Abstract: An image-forming apparatus of an electrophotographic system equipped with an electrophotographic photoreceptor, an electrostatically charger, a light-exposure, a developing device, and a transferring device, wherein the electrophotographic photoreceptor is an electrophotographic photoreceptor having at least a charge generating layer, a charge transport layer, and an uppermost surface layer successively laminated on an electrically conductive substrate, the charge transport layer having a layer containing at least 45% by weight a charge transporting material, and the wear rate of the uppermost surface layer being less than the wear rate of said layer, and the time from a light-exposure to a development is not longer than 150 m sec. The image-forming apparatus is excellent in the printing durability and the stability, gives less image flowing, and is small-sized and high-speed.

Abstract: An electrophotographic imaging system produces multiple gray level images and includes a photoconductor and a charger for repetitively charging the photoconductor to a first charge potential. A laser system selectively discharges the photoconductor in accord with applied image data. A first toner is utilized and exhibits a first charge state that is attracted by a first discharge voltage of the photoconductor. A second toner is also used that exhibits a second charge state of the same sense as the first toner, but is attracted by a second discharge voltage of larger magnitude than the first discharge voltage. A processor modulates the laser system to cause the photoconductor to be discharged to the first discharge voltage when only the first toner is to be attracted to the photoconductor. The processor further modulates the laser scanner to cause the photoconductor surface to be discharged to the second discharge voltage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a charging unit for charging the image bearing member, an image forming unit for forming an electrostatic image on the image bearing member charged by the charging unit, a developing device for developing the electrostatic image on the image bearing member and for supplying to the image bearing member charging performance enhancing particles which have a polarity opposite from that of the toner, wherein the developing device has a developer carrying member, opposed to the image bearing member, for carrying the toner and charging performance enhancing particles and also which forms an alternating electric field between the developer carrying member and the image bearing member to supply the toner and the charging performance enhancing particles to the image bearing member.

Abstract: A printing system using a recharge, expose and development image on image process color system in which there is an optional gloss development step is employed that results in the image having an uniform gloss and toner pile height. The printing system may be a single pass system where all of the color are developed in a single pass or a multi-pass system where each color is developed in a separate pass. The additional gloss development step results in optimal color quality.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member; and developing member for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive member; The developing member is disposed at a position deviated from a developing position corresponding to a displacement of the developing member resulting from the driving force received from the main assembly of the apparatus when the process cartridge is in the main assembly.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic printing machine, a layer of insulating fluid containing micelles is positioned over a photoreceptor. The micelles are migrated onto the surface of the photoreceptor. The photoreceptor is exposed to inject charge carriers into the insulating fluid and selectively neutralize micelles to form an electrostatic latent image. The latent image is transferred to a dielectric surface and developed.

Abstract: A developer backer bar having a surface having a plurality of radii for interfacing with a noncontact developer member. The backer bar is arranged so that it can be retracted for clearance purposes when removing or inserting a xerographic CRU. Upon installation of the CRU, the backer bar is biased into position to maintain a development zone within predetermined parameters. The multiple radii surface eliminates or minimizes errors that may result from slight variations in axial alignment between the backer bar and the developer member while additionally providing low drag forces on the photoreceptor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier, which is rotatable around an central shaft thereof, with plural colors of toner comprises a developing unit assembly an outer peripheral portion of which retains a plurality of developing units each of which includes a developing roller being to be contacted with the image carrier to supply the associated color of the toner thereon, the developing unit assembly rotatable around a central shaft thereof, a first drive member for rotatively driving the developing roller positioned at a contact position of the developing roller and the image carrier, a second drive member for rotatively driving the developing unit assembly to subsequently position each of the developing roller at the contact position so a rotational direction of the developing unit assembly as to be opposed to a rotational direction of the developing unit assembly according to a reaction force derived from the driving of the first drive member.

