Abstract: A microfilm camera/processor including an electrophotographic medium mounted for successive translation step by step over plural functional stations for performing functional operations successively on portions thereof, the stations being an electrostatic spin charging station, an exposure station including a shutter mechanism forming an latent charge image, a toning station including a planar development electrode, a liquid toner depositing feed and a mechanism for bringing the electrode surface into and out from close proximity to the latent charge image, a cleaning and drying station forming a dried toner image and a dry transfer station to force the dry toner image below the surface of a softened coating carried by a strip film receptor and a preprogrammed control .

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus including an image carrying member on which a toner image is formed, a transferring device to transfer the toner image onto a recording sheet, a conveyer to convey the sheet on which the toner image has been transferred, a fixing device to fix the toner image on the sheet and a storage device to store the transfer sheet which has been fixed once by the fixing device. The storage device can feed the stored transfer sheet to the fixing device in order for it to be fixed a second time, and can be detachably mounted to the apparatus.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, there is provided an improved cleaning nozzle for use in a cleaning station of a reproduction apparatus. A vacuum is applied through the cleaning nozzle to remove debris from a cleaning brush located in the cleaning station. The cleaning nozzle, which protrudes into the brush, includes a member defining a slot through which the vacuum may be applied. The member has an essentially flat leading end which protrudes into the brush and which defines a tapered entrance to the slot. In a modification of the invention, the nozzle protrudes into the brush by a distance in the range of between about 0.025 cm and 0.050 cm, preferably 0.038 cm. Additionally, the entrance to the slot is tapered from the leading end by an angle of about between 50 and 70 degrees, preferably 60 degrees.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for successively forming an image on each of image forming media respectively corresponding to a first image of a first document and a second image of a second document. The image forming unit of the apparatus idles between the end of the first image forming operation for the first document and the commencement of the second image forming operation for the second document. The apparatus further includes a platen glass for supporting each of the documents, an automatic document feeder for successively setting the first document and the second document onto the platen glass, a detector for detecting an operating condition which the automatic document feeder actuates to set the documents onto the platen glass, and a controller for prohibiting the idling of the operation of the image forming unit when the detector detects the operating condition.

Abstract: In image formation, a reversible thermosensitive medium, preferably in the form of an endless belt, is selectively heated in accordance with an electrical image signal, so that the areas of the thermosensitive belt will have different transmittances corresponding to the respective pixels of the image signal. A photosensitive member, preferably in the form of a drum, widely employed in electrophotography, is uniformly charged, and the thermosensitive belt is then superimposed on the photosensitive drum, and the photosensitive drum is exposed to light of a uniform intensity through the thermosensitive belt. The intensity of light which each area of the photosensitive drum receives depends of the transmittance of the corresponding area of the thermosensitive belt. An electrostatic image that is formed on the photosensitive drum as a result of the exposure is therefore a conversion from the transmittance image on the thermosensitive belt.

Abstract: A developing device including a device body which has a toner reception port and supplies toner stored therein to a photosensitive member, a toner cartridge, which is detachably mounted in the device body has a toner discharge port opposed to the toner reception port, and supplies toner stored therein to the device body through the ports, and a toner cartridge cover which has a side that is connected to the device body without a gap. When the toner cartridge is removed from the device body of the developing device to the toner cover, the toner left in the toner cartridge doesn't leak out the gap between the toner cartridge and the cartridge cover and the surroundings of the developing device are not soiled with the toner.

Abstract: A wicking device for applying toner release oil to the surface of a fuser roller of a reproduction apparatus. The wicking device includes a first rotatable roller that has a hollow interior and a porous capillary shell for pulling toner release oil from the hollow interior to the outside surface thereof. The wicking device also includes a second rotatable roller that is mounted within, and for rotation against, the surface of the hollow interior of the first rotatable roller for supplying and pushing toner release oil into the capillary shell of the first rotatable roller.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning toner from a surface includes a scraper blade that removes toner particles from the surface. A storing container is provided for holding the removed toner particles. The toner particles are guided away from the surface by a guide member. The guide member is movable toward the storing container to move the removed toner particles to the storing container. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the removed toner particles are compacted by the guide member. A cleaning implement is utilized to remove toner particles from the compacting member.

Abstract: An agglomerate removal device for removing unwanted particles from images on a photoreceptor includes vacuum pick off source and baffles that create a controlled aerodynamic drag under the photoreceptor before the images reach a transfer station. Removing the agglomerates improves the quality of images transferred at the transfer station to receiving substrates.

Abstract: A developing apparatus is used for developing a photoconductive drum in a copying machine. The developing apparatus comprises a following developing roller for developing said photoconductive drum, an opposing developing roller for developing a photoconductive drum before the following developing roller, a supply mechanism for supplying developer to the developing rollers, a developer-quantity-regulator plate disposed between the following developing roller and the supply mechanism, and a limiting plate for limiting the length of the magnetic brush formed on the following developing roller. The distance between the photoconductive drum and the opposing developing roller is larger than the distance between the photoconductive drum and the following developing roller. The regulator plate is disposed apart from the developing rollers at a distance longer than the length of their magnetic brushes.

