Abstract: A lens array, includes: a clear substrate; and a plurality of plastic lens substrates each of which includes a plurality of lenses and which are arranged on at least one of surfaces of the clear substrate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer belt stretched around driving and blade opposing rollers. The blade opposing roller is biased in a bias direction away from the driving roller by a biasing member and has a cleaning blade in contact with the belt. In a color mode, the belt is thrust against multiple image forming stations using multiple transfer members. In a monochromatic model, the belt is thrust against only a monochromatic image forming station using a monochromatic transfer member and other transfer members are moved away from the image forming stations. The belt is brought into a thrust-condition after completion of the monochromatic mode to be thrust against multiple image forming stations; and is then released to bring the blade opposing roller into following rotation in the opposite direction of the transport direction so that the blade opposing roller is biased in the bias direction.

Abstract: A photosensitive member is movable in a first direction. A line head is provided with a plurality of organic-EL photo emitters, arrayed in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to form a plurality of photo emitter arrays arranged in the first direction. A plurality of imaging lenses are arrayed in the second direction to form at least one lens array, so that an array of pixels defined on the photosensitive member are subjected to multiple exposure to light emitted from the photo emitter arrays in accordance with the movement of the photosensitive member, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member. At least one chromatic-aberration correcting lens is adapted to correct chromatic aberration of the imaging lenses relative to the first direction, and disposed between the photo emitter arrays and the lens array.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus adapted for a smooth mounting/dismounting of a process unit and for the reduction of wasteful power consumption is provided. Unless a new image signal is applied after completion of an image forming operation, the apparatus starts a clocking operation by an internal timer (Step S101). If the apparatus is left standstill for a predetermined length of time (Step S102), a sleep process (Step S103) is executed to shift the apparatus to a power save mode to consume less power. When an outside cover is opened (Step S105), on the other hand, the apparatus is shifted to a replacement operation mode (Step S106) in which only the rotation of a development rotary is permitted. However, if the apparatus is left with the outside cover opened (Step S108), the sleep process is executed.

Abstract: A charge roller includes a core, a resistive layer disposed on a circumferential surface of the core to charge an image-bearing member without contact, and gap members formed of tape-shaped films. These films are fixed to both ends of the charge roller by winding each of the films in a direction opposite a rotational direction of the charge roller in use and perpendicular to the axial direction thereof to form n layers (wherein n?2) extending in the axial direction at every position in the circumferential direction of the charge roller. The gap members are pressed against a circumferential surface of an image-bearing member to define a charge gap between the image-bearing member and the charge roller.

Abstract: The invention provides a developing device which can determine and set the suitable amount of toner on a development roller, the suitable voltage to be applied to a compaction roller, and the number of rotations of the compaction roller according to the type of paper, thereby providing a high quality image. The developing device of the invention comprises a development roller to which a liquid toner containing toner particles dispersed in carrier liquid is applied by a toner supplying roller. A developed image is formed on a photoreceptor by the development roller. The device comprises a compaction roller for compacting the toner particles in the liquid toner on the development roller at a position before the development on the photoreceptor. The device comprises a means of controlling the number of rotations of the toner supplying roller according to the type of paper and a means of controlling the voltage to be applied to the compaction roller according to the type of paper.

Abstract: A developing device and an image forming apparatus which can form a printing image having high resolution and a high quality level, while resolving various problems resulted from the use of small particle size toner particles are provided. The developing device includes a toner constituted of resin base particles containing a coloring agent and a binder resin, and silicone oil and/or fluoro oil added to the resin base particles, a toner receiving portion for receiving the toner, and a developing roller having an outer peripheral surface and an irregularity section for carrying the toner, the irregularity section formed on the outer peripheral surface and including a plurality of depression portions and/or protrusion portions provided regularly and uniformly, wherein an average particle size of the resin base particles in volume basis is in the range of 2 to 4 ?m, and an added amount of the silicone oil and/or fluoro oil to the resin base particles is in the range of 0.05 to 2 mass %.

