Abstract: An image forming apparatus has: an image supporting member; a charger in proximity to the image supporting member; a power source unit configured to apply charging voltages to the charger sequentially, the charging voltages including alternating voltages having different peak-to-peak voltages, respectively; an amperometric detector configured to detect values of alternating currents flowing in the charger during application of the charging voltages; and a processor configured to carry out a first charging voltage determination process or a second charging voltage determination process requiring a shorter time than the first charging voltage determination process selectively based on a detection result of the amperometric detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has: an image supporting member, a charger, a power source unit, an amperometric detector, and a processor. The power source unit applies a plurality of charging voltages, which includes alternating voltages respectively, to the charger sequentially while no print medium is fed. The alternating voltages have different peak-to-peak voltages for a forward discharge range and different peak-to-peak voltages for a reverse discharge range, respectively. The amperometric detector detects values of alternating current flowing in the charger during application of the charging voltages. The processor derives characteristic lines of alternating current value with respect to alternating voltage for the forward discharge range and for the reverse discharge range, respectively, from the values detected by the amperometric detector. The processor derives a peak-to-peak voltage to be used in a process in a different way depending on a difference in slope between the characteristic lines.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a sheet conveying unit, a TOD (Top of Data) control module for instructing the image forming unit to start generation of a toner image, a timing roller driving module for instructing the sheet conveying unit to start driving of the timing roller, an image synchronization module designed depending on the sheet conveying unit and the image forming unit, and a sheet information module for generating an image synchronization identifier for designating a pattern of image synchronization control related to printing of the toner image on the sheet, depending on a type of the sheet designated. The image synchronization module is activated when the formation of the toner image on the sheet has become possible, and activate each of the TOD control module and the timing roller driving module, with a relative time lag based on the image synchronization identifier.

Abstract: A developing device having: a guide member creating a guide channel for guiding the developer being fed thereto while being supported on the developer support; and a regulating member regulating the amount of the developer that has passed through the guide channel, the guide member further creates a reflux channel in a gap from an inner surface of the housing, the reflux channel is connected to the guide channel via a communication channel such that the developer regulated by the regulating member returns toward an upstream end of the guide member, the upstream end of the guide member is disposed in a position opposed to the position where the magnetic flux density of the catch pole peaks, and the magnet assembly further includes a feeding pole that is disposed downstream of the catch pole and upstream of the developing pole, so as to be opposed to the guide channel.

Abstract: A development device having: a main unit having formed therein a first space and a second space extending in a first direction perpendicular to a vertical direction, a first communicating portion and a second communicating portion that allow the first space and the second space to communicate with each other at both ends in the first direction; a first stirring member that extends in the first direction within the first space; a second stirring member that is positioned within the first space between the first stirring member and the second space and extends in the first direction; a conveyance member that extends in the first direction within the second space; and a developer support member that extends in the first direction within the second space.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus selects a screen from a plurality of screens corresponding respectively to a plurality of gradation values and each including a pattern in which a first region to which toner is to adhere and a second region to which toner is not to adhere are defined, and forms a toner image on media. The apparatus includes a storage device for storing a minimum formable distance between first regions or second regions adjacent to each other, and a controller calculating a distance between the first regions or second regions adjacent to each other in the screen and, when the distance of the region of a screen that corresponds to a gradation value of an input image and has a first pattern is smaller than the minimum formable distance, selecting a screen corresponding to the gradation value of the input image and having a second pattern.

Abstract: A first screen group and a second screen group are stored in an image forming apparatus. In the first screen group, the first region expands with increasing gradation value based on a first rule. In the second screen group, the first region expands with increasing gradation value based on an independent second rule different from the first rule. A screen selector relocates a first portion and a second portion such that the first portion and the second portion are joined by a second region that is not a toner adhesion control target, when the first portion and the second portion are adjacent as a result of the selection of the screen in each unit region of the input image. The first portion includes the screen included in the first screen group, and the second portion includes the screen included in the second screen group.

Abstract: A developing device having: a guide member creating a guide channel for guiding the developer being fed thereto while being supported on the developer support; and a regulating member regulating the amount of the developer that has passed through the guide channel, the guide member further creates a reflux channel in a gap from an inner surface of the housing, the reflux channel is connected to the guide channel via a communication channel such that the developer regulated by the regulating member returns toward an upstream end of the guide member, the upstream end of the guide member is disposed in a position opposed to the position where the magnetic flux density of the catch pole peaks, and the magnet assembly further includes a feeding pole that is disposed downstream of the catch pole and upstream of the developing pole, so as to be opposed to the guide channel.

