Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrying member for carrying a developer to develop an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member with a developer, wherein an oscillating electric field is formed between the developer carrying member and the image bearing member; a jumping developer blocking member, provided between the image bearing member and the developer carrying member, for blocking a part of a region in which the developer jumps from the developer carrying member to the image bearing member, the jumping developer blocking member including an insulative portion and an electrically floating electroconductive portion opposed to the developer carrying member.

Abstract: Compounds represented by the general formula (I): wherein Ar1 and Ar2 are each aryl or heteroaryl; R1 is lower cycloalkyl, —Ar3, or a group of the general formula (a), (b) or (c): and R2 and R3 are each hydrogen, lower cycloalkyl, lower alkenyl, or optionally substituted lower alkyl (with the proviso that when R2 and R3 are simultaneously hydrogen, Ar1, Ar2 and R1 do not simultaneously represent unsubstituted phenyl).

Abstract: A plurality of cleaning blades are provided for removing remaining developer on an electrophotographic photosensitive body used for an image forming apparatus. The cleaning blades include an abutment portion that abuts on the electrophotographic photosensitive body, and lubricant including insulating particles and conductive particles coating the abutment portion. The particle size of each of the insulating particles at D50 by a volume regarded as a reference lies in a range of 0.2 to 1.0 ?m and the particle size of each of the conductive particles at D50 by a volume regarded as a reference lies in a range of 0.4 to 4.0 ?m, D50 being defined by the integration of volumes of particles calculated from a smaller particle size side that reaches 50% relative to a total integration thereof.

Abstract: A method of detecting the end of the life of an image bearing member has: a contact time detecting step of detecting the contact time when a developer carrying member that can be in contact with or have a clearance with an image bearing member contacts the image bearing member, the developer carrying member developing an electrostatic image formed in the image bearing member by a developer; and a determining step of determining the end of the life of the image bearing member in accordance with a parameter calculated by using the contact time detected in the contact time detecting step.

Abstract: The invention provides a developer carrying member for carrying a developer for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member, including an elastic layer, and a surface layer provided on a surface of the developer carrying member and including a resin and particles, wherein the particles have a property of being frictionally charged in a polarity opposite to a normal charging polarity of the developer, and the particles are exposed from the surface in an area rate within a range from 15 to 60% with respect to a surface area of the developer carrying member. In this manner, an uneven heating of the toner image can be suppressed even if the recording material generates an undulation after passing a nip.

Abstract: A Compound represented by the general formula (I): wherein AR1 represents an aryl or heteroaryl which may be substituted, the substituent being selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, halogen, nitro, lower alkyl, halo(lower)alkyl, hydroxy(lower)alkyl, cyclo(lower)alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkoxy, halo(lower)alkoxy, lower alkylthio, carboxyl, lower alkanoyl, lower alkoxycarbonyl, lower alkylene optionally substituted with oxo, and a group represented by the formula —Q—Ar2; Ar2represents an aryl or heteroaryl which may be substituted, the substituent being selected from the group consisting of halogen, cyano, lower alkyl, halo(lower)alkyl, hydroxy(lower)alkyl, hydroxy, lower alkoxy, halo(lower)alkoxy, lower alkylamino, di-lower alkylamino, lower alkanoyl and aryl; n represents 0 or 1; Q represents a single bond or carbonyl; T, U, V and W each independently represent a nitrogen atom or a methine group which may have a substituent selected from the group consisting of halogen, lower alkyl, hydrox

Abstract: There are provided an image forming apparatus, process cartridge, and storage medium which, if an image forming stop factor occurs in a cartridge of a certain color, enable image forming using a cartridge of another color and can increase the utilization efficiency and operability of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus has a plurality of detachable process cartridges (8M, 8C, 8Y, 8K) including image carriers (photosensitive drums: 9M, 9C, 9Y, 9K) on which latent images are to be formed and developing units (12M, 12C, 12Y, 12K) which develop the latent images. When a replacement timing for at least one of the process cartridges has come, only the developing unit of the process cartridge (8K) whose replacement timing has not come is driven in accordance with the state of the cartridge whose replacement timing has come to perform image forming.

Abstract: A developer regulation member includes developer regulation means for regulating an amount of developer carried on a developer carrying member. The developer regulation means includes a first regulation portion formed of a first material which has a Shore D hardness of not less than 70 degrees or is metal, and a second regulation portion which is disposed opposite to the developer carrying member and is formed of a material different from the first material for the first regulation portion. The second regulation portion has an edge which is in contact with the developer carrying member.

