Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an intermediate transfer unit associated with a photoconductive medium. A first unit transfers a developed image on the photoconductive medium to the intermediate transfer unit such that an intermediate image on the intermediate transfer unit is formed. A second unit transfers the intermediate image from the intermediate transfer unit to a copy sheet such that a reproduced image on the copy sheet is formed. The intermediate transfer device of one aspect of the present invention comprises a surface layer of a mixture containing a friction reducing substance which reduces a coefficient of friction on the surface layer. The intermediate transfer device of another aspect of the present invention comprises a surface layer of a mixture containing a fluorocarbon polymer component and a secondary resin component which are compatible with each other, a visible developed color image being formed on the surface layer.

Abstract: An image forming method wherein a toner image on an image carrier is transferred in a first transfer step to an intermediate image transfer element, the transferred toner image on said intermediate image transfer element being subsequently transferred in a second transfer step to a transfer medium. The intermediate image transfer element has a surface whose angle of contact with water is at least 70 degrees and whose position in the triboelectric series is on a positive side with respect to the position of said toner when the toner on the image carrier is negatively charged and on a negative side with respect to the position of the toner when the toner on the image carrier is positively charged.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus of the type transferring a plurality of toner images of different colors sequentially formed on an image carrier sequentially to an endless intermediate transfer body one above the other by primary transfer, and then transferring the resulting composite color image to a transfer medium by secondary transfer, the intermediate transfer body is provided with surface energy, surface tension or adhering force which is greater than or equal to the corresponding value of the image carrier, but smaller than or equal to the corresponding value of the transfer medium.

Abstract: A method of developing latent electrostatic images and a developer-bearing member for use in the method are disclosed, which method includes the steps of (a) forming numerous micro closed electric fields near the surface of a rotatable developer-bearing member which comprises an electroconductive support and a surface layer formed thereon comprising an electroconductive organic polymeric matrix and numerous minute charge-retainable insulating segments distributed at least one the surface of the surface layer, by electrically charging the surface of the charge-retainable insulating segments; (b) supplying a one-component type developer comprising toner particles to the rotatable developer-bearing member to hold the developer on the rotatable developer-bearing member to hold the developer on the rotatable developer-bearing member by the numerous micro closed electric fields; and (c) bringing the rotatable developer-bearing member near or into contact with a latent-electrostatic-image-bearing member which bears

Abstract: An intermediate transfer type image forming apparatus for sequentially performing primary and secondary image transfer with the intermediary of an intermediate transfer medium implemented as, e.g., a belt, and the intermediate transfer member are disclosed. The image transfer medium has a lower surface resistivity on its rear than on its front or image carrying surface.

Abstract: A development apparatus including a developer-bearing-member for developing latent electrostatic images formed on a latent-electrostatic-image-bearing member to visible toner images by the application thereto of a non-magnetic one-component developer including matrix toner particles and a fluidity-imparting agent; and a developer-thin-layer-regulating member for forming a thin layer of the non-magnetic one-component developer on the surface of the developer-bearing member, the developer-bearing member having a surface portion which is intermediate between the matrix toner particles and the fluidity-imparting agent in the triboelectric series thereof.

Abstract: A developer-bearing member with the surface thereof being composed of minute dielectric portions and minute electroconductive portions which are mixedly distributed, the dielectric portions containing an amino coupling agent, is used in an image formation method including the steps of forming numerous micro closed electric fields near the surface of the developer-bearing member by causing the developer-bearing member to selectively hold electric charges on the surface thereof, supplying a non-magnetic one-component type developer containing a toner to the surface of the developer-bearing member to hold the toner on the surface of the developer-bearing member by the micro closed electric fields, and developing a latent electrostatic image formed on a latent-electrostatic-image bearing member to a visible toner image by the toner.

Abstract: A development unit including (i) a latent-electrostatic-image-bearable member, (ii) a development member for supporting a toner thereon and developing latent electrostatic images formed on the latent-electrostatic-image-bearable member into visible toner images with the toner, and (iii) a toner layer regulating member for regulating the thickness of a toner layer formed on the development member, wherein at least the development member or toner layer regulating member has an overcoat layer including a resin and a surface active agent.

Abstract: A development unit comprising a development roller for developing a latent electrostatic image formed on an electrophotographic photoconductor to a visible toner image by applying a non-magnetic one-component type toner thereto, and a toner layer thickness regulation member for forming a toner layer on the above development roller, which toner layer thickness regulation member comprises at least (a) a rubber-like fluorosilicone polymer including repeat units of formula (I), (b) a silicone polymer comprising a copolymer of dimethyl silicone and methyl vinyl silicone with a crosslinking density of 4.times.10.sup.-4 to 8.times.10.sup.-4 mol/cc, and (c) an alkylene-oxide-addition type fluorine-containing surface active agent: ##STR1## wherein n is 1,000 to 600,000.

Abstract: A development apparatus including a development roller for developing a latent electrostatic image formed on an electrophotographic photoconductor to a visible toner image by applying a non-magnetic one-component toner thereto, in which a surface layer of the development roller includes a fluorosilcone polymer including repeating units of formula (I): ##STR1##