Abstract: An acceleration sensor has a piezoelectric element which includes a piezoelectric member layer in which a plurality of piezoelectric members are stacked and electrodes which are disposed in major opposed surfaces of the piezoelectric member layer; and a support member for supporting the piezoelectric element, wherein some piezoelectric members of the piezoelectric member layer are polarized, the electrodes are disposed in the both surfaces of the polarized piezoelectric members, capacitors which are formed by the polarized piezoelectric members and the electrodes in the both surfaces of the polarized piezoelectric members are connected parallel to each other.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes magnetic members, which are provided at ends of a developing agent bearing member with gaps therebetween and adapted to form magnetic seals between the magnetic members and the developing agent bearing member, are charged so that leakage between the magnetic seals and magnetic members, such as the developing agent bearing member, disposed in the vicinity of the magnetic seals is prevented.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes, an image bearing member, a charger which may be a main charger and auxiliary charger for charging the image bearing member, a developing unit for forming a toner image by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member using a toner having the same polarity as that of the charger, a transfer electrode, having a width different from that of the charger and contacting a transfer material, for applying a bias voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the charger to the transfer material, the cleaning blade contacting the image bearing member in a counter direction relative to a moving direction of the image bearing member in order to scrape and remove toner particles remaining on the image bearing member after the image transfer due to the potential of the image bearing member, and a member for reducing a charging potential difference between the charger and the transfer electrode generated on the image bearing member.

Abstract: In a laser beam printer, automatic optical quantity (APC) control is performed based on an optical quantity detection output to generate a laser beam having a predetermined quantity of light. In each scanning cycle, APC is effected by utilizing a period (unblanking period) in which the laser device is forcibly actuated to generate a horizontal synchronization signal. The unblanking period may be changed according to the print paper size or image formation/non-image-formation periods. Also, light quantity control may be effected through a plurality of scanning cycles before image formation and may be effected by utilizing the unblanking period during the period corresponding to the intervals of print sheets. Techniques also provided to prevent a transfer unit from being contaminated by toner images formed as a byproduct of APC.

Abstract: A coaxial dielectric resonator which is prismatic and has a through hole in a vertical direction, has such feature that each base side of said prism being no more than 1.6 mm, a diameter of said through hole being no more than 0.8 mm, said coaxial dielectric resonator having an electrode portion on a surface thereof and on an inner surface of said through hole.

Abstract: The invention provides a dielectric ceramic composition represented by Formula 1:(1-x)Re.sub.1+a (A.sub.2/3 Nb.sub.1/3)O.sub.3+1.5a -xB.sub.1+b TiO.sub.3+bFormula 1wherein Re represents a component comprising a rare earth element, A represents a component comprising at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg and Zn, B represents a component comprising Ca, x represents a number in the range of 0.40 to 0.80, a represents a number in the range of 0 to 0.15, and b represents a number in the range of 0 to 0.08. The composition has a high relative permittivity, a Q value and a small resonant frequency temperature coefficient. The composition is useful in miniaturizing dielectric resonators.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for detecting the useful life of an image bearing member includes an image bearing member; a charging member contactable to the image bearing member for charging the image bearing member, the charging member being supplied with a voltage. The image forming apparatus also includes a discharging member for electrically discharging the image bearing member, the discharging member discharging a first region of the image bearing member and a second region of the image bearing member, different from the first region in a direction of a generating line of the image bearing member; and a detecting device for detecting a current flowing through the charging member when the charging member is supplied with a predetermined voltage and charges the first region having been discharged by the discharging member and when the charging member also charges the second region having been discharged by the discharging member.

Abstract: A charging member contactable to a member to be charged and capable of being supplied with a voltage to charge the member to be charged, the charging member including a core member having a stepped portion to provide a smaller diameter portion at an end portion side than at a longitudinally central side; and an elastic member supported by the core member, the elastic member covering the stepped portion.

Abstract: A ball joint generates play when wear of a ball sheet reaches a predetermined allowable amount so that the end of service life of the ball joint can be recognized by a simple inspection. A spherical portion of a ball stud is interposed between an upper sheet and a lower sheet. The upper sheet is displaced toward the lower sheet when the upper sheet or the lower sheet has been worn due to sliding of the spherical portion. The displacement of the upper sheet is restricted so that the upper sheet is supported at a predetermined position relative to the lower sheet.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a ceramic electronic component having a dielectric ceramic and a conductor containing Ag as a main component, wherein a dielectric resonator with a high Q value is produced by heat treating at 400.degree. C. or more in an atmosphere containing 10% or less by volume of oxygen after sintering the dielectric ceramic. Using a BaO--TiO.sub.2 --Nd.sub.2 O.sub.3 --Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3 based composition (.epsilon..sub.r =92, Qf=5000 GHz) as a dielectric, a coaxial type dielectric ceramic is produced by granulating calcined powder of the dielectric and then compacting the powder, followed by sintering. A dielectric resonator of .lambda./4 is produced by coating the dielectric ceramic with Ag paste at a position other than either the upper or lower side and then burning the paste. Thereafter, the electrodes(1,4) are formed by burning the paste at 400.degree. C. or more in an atmosphere containing 10% or less by volume of oxygen.

