Abstract: A powder holding container includes: a tubular shaped section that is formed in a tubular shape with a hole formed in a tube wall for letting powder pass through; an opening and closing member that moves in a straight line inside the tubular shaped section to open and close the hole; a projection portion that projects out from the opening and closing member and enters the hole; and a resilient tab that is formed by a cutout provided in the opening and closing member, and is resiliently deformable in directions in which the projection portion enters or exits the hole.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member rotatably supported in a body of the image forming apparatus, and bearing a developer image; a developing device including a developing container, a developing member, and a transporting member, the developing container containing a developer, the developing member disposed so as to oppose the image bearing member, the developing member having thereon the developer in the developing container and rotating to develop a latent image, the transporting member transporting the developer in the developing container while stirring the developer, the developing device being unremovably supported with respect to the body of the image forming apparatus; and a damping member disposed with respect to an axial direction of a rotational axis of the developing member so as to be situated at an end portion of the developing container in the axial direction, and restraining vibration of the developing container.

Abstract: A developing apparatus comprises: a housing having an opening that opens towards an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and a developer storing unit in which a developer is stored; a developer carrier that carries the developer stored in the developer storing unit and transports the developer to a developing region in opposition to the image carrier; a partitioning frame arranged in a groove formed between the developer carrier and the developer storing unit of the housing, that is provided with a connecting hole which enables connect between the developer storing unit and the opening; a partition arranged on a side surface of the partitioning frame; and a closely contact section that causes the partitioning frame to closely contact to the groove.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a plurality of unit pixels each including a first photoelectric conversion unit and a second photoelectric conversion unit, and a pixel output unit shared by the first photoelectric conversion unit and the second photoelectric conversion unit. The first photoelectric conversion unit is configured to be depleted when it is reset, while the second photoelectric conversion unit is configured not to be depleted when it is reset.

Abstract: Each of a plurality of unit pixels includes first and second photoelectric conversion units, and a pixel output unit shared between the first and second photoelectric conversion units. A monitoring unit configured to control the charge-accumulation operation of the first photoelectric conversion unit by monitoring a signal generated based on the second photoelectric conversion unit is provided.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a plurality of unit pixels each including a first photoelectric conversion unit, a second photoelectric conversion unit, and a pixel output unit shared by the first photoelectric conversion unit and the second photoelectric conversion unit. The unit pixels are arranged in a first direction, and the first and second photoelectric conversion units are arranged in a second direction different from the first direction.

Abstract: A developer storage case includes: a storage case that includes: a developer storage space that stores a developer therein; and a discharge opening that discharges the developer stored in the developer storage space, the storage case defining an opening through which a developer passes into the developer storage space; a delivery member including: a rotation shaft that has one end supported on the storage case; and a main body that is supported on the rotation shaft, and that is disposed in contact with the wall surface of the developer storage space while being flexed, the delivery member delivering the developer stored in the developer storage space to the discharge opening; and an opening closing member that is removably supported on the storage case, and that closes the opening and supporting the other end of the rotation shaft.

Abstract: A developer supply container includes a container body, a developer conveyance member, and a clog prevention member. The container body includes an outlet port and contains developer therein. The developer conveyance member includes a rotational shaft and a conveyance-member body. The conveyance-member body is supported by the rotational shaft and has flexibility. The developer conveyance member is disposed in the container body and conveys the developer to the outlet port for discharge. The clog prevention member is formed in the conveyance-member body in a position corresponding to the outlet port. The clog prevention member goes into the outlet port to protrude to outside of the container body as the rotational shaft rotates.

Abstract: A toner cartridge mounting structure includes a toner cartridge and a developing member. The toner cartridge having a toner accommodating portion for accommodating toner, a toner supplying opening through which the toner in the toner accommodating portion is supplied, and a supplying opening shutter for opening and closing the toner supplying opening. The developing member has a toner receiving opening and a receiving opening shutter for opening and closing the toner receiving opening. The toner supplying opening being higher than the toner receiving opening, and the supplying opening shutter being opened after the receiving opening shutter is opened, by the operation of mounting the toner cartridge in an apparatus body.

Abstract: A process for producing a sustained-release composition which comprises mixing an aqueous solution containing a physiologically active substance and an acid or base in a molar amount of 1.5 or more times that of the physiologically active substance with a solution of a biodegradable polymer and then drying the mixture is provided.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a steam device includes a high-temperature member and a low-temperature member. One surface of the high-temperature member is exposed to high-temperature steam, and the other surface is cooled by cooling steam having a temperature lower than the high-temperature steam. The low-temperature member is disposed to face the high-temperature member with a passage for the cooling steam therebetween and is formed of a material having a heat resistance lower than that of the high-temperature member.