Abstract: A forced cooling apparatus (1) for use in the production of a tempered glass sheet includes an air-quench unit (9) for blasting cooling air against opposite surfaces of a glass sheet to quench the glass sheet, the glass sheet having been heated at a predetermined temperature, and a contact quenching unit (10) disposed downstream of the air-quench unit and equipped with a water-retentive member wet with water, the contact quenching unit being operative to cause the water-retentive member to contact the opposite surfaces of the glass sheet to further quench the glass sheet. Also disclosed are a tempered glass sheet producing method in which the forced cooling apparatus may be used and a tempered sheet glass which is produced by using a modified form of the contact quenching unit are also disclosed.

Abstract: There are provided a vacuum glass panel manufacturing method which makes it possible to join a pair of glass plates opposed to each other via spacers while suppressing deformation of the pair of glass plates and suppressing degradation of the strength of the pair of glass plates, and a vacuum glass panel manufactured by the manufacturing method. In a joining process for joining thermally tempered glass plate assemblies 13 and 17, the thermally tempered glass plate assemblies 13 and 17 superposed one upon the other are placed on a panel support 58, and the thermally tempered glass plate assemblies 13 and 17 are heated in their entirety to a predetermined temperature, e.g. to 150° C. or higher, and preferably to 200 to 300° C. Then, the outer peripheral edges of the thermally tempered glass plate assemblies 13 and 17 are locally heated by an irradiation device 59 for irradiation of high-frequency wave to thereby selectively heat and remelt a linear protrusion 16.

Abstract: An image forming method comprising steps of forming a toner image by developing by a toner a latent image on a photoreceptor comprised of a layer formed on a substrate, transferring the toner image onto a recording medium on which the toner image is recorded and fixing, wherein the average circular degree of the toner is not less than 0.94, and the toner contains a wax comprising an ester of a carboxylic acid having carbon atoms of not less than 16 or an ester of an alcohol having carbon atoms of not less than 16, and the layer is a layer to be contacted to the toner in the developing step and contains an inorganic fine particles having a number average of primary particle diameter of approximately not less than 1 nm and less than 100 nm.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus whereby it is possible to prevent unevenness in developing density caused by misalignment between the central axes of a driven side rotational coupling section for rotating a developer carrier and a drive side rotational coupling section for transmitting rotational drive force to the driven side rotational coupling section. The driven side rotational coupling section is fixed and the position thereof can be corrected slightly, by engaging the driven side rotational coupling section with a drive side rotational coupling section. A transmission gear is provided which meshes with the driven side rotational coupling section and transmits rotational drive force used to move the surface of the developer carrier. By means of an axle provided on at least one end of the transmission gear engaging with a positioning member on the main body of the image forming apparatus, the developer carrier is positioned in the main body of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming method includes: forming an electrostatic latent image after charging an organic photoconductor; and developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image by bringing a developer containing toner and a carrier having a weight average particle size (D4) of 20 to 50 ?m into contact with the organic photoconductor comprising a photosensitive layer and a protective layer which is provided when needed, a total thickness of the photosensitive layer and the protective layer being 5 to 15 ?m.

Abstract: This invention relates to forming a complex shape glass (10) by bending a horizontal sheet glass (21) in a longitudinal direction and a cross direction. As a heated sheet glass pinched by multiple straight rollers (30, 30) consisting of upper-lower pairs disposed on a curved conveying path is carried in a downstream direction the sheet glass is bent along the curved conveying path. In a next step, the sheet glass curved in the conveying direction is bent in the conveying direction and in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction by a convex forming roller with its center bulging in a curve (33, 35, 83) and a concave forming roller with its center waisted in a curve (34, 36, 82), and a complex shape glass is obtained.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a frame body, a frame cover supported by the frame body so as to be capable of opening and closing, an image forming unit that forms a toner image on an image carrier, a cleaning unit that removes and collects residual toner from the image carrier, and a toner container for accumulating the toner collected by the cleaning unit. The toner container is supported by the frame cover.

Abstract: An bent glass sheet producing apparatus (20) has a heating furnace (21) in a heating zone (Z1), a preliminary forming mechanism (25) in a preliminary forming zone (Z2) downstream of the heating zone (Z1), a two-directional bending mechanism (30) and a conveyor roller mechanism (40) in a forming zone (Z3) downstream of the preliminary forming zone (Z2), and a cooling mechanism (50) in a cooling zone (Z4) downstream of the forming zone (Z3). For a purpose of conveying a two-directionally bent glass sheet formed by the two-directional bending mechanism, the conveyor roller mechanism (40) includes a plurality of conveyor rollers (41) having an arcuate shape of a radius (R2) in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the glass sheet, the conveyor rollers (41) being arranged on an arcuate line having a radius in the conveyance direction.

Abstract: A glass panel comprising a pair of glass plates opposed to each other with a void defined therebetween, a joining seal member for joining and sealing the glass plates at peripheries thereof, a communicating bore formed in one of the glass plates for communicating with the void and a lid member adhered to the bored glass plate having the communicating bore by a thermally meltable seal member to seal the communicating bore. The lid member is made of a material having a thermal expansion coefficient smaller than a thermal expansion coefficient of the bored glass plate. The glass panel is capable of restraining cracks and breaks from generating in the bored glass plate when the lid member is adhered to the bored glass plate by the thermally meltable seal member.

