Abstract: A developing apparatus develops a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member with a developer in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus The device includes a developer accommodating portion and a developer stirring member stirring the developer in the developer accommodating portion. The developer stirring member includes a rotatable member rotatably provided in the developer accommodating portion, first and second stirring rotatable portions provided on the rotatable member, and first and second movable stirring portions movably provided on the first and second stirring rotatable portions, respectively.

Abstract: An observation system is provided with: an observation unit having an image information obtaining device that obtains image information of an observation target, an image signal processing device that performs image signal processing of image information obtained by the image information obtaining device, and a transmission device that transmits an image signal from after the image signal processing has been carried out, to the outside; and a holding device that detachably holds one or a plurality of the observation units.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for use in enzyme replacement therapy. The inventors disclose a method of producing membrane bound enzymes in an active soluble form by eliminating the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) membrane anchor. In particular the inventors disclose a soluble active form of the membrane bound enzyme TNSALP which they produced by deleting the GPI anchor single peptide sequence. They have further shown that this composition is useful for treatment of hypophosphatasia. The inventors also disclose oligo acid amino acid variants thereof which specifically target bone tissue.

Abstract: A solid-state element device having: a solid-state element; a power receiving/supplying portion for mounting thereto the solid-state element, and receiving/supplying a power from/to the solid-state element; and a wavelength converting portion having a phosphor layer formed inside a sealing glass having the same coefficient of thermal expansion as that of the power receiving/supplying portion for sealing the solid-state element, the phosphor layer being obtained by mixing a glass and a phosphor with each other, and melting the glass.

Abstract: A lighting device having: a light-emitting diode lamp having a light-emitting diode device sealed by a glass sealing part; and a fluorescent layer disposed on the side of an illuminated object of the light-emitting diode lamp. The fluorescent layer is operable to radiate a wavelength-converted light by being excited by light emitted from the light-emitting diode device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a first unit having a developer container holding developer containing toner and carrier, and a developer holder to hold and transfer the developer held in the developer container, a second unit to supply toner to the developer container, and a processing unit to determine the time of replacement of the first unit, from information on a toner supply amount from the second unit or information on an operation amount of the developer holder.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes an electric blower for generating a suction air flow, a suction head in communication with the electric blower for drawing in dirt, a filter bag communication with the electric blower for capturing and collecting dirt, an exhaust unit for discharging exhaust air from the electric blower to atmosphere, and an ion generator for generating negative ions and/or positive ions. The ion generator is placed between the suction head and the filter bag.

Abstract: An image apparatus comprising a toner supplying device; a toner receiving device; a first toner conduit communicating with the toner receiving device to feed a toner supplied from the toner supplying device; a first feeding device which forms an air stream to feed the toner through the first toner conduit; and a detector which monitors abnormality condition in the course of toner supplying in the apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided which includes a developing apparatus configured to form a developer image; a supply apparatus configured to supply developer to the developing apparatus; a detector configured to detect an amount of developer consumed during an image forming process; and a controller configured to perform an addition calculation for the amount of developer consumed, and for employing a value obtained by the addition calculation and a supply threshold value to determine whether developer should be supplied to the developing apparatus, wherein the controller sets the supply threshold value in accordance with an operating state of the developing apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention is a method suitable for heat treatment, or a heat treatment method for growing single crystal silicon carbide by a liquid phase epitaxial method, wherein a monocrystal silicon carbide substrate as a seed crystal and a polycrystal silicon carbide substrate are piled up, placed inside a closed container, and subjected to high-temperature heat treatment, by which very thin metallic silicon melt layer is interposed between the monocrystal silicon carbide substrate and the polycrystal silicon carbide substrate during heat treatment, and single crystal silicon carbide is liquid-phase epitaxially grown on the monocrystal silicon carbide substrate. The closed container is in advance heated to a temperature exceeding approximately 800° C.

Abstract: A light emitting device having: a flip-mounting type light emitting element; a substrate on which the light emitting element is mounted, the substrate being of an inorganic material; a sealing portion to seal the light emitting element, the sealing portion being of an inorganic sealing material; an optical-shaped portion formed nearly semispherical, the optical-shaped portion being of the inorganic sealing material; and a phosphor portion formed covering the optical-shaped portion.

