Abstract: A detachable imaging unit is provided in an image forming device. The detachable unit includes an image bearing member, one of a pair of registration rollers and a developing device. A relative position between the image bearing member and the one of the pair of registration rollers is provided so as to permit precise transport of a recording sheet against the image bearing member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manipulating the velocity of a copy sheet in a color reprographic system creates a buckle in the copy sheet to decouple accelerations of the leading edge of the copy sheet from the portion that is in contact with the photoreceptor belt and reduces the buckle on long copy sheets for which the buckle can become large enough that the toner image on the body of the copy sheet can become disrupted by contact with stationary portions of the system. The method and apparatus also accelerates the leading edge of the copy sheet as the trailing edge disengages from the photoreceptor belt to prevent the uncontrolled trailing edge of lightweight copy sheets from contacting stationary portions of the system.

Abstract: In a liquid electrophotographic method, in which while a photoconductive drum is rotating a plurality of toners are deposited thereon to thereby transfer an image simultaneously onto a transfer material, at a first rotation of the drum, each color toner image is formed onto the drum and the drum is dried during a second rotation thereof. Consequently, the image information can be transferred utilizing the time taken to dry the drum. In addition, in the same apparatus, an electric charging unit, an exposure unit, a developing unit, a drying unit, a transfer unit and the like are disposed along the outer circumference of the drum. Consequently, the entire apparatus can be compactly arranged.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus is provided with a light heater for heating a heat-fixing roller and a temperature detection element for determining the surface temperature of the fixing roller. A temperature corresponding to a lighting time for the heater is determined and compared with the temperature on the surface of the roller and the result of the comparison is used to turn the heater on and off.

Abstract: The free ink surface levels of acoustic ink printers are controlled by cap structures that have substantially non-retroreflective aperture configurations. The non-retroreflective configurations of the apertures of these cap structures cause diffusive scattering or directional deflection of the reflected surface ripple waves, thereby significantly reducing the time that is required for the oscillatory perturbations, which are caused by reflection of the surface ripple waves that are generated during the droplet ejection process, to dissipate to a negligibly low amplitude in the critical local areas of the ejection sites. This, in turn, increases the droplet ejection rates at which printers having such cap structures can be operated asynchronously.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus having an image retainer, a transfer member and selection device for selecting one of a monochromatic mode for forming a monochromatic toner image on the transfer member and a multicolor mode for forming a multicolor toner image composed of a plurality of monochromatic toner images on the transfer member. The maximum length of the multicolor toner image is limited within a size corresponding to an effective peripheral length of the transfer member when the multicolor mode is selected.

Abstract: Liquid toner imaging apparatus for producing an image on a substrate and having carrier liquid and toner particle carryout on the average in a first ratio, the apparatus including an image bearing surface, apparatus for developing an image on the image bearing surface using a liquid toner including carrier liquid and toner particles and apparatus for transferring a developed image from the image bearing surface to the substrate. The apparatus for developing includes a liquid toner reservoir, supply apparatus including a replaceable enclosure initially containing toner concentrate including carrier liquid and toner particles therein and having an opening communicating with the reservoir and replenishment apparatus for causing transfer of toner concentrate from the replaceable enclosure to the reservoir to replenish the toner and for causing transfer of contents of the reservoir to the replaceable enclosure to remove excess liquid toner from the reservoir.

Abstract: An apparatus for electrically coupling a conductive layer of a photoreceptor to a reference potential, the photoreceptor being positionable between an operative position and a replacement position. The apparatus includes an electrically conductive brush which is electrically coupled to the reference potential. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for moving the conductive brush into electrical contact with the conductive layer in response to the photoreceptor being moved to the operative position and out of electrical contact with the conductive layer in response to the photoreceptor being moved to the replacement position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an image forming portion for forming toner images on a sheet of paper, a fixing portion for fixing the toner images on the sheet of paper by heat, and a counter for counting the number of sheets on which images are fixed from the time of turning on of the power. The image forming portion forms toner images on the paper at a low speed until the counter counts a prescribed number. Since the number of sheets to be fixed is reduced at the start of operation, the temperature of the fixing portion is not very much lowered. Namely, the fixing operation can be started when the temperature of the fixing portion reaches a prescribed value. Therefore, the time required for warming up the image forming forming apparatus can be reduced.

Abstract: An apparatus is described which records an electrostatic latent image on a charger receiver. The apparatus includes a module which includes a bracket upon which a corona generating device is removably mounted. The bracket is also adapted to pivot so as to facilitate removal of the photoconductive member from the module.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus capable of forming an image freely on the front side and the back side of a paper sheet and applicable to a laser printer, digital copier, etc. A toner image is formed on either one or both of a photoconductive element and an intermediate transfer body in the form of a belt and transferred to the adjoining side of a paper sheet. The paper sheet carrying a toner image on one or both sides thereof is fixed when passed through a fixing section only once.

