Abstract: An image forming device in which image carrying bodies on which an electrostatic latent image is respectively formed in accordance with for each a plurality of colors are arranged in a tandem manner, in which a charging voltage in which an alternating voltage and a direct voltage are superimposed is applied to charging devices which respectively charge each image carrying body, and in which a color image is formed by sequentially overlapping a toner image of each color formed on each image carrying body on an intermediate transfer medium or a transfer material. A direct voltage power supply for applying a direct voltage to the charging device for each color is independently provided for each charging device for each color, and an alternating voltage power supply for applying an alternating voltage to the charging device for each color is commonly provided to the charging device for each color.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member; a charge unit charges the image carrying member in a non-contact manner using a charge roller; a development unit develops the electrostatic latent images on the image carrying member; a transfer unit transfers the developer images on the image carrying member onto a transfer medium; a cleaning unit removes a transfer-residual developer remaining on the image carrying medium after the developer images are transferred onto the transfer medium; a first and a second gap member are fixed onto one and an other end of the charge roller and pressed onto outer peripheral surface of the image carrying member, thereby forming charging gaps; discharge dead zones are provided, the cleaning blade is disposed such that the ends of the cleaning blade are positioned outside of the inner edges of the first and second gap members.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an image bearing member for bearing a latent image, a developer bearing member for transporting developer to an opposing position opposing the image bearing member by rotating with developer being borne thereon, the developer bearing member having regularly-disposed concave sections formed on a surface thereof, and an alternating voltage applying section for applying to the developer bearing member an alternating voltage that includes a first voltage for moving developer from the developer bearing member toward the image bearing member and a second voltage for moving developer from the image bearing member toward the developer bearing member in order to develop the latent image using the developer that has been transported to the opposing position, wherein a cycle period of the alternating voltage is smaller than or equal to a value obtained by dividing a minimum width of the concave section in a circumferential direction of the developer bearing member by a moving veloci

Abstract: The invention provides an image forming apparatus including an image bearing member for bearing a latent image, a developer bearing member for transporting developer to an opposing position opposing the image bearing member by rotating with developer being borne thereon, the developer bearing member having regularly-disposed concave sections formed on a surface thereof, and an alternating voltage applying section for applying to the developer bearing member an alternating voltage that includes a first voltage for moving developer from the developer bearing member toward the image bearing member, and a second voltage for moving developer from the image bearing member toward the developer bearing member in order to develop the latent image using the developer that has been transported to the opposing position, and the cycle period of the alternating voltage is larger than a value obtained by dividing a minimum width of the concave section in a circumferential direction of the developer bearing member by a movin

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a belt-shaped image carrier adapted to support a toner image: a transfer roller; a contact/separation mechanism, operable to bring the transfer roller into contact with the image carrier to transfer the toner image from the image carrier onto a recording medium and operable to separate the transfer roller from the image carrier after the toner image is transferred onto the recording medium; and a rotation applier, operable to apply a first rotation to the transfer roller in a state that the transfer roller is separated from the image carrier. The rotation applier and the transfer roller are mechanically separated from each other when the transfer roller is in contact with the image carrier. When the contact/separation mechanism brings the transfer roller into contact with the image carrier, a circumferential speed of the transfer roller is made coincident with a circumferential speed of the image carrier.

Abstract: A charge roller includes a core, a resistive layer disposed on a circumferential surface of the core to charge an image-bearing member without contact, and gap members formed of tape-shaped films. These films are fixed to both ends of the charge roller by winding each of the films in a direction opposite a rotational direction of the charge roller in use and perpendicular to the axial direction thereof to form n layers (wherein n?2) extending in the axial direction at every position in the circumferential direction of the charge roller. The gap members are pressed against a circumferential surface of an image-bearing member to define a charge gap between the image-bearing member and the charge roller.

Abstract: A belt member is seamed to form an endless belt which is stretched by a plurality of roller members and circulated in a first direction. The belt member is provided with an electrode portion at a first end portion thereof in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A cleaning member is abutted against the belt member. A seam of the belt member extends obliquely relative to the first direction such that an end of the seam confronting the electrode portion is situated in an upstream side of the first direction.

Abstract: In a fixing device incorporated in an image forming apparatus and operable to fix a toner image on a recording medium, a first rotative member and a second rotative member form a nip portion therebetween, at which the toner image is fixed on the recording medium. A separator separates the recording medium, which has been passed through the nip portion, from one of the first rotative member and the second rotative member. The separator is provided with a first guide face extending in a first direction to guide the separated recording medium to an inlet of a subsequent stage of the image forming apparatus. The first guide face is provided with a rib extending in the first direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises: at least an image carrier of which rotary shafts extending from both ends thereof are rotatably supported on an apparatus body by bearings; and a charging roller having gap members fixed to both end portions thereof, respectively, wherein the gap members are brought in contact with the peripheral surface of the image carrier with some pressure to form a charge gap between the image carrier and the charging roller so that the charging roller charges the image carrier in non-contact state with the charge gap, and wherein the gap members are each formed to have a small-diameter portion on the inside thereof and a large-diameter portion on the outside thereof such that the respective small-diameter portions are positioned to face each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a belt member, a secondary transfer member which is abutted against the belt member to secondary transfer a toner image to a recording medium and a contact/separation mechanism which brings the secondary transfer member into contact with a first widthwise end portion in the belt member first.

