Abstract: An image recording apparatus for recording image data from an external apparatus is provided, which receives the image data as an image signal from the external apparatus, records the received image signal, and outputs a characteristic signal regarding a recording characteristic of the recording apparatus to the external apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an electrostatic image forming device for forming an electrostatic image based on an image signal on the image bearing member, a developing device for developing the electrostatic image on the image bearing member, a detector for detecting the amount of a toner in the developing device, an integrating device for integrating a number of image signals produced by the apparatus, and an estimator for estimating and indicating whether the apparatus has consumed a predetermined amount of toner, on the basis of the integrated amount integrated by the integrating device before the detector detects the consumption of all the toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is capable of maintaining a low charged potential on the surface of the guide member, thereby electrostatically preventing generation of paper dust. The image forming apparatus comprises a guide member for guiding the recording material and a rotary member for forming an image on the recording material guided by the guide member, wherein the guide member is composed of a conductive member having a layer of fluorinated resin on a guide surface for guiding the recording material. The fluorinated resin on the guide member is formed by coating and curing fluorinated resin on the conductive member. The guide member serves to change the transported direction of the recording material from the vertical direction to the horizontal direction. Such configuration prevents elevation of the potential on the fluorinated resin, covering the guide member, by friction with the recording material, thereby avoiding generation of paper dust and enabling image formation of high image quality.

Abstract: An output apparatus capable of receiving multi-level dot information of a first recording dot density, generating multi-level dot information of a second recording dot density, and transmitting the thus-generated second dot information in a visible way. The output apparatus comprises: a receiving device capable of receiving multi-level dot information of a first recording dot density; a generating device capable of generating multi-level interpolation dot information by applying a predetermined calculation to the thus-received multi-level dot information; and a dot density conversion device capable of generating multi-level dot information of a second, higher recording dot density from said interpolation dot information and the received multi-level dot information, whereby high density image data can be generated from low density image data.

Abstract: An output apparatus capable of receiving multi-level dot information of a first recording dot density, generating multi-level dot information of a second recording dot density, and transmitting the thus-generated second dot information in a visible way. The output apparatus comprises: a receiving device capable of receiving multi-level dot information of a first recording dot density; a generating device capable of generating multi-level interpolation dot information by applying a predetermined calculation to the thus-received multi-level dot information; and a dot density conversion device capable of generating multi-level dot information of second higher recording dot density from said interpolation dot information and the received multi-level dot information, whereby high density image data can be generated from low density image data.

Abstract: A charging roller is set in contact with a chargeable member to charge the chargeable member by application of voltage. The charging roller has an electroconductive support, an elastic layer formed thereon, and at least one coating layer formed on the elastic layer. The charging roller has surface roughness of not more than 8 .mu.m, and Asker C hardness (A) of the elastic layer, and micro-rubber hardness (B) of the charging roller satisfy the relations below:A.ltoreq.45.degree.A<B<A+20.degree..

Abstract: In a fixing device, a recording material having an unfixed toner image formed thereon is inserted between a pair of rotating members, and the toner image is fixed on the recording material by heating/pressing the recording material having the unfixed toner image formed thereon. By providing the fixing device with a releasing layer, made of a PFA resin having end groups of --CF.sub.3, formed on a surface of a fixing rotating member, which serves as one of the pair of rotating members, contacting the unfixed toner image, and a releasing layer, having a volume resistivity of 10.sup.13 -10.sup.15 .OMEGA..multidot.cm (when applying a DC voltage of 500 V) and made of a PFA resin containing a conductivity providing material, formed on a surface of a pressing rotating member, which serves the other one of the pair of rotating members, a problem of offset is solved.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus for recording image data from an external apparatus is provided, which receives the image data as an image signal from the external apparatus, records the received image signal, and outputs a characteristic signal regarding a recording characteristic of the recording apparatus to the external apparatus.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus for recording image data from an external apparatus receives the image data as an image signal from the external apparatus, records the received image signal, and outputs a characteristic signal regarding a recording characteristic of the recording apparatus to the external apparatus.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes an image data generating section for generating image data, and an interpolation image data forming section for forming and outputting interpolation image data based on the image data generated by the image data generating section. The interpolation image data forming section includes a memory for storing the image data generated by the image data generating section.

