Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a gear attachable to an end of the photosensitive drum in a longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum, a shaft member capable of passing through an inside of the photosensitive drum and the gear so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum, and a frame having a pair of shaft supporting portions which supports both end portions of the shaft member at positions outside the photosensitive drum. One of the pair of shaft supporting portions functions as a gear-side supporting portion which is provided on a side where the gear is disposed. The gear includes a first insertion hole, into which the shaft member is inserted, and a projecting portion, which protrudes outward from a side, which is opposite to a side facing the end of the photosensitive drum, of the gear.

Abstract: A light traveling permissible portion and a light traveling blocking portion are alternately disposed in a specification detecting and agitator driving gear such that a detection portion detects information corresponding to the maximum image formation sheet number. When the developer cartridge is new, a new/used cartridge detecting gear restricts transmission of the aforementioned information from the specification detecting and agitator driving gear to the detection portion for a predetermined time t, thereby detecting whether the developer cartridge is new or the used. The detection portion detects whether the developer cartridge is mounted based on whether there is the detection light reflected from the light traveling permissible portion.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes a first FG pattern for generating a first induced voltage attendant upon rotation of the rotor of a motor; a second FG pattern for generating a second induced voltage due to noise; a differential amplifier for differentially amplifying the first and second induced voltages, which are input thereto; and a motor speed control unit for controlling rotation of the motor so as to achieve synchronization between the output of the differential amplifier and a prescribed frequency signal.

Abstract: A developing cartridge is attachable to and detachable from an image forming apparatus and is received by a developing cartridge receiving member. The developing cartridge includes: a developer carrier including a rotational shaft; a case that rotatably supports the developer carrier, the case being capable of being supported by the developing cartridge receiving member; and a conductive member electrically connected to the rotational shaft of the developer carrier, at least a part of the conductive member is positioned at an opposite side of the case to the developing cartridge receiving member in a substantially vertical direction.

Abstract: A photosensitive member cartridge, including a photosensitive member, is provided with a lock device and a protection wall for the lock device. A developer cartridge includes a developer containing chamber and an inlet. The inlet is disposed so that the protection wall for the lock device at least partially overlaps the inlet when the developer cartridge is received in the photosensitive member cartridge.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image thereon; an electrostatic latent image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the image carrier; a developing unit having a toner hopper that receives toner, and a contact portion that contacts with a surface of the image carrier, the contact portion being provided to be displaceable relatively along the surface of the image carrier so as to transfer the toner received in the toner hopper to the electrostatic latent image formed by the electrostatic latent image forming unit; and a guide mechanism that supports the developing unit to be displaceable in a predetermined direction so as to bring the contact portion of the developing unit into contact with an upper portion of the image carrier due to a weight of the developing unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is the invention in connection with an electric sewing machine comprising a machine body 1 and a controller 2, wherein the controller 2 is responsive to a first press to produce a signal for starting the machine body 1 and is responsive to further press to produce a signal for driving the machine body 1 at a stitching speed (drive speed) in accordance with the pressing amount. The machine body 1 is provided with a control device 11 which is connected to a changing device 30 which is operated to change the control content of the control device 11. The changing device 30 may be operated to switch the control device 11 between being operative and being inoperative. In case the control device 11 is switched to being inoperative, the control device 11 neglects the instruction signal from the controller 2, for example, produces a stop signal to a motor drive device 12 in response to a machine drive signal from the controller 2, thereby to maintain the machine motor as stopped.

Abstract: A processing apparatus, including an image carrier which carries a developing-material image formed by developing an electrostatic latent image with a developing material, a transferring device which transfers the developing-material image from the image carrier to a transfer object, and a cover member which at least partly covers the transferring device. The cover member has one or more air-flow holes which allow an air to flow therethrough between an inner side thereof opposed to the transferring device and an outer side thereof opposite to the inner side.

Abstract: During printing on a thick paper, a Scorotron charger disposed upstream of a developing roller in a drum rotational direction charges a photosensitive drum to about 1000 V. Then a transfer roller disposed downstream of the developing roller lowers the potential to about 80 V. The transfer bias is turned off at the end of printing at T1 and does not lower the surface potential after this. When the surface of the drum opposite the transfer roller reaches a position opposite the Scorotron charger at T2, a DC motor and a charging bias are turned off. The surface potential of the drum that passes opposite the developing roller remains at about 400 V and is higher than developing roller potential until the photosensitive drum comes to a complete stop after idling at T3. This prevents the developing agent from adhering to the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: A ship has a main propeller 2 which can move the ship forward and reverse by normal rotation, reverse rotation or by changing the pitch angle. A drive unit drives the main propeller 2. A rudder 3 changes the course of the ship. At least one pod propulsion unit 10A, 10B is provided. As a result, the support mechanism and the turning mechanism of the pod propulsion unit, arranged separate from the main propeller, can be simplified and cost can be reduced.

