Abstract: A contact type image sensor, which includes a transparent member which can contact an original to be read, a light source for radiating light onto the original via the transparent member, a sensor for receiving light reflected by the original, an imaging element for imaging the reflected light on a light-receiving portion of the sensor, and a support unit for supporting the sensor, the imaging element, the transparent member, and the light source. The imaging element and the light source are supported by the transparent member and the support unit.

Abstract: An elastic roller includes a conductive base; an elastic layer on the conductive base; a surface parting layer on the elastic layer, the surface parting layer having a surface resistance of not less than 10.sup.10 ohm; wherein the elastic layer has a volume resistivity of not more than 10.sup.7 ohm.cm.

Abstract: A charging device includes a charging member contactable to a member to be charged. A bias source includes an AC source and a DC source and is effective to apply a bias voltage to the charging member. The bias voltage is provided by a superposing a constant current controlled AC voltage and a constant voltage controlled DC voltage. When a DC voltage is applied between the charging member and the member to be charged, the following equation is satisfied..vertline.(applied voltage V)-(charge voltage V.sub.D of the member to be charged).vertline.=.vertline.(charge starting voltage V.sub.TH).vertline..The charge starting voltage is a DC voltage at a level which the member to be charged starts charging when only a DC voltage is applied between the member to be charged and the charging member. When the above relationship is used in the AC voltage application, the charge voltage V.sub.D oscillates in the charge region with a center of DC voltage V.sub.DC.

Abstract: A contact-type image sensor assembly including: an image sensor; a light source for illuminating an original document which has image information; an optical lens for imaging light reflected by the original document onto the image sensor; and a supporting member for supporting the image sensor, the light source and the optical lens, wherein the supporting member includes: a first supporting member for maintaining the distance from the surface of the original document and the light incidental side of the optical lens at a predetermined distance; a second supporting member disposed individually from the first supporting member and acting to maintain the distance from the light emission side of the optical lens to the light receiving side of the image sensor; and a third supporting member for supporting the first and second supporting members at predetermined positions and the third supporting member supports the first and second supporting members in this way that their positions can be adjusted.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus for fixing a toner image on a recording material includes a pair of rotatable members for forming a nip through which the recording material is passed; and bias voltage applying source for applying a bias voltage to at least one of the rotatable members, wherein the bias voltage is automatically changed in accordance with change of an ambient condition.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head which can simultaneously trace two tracks is disclosed. This head comprises: a pair of magnetic gap portions; and a pair of magnetic thin-film layers each of which includes a magnetic pole portion in contact with the magnetic gap portion. A distance between these layers increases as they go away from the magnetic pole portions. Each of the layers includes an expanded portion having a cross sectional area in the passing direction of the magnetic fluxes which is larger than a cross sectional area in the passing direction of the magnetic fluxes at the magnetic pole portion.

Abstract: In a process for carrying out a reaction in a plurality of catalyst zones arranged in series which shows remarkable rise of reaction temperature due to its high initial activity, an improvement is provided by starting the reaction with a first reactor in which its catalyst activity is reduced in advance so as to make it easier to control the reaction temperature; with other reactors in which their catalyst activities are maintained at higher values with an increasing gradient and with a last reactor in which its catalyst activity is made sufficiently larger in order to be able to maintain the initial value of total conversion with all the reactors even at a time when the catalyst activity of the first reactor is reduced to unusable extent, interrupting the reaction when the catalyst activity of the first reactor is reduced to unusable extent, transferring the first reactor to the next to the last reactor after charged with a new catalyst, and repeating the operation in the subsequent run as in the first run e