Abstract: A charging member includes a substrate and an outermost layer that is on the substrate, is in contact with a member to be charged, and contains a cross-linking fluorocarbon siloxane rubber composition, wherein the charging member charges the member to be charged by being brought into contact with the member to be charged while a voltage is applied.

Abstract: To provide a charging member that can have a uniform electrical resistance, can not easily change in electrical resistance even by any long-term continuous electrification and, as a result thereof, may cause less change in its charging performance with time. A charging member having a conductive support and an elastic-material layer; the elastic-material layer comprising a vulcanized rubber; the vulcanized rubber being a vulcanized product of a composition which comprises i) a binder polymer comprising a polymer having a butadiene skeleton and ii) carbon black as electrically conductive particles; and the polymer having a butadiene skeleton has a molecular terminal modified with an atomic group having a specific structure.

Abstract: A charged particle generator includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an insulating material that is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode. Charged particles are generated by discharge that occurs between the first and the second electrodes. The first electrode, the insulating material, and the second electrode are arranged in a first direction. The second electrode has a shape that does not intersect a path along which the charged particles move in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a CO2 laser-transparent material having a mark on the surface thereof and the method for making the same. The method includes the following steps: providing a first substrate, which has a top surface and a bottom surface; providing a second substrate which has a top surface; putting the bottom surface of the first substrate on the top surface of the second substrate; irradiating a CO2 laser beam to the top surface of the second substrate by passing through the top surface and the bottom surface of the first substrate; and forming a mark on the bottom surface of the first substrate. The material of the mark is oxide of the second substrate or the same as the material of the second substrate. Whereby the cheap CO2 laser is utilized to form the mark on the first substrate, and the mark can be erased easily by a proper chemical for recycling the first substrate.

Abstract: A charging member is disclosed having a support and at least one cover layer provided on the support., The cover layer has an outermost layer of the cover layer placed at the outermost surface of the charging member; the outermost layer contains i) composite particles composed of first metal oxide particles coated with carbon black, ii) second metal oxide particles and iii) a binder.

Abstract: A composition utilized in and a method for forming an electrode used in field emission type of display devices said composition is a photosensitive copper conductive composition comprising: a mixture of (a) copper powder at least 70 wt % out of 100 wt % copper powders having a particle size in the range of 0.2-3 ?m and (b) an inorganic binder with a softening point in the range of 380-580° C. in an amount of 140 wt % based on 100 wt % copper powders, said mixture being dispersed in an organic vehicle comprising (c) an organic polymer binder, (d) a phototoinitiator, (e) a photohardenable monomer, and an organic solvent; and the photosensitive copper conductive composition being fireable at a temperature in the range of 450-600° C. in a reductive atmosphere.

Abstract: An elastic member of a semiconductive polymer comprising a conductive composition containing a conductive polymer and binder polymer, wherein the elastic member satisfies both characteristics of (A) a variation of 1.5 digit or less between the electrical resistance at an applied voltage of 1V and the electrical resistance at an applied voltage of 133V under an environment of 25° C. and 50% RH, and (B) a variation of one digit or less between the electrical resistance at an applied voltage of 10V under an environment of 15° C. and 10% RH and the electrical resistance at an applied voltage of 10V under an environment of 35° C. and 85% RH.

Abstract: The invention is directed to self-regenerative, polymeric coatings and methods of using the coatings in xerography to increase the life and effectiveness of catalytic surfaces, such as, for example, charging device surfaces, by neutralizing ozone and nitrogen oxide species.

Abstract: In an image forming system, an image-bearing member having a photoconductor layer comprising an Si-based non-single crystal material is charged at a relatively low potential of 250 to 600 volts by a contact charging member in the presence of electroconductive fine powder. An electrostatic latent image formed on the image-bearing member is developed with a magnetic toner which includes magnetic toner particles comprising at least a binder resin and a magnetic iron oxide, and inorganic fine powder and electroconductive fine powder present at the surface of the magnetic toner particles. The magnetic toner has a weight-average particle size of 3-10 ?m and an average circularity of 0.950 to 0.995, and contains 0.05 to 3.00% of isolated iron-containing particles.

