Abstract: An intermediate transfer belt includes a base layer that has ionic conductivity and is a thickest layer out of multiple layers making up the intermediate transfer belt with respect to the thickness direction of the intermediate transfer belt, and an inner layer having electronic conductivity and a lower electrical resistance than the base layer.

Abstract: An exposing unit forms a latent-image electric potential on each photosensitive drum. A detecting toner image of each color is transferred to an intermediate transfer belt using a first potential difference between a latent-image electric potential and the potential of an intermediate transfer belt at each primary transfer portion. When the polarity of voltage to be applied from a transfer power source to a secondary transfer roller is to be switched to an opposite polarity while the detecting toner image of each color is passing through each primary transfer portion, the absolute value of a second potential difference between the potential of the intermediate transfer belt and the background electrical potential of each photosensitive drum is made equal to or greater than the absolute value of the first potential difference by a control unit.

Abstract: In an image processing method, first, one point is designated on input image data as a start point of a retrieval line by external input. Subsequently, one point, which is different from the start point, is designated on the input image data as an endpoint of the retrieval line by the external input. Subsequently, a cumulative line profile of the retrieval line is prepared by calculating a cumulative sum of luminance values on the retrieval line. Subsequently, an edge position on the retrieval line is calculated based on the cumulative line profile of the retrieval line.

Abstract: A stroboscopic device includes a flash discharge tube, a first element for performing switching operation of flash discharge tube, a second element for performing ON control of the first element by an ON operation, and performing OFF control of the first element by an OFF operation, a third element for performing the OFF control of the first element by an ON operation, and performing the ON control of the first element by an OFF operation, and a first circuit for holding the ON operation of the third element for a predetermined period. The first circuit includes a fourth element for holding the ON control of the third element by the ON operation, and a second circuit capable of setting an operation period of an ON operation of the fourth element. This makes it possible to prevent false operation of the first element due to noise with a simple circuit configuration.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes image forming portions each including an image bearing member, a charging portion, an exposure portion, a developing portion including a developing member, and a cleaning member; a contact-and-separation portion; a voltage source; and a control means. An operation is executed in a contact state of the developing member with the image bearing member at the image forming portion where the image is formed, in a separated state of the developing member from the image bearing member at the image forming portion where the image is not formed and in a state in which the image bearing members of the image forming portions where the image is formed and is not formed are driven. When the operation is continuously executed, the control means executes a contacting operation at the image forming portion where the image is not formed.

Abstract: Provided is a remanufacturing method of a developer accommodating unit including a frame member configured to accommodate a flexible container for accommodating developer. The remanufacturing method includes taking out the flexible container from the inside of the frame member, and refilling the developer into the flexible container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a detection unit (control unit) configured to detect operation information of the image forming apparatus and a controller (control unit) configured to apply an AC voltage to a charging roller by a charging power source during a non-image-forming operation of the image forming apparatus. The controller is configured to control the duration for which the AC voltage is applied on the basis of the operation information detected by the detection unit.

Abstract: A recording medium processing apparatus includes a housing that accommodates a processing unit, which is capable of processing a recording medium, and that has an internal space a part of which is open; an internal stacker that is disposed in the internal space and that allows the recording medium to be stacked thereon; a light source that is disposed in a part of the internal stacker and that emits a light beam toward a predetermined position on the internal stacker, the light beam notifying a user of a state in which the recording medium is or is not stacked on the internal stacker; and a reflection member that is disposed in a part of the internal stacker and that reflects the light beam from the light source laterally outward from the internal stacker.

Abstract: Provided is a remanufacturing method of a developer accommodating unit including a flexible container provided with an opening and configured to accommodate developer, and a frame member configured to accommodate the flexible container. The remanufacturing method includes refilling the developer into the flexible container.

Abstract: In a hydraulic control circuit including a solenoid valve, whose change responsiveness in an actual pressure with respect to a change in an instructional pressure deteriorates when the instructional pressure enters a dead band region on a lower pressure side than a dead band threshold, for adjusting a hydraulic pressure supplied to a hydraulic device operated by the hydraulic pressure based on the instructional pressure, the instructional pressure is increased in a stepwise manner to a charge pressure higher than the dead band threshold, when the instructional pressure is set in the dead band region and the instructional pressure increases within the dead band region to such an extent that a speed ratio does not change. Then, a lower limit of the instructional pressure is set to the dead band threshold, and use of the dead band region is prohibited for a certain period of time.

