Abstract: This disclosure relates to a laser communication system for transmitting intelligence by means of partially coherent optical energy. The system provides improved transmission of intelligence from a transmitter site through non-confined free space and receiving said intelligence at a receiver site remote from and physically separate from said transmitter by non-confined free space. The system has a optical source at the transmitter site for producing a beam of spatially-coherent monochromatic, aperture limited electromagnetic optical energy as well as a modulator for modulating said beam with intelligence-bearing information to develop wavefronts of mutually-aligned orientation which beam is thereafter modified to partial coherence and a receiver site for both detecting said information in said partially coherent beam and deriving said demodulated information. The partially coherent beam has an a of preferably from 0.05 to 0.

Abstract: The present invention realizes easy packaging of an optical module without using a molding machine and metal mold.

Abstract: The present invention realizes miniaturization, low cost and improvement of fabricating efficiency of an optical module.

Abstract: An optical transmission system has an optical transmission terminal with first and second optical interfaces. The first interface is configured to communicate in accordance with an industry-standard, network level protocol. The second interface is configured to communicate in accordance with a first optical layer transport protocol. The optical transmission span includes an optical interface device that has a third interface communicating with the second interface of the optical transmission terminal in accordance with the first optical layer transport protocol and a fourth interface configured to communicate in accordance with a second optical layer transport protocol. The optical interface device also has a signal processing unit for transforming optical signals between the first and second optical layer transport protocols.

Abstract: A gain equalizer in which a multichannel input light signal is split into its separate wavelength components by means of a dispersive element such as a grating, and the spatially separated wavelength components are passed through a linear array of variable optical attenuators based on liquid crystal phase elements which modulate the phase of part of the cross section of the light. The separate attenuated wavelength components are then recombined and output. The attenuation level of each variable optical attenuator is adjusted according to the output of the light as a function of its wavelength components, and in this way, the overall wavelength profile of the output light signal can be adjusted to any predefined form, whether a flattened spectral profile, as in gain equalization applications, or a spectral compensating profile.

Abstract: A branch portion 101 branches an inputted electrical signal into an in-phase signal and an opposite phase signal which have an opposite relation as to a phase. A first FM laser 104 converts the in-phase signal into an optical frequency-modulated signal (a first optical signal) having a center wavelength &Dgr;1 and then outputs the resultant signal. A second FM laser 105 converts the opposite phase signal into an optical frequency-modulated signal (a second signal) having a center wavelength &Dgr;2 and then outputs the resultant signal. The two optical signals are combined and then inputted into an optical-electrical converting portion 106.

Abstract: Page numbers on original document volumes that have been read are deleted from the read image information as a part of image processing, and page information sorted with the original document pages of multiple read original document volumes as a single document is superimposed onto the image information from which the page numbers have been deleted, following which the pages are printed out. The pages are thus provided with serial page numbers according to the sorting thereof, and situations wherein both original and new page numbers are present on the pages can be avoided.

Abstract: The technique of the present invention reads information, such as a use start date of a color laser printer, a cartridge detachment date, a total number of cartridges, used, a total consumption of toners, a total number of prints, and temperatures and humidities at an installation location, from a storage element of a toner cartridge, which has been attached to and detached from the color laser printer. When either the temperature or the humidity at the installation location is out of its normal service range, the technique modifies conditional values and determines whether immediate replacement of the main unit or each component of the color laser printer is required. When it is determined that immediate replacement is not required, the technique estimates a replacement timing of the main unit or the component, based on the above pieces of information.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus such as a printer has: an image forming unit which forms an electrostatic latent image onto a charged photosensitive drum, deposits toner onto the image, and forms a visible image; a belt arranged so as to run freely in contact with the image forming unit; a temperature sensor which detects a temperature of the belt; and a controller which controls an image forming process on the basis of the detected temperature. Since the belt temperature is detected and the printing process is controlled on the basis of the detected temperature, an increase in temperature of the drum and an increase in temperature in the printer can be suppressed. Thus, the flowability of the toner in each image forming unit does not deteriorates and image quality can be improved.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a movable image bearing member, a movable intermediary transfer member, wherein an image on the image bearing member is transferred onto the intermediary transfer member by primary transfer and the image transferred onto the intermediary transfer member is transferred onto a transfer material by secondary transfer, discrimination means for discriminating a kind of the transfer material, and control means for controlling a moving speed ratio between the image bearing member and the intermediary transfer member on the basis of an output of the discrimination means.

