Abstract: An electronic image processing apparatus has a controller and a plurality of resources in an arbitrary configuration. Each of the resources includes an associated processor storing data related to operational constraints of the associated resource and a bus interconnects the processors to the controller for directing the operation of the resources. The controller is adapted to operate independent of a particular configuration of the plurality of resources by receiving from each of the processors the data related to the operational constraints of each associated resource and interrogating each of the processors to determine the geometrical relationship of the interconnection of the resources.

Abstract: A process for ascertaining the microdefect levels of an electrophotographic imaging member including establishing for a first electrophotographic imaging member, having a known differential increase in dark decay value and a measured crest value, a first reference datum for dark decay crest value at an initial applied field; establishing with the crest value a second reference datum for dark decay crest value at a final applied field; determining the differential increase in dark decay between the first reference datum and the second reference datum for the first electrophotographic imaging member; repeatedly subjecting a virgin electrophotographic imaging member, having a measured crest value, to aforesaid cycles until the amount of dark decay reaches the crest value for the virgin electrophotographic imaging which remains substantially constant; establishing with virgin electrophotographic imaging member, having a measured crest value, a third reference datum for dark decay crest value; establishing for the

Abstract: An electrophotographing apparatus with a reusable toner system includes a photosensitive member capable of bearing toner thereon, a latent image forming unit for forming a latent image on the photosensitive member, a developing unit for developing the latent image with toner as a toner image, a transfer unit for transferring the toner image formed on the photosensitive member onto a transfer material at a transfer position, and a collection unit for collecting the toner from a surface of the photosensitive member after the surface passes through the transfer position. The collection unit includes a rotary member rotated while contacting the surface of the photosensitive member at a contact position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a charging rotary brush in contact with a photosensitive member, a laser beam irradiator to form an electrostatic latent image, a developing unit for developing the latent image into a visible image and collecting residual developer remaining on the surface of the photosensitive member after the visual image is transferred to a transfer material, and a power source unit for applying to the charging rotary brush an oscillating voltage fulfilling the requirement of:.DELTA.t<L/Vpc or .DELTA.t>3.times.L/Vpcwherein .DELTA.t is the time taken for the oscillating voltage to vary between .+-.300 V above and below the central oscillating voltage value between the peaks of the voltage, L is the printing pitch, and Vpc is the speed of movement of the surface of the photosensitive member.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer drum is employed and a photosensitive belt having a length equal to the outer peripheral length of the intermediate transfer drum is arranged with a vertical orientation. Developing units of the same shape are arranged on one side of the photosensitive belt, and a charging unit and a cleaner are arranged on the other side. The intermediate transfer drum is placed under or diagonally under the photosensitive belt. A transfer mechanism for transferring an image on the intermediate transfer drum to a sheet of paper is placed under or diagonally under the intermediate transfer drum. By this arrangement and construction, a small-size color electro-photographic apparatus having a size capable of easy use as a desk-top apparatus is provided, which satisfies quality of image, speed of printing, and easiness of maintenance requirements at the same time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a image bearing member having a photosensitive layer, a surface protection layer having fluorine resin material; a charging member contactable to the image bearing member to electrically charge the image bearing member, the charging member is capable of being supplied with an oscillation voltage, and wherein a peak-to-peak voltage of the oscillating voltage applied across a gap between a surface of the charging member and the surface of the image bearing member, is not less than twice a charge starting voltage of the image bearing member in the gap and not more than 1600 volt.

Abstract: A fusing belt type heat fusing device has a rotating fusing roller, a driven heating roller, an endless fusing belt wrapped and stretched around the two rollers, a pressure roller that applies pressure to the fusing roller through the fusing belt, and a separation agent application and tension transmission element that applies an offset suppression separation agent to the fusing belt in addition to transmitting tension to the fusing belt. The separation agent application and tension transmission element is installed so as to make contact with the fusing belt at an upstream side of the heating roller in the rotation direction of the fusing belt between the fusing roller and the heating roller and at a position closer to the heating roller than a center position between the fusing roller and the heating roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of preventing a transfer material detecting unit from making any detection error when the surface of a transfer drum becomes opaque, and restraining transfer film replacement intervals from being shortened with a simple constitution. The image forming apparatus is provided with a transfer material detecting unit for detecting conditions in which a transfer material is conveyed on a transfer material carrier, and a transfer material peeling unit for peeling the transfer material off the transfer material carrier by contacting the surface of the transfer material carrier. At least part of the transfer material peeling unit is disposed so that it at least linearly contacts the axial surface of the transfer material carrier at the same position as that of the transfer material detecting unit in the axial direction of the transfer material carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus uses an endless belt image member having a magnetic strip along one or more edges. A linear printhead is flashed in response to a magnetic encoder signal in the magnetic strip. Preferably, the apparatus has first and second linear writers and the magnetic encoding signal is created in the magnetic strip in conjunction with creation of a writing signal for the first writer with the second writer using the magnetic encoding signal to register its writing with the first writing. Preferably, an auxiliary signal is placed in the strip indicative of variable characteristics of either the image member or the image forming apparatus. This in turn is read by the apparatus and a charging, exposing or toning station controlled in response to the auxiliary signal.

