Abstract: A liquid spreading device for spreading liquid over a target surface to be moved relatively to the liquid spreading device in a predetermined direction, including: a regulating member which is brought into contact with the target surface through the liquid; and a voltage applying unit for applying an electrical bias voltage across the regulating member and the target surface.A fixing device for fixing a toner image onto an image bearing surface of a recording sheet, including: a rotating member having an outer surface to be in contact with the image bearing surface; a regulating member which is brought into contact with the outer surface of the rotating member through the liquid; and a voltage applying unit for applying an electrical bias voltage across the regulating member and the outer surface of the rotating member.

Abstract: This invention relates to a developer for electrophotography comprising:a domain resin phase containing specified additives,a matrix resin phase containing specified additives anda dispersion assistant,the matrix resin having a low compatibility with the domain resin, and the dispersion assistant having a compatibility with both of the domain resin and matrix resin and an Izod impact value higher than the matrix resin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to plural color toners for use in image-forming method of forming images cyclically with the toners, developers comprising the toners and image-forming method by use of the toners or developers and image-forming system therefor, and is characterized in that use is made of toners which have their surfaces in a substantially identical state.

Abstract: A toner for electrophotography obtained by melting and kneading a kneaded material prepared by melting and kneading a domain resin and a coloring agent, a matrix resin having a low compatibility with the domain resin, and a dispersion assistant having a compatibility with both of the domain resin and matrix resin and a Izod impact value higher than the matrix resin to obtain a colored composition, followed by pulverizing and classifying the colored composition.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus wherein a multicolored image of an original is formed in color on a sheet in one cycle of image forming operation. The apparatus comprises a plurality of developing devices which are filled with respective developers colored differently from each other and a scorotoron charger disposed between the developing devices for recharging on electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive member processed by the upstream developing device with the polarity opposite to the polarity charged beforehand. The developing device located upstream of the scorotron charger functions to develop the imaged portions including primary information which were charged with first potential. The scorotron charger recharges the electrostatic latent image with the opposite polarity, thereby lowering the potential of the other imaged portions including background information which were charged with second potential.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image recording material for recording images in three dimensions and a three-dimensional image processing method using the said recording material. In forming the recording material, thermoexpansive microspheres each formed by encapsulating a low boiling, vaporizable substance into a microcapsule of a thermoplastic resin are applied onto sheet together with a binder. In forming a three-dimensional image, a desired image is formed on the thermoexpansive coating layer according to an electrophotographic method and then irradiated with light, whereby the toner image area is heated selectively and so that thermoexpansive coating layer expands to raise the image. Then, a laminate film having a heat transferable coloring material layer is put thereon followed by the application of heat and pressure to color the raised image area in a desired color.

Abstract: A heat fixing unit in an electrophotographic copying apparatus is disclosed. The heat fixing unit comprises a heat fixing roller with a heater, a pressure roller with a plurality of fibers, and driven ring components disposed on the ends of the pressure roller for adjusting the contact amount between the heat fixing roller and the pressure roller. The heat fixing unit offers a less warming up time and a better paper delivery performance, and requires less material cost.The heat fixing unit in an electrophotographic copying apparatus may employ a fixed type or a rotary type curing unit for raising the plurality of fibers.

Abstract: Disclosed is an oil applying roller provided in contact with the surface of a fixing roller of an electrophotographic copying apparatus. The oil applying roller comprises a core member, an oil retaining layer and a surface layer. The surface layer has less oil retaining ability than that of the oil retaining layer. Thus the oil applying roller can supply a small amount of oil to the fixing roller stably.

Abstract: A heat roller fixing device for use in an electrophotographic copying apparatus and the like, which includes a heating roller constituted by a fluorine resin layer laminated on an electrically conductive core member through a primer layer the heated roller being driven for rotation, and a pressure roller constituted by an electrically insulative layer on another electrically conductive core member and held in contact with the heating roller for simultaneous rotation with the heating roller so as to fix a charged toner image formed on copy paper onto the copy paper by causing the copy paper carrying the toner image thereon to pass between the heating roller and pressure roller. The primer layer is composed of a primer having incorporated therein an electrically conductive material, and the primer of the primer layer is partly exposed at the surface of the fluorine resin layer.