Abstract: In the present invention, in an image forming apparatus for laminating images by using an intermediate transferring body, it is sensed that all toner images corresponding to image data for the same sheet material are formed on the intermediate transferring body in an arbitrary order, and the toner images are transferred onto the sheet material, regardless of the colors of the toner images held by the toner image holding section. Therefore, number of sheets output per unit time can be increased.

Abstract: The present invention has as its object to prevent faulty fixing after rising, and in order to achieve this object, a fixing apparatus for fixing a toner image on a recording material by heat has a pair of rotary members having a heat generating member, and rotatable in contact with each other, electric power supply control means for controlling electric power supply to the heat generating member so that the temperature of at least one of the rotary members may become a set temperature, and rotation time setting means for setting a time for which the electric power supply control is effected after the shift from a warming-up operation to a fixing capable state and the pair of rotary members are rotated continuedly from rotation during the warming-up operation, on the basis of the time of the warming-up operation.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, the position of latent image forming on a photosensitive drum is changed to thereby dynamically change the position of image forming on an intermediate transfer medium in accordance with printing conditions, thereby enabling an image to be transferred onto each sheet of a printing medium while the intermediate transfer medium is being rotated at a predetermined speed even if the image forming position is changed. The printing conditions are determined by, for example, setting for at least one of double-sided printing, offset paper discharge using a finisher, a post process related to stapling, use/nonuse of an electronic sorter, and image processing.

Abstract: In a belt device passed over a plurality of rollers one of which is adjacent to a heat source, the temperature of part of a belt moving in the vicinity of the heat source varies little relative to the temperature of the other part of the belt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a developing apparatus comprising a container containing a developing agent and having an opening; a developer bearing member provided at the opening of said container; a magnetic sealing member magnetically restricting leakage of the developing agent out of an end of said developer bearing member in a longitudinal direction of said developer bearing member, said magnetic sealing member being formed at the end in the longitudinal direction of said developer bearing member as extending along a circumferential direction of said developer bearing member; a sheet member preventing the developing agent from leaking out of the opening of said container, said sheet member being attached along the longitudinal direction of the container forming the opening, the end in the longitudinal direction of a free end of said sheet member entering in a space between said developer bearing member and said magnetic sealing member; and an auxiliary member holding a free end side of said sheet memb

Abstract: A recycling method for a developer supply unit for supplying a developer to developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein the developer supply unit is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and includes a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer, a developer supply port for supplying the developer to the developing means and a feeding member for feeding the developer to the developer supply port from the developer accommodating portion, the method includes an injection step of injecting the developer through the developer supply port; and driving step of driving the feeding member in a direction for feeding the developer from the developer supply port to the developer accommodating portion, by which the developer is fed from the developer supply port to fill the developer accommodating portion with the developer.

Abstract: The invention provides a photosensitive member cartridge, that has, for example, a case including a bottom wall, an upper wall, and side walls. A photosensitive drum and a transfer roller are rotatably disposed in a space surrounded by the bottom wall, the upper wall, and the side walls. The bottom wall extends below the transfer roller. A developer cartridge, having a developing roller, is set on the extending portion of the bottom wall.

