Abstract: A toner image is transferred from a photo-receptor onto an intermediate transfer unit. A back up roller faces the intermediate transfer unit and is operable to transfer the toner image onto a sheet, thereby image formation is performed. A switch back unit is operable to turn the sheet inside out to perform the image formation onto a reverse face of the sheet after the image formation is performed onto an obverse face of the sheet. A fixing unit is operable to fix the toner image on at lease one of the obverse and reverse faces of the sheet. A switching unit is operable to transport the sheet toward the fixing unit or the switch back unit after the image formation is performed onto the obverse face of the sheet.

Abstract: A scanner-equipped apparatus includes a combination of a base unit such as a printer unit, personal computer or word processor incorporating a printer unit and a scanner unit. The printer unit and the scanner unit can operate as automatic sheet feeder type apparatus, respectively. The scanner unit can be used as a handy scanner in the state detached from the base unit. The basic unit and the scanner unit are disposed substantially in upstanding posture in parallel with each other, wherein the scanner unit is removably combined with the base unit so that the scanner unit can be used as the handy scanner. A sheet transporting path for the scanner is formed between confronting surfaces of the base unit and the scanner unit. The sheet feeding mechanism for the scanner unit is so implemented as to be used intact as a driving mechanism for the handy scanner. The scanner-equipped apparatus can be realized inexpensively in a simplified mechanical structure while ensuring enhanced manipulatability.

Abstract: A scanner-equipped apparatus includes a combination of a base unit such as a printer unit, personal computer or word processor incorporating a printer unit and a scanner unit. The printer unit and the scanner unit can operate as automatic sheet feeder type apparatus, respectively. The scanner unit can be used as a handy scanner in the state detached from the base unit. The basic unit and the scanner unit are disposed substantially in upstanding posture in parallel with each other, wherein the scanner unit is removably combined with the base unit so that the scanner unit can be used as the handy scanner. A sheet transporting path for the scanner is formed between confronting surfaces of the base unit and the scanner unit. The sheet feeding mechanism for the scanner unit is so implemented as to be used intact as a driving mechanism for the handy scanner. The scanner-equipped apparatus can be realized inexpensively in a simplified mechanical structure while ensuring enhanced manipulatability.

Abstract: A toner image is transferred from a photo-receptor onto an intermediate transfer unit. A back up roller faces the intermediate transfer unit and is operable to transfer the toner image onto a sheet, thereby image formation is performed. A switch back unit is operable to turn the sheet inside out to perform the image formation onto a reverse face of the sheet after the image formation is performed onto an obverse face of the sheet. A fixing unit is operable to fix the toner image on at lease one of the obverse and reverse faces of the sheet. A switching unit is operable to transport the sheet toward the fixing unit or the switch back unit after the image formation is performed onto the obverse face of the sheet.

Abstract: An electrode module in the form of a flexible sheet which contacts with a toner layer and to which a bias voltage is applied is provided on a developing roller before development. The electrode module is adapted to separate the toner layer largely into a toner-rich layer and a carrier-rich layer by utilizing electrical migration occurring in the toner layer when an electric field is applied to the toner layer on the basis of the bias voltage. The electrode module is constructed in such a manner that the sheet is pulled toward a surface of the developer bearer body by a force attributable to surface tension or wetting characteristic of the liquid developer existing between the sheet and the developer carrying body, whereby the sheet comes into contact with the surface of the developer bearer body. This electrode construction increases the contact area or nip width of a bias blade provided for the developing roller and enhances its contact stability.

Abstract: A liquid-development electrophotographic apparatus utilizes a nonvolatile, high-viscosity, high-concentration liquid toner as a liquid developer. A developing section is in contact with photosensitive drums 11-14, on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, so that the liquid developer is supplied onto photosensitive drums 11-14. Toner particles contained in the liquid developer adhere to the photosensitive drums 11-14 according to an electric field established between the developing section and the photosensitive drums 11-14 to form toner images. The toner images are transferred from the photosensitive drums 11-14 to an intermediate transfer section. A transfer-and-fixation section includes a heater to melt-transfer the toner images onto the printing medium. A development section is disposed at a lower portion of the apparatus to prevent smudging of the printing medium and the intermediate transfer section even when the liquid toner spills.