Abstract: A liquid development device has a developer retaining roller having recesses, which are for retaining liquid developer, provided in the surface of the developer retaining roller; and a supplying roller for supplying the liquid developer to the developer retaining roller. The upper edge of the supplying roller is located above the lower edge of the developer retaining roller in the vertical direction, and the supplying roller supplies the liquid developer to the developer retaining roller downwards from above.

Abstract: In a fixing device incorporated in an image forming apparatus and operable to fix a toner image on a recording medium, a first rotative member and a second rotative member form a nip portion therebetween, at which the toner image is fixed on the recording medium. A separator separates the recording medium, which has been passed through the nip portion, from one of the first rotative member and the second rotative member. The separator is provided with a first guide face extending in a first direction to guide the separated recording medium to an inlet of a subsequent stage of the image forming apparatus. The first guide face is provided with a rib extending in the first direction.

Abstract: A charging roller, adapted to face an image carrier at a predetermined charging gap and charge the image carrier in a non-contact state, including: a conductive shaft, provided with a pair of annular concave portions formed on an outer circumferential surface at both ends thereof; a conductive layer, formed on the outer circumference surface at a center portion of the conductive shaft defined between the pair of concave portions; and an insulating layer, formed on the outer circumferential surface at outer portions of the conductive shaft from the pair of annular concave portions.

Abstract: In a fixing device incorporated in an image forming apparatus and operable to fix a toner image on a recording medium, a first rotative member and a second rotative member form a nip portion therebetween, at which the toner image is fixed on the recording medium. A separator separates the recording medium, which has been passed through the nip portion, from one of the first rotative member and the second rotative member. The separator is provided with a first guide face extending in a first direction to guide the separated recording medium to an inlet of a subsequent stage of the image forming apparatus. The first guide face is provided with a rib extending in the first direction.

Abstract: A belt member is seamed to form an endless belt which is stretched by a plurality of roller members and circulated in a first direction. The belt member is provided with an electrode portion at a first end portion thereof in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A cleaning member is abutted against the belt member. A seam of the belt member extends obliquely relative to the first direction such that an end of the seam confronting the electrode portion is situated in an upstream side of the first direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a belt member, a secondary transfer member which is abutted against the belt member to secondary transfer a toner image to a recording medium and a contact/separation mechanism which brings the secondary transfer member into contact with a first widthwise end portion in the belt member first.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus, includes a fixing roller which has a middle portion and both end portions in an axis direction thereof, a pressing roller which is brought into press contact with the fixing roller for rotating so that a press contact portion is formed, an exfoliating member which exfoliates a sheet-like record medium from a surface of the fixing roller after the record medium is passed through the press contact portion, and restricting members which is provided at both end portions of the exfoliating member, and is brought into contact with the surface of the fixing roller so that an interval between the surface of the fixing roller and the exfoliating member is restricted. The middle portion of the fixing roller is smaller than the both end portions of the fixing roller in a diameter.

Abstract: A belt member is seamed to form an endless belt which is stretched by a plurality of roller members and circulated in a first direction. The belt member is provided with an electrode portion at a first end portion thereof in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A cleaning member is abutted against the belt member. A seam of the belt member extends obliquely relative to the first direction such that an end of the seam confronting the electrode portion is situated in an upstream side of the first direction.

Abstract: A stainless steel separator, which is good of corrosion-resistance and low of contact-resistance, is proposed for a fuel cell. Its surface faced to a fuel electrode is pickled, which the other surface faced to an oxidizing electrode is roughened by electrolytic etching or the like. The roughening treatment may be performed before or after pickling and passivation. The roughened surface of the stainless steel separator without pickling or passivation may be faced to the oxidizing electrode.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermosetting resin composition superior with respect to all characteristics of dielectric characteristics, heat resistance, moisture resistance, electrolytic corrosion resistance, adhesiveness with a copper foil, chemical resistance and flame retardancy using a halogen-free flame retardant, its use, and for example, a prepreg, laminated board and printed wiring board. The present invention relates to: (1) a resin thermosetting resin composition comprising: (A) a phenol-modified cyanate ester oligomer obtained by reacting a cyanate compound (a) containing two or more cyanato groups in a single molecule, and (b) a phenol compound represented by the formula (I) and/or formula (II), such that a blending equivalence ratio of hydroxyl group (b)/cyanato group (a) is within a range of 0.01 to 0.