Abstract: A charging apparatus has a movable image bearing member, a first charging member for charging the image bearing member, and a second charging member provided upstream of the first charging member with respect to the direction of movement of the image bearing member, the second charging member having an elastic rotary member rubbing against the image bearing member.

Abstract: A charging apparatus has a movable image bearing member, a first charging member for charging the image bearing member, and a second charging member provided upstream of the first charging member with respect to the direction of movement of the image bearing member, the second charging member having an elastic rotary member rubbing against the image bearing member.

Abstract: A magnetic toner comprising magnetic toner particles containing at least a binder resin, a magnetic material containing a magnetic iron oxide, and a release agent. The magnetic toner has a weight-average particle diameter of from 3 &mgr;m to 10 &mgr;m, a magnetization intensity (saturation magnetization) of from 10 Am2/kg to 50 Am2/kg (emu/g) under application of a magnetic field of 79.6 kA/m (1,000 oersteds), an average circularity of 0.970 or more, a ratio of weight-average particle diameter to number-average particle diameter, of 1.40 or less, iron and an iron compound which stand liberated from the magnetic toner particles at a liberation percentage of from 0.05% to 3.00%, and a resin component having a tetrahydrofuran-insoluble matter in an amount of from 3% by weight to 60% by weight. Also disclosed is an image-forming method making use of the magnetic toner.

Abstract: Magnetic particles for charging means disposed in contact with an electrophotographic photosensitive member for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member based on a voltage applied thereto are provided as particles of a ferrite component represented by the following formula (1): (Fe2O3)X(A)Y(B)Z  (1), wherein A denotes at least one metal oxide component selected from the group consisting of Li2O, MnO and MgO, B denotes at least one metal oxide component different from A; X, Y and Z denote numbers representing mol ratios and satisfying the following conditions: 0.2<X<0.95, 0.01<Y<0.5, X+Y≦1, and 0≦Z<0.79. The magnetic particles show an excellent charging performance, particularly in injection charging, without causing a difficulty, such as soiling or pinhole leakage of the photosensitive member.

Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic image is formed of toner particles; wherein each toner particle includes (i) 100 wt. parts of a binder resin having a glass transition point (Tg) of 50-70° C., (ii) 0.2-20 wt. parts of solid wax, and (iii) colorant particles or magnetic powder; (iv) lubricant particles carrying a liquid lubricant, so that the toner particle retains at its surface the liquid lubricant gradually released from the particles (iv). The toner may be further blended with an organically treated inorganic fine powder to provide a developer. The toner or developer retains good lubricity and releasability so that it is suitable to be used in an image forming method including means contacting a latent image-bearing means, such as a contact charging means, a contact transfer means or a contact cleaning means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method for dusting smooth or sheet-like products, comprising at least one duster for spraying an air/powder mixture on said products. In order to ensure efficient dusting with no dirt accumulation in the printer or the surrounding area, it is suggested that part of the powder particles be magnetized and means be provided for creating a magnetic field in the powder deposit area so that said powder particles are subjected to a force drawing them towards the product.

Abstract: To provide an image forming apparatus which can realize stable charging and development characteristics, with a high resistance provided on the photoreceptor side. A photoreceptor drum is laminated with a high-resistance layer, and with a photoreceptor layer. A charging roller is provided with a metal shaft on a photoreceptor support and it is laminated with a low-resistance layer. In the image forming apparatus, a condition, T/(Rp×&egr;p/dp)>2.3, is satisfied, where Rp (&OHgr;m2) is the resistance per unit area of the resistance layer in the perpendicular direction, T (sec) is a passage time of the charging nip at each point on a surface of the photoreceptor drum, &egr;p (F/m) is a dielectric constant of the photoreceptor layer, and dp (m) is a film thickness of the photoreceptor layer.

Abstract: A developer for developing an electrostatic latent image is formed from toner particles each comprising a binder resin and a colorant, inorganic fine powder having a number-average particle size of 4-80 nm based on primary particles, and electroconductive fine powder. The developer is characterized by having a number-basis particle size distribution in the range of 0.60-159.21 &mgr;m including 15-60% by number of particles in the range of 1.00-2.00 &mgr;m, and 15-70% by number of particles in the range of 3.00-8.96 &mgr;m, each particle size range including its lower limit and excluding its upper limit. As a result of inclusion an appropriate amount of the electroconductive fine powder represented by the particle size fraction of 1.00-2.

