Abstract: There are provided a paper conveying apparatus which can drive paper set guides, paper feed rollers, retard rollers, and conveyor rollers by a single motor. The paper conveying apparatus includes a paper set guide for setting paper, a paper feed roller for feeding paper set at the paper set guide, a retard roller arranged facing the paper feed roller, a conveyor roller for further conveying paper fed by the paper feed roller, a motor for generating a drive force for driving the paper set guide, and a transmission mechanism, arranged straddling a transport path of the paper, for transmitting the drive force to the paper feed roller and the retard roller, wherein the conveyor roller is driven by the transmission mechanism.

Abstract: There is provided an information input device including: a chassis made of a non-metallic material; an antenna mounted to an upper portion of the chassis; and a fluctuation easing member which is mounted to a lower portion of the chassis to ease fluctuations in magnetic field intensity caused by a surface on which the information input device is mounted.

Abstract: There is provided an image reading device including: a manuscript table on which a manuscript is placed; an image reading section that optically reads an image from the manuscript placed on the manuscript table; an information acquisition section that acquires information in wireless communication from an IC chip attached to the manuscript placed on the manuscript table; and a control section that controls a timing of image reading by the image reading section in accordance with a timing of information acquisition by the information acquisition section.

Abstract: There are provided a paper conveying apparatus which can drive paper set guides, paper feed rollers, retard rollers, and conveyor rollers by a single motor. The paper conveying apparatus includes a paper set guide for setting paper, a paper feed roller for feeding paper set at the paper set guide, a retard roller arranged facing the paper feed roller, a conveyor roller for further conveying paper fed by the paper feed roller, a motor for generating a drive force for driving the paper set guide, and a transmission mechanism, arranged straddling a transport path of the paper, for transmitting the drive force to the paper feed roller and the retard roller, wherein the conveyor roller is driven by the transmission mechanism.

Abstract: A solid-concentration measuring apparatus includes an ultrasonic transmitter, an ultrasonic receiver, and a response-time integrator. The ultrasonic transmitter transmits a single-pulse ultrasonic wave to a liquid toner. The ultrasonic receiver receives the single-pulse ultrasonic wave. The ultrasonic transmitter transmits again a single-pulse ultrasonic wave after a predetermined time has passed from when the ultrasonic receiver receives the single-pulse ultrasonic wave. The response-time integrator measures a response time from transmission to reception of each single-pulse ultrasonic wave, and integrates the response time with respect to each set of N pulses (N>1). A solid concentration of the liquid toner is calculated based on the integrated response time.

Abstract: A solid-concentration measuring apparatus includes an ultrasonic transmitter, an ultrasonic receiver, and a response-time integrator. The ultrasonic transmitter transmits a single-pulse ultrasonic wave to a liquid toner. The ultrasonic receiver receives the single-pulse ultrasonic wave. The ultrasonic transmitter transmits again a single-pulse ultrasonic wave after a predetermined time has passed from when the ultrasonic receiver receives the single-pulse ultrasonic wave. The response-time integrator measures a response time from transmission to reception of each single-pulse ultrasonic wave, and integrates the response time with respect to each set of N pulses (N>1). A solid concentration of the liquid toner is calculated based on the integrated response time.

Abstract: Liquid toner which remains on the surface of a photosensitive drum 2 after transfer of a toner image to an intermediate transfer member 1 is collected in a collection pot 6a. The collected liquid toner is led to a carrier pot 20, and is stored there. In response to an instruction, the stored liquid toner is fed to a toner concentration adjustment apparatus 10. Liquid toner which remains on the surface of a development roller 3 after supply of liquid toner from the development roller 3 to the photosensitive drum 2 is collected in a collection pot 6b. The collected liquid toner is fed directly to the toner concentration adjustment apparatus 10. Liquid toner having undergone concentration adjustment in the toner concentration adjustment apparatus 10 is fed to a supply pot 7, from which the liquid toner is supplied to the development roller 3 via a supply roller 4, whereby the liquid toner is used for development of electrostatic latent images.

Abstract: Liquid toner which remains on the surface of a photosensitive drum 2 after transfer of a toner image to an intermediate transfer member 1 is collected in a collection pot 6a. The collected liquid toner is led to a carrier pot 20, and is stored there. In response to an instruction, the stored liquid toner is fed to a toner concentration adjustment apparatus 10. Liquid toner which remains on the surface of a development roller 3 after supply of liquid toner from the development roller 3 to the photosensitive drum 2 is collected in a collection pot 6b. The collected liquid toner is fed directly to the toner concentration adjustment apparatus 10. Liquid toner having undergone concentration adjustment in the toner concentration adjustment apparatus 10 is fed to a supply pot 7, from which the liquid toner is supplied to the development roller 3 via a supply roller 4, whereby the liquid toner is used for development of electrostatic latent images.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for a liquid-development electrophotographic apparatus in which, after a toner image formed on a surface of an intermediate transfer member by use of a liquid developer is transferred to a printing medium, the liquid developer remaining on the intermediate transfer is removed and collected. The cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning-liquid application device for applying a cleaning liquid to the intermediate transfer member which has transferred an image to the printing medium; a bias voltage application device for applying a bias voltage opposite in polarity to charged toner particles of the developer to the intermediate transfer member; and a collection device for removing the cleaning liquid which has been applied to and the residual developer which remains on the intermediate transfer member from the intermediate transfer member without transfer of an image to the printing medium, and collecting the removed cleaning liquid and residual developer.

Abstract: A liquid-development electrophotographic apparatus forms on a toner-image-bearing body a plurality of color images developed by a plurality of developing units, one for each color, that use liquid toner. One or more carrier-removing units for removing excessive carrier from a toner layer that forms a toner image are disposed downstream of each developing unit and upstream of the next developing unit disposed upstream of the former developing unit with respect to a process progress direction. Each carrier-removing unit includes two or more conductive collection rollers to which a bias voltage is applied in such a direction as to press toner against the toner-image-bearing body and which is brought into contact with the toner-image-bearing body. The upstream roller is rotated in the same direction as the direction of surface movement of the toner-image-bearing body, whereas the downstream roller is rotated in the opposite direction.

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: After passing a position of transfer to a printing medium 10, a portion of an intermediate transfer member 1 on which an image is previously formed reaches the position of a cleaning unit 2. The cleaning unit 2 removes residual toner, whereby the intermediate transfer member 1 prepares for a next cycle of formation of images in the corresponding colors by means of the developing units 4, 5, 6, and 7. The cleaning unit 2 includes an application friction roller 21 and a bias roller 24. The application friction roller 21 has a function to weaken cohesion/firm adhesion of residual toner through application of a cleaning liquid to the intermediate transfer member 1 and a function to exfoliate and disperse the residual toner in the cleaning liquid through imposition of a shear force on the residual toner. The bias roller 24 includes a bias voltage generation mechanism 24a for applying a bias voltage between the bias roller 24 and the intermediate transfer member 1.

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 forms on a toner-image-bearing body a plurality of color images developed by a plurality of developing units, one for each color, that use liquid toner. One or more carrier-removing units for removing excessive carrier from a toner layer that forms a toner image are disposed downstream of each developing unit and upstream of the next developing unit disposed upstream of the former developing unit with respect to a process progress direction. Each carrier-removing unit includes two or more conductive collection rollers to which a bias voltage is applied in such a direction as to press toner against the toner-image-bearing body and which is brought into contact with the toner-image-bearing body. The upstream roller is rotated in the same direction as the direction of surface movement of the toner-image-bearing body, whereas the downstream roller is rotated in the opposite direction.