Abstract: An ozone gas supply system includes a buffer tank for temporarily storing a high-concentration ozone gas supplied from an ozone vessel of an ozone gas supply unit, and for supplying the high-concentration ozone gas to an ozone gas utilization system. A control section detects a decrease in the ozone concentration in the buffer tank, based on a value of pressure of the ozone vessel at a predetermined temperature, with reference to a relationship between temperature and pressure of an ozone gas having an ozone concentration of 100% and a relationship between temperature and pressure of an ozone gas having an ozone concentration of less than 100%. In response to detection of a decrease in the ozone concentration in the buffer tank, gas within the buffer tank is exhausted out of the system, and the high-concentration ozone gas is thereafter supplied from the ozone vessel to the buffer tank.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus incudes a photosensitive member, a scanning optical unit and a control portion. The scanning optical unit is provided with a light source including a plurality of light emitting points and emitting laser lights form the plurality of light emitting points, respectively and a deflector deflecting each of the laser lights emitted from the plurality of light emitting points into a scanning direction. The scanning optical unit scans the photosensitive member with the plurality of laser lights deflected by the deflector and forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member. The control portion controls the scanning optical unit. Based on information regarding a light emitting point pitch as an interval between the plurality of light emitting points, the control portion identifies the light emitting point pitch.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a deflector, a lens, a casing including a bottom surface on which the deflector and the lens are mounted and a side wall on which a light source is mounted; and a fixing member to position the lens to the casing and to fix an end portion of the lens in a longitudinal direction. In a state in which the lens is fixed to the casing, the fixing member includes a first portion including an engaged portion engaged with a projection projecting from the side wall and extending toward the bottom surface, a second portion including a first surface contacting an inner contacting surface of the casing and a second surface contacting an emergent surface of the lens and extending toward the bottom surface, and a third portion including a third surface contacting an upper surface of the lens and extending toward the bottom surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, to which a cartridge including a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer is detachably mountable, includes an image bearing member, an exposure unit configured to expose the image bearing member to light to form an electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member, a light receiving sensor provided in the cartridge and configured to receive the light emitted from the exposure unit, and a controller configured to detect vibration of the cartridge from a light reception value of the light received by the light receiving sensor. In a case in which the cartridge is removed from the image forming apparatus, the light receiving sensor is removed from the image forming apparatus together with the cartridge.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus to which a cartridge including a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer is detachably mountable includes an image bearing member, an exposure unit for exposing the image bearing member to light to form an electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member, a light receiving portion provided in the cartridge and for receiving the light emitted from the exposure unit, and a detecting portion for detecting vibration of the cartridge from a light reception value of the light received by the light receiving portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a photosensitive member, a scanning optical unit configured to scan the photosensitive member by laser light according to image information, a detection unit arranged in a position facing the photosensitive member and configured to output positional information on the laser light. The detection unit includes a detection portion into which the laser light reflected by the photosensitive member is incident, and a control unit configured to calculate a positional deviation amount of an irradiation position on the photosensitive member which is irradiated by the laser light based on the positional information output by the detection unit, and control the scanning optical unit to correct the positional deviation of the irradiation position of the laser light.

Abstract: A method of forming a multilayer coating film with excellent flip-flop properties and smoothness and allowing formation of a high-design multilayer coating film. In a method of forming a multilayer coating film comprising: a low-brightness intercoating film; a first base coating film; a second base coating film formed on an object to be coated; and a clear coating film formed on the second base coating film; the first base coating film is obtained by applying a first aqueous base coating material, the second base coating film is obtained by applying a second aqueous base coating material containing a brightness pigment, the clear coating film, with specific compositions and properties, is formed on a low-brightness intercoating film by a wet-on-wet method and the multilayer coating film is heat cured to form a cured multilayer coating film.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a photosensitive member, a scanning optical unit configured to scan the photosensitive member by laser light according to image information, a detection unit arranged in a position facing the photosensitive member and configured to output positional information on the laser light. The detection unit includes a detection portion into which the laser light reflected by the photosensitive member is incident, and a control unit configured to calculate a positional deviation amount of an irradiation position on the photosensitive member which is irradiated by the laser light based on the positional information output by the detection unit, and control the scanning optical unit to correct the positional deviation of the irradiation position of the laser light.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus, including: a detector configured to detect a writing start position of a light beam emitted from a light source and reflected by a rotary polygon mirror; and a control circuit board electrically connected to the light source, wherein the detector is fixed to the control circuit board, the control circuit board includes a first connection portion at which the light source is connected to the control circuit board and a second connection portion through which the control circuit board and an exterior are electrically connected, the control circuit board is fixed to an optical box by a fixing unit, and the fixing unit is arranged, between the first connection portion and the second connection portion, on a second straight line orthogonal to a first straight line connecting the light source and the detector, so as to be closer to the detector than to the light source.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of forming a multilayer coating film with excellent flip-flop properties and smoothness, allowing formation of a high-design multilayer coating film. In a method of forming a multilayer coating film comprising a low-brightness intercoating film, a first base coating film and a second base coating film formed on an object to be coated, and a clear coating film formed on the second base coating film, a multilayer coating film that includes a first base coating film obtained by applying a first aqueous base coating material, a second base coating film obtained by applying a second aqueous base coating material containing a brightness pigment, and a clear coating film, with specific compositions and properties, is formed on a low-brightness intercoating film by a wet-on-wet method and is heat cured to form a cured multilayer coating film.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus, including: a detector configured to detect a writing start position of a light beam emitted from a light source and reflected by a rotary polygon mirror; and a control circuit board electrically connected to the light source, wherein the detector is fixed to the control circuit board, the control circuit board includes a first connection portion at which the light source is connected to the control circuit board and a second connection portion through which the control circuit board and an exterior are electrically connected, the control circuit board is fixed to an optical box by a fixing unit, and the fixing unit is arranged, between the first connection portion and the second connection portion, on a second straight line orthogonal to a first straight line connecting the light source and the detector, so as to be closer to the detector than to the light source.

