Abstract: In a toner collecting device of the cyclone separator type that collects toner separated from air, exhaust of the air including unseparated toner to outside the cyclone separator, which is caused by an unstable sucking operation of a cyclone blower, can be prevented. The toner collecting device includes a blocking unit that blocks airflow generated by the suction of the cyclone blower while the sucking operation of the cyclone blower is not in a steady state.

Abstract: In a toner collecting device of the cyclone separator type that collects toner separated from air, exhaust of the air including unseparated toner to outside the cyclone separator, which is caused by an unstable sucking operation of a cyclone blower, can be prevented. The toner collecting device includes a blocking unit that blocks airflow generated by the suction of the cyclone blower while the sucking operation of the cyclone blower is not in a steady state.

Abstract: A developing device including: a first developer carrying member for carrying a developer to develop a latent image formed on an image bearing member; a first regulating member, disposed on one end of a longitudinal direction of the image bearing member, for regulating a gap between the image bearing member and the first developer carrying member; a second developer carrying member for carrying a developer to develop the same latent image formed on the image bearing member; and a second regulating member, disposed on the one end of the longitudinal direction of the image bearing member, for regulating a gap between the image bearing member and the second developer carrying member, wherein the first and second regulating members are disposed without being superposed upon each other in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A developing device including: a first developer carrying member for carrying a developer to develop a latent image formed on an image bearing member; a first regulating member, disposed on one end of a longitudinal direction of the image bearing member, for regulating a gap between the image bearing member and the first developer carrying member; a second developer carrying member for carrying a developer to develop the same latent image formed on the image bearing member; and a second regulating member, disposed on the one end of the longitudinal direction of the image bearing member, for regulating a gap between the image bearing member and the second developer carrying member, wherein the first and second regulating members are disposed without being superposed upon each other in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A separating apparatus for separating foreign matter from magnetic toner, includes a filter with openings allowing a toner to pass therethrough, a vibration generator for vibrating the filter in a substantially horizontal direction relative to a filter surface of the filter, and magnetic field generator for generating a magnetic field for attracting the magnetic toner through the filter.

Abstract: A sealing device for use in a process cartridge including a cartridge frame, an image bearing member mounted in the cartridge frame, and process equipment, mounted in the cartridge frame, operative on the image bearing member, to prevent toner from leaking out of said cartridge frame. The sealing device includes a holder having an attachment position for detachably attaching the holder to the cartridge frame, a first sealing member, attached to the holder, capable of contacting a first position on the cartridge frame to prevent the toner from leaking out of said cartridge frame, and a second sealing member, separate from the first sealing member, attached to said holder and capable of contacting a second position on the cartridge frame, wherein the first position and the second position are different.

Abstract: A developer extracting apparatus for extracting developer from a mixture of developer and foreign matter, includes a filter for permitting passage of developer and for inhibiting passage of foreign matter, protection means for protecting the filter, and a vibration applying means for applying vibration to the filter via the protection means.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus includes a rotatable member for being heated by a heating source to fix an image on an image supporting member, first and second detecting elements responsive to temperature of the rotatable member, and wherein the first and second detecting elements are disposed on substantially the same circumferential line of the rotatable member.

Abstract: A driving mechanism for driving an electrophotographic photosensitive body operates through a torque limiter. The torque limiter is arranged on a support shaft for supporting the photosensitive body. A driving gear for driving a developing member is arranged coaxially with the torque limiter independently of the latter. This arrangement reduces the load applied to the torque limiter. In addition, the mechanism remains compact.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting a sheet includes a first transporting path provided with rollers for transporting the sheet to an image forming section, a second transporting path for conducting the sheet in a direction transverse to the first transporting path, and a control section for controlling the first and second transporting paths so that they can be connected and disconnected to each other.