Abstract: A glass panel comprising a pair of glass sheets (1, 2) disposed with respective faces thereof confronting each other in face-to-face relationship with a gap (V) therebetween and with peripheral edges of the glass sheets (1, 2) being bonded with a bonding sealant (4) to be sealed thereby; an evacuating port (5) for evacuating gas present within said gap (V) to the outside; and a getter (7) for coming into contact with the gas within said gap (V), wherein said evacuating port (5) includes a getter-retaining space (6) for retaining said getter (7) therein, said port (5) being formed in one (1) of said pair of glass sheets (1, 2), said getter (7) being retained within said getter-retaining space (6), said evacuating port (5) being closed and sealed by means of a lid (8).

Abstract: A toner container contains a powdery toner. A powder pump conveys the toner in the toner container to a substantially closed, certain location using negative pressure. A toner conveyance tube conveys the toner from the container to the powder pump. An air pump supplies air into the toner container. An on/off valve opens and closes the toner conveyance tube.

Abstract: A developing device for an image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a developer carrier for depositing toner on a latent image formed on an image carrier to thereby produce a toner image. A toner feeding member is rotatable in contact with the developer carrier to thereby feed the toner to the developer carrier. A metering member contacts the developer carrier for metering the toner deposited on the developer carrier while a regulating member regulates the toner deposited on the toner feeding member. During development, the developer carrier is rotated such that its surface moves vertically upward at a position where the surface faces an image carrier, while the toner feeding member is rotated such that its surface moves in the same direction as the surface of the developer carrier at a position where the toner feeding member faces the developer carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a Mylar sheet affixed at one edge portion and including a flat surface in the other edge portion. The flat surface is formed with a plurality of grooves each extending over the image forming range of a photoconductive drum perpendicularly to the direction in which the surface of the drum moves. The Mylar sheet is deformed such that the flat portion contacts the surface of the drum. In this condition, the downstream edges of the grooves in the above direction shave off the surface of the drum a plurality of times during one rotation of the drum, thereby obviating filming on the drum.

Abstract: Glass sheet, accurately curved in two directions and having a compound curved surface, provides a non-cylindrical, non-spherical, smooth, continuous reflection image. When it is used as a door window pane, a smooth opening/closing by a simple mechanism is ensured, and a high degree of freedom in a moving direction is provided. This shape, although unable to be accurately formed by a conventional press molding method, can be achieved by a glass sheet bending method using a heat-resisting belt.

Abstract: A heated glass sheet is bent by pressing together with at least one belt made of a heat-resistant material against a bending member. The glass sheet is bent as the glass sheet is conveyed with the belt along the bending member, and the bending member is curved at least in a direction that is vertical to a conveying direction of the glass sheet. According to this invention, the bent glass sheets having surfaces on which defects such as mark of rollers are reduced can be produced efficiently.

Abstract: A client computer, server computer, network ranking system, network ranking method, task processing method and recording medium is provided allowing even experienced players to keep a feeling of tension and allowing even beginners to have chances to be ranked high. It is possible to set to only one the number of times the play result of a computer game issued as a task from the server computer 14 to each client computer 10, etc. can be registered for one day. This allows even experienced players to experience a feeling of tension that no retry is possible. On the other hand, this also allows beginners to maintain their interest in the computer game because their play results, however low they may be, also have chances to be ranked high.

Abstract: A toner container contains a powdery toner. A powder pump conveys the toner in the toner container to a substantially closed, certain location using negative pressure. A toner conveyance tube conveys the toner from the container to the powder pump. An air pump supplies air into the toner container. An on/off valve opens and closes the toner conveyance tube.

Abstract: A developing device for an image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a developer carrier for depositing toner on a latent image formed on an image carrier to thereby produce a toner image. A toner feeding member is rotatable in contact with the developer carrier to thereby feed the toner to the developer carrier. A metering member contacts the developer carrier for metering the toner deposited on the developer carrier while a regulating member regulates the toner deposited on the toner feeding member. During development, the developer carrier is rotated such that its surface moves vertically upward at a position where the surface faces an image carrier, while the toner feeding member is rotated such that its surface moves in the same direction as the surface of the developer carrier at a position where the toner feeding member faces the developer carrier.

Abstract: An apparatus including a development agent carrying member, a toner container having an opening, an initial development agent container, a flexible member, and a stopper. The flexible member rotates to cyclically transfer toner to the carrying member via the opening. The stopper locates the flexible member at a closed position where the opening is closed. The flexible member is initially located at the closed position and releases the opening when the development agent is present on a surface of the carrying member facing the opening. A method of image forming is provided that includes sealing the opening by engaging the flexible member with the stopper, filling the toner container, supplying a development agent to the carrying member at a surface of the development agent facing the opening, and releasing the opening to start supplying the toner to the carrying member through the opening by rotation of the flexible member.

Abstract: A developing apparatus for use in an image forming apparatus includes a developer bearing member having a magnetic field generating device internally and configured to bear and convey two-component developer including toner and magnetic carrier, a first regulating member configured to regulate an amount of the developer born and conveyed by the developer bearing member, a developer container section for storing the developer scraped off by the first regulating member, a second regulating member arranged upstream of the first regulating member in a conveying direction of the developer on the developer bearing member, and a toner container section for supplying toner to the developer bearing member. The developing apparatus changes a toner take-in condition of the developer on the developer bearing member by changing a contact condition between the developer and the toner according to a change of a toner density of the developer on the developer bearing member.