Abstract: A fixing apparatus of the present invention is provided with (i) a roller, to which releaser gets applied (ii) a releaser applying member for applying the releaser on the roller by touching the roller while the roller is rotating, and (iii) a releaser dripping section for dripping the releaser to be applied on the roller by the releaser applying section, the fixing apparatus further including a guiding member for receiving the releaser dripped from the releaser dripping section, and for guiding, along a surface thereof, a certain amount of a total amount of the thus received releaser to a touch position at which the releaser applying member touches the roller.

Abstract: A base plate detachably supports a functional unit all the way between an exposed position where the functional unit is separated from a connector and drawn out of a housing of an image forming apparatus such that the functional unit is exposed to the exterior of the housing and an accommodated position where the functional unit is fitted in the housing and connected to the connector. A biasing member biases a threaded shaft of an operating device through the base plate such that a far end of the threaded shaft is directed toward a threaded hole formed in the bottom of the functional unit. The operating device is hidden inside the housing of the apparatus when the base plate is set to the accommodated position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus transfers a toner image formed on a photoconductor drum onto a sheet-like recording member while the sheet-like recording member is transported and attracted to a transfer belt, and comprises a jam handling control unit for detecting a transport fault of the sheet-like recording member, and for stopping the transport operation when the transport fault is detected. When the transport fault is detected in a section other than a fixing section, the jam handling control unit first causes the transport operation of the fixing section, and thereafter causes the transfer belt and the transport operation on the upstream side thereof to stop, and any sheet-like recording member remaining on the transfer belt so that the transport mechanism on the upstream side thereof is transported and stopped at the position spanning between the area of the fixing section and the area of the transfer belt.

Abstract: In an image forming system in which a main body apparatus that forms an image and a plurality of optional apparatuses that can be retrofitted to the main body apparatus are combined, so that a sheet of recording material bearing on one side an image formed in an image forming section in the main body apparatus is switched back and then transported again to the image forming section, thereby allowing images to be formed on both the main and back sides of the sheet of recording material, of the plurality of optional apparatuses to be retrofitted to the main body apparatus, a specific optional apparatus is provided with a sheet receiving section for supporting the sheet of recording material to be switched back, at a portion opposite to the main body apparatus.

Abstract: An armored unit includes a side cover and a guide member. When sheet jam operation is carried out, a fixing unit is pulled out with the armored unit, and then is pushed to the rear side. This operation unlocks the lock member provided in the guide member, and a shoulder screw moves in a guide hole. Thus, the fixing unit is moved from the pulled out position toward the rear side and toward the main body of image forming device to be shifted to a receding position. On this account, it is possible to provide an image forming device ensuring sufficient space for removing a jammed sheet by hand with a small opening space.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to prevent an electrical breakdown of a toner layer and an occurrence of overcurrent, thereby preventing quality of image from being degraded at the time of development, when development with one-component toner is conducted using a developing roller of low resistance. The resistance value Rd of a developing roller which carries and conveys one-component toner in a manner of coming into contact with a photoconductor which bears an electrostatic latent image, is defined as Rd=.rho.d.multidot.(Dd1/S1), wherein S1 (cm.sup.2) is an area in which the developing roller comes into contact with the static image bearing member via a toner layer, Dd1 (cm) is a layer thickness of a semiconductive layer which composes the developing roller, and .rho.d (.OMEGA..multidot.cm) is a volume resistivity thereof. The range of the resistance Rd is set as 10.sup.4 <Rd<10.sup.5 and the resistance Rt (.OMEGA.) of the toner layer is set as Rt>5.times.10.sup.7.

Abstract: A blade is pressed against a developing roller for regulating the amount of toner which is deposited on a surface of the developing roller. The blade is formed with a slant face at its tip end, to which the toner is transported along a direction of rotation of the developing roller. An angle of aperture .theta. at a toner inlet portion defined by the developing roller and the slant face is set at 12.5.degree. or more, the angle of aperture counting in an angle .psi. of the slant face, elastic deformation and radius (R) of the developing roller, and an angle .alpha. related to a nip width w on which the blade contacts with the developing roller. Such an angle of aperture .theta. provides a great allowance for a free length l of the blade, thereby permitting the blade to maintain a constant toner mass for forming a uniform toner layer.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to certainly remove and certainly recover the charged toner remaining on a developing roller after development. A single component toner which is delivered to the developing roller via a toner-supplying roller is made into a relatively thin layer of a predetermined thickness with a charging plate and is frictionally charged with a given quantity of electric charge. Subsequently, the toner is adhered on a photoreceptor drum along by the electrostatic latent image to develop an image at the developing region at which the developing roller comes into contact with the photoreceptor drum. After development, the electric charge of the toner layer on the developing roller is removed with an electric-charge-removing sheet. The toner after development is recovered into a toner hopper via the toner-supplying roller.

Abstract: An image data memory with a 2-bank (bank A and bank B) structure is disclosed. The bank A stores only even field data, whereas the bank B stores only odd field data, and a peripheral circuit composed of elements such as row decoders and column decoders is provided in such a manner that each bank can be accessed independently of the other. One of the banks A and B is precharged while the other bank is accessed in order that the banks A and B are alternately accessed. Fast frame access is accomplished.

