Abstract: A packaging method for a filter tow bale includes, including excessively compressing a distance between press bases to a height lower than a desired height of a packaged bale by 50 to 250 mm, more preferably 80 to 200 mm, further preferably 90 to 180 mm, then adjusting the distance between the press bases to the desired height in a packaged or non-packaged state, and then releasing a pressing force applied on a pressed bale.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cigarette filter material useful for selectively and efficiently reducing formaldehyde while maintaining a palatable component such as nicotine or tar. The cigarette filter material is obtained by coating-treating a substrate (such as a cellulose acetate fiber) with a solution (particularly, an aqueous solution) containing a polysaccharide having an amino group (e.g. chitosan) and a polar solvent (e.g., water) [and optionally an acid such as a hydroxy acid (e.g., lactic acid)]. A cigarette filter of such a cigarette filter material can efficiently and selectively reduce formaldehyde. For example, the cigarette filter ensures a retention of formaldehyde of not more than 65% while maintaining retentions of nicotine and tar of not less than 80%, respectively, in main stream smoke.

Abstract: The present invention provides a packaging method for a filter tow bale, including excessively compressing a distance between press bases to a height lower than a desired height of a packaged bale by 50 to 250 mm, more preferably 80 to 200 mm, further preferably 90 to 180 mm, then adjusting the distance between the press bases to the desired height in a packaged or non-packaged state, and then releasing a pressing force applied on a pressed bale.

Abstract: A cigarette filter material useful for selectively and efficiently reducing formaldehyde while maintaining a palatable component such as nicotine or tar is provided. A cigarette filter material is obtained by adhesively treating a substrate (such as a cellulose acetate fiber) with a dispersion comprising a particulate polysaccharide having an amino group (e.g., chitosan) and a medium. The medium may be a polar solvent (e.g., water, and an alcohol), and a plasticizer for the substrate. A cigarette filter comprising such cigarette filter material can efficiently and selectively reduce formaldehyde. For example, the cigarette filter ensures a retention of formaldehyde of not more than 65% while maintaining retentions of nicotine and tar of not less than 75%, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cigarette filter material useful for selectively and efficiently reducing formaldehyde while maintaining a palatable component such as nicotine or tar. The cigarette filter material is obtained by coating-treating a substrate (such as a cellulose acetate fiber) with a solution (particularly, an aqueous solution) containing a polysaccharide having an amino group (e.g. chitosan) and a polar solvent (e.g., water) [and optionally an acid such as a hydroxy acid (e.g., lactic acid)]. A cigarette filter of such a cigarette filter material can efficiently and selectively reduce formaldehyde. For example, the cigarette filter ensures a retention of formaldehyde of not more than 65% while maintaining retentions of nicotine and tar of not less than 80%, respectively, in main stream smoke.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus or a cartridge detachably attachable to the image forming apparatus is provided, wherein the apparatus comprises developer container for containing developer, developer amount detecting means for detecting an amount of the developer contained in the developer container, a memory for memorizing information concerning the amount of the developer detected by the detecting means and output means for outputting the information concerning the amount of the developer, and the output means outputs the information concerning the developer memorized in the memory until the detection result of the detecting means is confirmed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus or a cartridge detachably attachable to the image forming apparatus is provided, wherein the apparatus comprises a developer container for containing developer, a developer amount detector for detecting an amount of the developer contained in the developer container, a memory for memorizing information concerning the amount of the developer detected by the detector and an output unit for outputting the information concerning the amount of the developer. The output unit outputs the information concerning the developer memorized in the memory until the detection result of the detector is confirmed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus or a cartridge detachably attachable to the image forming apparatus is provided, wherein the apparatus comprises developer container for containing developer, developer amount detecting means for detecting an amount of the developer contained in the developer container, a memory for memorizing information concerning the amount of the developer detected by the detecting means and output means for outputting the information concerning the amount of the developer, and the output means outputs the information concerning the developer memorized in the memory until the detection result of the detecting means is confirmed.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus of the present invention having a developer containing section and a developer remaining amount detecting member, and capable of forming an image at any of a plurality of printing speeds, has a configuration in which the averaging method of the developer remaining amount by the developer remaining amount detecting member is changed in response to the printing speed. The invention thus provides an image forming apparatus having a plurality of printing speeds, which permits successive detection of the remaining amount of developer at a high accuracy in response to the printing speed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus or a cartridge detachably attachable to the image forming apparatus is provided, wherein the apparatus comprises developer container for containing developer, developer amount detecting means for detecting an amount of the developer contained in the developer container, a memory for memorizing information concerning the amount of the developer detected by the detecting means and output means for outputting the information concerning the amount of the developer, and the output means outputs the information concerning the developer memorized in the memory until the detection result of the detecting means is confirmed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer container for containing a developer, a developer amount detector for detecting the amount of the developer contained in the developer container, a correcting device for correcting the detected value detected by the developer amount detector, and a memory. At least the developer container and the memory are disposed in a unit and the unit is detachably mountable on a main assembly of the image forming apparatus. The memory stores information indicating that the unit is new. The correcting device corrects a next detected value to be detected by the developer amount detector according to the detected value detected by the developer amount detector when the developer amount detector detects information indicating that the unit is new.

