Abstract: A control signal output unit (a drive control unit) executes control to retain a gear position corresponding to a motor generator during deceleration of a vehicle and regeneration executed by the motor generator.

Abstract: In the present invention, an image forming apparatus using a method of replacing a developer is configured such that an immobile area in which the heights of a discharge passage and a conveyance passage are changed on the upstream side of a returning screw is filled. This causes the immobile area of the developer to be unlikely to occur and accordingly suppresses formation of a toner stain image due to an aggregation toner, enabling stable image formation over a long period of time.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing container, a rotatable member including a first screw portion and a second screw portion, a first feeding path configured to accommodate the first screw portion, a second feeding path provided in communication with the first feeding path at a position downstream of the second screw portion with respect to a develop feeding direction, and a developer discharging opening provided in the second feeding path. In a state in which the developing device is mounted to the image forming apparatus, in a cross section of the second feeding path perpendicular to a rotational axis of the rotatable member, the second feeding path includes a region where a distance between side surfaces of the second feeding path in a side above a center of a rotation shaft of the rotatable member with respect to a vertical direction increases upwardly.

Abstract: When ending image forming, a state is realized where charging by a charging roller is stopped (charging bias off) and also applying DC voltage at a developing device is stopped (developing bias DC off). In this state, AC voltage is applied to the developing device (developing bias AC on), thereby adhering toner to the surface of a photosensitive drum and forming interposing toner. Driving of the photosensitive drum and an intermediate transfer belt is then stopped in the state with the interposing toner interposed between the photosensitive drum and intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing container, a developing sleeve, a magnet and grooves provided at a surface of the sleeve and formed along a direction crossing a circumferential direction of the sleeve. In a cross-section, each of the grooves is formed by a flat bottom portion contacting a carrier particle and a pair of side surface portions provided in both sides of the flat bottom portion with respect to the circumferential direction of the sleeve and satisfies the following relationship: r<w<2r, 2×r<L, and r/2?s<2r. In the above, r is a volume-average particle size of the carrier particles, w is a length of the flat bottom portion, L is a width between the side surface portions at the surface of the sleeve, and s is a depth of each of the grooves.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer container; a feeding screw for feeding a developer in a first direction in the container; a returning screw provided at a position downstream of the feeding screw in the first direction to feed the developer in a second direction opposite thereto; a opening provided in a downstream end surface of a feeding path of the feeding screw, the opening being disposed at the position higher than a bottom surface of an area to which the feeding screw is opposed, and being capable of permitting discharge of a excessive developer resulting from developer supplying into the container; and a higher bottom portion provided between the end surface and an upstream end portion of the returning screw with respect to the second direction and having a surface higher than the bottom surface of the opposing area and lower than a lower end of the opening.

Abstract: A developing apparatus, includes a developer carrying member; a containing portion configured to contain developer; a discharge outlet through which a surplus of the developer is discharged; a first conveying portion configured to convey the developer; a second conveying portion provided downstream of the first conveying portion in a conveying direction of the first conveying portion and having a spiral blade portion configured to convey the developer in a conveying direction opposite to the conveying direction of the first conveying portion; and a disk portion provided upstream of the second conveying portion in the conveying direction of the second conveying portion, the disk portion being formed to project radially-outwardly from a whole circumference of a rotary shaft. An upstream end of the spiral blade portion of the second conveying portion in the conveying direction of the second conveying portion and the disk portion are arranged with an interval therebetween.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrying member and first and second chambers. A feeding member provided in the second chamber includes a normal feeding portion, a reverse feeding portion, and a discharging portion. An opposing portion in the second chamber opposes a peripheral surface of the reverse feeding portion and is formed so that a first region of an upper half of the reverse feeding portion is broader in clearance with the second chamber than a second region, and includes a projected portion for forming a predetermined clearance with the reverse feeding portion by being projected from a side surface of the second chamber in a horizontal direction. The projected portion is disposed higher than a rotation center of the reverse feeding portion and lower than a top of the reverse feeding portion and is more remote from the first chamber than a rotation center of the feeding member.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer carrying member configured to carry a developer, and a magnet member disposed inside the developer carrying member. The magnet member includes one or more first magnet portions having a first magnetic polarity at an outer surface thereof opposing an inner surface of the developer carrying member, and one or more second magnet portions having a second magnetic polarity at an outer surface thereof opposing the inner surface. In a cross-section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the magnet member at a longitudinally central portion thereof, a number of the first magnet portions is larger than a number of the second magnet portions, and a ratio of a total area of the first magnet portions in the cross-section is smaller at a longitudinally end portion of the magnet member than at the longitudinally central portion.

Abstract: A control device, when performing a reallocation control, makes the decrease gradient of regeneration braking force in a first period in which the amount of decrease in a basal fluid pressure from a reference basal fluid pressure is less than a specified amount of decrease greater than the decrease gradient of the regeneration braking force in a second period in which the amount of decrease in the basal fluid pressure is not less than the specified amount of decrease.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developing container for containing a developer comprising toner and carrier and first and second rotatable feeding members configured to feed the developer. The first feeding member includes a rotatable shaft, a first helical blade portion provided around the rotatable shaft and configured to feed the developer, and a second helical blade portion provided around the rotatable shaft at a position downstream of the first helical blade portion. The second helical blade portion has a helix which is opposed to that of the first helical blade portion. In addition, a disk portion is provided on the rotatable shaft at a position between the first helical blade portion and the second helical blade portion.