Abstract: A two part cartridge having a photoconductor part (1) and a toner part (5) having no force biasing element on either part. The two parts fit together so that a developer roller (7) in the toner part contacts a photoconductor drum (3) in the other part. When the two parts are installed in a printer the cover (50), when closed, brings a spring (62) into contact with one side of the toner part while the frame (F) of the printer blocks movement away from the cover. An advantage of the two part cartridge is that the toner part can be replaced without replacing the photoconductor part. Members on the cartridge for force biasing are avoided and the need for training or skill to latch the parts together is avoided.

Abstract: An image bearing member unit includes an image bearing member on which a toner image is formed, and a support member supporting the image bearing member such that the image bearing member protrudes through an opening formed in the support member. The image bearing member unit is drawn out of and put into a main body of an image forming apparatus. The image bearing member unit further includes a shutter for covering and uncovering the image bearing member protruding through the opening formed in the support member.

Abstract: The spacing member comprises: a spacing portion for spacing an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a charging roller when the spacing member is attached to the process cartridge; a stopper portion for preventing a shutter member from retracting from a protection position for covering an exposure portion, when the spacing member is attached to the process cartridge; and a protective portion for covering a positioning portion, which positions the process cartridge in an apparatus body when the process cartridge is mounted in the apparatus body, when the spacing member is attached to the process cartridge. Thus, it is possible to reliably keep the spaced state between the photosensitive drum and the charging roller.

Abstract: A process cartridge including a flexible member capable of taking a protection position in which the flexible member protects an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a retraction position in which the flexible member retracts from the protection position, a support member having a support portion on which the flexible member is supported, provided pivotably on a cartridge frame and adapted to move the flexible member from the protection position to the retraction position, and a regulating member provided on the flexible member so as to regulate the positions of creases which occur on the flexible member in accordance with a pivotal movement of the support member, and which extend in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the member of an electrophotographic photosensitive member, the flexible member being folded on the creases and moved to the retraction position.

Abstract: A transmission comprises a rotary shaft; a gear secured to the rotary shaft coaxially; and a regulative member secured to the rotary shaft. This regulative member press-contacts one end of the gear to maintain the gear exactly perpendicular to an axis of the rotary shaft. A photosensitive drum is fit to the gear. The regulative member is secured on the rotary shaft by press fitting.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus containing an image holding member, a contact-type charger for charging a surface of the image holding member, an exposure unit for forming an electrostatic latent image by exposing the charged surface of the image holding member, a developing unit for developing the electrostatic latent image with a spherical toner to obtain a toner image, and a transfer member for electrostatically transferring the toner image from the surface of the image holding member onto a transfer material. A number of toner particles remaining on the surface of the image holding member before passing through an abutting portion between the image holding member and the contact-type charger is in a range of 100 to 400 per unit area (mm2).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a Mylar sheet affixed at one edge portion and including a flat surface in the other edge portion. The flat surface is formed with a plurality of grooves each extending over the image forming range of a photoconductive drum perpendicularly to the direction in which the surface of the drum moves. The Mylar sheet is deformed such that the flat portion contacts the surface of the drum. In this condition, the downstream edges of the grooves in the above direction shave off the surface of the drum a plurality of times during one rotation of the drum, thereby obviating filming on the drum.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor is disclosed which includes a conductive resin substrate and a resin layer. The resin layer includes a binding resin and is formed on the conductive resin substrate. The difference between the solubility parameter of the conductive resin substrate and the solubility parameter of the resin layer of the photoreceptor is 2.5 (J/cm3)1/2 or less.

Abstract: A toner separation apparatus includes a target, an inlet through which toner laden carrier enters to strike the target, an exit for carrier particles below the target, and an exit for toner particles downstream of the target. A filter can be positioned between the target and the toner exit, and a mesh to which the target is attached can be located between the inlet and the filter. The toner-laden carrier can be entrained by air driven by one or more impellers, which can be located within or without the apparatus, upstream or downstream of the target.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to suppress uneven densities in an image, and therefore, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus including:

Abstract: A toner cartridge for use in a laser printer has a toner reservoir or hopper in which an agitator is pivoted by a rotating paddle away from its home position proximate an exit opening and then returned to its home position by a spring exerting a predetermined desired force on the agitator after the agitator ceases to be moved by the paddle. The spring may be a cantilever spring, a torsion spring, or a stamped and formed leaf spring.

