Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a cylindrical photoconductor; a laser scanning section for forming an electrostatic latent image on a peripheral surface of the photoconductor; an image development section for developing the electrostatic latent image by using a toner; a toner storage section for storing the toner to be supplied; and a transfer section for transferring the visualized image with use of the toner onto a printing sheet, wherein the image development section is disposed upstream of a rotation direction of the photoconductor from the transfer section, the toner storage section is disposed above the image development section while having a predetermined distance from the image development section so as to form a space therebetween for releasing heat, and the laser scanning section emits the scanning beam obliquely upwardly with respect to a horizontal direction so that the emitted scanning beam passes through the space and exposes the peripheral surface.

Abstract: An electrophotographic toner includes a binder resin, a colorant, and a releasing agent, wherein the electrophotographic toner has a complex viscosity (?) of 4e2 Pa·s to 8e3 Pa·s at a temperature range of 120 to 160° C. and an angular velocity range of 1.6 to 10 rad/s, a rate of change of the complex viscosity of 165 to 185 Pa·s/° C. at 1.6 rad/s, and 70 to 80 Pa·s/° C. at 10 rad/s within the temperature range, a stress relaxation of 1.0 e3 to 4.5 e4 Pa at a relaxation time of 0.05 to 0.3 seconds under a temperature range of 120 to 160° C., and a rate of change of the stress relaxation (?G/?T) of 785 to 1000 Pa/° C. at 0.05 seconds and 190 to 215 Pa/° C. at 0.3 seconds within the temperature range above.

Abstract: A roller spacing apparatus and an image forming device including the same. The roller spacing apparatus includes a first roller member that is rotatable, a second roller member that is rotatable in a close contact with the first roller member under a predetermined pressure, and at least one spacing part to space apart the first and the second roller members from each other by a predetermined gap such that the first and the second roller members are not in contact with each other when the first and the second roller members are not in use. The spacing part includes a bushing member that has a bushing to rotatably support a shaft of at least one of the first and the second roller members and a lever disposed at the bushing to rotate the bushing, the bushing having an inner diameter part to support the shaft and an outer diameter part, the inner and outer diameter parts being non-concentric circles, and a stopping member to restrict an operation range of the lever.

Abstract: In the image forming apparatus by: visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrostatic charge carrying member; transferring a toner image, which is thus visualized, to a recording medium, or to a recording medium through an intermediate transfer material; and fixing the toner image, which is thus transferred to the recording medium, to obtain a recorded image, the toner includes at least a fixing resin, a colorant, a releasing agent, and an external additive, the toner has an average particle diameter in a range of from 4 to 12 ?m and including no particle having a diameter of 45 ?m or more, a ratio of a toner adhesion amount in a character part to a toner adhesion amount in a solid image part upon printing is more than 0.5 and less than 4, and the toner adhesion amount in a character part is 1.6 mg/cm2 or less.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image receptor; a developing member which develops a latent image on the image receptor with a toner; an anti-spattering member collecting free toner particles, a driver which drives the developing member and the anti-spattering member; and a controller which controls the driver not to drive the anti-spattering member during a printing operation, and to drive the anti-spattering member at other times when printing operation is not being performed.

Abstract: A power transmission apparatus and an image forming apparatus are provided. The a power transmission apparatus of transmitting driving power to first and second movable members includes: a driving unit which receives the driving power from a driving power source, and which rotates in forward and backward directions; a first driven unit which transmits the driving power to the first movable member; an elastic clutch which is provided between the driving unit and the first driven unit to selectively allow the driving power from the driving unit to be conveyed to the first driven unit based on the direction of the driving power; a second driven unit to convey the driving power to the second movable member regardless of the direction of the driving power so as to allow the second movable member to rotate bi-directionally. The first movable member may be, e.g., a photosensitive body. The second movable member may be, e.g., exit rollers for ejecting processed printing medium out of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A binder resin for an electrostatic image developing toner is obtained by polycondensation reaction of at least two polycarboxylic acids and at least one polyol, wherein the at least two polycarboxylic acids include at least one of a first specific polycarboxylic acid and a second specific polycarboxylic acid in an amount of from about 3 mol % to less than about 50 mol % based on a total amount of the at least two polycarboxylic acids, the binder resin includes a catalyst-derived metal in an amount of from about 0 ppm to about 10 ppm, and the binder resin has a glass transition temperature Tg of from about 45° C. to about 80° C.

