Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Hitachi, Ltd.

Masami Hiramatsu

Hitoshi Ishibashi

Masumi Sato

Yukiko Iwasaki

Takatsugu Fujishiro

Hiroshi Yoshinaga

Hiroko Hirano

Makoto Obu

Satoshi Oshima

Takeo Tsukamoto

Katsuaki Miyawaki

Yusuke Takeda

Shinji Kimura

Seiichi Miyakawa

Mie Yoshino

Yuichi Aoyama

Nobuhiko Umezawa

Yutaka Enko

Masaki Hiroi

Masayoshi Takasugi

Hiroshi Yosinaga

A computer system is structured, including a plurality of computers sharing a storage apparatus. The computers each include a control section for determining an access priority based on an attribute of a client computer forwarding an access request. In the control section, the result derived by adding up the priorities is compared with the total value of the priorities calculated by other computers for assignment of an input/output bandwidth. In accordance with the priority assignment, access execution is performed in order of priority. With such a structure, access congestions can be favorably avoided through efficient bandwidth control, and bandwidth assignment can be performed on a server basis in accordance with processes executed by the client computers.

Computer system and bandwidth control method for the same

A charge roller that includes a metal core, an elastic member configured wrapped around the metal core, and film members is disclosed. Each of the film members is wrapped around each end of the elastic member in a circumferential direction of the metal core such that at least a part of each of the film members exists at every position around the ends of the elastic member in an axial direction of the metal core. Portions of the film members do not overlap each other in an radial direction of the metal core.

Method and apparatus for performing a charging process on an image carrying device

A service AP conducting ordinary business processing is executed on a first OS. The first OS includes an operation recording controller for recording operation conducted by the first OS as operation recording information together with time when the operation is conducted, and an auxiliary driver for accepting and executing external processing. A multi-OS controller interface included in a second OS, which is higher in reliability than the first OS, operates a multi-OS controller from an AP operating on the second OS. An analysis and prediction AP operating on the second OS analyzes states of the first OS and the service AP, and detects a failure sign. Upon detecting a failure sign, degrade operation of the OS or service AP to be analyzed, preparations for switching from an active system to a stand-by system, and actual switching are conducted before the failure occurs.

Computer system and detecting method for detecting a sign of failure of the computer system

A charging device, an image forming apparatus including the charging device, an image carrier unit including the charging device and a charging roller, which faces a body to be charged and is applied with a voltage, are disclosed. The charging roller includes a metallic core and an elastic member covering the core. Films are respectively wrapped around and adhered to the opposite end portions of the elastic member. Springs press the charging roller toward a body to be charged, causing the elastic member to deform due to compression. The maximum deformation of the films, which deform along the outer periphery of the elastic member, is selected to be smaller than the thickness of each film in the radial direction of the charge roller. A gap is therefore formed between the elastic member and the body to be charged. This prevents the portion of the elastic member, which corresponds to an image forming region, other than opposite end portions from contacting the surface of the body to be charged.

Charging roller having elastic member

To prevent deterioration of charge performance, which is caused by wear of a gap control member that keeps a charge roller into non-contact with the image carrier, the charge roller is brought into contact with a surface of a photosensitive drum via a pair of tape members as the gap control member that contacts with a coat and non-charge portion of the photosensitive drum. A gap G can be formed between an effective charge width portion of the charge roller and the surface of the photosensitive drum.

Apparatus for minimizing toner contamination on an image formation member

An image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming units or process units is disclosed. The process units may each be moved into and out of the body of the apparatus by hand. A plurality of support members for supporting the ends of the process units to be operated by hand extend substantially parallel to a linear path for conveying a recording medium, but outside of paths for moving the process units into and out of the apparatus body. A positioning mechanism positions the above end of the individual process unit relative to the support members. The positioning mechanism is implemented by holes formed in the support members, and pins studded on a positioning wall included in the individual process unit. The apparatus allows the process units to be positioned thereon accurately with a high mechanical strength, while allowing them to be mounted and dismounted with ease.

Image forming apparatus having a mounting/dismounting mechanism

A wet-type image forming apparatus produces a high-quality toner image by condensing a toner image on a photosensitive drum and adhering the toner image onto the photosensitive drum without contacting a liquid carrier applied on the photosensitive drum. The photosensitive drum carries a latent image formed thereon. The toner image is formed by developing the latent image by using a developing liquid including the liquid carrier and toner dispersed in the liquid carrier. An excessive amount of liquid carrier on the photosensitive drum is removed after the toner image is formed. An electric field is formed which causes a current to flow between an electrically conductive member and the photosensitive drum. An air gap is formed between the liquid carrier on the photosensitive drum and the electrically conductive member so that the current flows through the gap, the liquid carrier and the toner image. The toner image on the photosensitive drum is transferred to a transfer material after the toner image passes an area in which the electric field is generated.

Wet-type image forming apparatus for forming a condensed toner image

Growing community of inventors

Kanagawa-ken, Japan

Masami Hiramatsu