Abstract: A fiber-composite material (7) is comprised of a yarn aggregate (6) in which yarn (2A, 2B) including at least a bundle (3) of carbon fiber and a carbon component other than carbon fiber is three-dimensionally combined and integrally formed without separation from each other; and a matrix made of Si—SiC-based materials (4A, 4B, 5A, 5B) filled between the yarn (2A, 2B) adjacent to each other within the yarn aggregate (6).

Abstract: A developer container which has a container main body includes an opening through which a developer is supplied, a seal member for unsealably sealing the opening, and a drive source for applying a force for unsealing the seal member. The drive source has an elastic member and the drive source applies the unsealing force using a restoring force of the elastic member.

Abstract: A fiber-composite material includes: 55-75 wt % of carbon, 1-10 wt % of silicon and 10-50 wt % of silicon carbide, and the matrices comprising Si—SiC-based materials formed integrally among assemblages of yarns comprising carbon fibers integrally formed being combined three-dimensionally so as not to separate from each other. The fiber-composite material has a coefficient of kinetic friction of 0.05-0.6 and a porosity of 0.5-10%.

Abstract: A developer feeding member feeds a developer. The developer feeding member includes an elastic sheet for feeding the developer, and a rigid supporting portion for supporting this elastic sheet. In the developer feeding member, this developer feeding member is rotatable as the supporting portion is centered as a rotation center, and a flexural rigidity of a free end of the elastic sheet is smaller than that of a portion of the elastic sheet, which is located in the vicinity of this supporting portion.

Abstract: A composite material having a carbon matrix, and a titanium-copper alloy dispersed in the carbon matrix and containing 1-80% by weight of titanium and 15.4-99% by weight of copper. The titanium-copper alloy is present in an amount of 2-85% based on a total weight of the carbon matrix and the titanium-copper alloy. The composite material may additionally contain carbon fibers dispersed in the carbon matrix. The composite material is produced by incorporating powder or melt of titanium and copper or copper alloy into a shaped body of carbon.

Abstract: An end cover for a process cartridge detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, includes a base; a gear train including a plurality of gears mounted on the base; a first opening, provided in the base so as to be opposed to a gear of the gear train, for permitting the gear of the gear train to be rotated externally when the end cover is mounted to a cartridge frame in assembling of the process cartridge; a second opening, provided opposed to the cartridge gear, for permitting observation of rotation of the cartridge gear provided in the cartridge frame which cartridge gear receives driving force through the gear train when the gear opposed to the first opening is rotated.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member; and developing member for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive member; The developing member is disposed at a position deviated from a developing position corresponding to a displacement of the developing member resulting from the driving force received from the main assembly of the apparatus when the process cartridge is in the main assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the amount of developer includes an agitation member for agitating developer contained in a developer container, and a detection member for detecting the position of the upper surface of the developer contained in the developer container, and interlocked with the agitating operation of the agitation member, the detection member is made movable above the upper surface of the developer. With the structure thus arranged, the remaining of the developer can be detected exactly even when the remaining developer become very small. Also, with the structure thus arranged, the operation of the detection member is finished in a position not to hinder the agitating operation of the agitation member, thus enabling the agitation member to continue its normal operation after the detection of the remaining developer is finished.

Abstract: A clutch disk made of a C/C composite for a wet multi-plate clutch is comprised of a disk body, and a pair of friction layers integral with and on opposite sides of the disk body for sliding contact with clutch plates. A relationship of V.sub.2 >V.sub.1 is established between the porosity V.sub.1 of the disk body and the porosity V.sub.2 of the friction layer, and the porosity V.sub.2 of the friction layer 4 is set in a range of 20%.ltoreq.V.sub.2 .ltoreq.60%, which provides a clutch disk with sufficient strength and excellent sliding characteristics.

Abstract: A developer-remaining-amount notifying device for notifying a remaining amount of a developer accommodated in a developer accommodating unit and used for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member is provided. The device includes a position detection member positionable near an upper surface of an accumulated layer of the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating unit, a regulating member, and a notification device. The regulating member regulates a moving direction of the position detection member such that the position detection member moves substantially linearly in accordance with a gradual decrease of the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating unit as the developer is used for development. The notification device notifies a remaining amount of the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating unit in accordance with a position of the position detection member.

Abstract: A charging apparatus includes a rotatable charging member, contactable to a member to be charged, for charging the member to be charged, the rotatable charging member is provided with a rotation shaft; an electroconductive elastic member for urging the rotatable charging member to the member to be charged, wherein the rotatable charging member is capable of being supplied with a voltage through the elastic member; wherein a part of the elastic member and a peripheral surface of the rotation shaft are contacted to electrically connect the elastic member with the rotation shaft.

