Abstract: A recording device enables the tension state of an endless belt type photographic body to be adjusted so as to maintain a proper tension, including adjusting for, changes of belt length caused by the change of temperature and humidity or the change with time of employment surroundings, and also adjusting for the change of belt tension entailed by load variation on operation of the device or eccentricity of the driving roller. The recording device is provided with a driving roller, driven rollers, and the endless belt type photographic body which is wound around the driving roller, and the driven rollers, the driving roller driving the driven rollers. The recording device is also provided with a sensor for detecting the tension of the endless belt type photographic body, and a movement mechanism for moving at least one of the driving roller and the driven rollers based on a detection signal of the sensor.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus which fixes ink in a short time without deteriorating clearness or transparency of the ink. An ink image is formed on a recording medium by the ink containing a resin and a solvent miscible with the resin. An ink curing liquid is applied to contact the ink image on the recording medium. The ink curing liquid is miscible with the solvent, and has a molecular weight greater than a molecular weight of the solvent. Alternatively, an ink curing solid is applied to contact the ink image on the recording medium. The ink curing solid has a swelling property with respect to the solvent contained in the ink.

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus is provided comprising a print cartridge including a heater chip and a nozzle plate coupled to the heater chip. The heater chip has first, second, third and fourth heating elements, and the nozzle plate has a plurality of primary and secondary nozzles. The primary nozzles include first and second nozzles positioned in first and second nozzle plate columns and the secondary nozzles include third and fourth nozzles positioned in third and fourth nozzle plate columns. Each of the nozzles has one of the heating elements associated therewith for generating energy to discharge ink therefrom. The apparatus further includes a driver circuit, electrically coupled to the print cartridge, for applying firing pulses to the heating elements. The apparatus further includes a nozzle testing station. There, each nozzle is tested to determine if it is operable.

Abstract: A development unit for a reproduction apparatus wherein the development unit contains marking agents by means of which prints are made. As a result of making prints, the quantity of marking agents in the development unit decreases. If this quantity decreases below a specific level, then marking agents are fed from a reservoir to the development unit. If at a specific moment circumstances result in a large quantity of marking agents being consumed in a short interval of time, then since resupplying the development unit takes some time there is a momentary a shortage of marking agents in the development unit which is undesirable. By supplying marking agents when a gradient of toner consumption exceeds a specific value, a future shortage is anticipated and the occurrence of a situation in which a shortage of marking agents occurs is considerably reduced.

Abstract: To prevent a deficiency of ink supply in a high drive frequency inkjet head operating at low ambient temperatures, and to reduce temperature dependent ink squirting variations, an inkjet head is driven at an ink jetting cycle that compensates for temperature. In particular, the ink jetting cycle of a drive waveform includes a period (t1) of constriction of the pressure generation chamber, a period (t2) of holding the drive voltage, and a process (t3) of expansion of the pressure generation chamber. With a decrease in the ambient temperature of ink, the sum of the periods t1, t2, and t3 is changed from a time period which is (n+1 / 4) (where n=1, 2, 3) times as much as the cycle of inherent oscillation T of the pressure generation chamber to a time period which is (n+3 / 4) times as much as T or to a time period which is (n-1 / 4) times as much as T. As a result, a low ambient temperature ink supply deficiency can be prevented without the use of an ink heater or the like.

Abstract: A device for detecting a width of a sheet placed on a manual feeding tray of an image forming apparatus includes a first and a second sheet regulating member for moving in a sheet width direction so as to come in contact with both sides of the sheet and for holding the sheet therebetween, thereby regulating movement of the sheet in the sheet width direction. A first rack member, on which a first rack is arranged in the sheet width direction, moves interlockingly with the first sheet regulating member. A second rack member, on which a second rack and a sheet width-detecting rack are respectively arranged in the sheet width direction, moves interlockingly with the second sheet regulating member. The second rack is positioned so as to face the first rack on the first rack member, and a pinion engages with the first rack and the second rack.

