Abstract: A system for monitoring remote usage of test and measuring instruments is provided. The system comprises a monitoring unit and a plurality of measurement instruments. In this context, each measurement instrument of the plurality of measurement instruments is adapted to record a plurality of events, wherein each event of the plurality of events creates an event identifier and wherein the event identifier is logged in an event log. Additionally, the event identifier triggers a scheduled task which triggers a batch file script on the measurement instrument.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an acquisition portion that acquires, based on a current value detected by a detection unit, a discharge start voltage value between a photosensitive body and a charging member, in a voltage value of a voltage applied to the charging member, the discharge start voltage value being acquired from at least one of a plurality of measurement regions set by dividing an image forming region of the photosensitive body, in which an electrostatic image is formed, into a plurality of regions in a longitudinal direction orthogonal to a recording material conveyance direction; and a control portion that performs unevenness suppression control to reduce unevenness, in the longitudinal direction, of density of a developer image transferred onto the recording material based on the discharge start voltage value.

Abstract: A digital printer has at least one print group with a station to generate charge images of images to be printed on a charge image carrier, the station having a developer station to ink the charge images using liquid carrier having toner and carrier fluid. The developer station comprises a rotating application unit that transports the liquid developer to the charge image carrier. The feed system feeds the liquid developer to the application unit. The dosing unit adjacent to the application unit and after the feed system comprises a dosing roller and an elastic unit acting on the dosing roller, the elastic unit exerting an adjustable contact pressure force on the dosing roller in a direction of the application unit.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a conveyance belt, an air intake portion, and a charging member. The conveyance belt has a sheet placing surface on which a sheet is placed and a plurality of belt openings penetrating the sheet placing surface, and conveys the sheet placed on the sheet placing surface. The air intake portion draws air from a side of a back surface opposite to the sheet placing surface through the belt openings. The charging member has a surface which is shaped in such a manner as to contact the sheet placing surface while avoiding the belt openings and charges the sheet placing surface.

Abstract: Techniques for coating print media are described herein. In an example, a photo imaging assembly is to receive a liquid electrophoretic coating composition assembly on a chargeable surface so as to form a coating layer thereon using electrostatic forces. The coating layer is to be transferred to a print medium.

Abstract: An inverse mask image generating printer and printer module are provided. In one aspect, an inverse mask image generating module has an input adapted to receive the image data for an image to be printed said image data having color data for a first set of colors used in a first color model; an inverse mask image processor generating an inverse mask image using color data for one of the first set of colors; and an output providing the inverse mask image for use by a print engine. The inverse mask image is generated based upon the color data for a selected one of the first set of colors so that the inverse mask image can be generated without first determining color separation toner images that define amounts of color toner to be applied to form the elements of the image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; an image forming portion for forming a toner image on the image bearing member, the image forming portion being capable of forming an image to be formed on a recording material and forming a control image for controlling an image density at a position adjacent to the image to be formed on the recording material; an intermediary transfer member rotatable while carrying the toner image transferred from the image bearing member; a transfer member for forming a transfer portion where the toner image is to be transferred from the intermediary transfer member onto the recording material; an electrostatic cleaning member for electrostatically removing the toner deposited on the transfer member; a density detecting portion, provided upstream of the transfer member with respect to a rotational direction of the intermediary transfer member, for detecting a density of the control image transferred on the intermediary transfer member; an adjusting portion for a

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum capable of bearing an electrostatic image, a development device having a developing sleeve capable of bearing a developer and a developer container capable of storing a magnetic toner, and a CPU controlling operation to discharge a developer having polarity opposite to a normally charged polarity to the photosensitive drum by enlarging a restoration electric field to force the developer having a normally charged polarity from the photosensitive drum to the development sleeve during image forming is not performed compared to that during normal image forming is performed, based on a weighted value (p×K) on an edge portion pixel number p of an edge portion of an output image.