Abstract: A metallocene complex by which high uptake efficiency of ethylene and/or ?-olefin can be obtained compared with the conventional metallocene catalyst, and robber component having high molecular weight can be polymerized, and polymerization method of olefin. Metallocene complex (metallocene complex having furyl or thienyl group in which substituent exists at 5-position of indenyl ring, and substituent may exist at 2-position of indenyl ring, and the like) represented by the general formula [II], the catalyst for olefin polymerization characterized by comprising said metallocene complex, and polymerization method of olefin characterized that polymerization or copolymerization of olefin is carried out using said polymerization catalyst for olefin, and the like.

Abstract: A control device for a vehicle brake system includes first judgment value derivation and storage means for deriving and storing as first judgment value a boosting limit judgment pressure which, if predetermined conditions are satisfied during the driving of hydraulic pumps by boost control means, a boosting limit judgment pressure calculation means calculates at the time when the predetermined conditions are satisfied, and returning start judgment means for judging whether the returning of the brake manipulation member has been started or not. The boost control means executes the boost control using as the boosting limit judgment pressure the first judgment value stored in the first judgment value derivation and storage means when the returning start judgment means judges during the driving of the pumps that the returning of the brake manipulation member has been started.

Abstract: An assistance-limit recognizing device for recognizing a limit of assistance made by a vacuum booster that is configured to assist an operating force applied to a brake operating member. A communication between a variable pressure chamber and a negative pressure chamber of the vacuum booster is established, when the operating force is not applied to the brake operating member. A communication between the variable pressure chamber and the atmosphere is established while the communication between the variable pressure chamber and the negative pressure chamber is cut off, when the operating force is applied to the brake operating member, whereby the operating force applied to the brake operating member is assisted based on a pressure difference between a pressure in the negative pressure chamber and a pressure in the variable pressure chamber.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a sheet conveying unit, a TOD (Top of Data) control module for instructing the image forming unit to start generation of a toner image, a timing roller driving module for instructing the sheet conveying unit to start driving of the timing roller, an image synchronization module designed depending on the sheet conveying unit and the image forming unit, and a sheet information module for generating an image synchronization identifier for designating a pattern of image synchronization control related to printing of the toner image on the sheet, depending on a type of the sheet designated. The image synchronization module is activated when the formation of the toner image on the sheet has become possible, and activate each of the TOD control module and the timing roller driving module, with a relative time lag based on the image synchronization identifier.

Abstract: A development device having: a main unit having formed therein a first space and a second space extending in a first direction perpendicular to a vertical direction, a first communicating portion and a second communicating portion that allow the first space and the second space to communicate with each other at both ends in the first direction; a first stirring member that extends in the first direction within the first space; a second stirring member that is positioned within the first space between the first stirring member and the second space and extends in the first direction; a conveyance member that extends in the first direction within the second space; and a developer support member that extends in the first direction within the second space.

Abstract: The present invention provides a developing apparatus capable of predicting how much carrier is accumulated inside a developer tank beyond the discharge level of a trickle discharging mechanism in the case that images having high coverage ratios are printed out continuously in a trickle developing apparatus that uses a two-component developer.

Abstract: Provided is a laminated type energy device which can enhance the sealing ability and the adhesibility between the layered structure and the sealing body which houses the layered structure, and the degree of space-saving, and uses the sealing means with sufficient productivity and reliability. The laminated type energy device includes: at least two layers of layered structure 80 in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are alternately laminated so that positive and negative extraction electrodes 32a and 32b are exposed, inserting a separator 30 in which an electrolysis solution and ion pass therethrough between positive and negative active material electrodes 10 and 12; laminate sheets 40a and 40b overlaid from front and back surfaces of the layered structure 80 to compressively seal the layered structure 80; and contact holes 20a and 20b for use in spot bonding of the laminated type energy device to a module substrate 100.

Abstract: The present invention provides a developing device and an image forming apparatus capable of preventing a developer from being discharged excessively using simple configurations in the case that a trickle developing device that uses a two-component developer is in a tilted state.

Abstract: The control device adapted to a vehicle brake apparatus includes a vacuum obtaining portion, a master cylinder pressure obtaining portion and a boosting control portion for executing a boosting control which controls supplying of a boosting pressure established by driving the hydraulic pressure pump and controlling the pressure differential control valve so that the boosting pressure agrees to a target boosting pressure obtained with a target boosting gain smaller than a basic boosting gain which indicates a servo-ratio of the vacuum booster up to the time, when the master cylinder pressure becomes equal to or more than a boosting limit pressure which is a master cylinder pressure corresponding to a boosting limit of the vacuum booster at the vacuum obtained by the vacuum pressure obtaining portion, in addition to the master cylinder pressure established in response to the operation of the brake operation member.