Abstract: An image transfer apparatus has a transfer charging member for transferring a toner image from an image bearing member to a transfer material, the transfer charging member adapted to contact with a surface of the transfer material conveyed between the image bearing member and the transfer charging member opposite to a surface thereof facing the image bearing member, and a guide member for supporting the transfer charging member and to guide it between the image bearing member and the transfer charging member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a photosensitive member, a first developer for developing an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member, a charger adapted to charge the photosensitive member bearing a first developed image formed by the first developer and having a discharge electrode member and a shield member surrounding the discharge electrode member, an exposure device for image-exposing the photosensitive member charged by the charger, a second developer for developing an electrostatic latent image formed by exposure of the exposure device, and a voltage apply device for applying voltage having the same polarity as that of the first developed image to the shield member.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and printing machine are disclosed that contain a monitoring system that includes a sensor and artificial stress conditions to determine the cleaner brush life. A comparative analysis is performed from the data provided by the monitoring system of a normal cleaning residual toner particle mass and artificial stress conditions cleaning residual toner particle mass to predict brush cleaner life reliably.

Abstract: A finisher unit receives a sheet discharged from a copying machine, and in a folding/punching mode, the sheet is conducted into a longitudinal transport path. A fold/punch mechanism includes a pair of folding rollers and a punching rod. The sheet fed into the longitudinal transport path goes in contact, at its leading edge, with a nip portion between transport rollers which are in the state of rotation stop, whereupon a center portion of the sheet is bent to be threaded between the folding rollers and transported to the punching rod. When the bent portion of the sheet is transported by a given distance, the punching rod operates one vertical stroke to provide a punch hole to the sheet.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to reduce the weight of a stage unit and suppress heat generation of the driving unit of the stage, thereby improving the surface accuracy of the stage or measurement precision of an interferometer for measuring the position of the stage. A reticle base, a scanning stage mounted on the reticle stage and moved in the scanning direction, and a fine adjustment stage mounted on the scanning stage and capable of being finely moved in the X and Y directions and in the rotational direction are provided as a reticle stage. A first electromagnetic actuator for performing driving in the scanning direction, and a second electromagnetic actuator, having a smaller thrust than that of the first electromagnetic actuator, for performing driving in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction are provided as the driving unit of the fine adjustment stage.

Abstract: An image forming machine includes a host computer, a printer, a copying machine, and a document supply device for conveying a document printed by the printer to an automatic document feeder of the copying machine. The host computer and a control device provided in the printer are connected together via a parallel data transfer type interface, while the host computer and control device provided in the copying machine are connected together via a serial data transfer type interface. Thus independent data are transferred from the host computer to the control device of the printer and the control device of the copying machine.

Abstract: A color image forming device and method wherein latent images are formed on an image carrying body and a plurality of developing devices are employed to develop the latent images in respective colors. During development, a revolver device moves one of said developing devices to a developing position confronting the image carrying body, a developing bias applying device applies developing biases to a developer carrying body of the developing device at the developing position, a potential sensor detects a potential of the image carrying body, and a bias controller changes a first developing bias to a second developing bias while one of the developing devices is moved to the developing position confronting the image carrying body, the second developing bias being decided according to the detected potential by the potential sensor.

Abstract: A fixing unit for an image forming device such as a laser printer includes a heat roller and a heating member driving unit to drive the heat roller. The heat roller includes a hollow cylindrical tube and a resistance heating member to selectively heat portions of the tube along the axial length thereof. The resistance heating member includes an insulating layer and a conductive layer. The conductive layer is provided with a plurality of resistance heating patterns arranged along the axial length of the tube and connected to a plurality of electrode portions. The connections between the resistance heating patterns and the electrode portions are arranged such that applying a voltage across selected electrode portions causes selected resistance patterns to generate heat and thus, selectively heat a portion of the tube along the axial length thereof.

Abstract: A method for controlling paper feeding is performed in an image forming apparatus having a feeding sensor for sensing paper feeding states and for generating a sensing signal that sequentially shifts between first and second states during the paper feeding.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and an image forming method including a first process in which a resin-formed image is formed on a recording medium, and a second process in which the image formed on the recording medium is brought into contact with a solution containing a plasticizer which plasticizes the resin contained in the image.

Abstract: A device for developing an electrostatic latent image includes a developing roller disposed in a developing housing and a developing agent-limiting device for limiting the amount of the developing agent held on the peripheral surface of the developing roller. The developing agent-limiting device includes a flexible blade brought into pressed contact with the peripheral surface of the developing roller, a flexible support plate that is mounted on the blade and supports the blade in a predetermined positional relationship with respect to the developing roller, and a resilient urging device that is constituted by a plurality of spring members arranged on the back surface of the support plate at a distance in the direction of width thereof and pushes the blade in a direction in which it comes into pressed contact with the peripheral surface of the developing roller via the support plate.

