Abstract: A cartridge unit is for use with a toner cartridge assembly of an image developing device. The cartridge unit has a cartridge including a toner bottle coupled with a cap assembly, where the toner bottle includes an elongate cylindrical structure which has a central axis. The cap assembly is coupled with the toner bottle and includes a mouth portion. At least one scoop is coupled within the mouth portion of the cap assembly, where the scoop is adapted for drawing developer from the toner bottle through the mouth portion as the toner bottle is rotated about the central axis.

Abstract: A developing device has a developing container containing a toner therein, and a toner carrying member provided in the opening portion of the developing container and rotatable with the toner carried thereon. The difference between the work function of the surface of the toner carrying member and the work function of the toner is greater than 0.1 and smaller than 1.0.

Abstract: A method for operating a printer or copier is disclosed.

Abstract: A laser printer capable of printing on a strip of fan fold paper includes a photosensitized drum for generating thereon a toner image to be transferred to the surface of the paper strip. The drum is associated with tractor assemblies operable in synchronism with the speed of the drum so as to determine travel speed of the paper strip passing by the drum. The laser printer further includes a fixing unit having a pair of fixing rollers for pressing the paper strip therebetween and a roller drive mechanism to drive the fixing rollers so as to determine travel speed of the paper strip passing through the fixing unit. A tension unit is disposed between the drum and the fixing unit for applying a tension to and thereby taking up slack of such portion of the paper strip that runs between the drum and the fixing unit. The tension unit includes a tensioning plate supported for pivotal motion and a helical tension spring for urging the tensioning plate. A sensing mechanism senses displacement of the tensioning plate.

Abstract: When printing is performed by ejecting respective inks of black and cyan and a processing liquid, an OR data and an AND data are derived from an extracted data for the processing liquid derived from an ejection data of the black ink and an extracted data for the processing liquid derived from an ejection data for the cyan ink. An OR data of the OR data derived from the extracted data and data derived by shifting the AND data for one pixel, is taken as an ejection data for the processing liquid. By this, for the pixel, on which black and cyan are ejected in overlapping manner as represented by the AND data, the processing liquid is further ejected on a pixel adjacent thereto. Thus, the processing liquid in an amount corresponding to an ink ejection amount can be ejected to provide sufficient water-resistance.

Abstract: A pay photograph producing apparatus according to the present invention is one for printing a picture of an optional video signal when money or its substitute is put in, and includes a password means attached to a cartridge for a printing material and/or a cartridge for a printing paper, a means for reading the password means at a time of the cartridge being loaded, and a means for allowing the printing only when the password means is correct.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member; and developing member for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive member; The developing member is disposed at a position deviated from a developing position corresponding to a displacement of the developing member resulting from the driving force received from the main assembly of the apparatus when the process cartridge is in the main assembly.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printer includes a transfer roller which rotates in contact with a cylindrical photoconductive drum. When print paper passes through a transfer point where the transfer roller is in contact with the photoconductive drum, a toner image on the photoconductive drum is transferred from the photoconductive drum to the print paper. A paper guide is disposed upstream of the transfer point with respect to a transport path of the print paper. The paper guide changes the direction of travel of the print paper so that the leading end portion of the print paper enters the transfer point in a direction substantially tangent to a circumferential surface of the photoconductive drum.

Abstract: A developer cartridge is used with an image forming apparatus. The developer cartridge has a groove which formed in a longitudinal end surface of thereof and extends in an insertion direction of the cylinder. A strip-shaped projection formed in the image forming apparatus projects extends in the insertion direction. When the developer cartridge is fully inserted into the image forming apparatus, the groove receives the projection so that the projection is at a predetermined position relative to the developer cartridge. Two first walls define the groove which is progressively wide as the circumference is approached. A second wall rises from the longitudinal end surface of the developer cartridge and is continuous with one of the two first opposed walls. The second wall smoothly guides the projection into the groove.

Abstract: An ink jet printing system includes a user interface for communicating messages between the ink jet printer and an operator and controller in operative communication with the user interface. The controller disables printing of certain information other than a test pattern in response to a predetermined event, generates a random message, prints a test pattern in response to a predetermined event, incorporates the generated random message within the test pattern, receives an indication of the random message from the operator, compares the received random message with the generated random message, and if the received random message equals the generated random message, enables printing of certain information other than the test pattern.

