Abstract: When registering content in a data storage unit (101), a data registration unit (102) transmits, to another content management apparatus, metadata that is assigned to the content. The content management apparatus which has received the metadata returns related metadata that is related to the received metadata. An import determination unit (105) determines whether or not each of the metadata elements included in the returned related metadata is importable. The metadata elements which have been determined to be importable, within the related metadata, are added by a metadata editing unit 106 as a part of the metadata of the content that is to be registered.

Abstract: A developing device develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier with toner. The developing device includes a developer carrier, a developer supplying unit that supplies a developer on the developer carrier, a layer shaping member that shapes the developer supplied on the developer carrier into a thin layer, and an electric-field control member that is arranged downstream of a shaping nip formed between the developer carrier and the layer shaping member and that controls an intensity of an electric field generated between the developer carrier and the layer shaping member.

Abstract: A developer regulator to restrict an amount of a developer, including a base portion; an intermediate portion continuous with the base portion, the intermediate portion having a flat area on one face, the flat area having a roughened surface; and a distal end continuous with the intermediate portion, the distal end being bent relative to the base portion in a direction opposite the one face in which the flat area is formed.

Abstract: There is provided a combustible gas detection apparatus with a gas sensor and a control device. The gas sensor includes first and second heating resistors each having a resistance that changes depending on a combustible gas concentration of gas under measurement. The control device includes an energization control section that alternately energizes the first and second heating resistors, a first calculation section that calculates a first calculation value responsive to the combustible gas concentration based on a voltage across the first heating resistor during energization of the first heating resistor, a second calculation section that calculates a second calculation value responsive to the combustible gas concentration based on a voltage across the second heating resistor during energization of the second heating resistor, and an anomaly judgment section that judges the occurrence of an anomaly in the first heating resistor by comparison of the first and second calculation values.

Abstract: A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier by supplying a one-component developer to the image carrier. Good images can be obtained over long periods of time, without printing history becoming apparent on account of residual developer. The developing device has a developer carrier that is rotatable and disposed facing an image carrier; and a conductive developer supply and recovery member rotatably arranged so as to abut the developer carrier. The rotation direction of the conductive developer supply and recovery member is opposite to the rotation direction of the developer carrier at a position where the developer carrier and the conductive developer supply and recovery member abut each other. A contact pressure P between the developer carrier and the conductive developer supply and recovery member is set so as to satisfy the relationship 0 (kPa)<P<5.0 (kPa).

Abstract: In apparatus and method for detecting a combustible gas within an atmosphere to be detected, a calculated humidity deviation corresponding to a past gas concentration stored in a memory unit of a microcomputer is calculated on the basis of a correlation between a preset gas concentration of the combustible gas and the calculated humidity deviation, a calculated humidity of the atmosphere to be detected is corrected using the calculated humidity deviation to calculate a corrected humidity, and, when a concentration of the combustible gas is calculated on the basis of a terminal voltage, a temperature of the atmosphere to be detected, and a humidity of the atmosphere to be detected, the calculated corrected humidity is used for the humidity of the atmosphere to be detected calculated on the basis of terminal voltages across first and second heating resistors and the temperature of the detected temperature.

Abstract: A developer regulating member capable of stably regulating the thickness of a developer even when used for a long time, while preventing the increase in the production cost, a developing device having the developer regulating member, an image forming apparatus having the developing device, a process cartridge, and a method of producing the developer regulating member. The average crystal particle diameter D [?m] of a plate-like member provided in a layer-thinning blade which functions as the developer regulating member and which abuts against a developing roller functioning as a developer carrier, and the curvature radius R [?m] of a bent portion satisfy the relationship of D?60.53×R×10?3?12.61.

Abstract: A developing device that prevents the formation of agglomerated masses of developing agent in the bottom of the developing agent housing chamber near the developing roller and the supply roller, and that maintains the fluidity of the developing agent in the bottom of the developing agent housing chamber, while minimizing any increase in size of the developing device.

Abstract: A developing device that can reliably supply toner from a toner supply roller to a developing roller and that does not generate scraping irregularities in the toner thin layer on the developing roller, and a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus having the same. The developing device has: a toner supply chamber; a developing roller provided in the toner supply chamber; a toner supply roller provided in the toner supply chamber for supplying toner to the developing roller; and a layer regulation member for forming the toner on the developing roller into a thin layer, and develops electrostatic latent images on an image carrier by applying bias voltage to the developing roller. An intermediate contact member is interposed between the developing roller and the toner supply roller.

Abstract: An image developing method is disclosed that is able to efficiently remove degraded toner on a developing agent carrier, prevent formation of abnormal images, ensure good image quality over time, and increase the service life of the device. The developing method includes a step of calculating an amount of consumption of the developing agent during image formation and an amount of consumption of the developing agent in a compulsory toner consumption mode under different calculation conditions between the image formation and the compulsory toner consumption mode. In the compulsory toner consumption mode, a developing bias different from a developing bias used during image formation is applied for a predetermined time period to discharge residual developing agent on a developing agent carrier to a latent image carrier.

Abstract: A disclosed developing device includes a developing roller; a supply roller that is in contact with the developing roller and configured to supply toner to the developing roller; a current measuring unit configured to measure an electric current that flows from the developing roller to the supply roller when the toner is supplied from the supply roller to the developing roller; and an error determining unit configured to detect a development error of the developing roller based on the electric current measured by the current measuring unit.

