Abstract: A grinding apparatus includes: a pair of rotary grindstones, a rotary base rotationally driven around a first rotation axis, a rotary table included in the rotary base, a fixed base rotatably supporting the rotary base, a fixed table included in the fixed base, a plurality of workpiece supporting tables supported on the rotary base and rotationally driven around a second rotation axis, a plurality of workpiece receiving holes vertically passing through an outer edge part of the workpiece supporting tables, a first motor fixed to the fixed base to rotationally drive the rotary table, a plurality of second motors fixed to the rotary base to rotationally drive the workpiece supporting tables, a controller driving the first motor and the plurality of second motors, and a slip ring disposed below the plurality of second motors and conductively connecting between the controller and the plurality of second motors.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which forms a toner image which is transferred onto a copy sheet includes a fixing unit having a heater for fixing the toner image onto the copy sheet at a predetermined fixing temperature. A cooling unit operates at a first cooling state for cooling the fixing unit. A mode selector is provided for setting a mode of the image forming apparatus to an energy saving mode in which heating operation by the heater is halted. A cooling controller suspends cooling operation of the cooling unit after a delay following a time when the image forming apparatus is set to the energy saving mode.

Abstract: The toner density control device of the invention is adapted to an image forming apparatus in which a plurality of processes for image formation are executed, and includes a toner sensor for detecting toner density in a developing section of the image forming apparatus, toner supplying means for supplying toner to the developing section according to output of the toner sensor, and cancelling means for temporarily cancelling function of the toner supplying means or output of the toner sensor in response to switching of operations in the process for image formation. Even if a meachanical vibration is generated during switching of operations in the process for image formation, the function of the toner supplying means or the output of the toner sensor is temporarily cancelled, so that an erroneous detection of toner density or inappropiate toner density control based on the aforesaid errorneous detection can be avoided.

Abstract: An image-forming machine, such as an electrostatic copying machine, having a number of optional features. A display device is provided for displaying the number or type of toner cartridge loaded in the main body of a developing device. An image-forming condition adjusting device is provided for adjusting the image-forming conditions in response to a toner cartridge loaded in the main body. A life signal producing device is provided for signaling the end of the service life of the electrostatographic material. The life signal is produced in response to a cartridge replacement signal and a final cartridge signal. Alternatively, the life signal is produced in response to a final cartridge signal and either a signal indicating a predetermined number of rotations of the image-bearing member or a cartridge replacement signal, whichever is produced earlier. A toner removing blade is held at a non-operating position when a process unit is detached from the image-forming machine and positioned in a unit holding box.

Abstract: An image-forming machine comprising a main body of the machine and an image bearing member disposed within the main body and adapted to form an image on an electrophotographic material disposed on the surface of the image bearing member. According to a first aspect, the main body of the image-forming machine includes a lower supporting frame and an upper supporting frame mounted on the lower supporting frame for free pivotable movement between an open position and a closed position, and a cover member mounted on the upper supporting frame, in which when the upper supporting frame is held at the open position, the cover member covers part of the image bearing member. According to a second aspect, an image-forming area and a non-image-forming area exist on the surface of the image bearing member, and when an image-forming step is over, the non-image-forming area is positioned at a transfer opening formed for image transfer.

Abstract: A device for use with an image forming apparatus having a photosensitive drum and a developing device and a cleaning device disposed around the photosensitive drum for conducting developer recovered in the cleaning device to the developing device includes a circulating passage provided between the developing device and the cleaning device so as to communicate the developing device with the cleaning device. A discharging device discharges developer recovered in the cleaning device to the circulating passage, and a conveyor is disposed in the circulating passage to convey developer in the circulating passage to the developing device, the conveyor and the circulating passage being constructed to provide a space between the conveyor and the circulating passage such that a portion of the developer is allowed to be temporarily retained in such space. A supply device is provided for supplying developer conveyed by the developer into the developing device.

Abstract: An image-forming machine comprising a main body of the machine and an image bearing member disposed within the main body and adapted to form an image on a electrophotographic material disposed of the surface of the image bearing member. According to a first aspect, the main body of the image-forming machine includes a lower supporting frame and an upper supporting frame mounted on the lower supporting frame for free pivotable movement between an open position and a closed position, and a cover member mounted on the upper supporting frame, in which when the upper supporting frame is held at the open position, the cover member covers part of the image bearing member. According to a second aspect, an image-forming area and a non-image-forming area exist on the surface of the image bearing member, and when an image-forming step is over, the non-image-forming are is positioned at a transfer opening formed for image transfer.

Abstract: A device for detecting the life of a process unit which is detachably mounted in an image forming apparatus includes a sensor for detecting the density of the toner in the developing device and a signal detector receiving an output from the sensor and operable to determine whether the output exceeds or is less than a predetermined value during a predetermined time period which starts after a developing roller of the process unit starts rotating. A control is connected to the signal detector and is operable to effect different operating conditions depending on whether the output exceeds or is below the predetermined value, one of the operating conditions being an indication that the life of the process unit has expired and another of the operating conditions being an indication that the life of the process unit is unexpired.

Abstract: An image-forming machine comprising a main body of the machine and an image bearing member disposed within the main body and adapted to form an image on a electrophotographic material disposed on the surface of the image bearing member. According to a first aspect, the main body of the image-forming machine includes a lower supporting frame and an upper supporting frame mounted on the lower supporting frame for free pivotable movement between an open position and a closed position, and a cover member mounted on the upper supporting frame, in which when the upper supporting frame is held at the open position, the cover member covers part of the image bearing member. According to a second aspect, an image-forming area and a non-image-forming area exist on the surface of the image bearing member, and when an image-forming step is over, the non-image-forming area is positioned at a transfer opening formed for image transfer.

Abstract: An image forming machine provided with an image bearing member having a photosensitive material on its surface, a developing device for developing a latent electrostatic image formed on the surface of the photosensitive material, a cleaning device for removing toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive material, and toner feed means for feeding the toner recovered in the cleaning device to the developing device. According to one aspect, the machine is constructed such that the color of toner used in the developing device can be easily determined. According to a second aspect, the image bearing member, the developing device and the cleaning device are mounted on a detachable unit frame, and the unit frame is adapted to be mounted and detached by means of a simple structure. According to a third aspect, the machine is constructed such that the toner recovered in the cleaning device is mixed in a predetermined amount with fresh toner and then fed to a developing chamber in the developing device.