Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member and a charging member in proximity or in contact with the image bearing member. A frequency of an oscillating voltage is a first frequency when a peripheral speed of the image bearing member is a first peripheral speed, and the frequency of the oscillating voltage is a second frequency when the peripheral speed of the image bearing member is a second peripheral speed. A determining device determines a first peak-to-peak voltage of the oscillating voltage corresponding to the first peripheral speed and the first frequency and a second peak-to-peak voltage of the oscillating voltage corresponding to the second peripheral speed and the second frequency, based on first, second and third alternating currents flowing in the charging member in use of the first peripheral speed and the first frequency. The determined peak-to-peak voltages are applied to the charging member.

Abstract: A process unit for use in an image forming apparatus includes a drum section containing a photosensitive drum and a drum frame for rotatably supporting the drum, and a developing section containing a developing roller and a roller frame for rotatably supporting the roller. The drum frame and roller frame are coupled so that a mutual distance between the outer peripheral surfaces of the drum and roller is set in an adjustable manner. The process unit further includes an inter-axis distance regulation mechanism provided on one of the drum frame and roller frame in a movable manner by which the mechanism is movable between multiple stages, thereby adjusting the mutual distance in the multiple stages. The mechanism includes a rotation type regulation member which has a plurality of contact surface sites whose distances from a rotation center are different in a radial direction with respect to the rotation center.

Abstract: A developing device for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier with a developing liquid containing a carrier liquid and a developing substance, including a developing roller including a roller portion and rotatable while carrying the developing liquid on the roller portion, and a voltage applying device configured to apply a voltage to the roller portion to thereby form an electric field for development between the roller portion and the image carrier, whereby the developing liquid deposited on the roller portion is transferred to a latent image formed on the image carrier. The roller portion has a volume resistivity ranging from 0 &OHgr;cm to 107 &OHgr;cm.

Abstract: An organic electroluminescent device including a lower electrode, an organic light-emission medium, and an upper electrode on a support substrate, wherein the water content of the organic light-emission medium does not exceed 0.05 wt. %. By so controlling the water content of the organic light-emission medium, it is possible to prevent shrinkage of a light-emission area based on production of non-emission parts or non-emission spots for a long time at both high temperature and room temperature conditions. A method of making the organic electroluminescent device is disclosed also.

Abstract: A powder replenishing device and method having a replaceable powder container and a reciprocating mechanism. The replaceable powder container is configured to contain a powder to be replenished to an associated apparatus and is made of a material which allows a change in volume of the replaceable powder container. The powder container has a powder discharge port which discharges the powder from the container. The reciprocating mechanism is configured to reciprocate the powder container such that the volume of the replaceable powder container changes on reciprocation and the powder moves toward the discharge port.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer container for containing a developer, a developer amount detector for detecting the amount of the developer contained in the developer container, a correcting device for correcting the detected value detected by the developer amount detector, and a memory. At least the developer container and the memory are disposed in a unit and the unit is detachably mountable on a main assembly of the image forming apparatus. The memory stores information indicating that the unit is new. The correcting device corrects a next detected value to be detected by the developer amount detector according to the detected value detected by the developer amount detector when the developer amount detector detects information indicating that the unit is new.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of forming two identical images on an intermediate transfer member is provided. Image data read by a reading portion is stored in a memory portion, and two identical images are formed on an intermediate transfer member in a period in which the intermediate transfer member makes one rotation.

Abstract: A sheet guiding device has an electromagnetic shield plate disposed between a re-transportation path for a sheet material and a video controller board, with the bottom surface of the electromagnetic shield plate being used as a sheet guiding surface and a portion of the sheet guiding surface protruding towards the re-transportation path to form a guiding section made of metal and integrally formed with the electromagnetic shield plate.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for printing a code on a print medium. In one embodiment, the system includes a laser printing assembly within a printer for printing on a print medium. The system also includes an ink jet head assembly attached to a printer structure of the printer for printing a code or other information on the print medium. The ink jet head assembly may be immovably or adjustably attached to the printer structure. The ink jet head assembly may be immovably attached to the printer, for example, by affixing the ink jet head assembly directly to the printer structure or by using a bracket to mount the ink jet head assembly to the printer structure. There are also several alternatives that may be employed to adjustably attach the ink jet head assembly to the printer structure including, for example, a slide assembly, a telescopic assembly, or a swivel arm assembly as well as other suitable adjustable attaching approaches.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a process cartridge detachably mountable with respect to the main body of the apparatus. The process cartridge is provided with an image bearing member, a charger for charging the image bearing member, a power supply for applying an alternating current voltage to the charger, and a controller for variably controlling the alternating current supplied from the power supply to the charger in conformity with information about the use situation of the process cartridge. The process cartridge can also include an image bearing member, a charger for charging the image bearing member, the charger permitting an alternating current voltage to be applied thereto by a power supply, and a memory for storing therein information about the use situation of the process cartridge, and information of a plurality of preset control values for an alternating current supplied from the power supply to the charger to be variably controlled in conformity with the information.

