Abstract: Provided are a user interfacing display apparatus having improved operability without confusing the user as to setting displayed on a pop-up screen, and an image forming apparatus. When a copy ratio key as a detail setting key is selected on an LCD as a display section provided in the user interfacing display apparatus mounted on an image forming apparatus, the pop-up screen is displayed. At the same time, a display state of an interruption key is changed, so as to be displayed to inform that the interruption key is unavailable. While the pop-up screen is being displayed, a user is not allowed to select the interruption key. Thus, for example, on contrary to a case where process is switched to an interruption mode while the pop-up screen is being displayed, there will be no confusion as to the detail setting displayed on the pop-up screen before switching to the interruption mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a job management unit for reserving a plurality of jobs, and a control panel 7 for concurrently displaying reservation statuses of four jobs among those reserved by the job management unit. A main status area 82a displays reservation statuses of the first three jobs in the queue and a reservation status of the last job which is newly reserved. The reservation status of the newly reserved last job is displayed preferentially in place of that of the fourth job in the queue.

Abstract: For performing double-side printing, an image forming apparatus forms an image on one side of a sheet and then reverses the sheet if the sheet has not been reversed, forms an image on the other side of the sheet and then reverses the sheet if the sheet has been reversed once, and performs idle conveyance in which an image is not formed on a sheet and then discharges the sheet if the sheet has been reversed twice. According to the image forming apparatus and a method of forming an image by this apparatus, procedures of image formation by a user can be prevented from becoming troublesome and the sheets can be discharged in order of the originals.

Abstract: Image processing apparatus comprising: a printing unit; a first USB interface having a plurality of logical channels for connecting with an external processing apparatus; a second USB interface compliant with the same communication standard as the first USB interface and having a plurality of logical channels that have a different configuration from the first USB interface for connecting with the printing unit; a CPU for controlling data transfer between the first USB interface and the second USB interface; and a printing unit signal controller for controlling ON/OFF of power supply to the printing unit according to a predetermined condition. When power supply is turned off by the printing unit signal controller, power supply to the printing unit is stopped. In the power-off state of the printing unit, the CPU analyzes data inputted from the first USB interface.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor with excellent wear resistance and high durability, and an image formation method having a high toner transferring efficiency and capable of providing images with high quality. The image formation method features a developing step of forming a toner image by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a latent image carrier by a developer containing at least a toner, a transferring step of forming a transferred image by transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the latent image carrier to the surface of an object recording medium, and a fixing step of fixing the toner image transferred on the surface of the object recording medium. The latent image carrier has a surface layer containing a cross-linked resin having charge transporting property, and the toner is a toner containing at least a binder resin of mainly a crystalline resin and a coloring agent.

Abstract: The present invention provides an extrudable, crosslinked, greasy heat-radiating material which can find completely new ways of use (in terms of methods of operation and putting it in a service area), because it can be formed into any shape after it is extruded from the container in which it is held (e.g., syringe or tube) to be put or placed in a gap of any shape between a heat-generating body and heat-radiating body, where it keeps shape self-retainability even when kept under a very light load, e.g., kept on a slanted plate, unlike the conventional thermoconductive silicone rubber composition or thermoconductive silicone oil compound, whose applicable areas are limited to formed articles, represented by sheet, and coating. The present invention also provides a container filled with and sealing the extrudable, crosslinked, greasy heat-radiating material, process for producing the container, and method of heat radiation using the container.

Abstract: An image forming method makes the warming-up time short, enables the formation of high-quality images even when fixing is performed continuously at high speed, and restrains degradations of the image quality, such as non-uniformity of gloss and non-uniformity of coloration even under high-temperature and high-humidity conditions. The method uses a toner that is wide in fixing range and is especially excellent in low-temperature fixing property. The method contains a process of melting and thereby fixing a toner image formed by unfixed toner, by heating a heating member that is in contact with the toner image. The surface of the heating member or its vicinity that is in contact with the toner image generates heat, and the toner contains at least a colorant and a binder resin having a crystalline resin with a number average molecular weight of 1500 or more as the main component.

