Abstract: An elastic rotatable member conveniently usable as an image fixing member has a base member, a first primer layer, an elastic layer, a second primer layer and a resin layer in the order named. The first primer layer has a thermal conductivity higher than that of the second primer layer. Using the elastic rotatable member, its sheet conveying properties, releasability, wear resistance and durability are improved. When used for an image fixing rotatable member, its image fixing properties are improved.

Abstract: An elastic rotatable member for conveying a member to be conveyed includes an elastic layer, a resin layer formed on the elastic layer, wherein the resin layer has a portion wherein it has a thickness larger than the other portion to project outwardly. Also, an image fixing apparatus includes an elastic rotatable member including an elastic layer and a resin layer formed on the elastic layer, the resin layer having a portion projected outwardly, and a rotatable member cooperative with the elastic rotatable member to grip and convey a material carrying toner image to be fixed.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprising a pixel data output for releasing pixel data, synthesis means for synthesizing a plurality of pixel data released from the pixel data output, a pattern signal generator for generating a pattern signal of a predetermined period, and means for forming a pulse-width modulated signal by utilizing the synthesized pixel data released from the synthesis means and the pattern signal.

Abstract: An elastic rotatable member usable for image fixing includes an elastic layer having a roughened surface, a resin layer formed by applying a liquid resin on the surface of the elastic layer and heating it up to a temperature not lower than its crystalline melting point and then quickly cooling it, wherein the resin layer has a side near the elastic layer, having a number of fine concave and convex portions, and wherein the convex portions are in concave portions of the surface of the elastic layer, and the concave portions of the resin layer is pressed by the convex portions of the elastic layer.

Abstract: An elastic rotatable member, includes an elastic rubber layer, a surface layer of resin formed on the elastic layer, wherein the surface layer is provided by applying resin material together with liquid to a surface of the elastic rubber layer and sintering the resin material by heating the resin material up to a sintering temperature thereof while keeping the elastic rubber layer below its durable temperature, wherein the heating is effected by dielectric heating to heat the resin material up to a higher temperature than that of the rubber layer.

Abstract: An image processing process forms a plural microdots for each pixel, and the number of microdots increases only in one direction for representing a higher density, thereby achieving an improved linearity in the density levels without sacrificing the resolving power.

Abstract: An elastic rotatable member usable for image fixing includes an elastic layer having a roughened surface, a resin layer formed by applying a liquid resin on the surface of the elastic layer and heating it up to a temperature not lower than its crystalline melting point and then quickly cooling it, wherein the resin layer has a side near the elastic layer, having a number of fine concave and convex portions, and wherein the convex portions are in concave portions of the surface of the elastic layer, and the concave portions of the resin layer is pressed by the convex portions of the elastic layer.

Abstract: An electrophotographic process includes the steps of forming a visible image composed of coloring particles on a photosensitive member having a surface insulating layer, providing the visible image with an electrostatic charge by first corona discharge, bringing a transfer sheet into contact with the photosensitive member, providing the rear surface of the transfer sheet with a predetermined amount of an electrostatic charge of a polarity opposite to that of the charge on the coloring particles by second corona discharge thereby transferring the visible image onto the transfer sheet, and providing the rear surface of the transfer sheet with an electrostatic charge, which is the same in polarity as that of the coloring particles but is less in the amount than that provided by the second corona discharge, thereby separating the transfer sheet from the photosensitive member, and an apparatus adapted for executing the above-mentioned process.

Abstract: In charging a surface of a chargeable member by AC corona discharge, the current difference between the plus and the minus component of the AC corona discharge current is detected, and the current difference is maintained constant to thereby stably produce a constant surface potential on the chargeable member.

