Abstract: A stamp unit 1 comprises a holder 4 which is to be set in a holder storage part 70 of a stamp manufacturing device for making a stamping surface on a stamp material 3 held in the holder 4. When the holder 4 is set in the storage part 70, the cam effect is generated between the positioning projection 77 of a fixing member 71 and a slant recess 43 of the holder 4, thereby positioning the holder 4 to a predetermined stamp making position in the storage part 70. In a state where the holder 4 is positioned in place, microswitches 75A and others disposed near the projection 77 of the storage part 70 are selectively turned on and off by cooperation between detection recesses 44 and a peripheral wall 38 of the holder 4, so that the existence and the type (size) of the holder 4 are detected.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a process cartridge detachably mountable with respect to the main body of the apparatus. The process cartridge is provided with an image bearing member, a charger for charging the image bearing member, a power supply for applying an alternating current voltage to the charger, and a controller for variably controlling the alternating current supplied from the power supply to the charger in conformity with information about the use situation of the process cartridge. The process cartridge can also include an image bearing member, a charger for charging the image bearing member, the charger permitting an alternating current voltage to be applied thereto by a power supply, and a memory for storing therein information about the use situation of the process cartridge, and information of a plurality of preset control values for an alternating current supplied from the power supply to the charger to be variably controlled in conformity with the information.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member and a charge member for electrically charging the image bearing member while contacting the image bearing member. An oscillating voltage, including a component of AC voltage, is applied to the charge member. A first detector detects an average of the AC current applied to the charge member. A second detector detects a value of the AC current corresponding to a peak of the AC voltage. A controller effects control such that when a detected current value is smaller than a first predetermined value, the detected current value of the first detector is at the first predetermined value, and when the detected current value of the first detector is larger than the first predetermined value, a current value of the second detector is at a second predetermined value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member and a charge member contacted to the image bearing member for electrically charging the image bearing member. An oscillating voltage including an AC voltage component is applied to the charge member. A first detector detects an AC current applied to the charge member and a second detector detects the AC current corresponding to a peak or a neighborhood of the peak of the AC voltage. A controller effects control such that current detected by the second detector is a predetermined level when the current detected by the first detector is within a predetermined range, and such that current detected by the first detector is a predetermined level when the current detected by the first detector is outside the predetermined range.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided which is capable of reliably preventing a recording sheet wound around a roller member from being further wound around the roller member even when the power supply of the image forming apparatus is turned on/off while the recording sheet is wound around the roller member. A high voltage power supply section applies voltage to feeding brushes disposed in contact with the surface of a pressurizing roller having an electrically conductive surface. A winding sensor is disposed in contact with the surface of the pressurizing roller and is located in a sheet passing area of the pressurizing roller. A CPU provides control such that the pressurizing roller is inhibited from being driven when it determines that the recording sheet is caught between the pressurizing roller and the winding sensor according the result of comparison between the output voltage from the winding sensor and detected voltage of the feeding brushes.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit for forming an image on either a free-size sheet of an arbitrary size other than a regular size or a regular-size sheet, a controlling unit for controlling, when the image forming unit forms the image on the regular-size sheet, a controlling target unit according to a size of the regular-size sheet, an inputting unit for inputting a size of the free-size sheet, and a converting unit for converting the size inputted by the inputting unit, to suit the converted size to the controlling performed by the controlling unit to the regular-size sheet, wherein the controlling unit performs the different controlling for each group of the sheet sizes, and the converting unit performs the converting to suit the size of the free-size sheet to the group.

Abstract: This specification discloses an image forming apparatus comprising a process cartridge detachably mountable with respect to the main body of the apparatus, the process cartridge being provided with an image bearing member and charging means for charging the image bearing member, a power supply for applying an alternating current voltage to the charging means, and control means for variably controlling an alternating current supplied from the power supply to the charging means in conformity with information about the use situation of the process cartridge. The specification also discloses a process cartridge detachably mountable with respect to the main body of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit for forming an image on either a free-size sheet of an arbitrary size other than a regular size or a regular-size sheet, a controlling unit for controlling, when the image forming unit forms the image on the regular-size sheet, a controlling target unit according to a size of the regular-size sheet, an inputting unit for inputting a size of the free-size sheet, and a converting unit for converting the size inputted by the inputting unit, to suit the converted size to the controlling performed by the controlling unit to the regular-size sheet, wherein the controlling unit performs the different controlling for each group of the sheet sizes, and the converting unit performs the converting to suit the size of the free-size sheet to the group.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a charge member for electrically charging the image bearing member while contacting to the image bearing member: voltage applying means for applying an oscillating voltage including a component of AC voltage to the charge member; first detecting means for detecting an average of the AC current applied to the charge member from the voltage applying means; second detecting means for detection a value of the AC current corresponding to a peak of the AC voltage; and control means for effecting control such that when a detected current value of the detecting means is smaller than a first predetermined value, the detected current value of the first detecting means is at the first predetermined value, and when the detected current value of the first detecting means is larger than the first predetermined value, a current value of the second detecting means is at a second predetermined value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image bearing member; a charge member contacted to the image bearing member to electrically charge the image bearing member; voltage applying means for applying to the charge member an oscillating voltage including an AC voltage component; first detecting means for detecting an AC current applied to the charge member from the voltage applying means; second detecting means for detecting the AC current corresponding to a peak or a neighborhood of the peak of the AC voltage; control means for effecting control such that current detected by the second detecting means is a predetermined level when the current detected by the first detecting means is within a predetermined range and such that current detected by the first detecting means is a predetermined level when the current detected by the first detecting means is outside the predetermined range.

