Abstract: A brush-vacuum cleaning apparatus, for removing toner particles from the image-bearing surface of a copier or printer, includes an airfoil located on the inside wall of a cylindrical brush housing. The airfoil relative to the rotation of the brush is positioned adjacent to, and on the upstream side of, a perpendicular slot that connects the interior of the brush housing to a vacuum source. The airfoil contacts and compresses the rotating fibers of the brush causing the fibers to rub against one another and thereby to loosen the toner particles entrained therein. In addition, the airfoil serves to aerodynamically deflect and accelerate the airstream moving with the fibers, deep into the fibers, thereby flushing the loose toner particles out of the brush and out of the housing.

Abstract: A copy storing tray for storing copy paper sheets, including a paper detection device, a pair of side regulating plates for regulating the lateral position of the copy paper sheets, at least one of which is movably provided so as to be displaced in a lateral direction, and an actuator device for displacing at least one of the side regulating plates. As each of the copy paper sheets is supplied to the copy storing tray, one of the side regulating plates is displaced in the lateral direction by the actuator device so as to displace each of the copy paper sheets to a predetermined position such that each of the copy paper sheets is not detected by the paper detection device.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus provided with both-side copying and overcopying functions, a copied paper is fed into a paper stacking unit before being fed again. In the conventional paper stacking unit, since the unit is disposed horizontally, there exists a problem in that paper is not well aligned, thus resulting in paper jamming, double paper feeding, etc. To overcome this problem, the paper stacking unit is disposed with an inclination angle paper feed-out side up. For further improving paper feed reliability, the stacking unit includes a paper lifting device, a paper side alignment device, and a paper curl correcting device.

Abstract: An image transfer device has a screening plate attached to and protruding from a paper guide so as to partially block the corona ion current from its transfer charger such that only the forward portion of an incoming transfer paper sheet already in contact with the surface of a photosensitive drum is exposed to the current. An elastic guide plate separated from the drum surface by only about 1 mm serves to allow transfer paper sheet of different stiffness to come into contact with the drum surfaces at a predetermined position.

Abstract: An electrophotographic copying machine including a unit consisting of a photoreceptor and a developing device. The unit can be pulled out of or into the copying machine. The developing device has a developer outlet provided at its bottom, and first and second grooves. A developer funnel can be coupled to the first groove to receive the old developer from the developing device. The first groove is also provided for guiding a lid closing the developer outlet. The funnel can also be coupled to the second groove to supply the new developer. In a specific form, the developing device can be shifted from a position close to the photoreceptor to a position separate from the same. The developing device can also be moved with a quadric link chain pivotally supported on the frame of the unit of the photoreceptor and the developing device. Positioning members are provided in the frame for positioning the developing device in both positions.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus having a photoreceptor for forming an electrostatic image thereon corresponding to an original, a main charger for uniformly charging the photoreceptor to a specific polarity interchangeable developer units each containing a toner or developer capable of being charged to the same polarity as that of the main charger, a transference charger for transferring the toner image from the surface of the photoreceptor, optimally charge removal charger and switching devices for changing the polarities of a voltage applied to the transference charger and charge removal charger.

Abstract: A selective charge removal system for a copier uses a transparent electrochromic display with many segments or dots thereon and a back-lighting unit such that only a specified area which is precisely defined on the photosensitive body of the copier is exposed to the light from the back-lighting unit. These segments or dots are driven to an intermediate color state during a wait period before a copying operation of the copier is started such that the color conditions of the electrochromic display can be changed quickly.

Abstract: A machine uses electrophotography to produce panels of images for transfer to a continuous web of image receiving media. The images are transferred to the media under control of signals synchronized with media movement under a transfer structure which has a width sufficient to accommodate image transfer immediately prior to stopping of the media as well as immediately after restart of the media movement. The media is stopped with boundaries between sheets within the transfer zone.

Abstract: A multi-color image forming apparatus, for forming a superimposed multi-color image on a transfer material, includes: a latent image bearing member; device for forming a latent image on the image bearing member; plural developing devices containing different color developers for developing the latent image in different colors; device for accommodating the plural developing devices; guiding device for guiding the developing device between a first position within the accommodating device and a second position adjacent the image bearing member; driving device for moving the developing device between the first position and the second position for exchanging the developing device at the second position; device for discriminating the plural developing devices; and a second developing device disposed adjacent the image bearing member at a different position; wherein when plural colors are selected for development; a discrimination is made as to whether the developing device containing the developer of the selected c

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes photosensors for detecting an image region of an original, an exposure section for forming an image on a photosensitive drum, a mode selection switch for selecting, as an image forming range, one of a portion inside the image region and a portion including an inside and outside the image region, and a microcomputer for controlling the exposure section in accordance with the outputs from the photosensors and the mode selection switch.

