Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner-layer filling-rate lowering unit that causes a toner layer of toner images to be formed on an image carrier so that the toner layer has sufficient optical transparency for exposing and the toner-layer filling rate is set relatively low; and a toner rolling rate adjusting unit that rolls the toner images at a predetermined toner rolling rate in accordance with the toner-layer filling rate when the toner images are transferred to the transferring/fixing unit.

Abstract: A developing device including a rotating developing roller bearing toner thereon, capable of developing an electrostatic latent image with the toner; a toner layer forming member configured to form a toner layer on the developing roller, and charge the toner of the toner layer at a nip between the developing roller and the toner layer forming member; and a toner supplying device configured to supply fresh toner to the developing device, wherein a charge quantity (q) of the toner on the developing roller varies according to the following equation q(t)=A·{1?exp(?t/tg)} wherein t represents a nip passing time of the toner on the developing roller, tg represents a time constant of charging the toner, and A represents a constant, and wherein the time constant tg is smaller than a rotation time of the developing roller per rotation; and an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge using the developing device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit and a re-heating unit. The fixing unit fixes a toner image on a recording medium by applying heat to the toner image with a first glossiness level. The re-heating unit re-heats the toner image, fixed on the recording medium by the fixing unit, to set a second glossiness level lower than the first glossiness level.

Abstract: A rotary-body driving-force transmitting mechanism transmits a driving force from a driving-force source to a rotary body. A rotary-inertial-body driving-force transmitting mechanism transmits the driving force to a rotary inertial body that suppresses a velocity fluctuation in the rotary body. A rotational velocity shift mechanism shifts the rotational velocity. The rotary inertial body, the rotary-body driving-force transmitting mechanism, and the rotary-inertial-body driving-force transmitting mechanism are provided coaxially with a rotary shaft of the rotary body. A satellite frictional gear mechanism is used as the rotational velocity shift mechanism.

Abstract: A disclosed image forming apparatus includes an image carrier; one or more charging units configured to charge the image carrier in preparation for formation of each of plural latent images corresponding to toner images of different colors; a latent image forming unit configured to expose non-image areas on the charged image carrier to form each of the latent images; and developing units configured to develop the corresponding latent images in sequence with toners of the corresponding colors to form the toner images and thereby to form a color toner image composed of the toner images of the different colors on the image carrier, the toners having polarity opposite to that of the charged image carrier.

Abstract: A corona charger includes a case provided in the vicinity of a device to be charged. The case includes an opening facing the device, a discharge electrode, a first charging region, and a second charging region. The discharge electrode provided inside the case and supplied with a voltage so as to generate a corona discharge charges a surface of the device from the opening by supplying the corona discharge to the surface. The first charging region includes no grid electrode at a position upstream of the opening in a surface moving direction of the device. The second charging region includes a grid electrode to which a predetermined voltage is applied at a position downstream of the opening. The voltage applied to the discharge electrode is an alternating current (AC) voltage superimposed on a direct current (DC) voltage.

Abstract: A developing device includes a carrying roller to carry a developer, a storing section to store the developer, a supplying roller to supply the developer to the carrying roller by contacting the developer to the carrying roller, the supplying roller extending substantially parallel to the carrying roller. A conveying unit is configured to convey the developer stored in the storing section to the supplying roller. The conveying unit includes a pump with a stator having a through-hole, and a rotor disposed in the through-hole of the stator and spirally extended such that a cavity to convey the developer is formed. The rotor conveys the developer in the cavity in an axial direction of the rotor. Air is supplied to the developer, conveyed by the pump to scatter and fluidize the developer.

Abstract: A disclosed development device includes: a latent image carrier; a conveying member disposed so as to face the latent image carrier, the conveying member having plural electrodes insulated from one another and arranged at predetermined intervals so as to generate an electric field for moving toner on the conveying member; a voltage application unit applying a voltage of n phases (n is a positive integer not less than one) to the electrodes so as to form a cloud of the toner and the toner is adhered to the latent image carrier so as to form a visualized toner image; a toner supply unit supplying the toner to the conveying member; and a height adjusting member adjusting a uniform height for a toner layer of the toner immediately before a development area on the conveying member in which development is performed.

Abstract: A developing device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus that use ETH development, and are capable of forming good multi-color images with a simple construction, and are capable of preventing the dispersal of powder. The developing device is for developing latent images on a latent image carrying member by applying powder to the latent image carrying member, and comprises: a transport member disposed in opposition to the latent image carrying member and having a plurality of transport electrodes that generate a progressive wave electric field to move the powder; a voltage supply device for applying a multi-phase voltage to the transport electrodes; and a transport member surface potential determination device for determining the surface potential of the transport member.

Abstract: A developing device for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier of the present invention is generally made up of a developing section and a developer storing section. The developing section includes a developer carrier for conveying a one-component type developer deposited thereon, a feeding member for feeding the developer to the developer carrier, and a conveying member for conveying the developer toward the feeding member while agitating it. The developer storing section replenishes a developer stored therein to the developing section in a direction including at least a horizontal direction component. The developing section and developer storing section are formed with a plurality of openings in the lengthwise direction such that the replenishment of developer from the developer storing section to the developing section and the return of the developer from the latter to the former are executed via the openings.

Abstract: A developer supplying device including a developer holding unit configured to hold a developer, a developer transfer device configured to electrostatically transfer the developer from the developer holding unit, and a charging member having holes piercing therethrough from the developer holding unit, to abrasively charge the developer by contacting the developer with walls of the holes while the developer is electrostatically transferred through the holes by the developer transfer device.