Abstract: The optical scanning device includes a storage unit configured to store information on a scanning time of laser light and an emitted position of the laser light in a sub-scanning direction, the laser light measured on a plane. A scanning time for forming one scanning line is set based on the information on the measured scanning time and the measured emitted position, which is stored in the storage unit, and a radius of a photosensitive drum. This allows a magnification error in a main scanning direction to be reduced with an inexpensive configuration while realizing downsizing of an apparatus.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes a deflector for scanningly deflecting a beam; a scanning lens for imaging the beam deflected by the deflector on a surface; a casing for a light source, the deflector and the lens; and an elastic member urging the lens toward the casing along an optical axis. The lens is provided with an abutment at a beam emergent side of the lens, the abutment abutting to the casing, and is provided with a limiting portion at a side opposite from the emergent side, the limiting portion limiting movement in the opposite direction. The elastic member and the limiting portion limits the movement of the lens in the direction opposite to the direction of the lens. When the lens contacts a positioning portion of the casing, a gap is provided between the elastic member and the limiting portion with respect to the direction.

Abstract: The present invention roughens at least a partial region of an outer planar surface of at least one of an optical case and a lid of a laser scanner; thus, electrification of the optical case to be caused by friction with another member or a person is reduced, and damage to an electronic component is prevented.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes a deflector for scanningly deflecting a beam; a scanning lens for imaging the beam deflected by the deflector on a surface; a casing for a light source, the deflector and the lens; and an elastic member urging the lens toward the casing along an optical axis. The lens is provided with an abutment at a beam emergent side of the lens, the abutment abutting to the casing, and is provided with a limiting portion at a side opposite from the emergent side, the limiting portion limiting movement in the opposite direction. The elastic member and the limiting portion limits the movement of the lens in the direction opposite to the direction of the lens. When the lens contacts a positioning portion of the casing, a gap is provided between the elastic member and the limiting portion with respect to the direction.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes first and second light source units including respective light sources; a rotating polygon mirror that performs deflection scanning of laser beams emitted from the light sources included in the first and second light source units; and a positioning member including a first abutting portion on which the first light source unit abuts and a second abutting portion on which the second light source unit abuts, the positioning member positioning the first and second light source units. The first and second light source units are positioned by the positioning member and arranged next to each other in a rotation axis direction of the rotating polygon mirror. The positioning member is a single member disposed between the first and second light source units in the rotation axis direction.

Abstract: The present invention roughens at least a partial region of an outer planar surface of at least one of an optical case and a lid of a laser scanner; thus, electrification of the optical case to be caused by friction with another member or a person is reduced, and damage to an electronic component is prevented.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes first and second light source units including respective light sources; a rotating polygon mirror that performs deflection scanning of laser beams emitted from the light sources included in the first and second light source units; and a positioning member including a first abutting portion on which the first light source unit abuts and a second abutting portion on which the second light source unit abuts, the positioning member positioning the first and second light source units. The first and second light source units are positioned by the positioning member and arranged next to each other in a rotation axis direction of the rotating polygon mirror. The positioning member is a single member disposed between the first and second light source units in the rotation axis direction.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes first and second light source units including respective light sources; a rotating polygon mirror that performs deflection scanning of laser beams emitted from the light sources included in the first and second light source units; and a positioning member including a first abutting portion on which the first light source unit abuts and a second abutting portion on which the second light source unit abuts, the positioning member positioning the first and second light source units. The first and second light source units are positioned by the positioning member and arranged next to each other in a rotation axis direction of the rotating polygon mirror. The positioning member is a single member disposed between the first and second light source units in the rotation axis direction.

Abstract: The optical scanning device includes a storage unit configured to store information on a scanning time of laser light and an emitted position of the laser light in a sub-scanning direction, the laser light measured on a plane. A scanning time for forming one scanning line is set based on the information on the measured scanning time and the measured emitted position, which is stored in the storage unit, and a radius of a photosensitive drum. This allows a magnification error in a main scanning direction to be reduced with an inexpensive configuration while realizing downsizing of an apparatus.