Abstract: An electrophotographic imaging method comprises a first process for charging an electrically insulating layer formed on the surface of a photosensitive drum, and a second process for image-exposing the charged insulating layer to form an electrostatic latent image thereon. The first process includes a first step for bringing a pliable contactor having a specific electric resistance of 10.sup.8 .OMEGA..multidot.cm in contact with the insulating layer, and a second step for impressing a voltage on the contactor in contact with the insulating layer by means of an electrode having a specific resistance lower 10.sup.5 to 10.sup.7 .OMEGA..multidot.cm. Thus the insulating layer is charged.

Abstract: In an electronic copier provided with a light-sensitive medium, a charging station, an exposure station, a developing station, a transfer station and a fixing unit, the charging station includes a plurality of contact charging elements in contact with the light-sensitive medium and a voltage supply means for applying voltages to the contact charging elements. A voltage continuously rising in a predetermined period of time is supplied from the voltage supply means to the contact charging elements with the rotation of light-sensitive medium, and the light-sensitive medium is thus uniformly charged.

Abstract: A charging device for an electronic copier including a charging belt having a characteristic resistance ranging from 10.sup.4 to 10.sup.10 .OMEGA..cm. The copier's charging belt is in contact with the photosensitive drum, and as the photosensitive drum is rotated a voltage smoothly increasing over a predetermined period of time is applied to the charging belt for uniformly charging the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with a method for forming spherical particles of thermoplastic material, characterized by the step of blowing a stream of gas having thermoplastic particles dispersed therein from a peripheral region into a jet of pressurized hot gas to form the thermoplastic particles into uniform spherical particles. It also provides apparatus for carrying out the foregoing method which includes means for discharging a jet of pressurized hot gas from an outlet port and means for ejecting a stream of gas having thermoplastic particles dispersed therein from the periphery of the outlet port toward the jet of pressurized hot gas.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with a method for forming spherical particles of thermoplastic material, characterized by the step of blowing a stream of gas having thermoplastic particles dispersed therein from a peripheral region into a jet of pressurized hot gas to form the thermoplastic particles into uniform spherical particles. It also provides apparatus for carrying out the foregoing method which includes means for discharging a jet of pressurized hot gas from an outlet port and means for ejecting a stream of gas having thermoplastic particles dispersed therein from the periphery of the outlet port toward the jet of pressurized hot gas.