Abstract: A developer container for with a developer replenishing device in a copier or the like, the developer container including a cylindrical container body having a neck at its front end, a plurality of indented parallel guide ways around the periphery thereof for stirring up contained developer upon rotary motion of the container body, and two hollow projecting portions at two opposite sides of the neck, and a dispensing end cap fastened to the neck of the container body, the dispensing end cap having a hollow cylindrical mounting portion at one end inserted into the neck of the container body, a hollow cylindrical dispensing portion disposed at an opposite end outside the neck of the container body, a plurality of developer inlets for guiding in developer from the container body, a plurality of developer outlets for guiding developer out of the end cap, and a plurality of guide grooves on an inside wall thereof for guiding developer, from the developer inlets to the developer outlets.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printing machine of the type in which an electrostatic latent image recorded on a charge retentive surface is developed with toner particles to form a visible image thereof. A Hybrid Scavengeless Development (HSD) developer housing designed to control toner emission by employing two internal capture[JMC16], external exhaust manifolds. The location of the two manifolds are placed above and below the upper and lower donor rolls respectively. The manifolds are mounted in a position to improve emissions control as well as reductions in the flow needed to accomplish the task The upper and lower manifolds are able to control the loose toner emitted by the housing and lower powder cloud, they cannot collect the toner released by the upper powder cloud. To prevent toner accumulation in the middle regions of the wire module, a manifold is incorporated as an integral part of the wire module frame.

Abstract: A guide member is disposed between a transferring section and a fixing section. The guide member has an upstream end and a downstream end with respect to the direction of travel of the recording medium. First and second guide members define a path therebetween in which the recording medium passes to the fixing section. The first guide member is formed with a plurality of ribs formed at intervals and aligned in a direction either transverse or parallel to the direction of travel of the recording medium. The ribs extend substantially from the upstream end to the downstream end and increase in height from the surface of each guide as the downstream end is approached and guide a leading end of the recording medium. The ribs may extent progressively outwardly as the downstream end is approached. The first guide member is supported so that it is pivotal on an axis perpendicular to the direction of travel of the recording medium. The first guide member can be moved between an operative and a non-operative position.

Abstract: An electrophotographic recording apparatus has a plurality of image-forming sections and records a full color image. The apparatus includes a chassis and two plate-like supporting members oppositely disposed on the chassis. The two supporting members extend parallel with each other. The supporting members has means which support components of the plurality of image-forming sections between the two supporting members so that the components are placed in position relative to each other.

Abstract: In a photoreceptor web steering apparatus for a printer having a frame, a shaft is rotatably installed at the frame, and a guide roller for guiding the circulation of the photoreceptor web as a portion of the outer circumference of the guide roller which contacts the photoreceptor web, is rotatably installed at the shaft. A steering roller is arranged at the shaft next to the guide roller and includes a spacer installed to tilt at a predetermined angle with respect to the outer circumferential direction of the shaft, and a tilting shell rotatably installed on the outer circumference of the spacer and having the outer circumferential surface thereof being in contact with the photoreceptor web. The steering roller corrects a lateral slip of the photoreceptor web contacting the outer circumference of the tilting shell by changing the inclination direction of the tilting shell according to a pivot angle of the shaft.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a latent image forming device that forms a latent image on the image bearing member, a developing device that develops latent image on said image bearing member to a toner image with a two-component developer, and a toner density detecting device that detects toner density of the two-component developer in which the toner image is formed and outputted as a visible image onto a transfer member. A control device is provided for agitating the developer for a predetermined time period during an initial setting is performed for the developer, detecting a toner density of said developer after the predetermined agitation, and performing an abnormal process when a result of the detection is out of the predetermined range.

Abstract: An apparatus (11) for conditioning media, for example a moving web (12) of receptor material in an electrostatographic printer (10), is described. The apparatus (11) comprises a heating system, such as a heated drum (55), to adjust the moisture content of the media and a cooling system (65) for cooling the heated media. A moisture sensor such as an electrometer (74) determines the moisture content e.g. by an electrical condition of the media before it leaves the apparatus (11). The moisture sensor (74) controls the heating system (55). A temperature sensor (81) determines the temperature of the media after cooling. This sensor (81) may control the cooling system (65) or other parameters of the system. By conditioning a receptor material in an electrostatographic printer, a higher yield of toner transfer can be obtained. Optionally two electrometers (74a, 74b) are used to thereby detect the charge decay on an earthed metal drum (72).

