Abstract: An organic photoreceptor comprising a conductive support having thereon at least an intermediate layer and a photosensitive layer, wherein a skewness Rsk of a cross sectional curve of a surface of the conductive support meets the condition of ?8<Rsk<0, a method of forming an image and an image forming unit employing the organic photoreceptor, and an image forming apparatus employing the method of forming an image.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprises an electrophotographic photoreceptor; an image forming section for forming a toner image on a surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor; an intermediate transfer member; a first transferring section for transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor to a surface of the intermediate transfer member; and a second transferring section for transferring the toner image transferred on the surface the intermediate transfer member to a recording medium; wherein the electrophotographic photoreceptor comprises a surface layer forming the surface thereof and containing particles having a number average primary particle diameter of 1 to 300 nm and the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor has a hardness of 200 to 350 N/mm2 in universal hardness which is lower than the hardness in universal hardness of the surface of the intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprises an electrophotographic photoreceptor; an image forming section for forming a toner image on a surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor; an intermediate transfer member; a first transferring section for transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor to a surface of the intermediate transfer member; and a second transferring section for transferring the toner image transferred on the surface the intermediate transfer member to a recording medium; wherein the electrophotographic photoreceptor comprises a surface layer forming the surface thereof and containing particles having a number average primary particle diameter of 1 to 300 nm and the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor has a hardness of 200 to 350 N/mm2 in universal hardness which is lower than the hardness in universal hardness of the surface of the intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: Apparatus particularly useful for the removal of iron particles and other magnetic solids from printing ink. Included is a casing (22) through which flows a liquid to be clarified. A plurality of straight bar magnets (M), mounted to the inside surface of a tubular sheath (50), are magnetically attached to the outer surface of the casing for creating magnetic fields within the casing. The magnetic solids contained in the liquid are magnetically attracted to the inside surface of the casing and so are separated from the liquid. The detachment of the magnets from the casing causes the separated solids to settle to the bottom of the casing for easy discharge through a drain port (38) formed therein. A cartridge filter (28) is provided centrally within the casing for the separation of nonmagnetic solids from the liquid.