Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a developing apparatus using a development system in which toner is moved by means of a traveling wave electric field. The image forming apparatus comprises a plurality of developing apparatuses having toner conveyance members which convey toner by means of a phase-shift electric field created by voltages of n phases applied to a plurality of electrodes, to a region opposing an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; and a voltage application device which applies a voltage having an average potential value between the potential of the image portions of the latent image on the image carrier and the non-image portions of same, to the electrodes of the toner conveyance members of the respective developing apparatuses.

Abstract: A powder transferring apparatus provided with a powder electrostatic transferring device includes a plurality of transferring electrodes configured to generate an electric field for transferring the powder by an electrostatic force including a powder transferring amount detecting device to detect an amount of powder on a surface of the powder electrostatic transferring device.

Abstract: Development device includes an electrostatic conveyance device, a supply device, and a collection device. The electrostatic conveyance device moves toner on a surface thereof in a toner conveyance direction by a phase-shifting electric field. The surface has upstream and downstream side ends where the phase-shifting electric field starts and ends, respectively. The supply device opposes the upstream side end to supply the toner onto the electrostatic conveyance surface. The toner supplied by the supply device onto the electrostatic conveyance surface is moved by the phase-shifting electric field to a development area of the electrostatic conveyance device opposing an image bearing. The collection device opposes the downstream side end and collects the toner moved on the electrostatic conveyance surface to a downstream side of the development area of the electrostatic conveyance device in the toner conveyance direction without contributing to the development.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, which reduces toner spatter and produces a good quality image when forming a toner image using the direct recording method. An image forming part includes: a toner carrier for carrying toner; and toner controlling means, which is disposed between the toner carrier and recording paper on which the toner is made to adhere, and which has a plurality of toner passage holes, the toner controlling means having a control electrode for controlling the passage of toner on the toner carrier side surface in the area around the toner passage hole, and forming a toner image by causing the toner to fly to the recording paper, and the image forming apparatus having liquid applying/humidifying means for either applying a liquid to or humidifying the imaging surface of the recording paper prior to forming a toner image.

Abstract: The development device includes a toner carrier, a toner supplier, and a surface electrical potential controller. When the toner supplier supplies toner particles to the toner carrier, the toner carrier carries toner particles to adhere to a latent image formed on the latent image carrier and has a time constant ?1 of a surface electrical potential change of the toner carrier. The surface electrical potential controller has a time constant ?2 of a surface electrical potential change of the toner carrier smaller than the time constant ?1. The toner carrier includes a plurality of electrodes aligned in parallel and electrically insulated from each other on the surface thereof, and a voltage supplier for supplying each of the plurality of electrodes with a voltage to periodically switch electrical fields therebetween, so that the toner particles form a cloud on the surface of the toner carrier while hopping.

Abstract: A cleaning unit for removing toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier of an image-forming apparatus is disclosed. The cleaning unit includes a vibration member, a blade member, and a driving part. The vibration member extends in the direction of the width of the image carrier, and has at least one vibration application part attached thereto. The blade member is attached to at least the end region of the vibration member, extending in the direction of the width of the image carrier. The driving part drives at least one vibration application part at a driving frequency that is a resonance frequency. The vibration member provides vibration to the blade member and a force to press the blade member against the image carrier.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus using a hopping method is disclosed. Toner provided on a moving surface of a toner supporting object is conveyed, while the toner is hopping on the surface due to an electric field, to a position that counters a latent image supporting object by movement of the surface, and is adhered to a latent image formed on the latent image supporting object. The image formation apparatus includes a supply member for scooping up the toner in a toner container by plural hollows formed on a surface of the supply member with endless movement of the surface of the supply member, for conveying the toner to a position where the supply member contacts the toner supporting object, and for providing the toner to the surface of the toner supporting object.

Abstract: A development apparatus using a hopping method and an image formation apparatus including the development apparatus are disclosed. The development apparatus includes a toner supporting object for supporting and conveying a toner by a movement of the toner supporting object, while the toner is hopping on a surface of the toner supporting object by an electric field; a regulating member made of a flexible material for constituting a toner thickness regulation position; a latent image supporting object for supporting a latent image; and a development position, which is a position of the toner supporting object, that counters the latent image supporting object; wherein the toner is conveyed through the regulation position to the development position where the toner is adhered to the latent image, and wherein one end of the regulating member is supported, and the other end contacts the toner supporting object.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus performs a print operation by controlling an ink jet recording head to eject ink drops there from against front and back surfaces of a recording sheet at a print position. The apparatus includes a transporting mechanism for transporting a portion of the recording sheet to a location outside of the apparatus after a completion of the print operation on the front surface of the recording sheet and just before printing of the back surface of the recording sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image carrier configured to have a latent image formed thereon, a developer carrier configured to supply toner, and a conveying member configured to receive toner from the developer carrier and to convey the toner to the image carrier. The conveying member includes first and second electrodes disposed a predetermined distance from one another. A first voltage application unit is configured to apply a first voltage to the developer carrier. A second voltage application unit is configured to apply a second voltage to the conveying member such that a ratio of a potential difference between the conveying member and the developer carrier to a distance between the conveying member and the developer carrier is less than a ratio of the second voltage to the predetermined distance.

