Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member; a charging member contactable to said photosensitive member to electrically charge said photosensitive member; applying means applying a charging bias voltage to said charging member; detecting means detecting a current flowing between said charging member and said photosensitive member; a controller for controlling said image forming apparatus to execute an operational mode for removing an electric discharge product deposited on a surface of said photosensitive member, in the case that detecting means detects a current not lower than a predetermined value when a voltage lower than a voltage at which an electric charge starts between said photosensitive member and said charging member is applied to said charging member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable photosensitive member; a charging member for electrically charging the photosensitive member; a power source for applying a DC voltage to the charging member; an irradiation member for irradiating with light a surface of the photosensitive member; and a controller for controlling the irradiation of the light by the irradiation member. The photosensitive member is movable at a first speed and a second speed slower than the first speed. The irradiation of the light by the irradiation member is effected when the photosensitive member is moved at the first speed to effect image formation, and is not effected when the photosensitive member is moved at the second speed to effect the image formation.

Abstract: An envelope filling apparatus is an apparatus for inserting a sheet of paper into an envelope having a flap, including envelope feed means, an air nozzle for blowing air into an envelope fed by the envelope feed means from an open end of the envelope to open the open end, and sensing means for detecting that the open end of the envelope has been opened. The apparatus further includes insertion means for inserting a sheet of paper into an envelope from an open end, if the sensing means has detected that the open end of the envelope has been opened after the air nozzle is actuated, and removal means for removing an envelope from a transport route, if the sensing means does not detect that the open end of the envelope has been opened after the air nozzle is actuated and the insertion means is not actuated.

Abstract: When a charging member charge a photosensitive member by being applied with a direct-current voltage, a gap between the charging member and the photosensitive member is exposed to light with a constant light amount. However, if the process speed is lowered, charging non-uniformity occurs. Therefore, when the process speed is low, the amount of light radiated to the charging gap is made higher than that when the process speed is low.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable photosensitive member; charging device for electrically charging the photosensitive member by being supplied with a charging bias; a current detecting device for detecting a DC current flowing when a test bias in the form of a predetermined DC voltage biased with a predetermined AC voltage is applied to the charging device so as to cause discharging between the photosensitive member and the charging device; and a control device for controlling the charging bias on the basis of an output of the current detecting device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable photosensitive member; charging device for electrically charging the photosensitive member by being supplied with a charging bias; a current detecting device for detecting a DC current flowing when a test bias in the form of a predetermined DC voltage biased with a predetermined AC voltage is applied to the charging device so as to cause discharging between the photosensitive member and the charging device; and a control device for controlling the charging bias on the basis of an output of the current detecting device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member; a charging member contactable to said photosensitive member to electrically charge said photosensitive member; applying means applying a charging bias voltage to said charging member; detecting means detecting a current flowing between said charging member and said photosensitive member; a controller for controlling said image forming apparatus to execute an operational mode for removing an electric discharge product deposited on a surface of said photosensitive member, in the case that detecting means detects a current not lower than a predetermined value when a voltage lower than a voltage at which an electric charge starts between said photosensitive member and said charging member is applied to said charging member.

Abstract: A charging apparatus includes a charging device for electrically charging a photosensitive member; a bias applying device for applying to the charging member a charging bias voltage comprising a DC voltage component and a AC voltage component, wherein the bias applying device effect a constant voltage control with a constant AC component of the charging bias voltage; a AC detector for detecting a AC detected current when the charging member is supplied with a test bias voltage; a DC detector for detecting a DC detected current when the charging member is supplied with the test bias voltage; and a controller for controlling a charging bias voltage to be applied to the charging member; wherein the control means determines a peak-to-peak voltage Vo when a change rate of detected DC current provided by sequentially applying the test bias voltages having different peak-to-peak voltages in order of increasing or decreasing peak-to-peak voltage becomes not more than a predetermined level, and the control means sets

Abstract: A printer 20 includes a photosensitive drum 1, a charge roller 2 for electrically charging the photosensitive drum 1, a developing device 4 for developing an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1 into a toner image, a transfer roller 5 for transferring the toner image onto a recording material, and a transfer residual toner charging member 8 for electrically charging toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having an image forming device for forming an image on a recording material, a fixing member for fixing the image formed on the recording material in a fixing nip, and a pressure member brought into pressure contact with the fixing member to form the fixing nip, the hardness of the pressure member being smaller than the hardness of the fixing member, wherein the image forming apparatus is operable in a mode for inserting the recording material into the fixing nip so that the image forming surface of the recording material is brought into contact with the pressure member, and subjecting the recording material to a preheating process, and then forming the image.

Abstract: The present invention provides recombinant promoters that drive tissue-specific expression, and transgenes comprising such recombinant promoters. Specifically, the invention provides transgenes comprising a recombinant promoter that drives tissue-specific expression of a heterologous nucleic acid molecule in a floral organ. The invention also provides methods for using such transgenes to produce a protein in a plant host cell or transgenic plant. The invention further provides methods for producing a transgenic plant that produces, for example, longer-lasting flowers, better fragrance, or better or longer-lasting color as compared to a wild type plant.

