Abstract: An electrostatographic reproduction machine including a movable photoconductive member having an image bearing surface; devices for forming a latent image electrostatically on the image bearing surface; a developing assembly including toner particles for developing the latent image to be transferred onto a sheet; a moving device for moving waste toner particles from the image bearing surface and from the developing assembly; a toner particle cartridge having a waste toner receiving opening for receiving waste toner particles from the moving device; and a non-interfering dual-use cartridge sealing device for accessibly presealing the receiving opening for receiving waste toner particles, and for effectively resealing the receiving opening during shipping of the toner cartridge to a recycling location.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developing roller having a surface on which a layer of a non-magnetic single component developing agent (toner) is adapted to be formed, a toner supply roller held in contact with the developing roller so as to electrify the toner and also to supply the toner to the developing roller, and a toner regulating blade for regulating the toner on the developing roller so as to form a film of the toner thereon. The toner regulating blade is formed into a generally L-shape, and with a simple construction, the thickness of the toner layer, formed on the developing roller, can be stabilized, and also a torque of the developing roller can be reduced, and the degradation of a printed image is suppressed, thereby stabilizing the printed image.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus and a method of using the image recording apparatus. The image recording apparatus has a sheet sending path connecting a sheet supply section, an image forming section, and a sheet discharge section. A pull-in path branches from the sheet sending path, and a return path branches from the pull-in path to define a branch point. A first pair and a second pair of conveying rollers are provided on the pull-in path on respective sides of the branch point.The first pair and the second pair of conveying rollers are independently drivable in a forward direction and a reverse direction.

Abstract: An electrostatographic reproduction apparatus and method for cleaning remnant toner and carrier particles. An intermediate transfer member (ITM) is in transfer relation to a primary image-forming member to transfer the toner image from the primary image-forming member to the ITM. The ITM then transfers the image to a receiver sheet . A fiber cleaning brush includes plural individual conductive brush fibers in engagement with the ITM to remove residual toner and carrier particles from the ITM. A detoning member includes an electrically conductive surface that contacts the brush fibers and is electrically biased to electrostatically remove toner particles from the fiber brush. The detoning member includes magnets for attracting remnant carrier to the detoning roller and for attracting a skive blade of magnetic material into engagement with the detoning roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a plurality of developing units each having a developer storage portion for accommodating a developer; a plurality of feeding devices for discharging used developers from the respective developing units; and a single collecting device for collecting the used developers discharged by the respective feeding device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a versatile office machine, e.g. a laser printer, a facsimile machine, or an electronic copier, which includes a scanner for scanning a document, a developing unit for developing the scanned image of the document with a toner and a detector for detecting the toner in the developing unit. The device for detecting the toner can be constructed using a light emitting element mounted in the scanner to generate the light that is transmitted to the photoreceptor.

Abstract: A powder particle lumping recording apparatus low in cost and high in printing quality is disclosed. Toner 12 having a magnetic property contained in a toner container 21 is conveyed by a developing roller 11 constituting a magnet roller, and jumped under the effect of the electric field controlled by a control electrode formed on an FPC 22. The toner 12 is accelerated by the acceleration voltage for the conductive roller 15, attaches on a recording material inserted between the control electrode 13 and the conductive roller 15, and thus forms an image. The conductive roller 15 contains a magnet 16 therein. With the approach of the magnet 16 to the control electrode 13 by rotation of the conductive roller 15, the toner 12 can be attracted off. The toner 12 attached on the surface of the conductive roller 15 is mechanically removed by a cleaning blade 17 and accumulated in a housing 18. The conductive roller 15, the cleaning blade 17 and the housing 18 make up an easily-demountable cleaning unit 19.

Abstract: An ordinary printing mode of forming an image and a transfer adjusting mode are provided and changed over. Under a condition of setting to the transfer adjusting mode, a pattern forming unit controls an exposing unit and thereby forms a toner image of a test pattern on a circumferential surface of a photosensitive body. A transfer controlling unit changes the transfer condition for electrostatically absorbing the toner image. An electric potential measuring unit measures a surface electric potential at a specified position. A condition detecting unit detects a condition of minimizing a rate ".DELTA.Vs/.DELTA.T" of a variation .DELTA.T of the transfer condition and a variation .DELTA.Vs of the surface electric potential on the photosensitive body. A condition setting unit adjusts the transfer condition in the ordinary printing mode based on the above transfer condition, and thereby the transfer unit can be adjusted to an optimum state.

Abstract: A Recharge-Expose-and-Develop Image on Image color electrophotographic printing system in which the photoreceptor is recharged between development of one color of toner image and the subsequent exposure for a second color latent image by first being sprayed with opposite sign ions to reduce the photoreceptor potential and then being charged with correct sign ions to recharge the photoreceptor to a desired potential.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a process device actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a memory element for storing information relating to the process cartridge; a connector including a plurality of connecting contacts, arranged along a line substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, for electrical connection with the main assembly to transmit to the main assembly information stored in the memory element when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, wherein a connecting contacts of the plurality of connecting contacts which is closest to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum is a contact for electrically grounding a substrate of the memory element.

