Abstract: A particulate sensor can reduce the amount of floating ions discharged from the interior of a gas introduction pipe to the outside through a gas discharge opening, without providing an auxiliary electrode member which applies to the floating ions a repulsive force toward the gas introduction pipe to thereby assist the collection of the floating ions by the gas introduction pipe. The particulate sensor has an collection member which is connected to a gas introduction pipe to thereby be maintained at a collection potential and is disposed in the interior of the gas introduction pipe to be located between a forward end of the discharge electrode member and a gas discharge opening such that the forward end of the discharge electrode member cannot be visually recognized from the outside of the gas introduction pipe through the gas discharge opening.

Abstract: A particulate detection system (10, 1010) includes a sensor section (100) and a sensor drive section (300). A flow EIF of a measurement target gas EI passes through the sensor section, and an amount M of particulates S is detected. The sensor section (100) includes an ion applying section (100e) which generates ions CP, discharges ion-adhering electrified particulates SC, and collects unadhered ions CPF. The sensor drive section includes a sensor current value obtainment section (530) for obtaining a sensor current value Ss corresponding to the amount QH of flowed out charge, a flow velocity obtainment section (510) for obtaining, the flow velocity Vg of the external gas flow, and a particulate amount obtainment section (550, 1550) for obtaining the amount M of particulates S. The influence of flow velocity Vg is mitigated using the sensor current value Ss and the flow velocity Vg.

Abstract: A particle detection system (1) includes a particle sensor (10) having a detection section (11) exposed to a gas under measurement EG. The particle sensor (10) includes an insulating member (121, 100), and a heater section (150, 105) for heating at least a portion of the gas contact surface (121s, 101s) of the insulating member (121, 100). The particle detection system (1) includes adhesive restraining energization means (225, 223, S4, S10) for heating the gas contact surface (121s, 101s) to an adhesion restraining temperature Td at which adhesion of the particles S to the gas contact surface (121s, 101s) is restrained as compared with the case where the heater section is not energized, wherein adhering particles SA which are particles adhering to the gas contact surface (121s, 101s) burn at the particle burning temperature Tb.

Abstract: A particulate sensor (1) includes an ion source (15) and a reference potential member (45). The particulate sensor (1) detects particulates S contained in a gas under measurement EG by means of ions CP. The ion source (15) includes a ceramic structure (100) having a ceramic laminate (101) and a discharge electrode member (110). The discharge electrode member (110) has an inter-layer portion (112A, 111) embedded between the layers of the ceramic laminate (101) and an exposed portion (112B) extending from the inter-layer portion (112A, 111) to a position outside the ceramic laminate (101). The discharge electrode member (110) generates the gaseous discharge between the reference potential member (45) and the exposed portion (112B) including one or more needle-shaped distal end portions (1125) upon application of a constant DC discharge potential PV2.

Abstract: A particulate detection system (10, 1010) includes a sensor section (100) and a sensor drive section (300). A flow EIF of a measurement target gas EI passes through the sensor section, and an amount M of particulates S is detected. The sensor section (100) includes an ion applying section (100e) which generates ions CP, discharges ion-adhering electrified particulates SC, and collects unadhered ions CPF. The sensor drive section includes a sensor current value obtainment section (530) for obtaining a sensor current value Ss corresponding to the amount QH of flowed out charge, a flow velocity obtainment section (510) for obtaining, the flow velocity Vg of the external gas flow, and a particulate amount obtainment section (550, 1550) for obtaining the amount M of particulates S. The influence of flow velocity Vg is mitigated using the sensor current value Ss and the flow velocity Vg.

Abstract: A particulate sensor can reduce the amount of floating ions discharged from the interior of a gas introduction pipe to the outside through a gas discharge opening, without providing an auxiliary electrode member which applies to the floating ions a repulsive force toward the gas introduction pipe to thereby assist the collection of the floating ions by the gas introduction pipe. The particulate sensor has an collection member which is connected to a gas introduction pipe to thereby be maintained at a collection potential and is disposed in the interior of the gas introduction pipe to be located between a forward end of the discharge electrode member and a gas discharge opening such that the forward end of the discharge electrode member cannot be visually recognized from the outside of the gas introduction pipe through the gas discharge opening.

Abstract: A particle detection system (1) includes a particle sensor (10) having a detection section (11) exposed to a gas under measurement EG. The particle sensor (10) includes an insulating member (121, 100), and a heater section (150, 105) for heating at least a portion of the gas contact surface (121s, 101s) of the insulating member (121, 100). The particle detection system (1) includes adhesive restraining energization means (225, 223, S4, S10) for heating the gas contact surface (121s, 101s) to an adhesion restraining temperature Td at which adhesion of the particles S to the gas contact surface (121s, 101s) is restrained as compared with the case where the heater section is not energized, wherein adhering particles SA which are particles adhering to the gas contact surface (121s, 101s) burn at the particle burning temperature Tb.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to securely close a discharge port of a toner cartridge by a shutter. The shutter to close the discharge port is provided with shutter-side coupling portions. A toner cartridge holding member is provided with holding member-side coupling portions which are coupled with the shutter-side coupling portions and close the discharge port by sliding the shutter according to movement of a toner accommodating portion, holding coupling portions to restrict movement of the toner cartridge in a direction in which coupling of the holding member-side coupling portions is released, and holding member-side inducing portions which induces the toner cartridge in a direction in which coupling with the shutter-side coupling portions is released after the discharge port is closed.