Abstract: Image processing apparatus having a data processing unit, a first interface having a plurality of logical channels for connecting with an external processing apparatus, a second interface having a logical channel that has a different configuration from the first interface for connecting with the data processing unit, and a control unit for controlling data transfer between the first interface and second interface.

Abstract: An electrophotographic toner contains a colorant and a binder resin which includes and a crystalline polyester resin as a main component. An ester density M of the crystalline polyester resin, as defined in the following Formula 1, is from 0.01 to 0.12: M=K/A  Formula 1 wherein M denotes an ester density, K denotes a number of ester groups, and A denotes a number of atoms which constitute the high molecular chain of a polymer.

Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic latent image, a process for producing the same and a process for forming an image using the same are provided. The toner is produced by a simple production process, with good reproducibility, particularly in particle size and particle size distribution. The toner is excellent in production stability, with a wide fixing region, and is also excellent in low temperature fixing property, production stability, storage stability of resin particles formed by the aggregation process, and charging property, particularly environmental stability and time-lapse stability. The toner for developing an electrostatic latent image contains a crystalline resin having a melting point as a binder resin, and at least one of an ester compound having an alkyl group having from 6 to 32 carbon atoms and a resin having a contact angle with water that is smaller than that of the crystalline resin.

Abstract: The present invention uses a crystalline resin as a binding resin and provides a toner insuring excellent storability of a resulting image, a method of manufacturing the toner, an electrostatically charged image developer containing the toner, and an image forming method. In the electrophotographic toner containing toner mother particles comprising at least a binding resin and a colorant, a main component of said binding resin comprises a crystalline resin with a melting point in the range from 50 to 120° C. and an average volume particle size in the range from 3.0 to 7.5 &mgr;m, while an average value of the BET specific areas of said toner mother particles is in the range from 0.6 to 3.0 m2/g. The electrophotographic toner manufacturing method comprises the steps of coalescing or associating the binding resin particles with colorant particles, and cooling the aggregated particles at the rate of at least 1° C.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming method capable of forming an image at a high speed, simultaneously performing a low temperature fusing property and hot offset resistance and controlling gloss. The image forming method includes a developing step of forming a toner image by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a latent image holding member by a developer containing at least a toner, a transferring step of forming a transfer image by transferring the toner image formed on the latent image holding member onto a transfer material, and a fusing step of fusing the toner image transferred on the transfer material. In the image forming method, the toner contains at least a colorant and a binder resin in which a principal component is a crystalline resin and the fusing step is performed by a fusing apparatus having a heat-fixing roll and an endless belt.

Abstract: A connector comprises a synthetic resin plug 11 fitted to an opening portion 1a of a container 1 that stores a liquid, and a socket 13 for connection to the plug 11. The plug 11 comprises, a lid body 14 secured in a fluid tight manner to the opening portion 1a, a plug portion 16 provided on the lid body 14 and connectable to the socket 13, and a siphon tube 17 extending downward from a lower portion of the lid body 14 such that when the lid body 14 is secured to the opening portion 1a, a lower end is arranged near a bottom of the container 1. The siphon tube 17 comprises a tube integrally formed with the lid body 14. As a result, when the liquid inside the container 1 is drawn out, gas leakage from the siphon tube 17 can be reliably prevented, so that erroneous detection of an “empty” detection can be reliably prevented and the liquid completely used up.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming method for efficiently thermoelectrically transferring and fixing a toner image formed on an electrostatic latent image carrier without scattering of the toner. The image forming method comprises the steps of charging a surface of an electrostatic latent image carrier; exposing the charged surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier to a light beam using optical data corresponding to image data to form a latent image; developing the latent image formed on the surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier with a developer for electrophotography containing a toner for electrophotography to form a toner image; and thermoelectrically transferring the toner image formed on the surface of said electrostatic latent image carrier onto a surface of a recording medium and simultaneously fixing thereon. The toner for electrophotography is comprised of a crystalline polyester resin, the surface temperature of a fixing unit therein is higher by 10° C.

