Canon Kabushiki Kaisha

Star Micronics Company Limited

Koji Miura

Kazuo Shishido

Shigeo Miyabe

Shinichi Sasaki

Hiroo Kobayashi

Atsushi Numagami

Minoru Sato

Akira Higeta

Hironobu Isobe

Jun Miyamoto

Kazuhiko Kanno

Toshiyuki Karakama

Isao Ikemoto

Takeshi Arimitsu

Yoshiya Nomura

Masahiko Yashiro

Tatsuya Suzuki

Kazushi Watanabe

Toru Oguma

Hideki Sato

Tachio Kawai

Kanji Yokomori

Tsutomu Nishiuwatoko

Atsushi Kubota

Kojiro Yasui

Ryuji Araki

Shota Oishi

Shinichiro Suzuki

Information on printer maintenance or an updating of software is notified without giving uncomfortable feeling to a user by an unintentional change of screen displays. The invention comprises an application activating unit which issues an application binding command in response to a print instruction of a data generated by an application executed by a mobile, an additional information acquiring unit which acquires an additional information according to a predetermined information acquiring command included in the application binding command when a print result information is acquired from the printer, and an information providing unit which provides the mobile with the additional information in addition to the print result information. A user is notified of necessary information on printer maintenance or an updating of software in addition to the print result information upon completion of printing intentionally instructed by the user.

Information providing system by data relaying application

The invention facilitates a setting state updating operation of the printer. An updating system of a setting state of a printer comprises an application activating unit which issues an application binding command upon detection of a predetermined operation when an application is executed by a mobile. The application binding command designates a printing application and a predetermined setting state updating command. The updating system further comprises a setting state updating unit which executes an updating of the setting state of the printer in the printing application activated by the application activating unit according to the predetermined setting state updating command included in the application binding command. A predetermined operation in the application triggers activation of the printing application for an automatic updating of the printer setting state.

Printer setting state updating system

The present invention enables successful printing whether printing data contains a character code of either code page or Unicode without an addition of an apparatus for code conversion and without expansion of printer memory for storing Unicode font set. Upon receipt of the input of printing data containing the character code of the code page, a first print control unit is selected to control printing of a string represented by the code page with a font available for the code page. Upon receipt of the input of printing data containing the character code of Unicode, a second print control unit is selected to convert the character code of Unicode to the character code of the code page and to control printing of a string represented by the Unicode with a font available for the code page on the basis of the code page after conversion.

Printer, printing system and print control method

A developer container for accommodating a developer used for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member by a developing member for developing the electrostatic latent image includes, a first light-transmitting window for guiding detection light emitted from a light emitting member provided in a main body of an image forming apparatus into the developer container, a second light-transmitting window for guiding the detection light entering from the first light-transmitting window and passing through the developer container to a photosensing member provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus, in order to detect the remaining amount of the developer accommodated within the developer container when the developer container is mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus, and a rotatable feeding member including a stirring blade for feeding the developer within the developer container toward the developing member when rotating, and for removing particles of the developer adhering to the first light-transmitting window and the second light-transmitting window by contacting the first light-transmitting window and second light-transmitting window. At least one of the respective inner surfaces of the light-transmitting window and the second light-transmitting window facing the inside of the developer container has an inner inclined portion having a circular convex portion, convex along a longitudinal direction of the rotating feeding member.

Image forming apparatus having developer container with light transmitting window used for remaining developer amount detection

A method of detecting a developer remaining amount for successively detecting the remaining amount of a developer used for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, the method including successively detecting the remaining amount of developer based on a period of time for which a light is blocked by a developer carried by a developer carrying member, wherein the developer is carried by the developer carrying member to a position in which the developer blocks the light that has entered a developer containing portion from a first light transmission opening of said a developer containing portion for containing the developer when the light transmitted from the first light transmission opening to an inside of the developer containing portion is transmitted from a second light transmission opening of the developer containing portion to an outside of the developer containing portion.

Developer remaining amount detecting method, developing device, process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus

A developing device which is capable of being detachably mounted to a rotary unit of an image forming apparatus and which includes a developer carrying member for forming a development region together with an image carrying member and rotating as carrying a developer, a developer containing section for containing the developer to be supplied to the developer carrying member, and a pressure relief portion provided in a surface substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the rotary unit, of the developer containing section.

Developing device

The present invention provides a process cartridge removably mounted to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. It comprises an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing sleeve for supplying magnetic toner to the electrophotographic photosensitive member to develop a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a magnet disposed within the developing sleeve, and an electrode member for supplying electricity from the image forming apparatus to the developing sleeve when the process cartridge is mounted to the image forming apparatus. The magnet is positioned in a thrust direction by the electrode member.

Electrode member, developing apparatus, process cartridge and image

A developing sleeve including a cylindrical portion having a circular cross-sectional shape, and a non-cylindrical portion having a non-circular cross-sectional shape integral with the cylindrical portion, is disclosed, for use in a developing device.

Developing sleeve having a cylindrical portion and a non-cylindrical

The present invention provides a process cartridge mountable to an image forming apparatus, comprising a frame, an image bearing member, process means acting on the image bearing member, and a gripper for gripping the process cartridge. The gripper portion is provided on said frame at a position offset from a longitudinal center of the process cartridge toward a position where the frame is subjected to a greater mounting resistance generated by engagement between the process cartridge and a member on the main body, when the process cartridge is mounted to the image forming apparatus.

Process cartridge, method for assembling process cartridge and image

A cylindrical member such as a developing roller or photosensitive drum has a sleeve, a flange at the end portion of the sleeve, and a space-controlling member provided at the end portion of the sleeve. The flange is press-fitted into the end portion of the sleeve to be bonded to the sleeve. A space-controlling portion of the space-controlling member is located further from the end of the sleeve than the press-fitted portion of the flange.

Electrophotographic apparatus employing cylindrical member having space

The present invention provides a process cartridge mountable to an image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes an image bearing member, a processor for acting on the image bearing member, a driving force receiver provided at one end of the image bearing member, a protection member shiftable between a protection position to protect the image bearing member and a retract position, a first projection provided on the side of a toner containing portion, a guide member protruded in the direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the image bearing member, a second projection protruded in the moving direction of the image bearing member, and a third projection protruded from the protection member.

Process cartridge and image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus is provided with a cylinder for carrying developing agent, and with a flange fitted into an end portion of the cylinder for supporting the cylinder. A fitting portion of the flange has a diameter larger than an inner diameter of the cylinder. The flange is mounted to the cylinder by press-fitting and has a guide smaller than the inner diameter of the cylinder at an end of the fitting portion for guiding the fitting. A spacer is located at a more central side of the cylinder than the fitting portion of the flange press-fitted into the cylinder.

Image forming apparatus and detachable process cartridge having

In order to prevent the eccentricity of a rotary shaft for rotatably supporting an image bearing member used with an image forming apparatus when the image bearing member is rotated, a projection is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft fitted into a fitting hole formed in a casing for securing the rotary shaft.

Growing community of inventors

Sagamihara, Japan

Koji Miura