Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for forming an image. A controller manages a charger and a developing bias voltage to increase an absolute value of the charging voltage to an image-bearing member and an absolute value of a developing bias voltage to a developer-bearing member to predetermined values in a plurality of steps. The controller controls the developing bias voltage applied to the developer-bearing member; wherein the following relation holds in each of the plurality of steps: |VD|>|Vi|, where VD represents a developing bias voltage applied to the developer-bearing member and Vi represents a charged potential of the image-bearing member. This invention is especially useful for mono-component development using DC voltage as a development driving mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for stabilizing a ladder for minimizing accidents. For example, a main bracket may be connected to a lower arm, a foot bracket may be connected to the lower arm, an upper arm may be connected to the foot bracket and a slide arm may be telescopically slidable inserted inside the upper arm. Pins may be inserted into holes within the main bracket, upper arm, lower arm, and slide arm to secure the ladder stabilizer. The main bracket may be attached to most ladders regardless of side rail thickness. The ladder stabilizer may accommodate varying surfaces, flat and uneven, with the ability to fold up against the vertical sides of the ladder in a small compact unit when not in use.

Abstract: The present invention is an automated arrangement for applying strip material to a web belt. One purpose of the present invention is to provide a solution to the known problem of securing material to an organic photoconductor (“OPC”) belt material in an automated manufacturing environment. Usually, material is applied to an OPC belt by hand. Hand application of strip material is time-consuming, costly, and prone to inaccurate placement on the OPC belt. The extra time taken to apply the strip material by hand increase the OPC belt's exposure to light, which can damage the OPC material. Furthermore, pulling the strip by hand can deform the strip because of excessive force used to pull the strip before application. Thus using an automated, controlled process to apply material minimizes damage to the belt and strip, resulting in higher yield of belts and strips per spool.

Abstract: A jump monocomponent development arrangement includes a dielectric photoreceptor belt having an image-bearing surface for receiving an electrostatic charge image and a development station having a supply of toner particles with a mean diameter in a range from 8 microns to 14 microns and including large and small additive particles having mean diameters in size ranges of 6 to 12 nm and 20 to 50 nm, respectively, and in amounts sufficient to provide surface coverage of the toner particles in ranges from about 5 percent to about 50 percent and about 50 percent to about 150 percent, respectively.

Abstract: Imaging offset problems in imaging systems, such as electrophotographic (EPG) printers and copiers, are overcome. Imaging offset results from misaligned exposure units that, when uncompensated, produce dots on a photoreceptor belt at exposure positions that are offset from ideal dot positions. An imaging-offset compensating method of the invention first determines the imaging offset, which is a distance that may include a magnitude and a direction. The imaging offset is determined with respect to the ideal dot position. A time factor is then determined based on the magnitude of the imaging offset for each exposure unit. The time at which each exposure unit is actuated is modified by a respective time factor so that a dot produced by each exposure unit matches the ideal dot location thereof.