Abstract: An electrophotographic toner for visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed by an electrophotographic process, an electrostatic printing process, an electrostatic recording process, etc., which is produced in consideration of the environment and safety. The electrophotographic toner includes a fixing resin and a colorant. The electrophotographic toner is a black toner using a titanium compound containing no carbon black as the colorant. The electrophotographic toner may be an electrophotographic two-component black toner using magnetic iron oxide containing no carbon black as the colorant.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cleaning member including melamine resin foam in at least a portion that contacts an object to be cleaned. A charging device and a transfer device including the cleaning member are provided as well. An image forming apparatus including at least the cleaning member is also provided. In the image forming apparatus the cleaning member cleans at least one of a charge roll of the charging device, an image carrier, and a transfer roll of the transfer device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and method using a toner containing toner particles having a coefficient of shape falling within a range of 1.0 to 1.6 of an amount of at least 65% by number, and having no protrusion of an amount of at least 50% by number, the image forming apparatus including a charging device for uniformly charging a photoreceptor, a developing device for developing an image obtained by imagewise exposure with the toner, a transfer device for transferring a toner image onto a transfer material, a fixing device for fixing, and a cleaning device for cleaning the photoreceptor after the transfer of a toner image, wherein when a toner image which is not to be transferred is formed on the photoreceptor, image formation is performed after cleaning is done a plurality of times for an area on which the toner image has been formed in the previous process.

Abstract: A cleaning system and a cleaning method is provided with a cleaning medium comprising a magnetic substance and a magnetic field generating device for applying a magnetic force to the magnetic substance in the cleaning medium so that the magnetic substance and the area to be cleaned are rubbed together. The area to be cleaned is cleaned by the rubbing action of the cleaning medium. The interior of the cleaned object not reachable by hands or instruments can be easily cleaned with this device. The cleaning medium, made of a magnetic substance, is guided into the interior of the cleaned object. The magnetic field generating device generates a magnetic field in the cleaning medium and thereby applies a force to the magnetic substance. By rubbing the magnetic substance on the inner wall surface of the area to be clean, the object can be cleaned efficiently.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus which is compact and inexpensive, and which allows cleaning of a final transfer member. The image. forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member; an image forming unit that forms a toner image on the surface of the image bearing member; an intermediate transfer device formed by at least one intermediate transfer member, and which is in contact with the image bearing member; a final transfer member which is in contact with the intermediate transfer member; a cleaning member which is in contact with the intermediate transfer member; and a control unit that controls the potential gradient between the image bearing member, the intermediate transfer member, the final transfer member, and the cleaning member, in which the control unit forms in an image formation mode a potential gradient for image formation which causes reverse-polarity. toner on the final transfer member to adhere to the cleaning member by way of the intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: A cleaning device according to the present invention has first seals and a second seal adhered so as to partly overlap each other for sealing a space between a housing of the cleaning device and the surface of a photoreceptive member. The first seals include seal bases and a flocked sheet layered on the seal bases. The portion of the seal base where the second seal overlaps is made smaller in thickness than the portion of the seal base where the second seal does not overlap. Therefore, no step is formed in the overlapped portion, thereby preventing toner leakage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner image forming portion for forming a toner image on a first image bearing member, a first transferring portion for transferring, onto a second image bearing member, the toner image on the first image bearing member, a second transferring portion for transferring, onto a transferring material, the toner image on the second image bearing member, a cleaning unit including a cleaning member abutting on the surface of the second image bearing member, and a transferring material recognizing portion for recognizing a type of the transferring material. The toner image forming portion forms a toner image for cleaning on the first image bearing member in accordance with information about a type of the transferring material that is recognized by the transferring material recognizing portion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming an image is provided by visualizing a latent image on a photosensitive member with a toner having an electrical resistance, transferring the visualized image to an image recording medium, cleaning with a cleaning blade a residual toner adhering to a surface of the photosensitive member after the transfer of the latent image to the image recording medium, and charge injecting a biasing voltage of a predetermined magnitude to the residual toner with a conductive polyester film, whereby at least part of a surface potential of the photosensitive member is removed. The conductive polyester film is fixedly attached to a tip end of the cleaning blade.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a driver for driving the image bearing member; a latent image forming device for forming an electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member; a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member with a developer; a cleaning member, contacted to the image bearing member, for cleaning a surface of the image bearing member; a vibration imparting device for vibrating the cleaning member; and a controller for causing the latent image forming means to form an electrostatic pattern for attracting the developer deposited on the cleaning member and for causing the device to move the electrostatic pattern to a contact portion where the cleaning member is contacted to the image bearing member.