Abstract: There is provided a toner for electrostatic charge image development, which includes a binder resin that includes a non-crystalline polyester resin and a crystalline polyester resin, and a colorant, wherein in a measurement of an acetone-soluble fraction of the toner by gel permeation chromatography, in which W1 represents the total area of an elution curve of the acetone-soluble fraction, F(0-10) represents an eluate corresponding to from the beginning of the elution to 10% elution of W1 over time, and F (80-100) represents an eluate corresponding to from 80% elution to 100% elution of W1 over time, the amount of an aliphatic unsaturated dicarboxylic acid-derived component of the resins contained in the eluate F(0-10) is in the range of from about 0 mol % to about 10 mol % relative to the total amount of the acid-derived components of the resins contained in the eluate F(0-10), and the amount of the aliphatic unsaturated dicarboxylic acid-derived component of the resins contained in the eluate F(80-100) is i

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: colored toner image forming devices each developing an electrostatic image with colored toner to form a colored toner image; a transparent toner image forming device developing an electrostatic image with transparent toner to form a transparent toner image; a transfer device superimposing and transferring the colored toner images and the transparent toner image on a transfer medium; and a fixing device fixing the superimposed toner images on the transfer medium. An image forming operation by the transparent toner image forming device is controlled in such a manner that the heights of the superimposed toner images fixed by the fixing device are substantially constant. The transparent toner has an absolute value for a charge amount per unit weight smaller than an absolute value for the charge amount of each of the colored toners per unit weight.

Abstract: An AC high voltage power supply device includes a comparison circuit configured to compare a first signal of a sinusoidal waveform and a second signal of a triangular waveform; a switching amplifier circuit configured to perform a switching operation based on a comparison result signal output from the comparison circuit to perform signal amplification; a conversion circuit configured to convert a waveform of a switch signal output from the switching amplifier circuit into a sinusoidal waveform; a transformer configured to boost a voltage of a converted signal output from the conversion circuit; and a control circuit configured to perform feedback control on the first signal input to the comparison circuit based on a monitoring signal including an input signal or an output signal of the transformer, so that a peak level of the output signal of the transformer becomes a desired peak level.

Abstract: A yellow toner, a magenta toner and a cyan toner, which are used for forming a color image, each contain a yellow pigment having an average dispersed diameter dy, a magenta pigment having an average dispersed diameter dm and a cyan pigment having an average dispersed diameter dc, respectively, and dm, dy and dc satisfy relationship dm>dy>dc.

Abstract: A toner for development of an electrostatic image includes at least a crystalline polyester resin and a colorant. The toner shows a dielectric loss index ?? of 0.1 or less at 0.1 Hz and 500 V at 30° C. and 90% RH.

Abstract: When the drum axis of a photosensitive drum cartridge is engaged with an image forming apparatus, the developing roller axis of a developing cartridge is engaged with an engagement provided in the photosensitive drum cartridge. Then, after this, a positioning component of the developing cartridge engages with a developing cartridge engagement structure of the image forming apparatus, and the developing cartridge is thus positioned relative to the image forming apparatus. In addition, because an inhibiting device of the photosensitive drum cartridge and an inhibiting protrusion component of the developing cartridge are engaged, the photosensitive drum cartridge is positioned in the image forming apparatus via the developing cartridge. Because the developing cartridge may be positioned in the image forming apparatus without involving the photosensitive drum cartridge, the paper transport pathway space that is formed by the developing cartridge and the image forming apparatus is less likely to become disrupted.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body in which a photosensitive medium is disposed, and a developing device detachably disposed at the main body to develop electrostatic latent images on the photosensitive medium. The developing device includes a developing member disposed in a developing unit to supply developing agent to the photosensitive medium, a driven member to receive power from a driving member, and to allow the developing member to rotate, and a power transmitting member to connect the developing member and the driven member, and to absorb a movement of a normal force direction of a driving force generated between the driving member and the driven member.