Abstract: A heat roller fixing device for use in an electrophotographic copying apparatus and the like, which includes a heating roller constituted by a fluorine resin layer laminated on an electrically conductive core member through a primer layer, the heated roller being driven for rotation, and a pressure roller constituted by an electrically insulative layer on another electrically conductive core member and held in contact with the heating roller for simultaneous rotation with the heating roller so as to fix a charged toner image formed on copy paper onto the copy paper by causing the copy paper carrying the toner image thereon to pass between the heating roller and pressure roller. The primer layer is composed of a primer having incorporated therein an electrically conductive material, and the primer of the primer layer is partly exposed at the surface of the fluorine resin layer.

Abstract: A heat roller fixing device for use in an electrophotographic copying apparatus and the like, which includes a heating roller constituted by laminating a fluorine resin layer on an electrically conductive core member through a primer layer and driven for rotation, and a pressure roller constituted by forming an electrically insulative layer on another electrically conductive core member and held in contact with the heating roller for simultaneous rotation with the heating roller so as to fix a positively charged toner image formed on copy paper onto the copy paper by causing the copy paper to pass between the heating roller and the pressure roller. The primer layer is composed of an offset prevention agent containing carbon black by a predetermined amount, preferably 0.4 to 3.0% by weight.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a heat roller fixing device for use in an electrophotographic copying apparatus and the like, which includes a heating roller constituted by laminating an offset prevention layer on an electrically conductive core member and having a heating element incorporated in it so as to be driven for rotation by a driving unit, and a pressure roller constituted by forming an electrically insulative layer on another electrically conductive core member and held in contact under pressure with the heating roller for simultaneous rotation with the heating roller, so as to fix toner image formed on copy paper onto the copy paper by causing the copy paper carrying the toner image on it, to pass between the heating roller and pressure roller. The offset prevention layer is composed of fluorine resin containing carbon fibers in a combined amount of less than 30%.

Abstract: A particulate magnetic toner for use in a process for developing latent electrostatic images to toner images with a magnetic brush consists predominantly of a magnetic material and a resin of insulating properties. Each toner particle has a portion containing the magnetic material, said material extending through the particle and at least exposed on opposing surfaces of each toner particle to oppose the magnetic materials of other toner particles.

Abstract: In a process for reproducing images of fine lines of characters of low density, the latent image is initially transferred onto transfer paper such that charges, including the non-image portions of the original, are transferred onto substantially the entire area of the transfer paper so as to assure transfer of fine images and subsequently developing the transfer paper by a wet-type developing technique such that the transfer paper is passed through at least one electrode effective region having a greater potential than the potential of the non-image portion and a polarity the same as the potential of the areal image of the non-image portions, and also passing the transfer paper through at least one electrode non-effective region to clearly visualize only the latent image with the images of low densities.

Abstract: At least one roller in a plurality of paired electrode rollers positioned in a liquid developer is electrically isolated from its associated electrode roller for development of the image on a copying sheet during the time in which the copying sheet is transported by the paired conductive rollers to eliminate fogging and whitening of the copied image.

Abstract: An electrophotographic copying machine of the image transfer type includes a roller for pressing the copy image receiving substrate into virtual contact with the electrostatic image carrying drum. The roller includes a metal shaft and an outer layer formed of an electroconductive elastic sponge material having a resistivity of 10.sup.2 to 10.sup.6 ohm/cm which varies inversely with the compression of the material. The sponge material is produced by soaking an open pore soft polymeric sponge matrix temporarily expandable when exposed to alcohol in a liquid composition containing 10 parts of a water dispersable resin binder, 2 to 7 parts of a fine electroconductive powder and 10 to 200 parts of alcohol, expressing the excess liquid and then drying the liquid composition.

Abstract: An electrophotographic copying machine of the image transfer type includes a roller for pressing the copy image receiving substrate into virtual contact with the electrostatic image carrying drum. The roller includes a metal shaft and an outer layer formed of an electroconductive elastic sponge material having a resistivity of 10.sup.2 to 10.sup.6 ohm/cm which varies inversely with the compression of the material. The sponge material is produced by soaking an open pore soft polymeric sponge matrix temporarily expandable when exposed to alcohol in a liquid composition containing 10 parts of a water dispersable resin binder, 2 to 7 parts of a fine electroconductive powder and 10 to 200 parts of alcohol, expressing the excess liquid and then drying the liquid composition.