Abstract: A hermetic encapsulation package and a method of fabricating such package, wherein at least one organic electroluminescent (EL) element is formed on a support substrate. A sealing cap for accommodating the organic EL element is bonded to the support substrate with an ultraviolet curing resin to form a sealed space defined by the sealing cap and the support substrate. At least part of the sealing cap is formed of an elastic material of a Young's modulus of 70 GPa or less. The elastic portion of the sealing cap is reversibly deflected to provide a decrease or increase in the volume of the sealed space to reduce pressure changes inside the sealed space caused by changes in temperature, thereby alleviating problems of thermal shock.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a xerographic printer includes a subsystem for carrying out a function of the xerographic printer and affecting an electric field of a component. The system and method further include a bias transfer roll voltage operated in a constant current mode, and a voltage evaluator coupled to the biased transfer roll for measuring a change in a level of voltage of the bias transfer roll as the component affected by the subsystem passes through a nip region near the bias transfer roll for determining operability of the subsystem.

Abstract: In a projection exposure apparatus for transferring a pattern formed in a transfer area on a mask onto a photosensitive substrate by a scanning exposure system, provision is made of an illuminating optical system for applying illuminating light to the transfer area of the mask through a rectangular aperture in a field stop disposed apart from a plane conjugate with the pattern surface of the mask, and a light intercepting member having an aperture of which the width is variable in the direction of the relative scanning of the mask and the photosensitive substrate for shielding at least a part of an illumination area on the mask which is defined by the rectangular aperture in the field stop from the light, and provision is further made of a member for driving the light intercepting member so as to change the width of the aperture therein in operative association with a change in the position of the illumination area on the transfer area of the mask which is changed by the relative scanning.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments are directed to a method and apparatus for duplex imaging in a tandem print engine system. The features of the disclosed embodiments include imaging a first side of a sheet in a first marking module in the system, inverting the sheet, and imaging a second side of the sheet in a second marking module in the system one pitch after N revolutions of a photoreceptor following the first side imaging.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a sheet material conveying system for conveying the sheet material to an image forming device and has an image formation driving source for driving the image forming device.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes: a cartridge frame; an electrophotographic photosensitive drum supported on the cartridge frame; a process device actable on the photosensitive drum; a cartridge drum positioning portion for positioning the photosensitive drum to the main assembly of the apparatus by engagement with a main assembly drum positioning portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus; and a cartridge frame positioning portion for positioning the cartridge frame to the main assembly of the apparatus by engagement with a main assembly frame positioning portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus.

Abstract: A printer and method for enabling a user to select a paper cassette containing paper available for an appropriate finishing process when the user is to select another paper cassette to continue printing, after the print process has been interrupted due to an empty paper cassette. The printer or method uses a table containing information about the types of paper mounted in respective paper cassettes and a table containing information about relationships between the paper types and the finishing processes executable on the respective types of paper. If no appropriate paper is detected in the current paper cassette, it is determined which paper cassette contains papers available for the specified paper finishing process, and then the appropriate paper cassette information is displayed.

Abstract: The fixing apparatus includes a first heating arrangement in the form of an endless belt which heats recording medium having a developing agent image thereon. It additionally includes a pressing arrangement in the form of a roller which fixes the developing agent image by catching and conveying the recording medium in cooperation with the first heating arrangement; a second heating roller which comes into contact with the endless belt to heat it to a predetermined temperature; a plurality of heaters that are disposed in the second heating arrangement and have different outputs; and a control arrangement which controls the plurality of heaters. The heaters are selectively energized according to a temperature raising/elevating mode of the fixing apparatus, an image mode and a property of the paper from which the recording medium is made.

Abstract: A fixing device for use in an image forming apparatus capable of forming both-side images on a sheet which by using a sheet reversing and conveying device. The fixing device has a heat applying rotary body with an elastic layer made of rubber and a toner releasing layer on top thereof, for coming into contact with and heating a side bearing an unfixed toner image of a transfer sheet; a pressure applying rotary body with an elastic layer made of rubber and a toner releasing layer on top thereof, for fixing and conveying the transfer material by coming into pressure contact and rotating with the heat applying rotary body; and a heat applying source for heating at least one of said rotary bodies. The pressure applying rotary body has a micro-hardness smaller than that of the heat applying rotary body.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a transport unit to transport a sheet to an image reading position, and a support frame having a sheet stacker unit to store sheets, which are made of a plastic, and a hinge member is attached to the support frame for opening and closing the support frame. A motor mounting member for supporting a motor to provide a driving force to a transport member of the transport unit is attached to the support frame between the hinge member and the transport unit as a frame reinforcement. Also, the hinge member, motor mounting member and transport unit are fixed by a connecting member, and motors are arrange on both sides of the hinge member. The structure prevents deformation of a sheet feeding apparatus with a plastic frame and improves reading accuracy while being compact and lightweight.