Abstract: A developer-remaining-amount notifying device for notifying a remaining amount of a developer accommodated in a developer accommodating unit and used for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member is provided. The device includes a position detection member positionable near an upper surface of an accumulated layer of the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating unit, a regulating member, and a notification device. The regulating member regulates a moving direction of the position detection member such that the position detection member moves substantially linearly in accordance with a gradual decrease of the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating unit as the developer is used for development. The notification device notifies a remaining amount of the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating unit in accordance with a position of the position detection member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, such as an electrophotographic copier, forms a test image on a photosensitive member, under constant image forming conditions, and the amount of toner adhering to the photosensitive member is detected. The detected amount of toner is converted into a developer toner concentration, based on a conversion standard. The toner concentration is used to control the operation of a toner replenishment device. The conversion standard is periodically corrected by forming a test image using a developer having a known toner concentration, detecting the amount of adhered toner, comparing the detected result to a standard value, and selecting one conversion standard table from among a number of different conversion tables.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the density of a dot image is stabilized by detecting the toner density of a first standard toner image having toners of a uniform density formed on a photoconductor, adjusting the development bias voltage applied to a development device according to the detected toner density. The adjusted development bias voltage is used to form on the photoconductor a second standard toner image having toners of dots with predetermined spaces there between. Then, an area ratio of dot area to unit area of the second standard toner image is detected and is used to control the image forming conditions of the image forming apparatus to stabilize the density of a dot image.

Abstract: A developing solution supplying system for a wet type developer includes an ink cartridge for storing ink, a carrier storage tank for storing liquid carrier, and a mixing tank located adjacent to the ink cartridge having a bulkhead therebetween for storing a developing solution. An actuator imparts interlocking rotation to a first agitating blade rotatably installed in the mixing tank and a second agitating blade rotatably installed in the ink cartridge opposite the first agitating blade to simultaneously agitate, by a single driving source, the solutions in the ink cartridge and the mixing tank.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus service system of the present invention includes a shared managing unit capable of predicting whether or not a serviceman's visit is necessary on the basis of data received from each of a plurality of image forming apparatuses, including low CV layer apparatuses, operated in a broad area including a number of service stations. The service system therefore allows a serviceman to take an adequate measure rapidly and efficiently before a critical trouble occurs in any one of the apparatuses.

Abstract: An intermittent ejection processing unit detects a driving state of at least one of driving motors of a developing agent conveying member and a stirring member which are driven at a predetermined rotational speed when a developing agent is ejected and intermittently makes each driving motor operative until a detection value of the driving state decreases to a specified value, thereby intermittently ejecting the developing agent. A continuous ejection processing unit continuously makes each driving motor operative at a predetermined rotational speed after the detection value of the driving state of at least one of the driving motors was below the specified value, thereby continuously ejecting the developing agent, and finishes the ejection of the developing agent when the detection value of the motor driving state decreases to a specified value corresponding to a no-load state by the completion of the ejection of the developing agent.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing sleeve for carrying a magnetic developer, a regulating sleeve for regulating the thickness of the layer of the developer on the developing sleeve, magnets for generating a magnetic field in a layer-thickness regulating portion by the regulating sleeve, and magnetic members provided so as to have a small gap between the circumferences of the developing sleeve and the regulating sleeve. Leakage of the developer from end portions is prevented by forming a magnetic seal by way of a magnetic field between each of the magnetic members, and between the regulating sleeve and the developing sleeve.

Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus has a puncher for punching a hole in a sheet as the sheet is being transported through a transport path, and a transport device for clamping and transporting the sheet, the transport device being disposed downstream of the puncher and having a first rotation member and a second rotation member for pressing the sheet into contact with the first rotation member, the transport device being disposed at a position where a hole punched by the puncher passes through.

Abstract: A charging apparatus for applying a uniform electrostatic charge to a charge retentive surface is provided. The charging apparatus is operably electrically connectable to a power supply for supplying an electrical bias to the charging apparatus. The apparatus includes a housing and an electrode mounted to the housing and positioned adjacent the surface in a non-contact relationship therewith. The apparatus also includes an electrical connector, electrically connected to the electrode and electrically connectable to the power supply. The electrical connector provides an electrical bias to said electrode. The electrical connector extends from the electrode and is integral therewith.

Abstract: An electrostatic recording system using a dielectric belt for conducting electrification of a sheet of paper and a transfer belt so that the sheet of paper is not wound and caught by a photoconductor drum, and a transfer voltage can be lowered so as to smoothly separate the sheet of paper from a transfer belt. The electrostatic recording system applies a voltage to only the dielectric belt at a stage before the sheet of paper 3 is attracted to the dielectric belt 10 and applies voltage to the sheet of paper 3 conveyed to the dielectric belt, and to the dielectric belt 10 while the sheet of paper and the belt are mutually superposed.