Abstract: Various embodiments provide methods to identify and characterize remote objects by use of electric charge distributions generated by charge tunneling, charge injection, and charge induction. Various embodiments may use selective electrostatic charging to change the electrostatic potential throughout volumes for identification and characterization. In various embodiments, objects of interest may be selectively charged by tunneling, injection, and induction of electrical charges or free carriers. Tunneled, injected, and induced charges may migrate to sites or locations internal to volumes to yield electrostatic potential differences and electrostatic fields. In various embodiments, variations in the electrostatic potential created by the presence of the tunneled, injected, and induced charges may be quantitatively measured to identify and characterize remote objects.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner carrying roller for carrying a toner, an image carrying member, contacting the toner on the toner carrying roller, on which a toner image is to be formed with the toner, and an electrode portion provided at an opposing position in which the electrode portion opposes the toner carrying roller via the image carrying member interposed therebetween. The toner image is formed on the image carrying member by changing a value of a voltage, on the basis of image information, applied to the electrode portion, and the toner carried on the toner carrying roller and the image carrying member contact each other in a toner contact area. The toner is moved between the toner carrying roller and the image carrying member in a toner movement area by changing the value of the voltage applied to the electrode portion, and the toner movement area is present downstream of the toner contact area with respect to a movement direction of the image carrying member.

Abstract: A development device includes a developer container; a rotary cylindrical developer carrier including an outer electrode including multiple electrode portions arranged in a circumferential direction of the developer carrier, an inner electrode provided on an inner circumferential side of the developer carrier from the outer electrode, an insulation layer disposed between the outer electrode and the inner electrode, and a surface layer; and a bias power source to apply a first bias voltage and a second bias voltage to the inner electrode and the outer electrode, respectively. The first bias power source causes an electrical potential difference that changes with time between the inner electrode and the outer electrode to cause the developer to hop on a circumferential surface of the developer carrier. At least one of the first bias voltage and the second bias voltage has a cyclic waveform in which pulse-on time is reduced.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of cleaning electrodes (such as wires) is used in a toner-based electrostatic printing device. The electrodes produce an environment containing charged toner particles to assist in electrostatic printing. The method automatically monitors at least two printing parameters that are unrelated to signals and voltages provided to the electrodes (using a processor of the electrostatic printing device). Further, this method also uses the processor automatically infers a toner contamination of the electrodes from the printing parameters. This allows the processor to automatically adjust the printing the used by the electrostatic printing device during electrostatic printing to maintain the contamination of the electrodes below a threshold.

Abstract: A developer supply device is provided, which includes a developer retrieving member disposed to face a developer holding surface of a developer holding member across a predetermined distance in a position downstream relative to a developer supply position where the developer holding member faces an intended device to be supplied with development agent in a direction perpendicular to a main scanning direction parallel to an axial direction of the developer holding member. The developer retrieving member is driven to rotate around an axis parallel to the main scanning direction and configured to retrieve the development agent from the developer holding surface under a retrieving electric field that is generated when a retrieving voltage is applied between the developer retrieving member and the developer holding member.

Abstract: A developer supply device is provided, which includes a casing including a developer storage section at a bottom portion therein and an opening formed at an end thereof away from the developer storage section, development agent chargeable with a predetermined polarity, stored in the developer storage section, and a transfer board that is disposed in the casing and configured to transfer the development agent stored in the developer storage section when a multi-phase alternating-current voltage is applied to transfer electrodes of the transfer board. The development agent includes a mother particle having, around an outer surface thereof, an electrically insulating layer without a polar group having a charge polarity identical to the predetermined polarity, and an external additive, absorbed to around the mother particle in an easily desorbable manner, which is an electrically insulating fine particle having a charge polarity identical to the predetermined polarity.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device. The developing device includes a toner carrier (developing roller). The developing roller includes a base member, electrode bars, a pair of electrodes, and a protection layer. The base member includes a conductive core and an insulating layer formed on the outer surface of the core. The electrode bars and the pair of electrodes are made of a conductive metal, and are provided on the outer surface of the insulating layer. The electrode bars and the pair of electrodes are formed in a way that an unnecessary portion of a metal film is irradiated with a laser beam and thus is removed. The electrodes are each formed helically on the outer surface of the base member 1 and formed to taper down toward the outmost side thereof in its cross section.

Abstract: An image forming device is provided which includes a developer carrying body and a developer supply device to supply a developer to the developer carrying body. The developer supply device includes a plurality of transfer electrodes, and a transfer voltage applying unit to apply traveling-wave shaped transfer voltages to the plurality of transfer electrodes. The developer includes a fine particle charged in a predetermined polarity and a fine particle charged in a polarity opposite to the predetermined polarity. The transfer voltage applying unit is configured to apply the transfer voltages having waveforms, which make a fly height of the fine particle charged in the predetermined polarity higher than a fly height of the fine particle charged in the opposite polarity, to the plurality of transfer electrodes.

