Abstract: An immersion type automatic developing apparatus for a lithographic printing plate in which removal of a non-image area is conducted in a state where a lithographic printing plate precursor having on a support an image-recording layer exposed imagewise is immersed in a developing bath filled with an aqueous solution containing a carbonate ion, a hydrogen carbonate ion and a water-soluble polymer compound, wherein a developer composed of the aqueous solution is circulated between the immersion type developing bath forming a processing pass line and an external tank provided outside the processing path line so as to keep constant a liquid level of the immersion type developing bath.

Abstract: A method for preparing a lithographic printing plate, includes: exposing imagewise a lithographic printing plate precursor including a hydrophilic support and an image-recording layer containing a sensitizing dye, a polymerization initiator, an addition polymerizable compound having an ethylenically unsaturated double bond and a binder polymer; and processing the imagewise exposed lithographic printing plate precursor in a state where the imagewise exposed lithographic printing plate precursor is immersed in a developing tank holding an aqueous solution having pH of 8.5 to 10.8 and containing a low molecular weight hydroxycarboxylate ion, a pH buffer agent and a surfactant with circulation of the aqueous solution between the developing tank and an external tank provided outside a processing path line including the developing tank so as to keep constant a liquid level of the aqueous solution in the developing tank.

Abstract: The ink jet recording apparatus includes an ejection head for ejecting ink droplets toward a recording medium by exerting electrostatic force onto ink containing charged colorant particles, an ink tank for reserving the ink to be supplied to the ejection head, a circulation path for circulating the ink between the ejection head and the ink tank, and a cleaning mechanism for cleaning the ejection head and the circulation path using cleaning liquid. The cleaning liquid circulated through the circulation path at a time of cleaning by the cleaning mechanism is obtained by adding a charge control agent to an ink dispersion medium.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus has an ink jet head for ejecting ink. The ink jet recording apparatus includes a main tank for reserving the ink; a supply sub-tank for reserving the ink supplied from the main tank and supplying the ink to the ink jet head with a static pressure method; an ink circulation system including a first supply piping for connecting the main tank and the supply sub-tank to each other; and a filter provided on an ink circulation path of the ink circulation system on an ink jet head side with respect to a gas-liquid interface of the supply sub-tank at a time of ink circulation. The ink circulation system circulates the ink among the main tank, the supply sub-tank and the ink jet head. The ink circulation system is constructed so that at least a part of the ink passed through the first supply piping is directly ejected to one of a surface of the filter on an ink jet head side and a surface of the filter on a gas-liquid interface side.

Abstract: A plate making apparatus makes a printing plate for lithographic printing. The apparatus includes a first inkjet head which ejects selectively a plate surface-protecting solution in response to a first ejection signal onto a printing base plate on which an image has been recorded. The plate making apparatus further includes a drying unit which dries the plate surface-protecting solution ejected selectively onto the printing base plate with the first inkjet head. The apparatus further includes a second inkjet head which ejects an image forming material onto the printing base plate in response to a second ejection signal, and a fixing unit which heats the image forming material ejected onto the printing base plate with the second inkjet head so that the image forming material is fixed as image areas.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus has an ink jet head for ejecting ink. The ink jet recording apparatus includes a main tank for reserving the ink; a supply sub-tank for reserving the ink supplied from the main tank and supplying the ink to the ink jet head with a static pressure method; an ink circulation system including a first supply piping for connecting the main tank and the supply sub-tank to each other; and a filter provided on an ink circulation path of the ink circulation system on an ink jet head side with respect to a gas-liquid interface of the supply sub-tank at a time of ink circulation. The ink circulation system circulates the ink among the main tank, the supply sub-tank and the ink jet head. The ink circulation system is constructed so that at least a part of the ink passed through the first supply piping is directly ejected to one of a surface of the filter on an ink jet head side and a surface of the filter on a gas-liquid interface side.