Abstract: Methods for printing are provided. In one aspect a primary imaging member having a pattern of engine pixel locations with image modulated differences of potential and with first toner having a first toner difference of potential is moved to a second development station. A second development difference of potential of the first polarity at the second development station forms a second net development difference of the second development difference of potential less any image modulated difference of potential at the individual engine pixel location and less any difference of potential relative to ground of any first toner at the individual engine pixel location. The second development difference of potential is greater than the first development difference of potential so that second toner that is different from the first toner, is developed onto the first toner using the second net development difference of potential.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus may be provided with a belt configured to move in the predetermined direction and face a photoreceptor, a charge removal member, and a conductive member. The charge removal member may be configured to remove charge of the belt. The conductive member may be located at the downstream side of the charge removal member in the predetermined direction. The conductive member may include a surface facing the belt.

Abstract: A tandem type color image forming apparatus, which can continuously form color images each containing two or more colors, including: a signal creating section having, for each color, two or more image area setting counters for generating an image valid area signal to set a starting position and a width of an image formation area in a sub-scanning direction; and a control section for executing color image formation control on a predetermined face of paper, based on an image top signal for controlling writing of an image on an image carrier and the image valid area signal for each color, wherein the control section sets each of the outputs of the image area setting counters independently according to a preset image formation mode, and selects and controls one of the image area setting counters for each image formation of each color.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes image bearing member having a movable surface; charging means for charging the surface of the image bearing member; image exposure means for exposing the surface of the image bearing member charged by the charging means to light in accordance with image information, thus forming an electrostatic image; developing means for developing the electrostatic image formed on the image bearing member into a developed image; surface potential detecting means for detecting a potential of the surface of the image bearing member; discharging means for discharging the surface of the image bearing member; changing means for changing an image forming condition, wherein an area of the image bearing member passes the discharging means under different operating conditions of the discharging means, and the area is charged by the charging means, the changing means changes the image forming condition on the basis of a result of detection, by the surface potential detecting means, of surface pote

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising an image holding member that is rotationally driven, the image holding member comprising, on a substrate, a subbing layer and a photosensitive layer, a volume resistance value of the subbing layer decreasing in a rotation axis direction of the image holding member, from one end portion of a light source side of the image holding member towards another end portion of the image holding member, a charging unit, a latent image formation unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, and a charge removal unit comprising a light source that, after transfer of the toner image, irradiates the surface of the image holding member from one side thereof, in a rotation axis direction of the image holding member, with charge removing light, to remove the charge from the surface of the image holding member.

Abstract: Imaging methods, imaging member charging methods, and image engines are described. According to one embodiment, an imaging method includes providing an imaging member having an outer surface comprising a plurality of portions having a plurality of different radii, rotating the portions of the outer surface of the imaging member adjacent to a charge device configured to provide an electrical charge to the imaging member which is usable for imaging, first controlling a position of the charge device with respect to one of the portions of the outer surface of the imaging member using the one of the portions of the outer surface at one moment in time, second controlling a position of the charge device with respect to an other of the portions of the outer surface of the imaging member using a positioning control system at an other moment in time, and using the charge device, providing the electrical charge to the one of the portions of the imaging member at the one moment in time.

Abstract: A surface potential distribution measurement method and device including setting a sample having a surface with a surface potential distribution in a sample installation unit wherein both an electric field intensity formed on the sample surface and a potential bias component of the sample are variable, and scanning the sample surface in a one-dimensional or two-dimensional manner by irradiating a charged particle beam to the sample. The method also includes obtaining a detection signal from charged particles generated by the scanning, to measure the surface potential distribution of the sample by varying the electric field intensity and the potential bias component in order to control a quantity of the detection signal obtained from the charged particles.

