Abstract: A transfer unit 5, which has transfer members 51a corresponding to a plurality of image carriers arranged in a sheet transporting direction, for transferring images carried on the image carriers, has rotary fulcrums 50 in the vicinity of an extension of the axis of a transfer member 51a on an upstream side end portion or on an downstream side end portion in the sheet transporting direction so as to be approximately parallel to the axis, and can be rotated on the rotary fulcrums 50 in directions of moving to and from the image carriers. With this image forming apparatus, it is possible to keep stable orientation of the transfer unit while the apparatus is in operation, thereby realizing stable contact/separation movement of the transfer unit.

Abstract: A junction/disjunction unit 38 of the multicolored image forming apparatus joints/disjoints a transfer material holder with/from an image holder, to switch over between a monochromatic image forming mode which uses a specific image forming unit and a multicolored image forming mode which uses a plurality of image forming units. For switching the image forming mode, a driving unit 39 for driving the junction/disjunction unit 38 also drives an auger 37 provided for conveying toner, which has been recovered by a transfer material holder cleaning unit for recovering toner remaining on the transfer material holder, into a recovery container 36. Accordingly, a driving force outputted from the driving unit can be effectively utilized, and thereby good cost performance can be realized.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus including a transfer and transport belt suspended between a plurality of rollers, an image forming section for forming a pattern image on the transfer and transport belt, and a pattern image detecting sensor for detecting the pattern image, the pattern image detecting sensor is disposed so as to detect the surface of a suspended segment, of the transfer and transport belt, suspended between the rollers, and a back surface contact member that is in contact with a back surface of a detection area where the pattern image detecting sensor detects the pattern image on the surface of the transfer and transport belt is provided so as to render the detection area flat and stable. This can provide an image forming apparatus incorporating a pattern image detecting means having a simple arrangement and a capability to surely detect the pattern image in a precise and stable manner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer drum which attracts and holds a transfer paper electrostatically. A voltage is applied to a conductive layer provided on an inner side of the transfer drum, and a grounded conductive electrode member is pressed against a dielectric layer provided on an outer side of the transfer drum through the transfer paper. A toner image formed on a photosensitive drum is transferred onto the transfer paper when the transfer paper is wound around the transfer drum and brought into contact with the photosensitive drum. The image forming apparatus further includes a member which charges the transfer paper in a polarity reversed to a polarity of the transfer drum, so that the transfer drum can attract the transfer sheet electrostatically in a satisfactory manner. The image forming apparatus further includes a charge control mechanism for controlling the amount of charges on the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer drum which attracts and holds a transfer paper electrostatically. A voltage is applied to a conductive layer provided on an inner side of the transfer drum, and a grounded conductive electrode member is pressed against a dielectric layer provided on an outer side of the transfer drum through the transfer paper. A toner image formed on a photosensitive drum is transferred onto the transfer paper when the transfer paper is wound around the transfer drum and brought into contact with the photosensitive drum. The image forming apparatus further includes an upstream member or layer on the electrode member which charges the transfer paper in a polarity reversed to a polarity of the transfer drum, so that the transfer drum can attract the transfer sheet electrostatically in a satisfactory manner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer drum which attracts and holds a transfer paper electrostatically. A voltage is applied to a conductive layer provided on an inner side of the transfer drum, and a grounded conductive electrode member is pressed against a dielectric layer provided on an outer side of the transfer drum through the transfer paper. A toner image formed on a photosensitive drum is transferred onto the transfer paper when the transfer paper is wound around the transfer drum and brought into contact with the photosensitive drum. A nip time changing controller changes the amount of time that a transfer sheet is in the nip between the transfer drum and the grounded conductive electrode member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which each test image formed in a plurality of image forming sections is transferred onto a transfer carrier belt by transfer means respectively provided corresponding to the plurality of image forming sections, and the transfer state is detected to control the image forming conditions, wherein the transfer condition of the respective transfer means is different when the test image is transferred onto the transfer medium and when the test images already formed and transferred in other image forming sections pass through the transfer means.

