Abstract: A powder collection container that is attachable to and detachable from a mount part of an apparatus and stores powder includes a plurality of walls that form a storage space to store the powder. The plurality of walls include a first wall that faces the mount part of the apparatus and a second wall that does not to face the mount part of the apparatus. A thickness of the first wall is smaller than a thickness of the second wall.

Abstract: A sliding member includes a metallic substrate, a porous layer formed on a surface of the metallic substrate, and a sliding layer that covers the porous layer. The porous layer is made of a metal itself or an alloy composition. The sliding layer is made of a lead-free resin composition. The resin composition consists of a pitch-based carbon fiber and a fluororesin, and assuming weight of the resin composition as 100, more than 10 weight % and 35 weight % or less of the pitch-based carbon fiber is contained.

Abstract: A sliding member includes a metallic substrate, a porous layer formed on a surface of the metallic substrate and a sliding layer that covers the porous layer. The porous layer is made of a metal itself or an alloy composition. The sliding layer is made of a lead-free resin composition. The resin composition consists of a pitch-based carbon fiber and a fluororesin, and assuming weight of the resin composition as 100, more than 10 weight % and 35 weight % or less of the pitch-based carbon fiber is contained.

Abstract: A sliding member includes a metallic substrate, a porous layer formed on a surface of the metallic substrate, and a sliding layer that covers the porous layer. The porous layer is made of a metal itself or an alloy composition. The sliding layer is made of a lead-free resin composition. The resin composition contains an essential additive, optionally an optional additive, and a fluororesin. The essential additive is any one of a combination of a zinc compound and a carbon fiber, a combination of a zinc compound and an iron oxide, and a combination of a zinc compound, a carbon fiber and an iron oxide. A total content of the essential additive and the optional additive is 10 vol % or more and 35 vol % or less in the resin composition.

Abstract: A powder storage container is provided. The powder storage container includes a container body, a discharge port, a conveyer, a stirrer, a return port, and a partition wall. The container body is configured to contain powder. The powder contained in the container body is dischargeable through the discharge port. The conveyer is configured to convey the powder to the discharge port. The stirrer is configured to stir the powder contained in the container body by rotating. The return port is disposed outside a rotational locus of the stirrer in a radial direction, and the powder conveyed by the conveyer is returnable through the return port toward the stirrer. The partition wall is disposed between the stirrer and the return port with at least a part of the partition wall positioned above the return port.

Abstract: A developing device is provided which includes: a developing roller in contact with or facing an image bearer; a supply roller to supply toner to the developing roller; a casing; a first conveyer disposed within the casing and above the supply roller to supply toner stored in the developing device to the supply roller, while forming a first conveyance path; a second conveyer disposed within the casing with an upper end thereof positioned below that of the first conveyer, while forming a second conveyance path forming a toner circulation path together with the first conveyance path; a partition wall separating the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path in a longitudinal direction within a range excluding both longitudinal end portions; and a toner supply port, at a ceiling of the casing above the second conveyance path, through which toner is supplied to an inside of the developing device.

Abstract: A method for soldering a surface-mount component onto a circuit board. The melting of die-bonding solder material is prevented by using a mounting solder material when soldering a surface-mount component formed using the die-bonding solder material onto a printed circuit board. The surface-mount component, formed using (Sn—Sb)-based solder material having high melting point, the (Sn—Sb)-based solder material containing Cu but not more than a predetermined quantity of Cu constituent and a main ingredient thereof being Sn, is soldered on a board terminal portion of a circuit board using (Sn—Ag—Cu—Bi)-based solder material or (Sn—Ag—Cu—Bi—In)-based solder material as the mounting solder material and with the solder material being applied on the terminal portion. Since solidus temperature of the die-bonding solder material is 243 degrees C. and liquidus temperature of the mounting solder material is about 215 through 220 degrees C.

Abstract: Provided is a sliding member and a bearing using the sliding member. The sliding member contains a metallic substrate, a porous layer formed on a surface of the metallic substrate, and a sliding layer covered on the porous layer. The sliding layer is made of a lead-free resin composition. The lead-free resin composition includes a pitch-based carbon fiber, a fluorocarbon resin, and any of or a combination of two or more of aramid fiber, iron oxide, molybdenum disulfide, graphite, and zinc, zinc alloy, or zinc compound. 0.5 weight % or more and 17 weight % or less of a pitch-based carbon fiber is included. A total addition amount of additives excluding the fluorocarbon resin is 25 volume % or less.

Abstract: The melting of die-bonding solder material is prevented even when soldering a surface-mount component formed using the die-bonding solder material on a printed circuit board using a mounting solder material. The surface-mount component formed using (Sn—Sb)-based solder material having high melting point as the solder material for die pad, the (Sn—Sb)-based solder material containing Cu not more than a predetermined quantity of Cu constituent and a main ingredient thereof being Sn, is soldered on a board terminal portion of a circuit board using (Sn—Ag—Cu—Bi)-based solder material as the mounting solder material with the solder material being applied on the terminal portion. The melting of die-bonding solder material is prevented even at the heating temperature (240 degrees C. or less) of a reflow furnace.

Abstract: A developing device is provided which includes: a developing roller in contact with or facing an image hearer; a supply roller to supply toner to the developing roller; a casing; a first conveyer disposed within the casing and above the supply roller to supply toner stored in the developing device to the supply roller, while forming a first conveyance path; a second conveyer disposed within the casing with an upper end thereof positioned below that of the first conveyer, while forming a second conveyance path forming a toner circulation path together with the first conveyance path; a partition wall separating the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path in a longitudinal direction within a range excluding both longitudinal end portions; and a toner supply port, at a ceiling of the casing above the second conveyance path, through which toner is supplied to an inside of the developing device.

