Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for robust transfer of toner images using toner particles having a volume average diameter between about 2 .mu.m and about 9 .mu.m is described. Surprisingly good electrostatic transfer is obtained when the surface charge density of the toner is between 3.0.times.10.sup.-9 coul/cm.sup.2 and 6.5.times.10.sup.-9 coul/cm.sup.2 and when this toner is used in conjunction with a compliant transfer intermediate.

Abstract: A back side of a paper is protected from contamination during an operation of the electrophotographic printer. A light scanning unit is warmed up as the main motor operates. This should minimize the potential difference on the surface of the photosensitive drum. A zero or a less than zero voltage is applied to its transfer roller to prevent the toner from adhering to the transfer roller before a paper reaches the transfer roller. This protects the back side of the paper from contamination due to the toner.

Abstract: A novel image development method and apparatus, wherein an imaging member having an imaging surface is provided with a layer of marking material thereon, and an electrostatic latent image is created in the layer of marking material. Image-wise charging of the layer of marking material is accomplished by a wide beam ion source such that free mobile ions are introduced in the vicinity of an electrostatic latent image associated with the imaging member having the layer of marking material coated thereon. The latent image associated with the imaging member causes the free mobile ions to flow in an image-wise ion stream corresponding to the latent image, which, in turn, leads to image-wise charging of the toner layer, such that the toner layer itself becomes the latent image carrier. The latent image carrying toner layer is subsequently developed and transferred to a copy substrate to produce an output document.

Abstract: A system for conditioning liquid ink made up of toner particles immersed in a liquid carrier medium being delivered to or on an image bearing surface in a multicolor electrostatographic printing machine of the type utilizing liquid developing material, particularly an image-on-image type liquid ink multicolor system. The liquid ink conditioning system includes a first member for electrostatically compressing or compacting the toner particles towards or on the image bearing surface. A second member is provided downstream from the first member for removing excess liquid from the compressed liquid ink layer.

Abstract: Copying a desired image on a separable sheet having a silicone layer by means of a color copy machine of toner type, removing the parts of the silicone layer on the separable sheet which are not covered by the image and coating a toner treating compound on the whole surface of the separable sheet including the surface of the image, overlapping the separable sheet on an object, and then pressing the reverse side of the separable sheet to transfer the color copy. One toner treating compound is prepared by at least a solvent including toluene and ethyl acetate and a solid content including at least epoxy resin or butyrated resin.

Abstract: A method and apparatus which forms a desired toner image on a receiver are disclosed. The method comprises transferring marking toner particles from an intermediate transfer member to a receiver in the presence of an electric field which urges the marking toner particles toward said receiver. When transferring the marking toner particles to the intermediate transfer member, the surface of the intermediate transfer member contacts non-marking toner particles in some areas which receive marking toner. The marking toner comprises toner particles having transfer assisting particles adhering to the surfaces of the toner particles, said transfer assisting particles having a number average diameter of less than 0.4 .mu.m.

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: A multicolor image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a first image forming condition controller for reducing the amount of toner to deposit on a photoconductive element, and therefore the amount of toner to deposit on character images. This reduces the fall of a transfer electric field ascribable to a toner layer. After an upstream image forming devices with respect to the direction of rotation of the photoconductive element has formed a toner image on the element, a second image forming condition controller again charges the toner image before transfer by use of a charger included in a downstream image forming device. This increases the amount of charge to deposit on the toner image without resorting to any extra device. A third image forming condition controller means increases a voltage or a current to be applied to a contact type transfer device, thereby enhancing desirable transfer of the toner image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus transfers a toner image formed on a photoconductive member onto transfer paper by passing the photoconductive member consecutively beside a main charger, exposure unit, developer unit, pre-transfer charger, transfer charger, and charge remover. During image formation under conditions with temperature or humidity lower than a predetermined level, the pre-transfer charger is deactivated.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for glossing certain areas of a substrate. In particular, highlight images are created by incorporating in some of the images on a substrate a clear polymer material thereby providing them with a larger mass thereby resulting in a higher gloss than those images on the same substrate which do not contain the additional clear polymer.

