Abstract: A powder transport apparatus includes a first transport path disposed in the first transport path, a second transport path connected to the first transport path through a first connection port and a junction port, a third transport path connected to the second transport path through a second connection port, a second transport member that is disposed in the second transport path and includes a first shaft provided with a first spiral blade that transports powder toward the first connection port, a second spiral blade that is provided in a portion of the first shaft between the first connection port and the junction port and that has a transport force smaller than a transport force of the first spiral blade in the one direction, and a third transport member disposed in the third transport path. The third transport member transports the powder toward the second connection port.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image holding member that has an outer circumferential surface in which a radius length from a center in the image holding member varies to be the longest N times and the shortest N times during one rotation of the image holding member wherein N is an integer of 2 or more, and that holds a latent image while being rotated, a developing member that develops the latent image of the image holding member with a developer, a rotation unit that rotates the developing member by a number of an integer multiple of the N during the one rotation of the image holding member, and an output unit that outputs a developer image of the image holding member to a recording medium.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image holding member that has an outer circumferential surface in which a radius length from a center in the image holding member varies to be the longest N times and the shortest N times during one rotation of the image holding member wherein N is an integer of 2 or more, and that holds a latent image while being rotated, a developing member that develops the latent image of the image holding member with a developer, a rotation unit that rotates the developing member by a number of an integer multiple of the N during the one rotation of the image holding member, and an output unit that outputs a developer image of the image holding member to a recording medium.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing housing that contains developer; a developer carrier that transports the developer; a layer-thickness regulating member that is provided for an upstream gap between the developer carrier and the developing housing and that regulates a layer thickness of the developer; and a sealing member that is provided for a downstream gap between the developer carrier and the developing housing. The sealing member is fixed to the developing housing at one side and is in contact with the developer on the developer carrier at the other side. The sealing member has cuts extending from a free end of the sealing member by approximately 60% or more of a dimension of the sealing member from the free end to a fixed end in the width direction, and is at an angle of approximately 30° or less with respect to a reference line.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing housing that contains developer; a developer carrier that transports the developer; a layer-thickness regulating member that is provided for an upstream gap between the developer carrier and the developing housing and that regulates a layer thickness of the developer; and a sealing member that is provided for a downstream gap between the developer carrier and the developing housing. The sealing member is fixed to the developing housing at one side and is in contact with the developer on the developer carrier at the other side. The sealing member has cuts extending from a free end of the sealing member by approximately 60% or more of a dimension of the sealing member from the free end to a fixed end in the width direction, and is at an angle of approximately 30° or less with respect to a reference line.

Abstract: A developing device is provided. A rotating shaft of a first transporting member is positioned exactly below a developer carrier. A second virtual tangent to the first transporting member that extends vertically on a side of the first transporting member opposite an image carrier is farther from the image carrier than a first virtual tangent to the developer carrier that extends vertically on a side of the developer carrier opposite the image carrier. A distance between the two virtual tangents is shorter than a distance between the first virtual tangent and a developer container. A developer guiding member that guides a developer toward a downstream side in a direction of transport by the first transporting member is provided on a downstream side in a direction of rotation of the developer carrier with respect to the image carrier, with a gap provided with respect to the developer carrier.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer container; a developer carrier; a first transport member having a rotation shaft and a transport blade; a second transport member having a rotation shaft and a transport blade; a partition member; a guide member; a first inflow portion; a second inflow portion; and a movement portion. The rotation shaft of the first transport member is located within a projection area of the developer carrier projected from above. A second imaginary tangent line extending vertically and touching an outer end of the transport blade of the first transport member is farther from the image carrier than a first imaginary tangent line extending vertically and touching an outer surface of the developer carrier. A first distance between the first and second imaginary tangent lines is smaller than a second distance between a rotation center of the image carrier and an inner surface of the developer container.