Abstract: A light scanning apparatus makes a light beam scan along a main scanning direction on an effective scanning region which has a predetermined width. The apparatus comprises: a light source which emits the light beam; a deflector which includes an oscillation mirror which oscillates about an oscillatory axis which is orthogonal or approximately orthogonal to the main scanning direction, deflects the light beam emitted from the light source using the oscillation mirror, and makes the light beam scan a second scanning range which contains but extends beyond a first scanning range which corresponds to the effective scanning region; a detector which detects the scanning light beam which moves through a position which is outside the first scanning range but is within the second scanning range, and outputs a signal; and a controller which controls a mirror drive signal fed to the oscillation mirror based on the output signal from the detector and accordingly adjusts the amplitude of the oscillation mirror.

Abstract: An image forming system, etc., which provides a user or the like with great convenience is achieved. For example, an image forming apparatus is usable as a color image forming apparatus for forming color images and is usable as a monochrome image forming apparatus for forming monochrome images, and by moving one developing unit among attached developing units to an attach/detach position, a developing unit becomes replaceable. A timing for moving the predetermined developing unit to the attach/detach position when an event occurs in which development cannot be performed with the predetermined developing unit is different for when the image forming apparatus is being used as a color image forming apparatus and for when the image forming apparatus is being used as a monochrome image forming apparatus. See FIG. 12, for example.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes: a latent image carrier whose surface includes an effective image region spanning across a predetermined width in a main scanning direction and is driven in a sub scanning direction approximately orthogonal to the main scanning direction; a latent image former which has a light source and a deflection mirror oscillating, and deflects a light beam from the light source using the deflection mirror so as to scan the effective image region with the deflected light beam; and a scanning mode controller which switches selectively between a single-side scanning mode and a double-side scanning mode, the single-side scanning mode being a mode in which the light beam is scanned only in a first direction included in the main scanning direction, the double-side scanning mode being a mode in which the light beam is scanned in both the first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, wherein a condition to form latent images on the latent image carrier in the singl

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a toner by using a liquid dispersion in which a dispersoid containing a material for manufacturing a toner is dispersed in a dispersion medium, and containing a dispersant having a function of improving the dispersibility of the dispersoid, the method including the steps of: preparing the liquid dispersion, applying ozone to the liquid dispersion and/or a liquid dispersion from which at least a portion of the dispersion medium has been removed, and irradiating UV-rays to the liquid dispersion and/or the liquid dispersion from which at least a portion of the dispersion medium has been removed.

Abstract: To provide a developing device capable of preventing excess charge of the toner particles so as to prevent occurrence of failure caused by an decrease in toner flying property between the developing roller and photoconductor or a change in development characteristics, a developing device according to the present invention develops non-magnetic mono component toner using a developing roller having on its surface a plurality of groove portions each of which includes: a leading end side cut portion formed on the leading end side of the developing roller in the rotational direction thereof and having a leading end side cut angle ?1; and a trailing end side cut portion formed on the trailing end side of the developing roller in the rotational direction thereof and having a trailing end side cut angle ?2 and in which a relationship ?1<?2 is satisfied.

Abstract: Provided is an exposure head, including: an array substrate having a plurality of organic EL elements arranged in an array on one face; and a plurality of circuit chips having a circuit for driving the organic EL element, and in which the forming face of the circuit is serially arranged along the extending direction of the array substrate so as to face one face of the array substrate; wherein the plurality of circuit chips are mutually serially connected by providing a pair of wiring groups for each mutual boundary location of the circuit chips on one face of the array substrate and outside the arrangement area of the organic EL element, bump-bonding one of the adjacent circuit chips to one end of the pair of wiring groups, and bump-bonding the other adjacent circuit chip to the other end of the pair of wiring groups.

