Abstract: A developing device includes: a developing roll; a developer storage chamber; a toner supply chamber into which toner flows through an inflow opening from a toner storage chamber, the toner supply chamber being communicated through an outflow opening with the developer storage chamber; and an agitating member that is disposed inside the toner supply chamber. The agitating member includes: a circular column-shaped shaft portion that has a gradually tapering portion where the shaft diameter of at least a portion of the shaft portion that faces the outflow opening gradually increases in the toner conveyance direction, and spiral blade portions that are disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion and that rotate and agitate and convey the toner flowing from the inflow opening into the toner supply chamber to the outflow opening.

Abstract: A developing method for an image formation system includes the steps of supplying a toner and developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a latent image support of the image formation system with the toner for visualization. A toner amount of a solid area T(g/m.sup.2) has a maximum toner amount per unit area on a recording medium and satisfies the following expression:1.ltoreq.T/a.ltoreq.1.2wherein a=(4.pi./3).multidot.(dt/2).sup.3 .multidot..rho.t({(3).sup.1/2 .multidot.dt.sup.2 /2} (g/m.sup.2), where dt is a toner volume center diameter (m) and st is a toner density (g/m.sup.3). A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image includes toner amount regulation means for regulating a toner amount that satisfies the above expression.

Abstract: An ink transfer medium, and a method for manufacturing the medium are provided. The ink transfer medium is of the electrically fusible type, and has an anisotropically electrically conductive layer characterized by greater electrical conductivity in the direction normal to the surface of the layer than in a direction parallel to the surface of the layer. Other layers sequentially provided next to each other, include a resistive layer for converting an electrical signal into heat, a conductive layer, an ink separation layer, and a fusible ink layer. Examples are given illustrating the use of the ink transfer medium. The anisotropically electrically conductive layer may be made by anodizing an aluminum cylinder to form an alumina body defining a plurality of through-pores and electrolytically filling the through-pores with a metal such as nickel or cobalt.

Abstract: In a method of regenerating an ink image recording medium of a multilayered structure, after an ink image on the ink image recording medium is recorded, the surface of the heat-fusible ink layer of the ink image recording medium is uniformly charged. Then, a liquid ink for generating the ink layer, being placed under an electric field applied thereto, is supplied to the ink image recording medium. The liquid ink is prepared by dispersing heat-fusible ink powder into a liquid dispersion medium. As a result, the heat-fusible ink powder selectively sticks onto the portion on the ink release layer where the heat-fusible ink layer is absent because the ink was transferred. Finally, the ink image recording medium thus processsed is dried to remove the liquid dispersing medium.

Abstract: An image formed of a colored image forming material mainly composed of thermoplastic resin and carried by a paper sheet is heated and fused by a heating member which is typically belt-like and includes an adhesion preventive layer for preventing adhesion of the image forming material, a conductive layer formed on the adhesion preventive layer, and an electric heating layer for generating heat upon reception of electric energy. A power supply member typically has divisional electrodes arranged in the width direction of the heating member, and supplies the electric energy to the heating member. A pressurizing member is disposed opposite the heating member with the image-carrying sheet interposed therebetween, and provides a pressure acting between the divisional electrodes and the image-carrying sheet.

Abstract: An ink transfer medium, and a method for manufacturing the medium are provided. The ink transfer medium is of the electrically fusible type, and has an anisotropically electrically conductive layer characterized by greater electrical conductivity in the direction normal to the surface of the layer than in a direction parallel to the surface of the layer. Other layers, sequentially provided next to each other, include a resistive layer for converting an electrical signal into heat, a conductive layer, an ink separation layer, and a fusible ink layer. Examples are given illustrating the use of the ink transfer medium.

Abstract: A thermal ink-transfer recording medium of the present invention comprises: an anisotropically electroconductive layer formed by dispersing an electroconductive powder with an average particle size of 10 .mu.m to 2 mm in a thermosetting resin, shaping the blend into sheet form, and heat-curing the sheet while being compressed in the direction of its thickness; a heat-generating resistive layer; a pickup electrode layer; an ink release layer; and a heat-fusible ink layer that is capable of being fused by the heat generated from said heat-generating resistive layer.

Abstract: A printing head comprising a plurality of printing electrodes positioned in parallel with each other on a surface of an electrically insulating board. At least the sliding surfaces of the printing electrodes, or electrically conductive projections formed near the front edge of the plurality of the printing electrodes, are coated with a high melting point metal whose volume resistivity is not greater than 10.sup.-4 .OMEGA..multidot.cm and whose melting point is not smaller than 1500.degree. C. The high melting point metal may be comprised of one or more of the elements of the group of Mo, W, Ru, Rh, Re, Ta, Ti, and Zr. The electronically insulating board may be comprised of an elastic layer.

Abstract: A printing head comprising a plurality of printing electrodes positioned in parallel with each other on a surface of an electrically insulating board. Electrically conductive projections are provided in a zigzag format on the exposed portions of an electrically insulating layer of the electrically insulating board near the front edge of the plurality of printing electrodes. The electrically conductive projections are formed such that when they are projected onto a sliding surface by the printing head, the adjacent electrically conductive projections are positioned with a lateral separation distance of 50% or less of the electrically conductive projection width, or with an overlapping portion of 25% or less. Slits are provided between the printing electrodes on at least the front edge of the plurality of printing electrodes.

Abstract: A plurality of recording electrodes are disposed in parallel form on an elastic metallic thin plate through an insulating layer, a protrusion made of a conductive material is formed in the proximity of the tip of each of recording electrodes, and notched grooves are formed between the recording electrodes to partition the recording electrodes.

Abstract: A print storage medium comprises a heat-generating layer for generating heat with an electrical signal input in accordance with a picture, the signal being supplied from a printing signal applying electrode to which the heat-generating layer is in pressure contact, an electrically conductive layer, an ink layer provided on the heat generated layer. The print storage medium is further provided with a plurality of microscopic electrodes on the storage medium with which the printing signal-applying electrode is in pressure contact, each of the microscopic electrodes being isolated from others. The electrically conductive layer may be formed of striped electrodes. The isolated microscopic patterns may be formed of electrically conductive ceramics or of electrically conductive resin.

Abstract: A printing head comprising a thin resin board, printing electrodes positioned in parallel with each other mounted thereon, projections of an electroconductive substance on the electrodes, and slits cut in the head between the projections, extending from the front edge of the resin board to a point midway between the front and rear edges of the resin board. An electrically insulating layer may be deposited on the surface of the head, leaving the projections clear. The thin elastic resin board can deform easily to comply to deformations and irregularities in the printing medium surface. The slits allow removal of foreign matter, such as dust. The slits further allow the electrode projections to contact the printing medium singly or in small groups, across the length of the printing head, rather than all at once, so that the presence of foreign matter on one electrode will not prevent any other electrode projection from making contact.

Abstract: A recording head of the present invention comprises an electrically insulating substrate having an elastic layer on a substrate, a plurality of recording electrodes arranged in a side-by-side relationship on the elastic layer, and a groove provided between the adjacent recording electrodes at least in the area near the front end of the electrode.