Abstract: In the upper surface of a metallic substrate, a region near the central part of the metallic substrate is surrounded by a rectangle having dotted sides electrically separate the interior and exterior of the rectangle. Each dot of the sides is formed of a pillared insulating resin that penetrates from the upper surface to the lower surface of the metallic substrate. Oxide films are so formed as to fill in the spaces between adjacent cylinders of insulating resins and the surrounding of the cylinders. That is, a separation layer is formed of the pillared insulating resins and the oxide films that fill up the spaces between the pillared insulating resins as well as their vicinities.

Abstract: In the upper surface of a metallic substrate, a region near the central part of the metallic substrate is surrounded by a rectangle having dotted sides electrically separate the interior and exterior of the rectangle. Each dot of the sides is formed of a pillared insulating resin that penetrates from the upper surface to the lower surface of the metallic substrate. Oxide films are so formed as to fill in the spaces between adjacent cylinders of insulating resins and the surrounding of the cylinders. That is, a separation layer is formed of the pillared insulating resins and the oxide films that fill up the spaces between the pillared insulating resins as well as their vicinities.

Abstract: A camera unit is provided in a hollow portion of an electric motor. A rotor is rotatably arranged at an outer periphery of a stator. A cylindrical motor casing is attached to the rotor. A lens cover is attached to the motor casing at a position of a front side of a lens of the camera unit. The lens cover is rotated together with the motor casing and the rotor, so that attachment adhered to an outer surface of the lens cover is removed by centrifugal force.

Abstract: A noise eliminator is provided which can highly compress and store dark current noise components while maintaining characteristics, including many high frequency components. A noise distribution analysis section 10 determines the magnitude distribution of dark current noise components of at least some pixels, and then computes the threshold and typical values for quantization based on this distribution. A quantization section 12 quantizes the dark current noise components based on the computed threshold value, and a memory 14 stores the quantized dark current noise components. An inverse quantization section 16 inversely quantizes the quantized dark current noise components stored in the memory 14 with reference to the typical value computed by the noise distribution analysis section 10. The inversely quantized dark current noise components are supplied to a subtraction section 18, and the subtraction section 18 subtracts the inversely quantized dark current noise components from an image signal.

Abstract: An image capturing system includes a first camera, a second camera and a first rotating device. The first camera is configured to capture a first image. The second camera is configured to capture a second image whose scope is narrower than a scope of the first image. The first rotating device connects the first camera and the second camera. The first rotating device is configured to rotate the first camera and the second camera around a first rotational axis which is on the first rotating device.

Abstract: A noise eliminator is provided which can highly compress and store dark current noise components while maintaining characteristics, including many high frequency components. A noise distribution analysis section 10 determines the magnitude distribution of dark current noise components of at least some pixels, and then computes the threshold and typical values for quantization based on this distribution. A quantization section 12 quantizes the dark current noise components based on the computed threshold value, and a memory 14 stores the quantized dark current noise components. An inverse quantization section 16 inversely quantizes the quantized dark current noise components stored in the memory 14 with reference to the typical value computed by the noise distribution analysis section 10. The inversely quantized dark current noise components are supplied to a subtraction section 18, and the subtraction section 18 subtracts the inversely quantized dark current noise components from an image signal.

Abstract: An image capturing system includes a first camera, a second camera and a first rotating device. The first camera is configured to capture a first image. The second camera is configured to capture a second image whose scope is narrower than a scope of the first image. The first rotating device connects the first camera and the second camera. The first rotating device is configured to rotate the first camera and the second camera around a first rotational axis which is on the first rotating device.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: a first pixel which receives both visible light and infrared light, and a second pixel which receives infrared light, both pixels being formed on an imaging device; an infrared light component estimation unit which estimates, based on spectral characteristics of light received by the first pixel and spectral characteristics of light received by the second pixel, a magnitude of an infrared light component contained in a signal outputted from the first pixel from a signal outputted from the second pixel; and a subtraction unit which subtracts the estimated infrared light component from the signal outputted from the first pixel.

Abstract: When developing an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image support by use of mist-like charged particles, a developing electrode is provided at a space from the electrostatic latent image support to extend substantially in parallel to the surface of the electrostatic latent image support on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. A gap control member is provided on the perimeter of the developing electrode to extend toward the surface of the electrostatic latent image support from the periphery of the developing electrode so that the space between the gap control member and the surface of the electrostatic latent image support is smaller than the space between the developing electrode and the surface of the electrostatic latent image support. Thus a developing space defined by the electrostatic latent image support, the developing electrode and the gap control member is formed.

Abstract: A photosensitive material which when imagewise exposed to record a latent image thereon is formed with an image by heating with a prescribed processing material superimposed thereon is used as a photographic film or the like, the photosensitive material is exposed to record an image thereon, the exposed photosensitive material is developed by superimposing and heating the photosensitive material and the processing material to form the image on the photosensitive material and then peeling the photosensitive material formed with the image off the processing material, the developed image on the photosensitive material is read with a scanner to obtain image data representing the image, and the image data are subjected to prescribed image processing to generate reproducible digital image data.

Abstract: A photosensitive material which when imagewise exposed to record a latent image thereon is formed with an image by heating with a prescribed processing material superimposed thereon is used as a photographic film or the like, the photosensitive material is exposed to record an image thereon, the exposed photosensitive material is developed by superimposing and heating the photosensitive material and the processing material to form the image on the photosensitive material and then peeling the photosensitive material formed with the image off the processing material, the developed image on the photosensitive material is read with a scanner to obtain image data representing the image, and the image data are subjected to prescribed image processing to generate reproducible digital image data.

