Abstract: Using a thermal transfer recording medium formed with thermal transfer recording material on a surface of a supporting material, of which dynamic shear modulus of elasticity is within a range of 1×103 Pa to 8×105 Pa, and loss tangent tan &dgr; is within a range of 0.6 to 2.5 measured in dynamic viscoelasticity measurement in a temperature range of the melting point thereof to 50° C. over the melting point at a frequency of 0.5 Hz, pressurizing the heat generating elements against the thermal transfer recording medium to bring the same into contact therewith with a load of 0.3 to 1.0 N/mm, which is a load per unit length in the main direction of the arrangement of the heat generating elements, transferring the thermal transfer recording material to the printing medium.

Abstract: A thermal printer is comprised of a head section for applying heat with pressure to a transfer film having a metal foil, arranged to cover an ink layer of a desired pattern formed on print paper, and removed to transfer the metal foil toward the print paper, and a controller for controlling the head section such that the transfer film is heated with a heating pattern larger than the pattern of the ink layer by at least a margin for positional displacement between the ink layer and the head section, so as to obtain a lamination transfer object in which a contour of the metal foil is aligned with that of the ink layer by an adhesive force between the metal foil and the ink layer.

Abstract: Using a thermal transfer recording medium formed with thermal transfer recording material on a surface of a supporting material, of which dynamic shear modulus of elasticity is within a range of 1×103 Pa to 8×105 Pa, and loss tangent tan &dgr; is within a range of 0.6 to 2.5 measured in dynamic viscoelasticity measurement in a temperature range of the melting point thereof to 50° C. over the melting point at a frequency of 0.5 Hz, pressurizing the heat generating elements against the thermal transfer recording medium to bring the same into contact therewith with a load of 0.3 to 1.0 N/mm, which is a load per unit length in the main direction of the arrangement of the heat generating elements, transferring the thermal transfer recording material to the printing medium.

Abstract: A non-impact recording method is provided in which 3 to 4 or more copying sheets can be made through a non-impact system and further a small-sized printer which can be installed in portable type information terminal equipment can be formed. A non-impact recording method is also provided in which when electricity is applied between separate electrodes and a common electrode oppositely contacted with each other and arranged against both surfaces of a conductive recording medium, a recording image is formed by heat energy generated by the conductive recording media, wherein a plurality of the conductive recording media are overlapped with each other and volume resistivities of each of the overlapped conductive recording media are substantially the same to each other or decreased as they may move toward the common electrode.

Abstract: A thermal transfer type color printer of this invention has four ink ribbons sequentially arranged from a first order to a fourth order along a conveying direction of a printing medium, and four printing heads respectively arranged in accordance with the four ink ribbons. Each of the printing heads melts and transfers ink included in each of the ink ribbons to the printing medium by heating the ink ribbons while each of the ink ribbons comes in contact with the printing medium. While the printing medium is conveyed, the ink of each of the ink ribbons is transferred to the printing medium so that a color image is formed. In this color printer, a melting viscosity of the ink of an ink ribbon used at a later stage is set to be lower than that used at a previous stage.

Abstract: A technique for transferring at least a part of inks of a plurality of colors onto a recording web sheet in superposition by heating the inks with a thermal head, and by passing the recording web sheet and an ink ribbon, superposed with each other, between the thermal head and a platen. The recording web sheet has a plurality of interconnected pores which have openings formed in a surface of the recording web sheet, and a proportion of a total area of the openings of the pores is more than 50% and less than 80% of a total surface area of the recording web sheet. A proportion of a number of the openings of the pores having a pore diameter of 5-35 .mu.m is more than 50% of a total number of the openings of the pores, and a proportion of a number of the openings of the pores having a pore diameter of at least 35 .mu.m is less than 5% of the total number of the openings of the pores.

Abstract: A thermal transfer type color printer of this invention has four ink ribbons sequentially arranged from a first order to a fourth order along a conveying direction of a printing medium, and four printing heads respectively arranged in accordance with the four ink ribbons. Each of the printing heads melts and transfers ink included in each of the ink ribbons to the printing medium by heating the ink ribbons while each of the ink ribbons comes in contact with the printing medium. While the printing medium is conveyed, the ink of each of the ink ribbons is transferred to the printing medium so that a color image is formed. In this color printer, a melting viscosity of the ink of an ink ribbon used at a later stage is set to be lower than that used at a previous stage.

