Abstract: A gas current toner classifier has a material feed nozzle, a Coanda block, a classifying wedge and a classifying wedge block having the classifying wedge.The Coanda block and the classifying wedge define a classification zone, and the classifying wedge block is set up in the manner that its location is changeable so that the form of the classification zone can be changed. A method of producing toner using said classifier is also described.

Abstract: An elastic wave is applied to an object under the ground, so that an elastic wave which varies in accordance with the material and shape of the object under the ground is detected and the detected elastic wave is collated with characteristic data such as elastic wave data, or the like, of various objects registered in advance to thereby identify/discriminate the object under the ground. A vibration generating probe and a vibration receiving probe, or, alternatively, a vibration generating and receiving probe is put into the ground so as to come in contact with an object under the ground. Then, the vibration generating probe or vibration generating and receiving probe is hammered to generate an elastic wave. At least one of one longitudinal wave and two transverse waves of the elastic wave which has propagated to the object under the ground is received by the vibration receiving probe or vibration generating and receiving probe.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus which does not adversely affect its surrounding environment when in use, which has excellent durability, and which is safe to use is provided. A photosensitive layer is disposed on the outer surface of a rotatable closed-loop substrate drum. A charger, an exposure portion, a developing portion, a transfer portion, a fixing portion, and a cleaner are provided around the substrate drum. The charger includes an X-ray generator, which electrolytically dissociates the air on the surface of the photosensitive layer upon X-ray irradiation, and electric-field generator which guides a gaseous ion formed by electrolytic dissociation to the surface of the photosensitive layer. The cleaner is constituted by erasure X-ray generation means which ionizes the air on the photosensitive layer, in which a coloring fine particle remains, upon irradiation with an X-ray irradiation, while generating a carrier within the photosensitive layer.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus which does not unfavorably influence its surrounding environment when in use and is excellent in durability of use and safety is provided. In the image-forming apparatus, a photosensitive layer is disposed on the outer surface of a closed-loop substrate drum, while a charge device, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer device, a fixing device, and a cleaning device are provided around the substrate drum. The substrate drum is made of a light element. The charge device is constituted by a charging X-ray generation member, which is disposed within the substrate drum and emits an X-ray through the substrate drum and photosensitive layer so as to electrolytically dissociate the air on the surface of the photosensitive layer, and an electric-field application member which guides, by means of an electric field, a gaseous ion formed by this electrolytic dissociation to the surface of the photosensitive layer.

Abstract: An optical module includes an optical connector element formed of first and second substrates for carrying optical fibers therebetween, and a device substrate carrying photodiodes on an upper major surface thereof in correspondence to the optical fibers, wherein the optical connector element is mounted upon the device substrate such that end surfaces of the first and second substrates face the principal surface of the device substrate and such that polygonal projections provided on the principal surface of the device substrate for positioning engage with corresponding spaces formed between the first and second substrates at the foregoing end surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention relates a toner for developing electrostatic images, comprising: a resin composition, which contains a binder resin and low molecular weight wax, and a coloring agent, wherein the binder resin does not substantially contain insoluble tetrahydrofuran (THF) component, its chromatograph measured with soluble tetrahydrofuran (THF) component has a main peak in a region of a molecular weight of 2,000 to 30,000 and a subpeak or a shoulder in a high molecular weight region of a molecular weight of 100,000 or more, a ratio of weight average molecular weight (Mw)/number average molecular weight (Mn) thereof is 30 or more, the high molecular weight region has a crosslinking monomer unit as a component monomer unit and the binder resin contains high molecular weight polymer having a Mw of 1,200,000 or more polymerized by using both polyfunctional initiator and a mono-functional initiator. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a resin composition for producing a toner.

Abstract: A developer for developing an electrostatic image, comprising a toner and treated fine powder which has been treated with silicone oil or silicone varnish, wherein the treated fine powder has a specific surface area which is 0.4 to 0.8 time as large as the specific surface area of untreated fine powder.

Abstract: A pneumatic pulverizer comprises an acceleration pipe for transporting powders under acceleration by a high pressure gas, a pulverization chamber, a collision member for pulverizing the powders ejected from the acceleration pipe by a force of collision, the collision member being provided against the outlet of the acceleration pipe, a raw material powder supply inlet provided on the acceleration pipe, and a secondary air inlet provided between the raw material powder supply inlet and the outlet of the acceleration pipe.

Abstract: A magnetic toner for electrophotography is composed from a binder resin and a silicon-containing magnetic iron oxide. The magnetic toner has a weigh-average particle size o at most 13.5 .mu.m and has a particle size distribution such that it contains o more than 50 wt, % of magnetic toner particles having a particle size of at least 12.7 .mu.m. The magnetic toner is able to show high developing performances because of richness in fine particles and is also provided with an improved environmental stability because the magnetic iron oxide used therein contains 0.5-4 wt, % silicon (based on total iron content) and has a specific silicon distribution such that the magnetic iron oxide has a total silicon content (A), a silicon content (B) dissolved together with the magnetic iron oxide when the magnetic iron oxide is dissolved up to 20 wt, % dissolution of iron, and a superficial silicon content (C), satisfying relations of B/A=44-84% and C/A=10-55%.

