Abstract: As a portion to be detected of a belt 51, a protrusion 60 is provided on the width direction edge of the endless belt 51, and the tensile elastic modulus of the member forming the protrusion 60 is smaller than the tensile elastic modulus of the member forming the endless belt 51. Because the difference between the tensile elastic modulus of the protrusion material 60 and the tensile elastic modulus of the belt 51 is suitable, the protrusion material 60 can keep up with deformation of the belt 51 on the winding unit of the roller 54, so that a large stress does not arise in the surface direction on the adhesive interface between the belt 51 and protrusion material 60. Therefore, peeling of the protrusion material 60 by the driving of the belt 51 over a long period of time can be prevented.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming a color image with a plurality of color toners includes: a photosensitive body, a rotary developing device for developing a latent image on the photosensitive body by selectively allowing developing units corresponding to their respective color toners to rotationally move to a developing position opposite the photosensitive body; and a cleaning blade for removing the residual toner on the photosensitive body. At least one color toner in the plurality of color toners is an irregular toner, and other color toners are spherical toners. The volume mean particle size of the irregular toner is not more than the volume mean particle size of the spherical toner. With this construction, high cleaning capability can be attained without impairing the merit of the spherical toner that enables a densely high-fine image to be obtained.

Abstract: A low cost image forming apparatus can be provided in which the amount of remaining toner of each color in each development apparatus can be detected by a single detection sensor device and at the same time whether the development apparatus is attached to or detached from the image forming apparatus can be discerned by the detection sensor device. The image forming apparatus includes development apparatuses for each color for developing an electrostatic latent image and supply of the developer is controlled based on the detected amount of toner in each of the development apparatuses. The detection sensor device includes a light emitting member and a light receiving member which receives the light emitted from the light emitting member and output a detection signal in accordance with the intensity of received light.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including first and second image forming portions, and a device for detecting a type of an image display medium, image formation by the first image forming portion being allowed when the medium type is a normal image display medium (PP), and image formation by the second image forming portion being allowed when the medium type is a reversible image display medium (TP). Another image forming apparatus including first and second image forming portions, and an image formation element setting switching device, image forming elements being set in a standard mode to a standard state for forming an image on a medium for the standard mode, and being switched in a non-standard mode to a non-standard state for forming an image on a medium for the non-standard mode.

Abstract: A method of displaying information about an image forming apparatus comprising a first image forming portion for forming an image on a normal image display medium and a second image forming portion for forming an image on a reversible image display medium and capable of forming an image on the normal image display medium through the first image forming portion and of forming an image on the reversible image display medium through the second image forming portion, wherein the information about the image forming apparatus (information about the state of a predetermined item in the image forming apparatus) and (or) information about a setting state for image formation in the image forming apparatus) is displayed on a display device in the image forming apparatus and (or) a display device in an image information input apparatus transmitting image data to the image forming apparatus depending on the information, and an image forming apparatus capable of executing the method.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a first image forming portion for forming an image on a normal image display medium, and a second image forming portion for forming an image on a reversible image display medium. An image forming apparatus including a reversible image display having at least an electrode for forming an image by driving an image display region, a first image forming portion for forming an image on the reversible image display, and a second image forming portion for forming an image on a reversible image display medium not having an electrode.

Abstract: A developing device includes a toner bearing member holding a toner on its surface for conveyance of the toner to a development region where the toner bearing member opposes an image bearing member via a predetermined gap therebetween; a regulating member pressed against the surface of the toner bearing member for regulation of the amount of toner conveyed to the development region; and a developing bias source for applying an alternating electric field between the toner bearing member and the image bearing member. The developing device features the use of the toner bearing member including a conductive substrate formed with an elastic layer, an intermediate layer and a surface layer on the surface thereof, respective volume resistances &rgr;1, &rgr;2 and &rgr;3 of which layers satisfy a condition &rgr;2≦&rgr;1≦&rgr;3, the toner bearing member having an arithmetic average surface roughness in the range of 0.8 to 2.5 &mgr;m, and the use of the toner having a volume-average particle size of 3 to 8 &mgr;m.

Abstract: This invention provides a reversible image display medium comprising two substrates opposed to each other with a predetermined gap therebetween, one or more developer-accommodating cells formed between the two substrates, and a dry developer accommodated in each cell, in which the dry developer contains at least two kinds of frictionally chargeable dry developer particles having different chargeable polarities and different optical reflection densities, the reversible image display medium having at least any of the following features: (1) at least one kind of the developer particles being magnetic particles containing a binder resin having a magnetic substance incorporated therein, the magnetic particles having a saturation magnetization degree in the range of 20 emu/g to 50 emu/g; (2) at least one kind of the dry developer particles has a volume resistivity &rgr; in the range of 1.0×1010 &OHgr;·cm to 1.

