Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit, a fixing unit, a reading unit, a reference member, and a controller is described. The image forming unit forms an image and a detection image on a sheet. The detection image is used for detecting geometric characteristics of an image to be formed on a sheet by the image forming unit. The fixing unit fixes the image and the detection image formed by the image forming unit on the sheet. The reading unit reads the detection image on the sheet. The controller adjusts geometric characteristics of the image to be formed on a sheet based on a reading result of the detection image by the reading unit, and controls the reading unit to read the reference member and executes shading correction based on a reading result of the reference member.

Abstract: A method for preparing a cooked rice with stabilized quality on an industrial scale and cooked rice prepared according to the process, which has a moisture gradient formed between the outer layer and the inner layer of each rice grain and has no hard core in the rice grains when tested organoleptically. The method includes the steps of steaming raw rice having been subjected to a washing and soaking step to effect gelatinization of starch inside rice grains; cooling and individuating the resulting rice to remove moisture present on the surface of each rice grain; frying the resulting rice with an oil to form an oil film over the surface of each rice grain; and boiling the resulting rice together with seasonings and water. In the cooked rice, difference between the moisture content of the outer layer (to the depth of 0.5 mm from the surface) and that of the inner layer (portion deeper than 0.5 mm from the surface) of each rice grain is 2.5% to 5%, preferably 3% to 5%.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating juice sacs of a citrus fruit, including: freezing means for freezing the citrus fruit with a cryogenic liquid refrigerant; crushing device for crushing a frozen citrus fruit; and separating device for separating juice sacs from the crushed citrus fruit.

Abstract: A process for freezing cooked rice utilizes a rotary drum, and blade elements rotated within the drum. A mass of cooked rice is fed into the drum, and a liquid refrigerant is jetted into the drum for freezing the rice. The mass of rice must be separated into individual grains. This is achieved by impact of the blades against the mass of rice. The degree of impact must be sufficient to separate the mass into individual grains, but must not be such as to damage the grains. The invention selects a range of speeds of circumferential rotation of the blades which gives separation without damage.

Abstract: An apparatus for freezing boiled rice has an internally bladed drum rotated at low speed and housing a bladed shaft rotated at a higher speed, the drum having covers at its inlet and outlet ends. A hopper feeds boiled rice in through the inlet cover to an inner bottom face of the drum. Pipe means feed refrigerant into the same zone of the drum. A discharge port in the outlet cover discharges frozen boiled rice and used refrigerant to the exterior.