Abstract: A sheet paper feed apparatus has a hollow center shaft, a roller which has peripheral holes and rotates around the center shaft, and a negative pressure source communicating with the center shaft. Rotation of the roller causes the peripheral holes to successively create a suction action to adhere and feed the sheet paper. The center shaft has an opening at a position shifted by a predetermined angle in the direction of sheet feed with respect to a surface that is vertical with respect to the sheet paper feed surface and passes through a center of the center shaft.

Abstract: A series of electrostatic images carried by a drum or similar image member are toned with different colored toners by a movable developing device. The developing device moves a series of developing units to a position aligned with the drum. An applicator is an aligned unit is moved relative to the rest of the unit toward the drum to operatively position the unit for developing each electrostatic image.

Abstract: A fixing unit for picture image forming equipment including a heating roller and a pressure roller, fixes unfixed picture images formed on paper by applying heat thereto. The fixing unit for a picture image forming equipment includes a pressure roller having a structure consisting of three layers, namely, a silicone sponge layer, a silicone rubber layer, and a relatively hard tubular layer, which are arranged in the stated order outwards from the central part to the outermost shell. The tubular layer is a tetrafluoroethylene fluorocarbon polymer layer having a thickness in the range from 30 .mu.m to 70 .mu.m. The silicone sponge layer has a thickness in the range of 50% to 60% of the outside diameter of the pressure roller.

Abstract: A printer dynamic job recovery operation in an electronic reprographic system includes automatic detection of a printed sheet having an image thereon with a relative loss of integrity. Specified sheets are automatically purged to a specified location in response to such detection. The purging can begin at the first detected sheet or up to three sheets in advance of the detected sheet. Job recovery for job completion can be initiated immediately without cycling down the printer.

Abstract: A color image is recorded in narrow band segments by rotating an image member having a cylindrical electrostatographic surface, creating an electrostatic latent image segment on a narrow band of the surface of the rotating image member, developing the latent image segment in a first color, repeating these steps on axially abutting portions of the image member surface until all image segments have been developed in the first color, transferring the developed image to a receiver, and repeating the steps for at least one more color. The latent image segment may be developed by applying pigmented toner particles thereto from a development station having a width corresponding approximately to the width of the image segment. The electrostatic latent image segments may be created by a write head having a width corresponding approximately to the width of the image segment; moving the write head between the axially abutting portions of the image member.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus includes a heater; a film movable in contact with the heater at one side thereof and in contact with a recording material at the other side thereof, wherein a visualized image on the recording material is heated and fixed by heat from the heater through the film; the heater including a heat generating layer extending in a direction crossing a movement direction of the film, for producing the heat by the application of a voltage between its longitudinal opposite ends; an electric path branched out of an image fixing part of the heat generating layer; and a selector for selecting the electric path in accordance with a size of the recording material.

Abstract: An apparatus for connecting an image recording device having a sheet outlet opening with an external sheet processor having an inlet opening. The apparatus includes an intermediate transfer unit interposed between the image recording device and the external sheet processor, a sheet transfer path disposed in the transfer unit and extending between and connecting the outlet opening of the image recording device with the inlet opening of the external sheet processor, a purge tray disposed in the transfer unit, and a gating unit disposed in the transfer unit for diverting a sheet from the sheet path to the purge tray.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a main body with an opening portion provided in one face of the main body, and a thermal transfer printer. The thermal transfer printer records desired information additively on paper on which a toner image has been fixed. The printer uses a thermal head to press an ink-ribbon on the paper. The thermal transfer printer includes a casing in which a cassette for housing the ink-ribbon is detachably mounted, a thermal head support for supporting the thermal head, and an interlocking mechanism. The interlocking mechanism retracts the thermal head with the thermal head support in response to retraction of the casing. Thus, it is possible to detach the cassette from the main body through the opening portion. This facilitates replacement of cassettes and clearing of paper jams.

Abstract: A control device for a copier of the type loaded with a recyclic document feeder (RDF) and operable in a two-sided copy mode for producing two-sided copies by sequentially stacking one-sided paper sheets and refeeding them for transferring images on the other side thereof. In the two-sided copy mode, side fences provided on an intermediate tray are moved toward and away from each other in matching relation to the paper size. Even when the entry of a paper sheet in and the refeed of a paper sheet from the intermediate tray occur alternately, paper sheets entered the tray can be accurately controlled in position with no regard to the paper size.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention an apparatus is provided for use with a developer container adapted to retain a quantity of developer material, the developer material including varying concentrations of magnetic carrier material and toner material. The toner concentration sensing apparatus comprises a device for generating a magnetic field within the developer container. The apparatus further comprises a device for controlling the generating device to selectively generate the magnetic field within the developer container, wherein a preselected portion of the developer material is compressed by the magnetic field and a signal is generated across the generating device, the signal across the generating device varying as a function of the concentration of the toner.

