Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image, formed on an image-bearing member, with toner; a developer supply container which contains developer containing toner and a carrier and is detachably mountable to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus; developer supply means for supplying the developer contained in the developer supply container to the developing device; and developer discharge means for permitting discharge of the developer in the developing device to the outside of the developing device. To the image forming apparatus, one of plural kinds of developer supply containers containing developers having different carrier ratios in the developers is selectively mountable. The image forming apparatus further comprises notification means for providing notification of the kind of the developer supply container to be selected on the basis of information on deterioration of the carrier when the developer supply container is replaced.

Abstract: A sheet feeding unit according to the invention includes a sheet stacking tray on which the sheet is stacked, a sheet feeding device which feeds the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking tray, and a unit frame which supports the sheet stacking tray and the sheet feeding portion and is attached to a apparatus main body. In the sheet feeding unit, the sheet feeding device is pivotable on the unit frame to change a sheet feeding direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image, formed on an image-bearing member, with toner; a developer supply container which contains developer containing toner and a carrier and is detachably mountable to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus; developer supply means for supplying the developer contained in the developer supply container to the developing-device; and developer discharge means for permitting discharge of the developer in the developing device to the outside of the developing device. To the image forming apparatus, one of plural kinds of developer supply containers containing developers having different carrier ratios in the developers is selectively mountable. The image forming apparatus further comprises notification means for providing notification of the kind of the developer supply container to be selected on the basis of information on deterioration of the carrier when the developer supply container is replaced.

Abstract: When ejectors (nozzles) are viewed in order in a sub-scanning direction, the ejectors are arranged so that positions of the ejectors in a main scanning direction alternate in an offsetting manner. When formed dots are viewed along the sub-scanning direction, sizes of the dots are changed at random. Accordingly, density unevenness is decreased, the ejectors can be arranged in high density, and an image can be recorded at high speed. That is, the invention provides a droplet ejecting head in which density unevenness which tends to be generated in a head having a matrix-like nozzle arrangement can be decreased without decreasing recording speed and thus high-speed recording is made compatible with high-quality recording. The invention also provides a droplet ejecting apparatus which is provided with the droplet ejecting head.

Abstract: A driving method for a droplet ejection head which is plurally equipped with an ejector, which includes a nozzle and an actuator for ejecting droplets. The driving method includes preparing plural driving waveforms that correspond to variations between respectively differing ejection characteristics of the ejectors, and systematically or arbitrarily applying the plural of driving waveforms to the actuators as driving signals. Accordingly, when a driving waveform which is suited to an ejection characteristic of the head is applied, a normal ejection can be performed. In contrast, when a driving waveform which is not suited to the ejection characteristic of the head is applied, an ejection state is not optimal. However, the driving waveform suited to the ejection characteristic is applied immediately thereafter. The driving waveform not suited to the ejection characteristic is applied to the ejector systematically or arbitrarily, and is not applied continuously.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image, formed on an image-bearing member, with toner; a developer supply container which contains developer containing toner and a carrier and is detachably mountable to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus; developer supply means for supplying the developer contained in the developer supply container to the developing-device; and developer discharge means for permitting discharge of the developer in the developing device to the outside of the developing device. To the image forming apparatus, one of plural kinds of developer supply containers containing developers having different carrier ratios in the developers is selectively mountable. The image forming apparatus further comprises notification means for providing notification of the kind of the developer supply container to be selected on the basis of information on deterioration of the carrier when the developer supply container is replaced.

Abstract: A sheet feeding unit according to the invention includes a sheet stacking tray on which the sheet is stacked, a sheet feeding device which feeds the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking tray, and a unit frame which supports the sheet stacking tray and the sheet feeding portion and is attached to a apparatus main body. In the sheet feeding unit, the sheet feeding device is pivotable on the unit frame to change a sheet feeding direction.

Abstract: A liquid drop discharging head includes a matrix array head that can reduce variations in a print density without reducing a recording speed. A liquid drop discharging device provided with this liquid drop discharging head can realize compatibility between recording an image at high speed and recording the high quality image. Ejectors are disposed alternately to form dots on a recording medium that are arranged in the order of alternating ejectors such as A, E, B, F, C, G, D, and H. The dots having a relatively large diameter and the dots having a relatively small diameter are mixedly disposed in a sub-scanning direction at predetermined pitches. Mixed arrangement of dots increases space frequency variations in a print density along the sub-scanning direction, thus, making it difficult for the human eye to sense the density variations, and ensuring a high uniformity in a recorded result.

Abstract: When ejectors (nozzles) are viewed in order in a sub-scanning direction, the ejectors are arranged so that positions of the ejectors in a main scanning direction alternate in an offsetting manner. When formed dots are viewed along the sub-scanning direction, sizes of the dots are changed at random. Accordingly, density unevenness is decreased, the ejectors can be arranged in high density, and an image can be recorded at high speed. That is, the invention provides a droplet ejecting head in which density unevenness which tends to be generated in a head having a matrix-like nozzle arrangement can be decreased without decreasing recording speed and thus high-speed recording is made compatible with high-quality recording. The invention also provides a droplet ejecting apparatus which is provided with the droplet ejecting head.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeding apparatus that has sheet supporting device for supporting a sheet, a driving rotary member driven and rotated by a driving source, a rocking member disposed rockably on the driving rotary member, a sheet feeding rotary member rotatably disposed on the rocking member and can be brought into contact with the sheet supported by the sheet supporting device, a following rotary member coupled with the sheet feeding rotary member on the rocking member, a winding and hanging member hung around the driving rotary member and the following rotary member, a separating slant surface disposed on a side of leading ends of sheets fed out by the sheet feeding rotary member for separating the sheets one by one, and rocking force generating device disposed on the rocking member for guiding a tensed side of the winding and hanging member in a direction away from the sheets, and for generating a rocking force, on the rocking member, which brings the sheet feeding ro

Abstract: Of a band border portion which is an area where a black stripe might occur, in an area near a band border portion adjacent to an unrecorded area, recording density is reduced only when the recording density is high. Since recording density in any unnecessary area is not reduced, no white stripe is produced, either. It is therefore possible to obtain an image having no banding.