Abstract: A method of charging an imaging member having an outer surface with an imaging region and a seam region. A charge device is provided adjacent the imaging member. An electrical charge is provided to the imaging region of the imaging member using a voltage on the charge device. An other electrical charge is provided to the seam region of the imaging member using an other voltage on the charge device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member having a photosensitive layer; toner image forming means for forming a detection toner image not to be formed on a recording material on the image bearing member; detecting means for optically detecting the detection toner image; control means for controlling a toner image forming condition of the toner image forming means on the basis of a result of detection of the detecting means; a transfer member for electrostatically transferring a toner image from the image bearing member onto a transfer material at a transfer region; constant voltage control means for providing a constant voltage applied to the transfer member; and voltage applying means for applying to the transfer member, when the detection toner image passes the transfer region, a predetermined voltage, controlled by the voltage control means, which has the same polarity as a charge polarity of toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus may be provided with a belt configured to move in the predetermined direction and face a photoreceptor, a charge removal member, and a conductive member. The charge removal member may be configured to remove charge of the belt. The conductive member may be located at the downstream side of the charge removal member in the predetermined direction. The conductive member may include a surface facing the belt.

Abstract: A surface potential distribution measurement method and device including setting a sample having a surface with a surface potential distribution in a sample installation unit wherein both an electric field intensity formed on the sample surface and a potential bias component of the sample are variable, and scanning the sample surface in a one-dimensional or two-dimensional manner by irradiating a charged particle beam to the sample. The method also includes obtaining a detection signal from charged particles generated by the scanning, to measure the surface potential distribution of the sample by varying the electric field intensity and the potential bias component in order to control a quantity of the detection signal obtained from the charged particles.

Abstract: A high image quality electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided without increasing the size and cost, and reducing the life thereof. The potential difference (contrast potential) between a photoreceptor and a development roller for supplying toner to the photoreceptor by the use of a carrier is set to be smaller in the non-image area irrelevant to the printing operation, and set to be larger in the image area relevant to the printing operation. In this manner, the damage to the photoreceptor caused by the adhesion of the carrier is reduced in the non-image area irrelevant to the printing operation, and the fog is reduced in the image area relevant to the printing operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a particle conveying body made up of a light-transmitting conductive layer, an insulative'screen provided on the conductive layer and formed with a number of pores, and a screen electrode formed on the screen. Photoconductive, colored particles are charged to negative polarity and then caused to fill the pores by an electric field. When the particles in the pores are exposed via the conductive layer, electron-hole pairs are generated in the particles. An electric field of as high as 104 V/cm or above is formed between the conductive layer and the screen electrode and separates the electrons and holes. The electrons leak to the conductive layer and cause the particles to be charged to positive polarity. An electric field formed between a facing electrode positioned behind a recording medium and the conductive layer causes the particles to fly toward and deposit on the medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus which has an image bearing member developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member with developer, cleaning device for removing residual developer on the image bearing member by contacting with the image bearing member at a cleaning position, charging applying device for applying charge of polarity opposite to normal charging polarity of the developer to the developer before the developer applied to the image bearing member is carried to the cleaning position, wherein a developer image formed on the image bearing member by the developing device is transferred onto a transfer material and wherein the developing device applies developer to an area of the image bearing member which is not contacted with the transfer material, and the developer is carried to the cleaning position by the image bearing member.

Abstract: A charging device which has a grid disposed between a discharge element and the photosensitive drum. The grid is formed of a regulating portion having a mesh configuration for the range opposing the image area on the photosensitive drum and non-regulating portions with openings for the range opposing the non-image area. The flow of ions discharged from the discharge element is regulated as to their passage through the grid thereby so as to be uniform and charge the image area on the photosensitive drum uniformly. The flow of ions reaches the non-image area without being shaded by the grid, so as to enhance the surface potential for prevention against toner adherence.

Abstract: An image forming machine comprising image bearing means, charging means, exposure means, reversal development means, transfer means, and cleaning means. The transfer means includes a rotationally driven transfer belt, and transfer voltage applicator means for applying a transfer voltage to the back side of the transfer belt. The transfer voltage applicator means applies the transfer voltage to the transfer belt over a predetermined effective transfer width. The face side of the transfer belt is brought into contact with the image bearing means via an image receiving member and directly over a predetermined effective contact width. The effective contact width is larger than an effective charging width and larger than the effective transfer width.

