Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearer, a transfer member, a cleaning member, a light irradiator, and a light transmissive member. The transfer member forms a transfer position at which a visible image on a surface of the image bearer is transferred to a recording medium conveyed through a conveyance path. The cleaning member forms a cleaning position at which a substance adhering to the surface of the image bearer after transfer is cleaned. The light irradiator is disposed at a back face side of the recording medium opposite a side at which the surface of the image bearer is disposed relative to the conveyance path. The light irradiator is configured to emit light onto the surface of the image bearer. The light is targeted between the transfer position and the cleaning position. The light transmissive member is disposed between the light irradiator and the image bearer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearer, a transfer member, a cleaning member, a light irradiator, and a light transmissive member. The transfer member forms a transfer position at which a visible image on a surface of the image bearer is transferred to a recording medium conveyed through a conveyance path. The cleaning member forms a cleaning position at which a substance adhering to the surface of the image bearer after transfer is cleaned. The light irradiator is disposed at a back face side of the recording medium opposite a side at which the surface of the image bearer is disposed relative to the conveyance path. The light irradiator is configured to emit light onto the surface of the image bearer. The light is targeted between the transfer position and the cleaning position. The light transmissive member is disposed between the light irradiator and the image bearer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism, an image bearing member, a transfer member, a transfer member mount, and an image detector. The image forming mechanism forms a first image and a second image on a surface of the image bearing member. The transfer member is disposed facing the image bearing member and contactable thereagainst to form a transfer nip at which the first image is transferred from the image bearing member to a recording medium. The transfer member mount on which the transfer member is disposed accommodates multiple different sizes of transfer member. The image detector detects the second image on the surface of the image bearing member. The image forming apparatus includes a plurality of interchangeable transfer members, only one of which at any given time faces the image bearing member, and a transfer member switching device to switch between the plurality of transfer members.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet guide to guide a recording medium bearing an unfixed toner image with toner having a flow beginning temperature of equal to or less than 130° C. to a transfer nip between an image bearing member and a transfer roller. The sheet guide is disposed to satisfy the following relation: Y1·?1??2?Y2·?1, where Y1=0.5 and Y2=3, and ?1 is a central angle of a first arc corresponding to a width of the transfer nip on the image bearing member, and ?2 is a central angle of a second arc of the outer circumference of the image bearing member with a beginning point of the second arc being a place at which the recording medium comes into contact with the image bearing member and an end point of the second arc being a start of the transfer nip.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism, an image bearing member, a transfer member, a transfer member mount, and an image detector. The image forming mechanism forms a first image and a second image on a surface of the image bearing member. The transfer member is disposed facing the image bearing member and contactable thereagainst to form a transfer nip at which the first image is transferred from the image bearing member to a recording medium. The transfer member mount on which the transfer member is disposed accommodates multiple different sizes of transfer member. The image detector detects the second image on the surface of the image bearing member. The image forming apparatus includes a plurality of interchangeable transfer members, only one of which at any given time faces the image bearing member, and a transfer member switching device to switch between the plurality of transfer members.

Abstract: A cleaning device is used in an image forming apparatus to remove residual attachments including toner and paper powders from a surface of a movable intermediate transfer element onto which toner images are transferred from an image carrier. The cleaning device includes a cleaning brush that contacts the surface of the intermediate transfer element to apply a bias having a predetermined polarity to the toner adhered onto the surface of the intermediate transfer element so as to make uniform a polarity of the toner. The cleaning device further includes a pressing member that contacts the surface of the intermediate transfer element with a predetermined pressure. The pressing member is disposed at a position upstream of the cleaning brush in a direction of movement of the intermediate transfer element.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an intermediate image transfer belt passed over a plurality of support members and movable while carrying a toner image of preselected polarity transferred thereto. An electrode member contacts the inside surface of the belt and is applied with a preselected voltage for transferring the toner image from the belt to a recording medium. A contact member with high electric resistance contacts the belt at a position adjacent the electrode member and includes an insulating layer thereon.

Abstract: A cleaning device is used in an image forming apparatus to remove residual attachments including toner and paper powders from a surface of a movable intermediate transfer element onto which toner images are transferred from an image carrier. The cleaning device includes a cleaning brush that contacts the surface of the intermediate transfer element to apply a bias having a predetermined polarity to the toner adhered onto the surface of the intermediate transfer element so as to make uniform a polarity of the toner. The cleaning device further includes a pressing member that contacts the surface of the intermediate transfer element with a predetermined pressure. The pressing member is disposed at a position upstream of the cleaning brush in a direction of movement of the intermediate transfer element.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an intermediate image transfer belt passed over a plurality of support members and movable while carrying a toner image of preselected polarity transferred thereto. An electrode member contacts the inside surface of the belt and is applied with a preselected voltage for transferring the toner image from the belt to a recording medium. A contact member with high electric resistance contacts the belt at a position adjacent the electrode member.