Abstract: As a scanning light beam which is scanning and traveling away from an effective image region moves passed the location of a sensor, a horizontal synchronizing signal Hsync is obtained as a first detection signal. A deflection mirror surface turns around, thereby reversing the direction in which the scanning light beam scans. This scanning light beam therefore scans an effective image region IR, and a latent image forming operation using this scanning light beam is controlled based on the horizontal synchronizing signal Hsync. Hence, there is a relatively long period of time (T4+T5) since the horizontal synchronizing signal Hsync is obtained until formation of a latent image starts in accordance with the signal Hsync. This secures sufficient time for control of the latent image forming operation based on the horizontal synchronizing signal Hsync, and hence, realizes the latent image forming operation as desired during the time T6.

Abstract: A first container is operable to accommodate a liquid toner, and provided with a window. A reflector is disposed in the first container. A light emitter is operable to emit light to the reflector through the window and the liquid toner. A light receiver is operable to receive the light reflected by the reflector through the liquid toner and the window. A detector is operable to detect a concentration of the liquid toner based on the light received by the light receiver.

Abstract: Provided is an exposure head, including: an array substrate having a plurality of organic EL elements arranged in an array on one face; and a plurality of circuit chips having a circuit for driving the organic EL element, and in which the forming face of the circuit is serially arranged along the extending direction of the array substrate so as to face one face of the array substrate; wherein the plurality of circuit chips are mutually serially connected by providing a pair of wiring groups for each mutual boundary location of the circuit chips on one face of the array substrate and outside the arrangement area of the organic EL element, bump-bonding one of the adjacent circuit chips to one end of the pair of wiring groups, and bump-bonding the other adjacent circuit chip to the other end of the pair of wiring groups.

Abstract: A mirror driver drives deflection mirror surfaces into a pivoting action at a frequency belonging to a first drive frequency band in which the high-frequency side of a first resonance frequency band partially overlaps the low-frequency side of a second resonance frequency band, so that the deflection mirror surfaces deflect a light beam. Hence, the deflection angles of light beams change, while canceling out each other the changes of the deflection angles of the light beams deflected by the deflection mirror surfaces owing to changes of resonance characteristics. Because of this, even when the resonance characteristics change, it is possible to stabilize the deflection angle of the light beam deflected by the first deflection mirror surface and further deflected by the second deflection mirror surface.

Abstract: An image forming method using an image forming apparatus including: a latent image carrier whose surface is driven in a sub scanning direction; a deflector which scans a beam spot reciprocally in a main scanning direction substantially perpendicular to the sub scanning direction on the surface of the latent image carrier in the use of an oscillating deflect mirror so as to form spot latent images each of which formed on a pixel; developer which develops each of the spot latent images as a pixel-dot, the method includes of: halftoning for a tone reproduction in which a halftone-dot constituted by the pixel-dot(s) is formed on a cell consisting plural pixels according to a fattening type threshold matrix, wherein a plurality of cells are contiguously arranged in the main scanning direction so as to form a plurality of contiguous locations at each of which the cells adjoin mutually in the main scanning direction, each cell includes a larger-than-four even number of pixels in the sub scanning direction, and the c

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes development cartridges which develop an electrostatic latent image with toner, a rotary unit provided with the developing cartridges, an intermediate transfer belt which receives the toner image, and a controller. A length of the intermediate transfer belt is set such that a length of the image forming region is corresponded to a length of a set recording medium having a predetermined size and a length of the non-image forming region is corresponded to a distance between a rear end of the preceding one of the set recording mediums and the front end of the subsequent one. A rotational movement period of the intermediate transfer belt corresponding to the length of the non-image forming region is equal to or greater than a time required for switching the developing cartridges. The controller performs an switching operation of the developing cartridges in accordance with a size of a recording medium.

Abstract: A light scanning apparatus makes a light beam scan along a main scanning direction on an effective scanning region having a predetermined width. A deflector includes an oscillation mirror which deflects the light beam and makes the light beam scan a second scanning range which contains but extends beyond a first scanning range corresponding to the effective scanning region A detector detects the scanning light beam which moves through a position outside the first scanning range but within the second scanning range, and outputs a detection signal A controller drives the oscillation mirror based on the detection signal and accordingly adjusts the amplitude of the oscillation mirror, and stops driving the oscillation mirror when the detection signal is not outputted from the detector even though a light source is turned on to emit the light beam.