Abstract: A color image forming apparatus provides the prolonged life of the photosensitive drums, carrier belt, and toner of the respective colors and improves the quality of the printed color image. A carrier belt transports a recording medium placed thereon so that the recording medium passes through a plurality of printing mechanisms which print images of different colors on the recording medium in superposition. Each printing mechanism prints an image of a corresponding color. The printing mechanism is adapted to be moved into its operative position where the photosensitive drum of the printing mechanism is in contact with the carrier belt to print the image on the recording medium, and into its non-operative position where the photosensitive drum of the printing mechanism is not in contact with the carrier belt.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a rotating photosensitive drum, a developing unit, a neutralizing device, and a transferring device. An electrostatic latent image is formed on a charged surface of the rotating photosensitive drum, the electrostatic latent image being developed by a developing unit and subsequently transferred by a transferring device to a print medium. The neutralizing device neutralizes the charged surface of the photosensitive drum at the point on the surface disposed downstream of the developing unit and upstream of the transferring device with respect to rotation of the photosensitive drum. A controller controls the neutralizing device according to characteristics of the print medium such as size, material, insulation, and transparency. The neutralizing device may be operated in different modes. For example, the neutralizing device may neutralize an entirety of the charged surface of the photosensitive drum only if the print medium is of a predetermined characteristic, i.e.

Abstract: In an electric mail system, when an electric mail is received from another electric mail system, source data is extracted from the electric mail, and it is checked whether destination data identical to the source data is stored in a destination data file. If no identical destination data is stored in the destination data file, the source data is stored, as destination data, in the destination data file, and reception frequency data indicting the reception frequency of the electric mail is generated. In contrast to this, if identical destination data is stored in the destination data file, the reception frequency data is updated. Every time an electric mail is received, the destination data stored in the destination data file are sorted in accordance with reception frequency data. When an electric mail is to be transmitted, retrieval is performed with respect to the destination data file and the destination database to select predetermined destination data.

Abstract: An electrophotographic recording apparatus that removes reverse-charged toner that is charged with a polarity opposite to a polarity of a normal-charged toner. The apparatus includes a carrier belt; a transfer roller for carrying the toner adhering to the surface of the photosensitive body toward the carrier belt; a transfer power supply for applying to the transfer roller a first voltage that causes the normal-charged toner adhering to the surface of the photosensitive body to be transferred to the recording medium on the carrier belt, and a second voltage, of opposite polarity to the first voltage, that causes the reverse-charged toner adhering to the surface of the photosensitive body to be transferred to the carrier belt; and a carrier belt cleaning blade.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a unit for charging the surface of an image carrier uniformly with electricity, the charging unit being contacted by a conductive element which changes a polarity of toner adhering to the unit, a unit for forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the image carrier charged electrically, a unit for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image carrier to thereby form a toner image and a means for transferring and fixing the toner image to a transfer member. The developing unit includes a developing roller which is disposed so as to contact the image carrier.

Abstract: In a thermal head driving integrated circuit, input serial data are converted into parallel data by a shift register. The ANDs of the parallel data obtained and a strobe signal is obtained, and transistors are driven in accordance with the ANDs. An input selection circuit determines the serial/parallel conversion timing and the transistor driving timing in accordance with the value input from select signal input terminals. The serial/parallel conversion timing and the transistor driving timing are constantly different from each other, so that latch circuits for latching the parallel data are obviated. The select signal input terminals are selectively pulled up/down.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for collecting, through a developing device, and reusing remaining toner remained on a photosensitive drum, as an image carrier, for forming an electrostatic latent image, without being transferred to a transfer material, includes a toner uniforming member disposed between locations for a charging process and for an exposing process, for making the toner remained on the photosensitive drum during a transferring process adhere slightly and uniformly to the photosensitive drum. The toner uniforming member eliminates the remaining toner remained on the photosensitive drum temporarily, and is applied with a necessary voltage for making the remaining toner eliminated temporarily adhere to the surface of the photosensitive drum again.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a unit for charging the surface of an image carrier uniformly with electricity, a unit for forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the image carrier charged electrically, a unit for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image carrier to thereby form a toner image and a means for transferring and fixing the toner image to a transfer member. The developing unit includes a developing roller which is disposed so as to contact the image carrier.

Abstract: A thermal printing head comprises a support member, a head circuit board supported on the support member, a connector board overlapped on the head circuit board, and a presser member for pressing the connector board against the head circuit board. The support member is flexible with a modulus of elasticity lying within a range of 1.times.10.sup.4 -5.times.10.sup.5 kg/mm.sup.2. The head circuit board carries a comb-like terminal portion arranged in a limited central portion which is substantially smaller in length than the head circuit board. The connector board also carries a comb-like terminal portion corresponding to the terminal portion of the head circuit board, and the length of the connector board is substantially smaller than that of the head circuit board.