Abstract: In a fixing device used in an image forming apparatus, temperature changes in a heating member are reduced by gradually reducing a power supply duty ratio while the heating member is subjected to temperature control aiming at a set temperature.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus includes a fixing roller contactable to an unfixed image, and a back-up roller cooperable with the fixing roller to fix the unfixed image, wherein the back-up roller contains a fluorine surface active agent having an antistatic effect substantially to reduce electrostatic offset and enable the back-up roller to remove toner deposited on the fixing roller.

Abstract: A process cartridge mountable on a main body of an image forming apparatus comprises a frame, an image bearing member, process means acting on the image bearing member, and a bar code provided on the frame.

Abstract: An image forming device suitable for use in a laser beam printer includes an image forming unit for forming an image on a photoconductor, and a reproduction unit for reproducing a high density image and a halftone image on the photoconductor. A detector then detects the density of the high density image and the halftone image formed on the photoconductor. A controller controls an image forming condition of the image forming unit based on a detection result by the detector.

Abstract: A charging member for charging a member to be charged includes a foamed layer; a supporting member for supporting the foamed layer, and for being supplied with a voltage; a resistance layer closer to the member to be charged than the foamed layer; wherein the foamed layer has a specific gravity not less than 0.1 (g/cm.sup.3) and not more than 0.6 (g/cm.sup.3), and wherein an average outer diameter of pores in a cross-section of said foamed layer is not less than 50 microns and not more than 1 mm.

Abstract: A charging member includes an electrode to be supplied with a voltage; a surface layer contactable to a member to be charged; and wherein a cavity is provided between the electrode and the surface layer. The cavity extends in a circumferential direction of the charging member and/or the cavity has a configuration to provide a substantially constant state of contact between the charging member and the member to be charged.

Abstract: A charging member contactable to a member to be charged to electrically charge it includes a charging portion contactable to the member to be charged; a supporting portion for supporting the charging portion, the supporting portion including an elastic layer and a supporting member for supporting the elastic layer; wherein the charging portion is movable toward and away from the supporting portion, and an inside diameter of the charging portion is larger than an outside diameter of the supporting portion.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer carrying member for carrying developer, an elastic blade press-contacted to the developer carrying member to regulate a layer of developer formed on the developer carrying member, where the elastic blade comprises an electrically conductive layer, and a high resistance layer located at the developer carrying member side of the conductive layer, and an electric field generating device for forming an oscillating electric field between the developer carrying member and the conductive layer, wherein a maximum intensity of the electric field is not less than 10.sup.6 V/m.

Abstract: An image reading and recording apparatus includes a reader for reading an image of a document and by scanning a document; a recorder for effecting recording of the image read by the reader on a recording medium by scanning one side of the recording medium. A driving and controlling device drives and controls the reader and the recorder in such a manner that the image recorded on one side of the recording medium by means of the recorder will be inverted with respect to the image of the document.

Abstract: A multivalued input recording signal is subjected to pulse-width modulation at a time unit shorter than the period of a clock signal within the period of the recording signal. Alternatively, the multivalued input recording signal is converted into a plurality of different signals each of whose length of time is shorter than a clock signal within the period of the recording signal, thereby performing pulse-width modulation in accordance with a predetermined weighting. This makes it possible to obtain a highly toned recording signal without raising the frequency of the clock signal. Further, density tone data is generated in dependence upon inputted multivalued pixel data, and control is performed using both the irradiation time and emission intensity of a light beam based on the generated density tone data. An image is formed by irradiating a photosensitive body with the controlled light beam.