Abstract: A fuser, for a reproduction apparatus, having at least one heated fuser roller operating at a setpoint temperature to permanently fix a marking particle image to a receiver member, and a mechanism for controlling temperature droop in the heated fuser roller. The temperature droop controlling mechanism includes an external heat source movable to a position in operative contact with the heated fuser roller and a nonoperative position remote from the heated fuser roller. A logic and control unit is provided for moving the external heat source from the nonoperative remote position to the operative position the heated fuser roller on start up of the reproduction apparatus, and as soon as a reproduction operation job run is started, to supply heat to the heated fuser roller thus maintaining its surface temperature substantially at the setpoint temperature. The unit also turns on a fuser roller heating device to bring the heated fuser roller surface temperature toward the setpoint temperature.

Abstract: A drum phase correction unit for detecting rotational positions of a plurality of photosensitive drums by means of a plurality of drum position sensors and corrects to set rotational phases of the drums to predetermined phases in such a manner that transfer positions on drum circumferential surfaces relative to a belt when employing the thus detected rotational positions as their respective references have a specific relationship including coincidence. A positional offset detection unit detects positional offsets of transfer image on recording paper attributable to the wow and flutter in a drive system including the belt and the photosensitive drums. On the basis of the thus detected positional offsets, a wow and flutter correction unit corrects the positional offsets of the transfer images on the recording paper attributable to the wow and flutter.

Abstract: A phase change ink carrier composition is disclosed which includes a Diels-Alder polymerization precursor wherein the composition forms a low viscosity liquid at temperatures in the range from about 90.degree. C. to at least about 160.degree. C., and forms a malleable material at temperatures from about 40.degree. C. to about 80.degree. C., and a solid at temperatures less than about 30.degree. C.

Abstract: A toner cartridge replacement seal assembly includes a thin film or other substrate which has an aperture formed therein. The aperture is preferably shaped and sized in accordance with the toner discharge opening of the toner cartridge hopper with which it is to be associated or used. A first adhesive is located on a first or upper surface of the substrate, and a release liner seal member, including a leader, is adhered to the upper surface of the substrate in covering relation with the aperture. A second adhesive, with greater adherence than the first adhesive, is located on a second or lower surface of the substrate. A release liner is also adhered to this lower surface. When the release liner is removed from the second, lower surface of the seal assembly, the seal may be bonded to a toner cartridge hopper via the exposed second adhesive in it operative position blocking the toner discharge opening of the cartridge.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to accommodate sheets, as coming from two image forming units, in a small-sized sheet accommodating apparatus. The individual sheets S from the first and second image forming units are fetched in different directions X1 and Y1 by a sheet pedestal and accommodated in a stack. The sheets S are registered by stoppers which can be moved in the fetching directions X1 and Y1, respectively. The sheets can be fetched in registration by inclining the sheet pedestal into first and second modes and can be fetched in an image forming direction and in a sheet direction by turning at least the sheet pedestal in a horizontal direction. The sheets S are stapled as the post-processing and are discharged in a discharge direction X2 along the fetching direction X1 from the sheet pedestal by a push member.

Abstract: A copier includes a reader for reading a document image, an orientation sensor for sensing orientation of characters in the document image that has entered from the reader, a size sensor for sensing the size of the document image that has entered from the reader, an image processor for zooming the document image at a magnification that conforms to results of sensing performed by the orientation sensor and size sensor, and laying out a plurality of document images as a single image, and a printer for printing the images laid out by the image processor.

Abstract: A method for separately retrieving used developing material on a developing roller and supplying new developing material, while balancing the retrieval of the used developing material with the supply of the new developing material in accordance with an increase in the number of papers being printed. The method is directed to retrieving and supplying developing material in an electrophotography forming apparatus which includes a developing roller, a retrieval roller and a supply roller. The method includes the steps of: rotating the retrieval roller connected to the developing roller in the same direction as the direction of rotation of the developing roller; and applying voltages to the developing roller, the retrieval roller and the supply roller in accordance with a predetermined relationship.

Abstract: Photosensitive material is printed in a printing/exposure unit of a photoprinting/developing machine with high efficiency. The photoprinting/developing machine includes a printing/developing section, a carrier section and a developing section. The carrier section has a sheet distributor to improve the processing capacity of the developing section. The printing/exposure section has an exposure table. If photosensitive sheets are short enough, three of them are fed onto the exposure table all at once.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus employs an image carrier (photoreceptor) cartridge having protective covers of which surface is coated with conductive shield in order to prevent frictional charging that will bring on sparking between a photoreceptor and covers. Further, the photoreceptor cartridge is equipped on its surface with an elastic member which is a foam body having a plurality of foam cells for catching foreign matter such as paper particles in order to prevent the foreign matter from damaging the surface of the photoreceptor. Moreover, the photoreceptor cartridge is also equipped with a flick member for flicking off toner deposited on a conductive brush in order to prevent the brush from becoming dirty. Owing to the above-mentioned construction, the image forming apparatus can avoid degradation in image quality.