Abstract: A developing device including a rotating developing roller bearing toner thereon, capable of developing an electrostatic latent image with the toner; a toner layer forming member configured to form a toner layer on the developing roller, and charge the toner of the toner layer at a nip between the developing roller and the toner layer forming member; and a toner supplying device configured to supply fresh toner to the developing device, wherein a charge quantity (q) of the toner on the developing roller varies according to the following equation q(t)=A·{1?exp(?t/tg)} wherein t represents a nip passing time of the toner on the developing roller, tg represents a time constant of charging the toner, and A represents a constant, and wherein the time constant tg is smaller than a rotation time of the developing roller per rotation; and an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge using the developing device.

Abstract: A toner contained in a hopper is fed to an electrostatic conveyance member by a supply roller. With an actuator of the electrostatic conveyance member functioning, the toner is conveyed while being electrically charged at the same time, and is then supplied to a development roller. A thin layer of toner is formed on the development roller under the effect of an electric field. Since the toner is formed and charged without a mechanical layer thickness controlling member such as a doctor blade, mechanical stress acting on the toner is reduced.

Abstract: A developing device configured such that an amount of weakly charged toner in a two-component developer passing through an opening in the device per unit time is not greater than 200 g·mm/min, wherein the amount of weakly charged toner is expressed by an equation, which is the ? ? amount ? ? of ? ? weakly ? ? charged ? ? toner ? [ g · mm ? / ? min ] = total ? ? amount of ? ? the ? ? two ? - ? component ? ? developer ? ? to ? ? be ? ? drawn ? [ g ? / ? min ] × length of ? ? the ? ? opening ? [ mm ] × a ? ? concentration ? ? of ? ? toner ? [ wt ? ? % ] × percentage ? ? of ? ? weakly ? ? charged ? ? toner ? [ % ] .

Abstract: A developing device for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier of the present invention is generally made up of a developing section and a developer storing section. The developing section includes a developer carrier for conveying a one-component type developer deposited thereon, a feeding member for feeding the developer to the developer carrier, and a conveying member for conveying the developer toward the feeding member while agitating it. The developer storing section replenishes a developer stored therein to the developing section in a direction including at least a horizontal direction component. The developing section and developer storing section are formed with a plurality of openings in the lengthwise direction such that the replenishment of developer from the developer storing section to the developing section and the return of the developer from the latter to the former are executed via the openings.

Abstract: A developer supplying device including a developer holding unit configured to hold a developer, a developer transfer device configured to electrostatically transfer the developer from the developer holding unit, and a charging member having holes piercing therethrough from the developer holding unit, to abrasively charge the developer by contacting the developer with walls of the holes while the developer is electrostatically transferred through the holes by the developer transfer device.

Abstract: A developing device includes a carrying roller configured to carry a developer. A storing section is configured to store the developer. A supplying roller is configured to supply the developer to the carrying roller by contacting the developer to the carrying roller, the supplying roller extending substantially parallel to the carrying roller. A conveying unit is configured to convey the developer stored in the storing section to the supplying roller. The conveying unit includes a pump with a stator having a through-hole, and a rotor disposed in the through-hole of the stator and spirally extended such that a cavity to convey the developer is formed between an outer peripheral surface of the rotor and an inner peripheral surface of the through-hole of the stator, the rotor being configured to convey the developer in the cavity in an axial direction of the rotor by eccentrically rotating.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a bias power supply for applying a bias VB to a developer carrier on which a developer is deposited. A charge potential deposited on an image carrier, which faces the developer carrier for forming a latent image thereon, is 400 V or below in absolute value. Assume that the potential of the image carrier is lowered to VL after exposure, that a development potential is |VB?VL|, that the maximum set value of the development potential for development is |VB?VL|max, and that the development potential varies in a range satisfying relations: |VB?VL|?|VB?VL|max+|VB?VL|max×0.2 |VB?VL|?|VB?VL|max?|VB?VL|max×0.2 |VB?VL|max?300 V Then image density varies by a width of 10% of image density corresponding to the maximum set value of the development potential or less.

Abstract: An optical switch comprising an array of voltage-controlled interferometric switching elements. Different configurations and modes of operation are possible, but in each configuration the elements are arranged relative to the input and output fibers, such that a beam of light is incident or outgoing at an angle of 45 degrees to the surface of a corresponding element. This permits each element to be electronically controlled to either transmit or reflect light, such that the output beam exits the switch either parallel to or perpendicular to the input beam.

Abstract: A developing device configured such that an amount of weakly charged toner in a two-component developer passing through an opening in the device per unit time is not greater than 200 g·mm/min, wherein the amount of weakly charged toner is expressed by an equation, which is the ? ? ? amount ? ? ? of ? ? ? weakly ? ? ? charged ? ? ? toner ? ? [ g · mm ? / ? min ] = total ? ? ? amount of ? ? ? the ? ? ? two ? - ? component ? ? ? developer ? ? ? to ? ? ? be ? ? ? drawn ? ? [ g ? / ? min ] × length of ? ? ? the ? ? ? opening ? ? [ mm ] × a ? ? ? concentration ? ? ? of ? ? ? toner ? ? [ wt ? ? ? % ] × percentage ? ? ? of ? ? ? weakly ? ? ? charged ? ? ? toner ? ? [ % ] .