Abstract: A transfer device has a control circuit. The control circuit initiates supplying transfer power to one or more first transfer rollers and to a second transfer roller when a first transfer operation is initiated by a first transfer roller positioned most upstream with respect to a direction in which an intermediate transfer belt travels. The control circuit stops supplying the transfer power to the one or more first transfer rollers and to the second transfer roller when a second transfer operation is completed by the second transfer roller. The transfer power supplied to the one or more first transfer rollers and to the second transfer roller, respectively, is free from fluctuation during a period from the initiation of the first transfer operation performed first to the completion of the second transfer operation.

Abstract: A transfer device has a plurality of first transfer rollers provided, one in each of a plurality of first transfer regions. The first transfer rollers are arranged downstream of respective image carriers in a traveling direction of an intermediate transfer belt, so as to be out of contact with the image carriers through the belt. In the first transfer region that is located most upstream in the traveling direction, there is a pressure member provided upstream of the image carrier in the traveling direction for pressing the intermediate transfer belt against the image carrier.

Abstract: It is to provide a radiation image conversion panel exhibiting superior homogeneity of an activator in a phosphor layer and enhanced luminance and sharpness, and a preparation method of the same. Described is the radiation image conversion panel having a stimulable phosphor layer on a support, wherein the stimulable phosphor layer is formed by a vapor-phase growth process so as to have a layer thickness of 50 ?m to 1 mm after a thermoplastic resin film is prepared on the support or the stimulable phosphor layer mentioned above is formed on the support composed of a thermoplastic resin containing a carbon fiber.

Abstract: A radiation image conversion panel is disclosed, comprising a support having thereon a stimulable phosphor layer formed by vapor deposition of a stimulable phosphor, wherein the stimulable phosphor layer meets the following requirement: 0?B?90A?0.17 wherein A is a thickness (?m) of the stimulable phosphor layer and B is a transmittance (%) of a stimulating light or a stimulated emission.

Abstract: A cleaning blade for removing residual toner left on the surface of an intermediate transfer belt after the second transfer is supported integrally with movement of a tension roller. In the case where the tension roller moves to make a tension of the intermediate transfer belt constant, then, following this, the cleaning blade moves. Thus, the contact state of the cleaning blade with respect to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt is kept constant, and thus cleaning of the intermediate transfer belt can be performed stably.

Abstract: A transfer device is provided including an intermediate transfer belt and transfer rollers associated with respective of photosensitive drums. Each of the transfer rollers and the intermediate transfer belt define therebetween a contact range of which center lies downstream of the center of a contact range (transfer nip region) defined between the associated photosensitive drum and the endless belt in the direction of movement of the endless belt. The transfer roller deforms the path of movement of the intermediate transfer belt by contacting the intermediate transfer belt, and the resulting deformation causes the intermediate transfer belt to contact the periphery of the photosensitive drum over a predetermined range.

Abstract: The reliability of the airtight sealed section is improved by providing a metallic or ceramic insertion member at a portion positioned between an electricity introducing member and a narrow tube in the airtight sealed section. The difference between the inner diameter of the narrow tube and the outer diameter of the insertion member is made 0.02 to 0.6 mm. The electricity introducing member is constructed by a halogen-resistant first member and a second member whose coefficient of linear expansion is similar to that of the narrow tube, and the junction of the first member and second member is covered with a halogen-resistant glass sealant. The difference between the insertion length of the second member into the narrow tube and the flow-in length of the glass sealant into the narrow tube is made 1 mm or more.

Abstract: Disclosed is a radiation image conversion panel by a vapor deposition method, in which a variation coefficient of distribution of a maximum intensity in an X-ray diffraction pattern inside the stimulable phosphor layer on a plane of a stimulable phosphor layer is not more than 40%.

Abstract: A radiation image conversion panel is disclosed, comprising a support having thereon a stimulable phosphor layer comprising columnar crystals of a stimulable phosphor, wherein the columnar crystals are isotropically distributed on the support outwardly from the center of the support with respect to columnar crystal diameter. There is also disclosed a preparation method thereof.

Abstract: A radiation image conversion panel exhibiting improved resistance to peeling or shock as well as enhanced sharpness is disclosed, comprising on a support a stimulable phosphor layer composed of columnar phosphor crystals formed through gas phase deposition, wherein the stimulable phosphor layer exhibits an X-ray diffraction pattern meeting the following ratio (I2/I1) of the highest peak intensity I1 and the second highest peak intensity I2: 0.3?I2/I1?1.0.

