Abstract: A developing frame usable in a process cartridge which is detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, wherein the process cartridge having an electrophotographic photosensitive member and process means actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, includes a first frame having a toner containing portion for containing toner for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive member, an opening portion formed in the toner containing portion and a toner supply opening for supplying the toner from the toner containing portion to a developing zone; a second frame having a developing device mounting portion for mounting a developing device for developing the latent image on the photosensitive member using the toner contained in the toner containing portion, and a covering member for covering the opening portion of the toner containing portion; wherein the developing frame is constructed by combining the first frame and second frame.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first processor for outputting first image data and a second processor for outputting second image data different from the first image data. The apparatus also includes a first detector for detecting a processing stage of the first processor and a second detector for detecting a processing condition of the second processing means. The apparatus also includes means for judging whether operations, to interrupt the processing by the first processor and to execute the processing by the second processor, are permitted or inhibited on the basis of a first detection result of the first detector and a second detection result of the second detector.

Abstract: A projection exposure apparatus according to the present invention (in particular, an excimer stepper) includes a projection optical system, which may include a lens element of synthetic quartz and a lens element of fluorite. The synthetic quartz lens element is temperature-controlled by a first temperature controller with a degree of accuracy of .+-.0.01.degree. C., for example. The fluorite lens element is temperature-controlled by a second temperature controller with a degree of accuracy of .+-.0.005.degree. C., for example. Therefore, even if the projection optical system includes lens elements with different coefficients of thermal expansion, temperature control can be made with accuracy suitable for each of the elements. Consequently, the apparatus is not enlarged. In addition, with an exposure light source of even short wavelength, it is possible to attain good imaging characteristics.

Abstract: A device for displaying an exchange message for a process cartridge installed within a body of an image forming apparatus informs a user when the process cartridge should be replaced. The process cartridge, which can be installed within and removed from the body, combines a photosensitive drum, a cleaning blade and a waste toner receptacle as a unitary structure. A display provides the user with predetermined messages. A video controller receives a print command from a host computer and controls a printing operation by increasing an internally stored sheet printing index value by one in response to each printed sheet, and enables output of a message indicating that the process cartridge should be exchanged through the display when the sheet printing index value is greater than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A photographic color printer includes a color video camera for making specialty prints. A memory is provided to store different color compositions for printing light including an initial color composition and additional color compositions which surround the initial color composition. The memory also stores camera adjustment parameters for each additional color composition so that, when the color composition of the printing light is shifted away from the initial color composition, the camera can be adjusted to the new color composition. The camera is adjusted to the initial color composition by exposing the camera to light of this composition. Following such exposure, the camera is sequentially exposed to light of the various additional color compositions. The camera is adjusted to each additional color composition in order to obtain the camera adjustment parameters which are to be stored in the memory.

Abstract: An asynchronous contact printer and a related method for printing motion picture film in different formats. The contact printer has a pair of film drives that move duplicate film and original film at different increments through the printer, and then intermittently stop the film to permit exposure of the original onto the duplicate. The printer can print duplicate film in an alternate format, such as the three-perforation or 2.5-perforation format, from original film in another format, such as the four-perforation format. This is accomplished by moving the film asynchronously through the printer and exposing frames of the original film onto the duplicate film on a frame-by-frame basis.

Abstract: A developing apparatus forms multiple toner layer and stably obtains predetermined toner charging amount and toner layer thickness, and further uniformly supplies the toner onto the toner carrying roller along its entire length. In the developing apparatus, a brush-like toner supplying roller having brush fibers and a second toner supplying roller are disposed at a predetermined interval and respectively brought into contact with a developing roller. The brush-like roller is first brought into contact with the developing roller after passing through the developing area on a photosensitive body opposing thereto, and the brush-like roller rotates in an inverse rotational direction to that of the developing roller at the contact position. The second roller is brought into contact with the developing roller after passing through the contact position with the brush-like roller, and rotates in a same rotational direction as that of the developing roller at the contact position.

Abstract: A plug for use in plugging an aperture in a container for storing a supply of particles for use in a developer unit of an electrophotographic printing machine is provided. The plug includes a base, a rim extending from the periphery of the base. The rim may cooperate with the aperture. The plug further includes a stem extending from the base and spaced from the rim, so that the rim may conform to the aperture and thereby seal the aperture without being affected by the handle.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which forms identical images both on a sheet of a first type (overhead projector sheet) and on a sheet of a second type (normal paper sheet). One-side image formation is performed to form images on front sides of OHP sheets which are then discharged into a non-sort bin. Two-side image formation is performed to form images on the both sides of normal paper sheets which are then sorted and discharged into sort bins. Thus, sets of document sheets for presentation can be prepared in a sorted state. Since images are formed on both sides of the normal paper sheets, the normal sheets can be economized and saved.

Abstract: A developing device includes a toner cartridge mounting portion, and a toner cartridge to be detachably mounted on the toner cartridge mounting portion. The toner cartridge mounting portion has a bottom wall having a toner acceptance opening formed therein, and a pair of supporting side walls disposed on the opposite side edges of the bottom wall, and an engaging means is disposed on the inner surface of one of the supporting side walls. The toner cartridge includes a generally cylindrical container having an unsealably sealed toner discharge opening formed in the peripheral wall of the container, and a toner accommodated in the container. An engaged means to be engaged with the engaging means is disposed in the outer surface of one side wall of the container.