Abstract: A developing device is provided. A rotating shaft of a first transporting member is positioned exactly below a developer carrier. A second virtual tangent to the first transporting member that extends vertically on a side of the first transporting member opposite an image carrier is farther from the image carrier than a first virtual tangent to the developer carrier that extends vertically on a side of the developer carrier opposite the image carrier. A distance between the two virtual tangents is shorter than a distance between the first virtual tangent and a developer container. A developer guiding member that guides a developer toward a downstream side in a direction of transport by the first transporting member is provided on a downstream side in a direction of rotation of the developer carrier with respect to the image carrier, with a gap provided with respect to the developer carrier.

Abstract: A developer collecting device includes a collecting box that accommodates developer discharged from a developing unit, the developing unit accommodating developer including toner and a carrier, the developing unit developing an electrostatic latent image on a development member using the toner in the developer; a guide cylinder that connects the developing unit and the collecting box to each other, the guide cylinder guiding movement of the developer discharged from the developing unit to the collecting box; a transporting member that is disposed in the guide cylinder and extends in a developer transport direction, the transporting member transporting the developer towards the collecting box by rotation of the transporting member; and a rotation controller that controls rotation speed of the transporting member in accordance with conditions that affect a capability of developing the electrostatic latent image on the development member.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer container; a developer carrier; a first transport member having a rotation shaft and a transport blade; a second transport member having a rotation shaft and a transport blade; a partition member; a guide member; a first inflow portion; a second inflow portion; and a movement portion. The rotation shaft of the first transport member is located within a projection area of the developer carrier projected from above. A second imaginary tangent line extending vertically and touching an outer end of the transport blade of the first transport member is farther from the image carrier than a first imaginary tangent line extending vertically and touching an outer surface of the developer carrier. A first distance between the first and second imaginary tangent lines is smaller than a second distance between a rotation center of the image carrier and an inner surface of the developer container.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a first transport member that transports developer in a developer container; a second transport member that transports the developer in a direction opposite to a direction of transport by the first transport member; an inflow portion provided at a downstream end in the direction of transport by the second transport member and on an outer side with respect to an end of a developer carrying body, the inflow portion allowing the developer to flow from a second housing into a first housing; a high-speed transport portion provided in a range corresponding to the inflow portion and that transports the developer at a higher speed; and a regulating member provided at a position corresponding to a downstream end of the high-speed transport portion in the direction of transport by the first transport member and that regulates a height of a mound of developer in the first housing.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a first transport member that transports developer in a developer container; a second transport member that transports the developer in a direction opposite to a direction of transport by the first transport member; an inflow portion provided at a downstream end in the direction of transport by the second transport member and on an outer side with respect to an end of a developer carrying body, the inflow portion allowing the developer to flow from a second housing into a first housing; a high-speed transport portion provided in a range corresponding to the inflow portion and that transports the developer at a higher speed; and a regulating member provided at a position corresponding to a downstream end of the high-speed transport portion in the direction of transport by the first transport member and that regulates a height of a mound of developer in the first housing.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer container, a magnet member, a developer carrier including a rotary member, and a developer transport member, the magnet member including an attracting magnet pole that attracts a developer on the rotary member and a separation magnet pole that releases the developer. The attracting magnet pole is disposed upstream of a line segment connecting the centers of rotation of the rotary member and the transport member in a rotation direction of the rotary member. The magnetic force of the separation magnet pole is about 35 mT or more and about 45 mT or less, and the magnetic force of the attracting magnet pole is about 38 mT or more and about 54 mT or less. The angle formed by the magnet poles with respect to the center of rotation of the rotary member is about 98 degrees or more and about 117 degrees or less.

