Abstract: A cleaning container having a highly durable drum in which removed toner is efficiently accumulated by toner conveyance having a backflow preventive function and upward conveyance. Optical fill-up detection is provided for detecting that the container is full of removed toner before a malfunction is caused. The cleaning container is divided into three chambers, a cleaning chamber, a removed toner accumulating chamber and an intermediate conveying chamber by one partition plate. In the cleaning chamber, toner is conveyed with a screw, and in the intermediate conveying chamber, toner is conveyed upward by a cylindrical impeller having ribs, guide. In removed toner small chambers partitioned with partition ribs, toner is stored from the upstream side with a screw partially having a reversed helical configuration, and in the small chamber at the most downstream side, the fill-up is optically detected.

Abstract: A corona charger and integral latch member device includes a corona charger having a longitudinally ending wall and a corona generating electrode extending generally parallel with the longitudinally extending wall and spaced a predetermined distance therefrom. A latch member has a portion integrally molded with the wall proximate one end of the charger to define part of a bearing surface for engaging a first axially directed member of a roller. The bearing surface is spaced from the wall so as to determine a location of the corona-generating electrode relative to the axially directed member.

Abstract: A toner replenishing container which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of a toner replenishing apparatus, the toner replenishing container includes a container body, having an opening for supplying toner into the main assembly, for containing toner; an opening and closing member, slidable in a first direction, for opening and closing the opening; wherein the opening and closing member is is slidable relative to the main assembly in a second direction which is different from the first direction, and when the opening and closing member is at a closing position for closing the opening, the opening and closing member is prevented from sliding in the first direction before sliding in the second direction.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive drum for use in a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes a cylinder having a photosensitive member on the periphery, a first helical gear provided at one end of the cylinder, and a second helical gear provided at the other end of the cylinder and having the same hand helix as the first helical gear and a number of teeth less than that of the first helical gear.

Abstract: A remanufacturing method of a process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes disassembling the process cartridge into a first frame having a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer and a second frame having a developer carrying member for carrying the developer supplied from the developer accommodating portion toward an image bearing member, thus exposing an opening of the first frame for permitting movement of the developer from the first frame to the second frame; removing residual which is resulted from a covering member having been used for sealing the opening and which remains around the opening, wherein the covering member has a sealing portion for sealing the opening and an extension for permitting the sealing portion to be torn with a part thereof remaining around the opening to open the opening, by pulling the extension, wherein the residual is a part of the sealing portion; mounting a fresh covering member to seal the opening; then supplying the d

Abstract: A printing method that includes supplying ink from an ink reservoir through an ink channel that connects the ink reservoir with ink ejection chambers formed on a first surface of a substrate. The ink channel is connected at a first end to the ink reservoir and at a second end to a separate inlet passage for refilling each of the ink ejection chambers with ink. A group of the ink ejection chambers in adjacent relationship forms one of a plurality of primitives on the first surface of the substrate in which only a maximum of one of the ink ejection chambers is energized at a time. An ejection element within one of the ink ejection chambers is energized to cause the plurality of ink drops to be ejected onto a media surface at a single pixel location in a single pass of the substrate over the media surface.

Abstract: In this transfer device, when a straight line is regarded to be a support axis P connecting a press-contacting point between the first roller and the drum to a press-contacting point between the second roller and the stopper, a moment of the resilient member of the second roller side to the support axis P is larger than the sum of a moment of the resilient member of the first roller side to the support axis P and a moment of the resilient means to the support axis P. Upon adjusting the moments as described above, a stable and reliable contact is maintained at the pair of press-contacting points of the positioning roller to the drum, completely preventing the deviation in the press-contacting points, stably and reliably limiting the gap between the transfer roller and the drum, and, hence, forming an excellently transferred image.

Abstract: A developing cartridge side cover, which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, has an opening for exposing a drive force receiving member for rotating a developing member with a driving force from the main assembly. The side cover further has a developing bias contact mounting for receiving a developing bias to be applied to the developing member from the main assembly.

Abstract: A toner supply device includes a toner cartridge comprising a cylindrical container having a spiral protruding portion therein, and a cap having a toner discharging hole; and a drive unit for supplying a toner from the toner discharging hole while gripping and rotating the cap of the toner cartridge. A positioning portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the base end side of the cylindrical container, and a recessed portion engaging the positioning portion is formed in an inlet holder. The drive unit includes a holder and a holder cover, which are disassembled vertically; a cup-shaped holder guide, rotatably provided in the holder and holder cover, for gripping the cap at a position, at which the holder guide is communicated with the toner discharging hole; a motor for applying torque to the holder guide; and a drive gear for transmitting torque of the motor to the holder guide. A gripping handle is provided on the bottom of the cylindrical container of the toner cartridge.

Abstract: A toner cartridge for an electrostatic printer or copier includes an electrophotographic drum, a toner container, a fixed electrode for receiving a developing bias voltage, and a developer roller for supplying the toner to an electrostatic latent image on the electrophotographic drum. A drive hub is press fit into an end of the developer roller. The drive hub has a unitary nonconducting plastic body, with a plug portion for elastically and slidably press-contacting the end of the developer roller, an elongated axle portion with an uninterrupted bearing surface, a shoulder portion for supporting a spring, and a longitudinal passage running through the axle and shoulder portions. A wire is disposed in the passage and makes an electrical connection with the spring and the developer roller.

