Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing a developer image; a developing device including a developer carrying member for forming the developer image on the image bearing member; a fixing device for fixing the developer image on a sheet material, on which the developer image has been transferred, by heating the sheet material; a memory medium for storing an operation hysteresis value, of the developing device, which varies depending on a state of an operation of the developing device from start of the operation; and a controller for controlling a temperature of the fixing device. The controller controls, when the operation hysteresis value stored in the memory medium reaches a preset threshold, the temperature of the fixing device so as to be lower than that before the operation hysteresis value reaches the preset threshold.

Abstract: The present invention provides a charging member, a charging device, an image forming apparatus, and a process cartridge that minimize local unevenness in potential of a charged object resulting from soiling of the charging member with soiling microparticles or soiling aggregates, that do not cause image failure such as unevenness in image density and scumming, and that output good images through the life of the charging member. The charging member charges a surface of the object by receiving a voltage while being in contact with the object, and satisfies the condition that Rzjis?30 and Rsk?0, where Rzjis represents the ten-point average roughness of a surface of the charging member in contact with the object and Rsk represents the skewness of a roughness curve.

Abstract: An ink-jet ink-receptive composition, which resolves problems such as blurring of images and show-through occurring when water soluble dye inks are employed on uncoated paper such as plain paper or ordinary postcards and which provide a high density and high quality image, contains a specific silica particle aggregate and polyvinylpyrrolidone.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a method for cleaning circulation water, which reduces the cost of operation and maintenance as much as possible, without a cumbersome cleaning operation such as by detaching electrode plates from an electrolysis cleaning tank and removing scale from inside the tank, and to provide a device used in this method.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a method for cleaning circulation water, which reduces the cost of operation and maintenance as much as possible, without a cumbersome cleaning operation such as by detaching electrode plates from an electrolysis cleaning tank and removing scale from inside the tank, and to provide a device used in this method.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable drum; a charging roller, contacting the drum, for electrically charging the drum; a developing device for developing a latent image formed on the drum into a developer image; and a cleaning device for removing a developer remaining on the drum after the developer image is transferred from the drum onto a developer image receiving member. The cleaning device includes a cleaning blade contacting the drum and having a fixed end and a free end which is located upstream of the fixed end with respect to a rotational direction of the drum. The image forming apparatus further includes a control device for controlling a rotating operation of the drum.

Abstract: An ink for ink-jet recording is provided which enables high quality printing at a fast speed. The ink is also suitable for use in an ink-jet recording head employed in a line head method. The ink for ink-jet recording includes at least a coloring agent, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol propyl ether and water. The amount of ethylene glycol with respect to the total ink amount is about 5 wt. % to about 30 wt. %, and the amount of propylene glycol propyl ether with respect to the total ink amount is about 30 wt. % to about 50 wt. %. Further, the total amount of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol propyl ether with respect to the total ink amount is about 45 wt. % to about 60 wt. %.

Abstract: The present invention provides a charging member, a charging device, an image forming apparatus, and a process cartridge that minimize local unevenness in potential of a charged object resulting from soiling of the charging member with soiling microparticles or soiling aggregates, that do not cause image failure such as unevenness in image density and scumming, and that output good images through the life of the charging member. The charging member charges a surface of the object by receiving a voltage while being in contact with the object, and satisfies the condition that Rzjis?30 and Rsk?0, where Rzjis represents the ten-point average roughness of a surface of the charging member in contact with the object and Rsk represents the skewness of a roughness curve.

Abstract: An inkjet head may comprise an ejection port which ejects ink and an ink flow path which supplies the ink to the ejection port. The inkjet head may also comprise an ejection actuator which supplies ejection energy to the ink in the ink flow path. The ejection energy may cause the ink to be ejected from the ejection port. The inkjet head may also comprise a wall portion. The wall portion may be located at a position farther from the ejection port along the ink flow path with respect to a position at which the ejection energy is supplied. The wall portion may define an inner wall surface of the ink flow path. The wall portion may deform to decrease a cross section of the ink flow path in a direction orthogonal to an ink-flow direction as a temperature of the ink in the ink flow path increases. The wall portion may deform to increase a cross section of the ink flow path in a direction orthogonal to an ink-flow direction as the temperature of the ink in the ink flow path decreases.

Abstract: If a new device object matching at least a portion of device information concerning a device of an existing device object is detected, the device information of the existing device object is acquired, and the existing device object is deleted. Device information of the new device object is updated by using the acquired device information.