Abstract: A spring member made of a carbon fibers/carbon composite material in which carbon fibers are dispersed in a matrix of graphite, The spring member has a spring constant in a range of 0.1 to 25 kg/mm and a density of about 1.5 to 3.0 g/cm.sup.3. For use in high temperature severe conditions a ceramic material is incorporated into the surface of the spring member.

Abstract: A mini plane has a bar-like handle capable of being held in a hand like a pencil, a cutting blade holder fixed on the bar-like handle at a forward end thereof, and a cutting blade detachably attached to the cutting blade holder. The cutting blade has a flat seating face, a front face opposite the seating face, a slant blade face which is slanted at a lateral end portion of the front face, a positioning side face perpendicular to a cutting edge of the slant blade face, and a through hole which extends between the seating face and the front face for receiving a fixing screw. The cutting blade holder has a mounting face to which the seating face of the cutting blade is attached, a positioning reference side face with which the positioning side face of the cutting blade is contacted, and a fixing tapped hole provided in the mounting face with which a tip portion of the fixing screw passing through the through hole is screw-engaged.

Abstract: A three-layer heat-resistant material is disclosed which includes a substrate of a carbon fiber-reinforced carbon composite, an outer metal layer and a ceramic layer interposed between the substrate and the metal layer. A conveyer belt using the heat-resistant material is also disclosed.

Abstract: A spring member made of a carbon fibers/carbon composite material in which carbon fibers are dispersed in a matrix of graphite, and a process for producing such a spring member. The process includes the steps of: (a) forming raw preformed yarns; (b) shaping the raw preformed yarns in a form of a yarn member, a taper member or a sheet member; (c) coiling the thus shaped member around a core rod together with a coiling spacer; (d) molding the coiled member by hot pressing at about 300.degree. C.-2000.degree. C. under a given pressurized pressure; and graphitizing the coiled member at 1500.degree. C.-3000.degree. C., after carbonizing at 700.degree.-1200.degree.C. if necessary.

Abstract: A disclosure is made of a subterranean connecting method and a connecting apparatus therefor which are suitable for use when two shield machines are used to excavate a pair of tunnel sections from both ends of a tunnel, and the tunnel sections are connected to each other in mid course. During underground connection, it is important to secure sealing and water retarding with respect to soil and water pressure exerted by the ground in the vicinity of the connecting section. For this purpose, in the connecting apparatus, a penetration ring is arranged in one of the shield machines, and a penetration chamber in which the penetration ring is accommodated is arranged in the other shield machine. Both the both shield machines face each other with a slight gap remaining therebetween and, subsequently, the penetration ring is moved forward and penetrates into the penetration chamber of the mating shield machine. By this penetration, the area between both the shield machines are closed by the penetration ring.

Abstract: A preformed yarn useful for forming composite articles is disclosed which includes a core of a multiplicity of fibers, fine powder provided in the interstices between the fibers, and a flexible sleeve formed of a thermoplastic resin and surrounding the core. The fine powder is formed of a material which neither melts nor reacts with the thermoplastic resin at a temperature up to 450.degree. C. and at a temperature up to the melting point of the thermoplastic resin. The incorporation of the fine powder between the fibers is effected by injecting fine powder-containing air from a jet nozzle and blowing the air against a bundle of the fibers.

Abstract: A flexible composite material comprising a core composed of a blend of a thermoplastic resin fiber and a reinforcing fiber, and a flexible sleeve formed of a thermoplastic resin and surrounding the core is prepared by intermixing a thermoplastic resin fiber and a reinforcing fiber to obtain a core, and then extruding a thermoplastic resin over the core.

Abstract: A preformed yarn useful in forming fiber-reinforced carbon composite articles is disclosed which includes a core of a multiplicity of inorganic reinforcing fibers, a mixed powder provided in the interstices between the fibers and including a finely divided carbonaceous binder pitch and a finely divided coke, and a flexible sleeve formed of a thermoplastic resin and surrounding the core.

Abstract: A preformed yarn useful in forming fiber-reinforced carbon composite articles is disclosed which includes a core of a multiplicity of inorganic reinforcing fibers, a mixed powder provided in the interstices between the fibers and including a finely divided carbonaceous binder pitch and a finely divided coke, and a flexible sleeve formed of a thermoplastic resin and surrounding the core.