Abstract: A driving mechanism for rotating a rotary body in use with an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer. The mechanism includes: a rotary body having an axis on a driving shaft; a driving mechanism, including a gear chain, for rotating the rotary body; a first dynamic damper, located at a first side of the rotary body on the axis, having a first specific frequency band for absorbing a vibration of the rotary body; and a second dynamic damper, located at a second side which is opposite to the first side on the axis, having a second specific frequency band for absorbing the vibration of the rotary body.

Abstract: A color image forming machine includes a plurality of exposure units for irradiating an image carrier movable in a secondary scanning direction of the exposure units by primary scanning beams, at a plurality of irradiation positions to form latent images, a plurality of charging units for charging the image carrier corresponding to the irradiation positions of the exposure units and a plurality of developing units to form toner images corresponding the latent images. The plurality of toner images are superimposed on the image carrier to obtain a multi-color or full-color images trough transferring and fixing. A light-reflective registration mark is provided to a non-image area on one side of the image carrier. Employing at least two exposure units, irradiation by each primary scanning beam is conducted to the light-reflective registration mark moving in the secondary scanning direction.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of forming an image on an imaging surface of a photoreceptor having a light decay characteristic so that the potential of the imaging surface is slowly decayed in an initial period of exposure and the potential of the imaging surface is sharply decayed in a middle period of exposure. The imaging surface is charged to an electric potential, exposed with a light beam, wherein the light beam has the maximum light amount I.sub.0 in the light amount distribution thereof on the imaging surface so as to satisfy following condition:1.2.times.P.sub.178 .ltoreq.I.sub.0 .ltoreq.2.5.times.P.sub.1/2,in which P.sub.1/2 is a half decay exposure light amount for decaying the potential of the imaging surface from an initial potential value before the exposure to the half of the initial potential value.

Abstract: An apparatus for rotating a photoreceptor of a given length in its axial direction, comprises a driven system including the photoreceptor and a shaft provided at the axis of the photoreceptor and a driving system including a driving source and a transmission mechanism. The driven system and the driving system are arranged so that the proper oscillation frequency of the driven system is made lower than both the frequency of fluctuation component caused per one rotation of the driving system and the frequency of fluctuation component caused per one tooth of the transmission mechanism.

Abstract: A driving device for a rotational photoreceptor drum for use in an image forming machine, in which a rotational drive from a motor is supplied through a gear train to the axial shaft of the drum. The shaft is connected to the drum only at the side farthest from the gear train. An inertia member is provided within the drum. A rotational member having a rotational resistance is brought in contact with a non-image region of the drum.

Abstract: An exposure device includes a polygon mirror to scan a photoreceptors with a plurality of laser beams to write plural color component latent images. The polygon mirror receives two laser beams at its two mirrors which are arranged diagonal to each other and reflects the two laser beams in the opposite directions to each other so that a first laser beam scans from the first side to the second side of the photoreceptor. On the photoreceptor are provided sensors to output first and second position signals independently when the first and second laser beams pass respectively the reference position mark disposed at one side on the photoreceptor.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of forming a color image on a recording material by transferring a toner image formed on an image carrying means to the recording material and by fixing the toner image on the recording material. The method further includes adhering a transparent toner layer onto the recording material, and fixing the transparent toner layer together with the toner image on the recording material.

Abstract: In a toner image fixing device, there are provided an endless belt being looped up around a heating roller and a conveyance roller, a pressure roller for pressing a sheet having a toner image onto the heating roller with the endless belt intervening between the pressure roller and the heating roller. A sensor is disposed inside the loop of the belt so as to come in contact with the heating roller, for detecting the temperature of the heating roller. The fixing temperature for the toner image is controlled on the basis of the temperature of the heating roller detected by the sensor. A first nip region is formed on a pressing portion located between the heating roller and the fixing roller. A second nip region is formed between the belt and the fixing roller, continuing from the first nip region but without contacting the heating roller.

Abstract: A method of forming a developer layer on a rotating developing sleeve for developing a latent image on an image carrier, in which the developer layer is formed by conveying the developer on the sleeve below a regulating member which is applied with pressure onto the developer. The developer composed of two-component additionally contains spacer particles having a uniform diameter greater than the maximum diameter of carrier particles in the developer, which maintain a predetermined gap equal to the diameter of the spacer particles between the sleeve and the regulating member.