Abstract: A powder storage container is provided. The powder storage container includes a container body, a discharge port, a conveyer, a stirrer, a return port, and a partition wall. The container body is configured to contain powder. The powder contained in the container body is dischargeable through the discharge port. The conveyer is configured to convey the powder to the discharge port. The stirrer is configured to stir the powder contained in the container body by rotating. The return port is disposed outside a rotational locus of the stirrer in a radial direction, and the powder conveyed by the conveyer is returnable through the return port toward the stirrer. The partition wall is disposed between the stirrer and the return port with at least a part of the partition wall positioned above the return port.

Abstract: A process cartridge for an image forming apparatus includes an image bearer; a developer bearer to supply a latent image on the image bearer with toner and develop the latent image, a cleaner to clean residual toner on the image bearer after a transfer process, and an elastically deformable remover to contact an end portion of the image bearer in an axial direction of the image bearer. The remover includes an inclined part extending in the axial direction of the image bearer from an upstream side to a downstream side in a direction of movement of the image bearer. The inclined part includes a contact portion to contact the image bearer. The contact portion of the inclined part forms a gradient in the axial direction.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a drive roller, a driven roller driven to rotate by the drive roller, and a braking force applicator. The driven roller presses against the drive roller to form an area of contact between the drive roller and the driven roller, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes. The braking force applicator applies a braking force to the driven roller to generate a shear force between the drive roller and the driven roller. The shear force acting between the drive roller and the driven roller when the drive roller and the driven roller rotate is in a range of from 15N to 25N.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first rotary body, a second rotary body to contact the first rotary body, and a plain bearing that supports the first rotary body or the second rotary body. One rotary body of the first rotary body and the second rotary body has an outer diameter increasing, while the other rotary body has an outer diameter decreasing, in a curved line from an axial center portion to axial end portions of the first rotary body and the second rotary body at least between the first rotary body and the second rotary body. A recording medium passes between the first rotary body and the second rotary body with a circumferential component of a shear force generated between the first rotary body and the second rotary body by use of the plain bearing being in a range of from 15N to 25N.

Abstract: When soldering a package having an electrode on which Ni/Au or Ag—Pd alloy is plated, to a printed circuit board having a Cu electrode or an electrode on which Cu is plated, a solid-phase diffusion layer is formed within a layered solder material for bonding different species of electrodes. The layered solder material is composed of a solder material of Sn—Ag—Cu series or Sn—Sb series and a solder material of Sn—Ag—Cu—Ni series or Sn—Pb series. The electrode on which Ni/Au or Ag—Pd alloy is plated and the Cu electrode or the electrode on which Cu is plated are soldered with the solder material of Sn—Ag—Cu series or Sn—Sb series being attached to the Cu electrode and the solder material of Sn—Ag—Cu—Ni series or Sn—Cu series being attached to the electrode on which Ni/Au or Ag—Pd alloy is plated. This restrains formation of intermetallic compounds and provides high bonding reliability.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a drive roller, a driven roller driven to rotate by the drive roller, and a braking force applicator. The driven roller presses against the drive roller to form an area of contact between the drive roller and the driven roller, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes. The braking force applicator applies a braking force to the driven roller to generate a shear force between the drive roller and the driven roller. The shear force acting between the drive roller and the driven roller when the drive roller and the driven roller rotate is in a range of from 15N to 25N.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first rotary body, a second rotary body to contact the first rotary body, and a plain bearing that supports the first rotary body or the second rotary body. One rotary body of the first rotary body and the second rotary body has an outer diameter increasing, while the other rotary body has an outer diameter decreasing, in a curved line from an axial center portion to axial end portions of the first rotary body and the second rotary body at least between the first rotary body and the second rotary body. A recording medium passes between the first rotary body and the second rotary body with a circumferential component of a shear force generated between the first rotary body and the second rotary body by use of the plain bearing being in a range of from 15N to 25N.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heat conductor disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of an endless belt to heat the endless belt. A nip formation pad is disposed opposite the inner circumferential surface of the endless belt and presses the endless belt against a pressing rotary body to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the pressing rotary body through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A support is disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the heat conductor and contacts an abutment face of the nip formation pad to support the nip formation pad against pressure from the pressing rotary body. A heat insulator is interposed between the heater and the nip formation pad and the support to shield the nip formation pad and the support from the heater.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device to form a cleaning toner image in a cleaning region on a cleaning sheet and a check toner image in a check region on the cleaning sheet. The image forming apparatus further includes a fixing device including a first rotator and a heater to heat the first rotator to a cleaning temperature that is lower than a fixing temperature to which the first rotator is heated in a print job and higher than a cold offset temperature at which toner adheres to the first rotator by cold offset. Each of the cleaning region and the check region has a length greater than a circumferential length of the first rotator. The cleaning region and the check region are disposed at a leading section and a trailing section of the cleaning sheet in a cleaning sheet conveyance direction, respectively.

Abstract: A fixing unit includes an endless belt accommodating a heat source inside a loop formed by the endless belt, a rotary pressing member rotating in contact with the endless belt in a pressure contact section, and a heat transfer member secured to a side plate within the loop of the endless belt to support and heat the endless belt with heat conducted from the heat source. The heat transfer member has an opening opposite the rotary pressing member. A securing member is disposed in the opening of the heat transfer member in pressure contact with the rotary pressing member via the endless belt. The heat transfer member and the securing member collectively include a pair of latching parts to firmly connect the heat transfer member and the securing member with each other when one of the latching parts is fitted to the other one of the latching parts.