Abstract: An electrode module in the form of a flexible sheet which contacts with a toner layer and to which a bias voltage is applied is provided on a developing roller before development. The electrode module is adapted to separate the toner layer largely into a toner-rich layer and a carrier-rich layer by utilizing electrical migration occurring in the toner layer when an electric field is applied to the toner layer on the basis of the bias voltage. The electrode module is constructed in such a manner that the sheet is pulled toward a surface of the developer bearer body by a force attributable to surface tension or wetting characteristic of the liquid developer existing between the sheet and the developer carrying body, whereby the sheet comes into contact with the surface of the developer bearer body. This electrode construction increases the contact area or nip width of a bias blade provided for the developing roller and enhances its contact stability.

Abstract: The present invention provides a toner recycling control system which stably feeds a liquid developer of an appropriate concentration to a liquid developing apparatus employing a high-viscosity liquid developer; appropriately adjusts the concentration of residual developer collected after development and after transfer; and feeds the adjusted developer to the developing apparatus. The toner recycling control system collects a post-development residual developer from a developer-bearing body and a post-transfer residual developer from an image-bearing body; performs developer concentration adjustment to yield an adjusted developer; and feeds the adjusted developer back to the developer-bearing body.

Abstract: A liquid-development full-color electrophotographic apparatus utilizes a development section having a liquid toner as a liquid developer to form a toner image according to an electric field established between the development section and a photosensitive drum. The toner image is transferred from the photosensitive drum onto an intermediate transfer roller according to an electric field established between the intermediate transfer roller and the photosensitive drum, from the intermediate transfer roller to an intermediate transfer belt, and then to a transfer-and-fixation section, which melt-transfers the toner image onto a printing medium. A voltage controlled according to electric characteristics of each color toner is applied to the corresponding photosensitive drums while the roller is grounded. A toner cohesion enhancement unit is provided for enhancing the degree of toner cohesion of a toner image transferred and reverse transfer is suppressed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a toner recycling control system which stably feeds a liquid developer of an appropriate concentration to a liquid developing apparatus employing a high-viscosity liquid developer; appropriately adjusts the concentration of residual developer collected after development and after transfer; and feeds the adjusted developer to the developing apparatus. The toner recycling control system collects a post-development residual developer from a developer-bearing body and a post-transfer residual developer from an image-bearing body; performs developer concentration adjustment to yield an adjusted developer; and feeds the adjusted developer back to the developer-bearing body.

Abstract: Provided are an applicator roller for conveying and applying liquid toner onto a developing roller in the form of a level, thin layer, and a conductive blade which comes into contact with a liquid toner layer on the developing roller. A predetermined amount of liquid toner passes through a gap between the conductive blade and the developer roller; and voltage is applied to the conductive blade so as to establish a state such that toner particles contained in the liquid toner are sparsely scattered in a surface region of a level, thin toner layer on the developing roller. Subsequently, the liquid toner, whose surface region is in a state such that toner particles are sparsely scattered, is brought into contact with an image bearer body for performing development.

Abstract: A scanner-equipped apparatus includes a combination of a base unit such as a printer unit, personal computer or word processor incorporating a printer unit and a scanner unit. The printer unit and the scanner unit can operate as automatic sheet feeder type apparatus, respectively. The scanner unit can be used as a handy scanner in the state detached from the base unit. The basic unit and the scanner unit are disposed substantially in upstanding posture in parallel with each other, wherein the scanner unit is removably combined with the base unit so that the scanner unit can be used as the handy scanner. A sheet transporting path for the scanner is formed between confronting surfaces of the base unit and the scanner unit. The sheet feeding mechanism for the scanner unit is so implemented as to be used intact as a driving mechanism for the handy scanner. The scanner-equipped apparatus can be realized inexpensively in a simplified mechanical structure while ensuring enhanced manipulatability.