Abstract: The current methods and systems for cleaning residual ultra-fine spherical toner from an image forming surface discloses the application of aspherical toner to a cleaning blade. The aspherical toner is generally larger than the ultra-fine spherical toner which provides a superior image on an image-carrying medium. According to one preferred embodiment of the current invention, the aspherical black toner is placed in a predetermined area outside of a desired image area where the ultra-fine spherical toner in multiple colors is placed. The aspherical toner is transported to the cleaning blade before the multi-color toner reaches the cleaning blade. Since the aspherical toner applied at a contacting edge of the cleaning blade provide an effective seal or trap between the cleaning blade and the image forming surface, the ultra-fine spherical toner is effectively removed from the image forming surface.

Abstract: A novel image forming apparatus including a seamless belt-shaped moving member positioned adjacent to an image bearing member. Also included is a bias voltage applying roller positioned at a rear face side of the seamless belt-shaped moving member, and a cleaning blade for cleaning a surface of the seamless belt-shaped moving member. Further, a transfer-convey device configured to transfer a toner image on the image bearing member onto a transfer member is included. A toner-line forming device is configured to form a toner-line which is divided into a plurality of toner-line segments when developed, each of which is written to an individual non-image area between successive image areas on the image bearing member and transferred onto the seamless belt-shaped moving member.

Abstract: An efficient and high quality image forming method and apparatus wherein only selective scattered portions of an imaging surface are charged with a first charging device, and then coated with a layer of charged toner solids by a toner supply apparatus, thereby forming an "image area patch of toner"; wherein each selected scattered portion is centered relative to, and has an area slightly exceeding an area to be imaged; each such charged and coated portion is then image-wise exposed to form a first latent image; each such coated portion is subsequently recharged by a reverse charge printing (RCP) second charging device in an image-wise manner to create a secondary latent image having toner solids in image areas charged to a first polarity, and toner solids in background areas charged to a second and opposite polarity; and finally the toner solids in the image areas thereof are then transferred onto a copy substrate for fixing as an output document, thus leaving a significantly diminished quantity of non-develo

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing high quality liquid toner images in an electrostatic printing machine. The method using the apparatus includes selectively coat a photoreceptor only in selected image area centered portion of the photoreceptor surface thereby forming an image area centered patch of toner with developing material; image-wise exposing each such portion; patch of toner. The method using the apparatus next includes forming a final toner image from each image area centered patch of toner using an air breakdown charge development (ABCD) assembly. The ABCD assembly includes a relatively large magnitude voltage biasing source, and a nip forming roll coupled thereto and forming a toner solids recharging nip with the photoreceptor, for image-wise recharging of the single polarity toner solids coating each image area centered patch of toner, by inducing an air breakdown electrical discharge in which free mobile ions are introduced into the vicinity of each image area centered patch of toner.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus of the type including a movable belt and a cleaning blade for cleaning the belt, a toner image on the form of an exclusive line is formed on an image carrier between sheets and the transferred to the belt so as to feed toner to the edge of the cleaning blade. The toner prevents the edge of the cleaning blade from being turned over by the belt. The toner is fed to the cleaning blade in amounts different in the widthwise direction of the belt and can therefore be controlled in amount in the above direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive unit having a surface portion of negatively charging property and moved in a predetermined direction; a first charging device disposed opposite to the photosensitive unit with a first spacing therebetween and for charging the surface of the photosensitive unit to a first charged potential of negative polarity by a negative voltage; a second charging device disposed opposite to the photosensitive unit with a second spacing therebetween at a position downstream of the first charging device in a movement direction of the photosensitive unit and for charging the surface of the photosensitive unit charged by the first charging device to a second charged potential of negative polarity by a positive voltage, the second charged potential having an absolute value smaller than an absolute value of the first charged potential; an electrostatic latent image forming device for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive unit; and a developer carrying de

Abstract: Since an image processing apparatus of this invention can record images input from a plurality of image sources on a plurality of recording media simultaneously held on a recording medium holding member, the images input from the plurality of image sources can be efficiently output, and the productivity of the image processing apparatus can be improved.