Abstract: A developing device is provided with which the increase in torque of a supply roller, unevenness of image density, and wear to the supply roller caused by the formation of an aggregated block of toner in the gap between the supply roller and the opposing side wall of a supply developer holding chamber can be suppressed.

Abstract: A developing apparatus is disclosed that includes a developer carrier for carrying a developer used for developing a latent image, a developer supplying chamber having a developer supplying member for supplying the developer to the developer carrier by rotation, a developer storing chamber positioned above the developer supplying chamber for storing the developer and supplying the developer to the developer supplying chamber, and a partitioning member positioned between the developer supplying chamber and the developer storing chamber. The partitioning member has an opening through which the developer is supplied from the developer storing chamber to the developer supplying chamber. The developing apparatus includes a conveying member positioned above the partitioning member for conveying the developer in a substantially horizontal direction.

Abstract: A developing device develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier with toner. The developing device includes a developer carrier, a developer supplying unit that supplies a developer on the developer carrier, a layer shaping member that shapes the developer supplied on the developer carrier into a thin layer, and an electric-field control member that is arranged downstream of a shaping nip formed between the developer carrier and the layer shaping member and that controls an intensity of an electric field generated between the developer carrier and the layer shaping member.

Abstract: A developing device that can reliably supply toner from a toner supply roller to a developing roller and that does not generate scraping irregularities in the toner thin layer on the developing roller, and a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus having the same. The developing device has: a toner supply chamber; a developing roller provided in the toner supply chamber; a toner supply roller provided in the toner supply chamber for supplying toner to the developing roller; and a layer regulation member for forming the toner on the developing roller into a thin layer, and develops electrostatic latent images on an image carrier by applying bias voltage to the developing roller. An intermediate contact member is interposed between the developing roller and the toner supply roller.

Abstract: A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier by supplying a one-component developer to the image carrier. Good images can be obtained over long periods of time, without printing history becoming apparent on account of residual developer. The developing device has a developer carrier that is rotatable and disposed facing an image carrier; and a conductive developer supply and recovery member rotatably arranged so as to abut the developer carrier. The rotation direction of the conductive developer supply and recovery member is opposite to the rotation direction of the developer carrier at a position where the developer carrier and the conductive developer supply and recovery member abut each other. A contact pressure P between the developer carrier and the conductive developer supply and recovery member is set so as to satisfy the relationship 0 (kPa)<P<5.0 (kPa).

Abstract: A contents processing device permitting, when contents are to be stored in a recording medium, only a specified device to read out the stored contents is to be provided, and a contents processing device capable, where it is a mobile telephone, of flexibly adapting to a change of a unique telephone number or a type of the mobile telephone. For the purpose, the contents processing device for inputting and outputting contents to and from a recording medium is provided with contents storage means (RAM) for storing contents, an ID storage unit (ROM) for storing an ID capable of identifying the contents processing device, a recording medium input/output unit (memory card I/F) for inputting to and outputting from the recording medium, and a ciphering unit (ciphering program) for enciphering contents within the contents storage unit by use of a ciphering key generated from the ID within the ID storage unit and storing it from the recording medium input/output unit into the recording medium.

Abstract: With content management apparatus 110 serving as a copy origin and storage medium 120 as a copy target, the copy origin retains allowed copy count control information on content, and when the content is copied from the copy origin to the copy target, the allowed copy count control information retained at the copy origin before copy processing is updated in accordance with a predetermined rule to generate allowed copy count control information to be retained at the copy origin and allowed copy count control information to be retained at the copy target, and subsequent copy processing at the copy origin is done based on the allowed copy count control information retained at the copy origin, whereas subsequent copy processing on the content stored in storage medium 120 is done based on the allowed copy count control information stored in storage medium 120. In this way, it is possible to achieve content management which is easily understandable for users.

Abstract: In apparatus and method for detecting a combustible gas within an atmosphere to be detected, a calculated humidity deviation corresponding to a past gas concentration stored in a memory unit of a microcomputer is calculated on the basis of a correlation between a preset gas concentration of the combustible gas and the calculated humidity deviation, a calculated humidity of the atmosphere to be detected is corrected using the calculated humidity deviation to calculate a corrected humidity, and, when a concentration of the combustible gas is calculated on the basis of a terminal voltage, a temperature of the atmosphere to be detected, and a humidity of the atmosphere to be detected, the calculated corrected humidity is used for the humidity of the atmosphere to be detected calculated on the basis of terminal voltages across first and second heating resistors and the temperature of the detected temperature.

Abstract: An image developing method is disclosed that is able to efficiently remove degraded toner on a developing agent carrier, prevent formation of abnormal images, ensure good image quality over time, and increase the service life of the device. The developing method includes a step of calculating an amount of consumption of the developing agent during image formation and an amount of consumption of the developing agent in a compulsory toner consumption mode under different calculation conditions between the image formation and the compulsory toner consumption mode. In the compulsory toner consumption mode, a developing bias different from a developing bias used during image formation is applied for a predetermined time period to discharge residual developing agent on a developing agent carrier to a latent image carrier.