Abstract: A simple, low cost image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from a photoconductive element, intermediate image transfer body or similar image carrier to a recording medium and an image transferring device therefor are disclosed. When a discharger for separating a paper or similar recording-medium from the image carrier is located on a path along which the surface of the image carrier moved away from an image transfer nip (in early moves for, e.g., layout reasons, the defective separation of the trailing edge of the paper is obviated which would scatter a toner image. The trailing edge of the paper is substantially prevented from jumping up and contacting a structural element included in the apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer device to transfer an image on an image carrier to a transfer sheet. The transfer device includes a transfer roller and transfers an image on the image carrier to a transfer sheet conveyed into a transfer area between the transfer roller and the image carrier by applying a bias voltage to the transfer roller. The transfer device includes a device to apply a release agent for an alien substance to a surface of the transfer roller. Toner and an alien substance, such as paper dust, thereby hardly adheres to the release agent applied on the surface of the transfer roller. Even if toner and/or an alien substance are put on the release agent applied on the surface of the transfer roller, such toner and/or an alien substance are easily removed by a cleaning device. Thus, lowering of an image quality due to insufficient cleaning of the transfer roller is avoided.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which utilizes an intermediate transfer member. Plural toner images, for example of different colors, can be superimposed on the intermediate transfer member, and then can be transferred to a paper sheet. A discharging device is provided for discharging a charge applied to the intermediate transfer member. Further, a value of a voltage provided by this discharging device and/or a voltage provided for a transfer bias is proportional to an actual surface potential on the intermediate transfer member, which is proportional to the number of times toner images have been formed on the intermediate transfer member prior to transfer to the paper sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer device to transfer an image on an image carrier to a transfer sheet. The transfer device includes a transfer roller and transfers an image on the image carrier to a transfer sheet conveyed into a transfer area between the transfer roller and the image carrier by applying a bias voltage to the transfer roller. The transfer device includes a device to apply a release agent for an alien substance to a surface of the transfer roller. Toner and an alien substance, such as paper dust, thereby hardly adheres to the release agent applied on the surface of the transfer roller. Even if toner and/or an alien substance are put on the release agent applied on the surface of the transfer roller, such toner and/or an alien substance are easily removed by a cleaning device. Thus, lowering of an image quality due to insufficient cleaning of the transfer roller is avoided.

Abstract: A sampling head having an input to which a sampling signal is applied, a diode bridge to which the sampling signal is applied, and a strobe pulse generator for controlling the gage time of the diode bridge; wherein the strobe pulse generator comprises a resonance tunnel barrier diode, whereby high speed measurement and miniaturization are attained.

Abstract: An image reading system for optically reading an original includes a convergent type light-emitting diode array as a light source, a white level reference and an image sensor disposed opposite to the white level reference. The light emitted from the LED array has a light intensity distribution which reduces in level in a transverse direction from an irradiation axis. The LED array is preferably so disposed with its irradiation axis passing a mid-point between the white level reference and an intersection point between an original surface travelling line and a straight line extending between the white level reference and the image sensor.

Abstract: A color original reading apparatus includes a focusing lens which receives a light beam containing image information and reflecting from an original document to be read and outputs a convergent light beam toward a first line image sensor. A first color separating lens is disposed in front of the first image sensor so that only a first predetermined color component of the light beam is allowed to impinge on the first image sensor. A reflecting mirror having a reflecting surface at its forward side surface and a knife edge at its forward end surface is disposed to reflect part of the convergent light beam toward a second line image sensor. The reflecting mirror is disposed not to cross the optical axis of the convergent light beam. In addition, the angle defined by the knife edge is set to be smaller than the angle defined between the reflecting surface and the optical axis.

Abstract: A color image reader for decomposing two-color images into independent color components includes a color-separating mirror which is provided with a multi-layer interference filter on one of opposite major surfaces thereof. The other surface of the mirror serves as a reflection surface. Image light incident to the mirror is separated into two different color components which are then redirected to propagate in the same direction. The two color components respectively are focused to different line image sensors.

Abstract: Electric heating means is arranged in the bottom portion of one case body, and an air bath tank and a sample heating tank, communicating with each other, are formed within this case body. The temperature of air in the air bath tank is maintained at a predetermined level by a temperature detecting element and a temperature controlling device. A filter paper is held in the air bath tank by supporting means at a position above the heating means spaced by a predetermined distance from the heating means. A heavy oil sample heated at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time in the sample heating tank is dropped on the filter paper and the filter paper is dried for a predetermined time. The stability of the heavy oil is evaluated based on the state of spreading of the dropped heavy oil on the filter paper.

Abstract: A dot matrix impact printer for color printing comprising a platen and a print wire. The platen comprises a plurality of members made of porous material containing different colors. The print wire and platen member are driven to a position adjacent each other and the print wire is moved to force a paper to the platen, so that a dot is printed on the paper with color ink contained in the corresponding member of the platen.

Abstract: A process for preparing a solid catalyst for the polymerization of olefins which comprises the steps of (1) reducing titanium tetrachloride with an organoaluminum compound, (2) treating the resulting .beta.-type titanium trichloride with a complexing agent, (3) treating the solid catalyst thus obtained with an organoaluminum compound, and (4) treating the resulting solid catalyst with a complexing agent, and a solid catalyst for the polymerization of olefins prepared by the above process.