Abstract: A vehicular propeller shaft is configured to transmit a rotational force output from a drive force source to drive wheels. The vehicular propeller shaft includes a stepped pipe-shaped member including a compressive load weakest part with respect to an axial compressive load of the vehicular propeller shaft and a torsional load weakest part with respect to a torsional load around an axis of the vehicular propeller shaft. The compressive load weakest part and the torsional load weakest part are positioned apart from each other in a radial direction of the stepped pipe-shaped member.

Abstract: A vehicular propeller shaft through which a rotary motion of a drive power source is transmitted to drive wheels and which includes a first tubular member and a second tubular member. The first tubular member has a large-diameter cylindrical section, a small-diameter cylindrical section having a smaller outside diameter than the large-diameter cylindrical section, and a tapered cylindrical section formed between one end of the large-diameter cylindrical section and the small-diameter cylindrical section. The large-diameter cylindrical section, the small-diameter cylindrical section and the tapered cylindrical section are formed integrally with each other. The second tubular member is coaxially joined to the first tubular member and formed of a material having a higher degree of strength than the first tubular member.

Abstract: A vehicle propeller shaft for transmitting a rotating force output from a drive power source to a driving wheel, comprises: a large diameter tube portion having at one end a diameter reduction portion with a diameter reduced toward an end portion; a small diameter tube portion having at one end a diameter expansion portion with a diameter expanded toward an end portion; and a welded portion joining the end portion of the diameter reduction portion and the end portion of the diameter expansion portion by welding.

Abstract: A vehicular propeller shaft is configured to transmit a rotational force output from a drive force source to drive wheels. The vehicular propeller shaft includes a stepped pipe-shaped member including a compressive load weakest part with respect to an axial compressive load of the vehicular propeller shaft and a torsional load weakest part with respect to a torsional load around an axis of the vehicular propeller shaft. The compressive load weakest part and the torsional load weakest part are positioned apart from each other in a radial direction of the stepped pipe-shaped member.

Abstract: A vehicular propeller shaft through which a rotary motion of a drive power source is transmitted to drive wheels and which includes a first tubular member and a second tubular member. The first tubular member has a large-diameter cylindrical section, a small-diameter cylindrical section having a smaller outside diameter than the large-diameter cylindrical section, and a tapered cylindrical section formed between one end of the large-diameter cylindrical section and the small-diameter cylindrical section. The large-diameter cylindrical section, the small-diameter cylindrical section and the tapered cylindrical section are formed integrally with each other. The second tubular member is coaxially joined to the first tubular member and formed of a material having a higher degree of strength than the first tubular member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the invention includes an image carrier, an exposure device performing exposure for forming a toner image on a surface of the image carrier and having at least a first exposure light source and a second exposure light source, a sensor for detecting specified patterns, which are formed on the image carrier at a specified time with use of the first and second exposure light sources, a storing unit for storing a correlation, which is attained from a detection result by the sensor, between the first and second exposure light sources, and a controller for controlling the first and second exposure light sources based on the correlation.