Abstract: A personalized product producing system enables customers to order a personalized product, such as a name card, a stamp, or a sticker/label, inexpensively and conveniently. Customers operate their own cellular phones to send personalized information to be engraved in a stamp or printed on a name card or sticker/label in the form of e-mail to a host computer. The host computer edits the information and sends personalized product producing data to a stamp personalized product producing device. The personalized product producing device produces a personalized product based on the received data.

Abstract: The disclosed invention is a stamp unit that includes a holder member having an end. A stamp material is made of a porous material retained by the holder member. The stamp material has a front surface projected form the end of the holder member and a circumference portion. The front surface includes an effective stamp surface that includes a stamping portion and a non-stamping portion. The circumference portion is defined at least by an area existing between positions corresponding to the end of the holder member and the effective stamp surface, within an exposed area of the stamp material from the holder member, the area being entirely covered by a sealant.

Abstract: Disclosed is the stamp device 11 in which the average pore diameter of the porous base plate used for the stamp plate 1 and the processed stamp plate 10 is set in a range of 10 &mgr;m-40 &mgr;m, the hardness of the stamp surface 2 is set in a range of 20°-50°, the thickness of the porous base plate is set in a range of 1 mm-4 mm, and the annealing temperature of the porous base plate is set in a range of 40° C.-60° C., thereby various stamping characteristics are improved.

Abstract: A charging apparatus includes a charging member for charging a member to be charged; voltage application means for applying an oscillating voltage to the charging member; current detecting means for detecting an electric currant flowing through the charging member; time detecting means for detecting time during which an output level of the current detecting means; and voltage control means for controlling an oscillating component of the voltage applied to the charging member on the basis of an output of the time detecting means.

Abstract: A stamp unit 1 comprises a holder 4 which is to be set in a holder storage part 70 of a stamp manufacturing device for making a stamping surface on a stamp material 3 held in the holder 4. When the holder 4 is set in the storage part 70, the cam effect is generated between the positioning projection 77 of a fixing member 71 and a slant recess 43 of the holder 4, thereby positioning the holder 4 to a predetermined stamp making position in the storage part 70. In a state where the holder 4 is positioned in place, microswitches 75A and others disposed near the projection 77 of the storage part 70 are selectively turned on and off by cooperation between detection recesses 44 and a peripheral wall 38 of the holder 4, so that the existence and the type (size) of the holder 4 are detected.

Abstract: A stamp unit 1 is formed so that the circumference of the stamp material 3 is made as a slant surface 83 by heat-pressing both the lower end 4a of the holder 4 and the circumference of the stamp material 3. The lower end 4a of the holder 4 is formed in a wedge 82 so as to hook the circumference of the stamp material 3. Thereby the stamp material 3 can be surely retained to the holder 4, and the stamp material 3 and the holder 4 can be firmly sealed. As a result, stamping durability is remarkably improved when many stamping operations are repeated.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a transfer member for transferring an image from the image bearing member onto a transfer material by a nip formed between the image bearing member and the transfer member; control means for effecting a constant current control for the transfer member with a predetermined current when a non-image area of the image bearing member is at the nip, and for effecting a constant voltage control for the transfer member during image transfer operation on the basis of a voltage applied to the transfer member during the constant current control; wherein a higher one of a constant voltage control signal for controlling the voltage in the constant voltage control and a constant current control signal for controlling the current in the constant current control, is selected as an output signal to the transfer member.

Abstract: A stamp unit has a transparent film which protects a stamp surface of the stamp material at the time of transportation of the stamp unit, during storage until a user starts to produce a stamp after purchasing the stamp unit, and during production of the stamp plate. The transparent film is thermally adhered on the lower edge of the holder member and is capable of protecting the surface of the stamp material until the start of the stamp printing. The transparent film is capable of easily and economically adhering to the stamp material without adhering to a thermal adhesion jig.

Abstract: A stamp unit capable of opening an ink pack position between a grip member and a holder member for supplying ink to the stamp material easily in one step. To supply ink to the stamp material, the grip member is pressed downwardly with the ink pack located in the holder member. The ink pack in the holder member is pressed between a thick paper plate and a cutting rib to be opened. Ink from an ink pack flows downwardly through ink holes to be supplied to the stamp material. When the ink runs low, it can be replenished by the simple process of replacing the ink pack.

Abstract: A tape cassette used in a tape printer, the tape cassette including a thermal stencil paper thermally perforatable by a thermal print head of the tape printer; and a stencil sheet case housing the thermal stencil paper and having a portion shaped the same as a mountable portion of a print tape case housing a print tape. The cassette also includes an indicator for indicating when thermal stencil paper is housed in the cassette.