Abstract: There are provided a liquid drop discharging head that can reduce variations in a print density easily caused by a matrix array head without reducing a recording speed and can realize compatibility between recording an image at high speeds and recording the image at high quality levels and a liquid drop discharging device provided with this liquid drop discharging head. Ejectors are alternately arranged in such a way that dots formed on a recording medium are arranged in the order of the ejectors A, E, B, F, C, G, D, and H. The dots each having a relatively large diameter and the dots each having a relatively small diameter are mixedly arranged in a sub-scanning direction at predetermined pitches. This can increase a space frequency of variations in a print density in the sub-scanning direction and hence make human eyes become hard to sense the variations in the print density, thereby being capable of ensuring high uniformity in a recorded result.

Abstract: Of a band border portion which is an area where a black stripe might occur, in an area near a band border portion adjacent to an unrecorded area, recording density is reduced only when the recording density is high. Since recording density in any unnecessary area is not reduced, no white stripe is produced, either. It is therefore possible to obtain an image having no banding.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeding apparatus in which double-feeding of thin sheets can be prevented positively and a thick sheet can be fed positively. To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus comprising sheet feeding means abutting against a sheet contained in sheet containing means to feed out the sheet, and a separating inclined surface for separating and feeding the sheet fed out by the sheet feeding means one by one, wherein the separating inclined surface can be shifted along a sheet advancing direction with the sheet fed out by the sheet feeding means.

Abstract: Characteristics of a droplet ejection apparatus are change depending on the shape or cone angle of the main ink ejection chamber of the apparatus, or on the diameter of the ejection aperture of main ink ejection chamber. Accordingly, operation of the droplet ejection apparatus varies with the shape, angle, or diameter of main ink ejection chamber. The shape of the aperture according to the present invention is circular or regular polygonal so that surface waves are synthesized at the central portion of the ejection aperture. Moreover, the cone angle of the main chamber is set to 65° or less from the plane vertical to the droplet ejecting direction and the diameter of the ejection aperture is set to a value 1.25 times or more larger than a desired droplet diameter.

Abstract: A printing apparatus, which can make the maximum current low in its driving circuit and can prevent banding in high efficiency and also achieve a low cost, is provided. When an image is formed on a printing medium by that a print head having a plurality of nozzles moves in two orthogonal directions, that is, a main scanning direction and a sub scanning direction, the print head having a plurality of nozzles is supposedly divided into P pieces of independent printing element groups which have the same printing elements, in this, the P is an integer two or more. And the main scanning and the sub scanning are controlled so that each of the P pieces of independent printing element groups can print the printing pixels on the printing medium. And each of the P pieces of independent printing element groups is selected so that the printing pixels are not printed in overlap, and a shingling process is realized.

Abstract: A sheet feed roller is urged into contact with the upper surface of a sheet at the top of a stack of sheets supported on a sheet support and an inclined separation plane separates a sheet, fed forward by the sheet feed roller, from the other sheets of the stack of the sheets. A rotatable separation roller is disposed between the inclined separation plane and the sheet feed roller such that the separation roller is urged into contact with the upper surface of the sheet fed forward by the sheet feeding roller. The separation roller is movable depending on the rigidity of the sheet so that when the sheet being fed forward has low rigidity, the sheet is bent starting from a line where the sheet is in contact with the separation roller, but when the sheet being fed forward has high rigidity, the separation roller is moved upward thereby allowing the sheet is bent starting from a line where the sheet is in contact with the sheet feed roller.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeding apparatus in which double-feeding of thin sheets can be prevented positively and a thick sheet can be fed positively. To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus comprising sheet feeding means abutting against a sheet contained in sheet containing means to feed out the sheet, and a separating inclined surface for separating and feeding the sheet fed out by the sheet feeding means one by one, wherein the separating inclined surface can be shifted along a sheet advancing direction with the sheet fed out by the sheet feeding means.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeding apparatus that has sheet supporting device for supporting a sheet, a driving rotary member driven and rotated by a driving source, a rocking member disposed rockably on the driving rotary member, a sheet feeding rotary member rotatably disposed on the rocking member and can be brought into contact with the sheet supported by the sheet supporting device, a following rotary member coupled with the sheet feeding rotary member on the rocking member, a winding and hanging member hung around the driving rotary member and the following rotary member, a separating slant surface disposed on a side of leading ends of sheets fed out by the sheet feeding rotary member for separating the sheets one by one, and rocking force generating device disposed on the rocking member for guiding a tensed side of the winding and hanging member in a direction away from the sheets, and for generating a rocking force, on the rocking member, which brings the sheet feeding ro

Abstract: Characteristics of a droplet ejection apparatus are changed depending on the shape or cone angle of the main chamber of the apparatus or the diameter of the ejection aperture of the apparatus and thus, the apparatus may not be normally operated depending on the setting of the shape, angle, or diameter.