Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; an ionically conductive intermediate transferring belt; a primary transfer member; an opposing member that opposes the current supply member through the intermediate transferring belt, and a control unit configured to execute a recovery operation in a state where a primary transfer in which a toner image is primarily transferred to the image intermediate transferring belt from the image bearing member is not performed, wherein the recovery operation includes to supply a current flowing in a flow direction opposite to a flow direction of a current in the primary transfer through the opposing member from the current supply member to remove an uneven distribution of the conductive agent in the intermediate transferring belt caused by primary transfer.

Abstract: A voltage applying portion applies voltage to a current supply member, the current supply member being provided with primary transfer voltage to pass current through a contact portion contacting with a belt, thereby bringing the potential of the belt a primary transfer potential, and being provided with secondary transfer voltage so that a potential difference for secondary transfer is formed between the current supplying member and a support member while a recording material is nipped by the contact portion. The voltage applying portion changes the second transfer voltage so that the potential difference for the secondary transfer between the current supply member and the support member becomes smaller as a potential adjusting portion that maintains the potential of the support member at a prescribed sustaining potential in a variable manner in order to change a primary transfer potential reduces gradually the sustaining potential.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a voltage adjustment portion having a voltage adjustment member connected to a contact member contacting an endless belt, the voltage adjustment portion changing a current flowing from a current supply member contacting the belt at a position different from a position, at which an image bearing member contacts the belt in a rotating direction of the belt, to the voltage adjustment member via the belt according to a control signal input from a control portion outputting a control signal, thereby changing a size of a transfer potential—a surface potential—to transfer a toner image borne by the image bearing member onto the belt at a part at which the belt contacts the image bearing member.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to suppressing image defects due to variations in the values of currents flowing through respective photosensitive drums during image formation, and reducing the absolute value of a voltage applied when a primary transfer power supply unit applies a voltage of polarity opposite to that during image formation, to primary transfer members. There is provided an image forming apparatus including a transfer member configured to make contact with an inner peripheral surface of a transfer belt, a first power supply unit configured to apply a voltage to the transfer member, a resistance element connected between the first power supply unit and the transfer member, and a diode connected in parallel with the resistance element in a direction in which a current flowing in a first direction is blocked and a current flowing in a second direction is passed.

Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes an outdoor unit, an indoor unit having an indoor heat exchanger, and a controller for executing a pump down operation. The outdoor unit has an accumulator of a capacity (Va), a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve, a large-diameter tube, which are joined by refrigerant pipes. The capacity (Vhi) of the indoor heat exchanger is greater than the capacity (Vho) of the outdoor heat exchanger. The large-diameter tube, which is larger in diameter than the refrigerant pipes, is provided so that the capacity (Vt) of the large-diameter tube satisfies the formula: capacity (Vt)>capacity (Vhi)?capacity (Vho)?capacity (Va).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes image bearing members, cleaning blades for removing toner from corresponding image bearing members, and developing devices for developing an electrostatic latent image on corresponding image bearing members with toner. The image forming apparatus is operable in a monochromatic mode in which the toner image is formed only on a predetermined one of the image bearing members, and no image is formed on the other image bearing member. In a monochromatic mode operation, a controller starts to drive the plurality of image bearing members in synchronism with each other in a state that the other image bearing member is spaced from a belt and the predetermined image bearing member is in contact with the belt. The controller is capable of executing a supplying operation for supplying the toner from the developing devices to the cleaning blades by way of the image bearing members, respectively.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a signal generating unit that stores information on a plurality of dither matrices preset in correspondence with the density level of toner to be attached to the photosensitive member and converts input image data based on the dither matrices to generate a driving signal. The signal generating unit stores information on a first dither matrix corresponding to a first density level and a second dither matrix corresponding to a second density level higher than the first density level. The first dither matrix includes a minute exposure area in which the exposure device is caused to emit light to attain a potential at which no toner adheres to the photosensitive member, and the second dither matrix includes a normal exposure area in which the exposure device is caused to emit light to attain a potential at which toner adheres to the photosensitive member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a signal generating unit that stores information on a plurality of dither matrices preset in correspondence with the density level of toner to be attached to the photosensitive member and converts input image data based on the dither matrices to generate a driving signal. The signal generating unit stores information on a first dither matrix corresponding to a first density level and a second dither matrix corresponding to a second density level higher than the first density level. The first dither matrix includes a minute exposure area in which the exposure device is caused to emit light to attain a potential at which no toner adheres to the photosensitive member, and the second dither matrix includes a normal exposure area in which the exposure device is caused to emit light to attain a potential at which toner adheres to the photosensitive member.

Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes an outdoor unit, an indoor unit having an indoor heat exchanger, and a controller for executing a pump down operation. The outdoor unit has an accumulator of a capacity (Va), a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve, a large-diameter tube, which are joined by refrigerant pipes. The capacity (Vhi) of the indoor heat exchanger is greater than the capacity (Vho) of the outdoor heat exchanger. The large-diameter tube, which is larger in diameter than the refrigerant pipes, is provided so that the capacity (Vt) of the large-diameter tube satisfies the formula: capacity (Vt)>capacity (Vhi)?capacity (Vho)?capacity (Va).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image bearing members; a belt for receiving toner images from the image bearing members and for transferring the toner image onto a transfer material; a controller for driving the image bearing members; and wherein the image forming apparatus is operable in a monochromatic mode in which the toner image is formed only on a predetermined one of the image bearing members, and no image is formed on the other image bearing member, wherein in a operation in the monochromatic mode, the controller starts to drive the plurality of image bearing members in synchronism with each other in a state that the other image bearing member is spaced from the belt, and the predetermined image bearing member is in contact with the belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, which is configured to form an image on a sheet, includes an image forming unit configured to form an unfixed toner image on the sheet, and a fixing unit configured to fix the unfixed toner image to the sheet by heating the sheet bearing the unfixed toner image while conveying the sheet by a fixing nip portion. The image forming apparatus can perform a cleaning mode for cleaning the fixing unit by conveying a sheet with an unfixed toner image for cleaning formed thereon by the fixing nip portion. At a time of the cleaning mode, the image forming unit forms the unfixed toner image for cleaning on a sheet surface opposite from a sheet surface where the unfixed toner image is formed at a time of image formation.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus sets a polarity of a voltage applied to the brush to an opposite polarity to the polarity of the voltage applied to the brush when the residual toner of the secondary transfer on an intermediate transferring belt passes through the position opposed to the brush, and on the other hand, the polarity of the voltage applied to a primary transfer roller is set to the opposite polarity to the polarity of the voltage applied to the primary transfer roller when a toner image is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transferring belt in the primary transfer portion (N1), for allowing an image forming operation to be suspended less frequently in a case of executing a cleaning mode for eliminating the residual toner of the secondary transfer from the brush member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, which is configured to form an image on a sheet, includes an image forming unit configured to form an unfixed toner image on the sheet, and a fixing unit configured to fix the unfixed toner image to the sheet by heating the sheet bearing the unfixed toner image while conveying the sheet by a fixing nip portion. The image forming apparatus can perform a cleaning mode for cleaning the fixing unit by conveying a sheet with an unfixed toner image for cleaning formed thereon by the fixing nip portion. At a time of the cleaning mode, the image forming unit forms the unfixed toner image for cleaning on a sheet surface opposite from a sheet surface where the unfixed toner image is formed at a time of image formation.

Abstract: A locking device for a tent comprises a pole 2, a lock base 3 installed to allow hoisting/lowering of the pole, a lock hole 4 provided the pole, and a lock pin 5, provided movably within the lock base in the longitudinal direction, thus enabling the lock pin to be in a locking position to allow it enter the lock hole, or to be retracted to an unlocking position, to allow the lock pin to disengage from the lock hole. An elastic body 6 pushes the lock pin towards the locking position all the time. An operating lever 7 provided on the lock base can move the lock pin to an unlocking position; a coming-off prevention and holding means 8 allows the lock pin to be placed in a safety position for preventing accidental unlocking.

Abstract: A locking device for a tent comprises a pole 2, a lock base 3 installed to allow hoisting/lowering of the pole, a lock hole 4 provided the pole, and a lock pin 5, provided movably within the lock base in the longitudinal direction, thus enabling the lock pin to be in a locking position to allow it enter the lock hole, to be retracted to an unlocking position, to allow the lock pin to disengage from the lock hole. An elastic body 6 pushes the lock pin towards the locking position all the time. An operating lever 7 provided on the lock base can move the lock pin to an unlocking position; a coming-off prevention and holding means 8 allows the lock pin to be placed in a safety position for preventing accidental unlocking.

Abstract: A fan guard 18 of an outdoor unit comprises an outer frame, a plurality of radiating ribs 27, and a plurality of annular ribs 28. The outer frame is disposed around the outer circumference of a lid member that is an air conditioner discharge port. The plurality of radiating ribs 27 are formed such that they radiate in the outer radial direction from the vicinity of the center of the outer frame 26 to the outer frame 26, and are curved in the rotational direction of a ventilation fan. The plurality of annular ribs 28 are integral with the radiating ribs 27, are concentrically disposed at a predetermined spacing in the radial direction around the center of the rotational axis of the ventilation fan, and are formed such that at least those in an outer circumference are slanted toward the outer radial direction to follow the flow of the air blown from the ventilation fan.

Abstract: A fan guard 18 of an outdoor unit comprises an outer frame, a plurality of radiating ribs 27, and a plurality of annular ribs 28. The outer frame is disposed around the outer circumference of a lid member that is an air conditioner discharge port. The plurality of radiating ribs 27 are formed such that they radiate in the outer radial direction from the vicinity of the center of the outer frame 26 to the outer frame 26, and are curved in the rotational direction of a ventilation fan. The plurality of annular ribs 28 are integral with the radiating ribs 27, are concentrically disposed at a predetermined spacing in the radial direction around the center of the rotational axis of the ventilation fan, and are formed such that at least those in an outer circumference are slanted toward the outer radial direction to follow the flow of the air blown from the ventilation fan.

Abstract: A folding tent frame for collapsible tents includes upright pole sets, fixed couplers, stoppers, movable couplers and traverse frame members. Specifically, each stopper is provided on the uppermost pole of the upright pole set at a position lower than the fixed coupler so as to prevent the lower pole of the upright pole set from moving up beyond the stopper and so that the movable coupler is slidable over the stopper and the lowest pole of the upright pole set, and is kept from moving up beyond the stopper. The lower pole is larger than the upper pole in cross section. The structure of this folding tent frame provides improved strength and stability.