Abstract: A blade for metering toner on a developing roller of an electrophotographic printer is made of a resilient material and includes a first elongated segment, a second elongated segment which extends generally perpendicular to the first segment and a transition portion which connects the first segment and the second segment. The transition portion has a thickness and a length. The transition portion is generally tangent to a surface of the developing roller and includes a groove which is obliquely cut therein in a direction generally opposite from a direction of rotation of the developing roller. The groove forms a movable lip in the transition portion and extends generally toward the second segment a distance approximately one half the thickness of the transition portion. The lip further has a length which extends the length of the transition portion.

Abstract: A reproduction apparatus and method including a toner image bearing member (TIBM) and a seamed endless belt that is brought into transfer relationship with the TIBM at a transfer station by movement of the TIBM in a process direction through the transfer station whereby a marking particle image formed on the TIBM is transferred from the TIBM towards the belt. The seam on the belt is configured in a configuration other than a straight line perpendicular to the process direction and is used in at least some transfers. In one embodiment, the belt is a paper transport belt and a receiver member is supported on the belt so as to overlie the seam on the belt during such transfers. In a second embodiment, the belt serves as an intermediate transfer member (ITM) and at least some transfers are made from the TIBM to the ITM at the seam area of the belt.

Abstract: An ultraviolet curable adhesive for use in bonding seams of endless flexible seamed belts, sheets or films, and preferably for use with puzzle cut seams, wherein there is virtually no thickness differential at the seam and the seam has a pull strength of from about 15 to about 50 pounds/inch.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a charger for charging the image bearing member, the charger including a magnetic brush including magnetic particles contacted to the image bearing member; a developing device for developing an electrostatic image on the image bearing member, wherein the developing device includes a developer carrying member which is press-contacted to the image bearing member, and is movable in a direction opposite from a movement direction of the image bearing member at a portion where they are press-contacted to each other.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing high quality liquid toner images in an electrostatic printing machine. The method using the apparatus includes selectively coat a photoreceptor only in selected image area centered portion of the photoreceptor surface thereby forming an image area centered patch of toner with developing material; image-wise exposing each such portion; patch of toner. The method using the apparatus next includes forming a final toner image from each image area centered patch of toner using an air breakdown charge development (ABCD) assembly. The ABCD assembly includes a relatively large magnitude voltage biasing source, and a nip forming roll coupled thereto and forming a toner solids recharging nip with the photoreceptor, for image-wise recharging of the single polarity toner solids coating each image area centered patch of toner, by inducing an air breakdown electrical discharge in which free mobile ions are introduced into the vicinity of each image area centered patch of toner.

Abstract: An efficient and high quality image forming method and apparatus wherein only selective scattered portions of an imaging surface are charged with a first charging device, and then coated with a layer of charged toner solids by a toner supply apparatus, thereby forming an "image area patch of toner"; wherein each selected scattered portion is centered relative to, and has an area slightly exceeding an area to be imaged; each such charged and coated portion is then image-wise exposed to form a first latent image; each such coated portion is subsequently recharged by a reverse charge printing (RCP) second charging device in an image-wise manner to create a secondary latent image having toner solids in image areas charged to a first polarity, and toner solids in background areas charged to a second and opposite polarity; and finally the toner solids in the image areas thereof are then transferred onto a copy substrate for fixing as an output document, thus leaving a significantly diminished quantity of non-develo

Abstract: Disclosed is a photosensitive drum including: a cylindrical base body with a photosensitive layer formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof; and flanges respectively provided on both end surfaces of the cylindrical base body, the flanges being rotatably supported for rotatably supporting the photosensitive drum; wherein the cylindrical base body is molded from a conductive resin, and one of the flanges is molded from the conductive resin integrally with the cylindrical base body. The photosensitive drum, which contributes to a reduction in manufacturing cost by simplifying the manufacturing process and to improvement in reliability, is provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a belt type photosensitive member cleaning apparatus for a wet type image forming apparatus which can effectively remove liquid developer pressed out by a pair of pressing out rollers for removing remaining liquid developer from a belt like photosensitive member after developed to prevent such liquid developer from flowing out and soiling to a window for a sensor or the photosensitive member. Each of the pressing out rollers provided in a stage next to a first pressing out roller has grooves formed at the opposite end portions thereof such that liquid developer which tends to be pressed out from the opposite ends of each of the second pressing out rollers is collected in the grooves.

Abstract: A developer supplying apparatus of a wet electrographic printer is provided. The apparatus includes a reservoir for storing a developer obtained by mixing a liquid carrier with an ink, a carrier cartridge for supplying the liquid carrier to the reservoir through the carrier supplying path, an ink cartridge for supplying the ink to the reservoir through an ink supplying path, a developing unit for receiving the developer of the reservoir through the developer supplying path to developing an electrostatic latent image, and a process tank for storing the developer draining from the reservoir through a developer draining path.

Abstract: This invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which a cleaning device is arranged above a photosensitive drum close thereto. The image forming apparatus has an image processing unit provided with the photosensitive drum. The photosensitive drum is constructed such that a gear portion formed in a flange member at one axial end of the photosensitive drum has a diameter not greater than an outer diameter of the photosensitive drum. The image processing unit is constructed such that a driving force from the image forming apparatus is transmitted to the photosensitive drum via the gear portion formed in the one flange member to rotate the photosensitive drum and is transmitted to at least one of image processor means via a gear portion formed in a flange member at the opposite axial end of the photosensitive drum. With this arrangement, a poor image formation due to a blocking phenomenon resulting from long stay of toner residues can be prevented and downsizing of the image forming apparatus is realized.