Abstract: A composition having a fragrance that substantially mimics a fragrance of a plant is made by (a) identifying a plurality of different chemical entities emitted from a plant, wherein the plurality of different chemical entities combine to form the fragrance of the plant; (b) determining a concentration of the plurality of different chemical entities emitted from the plant, the plurality of different chemical entities including at least a first chemical entity and a second chemical entity, the first and second chemical entities having different chemical structures; (c) providing a stock of the first chemical entity and a stock of the second chemical entity; and (d) mixing together aliquots of the stock of the first chemical entity and the stock of the second chemical entity to form a mixture wherein a ratio of the concentration of the first chemical entity to second chemical entity is substantially the same as that emitted from the plant.

Abstract: A printer 20 includes a photosensitive drum 1, a charge roller 2 for electrically charging the photosensitive drum 1, a developing device 4 for developing an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1 into a toner image, a transfer roller 5 for transferring the toner image onto a recording material, and a transfer residual toner charging member 8 for electrically charging toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having an image forming device for forming an image on a recording material, a fixing member for fixing the image formed on the recording material in a fixing nip, and a pressure member brought into pressure contact with the fixing member to form the fixing nip, the hardness of the pressure member being smaller than the hardness of the fixing member, wherein the image forming apparatus is operable in a mode for inserting the recording material into the fixing nip so that the image forming surface of the recording material is brought into contact with the pressure member, and subjecting the recording material to a preheating process, and then forming the image.

Abstract: The present invention provides recombinant promoters that drive tissue-specific expression, and transgenes comprising such recombinant promoters. Specifically, the invention provides transgenes comprising a recombinant promoter that drives tissue-specific expression of a heterologous nucleic acid molecule in a floral organ. The invention also provides methods for using such transgenes to produce a protein in a host cell or transgenic plant. The invention further provides methods for producing a transgenic plant that produces, for example, longer-lasting flowers, better fragrance, or better or longer-lasting color as compared to a wild type plant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the altering or controlling inhibition of gene expression in a cell using a methodology involving a dsRNA. The use of the method in plants and plant cells has been found to be particularly beneficial. For example the inhibition of a hormone signaling gene in a plant, such as the EIN2 gene, permits the modulating of flower longevity in the selected plant. This is accomplished by using our RNAi technology in inhibiting the expression of an ethylene-modulated gene or an ethylene signaling gene in plants and plant cells. This method provides for the use of RNAi technology in inhibiting the expression of a hormone signaling gene in a plant, particularly in the floral parts of a plant. Thus, one can modulate flower longevity in a plant.

Abstract: A composition having a fragrance that substantially mimics a fragrance of a plant is made by (a) identifying a plurality of different chemical entities emitted from a plant, wherein the plurality of different chemical entities combine to form the fragrance of the plant; (b) determining a concentration of the plurality of different chemical entities emitted from the plant, the plurality of different chemical entities including at least a first chemical entity and a second chemical entity, the first and second chemical entities having different chemical structures; (c) providing a stock of the first chemical entity and a stock of the second chemical entity; and (d) mixing together aliquots of the stock of the first chemical entity and the stock of the second chemical entity to form a mixture wherein a ratio of the concentration of the first chemical entity to second chemical entity is substantially the same as that emitted from the plant.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member which is movable; an electrifying device which makes contact with the image bearing member and electrifies the image bearing member; a developing device for developing a latent image on the image bearing member by toner; and an abutting member which is provided on a downstream side in a moving direction of the image bearing member with respect to the electrifying device and the contacting portion of the image bearing member and abuts against the image bearing member. The image bearing member, electrified by the electrifying device, is exposed to have the latent image formed thereon, a toner image formed on the image bearing member by the developing device is transferred to a recording material, and the developing device recovers residual toner on the image bearing member after transfer.

Abstract: Toner particles fly off from a photosensitive drum to an exposure light emitting portion by a change of electric potential distribution on the photosensitive drum caused by image exposure in a following process. This causes a poor copy of an image by adhering the toner particles to the exposure light emitting portion. This phenomena affects a tandem type of copiers with multi-stations including photosensitive drums and exposure light emitting positions. An apparatus capable of suppressing toner adhesion to an exposure is provided to solve the above problem.

Abstract: Toner particles fly off from a photosensitive drum to an exposure light emitting portion by a change of electric potential distribution on the photosensitive drum caused by image exposure in a following process. This causes a poor copy of an image by adhering the toner particles to the exposure light emitting portion. This phenomena affects a tandem type of copiers with multi-stations including photosensitive drums and exposure light emitting positions. An apparatus capable of suppressing toner adhesion to an exposure is provided to solve the above problem.