Abstract: A parameter detection unit detects a first factor parameter that corresponds to change in layer thickness of an organic photosensitive layer in a photoreceptor drum and a second factor parameter other than the first factor parameter. A discharge voltage applying unit and a grid voltage applying unit are controlled by a first charging control unit and a second charging control unit. The first charging control unit determines a charging current for a discharge wire of the discharge voltage applying unit in accordance with a detection value of the first factor parameter, which has been detected by the parameter detection unit. On the other hand, the second charging control unit determines an output voltage that corresponds to a grid electrode of the grid voltage applying unit in accordance with a detection value of the second factor parameter, which has been detected by the second charging control unit.

Abstract: A parameter detection unit detects a first factor parameter that corresponds to change in layer thickness of an organic photosensitive layer in a photoreceptor drum and a second factor parameter other than the first factor parameter. A discharge voltage applying unit and a grid voltage applying unit are controlled by a first charging control unit and a second charging control unit. The first charging control unit determines a charging current for a discharge wire of the discharge voltage applying unit in accordance with a detection value of the first factor parameter, which has been detected by the parameter detection unit. On the other hand, the second charging control unit determines an output voltage that corresponds to a grid electrode of the grid voltage applying unit in accordance with a detection value of the second factor parameter, which has been detected by the second charging control unit.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a first electric pathway connects a charging portion and a power supply unit, a second electric pathway is formed in the photoconductor unit and connects the first electric pathway and the photoconductor. An electrical component is disposed on the second electric pathway and has predetermined electrical property in accordance with the type of the photoconductor unit. A current detection portion is configured to detect current flowing through the second electric pathway when a detection voltage is applied on the first electric pathway. A determination processing portion is configured to determine the type of the photoconductor unit and existence of usage of the photoconductor unit, based on a current value detected by the current detection portion. The blocking portion is configured to block the second electric pathway after determination by the determination processing portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a transfer device, a first charging device, a static elimination device, a second charging device, a light exposure device, and a development device. The transfer device transfers a developer image of a first polarity onto a recording medium from the image bearing member by receiving a transfer bias of a second polarity. The first charging device charges a region of the image bearing member that has undergone transfer to the first polarity by receiving a first charging bias of the first polarity. An absolute value of the first charging bias is greater during charging of a first region of the image bearing member than during charging of a second region of the image bearing member. The first region includes a trailing end contact section. The second region does not include the trailing end contact section or a leading end contact section.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a first electric pathway connects a charging portion and a power supply unit, a second electric pathway is formed in the photoconductor unit and connects the first electric pathway and the photoconductor. An electrical component is disposed on the second electric pathway and has predetermined electrical property in accordance with the type of the photoconductor unit. A current detection portion is configured to detect current flowing through the second electric pathway when a detection voltage is applied on the first electric pathway. A determination processing portion is configured to determine the type of the photoconductor unit and existence of usage of the photoconductor unit, based on a current value detected by the current detection portion. The blocking portion is configured to block the second electric pathway after determination by the determination processing portion.

Abstract: A side structure of a vehicle body has a side panel provided in a side part of the vehicle body, a door striker which is provided on a vehicle body outer side of the side panel and is engageable with a latch of a sliding door, a sliding door rail which is provided on the vehicle body outer side of the side panel and slidably supports the sliding door, and a joint bracket provided on a vehicle body inner side of the side panel. The joint bracket is connected to the door striker and the sliding door rail.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a charging member, a voltage applying part, a current measuring part and a controlling part. The image carrier carries a toner image. The charging member electrically charges the image carrier. The voltage applying part applies voltage to the charging member. The current measuring part measures current flowing into the charging member. The controlling part controls applied voltage of the voltage applying part. The controlling part decides, when a predetermined voltage is applied to the charging member for a predetermined time by the voltage applying part, if an increase quantity of the current measured by the current measuring part exceeds a predetermined threshold value, that at least one of the image carrier and the charging member is in an abnormal state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a transfer device, a first charging device, a static elimination device, a second charging device, a light exposure device, and a development device. The transfer device transfers a developer image of a first polarity onto a recording medium from the image bearing member by receiving a transfer bias of a second polarity. The first charging device charges a region of the image bearing member that has undergone transfer to the first polarity by receiving a first charging bias of the first polarity. An absolute value of the first charging bias is greater during charging of a first region of the image bearing member than during charging of a second region of the image bearing member. The first region includes a trailing end contact section. The second region does not include the trailing end contact section or a leading end contact section.

Abstract: A multifunction peripheral includes: an apparatus body including an intake opening through which external air is taken in; an axial flow fan configured to send air through the intake opening to an interior of the apparatus body; and a substrate including a temperature sensor placed on one surface thereof facing a first air flow path formed by activation of the blower and a humidity sensor placed on the other surface thereof facing a second air flow path along which a smaller amount of air flow flows than along the first air flow path.

Abstract: A side structure of a vehicle body has a side panel provided in a side part of the vehicle body, a door striker which is provided on a vehicle body outer side of the side panel and is engageable with a latch of a sliding door, a sliding door rail which is provided on the vehicle body outer side of the side panel and slidably supports the sliding door, and a joint bracket provided on a vehicle body inner side of the side panel. The joint bracket is connected to the door striker and the sliding door rail.