Abstract: A method and system for adjusting or calibrating the colors output by an image processing system such as a full-color digital copier. After the copier is calibrated, the color balance standard within the copier is set using the calibration information. A portion of the image is printed by the copier in various tones, adjusted relative to the color balance standard. The user then selects the color balance of the image having the most acceptable color balance. Calibration of the copier can be performed by scanning a gray-scale image and adjusting the parameters controlling RGB data within the copier based on the gray-scale image which was scanned. In order to adjust the color balance for specific colors contained within an image, the user manually selects points on the image and frames having the selected color are printed, scanned, and the scanned information compared to stored color information in order to adjust the color balance to accurately reproduce the color selected by the user.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an unfixed-image forming unit for forming an unfixed image having a plurality of colors on a recording material, and a fixing unit for fixing the unfixed image formed by the unfixed-image forming unit by heating the recording material bearing the image. The fixing unit can fix the unfixed image on the recording material with a first degree of fixing or with a second degree of fixing which is greater than the first degree of fixing depending on whether or not a light-transmitting-property recognition unit recognizes the recording material to have a light-transmitting property, and whether or not a black-monocolor recognition unit recognizes the unfixed image formed by the unfixed-image forming unit as a black monochromatic image.

Abstract: In a printer having a toner cartridge drum in which a toner cartridge of each of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black is detachably provided, when the toner cartridge is exchanged by opening a door of the printer and, further, opening a cartridge door, in case of opening and subsequently closing the toner cartridge door, a cartridge change mode is set, and in case of closing the door of the printer, an initial operation of the printer is not immediately performed but the cartridge drum is driven and the cartridge to be exchanged is moved to a taking-out position. When the cartridge change mode is not set, in case of closing the door of the printer, the initial operation of the printer is executed.

Abstract: A developing device of the type developing a latent image formed on an image carrier with a two-ingredient type developer, i.e., a mixture of toner and magnetic carrier particles is disclosed. The device is operable without a sophisticated toner content control mechanism or a sophisticated developer agitating and conveying mechanism, and is capable of obviating various problems ascribable to the increase in the toner content of the developer at the opposite end portions of a developer carrier. For this purpose, the device restricts the movement of a developer present on the developer carrier in the direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the developer carrier conveys the developer.

Abstract: A photographic printer has a lamp which projects light through a cut-off filter, a filter unit, and a diffusion plate. The light travels further through a film negative, an objective lens, and to a polarizing beam splitter. The beam splitter provides the light to a spatial light modulator and to an exposing/enlarging lens. The spatial light modulator includes a light modulating layer of a homeotropically oriented nematic liquid crystal having a negative dielectric anisotropy. Layers of transparent electrodes in the spatial light modulator are provided with a predetermined voltage of a predetermined frequency. A write CRT, controlled by a controller and control unit, provides light to the spatial light modulator so that the light from the beam splitter can be modulated with an appropriate correction. The modulated light and the light from the beam splitter are made incident on a photographic color paper. The photographic printer has improved compensation for blur caused by dust on the optical path.

Abstract: A toner cartridge is disclosed which includes a case having two toner discharge openings through the surface connected to a toner hopper, two sealing films, and a reeling shaft. The sealing films are removably adhered to the portion adjacent to the toner discharge openings, and seal the toner discharge opening. The reeling shaft is rotatably supported by the case, and allows the plurality of sealing films to be removed from the toner discharge openings during toner cartridge installation by reeling the sealing films around the reeling shaft. At least one of the plurality of sealing films is longer than the others, and is attached to the reeling shaft in a direction opposite that of the others. This arrangement allows the timing of removal of the sealing films to be shifted, thereby reducing the amount of torque required for their removal.

Abstract: A split image exposure method capable of realizing high-resolution and high-quality exposure of an image by suppressing discontinuity of density and color in junctions between split images when the original image divided into a plurality of subdivisions is exposed using a planar element. A LCD panel can be positioned at four different locations in a horizontal plane, and it receives light from a light source in respective locations and can print a transmission image onto a color printing paper through a projection lens system by exposure. A reference mark is captured based on a difference in the amounts of light received by light receiving portions of the sensor, whereby the positioning of the LCD panel can be completed. The occupancy ratio of image data representing each split image is varied in double-exposed or fourfold-exposure areas, and the density of each pixel of the liquid crystal panel is controlled in accordance with this occupancy ratio.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a developer container for containing a developer for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive member; measuring means for measuring usage degree of the photosensitive member; developer amount detecting means for detecting whether a remaining amount in the container is lower than a predetermined level; display means for displaying the remaining amount in accordance with the usage degree after the detecting means detects that the remaining amount is lower than the predetermined level.

Abstract: An electrophotographic copying machine having a control unit is provided.

Abstract: Registration controlling methods are provided for a color electrophotographic apparatus capable of forming an image without color registration errors and uneven color. This is accomplished by preventing a photosensitive medium from being undesirably moved in the direction perpendicular to the transportation direction caused by an electrostatic attractive force between the photosensitive medium and an intermediate transfer device, even if there is a twist between the fixed axis of the member supporting the photosensitive medium and the axis of the member supporting the intermediate transfer device. With these methods, a fur brush cleaner made of a conductive brush is detached from the intermediate transfer device during the time period after the start of driving the photosensitive medium and until the front edge of the photosensitive medium reaches the intermediate transfer device.