Abstract: A front hub is configured and arranged to make minimize the trouble associated with lamp wiring from occurring in bicycle hubs having an electricity generating mechanism. The front hub has a hub shaft, a hub shell, a pair of bearings, a generator and first and second lamp units. The hub shaft is mounted in a non-rotatable manner to the front fork. The hub shell is arranged on the outside of the hub shaft so that it can rotate freely with respect to the hub shaft. The bearings are arranged between the hub shell and the hub shaft. The generator is arranged inside the hub shell and configured to generate electricity using the relative rotation of the hub shell with respect to the hub shaft. The first and second lamp units are arranged at both ends of the hub shell and illuminated using electric power from the generator.

Abstract: Abnormality of a comparator is to be detected while it is assembled in a control apparatus. An output OUT of a comparator 4 is connected to a first analog data input port 13 in addition to an input port 11 of a microcomputer 6. A pin P1 as a signal input terminal of the comparator is connected to a second output port 15 capable of outputting an H or L microcomputer signal MO of the microcomputer and also to a second analog data input port 14. An abnormality judgment portion 9 of the microcomputer can detect abnormality due to failure of the comparator itself and failure of the peripheral devices on the basis of the output of the comparator during a normal operation, the comparator output when the microcomputer signal is outputted, and the comparator outputs before and after the output and stop of the microcomputer signal.

Abstract: In a microcomputer 10 including an output port 20 for outputting digital signals and an AD conversion register 18 for converting an analog voltage inputted to an AD input port 16 to a digital signal, the output port 20 and the AD input port 16 are directly connected. The output port 20 is allowed to selectively output H of a power source potential and L of a ground potential. The AD conversion register 18 is judged as being failed when any one of predetermined high order bits of the AD conversion register 18 is not 1 at the H output, or when any of one of the predetermined high order bits is not 0 at the L output. The digital conversion value of this AD conversion register 18 is not used. Thereby, existence/absence of failure of the AD conversion register is detected without using 2 channels for the AD input port.

Abstract: In the disclosure, MR sensors 6a and 6b for detecting the periodical angle position of rotating members rotating in conjunction with a steering wheel shaft are disposed in the vicinity of rotating members. These MR sensors are connected with a CPU 12, which makes the operation/processing of data from the MR sensors to calculate an absolute steering angle, including the indication of how many times the wheel has turned (periodicity). When the ignition key is turned off, the CPU 12 changes its operation mode into a stop mode of suspending said operation/processing, after storing the periodicity and the angle position &ggr; of the rotating members in a flash memory.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a developing device for developing images formed on an image carrier. The device is capable of regulating toner amount such that the amount of toner conveyed by the toner control to the developing area is reduced, as well a appropriately changing the carrier.

Abstract: A reflecting mirror unit according to the present invention comprises a mirror, mirror holding arrangement for holding the periphery of the mirror, in which an outer circumferential portion perpendicular to a reflection surface of the mirror is shaped like a circular arc in cross section, a first carrier that is contact with a part of the outer circumferential portion on the mirror reflection surface side for the mirror holding arrangement at a part of its inner conical surface, a second carrier that is opposed via the mirror holding arrangement to the first carrier, and is contact with a part of the outer circumferential portion on the mirror back face side for the mirror holding arrangement at a part of the inner conical surface, and pressure securing arrangement for pressing the first carrier and the second carrier against the mirror holding arrangement.