Abstract: A photosensitive belt cleaning roller is constructed to discharge residual toner, removed from a photosensitive belt onto an intermediate transferring belt. Accordingly, the residual toner on the photosensitive belt is first removed by the photosensitive belt cleaning roller, is discharged from the photosensitive belt cleaning roller onto the intermediate transferring belt, and is then finally removed from the intermediate transferring belt by the intermediate transferring belt cleaning unit. Accordingly, it is possible to efficiently collect residual toner remaining on the first and second image bearing bodies into a single, common place.

Abstract: In order not to expel toner excessively when bias is applied, a cleanerless image forming apparatus includes a first developer charge amount controlling device 7, provided on a downstream side of a transfer device 5 in a moving direction of an image bearing member 1, e.g. a photosensitive drum, for applying a DC bias for making uniform a charge amount of residual developer remaining on the image bearing member 1, and/or a second developer charge amount controlling device 8, provided on a downstream side of the first developer charge amount controlling device 7 in a rotating direction of the image bearing member 1, for applying a DC bias for charging the residual developer in a normal polarity. An absolute value of a slope of the DC voltage applied to the first developer charge amount controlling device 7 and/or an absolute value of a slope of the DC voltage applied to the second developer charge amount controlling device 8 are equal to 2000 V/sec or smaller.

Abstract: An electrostatic image forming apparatus is disclosed. The image forming apparatus contains a toner used in the developing means having saturated moisture content at a temperature of 30° C. and a relative humidity of 80% of within the range of from 0.1 to 2.0% by weight, and the photoreceptor contains a siloxane resin having an electric charge transfer ability and a crosslinked structure in the surface layer.

Abstract: Convexity-cleaning method and device for removing toner adhering to a convexity or convexities of an irregular surface of a non-fixing type image receiving sheet. When removing the toner, a contact surface of a cleaning member is brought into contact with the convexity or convexities, the irregular surface is moved relatively to the cleaning member at a first surface moving speed, the contact surface of the cleaning member is moved at a second surface moving speed, and a difference is made between the first and second surface moving speeds.

Abstract: An imaging system that includes a photoreceptor belt capable of having an electrostatic latent image recorded thereon, a group of developing stations capable of developing a color image on the photoreceptor, and at least one charging means and at least one exposing means to prepare the photoreceptor for desired conditions, such as creating a cleaning patch to remove toner from a toner support member associated with one of the plurality of developing stations.

Abstract: An end seal for use in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus uses an array of ridges (or grooves) to urge toner inwardly so as to help prevent toner escape. The end seal works in conjunction with a cleaning blade. The end seal includes a blade pocket for mating with the end portions of the cleaning blade and a middle portion having an array of ridges thereon. The ridges are angled inward to urge any toner trapped therebetween inward away from the end seals, where the toner can be directed to a waste reservoir in a normal fashion. This “snowplowing” action of the ridges helps prevent outward migration of toner, thereby minimizing toner escape. The end seal may be composed of two or more layers of differing materials. There may be an end seal at each end of the cleaner blade.

Abstract: This invention provides an image-forming machine with a conditioned cleaning system, which may have a photoconductor, one or more chargers, a toning station, and a cleaning station. Toner is applied to image areas and toner lubrication areas on the photoconductor. The toner essentially provides a lubricating or protective barrier between the cleaning station and the photoconductor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cleaning member including melamine resin foam in at least a portion that contacts an object to be cleaned. A charging device and a transfer device including the cleaning member are provided as well. An image forming apparatus including at least the cleaning member is also provided. In the image forming apparatus the cleaning member cleans at least one of a charge roll of the charging device, an image carrier, and a transfer roll of the transfer device.