Abstract: A mechanism for cleaning the toning roller of a development station for a reproduction apparatus, the toning roller serving to apply marking particles to a latent image to develop such image. The cleaning mechanism comprises including an elongated polyurethane blade having a lead edge. The elongated polyurethane blade is mounted such that the lead edge contacts such toning roller at an angle to a plane tangent to such toning roller, the angle when measured between the plane and the blade adjacent to the cleaned side of the toning roller being in the range of approximately 10.degree.-30.degree..

Abstract: A development apparatus includes a developer guide member in a position on an upstream side of a blade in a rotating direction of a developing roller, where the developer guide member does not come into contact with the developing roller. The developer guide member is formed of an elastic body or an elastic foam body. The developer guide member prevents toner which is regulated by the blade from flowing upward from the blade, and allows the toner to efficiently flow underneath the blade. Therefore, with an image forming apparatus using toner as a nonmagnetic single-component developer, it is possible to obtain high-density image quality. It is also possible to provide a development apparatus, in a simple and inexpensive construction, which decreases deterioration of the toner and the apparatus with time.

Abstract: A cleaning sheet for a fuser roll, wherein an average diameter of fibers constituting said cleaning sheet is not more than 14 .mu.m; a layer containing not less than 30% by weight of softening fibers which soften at a temperature higher than an ambient temperature of the fuser roll, but lower than a temperature which is 100.degree. C. higher than a surface temperature of the fuser roll is contained; and the cleaning sheet is bonded with adhesive fibers having a fiber diameter of not more than 20 .mu.m; a cleaning member for a fuser roll, having the above cleaning sheet; a supply shaft around which the cleaning sheet is wound; and a take-up shaft to which one end of the cleaning sheet is fixed; and a cleaning apparatus for a fuser roll, having the above cleaning member; and a pinch member for pressing the cleaning sheet wound off from the supply shaft to a fuser roll and conveying the cleaning sheet to the take-up shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing a latent image recorded on a surface with toner. The apparatus includes a housing having a supply of toner therein; a donor member arranged in the housing to transport toner to a development zone adjacent the surface; a detaching toner device for detaching toner from the donor member and producing a toner cloud in the development zone; and an air handling system, associated with the housing, for collecting stray toner particles emitted from the housing, the air handling system including a separator for separating toner by size.

Abstract: An imaging system carries an image defined by a dry powder or liquid toner. The imaging system includes a first transfer roll that electrostatically or adhesively accumulates the color image from a photoconductor, and a second transfer roll in transfixing contact with the first transfer roll. The second transfer roll possessing a central radiant heat source and a radiant heat source located adjacent to the first transfer roll in radiant proximity to an entering media sheet and the transfixing contact between the first and second transfer rolls. The first transfer roll includes at least a first basecoat layer and a topcoat layer. The basecoat layer includes a material that is electrically conductive and exhibits elastomeric and macrocompliant properties enabling the media to wrap through a significant arc under the transfixing contact and heat of the second transfer roll.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a magnetic brush toning station for applying toner to an electrostatic image. The brush includes a rotatable magnetic core positioned inside a non-magnetic sleeve. To facilitate the removal of developer from the sleeve after it has toned an electrostatic image, a skive located against the sleeve downstream of the toning position has a roughened surface upon which the developer rolls or tumbles to move away from the sleeve and ultimately fall into a mixing sump.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus is adapted to make duplex copies with a separate pass through the fuser for each side. To prevent fusing oil from contaminating an image member by passage from a first image side of a duplex copy to a transfer drum and, hence, to the image member, an oiling algorithm to prevent or lessen oiling during fusing of the first side of duplex copies is provided. Preferably, the apparatus has a finite duplex return path which can hold a limited number of receiving sheets, which number is small enough that offset does not occur while doing first side-duplex fusing.

Abstract: A device incorporated in an electrophotographic image recorder for collecting toner particles, paper dust and so on which are removed from a photoconductive element by a cleaning device. The collecting device is constructed independently of the cleaning device. In a portion where the collecting device and cleaning device are connected to each other, a first and a second shutter which open and close respectively an opening formed through the cleaning device and an opening formed through the collecting device cooperate with each other. When the collecting device is connected to the cleaning device, the second shutter unblocks the associated opening before the first shutter does so. Conversely, when the collecting device is disconnected from the cleaning device, the second shutter blocks the associated opening after the first shutter has done so.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus in which a constant current is supplied from a high voltage source to a charging unit to charge a photo-sensitive material, and the constant current is further supplied to a peeling unit to peel a printing sheet off the photo-sensitive material on which an image has been recorded is provided with a high voltage supply current stabilizing circuit which comprises; a first resistor for stabilizing a constant current supplied to the peeling unit, the first resistor being larger in resistance than the peeling unit; and a second resistor for stabilizing a constant current supplied to the charging unit when the resistance of the first resistor is larger than the resistance of the peeling unit, whereby a constant current is stably supplied to the peeling unit even when the resistance of the latter changes.