Abstract: An apparatus for eliminating excess ions in a developer used for a liquid electrophotographic printer, including a photoreceptor medium, a laser scan unit for forming an electrostatic latent image by emitting a laser beam to the photoreceptor medium, and a developing unit for developing an electrostatic latent image area of the photoreceptor medium using a developer which is a mixture of a toner and a liquid carrier. The apparatus includes: a settling unit provided at one side of the developing unit for settling the toner of the developer supplied from the developing unit in a short time using an electrical force; a developer input/output controller installed between the developing unit and the settling unit for selectively controlling the input/output of the developer; and an excess ion eliminating unit for eliminating excess ions included in the developer in an upper portion of the settling unit.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printing machine that has a photoconductive belt with a skewed seam thereon. The position of the skewed seam is detected by a pair of seam detection devices. The seam detection devices are spaced from one another and adapted to transmit a pair of signals with the signals having a time interval therebetween. These signals are inputted to a detection circuit and, if the time interval between signals is within a preselected tolerance, the detection circuit generates a seam indication signal. In this way, scratches on the photoconductive surface may be discriminated from the seam.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for eliminating random noise and calibrating a seam detection sensor in an electrophotographic printing machine. When the detected centerline remains within the tolerance window the algorithm proceeds as normal. In most cases, however, the center line is shifted outside the tolerance window., either from 2 to -X or +X to N-1. When the centerline falls within either of these two ranges, the algorithm recognizes this fact and assumes that a random noise condition has occurred. It then proceeds to take the previous centerline (C) and add the current photoreceptor belt length to it. This, theoretically, should be exactly where the centerline should have been in the absence of noise. If this condition continues for three successive belt revolutions and the machine completes the job it was running, the algorithm will force the machine to search for the seam at the next cycle up.

Abstract: In a multicolor image forming apparatus, an intermediate transfer belt is moved at a first speed. A secondary transfer roll is pressed against the intermediate transfer belt at the time of secondary transfer in order to secondarily transfer a multicolor toner image on the intermediate transfer belt onto recording paper. The secondary transfer roll is rotated by a driving unit including a gear unit at a peripheral speed higher than the first speed. A torque limiter limits the driving torque of the secondary transfer roll pressed against the intermediate transfer belt to the load torque of the secondary transfer roll separated from the intermediate transfer belt. Consequently, the secondary transfer roll is rotated at a speed equal to or slightly higher than the speed of the intermediate transfer belt and the load of the secondary transfer roll applied to the intermediate transfer belt never exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printer includes a rotating photoconductive drum, a developing unit, a transfer roller, and a neutralizer. The neutralizer neutralizes a second area of the surface of the photoconductive drum different from a second area in which the toner is applied. A sensor may be provided along the transport path to detect a leading end and a trailing end of the print medium passing along the transport path. In accordance with the sensor output, the neutralizer neutralizes the second area (i.e., top margin and bottom margin) on the photoconductive drum adjacent the leading end and the trailing end of the print medium. A neutralization data generator may be added. The neutralization data generator searches the bit map data for dots which should be printed, and produces neutralization data on the basis of the dots. Then, the neutralizer illuminates only the second area (i.e., areas in which toner is absent) in accordance with the neutralization data.

Abstract: A method for preventing contamination of a photosensitive drum in an image forming apparatus. To prevent contamination, the apparatus cuts off a ground path between the photosensitive drum and ground upon receiving an initial print command, until an initial area of the photosensitive drum, which initially contacts the charging roller, reaches a developing position where the photosensitive drum contacts a developing roller. After the initial area has reached the developing position, the apparatus connects the photosensitive drum to ground. In this way, the surface of the photosensitive drum does not have an electric potential so that toner is not transferred to the photosensitive drum until the uncharged area reaches the developing position or the area which is exposed during the initialization of the exposure unit reaches the developing position.

Abstract: A roller separating apparatus for a laser printer having a transfer backup roller, a steering roller, and a driving roller around which a photoreceptor belt circulatingly travels. The roller separating apparatus includes a first frame on which the transfer backup roller is rotatably installed. First and second eccentric cams are mounted for rotation on the first frame. A transfer roller is rotatably installed on a second frame which moves with respect to the first frame via engagement with a cam surface of the first eccentric cam. A fusing roller is rotatably installed on a third frame which moves with respect to the second frame via engagement with a cam surface of the second eccentric cam.

Abstract: A process cartridge for use in an image forming apparatus, includes: a photoreceptor for bearing an image thereon; a processing member for image formation; and a heat roller included in a heat fixing device for fixing a developed image formed on a recording sheet. The photoreceptor, the processing member and the heat roller are integrally provided on the process cartridge which is attachable to the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a sheet that has been transported in a certain direction is selectively transported to one of first and second transport routes by a route changer mechanism. A first cover and a second cover are openably provided on a main body of the apparatus to respectively allow the first and second transport routes to be accessible to outside of the apparatus main body when set in an opened state. An operative mechanism is provided to open the first cover in association with opening of the second cover.

Abstract: A single pass, multi-color electrophotographic printing machine architecture uses a vertically oriented photoconductive belt. Transfer of the toner powder images occur at the lowermost portion of the photoconductive belt. The photoconductive belt is elliptically shaped, having a major and a minor axis. N image recording stations are positioned adjacent an exterior surface of the photoconductive belt on one side of the major axis thereof. N-1 image recording stations are positioned adjacent the exterior surface of the photoconductive belt on the other side of the major axis thereof. The image recording stations record electrostatic latent images on the photoconductive belt. This architecture optimizes image registration while minimizing the overall height of the printing machine.