Abstract: An original scanning apparatus comrpises a scanning unit for scanning an original. The scanning unit has a mirror and a light source for illuminating the original. A connecting member is electrically connected to the scanning unit. A guide member supports and guides one end of the scanning unit. The guide member fixes a position of the one end of the scanning unit in a vertical direction. At least a part of a driving element is disposed at the position overlapping with the guide member in the vertical direction, but not overlapping with the mirror of the scanning unit. The connecting member is provided at the side of the guide member.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a container for containing a developer including magnetic particles. A rotatable developer carrying member is disposed in the container and faced to an image bearing member, for carrying the developer to a developing zone. A magnet is provided in the developer carrying member, and a magnetic sealing member is disposed adjacent to and in a rotational direction of the developer carrying member in a region inside of the container adjacent a longitudinal end of the developer carrying member, wherein the magnetic sealing member cooperates with the magnet to form a magnetic field effective to form a magnetic brush of the developer between the magnetic sealing member and the developer carrying member, and wherein an outer end, with respect to the longitudinal direction of the developer carrying member, of the magnetic sealing member is disposed in a range between 2 mm outwardly away from an end of the magnet and 1 mm inwardly away therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which a sheet cassette for containing sheets is removably mounted to a body of the apparatus. The image forming apparatus comprises a frame structure having a pair of legs spaced apart from each other, a bottom plate arranged on the legs, a first side plate arranged at one ends of the legs and uprightly mounted on the bottom plate, a second side plate arranged in confronting relation to the first side plate at the other ends of the legs and having a lower end portion extending below the legs and covering the other ends of the legs, and stay members for interconnecting the first and second side plates at their upper portions.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device for use in an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet support plate and one or more rotary members for separating and feeding sheets. A recessed portion is formed on the sheet support plate in a position opposing to each rotary member. A detachable auxiliary member is provided to be fitted in the recess to form a plane coplanar with that of the sheet support plate. An engaging device can be provided, to engage with a step portion formed in a cassette housing portion of the apparatus to keep the cassette from being entirely removed from the housing. The engaging device may, for example, include an elastic part and an engaging part integrally molded with each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which is capable of forming a positive image either from a negative original or a positive original. The apparatus is provided with a device for preventing the non-image area of the photosensitive member from being developed by a developer, so as to avoid a wastefull consumption of the developer. The operation of the preventing means is controlled in dependence on whether the original is positive or negative, so that the prevention of the non-image area development is effectively performed independently of whether the original is negative or positive.

Abstract: A web transport device for transporting a web wound on a rotary member to another rotary member, provided with a first calculating unit for calculating the ratio of rotating speeds of the unwinding and winding rotary members at a regular interval, a second calculating unit for calculating the ratio of rotating speeds of the unwinding and winding rotary members at the end of web transport on the basis of the value calculated by the first calculating unit at the start of web transport, and a unit for controlling the rotation of the rotary members through the comparison of the values calculated by the first and second calculating units, respectively.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically feeding a film to the outside of the reel on which the film has been rolled around. The film has a leader part affixed to the forward end of the film. The width of the leader part is larger than the width of the image recording part of the film. The reel has a pair of flanges disposed spaced from each other by a distance smaller than the width of the leader part. The leader part is rolled around the outer circumference of said paired flanges. A feed roller is provided to feed out the leader part to the outside of the reel. The feed roller has a width smaller than the space between the paired flanges and is movable between a position outside of the paired flanges and a position inside of the flanges. The position of the feed roller is detected by a detector which detects that the whole leader part has been fed out from the reel.

Abstract: This invention provides an apparatus for reproducing image from a microfilm, in which a microfilm having a negative or positive image is illuminated by illuminating image and projecting thus illuminated microfilm image onto a photosensitive member. The reproducing apparatus is provided with a charger for positively or negatively charging the surface of the photosensitive member, measuring device for measuring the light intensity from thus illuminated microfilm, and charge controller for selecting the polarity of charge to be given to the photosensitive member in response to the result of measurement by the measuring device thereby providing a positive reproduced image regardless whether the image on the microfilm is negative or positive. In another embodiment the apparatus is provided with development controller for selecting toner for image development on the photosensitive member in response to the result of measurement by the measuring device.

Abstract: A reader-printer comprises a housing having a viewing opening, a screen disposed within the housing, means for moving the screen between an exposure position and a position spaced apart from the exposure position, means for projecting the image of a film onto the exposure position, means for feeding a copy sheet to the exposure position, means for delivering the copy sheet from the exposure position, and means for controlling external light entering the housing through the viewing opening.

Abstract: A reader-printer comprises a housing having a viewing opening, a screen disposed within the housing, means for moving the screen between an exposure position and a position spaced apart from the exposure position, means for projecting the image of a film onto the exposure position, means for feeding a copy sheet to the exposure position, means for delivering the copy sheet from the exposure position, and means for controlling external light entering the housing through the viewing opening.