Abstract: An air suction manifold device for removal of fibers/debris from the photoreceptor surface, which may otherwise attach to the development electrode wires causing a print defect(s). The device incorporating a secondary channel perpendicular to the main channel, formed by the manifold flange(s) proximity to the photoreceptor surface. The secondary channel supplying a specific volume of air at a specific mean velocity in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the main channel. The volume and velocity of secondary channel air being of such magnitude that it crosses the main channel gap and impinges on the photoreceptor surface, causing a zone of maximum shear stress prior to completely mixing with the main channel air. The maximum sheer stress zone resulting in improved fiber/debris removal performance from the photoreceptor surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; driving means for driving the image bearing member; latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member; developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member with a developer; a cleaning member, contacted to the image bearing member, for cleaning a surface of the image bearing member; vibration imparting means for vibrating the cleaning member; control means for causing the latent image forming means to form an electrostatic latent image pattern for electrostatically attracting the developer deposited on the cleaning member and for causing the driving means to move the electrostatic latent image pattern to a contact portion where the cleaning member is contacted to the image bearing member.

Abstract: A first paper-dust removing device is provided to mainly remove pulp fibers of the paper dust. The first paper-dust removing device is located downstream from a transfer position in the photosensitive drum rotating direction. A second paper-dust removing device is provided to mainly remove talc in the paper dust. The second paper-dust removing device may be located downstream from the first paper dust removing device in the photosensitive drum rotating direction or upstream from the transfer position in the sheet conveying direction along the sheet transport path. An additional first paper-dust removing device may be located upstream from the transfer position in the sheet conveying direction along the sheet transport path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus using a toner containing toner particles having a coefficient of shape falling within a range of 1.0 to 1.6 of an amount of at least 65% by number, and having no protrusion of an amount of at least 50% by number, the image forming apparatus including a charging device for uniformly charging a photoreceptor, a developing device for developing an image obtained by imagewise exposure with the toner, a transfer device for transferring a toner image onto a transfer material, a fixing device for fixing, and a cleaning device for cleaning the photoreceptor after the transfer of a toner image, wherein when a toner image which is not to be transferred is formed on the photoreceptor, image formation is performed after cleaning is done a plurality of times for an area on which the toner image has been formed in the previous process.

Abstract: A toner is used in an image-forming apparatus that incorporates a toner-collecting member. The toner-collecting member collects residual toner on a surface of an image-bearing body. The toner includes a spherical toner having at least a binder resin, and an irregularly-shaped particles mixed with the spherical toner. The irregularly shaped particle has an average diameter in the range of 1-50 &mgr;m. The average diameter is 14 to 10% of the diameter of a spot printed by the image-forming apparatus. The irregularly shaped particle is a toner having the same color as the spherical toner. The irregularly shaped particle is a colorless toner. The irregularly shaped particle is charged opposite in polarity to the spherical toner. The irregularly has a roundness of 0.85 or less.

Abstract: This invention provides an image-forming machine with a conditioned cleaning system, which may have a photoconductor, one or more chargers, a toning station, and a cleaning station. Toner is applied to image areas and toner lubrication areas on the photoconductor. The toner essentially provides a lubricating or protective barrier between the cleaning station and the photoconductor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing an electrostatic image. A developing device develops the electrostatic image on the image bearing member by toners charged with a predetermined polarity. A transfer device transfers a toner image on the image bearing member to a transferring material. An electrifying device inject-charges the image bearing member having transfer residual toners. An electrical conductive member provided and spaced apart from the image bearing member in a moving direction of the image bearing member downstream farther than the transfer means and upstream farther than the electrifying device. An electrical field forming device for forming an alternative electrical field between the electrical conductive member and the image bearing member.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus which has an image bearing member developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member with developer, cleaning device for removing residual developer on the image bearing member by contacting with the image bearing member at a cleaning position, charging applying device for applying charge of polarity opposite to normal charging polarity of the developer to the developer before the developer applied to the image bearing member is carried to the cleaning position, wherein a developer image formed on the image bearing member by the developing device is transferred onto a transfer material and wherein the developing device applies developer to an area of the image bearing member which is not contacted with the transfer material, and the developer is carried to the cleaning position by the image bearing member.

Abstract: A process for forming an image uses a transfer fixing process that can maintain high image quality for a long period of time. The process contains the steps of: transferring a toner image formed on the image bearing member to an intermediate transfer member; simultaneously transferring and fixing the toner image on the intermediate transfer member to a recording medium; the process containing a cleaning step of supplying and removing a cleaning material to the intermediate transfer member, so as to clean a surface of the intermediate transfer member, the cleaning material containing at least powder of a thermoplastic resin having a volume average particle diameter of about from 1 to 50 &mgr;m, and the cleaning material having a storage modulus of about from 1×103 to 1×105 Pa at a temperature, at which the cleaning material has a loss modulus of 1×104 Pa.

