Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes an image bearing member; a recording material carrying member for carrying a recording material to a transfer position for transfer of an image; a moving device for imparting relative movement between the image bearing member and the recording material carrying member; and a recess in the recording material carrying member for permitting the image bearing member and the recording material carrying member to face each other without contact therebetween. The recording material feeding speed is switched from a first speed different from the fixing speed to a second speed substantially the same so that when it imparts the approaching relative movement, the peripheral speeds of the recording material carrying member and image bearing member are substantially equal immediately before they contact.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus with an image bearing member capable of rotating while bearing a toner image thereon, a transfer device for transferring the toner image from the image bearing member to a recording material at a transfer position, recording material bearing member capable of rotating while bearing the recording material thereon and adapted to convey the recording material to the transfer position, a pair of rotary members arranged at an upstream side of the recording material bearing member in a recording material conveying direction and adapted to pinch and convey the recording material, and a separation device for separating the recording material from the recording material bearing member at a separation position.

Abstract: A polysaccharide substance having the following formula is provided: ##STR1## Also provided is a method of producing the polysaccharide substance in which an oligosaccharide having a degree of polymerization from 3 to 10 is chemically bonded to a silane agent at the reducing terminal of the resultant oligosaccharide, the oligosaccharide compound is then polymerized to an average degree of polymerization from 11 to 500 in the presence of an enzyme. Another method for producing the polysaccharide substance is provided in which an aldehyde group at the reducing terminal of an oligosaccharide having a degree of polymerization from 3 to 10 is oxidized with an oxidizing agent, and the saccharide chain of the oxidized product is polymerized to a degree of polymerization from 11 to 500 in the presence of an enzyme, followed by the addition of an acid. The polysaccharide substance has excellent solvent resistance and is useful as a separating agent for chromatography, especially for the separation of chiral compounds.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a rotatable developer carrying member for carrying one component developer to a developing zone for developing an electrostatic latent image for an image bearing member; a regulating member for regulating a thickness of a layer of the developer to be carried by the developer carrying member to the developing zone; a rotatable developer, in contact with the developer carrying member, for supplying the developer; a developer guiding portion for guiding reverse movement of the developer blocked by the regulating member; wherein 0.02.ltoreq.d/Vs.ltoreq.0.1 is satisfied, where d is a minimum distance between the developer guiding portion and the developer feeding member (mm), and Vs is a peripheral speed of the developer feeding member (mm)/sec.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer carrying member for supplying a developer to an image bearing member, wherein the developer is a one component developer, and has a flowability index of 5-30%. A developing bias voltage application device applies a developing bias to the developer carrying member, wherein the developing bias application device applies an oscillating bias voltage, including a first peak voltage, for an application period T1, for forming an electric field for urging the developer from the developer carrying member to the image bearing member, and a second peak voltage, for an application period T2, for forming an electric field for urging the developer from the image bearing member to the developer carrying member, wherein T1:T2 satisfies 1:2-1:10.