Abstract: A charging member for charging a member to be charged includes a base member: a surface elastic member supported by the base member, the elastic member comprises a foamed member and a coating layer covering the foamed member; wherein a surface of the charging member has an Asker-C hardness of not more than 55 degrees and an international rubber hardness (IRHD) of not more than 80 degrees.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which converts character or pattern information into bit map information (pixel information) and forms an image based thereon. The image forming apparatus includes a light-beam generator for generating a modulated light beam, a light-beam deflector for scanning an image carrier, a device for feeding a sheet to registration rollers and a driver for driving the image carrier. A time period is provided to operate the light-beam deflector and the feeding device before the driver starts to drive the image carrier to form an image.

Abstract: An electro-magnetically shielded metallic enclosure is provided with a novel hinge structure. The enclosure has a plurality of side panels and at least one access door hinged to one of the side panels by a plurality of shielded hinges. Each such hinge has three principal elements: a metallic tab, an elongated slot for receiving and supporting the metallic tab, and a raised metal arch bridging the central portion of the elongated slot. The metallic tab is integrally formed on one edge of the access door and is designed to slide into an elongated slot located in an adjacent side panel to provide support for pivoting the metallic tab and the connected door in a hinged relationship. To prevent EMR from otherwise leaking through the elongated slot, a raised metal arch is provided on the interior of the enclosure bridging the central portion of the slot.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer carrying member for carrying developer, opposed to an image bearing member for bearing an electrostatic image; a regulating member for regulating an amount of the developer to be applied on the developer carrying member; and electric field generator for generating an oscillating electric field between the developer carrying member and the regulating member; wherein the amount of the developer to be applied on the developer carrying member is regulated to no less than 0.6 mg/cm.sup.2 and no more than 1.5 mg/cm.sup.2 by the regulating member.

Abstract: A cleaning device for an electrophotographic apparatus including an image carrier has a cleaning blade with an edge slidably contracting with an image carrier to remove foreign matter remaining on a surface of the image carrier. A lubricant including indefinite-form lubricant particles is applied to zones on the edges of the cleaning blade near both longitudinal ends of the cleaning blade and a lubricant including spherical lubricant particles is applied to a zone on the edge of the cleaning blade between the zones to which the lubricant including indefinite-form lubricant particles has been applied. A process cartridge includes the cleaning device, and an image forming apparatus incorporates the process cartridge.

Abstract: A dielectric ceramic composition that can be sintered at a low temperature of around 1000.degree. C. and also can have a high dielectric constant, a high Q value and small temperature coefficient at a resonant frequency includes a glass component that promotes sintering. The dielectric ceramics include: the main component comprising calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, niobium oxide and titanium oxide and expressed by the Formula: Ca{(Mg.sub. 1/3 Nb.sub. 2/3).sub.1-x Ti.sub.x }O.sub.3 (wherein X is more than 0 not more than 0.50) within the range of not less than 40 parts by weight nor more than 98 parts by weight; the accessory component comprising at least one selected from SiO.sub.2 and B.sub.2 O.sub.3 within the range of not less than 2 parts by weight nor more than 60 parts by weight; and at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of MgO, NiO, CuO, MNO.sub.2 and WO.sub.3 within the range of not less than 0.1 parts by weight nor more than 10 parts by weight.

Abstract: This invention provides a method and apparatus for quenching a tubular workpiece such as cylindrical tubes or different-shaped tubes, which are difficult to be exerted constraining force for preventing warping especially in case of thinner thickness. Warping is prevented by applying a constraining force which is increased from beginning of the quenching to termination thereof, corresponding to increase of elasticity limit stress in accordance with temperature drop of the workpiece. Furthermore, apparatus for carrying out the method for quenching a tubular workpiece are offered, wherein the apparatus are provided with a pressure controller for pressure rolls or dies, thereby the pressure controller changes setting input for the pressure during the quenching.

Abstract: A charging member for charging a member to be charged includes a foamed layer; a supporting member for supporting the foamed layer, and for being supplied with a voltage; a resistance layer closer to the member to be charged than the foamed layer; wherein the foamed layer has a specific gravity not less than 0.1 (g/cm.sup.3) and not more than 0.6 (g/cm.sup.3), and wherein an average outer diameter of pores in a cross-section of said foamed layer is not less than 50 microns and not more than 1 mm.

Abstract: This invention provides a dielectric ceramic compound for microwave use which has a high dielectric constant and a high Q value, and which also has a small temperature coefficient of a resonant frequency. The dielectric ceramic compound comprising a compound represented by Formula 1 at least includes calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, zinc oxide, niobium oxide, tantalum oxide, and titanium oxide, (Formula 1)Ca[{(Mg.sub.1-x Zn.sub.x).sub.1/3 (Nb.sub.1-z Ta.sub.z).sub.2/3 }.sub.1-y Ti.sub.y ]O.sub.3wherein x and y are present within an area formed by the following apexes A, B, C, and D, excluding an area on straight line AB,A: (x, y)=(0.0, 0.0)B: (x, y)=(0.0, 0.5)C: (x, y)=(1.0, 0.55)D: (x, y)=(1.0, 0.0)and z is present in the range of 0.0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.1.0, excluding z=1.0 when y=0.0.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer carrying member for carrying developer, an elastic blade press-contacted to the developer carrying member to regulate a layer of developer formed on the developer carrying member, where the elastic blade comprises an electrically conductive layer, and a high resistance layer located at the developer carrying member side of the conductive layer, and an electric field generating device for forming an oscillating electric field between the developer carrying member and the conductive layer, wherein a maximum intensity of the electric field is not less than 10.sup.6 V/m.