Abstract: A motion-defect-free assembly and a method of minimizing cleaning apparatus induced motion quality disturbances in a moving belt photoreceptor of a toner image reproduction machine are provided. The assembly for practicing the method includes at least one resilient member located to each side of the moving belt photoreceptor at a desired belt cleaning station along a path of movement of the belt photoreceptor, and a cleaning apparatus that is mounted at the cleaning station and that includes at least one separately moveable cleaning member. The cleaning apparatus also includes a moveable frame having frame locating members, and the at least one separately moveable cleaning member.

Abstract: A process for forming an image uses a transfer fixing process that can maintain high image quality for a long period of time. The process contains the steps of: transferring a toner image formed on the image bearing member to an intermediate transfer member; simultaneously transferring and fixing the toner image on the intermediate transfer member to a recording medium; the process containing a cleaning step of supplying and removing a cleaning material to the intermediate transfer member, so as to clean a surface of the intermediate transfer member, the cleaning material containing at least powder of a thermoplastic resin having a volume average particle diameter of about from 1 to 50 &mgr;m, and the cleaning material having a storage modulus of about from 1×103 to 1×105 Pa at a temperature, at which the cleaning material has a loss modulus of 1×104 Pa.

Abstract: A cleaning element (1) for use in the fuser section of electrostatographic reproduction or printing apparatus. The element includes projections projecting from an outer surface to form a pile (5). The cross section of each projection has a cross section having a peripheral dimension and an area. The ratio of the peripheral dimension and area is greater than the same ratio for a projection of circular or substantially circular and equal area of cross section. The projections may be formed by tri-lobal fibres.

Abstract: A lubricity-imparting unit for imparting lubricity to a surface of an electrophotographic photoconductor, which is in contact with the surface of the photoconductor, wherein at least a surface of the lubricity-imparting unit which comes into contact with the surface of the photoconductor includes a flexible lubricating material, and has a length at least capable of covering an image formation region of the electrophotographic photoconductor lengthwise. An image formation apparatus and an image formation method using this lubricity-imparting unit are described.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus allowing an image carrier included therein to be desirably cleaned is disclosed. A developing device uses a developing liquid consisting of a carrier liquid and toner dispersed therein. A toner image produced by the developing device is transferred to an intermediate image transfer belt. A cleaning roller cleans the surface of the intermediate image transfer belt after the transfer of the toner image to a paper sheet or similar recording medium. A liquid cleaning device feeds a cleaning liquid to the cleaning roller. The developing liquid may be replaced with a dry developer containing at least powdery toner.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus which includes an image formation unit for performing image formation by developing a latent image formed on an image support body in a printing job with use of a development unit and by transferring the developed image onto a fed recording medium, a collection unit for collecting a residual development agent on the image support body into the development unit, a detection unit for detecting a density of the image formed on the image support body, and a control unit for causing the collection unit to perform the residual development agent collection operation, according to the number of image formation of which image density detected by the detection unit exceeds a predetermined image density is provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic photograph forming apparatus including a supplying roller, a developing roller, a charging roller, a laser scanning unit (LSU), a transferring roller, an organic photoconductive (OPC) drum, a pre-transfer lamp (PTL), a controller, and a power supply. The organic photoconductive drum is charged by the charging roller. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the organic photoconductive drum by the laser scanning unit, and the electrostatic latent image is changed into a visible image by toner supplied from the developing roller. The pre-transfer lamp reduces the attached force of toner attached to the organic photoconductive drum to a predetermined level. The controller varies the voltage of the transferring roller according to a predetermined standard so that toner remaining on the transferring roller is transferred to the organic photoconductive drum while the organic photoconductive drum and the transferring roller are raced.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having at least: an image carrying member for carrying an electrostatic latent image, the image carrying member having a photosensitive layer on a conductive substrate; a developer for developing the electrostatic latent image carrying member on the image carrying member; a developer carrying member for carrying the developer and conveying it to a development area; a control member making contact with the developer carrying member for controlling the coating amount of the developer; and a cleaning member for cleaning the surface of the photosensitive layer of the image carrying member by making contact with the surface of the image carrying member with a contact pressure of 0.15N (15 gf) to 0.89N (90 gf). The photosensitive layer contains at least one kind of polycarbonate resin (I) having a viscosity average molecular weight of 1.5×104 or less and at least one kind of polycarbonate resin (II) having a viscosity average molecular weight of more than 1.

