Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a developer container containing a developer and a developer carrying member for carrying the developer and adapted to switch an AC voltage to be applied to the developer carrying member. The apparatus includes a detecting member for detecting the amount of developer in the developer container and a processing portion for determining the amount of developer in the developer container according to the value output by the detecting member when the AC voltage is applied to the developer carrying member. The processing portion is adapted to determine the amount of developer by executing a process that corresponds to the operation of switching the AC voltage.

Abstract: A developer regulating member abutting against a developer carrying member carrying a mono-component developer to regulate the layer thickness of the developer on the developer carrying member has a supported portion supported by a support member, and an abutting portion abutting against the developer carrying member, the surface roughness parameters of this abutting portion satisfying the following expressions (1) to (5): 0.30?Sm?0.170??(1) Rpk?2.0??(2) Rp?5.0??(3) 0.10?Rvk×(100?Mr2)/100?1.30??(4) Rpk<Rvk,??(5) where Sm is a mean spacing [mm] of profile irregularities prescribed by JIS-B0601-1994, Rp is a maximum profile peak height [?m] prescribed by ISO4287-1997, Rpk is an initial wear height [?m] prescribed by DIN4776, Rvk is an oil retaining depth [?m] prescribed by DIN4776, and Mr2 is a profile bearing length ratio 2 [%] prescribed by DIN4776.

Abstract: A computer program, method, and apparatus that can easily perform setting taken into account the reliability of and the load on a disk array. A logical volume requirement acquisition section acquires a logical volume requirement. An applied technique determination section then determines an applied technique for improving at least one of reliability and processing speed according to the logical volume requirement. A logical volume setting section then outputs instructions to generate a logical volume which is made up of a plurality of disk drives and which is used for realizing the determined applied technique and instructions to set an environment in which a server accesses the logical volume by using the applied technique to the server and a disk array.

Abstract: A current mirror circuit 30 comprises PMOS's 31 to 34. The current which was flowing when the input voltage was “H” is interrupted, when the node N34 goes from “L” to “H,” a cascode-connected PMOS 31 is automatically turned OFF. The gates of PMOS's 31 and 33 are connected by a signal line (SL) directly to a node N34. The rise time of the output voltage of a current mirror circuit and the consumption current can be reduced.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus group including a plurality of kinds of image forming apparatuses having different process speeds, and a cartridge which can be commonly used in a plurality of kinds of image forming apparatuses, when there is provided a cartridge which can be detachably mountable to both a first image forming apparatus and a second image forming apparatus having different process speeds, n a control operation is carried out such that the difference between the peak-to-peak A.C. voltages in first and second first image forming apparatus main bodies varies with an increase in amount of used toners in the cartridge. Even when use of the cartridge is changed between the image forming apparatuses in the middle of being used, the image density level of an output image can be maintained nearly constant.

Abstract: A developer regulating member abutting against a developer carrying member carrying a mono-component developer to regulate the layer thickness of the developer on the developer carrying member has a supported portion supported by a support member, and an abutting portion abutting against the developer carrying member, the surface roughness parameters of this abutting portion satisfying the following expressions (1) to (5): 0.30?Sm?0.170??(1) Rpk?2.0??(2) Rp?5.0??(3) 0.10?Rvk×(100?Mr2)/100?1.30??(4) Rpk<Rvk??(5), where Sm is a mean spacing [mm] of profile irregularities prescribed by JIS-B0601-1994, Rp is a maximum profile peak height [?m] prescribed by ISO4287-1997, Rpk is an initial wear height [?m] prescribed by DIN4776, Rvk is an oil retaining depth [?m] prescribed by DIN4776, and Mr2 is a profile bearing length ratio 2 [%] prescribed by DIN4776.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a first image formation mode for forming an image on an image bearing member by using developer under a first predetermined image forming condition and a second image formation mode for forming an image on an image bearing member by using developer under a second image forming condition which is different from the first predetermined image forming condition and is set so that an amount of consumption of developer with respect to an identical image in the second image formation mode is smaller than that in the first image formation mode, the apparatus includes storing means for storing information for setting the second image forming condition corresponding to a plurality of levels of an amount of usage of the image bearing member, and control means for changing the second image forming condition in the second image formation mode depending on an amount of usage of the image bearing member and information stored in the storing means.