Abstract: In a developer container, there are provided a flat antenna for measuring the predetermined range of the developer-remaining-amount, and a plate antenna for measuring the predetermined amount or less of the developer-remaining-amount. When the detected value by the flat antenna is a predetermined value or greater, the minimum detected voltage value of the plate antenna is measured, and this value is stored as PAF (plate antenna full) in the storing means of a cartridge. During the measurement of the predetermined value or less of the developer by the plate antenna, the detected voltage value is calculation-processed and corrected by PAF to thereby obtain the developer amount.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus of the present invention having a developer containing section and a developer remaining amount detecting member, and capable of forming an image at any of a plurality of printing speeds has a configuration in which the averaging method of the developer remaining amount by the developer remaining amount detecting member is changed in response to the printing speed. The invention thus provides an image forming apparatus having a plurality of printing speeds, which permits successive detection of the remaining amount of developer at a high accuracy in response to the printing speed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus or a cartridge detachably attachable to the image forming apparatus is provided, wherein the apparatus comprises developer container for containing developer, developer amount detecting means for detecting an amount of the developer contained in the developer container, a memory for memorizing information concerning the amount of the developer detected by the detecting means and output means for outputting the information concerning the amount of the developer, and the output means outputs the information concerning the developer memorized in the memory until the detection result of the detecting means is confirmed.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes a cartridge frame; an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer; a developing member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member with the developer; a developer feeding member for feeding the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion toward the developing member; and a developer amount detecting member, disposed along a movement path of the developer from the developer accommodating portion toward the developing member, for generating an electric signal for permitting the main assembly to detect substantially real time a remaining amount of the developer in the process cartridge, wherein the developer amount detecting member is disposed at and along an arcuate portion which is provided outside the cartridge frame along a path of rotational motion of th

Abstract: A cleaning device for removing toner remaining on an image carrier carrying a toner image after toner on the image carrier has been transferred to another material, the cleaning device including: a conductive brush roller to which a bias voltage of a polarity that is the same as the proper polarity of toner for use in development is applied in order to remove that portion of the toner remaining on the image carrier after the image transfer process whose polarity has become opposite to the proper polarity of toner for use in development; a roller electrode which comes into contact with the bush roller and to which a bias that is of a polarity opposite to that of the brush roller is applied to electrostatically attract the toner adhering to the conductive brush; and scraping device for scraping off the toner adhering to this roller electrode, wherein that portion of the toner remaining on the image carrier after the image transfer process whose polarity has become opposite to the proper polarity of toner is rem

Abstract: An integrated service network system is provided which allows a user to select a network that guarantees no bandwidth and/or a network that guarantees the bandwidth.

Abstract: In a developer container, there are provided a flat antenna for measuring the predetermined range of the developer-remaining-amount, and a plate antenna for measuring the predetermined amount or less of the developer-remaining-amount. When the detected value by the flat antenna is a predetermined value or greater, the minimum detected voltage value of the plate antenna is measured, and this value is stored as PAF (plate antenna full) in the storing means of a cartridge. During the measurement of the predetermined value or less of the developer by the plate antenna, the detected voltage value is calculation-processed and corrected by PAF to thereby obtain the developer amount.

Abstract: In conventional art, when a detected electrostatic capacity value of a point at which a developer container is full of a developer is larger or smaller than an initially set value, the developer residual amount is respectively estimated more or less than an actual amount since an output of antenna is sometimes influenced by an antenna tolerance. Therefore, it is provided an image forming apparatus in which a residual amount of a developer can accurately be detected and a cartridge which is detachably mountable on the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes a cartridge frame; an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer; a developing member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member with the developer; a developer feeding member for feeding the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion toward the developing member; and a developer amount detecting member, disposed along a movement path of the developer from the developer accommodating portion toward the developing member, for generating an electric signal for permitting the main assembly to detect substantially real time a remaining amount of the developer in the process cartridge, wherein the developer amount detecting member is disposed at and along an arcuate portion which is provided outside the cartridge frame along a path of rotational motion of th