Abstract: An image forming method includes (i) a charging step of using a charging device including conductive magnetic particles, a rotatable conductive-magnetic-particle carrying member for carrying and conveying the conductive magnetic particles, and a plurality of magnetic-field generation means provided within the conductive-magnetic-particle carrying member, and charging a surface of an image bearing member by applying a voltage to the conductive-magnetic-particle carrying member and causing the conductive magnetic particles to contact the image bearing member, (ii) a latent-image forming step of forming an electrostatic latent image on the charged surface of the image bearing member, and (iii) a developing step of using a developing device facing the image bearing member and including a two-component developer including a toner and magnetic carrier particles, a developer carrying member for carrying the two-component developer, and a plurality of magnetic-field generation means provided within the developer carr

Abstract: The addition of a highly polarizable additive such as an organic anionic surfactant to an electrically active polymer improves the electrical properties of the polymer. When such an additive is added to an electroluminescent organic polymer this mixture can be used in diodes having an anode contacting a layer of this mixture as the active light-emitting layer and an air-stable metal cathode having a work function larger than 4 eV. The external efficiency and brightness versus voltage are significantly improved compared to results obtained with the same electroluminescent polymer used alone with high work function (>4.0 eV) metal cathodes.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus where the resistivity value of magnetic carrier in a developer of a two-component developing device is higher than that of magnetic particles for charging in a magnetic brush contact charger, the charging performance of the magnetic brush charging is prevented from being lowered even when the magnetic carrier is mixed into the magnetic brush contact charger, and thus, a satisfactory image without fog, unevenness in the image, and the like can be obtained for a long time even when it is applied to a cleanerless system according to the cleaning method simultaneous with developing.

Abstract: A charging member for amorphous silicon photoreceptors which can be supplied with a uniform and stable resistivity, exhibits an excellent durability and is insusceptible to variation of resistivity against environmental conditions, pinhole leak and contamination on the photoreceptors, showing a good quality and a long life. An electrophotographic charging member for charging a photoreceptor (preferably, mainly composed of amorphous silicon), which comprises a porous anodized aluminum film formed by anodically oxidizing a support the surface of which is made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. In the charging member, it is preferred that the pores in the porous anodized aluminum film be filled with a metal or an electrically conductive material made of an oxyacid salt of transition metal or pure water be attached to the inner wall of the pores in the porous anodized aluminum film. The charging member of the present invention may comprise a surface protective layer on the porous anodized aluminum film.

Abstract: A process for producing a lithographic printing plate which is inexpensive, is not elongated, can be readily handled and can provide a uniform image, is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of: using an original plate for lithographic printing comprising a support having a volume electric resistance of more than 1×1010 &OHgr;·cm, a conductive layer having a volume electric resistance of 1×105 &OHgr;·cm or less, provided on one surface of the support, and a photoconductive layer containing zinc oxide and a binder, provided on the conductive layer, conducting negative corona discharge from the side of the photoconductive layer of the original plate for lithographic printing, and during this corona discharge, contacting a conductor having earth potential with at least the support of the original plate, thereby charging the photoconductive layer of the original plate for lithographic printing.

Abstract: A charging device includes a charging member to which a voltage is applicable to charge a member to be charged, the charging member including a flexible member for forming a nip with the member to be charged, wherein the flexible member is moved to provide a speed difference between a surface of the member to be charged and a surface of the flexible member; wherein not less than 10.sup.2 /mm.sup.2 electroconductive particles are provided in the nip.

Abstract: A corona charging method of charging a chargeable material by corona charging in an ozone-generation hindering atmosphere including a non-ozone-generating gas, such as carbon dioxide. The corona charging method can be used, for example, in an image formation apparatus, in at least in one of a charging process, an image transfer process, or a charge quenching process for use therein.