Abstract: A developer carrying member is comprised of a substrate and a coat layer which covers the surface of the substrate. The coat layer contains at least a binder resin, conductive spherical particles having a number average particle diameter of from 0.3 .mu.m to 30 .mu.m and a true density of 3 g/cm.sup.3 or below, and a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound, the particles and the compound being dispersed in the binder resin.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing an electrostatic latent image; a first developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member; a second developing device, faced to the image bearing member and having a movable developer carrying member for carrying toner and carrier, for effecting development after a first developed image provided by the first developing device passes through a position where the developer carrying member is faced to the image bearing member; and a preventing device for forming an alternating electric field between the developer carrying member and the image bearing member, while the second developing device is at reset to prevent the carrier of the second developing device from rubbing the first developed image.

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 photosensitive drum 25 is rotated counterclockwise by a predetermined angle upon completion of printing. A release belt 44 is caused to rotate in the same direction by surface friction between a nip release belt 49 and a surface of the photosensitive drum 25. At this time, a pitch roller 47 provided at both ends of a developing roller 27 is rotated clockwise while guided along a roller guide hole 61 of the release belt 44, runs onto an upper plane of the nip release belt 49, and releases the developing roller 27 from the photosensitive drum 25 with a clearance which is substantially equal to the thickness of the nip release belt 49.

Abstract: An electrostatic-image developer which comprises: (i) a toner comprising: (a) toner particles containing carbon black in an amount of from 6 to 8% by weight based on the weight of the toner particles and having a volume-average particle diameter of from 3 to 9 .mu.m; and (b) an external additive; and (ii) a resin-coated carrier having a volume resistivity of from 10.sup.7 to 10.sup.11 .OMEGA..multidot.cm in an electric field of 10.sup.3.8 V/cm and an average particle diameter of from 30 to 60 .mu.m. Also disclosed are a process for forming a black image and a process for forming a full-color image each using the electrostatic-image developer.

Abstract: A driving system for use in an apparatus utilizing electrophotographic development, such as a copier, wherein a main motor is provided to drive respective power transmission gears. The driving system includes a two-stepped driving system unit to lessen the live load when the system is initially powered to reduce wear of the gears, blur or spread of a printed image. A main motor of relatively lower capacity is able to be incorporated in the system, thereby enhancing product performance and reducing overheads. When the system is initially powered, a sensitization body, a pickup roller, a fixing and a feed are driven by power transmitted from a main motor. Then, after the torque load of the rotating parts is stabilized, the remaining parts of the apparatus (e.g., a developing part and a register roller) are driven.

Abstract: An electrostatic latent image developing device equipped with a developing housing, a developing roller rotatably disposed between the two side walls of the developing housing, and a feeding roller rotatably disposed between the two side walls of the developing housing neighboring the developing roller. A first bearing member is mounted on one side wall and has two bearings for supporting the ends of the rotary shafts of the developing roller and the feeding roller. A second bearing member is mounted on the other side wall and has a bearing for supporting the opposite end of either the rotary shaft of the developing roller or the feeding roller. A third bearing member is mounted on the other side wall and has a bearing for bearing support of the opposite end of the rotary shaft of the developing roller or the feeding roller not supported in bearing fashion by the second bearing member.

Abstract: An electrostatographic developing device having a developer chamber (26), a toner chamber (21), a dosage reservoir (9) and a developer roller (13) mounted within a rotatable housing (11).

Abstract: In an electrophotographic recording apparatus of the type using a single-ingredient type developer, i.e., toner, a developing device has a developing roller for conveying the toner deposited thereon, and an intermediate roller for conveying the toner transferred theretofrom the developing roller and depositing it on a latent image electrostatically formed on an image carrier to thereby produce a corresponding toner image. During the development of an area of the image carrier other than a latent image area, a bias assigned to the developing roller is switched over to thereby form an electric field different in direction from an electric field assigned to the formation of the toner image between the two rollers. Further, before the rotation of the image carrier is stopped, the bias assigned to the developing roller is again switched in order to form the electric field for the formation of the toner image between the rollers. As a result, a toner layer is formed on the intermediate roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a member to be charged for carrying an electrostatic latent image; a contact charging means for contact charging the member to be charged and a developing means for developing the latent image. The developing means includes a developer having a magnetic toner and fine powder treated with a silicone oil or varnish-treating agent, wherein the magnetic toner particles include a binder resin and contain from 10-70 wt. % of magnetic fine powder. An image forming method includes the steps of contact charging, latent image forming and developing with a developer having the binder resin, 10 to 70 wt. % magnetic fine powder and fine powder treated with a silicone oil or varnish-treating agent.