Abstract: A color capable electrophotographic printer remains operable for monochrome printing when one or more developing unit are unavailable for use. Instead of reverting to an error state when a developing unit is missing or unavailable, the laser printer remains operable to print monochrome images or single "spot color" images using a single color and monochrome developing unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first image carrier for carrying a toner image formed by an toner image forming device; a second image carrier for carrying thereon the toner image transferred from the first image carrier, and for transferring a transfer sheet thereon; a first transfer device for transferring the toner image carried on the first image carrier onto the second image carrier or a front side of the transfer sheet; a second transfer device for transferring the toner image carried on the second image carrier onto a back side of the transfer sheet; a fixing device for fixing the toner image transferred on the transfer sheet, wherein the second image carrier has a curvature portion at an edge thereof facing the fixing device; and a conveyance section provided between the curvature portion and the fixing device, having a claw member provided adjacent to the curvature portion for lifting a leading edge of the transfer sheet conveyed along the curvature portion.

Abstract: An ink-type image forming device which accurately identifies a print pattern (test pattern) even in the case where a recording medium is somewhat raised or the recording medium is low in reflectance in an attempt to find a deviation in relative position of recording heads. When the output of a light receiving element (22) is subtracted from the output of a light receiving element (21), both the outputs are offset by each other since variations in output are small at an area where the recording medium is raised. In the meantime, the light receiving elements are spaced in the direction (X) of movement of a carriage, and the output of the light receiving element corresponding to respective regions which constitute the print pattern steeply changes. As a result, a peak signal corresponding to the respective regions of the print pattern is obtained as a difference signal of outputs of the light receiving elements (FIG. 8(D)).

Abstract: To provide a print head unit and device and a method for evaluation of the print head unit without performing a printing operation. A current probe 21 detects a head ground current, which corresponds to a driving circuit output current. A current-voltage converter 22 converts the head ground current to a voltage level. Then, an integrating device integrates the voltage level to a waveform which corresponds to the head ground current. By comparing the produced waveform with a proper waveform one can determine, whether the print head unit is operational.

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 toner cartridge includes a housing having a space for toner, and a cover forming a toner storing space within the housing. The cover is secured to the housing with an expandable hot-melt elastic adhesive to prevent toner leakage. This arrangement improves assembly of the cartridge, and allows the discarded cartridges to be recycled.

Abstract: In an ink jet printer head which ejects ink drops from a nozzle (11) formed on the surface of the nozzle plate (1), wherein a metal layer (13) and a sulfur compound layer (14) are formed on the surface of the nozzle. Gold atoms of the metal layer (13) and sulfur atoms of the sulfur compound layer (14) are bonded covalently and form a water repellant thin film.Since ink does not remain on the nozzle surface, problems such as ink drops being pulled by residue ink and the ejection direction of ink drops being bent are eliminated.

Abstract: A process cartridge which can detachably be mounted to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and which includes a cartridge frame, an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a process device acting on the photosensitive member, a shutter for covering a portion of the photosensitive member exposed from the cartridge frame, a support member for supporting one longitudinal end of the shutter to the cartridge frame for shifting movement between an operation position where the photosensitive member is covered by the shutter and a retract position retracted from the operation position, a support member engagement portion provided on the support member to attach the support member to the cartridge frame, and a frame engagement portion provided on the cartridge frame to attach the support member engagement portion to the cartridge frame.

Abstract: A squeezing apparatus of a liquid developing apparatus including a mobile block installed under a photoreceptor web, the mobile block being capable of moving up and down, a squeeze roller supported by the mobile block and moving up and down with the mobile block, the squeeze roller contacts a transfer surface of the photoreceptor web when moving up and removes excess developer therefrom, an air injection nozzle, installed at the mobile block, for injecting air to a portion of the photoreceptor web where the squeeze roller contacts the photoreceptor web to separate and drip the excess developer downward, an air supply pump for supplying air to the air injection nozzle, and a bellows pipe connecting the air injection nozzle and the air supply pump and to be capable of expanding or being compressed as the mobile block moves up and down.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which includes both a front cover and a side cover which must be opened to properly access an area where a paper jam may occur. The side cover includes an extending portion protecting board which extends into an area covered by the front cover. The protecting board prevents access to internal elements of the image forming apparatus which an operator may attempt to access if a paper jam occurs, without also opening the side cover. Thereby, an operator is required to properly open both the front cover and the side cover to address a paper jam situation.