Abstract: In an image recording apparatus, the surface of an image carrier is formed of a material having a high affinity to particulates the particle size of which is smaller than toner and the surfaces of which have been treated to be hydrophobic, so that a layer of the particulates treated to be hydrophobic is retained on the surface of the image carrier.

Abstract: The invention provides a developing unit, and an image forming apparatus using the same, which is capable of suppressing developer in the middle of a developing process in a developing area from remaining on the surface of an electrostatic latent image carrier when the application of oscillatory bias voltage applied to the developer carrier is stopped and of preventing the inside of the image forming apparatus and each member such as transfer member from being contaminated by the developer. The frequency of the oscillatory bias voltage is controlled so as to be higher than a normal frequency when stopping the application of the oscillating bias voltage.

Abstract: A developing device which can withstand resistance at a time a coagulated toner is scraped off is provided merely by providing a rotating shaft with a strength needed for agitating and conveying toner during normal operation. When the coagulated toner is scraped off, a large load is applied to the rotating shaft through an agitator. The rotating shaft bends, and a crank portion of the rotating shaft moves off of an axis. As a result, the crank portion is supported in a cut portion in a support plate. Therefore, strength of the rotating shaft becomes apparently greater. During normal operation, the crank portion of the rotating shaft moves out of the cut portion so as to be set in a state of non-contact with the cut portion. Therefore, no unnecessary load is applied to the rotating shaft, and the crank portion and the cut portion are not worn.

Abstract: An overglaze color for pottery. Pigment is added to a colorless frit which has the composition (wt %):(1) silicon dioxide 30 to 70(2) alumina 0.1 to 15(3) boron oxide 20 to 40(4) alkali metal oxide 2 to 17(5) one or more oxide selected from lanthanum oxide, niobium oxide, tantalum oxide, hafnium oxide, scandium oxide, samarium oxide, europium oxide, gadolinium oxide, thulium oxide, ytterbium oxide, lutetium oxide, terbium oxide, or dysprosium oxide 0.1 to 15and having a thermal expansion coefficient of 5.0.times.10.sup.-6 /.degree. C. to 7.0.times.10.sup.-6 /.degree. C. at 50.degree. to 350.degree. C. and a thermal softeningpVperature of 500.degree. to 640.degree. C. The overglaze color according to the invention causes no cracking, increases the color developing property of the pigment and has high chemical durability.

Abstract: An electrolyte-type fuel cell, i.e., a fuel cell using a liquid electrolyte, which comprises at least one unit cell comprising a matrix for retaining a liquid electrolyte and a pair of gas diffusible electrodes each having a gas flow passage and provided at both sides of the matrix and in direct contact with the matrix, and a pair of gas supply-discharge means for supplying and discharging a necessary gas to and from the gas passages of the corresponding gas-diffusible electrodes of the unit cell, at least one of the gas passages of the gas-diffusible electrodes being communicated with the matrix through at least one liquid electrolyte passage, at least one demister being provided in the gas flow passage and on the liquid electrolyte passage exposed in the gas flow passage, and a means for generating electrolyte mists being provided at the supplying side of at least one of the gas supply-discharge means can supply a liquid electrolyte to the matrix with a high trapping efficiency of liquid electrolyte mists.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell using as an electrolyte an organic, high-molecular weight electrolyte. The fuel cell of the present invention can prevent the leakage of an electrolyte from an electrolyte chamber so that an electrical short-circuit between an anode and a cathode can be avoided. Moreover, use of the disclosed electrolytes permits the fuel to be fed to the fuel chamber by itself or in admixture with water, but without being mixed with electrolyte.

Abstract: A differential-pressure control device for fuel cell comprises three liquid tubs allowed to communicate with each other at their respective bottom portions through a sealing liquid having free surfaces, gas pipe means which connect the liquid tubs to gas outlets of the fuel cell respectively to introduce the gas flows from an anode, a cathode and a cell container of the fuel cell into the sealing liquid of the liquid tubs, each of the gas pipe means being formed with gas blow out section opened in the sealing liquid at the end portion thereof, the gas blow out sections having relative heights set at the value corresponding to predetermined differential pressure among the electrodes and the cell container, and gas conduit means for guiding the gas to the outside of the device from the gas chambers defined by the liquid tubs and the free surfaces of the sealing liquid respectively and located at the tops of the liquid tubs respectively.

Abstract: A fuel cell comprises unit cells stacked through separators therebetween; each unit cell comprising a fuel electrode plate, an oxidizing agent electrode plate and a matrix between electrode plate and the oxidizing agent plate, U-shaped gas flow passages for the fuel electrode and for the oxidizing agent electrode are provided in a counter-current relation to each other with gas inlets and gas outlets for the fuel electrode and the gas inlets and the gas outlets for the oxidizing agent electrodes being provided at the opposite sides of the fuel cell, respectively, and communicated respectively with manifolds at the same opposite sides of the fuel cell. The fuel cell is simple in structure, highly reliable in fabrication, operation and maintenance, and high in gas utilization efficiency.