Abstract: In an electrostatic printing apparatus, the residual image phenomenon conspicuously observed at low density printing can be eliminated while photo-deterioration of the photosensitive body is being suppressed to a minimum in a high speed printing process. A charging unit, a writing light source, a developing unit, a transfer unit, a first erase lamp, an AC discharging unit and a second erase lamp are arranged around a photosensitive drum. Therein, the light intensity of the erase lamp is strengthened when the density of a printed image is light and is weakened when the density of the printed image is dark. That is, by changing the light intensity of the erase lamps corresponding to a developing bias, the residual image phenomenon can be eliminated while suppressing deterioration of the photosensitive drum to a minimum.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing a lithographic printing plate using a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a support having a volume resistivity of more than 1.times.10.sup.10 .OMEGA..cm, an electrically conductive layer provided on one surface of the support and having a volume resistivity of 1.times.10.sup.5 .OMEGA..cm or less and a photoconductive layer provided on the electrically conductive layer and containing zinc oxide and a binder, the process comprising applying negative corona discharge to the lithographic printing plate precursor from the photoconductive layer side and at this discharging, contacting an electric conductor having an earth potential at least with the support of the lithographic printing plate precursor to electrically charging the photoconductive layer of the lithographic printing plate precursor.

Abstract: The invention provides a charging roller for electrically charging a photoconductor by placing the roller in contact with the photoconductor and applying voltage between them. The roller has an elastic shaft and an outermost layer of less than 30 .mu.m thick containing an aqueous fluorocarbon resin. The charging roller is effective for providing a constant supply of electric charge to the photoconductor and preventing residual toner from depositing onto the roller.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming method using an electrophotographic photoconductor includes the steps of charging the photoconductor to a predetermined polarity using a charger which may be disposed in contact with the photoconductor, exposing the charged photoconductor to light images to form latent electrostatic images thereon, developing the latent electrostatic images into visible images with a toner, and transferring the visible toner images formed on the photoconductor to an image receiving member using an image transfer charger which may be disposed in contact with the photoconductor, with the photoconductor comprising a surface top layer which contains a compound of formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a lower alkyl group; R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each independently methylene group which may have a substituent or ethylene group which may have a substituent; Ar.sup.1 and Ar.sup.

Abstract: Applied voltage to the contact charging sheet 71 has been controlled in the following various ways: a) the voltage at the photosensitive layer 10 at a point of time whereat it has passed the contact charging sheet 71 is caused to interlock with grid voltage so as not to exceed predetermined voltage to be electrified by the Scorotron charger 2; b) the applied voltage is caused to interlock with the output from the transfer unit 5 so that there is no portion which reaches the Scorotron charger 2 while the potential polarity has been reversed at the transfer unit 5; c) reduction in the film thickness of the photosensitive layer 10 is corrected in consideration of the cumulative number of sheets for image formation; d) the size of printing sheet is added; e) at the time of termination, a portion of the photosensitive layer 10, into which current has flowed at the transfer unit 5, is caused to stop always after passing the contact charging sheet 71; f) the contact charging sheet 71 is cleaned by means of AC compon

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus is constituted by an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging member, developing device and transfer device. The charging member is disposed contactable to the photosensitive member and supplied with a voltage so as to charge the photosensitive member. The photosensitive member includes a metal support, a photosensitive layer disposed on the support, and a surface layer disposed on the photosensitive layer. The surface layer has a volume resistivity of 1.times.10.sup.10 -1.times.10.sup.15 ohm.cm, and the metal support has a surface-oxidized film at its surface provided with the photosensitive layer. The use of the above surface layer and the above metal support in combination is effective in stably performing good injection charging.

Abstract: Disclosed is a toner for developing an electrostatic image. The toner comprises a binder resin and a wax, and the value of weight average molecular weight/number average molecular weight (Mw/Mn) of the wax is not more than 1.5.

Abstract: The present invention provides a contact charging device, in which a contact member for charging is in contact with a charge receiving member for charging the same while suppressing charging irregularity. The contact member has a surface to be in contact with the charge receiving member. This surface has a volume resistivity in a range from 1.times.10.sup.4 .OMEGA..multidot.cm to 1.times.10.sup.10 .OMEGA..multidot.cm, and has a surface resistivity in a range from 1.times.10.sup.5 .OMEGA./.quadrature. to 1.times.10.sup.10 .OMEGA./.quadrature..Alternatively, the contact member has a surface to be in contact with the charge receiving member. This surface of the contact member has a surface hardness which provides a scratch width of 1 .mu.m or less under scratch hardness test.