Abstract: A toner replenishment device has: a toner reservoir section for supplying a toner to a development device; a supply fluid conveyance section for conveying a fluid mixture of toner and air from the toner reservoir section through a supply conveying path; a toner separation section for separating the fluid mixture which has been conveyed by the supply fluid conveyance section into the toner and the air and supplying the toner to the development device; a circulation fluid conveyance section for circulating at least air separated from the fluid mixture, from the toner separation section to the toner reservoir section through a circulation conveyance path; and a capacity variable member connected with the supply conveying path or the circulation conveyance path, capable of absorbing a pressure fluctuation of the fluid mixture or the air by varying a capacity of the member.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a toner image forming section, a recording material storing section, a sheet feeding and conveying section provided sideward of the recording material storing section, a toner reservoir section provided on a side opposite to the sheet feeding and conveying section, a toner separation section provided upward of the developing device to separate the toner, a supply pipe for interconnecting the toner reservoir section and the toner separation section to supply the toner, a collection pipe for interconnecting the toner reservoir section and the toner separation section to collect the toner, a first fluid conveyance device provided on the supply pipe between the toner reservoir section and the toner separation section for conveying a supply fluid, and a second fluid conveyance device provided on the collection pipe between the toner reservoir section and the toner separation section for conveying a collection fluid.

Abstract: A toner supplying apparatus for feeding a toner to a developing device to develop a latent image on an image bearing member. The apparatus includes: a toner separating member communicating to the developing device, to separate the toner from the mixed fluid containing the toner and an air stream; a separating side flow control mechanism disposed between the toner separating member and the developing device; a wall to cover at least a portion of the flow control mechanism, having a clearance therebetween; and an after-separation storage to store the toner separated from the mixed fluid.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of developing devices each including a developer carrying member for carrying a developer to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member, and a developer regulating member for regulating the developer carried on the developer carrying member; a common voltage applying device for applying a common voltage to the plurality of the developer regulating member. When a first one of the developer carrying members is rotating, and when a second one of the developer carrying members is not rotating, a potential difference between a potential of the second developer carrying member and the common voltage is smaller than a potential difference between a potential of the first developer carrying member and the common voltage.

Abstract: Since a large part of an outer tube is made of light alloy such as aluminum, plating on a surface of the outer tube sometimes peels off. Thus, the surface of the outer tube is generally painted. However, a problem is presented in the external appearance of the outer tube due to painting. A structure of a front fork includes an outer tube into which an inner tube is movably inserted in an axial direction thereof. A stepped part is formed in the outer tube with a third elastic member fitted to the stepped part. A tube cover includes a lower portion which is supported by the third elastic member. Since an outer surface of the tube cover covering the outer tube is plated, the external appearance can be enhanced. Even if the outer tube has a rough surface, light metal castings or forgings can be used.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a cleaning member for cleaning an image carrier after a toner image on the image carrier has been transferred; a toner recycling device for conveying toner removed by the cleaning member to a developing device; a collection section where the toner removed by the cleaning member is collected; a branch conveyance path, branched from the toner recycling device, for conveying the toner to the collection section; and an air pump, provided on the branch conveyance path, for sucking air with the toner; wherein, whether the toner is conveyed from the cleaning member to the collection section or to the developing device is switched corresponding to whether the air pump operates or does not operate.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a developing apparatus capable of reducing unevenness of density of an image in a longitudinal direction of a photosensitive member. For this purpose, in the present invention, a developing apparatus includes a developer bearing member, and a developer carrying screw placed adjacently to the developer bearing member in parallel with the developer bearing member, and an inclination angle of “a carrying surface facing in a developer carrying direction of a spiral blade of the developer carrying screw” to a shaft of the developer carrying screw is equal to or less than 60 degrees.

Abstract: In a vehicle that includes a rear fender for covering the upper portion of a rear wheel, a mud guard cover for covering the rear portion of the rear wheel, and a tail lamp arranged around the rear fender and the mud guard cover wherein the tail lamp includes light-emitting diodes as light sources, and includes a light-emitting diode board for placing the light-emitting diodes thereon, a control element board for placing a control element for controlling the light-emitting diodes thereon, a housing for collectively accommodating the light-emitting diode board and the control element board, and a lens for covering the housing and the control element board that is arranged downwardly of the light-emitting diode board.

Abstract: An instrument panel of a motorcycle is provided that includes a vehicle-use meter located on an upper portion of a fuel tank and covered by a meter cover. A manipulation switch, with communicates with the vehicle-use meter, is attached with a side surface of the meter cover.