coating film. In this composite pigment, the inorganic coloring pigment is fixed by an inorganic compound, and a plurality of particles of the inorganic coloring pigment are aggregated into granular form through the inorganic compound.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a near infrared-reflective black pigment containing at least the element calcium, the element titanium, and the element manganese, wherein the method produces a pigment that exhibits little of the elution of the element calcium and the element manganese that is caused by contact with acid. At least a calcium compound, a titanium compound, and a manganese compound are mixed by a wet grinding method and are calcined to provide a BET specific surface area of at least 1.0 m2/g and less than 3.0 m2/g. In another method, the element bismuth and/or the element aluminum is incorporated in a near infrared-reflective black pigment containing at least the element calcium, the element titanium, and the element manganese.

Abstract: A method for producing a coated inorganic powder by stirring and mixing an inorganic powder and an organic compound, thereby coating the particle surface of the inorganic powder with the organic compound, the method including making the coating amount of the organic compound relative to the inorganic powder uniform while reducing the inorganic powder and the organic compound which stick to the inner wall of a vessel is provided. When stirring the inorganic powder and the organic compound in a vessel that is equipped with a stirring blade and has an opening portion, at least a first stirring step and a second stirring step after the first stirring are provided. When the speed of the stirring blade of the first stirring step is defined as V1 (m/s) and the speed of the stirring blade of the second stirring step is defined as V2 (m/s), the relationship of “V1>V2” is established.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a near infrared-reflective black pigment containing at least the element calcium, the element titanium, and the element manganese, wherein the method produces a pigment that exhibits little of the elution of the element calcium and the element manganese that is caused by contact with acid. At least a calcium compound, a titanium compound, and a manganese compound are mixed by a wet grinding method and are calcined to provide a BET specific surface area of at least 1.0 m2/g and less than 3.0 m2/g. In another method, the element bismuth and/or the element aluminum is incorporated in a near infrared-reflective black pigment containing at least the element calcium, the element titanium, and the element manganese.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a composite pigment which can be dispersed and made into paint in a manner that saves labor compared with conventional flat emulsion paints, and which can achieve concealing properties and low glossiness (a luster reduction effect) without separately adding a matting agent. This composite pigment contains an inorganic compound and/or an organic compound, and a fixed extender pigment.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide: a composite pigment, and production method thereof, which can suppress luster of a coating film by modifying an inorganic coloring pigment, and which can be used in various applications such as low-gloss (luster reduction effect) pigments and matte pigments; a paint composition which can achieve both an excellent coating film texture and also the property of having low gloss and luster even when added to a coating film; and a coating film. In this composite pigment, the inorganic coloring pigment is fixed by an inorganic compound, and a plurality of particles of the inorganic coloring pigment are aggregated into granular form through the inorganic compound.

Abstract: A toner supply device includes a toner guide, an opening and closing member, and a biasing member. The toner guide guides toner toward a toner supply port. The opening and closing member opens and closes the toner supply port by moving. The biasing member biases the opening and closing member in a closing direction. The opening and closing member includes a base portion, an extension portion, and a toner receiving portion. The base portion faces and closes the toner supply port at the closing position. The extension portion extends downward from an edge of an end portion of the base portion, wherein the edge faces in the closing direction. The toner receiving portion is contracted upon receiving a pressing force in an opening direction, and is expanded upon disappearing of the pressing force and receives toner that has fallen down from the end portion of the base portion.

Abstract: A toner supply device includes a toner guide, an opening and closing member, and a biasing member. The toner guide guides toner toward a toner supply port. The opening and closing member opens and closes the toner supply port by moving. The biasing member biases the opening and closing member in a closing direction. The opening and closing member includes a base portion, an extension portion, and a toner receiving portion. The base portion faces and closes the toner supply port at the closing position. The extension portion extends downward from an edge of an end portion of the base portion, wherein the edge faces in the closing direction. The toner receiving portion is contracted upon receiving a pressing force in an opening direction, and is expanded upon disappearing of the pressing force and receives toner that has fallen down from the end portion of the base portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is an X-ray topography apparatus including an X-ray source, a multilayer film mirror, a slit, a two-dimensional X-ray detector, and a sample moving device that sequentially moves the sample to a plurality of step positions. The X-ray source is a minute focal spot. The multilayer film mirror forms monochromatic, collimated, high-intensity X-rays. The direction in which the multilayer film mirror collimates the X-rays coincides with the width direction of the slit. The step size by which the sample is moved is smaller than the width of the slit. The combination of the size of the minute focal spot, the width of the slit, and the intensity of the X-rays that exit out of the multilayer film mirror allows the contrast of an X-ray image produced when the detector receives X-rays for a predetermined period of 1 minute or shorter to be high enough for observation of the X-ray image.

Abstract: A developing device of the present disclosure includes a developing roller, a toner feeding roller, a thickness regulating member, and a casing. The toner feeding roller feeds toner to the developing roller. The thickness regulating member is disposed opposite to the toner feeding roller at a predetermined distance from the toner feeding roller, and the thickness regulating member regulates a thickness of the toner carried on the toner feeding roller. The casing holds therein the developing roller, the toner feeding roller, and the thickness regulating member. The thickness regulating member is formed in a roller shape and rotatable.