Abstract: A reliability verification program that enables network administrators to verify the redundancy of a system that they operate. With reference to network configuration data describing physical connections of a network system, the program selects a source device and a destination device as a start point and an end point of access routes. A verification route is then determined by tracing the physical connections from the selected source device to the selected destination device. Based on the network configuration data, the program creates network configuration verification data by excluding data about devices and physical links involved in the determined verification route. This network configuration verification data is used to find a redundant route from the source device to the destination device. The presence of a redundant route corresponding to the verification route means that the network system has good redundancy in its physical connections.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a first image formation mode for forming an image on an image bearing member by using developer under a first predetermined image forming condition and a second image formation mode for forming an image on an image bearing member by using developer under a second image forming condition which is different from the first predetermined image forming condition and is set so that an amount of consumption of developer with respect to an identical image in the second image formation mode is smaller than that in the first image formation mode, the apparatus includes storing means for storing information on an amount of usage of the image bearing member, and control means for changing the second image forming condition in the second image formation mode depending on the information stored in the storing means.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a developer container containing a developer and a developer carrying member for carrying the developer and adapted to switch an AC voltage to be applied to the developer carrying member, the apparatus comprising a detecting member for detecting the amount of developer in the developer container and a processing portion for determining the amount of developer in the developer container according to the value output by the detecting member when the AC voltage is applied to the developer carrying member, the processing portion being adapted to determine the amount of developer by executing a process that corresponds to the operation of switching the AC voltage.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a rotatable, developer carrying body for carrying a one-component developer and a rotatable, agitating member for agitating the one-component developer. The one-component developer is magnetic toner at least containing a bonding resin and magnetic iron oxide. When wettability of the magnetic toner relative to a mixture solution of methanol and water is measured at the transmittance of light having a wavelength of 780 nm, a methanol concentration at the transmittance of 80% is within the range of 45 to 65 volume %, and wherein 0.1?b/a?0.2 is established where a (rps) denotes the rotation speed of the developer carrying body, and b (rps) denotes the rotation speed of the agitating member.

Abstract: A developing blade member for regulating a thickness of a layer of a developer on a peripheral surface of a rotatable developing roller enclosing a magnet roller, wherein a scraper for scraping the developer toward longitudinally inside of the developing roller is provided at a longitudinal end of the developing roller, the developing blade member including an elastic member for regulating the thickness of the layer of the developer on the peripheral surface of the developing roller; a metal plate for supporting the elastic member; a projection projecting toward the developing roller, the projection being provided at each of longitudinal ends of the metal plate, wherein an inside end of the projection, with respect to the longitudinal direction of the developing roller, is disposed inside of an inside end of the scraper and in a non-image-formation region.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has full- and half-speeds as image forming speeds. In the full-speed mode, a detected voltage value conforming to the electrostatic capacity between a developing roller and plate antenna of a process cartridge is converted to the amount of toner remaining in the apparatus. In the half-speed mode, on the other hand, the amount of remaining toner is found using a value obtained by adding a correction value ? to the detected voltage value conforming to the electrostatic capacity between the developing roller and the plate antenna. As a result, the amount of toner can be sensed accurately even if the electrification conditions of an image carrier change.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus that is capable of forming an image in a plurality of image forming modes that correspond to frequencies of developing bias, a voltage value that reflects the image forming mode and amount of remaining toner is corrected using a correction quantity that conforms to the image forming mode.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus group including a plurality of kinds of image forming apparatuses different in their process speeds, and a cartridge which can be commonly used in a plurality of kinds of image forming apparatuses, when there is provided a cartridge which can be detachably mountable to both a first image forming apparatus and a second image forming apparatus different in their process speeds from the first image forming apparatus, an control operation is carried out such that a difference between a peak-to-peak voltage of an A.C. voltage in a first image forming apparatus main body and a peak-to-peak voltage of an A.C. voltage in a second image forming apparatus main body varies with an increase in amount of used toners in the cartridge. Even when use of the cartridge is changed between the image forming apparatuses in the middle of being used, an image density level of an output image can be maintained nearly constant.

Abstract: When information on a device such as a server, storage, and an FC switch constituting a SNA system is input, these devices are displayed and arranged properly on a screen (S1, S2). When information on a physical path is input by a designer by using this display screen, a virtual SAN system in which the devices are connected by a fiber channel is displayed on the screen (S3). Furthermore, when information on an access path is input by the designer by using the construction image, the access path is additionally displayed on the construction image of the virtual SAN system (S5). Since the construction image of the virtual SAN system is displayed on the screen, the designer can easily create a design drawing while visually checking the SAN system. This can reduce the work load and time required for construction of the SAN system.

Abstract: A developing blade member for regulating a thickness of a layer of a developer on a peripheral surface of a rotatable developing roller enclosing a magnet roller, wherein a scraper for scraping the developer toward longitudinally inside of the developing roller is provided at a longitudinal end of the developing roller. the developing blade member including an elastic member for regulating the thickness of the layer of the developer on the peripheral surface of the developing roller; a metal plate for supporting the elastic member; a projection projecting toward the developing roller, the projection being provided at each of longitudinal ends of the metal plate. wherein an inside end of the projection. with respect to the longitudinal direction of the developing roller, is disposed inside of an inside end of the scraper and in a non-image-formation region.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus that is capable of forming an image in a plurality of image forming modes that correspond to frequencies of developing bias, a voltage value that reflects the image forming mode and amount of remaining toner is corrected using a correction quantity that conforms to the image forming mode.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a developing apparatus includes:

Abstract: An apparatus for assisting the realization of a storage area network (SAN) system is provided. The assisting apparatus includes first and second information input means and plan generating means. The first information input means is provided for inputting device data of the servers, the storages and the fiber channel switches used for the SAN system. The second information input means is provided for inputting information about physical connection among the servers, the storages and the switches. The plan generating means is provided for generating, based on the information inputted through the two information input means, a plan of a virtual storage area network system. The generated plan is visually presented by a display.