Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a charge retentive surface of a photoreceptor which includes a cleaning blade for removing debris from the charge retentive surface of a photoreceptor. In the environment of a xerographic copier and/or printer, corona effluents are emitted by the high voltage charging devices. These effluents, which are strong oxidizing agents, may be adsorbed by or otherwise attach a cleaning blade polymer matrix. Thereafter, such corona species outgassing from a blade may chemically and/or otherwise attack the photoreceptor during prolonged blade/photoreceptor contact, resulting in print/copy defects, as well as permanent damage to the photoreceptor and/or cleaning blade. The present invention relates to impregnating or otherwise treating the cleaning blade with an antioxidant such that its presence in the blade polymer matrix can prevent corona species penetration or accumulation by chemically neutralizing and destroying the species upon exposure.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a charger for charging the photosensitive member to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member; an exposure device for exposing the photosensitive member to image light; a developing device for developing the latent image with toner; a transfer member contactable to the photosensitive member at a transfer position, the transfer member comprising an electrically conductive base, a high resistance surface layer, and a low resistance or intermediate resistance conductive layer between the conductive base and the surface layer; and transfer voltage applying device for applying a transfer voltage to the transfer member; wherein Ws>Wt>Wp>W1 is satisfied, where Ws is a width of a photosensitive layer measured in a direction perpendicular to a movement direction of the photosensitive member, W1 is an image exposure width of the exposure device, Wp is a width of a transfer material usable with the image form

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for totalizing data obtained at the time of operation, such as the number of copying operations performed for each user, by using a single portable medium is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes a first memory for storing identification information which identifies operators who are permitted to use the apparatus. Data which is entered by the user is compared with the stored data in order to verify if the user is in fact authorized to use the apparatus. Additional data, such as the number of copies made, is stored corresponding to each user. Additional categories for which data may be collected and stored are disclosed including the time frame, the particular machine, and the size of the paper being used.

Abstract: In an apparatus in which a yellow, magenta, and cyan toner images are superimposed on a photoreceptor drum made of a transparent material, an image exposure device is provided in the photoreceptor drum and emits exposure lights whose wavelength has a spectral reflective ratio lower than 30% for at least two of yellow, magenta, and cyan toners. The image forming processes is controlled so that a toner image for which the exposure lights have a spectral reflective ratio larger than 30% is formed after toner images for which the exposure lights have a spectral reflective ratio lower than 30% have been formed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an exchangeable process cartridge which transfers a toner image from a latent image carrier onto a sheet. The process cartridge includes a frame; an endless latent image carrier provided on the frame; a charger provided on the frame for charging the latent image carrier; a transfer roller rotatably provided at a portion of the frame which faces the latent image carrier; and a cover for the transfer roller having guide ribs which guide a paper sheet. The transfer roller transfers a toner image from the latent image carrier onto a sheet.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device for conveying a sheet includes a rotatable member, a spur provide in opposed relationship with the rotatable member, and a resilient member supporting the spur and provided in a curved state so as to press the spur against the rotatable member. The resilient member is in the form of a closely wound tension coil spring.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image-forming method is disclosed. The image forming method comprises the steps of (1) forming an electrostatic latent image on a rotating electrophotographic photoreceptor having an organic photoconductive layer, (2) developing the electrostatic latent image with a toner comprising toner particles which contain a releasing agent existing in the toner particle in a form of insular domain having a number average diameter of 0.1 .mu.m to 1.1 .mu.m to form a toner image, (3) transferring the toner image to an image receiving member, and (4) cleaning the surface of the photoreceptor after the transferring step by a cleaning member having a rubber elastic cleaning blade having an impact resilience of 35 to 75% which is contacted to the surface of the photoreceptor in the direction counter to the rotating direction of the photoreceptor with a pressure of 5 to 40 g/cm, and the coefficient of static friction between the cleaning blade and the surface of the photoreceptor is not more than 1.0.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for adjusting color and gray balance in a color printer, wherein a multicolored output sheet including a set of printer color balance adjustment instructions for performing color balance adjustments processor is produced by the print engine. A processor provides a color balance judging indicator, from to a scanned test pattern sheet in the case of a copier or from a memory electronically storing a test image. A controller is used to for transmit the set of printer color and gray balance adjustments to the processor.

Abstract: An apparatus for fusing images to a sheet. A fuser device is provided using a transparent fusing roll having an internal heating device which focuses the energy to a narrow area of the roll adjacent the nip formed with a pressure roll. A transparent fuser roll is used in a pressure nip fusing system to take advantage of the quick response of a focused lamp system while at the same time yielding the desirable image quality attributes of the pressure nip in two roll fusing. The focused lamp is completely enclosed and the heated region of the paper is within the nip contact region so there exists no possibility of igniting the paper. A lateral temperature smoothing device, or leveling roll, is also provided to maintain a fairly uniform temperature axially across the fuser roll. This is particularly useful for a wide fuser roll, i.e., 17 inches, through which narrower paper, i.e., 11 or 14 inches, is passing to prevent the ends of the fuser roll which do not contact the paper from overheating.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a photosensitive member for carrying an image, an exposure device for exposing the photosensitive member to form a latent image on the same, a development device for developing the latent image on the photosensitive member with a toner to form a toner image, a transfer member carrier for supporting and conveying a transfer member to a transfer position on the phtosensitive member, a first conveyance mechanism for conveying the transfer member to the transfer carrier member, and a second conveyance mechanism for conveying the transfer member to the first conveyance mechanism. A cancellation mechanism is provided to cancel a transfer member conveying force of the first conveyance mechanism after a leading end of the transfer member conveyed by the first conveyance mechanism has been supported on the transfer member carrier.