Abstract: The ink jet recording apparatus includes an ejection head for ejecting ink droplets toward a recording medium by exerting electrostatic force onto ink containing charged colorant particles, an ink tank for reserving the ink to be supplied to the ejection head, a circulation path for circulating the ink between the ejection head and the ink tank, and a cleaning mechanism for cleaning the ejection head and the circulation path using cleaning liquid. The cleaning liquid circulated through the circulation path at a time of cleaning by the cleaning mechanism is obtained by adding a charge control agent to an ink dispersion medium.

Abstract: The fixing method and device fix an image drawn on a recording medium using colorant particles containing at least a colorant and a resin on the recording medium. The method and device use a fixing roll pair composed of a pair of fixing rolls at least one of which is a heating roll, charge at least one of the recording medium and a sticking member for fastening the recording medium, attract electrostatically the recording medium and the sticking member and nip the recording medium and the sticking member attracted each other between the pair of fixing rolls of the fixing roll pair and convey the recording medium with the image drawn thereon together with the sticking member by means of the fixing roll pair, thereby fixing the image on the recording medium.

Abstract: The image fixing device includes a fixing roller pair by which a recording medium having an image formed thereon is nipped and conveyed to fix the image, and a gripping/conveying unit which includes a gripping portion for gripping a leading edge of the recording medium and which conveys the recording medium between two fixing rollers while gripping the leading edge of the recording medium. In this device, at least one of the two fixing rollers of the fixing roller pair has a recess receiving the gripping portion, and is set such that when the leading edge of the recording medium gripped by the gripping portion is nipped between the two fixing rollers, the gripping portion is received by the recess. Alternatively, the device includes a roller moving unit for moving at least one of the two fixing rollers.

Abstract: There are provided a fixing device which includes a first transport path for transporting a recording medium with an image formed thereon and a fixing roll pair having at least one heating roll; and an image forming apparatus including the fixing device. The recording medium transported from the first transport path is nipped and transported to fix the image. The fixing roll pair is placed so that a rotation axis thereof is parallel to a transport surface of the first transport path and tilts with respect to a transport direction of the recording medium in the first transport path. Localized wear of a fixing roll surface caused by edges of a recording medium can be suppressed without limiting the kind of the recording medium used.

Abstract: The improved transporting apparatus for scanning exposure of a recording material as it is fixed on an exposure mount which is moved by means of a screw transmission mechanism is characterized in that the exposure mount for transporting the recording material is composed of a platen for carrying the recording material and a transport plate that holds the platen and which engages the screw transmission mechanism, with the platen and the transport plate being designed to be capable of relative displacement by small amounts, preferably in a non-contact relationship. Optionally, urging members may be provided to combine with the platen and the transport plate to form a vibration system that composes a vibration filter.

Abstract: A sheet-like material processing apparatus in which while a sheet-like material is interposed between and conveyed by a pair of rollers, excess processing solution is squeezed out from the sheet-like material, and the sheet-like material is processed. A solution supplying portion is provided at an upstream side of the pair of rollers and drips the processing solution. A blade-like member is provided at the upstream side of the pair of rollers. Movement of the processing solution is limited by the pair of rollers and the blade-like member.

Abstract: A liquid electrophotographic developing device for developing a charged and exposed photoconductive material which includes a photoconductive layer formed on one surface of a conductive layer. The liquid electrophotographic developing device is comprised of developing section, a developing solution tank provided in a housing and filled with a developing solution, conveying rollers for conveying the photoconductive materials, a developing electrode and a back electrode which are disposed parallel along a conveying path of the photoconductive material in the developing section, and a developing solution supplying device disposed above the developing electrode. The developing electrode is spaced part from the photoconductive layer, and the back electrode is disposed to come into contact with the back surface of the photoconductive material. Upon directly connecting the electrodes, toner particles contained in the developing solution adhere to the photoconductive layer to achieve development.

