Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a length of a transporting passage between an induction roller pair and a reversal roller pair and a length of a transporting passage between the reversal roller pair and a feed roller pair are respectively set smaller than the smallest length in the transporting direction of a sheet used in an image forming apparatus. A time till the rotation of the reversal roller pair is switched to the forward rotation after a rear end of the sheet having a length in the transporting passage of 8.5 inch after reversal has passed through the reversal roller pair can be set shorter than a time when a leading end of a succeeding sheet inducted into a pull-in passage reaches the reversal roller pair.

Abstract: A reversible image display medium including two sheets; one or more developer accommodating cells formed between the two sheets, and each having a periphery surrounded by a partition wall; and dry developer contained in each of the cell(s), wherein the dry developer contains at least two kinds of frictionally chargeable dry developer particles having different chargeable polarities and different optical reflection densities. The image is displayed by forming a predetermined electrostatic field for each pixel in accordance with the image to be displayed and thereby moving the developer particles in a frictionally charged state. The image formed on the reversible image display medium can be erased, e.g., by an image erasing device.

Abstract: When a photoreceptor unit and a developing unit are combined with each other, the photoreceptor does not come into direct contact with the developing unit. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent generation of scratches on the surface of photoreceptor, and lowering of electrostatic sensitivity due to scratches may be prevented. As a result, an excellent image will be formed. It improves the efficiency in the manufacture of image forming apparatus. A method of manufacturing an image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a process of applying a toner to the surface of developing roller and a process of making the developing roller with the toner applied thereto come into contact with the photoreceptor to combine the developing unit and the photoreceptor unit with each other. Preferably, the manufacturing method further includes a process of performing functional tests of a finished image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate and a photosensitive layer which is formed on the electroconductive substrate and which includes a charge generation material, wherein the charge generation material comprises an organic pigment and wherein the photosensitive layer further includes at least one ion selected from the group consisting of K+, Na+, NO3−, HCOO−, NO2−, Cl−, Br−, and NH4+ or one or more water-soluble inorganic salts.

Abstract: An imaging system for effecting electrostatic printing of an image, wherein the imaging system includes at least one contact electrostatic printing engine operable in a novel fashion upon a copy substrate, for imaging and development of a latent image representative of the image, and subsequent transfer of the developed image to the copy substrate. The developed image is created by separating and selectively transferring portions of a high solids content toner cake layer in correspondence with the image and non-image regions of the latent image. A toner cake layer delivery apparatus draws from a supply of low solids content liquid developing material to apply a layer of the liquid developing material onto a carrier fluid separation (CFS) surface of a coating member. Rapid migration of the carrier fluid into the CFS surface causes a substantial reduction of the ratio of carrier fluid to toner solids, thus providing the desired high solids content toner cake layer.

Abstract: A transfer belt for use on an electrostatographic duplicator. The belt has a body defining an image transfer surface. The body is made up of a rubber composition including a combination of epichlorohydrin-ethyleneoxide copolymer and hydrogenated nitrile rubber, to which a metallic salt of an unsaturated carboxylic acid and an organic peroxide are added.

Abstract: An image input apparatus calculates degree of matching between read original and a specific original of a bank note, for example, stored in advance. In accordance with the result of calculation, destination of information transmission data to be output externally is selectively determined, and the information is transmitted to the determined destination. As a result, an image reading apparatus is provided which allows transmission of determination information of the specific original to a necessary site, in accordance with the degree of matching between the read original and the specific original.

Abstract: A system for registration of one or more color separation images on a photoconductor belt prevents misregistration that otherwise can occur between different scan lines and between different latent images due to side-to-side movement of the photoconductor belt. The registration system operates to detect movement of the photoconductor belt. Based on the detected movement, the system operates to control modulation of laser beams used to form the latent images to ensure precise registration of the color separation images. As one advantage, the movement of the photoconductor belt can be detected precisely and inexpensively by a photodetector scanned with the same laser beam used for imaging.

