Abstract: An applying device includes an applying member and a contact member. The applying member applies voltage to an image bearing member and has an elastic layer and an endless surface layer. The elastic layer is disposed facing the image bearing member, is rotatable about a rotation axis, and is composed of a foam material. The surface layer surrounds an outer periphery of the elastic layer, is supported by the elastic layer in a non-bonded state, and is rotatable together therewith. The contact member comes into contact with the surface layer at an upstream side, in a rotational direction of the applying member, relative to an imaginary line segment connecting a rotation axis of the image bearing member and the rotation axis of the applying member, so as to apply tension to the surface layer at a contact position between the image bearing member and the applying member.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image holder that is provided to be rotatable, and a charging member that includes a charging member main body and a cover member, in which an outer circumferential surface of the cover member is disposed to be in contact with the image holder, and that charges the image holder, wherein a circumferential speed of one member of the rotating image holder and the rotating charging member main body is greater than a circumferential speed of the other member, and wherein the cover member moves to follow a movement of the one member at a contact portion where the cover member and the image holder come into contact with each other, and a portion of the cover member that is positioned on an upstream side of the contact portion is drawn toward a downstream side.

Abstract: A charging device includes a charging member and a cleaning member. The charging member is driven and rotated while in contact with an outer peripheral surface of an image carrier which rotates, and charges the image carrier. The cleaning member is driven and rotated while in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the charging member and cleans the outer peripheral surface of the charging member. In the charging device, a radius of the charging member is less than a radius of the cleaning member.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image holder that is mounted at a predetermined mount position, a charging member that charges the image holder, a cleaning member that cleans the charging member, a holding member that holds the charging member and the cleaning member, includes a mount section on which the cleaning member is mounted, is urged toward the image holder side, and recedes when the image holder is mounted at the predetermined mount position, and a drop-out prevention section that is disposed at a position facing the mount section which is included in the holding member at a receding position and that prevents the cleaning member from dropping out from the mount section.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image holder that is provided to be rotatable, and a charging member that includes a charging member main body and a cover member, in which an outer circumferential surface of the cover member is disposed to be in contact with the image holder, and that charges the image holder, wherein a circumferential speed of one member of the rotating image holder and the rotating charging member main body is greater than a circumferential speed of the other member, and wherein the cover member moves to follow a movement of the one member at a contact portion where the cover member and the image holder come into contact with each other, and a portion of the cover member that is positioned on an upstream side of the contact portion is drawn toward a downstream side.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image holder that is mounted at a predetermined mount position, a charging member that charges the image holder, a cleaning member that cleans the charging member, a holding member that holds the charging member and the cleaning member, includes a mount section on which the cleaning member is mounted, is urged toward the image holder side, and recedes when the image holder is mounted at the predetermined mount position, and a drop-out prevention section that is disposed at a position facing the mount section which is included in the holding member at a receding position and that prevents the cleaning member from dropping out from the mount section.

Abstract: An applying device includes an applying member and a contact member. The applying member applies voltage to an image bearing member and has an elastic layer and an endless surface layer. The elastic layer is disposed facing the image bearing member, is rotatable about a rotation axis, and is composed of a foam material. The surface layer surrounds an outer periphery of the elastic layer, is supported by the elastic layer in a non-bonded state, and is rotatable together therewith. The contact member comes into contact with the surface layer at an upstream side, in a rotational direction of the applying member, relative to an imaginary line segment connecting a rotation axis of the image bearing member and the rotation axis of the applying member, so as to apply tension to the surface layer at a contact position between the image bearing member and the applying member.

Abstract: A charging device includes a charging member and a cleaning member. The charging member is driven and rotated while in contact with an outer peripheral surface of an image carrier which rotates, and charges the image carrier. The cleaning member is driven and rotated while in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the charging member and cleans the outer peripheral surface of the charging member. In the charging device, a radius of the charging member is less than a radius of the cleaning member.

Abstract: A cleaning member has a core member that is freely rotatable, a cleaning material that is spirally wound around an outer peripheral surface of the core member, and holding members. The holding members hold end portions of the cleaning material by the end portions being nipped between the holding members and the outer peripheral surface of the core member. An opening is provided in each of the holding members. Each of the openings is continuously open in line with an axial direction of the core member, and the cleaning material is exposed from the openings.

Abstract: A cleaning member has a core member that is freely rotatable, a cleaning material that is spirally wound around an outer peripheral surface of the core member, and holding members. The holding members hold end portions of the cleaning material by the end portions being nipped between the holding members and the outer peripheral surface of the core member. An opening is provided in each of the holding members. Each of the openings is continuously open in line with an axial direction of the core member, and the cleaning material is exposed from the openings.