Abstract: A developer includes a core toner containing a magenta colorant including a quinacridone pigment, the magenta colorant having a dispersed diameter d=(major diameter+minor diameter)/2 of 0.25?d?0.50 ?m being present in a number of from 5 to 200 per 10 particles of the core toner on observation of one sliced surface of the core toner, and the magenta colorant having a dispersed diameter d of d>2.0 ?m being present in a number of 1 or less per 10 particles of the core toner on observation of one sliced surface of the core toner, and inorganic oxide particles having a primary particle diameter of from 80 to 300 nm externally added to a surface of the core toner in an amount of from 0.1 to 5.0% by weight based on 100% by weight of the toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a latent-image forming device; a developing device; a latent-image forming device contacting/separating mechanism; and a developing device contacting/separating mechanism, and the latent-image forming device contacting/separating mechanism allows the latent-image forming device to be movable to the latent-image forming device contacting position in a state where the developing device is moved to the developing device contacting position.

Abstract: A toner having a cohesion level of 50 or less when measured using an ASTM D 6393-99 includes a first agglomerated toner including latex particles for a core, a pigment and an inorganic salt, and latex particles for a shell layer coated on the first agglomerated toner, wherein the latex particles for the core and the latex particles for the shell layer are prepared by polymerizing a composition including an amphiphilic monomer having a hydrophilic group, a hydrophobic group and at least one reactive functional group, and a polymerizable monomer.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus is provided with: an image carrier; an exposure member that exposes the image carrier and forms an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier; a developing member that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier; and a contact-retracting unit that rotates the developing member taking a predetermined position as the rotational center, and brings the developing member in contact with or proximity to the image carrier or retracts the developing member from the image carrier.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of supplying a developing solution, stably, onto a substrate, upon providing a developing process to the substrate which has been coated with a resist and subjected to an exposure process. In this method, the developing solution is supplied onto the substrate from a first developing solution nozzle, so as to form a ribbon-like region on the surface of the substrate, while rotating the substrate about a vertical axis via a substrate holding part, wherein one end of the ribbon-like region is oriented toward a central portion of the substrate. At this time, by shifting a position of the ribbon-like region in which the developing solution is supplied, a liquid film of the developing solution can be formed on the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: To provide a toner and an image forming apparatus using the toner, the toner contains an external additive that can suppress adherence of impurities to a discharge electrode of a corona discharger and prevent occurrence of charging unevenness. The external toner additive is comprised of a particulate metal oxide with trimethylsilyl groups introduced on the surface thereof, the volatile amount of trimethylsilanol being specified to be 0.25 ?g or below based on a method for quantitative analysis of trimethylsilanol in the external additive. The toner of the present invention is specified such that the volatile amount of trimethylsilanol is specified to be 0.02 ?g or below based on a method for quantitative analysis of trimethylsilanol in the toner.

Abstract: When dynamic torques are Ts, Ti, and T2, respectively, and rotation angle speeds are Rs, R1, and R2, respectively, at the time of rotations of the developing sleeve 40 and the screws 41 and 42, the mass of the developer housed in the second agitating chamber 902 is M2, the mass of the developer which is present in the space of the side of the developing sleeve when a space formed by the developing chamber 900 and the first agitating chamber 901 is divided is Ms, the mass of the developer which is present in the space of the side of the screw 41 is M1, gravitational acceleration is G, each load on the developer by rotations of the developing sleeve and the screws is defined as Wds (mW/g)=Rs×Ts×G/Ms, Wd1(mW/g)=R1×T1×G/M1, and Wd2 (mW/g)=R2×T2×G/M2, respectively, relationships of 0.5<Wds/(Wd1+Wd2)?7.0, 12.5?Wds?57.5, and Wd1<Wd2 are satisfied.