Abstract: An apparatus in which a latent image recorded on a photoconductive member is developed with developer material. A developer roller, positioned closely adjacent to the photoconductive member, is arranged to transport the developer material into contact with the photoconductive surface in the development zone. A blade member moves from an operative position to a non-operative position. In the non-operative position, the blade member has the free end portion thereof spaced from the developer roller. This enables the developer roller to transport the developer material into contact with the photoconductive member to develop the latent image recorded thereon. In the operative position, the blade member has the free end portion thereof contacting the developer roller. This prevents the developer roller from transporting the developer material into contact with the photoconductive member to prevent development of the latent image recorded thereon.

Abstract: A photoreceptor having a insulating layer in which plural color-separation filters are arranged in the form of fine line type or of mosaic type provided on the photosensitive layer having the photosensitivity for the entire range of visible ray, is used and an image-exposure is first given to the entire surface of the photoreceptor, thus electric charges are distributed on the lower photosensitive layer of each filter depending on the separated image density.

Abstract: The image receiving surface of a non-impact image printer such as an electrographic printer is treated with an AC corona just prior to image transfer to paper or the like thereby to suppress transfer of non-image background toner and edge effect toner thereby to enhance the transferred image.

Abstract: A recording apparatus having a photosensitive body, a charger for charging the photosensitive body, an exposure unit for forming a latent image on the photosensitive body charged by the charger, and a developing unit for developing the latent image into a visible image on the photosensitive body. The recording apparatus also includes a first surface potential sensor for measuring the surface potential of the photosensitive body before the latent image has been developed by the developing unit, a second surface potential sensor for measuring the surface potential of the photosensitive body after the latent image has been developed by the developing unit, a computer for computing the surface potential of the photosensitive body at a position between the first and second surface potential sensors to estimate the surface potential at the position of the developing unit, and a controller for controlling the charger so that the estimated surface potential becomes a determined level.

Abstract: A magnetic brush developer apparatus comprising a plurality of developer housings each including a plurality of magnetic rolls associated therewith. The magnetic rolls disposed in a second developer housing are constructed such that the radial component of the magnetic force field produces a magnetically free development zone intermediate a charge retentive surface and the magnetic rolls. The developer is moved through the zone magnetically unconstrained and, therefore, subjects the image developed by the first developer housing to minimal disturbance. Also, the developer is transported from one magnetic roll to the next. This apparatus provides an efficient means for developing the complimentary half of a tri-level latent image while at the same time allowing the already developed first half to pass through the second housing with minimum image disturbance.

Abstract: The present invention prevents a particular portion of a drum-like image bearing member from being physically damaged or chemically deteriorated by the image bearing member being reciprocally moved in the direction of the rotational axis thereof. For this purpose, the rotational movement of a rotary shaft driving the image bearing member is utilized to produce a force for moving the image bearing member in the direction of the rotational axis.

Abstract: A multi-color printer using a sonic toner release development system to provide either partial or full color copies with minimal degradation of developed toner patterns by subsequent over-development with additional colors and minimal back contamination of developer materials. Multiple scanning beams, each modulated in accordance with distinct color image signals, are scanned across the printer's photoreceptor at relatively widely separated points, there being buffer means provided to control timing of the different color image signals to assure registration of the color images with one another. Each color image is developed prior to scanning of the photoreceptor by the next succeeding beam. After developing of the last color image, the composite color image is transferred to a copy sheet. Development is accomplished by vibrating the surface of a toner carrying member and thereby reducing the net force of adhesion of toner to the surface of the toner carrying member.

Abstract: A copying machine or the like, is capable of forming different images on one or both sides of a recording sheet. For this purpose, the copying machine has a mechanism for feeding a recording sheet to an image forming station, and another mechanism for re-feeding the sheet to the image forming station, after image formation, for forming a different image on the same or different side of a sheet of recording material.

Abstract: A process unit which can be removably mounted in a main assesmbly of a reproducing machine such as a xerographic copier. The unit comprises a housing enclosing an imaging member and, optionally, other processing means such as a development device, a cleaner, and a charge corotron. The unit also comprises an integral transfer corotron which has one end hingedly mounted on the housing enabling the corotron to be pivoted open for jam clearance. Preferably, the end of the corotron remote from the pivoted end is retained in the unit by a latch which is opened automatically to release the corotron when the unit is inserted into the main assembly. A flexure within the main assembly normally urges the corotron to its operative position when the unit is inserted in the main assembly, but the flexure may be withdrawn so that the corotron pivots open about its hinged end to permit jam clearance. When the unit is withdrawn from the main assembly the corotron is automatically latched back into the unit housing.

Abstract: An apparatus in which a rotatably mounted roller cooperates with a rotatably mounted polyhedron to define a nip through which a set of sheets is advanced.