Abstract: The present invention describes a charging device pressed against the surface of a body to be charged in a state of being applied with a voltage so as to charge the body. The charging device includes an electrically conductive support to which a voltage is to be applied; an electrically conductive elastic body layer fixed on the electrically conductive support; a resistance regulation layer covering the electrically conductive elastic body layer; and a protective layer laminated on the resistance regulation layer, having hardness of 6 H or more in pencil hardness, and made from a silicon compound.

Abstract: An device for applying an electrical charge to a member to be charged such as a charge retentive surface in an electrostatographic printing apparatus, including a multi-contact point conductive charging device positioned in contact with the member to be charged. The charging device includes multiple electrically isolated conductive blades which are independently electrically biased at predetermined voltage levels so as not to exceed a Paschen threshold voltage differential. Alternative embodiments are disclosed incorporating conductive blade members, as well as ionically conductive liquid carrying donor members. In operation, the charging device of the present invention permits generation of a charge potential on the photoreceptor significantly greater than the Paschen threshold voltage, while avoiding air breakdown.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging an ionographic member, comprising an electrically insulating substrate containing affixed thereto a plurality of electroded grooves each capable of retaining a single wettable fiber, thereby forming a collection of fibers in contact with the substrate; a resin layer that isolates said fibers from each other, and that adheres the fibers to the electroded grooves; providing an ionically conductive fluid to said collection of fibers; applying an electrical bias to said fibers thereby transporting ions through the fibers to the surface of said ionographic member and which ions charge said member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a charge apparatus comprising a charge member to which voltage is applied for charging a member to be charged, the charge member having a bearing member for bearing a magnetic particle layer contacted with the member to be charged. The bearing member includes therein a plurality of magnetic poles disposed in a circumferential direction thereof, and the magnetic poles are arranged in a spiral fashion.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus using an a-Si photosensitive drum. The a-Si photosensitive drum has a thickness between 2 and 25 .mu.m. The initial charging potential on the photosensitive drum is set to 450V or below. The center exposure wavelength of an exposure means is set to 700 nm or above. The photosensitive drum includes a photoconductive layer formed as a thin film a-Si layer having a temperature characteristic of 1.0 V/.degree.C. or below. For realizing low charging potential and low electric field development, the thickness d of the photoconductive layer in the photosensitive drum is set to 2 to 24 .mu.m, the relative dielectric constant .epsilon.r is set to 2 or above, and the ratio d/.epsilon.r is set to 9 or below.

Abstract: Provided an image forming method comprising the steps of;forming electric charges on a recording layer by charging the recording medium comprising a conductive substrate and, provided thereon a photoconductive layer and a recording layer containing a polymeric liquid crystal compound, in this order;irradiating, after the step of charging, said recording medium with a light corresponding to an image information to move electric charges to said photoconductive layer; andwriting said image information by means of changing a birefringence of the recording layer caused by said movement of electric charges.

Abstract: An method and apparatus for eliminating residual charge potential in a multicolor electrostatographic system is disclosed, wherein a transparent conductive solution is applied to a developed image for neutralizing any charge potential therein prior to subsequent development of a superimposed electrostatic latent image. An apparatus for applying a thin layer of charge neutralizing material to the developed image is provided. In addition, various solutions have been described which may be advantageously utilized to provide a charge neutralizing material in the context of the present invention.

Abstract: A charging member for electrophotography comprising a surface layer, wherein the surface layer comprises a resin and an alkali metal salt contained therein.

Abstract: Embodiments of a wet contact charging method and apparatus for electrophotography charging stations are shown and described. Each embodiment includes placing a charging member, having a charge bias, against an electrophotography charge-receiving member, and placing a liquid between the charging member and charge-receiving member. Preferably, a charging roller is rotated through a liquid-filled container and the wet roller carries liquid into the nip between the roller and a photoconductor. This wet contact charging results in stable, uniform charging without photoconductor release property degradation.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus which does not unfavorably influence its surrounding environment when in use and is excellent in durability of use and safety is provided. In the image-forming apparatus, a photosensitive layer is disposed on the outer surface of a closed-loop substrate drum, while a charge device, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer device, a fixing device, and a cleaning device are provided around the substrate drum. The substrate drum is made of a light element. The charge device is constituted by a charging X-ray generation member, which is disposed within the substrate drum and emits an X-ray through the substrate drum and photosensitive layer so as to electrolytically dissociate the air on the surface of the photosensitive layer, and an electric-field application member which guides, by means of an electric field, a gaseous ion formed by this electrolytic dissociation to the surface of the photosensitive layer.