Abstract: Developed image noise is reduced by momentarily breaking the close range forces holding toner non-uniformly to a charge retentive surface in an electrostatic image. The source of the image noise can be of a mechanical nature, such as, raking by carrier beads in conventional two component development. The short range forces are broken by applying ultrasonic vibration to the charge retentive surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a charger which applies a voltage of the same polarity as a toner image formed on an intermediate transfer member onto an upstream side of a first transfer portion at which the intermediate transfer member faces an image bearing member, as well as a transfer electrode which applies a bias voltage of an opposite polarity to the toner image onto a downstream side of the first transfer portion. On an upstream side of a second transfer portion at which the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer member is transferred by a transfer roller onto a transfer sheet with respect to a sheet transporting direction, a bias voltage applying device is provided which applies to the transfer sheet a voltage of an opposite polarity to the toner image and greater than a surface potential of the intermediate transfer member at the second transfer portion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a desired image on a receiver are disclosed. The method comprises transferring marking toner particles from an intermediate transfer member to a receiver in the presence of an electric field which urges the marking toner particles toward the receiver. When transferring the marking toner particles to the intermediate transfer member, the surface of the intermediate transfer member contacts non-marking toner particles in some areas which receive marking toner particles. The intermediate transfer member comprises a blanket layer having a Young's modulus of about 10.sup.8 Newtons/m.sup.2 or less.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a toner images are sequentially formed on an image carrier by toner of a plurality of colors. The toner images of different colors are sequentially transferred to a single transfer member one above the other to complete a color image. According to the number of colors that are to be transferred to the transfer member one above the other, the toner images on the image carrier are controllably discharged before the images are transferred to the transfer member. In addition, the toner images on the image carrier are controllably discharged according to whether the image originates from a computer or scanner.

Abstract: The scavenging of a first toner into a second toning station in a DAD-CAD or CAD-DAD process can be reduced by allowing scavenged toner to deposit in the background of single color images. The polarity of the first toner of the scavenged toner is not changed prior to transfer and remains on the image member through transfer from which it is later cleaned. Alternatively, scavenged toner is deposited from a second toning station on the image member while no images are being made and allowed to pass through transfer to be cleaned off.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes image forming device for forming an image on a recording material, the image forming device including an image bearing member, a charging member for charging the image bearing member and a voltage source for supplying a voltage to the charging member; and determining device for determining a substantial intersection between an actual voltage-current characteristic curve between the charging member and the image bearing member and a predetermined voltage-current curve predetermined for the charging member, and for determining a bias to be applied to the charging member during image forming operation of the basis of the intersection.

Abstract: A system for assisting the transfer of a toner image formed by electrostatographic apparatus and process to a copy sheet. The transfer assistance system and process utilize drop generators to form a release liquid pattern for joining with such toner image and a supply mechanism delivers release material, e.g., heat wax material, to the drop generators. In a preferred mode release liquid is applied, in a patterns customized to toner patterns, to an intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: image forming mechanisms for forming a toner image on a recording material at a recording position, a convey mechanism having a recording material bearing member for bearing the recording material for conveying the recording material to the recording position, a first cleaning device having a brush-shaped cleaning member slidingly contacted with a surface of the recording material bearing member for cleaning the surface of the recording material bearing member, and a second cleaning device having an oil absorber member abutted against the surface of the recording material bearing member for cleaning the surface of the recording material bearing member. The oil absorber member is abutted against the surface of the recording material bearing member at a side opposite to a side where the toner is scattered due to the sliding contact between the brush-shaped cleaning member and the surface of the recording material bearing member.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, an exposing device electrostatically forms a latent image on an image carrier while a developing device develops the latent image with toner to thereby form a corresponding toner image. An image transferring device transfers the toner image to a sheet in contact with the image carrier. A pretransfer lamp discharges the image carrier before the transfer of the toner image to the sheet. A bias applying device applies a bias voltage at the time of the image transfer. A cleaning device removes the toner remaining on the image carrier after the image transfer. A toner conveying device conveys the toner removed by the cleaning device to the developing device. The bias applying device applies the bias voltage only when the sheet exists between the image carrier and the transferring device.

Abstract: Charging devices which are used for charging and transfer and for charging and pretransfer in color electrophotographic printing. A charging device is used for charging a photoreceptor in preparation for exposure and also for pretransfer charging of a composite color image to ensure that all toner particles have the correct polarity. A subsequent charging device is used for charging the photoreceptor and for transferring a composite color image onto a substrate.

Abstract: In a multi-color imaging method and apparatus utilizing a charging step between two image creation steps, a corona generating device performs two different functions in different passes of the photoreceptor. The printing system may be a single pass system where all of the colors are developed in a single pass or a multi-pass system where each color is developed in a separate pass. The charging step may have more than one charging application as in a split recharge system.

Abstract: A method for forming an image on a final substrate which includes forming a liquid toner image on a surface using a liquid developer comprising carrier liquid and charged tuner particles, electrostatically transferring the liquid toner image to an intermediate transfer member coated with a release coating and transferring the liquid toner image to a final substrate.