Abstract: An electrophotographic toner is provided including parent toner particles having a small average particle diameter and external additives applied to the surface of the parent toner particles. The external additives include: a large particulate silica; a small particulate silica; a conductive titanium oxide; strontium titanate; and an aluminum oxide. High-quality and high-speed imaging can be performed using the toner since the amount of toner charge can be stably maintained for both initial and long-term use.

Abstract: In a raw material mixing step, toner raw materials containing polymerizable monomers, colorant, and a release agent are mixed. In an emulsifying step, the mixture is emulsified under pressure to obtain a polymerizable composition. In a cooling step, the polymerizable composition is cooled down. In a depressurizing step, the polymerizable composition cooled down is depressurized. The polymerizable composition thus obtained has the colorant and the release agent evenly and finely dispersed therein. In a polymerizing step, the polymerizable composition is subjected to polymerization reaction. Toner particles are thus obtained which have uniform final sizes and exhibit a sharp particle size distribution.

Abstract: A toner including toner particles including a binder resin; a colorant, a release agent, and a modified layered inorganic material in which at least part of interlayer ions is modified with an organic ion, wherein the toner includes the release agent in an amount of from 3 to 6% by weight based on the total weight of the toner, and concentration of the modified layered inorganic material in a surface portion of the toner is greater than the average concentration thereof in the toner, and wherein the toner is subjected to FTIR-ATR, the ratio (P2850/P828) of the strength of the peak at 2850 cm?1 to that of the peak at 828 cm?1, is from 0.03 to 0.10. An image forming apparatus and a process cartridge which form a toner image using the toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing cartridge having a developing roller driven by developing roller drive gear, a supply roller driven by a supply roller drive gear, an input gear, a gear holder formed with a developing roller support member, supply roller support member and input gear support member, a gear holder integrally formed with the support members and a shaft receiving member formed at a location opposite the gear holder.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving a machine in a replaceable cartridge, the cartridge supporting a first rotatable element for transferring rotary motion to the machine, includes a housing for accommodating the cartridge at a pre-determined position. A second rotatable element is supported in the housing. A locking mechanism includes a component, provided on a certain one of the first and second rotatable elements, and capable of assuming a state of readiness in which, with the cartridge at the pre-determined position, the component is positioned relative to the other of the rotatable elements such that, upon rotation of the second rotatable element in at least a first direction, the first rotatable element rotates with the second rotatable element, and in which state the first and second rotatable elements are axially decoupled. The certain one of the first and second rotatable elements is provided with a mechanism for exerting a torque on the component tending to establish the state of readiness.

Abstract: A developing device that can be mounted to and dismounted from a mounting and dismounting section provided in an image forming apparatus main unit, the developing device includes: a developing device main unit; a positioning member for positioning the developing device main unit with respect to the mounting and dismounting section by engaging the mounting and dismounting section when the developing device is mounted to the mounting and dismounting section, the positioning member being fixed on a one end side in a longitudinal direction of the developing device main unit; a coupling member that is to be coupled to the mounting and dismounting section when the developing device is mounted to the mounting and dismounting section, the coupling member being attached to the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the developing device main unit in such a manner that its relative position to the developing device main unit can be changed; and an element capable of communication in a noncontacting manner with