Abstract: The invention provides a fixing apparatus fixing apparatus having a heating portion for heat fixing an unfixed developer borne on a recording material, including: a first heating member and a second heating member provided in the heating portion; and a current control unit which controls an AC current to be supplied to the heating portion; wherein the current control unit executes a wave number control, on the AC current supplied to the heating portion, in a unit of N half-waves in such a manner that: an AC current to the first heating member is supplied in a positive-negative symmetrical pattern in the unit of N half-waves; an AC current to the second heating member is supplied in a positive-negative symmetrical pattern in the unit of N half-waves; and AC currents to the first and second heating members are supplied in a positive-negative symmetrical pattern in total in the unit of N half-waves.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a gear attachable to an end of the photosensitive drum in a longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum, a shaft member capable of passing through an inside of the photosensitive drum and the gear so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum, and a frame having a pair of shaft supporting portions which supports both end portions of the shaft member at positions outside the photosensitive drum. One of the pair of shaft supporting portions functions as a gear-side supporting portion which is provided on a side where the gear is disposed. The gear includes a first insertion hole, into which the shaft member is inserted, and a projecting portion, which protrudes outward from a side, which is opposite to a side facing the end of the photosensitive drum, of the gear.

Abstract: Disclosed is the invention in connection with an electric sewing machine comprising a machine body 1 and a controller 2, wherein the controller 2 is responsive to a first press to produce a signal for starting the machine body 1 and is responsive to further press to produce a signal for driving the machine body 1 at a stitching speed (drive speed) in accordance with the pressing amount. The machine body 1 is provided with a control device 11 which is connected to a changing device 30 which is operated to change the control content of the control device 11. The changing device 30 may be operated to switch the control device 11 between being operative and being inoperative. In case the control device 11 is switched to being inoperative, the control device 11 neglects the instruction signal from the controller 2, for example, produces a stop signal to a motor drive device 12 in response to a machine drive signal from the controller 2, thereby to maintain the machine motor as stopped.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes an image bearing member, a brush, and a supporting portion. The brush includes a base member having an elongated plate shape that extends in the longitudinal direction, a brush member including bristles provided on the front surface of the base member, and mounting portions formed at both latitudinal ends of the base member. The supporting portion includes holding portions that hold the mounting portions formed at the both latitudinal ends of the base member, thereby supporting the brush with respect to the image bearing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image thereon; an electrostatic latent image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the image carrier; a developing unit having a toner hopper that receives toner, and a contact portion that contacts with a surface of the image carrier, the contact portion being provided to be displaceable relatively along the surface of the image carrier so as to transfer the toner received in the toner hopper to the electrostatic latent image formed by the electrostatic latent image forming unit; and a guide mechanism that supports the developing unit to be displaceable in a predetermined direction so as to bring the contact portion of the developing unit into contact with an upper portion of the image carrier due to a weight of the developing unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a transfer member that transfers a developer image onto a transfer medium to form an image on the transfer medium; a bias applying unit that applies a transfer bias to the transfer member; and a bias control unit that controls the transfer bias to be applied to the transfer member by the bias applying unit, wherein a longitudinal length of the transfer member is formed to be shorter than a width of the transfer medium having a maximum width on which the image is to be formed with the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A processing apparatus, including an image carrier which carries a developing-material image formed by developing an electrostatic latent image with a developing material, a transferring device which transfers the developing-material image from the image carrier to a transfer object, and a cover member which at least partly covers the transferring device. The cover member has one or more air-flow holes which allow an air to flow therethrough between an inner side thereof opposed to the transferring device and an outer side thereof opposite to the inner side.

Abstract: During printing on a thick paper, a Scorotron charger disposed upstream of a developing roller in a drum rotational direction charges a photosensitive drum to about 1000 V. Then a transfer roller disposed downstream of the developing roller lowers the potential to about 80 V. The transfer bias is turned off at the end of printing at T1 and does not lower the surface potential after this. When the surface of the drum opposite the transfer roller reaches a position opposite the Scorotron charger at T2, a DC motor and a charging bias are turned off. The surface potential of the drum that passes opposite the developing roller remains at about 400 V and is higher than developing roller potential until the photosensitive drum comes to a complete stop after idling at T3. This prevents the developing agent from adhering to the photosensitive drum.