Abstract: A developing device comprises: a case having a developing opening; a cylindrical-shaped developer carry member disposed exposed in part to the developing opening, and rotatable for holding and carrying a developer; and a magnet member disposed fixed within the developer carry member and comprising two or more magnetic poles including a developing magnetic pole and a developer peel-off magnetic pole. In such portion of the case that not only is opposed to the outer peripheral surface of the developer carry member after it passes through the developing area but also corresponds to an area which extends from the developing magnetic pole in the rotation direction up to the developer peel-off magnetic pole and provides a normal direction magnetic flux density of 20 mT or less, a projecting portion where a clearance between its opposed portion and the outer peripheral surface of the developer carry member becomes narrowest is formed.

Abstract: Image data of a document generated by a key business terminal or a key business server is sent to a database management server, and this image data and the description contents of the document represented by this image data are stored to a freight tracking information database base. Image data and data of the description contents of the document stored in the freight tracking information database are viewed or searched by an authenticated operator who operates a user terminal. Image data representing the progress of transport of goods is sent to the user terminal from the database management server according to the operator's instruction, and an image represented by this image data is displayed by the user terminal.

Abstract: A developing device comprises: a case having a developing opening; a cylindrical-shaped developer carry member disposed exposed in part to the developing opening, and rotatable for holding and carrying a developer; and a magnet member disposed fixed within the developer carry member and comprising two or more magnetic poles including a developing magnetic pole and a developer peel-off magnetic pole. In such portion of the case that not only is opposed to the outer peripheral surface of the developer carry member after it passes through the developing area but also corresponds to an area which extends from the developing magnetic pole in the rotation direction up to the developer peel-off magnetic pole and provides a normal direction magnetic flux density of 20 mT or less, a projecting portion where a clearance between its opposed portion and the outer peripheral surface of the developer carry member becomes narrowest is formed.

Abstract: Regulatory member having a groove formed therein is provided at area where toner storage chamber and toner stirring chamber are in communication with each other. A quantity of toner supplied from toner storage chamber to toner stirring chamber is regulated by rotating regulatory member. Groove is formed in regulatory member.

Abstract: Regulatory member having a groove formed therein is provided at area where toner storage chamber and toner stirring chamber are in communication with each other. a quantity of toner supplied from toner storage chamber to toner stirring chamber is regulated by rotating regulatory member. Groove is formed in regulatory member.

Abstract: The crystal of the invention is crystal of diphenylmethyl 2-methyl-2-triazolylmethylpenam-3-carboxylate which is stable substantially without decomposition or degradation of properties even when left to stand at room temperature for 1 year. The crystal of the invention can be prepared by a process comprising the steps of concentrating a solution containing diphenylmethyl 2-methyl-2-triazolylmethylpenam-3-carboxylate represented by the formula (2) wherein Ph is a phenyl group, diluting the concentrate with acetic ester and mixing the diluted solution with hexane or a solvent mixture of hexane and acetic ester to crystallize the diphenylmethyl 2-methyl-2-triazolylmethylpenam-3-carboxylate.

Abstract: The crystal of the invention is crystal of diphenylmethyl 2-methyl-2-triazolylmethylpenam-3-carboxylate which is stable substantially without decomposition or degradation of properties even when left to stand at room temperature for 1 year.

Abstract: The crystal of the invention is the crystal of diphenylmethyl 2-methyl-2-triazolylmethylpenam-3-carboxylate 1,1-dioxide which is stable substantially without decomposition or degradation of properties even when left to stand at a temperature of 5 to 35° C. for a period of 1 year.

Abstract: Image data of a document generated by a key business terminal or a key business server is sent to a database management server, and this image data and the description contents of the document represented by this image data are stored to a freight tracking information database base. Image data and data of the description contents of the document stored in the freight tracking information database are viewed or searched by an authenticated operator who operates a user terminal. Image data representing the progress of transport of goods is sent to the user terminal from the database management server according to the operator's instruction, and an image represented by this image data is displayed by the user terminal.

Abstract: An electrophotograph development apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrostatic latent image carrier body with magnetic developer includes a developer carrier body having a magnetic roller, and a thin layer forming member for forming the magnetic developer on the developer carrier body into a thin layer. A magnetic pole of the magnetic roller is disposed at a position of a &thgr; degree in an upper stream side relative to a rotational direction of the developer carrier body from a contact point of the thin film forming member and the developer carrier body, and &thgr; is in a range of 0 degree≦&thgr;≦10 degree. A relation between a surface roughness Rz′ of the developer carrier body and a surface roughness Rz of the thin layer forming member is represented by −10 &mgr;m≦(Rz-Rz′)≦5 &mgr;m.