Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of reducing white streaks in gray images and an image forming method using the same are provided. The image forming apparatus including a charging means, a developing means, a transferring means, and a discharging means which are arranged in sequence around a monolayer type electrophotographic photoconductor. The charging means is a means for positively charging the surface of the monolayer type electrophotographic photoconductor, and the pre-charging means has a conductive brush composed of a conductive substrate and conductive brush filaments and is arranged between the charging means and the discharging means. The conductive filaments on the surface of the photoconductor have a bending ratio that is calculated so that the conductive brush filament tips are properly curved near the surface of the photoconductor so as to reduce abnormal discharge between the conductive brush and the surface of the photoconductor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which can exhibit an excellent charge eliminating effect by erasing a transfer memory using a precharging device with optimized conditions even when a positively-charged single-layer-type electrophotographic photoconductor is used as a photoconductor. In the image forming apparatus which sequentially arranges a charging device, a developing device, a transfer device, and a charge eliminating device around a single-layer-type electrophotographic photoconductor, the charging device charges a surface of the single-layer-type electrophotographic photoconductor with a positive polarity, a precharging device having a conductive member is arranged on an upstream side of the charge eliminating device, the conductive member is brought into contact with the electrophotographic photoconductor, and a current density Ib (?A/m2) of the injected current into the photoconductor from the conductive member is set to a value of 700 (?A/m2) or more.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus which can, by uniformly leveling the particles which are non-uniformly adhered to the surface of the photoconductor by using a leveling means having a predetermined shape, and can maintain the excellent image characteristics for a long period even when a contact charging method is adopted as a charging means and an image forming method which uses the image forming apparatus. In an image forming apparatus which sequentially arranges a charging means, a developing means, a transferring means and a charge eliminating means around an electrophotographic photoconductor, the charging means is constituted of a contact-type charging means, and a leveling means which levels particles on a surface of the electrophotographic photoconductor is arranged between the transferring means and the charge eliminating means.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of reducing white streaks in gray images and an image forming method using the same are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus which can, by uniformly leveling the particles which are non-uniformly adhered to the surface of the photoconductor by using a leveling means having a predetermined shape, and can maintain the excellent image characteristics for a long period even when a contact charging method is adopted as a charging means and an image forming method which uses the image forming apparatus. In an image forming apparatus which sequentially arranges a charging means, a developing means, a transferring means and a charge eliminating means around an electrophotographic photoconductor, the charging means is constituted of a contact-type charging means, and a leveling means which levels particles on a surface of the electrophotographic photoconductor is arranged between the transferring means and the charge eliminating means.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus which can exhibit an excellent charge eliminating effect by erasing a transfer memory using a precharging means with optimized conditions even when a positively-charged single-layer-type electrophotographic photoconductor is used as a photoconductor. In the image forming apparatus which sequentially arranges a charging means, a developing means, a transfer means, and a charge eliminating means around a single-layer-type electrophotographic photoconductor, the charging means charges a surface of the single-layer-type electrophotographic photoconductor with a positive polarity, a precharging means having a conductive member is arranged on an upstream side of the charge eliminating means, the conductive member is brought into contact with the electrophotographic photoconductor, and a current density Ib(?A/m2) of the injected current into the photoconductor from the conductive member is set to a value of 700(?A/m2) or more.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrophotographic photoconductor which can reduce the generation of fogging under a high-temperature and high-moisture condition and can be easily manufactured, and a method of manufacturing such an electrophotographic photoconductor. In an electrophotographic photoconductor which includes a support base body, an intermediate layer and a photoconductor layer and a manufacturing method of such an electrophotographic photoconductor, the intermediate layer contains titanium oxide and a binding resin and a ?L value of the intermediate layer satisfies a following relationship formula (1) or a ?A value of the intermediate layer satisfies a following relationship formula (2), that is, ?5.0??L?0 (1) and ?A?0.