Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a sulfonium salt that has sufficient photosensitivity by active energy rays, such as visible light, ultraviolet rays, electron beams, and X-rays. The present invention is a sulfonium salt represented by formula (1). It is noted that R1 is a group represented by formula (2); R2 and R3 each represent an aryl group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, a heterocyclic hydrocarbon group having 4 to 30 carbon atoms, an alkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 2 to 30 carbon atoms, or an alkynyl group having 2 to 30 carbon atoms; X? represents a monovalent polyatomic anion; R4 to R6 each represent an alkyl group, or the like; k represents an integer of 0 to 4; m represents an integer of 0 to 3; n represents an integer of 0 to 4; and A represents a group represented by —S—, —O—, —SO—, —SO2—, or —CO—.

Abstract: The invention provides a developing device, a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus that allow preventing abrupt variations in toner charge on a developing roller, caused by intrusion, into a nip, of toner accumulated above a regulating member of the developing device. A developing device using a one-component developer includes: a supply roller to which one-component developer is replenished, by natural motion, from a developer storing section. The bottom of the developing device is of a size that allows the supply roller to rotate. The developing device further comprises a filling member for filling a space above the regulating member, in order to prevent the toner located above the regulating member from intruding into a nip formed between the supply roller and a developing roller.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a photobase generator capable of efficiently generating amines (tertiary amines and amidine) high in catalytic activity by sensing light with a wavelength of from 350 to 500 nm (especially, from 400 to 500 nm). The present invention is a photobase generator characterized in being represented by general formula (1) or (2). Y+ is a quaternary ammonio group of general formula (3) to (5), and X? is a counter anion selected from among a borate anion, a phenolate anion, and a carboxylate anion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided and includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on an image carrier with a transparent material and a coloring material; a controller that controls an order of an image forming with the transparent material and an image forming with the coloring material to be different between in an image portion and in a non-image portion in an image forming region on the image carrier; and a transferring unit that transfers the image formed on the image carrier onto a recording medium

Abstract: A developing unit for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier includes a developer carrier, a developer regulator, and a sealing member. The developer carrier bears a developer, and is disposed facing the image carrier at a first position. The developer regulator regulates an amount of the developer, and is disposed facing the developer carrier at a second position upstream of the developer carrier in a moving direction thereof relative to the first position. The sealing member comes into contact with the image carrier at a third position upstream of the image carrier in a moving direction thereof relative to the first position. Therefore, gas is prevented from flowing from an outside area of the developing unit into an area defined by the second position to the third position.

Abstract: A first printed wiring board extends in the vertical direction within a first duct that extends in the vertical direction. A first axial flow fan generates airflow which absorbs heat from the first printed wiring board. Second and third ducts extends in parallel with the first duct. A fourth duct extends between the second and third ducts. A second printed wiring board extends in the horizontal direction within the fourth duct. A second axial flow fan is connected to the third duct. The second axial flow fan generates airflow which absorbs heat from the second printed wiring board. The electronic apparatus can be reduced in size.

Abstract: A powder supplying device includes a powder container frame, a powder container detachably installable in the powder container frame horizontally and including a container body in which a discharge port through which powder is discharged from the container body is formed, a shutter member attached to the container body to open and close the discharge port by moving along the container body in a direction in which the powder container is installed, and at least one shutter control member movably attached to the powder container frame. The shutter control member opens and closes the shutter member by moving together with the powder container as the powder container is fitted into and pulled out from the powder container frame.

Abstract: A development device includes a screw conveyer to convey powder contained in a development casing in a direction along a shaft of the screw conveyer, a bearing in which the screw conveyer is inserted, a cylindrical member provided around the screw conveyer and disposed between the screw conveyer and the bearing, the cylindrical member including a flange portion that projects from the cylindrical member toward an outside diameter of the shaft of the screw conveyer, and a powder pressure disperser to reduce pressure of the powder transported by the screw conveyer provided upstream from the flange portion in a direction in which the screw conveyer conveys the toner, the powder pressure disperser provided around and extending outward in directions perpendicular to the shaft of the screw conveyer and having an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of the flange portion.

Abstract: To obtain a polymerization initiator (acid generating agent) having excellent power for initiation of cationic polymerization without containing arsenic or antimony. Provided is a specific onium salt or transition metal complex salt of a fluorinated alkyl fluorophosphoric acid.

Abstract: A monosulfonium salt in which very little unreacted raw material remains, which has a purity of at least 96%, and which has one sulfonio group in its molecule is manufactured without a refining step. After (a) an aryl compound, (b) a sulfoxide compound, (c) a dehydrating agent, and (d) a BF4, PF6, AsF6, or SbF6 salt of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal are introduced into a reaction system, (e) an inorganic acid is added, so that the aryl compound (a) and the sulfoxide compound (b) are subjected to dehydration condensation.

Abstract: An image developer, including a rotatable developer bearer; a rotatable developer feeding member contacting the developer bearer; a developer container located above the developer feeding member, wherein the developer container includes a pressure reducing member configured to reduce a pressure applied to the developer feeding member; and a first stirring bar located directly below the pressure reducing member and configured to stir a developer such that a gap between an end of the pressure reducing member and an outer diameter of the stirring bar is 6 mm.

