Abstract: The flash units are housed in reflector assemblies and actuated in a sequence that entirely exposes both sides of the sheet while drawing a constant amount of electrical power. Constructions of the reflector include an extruded housing, snap-in replaceable reflector surfaces, and a manifold structure that achieves cooling, fume scavenging and paper flattening. In one embodiment a two-sided sheet moves past a pair of oppositely directed flash units which are powered by a single power supply. A specularly reflective surface provides a level of reflected illumination which complements the light received directly from the flash tube to provide a constant level of illumination and fuse a toned image.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic recording device which includes a number of consumable parts, there is provided a first memory for storing a currently integrated total number of prints, and a number of prints at replacement of each consumable part. A second memory stores a number of lifetime prints, which is a conversion of the life of each part into a number of prints. A processor performs a first calculation to calculate a number of prints for replaced consumable parts after such replacement and a second calculation to calculate a wear rate of the replaced consumable parts from the number of lifetime prints read out from the second memory, and from the number of prints calculated by the first calculation. An indication section indicates the wear rate obtained from the second calculation. The number of prints stored in the first memory for the consumable parts at replacement is written into the current total number of prints.

Abstract: An electronic printing system having a scanner for scanning documents and converting the document images to image signals, a printer for making prints from image signals, and a programmer for programming job selections including a job supplement selection, programming job supplement enabling plural smaller jobs to be combined for a print job and preventing the scanner from scanning a new job until the job supplement program is completed.

Abstract: A developing apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member includes a developer chamber containing a developer comprising non-magnetic toner particles and magnetic carrier particles; a rotatable cylindrical developer carrying member, faced to the image bearing member, for carrying the developer supplied thereto in the developer chamber to supply it to the image bearing member; a magnet stationarily disposed in the developer carrying member to form a magnetic brush of the developer contactable to the image bearing member, wherein a position of maximum magnetic flux density in a direction normal to a surface of the developer carrying member provided by a developing magnetic pole of the magnet is not less than 3 degrees away from a position where the developer carrying member is closest to the image bearing member, and wherein a position of a peak of magnetic force in a direction normal to the surface of the developer carrying member provided by the developing magnetic

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image bearing member and a rotatable member such as a transfer roller, a charging roller or a cleaning roller press-contacted to the image bearing member in relation to an image formation process on the image bearing member. A coupling is employed for transmitting the driving force from a driving power source to the rotatable member, so that the state of press-contact between the image bearing member and the rotatable member is maintained substantially uniform along the longitudinal direction with stability.

Abstract: The present invention presents a rotatory member for fixing toner image onto a support member supporting toner image, which is constituted of a core member, an elastic layer provided on the core member, an intermediate layer provided on the elastic member, and a surface layer provided on the intermediate layer. The whole elastic layer is covered with the above intermediate layer, and also the coverage with the above intermediate layer is extended to the portion which blocks movement of the mold release agent provided around the journal portion of the core member. With such constitution, contamination within the main device with the mold release agent reaching from the rotatory member to the main device can be prevented.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus provided with an image forming part capable of reproducing on a recording medium an image information frame recorded on a microfilm. The apparatus effects a decision as to whether or not image information is present within the range of a prescribed width inwardly of the edge of the image information frame. When the presence of the image information in the range mentioned above is discerned, the part of the projected light reaching the image forming part which falls outside the edge is intercepted and the image information within the image information frame is completely reproduced on the recording medium. When the absence of the image information in the aforementioned range is confirmed, the part of the projected light which falls outside the edge and within the range of the prescribed width inwardly of the edge is intercepted so that the background part of the negative film is not reproduced on the recording medium.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an image forming apparatus capable of making color reproductions. A plurality of developing portions are arranged around a photoreceptor which rotates in a predetermined direction. Developing units, which accommodate different kinds of developer, can be attached to the developing portions. Switches detect the attachment of at least one of the developing units. During a copying operation an electrostatic latent image is formed on an electroconductive drum and toner adheres to the electrostatic latent image by selectively operating the developing units.

Abstract: A release agent donor member for a toner fixing system wherein a polymeric release agent having functional groups is applied to the surface of a fuser member has a base member, an intermediate conformable silicone elastomer layer and an elastomer release agent donor layer comprising poly(vinylidenefluoride-hexafluoropropylenetetrafluoroethylene) where the vinylidenefluoride is present in an amount less than 40 mole percent, a metal oxide present in an amount sufficient to interact with the polymeric release agent having functional groups to transport a sufficient amount of the polymeric release agent to provide an interfacial barrier layer between the fusing surface and the toner and being substantially unreactive with said elastomer, the elastomer release agent donor layer having been cured from a solvent solution thereof with a nucleophilic curing agent and in the presence of less than 4 parts by weight of inorganic base per 100 parts of polymer, the inorganic base being effective to at least partially dehy

Abstract: A monocomponent developing device for use in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, which comprises a developing roller rotatably supported so as to confront a rotatably supported photoreceptor, a toner supply means for supplying toner onto the developing roller, a regulating member held in contact with a surface of the developing roller and operable to triboelectrically charge the toner, supplied onto the surface of the photoreceptor, while regulating the amount of the toner, and a coating film formed on at least a portion of a surface of the regulating member which is held in contact with the developing roller. The coating film has the same polarity in triboelectric series as that of the toner and is abradable after repetition of developing with a surface of the regulating member consequently exposed.

