Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming unit which can be shifted within an image forming apparatus having an original support plate to perform an image forming operation, and which can also perform the image forming operation in combination with other device even when it is removed from the image forming apparatus, and which has multi-function and is compact.

Abstract: A twin-roll type continuous casting machine for fabricating a metal sheet from molten metal supplied from a ladle comprises a pair of spaced rolls, side weirs disposed on each roll in the lateral direction of the roll, a tundish for reserving the molten metal and supplying the molten metal through a feeder, which is provided above the rolls and below the tundish, to form a melt pool on the upper side of the gap between the rolls so as to fabricate the metal sheet through the gap between the rolls, a pressurizing chamber formed between the rolls and the tundish for gas-pressurizing the melt surface of the melt pool. The arrangement allows the ladle to easily supply the molten metal to the tundish and ensures easy maintenance of the tundish.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process cartridge removably mountable on an image forming apparatus comprising a support, a rotary member having an image bearing surface and rotatably supported by the support, and a rotatable developing roller supported by the support, for carrying developer thereon and supplying the developer to the image bearing surface to develop a latent image formed on the image bearing surface. A first gear is arranged coaxial with the rotary member, a second gear is arranged coaxial with the developing roller and meshed with the first gear, and a guide means is provided for guiding the developing roller in a direction toward and away from the rotary member. The direction in which the developing roller is guided by the guide means is inclined with respect to a straight line connecting the center of rotation of the rotary member to the center of rotation of the developing roller, by an angle between 0.7.times..THETA. (.THETA. is a pressure angle of the second gear) and 1.3.times..

Abstract: A process kit includes a support member having a photosensitive member integrally mounted thereon together with process elements for acting on the photosensitive member. The support member is mountable on and removable from a main image forming apparatus having an optical system for projecting an image onto the photosensitive member. The support member has a positioning element for engaging the optical system in order to position the optical system accurately with respect to the photosensitive member. This configuration permits sharply formed images to be formed on the photosensitive member after removal and remounting of the process kit.

Abstract: A character drawing method for use in a bit map display system in which after sentence data constituted by character code data have been converted into character pattern data, a bit string for forming characters is transferred to a memory for display corresponding to pixels so as to be displayed. In the character drawing method, drawing of the characters is performed through optimum distribution of functions of processings to be executed such that the processings are executed in parallel by a multiprocessor.

Abstract: The flow rate of melt flowing through each end face of a core toward the inner surface of a side dam in opposed relationship with each end face is variable by a side-dam-wise flow passage defined within the core, whereby various problems caused at the so-called triple-point zones can be substantially solved.

Abstract: Melt flows down through downspouts into a basin defined by a pair of cooling rolls and side dams. Melt is decreased in flow rate to be supplied uniformly through a slit nozzle in a widthwise direction of the cooling rolls so that a solidified shell formed over the cooling rolls can be prevented from being melted again.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having an intermediate guide device which is disposed at an intermediate portion between a transfer section and a fixing section for the purpose of guiding a transfer medium while imparting breadthwise tension thereto. This intermediate guide device prevents any wrinkle occurring in the transfer medium near the fixing section from being moved toward the transfer section. In addition, the toner on the transfer medium is prevented from being transferred onto upper-surface rollers of the guide device when the electric charge of the toner leaks to the rollers.

Abstract: Flow rates of melt supplied to triple-point regions are controlled in response to detected shapes of lateral side surfaces of a casting and a level of the melt in a basin is maintained constant, whereby high-quality castings are produced.

Abstract: A standard gradation correction curve independent of characteristics of an original image is prepared in advance. An accumulated density historgram curve of the original is obtained from image data of the original. A first gradation correction curve is obtained by modifying the standard gradation correction curve, while a second gradation correction curve is obtained by modifying the accumulated density histogram curve. A third gradation correction curve is obtained by linear combination of the first and second gradation conversion curves to perform gradation correction of the image data on the basis of the third gradation correction curve.