Abstract: To enable running in a multiple document load mode, an interface procedure is used to specify more than one bin in a "bins for each set" selection and the desired bin capacity is set in the Bin Capacity selection. From 1 to 6 bins per set may be selected. The operator selects the copy quantity, places the first set of originals in the document handler and presses start print. During this job segment, if the number of copies delivered is equal to the bin capacity, then the sorters will automatically increment to the next bin. Incrementing to the next bin is only dependent on reaching bin capacity and is not related to the loads in the document handler. When copying of the first set of originals is complete, the screen reads: "LOAD MORE ORIGINALS AND PRESS START PRINT OR PRESS END JOB IF JOB DONE". The operator then loads the next set of originals and presses start print. This sequence continues until the last sets of originals is completed, the operator then presses "END JOB".

Abstract: A developing apparatus using a liquid developer and a developing head located to face a path along which a recording medium carrying, for example, an electrostatic latent image thereon is transported. A groove is formed in the surface of the head that faces the transport path. After development, the liquid remaining at the corner defined by the upper inner portion of the groove and the medium is rapidly collected to allow a minimum of smear to occur on the part of the medium which will be transported later. When the transport of the medium should be interrupted during development due to, for example, a jam, the liquid in the groove is collected to prevent a great amount of liquid which would smear a drive roller and other transport members from being transferred from the head to the medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling air inlet flow through a cleaner housing arranged downstream of a toner transfer area and adjacent an image forming surface of a photoreceptor in an electrophotographic machine. An adjustable air inlet baffle, with attached film seal, is mounted on the cleaner housing such that an air inlet gap is formed. The size of the gap and direction of air flow can be varied by the structure of the baffle. Additionally, the attached film seal extends laterally across, contacts and rests upon the image forming surface of the photoreceptor, thus allowing the photoreceptor to pass under the film seal unobstructed while the film seal acts in sealing engagement with the photoreceptor to prevent emissions of residual toner from the housing.

Abstract: A document size detector for detecting a size of a document in use with a document scanner. The document size detector has an irradiator to irradiate the document with a light beam; a cover of the document; a receiver of the reflection light from the document and the cover; a converter to convert the reflection light to image signals; a detector to detect the shadow of the document on the cover in the image signals; and the determiner to determine the size of the document according to the detected shadow of the document.

Abstract: A system for tailoring electrostatic fields in and around a transfer region in an electrostatographic printing apparatus. The system includes a toner transfer system for transferring charged toner particles from an imaging surface to a copy sheet and a transfer nip and a conductive pre-nip sheet guide member, as well as a conductive post-nip sheet guide member, wherein each sheet guide member is coupled to a biasing source. The pre-nip sheet guide member is biased to a polarity similar to the polarity of the charged toner while the post-nip sheet guide member is biased to a polarity opposite the polarity of the charged toner particles. The invention provides for efficient and effective toner transfer while suppressing the effects of lateral condition of transfer biases through the copy sheet under high relative humidity conditions.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus includes a movable film movable together and in contact with a recording material supporting a visualized image, the film having a base layer of insulating material and a surface low resistance layer contactable to the visualized image, the surface layer containing low resistance material; a heater extending in a direction crossing with a movement direction of the film, the film being in contact with the base layer of the film, the heater including a base plate, an electric resistance layer producing heat by electric power supply and extending along a longitudinal direction of the film adjacent the film and a protection layer for protecting the electric resistance layer; and an insulating material between the film and the protection layer only at lateral end portions of the film.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus for scanning image information of a document on a document support (D) and a scanning unit (50) being positively guided along a predetermined scanning path; characterized in that said scanning unit has bearing members (30) for making contact with a face of said document or document support and thereby determining the optical distance between that face and said focusing means (10), and in that said unit is mounted so that it is under biasing forces which maintain its said bearing members in running contact with said document or document support during a scanning movement of the unit.

Abstract: Overall length of LED print bars arranged in a single pass printing system is controlled by controlling the operating temperature of the LED arrays forming the light emitting portion of the print bar. Rather than trying to maintain the arrays at some predetermined temperature, the array temperatures are allowed to vary over a predetermined range but within this range, the arrays are all at the same temperature. This is accomplished by mounting the arrays on a common subframe which is adapted to circulate a cooling medium through each of the arrays in parallel rather than in series. Thus, each array is cooled at the same rate and will attain the same equilibrium temperature, thus ensuring that registration will be accomplished within each single pass operation.

Abstract: An electrostatic document copying system which includes an electrostatic plain paper engineering copying machine having a copy paper feed rack secured thereto, and copy paper guide channels adjustably secured thereto in copy paper-receiving alignment with copy paper rolls supported on the feed rack. The copy paper feed rack includes a frame attachable to the copier, and carrying a plurality of cantilevered, telescoping copy paper roll-supporting arms. These arms are individually selectively extensible. They are arranged to cooperatively cradle and support a plurality of continuous copy paper rolls to facilitate simultaneous feeding of copy papers from multiple rolls. A plurality of original documents can thus be simultaneously copied. The apparatus is especially adapted for copying elongated oversized documents, such as oil well logs.