Abstract: A magnetic developer for developing electrostatic images is constituted by magnetic toner particles, each containing a binder resin having a melt viscosity of at most 5.0.times.10.sup.6 poise at 150.degree. C. and a magnetic material. The magnetic material is blended with a proportion (C) [wt. %] of inorganic fine particles based on the magnetic material to carry 0.2-5 wt. % of the inorganic fine particles secured to the magnetic material surface. The magnetic material has a specific surface area (A) [m.sup.2 /g] before securing of the inorganic fine particles and is provided with an increase in surface area (B) [m.sup.2 /g] by the securing of the inorganic fine particles; wherein the parameters A, B and C satisfy the following formulae (1) and (2):0.1.ltoreq.B/A.ltoreq.0.8 (1)B<30.times.C (2).

Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic image is provided as a pulverized mixture including a binder resin and a colorant. The binder resin is characterized by a molecular weight distribution on a GPC chromatogram of its tetrahydrofuran (THF)-soluble resin content including at least 15% and below 35% of a resin component in a molecular weight region of at most 5000 and at least 3 wt. % of a resin component in a molecular weight region of at least 5.times.10.sup.6 and showing a main peak in a molecular weight region of 5000 to 10.sup.5. The binder resin also has an acid value of 2-100 mg KOH/g. The THF-soluble resin component in the molecular weight region of at least 5.times.10.sup.6 is enriched during a melt-kneading step during the toner production.

Abstract: A developer for developing an electrostatic image has a toner, fine resin particles with a surface shape sphericity .psi. of from 0.90 to 0.50, and fine inorganic particles.

Abstract: A pneumatic pulverizer comprises an acceleration pipe for transporting powders under acceleration by a high pressure gas, a pulverization chamber, a collision member for pulverizing the powders ejected from the acceleration pipe by a force of collision, the collision member being provided against the outlet of the acceleration pipe, a raw material powder supply inlet provided on the acceleration pipe, and a secondary air inlet provided between the raw material powder supply inlet and the outlet of the acceleration pipe.

Abstract: A developer for developing an electrostatic image has a toner, fine resin particles with a surface shape sphericity .psi. of from 0.90 to 0.50, and fine inorganic particles.

Abstract: An electrostatic image supporting member which supports an electrostatic image and a toner carrying member for conveying a magnetic toner are disposed in a development section with a specified gap therebetween. The toner carrying member has a base whose surface has an average surface roughness (Ra) of 1.0 to 3.0 .mu.m. A resin coating containing electrically conductive fine particles is formed on the base surface at a density of 4 to 12 g per 1 m.sup.2. The outer layer of the coating has an Ra from 0.8 to 3.0 .mu.m. The toner carrying member carries an electrically insulating magnetic toner containing at least a binder resin and a magnetic component, and satisfying the conditions of a volumetric average particle size of 4.5 to 8 .mu.m, a BET specific surface area of 1.8 to 3.5 m.sup.2 /g, a charge amount of -20 to -35 .mu.c/g, a loose-state apparent density of 0.40 to 0.52 g/cm.sup.3, and a true specific gravity of 1.45 to 1.8.

Abstract: A separator for classifying powder with air current comprises at least a classifying chamber and an introducing section for introducing powder into the classifying chamber, a powder feeding inlet for feeding powder formed at the upper portion of the classifying chamber, a cone-shaped classifying plate with a high central portion formed at the lower portion of the classifying chamber, a coarse powder discharging outlet for discharging coarse powder provided at the lower brim outer periphery of the classifying plate, a fine powder discharging outlet for discharging fine powder provided at the central portion of the classifying plate, a gas inflower for dispersing powder by whirling gas provided at the upper outer periphery of the classifying chamber, and a gas inflow inlet for creating a whirling current of gas for classifying powder provided at the lower portion of the classifying chamber.

Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic latent image is produced by classifying a pulverized feed material in a first classifying means into coarse powder and fine powder; pulverizing the coarse powder and feeding back the pulverized product to the first classifying means; introducing the fine powder to a second classifying means having a multi-division classification zone divided into at least three sections, where it is classified into a coarse powder portion, a median powder portion, and a fine powder portion; and feeding back the coarse powder to said pulverizing means or first classifying means. The median powder has a volume average particle diameter of from 4 .mu.m to 10 .mu.m and a coefficient of variation of number distribution, represented by A, satisfying the following condition: 20.ltoreq.A.ltoreq.45, and the weights B, C, F, G and M are controlled to satisfy the expressions: 0.3 .ltoreq.weight B/weight C.ltoreq.0.8, 0.2.ltoreq.weight G/weight C.ltoreq.0.7 and 0.8.ltoreq.

Abstract: An optical deflection element receives incident beam and deflects the incident beam with an arbitrary deflection angle. The optical deflection element includes a plurality of unit members which are successively stacked and each including an electrooptic layer, an electrode layer formed on a surface of each electrooptic layer, and an insulator layer formed on the surface of each electrooptic layer adjacent to the electrode layer, where a boundary between the electrode layer and the insulator layer is inclined to an optical axis of the incident beam.