Abstract: An electrographic recording apparatus method includes a primary image forming member (PIFM) such as a web or drum that moves in a process direction. An electrographic writehead has a row of spaced electrodes arranged with the row being transverse of the process direction. The electrodes are selectively activated to establish respective electrical fields for recording of a respective row of pixels on the PIFM. The writehead faces a first surface of the PIFM and is positioned in contact with or closely adjacent the first surface to establish the respective electrical fields through the PIFM. A development station includes electrostatically charged toner particles in the form of a nap that selectively deposits the toner particles on a second surface of the PIFM directly opposite the series of spaced electrodes so that the toner particles are electrostatically selectively attracted by the respective electrical fields to develop the respective pixels to form a toner image on the second surface of the PIFM.

Abstract: A reproduction method and apparatus including a primary image forming member, and a substantially cylindrical intermediate image transfer member operatively associated with the primary image forming member whereby a marking particle image formed on the primary image forming member can be electrostatically transferred from the primary image forming member to the intermediate image transfer member (ITM). An endless web arrangement is provided in cooperative association with the ITM. The endless web arrangement includes an endless web and a plurality of support rollers about which the endless web is entrained. A transfer nip for transfer of an image to receiver member is defined between the ITM and the endless web. An electrical transfer field is provided for electrostatically transferring a marking particle image to a receiver member brought into intimate contact with the ITM in the nip.

Abstract: A reproduction apparatus and method including a toner image bearing member (TIBM) and a seamed endless belt that is brought into transfer relationship with the TIBM at a transfer station by movement of the TIBM in a process direction through the transfer station whereby a marking particle image formed on the TIBM is transferred from the TIBM towards the belt. The seam on the belt is configured in a configuration other than a straight line perpendicular to the process direction and is used in at least some transfers. In one embodiment, the belt is a paper transport belt and a receiver member is supported on the belt so as to overlie the seam on the belt during such transfers. In a second embodiment, the belt serves as an intermediate transfer member (ITM) and at least some transfers are made from the TIBM to the ITM at the seam area of the belt.

Abstract: An electrostatographic method and apparatus of forming a toner image on a receiver. In order to improve transfer of a pigmented toner image to a receiver, a clear toner layer is applied to a support member. The pigmented toner image is applied over the clear toner layer. The pigmented toner image is sintered and the sintered pigmented toner image is then transferred to a receiver sheet.

Abstract: In a reproduction method and apparatus, a marking particle image is formed on an image-supporting member. A moving web supports a receiver member to advance the receiver member into a nip defined between the image-supporting member and a transfer roller. The web is in the nip during transfer so that the receiver member is between the web and the image-supporting member. An electrical transfer field is established in the nip for electrostatically transferring the marking particle image to the receiver member. A support roller presses against a portion of a roller surface of the transfer roller that does not form the nip to reduce bending of a portion of the rolling surface of the transfer roller that is associated with the nip.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying a charge features a moving charge applying member having an electrically conductive structure and a semiconductive layer supported upon the conductive structure. The semiconductive layer is formed of a material having a volume resistivity of between about 1.times.10.sup.7 ohm-cm and about 1.times.10.sup.11 ohm-cm. An electrical bias device electrically biases the charge applying member. The electrical bias device applies an electrical bias to the charge applying member so that an electrical current flows from a peripheral surface of the charge applying member through the semiconductive layer to the conductive structure and from the conductive structure through the semiconductive layer to the member to be charged so that a net charge flowing through the semiconductive layer is about zero. The charge flow in the different directions may be simultaneous or at different times.

Abstract: Electrographic printing apparatus for forming a toner image on a recording medium, includes: a magnetic brush having a rotatable magnetic core and a stationary outer shell; a developer supply for supplying a magnetic developer powder including toner to the magnetic brush. A print head on the outer shell forms a plurality of parallel lines of developer. Toner is selectively transferred from a plurality of electrodes within each line to a receiver. A receiver electrode is arranged in spaced relation to the print head to define a recording region through which the receiver can be moved.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrostatically transferring a toner image from a toner image bearing member (TIBM) to a receiver sheet is disclosed. A receiver sheet is moved within a nip defined between a transfer roller having a resistive outer layer and a toner image bearing member supporting a toner image. To provide for transfer, there is applied an electrical bias to the resistive layer from a conductive member located beneath the resistive layer and in electrical contact with the resistive layer. There are also applied to an outer surface of the resistive layer a first contact voltage to establish an post-nip electrical voltage distribution to a post-nip region of the transfer roller that is immediately downstream of an in-nip region. The post-nip electrical voltage distribution is accomplished by having the first contact voltage be applied at first points on the outer layer of the transfer roller, the first points being within or proximate the post-nip region.

Abstract: Toner images are formed electrophotographically on a photoconductive imaging member and electrostatically transferred to a receiving surface. Electrostatic transfer is improved with a photoconductive image member having a compliant layer with a Young's modulus less than 5.times.10.sup.7 Pascals backing a thin photoconductive layer with a Young's modulus greater than 10.sup.8 Pascals. Preferably, the compliant layer is not more than 30 microns from the surface of the imaging member.

Abstract: Electrographic printing apparatus includes a developer supply for supplying a developer having a toner component; a print head for transferring toner from the developer supply in an image wise manner; and a compliant receiver for receiving the image wise toner from the print head. The receiver has a compliant inner conductive blanket layer for allowing the receiver to conform to a print medium and a non-compliant overcoat layer for efficiently releasing toner from the receiver. The image wise toner is transferred from the compliant receiver to the print medium at a transfer station.

