Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a frame; an image bearing member; a developing device; a toner accommodating device for accommodating toner to be supplied to said developing device; opening for supplying to said developing device the toner in said toner accommodating device; a toner seal removably mounted at said opening to close it; a gap in said frame to permit pulling of said toner seal; an elastic sealing member in contact with said toner seal to prevent leakage of the toner through the gap; wherein said toner seal is constructed such that said toner seal is out of contact with an end of said elastic sealing member upon pulling of said toner seal.

Abstract: An improved ink flow path between an ink reservoir and ink ejection chambers in an inkjet printhead is disclosed along with a preferred printhead architecture. In the preferred embodiment, a barrier layer containing ink channels and firing chambers is located between a rectangular substrate and a nozzle member containing an array of orifices. The substrate contains two spaced apart arrays of ink ejection elements, and each orifice in the nozzle member is associated with a firing chamber and ink ejection element. The ink channels in the barrier layer have ink entrances generally running along two opposite edges of the substrate so that ink flowing around the edges of the substrate gain access to the ink channels and to the firing chambers.

Abstract: In a wet-type electrophotographic image formation method using an organic electrophotographic photoconductor constituted of an electroconductive support and a photoconductive layer formed thereon, the steps of (1) forming a latent electrostatic image on the photoconductive layer, and (2) developing the latent electrostatic image to a visible toner image with a developer comprising toner particles and a carrier liquid constituted of or including a silicone oil in which the toner particles are dispersed.

Abstract: A developing unit using a bicomponent developer and capable of collecting only carrier included in the developer and deteriorated due to aging while recycling toner, and a method of collecting the developer from the developing unit. The developing unit separate the developer into toner and carrier before the collection of the developer.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved ink flow path between an ink reservoir and vaporization chambers in an inkjet printhead. In the preferred embodiment, a barrier layer containing ink channels and vaporization chambers is located between a rectangular substrate and a nozzle member containing an array of orifices. The substrate contains two linear arrays of heater elements, and each orifice in the nozzle member is associated with a vaporization chamber and heater element. The ink channels in the barrier layer have ink entrances generally running along two opposite edges of the substrate so that ink flowing around the edges of the substrate gain access to the ink channels and to the vaporization chambers.

Abstract: Disclosed is an inkjet print cartridge having an ink reservoir; a substrate having a plurality of individual ink firing chambers with an ink firing element in each chamber along a top surface of the substrate and having a first outer edge along a periphery of substrate; the first outer edge being in close proximity to the ink firing chambers. The ink firing chambers are arranged in a first chamber array and a second chamber array and with the firing chambers spaced so as to provide 600 dots per inch printing. An ink channel connects the reservoir with the ink firing chambers, the channel including a primary channel connected at a first end with the reservoir and at a second end to a secondary channel; the primary channel allowing ink to flow from the ink reservoir, around the first outer edge of the substrate to the secondary channel along the top surface of the substrate so as to be proximate to the ink firing chambers.

Abstract: A developing apparatus has a rotatable developing unit having a plurality of developing devices each provided with a containing portion for containing a developer and a carrying member carrying the developer, a light emitting element for applying light toward the containing portion, and a light receiving element provided discretely from the developing unit and common to the plurality of developing devices and for receiving the light transmitted through the containing portion.

Abstract: A developing unit including a housing having an opening defining a developing zone, an applicator for applying particulate developer through the opening towards an electrostatographic image to be developed, and a paddle wheel for agitating developer within the housing, for scooping up developer from within the housing and projecting scooped-up developer towards the applicator. A hopper, located outside the width of the development zone supplies toner to the housing, and a primary spiral screw conveys developer from the hopper across the width of the development zone in one direction, while a secondary spiral screw receives developer from the primary spiral screw and conveys developer across the width of the development zone in an opposite direction. A passageway outside the width of the development zone enables the return of developer from the secondary spiral screw to the primary spiral screw.

Abstract: An original feeding method for resting a plurality of originals on a platen side-by-side by using a recycle original feeding apparatus having a tray (thereby replacing a page sequence of the plural originals) includes the step of replacing a page sequence of the plural originals by resting the originals from the tray on the platen side-by-side in a feeding direction. The plural originals are then returned onto the tray from the platen in a stacking page sequence, and the plural originals returned to the tray and replaced in the stacking page sequence are rested on the platen side-by-side in the feeding direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a conveying apparatus comprising a plurality of rotary members; a frame for supporting the plurality of rotary members; and an endless belt wound around the plurality of rotary members and moved by rotation of the rotary members to convey a sheet, the belt including a core embedded within the belt and formed by weaving threads extending in a circumferential direction of the belt and threads extending in a widthwise direction of the belt; and wherein, in order to cancel a deflection force of the belt generated by the cause of distortion of the frame when the rotary members are rotated to shift the belt, each of the threads extending in the circumferential direction in the core has a constant twist direction to generate a deflection force opposite to the aforementioned deflection force.