Abstract: A fine particle storage container, including a first surface member on which plural grooves are carved in a radial pattern, and the plural grooves penetrate the first surface member from an interior side to a periphery, and a second surface member to be firmly fitted to the first surface member to seal the fine particle storage container, wherein gas in the fine particle storage container is ejected to the exterior of the fine particle storage container through the plural grooves, though the fine particles are not ejected through the plural grooves.

Abstract: In a magnet brush type developing method of the present invention, at least one position where brush chains formed by magnetic carrier grains rise exists in a portion where an electric field formed between a facing zone where an image carrier and a developer carrier face each other has a strength E (V/m) expressed as:

Abstract: In a development system including a developer transport adapted for depositing developer material on an imaging surface having an electrostatic latent image thereon, comprising: a housing defining a chamber storing a supply of developer material comprising carrier and toner; a donor member, mounted partially in the chamber and spaced from the imaging surface, for transporting developer on an outer surface thereof to a region opposed from the imaging surface, the donor member having a magnetic assembly having a plurality of poles, a sleeve, enclosing the magnetic assembly, rotating about the magnetic assembly; a developer bed height of the developer material produce by the rotation of the magnetic assembly on the donor member to a predefine developer bed height within a development nip; and a grid, spaced and interposed between the donor member and the charge retentive surface, the grid having being dispose longitudinal with respect to the charge retentive surface and the donor member, the grid being spaced su

Abstract: A method for developing an electrostatic latent image, including forming a magnet brush of a developer including a toner and a carrier on a developing sleeve including a main magnet and auxiliary magnets; and developing the electrostatic latent image with the magnet brush to form a toner image at a rubbing region, wherein the magnetic flux density in a normal line direction, half width, and attenuation ratio of the main magnet and the angle between the main magnet and auxiliary magnets are specified, and the magnetic sleeve has specific grooves thereon, and wherein the toner has a volume average particle diameter of from 4.0 to 7.0 &mgr;m, and includes fine particles having a circle equivalent diameter not greater than 2 &mgr;m in an amount not greater than 20% by number.

Abstract: A charge removing unit is provided in order to control the surface potential of an image bearing element by removing charge from a surface of the image bearing element before a toner image is transferred from the image bearing element to a transfer medium. Surface potential controlling units are provided upstream of a contact area between the image bearing element and the transfer medium in order to control the surface potential of the transfer medium so that a toner on the image bearing element does not shift to the transfer medium.

Abstract: The invention provides an image forming apparatus including an image bearing member, an intermediate transferring member for receiving a transfer of a toner image from the image bearing member, a cleaning unit which cleans the toner image on the intermediate transferring member, a first mode for transferring a toner image on the intermediate transferring member onto a transfer material, and a second mode for cleaning the toner image without transfer to the transfer material. It is thus possible to prevent image failures resulting when the intermediate transferring member is started to be used from a new state or when the image forming apparatus is started to be used after a prolonged pause.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus using a tandem-drum development, an indirect image-transfer method, and a vertical sheet supply path. An intermediate image-transfer member is angled relative to a horizontal line such that a rear side of the intermediate image-transfer member away from a recording sheet is lifted and a front side of the intermediate image-transfer member closer to the recording sheet is lowered. Further, image creating mechanisms of the tandem-drum development are aligned and arranged in parallel to a moving image transfer bed of the intermediate image-transfer member, such that one of the image creating mechanisms firstly forming an image faces the rear side of the moving image transfer bed and another one of the image creating mechanisms lastly forming an image faces the front side.