Abstract: A printer, with printing width (PW) of at least 30 cm printing a toner image on a large substrate, having a width (WS) and a length (LS), including a latent image bearing member having a width (WLI) equal to or larger than the printing width and at least two means for delivering toner are arranged in a staggered configuration around the latent image bearing member and each having a width (WTD) smaller than the width (WLI) of the latent image bearing member.Preferably the latent image bearing member is a photoconductive member.A printer with a shuttle having a swath width of at least 30 cm is also disclosed.

Abstract: A novel image development method and apparatus are disclosed, whereby image-wise charging of a toner layer is accomplished by induce air breakdown electrical discharge such that free mobile ions are introduced in the vicinity of an electrostatic latent image coated with a layer of developing material. The latent image causes the free mobile ions to flow in an image-wise ion stream corresponding to the latent image, which, in turn, leads to image-wise charging of the toner layer, such that the toner layer itself becomes the latent image carrier. The latent image carrying toner layer is subsequently developed and transferred to a copy substrate to produce an output document.

Abstract: A developing agent comprises an insulative toner and a conductive carrier, and the tensile rupture stress of the insulative toner powder layer is 0.1-1 g wt/cm.sup.2. The insulative toner used is insulative magnetic toner to which hydrophobically treated inorganic particles and conductive particles have been externally added.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, an intermediate transfer drum, a divisional image forming system for forming image segments into which an image to be formed is divided on the intermediate transfer drum one by one, a sheet feeding mechanism for feeding a recording sheet, and a transfer device for transferring an image segment from the intermediate transfer drum to a recording sheet fed by the sheet feeding mechanism every time the image segment is formed on the intermediate transfer drum. A control unit for controlling the sheet feeding mechanism and the transfer device is also provided so that the image segments formed by the divisional image forming system are successively transferred from the intermediate transfer drum to the recording sheet so as to be continuous with each other.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image-forming method in which a thin layer of a developer is formed on a developing roll by an elastic doctor blade tangentially contacting with the surface of the developing roll, and an image-bearing member and the developing roll are brought into contact with each other in a developing zone because either of which is made flexible. In the method of the present invention, the toner remaining on the surface of the image-bearing member is effectively removed and recovered in the developing zone. This prevents the background fogging. The flexible structure of either of the image-bearing member and the developing roll prevents the surface of the image-bearing member from being damaged to ensure a printed image of high quality.

Abstract: An image forming portion is arranged below a photosignal scanning portion. An original reading portion is arranged in the horizontal direction of the photosignal scanning portion. A fixing portion is arranged between the photosignal scanning portion and the original reading portion. A radiation duct having a recording paper ejecting portion is arranged above the fixing portion. Thus, an influence by the heat of the fixing portion on the photosignal scanning portion and image reading portion is eliminated. A second recording paper ejecting portion is provided below the original reading portion. By the selection of the second recording paper ejecting portion and the recording paper ejecting portion, the face-up paper ejection and the face-down paper ejection can be selected.

Abstract: This invention relates to the charging member portion of an image forming apparatus. A plurality of charging members are disclosed that maintain a uniform spacing between a charge-receiving member and the discharging portion of the charging members' electrodes despite surface irregularities and surface waviness on the charge-receiving member. One charging member is in the form of a flexible sheet provided with ventilation holes in a non-contacting portion thereof, permitting the air produced by the rotation of the charge-receiving member to escape through the holes to suppress the lifting of the charging member. Pressure fins can be added to the charging member on the downstream of the ventilation holes for further suppressing any lifting. Another charging member includes a semiconductive member or a electret member on at least the surface of the charging member on the side opposite the charge-receiving member. This permits the charging member to be electrostatically attracted to the charge-receiving member.

Abstract: A five cycle color electrophotographic printing architecture in which the transfer station is located downstream of the cleaning station.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, determination is made whether an interruptive print wait state is attained during interruptive printing. When determination is made that the apparatus is in an interruptive print wait state, an interruption recover process is effected. Then, the apparatus returns to the normal mode prior to interruption. Thus, an image processing apparatus is provided that can have the waiting time caused by an interruption in the normal job reduced.