Abstract: A photoconductor is disclosed, which comprises a conductive cylindrical support which is substantially not hollowed, the conductive cylindrical support having a drive transferring mechanism coaxially and unifiedly provided on at least one of the end portions thereof, the conductive cylindrical support having a photoconductive layer on the outer periphery. The moment of inertia I (g . cm.sup.2) of the substantially not-hollowed conductive support is in the range of 0.4.ltoreq.I.ltoreq.140 (g . cm.sub.2), the diameter thereof being in the range from 0.5 to 2.0 cm. When the relation of C/(S . .omega.).ltoreq.0.4 (where S (cm.sup.2) is the square measure of the portion of the photoconductive layer on the photoconductor; C (cal/.degree.C.) is the heat capacity of the substantially not-hollowed cylindrical support; and .omega. (rad/s) is the rotating speed in development) is satisfied, high quality images can be readily and stably obtained without damages of the drive system.

Abstract: In a developing method in which a thin layer of toner is formed on the surface of a toner carrier to which a developing bias voltage is applied and the thin layer of toner is supplied to an electrostatic latent image to thereby render the electrostatic latent image visible, the improvement wherein:when let it be supposed that:a quantity of electrification of toner that adheres to a latent image holding body by development is q [C/kg];a quantity of charges accumulated by the toner due to its triboelectrification with the latent image holding body is q.sub.p [C/kg];an electric resistance of the toner carrier is R [.OMEGA..multidot.m.sup.2 ];an effective length of the toner carrier is l [m];an effective surface area of the toner carrier is S.sub.r [m.sup.2 ];a quantity of the toner that adheres to the latent image holding body by development is m.sub.p [kg/m.sup.2 ];a speed of movement of the surface of the latent image holding body is V.sub.

Abstract: In a first embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of electrode portions are contactably and approachably disposed on an electrostatic latent image holding member in order to equalize a toner image of an electrostatic latent image holding member. In a second embodiment, an elastic foaming apparatus is contactably or approachably disposed to the electrostatic latent image holding member in order to equalize the residual toner distribution on the electrostatic latent image holding member. In a third embodiment, an equalization member consisting of an electric conductor or a resistor is contactably and approachably disposed on the electrostatic latent image holding member in order to equalize the distribution of toner of the transfer residual toner image. An AC electric field may be generated between the equalization member and the electrostatic latent image holding member.

Abstract: An image forming method which includes the steps of providing a developing agent holder for holding one component developing agent layer arranged to contact a latent image holder, developing a latent image on the latent image holder and to simultaneously clean up the developing agent adhering to the surface a non-latent image area on the latent image holder, wherein the cleaning up is carried out under the condition expressed by the following formula:0.5.ltoreq.(Vd/Vp).multidot.m.ltoreq.3.0wherein ghe moving speed of the developing agent holder is defined as Vd, the moving speed of the surface of the latent image holder is defined as Vp and the developing agent adhering density is defined as m (mg/cm.sup.2), and the amount of the remaining toner after transferring that remains on the latent image phase of the latent image holder is set less than 0.35 mg/cm.sup.2.

Abstract: A developing device effects desirable development when the amount of charging of toner, q (C/g), the amount of toner deposited on the surface of a developing roller per unit area, m (g/cm.sup.2), the speed of movement of the surface of the developing roller, v (cm/sec), the available length of the developing roller, l (cm), and the magnitude of electric resistance between the surface of the developing roller and a power source for developing bias, R (.OMEGA.), are adjusted so as to satisfy the formula, .vertline.q.vertline.m.ltoreq.100/vlR. The developing device produces a developed image desirable in quality and free from background fogging when the magnitude of a developing electric current, I (A), is adjusted so as to satisfy the formula, R.ltoreq.200/I.

Abstract: An ink dot printer wherein an ink supply member having both insulation property and ink-impregnation property is positioned in contact with conductive recording electrodes disposed opposite to an opposed electrode through a recording medium, and ink is fed from the ink supply member to fore ends of the recording electrodes, so that a printing operation can be performed without soiling the recording medium. Accordingly the entire structure can be simplified and the ink fed to the fore ends of the recording electrodes is effectively kept undried.