Abstract: A developing apparatus, a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus which form an image whose image density can be maintained, which form a fogged image and which form an image of uneven density within an acceptable range, even when the diameter of a developer carrying member is not more than 12 mm. The apparatus includes a developer carrying member whose outer diameter is in the range of 8 mm to 12 mm, and a magnetic mono-component developer 43 having a saturation magnetization of in a range of 20 Am2/kg to 37 Am2/kg when the magnetic field of 79.6 kA/m (1000 oersteds) is applied, the magnetization of not less than 70% and not more than 80% of the saturation magnetization when the magnetic field is lowered to 55.7 kA/m (700 oersteds), and the magnetization of not less than 50% and not more than 62% of the saturation magnetization when the magnetic field is lowered to 39.8 kA/m (500 oersteds).

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a method for cleaning circulation water, which reduces the cost of operation and maintenance as much as possible, without a cumbersome cleaning operation such as by detaching electrode plates from an electrolysis cleaning tank and removing scale from inside the tank, and to provide a device used in this method.

Abstract: A pretreatment liquid for ink-jet recording by applying the pretreatment liquid to a predetermined portion of a recording medium to form a pretreatment layer on the pretreatment portion in advance of dispensing at least one ink onto the pretreatment layer by an inkjet method, the pretreatment liquid includes fine particles and a solvent. Specifically, a contact angle between a surface of the pretreatment layer and the at least one ink is between about 12 degrees and about 25 degrees.

Abstract: A pretreatment liquid for ink-jet recording by applying the pretreatment liquid to a recording medium, the pretreatment liquid including fine particles and a solvent. Specifically, a contact angle between the pretreatment liquid and a surface of the recording medium is greater than or equal to about 75 degrees.

Abstract: If a new device object matching at least a portion of device information concerning a device of an existing device object is detected, the device information of the existing device object is acquired, and the existing device object is deleted. Device information of the new device object is updated by using the acquired device information.

Abstract: A developing apparatus, a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus of which the image density can be maintained and the fogged image and the uneven density can be within an acceptable level even when the diameter of a developer carrying member is not more than 12 mm. The outer diameter of the developer carrying member 41 is not less than 8 mm and not more than 12 mm, and a magnetic mono-component developer 43 has a saturation magnetization of not less than 20 Am2/kg and not more than 37 Am2/kg when the magnetic field of 79.6 kA/m (1000 oersteds) is applied, the magnetization of not less than 70% and not more than 80% of the saturation magnetization when the magnetic field is lowered to 55.7 kA/m (700 oersteds), and the magnetization of not less than 50% and not more than 62% of the saturation magnetization when the magnetic field is lowered to 39.8 kA/m (500 oersteds).

Abstract: A developing apparatus having a developer carrying member carrying developer including toner, a developer regulating member regulating the layer thickness of the developer carried on the developer carrying member, and a lubricant provided in a contact portion between the carrying member and the regulating member with the developer being not present on the carrying member, wherein the lubricant includes a first polymer particle which is of a spherical shape having an average degree of circularity of 0.90 or greater and is of a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner, and a second polymer particle of a scalelike shape and of the same polarity as the charging polarity of the toner.

Abstract: An ink set for ink-jet recording comprises a pigment ink and a dye ink containing a pigment and a dye as coloring agent, respectively. The pigment ink contains water, a water-soluble organic solvent, and a negatively charged pigment wherein potassium ion and sodium ion have a total ion concentration of not more than 200 ppm, and divalent or multivalent metal ion or ions have a total ion concentration of not more than 10 ppm. The dye ink contains water, a water-soluble organic solvent, and a dye associated with a counter ion of lithium ion wherein potassium ion and sodium ion have a total ion concentration of not more than 400 ppm, and divalent or multivalent metal ion or ions have a total ion concentration of not more than 10 ppm. In the ink set, the pigment and dye inks can be used in combination without complicating a maintenance system.

Abstract: An ink-jet ink-receptive composition, which resolves problems such as blurring of images and show-through occurring when water soluble dye inks are employed on uncoated paper such as plain paper or ordinary postcards and which provide a high density and high quality image, contains a specific silica particle aggregate and polyvinylpyrrolidone.

Abstract: In a water base ink set for ink-jet recording, a pigment ink has a total ion concentration of lithium ion, potassium ion, and sodium ion of not less than 60 ppm and a total ion concentration of divalent or multivalent metal ion or ions of not more than 10 ppm, and a dye ink has a total ion concentration of lithium ion, potassium ion, and sodium ion of not more than 1,800 ppm and a total ion concentration of divalent or multivalent metal ion or ions of not more than 10 ppm, wherein the total ion concentration of lithium ion, potassium ion, and sodium ion of the dye ink is 3 to 25 times that of the pigment ink. Accordingly, the water base ink set in which the pigment ink and the dye ink can be reliably used in combination without complicating a maintenance system is provided.