Abstract: A band printer having a transport mechanism, an endless photoreceptive image carrying ribbon, a latent toner imaging apparatus, a transfer mechanism, and a fixing mechanism is disclosed. The transport mechanism defines a printing medium path extending in a first direction and transports a printing medium along the printing medium path. The endless photoreceptive image carrying ribbon circulates adjacent the printing medium path in a second direction at an angle to the first direction, and the latent toner imaging apparatus is adjacent to and stationary with respect to the circulating ribbon. The imaging apparatus forms an electrostatic latent toner image on the surface of the ribbon according to received image data as the ribbon moves past the imaging apparatus, and the transfer mechanism transfers the formed toner image to the printing medium when the formed toner image is aligned with the printing medium. Thereafter, the fixing mechanism fixes the image to the printing medium.

Abstract: An electrophotographic serial printing apparatus includes: a transporting unit for transporting a recording sheet in a sheet transport direction; a processing unit including a unit for uniformly charging a photosensitive drum which is rotated, a unit for exposing the photosensitive drum to form a latent image, and a unit for developing the latent image to form a developed image on the photosensitive drum, a transferring unit for transferring the developed image from the photosensitive drum to the recording sheet; a fixing unit for fixing the developed image to the recording sheet by using a fixing roller after the developed image is transferred to the recording sheet, the fixing unit including a holding member for holding the fixing roller; a carriage unit on which the processing unit and the fixing unit are arranged; a moving unit for moving the carriage unit over the transferring unit in directions perpendicular to the sheet transport direction; and a heating unit for heating the fixing roller through an in

Abstract: The present invention provides a process cartridge mountable to an image forming apparatus, comprising an image bearing member, charger device for charging the image bearing member, a first conductive member for electrically earthing the image bearing member, and a second conductive member for applying an AC voltage to the charger device. The first and second conductive members are arranged at positions near both axial ends of the image bearing member, respectively.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a photoconductive drum, the photoconductive drum is electrically charged by a corona charger, and light corresponding to an image is projected onto the photoconductive drum by an exposure optical system, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image thereon. Thereafter, the formed electrostatic latent image is developed with toner by a developing unit to form a toner image thereon, and then the toner image is transferred onto a sheet of paper. There is further provided a voltage sensor for detecting a surface voltage at at least one position of the photoconductive drum. An operation value of at least one of the corona charger, the exposure optical system and the developing unit is adjusted by an adjustment controller based on the surface voltage detected by the voltage sensor at a timing between respective image forming processes when an image forming process is continuously repeated a plurality of times.

Abstract: In a color image forming apparatus in which each of charging devices, image exposure devices and developing devices is provided in plural sets corresponding in number to plural different color components and placed in such an arrangement that the plural different color component toner images are superimposed on the image carrying member during a single rotation of the image carrying member, all of the plural image exposure means, and the image carrying member are constructed in a single body and is shiftable together in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the image carrying member from or to the working position of the image carrying member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an exchangeable process cartridge which transfers a toner image from a latent image carrier onto a sheet. The process cartridge includes a frame; an endless latent image carrier provided on the frame; a charger provided on the frame for charging the latent image carrier; a transfer roller rotatably provided at a portion of the frame which faces the latent image carrier; and a cover for the transfer roller having guide ribs which guide a paper sheet. The transfer roller transfers a toner image from the latent image carrier onto a sheet.

Abstract: A serial printer has a transport mechanism for transporting a recording sheet in a sheet transport direction, a process part including an image bearing member with a rotary shaft which extends in a direction parallel to the sheet transport direction for forming a latent image on the image bearing member by charging the image bearing member and developing the latent image into a developed image, a fixing unit for fixing the developed image on the image bearing member onto the recording sheet, and a carriage movable in a carriage moving direction perpendicular to the sheet transport direction and supporting the process part and the fixing unit. The process part and the fixing unit are independently movable on the carriage.

Abstract: A sheet post processing apparatus includes a plurality of movable a post-processing device for effecting a predetermined post-processing for a set of sheets; malfunction detector for detecting malfunction for each of the post-processing device; a controller, responsive to the malfunction detector, for controlling the post-processing device to place, at a position where the post-processing device is to be placed if the malfunction did not occur, another one of the post-processing device free of the malfunction.