Abstract: Cut-out portions or horizontal passages in the form of an inverted T are provided to melt solidified shells grown at triple points at which side seal plates, colling rolls and molten metal are made contact with each other. Pouring holes or slits are provided for inside pouring. Length of the slit in the cast widthwise direction is preliminarily determined so as to maintain temperature distribution in molten bath uniformly. Start of a continuous casting operation is facilitated by movable baffer plates disposed at open ends of the horizontal passage.

Abstract: Various components of image-forming means such as corona discharger, developing device and cleaning means are arranged around a photosensitive drum. These processing parts and the photosensitive drum are assembled together into a unit which can be detachably mounted into the main body of image-forming apparatus. Such a unit is called process kit. The process kit is provided with a driving connection member for receiving a driving force from the main body. The present invention provides safety means for effectively protecting said driving connection member from shock and impact thereby assuring the utility of the process kit for a long time.

Abstract: In a dual roll type continuous casting machine, molten-metal-pouring passages for feeding molten metal into a molten bath or pool are so disposed and oriented that molten metal is fed toward the side seal plates in the directions tangential to a pair of cooling rolls, whereby only solidified shells formed on the side seal plates at the so-called triple points are effectively melted.

Abstract: A process kit is detachably mounted in the main body of an image forming apparatus and includes a housing in which a photosensitive member, a corona discharger and a developing device are mounted and held as a unit, the housing including an optical opening formed therein upstream of the corona discharger for conducting a homogeneous light to the photosensitive member to eliminate any remaining charge thereon and an opening of exposure for conducting a light of information to the photosensitive member, the exposure opening being located between the corona discharger and the developing device.

Abstract: This specification discloses a process unit and an image formation apparatus provided with the process unit. The process unit is detachable with respect to the body of the image formation apparatus, and is characterized by process means acting on an image bearing member, and a guide member in the form of a grip provided at a position capable of maintaining the process unit in substantially horizontal condition, along the direction in which the process unit is mounted or dismounted with respect to the apparatus body, the guide member also performing the function of a grip during transportation of the process unit. The image formation apparatus is characterized by the process unit and support means for detachably supporting the guide member of the process unit.

Abstract: Various components of image-forming means such as corona discharger, developing device and cleaning means are arranged around a photosensitive drum. These processing parts and the photosensitive drum are assembled together into a unit which can be detachably mounted into the main body of image-forming apparatus. Such a unit is called process kit. The process kit is provided with a driving connection member for receiving a driving force from the main body. The present invention provides safety means for effectively protecting said driving connection member from shock and impact thereby assuring the utility of the process kit for a long time.

Abstract: A process kit is detachably mounted in the main body of an image forming apparatus and includes a housing in which a photosensitive member, a corona discharger and a developing device are mounted and held as a unit, the housing including an optical opening formed therein upstream of the corona discharger for conducting a homogeneous light to the photosensitive member to eliminate any remaining charge thereon and an opening of exposure for conducting a light of information to the photosensitive member, the exposure opening being located between the corona discharger and the developing device.

Abstract: A process kit containing consumable members is detachably mountable in the main body of an operating device and includes apparatus for indicating when the useful life of the process kit is about to expire and when it has expired.

Abstract: This specification discloses a process kit removably mountable on the main body of an image formation apparatus and integrally having an image bearing member and a part or the whole of process device acting on the image bearing member, and an image formation apparatus using such kit. The image formation apparatus having an image bearing member, process device acting on the image bearing member, a process kit removably mountable on the main body of the apparatus and integrally having the image bearing member and the process device, and a cover movable to a first position for covering the surface of the image bearing member provided in the process kit and a second position retracted away from the first position.

Abstract: An automatic sheet original handling device comprises an original supporting member on which originals to be conveyed to an exposure station are piled, an original supporting glass plate for supporting the originals conveyed from the original supporting member for exposure, original conveying means for conveying the originals from the original supporting member to the original supporting glass plate, a reflecting plate having a concavo-convex surface having an angle of inclination of 120.degree. or greater and provided as near as possible to the back side of the original on the original supporting glass plate, and an original receiving member in which the originals conveyed and discharged from the original supporting glass plate by the original conveying means can be contained and piled.