Abstract: An image-decorated sheet including: an image recording sheet; and an image layer formed on an image receiving surface of the image recording sheet with toner using an image forming apparatus, in which the image layer is transferred to a body to be decorated to decorate the body to be decorated, an image-decorated body on which an image is formed by the image-decorated sheet, and an image-decorated body manufacturing method.

Abstract: A developer bearing member includes a base body, a surface layer, and a plurality of concave portions provided on the surface layer, wherein a resistance value of the surface layer is 102 ?·cm to 108 ?·cm, the number of the concave portions per unit area is 2250/mm2 to 12254/mm2, a major diameter of an opening of the concave portion is 8 ?m to 20 ?m, a depth of the concave portion is 2 ?m to 5 ?m, a dimensional tolerance of the major diameter is 0.5 ?m or less, and a dimensional tolerance of the depth is 0.5 ?m or less.

Abstract: Energy consumption in a fixing process of an electrophotographic image-forming apparatus is reduced. An unfixed toner image T1 is fixed on a recording medium by applying a photopolymerizable composition D1 to the unfixed toner image T1 formed on the recording medium and then performing irradiation with light having a maximum emission wavelength in a wavelength range of from 420 to 470 nm using a light emitting diode or an organic EL device for curing the photopolymerizable composition D1 by photopolymerization.

Abstract: A toner image fixing method reduces energy consumed in a fixing step in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. A photopolymerization composition is coated on an unfixed toner image formed on a recording medium. Then, the photopolymerization composition is irradiated with light, which does not have an emission wavelength band in a far infrared range and which has a maximum emission wavelength of 360 nm or longer to 420 nm or shorter, by using an LED, whereby the photopolymerization composition is cured and the unfixed toner image is fixed to the recording medium.

Abstract: A developer bearing member includes a base body, a surface layer, and a plurality of concave portions provided on the surface layer, wherein a resistance value of the surface layer is 102 ?·cm to 108 ?·cm, the number of the concave portions per unit area is 2250/mm2 to 12254/mm2, a major diameter of an opening of the concave portion is 8 ?m to 20 ?m, a depth of the concave portion is 2 ?m to 5 ?m, a dimensional tolerance of the major diameter is 0.5 ?m or less, and a dimensional tolerance of the depth is 0.5 ?m or less.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and method in which a controller is capable of executing image processing of its own are disclosed. The controller has an RF unit for processing image information, a halftone image processor, a density corrector and a patch generator. The engine includes a modulator corresponding to the RF unit, a halftone image processor different from that of the controller, a density controller, modulator and patch generator corresponding to the halftone processor of the engine, a sensor for sensing the density of formed patches, and a control unit for controlling the density of an image on the basis of a signal from the sensor. The engine sends the controller a signal relating to density control.

Abstract: A sheet feed roller 10 includes a shaft member 12 and an elastomeric layer 14 provided on the outer circumference of the shaft member 12. The shaft member 12 includes a tubular support 16 and a pair of shaft sections 18 extending in the axial direction to define a rotary axis of the shaft member 12. The elastomeric layer 14 is formed of an elastic member separate from the shaft member 12, and attached to the outer circumference 16a to be conformed with the profile of the support 16 of the shaft member 12. The elastomeric layer 14 includes a base 20 and a plurality of micro-structured elements 22, each having a three-dimensionally projected shape, formed on the surface 20a of the base 20. Each of the plurality of micro-structured elements 22 on the elastomeric layer 14 is brought into frictional contact at a distal end thereof with the sheet medium and feed the same as the shaft member rotates.

Abstract: A sheet feed roller 10 includes a shaft member 12 and an elastomeric layer 14 provided on the outer circumference of the shaft member 12. The shaft member 12 includes a tubular support 16 and a pair of shaft sections 18 extending in the axial direction to define a rotary axis of the shaft member 12. The elastomeric layer 14 is formed of an elastic member separate from the shaft member 12, and attached to the outer circumference 16a to be conformed with the profile of the support 16 of the shaft member 12. The elastomeric layer 14 includes a base 20 and a plurality of micro-structured elements 22, each having a three-dimensionally projected shape, formed on the surface 20a of the base 20. Each of the plurality of micro-structured elements 22 on the elastomeric layer 14 is brought into frictional contact at a distal end thereof with the sheet medium and feed the same as the shaft member rotates.

Abstract: A helical gear tooth broach having an elongate body having a series of axially aligned and spaced teeth disposed thereon. The direction of tooth spaces or traces of the teeth in a longitudinally extending helical alignment and the direction of the gullets of the teeth in a side by side circumferentially extending helical arrangement are both oriented at a right-upward or a left-upward helix angle in common with each other.