Abstract: A fixing temperature control device according to the present invention is applied to a copying machine. A control section has a warm-up control mode and a normal control mode. In the warm-up control mode, energization to a heater is started in response to the start of copying, while being stopped at the time point where a temperature detected by a heat roller temperature detecting sensor reaches a first off temperature. In the normal control mode, on-off control of the energization to the heater is carried out utilizing a predetermined control temperature as a target subsequently to the termination of the warm-up control mode. The predetermined control temperature is corrected by adding a prescribed correction amount to a reference control temperature.

Abstract: A donor roll for transporting marking particles to an electrostatic latent image recorded on a surface is provided. The donor roll is adaptable for use with a power source to assist in transporting the marking particles. The donor roll includes a rotatably mounted body having a particle transportation portion, a support portion adjacent the particle transportation portion, and an external portion adjacent the support portion and spaced from the particle transportation portion. The donor roll further includes an electrode member mounted on the body and an electrical connector associated with the support portion of the body and electrically connected to the electrode member. The electrical connector is adapted to be electrically connectable to the power source.

Abstract: An image forming method and apparatus creates two toner images on a single portion of an image member. The first toner image formed has multiple density levels. It is recharged before creating the second toner image. An aspect of the potential associated with the toner in the first toner image after the recharge step is monitored and used to control the process, for example, by setting a development bias on a development station used to tone the second toner image or by controlling the recharging step.

Abstract: This invention relates to a color image forming apparatus for forming a color image with dry developer, capable of preventing deterioration of image quality, resulting from contamination of optical components by the non-magnetic developer scattered from the developing unit. For this purpose there are provided, along the moving direction of an image bearing member effecting endless movement, charging means, optical means, first developing means utilizing developer containing a magnetic component, second developing means utilizing non-magnetic developer of a color different from that of the developer of the first developing means, and transfer means maintained in contact with or close to the image bearing member for transferring a developed image from the image bearing member to a recording material such as paper. A space containing the second developing means is enclosed by the shape of the first developing means, transfer means and image bearing member.

Abstract: A bias cleaning system has an electrically conductive brush roller for collecting toner which has to adhered a transfer belt by scrubbing the toner off the transfer belt under a condition in which a direct current voltage of the opposite polarity to the charge of the toner is applied to the brush roller. A corona charger is also provided for decreasing the amount of charge on the toner on the transfer belt in a region of the belt up-stream of the electrically conductive brush roller in the moving direction of the transfer belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing an image, a transfer charging device for transferring the image from the image bearing member onto a recording material at a transfer position, a power source for supplying a voltage to the transfer charging device during an image transfer operation, and a control device for changing an output of the transfer charging device from a first level to a second level prior to arrival of an image area of the image bearing member at the transfer position, wherein the second level is higher than a third level of the output which is a level when the image area is at the transfer position.

Abstract: A developing apparatus including a developer container for accommodating a developer having magnetic particles; a rotatable developer carrying member, provided in a opening of the the developer container for carrying the developer; a magnet in the developer carrying member; a magnetic member, provided at a end portion of the developer carrying member, being subjected to magnetic force of the the magnet; wherein the magnetic member is positioned with a gap relative to the developer carrying member, along a circumference of the developer carrying member; a regulating member for regulating the developer on the the developer carrying member; wherein magnetic confining force for the developer by the magnetic member is weaker toward a regulation portion of the regulating member in a circumferential direction of the developer carrying member.

Abstract: A charging device for use in an image forming apparatus is disclosed which charges an object to be charged by contacting a conductive charging member with the surface of the object and then applying a voltage across the charging member and the object,wherein at least a contact portion of the charging member comprises a conductive material having a hygroscopic degree of 0.2% or less.

Abstract: A heater includes a base plate, and a resistor, extending in a longitudinal direction of the base plate, for generating heat when a power supply is applied thereto. A recess, such as a hole or groove, is formed in the base plate in a longitudinal portion of the resistor, to bias the base plate to break at the longitudinal portion and to open a circuit including the power supply and the resistor, to safely prevent overheating or smoking of the heater.

Abstract: A device and method associated therewith for transferring a toner image from an image-forming medium to a receiving material comprising: an image-forming medium, an endless movable intermediate medium provided with a top layer in contact with the image-forming medium in a first transfer zone, a heater for heating the toner image on the top layer of the intermediate medium, a biased belt which in a second transfer zone can be brought into contact with the intermediate medium, a transport device for transporting the receiving material through the second transfer zone, and a material for removing from the top layer of the intermediate medium impurities transferred thereto, by contacting the impurities with a material metal compound which breaks down the impurities.