Abstract: A toner that is excellent in low-temperature fixing property, offset resistance, storage stability, charge rising property, charge stability with time and pulverizability and allows for forming high-quality images over a long period of time. The toner contains at least a binder resin, a colorant and a charge controlling agent, wherein the charge controlling agent contains an aromatic oxycarboxylic acid metal compound having a trivalent or more central metal, the binder resin comprises a polyester resin (A) having a softening point Tm (A) of 120° C. to 160° C. and a polyester resin (B) having a softening point Tm (B) of 80° C. to less than 120° C., and at least any one of the polyester resins (A) and (B) contains 1,2-propane diol at 65 mol % or more in a divalent alcohol component and can be obtained by condensation polymerizing an alcohol component substantially composed of only an aliphatic alcohol with a carboxylic acid component.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a toner characterized in that the toner comprises a first binder resin and a second binder resin, the first binder resin is an amorphous resin and the second binder resin is a crystalline resin, and the glass-transition temperature of the toner (TgA) is lower than the glass-transition temperature expressed by the following equation (1) (TgC). TgC = ? i = 1 n ? ? b i / ? i = 1 n ? ? ( b i TgB i ) Equation ? ? ( 1 ) In the above equation (1), “TgBi” represents the glass-transition temperature of the amorphous resin, “n” represents the number of amorphous resins, and “b” represents the content of the amorphous resin (part by mass). Examples of the preferred aspect of the present invention includes the one that at least a part of the amorphous resin and a part of the crystalline resin are compatible each other, and the one that the glass-transition temperature of the toner (TgA) is 10° C.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus containing a developing device containing a toner housed therein and feeding the toner onto a photoreceptor to form a toner image, and a cleaning blade removing the toner remaining on the photoreceptor after transferring the toner image formed on the photoreceptor to a transfer medium, a toner having a particle diameter of from 5 to 8 ?m and a degree of circularity of from 0.925 to 0.965 and having a lubricant added to a surface thereof in an amount of from 0.01 to 0.125 wt % is used, and the cleaning blade has a hardness of from 60 to 80, a 300% modulus of from 100 to 420 kg/cm2, a tear strength of from 35 to 120 kg/cm, a repulsive elasticity at 10° C. of from 10 to 50%, and a repulsive elasticity at 40° C. of from 40 to 80%.

Abstract: Disclosed is a non-magnetic toner for use in developing electrostatic toner image, wherein the toner is produced by a toner production method that includes: dispersing in an aqueous medium an organic dispersion liquid that comprises in an organic solvent a pigment, a binder resin and/or a binder resin precursor, and a releasing agent; removing the organic solvent to prepare a dispersion slurry in which toner particles are dispersed in the aqueous medium; heating the dispersion slurry to a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the releasing agent; and washing the toner particles.

Abstract: A toner, including a parent particulate material including a colorant and a binder resin, and an external additive including particles having an average primary particle diameter from 80 to less than 150 nm in an amount of from 0.03 to 2% by number, particles having an average primary particle diameter from 5 nm to less than 15 nm in an amount of from 50 to 95% by number, and particles having an average primary particle diameter from 15 to less than 40 nm in an amount of from 5 to 40% by number, and the particles having an average primary particle diameter from 80 to less than 150 nm include particles having an average primary particle diameter not less than 200 nm in an amount of from 10 to 30% by number, and have a weight reduction rate not greater than 3.00% when heated from 30 to 250° C.

Abstract: A resin particle producing method that includes at least an emulsification step of emulsifying a composition containing at least a polymerizable monomer and a polymerization step to form droplets of the composition, and a polymerization step of polymerizing the polymerizable monomer in the droplets to synthesize resin particles, wherein the composition contains a polyester resin, lactone, and a lactone catalyst for polymerizing the lactone.

Abstract: A power restricting device for a developing device of an image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus with the same are disclosed. The power restricting device for a developing device of an image forming apparatus includes a driving section with at least one rotational member which is rotated by a power supplied from an external source. The rotational member is movable between a coupled position where it couples with a developing roller and an uncoupled position where it is not coupled with a developing roller. A rotational shaft includes at least one cam which makes the rotational member move between the coupled position and an uncoupled position. A shaft driving section rotates the rotational shaft in one direction. The cam is provided with a cam surface with a first section.