Abstract: A developing device includes a toner bearing member holding a toner on its surface for conveyance of the toner to a development region where the toner bearing member opposes an image bearing member via a predetermined gap therebetween; a regulating member pressed against the surface of the toner bearing member for regulation of the amount of toner conveyed to the development region; and a developing bias source for applying an alternating electric field between the toner bearing member and the image bearing member. The developing device features the use of the toner bearing member including a conductive substrate formed with an elastic layer, an intermediate layer and a surface layer on the surface thereof, respective volume resistances &rgr;1, &rgr;2 and &rgr;3 of which layers satisfy a condition &rgr;2≦&rgr;1≦&rgr;3, the toner bearing member having an arithmetic average surface roughness in the range of 0.8 to 2.5 &mgr;m, and the use of the toner having a volume-average particle size of 3 to 8 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A toner is formed on an image receiving sheet S. The image receiving sheet S has an irregular surface s2′ provided with continuous groove-like concavities R for accommodating toner. The toner T is removably adhered to the concavities R of the image receiving sheet irregular surface s2′ for forming the toner image. Ridges P extending along the continuous groove-like concavities R protect the toner T adhered to the concavities R. The toner image formation surface may be covered with a peelable protective sheet CF (CF′). When the image receiving sheet S carrying the toner image is to be reused, the toner is separated and removed from the image receiving sheet, and the image receiving sheet and/or the toner after removal of the toner are reused.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a first image forming portion for forming an image on a normal image display medium; a second image forming portion for forming an image on a reversible image display medium; and a medium type detecting device for detecting the type of the image display medium to be subjected to the image formation, wherein the image forming portion corresponding to the image display medium of the type detected by the medium type detecting device is allowed to perform the image formation when the medium type detecting device detects the image display medium of the same type as that selected by an operator, and inhibition of the image formation on the medium of the detected type, image formation on the image display medium of another type or discharge of the medium of the detected type without image formation is performed when the detected type is different from the selected type.

Abstract: A reversible image display medium including two sheets; one or more developer accommodating cells formed between the two sheets, and each having a periphery surrounded by a partition wall; and dry developer contained in each of the cell(s), wherein the dry developer contains at least two kinds of frictionally chargeable dry developer particles having different chargeable polarities and different optical reflection densities. The image is displayed by forming a predetermined electrostatic field for each pixel in accordance with the image to be displayed and thereby moving the developer particles in a frictionally charged state. The image formed on the reversible image display medium can be erased, e.g., by an image erasing device.

Abstract: A method of displaying information about an image forming apparatus comprising a first image forming portion for forming an image on a normal image display medium and a second image forming portion for forming an image on a reversible image display medium and capable of forming an image on the normal image display medium through the first image forming portion and of forming an image on the reversible image display medium through the second image forming portion, wherein the information about the image forming apparatus (information about the state of a predetermined item in the image forming apparatus) and (or) information about a setting state for image formation in the image forming apparatus) is displayed on a display device in the image forming apparatus and (or) a display device in an image information input apparatus transmitting image data to the image forming apparatus depending on the information, and an image forming apparatus capable of executing the method.

Abstract: A method of controlling an image forming apparatus having a first image forming portion for forming an image on a normal image display medium and a second image forming portion for forming an image on a reversible image display medium, comprising the steps of:

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a first image forming portion for forming an image on a normal image display medium; a second image forming portion for forming an image on a reversible image display medium; and a medium type detecting device for detecting the type of the image display medium to be subjected to the image formation, wherein the image forming portion corresponding to the image display medium of the type detected by the medium type detecting device is allowed to perform the image formation when the medium type detecting device detects the image display medium of the same type as that selected by an operator, and inhibition of the image formation on the medium of the detected type, image formation on the image display medium of another type or discharge of the medium of the detected type without image formation is performed when the detected type is different from the selected type.

Abstract: A reversible image display medium including two sheets; one or more developer accommodating cells formed between the two sheets, and each having a periphery surrounded by a partition wall; and dry developer contained in each of the cell(s), wherein the dry developer contains at least two kinds of frictionally chargeable dry developer particles having different chargeable polarities and different optical reflection densities. The image is displayed by forming a predetermined electrostatic field for each pixel in accordance with the image to be displayed and thereby moving the developer particles in a frictionally charged state. The image formed on the reversible image display medium can be erased, e.g., by an image erasing device.

Abstract: A reversible image display medium including two sheets; one or more developer accommodating cells formed between the two sheets, and each having a periphery surrounded by a partition wall; and dry developer contained in each of the cell(s), wherein the dry developer contains at least two kinds of frictionally chargeable dry developer particles having different chargeable polarities and different optical reflection densities. The image is displayed by forming a predetermined electrostatic field for each pixel in accordance with the image to be displayed and thereby moving the developer particles in a frictionally charged state. The image formed on the reversible image display medium can be erased, e.g., by an image erasing device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including first and second image forming portions, and a device for detecting a type of an image display medium, image formation by the first image forming portion being allowed when the medium type is a normal image display medium (PP), and image formation by the second image forming portion being allowed when the medium type is a reversible image display medium (TP). Another image forming apparatus including first and second image forming portions, and an image formation element setting switching device, image forming elements being set in a standard mode to a standard state for forming an image on a medium for the standard mode, and being switched in a non-standard mode to a non-standard state for forming an image on a medium for the non-standard mode.

Abstract: This invention provides a reversible image display medium comprising two substrates opposed to each other with a predetermined gap therebetween, one or more developer-accommodating cells formed between the two substrates, and a dry developer accommodated in each cell, in which the dry developer contains at least two kinds of frictionally chargeable dry developer particles having different chargeable polarities and different optical reflection densities, the reversible image display medium having at least any of the following features:

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a first image forming portion for forming an image on a normal image display medium, and a second image forming portion for forming an image on a reversible image display medium.