Abstract: A method of transferring toner images carried by an photoconductive layer to a image receiving sheet having an adhesion layer thereon transfers the toner image by putting the adhesion layer of the transfer sheet into contact with the photoconductive layer. The adhesive layer is made of a material which is softened and becomes adhesive upon exposure to heat or light, and is subjected to heat or light when the image receiving sheet is put into contact with the photoconductive layer to transfer the toner image on the photoconductive layer onto the image receiving sheet. The apparatus includes a moving device which moves the image receiving sheet having the adhesion layer, the adhesion layer being formed of a material sensitive to either heat or light, and which is adhesive only upon heat or light being applied thereto. A transferring device transfers the toner images onto the adhesion layer, and an adhesive softening device softens the adhesion layer.

Abstract: In the improved image forming method, an electrophotographic photoreceptor drum carrying an a-Si (amorphous silicon) photoconductor having a SiC (silicon carbide) is subjected to imagewise exposure to form a latent electrostatic image on the photoconductor, the latent image is then developed with a toner the particles of which are coated with a polymer having a cohesive energy constant G of at least 280, and the toner image formed on the photoconductor is adhesive-transferred onto an intermediate transfer element having an adhesive layer formed from an adhesive that is based on a urethane (meth)acrylic resin and which further contains at least one member selected from among an acrylic rubber, a saturated polyester resin and a fluorine-containing additive, with the toner image on the adhesive layer being retransferred onto a support to form a final image. To form a color image, this process including the retransfer step is repeated either three or four times depending on the number of colors to be reproduced.

Abstract: In a method of and apparatus for adhesive transfer, an image receiving web comprising a belt-shaped, release agent coated paper and a plurality of transfer sheets having adhesive surfaces and put side by side on the release agent coated paper in the longitudinal direction thereof is used. The transfer sheets are separated one after another from the release agent coated paper, and each separated transfer sheet is wound around a transfer roller with the adhesive surface facing out. The transfer roller is moved to contact a photosensitive material drum carrying a toner image formed thereon, and the toner image is transferred from the photosensitive material drum to the adhesive surface of the transfer sheet while the transfer roller and the photosensitive material drum are rotated.

Abstract: In a method of and apparatus for adhesive transfer, an image receiving web comprising a belt-shaped, release agent coated paper and a plurality of transfer sheets having adhesive surfaces and put side by side on the release agent coated paper in the longitudinal direction thereof is used. The transfer sheets are separated one after another from the release agent coated paper, and each separated transfer sheet is wound around a transfer roller with the adhesive surface facing out. The transfer roller is moved to contact a photosensitive material drum carrying a toner image formed thereon, and the toner image is transferred from the photosensitive material drum to the adhesive surface of the transfer sheet while the transfer roller and the photosensitive material drum are rotated.

Abstract: In a method of and apparatus for adhesive transfer, an image receiving web comprising a belt-shaped, release agent coated paper and a plurality of transfer sheets having adhesive surfaces and put side by side on the release agent coated paper in the longitudinal direction thereof is used. The transfer sheets are separated one after another from the release agent coated paper, and each separated transfer sheet is wound around a transfer roller with the adhesive surface facing out. The transfer roller is moved to contact a photosensitive material drum carrying a toner image formed thereon, and the toner image is transferred from the photosensitive material drum to the adhesive surface of the transfer sheet while the transfer roller and the photosensitive material drum are rotated.

Abstract: A developing head is provided under a latent image carrier in the form of a rotating drum or a horizontally moving plate. The developing head includes a plurality of fountain slits and discharge slits arranged alternately in parallel to each other and extending laterally. A liquid developer jets out of supply openings provided in a hollow pipe member inserted in each cylindrical developer guide provided under the fountain slits and connected with the slits. The liquid developer jets move upward to the latent image carrier through the fountain slits and are discharged through the discharge slits located on both sides of the fountain slits.

Abstract: A cassette for accommodating a tape-shaped material having an electrically conductive layer has a contact piece which is disposed on one end face of a take-up reel for winding up the material and which is electrically connected to an electrically conductive layer of the material. The cassette further has a reel retainer which has a grounding contact and which is secured to a cassette casing accommodating the material, the reel retainer being brought into contact with the contact piece. An electrically conductive grease is interposed in the area of contact between the contact piece and the reel retainer. Accordingly, the surfaces of the respective contact portions of the contact piece and the reel retainer are coated with the grease and thereby prevented from being oxidized. Even if dust is generated due to wear of the contact portions, it is trapped by the grease and thereby prevented from scattering.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor is disclosed, comprising a light-transmitting conductive support having provided thereon a light-transmitting electrophotographic photosensitive layer, said support having further provided on the side opposite to the photosensitive layer a light scattering layer comprising an inorganic fine powder and a binder or a light absorbing layer comprising a near infrared absorbing dye and a binder. The photoreceptor can provide a sharp image free from interference fringe-like non-uniformity of density even when a laser is used as a light source of exposure.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printer comprises a charger for uniformly charging a photoconductor, a unit for irradiating a light beam modulated based on image signals representing a continuous tone image onto the uniformly charged photoconductor, thereby to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor, and a wet developing unit for developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image by use of a liquid toner. An adhesive transfer unit is provided for heating a transfer sheet provided with a thermally-sensitive adhesive layer, which softens at a softening temperature lower than the melting temperature of the toner contained in the liquid toner, at a temperature which is not lower than the softening temperature of the adhesives and is lower than the melting temperature of the toner, and pushing the transfer sheet against the photoconductor to transfer the toner image to the softened adhesive layer.