Abstract: Provided is an airbrush in which a needle cap separated from a nozzle is not easily lost. The airbrush includes: an airbrush body; a nozzle that is provided at a tip of the airbrush body so as to spray paint and air; a needle cap that is separably attached to the nozzle; and a needle cap attachment portion that is provided at a rear end of the airbrush body so as to temporarily attach the needle cap separated from the nozzle thereto.

Abstract: Provided is a remanufacturing method of a developer accommodating unit including a flexible container provided with an opening and configured to accommodate developer, and a frame member configured to accommodate the flexible container. The remanufacturing method includes refilling the developer into the flexible container.

Abstract: The imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit for generating image data by imaging an object, a recording unit for recording the image data, a display unit for displaying a live-view image that is a real-time moving image of the image data and an after-view image that is a still image to be recorded in the recording unit, and a controller. The controller makes the imaging unit perform a continuous imaging in a first cycle, and then makes the imaging unit perform another continuous imaging in a second cycle longer than the first cycle. The controller prompts the display unit to fall in a first display state while the imaging unit performs an image capturing in the first cycle, and the controller prompts the display unit to fall in a second display state different from the first display state while the imaging unit performs an image capturing in the second cycle.

Abstract: Provided is a remanufacturing method of a developer accommodating unit including a frame member configured to accommodate a flexible container for accommodating developer. The remanufacturing method includes taking out the flexible container from the inside of the frame member, and refilling the developer into the flexible container.

Abstract: A stroboscopic device includes a flash discharge tube, a first element for performing switching operation of flash discharge tube, a second element for performing ON control of the first element by an ON operation, and performing OFF control of the first element by an OFF operation, a third element for performing the OFF control of the first element by an ON operation, and performing the ON control of the first element by an OFF operation, and a first circuit for holding the ON operation of the third element for a predetermined period. The first circuit includes a fourth element for holding the ON control of the third element by the ON operation, and a second circuit capable of setting an operation period of an ON operation of the fourth element. This makes it possible to prevent false operation of the first element due to noise with a simple circuit configuration.

Abstract: Provided is a remanufacturing method of a developer accommodating unit including a frame member configured to accommodate a flexible container for accommodating developer. The remanufacturing method includes taking out the flexible container from the inside of the frame member, and refilling the developer into the flexible container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus operable in a mode of forming an image using only a part of image forming stations. In the mode, a developing device contacts an image bearing member in a part of the image forming stations, and the developing device is spaced from the image bearing member in the rest of the image forming stations. The contact pressure between the image bearing member and a transferring device is made smaller in the rest than in the part. The image forming operation in the mode is executed while the image bearing members of the part and the rest are rotated. A controller is configured such that when the operation in the mode is continuously executed for a time period longer than a predetermined period, the contact pressure in the rest is made larger than the above-mentioned smaller contact pressure.

Abstract: A transmission controller determines whether a shift is a kickdown, and when the shift is determined as the kickdown, the target line pressure is increased to a first target pressure corresponding to an input torque to a continuously variable transmission increased by the kickdown; the transmission controller then determines whether the line pressure has reached the first target pressure, and if determined that the line pressure has reached the first target pressure, the target line pressure is increased to a second target pressure higher than the first target pressure.

Abstract: A membrane potential change detection device is provided with a reflection interference measurement light source, a holder which holds a transparent member on which cells are mounted, a reflection interference detection camera which images light emitted from the reflection interference measurement light source and reflected from the cells through the transparent member, to generate a reflection interference image, and an analysis unit which calculates a parameter dI about adhesion between the cells and the transparent member from the reflection interference image and detects a change of membrane potential of the cells on the basis of a change of the parameter dI.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes image forming portions each including an image bearing member, a charging portion, an exposure portion, a developing portion including a developing member, and a cleaning member; a contact-and-separation portion; a voltage source; and a control means. An operation is executed in a contact state of the developing member with the image bearing member at the image forming portion where the image is formed, in a separated state of the developing member from the image bearing member at the image forming portion where the image is not formed and in a state in which the image bearing members of the image forming portions where the image is formed and is not formed are driven. When the operation is continuously executed, the control means executes a contacting operation at the image forming portion where the image is not formed.