Abstract: A developing device of one-component developing type for use in the electrophotographic copying machine capable of developing latent image on the image carrier. The device comprises a developer carrying member having resistor layer on its surface layer, a regulation member for regulating the thickness of developer disposed on the developer carrying member, a replenishing member for replenishing developer onto the developer carrying member after finishing a process of developing, and a removing member for removing developer remaining on the developer carrying member after finishing a process of developing. The device sets the relationship of the time constants and the operational time periods in the form of inequalities, in order to obtain an optimum condition of developing. There are nine methods of setting the combination of time constant(s) and the operational time periods so as to satisfy the respective inequalities mentioned in the description of the invention.

Abstract: Various maintenance manuals for an image forming apparatus are stored in a message memory. When a total image forming numbers formed in the apparatus reaches a predetermined count, and after the formation of the all image data which has been supplied from a host unit is completed, a selected manual for the maintenance operation is printed out on a paper, so that an operator can perform the predetermined maintenance operation using the printed manual.

Abstract: A copying apparatus with a sorter having a plurality of bins and a stapler for stapling sheets distributed to each of the bins. The stapler has a sensor for detecting staples. The stapler is moved along the bins and stopped at a side of each bin to staple the sheets stored in the bin. When the sensor detects no staples in the stapler, the position of the stapler is stored in a memory, and then the stapler is returned to a home position. After the stapler is loaded with staples, the stapler is moved to the position stored in the memory. The sorter has a counter for counting staples in the stapler, and a count value of the counter is compared with the number of copy sets to be made. When the number of copy sets is larger than the count value, an alarm is raised. Further, the copying apparatus has an automatic document feeder for feeding originals to an exposure position one by one, and the automatic document feeder counts the originals before copying.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrophotographic printer wherein a toner unit and the entire apparatus can be reduced in size and the degree of freedom in designing can be achieved and besides possible deterioration of a photosensitive member can be prevented with certainty. A toner unit (3) in which toner power (2) is stored is disposed in the proximity of an outer periphery of a photosensitive belt (13) mounted for rotation. An LED head (5) is disposed on the rear face side of the photosensitive belt (13) while a developing roll (6) for causing toner power (2) to adhere to an electrostatic latent image to form a visible toner image and a cleaning roll (17) for removing and recovering remaining toner powder (2) of the photosensitive belt (13) are disposed in the toner unit (3). The cleaning roll (17) is formed from a magnet roll (18) and a sleeve (19) covering over an outer periphery of the magnet roll (18).

Abstract: A developing device using a one-component developer composed of colored fine synthetic resin toner particles, which device comprises a vessel for holding the developer, and a developing roller rotatably provided within the vessel, a portion thereof being exposed therefrom and resiliently pressed against a surface of a photosensitive drum. The toner particles are held by the surface of the developing roller to form a developer layer therearound, and are carried to the surface of the image formation drum for development of an electrostatic latent image formed thereon. The developing device further comprises a blade member provided within the vessel and resiliently engaged with the developing roller for regulating a thickness of the developer layer formed therearound. The blade member is constituted such that a proper regulation of the developer layer can be always ensured.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in accordance with the present invention is an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a photosensitive sheet with a laser beam including an optical device for directing the laser beam to an exposure position, a transporting device for transporting the photosensitive sheet toward the exposure position, a light receiving means for receiving light obtained from the laser beam incident on the photosensitive sheet which has reached the exposure position and generating an electric signal corresponding to the amount of the received light, and a differentiating device for differentiating a type of the photosensitive sheet on the basis of the generated electric signal.

Abstract: An illuminating device incorporated in a copier for illuminating the entire image surface of a document laid on a glass platen by a plurality of flash lamps. The voltages to be applied to the flash lamps and, therefore, the quantities of light to issue from the lamps, are controlled to illuminate the image surface of a document in a uniform illuminance distribution. Even when use is made of a document having a fraction of another document adhered thereto, shadows ascribable to the edges of the fraction or patch do not appear.

Abstract: In a printing position adjusting mechanism employed in an image forming apparatus using a continuous form recording medium having perforated tear lines at predetermined intervals, are sensors are provided for detecting a leading edge of the recording medium and outputting a predetermined signal synchronously with the feeding of the recording medium. With the printing position adjusting mechanism, the period of time, between the detection of the leading edge of the continuous sheet and outputting of the predetermined signal, is adjustable. The apparatus starts printing upon receiving the predetermined signal which is outputted after a predetermined time has elapsed after the leading edge of the continuous sheet is detected.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developing roller having a magnet roller for feeding a developer to a photoconductor, and a toner concentration sensor for detecting a toner concentration of the developer, a region of the magnet roller corresponding to a location of the toner concentration sensor, being substantially zero gauss as magnetic flux density distribution.

Abstract: An electrophotographic process control device for controlling the supply of a toner in such a manner as to stabilize images against changes in the characteristics of a photoconductive element and in the concentration of the toner. An image density sensor measures the density of an image formed on a photoconductive drum. A scanner writes read image data representative of a document on the photoconductive drum. A determining section is responsive to the image density from the image density sensor and write image data from the scanner and representative of the area of an image for executing a predetermined fuzzy combination operation by using fuzzy rules registered beforehand and converts a membership function resulted from the operation to a non-fuzzy value to thereby determine a toner supply manipulation value.