Abstract: In the disclosure, MR sensors 6a and 6b for detecting the periodical angle position of rotating members rotating in conjunction with a steering wheel shaft are disposed in the vicinity of rotating members. These MR sensors are connected with a CPU 12, which makes the operation/processing of data from the MR sensors to calculate an absolute steering angle, including the indication of how many times the wheel has turned (periodicity). When the ignition key is turned off, the CPU 12 changes its operation mode into a stop mode of suspending said operation/processing, after storing the periodicity and the angle position &ggr; of the rotating members in a flash memory.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a developing device for developing images formed on an image carrier comprising: a rotatably mounted roller-like toner carrier for holding a toner on the surface thereof; a plate-like regulating member for regulating an amount of the toner held on the toner carrier, the regulating member having at least one bent part, a first regulating part that is located such that it is in contact with the toner carrier and a second regulating part that is located such that it is in contact with the toner carrier at downstream side of the first regulating part with respect to the surface-moving direction of the toner carrier; and a casing for accommodating the toner, the toner carrier and the regulating member; wherein the regulating member is positioned between the toner carrier and the casing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a direct printing apparatus in which a good image is printed without background fog even if toner charge quantity is large. The direct printing apparatus is composed of a printing particles bearing member comprising a first roller 5 and a second roller 6, a backing electrode 13 and a printing head 15. The voltage applied to control electrodes 17 disposed around a plurality of holes 16 of the printing head 15 is controlled, whereby the printing particles 8 borne on the printing particles bearing member 5, 6 pass through the holes 16 of the printing head 15 to print the image on a print medium 2. A voltage having same polarity as the printing particles 8 borne on the bearing means 5, 6 and having electric potential more than that of surface layer of the printing particles 8 is applied to the control electrodes 17 corresponding to non-printing portions.

Abstract: A recording apparatus of the present invention includes a bearing member for bearing a recording medium having toner and carrier and a backing electrode opposing to the bearing member for electrically attracting the toner on the bearing member. The toner and carrier are charged to opposite polarities. A substrate having a plurality of apertures is provided between the bearing member and the backing electrode. This allows the toner to propel from the bearing member toward the backing electrode. Further, both the toner and carrier have respective volume mean diameters smaller than a diameter of the apertures, and the volume mean diameter of the toner is larger than that of the toner. With the arrangement, the toner will propel through each aperture to form a corresponding image portion, i.e., dot, thereby forming a high quality image without any dot-defect.

Abstract: A tandem type direct printing apparatus 2 comprising a plurality of printing stations 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d for depositing printing particles 38 on a print medium 8. The plurality of printing stations 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d are positioned in a moving direction of the print medium 8. Each printing station 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d comprises a bearing member 30 for bearing charged printing particles 38 thereon, a backing electrode 44 opposed to the bearing member 38, a printing head 50 disposed between the bearing member 30 and the backing electrode 44, the printing head 50 having a plurality of apertures 56 through which the printing particles 38 can propel and a plurality of electrodes 68 disposed around the plurality of apertures 56.

Abstract: A printing device includes a bearing member for bearing printing particles each having an electric charge, a backing electrode for forming an electric field between the bearing member and the backing electrode, and a substrate located between the bearing member and the backing electrode. The substrate includes a plurality of apertures. For each aperture, the substrate includes an attracting electrode and a plurality of converging electrodes. When, a first voltage is applied to the attracting electrode, the printing particles are attracted and then separated from the bearing member. Then, a second voltage is applied to the converging electrodes, the printing particles propelling in the aperture are converged. The converged printing particles are then deposited onto a recording sheet being transported to form a dot having a clear contour.

Abstract: A tandem type direct printing apparatus 2 comprising a plurality of printing stations 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d for depositing printing particles 38 on a print medium 8 to form a layer of printing particles. The plurality of printing stations 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d are positioned in a moving direction of the print medium 8. The printing station positioned downstream with respect to the moving direction of the print medium forms a layer of printing particles on the layer of printing particles formed by the printing station positioned upstream. At least any one of the printing stations 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d is different in intention of the electric field from another by changing the voltage applied to the backing electrode 44 or the distance between the backing electrode 44 and the printing head 50 in accordance with a charge quantity of printing particles or the number of the layer of printing particles in the one of the printing stations.

Abstract: The tandem type direct printing apparatus 2 comprises a plurality of printing stations 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d for propelling printing particles 38 born on a bearing member 30 through a plurality of apertures 56 formed on a printing head 50 and for depositing the printing particles 38 on a print medium 8 to form an image. The plurality of printing stations 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d are positioned in the moving direction of the print medium 8 to form the composite image on the print medium 8.