Abstract: A toner including a binder resin, a colorant, and a silicon-containing polymer, which is manufactured by a method including: discharging a toner constituent liquid including toner constituents including the binder resin, the colorant, and the silicon-containing polymer, from at least one discharge opening to form liquid droplets thereof; and converting the liquid droplets into solid toner particles in a granulation space.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus comprising a developing device containing a toner having an average particle diameter of 2 to 5 ?m and a spherical degree of 1 to 1.2, and a transfer member which is pressed against the image carrier by a pressing force having a total load of 150 g to 1500 g and a surface load of 10 to 150 g/cm2 at the time of transfer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, in a development apparatus in which at least a first screw conveyor has been provided in a case, a developer affixing prevention member that prevents a developer from affixing to the first screw conveyor is disposed in the vicinity of a toner resupply port provided in the case. More specifically, the developer affixing prevention member is formed with a torsion coil spring formed from the wire rod whose middle has been wound in a coil-like shape, and in a state with the wound portion of this torsion coil spring supported by a support plate of the case, one arm portion is fixed to the support plate, and another arm portion is extended so as to contact a fin and a rotating shaft of the first screw conveyor.

Abstract: A toner including a binder resin including a polyester resin containing an inorganic tin(II) compound as a catalyst, a magnetic material, and a hydrophobized particulate inorganic material, wherein the toner has a magnetization of from 10 to 25 emu/g in a magnetic field of 5 kOe, and a tan ?, which is a ratio of a loss elastic modulus (G?) to a storage elastic modulus (G?), of from 0.7 to 1.3 when measured by a rheometer at a frequency of 0.1 Hz and a temperature 30° C. higher than a glass transition temperature of the toner.

Abstract: To provide a carrier for electrophotographic developer including core particles and a cover layer covering the particles, wherein at least one of the carrier to be supplied in a developing apparatus and carrier contained in the developing apparatus has a weight average particle diameter Dw of 22 ?m or more and 32 ?m or less, a ratio Dw/Dp of the weight average particle diameter Dw to the number average particle diameter Dp that satisfies the relationship 1.00?Dw/Dp?1.20, particles whose particle diameter x (?m) is within a range of 0<x<20 in an amount of 7 wt % or less, and particles whose particle diameter y (?m) is within a range of 0<y<36 in an amount of 90 wt % or more and 100 wt % or less.

Abstract: An image development method implemented on a substrate conditioning unit for the drying and compression of a print in an electrophotographic imaging process. The conditioning unit includes a heating mechanism for maintaining the heat of compression rollers, belts or nip rollers for compressing the substrate by a determined distance between the conditioning rollers, or by direct contact between a compression roller and a nip roller, and having an abhesive layer to prevent adhesion of the conditioning unit to the print substrate.

Abstract: A developing device includes a housing with an opening portion for supplying developer; a developer carrier rotatably placed within the housing so as to expose a portion of the developer carrier through the opening portion; and a developer agitating member rotatably placed within the housing in order to agitate and electrically charge the developer. The housing is formed such that the first housing piece and the second housing piece are coupled to each other in a detachable manner. The first housing piece is provided therein with the opening portion and a sealed opening portion, and supports the developer carrier and the developer agitating member in a rotatable manner, and the second housing piece is coupled with the first housing piece so as to seal the sealed opening portion, and the first housing piece and the second housing piece are coupled to each other through a snap fit joint.

Abstract: A toner for electrophotography satisfies Ft/Dt?3.0 [nN/?m], where Ft is an inter-toner non-electrostatic adhesion force after a compressive stress within 0.7×10?2 [N m2] to 1.5×10?2 [N/m2] is applied, and Dt is a diameter of a toner particle. The inter-toner non-electrostatic adhesion force is obtained by filling a two-dividable cell for an Agrobot AGR manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Corporation having a diameter of 15 mm, measuring a tensile rupture stress required for dividing the cell after a compressive stress is applied, and substituting the tensile rupture stress into Rumpf's equation.