Abstract: An idle roller on which a dielectric belt is wound is made up of a metal such as aluminum etc., and is used as a charging device. A voltage is applied to this idle roller from a d.c. power source. A sheet of paper is made to pass into and between this grounded idle roller (grounded via the dielectric belt) and the metal roller so that the paper is electrostatically attracted to the dielectric belt. The same d.c. power source which applies a d.c. voltage to the idle roller is connected to a multiple number of transfer rollers so as apply the same d.c. voltage to these transfer rollers.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer drum which attracts and holds a transfer paper electrostatically. A voltage is applied to a conductive layer provided on an inner side of the transfer drum, and a grounded conductive electrode member is pressed against a dielectric layer provided on an outer side of the transfer drum through the transfer paper. A toner image formed on a photosensitive drum is transferred onto the transfer paper when the transfer paper is wound around the transfer drum and brought into contact with the photosensitive drum. The image forming apparatus further includes a member which charges the transfer paper in a polarity reversed to a polarity of the transfer drum, so that the transfer drum can attract the transfer sheet electrostatically in a satisfactory manner.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance guide is configured of separation claws for separating the paper from a conveyer and transfer belt and a movable sheet guide for guiding the paper to a fixer entrance sheet guide. The separation claws are arranged on the upstream side of the movable sheet guide. The movable sheet guide is rotatable about a pivot shaft with its distal end abutted by gravity upon the upstream end part of the fixer entrance sheet guide.The separation claws and movable sheet guide are axially supported so as to rotate on pivots.The sheet conveyance guide moves together with the vertical movement of the conveyer and transfer belt while the abutment point of the separation claws upon the conveyer and transfer belt moves to the appropriate position.

Abstract: When a grounded conductive roller touches a transfer drum through a transfer material while a voltage is applied to a conductor layer, charges having a polarity opposite to the polarity of the voltage applied to the conductor layer are generated over the transfer material, thereby making it possible to attract the transfer material to the dielectric layer. Since the voltage is applied to the conductor layer, the electrostatic attraction of the transfer material and the toner transfer can be carried out using a single power source. Moreover, since the attraction of the transfer material and the toner transfer are carried out by the charge injection, a lower voltage can be used. Thus, the voltage can be readily controlled while reducing the ozone emission to a relatively low level. Furthermore, since the toner transfer and electrostatic attraction of the transfer material can be carried out using a single power source, the apparatus can be downsized and less expensive.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a transfer apparatus including a transfer drum which carries a transfer material by electrostatic attraction with reliability, and can prevent the transfer nonuniformity of the image. The transfer drum is so formed that on the surface of a dielectric layer made of cylinder-shaped aluminium, are formed side by side two semiconductor layers each formed by a foamed elastic member, and on the surface of the semiconductor layers are stacked a conductive layer formed by PVDF. The first semiconductor layer is formed under the transfer region within the surface of the transfer drum, and the diameter of cell is set to be in a range of over 0 .mu.m to 50 .mu.m. Also, the second semiconductor layer is formed under the non-transfer region within the surface of the transfer drum, and the diameter of cell is set to a size of 500 .mu.m or more.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer drum which attracts and holds a transfer paper electrostatically. A voltage is applied to a conductive layer provided on an inner side of the transfer drum, and a grounded conductive electrode member is pressed against a dielectric layer provided on an outer side of the transfer drum through the transfer paper. A toner image formed on a photosensitive drum is transferred onto the transfer paper when the transfer paper is wound around the transfer drum and brought into contact with the photosensitive drum. The transfer drum includes the inner side conductive layer, a semi-conductive layer, and a dielectric layer provided on the surface of the drum. The dielectric layer can be made to adhere to the semi-conductive layer by thermally contracting this layer or the semi-conductive and dielectric layer can be made of a one-piece construction.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus is provided with: a photoconductor drum having a surface on which a toner image is formed, a transfer drum for transferring the toner image onto a copying material by allowing the copying material to contact the photoconductor drum, and a ground roller for electrostatically attracting the copying material onto the transfer drum prior to transferring the toner image onto the copying material. He transfer drum is constituted by a semi-conductive layer and a dielectric layer that are stacked on a conductive layer. [Supposing that] The nip width between the photoconductor drum and the transfer drum is L1, the rotation speed of the two drums is Vp, and the time constant, which is represented by a product of the resistance and the capacitance between the two drums, is .tau., the relationship represented by L1/Vp<.tau. is satisfied.