Abstract: A wet type image forming apparatus, having a latent image forming unit with a photoconductive drum, and a developing unit with a developing solution supplying system that supplies developing solution to a developing roller, is provided. The developing roller is adapted to supply toner contained in the developing solution to the photoconductive drum. The developing solution supplying system includes a first roller and a second roller. The first roller and the second roller are arranged in vicinity to each other, and the second roller is in contact with the developing roller. A portion of the developing solution is retained in a pit portion between the first roller and the second roller. The developing solution supplying system includes a flow blocking system to prevent the developing solution from flowing down from an upstream surface of the second roller with respect to a rotating direction of the second roller toward the developing roller.

Abstract: A wet electrophotographic apparatus includes an intermediate transcriptional unit that includes a rubber member on a surface thereof, the intermediate transcriptional unit being configured to transcribe a toner image formed by toner held on a surface of the rubber member onto a printed subject, a cleaning solution applying unit configured to apply cleaning solution to the surface of the rubber member after transcribing the toner image onto the printed subject, and a toner removing unit configured to have a higher stiffness than that of the rubber member and to be in contact with the rubber member under a predetermined pressure so as to remove residual toner, which is left on the intermediate transcriptional unit even after transcribing the toner image onto the printed subject, with the cleaning solution.

Abstract: A wet type image forming apparatus forms an image in accordance with an electrophotographic imaging process using a developing solution containing a toner in a carrier solution. The image forming apparatus includes a developing roller that holds the developing solution thereon, the developing roller being electrically charged to attract a toner contained in the developing solution toward its surface, a photoconductive drum on which a latent image to be developed is formed, the photoconductive roller being arranged to contact the developing roller, a scraping blade disposed in contact with the developing roller, the scraping blade scraping off the developing solution that has not been consumed for developing from the surface of the developing roller, and a toner separator that separates the toner that has not been consumed for developing from the surface of the developing solution carrier before the developing solution is scraped off by the scraping blade.

Abstract: A wet type image forming apparatus having a developing solution container a preparatory developing solution container, which is adapted to store developing solution to be supplied to the developing solution container, and an attachment unit to which the preparatory developing solution container is attached, is provided. The preparatory developing solution container includes a coupling portion removably coupled to the attachment unit, a developing solution path being formed in the coupling portion to allow the developing solution to flow therein, a blocking system blocking the developing solution path, and a stirring unit stirring the developing solution in the preparatory developing solution container. The attachment unit includes a releasing system to open the developing solution path blocked by the blocking system when the coupling portion of the preparatory developing solution container is coupled to the attachment unit.

Abstract: A wet type image forming apparatus, having a latent image forming unit with a photoconductive drum, and a developing unit with a developing solution supplying system that supplies developing solution to a developing roller, is provided. The developing roller is adapted to supply toner contained in the developing solution to the photoconductive drum. The developing solution supplying system includes a first roller and a second roller. The first roller and the second roller are arranged in vicinity to each other, and the second roller is in contact with the developing roller. A portion of the developing solution is retained in a pit portion between the first roller and the second roller. The developing solution supplying system includes a flow blocking system to prevent the developing solution from flowing down from an upstream surface of the second roller with respect to a rotating direction of the second roller toward the developing roller.

Abstract: A developing unit for a wet type image forming apparatus that forms an image with developing solution containing toner in carrier solution is provided. The developing unit includes a latent image carrying roller on which a latent image is developed with the toner, a developing solution carrying roller that is charged and thereby carries the developing solution to supply the developing solution to the latent image carrying roller, a developing solution scraping unit that scrapes off a portion of the developing solution that is not used for developing, and a shearer that is arranged at a position in a path of the scraped developing solution, and applies shearing stress to a piece of toner coating. The piece of toner coating is formed with the scraped developing solution.

Abstract: A wet type image forming apparatus includes a photoconductive drum, a toner supplying roller that supplies toner to the photoconductive drum, a developing solution applying roller uniformly applying the developing solution onto the toner supplying roller, a developing solution supplying roller supplying the developing solution to the developing solution applying roller, and two sidewall members respectively arranged on both sides of the pair of developing solution applying roller and the developing solution supplying roller. The two sidewall members closely contact side faces of the pair of developing solution applying roller and the developing solution supplying roller at both sides thereof, respectively.