Abstract: Action of a charging device in an image forming apparatus is started with an output value different from a predetermined value which is set according to a characteristic of attenuation of a photoconductor, and the value is controlled so as to coincide with the predetermined value after a predetermined period of time has elapsed. It is further controlled so as to become different output characteristics at an initial stage and the latter half stage of the predetermined period of time to charge the photoconductor corresponding to actual difference in the state of attenuation caused by the difference in a period of duration when it is used and when it is not used.

Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus for use in an image forming apparatus which transfers a toner image onto a paper, the paper feeding apparatus comprising paper feed device for feeding paper into a paper feed path, a paper sensor device provided adjacent to the paper feed path for detecting paper on the paper feed path to produce a detection information signal, a control device responsive to the detection information signal from the paper sensor device for controlling movement of the paper wherein the paper is fed into an image transfer portion of the image forming apparatus in proper timing with the operation of an image carrying body of the image forming apparatus and wherein the feeding of paper into the image transfer portion is temporarily stopped until the proper timing occurs with the operation of the image carrying body.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for synchronizing a transfer loop in a recirculating color printer includes two spaced pairs of pulleys having a conveyor belt positioned thereabout for conveying sheets to a transfer zone for image transfer and an external pair of idler pulleys. A gripper bar on the conveyor belt advances the sheet. A photoconductive drum includes a portion in the transfer zone. A corona generating device is located in the transfer zone to charge the sheet so that it will attract an image from the photoconductive drum. A motion control servo provides ground-referenced control of motion of the conveyor belt as the gripper bar is delivered to the transfer zone. In the transfer zone, control is shifted to a phase detector which maintains constant the initially sensed phase between idler pulleys and a photoconductive drum coaxial therewith.

Abstract: A drive system for positioning any one of a plurality of toner developing modules relative to a photoconductor drum of an electrographic printer includes an indexing assembly having a chain drive mechanism. The chain drive mechanism includes a motor driven tow bar that is configured to releasably engage a tow hook mounted to a movable toner cart. The toner cart includes a developer rack that supports the plurality of developing modules. The drive system further includes a lift assembly that is configured to engage any one of developing modules and move it away from the rack to a developing position adjacent the photoconductor drum and back to the developer rack. The lift assembly includes a pair of lift arms, each of which is defined by a four bar linkage. The lift arms include hook assemblies that are configured to engage lift pins mounted on opposite ends of the developing modules. Each hook assembly includes a first centering member that supports a movable spring biased second centering member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photosensitive member into a visual image by the use of two-component developer consisting of toner and carrier. The apparatus is provided with a developing unit, which accommodates the developer and in which screw rollers are rotatably mounted for agitating the developer. The apparatus is further provided with an abnormality detecting system for detecting abnormalities which are liable to occur in the developing unit. The abnormality detecting system includes a toner density sensor for detecting the density of toner accommodated in the developing unit. In the normal condition, the toner density detected by the toner density sensor regularly fluctuates as the developer accommodated in the developing unit is agitated by the screw rollers.

Abstract: A copier with an editing function and operable in operable in a trimming mode for extracting part of an image printed on a document as a trimmed image and transferring it to a paper sheet, a masking mode for omitting part of the image as a masked image and transferring a non-masked image surrounding the masked image to the paper sheet, and a centering mode combinable with either one of the trimming mode and masking mode for shifting the center of the image on the document into register with the center of the paper sheet and transferring it to the paper sheet. Centering in the trimming mode transfers the trimmed image to the center of a paper sheet by using the trimmed image itself as a reference. Centering in the masking mode transfers the image on the document to the center of a paper sheet in the same manner as ordinary centering without taking account of the dimensions of the masked image, i.e., by shifting the document image by an amount matching the size of the paper sheet and the size of the document.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus with reversal development system, wherein a photosensitive member is charged to first polarity by a first charger and then charged to second polarity opposite to the first polarity by a second charger which is provided at downstream side of the first charger with respect to the rotational direction of the photosensitive member prior to an image formation so as to form uniform images regardless of the number of image formation.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes an image-forming unit detachably attached to a body of the apparatus, a holding member attached to the unit, and an engaging member attached to the body. The unit has a photosensitive member rotatably in a first rotary axis, and a roller member rotatably in a second rotary axis. The holding member has a first holding portion for holding the first rotary axis, a second holding portion for holding the second rotary axis, and a positioning member, whereby the photosensitive member and the roller member is held at specific intervals in the image-forming unit. The engaging member brings into engagement with the positioning member when the image-forming unit is attached to the body, whereby the image-forming unit is positioned to the body.

Abstract: A rotating release liquid applying device for a fuser which fuses toner images on a receiving sheet, includes an outer porous ceramic material which contacts a surface to which liquid is to be applied and rotates with movement of that surface. Liquid is fed by a pump through a distribution tube located inside the ceramic material.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus includes a heater which is fixed during an image fixing operation, a film for sliding movement of the heater, wherein a toner image on a recording material is heated by heat from the heater through the film, detecting means for detecting non-movement of the film, and power supply stopping means for stopping energization of the heater in response to an output of the detecting means.