Abstract: A developer collecting device includes a collecting box that accommodates developer discharged from a developing unit, the developing unit accommodating developer including toner and a carrier, the developing unit developing an electrostatic latent image on a development member using the toner in the developer; a guide cylinder that connects the developing unit and the collecting box to each other, the guide cylinder guiding movement of the developer discharged from the developing unit to the collecting box; a transporting member that is disposed in the guide cylinder and extends in a developer transport direction, the transporting member transporting the developer towards the collecting box by rotation of the transporting member; and a rotation controller that controls rotation speed of the transporting member in accordance with conditions that affect a capability of developing the electrostatic latent image on the development member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a time detection unit, a humidity measurement unit and a controller. The image forming device includes a photoconductive body, a developing device and a transfer device. The time detection unit detects information concerning a stop time period of the developing device. The humidity measurement unit is provided in a casing in which the image forming device is provided and measures a humidity. The controller controls a developer supply member in the developing device based on the information concerning the stop time period detected by the time detection unit and information concerning the humidity measured by the humidity measurement unit, so as to rotate at a lower speed than a rotation speed at a normal time before the developing device starts a first developing operation after the developing device stopped.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a time detection unit, a humidity measurement unit and a controller. The image forming device includes a photoconductive body, a developing device and a transfer device. The time detection unit detects information concerning a stop time period of the developing device. The humidity measurement unit is provided in a casing in which the image forming device is provided and measures a humidity. The controller controls a developer supply member in the developing device based on the information concerning the stop time period detected by the time detection unit and information concerning the humidity measured by the humidity measurement unit, so as to rotate at a lower speed than a rotation speed at a normal time before the developing device starts a first developing operation after the developing device stopped.

Abstract: An ignition coil for an internal combustion engine can increase a contact area between an end of a GND line terminal and a bolt thereby to reduce the contact resistance therebetween. In the ignition coil, a GND potential is ensured by the GND line terminal that is electrically connected at one end thereof to an igniter and at the other end thereof to the internal combustion engine through a bolt inserted into a bolt insertion hole formed in a mounting flange. The GND line terminal is formed at the other end thereof with a bearing surface portion having a hole into which the bolt is inserted. At least part of an inner diameter of the hole in the bearing surface portion is smaller than an inner diameter of the bolt insertion hole.

Abstract: An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine is small in size and has high reliability capable of withstanding or enduring a vibration environment of a vehicle to which the ignition apparatus is installed. The ignition apparatus includes a spark plug that has its tip end portion presented in the interior of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine main body, a high voltage generation power supply that serves to apply a high voltage to the spark plug, a microwave oscillation device that has an amplifying element for generating a microwave, and a microwave antenna that is mounted on the spark plug, irradiates the micro wave generated from the microwave oscillation device to the interior of the cylinder, thereby forming a plasma generation region around discharge electrodes of the spark plug. The microwave oscillation device is made into a solid state.

Abstract: An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine is small in size and has high reliability capable of withstanding or enduring a vibration environment of a vehicle to which the ignition apparatus is installed. The ignition apparatus includes a spark plug that has its tip end portion presented in the interior of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine main body, a high voltage generation power supply that serves to apply a high voltage to the spark plug, a microwave oscillation device that has an amplifying element for generating a microwave, and a microwave antenna that is mounted on the spark plug, irradiates the micro wave generated from the microwave oscillation device to the interior of the cylinder, thereby forming a plasma generation region around discharge electrodes of the spark plug. The microwave oscillation device is made into a solid state.

Abstract: An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine can prevent dielectric breakdown resulting from voids, thus making it possible to reduce its size. The apparatus includes a primary bobbin, a primary coil formed of a primary coil conductor wound around the primary bobbin, a secondary bobbin arranged in concentric relation to the primary bobbin, a secondary coil formed of a secondary coil conductor wound around the secondary bobbin, an insulation casing receiving therein the primary bobbin, the primary coil, the secondary bobbin and the secondary coil, and an insulating resin filled into the insulation case. Grooves for guiding the insulating resin between the primary bobbin and the primary coil are formed on an outer peripheral surface of the primary bobbin around which the primary coil conductor having a polygonal cross section is wound.