Abstract: Method and apparatus for carburizing, quenching and tempering workpieces, by which the step of carburizing can be incorporated into a machining and manufacturing process to be performed by an on-line machining and manufacturing system as one stage thereof, and by which high-quality treatment or processing can be achieved without occurrences of variation in quality among heat-treated products. In this apparatus, a preheating chamber (2), six carburizing chambers (5a to 5f), a cooling chamber (6), a reheating chamber (7), a quenching chamber (8) are placed around an intermediate chamber (4) having a transport device (12). Further, a high-frequency induction heating technique is used for heating each of major ones of the treatment or processing chambers. Moreover, a plasma carburizing method is performed in the carburizing chambers.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the resistance of an transfer material is detected to which a toner image is transferred. The amount of adhered toners of a standard image is detected, and the development bias voltage is controlled according to the detected amount of adhered toners. Then, the transfer voltage is controlled by taking into account the resistance of the transfer material, the charges of adhered toners and the development bias voltage. Thus, the transfer efficiency is stabilized so that a stable image is formed with reproducible colors and densities. For a dot image, an area ratio of a standard dot toner image is detected, and at least one of an amount of charges for charging the photoconductor uniformly, an intensity of the light beam for exposing the photoconductor and the development bias voltage is controlled according to the detected area ratio.

Abstract: A developing device for use in an image forming apparatus like a copying machine or printer that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrostatic latent image carrier to obtain a visible image. In the developing device, a toner charge erasing member contacts with the surface of a developing agent carrier and is connected to a power supply which applies developing bias voltage, so that a toner charge erasing bias voltage is applied to the toner charge erasing member from the power supply. A connection circuit provided between the toner charge erasing member and the power supply to maintain a constant electric potential difference between the developing bias voltage and the toner charge erasing bias voltage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a developing device which develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrostatic latent image carrier to obtain a visible image. The developing device includes a charge erasing member that erases the electrical charge of residual toner on a developing agent carrier by a charge erasing bias voltage applied thereto. When exposure or not developing is not performed in the image forming apparatus, the charge erasing bias voltage is applied to the charge erasing member. While, during exposure or developing, the charge erasing bias voltage is not applied to the charge erasing member for preventing leaks or discharge phenomenon between the charge erasing member and the developing agent carrier.

Abstract: An one-component developing device includes an electrically conductive member which is located in a region extending from a position downstream, with respect to a moving direction of a surface of a toner carrying member, to a developing region, and is in contact with the surface of the toner carrying member. A surface of the electrically conductive member contacting the developing sleeve is formed of material, of which charge polarity is shifted to the same polarity side as a regular charge polarity of the toner in view of charge series, and which contains highly conductive material dispersed therein.

Abstract: A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrostatic latent image support member comprises a developer supplying member for supplying a developer to the electrostatic latent image support member, a developer containing portion containing the developer to be supplied to the developer supplying member, a conveying member provided in the developer containing portion for conveying the developer above the bottom part of the developer containing portion to the developer supplying member with the developer in the bottom part of the developer containing portion being left, and an agitating member provided in the developer containing portion for agitating in the developer containing portion the developer remaining in the bottom part of the developer containing portion without being conveyed by the conveying member.