Abstract: To provide a waste ink absorber excellent in permeability and retaining performance, a waste ink absorber to be mounted in a waste ink tank to absorb waste ink discharged from a head for ejecting ink, includes, in a state of a single piece of the waste ink absorber not mounted in the waste ink tank, a portion low in density and a portion higher in density as compared with the portion low in density in a direction along a plane surface having a largest surface area.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a transfer roller that has a gripping member that grips a transfer medium; and a transfer medium transport section that has a transfer medium transport surface that sucks the transfer medium upward in a vertical direction and a contact member that contact with the transfer medium, wherein a first position where the transfer medium starts to be sucked, a second position where the transfer medium is released from the gripping member, and a third position where the transfer medium is separated from the image carrier are disposed at positions having the relationship of L<L1+L2, wherein L is the distance between the third position and the first position, L1 is the distance between the third position and the second position, and L2 is the distance between the second position and the first position.

Abstract: The invention presents a drinking water server having a configuration capable of suppressing generation of bacteria in a cold water tank, in a cold water pour tube, and in a pour valve. An opening part (2c) is formed in bottom side of a cold water tank (2), and a straight cold water pour tube (6) disposed horizontally in this opening part (2c) by way of a bent part (6b). An ultraviolet lamp (8) is disposed so as to reach up to a bottom part of the bent part (6b) by way of the opening part (2c) from inside of the cold water tank (2), so that ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet lamp (8) may be emitted uniformly both in the cold water tank (2) and in the duct of the cold water pour tube (6). As a valve body of a cold water pour valve (7), a diaphragm (71) for clogging the leading end of the cold water pour tube (6) is used, and dead angle of ultraviolet rays is eliminated.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the invention includes a carrier solution application roller that rotates centering on a rotary shaft and applies a carrier solution to a transfer roller after an image of a liquid developer including toner and the carrier solution is transferred to a transfer medium, a transfer roller cleaning roller, supported by a cleaning member support portion through a rotary shaft, which removes toner remaining in the transfer roller, and a carrier solution application roller of which the amount of movement is larger than the amount of movement of the transfer roller cleaning roller when the cleaning member support portion is rotated. Even when the transfer roller moves, satisfactory cleaning properties are secured without breaking a mutual positional relationship by facilitating mutual positioning between the transfer roller and the transfer roller cleaning roller.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including: a latent image carrying drum on which a latent image is formed; a charging section that includes a corona charger charging the latent image carrying drum and an air flow duct formed in the corona charger so as to be long in the rotation axis direction of the latent image carrying drum so that air flows in the corona charger; a developing section that is disposed above the air flow duct in the vertical direction, is formed so as to be shorter than the air flow duct in the rotation axis direction of the latent image carrying drum, and develops the latent image formed on the latent image carrying drum by a liquid developing agent including toner and a carrier liquid.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a transfer roller that has a gripping member that grips a transfer medium; and a transfer medium transport section that has a transfer medium transport surface that sucks the transfer medium upward in a vertical direction and a contact member that contact with the transfer medium, wherein a first position where the transfer medium starts to be sucked, a second position where the transfer medium is released from the gripping member, and a third position where the transfer medium is separated from the image carrier are disposed at positions having the relationship of L<L1+L2, wherein L is the distance between the third position and the first position, L1 is the distance between the third position and the second position, and L2 is the distance between the second position and the first position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer belt onto which an image is transferred, a roller around which the transfer belt is wound, a transfer roller that sandwiches the transfer belt with the belt driving roller, a transfer medium transporting unit, a guide portion, and a fixing unit. The transfer roller is arranged to form a transfer nip with the roller, and transfers the image from the transfer belt to a transfer medium. The transfer medium transporting unit vertically upwardly sucks the transfer medium, and transports the transfer medium with the image facing vertically down. The guide portion vertically upwardly sucks the transfer medium transported by the transfer medium transporting unit. The fixing unit has a heating roller and a pressing roller to form a fixing nip, and fixes the image guided by the guide at the fixing nip.

Abstract: A development apparatus includes an anilox roller for supplying liquid developer to a development roller and a supply roller arranged in a developer container and held in contact with the anilox roller to supply the liquid developer to the anilox roller. An AC voltage is applied to the supply roller, and a bias voltage is applied to the development roller. Liquid developer contained in grooves of undulations of an anilox pattern formed on a surface of the anilox roller is applied to the development roller.

Abstract: There is provided a development system comprising a developer carrier member that carries a developer, a developer supply roller that supplies the developer carrier member with the developer, a developer container that stores the developer, a toner compression roller that contacts with the developer carrier member and presses toner against the developer carrier member, the toner included in the developer and a density sensing unit that senses a density of the toner in the developer in the developer container. A condition for the toner compression roller is changed depending on the density of the toner in the developer in the developer container or depending on a type of a recording medium.

Abstract: The invention presents a drinking water server having a configuration capable of suppressing generation of bacteria in a cold water tank, in a cold water pour tube, and in a pour valve. An opening part (2c) is formed in bottom side of a cold water tank (2), and a straight cold water pour tube (6) disposed horizontally in this opening part (2c) by way of a bent part (6b). An ultraviolet lamp (8) is disposed so as to reach up to a bottom part of the bent part (6b) by way of the opening part (2c) from inside of the cold water tank (2), so that ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet lamp (8) may be emitted uniformly both in the cold water tank (2) and in the duct of the cold water pour tube (6). As a valve body of a cold water pour valve (7), a diaphragm (71) for clogging the leading end of the cold water pour tube (6) is used, and dead angle of ultraviolet rays is eliminated.