Abstract: A charging apparatus for charging a member to be charged includes an elastic member, the elastic member being press-contacted to a surface of the member to be charged, and electroconductive particles carried on the surface of the elastic member to which a charging voltage is applied, wherein a triboelectric charging property of the member to be charged relative to the elastic member is the same as a charging polarity of the charging apparatus.

Abstract: An electrostatic sonic toner release (electrostatic STORE) development apparatus, and a multicolor image reproduction machine including such a development apparatus are provided for creating toner images with reduced development fields. The electrostatic sonic toner release (electrostatic STORE) development apparatus includes a development housing defining a sump for holding developer material containing the toner particles; developer moving assembly mounted within the sump for transporting developer material within the sump; and a donor assembly mounted partially within the sump for receiving toner particles from the developer moving assembly, and for transporting the toner particles through a development nip of the reproduction machine.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developing container for storing a developing agent, a developing agent carrier which is disposed at the opening of the developing container, and carries the developing agent, a detection member which is disposed in the developing container and moves at a predetermined cycle, and a judging means for judging the residual amount of developing agent on the basis of changes in voltage induced at the detection member in the cycle.

Abstract: Cloth is successively conveyed by a supply roller and a take up roller over a platen which opposes an ink jet head selectively jetting ink. The platen has an opening formed at a surface opposing to the ink jet head, and an air suction opening behind the opening of the platen is connected to an air suction unit through an air path. At the time of dyeing, fluff on the surface of the cloth opposing to the ink jet head is sucked and laid down on the surface of the cloth by air suction by the air suction unit, and ink is appropriately jetted to the surface of the cloth from the ink jet head. Therefore, ink jet is not hindered by the fluff on the surface of the cloth at the time of dyeing. Therefore, ink drops can reach the desired position on the surface of the cloth, and satisfactory dyeing without any distortion in patterns is performed.

Abstract: In an image reading apparatus, an image is illuminated to be guided as a light beam to a photosensitive drum through an image forming lens. Light amount correcting members are attached to a movable member movably attached relatively to the image forming lens. The movable member moves in the optical axis direction in accordance with movement of the image forming lens, and one of the light amount correcting members farther from the image forming lens is caused to face a corresponding surface of the image forming lens so as to intercept a part of the light beam from the image in association with the movement of the movable member. The other of the light amount correcting members closer to the image forming lens is caused to retract from a corresponding surface of the image forming lens in association with the movement of the movable member.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a fixing belt that pressure-thermally fixes unfixed toner images on sheets, and an oil coating roller that holds silicone oil for preventing the offset phenomenon to be coated on the fixing belt. The oil coating roller consists of an inner oil holding layer formed of paper and a surface oil holding layer formed of aramid fibers. The oil diffusing capacity and the oil holding capacity are reduced from the inner oil holding layer toward the surface oil holding layer. Thus, it is possible to suppress the oil coating amount in the initial period of the roller life to a level that does not cause problems such as oil stains, increase the oil coating amount in the final period of the roller life to a level that does not cause problems such as offsets, and prevent image noises.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of producing excellent images without transfer irregularities regardless of impedance fluctuation dependent on transfer timing, and which avoids enlargement of the apparatus.The aforesaid objects are attained by the image forming apparatus of the present invention which sequentially transfers toner images formed by a plurality of image forming units onto the same transfer sheet via a plurality of transfer charging means, wherein transfer output is controlled in accordance with the change of impedance of the transfer area dependent on the timing of each transfer.

Abstract: In an image scanning system, a deflector is contained in a casing having a cover glass which transmits a scanning light beam deflected by the deflector. An air flow is formed in front of the cover glass to prevent dust adhesion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a rotatable image bearing member for bearing a toner image, a rotatable intermediate transfer member onto which the toner image on the image bearing member is transferred at a first transfer position, a rotatable transfer roller for transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer member onto a transfer material at a second transfer position, and a rotatable conveyer for conveying the transfer material to the transfer roller at a conveying position.

Abstract: In image forming apparatus pertaining to the present invention, after a malfunction is detected, the control of the image forming apparatus is carried out while isolating the malfunctioning device from said control, so that the image forming operation can be performed. It is determined whether a condition governing continued image forming exists during said isolating control. If said certain condition does not exist, the image forming operation is allowed to continue. Where said certain condition does exist, the image forming operation is suspended and subsequent image forming operations are prohibited, or a maintenance call request is displayed.

Abstract: An ink jet printer comprising a replaceable cartridge having a supply of ink and a controller in operative communication with the cartridge. The controller keeps an estimate of an amount of ink remaining in the cartridge and provides a signal indicating that the cartridge is to be weighed in response to a predetermined event. A method of operating an ink jet printer, a postage printing apparatus and a method of operating a postage printing system are also provided.