Abstract: A radiographic image conversion panel containing a substrate having thereon a phosphor layer formed by a vapor-accumulating method, wherein the phosphor layer has a thickness distribution of not more than ±20%, the thickness distribution being defined by the formula: ((Dmax?Dmin)/(Dmax+Dmin))×100, provided that Dmax is a maximum thickness of the phosphor layer; and Dmin is a minimum thickness of the phosphor layer.

Abstract: A radiation image conversion panel comprising a support and a stimulable phosphor layer provided on the support, in which the stimulable phosphor layer is formed by a gas-phase growing method so that the layer thickness of not less than 50 ?m and the surface of the support is composed of polyimide resin.

Abstract: A sheet nipping mechanism is applied to an image forming apparatus and has a transfer belt for transporting a sheet having a toner image through a photosensitive drum. A fixing roller and a pressure roller are downstream of the transfer belt and are vertically aligned in a paired manner to define a nip zone therebetween for nipping the sheet. A guide is disposed between the nip zone and the downstream end of the transfer belt. The fixing roller has a reverse-crown shape whose diameter is gradually reduced in a direction extending from each of the opposite transverse ends to the central region of the fixing roller. The guide has an edge opposed to the nip zone and is formed in a crown shape conformable to the reverse-crown shape. The sheet nipping mechanism prevents crimples and bouncing of sheet in the nip zone.

Abstract: A radiographic image conversion panel including a support, and at least one photostimulable phosphor layer formed on the support by a vapor phase deposition method (vapor phase growth). The panel is manufactured according to deposition, and a temperature of the support at the time of deposition is controlled at 50° C. to 150° C.

Abstract: A radiographic image conversion panel includes: a support; and at least one photostimulable phosphor layer provided on the support, wherein the photostimulable phosphor layer comprises a photostimulable phosphor having a columnar crystal structure, and the number N of columnar crystals per 100 &mgr;m2 of the surface area of the photostimulable phosphor layer satisfies a following Formula (1): 50≦N≦4000.

Abstract: A radiographic image conversion panel including, a support and a photostimulable phosphor layer formed on the support by a vapor deposition method. The support has a plurality of carbon fiber reinforced resin sheets each of which includes carbon fibers arranged in a direction and impregnated with a heat resistant resin such that directions of the carbon fibers in the carbon fiber reinforced resin sheets are different from each other and arranged at approximately equal angles.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus that enables to transversely move a sheet separator without a dedicated drive source and with a simplified construction to thereby reduce production cost of the apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a thrust driving mechanism for reciprocating the sheet separator in an axial direction of a heater roller. The mechanism includes a worm gear which is rotated by a driving force of a drive source for rotating the heater roller, a helical gear which is meshed with the worm gear, and an eccentric cam which is mounted coaxially with an axis of rotation of the helical gear. A guide member for supporting the sheet separator is reciprocated in the axial direction of the heater roller in accordance with rotation of the eccentric cam.

Abstract: The invention relates to a radiation image conversion panel comprising a substrate having thereon a stimulable phosphor layer and a protective layer. The stimulable phosphor layer is provided on the substrate by a vapor-phase deposition method. Further, a construction including the substrate and the protective layer has a flexibility.

Abstract: A discharge lamp comprises an arc tube 6 made of a translucent ceramic dosed with a metallic halide. The discharge is conducted between electrodes 20 disposed in the arc tube 6. The arc tube 6 comprises a main tube body 11 having a large diameter portion 11A and a small diameter portion 11C, and a narrow tube 12 airtightly fixed to the small diameter portion 11C while penetrating the small diameter portion 11C. In the discharge lamp, supposing that L (mm) is the length of a protrusion from the main tube body of the narrow tube portion 12 and P (W) is the rated power of the discharge lamp, L and P satisfy the relationship (P+268.75)/31.25≦L≦(P+456.25)/31.25 and 200≦P≦450.

Abstract: An arc tube 6 of discharge lamp comprises a main tube body 11 of translucent ceramic sealed with a terminal plate 13 at both ends thereof. The main tube body 11 comprises integrally a large diameter portion 11A, a tapered portion 11B which is disposed at both sides of the large diameter portion 11A and has a smaller diameter toward the forward end thereof, and a small diameter portion 11C which is connected to the forward end of the tapered portion 11B. In this arrangement, the discharge lamp can be produced more easily than the conventional structure having a narrow portion integrally formed at both ends of a ceramic tube body, making it possible to drastically reduce cost. Further, since a low temperature zone can be only with difficulty formed inside the arc tube during discharge, the luminous efficiency can be raised.