Abstract: In a joint structure for coupling a first component (21) to a second component (22) in a joint portion of a fluid flow passage, the second component (22) has a portion thereof inserted into the first component (21) to engage with the first component (21). The second component (22) is provided with a flange portion (26), which is disposed adjacent to a bottom surface of the first component (21) and welded or bonded to the bottom surface, so that these components (22, 21) are coupled with each other in an easy and a fluid-tight manner in a condition in which they are prevented from rotating relative to each other without using any locking pin. There is no fear that the components (22, 21) dissolve in a fluid or gaseous material passing through the fluid flow passage. The joint structure is easy in maintenance.

Abstract: In a siphon tube (1) of a reservoir, even when a front end of tube (1) is in the vicinity of the bottom of the reservoir, there is no fear that slurries are sucked by tube (1) which: reaches the bottom of the reservoir to draw a liquid contained therein out of the reservoir is characterized by a liquid-inlet opening (3) directed normal to a longitudinal axis of tube (1) Tube (1) has its front end formed into: an inverted T-shape provided with opposite end openings in a laterally extending portion thereof, each of which openings forms the liquid-inlet opening (3); or, an L-shaped curved form a front end of which forms an opening directed normal to the longitudinal axis of tube (1); or, is closed with a cap so that an opening is disposed adjacent to an upper surface of the cap to serve as the liquid-inlet opening.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a memory unit for storing positional information of a sensor for moving by a drive unit to read an image of a document and a control unit for controlling the drive unit to move the sensor based on the positional information stored in the memory unit. The control unit drives the drive unit by an amount of driving sufficient for an image reading unit to move in a predetermined direction to abut the stop members, controls the drive unit to move the sensor so as to detect the position mark, and updates the positional information of the memory unit to a predetermined initial value based on the detection of the position mark by the sensor. The image reading device can store data of a reference position promptly even if a photo-interrupter is not provided when the data of the reference position is not stored in a memory unit.

Abstract: An image forming method makes the warming-up time short, enables the formation of high-quality images even when fixing is performed continuously at high speed, and restrains degradations of the image quality, such as non-uniformity of gloss and non-uniformity of coloration even under high-temperature and high-humidity conditions. The method uses a toner that is wide in fixing range and is especially excellent in low-temperature fixing property. The method contains a process of melting and thereby fixing a toner image formed by unfixed toner, by heating a heating member that is in contact with the toner image. The surface of the heating member or its vicinity that is in contact with the toner image generates heat, and the toner contains at least a colorant and a binder resin having a crystalline resin with a number average molecular weight of 1500 or more as the main component.

Abstract: A plug portion 23 which engages to a socket 13, to which a liquid transport hose and a gas transport hose 7 are connected, is provided to a plug 12 which closes an aperture portion which is formed in a container. A liquid conduit 26 on the side of the plug 12 which is communicated to a liquid conduit 56 on the side of the socket 13 is formed on the inner side of the plug portion 23, while a gas conduit 41 on the side of the plug 12 which is communicated to gas conduits 52 and 63 on the socket side is formed on the outer side of the plug portion 23. By this construction, it is possible to anticipate simplified and reduced cost manufacture for a connector which excels in convenience due to having a plurality of conduits.

Abstract: An electrophotographic developer and a process for forming an image are provided in that the fixing can be conducted at a lower temperature than the conventional technique, and that are excellent in the powder storage stability, the anti-blocking property and the image storage stability after fixing without impairing the density, the coloring property and the transparency of the image after fixing, and further have appropriate electric charging property without any problem of fogging or cloud with excellent maintenance property of electric charge. The electrophotographic developer contains a toner for developing an electrostatic image containing a coloring agent and a binder resin containing, as a main component, a crystalline resin having a melting point of about from 60 to 120° C., and a carrier having a resin film containing a nitrogen-containing resin on a surface thereof. The process for forming an image is carried out by using the electrophotographic developer.