Abstract: A liquid-development electrophotographic apparatus using a liquid toner is disclosed. A nonvolatile, high-viscosity, high-concentration liquid toner is used as a liquid developer. A developing section is in contact with photosensitive drums 11-14, on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, so that the liquid developer is supplied onto photosensitive drums 11-14. Toner particles contained in the liquid developer are caused to adhere to the photosensitive drums 11-14 according to an electric field established between the developing section and the photosensitive drums 11-14 to thereby form toner images. An intermediate transfer section includes an intermediate transfer roller 15 and an intermediate transfer belt 16. The toner images are transferred from the photosensitive drums 11-14 to the intermediate transfer section according to an electric field established between the intermediate transfer section and the photosensitive drums 11-14.

Abstract: Provided are an applicator roller for conveying and applying liquid toner onto a developing roller in the form of a level, thin layer, and a conductive blade which comes into contact with a liquid toner layer on the developing roller. A predetermined amount of liquid toner passes through a gap between the conductive blade and the developer roller; and voltage is applied to the conductive blade so as to establish a state such that toner particles contained in the liquid toner are sparsely scattered in a surface region of a level, thin toner layer on the developing roller. Subsequently, the liquid toner, whose surface region is in a state such that toner particles are sparsely scattered, is brought into contact with an image bearer body for performing development.

Abstract: A toner image is transferred from a photosensitive member 10 onto an intermediate transfer belt 24. Toner particles transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 24 are melted through application of heat, and the molten toner is transferred onto a printing medium. A carrier-removing roller 29 is disposed downstream of a position where a toner layer on the intermediate transfer belt 24 is melted through application of heat. Through utilization of a phenomenon that toner particles (resin component) are melted and integrated in a heating process and a phenomenon that the carrier solvent (liquid component) is isolated in the heating process, the carrier solvent is removed efficiently. Also, there is disposed at the position of the heating process a carrier-removing roller 28 for removing the carrier solvent from the intermediate transfer belt 24 while the toner layer on the intermediate transfer belt 24 is being melted through application of heat.

Abstract: A development section uses a liquid toner as a liquid developer and forms a toner image according to an electric field established between the development section and a photosensitive drum. The toner image is transferred from the photosensitive drum onto an intermediate transfer roller 15 according to an electric field established between the same and the photosensitive drum. The toner image is further transferred from the intermediate transfer roller to an intermediate transfer belt 16 and then transferred to a transfer-and-fixation section, which melt-transfers the toner image onto a printing medium. Photosensitive drums 11-14 are provided so as to correspond to a plurality of colors. Toner images formed on the corresponding photosensitive drums are sequentially transferred and superposed on the intermediate transfer roller.

Abstract: A scanner-equipped apparatus includes a combination of a base unit such as a printer unit, personal computer or word processor incorporating a printer unit and a scanner unit. The printer unit and the scanner unit can operate as automatic sheet feeder type apparatus, respectively. The scanner unit can be used as a handy scanner in the state detached from the base unit. The basic unit and the scanner unit are disposed substantially in upstanding posture in parallel with each other, wherein the scanner unit is removably combined with the base unit so that the scanner unit can be used as the handy scanner. A sheet transporting path for the scanner is formed between confronting surfaces of the base unit and the scanner unit. The sheet feeding mechanism for the scanner unit is so implemented as to be used intact as a driving mechanism for the handy scanner. The scanner-equipped apparatus can be realized inexpensively in a simplified mechanical structure while ensuring enhanced manipulatability.

Abstract: A jukebox apparatus including a magazine, a drive unit, a carriage for conveying a disk between the magazine and the drive unit, and a temporary storage unit movable between a transfer position in front of the drive unit and an escape position. The carriage has gripping arms, pinch rollers, and a pushing arm for transferring the disk. A control unit is provided to carry out a retry of transferring the disk by displacing the carriage when the disk is not transferred. The pushing time of the pushing arm can be changed by a retry of pushing the disk by the pushing arm. The temporary storage unit is normally monitored.