Abstract: In a color image forming apparatus, charging, exposure and development are repeated thereby a plurality of color component toner images are formed in superposing on an image carrier and then transferred collectively to an image receptor. As a charging device used in image forming cycle of at least the second color or later, a corona charging device having a discharge electrode and a grid is used. An electrode power source applying at least AC voltage is connected to the discharge electrode, and a grid power source applying AC voltage in nearly the same phase as that of the AC voltage applied to the discharge electrode is connected to the grid, and frequency or peak-to-peak amplitude of the AC voltage from the grid power source is set to optimum range.

Abstract: A charging roll fit for use at high speed, having good maintaining property of charging characteristics in long-term use, stable in electric resistance under the environmental conditions, and having no fear of pinhole leak and photoreceptor contamination, which comprises a conductive shaft and a conductive layer formed thereon, wherein said conductive layer contains a layer in which SnO.sub.2-x -coated BaSO.sub.4 particles having an electric resistance of 0.1 to 10 .OMEGA..multidot.cm are dispersed in a resin, and the value of x is 0 to 1.

Abstract: An electrically conductive or semi-conductive polymeric material which includes a blend of:(i) a bis[oxydiethylenebis(polycaprolactone)yl]sulfoaryldicarboxylate or a bis[oxydiethylenebis(polycaprolactone)yl]sulfonamidosulfonylaryldicarboxyl ate, and(ii) a complex of a ferric halide and ethylene glycol or an oligoethylene glycol selected from di-, tri-, or tetraethylene glycol,to provide the material with its conductive properties.The material has a resistivity of from about 10.sup.6 to about 5.times.10.sup.11 ohm cm and can be used in the fabrication of biasable transfer members such as, for example, a biasable transfer roll to transfer electrostatographic toner images from a photoconductor to a final support material such as a sheet of paper wherein the member electrically cooperates with the photoconductor to establish a directional force field therebetween.

Abstract: A process for changing layered imaging members by the transfer of ions thereto which comprises contacting the imaging member with a liquid developer comprised of a nonpolar liquid, and a mixture of surfactants of an ammonium block copolymer first surfactant of the formula ##STR1## wherein X.sup.- is a conjugate base or anion of a strong acid; R is hydrogen or alkyl; R' is alkyl; R" is an alkyl group containing from about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms; and y and x represent the number average degree of polymerization (DP) wherein the ratio of y to x is in the range of from about 10 to 2 to about 1,000 to 200; and a second surfactant component of the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl, and n is 0 (zero), 1, 2, 3, or 4.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member having a surface layer comprising a bisphenol Z-type polycarbonate resin is charged by contact charging. The charged electrophotographic photosensitive member is then subjected to imagewise exposure to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member, the thus formed electrostatic latent image on the electrophotographic photosensitive member is developed. The electrophotographic photosensitive member shows good resistance to wearing and toner sticking when subjected to electrophotographic image formation including a contact charging process.

Abstract: A process for charging layered imaging members by the transfer of ions thereto from an ionically conductive medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus provided with a contact charging device, in which an electrically conductive member contacts a surface of an electrostatic latent image carrier for charging the surface, wherein at least impurity atom selected from the group consisting of elements of Group IA, II, VI and VII of the periodic table is adhered to the electrically conductive member, and a total content of the impurity atom is in a range from 0.05 wt % to 0.45 wt% with respect to all atoms including the impurity atom and atoms forming the electrically conductive member.

Abstract: Deposition of background toner particles during tri-level image transfer from an imaging member to a final substrate is minimized. A front erase step is used prior to pretransfer corona treatment in order to reduce the background voltage level to substantially the residual voltage level of the photoreceptor imaging member used in the imaging process. When the image is subjected to pretransfer corona positively charged black and color background toner particles become negative and wrong sign black toner becomes more negative. Using negative transfer corona effects transfer of toner forming the black and color images and inhibits transfer of background toner.