Abstract: A primary side of a transformer has a switching transistor to on-off control the current flowing in a primary winding on a primary side. A secondary side of the transformer has a commutating side FET to be turned on by applying the induced voltage of a tertiary winding on a secondary side of a current transformer, and a flywheel side FET with the primary winding on the primary side of the current transformer connected thereto in series. The current transformation ratio of the current transformer is small in the initial period when the flywheel side FET is turned on, and then, the current transformation ratio is increased by current controlling means comprising a saturable reactor, a diode or the like.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is capable of improving throughput, preventing deterioration of developer and preventing shortening of the life of a developing apparatus. In the image forming apparatus, an image holding member holds an electrostatic latent image and a developer carrier carries developer to a developing portion, and a speed ratio between the image holding member and the developer carrier varies according to an image ratio.

Abstract: A primary side of a transformer has a switching transistor to on-off control the current flowing in a primary winding on a primary side. A secondary side of the transformer has a commutating side FET to be turned on by applying the induced voltage of a tertiary winding on a secondary side of a current transformer, and a flywheel side FET with the primary winding on the primary side of the current transformer connected thereto in series. The current transformation ratio of the current transformer is small in the initial period when the flywheel side FET is turned on, and then, the current transformation ratio is increased by current controlling means comprising a saturable reactor, a diode or the like.

Abstract: A helical gear tooth broach is provided which does not require to clamp strongly the work to be broached by a special clamping device, and which does not perform an intermittent cutting action against the work. A gear tooth broach is provided having an elongate body having a series of axially aligned and spaced teeth disposed thereon. The direction of tooth spaces or traces of the teeth in a longitudinally extending helical alignment and the direction of the gullets of the teeth in a general side by side circumferentially extending helical arrangement are both oriented to the same hand of helix angle.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus for use in an image forming apparatus such as a copying apparatus or a laser beam printer is disclosed. The fixing apparatus has a heater, a rotatable member having the heater therein, and a pressing member forming a nip by coming into contact with the rotatable member. The rotatable member is provided with a core and an elastic layer formed on the core, and the elastic layer has a JIS-A Standard rubber hardness not more than 5.degree..

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and method in which a controller is capable of executing image processing of its own are disclosed. The controller has an RF unit for processing image information, a halftone image processor, a density corrector and a patch generator. The engine includes a modulator corresponding to the RF unit, a halftone image processor different from that of the controller, a density controller, modulator and patch generator corresponding to the halftone processor of the engine, a sensor for sensing the density of formed patches, and a control unit for controlling the density of an image on the basis of a signal from the sensor. The engine sends the controller a signal relating to density control.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a rotatable developing member having a plurality of developing devices for developing an image bearing member at a first developing station, and a second single developing device arranged upstream of the rotatable developing member for developing the image bearing member exclusively at a second developing station different from the first developing station. The second developing device has a cover portion covering the rotatable developing member, and a portion of the cover portion is disposed at a position spaced apart from a rotation axis of the rotatable developing member by a predetermined length in a horizontal direction away from the image bearing member. The rotatable developing member rotates in an opposite direction with respect to the direction of rotation of the image bearing member to prevent toner from scattering toward the optical system.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus which includes a movable image bearing member for bearing a toner image, a movable intermediate transfer member to which the toner image on the image bearing member is electrostatically transferred at a first transfer position, and a charger for charging residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member after the toner image on the intermediate transfer member has been electrostatically transferred onto a transfer material at a second transfer position with polarity opposite to charging polarity of the normal toner on the image bearing member. An electric field is formed so that the residual toner charged by the charger from the intermediate transfer member onto the image bearing member and a transfer of a next toner image from the image bearing member onto the intermediate transfer member are simultaneously performed at the first transfer position.

Abstract: Provision of a connector assembly which enables a half-fitted state to be reliably prevented and further enables a fitting force to be reduced. A connector assembly having a first housing in which an end of at least one first signal line is attached, a second housing in which an end of at least one second line to be connected to the end of the first signal line is attached and which fits with a fitting opening of the first housing, and a plate shaped fitting detection pin which is inserted from a detection insertion slot formed at a side of the first housing so as to pass through an approximate center axis of the first housing. The second housing is formed with a detection pin recess which allows the insertion of the fitting detection pin in a state where the second housing is fitted in the fitting opening of the first housing. The facing inner walls of the second housing constituting the detection pin recess are formed with projecting guide ribs.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image bearing member; toner image forming unit for forming a toner image with non-magnetic toner on an image bearing member; intermediate transfer member contactable to the image bearing member and movable along an endless path; primary transfer unit for effecting primary image transfer of the toner image formed on the image bearing member onto the intermediate transfer member at a first transfer position; secondary transfer unit for effecting a secondary image transfer of the toner image from the intermediate transfer member on the transfer material at a second transfer position; and a residual toner charger for charging the residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member to a polarity opposite from a regular polarity thereof.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus a toner image is transferred onto a transfer material using an intermediate transfer member.