Abstract: A multifunction peripheral includes: an apparatus body including an intake opening through which external air is taken in; an axial flow fan configured to send air through the intake opening to an interior of the apparatus body; and a substrate including a temperature sensor placed on one surface thereof facing a first air flow path formed by activation of the blower and a humidity sensor placed on the other surface thereof facing a second air flow path along which a smaller amount of air flow flows than along the first air flow path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a charging member, a voltage applying part, a current measuring part and a controlling part. The image carrier carries a toner image. The charging member electrically charges the image carrier. The voltage applying part applies voltage to the charging member. The current measuring part measures current flowing into the charging member. The controlling part controls applied voltage of the voltage applying part. The controlling part decides, when a predetermined voltage is applied to the charging member for a predetermined time by the voltage applying part, if an increase quantity of the current measured by the current measuring part exceeds a predetermined threshold value, that at least one of the image carrier and the charging member is in an abnormal state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying body having a surface on which a toner image is formed. A charger charges the surface body and a charge eliminator removes charge from the surface. The charge eliminator includes light sources to generate charge elimination light and a light guide to guide the charge elimination light onto the surface. The light guide includes a first portion to guide the charge elimination light onto an axial central portion of the image carrying body and a second portion to guide the charge elimination light onto axial end portions of the image carrying body. The second light guide portion allows charge elimination light that is incident on the first light guide portion to travel into the second light guide portion, but restricts charge elimination light that is incident on the second light guide portion from traveling into the first light guide portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying body having a surface on which a toner image is formed. A charger charges the surface body and a charge eliminator removes charge from the surface. The charge eliminator includes light sources to generate charge elimination light and a light guide to guide the charge elimination light onto the surface. The light guide includes a first portion to guide the charge elimination light onto an axial central portion of the image carrying body and a second portion to guide the charge elimination light onto axial end portions of the image carrying body. The second light guide portion allows charge elimination light that is incident on the first light guide portion to travel into the second light guide portion, but restricts charge elimination light that is incident on the second light guide portion from traveling into the first light guide portion.

Abstract: There are provided a cartilage extract that can be effective even when taken in a small amount and has a clear mechanism of effective action and a method of producing the extract. Provided are an isolated proteoglycan which is derived from a water extract of cartilage of cartilaginous fish and whose main component has a molecular weight of 500 kDa or more; a composition containing the proteoglycan; a pharmaceutical composition containing the proteoglycan as an active ingredient; and a method of producing the proteoglycan, comprising the steps of pulverizing cartilaginous fish-derived cartilage into a pulverized product with an average particle diameter of 100 ?m or less, adding water to the pulverized product and extracting water-soluble components from it, separating an aqueous phase that contains the extracted water-soluble components, and adding an alcohol to the aqueous phase to produce a precipitate.

Abstract: A driving mechanism for use in an image forming apparatus has a rotary shaft, a driving joint, a drum gear, a cleaning roller gear, and a transfer roller gear. The rotary shaft extends through a photosensitive member along an axis of rotation of the photosensitive member. The rotary shaft is rotatably supported at the opposite axial end parts thereof by bearings, respectively. The rotary shaft is un-rotatably jointed to the photosensitive member relative thereto at a lateral side part of a rear end part of the rotary shaft corresponding to the rear side of the image forming apparatus. The driving joint is jointed to the rear end part of the rotary shaft protruding from the photosensitive member at the rear side of the image forming apparatus to input a rotating force of a drum motor to the photosensitive drum. The drum gear is provided at the rear side of the photosensitive member. The cleaning roller gear and the transfer roller gear are in mesh with the drum gear.

Abstract: A driving mechanism for use in an image forming apparatus has a rotary shaft, a driving joint, a drum gear, a cleaning roller gear, and a transfer roller gear. The rotary shaft extends through a photosensitive member along an axis of rotation of the photosensitive member. The rotary shaft is rotatably supported at the opposite axial end parts thereof by bearings, respectively. The rotary shaft is un-rotatably jointed to the photosensitive member relative thereto at a lateral side part of a rear end part of the rotary shaft corresponding to the rear side of the image forming apparatus. The driving joint is jointed to the rear end part of the rotary shaft protruding from the photosensitive member at the rear side of the image forming apparatus to input a rotating force of a drum motor to the photosensitive drum. The drum gear is provided at the rear side of the photosensitive member. The cleaning roller gear and the transfer roller gear are in mesh with the drum gear.

Abstract: A destaticizer which is adapted to remove electric charges from the surface of a photoreceptor by exposing the photoreceptor surface to light. The destaticizer includes a light source, and a light guide member for generally uniformly guiding light from the light source to a light exposure area on the photoreceptor. In accordance with one embodiment, the light guide member is an elongated member, which has an end face serving as a light receiving face for receiving the light emitted from the light source, a light transmitting path for transmitting the light received by the light receiving face, and a plurality of reflecting portions arranged along the length of the light guide member for reflecting the light transmitted through the light transmitting path in a direction intersecting the length of the light guide member.

Abstract: An electrographic copying machine has a photoreceptor drum which moves so that a photosensitive layer on its surface is successively charged, exposed, developed and charge-removed. The photosensitive layer is made of an amorphous material. The drum surface is charged by a charger before a latent image is formed thereon through exposure. A voltage generator is provided which supplies the charger with a voltage to charge the drum surface. It takes time for the potential of the charged drum surface at the developing section to reach a predetermined potential from a potential higher than the predetermined potential due to a rise characteristic of the surface potential. A controller is provided which corrects an output voltage value of the voltage generator to a voltage value necessary for the drum surface to be charged at the predetermined potential in a predetermined number of charging operations performed until the surface potential reaches the predetermined potential.

Abstract: In a copying processing performed several times from the depression of a copy button of a copying machine until the surface potential of the photoreceptor drum is stabilized, a voltage sufficiently high for correcting the rise characteristic of the photosensitive layer on the drum surface is applied to a charger. A main circuit having a controlling portion to realize this corrects the output voltage of the high-voltage generating circuit which applies a high voltage to the charger to a voltage value necessary for the drum surface to be charged at a stable potential level. The main circuit charges the drum surface at the stable potential level necessary for development from copying of the first sheet.