Abstract: The present invention provides a developing apparatus comprising a developing container for containing magnetic developing agent, a developing agent bearing member provided an opening portion of the developing container and adapted to bear and convey the magnetic developing agent, a sheet member elastically biased against the developing agent bearing member along a longitudinal direction of the developing agent bearing member and adapted to close a gap between the developing agent bearing member and the developing container, a magnetic seal member provided at an end of the developing agent bearing member with a gap therebetween and adapted to form a magnetic seal, and an elastic member for urging the sheet member toward the developing agent bearing member.

Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a container body having a toner transport passage, and a toner transporter disposed in the toner transport passage for transporting toner from one end portion toward the other end portion of the toner transport passage while agitating the toner along the toner transport passage. The container body has a toner discharge port provided at the other end portion of the toner transport passage, and a recycle toner entry port provided at the one end portion of the toner transport passage. When the toner cartridge is mounted at a predetermined position, the toner discharge port is positioned opposite a toner feed port provided in a developing device, while the recycle toner entry port is positioned opposite a recycle toner drop port provided in a recycle toner carrier.

Abstract: The present invention provides a contact type charging device for applying a lower frequency AC voltage in combination with a DC voltage to an electric charger so as to suppress generation of noise in the electric charger as well as eliminate a Moire image in a half tone image when the DC voltage is overlapped with the lower frequency AC voltage, thus enabling to improve a charge uniformity. The charging device includes: an electric charger 1 that is in contact with an electrostatic latent image carrier 100 and applies a predetermined voltage to the electrostatic latent image carrier 100 for charging it; and a power source consisting of a DC power source 13 and an AC power source 15 for applying to the electric charger 1 a DC voltage in combination with an AC voltage. The AC power source 15 has a frequency of a predetermined value corresponding to a latent image to be formed on the electrostatic latent image carrier 100.

Abstract: A laser printer produces an image of raster scan lines exhibiting a pitch distance p. The printer includes a photoreceptor and n laser sources, where n.gtoreq.2. First and second sets of laser sources, in one embodiment, produce plural optical beams which, when imaged on the photoreceptor, are separated by pitch distance p in the direction of movement of the photoreceptor. The first set and second sets of laser sources are separated by a distance S.sub.PR =c(1+qr)p, where: c=number of laser sources in each set, q=an integer, and r=number of rows of laser sources in both the first and second sets. The optical beams are modulated with pixel value data in accordance with a correspondence of image scan lines and positions of the optical beams on the photoreceptor. The photoreceptor is moved by a distance (q.multidot.c.multidot.r)p between scans. In such manner, an interleaving of the scan lines is achieved, which allows substantial separation of laser diodes on a laser diode chip.

Abstract: A toner bearing body unit is constituted as one assembled unit including a toner bearing body for holding toners supplied from a toner supply roller of a housing main body at an outer peripheral surface thereof, a toner layer thickness regulating member for electrically charging the toners by applying pressure toward the outer peripheral surface of the toner bearing body and for forming a toner thin layer on the toner bearing body, and a holding member for holding the toner bearing body and the toner layer thickness regulating member. The toner bearing body unit is constituted to be directly attachable to and detachable from an outer side of the housing main body of a developing apparatus. Accordingly, an uniform toner thin layer having a predetermined thickness can be formed stably on the toner bearing body during a long period of use, and the developing apparatus reconstructed so that replacement of the components thereof can be carried out easily.

Abstract: A support member has a plurality of through-holes for supporting printing paper to which a fusible toner is adhered. Hot air is blown toward the printing paper. By releasing a considerable amount of hot air blown toward the support member downward through the through-holes, the amount of hot air bouncing on the surface of the support member is decreased. Thus, floating or fluttering of the leading end of the printing paper is prevented when the leading end of the printing paper rushes into the fixing apparatus.

Abstract: A developing apparatus employing a three-pole stationary magnetic roller for use with a uni-component magnetic developer or toner. The apparatus includes a rotational sleeve which accommodates the stationary roller, a mixer disposed in a toner vessel for stirring the toner, and a toner layer thickness regulator disposed upstream in the sleeve rotation direction from the developing position at which the image on a photo-sensitive drum is developed. The magnetic roller has a developing pole located near the developing position, a blade-facing pole facing the toner layer thickness regulator, and a shield pole located downstream in the sleeve rotation direction from the developing position, where the blade-facing pole and the shield pole are of the opposite polarity to the developing pole. The blade-facing pole and the shield pole generate a repulsive magnetic field therebetween, where the toner that has been stirred in the vessel comes in contact with the sleeve.