Abstract: An ink tank cartridge for an ink-jet type recording apparatus being removably mountable onto an ink supply needle of said ink jet type recording apparatus is provided. The ink tank cartridge comprises a first chamber for storing ink and a second chamber for storing a porous member. A partition wall separates the first chamber from the second chamber. A lid is attached to the top of the cartridge and at least a portion of the lid corresponding to at least one of the chambers may be opened to allow for replenishment of ink in the ink tank cartridge. Alternatively, the lid may be permanently fixed to the top on the ink tank cartridge, and an ink replenishment hole may be formed in the lid to allow for replenishment with an ink injection device. The ink tank may also be replenished by placing a self contained ink replenishment pack into said ink tank cartridge.

Abstract: By the present invention, there is provided an ink-jet recording head comprising at least one recording device substrate for discharging a recording liquid by pressure of bubble formation caused by thermal energy, a flexible film wiring substrate for fitting the recording device substrate thereto, an electrode pad for receiving control signals from outside for controlling thermal energy generation in the recording device substrate, and a wiring substrate connected electrically to the recording device substrate with interposition of the flexible film wiring substrate, wherein an input terminal of the flexible film wiring substrate and an output terminal of the wiring substrate are electrically connected to each other and fixed by a thermosetting adhesive by hot-pressing, and the connected electrode portion is coated with the thermosetting adhesive.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are presented for electrophotographic copying of original information. One cycle of the copying method consists of the following. An electrostatic image of the copying information is recorded onto a recording photoreceptor, and the recording photoreceptor is used to form a latent electrostatic image on an intermediate information carrier. The latent electrostatic image is developed on the intermediate information carrier, and the developed image is transferred onto a final information carrier. The intermediate information carrier is a photoreceptor of a kind capable of, when being charged, storing the charge during a period of time required for producing a desired number of copies.

Abstract: A claw apparatus for a liquid electrophotographic printer prevents a sheet of paper passing through a transfer roller and the fixation roller from adhering to and curling around the transfer roller due to a peel force. In the claw apparatus, a guide portion guides the paper passing between the transfer roller and the fixation roller. A curved portion encompasses a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the transfer roller. An injection portion, formed at the curved portion, injects air through a gap formed between the curved portion and the transfer roller so that the paper passing between the transfer roller and the fixation roller can be guided toward the guide portion.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus for reversing/discharging sheets on which images are formed, control is performed to form mirror images on sheets and discharge the sheets, on which the mirror images are formed, without reversing them in accordance with the type of sheet on which images are to be formed, thereby adjusting the output order of the sheets without increasing the sheet output time and causing any damage on the sheet.

Abstract: This invention relates to shutter to be used in a process cartridge detachably mountable to the electrophotographic image forming apparatus and protects an electrophotographic photosensitive drum provided in the process cartridge.

Abstract: A printer or copier apparatus is fashioned in such a way that with a single apparatus a recording medium can be printed both with magnetically readable toner (MICR toner) and also with standard toner. For this purpose, it contains one or more correspondingly fashioned developer stations (ES) and a control unit for the adaptation of the print process parameters dependent on the mode of operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus to develop a latent image formed on an image bearing member with a liquid type developer. In the image forming apparatus, a developer container contains the liquid-type developer. A developer carrier carries the liquid-type developer to supply the liquid-type developer to the image bearing member. A developer applying device applies the liquid-type developer to the developer carrier. A holding part holds a part of the liquid-type developer contained in the developer carrier and is located below the developer applying device. A developer transfer device transfers the liquid-type developer from the developer container to the holding part. As a further feature, the developer transfer device may include a developer transfer member having a width smaller than a length of the developer applying roller in an axial direction and a developer spread device provided between an outlet of the developer transfer member and an inlet of the holding part.

Abstract: A redundant reorder prevention system prevents redundant reorders for replaceable components in printing devices. The replaceable component has memory integrated therein which contains a reorder value field. The reorder value field is initially configured in a first state which indicates that a new replaceable component has not been ordered to replace the current replaceable component. Before the system orders a new replaceable component, it checks the reorder value field. If the first state is detected, a new replaceable component is ordered and the reorder value field is reconfigured to a second state which indicates that the new replaceable component has been ordered. If the second state is detected before an order is placed, the order process is terminated before a new replaceable component is ordered.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to prevent reduction in output speed in the case where toner or the like adhered to a transfer belt is transferred to a side of an image carrying body and cleaning is performed by a cleaning device on a side of the image carrying body. A toner image transfer apparatus is constituted by extending a transfer belt between a first transfer roller, which is brought into pressure contact with a photoreceptor, and a second transfer roller disposed away from the photoreceptor and on a downstream side in a sheet conveying direction, and a circumferential length of the transfer belt is set to be equal to or less than a spacing between sheets conveyed (sheet spacing D) such that, in the sheet spacing D, over which a sheet passes a transfer position and which a subsequent sheet reaches, a cleaning voltage is supplied to shift toner or the like, adhered to the transfer belt, to the photoreceptor to have the same removed by a cleaning device on a side of the photoreceptor.