Abstract: This invention relates to an automatic sheet-feeder for feeding a sheet from the bottom of a stack of sheets placed on a sheet tray and for circularly returning the sheet to the top of the stack. The sheet tray comprises a movable tray and a stationary tray, and the movable tray can move upward or downward in accordance with the size of the sheet, and further the movable tray comprises an intermediate sheet-feed to transport the sheet, whereby the edges of the pile of sheets are aligned in order to prevent erroneous sheet-feeding.

Abstract: An automatic sheet feeding apparatus for feeding sheets on a stacker one by one, includes a separation device having a sheet convey member for conveying a separated sheet and a double feed prevention member which is brought into tight contact with or separated from the convey member, and a sheet stop member for preventing movement of nonseparated sheets along a convey direction. When the separation device is in tight contact with the sheet during a separation operation, the sheet stop member is located in a first position where the sheet stop member does not prevent the separation operation. When the separation device is released and the sheet is conveyed, the sheet stop member is moved to a second position where the sheet stop member abuts against leading ends of sheets except for a sheet to be fed, thereby preventing movement of the sheets except for the sheet to be fed.

Abstract: A recording apparatus having an image carrier and a heated intermediate transfer member is disclosed. The improvement is the addition of a shielding member of porous metal for preventing water vapor and/or heat from reaching the surface of the image carrier, wherein the shielding member has a trapping capability for condensing and trapping the water vapor.

Abstract: A cleaning member for an intermediate transfer member of a reproducing apparatus for transferring a toner image formed on a toner image forming member to the intermediate transfer member and further transferring the toner image to a subsequent transfer material from the intermediate transfer member, wherein the cleaning member has an outer layer of a porous or fibrous substrate and an outer surface of the toner, a resin identical with the toner or a resin compatible with the resin, or the cleaning member has an outer layer of adiabatic elastic material and a thin metallic outer surface layer.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for electrostatic images comprising a photoreceptor, an intermediate transfer substance and a means for heating toner images transferred onto said intermediate transfer substance and transferring again and fixing them onto a transfer material, characterized in that there are provided a means for detecting a temperature of aforesaid photoreceptor and a means for keeping the temperature of said photoreceptor within a fixed range of T.sub.1 through T.sub.2.

Abstract: A recording apparatus wherein an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image retaining member is developed into a visible image by means of a developer transported on the surface of a developer carrier having at least a magnet movably provided therein. At least a part of the electrostatic latent image retaining member is constituted by a magnetic material.

Abstract: An electrostatic reproducing apparatus wherein a toner image formed on a toner image retaining member in the form of a belt is transferred to and fixed on a transfer material through an intermediate transfer member in the form of a roll. The intermediate transfer member is formed by providing a thin transfer layer on the outer periphery of a metal roll. The belt comprises an elastic material layer. A transfer pressure roller for pressing the back surface of the belt contacts with the intermediate transfer member, and the surface of the transfer pressure roll is covered with an elastic body.

Abstract: The present invention is such that in a recording apparatus comprising a toner image carrier and an intermediate image transfer material which receives the toner image transferred from the image carrier and then transfers the toner image onto the subsequent transfer sheet material (recording sheet), and an image transfer section for transferring the toner image onto the moving transfer sheet material comprising a transfer roller and pressure roller pressing thereon, the recording apparatus has the following pre-heating means comprising a heat member and a pressing member which is located at a position prior to the transfer section and which, brings the subsequent transfer sheet material into close contact with or presses the subsequent transfer sheet material against the periphery of the pressure roller, the member being provided at least on its side facing the transfer sheet material with a heat-resistant, elastically deformable porous material.

Abstract: An image reproducing apparatus of the type in which a toner image formed on a charge receptor is transferred to a transfer member and is fixed on said transfer member by the application of pressure and heat by use of an intermediate transfer belt. An auxiliary pressure contact roller is disposed so as to come into contact, via the intermediate transfer belt, with a support roller forming a transfer-fixing portion, disposed inside the intermediate transfer belt and opposing a pressure contact roller via the intermediate transfer belt, so that the contact area between the support roller and the intermediate transfer belt is enlarged.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring and fixing toner image wherein a toner image is transferred and fixed onto a transfer material from a toner image retainer through an intermediate transfer member. The toner image on the intermediate transfer member is heated at a temperature lower than the toner fusion temperature, and the transfer material is heated to the toner fusion temperature or over. A pressing unit to press the transfer material onto the intermediate transfer member is heated at the toner fusion temperature or over.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer body for a transfer type recording apparatus which comprises a substrate consisting of a thermoplastic resin layer and a thermosetting resin layer, wherein said body further comprises an intermediate transfer layer can be added to the intermediate transfer body. The intermediate transfer body consists of an elastic material, such as a fluoro-carbon rubber or a silicone rubber.