Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a first gear, a second gear, and a protrusion. The first gear is rotatable about a first axis extending in a predetermined direction. The second gear is configured to engage with the first gear and rotatable about a second axis extending in the predetermined direction. The protrusion extends in the predetermined direction and circularly movable together with rotation of the second gear. The first gear is movable in a direction away from the second gear from a first position to engage with the second gear to a second position to disengage from the second gear.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing unit that heats and presses a recording sheet having a toner image formed thereon, by means of a fixing nip portion to thereby fix the toner image to the recording sheet; a translation section that translates the fixing unit in a direction that is orthogonal to a conveying direction of the recording sheet; and a controlling section that controls the translation section so that the fixing unit is translated by a translation amount that is one-half of a value obtained by subtracting an image width of the toner image from a sheet width of the recording sheet.

Abstract: An endless member drive apparatus includes: an endless member that has plane surfaces and rotates by receiving a drive force; a drive support member that supports and drives the endless member; a rotatable support member that includes a rotation shaft, and that supports the endless member; a bearing member that includes: a bearing portion that supports the rotatable support member rotatably, and that supports the rotatable support member in such a manner that the rotatable support member can be moved in an intersecting direction to intersect a tensile direction where a tensile force is generated in the endless member; a positioning portion that positions the rotatable support member, wherein the rotatable support member is moved and positioned by using a force that, in a case where the endless member is rotated, is applied to the rotatable support member, and that goes in the intersecting direction.

Abstract: A developing device includes an image carrier, a developer carrier, a biasing unit disposed upstream of a developing area, and a controller configured to control the biasing unit, and a cleaning member disposed downstream of the developing area to remove the liquid developing agent remaining on the developer carrier. A latent image held on the image carrier may be developed with the liquid developing agent, including charged toner and a carrier liquid, at the developing area where the developer carrier faces the image carrier. The controller causes the biasing unit to apply a first bias voltage to the surface of the liquid developing agent held on the developer carrier during developing, or a second bias voltage thereto during cleaning.

Abstract: An image acquisition module in a transmission device for a scanner is installed in a base of the scanner, a rotating wheel and a first roller are pivotally connected onto two inner sides of the base, and a driving roller is installed below the first roller. A conveyor is respectively put around the rotating wheel, the first roller and the driving roller, and a second roller is pivotally connected onto a place between the rotating and the driving roller and used for withstanding the conveyor between the rotating wheel and the driving roller to allow the conveyor between the rotating wheel and the second roller to be parallel to the conveyor between the rotating wheel and the first roller, and the conveyor is driven by the driving roller to drive the image acquisition module to move.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of photosensitive members, an endless belt, and a separation mechanism. The photosensitive members are arranged in parallel with and spaced from one another and correspond to respective colors. The plurality of photosensitive members includes a first photosensitive member and at least one second photosensitive member. Each of the photosensitive members has a first end portion and second end portion that is opposite to the first end portion in a longitudinal direction of each of the photosensitive members. The endless belt contacts the photosensitive members. The separation mechanism is configured to swing the second photosensitive member around the first end portion of the second photosensitive member as a fulcrum between a contact position at which the second photosensitive member contacts the endless belt and a separated position at which the second photosensitive member is separated from the endless belt.

Abstract: A multi-function peripheral includes an image forming unit having an image forming device, and an image reading unit having an image reading device and located above the image forming unit. The image forming device forms an image on a recording sheet with moving a carriage reciprocally in a predetermined horizontal direction. The image reading device reads an image of an object by moving an image capturing element in the predetermined horizontal direction when the image forming unit operates. Spring elements are provided between the image forming unit and the image reading unit to apply an urging force therebetween in a direction parallel to the predetermined horizontal direction. The spring elements satisfy the following condition: f f n > 2 , where, f and fn are characteristic frequencies of the image forming unit and the image reading unit, respectively, in the predetermined horizontal direction.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes: a first substrate and a second substrate; a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a vertical alignment layer provided on at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate on a side which is closer to the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer includes a plurality of liquid crystal regions partitioned by at least one partition wall provided on the first substrate on a side which is closer to the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer has a liquid crystal material with a negative dielectric anisotropy. Liquid crystal molecules in the plurality of liquid crystal regions are oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first substrate and the second substrate in an absence of an applied voltage.

Abstract: A serial electrophotographic apparatus has a carriage which is translated in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which recording paper is transported, a processing part effects electrophotographic printing, and a fixing unit effects fixing, wherein a fixing roller is heated by an induction coil according to an induction heating process, and a current supplied to the induction coil is cut off by a temperature fuse being blown when the temperature of the induction coil rises above a predetermined level. The induction coil has a configuration including multiple flat winding layers serially connected together and wherein ends of the induction coil are led out from the center of the windings so that temperature rise is restrained.

Abstract: A power module including an RC circuit is uniquely associated with each of a plurality of electrodes of an electrostatic print head to individually control the rate of charge decay of a voltage disposed thereon. The resistor of the RC circuit is a potentiometer that may be manually adjusted to obtain an optimal decay rate. A paper supply roller and take-up roller accurately position dielectric material, such as a paper web, adjacent to the electrodes of the print head, which is located between the rollers. The electrodes are typically a plurality of wires. The print head moves across the width of paper web to dispose thereon a plurality of charge areas corresponding to a strip of a latent image. Control circuitry synchronizes the movement of the print head and the web to produce a plurality of abutting strips of charge areas, producing a complete latent image.

Abstract: A composite web comprising a flexible first web having a first major surface, a second major surface, a first end and a second end, and a flexible second web having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first web being joined to the first end of the second web, and the first major surface comprising a tacky contact cleaning surface. This composite web may used to clean devices that contact the web prior to, during and subsequent to application of a coating to the web.