Abstract: A disclosed development device includes: a latent image carrier; a conveying member disposed so as to face the latent image carrier, the conveying member having plural electrodes insulated from one another and arranged at predetermined intervals so as to generate an electric field for moving toner on the conveying member; a voltage application unit applying a voltage of n phases (n is a positive integer not less than one) to the electrodes so as to form a cloud of the toner and the toner is adhered to the latent image carrier so as to form a visualized toner image; a toner supply unit supplying the toner to the conveying member; and a height adjusting member adjusting a uniform height for a toner layer of the toner immediately before a development area on the conveying member in which development is performed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed that is able to improve transfer efficiency and image quality. The image forming apparatus includes an organic photo-conductor with latent images formed thereon, and a developing unit for developing the latent images. The organic photo-conductor has surface friction coefficient less than or equal to 0.3. The developing unit develops the latent images while transporting a two-composition developing agent including a toner T and a carrier C by a traveling wave electric field.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing a latent image on a latent image carrier includes a toner carrier and multiple electrodes arranged at intervals on a surface of the toner carrier. A potential difference is formed between even-numbered electrodes and odd-numbered electrodes of the electrodes by applying a first pulse voltage to the even-numbered electrodes and a second pulse voltage to the odd-numbered electrodes so that toner on the surface of the toner carrier moves back and forth between the electrodes, where the first and second pulse voltages are in different phases, and the toner moving back and forth between the electrodes is conveyed to a position facing the latent image carrier by movement of the surface of the toner carrier and thereby caused to adhere to the latent image on the latent image carrier.

Abstract: A developing device including a latent image supporter. Powder is adhered on the latent image supporter to develop a latent image on the latent image supporter and a transporting member is arranged opposite to the latent image supporter. A plurality of electrodes are formed in the transporting member for generating a traveling-wave electric field to move the powder, and n-phase voltages are applied to the electrodes of the transporting member to form an electric field in a first direction so that the powder moves towards the latent image supporter at an image portion of the latent image and in a second direction so that the powder moves in a direction opposite to the latent image supporter at a non-image portion of the latent image.

Abstract: An image-forming device that is capable of minimizing toner charge deficiency while feeding an adequate amount of toner to an electrostatic toner transport substrate for transporting toner by an EH effect, having a first storage chamber for storing a mixture of toner and a friction-promoting substance; a second storage chamber; a first transport screw for stirring the mixture in the containers; a second transport screw; and a mesh provided to the first storage chamber; wherein a toner feeding unit is provided for sifting the toner in the mixture in the first storage chamber through the mesh and feeding the toner to a first electrostatic toner transport substrate (not pictured). A potential difference generator is also provided for creating an electrical potential difference between the first transport screw and the mesh, and between the mesh and the first electrostatic toner transport substrate.

Abstract: A powder transferring apparatus provided with a powder electrostatic transferring device includes a plurality of transferring electrodes configured to generate an electric field for transferring the powder by an electrostatic force including a powder transferring amount detecting device to detect an amount of powder on a surface of the powder electrostatic transferring device.

Abstract: A center beam which is formed out of a thin film constituted to be combined with a light reflection film provided on one surface of the center beam, which has both ends fixed and which is deformed by an electronic force; a substrate electrode which is opposed to the center beam through a gap formed on the other surface of the center beam; an opposed surface which is a surface of the substrate electrode opposed to the center beam modulating the incident light on the light reflection film, the opposed surface restricting deformation of the center beam due to application of a driving voltage to the substrate electrode by abutting on the center beam; and a substrate which has the substrate electrode having the opposed surface, formed in a concave section, and which holds a to-be-held section of the center beam, are provided.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a developing apparatus using a development system in which toner is moved by means of a traveling wave electric field. The image forming apparatus comprises a plurality of developing apparatuses having toner conveyance members which convey toner by means of a phase-shift electric field created by voltages of n phases applied to a plurality of electrodes, to a region opposing an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; and a voltage application device which applies a voltage having an average potential value between the potential of the image portions of the latent image on the image carrier and the non-image portions of same, to the electrodes of the toner conveyance members of the respective developing apparatuses.

Abstract: A toner supply device for preventing adverse influence caused by a charging failure of toner without scattering toner and generating ozone due to corona discharge and realizing low potential development according to an ETH phenomenon. The toner supply device is provided with the specific electrostatic toner transport substrate on which a plurality electrodes are disposed.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a blade member having an end that touches an image carrier that caries a toner image made with toner, a vibratable member to which the blade member is fixed, and a vibrating unit that vibrates the vibratable member in such a manner that the end of the blade member does not curl.