Abstract: For image reproduction, a submodular unit including a developing roller and a doctor blade is adjustably mounted on a modular developing unit of a rotary developing apparatus. In general, the modular developing unit is rotatably positioned to juxtapose a photoreceptor drum. This juxtaposed position defines the developing position. The toner loaded on the developing roller in the developing position travels over a spacial gap between the developing roller surface and the photoreceptor drum surface. This crucial gap is necessary for successful image reproduction. However, this gap usually cannot be optimally maintained over extended time. The gap is also changed due vibration caused during shipment. In adjusting the gap, the submodular unit allows an independent and fine adjustment for each modular image developing unit. The submodular unit also allows an efficient assembly of the modular rotary developing unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus provides overhead projector (OHP) copies with interleaf sheets being provided on the back face thereof, while also providing normal paper copies of a desired number in a sorted state. When copies are made both on OHP sheets and on normal paper sheets, a desired number of normal paper copies is first input. Before a copy is made on an OHP sheet, an interleaf sheet is outputted into a bin of a sorter. The OHP sheet thereafter copied is outputted into this bin. The normal paper copies of the input number are made before or after the copying operation on the OHP sheets. The normal paper copies are sorted and outputted into sort bins of the sorter. Since the copying operations on OHP sheets and on normal paper are simultaneously performed, materials for a presentation can be readily prepared in a short time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus stores an ID number input through an auditor in a memory section when a paper money judging section judges that image data obtained from an image reading section is the image data of paper money. With this structure, the fact that an attempt to perform counterfeiting was made is known by reading out the ID number stored in the memory section. In this case, since it is understood that a counterfeiter knew a specific ID number, the counterfeiter can be detected from a limited number of people. It is thus possible to take some measures to prevent recurrence of counterfeiting by, for example, enhancing the inspection of the image forming apparatus and giving a warning to the counterfeiter.

Abstract: An image-forming method using a latent-image forming body which consists of a transparent electrode layer, a photoconductive layer, an electrode layer and a pyroelectric-material layer made of a dielectric substance that are successively stacked on its transparent base. In this method, conductive carriers are generated in the photoconductive layer by irradiating information light thereto by using a light source that is placed at a location opposite to the transparent base. Then, heat is exerted at the light-irradiation portion of the photoconductive layer by applying a voltage across the transparent electrode layer and the electrode layer, and the heat causes a temperature rise in the pyroelectric-material layer such that an electrostatic latent image is formed by the pyroelectric effect. The electrostatic latent image is developed by allowing the developer, charged to have the polarity reversed to that of the electrostatic latent image, to be attracted by the electrostatic latent image.

Abstract: Specific pattern images are transferred from respective photoreceptors onto the circumferential surface of a transfer belt. By detecting the specific pattern images with sensors, misregistration amounts on a transfer belt are calculated by a misregistration correction control section. Averages of the misregistration amounts for respective colors are calculated for each region that corresponds to a single recording medium placed on the transfer belt. The scanning timings of image writing units are controlled by an image signal output control section based on the calculated averages. As a result, toner images formed on the respective photoreceptors are transferred to proper positions of any recording medium being placed on the transfer belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of preventing a toner from being left on a photosensitive member upon turning off a developing bias for jumping development. A phase detecting circuit generates a phase detection signal which becomes H level when the developing bias is positive, whereas becoming L level when the developing bias is negative. A phase controller generates a phase-controlled developing bias off signal to an output controller at a timing when the phase detection signal changes from H level to L level for the first time after the phase controller receives a developing bias off signal from a CPU. Then, the output controller stops oscillation of an oscillating circuit, thereby turning off the developing bias at a timing when the toner has returned from the photosensitive member to a developing unit. Accordingly, the toner is prevented from being left on the photosensitive member upon turning off the developing bias.

Abstract: Two lowermost heating members and one intermediate heating member are provided for a plurality of paper feeding trays disposed in the paper feeding portion of an image forming apparatus and the temperature in the whole paper feeding portion is controlled by supplying power to each of the heating members. The heating member is provided with a heat reflective plate and a heat insulating plate side by side to insulate the heat of a heating element. The heating member is placed close to the tray and the temperature in the whole paper feeding portion is controlled under a convection current of the heat emanated from the heating element in the paper feed. Moreover, a humidity sensor may be installed on the side or within the image forming apparatus to control the power supplied to each heating member.

Abstract: A particle charging apparatus for charging a photo-sensitive drum by magnetically holding magnetic particles in a charging zone and impressing a charging bias on the magnetic particles. Adjacent to an opposed pole which is disposed on the back side of the photo-sensitive drum on the charging zone upstream side for forming a vertical magnetic field, an opposite polarity magnet or magnetic member is disposed such that a mainly horizontal magnetic field is formed on the drum by the opposed and adjacent poles. A vertical magnetic field is formed on the charging zone downstream side by a main pole and the opposed pole. A non-magnetic sleeve with the main pole therein is rotated in the direction opposite that of the drum, thus causing magnetic particles in the vertical magnetic field to be circulated toward the charging zone upstream side.

Abstract: An apparatus and method that uses a toner valve to seal the interface between a cleaner housing and waste container. The toner valve incorporates a two piece valve of which the larger, called the main valve, is housed in the cleaner housing, and the smaller, called the lid, is housed in the top of the waste container. When the waste container is inserted onto the cleaner housing, the main valve of the cleaner housing is coupled to the lid of the waste container. A handle extending from a shaft in the main valve enables movement of the complete toner valve. The coupling of the two piece toner valve enables the toner valve to work as a single unit when the handle is rotated, opening the waste container and the cleaner housing and providing a totally sealed open path for the toner to fall from the cleaner housing to the waste container. Further rotation of the two piece toner valve closes both the cleaner housing and the waste container.

Abstract: A toner density sensor detects the state where a toner cartridge is empty and the toner density in a developing unit is therefore low. In accordance with the sensing output of the toner density sensor, the surface potential of a photosensitive drum is decreased. By this control, the carriers of the developing agent are prevented from being attracted onto the photosensitive drum during the period between the time when the toner cartridge becomes empty and the toner density begins to decrease and the time when the copying operation stops due to the toner empty state. Hence, the images formed during that period are not poor in quality.