Abstract: A powder replenishing device includes a replaceable powder container and a reciprocating mechanism. The replaceable powder container is made of a material which allows a change in volume for containing powder replenished to the apparatus. The powder container has a powder discharge port for discharging the powder on one side wall near one end thereof. The reciprocating mechanism is configured to reciprocate the powder container such that the powder moves toward the discharge port.

Abstract: A toner container for an image forming apparatus is made up of a deformable, hermetic bag packed with toner and a box accommodating the bag. A mouth member is affixed to the bag. A powder pump sucks the toner out of the bag and replenishes it to a developing device included in the image forming apparatus. After the toner container has run out of toner, it can be transported or otherwise dealt with at an extremely low cost. In addition, the toner preserves its property despite the delivery to the developing device.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a toner container removably set on the apparatus and a developing section included in the apparatus are communicated to each other by a delivery passage. Toner can be delivered from the toner container to the developing section via the delivery passage by a stream of air even when the container and developing section are located at remote positions.

Abstract: A bicyclolactam compound of the formula (1) is disclosed, which has an excellent anxiolytic effect, is high in safety, and is useful as an effective component of medicinals which are greatly diminished in side effects such as hypnotic, muscle relaxant and sedative effects A bicyclolactam derivative represented by the following formula (1) is also disclosed, and is useful as an effective component of an anxiolytic agent

Abstract: A developer replenishing device included in an image forming apparatus for replenishing a developer to a developing unit is disclosed and includes a developer container filled with the developer. An air pump feeds compressed air into the developer container to thereby fluidize the developer. A powder pump discharge the fluidized toner from the developer container by suction and delivers it to the developing unit. When the toner container is set on the body of the apparatus, an air feed portion penetrates into the container.

Abstract: A bicyclolactam compound of the formula (1) is disclosed, which has an excellent anxiolytic effect, is high in safety, and is useful as an effective component of medicinals which are greatly diminished in side effects such as hypnotic, muscle relaxant and sedative effects ##STR1## A bicyclolactam derivative represented by the following formula (1) is also disclosed, and is useful as an effective component of an anxiolytic agent ##STR2##

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of collecting toner left on an image carrier after image transfer during an electrophotographic process, and returning the toner to a developing unit for reuse in the form of an air-toner mixture is disclosed. A toner conveying device includes a screw pump and a hopper portion positioned upstream of the screw pump in the intended direction of toner conveyance. When the collected toner accumulating in the hopper portion reaches a preselected amount, the toner conveying device is caused to start and stop operating at a specific timing.

Abstract: A bicyclolactam compound of the formula (1) is disclosed, which has an excellent anxiolytic effect, is high in safety, and is useful as an effective component of medicinals which are greatly diminished in side effects such as hypnotic, muscle relaxant and sedative effects ##STR1## A bicyclolactam derivative represented by the following formula (1) is also disclosed, and is useful as an effective component of an anxiolytic agent ##STR2## .

Abstract: In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a toner recycling mechanism, a collected toner conveying device is free from troubles particular to a conventional device using a screw pump and an air pump and conveying toner and air mixture via an elastic tubing, i.e., the wear of a stator due to aging and a decrease in the delivery pressure of the pump ascribable to the wear. A control device controls, based on the cumulative operation time, an operation of the screw pump and an operation of the air pump. This provides the toner conveying device with durability, reliability and simple construction while insuring toner conveyance and reducing cost.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a cleaning device removes toner remaining after image formation. A toner storing section stores the toner collected by the cleaning device. A toner transferring device transfers the toner from the cleaning device and implemented by a powder pump. The powder pump includes a screw pump rotatable to move the toner in its axial direction, and an air feeding arrangement for causing the toner being moved by the screw pump to flow in a dispersed state. The toner transferring device and toner storing section are communicated by a path constituted by a flexible material.