Abstract: A method for adjusting toner density is provided for an image recording apparatus which stores a weighted value table having weighted values corresponding to toner consumption coefficients and a driving table having driving times of a toner supply motor corresponding to the weighted values. The method is carried out by calculating a toner consumption coefficient for each line of a page. This is performed by dividing a number of black data bits represented on each line by a total number of data bits represented on each line. Weighted values corresponding to the calculated toner consumption coefficients are then obtained from the weighted value table. From these weighted values, an average weighted value for the page is generated. The driving table is then searched to locate a driving time corresponding to the average weighted value. The toner supply motor is driven in accordance with the driving time to thereby adjust the toner density while printing the page.

Abstract: A developing device attachable to and detachable from a printer using a non-magnetic monocomponent developer. Two different voltages are applied respectively to a developing roller and a toner layer thickness regulating device from a power source of the apparatus main body side through a terminal and a contacting spring. A voltage is applied directly to the developing roller from the contacting spring whereas a Zener diode is provided in a path connecting the contacting spring and toner layer thickness regulating device to apply another voltage to the toner layer thickness regulating device. The voltage applied to the toner layer thickness regulating device is dropped below the power supply voltage by the Zener voltage when a low-printing-ratio image is produced. Thus, the number of the terminals connecting the apparatus main body and developing device is reduced to one.

Abstract: In a toner cartridge for supplying toner to the developing unit in a xerographic image forming apparatus, the casing containing toner has two toner discharge openings sealed prior to installation by a sealing film having a sealing portion peel-separably affixed to the casing around the toner discharge openings, as well as a peel-separating leader portion. The sealing film overlaps itself, having open opposite lateral edges. The toner cartridge is fitted with retaining elements affixed to the casing along opposite lateral edges of the toner discharge openings, for covering the open opposite lateral edges of the sealing film. An installation seat having a toner-disgorging opening corresponding to the toner discharge openings is fixed to the end of the toner cartridge casing. The installation seat includes pressing elements therein disposed over the retaining elements for maintaining external pressure on the retaining elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrostatically transferring a toner image from a toner image bearing member to a receiver sheet is disclosed. A receiver sheet is moved within a nip defined between a transfer roller having a resistive outer layer and a toner image bearing member supporting a toner image. To provide for transfer, there is applied to the resistive layer a first contact voltage to establish a post-nip electrical voltage distribution to a post-nip region of the transfer roller that is immediately downstream of an in-nip region. The post-nip electrical bias is accomplished by having the first contact voltage be applied at first points on the outer layer of the transfer roller, the first points being within or proximate the post-nip region. There is also applied to the resistive layer a second contact voltage to establish a pre-nip electrical voltage distribution to a pre-nip region of the transfer roller immediately up-strean of the in-nip region.

Abstract: A developing device for use with an image forming apparatus that is capable of reliably preventing the entry of large particles of developing agent between a layer thickness limiting member and a developing agent carrier. The developing device includes an image carrier and a developing agent carrier that conveys a developing agent to the vicinity of the image carrier. The developing agent is conveyed to the vicinity of the image carrier. A layer thickness limiting member limits a thickness of a layer of the developing agent. The layer thickness limiting member includes a columnar member having a ridge line closely parallel to the surface of the developing agent carrier. The ridge line limits the thickness of the developing agent layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving, steering and maintaining tension on a moving web, particularly in an electrophotographic printing machine of the type having an endless photoreceptor belt supported by a plurality of rolls and arranged to move in a predetermined path through a plurality of processing stations disposed therealong the belt being of the type which is supported by a plurality of rolls. A belt utility roll for driving, steering and maintaining tension on the belt adapted for rotational movement about a first axis and tilting movement about a second axis transverse to the first axis is used. The drive motor and transmission are mounted integral to the utility roll unit and tilt with the roll. An actuator tilts the roll in one of two directions to cause the belt to laterally walk along the roll to maintain the predetermined belt path.

Abstract: The scavenging of a first toner into a second toning station in a DAD-CAD or CAD-DAD process can be reduced by allowing scavenged toner to deposit in the background of single color images. The polarity of the first toner of the scavenged toner is not changed prior to transfer and remains on the image member through transfer from which it is later cleaned. Alternatively, scavenged toner is deposited from a second toning station on the image member while no images are being made and allowed to pass through transfer to be cleaned off.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus such as a copier or a printer for forming a multicolor toner image.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus for forming a full color image in the four colors of cyan, magenta, yellow and black has a optical ATDC sensor attached in a cyan developing device to control the toner density under optical ATDC. A black developing device has the toner density controlled by AIDC. A standard develop efficiency .eta.STD of the cyan developing device obtained as a result of the AIDC is compared with a develop efficiency .eta. of black toner. The toner supply amount of the black developing device is determined according to the comparison result to supply the toner. Thus, an image formation apparatus is provided that can detect at favorable accuracy the toner density of a developing device incorporating a developer of which the toner density cannot be detected using optical ATDC to supply a required amount of toner.