Abstract: In an ink dot printer for forming a picture with ink by generating an electric field between a recording electrode and an opposed electrode confronting each other through a recording medium and thereby sputtering the ink from the fore end of the recording electrode toward the recording medium, the present invention employs a rod-shaped recording electrode composed of a conductive material with a multiplicity of longitudinal ink passages formed therein, hence enhancing the ink fluidity in the recording electrode to enable fast printing.

Abstract: An ink dot printer wherein an ink supply member having a recording electrode fed with ink at the fore end is disposed opposite to an opposed electrode through a recording medium and wherein a picture is drawn with the ink splattered from the fore end of the recording electrode toward the recording medium by generating a potential difference between the opposed electrode and the recording electrode is such that the recording electrode is composed of a conductive material formed on an ink supply member by thin-film technique whereby the ink supply member has both an insulation property and an ink-impregnation property.

Abstract: An ink dot printer includes a recording electrode and an operating electrode disposed in a mutually opposing relationship with a record medium interposed therebetween, and a potential difference is caused to appear between the electrodes so that ink around an end of the recording electrode is flown toward the record medium. The recording electrode is formed from a nonconductive member having an ink impregnability which is processed to provide electric conductivity on a surface thereof. Thus, an electric field is well concentrated at the end of the recording electrode, thereby assuring flying of ink from the end of the recording electrode to improve the stability of printing.

Abstract: An ink-dot printer comprises a recording paper, at least one needle disposed in one side the recording paper and movable between a rest position remote from the recording paper and a projected position close to the recording paper, a driving mechanism for moving the needle between the rest position and the projected position, a driving control unit electrically connected to the driving mechanism so as to supply a driving control signal for controlling the movement of the needle to the driving mechanism, an ink supply mechanism adapted to supply ink to the distal end portion of the needle on the recording sheet side so that the ink attaches to the distal end portion when the needle is located in the rest position, an electrode disposed in another side of the recording paper and facing the distal end portion of the needle, and voltage control unit for applying between the needle and the electrode an ink flying voltage with respect to the supply of the driving control signal from the driving control unit to the

Abstract: An ink dot printer comprises a recording sheet, at least one needle made of an electrically conductive material and located in one side of the recording sheet so as to move between a normal position remote from the recording sheet and a projected position close to the recording sheet, a drive mechanism for displacing the needle between the normal position and the projected position, an ink supply mechanism for supplying and attaching ink to the tip of the needle which faces the recording paper when the needle is in the normal position, an electrode disposed on another side of the recording mechanism and facing the tip of the needle, and an electric field generating mechanism for generating, between the electrode and needle, an electric field of such intensity as to cause ink to fly from the tip of the needle, when the needle is closer to the recording sheet than the normal position, toward the recording sheet to thereby form an ink dot on the recording sheet.

Abstract: An ink-dot printer comprises a pair of slit forming members arranged to define a slit therebetween, an ink tank for storing ink in which the slit is immersed, a recording sheet opposed to the slit, a needle movable between a rest position and a projected position, a driving mechanism for moving the needle between the two positions, and an ink attracting unit for generating a magnetic or electric field in the slit, thereby attracting the ink from the ink tank into the slit to cause the ink to attach to the distal end portion of the needle located in the rest position, the ink attracting unit being adapted to generate an ink attracting magnetic or electric force of a necessary intensity for the ink to be attracted from the ink tank into the slit at the time of ink attraction, and to generate an ink holding magnetic or electric field of a minimum necessary intensity for a predetermined amount of ink to be held in the slit after the predetermined amount of ink is attracted into the slit, wherein the ink attaching

Abstract: An ink dot printer comprising an opposite electrode, a carriage capable of reciprocating along the opposite electrode, a printing head mounted on the carriage, recording electrodes arranged within the printing head so that the tips thereof can be exposed through openings formed in a wall of the printing head opposite the opposite electrode, and a cap supported moveably on either the carriage or the printing head so as to close or open the openings of the printing head. When the ink dot printer is not in printing operation, the cap is closed to cover up the tips of the recording electrodes to prevent the drying of the tips of the recording electrode due to the evaporation of the ink so that the recording electrodes are always in good condition for stable printing operation.