Abstract: A screw pump for use in an image forming apparatus for conveying toner has a female screw type stator formed with a double pitch spiral groove in its inner periphery, and a male screw type rotor rotatably received in the stator. Assuming that the rotor has a sectional diameter of RA, and that the stator has a minimum inside diameter of S.MIN, the rotor and stator bite into each other such that a dimensional ratio of RA/S.MIN satisfies a relation of RA/S.MIN.ltoreq.1.04. A toner conveying device using such a screw pump and a toner filling system are also disclosed.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus including a developing device storing a two-ingredient type or a one-ingredient type developer, a cleaning unit removes toner remaining on a photoconductive element after image formation. A toner conveying device conveys the toner collected by the cleaning unit to one or both of the developing unit and toner storing means. A powder pump includes a rotor and causes the rotor to rotate in order to move the collected toner in the axial direction of the rotor.

Abstract: An image forming system including a plurality of image forming apparatuses is disclosed. The image forming apparatuses is of the type electrostatically forming a latent image representative of a document on an image carrier, developing it with a developing device, and transferring the resulting image to a recording medium. A single developer source is included in the system and delivers a developer to all the image forming apparatuses. The shared developer source reduces the space to be occupied by the individual image forming apparatus and insures high operation efficiency and maintenance efficiency.

Abstract: A fixing device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for fixing a toner image on recording paper, including a fixing roller in which a cylindrical core and a heater are installed in the roller, a pressure roller held in pressured contact with the fixing roller, and a reinforcing device used to preserve a cylindrical shape of the cylindrical core. The reinforcing device includes a circular plate and a contacting member which is provided along an edge of the circular plate and which has a contacting portion held in contact with an inner surface of the cylindrical core.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a rotary developing device has a rotary developing unit or revolver facing a photoconductive element. The revolver rotatably supported by a pair of pivotable arms which are constantly biased toward the photoconductive element. When the revolver is rotated to bring one of developing sections thereof to a developing position, a developing roller built in the developing section is accurately positioned relative to the photoconductive element.

Abstract: A developing device for developing a latent image electrostatically formed on an image carrier is disclosed. The device has a developing mechanism for depositing a toner and carrier mixture, i.e., developer on the image carrier, a developer normalizing mechanism for normalizing the developer and located at a different position from the developing mechanism, and a developer transferring and circulating mechanism for transferring the developer to the developing mechanism and developer normalizing mechanism. The device is easy to maintain since the developing mechanism is small in size and simple in configuration.

Abstract: The present invention provides carbamoyl-2 -pyrrolidinone compounds useful as medicaments for improving cerebral functions and activating cerebral metabolism or protecting against anoxic brain damage.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus for electrostatically forming a latent image on a photoconductive element by controlling a laser in response to an image signal, and then performing development, image transfer and fixation to form a corresponding image on a sheet. A higher process speed for image formation and a higher scanning speed of a laser beam are selected in a monocolor image forming mode than in a full color image forming mode. The higher scanning speed may be replaced with a greater number of scanning lines.

Abstract: The present invention provides a carbamoyl-2-pyrrolidinone compound which has the following formula (2) and is useful as medicaments for treating senile dementia, i.e., as cerebral function improving agents and cerebral metabolism activators or anoxic brain damage protectives ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom, hydroxyl or lower alkyl substituted or unsubstituted with hydroxyl, and R.sup.3 is phenyl, tetrahydronaphthyl, pyridyl or thiazolyl having or not having lower alkoxyl, lower alkylamino, a halogen atom or halogenomethyl as a substituent.Further, the present invention provides novel carbamoyl-2-pyrrolidinone compounds represented by the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom, hydroxyl or lower alkyl substituted or unsubstituted with hydroxyl, and R.sup.2 is phenyl, tetrahydronaphthyl, pyridyl or thiazolyl having or not having methoxy or lower alkylamino as a substituent, provided that when R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or unsubstituted lower alkyl, R.sup.2 is not unsubstituted phenyl.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus capable of forming an image freely on the front side and the back side of a paper sheet and applicable to a laser printer, digital copier, etc. A toner image is formed on either one or both of a photoconductive element and an intermediate transfer body in the form of a belt and transferred to the adjoining side of a paper sheet. The paper sheet carrying a toner image on one or both sides thereof is fixed when passed through a fixing section only once.