Abstract: The invention provides a belt driving apparatus which inhibits a belt meandering so as to improve a printing quality and rapidly starts a printing motion at a time of starting the apparatus such as a time of turning on power or the like, and an image forming apparatus using the same. The belt driving apparatus has an endless belt, a plurality of belt tension supporting means for supporting the belt in a tension manner, and a steering roller supported in a tiltable manner and compensating a meandering of the belt, and the belt driving apparatus is provided with a meandering compensation sensitivity adjusting means for adjusting a belt meandering compensation sensitivity of the steering roller per an angle of incline.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a movable first image bearing member on which a toner image is formed, and a movable second image bearing member which is brought into contact with the first image bearing member and to which the toner image on the first image bearing member is transferred, in which a dot-shaped dot image formed of a toner different from the toner image is formable on the first image bearing member, and in which a distance between dot centers of the dot images is equal to or smaller than a width of a contact part between the first image bearing member and the second image bearing member in a moving direction of the first image bearing member. Consequently, it is possible to steadily suppress an image streak occurrence and to obtain a final image having a high quality in a stable manner.

Abstract: As an urging member 50 urges a front surface side roller 48 against a back surface side roller 45, the front surface side roller 48 and the back surface side roller 45 bring an intermediate transfer belt 41 and a recording medium 4 into pressure contact with each other at a secondary transfer position 49. The thermal capacity per unit surface area of each one of the front surface side roller 48 and the back surface side roller 45 is larger than the thermal capacity per unit surface area of the intermediate transfer belt 41. Further, the thermal capacity per unit surface area of the back surface side roller 45 is larger than the thermal capacity per unit surface area of the front surface side roller 48.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention has an image carrier carrying an image formed with toner particles, a feeding mechanism feeding a recording medium, and an intermediate transfer medium having a first area to which the image on the surface of the image carrier is transferred and a second area having adhesion lower than that of the first area. The intermediate transfer medium transfers the image transferred to the first area to the recording medium fed by the feeding mechanism.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image bearing member for bearing a toner image; a second image bearing member for bearing the toner image; a transfer member opposed to said first image bearing member with said second image bearing member therebetween, wherein a voltage is applied to said transfer member to transfer the toner image from said first image bearing member on the second image bearing member, and wherein a resistance Rt of said transfer member and a resistance Rb of said second image bearing member satisfy Rt/Rb≧1.0.

Abstract: An electrographic machine 10 has a transfer station where a toner image is transferred to a receiver sheet 8. That sheet travels at a high speed of more than 15 inches per second and up to as high as 40 inches per second. A transfer roller has a metal core 212 and an elastomeric sleeve 214 with a resistivity selected to optimize transfer of toner at high speeds. The resistivity of the sleeve is selected to be high enough to support transfer of the toner but not so high as to cause the surface voltage to exceed the breakdown voltage of the dielectric material that includes the elastomeric sleeve, the receiver sheet, the toner and the photoreceptor.

Abstract: An improved fuser subassembly is provided for electrophotographic printers, in which the detack fingers that separate print media from the fuser hot roll do not make physical contact with that hot roll, and thus are “non-contact” detack fingers. A maximum clearance distance is observed as a relatively tight tolerance between the surface of the hot roll and the tip of the non-contact detack fingers. Both color and mono laser printer products can benefit from this design. Since the finger tips are spaced-apart from the fuser hot roll, the life of the hot roll is increased, and other potential problems are eliminated, such as contamination of the detack fingers, which sometimes cause accordion jams of prior art “contact” detack fingers.