Abstract: A liquid electrophotographic developing device for developing a photoconductive material charged and exposed and which has a photoconductive layer formed on one surface of a conductive layer comprises a developing tank filled with a developing solution in which a developing electrode and a back electrode are disposed. The electrodes are immersed in the developing solution and disposed on either side of the photoconductive material in conveyance. The back electrode comes into contact with the back surface of the photoconductive material, whereas the developing electrode is spaced part from the photoconductive layer. Upon directly connecting the electrodes, toner particles contained in the developing solution adhere to the photoconductive layer to achieve development.

Abstract: A liquid electrophotographic development method where electrodes are arranged only on the side of the photosensitive layer of a master, developing liquid is supplied between the master and the electrodes, and conductors are made to come into contact with the base of the master so that an electric field is generated between the photosensitive plane and the electrodes for development. The electrode to be used for the electrophotographic development method includes conductive wires of a plural number which are arranged in the direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the material so as to come into contact with the conductive base thereof. If the electrodes are utilized, a main electrode needs to be arranged only on the side of the photosensitive layer of the master, and developing liquid is supplied therebetween. The electrode is adapted to come into contact with the conductive base of the master, to thereby generate an electric field between the main electrode and the electrode.

Abstract: An electrophotographic lithographic printing plate precursor which is suitable for not only the ordinary developing methods but also the developing methods of direct electron injection system and which after developing, can readily be wound and fixed, as a lithographic printing plate, around a drum of a printing machine without any slippage after winding is provided. This precursor comprise a base of paper coated, on both surfaces thereof, with .alpha.-polyolefin laminated layers each having a volume resistivity of at most 1.times.10.sup.10 .OMEGA. and being further provided, on one side thereof, with a photoconductive layer and on the other side thereof, with an over back layer having a surface resistivity of at most 1.times.10.sup.10 .OMEGA. and a larger friction coefficient than the .alpha.-polyolefin laminated layer.

Abstract: An electrophotographic lithographic printing plate precursor capable of giving a good image free from pinholes is provided which comprises an electrically conductive base coated, on one side thereof, with an undercoated layer and a photoconductive layer containing zinc oxide as a predominant component in order and on the opposite side thereof, with a back layer, said undercoated layer having a surface resistivity of 1.times.10.sup.8 to 1.times.10.sup.14 .OMEGA. and said back layer having a surface resistivity of at most 1.times.10.sup.10 .OMEGA..

Abstract: An electrophotographic lithographic printing plate is described, comprising an electrically conductive support and a photoconductive layer on the support, said layer being made mainly of a photoconductive zinc oxide and a resin binder, wherein in the surface of the photoconductive layer, the degree of exposure of photoconductive zinc oxide is from 10% to 70%.

Abstract: A process for producing a light-sensitive lithographic plate requiring no dampening solution comprising (1) carrying out corona discharge treatment on the surface of a silicone rubber layer of a light-sensitive lithographic plate requiring no dampening solution wherein the silicone rubber layer is the top layer, (2) spraying a solution or dispersion containing a non-volatile solid component on said silicone rubber layer, and (3) drying to provide fine projection patterns on said silicone rubber layer.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor having on a conductive support an interlayer and a photoconductive photoreceptive layer in that order, with the interlayer containing at least one colloidal substance selected from colloidal silica and colloidal alumina, and an organic solvent soluble resin which is composed of(A) a polymer having an acid value of from 10 to 100 and containing repeating units represented by formula (I) and (II) ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 represents H or CH.sub.3 ; R.sub.2 represents H, --CH.sub.3, --C.sub.2 H.sub.5, or a chloromethyl group; and n represents an integer of 1 to 10; ##STR2## wherein R.sub.3 represents H or --CH.sub.3 ; and (B) at least one polymer selected from a homopolymer and a plural copolymer having a glass transition point (Tg) of from -70.degree. to 20.degree. C., which can be utilized as a lithographic printing material having long press life.