Abstract: A development device wherein a magnetic force distribution of a developer bearing member in a longitudinal direction at positions at which a magnetic flux density of a low magnetic field area is minimal in the peripheral direction of the developer bearing member is set such that a difference between a maximum magnetic flux density in a range from a maximum position at which an attenuation rate of the magnetic flux density is maximal to a 30 mm distant position toward the center of the developer bearing member and a magnetic flux density on a further center side of the developer bearing member than the range is 3 mT or less, and an absolute value of the magnetic flux density of a further outer side in the longitudinal direction of the developer bearing member than the maximum position is set to 3 mT or less.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer carrying member configured to carry a developer, and a magnet member disposed inside the developer carrying member. The magnet member includes one or more first magnet portions having a first magnetic polarity at an outer surface thereof opposing an inner surface of the developer carrying member, and one or more second magnet portions having a second magnetic polarity at an outer surface thereof opposing the inner surface. In a cross-section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the magnet member at a longitudinally central portion thereof, a number of the first magnet portions is larger than a number of the second magnet portions, and a ratio of a total area of the first magnet portions in the cross-section is smaller at a longitudinally end portion of the magnet member than at the longitudinally central portion.

Abstract: A control signal output unit (a drive control unit) executes control to retain a gear position corresponding to a motor generator during deceleration of a vehicle and regeneration executed by the motor generator.

Abstract: A magnet roller includes a plurality of magnet pieces disposed along a circumferential direction of the magnet roller. The magnetic pieces include one or more first magnet pieces having a first magnetic polarity at a surface opposing an inner surface of the magnet roller, and one or more second magnet pieces having a second magnetic polarity, which is opposite of the first magnetic polarity, at a surface opposing the inner surface of the magnet roller. In a longitudinally central portion of the magnet roller, a ratio of a total sum of volumes occupied by the one or more first magnet pieces per unit length is larger than a ratio of a total sum of volumes occupied by the one or more second magnet pieces per unit length, and the ratio of the total sum of the volumes occupied by the one or more first magnet pieces per unit length in a longitudinally end portion is smaller than that in the longitudinally central portion.

Abstract: A development device wherein a magnetic force distribution of a developer bearing member in a longitudinal direction at positions at which a magnetic flux density of a low magnetic field area is minimal in the peripheral direction of the developer bearing member is set such that a difference between a maximum magnetic flux density in a range from a maximum position at which an attenuation rate of the magnetic flux density is maximal to a 30 mm distant position toward the center of the developer bearing member and a magnetic flux density on a further center side of the developer bearing member than the range is 3 mT or less, and an absolute value of the magnetic flux density of a further outer side in the longitudinal direction of the developer bearing member than the maximum position is set to 3 mT or less.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a developer carrying member; a first chamber; a second chamber; a feeding member; a discharging portion; and a regulating portion, provided above a rotation center of the feeding member so as to oppose a reverse feeding portion of the feeding member with respect to a rotational axis direction of the feeding member, for regulating a gap between an inner wall of the second chamber and the reverse feeding portion so as to be narrowed. The regulating portion is provided at least in a position opposite from the first chamber with respect to the rotation center of the feeding member as seen in the rotational axis direction of the feeding member.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer carrying member; and a magnetic member provided inside the carrying member and having magnetic poles arranged circumferentially, wherein on a center axis of the carrying member outside an end of the magnetic member, there is a region in which a magnetic flux density of a first magnetic polarity converges toward zero; and wherein a ratio of a volume, per unit length, of a portion of the magnetic member which has a surface magnetic pole of a second magnetic polarity which is different from the first magnetic polarity in a longitudinal end portion to that in a longitudinally central portion is smaller than a ratio of a volume of a portion of the magnetic member which has a surface magnetic pole of the first magnetic polarity in a longitudinal end portion to that in a longitudinally central portion.

Abstract: A developing apparatus including a first chamber; a second chamber forming a circulation path for the developer; a rotatable shaft in the first chamber; a first blade provided on the rotation shaft to feed the developer in a predetermined direction in the first chamber; a second blade provided on the rotation shaft to feed the developer fed by the first blade in a direction opposite the predetermined direction; a discharging portion provided downstream of the second blade to discharge the developer in the first chamber; and a regulating member having a regulating surface continuously extending in a rotational moving direction of the rotation shaft, the regulating member being provided on the rotation shaft in a region between the first blade and the second blade, a region connecting with a downstream end of the first blade, or a connecting with a downstream end of the second blade.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing chamber which supplies a developer to a developer bearing member, an agitating chamber connected at both ends to the developing chamber and disposed above the developing chamber, a first developer conveying member disposed within the developing chamber, and a second developer conveying member disposed within the agitating chamber. In addition, a third developer conveying member is disposed on a same axis as the first developer conveying member and able to convey the developer toward the developing chamber at a downstream side from a first connecting portion in a conveying direction of the first developer conveying member, and a supplying portion supplies developer to the third developer conveying member and is disposed at a position facing the third developer conveying member.