Abstract: A developing apparatus is provided with a developer accommodating container having a replenishing portion in which a developer including a toner and a carrier is accommodated, and provided for replenishing the developer, and a discharging portion for discharging the accommodated developer. The developer accommodating container is separated into a first accommodating portion and a second accommodating portion by a partition wall, and the first accommodating portion and the second accommodating portion are communicated with each other by communication portions in both end sides. The developing apparatus moves in a circulating manner the accommodated developer while agitating, by means of a first feeding member arranged in the first accommodating portion and a second feeding member arranged in the second accommodating portion. The communication portions are communicated below a supposed lowest height of a liquid surface of the developer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a secondary transfer roller that becomes a pressed state to make an intermediate transfer belt perform a transfer process and can move between the pressed state and a separated state, a press and separation driving device for driving the secondary transfer roller to become the pressed state and the separated state, a press and separation detecting device for detecting a pressed or separated state, and a voltage applying portion for applying a voltage between the intermediate transfer belt and the secondary transfer roller. The press and separation detecting device includes a resistor for detecting a current and a determination portion for determining a pressed or separated state in accordance with the detected current.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a guide member 140 positioned so as to be above a blade 60 in a casing 9 of a cleaning section 6. The guide member 140 guides the toner 8, which has been scraped from an image carrier 1 with the blade 60, turned into powder smoke and moved to the upper side of the blade 60, to the apical surface 61 of the blade 60. The apparatus is capable of reducing the friction coefficient between the blade and the image carrier with its compact and simple structure.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a structure in which a toner image formed in an electrophotographic process is transferred from an intermediate transfer belt to a member to be transferred. The apparatus includes a secondary transfer roller that becomes a pressure contact state with respect to the intermediate transfer belt to make it perform a transfer process and can move between the pressure contact state and a separated state, and a press and separation driving device for driving the secondary transfer roller to become the pressure contact state and the separated state. The pressure contact state or the separated state of the secondary transfer roller is detected in accordance with a variation of an output of an IDC sensor for detecting a state of a bare surface of the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a guide member 140 positioned so as to be above a blade 60 in a casing 9 of a cleaning section 6. The guide member 140 guides the toner 8, which has been scraped from an image carrier 1 with the blade 60, turned into powder smoke and moved to the upper side of the blade 60, to the apical surface 61 of the blade 60. The apparatus is capable of reducing the friction coefficient between the blade and the image carrier with its compact and simple structure.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a structure in which a toner image formed in an electrophotographic process is transferred from an intermediate transfer belt to a member to be transferred. The apparatus includes a secondary transfer roller that becomes a pressure contact state with respect to the intermediate transfer belt to make it perform a transfer process and can move between the pressure contact state and a separated state, and a press and separation driving device for driving the secondary transfer roller to become the pressure contact state and the separated state. The pressure contact state or the separated state of the secondary transfer roller is detected in accordance with a variation of an output of an IDC sensor for detecting a state of a bare surface of the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a secondary transfer roller that becomes a pressed state to make an intermediate transfer belt perform a transfer process and can move between the pressed state and a separated state, a press and separation driving device for driving the secondary transfer roller to become the pressed state and the separated state, a press and separation detecting device for detecting a pressed or separated state, and a voltage applying portion for applying a voltage between the intermediate transfer belt and the secondary transfer roller. The press and separation detecting device includes a resistor for detecting a current and a determination portion for determining a pressed or separated state in accordance with the detected current.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the invention includes an image carrier, an exposure device performing exposure for forming a toner image on a surface of the image carrier and having at least a first exposure light source and a second exposure light sources a sensor for detecting specified patterns, which are formed on the image carrier at a specified time with use of the first and second exposure light sources, a storing unit for storing a correlation, which is attained from a detection result by the sensor, between the first and second exposure light sources, and a controller for controlling the first and second exposure light sources based on the correlation.

Abstract: A detection device used in an image forming apparatus, comprises a light-emitting element which emits light towards a toner pattern formed on an image carrier, a first light-receiving element which detects the light reflected from the toner pattern and a second light-receiving element which detects the light reflected from the toner pattern in a fashion different from the first light-receiving element. The detection device calculates the amount of toner of the toner pattern based on the output values from the first and second light-receiving elements as well as the position of the toner pattern based on the output value from the first light-receiving element.

Abstract: A method and device for estimating toner concentration in a two-component developer consisting of toner and carrier for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and an image forming apparatus equipped with such device. The above method and device calculate an amount of toner charge from data detected by a transferred toner amount sensor, compensate the toner charge based on environmental humidity data and cumulative use period data of the image forming apparatus, and estimate toner concentration. The image forming apparatus equipped with the above device exerts control to predict toner consumption from the estimated toner concentration, supply toner to a developing unit according to the predicted toner consumption, and maintain the toner concentration in the developer at predetermined concentration.

Abstract: A method and device for estimating toner concentration in a two-component developer consisting of toner and carrier for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and an image forming apparatus equipped with such device. The above method and device calculate an amount of toner charge from data detected by a transferred toner amount sensor, compensate the toner charge based on environmental humidity data and cumulative use period data of the image forming apparatus, and estimate toner concentration. The image forming apparatus equipped with the above device exerts control to predict toner consumption from the estimated toner concentration, supply toner to a developing unit according to the predicted toner consumption, and maintain the toner concentration in the developer at predetermined concentration.

Abstract: A detection device used in an image forming apparatus, comprises a light-emitting element which emits light towards a toner pattern formed on an image carrier, a first light-receiving element which detects the light reflected from the toner pattern and a second light-receiving element which detects the light reflected from the toner pattern in a fashion different from the first light-receiving element. The detection device calculates the amount of toner of the toner pattern based on the output values from the first and second light-receiving elements as well as the position of the toner pattern based on the output value from the first light-receiving element.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a toner image, formed by developing an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor, is primarily transferred to an intermediate transfer member and is secondarily transferred to a recording sheet. The image forming apparatus is provided with a retractable transfer member, which secondarily transfers the toner image on the recording sheet, and a retractable cleaning member, which removes a residual toner on the intermediate transfer member after the secondary transfer. In the above apparatus, when the primary transfer and the secondary transfer are not being performed, the transfer member and the cleaning member are allowed to contact with or retract from the intermediate transfer member.