Abstract: In a developing apparatus, the interior of a case is divided into a first space positioned on a developer supply side for the supply of a developer to an image bearing member and a second space which is supplied with a replenishing toner, first and second agitating members are included and are adapted to be rotated to agitate and convey the developer are disposed within the first and second spaces, respectively, and a screw member is provided having n threads (n≧2) is used as the first agitating member disposed in the first space, and a screw member having (n−x) threads (x≧0) is used as the second agitating member disposed in the second space.

Abstract: A toner replenishing device includes a toner conveyance path for connecting a toner storing device with a developing device, a toner conveying device for conveying the toner from the toner storing device to the developing device along the toner conveyance path, and an air supplying device connected to the toner conveyance path vie an air supply path for supplying the toner storing device with air from a bottom of the toner storing device so as to agitate the toner pooling in the toner storing device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of image carriers sequentially arranged in a direction of paper conveyance. Developing devices each form a toner image of particular color on one image carrier associated therewith. Cleaning devices each remove residual toner left on the surface of the associated image carriers after the transfer of the toner image to the recording medium. A toner recycling device is provided between the cleaning device located at the most upstream position in the direction of paper conveyance and the developing device associated therewith, but not provided between the cleaning device located at the most downstream position the developing device assigned therewith. With this configuration, the apparatus obviates troubles ascribable to the mixture of toner of different colors occurring in the most downstream developing device.

Abstract: A developing apparatus is disclosed wherein the occurrence of a defective development caused by screw pitch traces or deficient supply of a developer is minimized. In the developing apparatus, the interior of a case 53 is divided into a first space 65 positioned on a developer supply side for the supply of a developer to an image bearing member and a second space 64 which is supplied with a replenishing toner, first and second agitating members 56, 55 adapted to be rotated to agitate and convey the developer are disposed within the first and second spaces, respectively, a screw member having n threads (n≧2) is used as the first agitating member disposed in the first space, and a screw member having (n−x) threads (x≧0) is used as the second agitating member disposed in the second space.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming sections independent of each other. The image forming sections store respective toner of different colors that are chargeable to the same polarity. All the toner are implemented by the same binder resin and provided with the same particle size distribution. Further, developing units each storing toner of particular color are identical in specification. When two-ingredient type developers are used, the developers contain an identical carrier. The apparatus recycles the toner of different colors to the respective developing units. The alien color toner collected in each developing unit is prevented from remaining by being chargeable to the same polarity.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a belt member to convey a sheet-formed medium, a belt supporting device to support the belt member, and a plurality of recording units including rotating image bearing members arranged in a conveying direction of the sheet-formed medium by the belt. The image forming apparatus performs processes of (1) forming a latent image on a surface of each image bearing member, (2) developing each latent image into a toner image with toner, and (3) then transferring each toner image onto the sheet-formed medium carried on the belt. A detection device detects arbitrary toner image patterns formed at the plurality of recording units and then directly transferred onto the belt, for obtaining information about density and placements of images without the toner patterns being deteriorated by contacting following downstream recording units.

Abstract: Disclosed in this invention are a novel enzyme producing tartaric acid ether compound which catalyzes a reaction of producing a tartaric acid ether compound in which the phenolic hydroxyl group(s) of a flavonoid or its analogous compound having at least one phenolic hydroxyl group is (are) acted to the epoxy ring of an epoxysuccinic acid to form ether linkage of one or more tartaric acid residues, a process for producing a tartaric acid ether compound by acting the enzyme in the presence of an epoxy-succinic acid and a flavonoid or its analogous compound having at least one phenolic hydroxyl group, and novel tartaric acid ether compounds in which the epoxy ring of an epoxysuccinic acid is bound to the phenolic hydroxyl group(s) of a flavonoid or its analogous compound to form ether linkage of one or more tartaric acid residues. These compounds are useful as a component material of pharmaceuticals and functional foods.

Abstract: A toner replenishing device includes a toner conveyance path for connecting a toner storing device with a developing device, a toner conveying device for conveying the toner from the toner storing device to the developing device along the toner conveyance path, and an air supplying device connected to the toner conveyance path vie an air supply path for supplying the toner storing device with air from a bottom of the toner storing device so as to agitate the toner pooling in the toner storing device.