Abstract: A developing process for supplying a developer to a support having an electrostatic latent image thereon by using a developer-delivering member having an electret layer and carrying out the development so that the effective fog-controlling field intensity ratio (A) defined by the following formula: ##EQU1## wherein E.sub.L represents the surface potential of the latent image area in the support having the electrostatic latent image area, E.sub.B represents the surface potential of the non-image are and E.sub.S represents the surface potential of the electret layer, is in the range of from 0.01 to 0.6.According to this process, an image having a high density with no fog can be formed without applying a developing bias voltage.

Abstract: A copier, laser printer or similar image forming apparatus of the type having an intermediate image transfer body in the form of a belt allows documents to be reproduced in a page-sequential paper discharge mode which discharges paper sheets, or recording media, in order of page. When an automatic two-sided copy mode is selected, the apparatus automatically sets up the page-sequential paper discharge mode. Hence, when two sided black-and-white documents and color documents are reproduced together in the automatic two-sided copy mode, paper sheets are driven out of the apparatus in order of page.

Abstract: A toner image carried by a heat softenable layer of a receiving sheet is fixed by feeding it into a pressure nip between a pressure member and a ferrotyping belt. To preheat the heat softenable layer, it is urged against the belt by a pressure or squeegee roller which contacts the back of the receiving sheet and urges it into contact with the belt. The adhesive characteristics of the heat softenable layer when heated by the belt cause the receiving sheet to follow the belt from the squeegee roller into the pressure nip.

Abstract: A device for controlling the application of a bias for development in electrophotographic image forming equipment which forms a latent image on a photoconductive element and develops it by a magnetic brush formed by a dry two-component developer on a developing sleeve to which the bias is applied. A detector is located between the optics and the developing unit for detecting the passage of opposite ends of a charged area of the photoconductive element one by one. The bias is turned on and then turned off, each later than the detection of a particular edge of the charged area by a period of time in which the edge travels from a sensing position to a developing position. The bias applied to the developing sleeve is turned on at the time when the leading edge of the actually charged area of the photoconductive element arrives at the developing position, and it is turned off at the time when the trailing edge of such an area passes the developing position.

Abstract: The end of the operational life of a changeable process cartridge, including a developing device, is determined based on either the average particle size of the toner of a two component developing agent stored in the developing device or the number of printed image forming mediums. The average particle size of the toner of the two component developing agent is estimated from the detection voltage of a toner sensor, which detects the toner density of the two component developing agent stored in the developing device.

Abstract: A process for controlling the amount of film buildup on a photoreceptor surface caused by certain print mode and/or material throughput conditions in a single pass highlight color printer which enables or promotes photoreceptor filming by the DAD toner additive (i.e. zinc stearate). Such filming results in the tri-level Image Push defect. This process utilizes toner coated cleaner brushes to control the film buildup thus preventing the defect. This process defines a functional equation that maintains a toner concentration at the cleaner brush fiber tips thereby controlling photoreceptor filming.

Abstract: A liquid electrophotographic development system has a plurality of removable cartridges mounted on a rotatable support for selective engagement with an electrophotographic member to be developed. Each cartridge has a liquid developer reservoir and a flexible toner concentrate container from which concentrate is supplied to the developer in the reservoir as needed. A fluted roll pumps developer in a uniform manner from the reservoir to the electrophotographic member. After depletion of the toner concentrate and developer, any developer remaining in the cartridge can be pumped into the flexible container to prevent spillage on disposal of the cartridge. The cartridge housing has only one opening and minimum-size passages between the reservoir and the opening to inhibit evaporation of developer liquid.

Abstract: A document scanning device includes an index lever for indicating a boundary between a plurality of areas dividing a document on a platen and a photoelectric detector for detecting the position of the boundary. The index lever includes a marker which gives information about the boundary to the detector and a lever which moves the marker between a detectable position where the detector can detect the marker and a non-detectable position where the detector cannot detect the marker. The document scanning device is effective to be applied to a copying machine equipped with an editing function of the document.

Abstract: A process for controlling the amount of film buildup on a photoreceptor surface caused by certain print mode and/or material through conditions in a single pass highlight color printer which enables or promote photoreceptor filming by the DAD toner additive (i.e. zinc stearate). Such filming results in tri-level image Push defect. This process utilizes toner coated cleaner brushes to control the film buildup thus preventing the defect. This process defines a functional equation that maintains a certain toner concentration at the cleaner brush fiber tips thereby controlling photoreceptor filming.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus for forming images at a high speed and with small power consumption, in which a discharge lamp for exposure remains `on` and electric power supplied to the lamp is reduced to such an extent that the lamp is turned down during standby period for exposure. The invention also provides image forming apparatus including a temperature detector for detecting the temperature of an exposure lamp, plural filters, actuators for moving the filters in and out of the optical path, and a controller for regulating the actuators based on temperature data, thus forming stable images irrespective of the temperature of the lamp. The invention further provides image forming apparatus including a cooling fan for cooling an exposure lamp and lamp temperature controller for maintaining the temperature of the exposure lamp constant by activating the cooling fan based on temperature data detected by a lamp temperature detector, thus forming stable images of a desirable color or tone.