Abstract: A charging device is designed in the following manner. Firstly, an optimization of the shape and size of an MC case is performed based on a film thickness and process speed of a photoreceptor (S1). Then, optimization of grid conditions (S2), saw-tooth conditions (S3), a distribution ratio of discharge current (S4) and a grid voltage (S5) are performed respectively, and a minimization of the discharge current is performed (S6). Lastly, surrounding conditions are taken into consideration (S7). The order of performing the processes in S1.about.S6 is not specified. By designing the charging device so as to have at least one feature obtained by the processes in S2.about.S7, a stable discharging operation, a uniform charging operation on the surface of the photoreceptor, reduction in amount of ozone generated when discharging, and reduced size and cost of the charging device can be achieved, and the charging device can be designed effectively in a short period of time.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a first reading element for receiving visible light in reflected light from a color document and reading image data corresponding to the visible light as electric signals, and a second reading element for receiving infrared light in reflected light from the color document and reading image data corresponding to the infrared light as electric signals. The image reading apparatus thus reads the image data not only from the visible light but also from the infrared light. Consequently, the image reading apparatus is capable of reading a special distinguishing pattern of copy-prohibited printed matter printed with special ink, such as infrared absorbing ink, as well as ordinary image data, and thereby preventing counterfeiting of copy-prohibited printed matter.

Abstract: The relationship between a discharge gap and a surface potential, and a relationship between a discharge gap and a surface potential variation are obtained. Then, a range of a discharge gap is obtained (approximately 5.about.10 mm) satisfying a range of the required surface potential (-600 V) and the tolerable surface potential variation (30 V). The relationship of the discharge gap with respect to the surface potential and the surface potential variation is varied by reducing the applied current. The discharge gap is converged to one value (approximately 7.5 mm) in response to the range of the discharge gap being reduced.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a plurality of semiconductor testing circuit chips 2 having an exclusive function of testing a plurality of one item of semiconductor integrated-circuit chips 1, a computer 3 for controlling the semiconductor testing circuit chips 2 and for collecting the test results, and a motherboard 4 on which the plurality of chips 1 to be tested and the plurality of testing circuit chips 2 are mounted so that the chips 1 to be tested are connected to the testing circuit chips 2. Since the major testing functions are incorporated into the testing circuit chips 2, the computer 3 for collecting the test results can sufficiently be composed of a low-price computer, so that it is possible to greatly lower the price of the semiconductor testing apparatus. By increasing the number of the testing circuit chips 2, it is possible to greatly increase the number of chips which can be tested simultaneously.

Abstract: In a synchronous DRAM required to be capable of performing high-speed consecutive operations in synchronism with a clock signal, a DBI-line pair is connected between a DQ-line pair and an RDB-line pair, and pipeline operation whose single cycle time is divided into four periods is employed.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a plurality of semiconductor testing circuit chips 2 having an exclusive function of testing a plurality of one item of semiconductor integrated-circuit chips 1, a computer 3 for controlling the semiconductor testing circuit chips 2 and for collecting the test results, and a motherboard 4 on which the plurality of chips 1 to be tested and the plurality of testing circuit chips 2 are mounted so that the chips 1 to be tested are connected to the testing circuit chips 2. Since the major testing functions are incorporated into the testing circuit chips 2, the computer 3 for collecting the test results can sufficiently be composed of a low-price computer, so that it is possible to greatly lower the price of the semiconductor testing apparatus. By increasing the number of the testing circuit chips 2, it is possible to greatly increase the number of chips which can be tested simultaneously.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing DRAMs in a stacked memory cell type, an edge portion of each bit line is bared upon etching a first insulating film, the bared edge portion is etched to from an opening and an inner peripheral surface of the opening is covered by a second insulating film. There is also disclosed a method wherein second and third insulating films and second conductive film are stacked on a first insulating film, a second conductive film is formed and the second conductive film and the first conductive film are partially etched whereby the unetched portions of the first conductive film serve as electrode planes of charge storage electrodes.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a pressure development unit having a pair of press rollers, an eccentric cam for regulating the pressure, and a power transmission unit for transmitting a driving force to the eccentric cam, in which the power transmission unit includes a one-way clutch providing only one directional path for the power transmission.

Abstract: A photosensitive sheet positioning device used in an image forming apparatus provided with a photosensitive sheet wound in a roll, a leader sheet attached to the forefront edge of the photosensitive sheet, forwarding holes formed in a line on the sides of the leader sheet, and forwarding pins mounted and protruding on the outer circumference of a roller, whereon the forwarding holes are successively fitted, and that control the forwarding direction of the photosensitive sheet, comprises fastening holes formed on the forefront portion of the leader sheet, and fastening pins that restrain the motion of the leader sheet and that may be inserted in and removed from the fastening holes freely. Accordingly, in the present device, the forwarding holes may be fitted on the forwarding pins easily, rapidly and without being fitted in a shifted manner.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a capacitor and an insulating separation area in a trench formed around a switching transistor, with a storage electrode of the capacitor being sandwiched between an upper and a lower cell plate electrode to reduce leakage current due to the parasitic MOS transistor effect in the trench sidewall along the channel in the switching transistor and leakage current due to the gate-controlled diode effect in the trench sidewall. Also, a method is disclosed for manufacturing such semiconductor memory device.