Abstract: Disclosed are compounds of the following formula and their pharmaceutically-acceptable salts, which have an effect of glucokinase activation and are useful in the field of medicines for treatment for diabetes, obesity, etc. (wherein ring A represents a pyrazolyl group optionally having a lower alkyl group, etc.; ring B represents a heteroaryl group; R represents a lower alkyl group, etc.; R1 represents a group of a formula: (wherein R11 and R12 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, etc.; m indicates an integer of from 2 to 6), etc.; R2 represents a lower alkyl group, etc.; r indicates an integer of from 0 to 3; k indicates an integer of from 0 to 4).

Abstract: In a pair of adjacent stack contact and stack contact in the semiconductor device, the plugs and the plugs are disposed so that a center-to-center distance of the plugs extending through a second interlayer insulating film, which is thicker than the first interlayer insulating film, is larger than a center-to-center distance of the plugs extending through the first interlayer insulating film.

Abstract: To provide an exposing apparatus including a first fixing member which positions and fixes a vicinity of an exposing unit on a side of a photosensitive body, and a second fixing member which fixes a vicinity of an end of the exposing unit on a side opposite to a location fixed by the first fixing member for preventing the exposing unit from being inclined when positioning and fixing the exposing unit.

Abstract: To provide an exposing apparatus including a first fixing member which positions and fixes a vicinity of an exposing unit on a side of a photosensitive body, and a second fixing member which fixes a vicinity of an end of the exposing unit on a side opposite to a location fixed by the first fixing member for preventing the exposing unit from being inclined when positioning and fixing the exposing unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material. The position of the recording material is detected when the recording material is underway from a registration roller for correcting a skew of the recording material to an image forming position for the recording material, and the image is written based on the detected position signal. The image is thus formed at a proper position on the recording material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a rotation shaft which supports an image bearing body and positions the image bearing body and image forming device when they are detachably mounted on the main body. The image forming device includes a frame that have bearings for supporting the shaft of the image bearing body. The image bearing body and a rotating body of the image forming device are separately rotated and do not come into contact with each other via spacer rollers. Accordingly, the mechanical vibration of the rotating body is not transmitted to the image bearing body, and an image can be obtained without defects caused by the mechanical vibration.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has at least one image carrier, a device for forming a latent image on the image carrier at a latent image forming position, a device for developing the latent image on the image carrier at a developing position, and a device for transferring the developed image on the image carrier onto an image receiving member. The apparatus features a drive source, and image carrier pulley connected to each of the at least one image carriers, a drive pulley connected to the drive source, and a device for transmitting a driving force from the drive pulley to each image carrier pulley. The time taken to rotate each of the at least one image carriers from the image forming position to the transfer position is substantially equal to an integer multiple of the time taken to make one revolution of the drive pulley.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a photosensitive drum and a transfer drum including a transfer member carrying sheet substantially contacting the photosensitive drum. In order to enable a toner image formed on the photosensitive drum to be efficiently transferred to a transfer member, the apparatus has a pressing sheet for outwardly pressing the transfer member carrying sheet from the interior of the transfer drum and a conductive member provided on the side of the pressing sheet adjacent the transfer member carrying sheet. The conductive member serves to realize a uniform distribution of surface potential on the pressing sheet and to maintain the surface potential constant, so that the intensity of the electric field applied to the corona discharge is made constant at a low level so that a stable transfer corona is applied to the transfer member carrying sheet, thus ensuring good quality of the transferred image.

Abstract: In an image formation apparatus for sequentially forming toner images on an image carrier and transferring the toner images onto a transfer material on a transfer material support member which is moved in an endless manner, when the transfer material is brought into contact with the image carrier other than in a transfer process, the surface of the image carrier is maintained at the same polarity as that of toner transferred to the transfer material. Thus, toner image transferred to the transfer material can be prevented from being offset onto the image carrier.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus is an apparatus in which toner images are successively transferred from a plurality of image bearing members to a transfer material, and which is for ensuring the toner images transferred to the transfer material to be transferred to a predetermined position. In the apparatus, patterns depicted on the surface of the image bearing members are read along with the movement of the image bearing members, and on the basis of the read result, control is effected so that the peripheral speed of the image bearing members is constant.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus provided with a developing device for developing latent images formed on a latent image bearing member. The developing device includes a rotary assembly for carrying a plurality of developing units so that the developing units revolve by the rotation of the rotary assembly, so as to dispose a desired or necessary one of the developing units at a developing station where the latent image on the latent image bearing member is developed. Each of the developing units is provided with an element or elements to be driven, such as a developing roller or the like. A single driving mechanism is provided in the image forming apparatus, which driving mechanism can drive any of the developing units when it is placed at the developing position.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus wherein a plurality of developing devices are carried on a rotating body and the rotating body is rotated to thereby move desired one of the developing devices to a predetermined developing position and develop a latent image formed on a latent image bearing member in accordance with image information, an image forming operation is permitted only when all of the developing devices are carried on the rotating body.

Abstract: An original reading apparatus capable of scanning separately a first area and a second area of an original to be reproduced, includes an original supporting table for supporting thereon an original having the first area and the second area; a scanner for optically scanning the original placed on the original supporting table, wherein the first area and the second area is in series in a direction of a scan of the scanner; driver for driving the scanner selectively in a first mode wherein the scanner first scans the first area of the original and automatically and sequentially scans the second area of the original and in a second mode wherein the scanner first scans the second area of the original and automatically and sequentially scans the first area of the original; and a selector for selecting one from the first mode and the second mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is of such a type that a developed image on an image bearing member is transferred to a transfer sheet and thereafter the transfer sheet is subjected to the action of a charge removing corona discharger, the above apparatus being characterized by a humidity detector, the output of which is used for controlling the output of the charge removing corona discharger, thereby obtaining a proper charge removing function.

Abstract: A plurality of developing devices or units are supported on a supporting member or turret which is rotatable to revolve the developing devices to move a desired developing device to a developing station where the developing operation is effected with the desired one of the developing devices. The developing devices are each provided with detecting elements for detecting the remaining amount of the developer or the concentration of the developer. The detecting elements are located at such a position that during the rotation of the supporting member the developer particles move with the rotation of the supporting member so that the detecting element is constantly cleaned by the moving developer.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus for forming copy images of a reflection original and a transmitting original. The apparatus has first projection means for projecting the image of the reflection original, second projection means for projecting the image of the transmitting original, and an image receiving member for receiving the light from the second projection means. The image receiving member is mounted on an original supporting table for supporting the reflection original thereon, and comprises a mirror for reflection the light from the second projection means toward the original supporting table, a condenser lens for condensing the light from the mirror, and a screen member removably insertable in the reflecting optical path of the mirror.

Abstract: A toner supplying system for use in combination with a developing device (100) of the type having a conveyor means (300) carrying a plurality of developing units (101) such as to bring the desired developing unit to the developing position for the development of a latent image on an image carrying member (1). The toner supplying system comprises a hopper (201) disposed outside the developing device, a shaft (310) provided in the toner conveyor means, a toner transportation means (202) for transporting the toner from the hopper to the shaft, and a toner passage means (310, 350) through which the toner is supplied from the shaft to respective developing units. The toner passage means includes annular chambers (351) formed between the hollow shaft (310) and an intermediate pipe (350). The annular chambers are separated axially by partition sealing means (354).