Abstract: Electrographic printing apparatus for forming a toner image on a recording medium, includes a magnetic brush having a rotatable magnetic core and a stationary outer shell. A developer supply supplies a magnetic developer powder including toner to the magnetic brush. A print head is located on the outer shell of the magnetic brush. The print head includes microchannels or magnetic strips for forming a plurality of parallel lines of developer, and transfer electrodes for selectively transferring toner from two or more locations within each line to a receiver moving relative to the print head. The parallel lines of developer are arranged at an angle with respect to the direction of movement of the receiver, thereby effectively increasing the resolution of the print head in a direction perpendicular to the movement of the receiver. A receiver electrode is arranged in spaced relation to the transfer electrodes to define a recording region through which the receiver is moved.

Abstract: A corona charger in an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus includes a coronode and a power supply applying a voltage to the coronode. A detector detects pre-arc noise in the operation of the coronode and issues a signal that is used to adjust operation of the power supply to avoid arcing and/or to indicate a malfunction condition.

Abstract: Unexpectedly good transfer of electrophotographically-produced images using small toner particles occurs when the image is developed on an electrostatographic recording member, preferably an organic photoconductive element, which has been overcoated with a thin (about 10 nm to about 10 .mu.m thick) layer of a material having a Young's modulus greater than 10 GPa and preferably greater than about 100 GPa. The image is then transferred to an intermediate member which is comprised of an elastomeric blanket between about 0.1 and about 3 cm thick, having a Young's modulus between about 0.5 MPa and about 50 MPa, and preferably between about 1 and about 10 MPa, and having an electrical resistivity between about 10.sup.6 ohm-cm and about 10.sup.12 ohm-cm, by applying an appropriate electrostatic potential between the transfer intermediate member and the photoconductive element.

Abstract: A toner image having two or more levels of toner density is transferred to a receiving surface more efficiently by erasing voltage associated with the higher density portions of the image member to a different extent than voltage is erased in the lower density portions of the image member.

Abstract: An electrographic primary imaging member upon which an electrographic image may be written includes a support member; a charge retention layer for the electrographic image; a compliant layer being formed on the support member as an intermediate layer between the charge retention layer and the support member, the compliant layer being formed of a material having a Young's modulus of between about 0.1 MPa and about 100 MPa and a thickness of between at least 1 mm and about 20 mm; and the charge retention layer being a dielectric and being substantially thinner than the compliant layer and being supported on the support member and having a Young's modulus of greater than that of the compliant layer and at least about 80 MPa. The imaging member may form part of an electrographic recording apparatus wherein the electrographic image is developed and transferred to a receiver sheet or transferred to an intermediate transfer member from which it is then transferred to a receiver sheet.

Abstract: Unexpectedly good transfer of electrophotographically-produced images using small toner particles occurs when the image is developed on an electrostatographic recording member, preferably an organic photoconductive element, which has been overcoated with a thin (about 10 nm to about 10 .mu.m thick) layer of a material having a Young's modulus greater than 10 GPa and preferably greater than about 100 GPa. The image is then transferred to an intermediate member which is comprised of an elastomeric blanket between about 0.1 and about 3 cm thick, having a Young's modulus between about 0.5 MPa and about 50 MPa, and preferably between about 1 and about 10 MPa, and having an electrical resistivity between about 10.sup.6 ohm-cm and about 10.sup.12 ohm-cm, by applying an appropriate electrostatic potential between the transfer intermediate member and the photoconductive element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrostatically transferring a toner image from a toner image bearing member to a receiver sheet is disclosed. A receiver sheet is moved within a nip defined between a transfer roller having a resistive outer layer and a toner image bearing member supporting a toner image. To provide for transfer, there is applied to the resistive layer a first contact voltage to establish a post-nip electrical voltage distribution to a post-nip region of the transfer roller that is immediately downstream of an in-nip region. The post-nip electrical bias is accomplished by having the first contact voltage be applied at first points on the outer layer of the transfer roller, the first points being within or proximate the post-nip region. There is also applied to the resistive layer a second contact voltage to establish a pre-nip electrical voltage distribution to a pre-nip region of the transfer roller immediately up-strean of the in-nip region.

Abstract: Residual toner on a photoconductive or intermediate image member is adjusted in charge prior to cleaning by a roller which is rolled by the image member. The roller is biased to either apply charge to the toner or reduce charge, depending upon the type of cleaning. The roller includes a compliant blanket made of polyurethane covered by a thin coat of material having a Young's Modulus greater than 1.times.10.sup.7 Pascals.

Abstract: A particle toner image is formed on a primary image member (21), such as a photoconductor; electrostatically transferred to an intermediate transfer member (42); and then electrostatically transferred to a receiving sheet. The intermediate transfer member (42) includes a substrate, a compliant blanket (19), and a thin, hard overcoat (80) sectioned into small, discreet segments (81), said segments being separated cracks (85) having a width less than 20 .mu.

Abstract: First and second toner images are formed electrophotographically on first and second photoconductive imaging members, respectively. The first toner image is transferred to the second photoconductive image member in registration with the second toner image to form a combined toner image which may be in two colors. To improve the transfer between the two photoconductive image members, at least one of the photoconductive image members is preferably compliant.