Abstract: An apparatus which cleans particles from a tracking region on a photoconductive drum. A spacer maintains the spacing between the photoconductive drum and a developer roller substantially constant. The spacer contacts the photoconductive drum in the tracking region. The cleaning member, mounted on a transfer roller, removes particles adhering to the tracking region so as to ensure that there is no build up of particles in the tracking region changing the spacing between the photoconductive drum and the developer roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an intermediate transfer member, an image forming device for forming a toner image on the intermediate transfer member wherein the toner image on the intermediate transfer member is transferred to a transfer material, a charging member for charging the intermediate transfer member by contacting the intermediate transfer member, wherein discharge is performed between the charging member and the intermediate transfer member by a voltage in which the direct current voltage and the alternating current voltage are superimposed applied to the charging member when the intermediate transfer member is charged by the charging member, and a control device for controlling the voltage applied to the charging member, wherein the control device stops the supply of the alternating current voltage to the charging member after the peak-to-peak voltage applied to the charging member is attenuated.

Abstract: The current methods and systems for cleaning residual ultra-fine spherical toner from an image forming surface discloses the application of aspherical toner to a cleaning blade. The aspherical toner is generally larger than the ultra-fine spherical toner which provides a superior image on an image-carrying medium. According to one preferred embodiment of the current invention, the aspherical black toner is placed in a predetermined area outside of a desired image area where the ultra-fine spherical toner in multiple colors is placed. The aspherical toner is transported to the cleaning blade before the multi-color toner reaches the cleaning blade. Since the aspherical toner applied at a contacting edge of the cleaning blade provide an effective seal or trap between the cleaning blade and the image forming surface, the ultra-fine spherical toner is effectively removed from the image forming surface.

Abstract: A sealing member for a cleaning container for containing a developer removed from an electrophotographic photosensitive drum by a cleaning member contacting the photosensitive drum, includes a developer leakage preventing portion for preventing leakage of the developer from the cleaning container, leakage preventing portion being in contact with one longitudinal end portion of the cleaning member; a developer removing portion for removing the developer from the photosensitive drum, wherein the developer removing portion contacts the photosensitive drum at a position across the photosensitive drum from a spacer for providing a predetermined gap between the photosensitive drum and a developing roller for supplying a developer to the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: Electrostatic printing machines require different types of paper with different width and thickness. In relation to the paper thickness and width is a phenomenon called the End Leakage Current Effect whereby highly positive voltage can be found in the non-paper contact area of a photoreceptor surface after the transfer stage. The paper transfer stage is when the paper touches the photoreceptor and an image is transferred onto the paper. This effect can result in cleaning failure and potential non-uniformity on the photoreceptor surface. The extent of the end leakage current effect depends on the thickness and width of the paper to which the image is being transferred. Adjusting the pre-clean corotron current based on paper thickness and width provides a remedy for the end leakage effect. Sufficient corona treatment can be provided to the residual toner to enable proper cleaning of the photoreceptor when the pre-clean corotron current is adjusted accordingly.

Abstract: A self-cleaning pulley device includes a cylindrical member including a body portion having an outer surface; a series of spaced apart recesses formed from the outer surface into the body portion, each recess of the series of recesses having a root portion, and the series of recesses defining a series of spaced apart ridges projecting above root portions for engaging corresponding recesses of a belt mounted on the body portion for movement over the cylindrical member. Importantly, the self-cleaning pulley device includes a series of dirt apertures formed at least one within each root portion of each recess for collecting any dirt particles and contamination entering into an area between the body portion of the cylindrical member and a belt mounted thereon, thereby self-cleaning the pulley device, eliminating noise and preventing functional inefficiencies in a belt and pulley assembly using the pulley device.

Abstract: A method for cleaning an image-forming apparatus. Toner is charged to the first polarity prior to transferring the toner image to the print medium and accidentally inverted from the first polarity to a second polarity opposite to the first polarity during the transfer of the toner image to the print medium. When performing a cleaning operation, a first voltage of a first polarity is applied to at least one of a charging roller and a cleaning roller in contact with a surface of a photoconductor. The surface of the photoconductor is charged to a second voltage. The second voltage has a smaller value than the first voltage and is of the same polarity as the first voltage. Therefore, the toner of the second polarity sandwiched between the charged surface of the photoconductor and the at least one of the charging roller and cleaning roller is inverted in polarity, i.e., from the second polarity to the first polarity by triboelectric charging.

Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic image has toner particles containing at least a binder resin and a colorant, and an inorganic fine powder. The inorganic fine powder has been treated with a silicone oil having, in its molecular weight distribution as measured by gel permeation chromatography, at least one peak value in the region of molecular weight of from 500 to 15,000 and having at least one peak value or shoulder in the region of molecular weight of from 3,000 to 100,000 at a value greater than the former peak value.

Abstract: A printer or copier has an intermediate carrier for applying toner to the recording medium. Used toner is scraped off the intermediate carrier and carried away by a conveyor helix. The conveyor helix is of a spring wire and a resistance element is provided extending between coils of the conveyor helix to intermittently catch and release the spring wire so as to cause wobbling of the conveyor helix and prevent sticking of the used toner.

Abstract: The process cartridge has a rotatable member having an electrophotographic photosensitive layer, the rotatable member having an abut surface against which a spacer for keeping a distance between the electrophotographic photosensitive layer and a spacer opposed thereto at a predetermined value, a process device acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive layer, and a raised fabric-like cleaning member abutted against the abut surface. The raised fabric-like cleaning member includes fibers of which distal ends are bent and inclined in a direction counter to a rotational direction of the drum-like rotatable member. The raised fabric-like cleaning member stores toner removed from the drum-like rotatable member therein.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a movable recording medium bearing member, an image forming device for forming an image on the image bearing member with a developer having an additive and a cleaning device having a cleaning member which makes a contact with the image bearing member for cleaning thereof at a cleaning station. The apparatus further includes a transferring device for transferring the image from the image bearing member to a recording medium. A processing device is mounted between the transfer station and the cleaning station for processing the additive that has not been transferred but still remains on the image bearing member such that one component of the additive remains on the image bearing member and another component of the additive is removed.

Abstract: A developer carrying member is comprised of a substrate and a coat layer which covers the surface of the substrate. The coat layer contains at least a binder resin, conductive spherical particles having a number average particle diameter of from 0.3 .mu.m to 30 .mu.m and a true density of 3 g/cm.sup.3 or below, and a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound, the particles and the compound being dispersed in the binder resin.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus of the type including a movable belt and a cleaning blade for cleaning the belt, a toner image on the form of an exclusive line is formed on an image carrier between sheets and the transferred to the belt so as to feed toner to the edge of the cleaning blade. The toner prevents the edge of the cleaning blade from being turned over by the belt. The toner is fed to the cleaning blade in amounts different in the widthwise direction of the belt and can therefore be controlled in amount in the above direction.

Abstract: A method of cleaning is used to remove residual toner in an electrophotographic printer. After a printing operation, some amount of normally-charged toner and reversely-charged toner is left on the photoconductive drum and rollers such as charging rollers, transfer roller, and cleaning roller in contact with the photoconductive drum. A potential difference is applied between two members, for example, the cleaning roller and the photoconductive drum in electrical contact with each other so as to cause the residual toner to migrate from one member to the other. The potential differences are applied at specific timings so that the residual toner migrates properly onto the rotating photoconductive drum and is carried to the developing section for reuse.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for removing an image forming substance such as toner from an image holding member such as a sheet of transfer paper, an unstabilizing agent is provided to the image holding member. An attaching state between the image forming substance and the image holding member stably attaching the image forming substance on a surface thereof is changed to an unstable state by the unstabilizing agent. The image forming substance is separated and removed from the image holding member by making a separating member come in close contact with the image forming substance on the image holding member having the provided unstabilizing agent. A processing situation mark showing a processing situation of removal of the image forming substance is formed in the image holding member. The processing situation mark can be removed from the image holding member by the image forming substance removing processing.

Abstract: A predetermined processing liquid is supplied by a liquid supplying unit to a sheet of transfer paper having a surface on which toner is stably attached. An adhesive state of the toner on the transfer paper sheet is changed to an unstable adhesive state. The processing liquid is constructed by water, aqueous solutions of a surfactant, a water-soluble polymer, etc. The transfer paper sheet including the processing liquid is fed to a toner separating unit. While the toner is heated and pressurized in the toner separating unit, the toner is attached to a separating roller having a surface on which the softened toner is easily attached. The toner separating unit then separates only the transfer paper sheet from the surface of the separating roller by a separating claw. The processing liquid is removed from the transfer paper sheet by heating the transfer paper sheet, etc. using a drying unit such that the transfer paper sheet can be reused for a copying machine, etc.