Abstract: A thermal processor includes an air flow preventing means that substantially prevents the flow of air from a processor exit into a thermal processing compartment. The prevention of air flow reduces processing defects that otherwise could occur in sheets of thermally processed material handled by the thermal processor. The reduction of processing defects enhances the quality of the sheet of thermally processed material. In particular, the reduction of processing defects can enhance image quality of a sheet of photothermographic imaging material. The prevention of air flow reduces processing defects by maintaining a substantially uniform temperature within a thermal processing compartment of the thermal processor, and by reducing the condensation of fatty acids on interior surfaces of the thermal processing compartment prior to filtration.

Abstract: Image forming apparatus which prevents occurrence of a toner-filming phenomenon on a development roller thereof by performing a toner freshening operation. When the image forming apparatus performs the toner freshening operation, an amount of the toner remaining unused on the development roller can totally be transferred onto a photoconductive drum at a predetermined timing for a predetermined time period at a predetermined rate of frequency so as to effectively prevent occurrence of the toner-filming phenomenon. The amount of toner used for the toner-freshening operation can be kept clean and returned to the development roller in a form without agglomerating by an unused toner returning mechanism mounted in an image forming unit of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus has a dust free configuration, and may further include an air fan including an electrostatic filter and a front loading type paper cassette.

Abstract: An image formation is conducted in such a manner that an image exposure is applied to a photosensitive member having a surface charged by the charger to form an electrostatic latent image, which is developed by a developing device into a visible image, and the visible image is transferred to a recording material. In this image formation, the above developing device is constructed to include a developer carrying member to which a developing bias voltage is applied. The developer carrying member has a surface, which carries one-component developer and is adapted to move while contacting the photosensitive member, and is operable to remove residual developer on the photosensitive member after the transferring.

Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining a uniform temperature along its axis by increasing the heat transfer efficiency. The apparatus uses a sealed chamber containing a substantially pure working fluid in a two phase (liquid and vapor) condition. The vaporization and condensation of the fluid increases the heat transfer efficiency and tends to equalize temperature gradients in a body in contact with the apparatus. The apparatus is utilized in various locations in an electrophotographic printing machine and can be used as a pressure roll for a heat and pressure fuser, a support or drive roll for a photoreceptive member, a support member for a photoreceptor and a heat sink for a developer housing.

Abstract: Automatic processes for relational identification and recording of object units and their locations, in conjunction with traditional Hierarchy Coded Location Addressing, to directly support tracking, configuration management of diversified hierarchical object unit systems and their components.

Abstract: A developing unit having a pair of semicircular first sealing members longitudinally formed on a cylindrical portion of both ends of a toner conveying roller along an outer peripheral surface of a toner conveying roller such that a gap is set between the sealing members and a toner layer thickness determining plate in a frictional state. A pair of second sealing members are provided close to a position where the toner layer thickness determining plate faces the roller and at a position, opposite to a side facing the toner conveying roller. Each of the first and second sealing members applies predetermined pressure to the toner conveying roller, and each of the sealing members includes lubricating fine grains.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, flying of toner from a toner holder towards a counter electrode is controlled by giving a potential to a control grid according to an image signal. Here, a distance between the control grid and the toner holder is set so as to be shorter than a pitch of a gate. The toner passes through a plurality of gates which is a passing section of the toner in the control grid and adheres to a sheet so as to form an image on the sheet. Furthermore, in the image forming apparatus, image signals to be inputted serially from an image reading unit are distributed to odd lines and even lines so as to respectively stored into the odd memory and the even memory. The image signals are stored into the odd memory and at the same time the image signals stored in the even memory are read out.

Abstract: A developing apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image on an image retainer with two-component developer has a rotatable sleeve having a closest position on which the sleeve comes closest to the image retainer, a first magnet fixed in the sleeve in close proximity to the closest position, a second magnet disposed upstream of the first magnet in relation to a rotation direction of the sleeve and a control electrode member. The control electrode member includes an insulating plate member arranged either to be brought into contact with or to be positioned adjacent to the sleeve and a line-shaped electrode member fixed to the plate member.