Abstract: A lens driving device is provided to reduce a number of required high-accuracy components and also eliminate the unevenness of maximum displacement of a lens holder with respect to a base. An outer edge of a lower spring plate is clamped by a lower casing served as a base and a lower spacer. A first protrusion is formed on a sidewall of the lens holder and protruding outward therefrom. A second protrusion protruding toward the lens holder is formed on an inner circumference of the lower spacer and extends to a position above and separating from the first protrusion by a distance S. The first protrusion props against the second protrusion when the lens holder is moved toward an imaged-object side and reaching a displacement of the distance S.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus body including: an image forming unit that forms toner images having the colors being different from each other; a intermediate transfer body that has a belt-shape, and that is arranged in an upper portion of the image forming unit being inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, the toner images being transferred onto the intermediate transfer body; an intermediate transfer body unit that detachably holds the intermediate transfer body with respect to the apparatus body; and a guide rail member that detachably guides the intermediate transfer body unit in a direction of one side of the apparatus body, and that is set so that the direction, in which the intermediate transfer body unit is guided, is changed in the middle of guiding.

Abstract: A lens driving device is provided to reduce a number of required high-accuracy components and also eliminate the unevenness of maximum displacement of a lens holder with respect to a base. An outer edge of a lower spring plate is clamped by a lower casing served as a base and a lower spacer. A first protrusion is formed on a sidewall of the lens holder and protruding outward therefrom. A second protrusion protruding toward the lens holder is formed on an inner circumference of the lower spacer and extends to a position above and separating from the first protrusion by a distance S. The first protrusion props against the second protrusion when the lens holder is moved toward an imaged-object side and reaching a displacement of the distance S.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus body including: an image forming unit that forms toner images having the colors being different from each other; a intermediate transfer body that has a belt-shape, and that is arranged in an upper portion of the image forming unit being inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, the toner images being transferred onto the intermediate transfer body; an intermediate transfer body unit that detachably holds the intermediate transfer body with respect to the apparatus body; and a guide rail member that detachably guides the intermediate transfer body unit in a direction of one side of the apparatus body, and that is set so that the direction, in which the intermediate transfer body unit is guided, is changed in the middle of guiding.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an endless intermediate transferring belt to which a toner image is transferred; a reference position marking member that is formed on a surface of the intermediate transferring belt, and that shows a reference position in a circumferential direction of the intermediate transferring belt; a detecting unit that detects the reference position marking member; and a control unit that controls the intermediate transferring belt to stop at a position where the reference position marking member is exposed to outside in a case where an outer cover is opened.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a black sensitized body and plural color sensitized bodies arranged in a row as well as a belt adapted to move round on a course, sequentially passing by or coming into contact with the plural sensitized bodies, of which the black sensitized body is located at an end of the row, a roll for causing the belt to come into contact with the black sensitized body and a retractable roll located between the color sensitized body disposed at the other end of the row of the sensitized bodies opposite to the black sensitized body and the color sensitized body immediately adjacent to the black sensitized body and adapted to shift from a position for holding itself in contact with the belt to a position for separating itself from the belt and vice versa to change the course of round movement of the belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a black sensitized body and plural color sensitized bodies arranged in a row as well as a belt adapted to move round on a course, sequentially passing by or coming into contact with the plural sensitized bodies, of which the black sensitized body is located at an end of the row, a roll for causing the belt to come into contact with the black sensitized body and a retractable roll located between the color sensitized body disposed at the other end of the row of the sensitized bodies opposite to the black sensitized body and the color sensitized body immediately adjacent to the black sensitized body and adapted to shift from a position for holding itself in contact with the belt to a position for separating itself from the belt and vice versa to change the course of round movement of the belt.

Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic image is formed of toner particles; wherein each toner particle includes (i) 100 wt. parts of a binder resin having a glass transition point (Tg) of 50-70° C., (ii) 0.2-20 wt. parts of solid wax, and (iii) colorant particles or magnetic powder; (iv) lubricant particles carrying a liquid lubricant, so that the toner particle retains at its surface the liquid lubricant gradually released from the particles (iv). The toner may be further blended with an organically treated inorganic fine powder to provide a developer. The toner or developer retains good lubricity and releasability so that it is suitable to be used in an image forming method including means contacting a latent image-bearing means, such as a contact charging means, a contact transfer means or a contact cleaning means.

Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic image is formed of toner particles; wherein each toner particle includes (i) 100 wt. parts of a binder resin having a glass transition point (Tg) of 50-70° C., (ii) 0.2-20 wt. parts of solid wax, and (iii) colorant particles or magnetic powder, (iv) lubricant particles carrying a liquid lubricant, so that the toner particle retains at its surface the liquid lubricant gradually released from the particles (iv). The toner may be further blended with an organically treated inorganic fine powder to provide a developer. The toner or developer retains good lubricity and releasability so that it is suitable to be used in an image forming method including means contacting a latent image-bearing means, such as a contact charging means, a contact transfer means or a contact cleaning means.

Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic image is formed of toner particles; wherein each toner particle includes (i) 100 wt. parts of a binder resin having a glass transition point (Tg) of 50-70.degree. C., (ii) 0.2-20 wt. parts of solid wax, and (iii) colorant particles or magnetic powder carrying a liquid lubricant, so that the toner particle retains at its surface the liquid lubricant gradually released from the particles (iii). The toner may be further blended with an organically treated inorganic fine powder to provide a developer. The toner or developer retains good lubricity and releasability so that it is suitable to be used in an image forming method including means contacting a latent image-bearing means, such as a contact charging means, a contact transfer means or a contact cleaning means.

Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic image has toner particles containing at least a binder resin and a colorant, and an inorganic fine powder. The inorganic fine powder has been treated with a silicone oil having, in its molecular weight distribution as measured by gel permeation chromatography, at least one peak value in the region of molecular weight of from 500 to 15,000 and having at least one peak value or shoulder in the region of molecular weight of from 3,000 to 100,000 at a value greater than the former peak value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carriers arranged side by side along the outer surface of a conveying portion of a transfer belt. The transfer belt is stretched between a first upstream roller and a second downstream roller. An image forming medium is conveyed on the belt so as to have multiple color images transferred thereto. The transfer belt has a swing lever so as to move the belt between a horizontal full color position and an inclined monochrome position. A stationary support roller which is arranged within the transfer belt and at a position nearer to the second downstream roller maintains a position of the image forming medium constant even when a monochrome image is being transferred. In addition, an electrostatic attraction roller located outside the transfer belt is arranged at a specific angle relative to the first roller to assist in the attraction of the image forming medium to the transfer belt.

Abstract: A magnetic toner which is excellent in the low temperature fixability and the anti-offset properties is disclosed. The binder resin of the toner comprises a non-crosslinked styrene polymer, a non-crosslinked styrene copolymer or a mixture of these, and a polyolefin, wherein;the binder resin has, in its molecular weight distribution pattern measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), at least one maximal point (peak) in each region of a low molecular weight of from 5,000 to 20,000 and of a high molecular weight of from 200,00 to 1,000,000, where a height H1 of a maximum peak in the low molecular weight region, a height H3 of a maximum peak in the high molecular weight region and a height H2 of a minimal point between both of said peaks satisfy the relationship H1:H2:H3 of 3-25:1:1.5-12; and has a weight average molecular weight Mw and a number average molecular weight Mn in a value Mw/Mn of from 15 to 80.

Abstract: A developer for developing electrostatic images has a toner and an aggregate of fine particles. The aggregate holds a silicone compound selected from the group consisting of a silicone oil and a silicone varnish, in an amount of from 20% by weight to 90% by weight.

Abstract: A toner for developing electrostatic images has a binder resin having as a constituent an acid component with an acid value of from 0.5 mg.KOH/g to 100 mg.KOH/g, a colorant, and at least one of compounds represented by Formulas (I), (II) and (III).

Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic image is composed by a binder resin, and a magnetic material and/or a colorant. The binder resin (a) comprises a styrene resin polymerized in the presence of a poly-functional polymerization initiator, (b) provides a molecular weight distribution on a GPC chromatogram showing a maximum (P1) in a molecular weight range of 3.5.times.10.sup.3 -5.times.10.sup.4 and a maximum (P2) or shoulder in a molecular weight range of at least 1.times.10.sup.5, and (c) contains 15 wt. % or less of a resin component in a molecular weight range of at most 3.times.10.sup.3. Further the toner contains at most 100 ppm of styrene and benzaldehyde.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming method characterized in using a photosensitive member having an organic photoconductive layer and fluorine-containing resin particles in the surface, a contact charging means being in contact with the photosensitive member to electrostatically charge it, a contact transfer means being in contact with the photosensitive member to transfer the developed image to the transfer medium;wherein the toner to be used for developing the latent image is a magnetic toner comprising at least a magnetic material and a binder resin, wherein the binder resin contains a polymer synthesized from vinyl monomer in the presence of an aromatic organic solvent in an amount of 50 parts by weight or more on the basis of 100 parts of the binder resin, and the amount of the residual aromatic organic solvent in the magnetic toner is 500 ppm by weight or less.

Abstract: The present invention provides a developer which is comprised of the magnetic toner having the specific binder resin component and low-molecular weight wax and the additives of the fine silica powder, metal oxide powder and fluorine-containing fine resin powder which are used in combination in given amounts. Hence, it is possible to prevent the melt-adhesion of toner to the surfaces of the contact charging member and contact transfer member, to cause no faulty images and to obtain images with the enjoyment of superior low-temperature fixing performance and anti-offset properties, even when copies are taken on a large number of sheets using the image forming method having contact charging and contact transfer systems.

Abstract: A toner for developing electrostatic images has a binder resin having as a constituent an acid component with an acid value of from 0.5 mg.KOH/g to 100 mg.KOH/g, a colorant, and at least one of compounds represented by Formulas (I), (II) and (III).

Abstract: A guanidine type compound has the following formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.8 are each a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an amino group, an alkoxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, and R.sup.1 to R.sup.8 may be the same as or different from each other and together may form a ring with the adjacent substituents; X is a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group or an alkoxy group; and m and n are each an integer having a value of 1 to 8. The guanidine compound is employed in a toner for electrostatic development and the toner can be used in an electrophotographic apparatus including a facsimile apparatus for receiving image information from an electrophotographic copier.