Abstract: A fixing device for use in an image formation apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying apparatus or recording apparatus, and more particularly a fixing device in which a sheet such as paper having a toner image on the surface thereof is passed between a pair of rotatable members pressed against each other to thereby fix the toner image on the sheet. In the substance forming the surface of at least one of the pair of rotatable members, particles having a hardness higher than that of said substance are dispersed to enhance the fixativeness.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing electrostatic latent images includes an applicator for applying a developer, containing a high concentration of developer particles, uniformly over both the image and non-image areas of a latent image bearing surface, and a developing device including a liquid reservoir and an elastic roller including a core shaft, a porous elastic inner layer on the core shaft, and a flexible and permeable sleeve-like net covering the inner layer. Liquid from the reservoir is applied by the roller to the image bearing surface to remove developer particles not attracted thereto by coulomb force to thereby form the developed image. Marginal effect in the developed image is eliminated by making at least one of the inner layer or net electrically conductive.

Abstract: An image developing device capable of forming a magnetic brush of one-component developer on a developer-feeding magnetic brush roller, and bringing said magnetic brush into contact with a developing roller to form a thin layer of the one-component developer thereon. In the mutually facing area between the rollers the magnetic force of the developing roller for transporting the developer is selected smaller than that of the magnetic brush roller for transporting the developer. The magnetic brush roller and the developing roller are rotated in a same direction so that they are moved mutually oppositely at the mutually facing area thereof.

Abstract: A device for fixing a toner image on an image supporting member includes a first and a second roller for conveying the image supporting member while holding it therebetween and fixing the toner image on the image supporting member, and an applicator being in contact with the first roller and applying offset preventing liquid to the first roller. The portion of contact of the applicator with the first roller is provided with a first portion contacting the fixing action area of the first roller and a second portion including the end areas of the portion of contact with respect to the lengthwise direction of the first roller. The applicator has, in at least the portion of contact, a liquid amount control member formed of synthetic resin having fine continuous pores. The offset preventing liquid oozes out to the surface of the synthetic resin through the fine continuous pores and is applied to the first roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of devices for forming an image on a rotatable medium and transferring the image onto transfer material. A detector is provided to detect the electrical condition of one of the devices during an initial turn of the rotatable medium prior to image processing. Electrical circuitry then controls the electrical condition of the one device to approach a predetermined value which value is then held for controlling the device during image formation.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a process for producing a negative-crowned roller having a progressively decreasing diameter from both ends toward the center thereof by means of a one-dimensional mutual displacement between the raw material of the roller and the shaping tool.

Abstract: An elastic roller for use in an image forming apparatus comprises a rigid shaft member, an internal layer provided around said shaft member with a determined thickness and consisting of a porous elastic member containing therein pores for holding liquid, and an external layer covering said internal layer and consisting of a flexible liquid-permeating member provided with a number of through holes, said roller being provided with a means for applying a tension to said external layer in the axial direction of said roller.

Abstract: A method for developing electrostatic latent images comprises a first step of supplying uniformly a developer containing developing particles onto an electrostatic latent image carrying surface and a second step of supplying liquid onto the latent image carrying surface to remove any excess developer from the surface while leaving on the surface only such developing particles that are able to be retained as a result of the relative attraction between the developing particles and the electrostatic latent image so as to visualize the latent image. Apparatus for carrying out the method comprises a developing particle applying means and a liquid supplying means. The developing particle applying means is disposed to effect a uniform adhesion of developing particles onto an electrostatic latent image carrying surface.

Abstract: In a corona discharger having a corona discharge wire to which a voltage is applied to induce discharge, a member for absorbing vibration of the discharger is supported so as to make contact with the discharge wire at least during vibration thereof.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for an electrophotographic apparatus comprising an elastic cleaning blade with a holder arranged along a surface of a photosensitive member for cleaning the toners which still remain on the surface of a photosensitive member even after transferring of developed images to a copying paper is finished. The elastic cleaning blade preferably contacts with the surface of the photosensitive member in such a way that the axis of the blade and a tangent to said surface at the pre-cleaning side subtends an obtuse angle specified in relation with the axis line of the blade in the holder. The holder disposes the elastic cleaning blade relative to the photosensitive member to engage a substantially upwardly moving surface portion of the photosensitive member.