Abstract: A developing device of the present disclosure includes a developing roller, a toner feeding roller, a regulating blade, a blade holding member, a toner receiving member, and a casing. The regulating blade regulates a thickness of toner carried on the toner feeding roller. An air flow path is formed inside the blade holding member. The toner receiving member, the regulating blade, and the blade holding member each include a slit hole that leads to the air flow path.

Abstract: A film member in a development device can vibrate with respect to an internal wall in the development device. An idler gear in the development device includes a projection and is reciprocally movable between a first position and a second position. The first position is a position where the projection is apart from an end edge of the film member in response to a rotation of a toner supply roller when image formation is performed. The second position is a position where the projection overlaps with the end edge of the film member in response to a reverse rotation of the toner supply roller when image formation is not performed. The projection causes the film member to vibrate by intermittently coming into contact with the end edge of the film member along with a rotation of the idler gear at the second position.

Abstract: Disclosed is an X-ray topography apparatus including an X-ray source, a multilayer film mirror, a slit, a two-dimensional X-ray detector, and a sample moving device that sequentially moves the sample to a plurality of step positions. The X-ray source is a minute focal spot. The multilayer film mirror forms monochromatic, collimated, high-intensity X-rays. The direction in which the multilayer film mirror collimates the X-rays coincides with the width direction of the slit. The step size by which the sample is moved is smaller than the width of the slit. The combination of the size of the minute focal spot, the width of the slit, and the intensity of the X-rays that exit out of the multilayer film mirror allows the contrast of an X-ray image produced when the detector receives X-rays for a predetermined period of 1 minute or shorter to be high enough for observation of the X-ray image.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes placement member, pressing member, and open/close detection portion. Open/close detection portion detects opening and closing of pressing member. Open/close detection portion includes movable portion, guide hole, and sensor. When pressing member is opened, movable portion moves toward one side, thereby protruding to an area between placement member and pressing member, and when pressing member is closed, movable portion moves toward the other side. Movable portion extends along movement direction thereof. Guide hole of movable portion guides movement of movable portion in movement direction. Movable portion has a plurality of groove portions extending in movement direction, and groove portions partially include guide groove. Guide hole has guide protrusion protruding from inner circumferential surface thereof toward groove portion of movable portion, so as to guide movement of movable portion.

Abstract: A developer transporting mechanism includes a pipe-like transporting path, sealing member, shutter, and urging member. The pipe-like transporting path, through which a developer is transported, has an discharge port at part of its side surface. The shutter is slidable along the surface of the sealing member to open and close the discharge port. The urging member urges the shutter in a direction in which the discharge port is closed. The sealing member is secured to the outer circumferential surface of the pipe-like transporting path. The sealing member also has a reduced part; its dimension in a width direction orthogonal to a direction in which the shutter moves is gradually reduced from the upstream end in the closing direction of the shutter toward the downstream end.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes placement member, pressing member, and open/close detection portion. Open/close detection portion detects opening and closing of pressing member. Open/close detection portion includes movable portion, guide hole, and sensor. When pressing member is opened, movable portion moves toward one side, thereby protruding to an area between placement member and pressing member, and when pressing member is closed, movable portion moves toward the other side. Movable portion extends along movement direction thereof. Guide hole of movable portion guides movement of movable portion in movement direction. Movable portion has a plurality of groove portions extending in movement direction, and groove portions partially include guide groove. Guide hole has guide protrusion protruding from inner circumferential surface thereof toward groove portion of movable portion, so as to guide movement of movable portion.

Abstract: A toner case includes a main body that contains toner, a discharge port located in the main body through which toner is discharged, an agitating unit rotatably positioned in the main body for agitating the toner, a transportation unit rotatably positioned in the main body for transporting the toner toward the discharge port, and a driving unit that drives the transportation unit and the agitating unit. The driving unit is rotatable forward and backward. When the driving unit rotates in one rotation direction, the agitating unit and the transportation unit rotate. When the driving unit rotates in the other rotation direction, the transportation unit does not rotate and the agitating unit rotates in the same direction as a direction in which the agitating unit rotates when the driving unit rotates in the one rotation direction.

Abstract: A film member in a development device can vibrate with respect to an internal wall in the development device. An idler gear in the development device includes a projection and is reciprocally movable between a first position and a second position. The first position is a position where the projection is apart from an end edge of the film member in response to a rotation of a toner supply roller when image formation is performed. The second position is a position where the projection overlaps with the end edge of the film member in response to a reverse rotation of the toner supply roller when image formation is not performed. The projection causes the film member to vibrate by intermittently coming into contact with the end edge of the film member along with a rotation of the idler gear at the second position.

Abstract: A toner transportation device includes a first toner case that contains toner; a second toner case including a main body containing toner transported from the first toner case, a second discharge port located in the main body that discharges toner, and a second transportation unit rotatably positioned in the main body, and that transports toner to the second discharge port; a second driving unit that drives the second transportation unit; a detecting unit that detects the number of rotations of the second transportation unit and outputs a rotation detection signal; and a control unit that estimates the amount of toner remaining in the first toner case based on an accumulated number of rotations represented by the rotation detection signal.