Abstract: Provided is a toner cartridge equipped with multiple drives adapted to engage the printer-drive mechanisms of multiple printers. Each drive is associated with at least one of the cartridge-drive structures found on most toner cartridges. Each drive can be associated with one or more cartridge-drive structures such as the toner adder roller gear, toner developer roller gear, toner agitator gear, idler gear and toner sifter gear. Moreover, each drive is adapted to prevent interference with the other drive. This is accomplished in numerous ways, including making each drive removeable or by making the engaging structures on the drives displaceable.

Abstract: Toners made by the emulsion aggregation process comprising an amorphous resin and a nucleated crystalline resin. Such toners demonstrate improved charging performance in the A-zone and the C-zone, improved heat cohesion and improved resistivity.

Abstract: A developing unit driving apparatus which drives a developing unit having a toner cartridge to accommodate a toner, a developing part disposed in the toner cartridge to develop the toner to a photosensitive body, and a toner supplying part provided in the toner cartridge to supply the toner to the developing part, the apparatus includes: a driving source; a first power transmitter which transmits power supplied from the driving source to the developing part; and a second power transmitter which transmits the power supplied from the driving source to the toner supplying part except when the developing part is driven.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a body frame, a photosensitive body having a shaft, a developing unit having a shaft in parallel to the photosensitive body, a driven part that is rotatably joined to the shaft of the developing unit, a transmission part that has a transmission shaft in parallel to the shaft of the developing unit and is connected to the driven part in a transmittable manner, a unit casing that rotatably supports the shaft of the developing unit and the transmission shaft, is rotatably supported to the body frame, and controls the developing unit to approach the photosensitive body when the unit casing rotates in the same direction as a rotation direction of the photosensitive body, and a driving part that is provided in the body frame and rotates the transmission part in the same direction as the rotation direction of the photosensitive body.

Abstract: A developing device includes a housing, a developer bearing roller, a first seal member, a second seal member, a second seal supporting member, and an urging member. The housing has an opening and is adapted to contain a developer. The developer bearing roller is arranged facing the opening and adapted to bear the developer. The first seal member abuts against the developer bearing roller along an axial direction thereof to prevent the developer from spilling. The second seal member abuts against an end, in the axial direction, of the developer bearing roller along a circumferential direction thereof to prevent the developer from spilling. The second seal supporting member supports an end, in a longitudinal direction, of the second seal member, and is attached to the housing such that a boundary section between the second seal member and the second seal supporting member faces the housing.

Abstract: A toner excellent in temporal stability is provided which toner is capable of maintaining good cleaning property stably for a long period of time and whose surface is provided with a coating layer having an effect of preventing toner aggregation. There are also provided a method of manufacturing the toner, a two-component developer, a developing apparatus, and an image forming apparatus. The toner has a core particle containing a binder resin and a colorant and a coating layer which contains fine resin particles and are formed on surfaces of the core particles. The coating layers are formed by partially fusing the fine resin particles to at least either the core particle or adjacent fine resin particles.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer carrying member for carrying a developer thereon and developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member with a developer, a developer layer thickness regulating member provided in contact with the developer carrying member for regulating the thickness of the layer of the developer carried on the developer carrying member, and an electrically conductive particle provided in the portion of contact between the developer carrying member and the developer layer thickness regulating member, in a state in which the developer does not exist between the developer carrying member and the developer layer thickness regulating member.

Abstract: Electrographic printing wherein raised information, with a distinct tactile feel, can be printed by electrographic techniques. Such electrographic printing comprises the steps of forming a desired print image, electrographically, on a receiver member utilizing standard size marking particles; and in an area of the formed print image, where desired tactile feel, raised information is to be formed, selectively forming such tactile feel, raised information utilizing marking particles of a substantially larger size than the standard size marking particles of the desired print image.