Abstract: A toner replenishing apparatus includes: a toner reservoir section for reserving a toner therein; and scraper for scraping out the toner in the toner reservoir section and for supplying the toner to a developing device. The scraper is composed of a plurality of scraping members each having a different capability of scrape-out from each other.

Abstract: An image forming machine such as a copier or a printer for forming a multi-color toner image on a photoreceptor.

Abstract: A transfer device for use in a copying machine includes a rotatable belt to convey a sheet to a transfer station and a conductive brush to provide the sheet with an electric charge so that the sheet is attracted onto the belt. An electric current passing through the brush is detected and a transfer condition for the sheet is controlled on the basis of the detected electric current.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming a toner image on a peripheral surface of an image carrying drum and transferring the toner image onto a recording paper. The image forming apparatus comprises a conveyor to convey the recording paper, a register roller to feed the same to the conveyor, transfer unit for transfering the toner image and a pre-charging unit for charging the recording paper before the transferring. A controller of the image forming apparatus controls operation timings of the above units of the image forming apparatus and forms a blank area in the leading portion of the recording paper where no image is formed and no transfer operation is performed to the recording paper by the transfer unit.

Abstract: An image forming method in which toner images are registered onto an image retainer by conducting sequentially a cycle of charging, imagewise exposing and developing by the method of reversal development not less than twice. The imagewise exposing, based on all image data which have formed latent images is performed again only on the toner image portion after all the developing steps have been completed, then the toner images are transferred onto a transfer sheet at one time.

Abstract: A transfer belt unit for conveying a recording sheet on a conveyor thereof and transferring a toner image from the surface of an image carrying drum to the recording sheet by electrostatic charging of the recording sheet and the conveyor belt by a corona discharger located on the rear side of the conveyor belt at a contact location of the image carrying drum and the conveyor belt. The transfer belt unit is provided with a preliminary corona discharger located in the wedge shaped space between the surfaces of the conveyor belt and the image carrying drum for charging the conveyor belt and the recording sheet by corona discharging to attract the recording sheet to the surface of the conveyor belt by electrostatic force. The preliminary discharger is composed of an electrode for corona discharging and a shield plate with an opening for restricting a discharging zone from the electrode to the recording sheet.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for transferring a toner image from a photoreceptor to a recording sheet. The apparatus includes a plurality of rollers and a belt stretched around the plurality of rollers. The belt is adapted to come in contact with the photoreceptor at a transfer area so that a recording sheet is conveyed on the belt and brought in contact with the image surface at the transfer area and that the toner image is transferred onto the recording sheet. The apparatus further includes a conductive member, disposed so as to come in contact with the belt on one of the plurality of rollers which is positioned upstream in conveying direction than the transfer area, for charging the recording sheet conveyed on the belt.

Abstract: A developing apparatus for supplying a developer to a photoreceptor so that an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor is developed with the developer. The developing apparatus comprises a developer conveyer, having a rigid surface, for conveying the developer to a developing zone; a developer layer-thickness regulator, shaped like a bar and having a rigid surface portion of the curvature radius between 0.5 mm and 15 mm, for regulating the thickness of the developer to be conveyed to the developing zone; and a supporter for supporting the developer layer-thickness regulator.

Abstract: A method of forming a multicolor toner image on an electrostatic latent image carrying member wherein developer containing a carrier and toner is transported to a developing region on a cylindrically shaped outer sleeve member of a developer transporting unit. Inside the sleeve there is provided at least one pair of magnets, the magnetic poles of which face the inner surface of the sleeve and are so arranged as to be rotatable, relative to each other, around the center axis of the sleeve. The amount of transported toner is regulated so that the amount of toner on the sleeve [mt], in mg/cm.sup.2, the peripheral speed of the image surface [V.sub.d ] and the peripheral speed of the sleeve member [V.sub.sl ] satisfy the following formulas:.vertline.V.sub.sl /V.sub.d .vertline..times.mt.gtoreq.0.4 mg/cm.sup.2.vertline.V.sub.sl /V.sub.3 .gtoreq.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of regulating the thickness of developer layer formed on a developer-transporting means by transporting the layer to a layer thickness-regulating means disposed so as to face with the developer transporting means, pressing the layer by the layer thickness-regulating means so that the layer thickness-regulating distance of the pressing portion between the layer thickness-regulating means and the developer-transporting means can be made substantially equal to the diameter of single developer particle, and allowing the layer to pass through the pressing portion while keeping the layer thickness-regulating distance substantially equal to the diameter of single developer particle.

Abstract: An improved electrostatic image-developing process is disclosed, wherein said process comprises,a step of supplying a developer comprising carrier and toner to a developer transporting means which includes a cylindrical development sleeve (3) for carrying by rotation said developer (D) to the close proximity of an electrostatic latent image formed on an image-carrying member (1) disposed opposite thereto, the outer diameter of said cylindrical development sleeve (3) being 15 mm to 30 mm, and a magnetic roller (4) provided inside said cylindrical development sleeve, said roller having not less than ten magnetic poles, a step of forming a thin layer of said developer on the surface of said developer transporting means (3) so that the maximum thickness of the developer layer is smaller than the minimum distance (H) between the surface of said developer transporting means (3) and the surface of said electrostatic image-carrying member (1),a step of carrying said developer to a close proximity of the electrostatic

Abstract: A developer layer forming apparatus having a developer carrying member having a magnet therein and a plate-shaped elastic member having a rubber surface thereon, wherein the rubber surface is in pressure contact with the developer carrying member and one end of the rubber surface projects from the pressure contact point to the upstream of the developer carrying member in the revolving direction. The plate-shaped elastic member is constructed by superposing a metal or a synthetic resin and a rubber material.

Abstract: A multicolor image forming apparatus for forming a multicolor visual image on an image retainer, wherein latent images formed on the image retainer are successively developed on a color basis. The diameter of dots constituting the visual image of each color or each color image signal cutting size out of a matrix unit having picture elements of each color is modulated by an electrical signal.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a cleaning device arranged on the outer periphery of an image retainer, and bringing into and out of abutment against the image retainer, wherein the cleaning device comprises a first cleaning member and a second cleaning member arranged downstream of the first cleaning member in the moving direction of the surface of the image retainer. A cleaning operation of the second cleaning member against the image retainer is conducted according to a time at which the cleaning operation of the first cleaning member against the image retainer is conducted.

Abstract: A recording apparatus wherein an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image retaining member is developed into a visible image by means of a developer transported on the surface of a developer carrier having at least a magnet movably provided therein. At least a part of the electrostatic latent image retaining member is constituted by a magnetic material.