Abstract: A direct printing apparatus 2 for depositing printing particles 38 on a print medium 8 comprises a sleeve 30a for bearing charged printing particles 38 thereon, a drive roller 30b provided in the sleeve 30a, the drive roller 30b having a smaller outside diameter than an inside diameter of the sleeve 30a, a backing electrode 44 opposed to the sleeve 30a, a printing head 50 disposed between the sleeve 30a and the backing electrode 44, the printing head 50 having a plurality of apertures 56 through which the printing particles 38 can propel and a plurality of electrodes 68 disposed around the plurality of apertures 56. A spacer 90 is provided between the sleeve 30a and the printing head 50. The sleeve 30a has a slack 31 through which the sleeve 30a comes into contact with the spacer 90.

Abstract: The printing head 50 includes an insulative member 52 in which pluralities of apertures 56 are formed. Doughnut-like first and second electrodes 68 and 70 are disposed around the aperture 56. Pulse voltages V1(P) and V2(P) both having a certain polarity opposite to that of the toner particles are applied to the first and second electrodes 68 and 70, energizing the toner particles 38 to afford propelling thereof. Subsequently, a voltage V2(B) having the same polarity as the charged toner particles 38 is applied to the second electrode 70, forcing radially inwardly to converge the propelling toner particles 38 in the aperture 56. This ensures that a dot and an image both having clear contour can be formed on the sheet 8.

Abstract: A print head 50 comprises an insulative sheet member 52 that includes a plurality of apertures 56 arranged in rows. Arranged adjacent to each aperture 56 are first and second electrodes 68 and 70. The first electrode 68 is communicated with a driver 72 while the second electrode 70 is communicated with a driver 76 or 80. By applying first and second pulsating signals with the first and second electrodes, respectively, printing particles on a portion of bearing member 30 that opposes to the electrodes are energized to propel into corresponding aperture. A voltage and/or duration of the pulsating signal is determined according to the distance between the portion of the bearing member and the opposing aperture. Thereby, almost the same amount of printing particles are propelled into each aperture to form the same size dots on the sheet substrate 8.

Abstract: The present invention provides a direct printing apparatus which prevents noise at a time of operation, downsizes the apparatus, prevents decrease of strength, and enables to certainly clean remaining printing particles. An endless belt member 92 disposed between a backing electrode 44 and a printing head 50 of printing station 16, the endless belt member 92 receiving the printing particles 38 which are propelled from the printing head and cleaning means for cleaning the printing particles adhering to the surface of the endless belt member are provided, whereby the printing particles adhering to the apertures of the printing head are collected on the endless belt member so that the printing particles are recovered by the cleaning means. Concretely, the backing electrode is applied with a voltage of opposite polarity to the printing particles adhering to the printing head whereby the printing particles adhering to the apertures of the printing head is cleaned.

Abstract: A developing apparatus deterioration of toner charge quantity on double rollers and prevents filming of the toner. The developing apparatus includes a first roller for conveying a developer contained in a container, a blade for charging the developer on the first roller to a predetermined polarity and for restricting the conveyance quantity of the developer, and a second roller opposed to the first roller. The second roller receives the developer from the first roller to hold it on an outer surface thereof. The apparatus further includes a developer recovering device for recovering the developer from the second roller at a non-developing time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holding member for forming a toner image, and a transfer roller for transferring the toner image formed on the image holding member onto a recording paper sheet. The absolute value of (.DELTA. log R)/.DELTA.V[(log .OMEGA.)/kV] representing the voltage dependence of resistance R of the transfer roller is set not more than 0.5. The contacting portion of the transfer roller and an intermediate belt can be uniformly discharged, and therefore intermediate belt can be prevented from being changed in its property. As a result, an image forming apparatus having a stable transfer characteristic can be provided.