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer drum which attracts and holds a transfer paper electrostatically. A voltage is applied to a conductive layer provided on an inner side of the transfer drum, and a grounded conductive electrode member is pressed against a dielectric layer provided on an outer side of the transfer drum through the transfer paper. A toner image formed on a photosensitive drum is transferred onto the transfer paper when the transfer paper is wound around the transfer drum and brought into contact with the photosensitive drum. The image forming apparatus further includes a member which charges the transfer paper in a polarity reversed to a polarity of the transfer drum, so that the transfer drum can attract the transfer sheet electrostatically in a satisfactory manner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a photosensitive drum on whose surface a toner image is formed, and image formation is carried out by transferring the toner image onto a transfer material such as paper or OHP sheet which is caused to electrostatically adhere to a surface of a transfer drum while being guided to the photosensitive drum. Alternatively, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum may be once transferred onto an intermediate transfer drum, then transferred from the intermediate transfer drum onto the transfer material. In the image forming apparatus, a light projecting device for projecting light onto the photosensitive drum is provided on an upstream side to a toner image transfer position and on a downstream side to a development position on the photosensitive drum. Execution and suspension of the light projecting operation of the light projecting device is controlled depending on a toner type.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a photoreceptor drum on which a toner image is formed, a transfer drum for transferring the toner image formed to transfer paper by bringing the transfer paper into contact with the photoreceptor drum, and a pair of register rollers for supplying the transfer paper to the transfer drum at a predetermined time and for curling the transfer paper in an arc. The register rollers include first and second rollers pressed against each other, the first roller being a predetermined hardness and the second roller being a hardness larger than the first roller. The transfer drum is disposed on the same side as the second roller with respect to an imaginary tangent line touching the surface of the second roller at one end of a contact section between the first and second rollers.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer drum which attracts and holds a transfer paper electrostatically. A toner image formed on a photosensitive drum is transferred onto the transfer paper when the transfer paper is wound around the transfer drum and brought into contact with the photosensitive drum. A variable voltage is applied to a conductive layer provided on an inner side of the transfer drum so as to either transfer the image onto the transfer paper or attract the transfer paper to the transfer roller. The transfer voltage is lower than the attracting voltage. The voltage applied to the transfer drum for both transfer and attraction will be variable depending on a detected humidity or type of transfer paper. In addition, a manual adjusting device is capable of adjusting the transfer or attraction voltage.

Abstract: A transfer drum has a dielectric layer and a conductive layer laminated in this order from a transfer material side. The transfer drum is provided with a power source section for applying a predetermined voltage to the conductive layer, and a grounded semiconductive roller, formed on the surface of the dielectric layer by using a semiconductor having elasticity. The semiconductive roller is brought into contact with the dielectric layer through the transfer material. For this reason, since a nip width, namely, a nip time can be easily adjusted, even if a type of the transfer material is changed, for example, the transfer material can electrostatically adhere to the transfer drum stably. As a result, unsatisfactory transfer of a toner image to the transfer material is eliminated, and thus the satisfactory image can be formed on the transfer material. Moreover, an image forming apparatus having a low-priced arrangement can be provided.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a photoreceptor drum whereon a toner image is to be formed, a transfer drum for transferring the toner image to a transfer material by making the transfer material contact with the photoreceptor drum, the transfer drum having a dielectric layer, semiconducting layer and conducting layer laminated in this order from a surface which comes into contact with the transfer material, a power source section for applying any voltage to the conducting layer, and a grounded conducting roller which is located in an upstream section in a transfer material transporting direction with respect to a transfer position on a surface of the dielectric layer and comes into contact with the dielectric layer surface through the transfer material. The volume resistivity of the dielectric layer is not lower than 40 percent of the volume resistivity of the semiconducting layer.