Abstract: In order to achieve such effects that memories such as image memory due to untransferred residual toner can be sufficiently prevented, and good images can be obtained by suppressing base fogging and reduction of entire image density for a long term, an oscillating voltage composed of a DC ingredient and an oscillating ingredient is applied to a charging device for charging a photosensitive member, while the charging device is in a position facing an image forming region of the photosensitive member. While the charging device is in a position facing an image non-forming region of the photosensitive member, only a DC voltage is applied to the charging device for at least a predetermined time.

Abstract: A system for controlling a potential of a photosensitive drum for a laser beam printer having a photosensitive drum on which an electrostatic image is formed, a charger for applying voltages differentially to an image forming area where the photosensitive drum contacts a recording medium and to a non-image forming area where the photosensitive drum does not contact the recording medium to charge the outer surface of the photosensitive drum to a given polarity, a light scanner unit for forming an electrostatic latent image on the drum corresponding to image data, a developing unit for applying toner onto the photosensitive drum during the image forming area and a transfer charger for transferring a toner image formed on the drum to the recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for detecting the useful life of an image bearing member includes an image bearing member; a charging member contactable to the image bearing member for charging the image bearing member, the charging member being supplied with a voltage. The image forming apparatus also includes a discharging member for electrically discharging the image bearing member, the discharging member discharging a first region of the image bearing member and a second region of the image bearing member, different from the first region in a direction of a generating line of the image bearing member; and a detecting device for detecting a current flowing through the charging member when the charging member is supplied with a predetermined voltage and charges the first region having been discharged by the discharging member and when the charging member also charges the second region having been discharged by the discharging member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which a toner image formed on an image carrier is transferred onto paper held onto a transfer drum following which the paper is separated from the transfer drum, the image forming apparatus being equipped with a charger that charges a prescribed area of the image carrier before the image carrier is uniformly charged, a mode setting device that sets the image formation mode, and a control device that controls the output of the charger in accordance with the image formation mode set by the mode setting device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; an image forming device for forming an image on the image bearing member, the image forming device being provided with a charging member which is disposed in contact or proximity with the image bearing member to electrically charge the image bearing member; wherein the charging member is supplied with an oscillating voltage, and there is provided a voltage set period in which a peak-to-peak voltage of the oscillating voltage is higher in a period in which the image is not formed on the image bearing member than in a period in which the image is formed on the image bearing member.

Abstract: A charging device includes a movable member to be charged; a charging member contactable to the member to be charged to electrically charge the member to be charged; a discharging device, disposed upstream of a contact portion between the charging member and the member to be charged with respect to a movement direction of the member to be charged, for electrically discharging the member to be charged at a portion adjacent to the contact portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing an image, the image bearing member being rotatable at a first speed and a second speed which is different from the first speed, wherein during image formation on the image bearing member, the first speed is selected, and after completion of image formation on the image bearing member, a speed of rotation of the image bearing member is switchable from the first speed to the second speed; a discharger for electrically discharging the image bearing member at a discharging position, the discharger discharging the image bearing member at least one turn after the trailing edge of the image on the image bearing member passes through the discharging position and before the speed of the image bearing member is switched from the first speed to the second speed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing an image; a charging member contactable to the image bearing member to electrically charge the image bearing member, wherein a toner image is formed on the image bearing member using electric charge provided by the charging member; a transfer device for transferring the toner image from the image bearing member onto a transfer material; a controller for switching a potential applied to the charging member to form a blank area at a predetermined position of the transfer material; wherein the following is satisfied for formation of the blank area;X.ltoreq.t x VPS.ltoreq.10where VPS (mm/sec) is a moving speed of the image bearing member, t (sec) is a switching period of the controller, and X (mm) is a distance from a charge starting position to a charge ending position in a direction of movement of the image bearing member.