Abstract: The invention provides a developer carrying member for carrying a developer for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member, including an elastic layer, and a surface layer provided on a surface of the developer carrying member and including a resin and particles, wherein the particles have a property of being frictionally charged in a polarity opposite to a normal charging polarity of the developer, and the particles are exposed from the surface in an area rate within a range from 15 to 60% with respect to a surface area of the developer carrying member. In this manner, an uneven heating of the toner image can be suppressed even if the recording material generates an undulation after passing a nip.

Abstract: In the present invention, a cleaning blade is provided, for removing remaining developer on an electrophotographic photosensitive body used for an image, forming apparatus comprises an abutment portion that abuts on the electrophotographic photosensitive body, lubricant including insulating particles and conductive particles being coated on the abutment portion, wherein a particle size of each of the insulating particles at D50 by a volume regarded as a reference lies in a range of 0.2 to 1.0 &mgr;m and a particle size of each of the conductive particles at D50 by a volume regarded as a reference lies in a range of 0.4 to 4.0 &mgr;m, the D50 being defined by that integration of volumes of particles calculated from a smaller particles size side arrives at 50% with relative to a total integration thereof, and so on.

Abstract: Compounds of the general formula (I): wherein Ar1 represents optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl; n represents 0 or 1; T, U, V, and W each independently represent nitrogen atom or optionally substituted methine group, where at least two of them represent the said methine group; X represents methine or hydroxy substituted methine; Y represents an optionally substituted imino or oxygen atom are described and claimed. These novel spiro compounds are useful as neuropeptide Y receptor antagonists and as agents for the treatment of various kinds of cardiovascular disorders, central nervous system disorders, metabolic diseases and the like.

Abstract: A method of detecting life of an image bearing member has: a contact time detecting step of detecting contact time when a developer carrying member that can be in contact with or have a clearance with an image bearing member contacts the image bearing member, the developer carrying member developing an electrostatic image formed in the image bearing member by a developer; and a determining step of determining life of the image bearing member in accordance with a parameter calculated by using the contact time detected in the contact time detecting step.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel spiro compounds useful as neuropeptide Y receptor antagonists.

Abstract: Compounds of general structural formula I such as that shown in structural formula II 1

Abstract: A method of detecting the end of the life of an image bearing member has: a contact time detecting step of detecting the contact time when a developer carrying member that can be in contact with or have a clearance with an image bearing member contacts the image bearing member, the developer carrying member developing an electrostatic image formed in the image bearing member by a developer; and a determining step of determining the end of the life of the image bearing member in accordance with a parameter calculated by using the contact time detected in the contact time detecting step.

Abstract: Compounds of the general formula (I): 1

Abstract: A method for treating a central nervous system disorder, which involves administering to a patient in need a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula (I): wherein Ar1 represents an aryl or heteroaryl which may be substituted, the substituent being selected from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, lower alkyl, halo(lower) alkyl, hydroxy(lower) alkyl, cyclo(lower) alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkoxy, halo(lower) alkoxy, lower alkylthio, carboxyl, lower alkanoyl, lower alkoxycarbonyl, lower alkylene optionally substituted with oxo, and a group represented by the formula —Q—Ar2; Ar2 represents an aryl or heteroaryl which may be substituted, the substituent being selected from the group consisting of halogen, cyano, lower alkyl, halo(lower) alkyl, hydroxy(lower) alkyl, hydroxy, lower alkoxy, halo(lower) alkoxy, lower alkylamino, di-lower alkylamino, lower alkanoyl and aryl: n represents 0 or 1; Q represents a single bond or carbonyl; T, U, V and W each independ

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes an image-bearing member for holding thereon an electrostatic latent image; a charging device for electrostatically charging a surface of the image-bearing member; an exposure unit for forming the electrostatic latent image on the image-bearing member by exposing to light the image-bearing member having been charged by the charging device; and a developing unit which has at least a toner-carrying member for carrying and transporting a negatively-chargeable toner thereon and developing the electrostatic latent image by a contact developing system to form a toner image. In the triboelectric series relationship between the toner and a surface layer of the image-bearing member, the surface layer of the image-bearing member has a charge polarity which is a different polarity with respect to the charge polarity of the toner in the developing unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member and a developer carrying member, which carries a developer to develop an electrostatic image formed on the image bearing member with the developer. In a non-developmental time period, a peripheral velocity of the developer carrying member is slower than the peripheral velocity of the developer carrying member during a developmental time period. In addition, a peripheral velocity of the image bearing member during the non-developmental time period is slower than the peripheral velocity of the image bearing member during the development time period.

Abstract: Compounds of general structural formula I are selective NPY Y5 receptor antagonists, useful in the treatment of obesity and the complications associated therewith.