Abstract: A wire bar is formed by winding a wire, which comprises a first flat portion formed along an overall longitudinal length, around a peripheral surface of a metal core such that the peripheral surface of the metal core and the first flat portion tightly contact with each other. Since this increases the area size of a contact portion where the wire and the metal core contact each other, it is possible to increase the force of static friction which fixes the wire to the metal core. Fixing of the wound wire to the metal core by the strong force of static friction effectively prevents the wound wire from getting deviated.

Abstract: A wire bar is formed by winding a wire, which comprises a first flat portion formed along an overall longitudinal length, around a peripheral surface of a metal core such that the peripheral surface of the metal core and the first flat portion tightly contact with each other. Since this increases the area size of a contact portion where the wire and the metal core contact each other, it is possible to increase the force of static friction which fixes the wire to the metal core. Fixing of the wound wire to the metal core by the strong force of static friction effectively prevents the wound wire from getting deviated.

Abstract: A balanced/unbalanced filter module includes a switch including a first port that inputs and outputs unbalanced signals in a first frequency band, a second port that inputs and outputs unbalanced signals in a second frequency band, and a third port that inputs and outputs unbalanced signals in these two frequency bands. The switch switches a signal path. An unbalanced I/O port of a first filter that passes signals in the first frequency band is connected to the port. A port of a second filter that passes signals in the second frequency band is connected to the port. Individual balanced I/O ports of each of the first and second filters are connected to first and second branch ports with substantially the same electrical length. A balance coil for impedance matching is provided between the first and second branch ports.

Abstract: A wire bar is formed by winding a wire, which comprises a first flat portion formed along an overall longitudinal length, around a peripheral surface of a metal core such that the peripheral surface of the metal core and the first flat portion tightly contact with each other. Since this increases the area size of a contact portion where the wire and the metal core contact each other, it is possible to increase the force of static friction which fixes the wire to the metal core. Fixing of the wound wire to the metal core by the strong force of static friction effectively prevents the wound wire from getting deviated.

Abstract: A balanced/unbalanced filter module includes a switch including a first port that inputs and outputs unbalanced signals in a first frequency band, a second port that inputs and outputs unbalanced signals in a second frequency band, and a third port that inputs and outputs unbalanced signals in these two frequency bands. The switch switches a signal path. An unbalanced I/O port of a first filter that passes signals in the first frequency band is connected to the port. A port of a second filter that passes signals in the second frequency band is connected to the port. Individual balanced I/O ports of each of the first and second filters are connected to first and second branch ports with substantially the same electrical length. A balance coil for impedance matching is provided between the first and second branch ports.

Abstract: A development apparatus includes a development roller for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member by means of a liquid developer, an anilox roller for supplying the liquid developer to the development roller and a supply roller arranged in a developer container for containing the liquid developer and held in contact with the anilox roller to supply the liquid developer to the anilox roller and an AC voltage being applied to the supply roller.

Abstract: There is provided a development system comprising a developer carrier member that carries a developer, a developer supply roller that supplies the developer carrier member with the developer, a developer container that stores the developer, a toner compression roller that contacts with the developer carrier member and presses toner against the developer carrier member, the toner included in the developer and a density sensing unit that senses a density of the toner in the developer in the developer container. A condition for the toner compression roller is changed depending on the density of the toner in the developer in the developer container or depending on a type of a recording medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a toner which can properly ensure elasticity and viscosity after transiting fixing nip, can improve surface smoothness of the fixing surface, fixing strength of a toner and transparency, low temperature fixing ability, and can prevent fattening of characters by using dynamic viscoelastic characteristics more conformable for actual toner behavior in fixation by heating, further provides an image-forming apparatus capable of forming a high quality image while enhancing low temperature fixing ability, realizing oil-less fixation and preventing offset of a toner.

Abstract: Widths of a coating area, a developing agent carrier, a maximum image area and a first cleaning member taken along a second direction are respectively W1, W2, W3 and W4, the following conditions are satisfied: a first condition that W1>W2 is met and in the second direction, the both edges of the developing agent carrier are located on the inner side to the both edges of the coating area, a second condition that W2>W3 is met and in the second direction, the both edges of the image area are located on the inner side to the both edges of the developing agent carrier, and a third condition that W4>W2 is met and in the second direction, the both edges of the developing agent carrier are located on the inner side to the both edges of the first cleaning member.

Abstract: An application roller comprises inclined sections which monotonously extend from central parts of peaks to the bottom of grooves. Hence, a liquid developer (a carrier liquid and toner particles) remaining on wall surfaces of the grooves of the application roller and the like without moving to a developer roller from the application roller, due to its own gravity, moves to the bottom of the grooves while applied upon the developer roller, and stays at inner bottom parts of the grooves. This effectively prevents air from getting trapped in the grooves during carrying of the liquid developer to the grooves, and hence, permits carrying of an appropriate amount of the liquid developer.