Abstract: A simple method for bonding a heatsink for improving heat-radiating efficiency, comprising the steps of sticking a double-sided adhesive tape to an end portion on an adhesion surface of at least either the heatsink or the semiconductor device; applying an adhesive onto the adhesion surface of at least either the heatsink or the semiconductor device; bringing the end portion into contact with a corresponding portion of the other one of the heatsink or the semiconductor device; and turning at least either the heatsink or the semiconductor device with the contacting portion as a rotation center to bond together the adhesion surfaces of the heatsink and the semiconductor device.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably attached to an image forming apparatus includes a first subunit, a second subunit, a first positioning member, and a second positioning member. The first subunit accommodates a photoconductor therein. The second subunit accommodates a developer applicator therein. The photoconductor and the developer applicator are arranged substantially parallel to each other to define a development gap therebetween. The first positioning member is fastened to both the first and second subunits to position ends of the photoconductor and the developer applicator on a first side of the respective subunits. The second positioning member is fastened to only one of the first and second subunits to position ends of the photoconductor and the developer applicator on a second side of the respective subunits opposite to the first side. An image forming apparatus employing such a process cartridge is also disclosed.

Abstract: A core bar for a rubber crawler capable of enhancing the durability of the rubber crawler by preventing an end-cutting phenomenon in which cracking is generated at the end of the core bar in a crawler lateral direction of the core bar embedded in the rubber crawler when the rubber crawler rides over a curbstone at the road shoulder of a paved road, stones and obstacles on irregular ground, and is pressed in a lateral direction. In the core bar (1) constituting the rubber crawler (3) and embedded in a rubber crawler body (3a), an enlarged width part (2) is formed by elongating the longitudinal end part of the core bar (1) beyond the width dimension of the core bar.

Abstract: A developer carrier is provided in a rotatable manner. A layer-thickness control member makes a layer thickness of a developer carried on the developer carrier uniform. An accelerated agglomeration degree of the developer is equal to or less than 40%. The layer-thickness control member is formed with a blade. An angle between a rolling direction of the blade and a rotating direction of the developer carrier is set to 5 degrees to 80 degrees.

Abstract: A powder conveyance device includes a powder conveyance pipe having a first conveyance section communicating with the powder container section and having a supply inlet to receive powder from a powder container. A second conveyance section is provided in the powder conveyance pipe to communicate downstream with the first conveyance section via a first bending section. The second conveyance section downwardly extends to the conveyance destination being inclined from a horizontal at a larger angle than the first conveyance section. A third conveyance section is also provided in the powder conveyance pipe to communicate downstream with the second conveyance section via a second bending section. The third conveyance section extends toward the conveyance destination being inclined from the horizontal at a smaller angle than the second conveyance section. The third conveyance section has a replenishment outlet for replenishing the powder from the powder conveyance pipe to the powder conveyance destination.

Abstract: Airflow is introduced into an enclosure through an air inlet in an electronic component unit. The airflow runs toward a first electronic component. The airflow absorbs heat from the first electronic component. The first electronic component is thus sufficiently cooled. A second electronic component is mounted on a printed wiring board at a position remoter from the air inlet than the position of the first electronic component. An air intake opening is formed in the enclosure. The air intake opening is defined at a section of the enclosure opposed to the printed wiring board at least between the first and second electronic components. Airflow is introduced toward the second electronic component through the air intake opening. The second electronic opening is thus sufficiently cooled. In this manner, the first and second electronic components are cooled equally to the utmost.

Abstract: A developer bearing member on which grooves slanting in a thrust direction of the developer bearing member cross other grooves reversely slanting relative to the thrust direction, wherein each of the grooves and the reversely slanting grooves is slanting at an angle of greater than 0° and not greater than 40°. Any two adjacent intersections of the grooves and the reversely slanting grooves in the thrust (or peripheral) direction are preferably on different levels in the peripheral (or thrust) direction. The distance between two adjacent intersections in the thrust direction is preferably from 1.3 mm to 4.8 mm. The distance between two adjacent intersections in the thrust direction is preferably from 0.38 Vd/Vi (mm) to 1.1 Vd/Vi (mm). The deviation in depth of grooves present on a 36° arc surface portion of the member is not greater than 15% of the gap between the image bearing member and the developer bearing member.

Abstract: Disclosed is a low cost, efficient method for production of a salt composed of an arylsulfonium and a fluorinated alkylfluorophosphate which method does not required a large excess amount of acid. The method comprises reacting an aryl compound Ar—H and with a compound represented by the formula (I), wherein R1 and R2 denote a hydrocarbon group or a heterocycle group which may be substituted, or they are bonded with each other directly or via —O—, —S—, —SO—, —SO2—, —NH—, —NR?—, —CO—, —COO—, —CONH—, an alkylene group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or a phenylene group to form a ring structure which may be substituted, wherein R? denotes a C1-5 alkyl group or a C6-10 aryl group; in the presence of an acid represented by the formula (2), wherein Rf denotes an alkyl group 80% or more of whose hydrogen atoms are substituted by fluorine atoms, “a” is an integer of 1 to 5; and a dehydrating agent to produce the salt of sulfonium represented by the formula (3).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a crystal oriented ceramics is disclosed. The method comprises preparing step, mixing step, shaping step and sintering method. At least one of anisotropically shaped powder, used as raw material, and a compact, formed by shaping step, is selected to have an orientation degree of 80% or more with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 15° or less according to a rocking curve method. A microscopic powder, having an average grain diameter one-third or less that of anisotropically shaped powder, is prepared for mixing therewith to prepare raw material mixture. The raw material mixture is shaped into the compact so as to allow oriented planes of anisotropically shaped powder to be oriented in a nearly identical direction. In a sintering step, anisotropically shaped powder and microscopic powder are sintered with each other to obtain the crystal oriented ceramics.