Abstract: Provided is a cleaning sheet adapted to clean a surface of a heating roll in a fixing device, which causes a recording sheet bearing a toner image formed of a magnetic toner containing a magnetic material to pass through the fixing device under a state in which the recording sheet is in press contact with the surface of the heating roll having arranged thereon a contact component in contact with the surface of the heating roll and heated to a fixing temperature to rotate, to perform fixing of the toner image, including a synthetic resin sheet with a thickness of 100 &mgr;m or more, which is made of a thermoplastic resin with a melting point higher than the fixing temperature and Rockwell hardness of M60 or more or thermosetting resin with Rockwell hardness of M60 or more.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units for forming an image on a printing medium such as a sheet of paper. A plurality of color types of toner are arranged on a transport path of the printing medium. Toner images corresponding to the color types of toner are color-by-color transferred onto the printing medium. Light emitted from a flash lamp melts and fixes the toner images. The fixing order of the toner images corresponding to the color types of toner is decided so that the toner images are fixed in ascending order of toner's absorptivity of the light emitted from the flash lamp or in descending order of toner's reflectivity of the light.

Abstract: In a device and method for fixing toner images on a carrier web, rinsing chambers from which a mixture of solvent vapor and air is drawn off are located before and after a fixing chamber. The mixture is passed through a condenser, the discharge of which is re-supplied to the rinsing chambers.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image recording device and a recording material supply device, and an external recording material supply device is connected to the recording material supply device in parallel. In a main body of the recording material supply device, a space is formed between the inner wall on a peripheral equipment connecting side and a longitudinal transport path so as to allow the longitudinal transport path to open from a front side of the recording material supply device. The longitudinal transport path is provided for transporting the recording material from the recording material supply device to the image recording device.

Abstract: A print medium feed system comprises a pair of first print medium feed members for feeding a print medium to a print section, a print medium detection section for detecting the print medium, a second print medium feed member for feeding the print medium to the first print medium feed members, and a control section for controlling the first and second print medium feed members. According to the detection by the print medium detection section, the second print medium feed member transports the print medium by a first predetermined distance in the feed direction, then, the first print medium feed members transport the print medium in the feed direction by a second predetermined distance in the feed direction, and then transport the print medium by a third predetermined distance in a backward direction opposite to the feed direction.

Abstract: In a binding apparatus having a pair of guide shafts (200a, 200b) fixed respectively to a front side plate and a rear side plate by a corresponding screw and a pair of stays (204, 205) fixed between the front and rear side plates, a stitcher (5a) and a clincher (5b) are movably supported in the longitudinal direction on the guide shafts (200a, 200b), wherein a binding section (T) for binding a paper sheet bundle is interposed between the stitcher (5a) and clincher (5b). The stitcher (5a) and clincher (5b) are arranged in such a way that a staple needle in the stitcher (5a) is movable along the center line (M) connecting the centers of the guide shafts (200a, 200b) to each other.

Abstract: Ridges and grooves are alternately formed on a platen in the direction of transporting sheets. Wave holding spurs are rotatably supported by torsion springs downstream of a recording area, and pressed against the grooves. Sheet discharge roller pairs are disposed generally downstream from the grooves. Recording sheets exhibit cockling which rises up toward a recording head due to swelling from ink, but a substantial amount of the swelling is contained in the grooves, so the cockling does not come into contact with the recording head, and further, the peak-to-peak distance of the wave shapes of the recording sheets can be reduced. Following the leading edge of a recording sheet passing the sheet discharge roller pairs, the crests of the cockling are collapsed by transporting spurs and divided between wave holding spurs and the transporting spurs, and thus the peak-to-peak distance is further reduced, consequently preventing off-target landing of ink droplets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method that facilitates the assignment of a print job in a printing system that has one of more printers (10,11,12) connected to a computer-based printing system (1) so that the printers economically match the requirements of a print job generated by the printing system. Each printer (10,11,12) has a plurality of different printing configurations and each computer (2,3,4) is capable of generating at least one print job. Each print job has corresponding printing requirements and each printing configuration being capable of satisfying one or more printing requirements. A print job, once created, is notionally assigned across one or more of the printers (10,11,12) in such a way that the printers have printing configurations that are capable of satisfying the printing requirements. The cost for printing the print jobs is then calculated for that notional assignment.