Abstract: A wet type image forming apparatus forms an image in accordance with an electrophotographic imaging process using a developing solution containing a toner in a carrier solution. The image forming apparatus includes a developing roller that holds the developing solution thereon, the developing roller being electrically charged to attract a toner contained in the developing solution toward its surface, a photoconductive drum on which a latent image to be developed is formed, the photoconductive roller being arranged to contact the developing roller, a scraping blade disposed in contact with the developing roller, the scraping blade scraping off the developing solution that has not been consumed for developing from the surface of the developing roller, and a toner separator that separates the toner that has not been consumed for developing from the surface of the developing solution carrier before the developing solution is scraped off by the scraping blade.

Abstract: A wet type electrophotographic image forming apparatus using a developing solution containing a toner in a carrier solution is provided with a photoconductive drum on which a latent image is formed, a developing solution applying roller that applies the developing solution to a surface of the photoconductive drum, and a developing solution reservoir in which the developing solution is deposited. Further, a part of a surface of the developing solution applying roller serves as a wall portion defining the reservoir, and a bottom surface of the reservoir serves as a blade member that contacts a surface of the developing solution applying roller to scrape off and adjust the developing solution on the surface of the developing solution applying roller.

Abstract: A sheet guide mechanism is provided with a guide path along which a sheet-like member is guided and which is defined between one and the other guide surfaces. A stationary guide member has a first surface defining the one guide surface, and a movable guide member having a second surface defines the other guide surface, which is shiftable relative to the stationary guide member. Protrusions are formed on one of the first and second surfaces, protruding toward the other of the first and second surfaces by a predetermined distance. A shiftable member is shiftable relative to the stationary guide member between a guide position and a remote position. A spring is provided between the shiftable member and the movable guide member allowing the elastic contact between the protrusions and the other of the first and second surfaces, when the shiftable member is located in the guide position.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus is provided with an original separation mechanism which is disposed on a lower side of the inlet port of a feeding path. The original separation mechanism is pressed to an original pick-up roller, and is provided for separating one original, which contacts the original pick-up roller, from at least one following original. The original separation mechanism includes a unit body, and a friction member attached to the upper surface of a unit body, extending toward a downstream side of the feeding direction of the original so as to intersect the feed path at a predetermined angle, and having an upper surface with a prescribed friction coefficient. The original separation mechanism further includes a pair of supporting members attached to both sides of the unit body with respect to the friction member, and each formed of a spring material having an upper surface which extends so as to intersect the upper surface of the lower original guide member at a predetermined angle.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus is provided with a photoconductive drum including an outer peripheral surface on which a latent image corresponding to an image to be transferred is formed, and a developing device for developing the latent image by a toner. The electrophotographic apparatus further includes a housing for rotatably supporting the photoconductive drum therein and having an opening on one side, a cover member for releasably closing the opening of the housing, and a transfer charger which is attached to one surface of the cover member opposing to the photoconductive drum, and which is provided for transferring the developed image onto a sheet-like member. A pre-roller is attached to an upstream end of a housing which houses the transfer charger. The pre-roller and the photoconductive drum are positioned relative to each other so that a gap of predetermined dimension is defined therebetween.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus is provided with a control device for controlling the heating temperature of the fixing unit in accordance with the detected result by use of a condition detection mechanism. The control device controls the fixing unit: (a) to set the heating temperature thereof to a fixing possible temperature when the condition detection device detects that the imaging operation of the imaging device is initiated or has been continuing, (b) to set the heating temperature to a stand-by temperature lower than the fixing possible temperature when the condition detection device detects that a stand-by condition, in which the imaging operation is interrupted, continues for a first predetermined time, and (c) to set the heating temperature to a save-energy temperature, lower that the stand-by temperature, when the condition detection device detects that the stand-by condition has been continuing for a second predetermined time.