Abstract: The present invention provides an electrophotographic developer comprising (i) a toner containing, as a fixing resin, a styrene-acrylic copolymer presenting a gel permeation chromatogram showing a molecular-weight distribution in which the detection-starting molecular weight and the detection-ending molecular weight are respectively located in specific ranges, and (ii) a carrier coated with a coating resin which is a styrene-acrylic copolymer containing at least 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate.Even though repeatedly agitated in the developing device, the electrophotographic developer of the present invention is not deteriorated and assures good durability and long life-time.

Abstract: A start developer is described which includes a toner and a carrier, present in a predetermined ratio. The carrier spent amount is adjusted so that it is not less than 0.010% in terms of the amount of carbon, as measured with a carbon analyzer. With this start developer, good quality images may be formed throughout the copying operation, from the initial image forming stage to the repeated image forming stage and through the stabilized image forming stage.

Abstract: The present invention provides a start developer wherein an output voltage of a sensor in the start developer having a particular toner density is not less than 0.9 times an output voltage of the sensor in a developer having the same toner density in a time period during which image characteristics are stabilized after repeating image formation by an image forming apparatus and is less than a threshold value at which the supply of toner is started and a method of controlling the toner density using the start developer. According to the present invention, good images can be always formed irrespective of the variation in characteristics between sensors in image forming apparatuses and from the early stage of image formation to the stable time period.

Abstract: Disclosed is a toner for developing a statically charged image, which comprises a fixing resin and, dispersed therein, a colorant and a charge-controlling dye. This toner is characterized in that the tangent (tan .delta.) of the loss angle is in the range of from 0.95 to 1.25 when the storage modulus of elasticity (G') is 10.sup.4 dyne/cm.sup.2. The toner having such rheological characteristics has an excellent fixing property, a high offset resistance, a capacity of forming an image having a high quality and a good durability.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device and method are described incorporating a liquid crystal container having an inlet, a liquid crystal, and an inlet sealant containing particles sized larger than the thickness of the inlet to the liquid crystal container. The invention overcomes the probelm of permeation of the inlet sealant into the liquid crystal container.

Abstract: Disclosed are a toner for developing a statically charged image and a process for the preparation thereof. If a toner for developing a statically charged image, comprising a binder resin and, dispersed therein, a colorant and a charge-controlling dye, is prepared so that it has a particle size distribution satisfying the requirement represented by the following formula:N<-172.7C+1.45 (1)wherein N represents the number (%) of particles having a particle size larger than 16 .mu.m, as measured by Coulter Counter, and C represents the surface dye concentration (g/g) of toner particles, a copy having a high image density with a drastically reduced visible fogging can be obtained.

Abstract: In forming an image by developing an electrostatic latent image with a grey toner, a mixture of a white toner and a black toner is used as the grey toner and the ratio (D) of the black toner to the entire toner, the developing voltage (DV) and the image density (ID) are set so that the requirement represented by the following formula is satisfied:ID=A.sub.2 .times.(1-e.sup.-K 2.sup.D).times.(1-e.sup.-K 3.sup.DV)wherein A.sub.2 is a number of from 0.5 to 2.5, K.sub.2 is a number of from 1 to 2, and K.sub.3 is a number of from 0.001 to 0.01.According to this process, a copy having a grey image area corresponding precisely to the image of an original is obtained.

Abstract: In a driving power transmission, an input shaft is coaxially rotatably carried in a closed cylinder housing, extending through an operating piston received therein. The operating piston is bodily rotatable with the housing and axially movable relative to the housing and the input shaft. The piston defines at opposite ends thereof a clutch chamber and an axially thin circular space. A multiple disc clutch operable by the piston is provided in the clutch chamber for selectively transmitting a torque from the input shaft to the housing acting as an output shaft. A rotor with diametrically opposite blades is received within the axially thin circular space and is rotatable bodily with the input shaft for compulsorily displacing silicon oil filled in the circular space, so as to generate a pressure therein when relative rotation occurs between the housing and input shaft.

Abstract: A torque transmission device is provided wherein a rotary housing is connected to one of front and rear drive shafts which respectively drive front and rear axles of a four-wheel drive vehicle, while a rotary shaft coaxially carried by the rotary housing is connected to the other of the front and rear drive shafts. The housing receives therein a multiple disc clutch device for transmitting rotational power between the housing and the shaft through friction engagement between alternately arranged outer and inner clutch discs which are respectively rotatable bodily with the housing and the shaft. The housing also receives an axially movable piston to press the clutch discs for friction engagement. An end wall of the housing or an end cap secured thereto and a facing end surface of the piston define an axially narrow circuit chamber, within which a rotary with several radially extending blade portions is received to be rotated by the shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of developing an electrostatic image by bringing an electrostatic image-carrying surface of a substrate into sliding contact with a magnetic brush of a developer formed on a developer-feeding sleeve having a magnet arranged in the interior thereof, wherein the magnetic brush is formed from an earing-promoting component comprising particles of a dispersion of a powder of a magnetic material in a resin, which have a relatively large diameter of 70 to 300 microns, and a developer component comprising particles of a dispersion of a powder of a magnetic material in a binder medium, which have a relatively small diameter of 5 to 50 microns.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dry developer for an electrostatic image, which comprises molded particles of a dispersion of a binder medium, a wax and a pigment, wherein a combination or partial reaction product of (A) a copolymer of an olefin with a polar group-containing, ethylenically unsaturated monomer and (B) a metal alkoxide of aluminum or titanium is incorporated as a crosslinking agent into said molded particles.In this dry developer, the mutual dispersibility of the respective developer components is highly improved, and the developer particles are uniform and homogeneous in the composition.