Abstract: An image forming device for printing images on sheets of material includes a photosensitive member for carrying a latent image thereon, a developing roller rotatably disposed adjacent to the photosensitive member for supplying a layer of toner to the photosensitive member through rotation, and a developing blade adjustably disposed adjacent to the developing roller for regulating the thickness of the toner layer supplied to the photosensitive member. A driving circuit controllably rotates the developing roller, and a controller controls the driving circuit. The controller generates signals to control the driving circuit to reverse the rotation of the developing roller under certain conditions.

Abstract: A rubber composition obtained by subjecting a mixture of (I) 35-95 parts by weight of a fluoroelastomer, (II) 65-5 parts by weight of at least one member selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and ethylene-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester copolymer, and an organic peroxide to reaction while imparting shearing deformation to the mixture. A crosslinkable rubber composition can be obtained by compounding the above rubber composition with a crosslinking agent for the fluoroelastomer (I). The above rubber composition is superior in processability, particularly extrusion-processability, sealing property, heat resistance, steam resistance and weather resistance.

Abstract: A transfer assembly of an electrophotographic printer includes a photoconductor drum, a charger disposed against the photoconductor drum for charging a surface of the photoconductor drum, an exposure unit for exposing the charged photoconductor drum to form an electrostatic latent image thereon, a developer unit disposed against the photoconductor drum for providing adhesion of a toner to the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image, a transfer unit disposed against the photoconductor drum for transferring the toner image to a medium, and a fuser for fixing the transferred toner image on the medium. In such an assembly, a part of the transfer unit, which first touches the medium to which the toner image has been transferred, is provided with a conductive material adapted to provide a gradual discharge of electric charge on the medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermal printing head which comprises an elongate heat sink plate, an elongate head circuit board mounted on the heat sink plate, a connector board partially overlapping the circuit board, and an elongate presser cover mounted on the heat sink plate to press the connector board into contact with the circuit board. The circuit board has a reduced number of connection terminals arranged locally at a central portion of the circuit board. The connector toward is correspondingly reduced in length. Thus, for pressing the connector board into uniform contact with the circuit board, it is only necessary to provide only a pair of pressure applying screws adjacent the central portion of the circuit board.

Abstract: A rubber composition obtained by subjecting a mixture of (I) 35-95 parts by weight of a fluoroelastomer and (II) 65-5 parts by weight of an ethylene-.alpha.-olefin copolymer rubber in which the total of the (I) component and the (II) component is 100 parts by weight and a crosslinking agent for the ethylene-.alpha.-olefin copolymer rubber (II) to reaction while imparting shearing deformation to the mixture. Said rubber composition is excellent in processability on roll and in extruder, heat resistance, steam resistance, weather resistance, compression set and resistance to compressive load. A rubber article is obtained by subjecting the above rubber composition and a crosslinking agent for the fluoroelastomer (I) and optionally at least one additive to reaction, said rubber article being excellent in heat resistance, weather resistance, compression set and resistance to compressive load and hence can be used in the fields of general industry, electric industry and chemical industry.

Abstract: An electric power steering control system includes an electric motor for producing an assisting torque for the vehicle steering system through a reduction gear, a steering torque sensor fitted on the steering shaft, a controller for controlling the input to the motor in accordance with the torque sensor output, a battery for supplying power to the controller, and a voltage step-up circuit connected to the battery for driving the motor at a voltage higher than the battery voltage. The controller drives the motor at a high voltage.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus comprises a steering shaft 34, a detector 27 for detecting an operation of the power steering apparatus, an electric motor 3 driven in response to an output of the detector 27 for generating an assisting force for a steering operation, and a reduction gear 1 including an input shaft 2 driven by the electric motor 3, an output shaft 13 connected to the steering shaft 34, and a planetary gear mechanism 36 for reducing the rotational speed of the input shaft 2 and transmitting the reduced rotational speed to the output shaft 13. The planetary gear mechanism 36 includes a sun gear 6 rotatable with the input shaft 2, a ring gear 8, planet gears 7 connected to the output shaft 13 and adapted to transmit revolving motion thereof around the sun gear 6 to the output shaft 13, and a gear case 18 for accommodating the sun gear 6, the ring gear 8, and the planet gear 7.

Abstract: An electrically conductive copper alloy material for such as electric wires is disclosed whose grain size number is adjusted to be not less than 7 (JIS G 0551) which corresponds substantially to ASTM E112 by making an ingot of a copper alloy containing Cr and/or Zr, hot-working it to a wire of suitable diameter, and repeatedly annealing and cold-working it. A method for manufacturing such material is also disclosed.

Abstract: A copper alloy is produced by introducing copper base metal in a crucible, i.e. part of the metal copper is put in the crucible after introduction of the additives into the crucible for rapidly cooling the melt to a casting temperature.