Abstract: A particulate sensor (1) includes an ion source (15) and a reference potential member (45). The particulate sensor (1) detects particulates S contained in a gas under measurement EG by means of ions CP. The ion source (15) includes a ceramic structure (100) having a ceramic laminate (101) and a discharge electrode member (110). The discharge electrode member (110) has an inter-layer portion (112A, 111) embedded between the layers of the ceramic laminate (101) and an exposed portion (112B) extending from the inter-layer portion (112A, 111) to a position outside the ceramic laminate (101). The discharge electrode member (110) generates the gaseous discharge between the reference potential member (45) and the exposed portion (112B) including one or more needle-shaped distal end portions (1125) upon application of a constant DC discharge potential PV2.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to securely close a discharge port of a toner cartridge by a shutter. The shutter to close the discharge port is provided with shutter-side coupling portions. A toner cartridge holding member is provided with holding member-side coupling portions which are coupled with the shutter-side coupling portions and close the discharge port by sliding the shutter according to movement of a toner accommodating portion, holding coupling portions to restrict movement of the toner cartridge in a direction in which coupling of the holding member-side coupling portions is released, and holding member-side inducing portions which induces the toner cartridge in a direction in which coupling with the shutter-side coupling portions is released after the discharge port is closed.

Abstract: A developer supplying device includes an inflow path; a guide path having an inlet to which a lower end of the inflow path is connected, the guide path extending diagonally downward from the inlet, the guide path guiding the developer to a developing unit; and a transport unit disposed in the guide path, the transport unit including a helical screw blade and a holder that holds the helical screw blade, the transport unit transporting the developer to the developing unit by rotating. In at least a part of a region in the guide path facing the inlet, a pitch of the helical screw blade in a horizontal direction is greater than or equal to a width of the inlet, and the holder is located at a position displaced from the rotation axis of the transport unit.

Abstract: A developer supplying device includes an inflow path; a guide path having an inlet to which a lower end of the inflow path is connected, the guide path extending diagonally downward from the inlet, the guide path guiding the developer to a developing unit; and a transport unit disposed in the guide path, the transport unit including a helical screw blade and a holder that holds the helical screw blade, the transport unit transporting the developer to the developing unit by rotating. In at least a part of a region in the guide path facing the inlet, a pitch of the helical screw blade in a horizontal direction is greater than or equal to a width of the inlet, and the holder is located at a position displaced from the rotation axis of the transport unit.

Abstract: An opening/closing member is movable between an open position in which a passage opening through which developer passes is open and a closed position in which the passage opening is closed. The opening/closing member includes a protrusion that protrudes toward an edge of the passage opening with respect to a scrape limiting portion, the protrusion being disposed on each of two sides with respect to a direction that is perpendicular to directions of movement between the open position and the closed position. A front end of the opening/closing member in a closing direction from the open position to the closed position is disposed so as to be separated from a surface of the edge of the passage opening.

Abstract: A removable member-holding device is provided and includes: a pull-out member that is supported so as to be movable between an accommodation position and a pull-out position; a rotatable holder that is supported by the pull-out member so as to be rotatable around a rotation shaft and supported so as to be movable integrally with the pull-out member, and that holds a removable member which is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body, the rotatable holder being movable between an insertion possible position where the pull-out member is movable from the pull-out position toward the accommodation position and an inclined position where the rotatable holder rotates downward in a direction of a gravity around the rotation shaft and is inclined with respect to the insertion possible position; and a regulating member that is disposed at the rotation shaft of the rotatable holder to lessen a movement speed of the rotatable holder when rotationally moving to the inclined position.

Abstract: A conveyor includes a rotation shaft and a plurality of convey members provided along an axial direction of the rotation shaft, wherein at least one part of the plurality of convey members is an arc convey member that includes: an arc part having an outer periphery that forms an arc forming a part of a spiral so that an angle between two perpendiculars extended from two ends of the arc is smaller than 360°; and a support part that supports the arc part, with the outer periphery of the arc part inclined to the axial direction of the rotation shaft.

Abstract: An accommodating container includes: a container main body that has an opening at a part thereof; a cap member; and a seal member, wherein the seal member includes a plurality of seal abutment pieces that abut on a wall surface of the cap member or a wall surface of the container main body, and are elastically deformable, and at least one of the seal abutment pieces is arranged in non-contact with the wall surface of the cap member or the wall surface of the container main body in a first state before the cap member is attached to the container main body, and is arranged in contact with the wall surface of the cap member or the wall surface of the container main body in a second state where the cap member has been attached in an attachment position of the container main body.

Abstract: An accommodating vessel, which is detachably attached to a vessel receiving part of a casing of an image forming device to accommodate an image forming material, the accommodating vessel including: a vessel main body that includes a tubular part; a cover member that includes a fitted part; at least one positioned protrusion; and at least one positioned positioning protrusion, wherein the at least one positioned protrusion includes: a guide protrusion that extends in a rotating direction of the cover member; and a plurality of rotation stop protrusions that extends in opposite directions to each other relative to the guide protrusion along a pushing and pulling direction of the cover member, and Wherein the positioning protrusion includes a stop wall that abuts on the guide protrusion and the plurality of rotation stop protrusions of the at least one positioned protrusion to be stopped.