Abstract: A development agent supply device is provided, which includes a development agent holding member configured to rotate around an axis parallel to a first direction such that a development agent holding surface, which faces an intended device to be supplied with development agent in a first position, moves in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a transfer board configured to charge and transfer development agent thereon to a second position to face the development agent holding surface, and a facing member disposed to face the development agent holding surface in a position between the first position and the second position in the second direction, the facing member being configured to charge development agent held on the development agent holding surface under an alternating electric field generated between the facing member and the development agent holding member.

Abstract: A developer supply device, comprising: a casing; first electrodes located at a first most downstream position defining a certain distance with respect to the supply target and positions between the casing and the first most downstream position to form a first traveling electric field; a second electrodes that are located at a second most downstream position defining the certain distance with respect to the supply target and positions between the casing and the second most downstream position to form a second traveling electric field; a power circuit that supplies a first voltage and a second voltage having a same frequency respectively to the first electrodes and the second electrodes such that a phase of voltage change of a first most downstream electrode and a phase of voltage change of a second most downstream electrode shift with respect to each other.

Abstract: A developer supply apparatus is provided which supplies a toner to a supply object, the developer supply apparatus including a developer storage body which stores a powdery developer, and a transfer body which transfers the developer along the developer transfer path with traveling wave electric fields. The developer includes a toner having a predetermined charging characteristic and an electric neutralizer having an opposite charging characteristic, which is opposite to the predetermined charging characteristic.

Abstract: A developing device constituted to be capable of reliably making toner flare, and carrying out developing normally in the developing area, by preventing toner from adhering to the toner carrier. A developing device having a toner carrier which is disposed in opposition to a latent image carrier and which carries toner for developing an electrostatic latent image on the latent image carrier, the developing device including: a plurality of electrodes aligned at a predetermined interval within the toner carrier; voltage application means for applying a voltage to the electrodes so that the electric field between the plurality of electrodes varies with time, wherein the electric field between the electrodes causes the toner on the toner carrier to hop and form a cloud; and a toner adhesion prevention member that is provided upstream of a developing area where the latent image carrier is in opposition to the toner carrier and that prevents adhesion of toner to the toner carrier.

Abstract: The developing device includes a developer charging member configured to charge a toner serving as a one developer; and a developer bearing member configured to bear and feed the charged toner while forming an electric field so that the toner hops. The developer bearing member includes an insulating substrate; plural electrodes arranged on the insulating substrate in a developer feeding direction to form the electric field; and an outermost layer covering the plural electrodes. The toner has a softening point of from 115 to 130° C.

Abstract: A conductive toner supply roller and a method of manufacturing the supply roller. The method includes preparing a polyurethane foam, impregnating the polyurethane foam with an impregnation solution including an electroconductive polymer, a binder resin, an electroconductive agent and a solvent, and drying the resulting polyurethane foam, cutting the dried polyurethane foam, and inserting a shaft into the cut polyurethane foam, and polishing an outer surface of the resulting polyurethane foam. The resulting conductive toner supply roller has a low or medium resistance, and may be user in an electrostatic recording apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine, a copier or the like.

Abstract: A development unit includes a toner carrying device, a regulating member, and a toner leak protection member. The toner carrying device having a first electrode and a second electrode arrayed with an interval. The first and second electrodes are supplied with a given voltage to set an electric field, changing in a time cycle, between the first and second electrodes. The electric field is used to hop toner over the toner carrying device to form a toner cloud for developing a latent image. The regulating member regulates an amount of toner on the toner carrying device. The toner leak protection member, made from a conductive material, prevents leakage of toner, and is supplied with a bias voltage.

Abstract: A developer carrying device is provided with a group of carrying electrodes configured to form a traveling wave field as voltages are sequentially applied thereto, charged developer being carried by an effect of the traveling wave field, a developer carrying member having a surface on which the group of carrying electrodes are arranged, and a plurality of leveling electrodes provided above the surface and configured to form electric fields in a direction substantially along the surface, the plurality of leveling electrodes being needle like electrodes extending in a direction intersecting with the surface, the plurality of leveling electrodes being spaced from each other in a direction along the surface and intersecting with a direction in which the developer is carried.

Abstract: Each transport electrode has its longitudinal direction intersecting with a sub-scanning direction. Transport electrodes are disposed in parallel with each other and are arrayed along the sub-scanning direction. A transport-electrode electricity supply wiring section is connected to root portions of the transport electrodes. The root portions are one end portions of the transport electrodes with respect to the longitudinal direction. Toner transport guide members are disposed to cover the transport-electrode electricity supply wiring section and opposite end portions of the transport electrodes; i.e., the root portions and distal end portions.

Abstract: There is provided an image formation device including a developer holding body having a developer holding surface; and a developer supply unit to supply the developer to a position facing the developer holding surface by carrying the developer in a developer transport direction intersecting with the main scanning direction through use of effect of an electric field. The developer supply unit includes a plurality of carrying electrodes each of which is formed to have a longer side extending along the main scanning direction. The carrying electrodes are arranged along the developer transport direction to carry the developer when a drive voltage is applied to the carrying electrodes. The developer supply unit has a developer carrying area formed such that, in the main scanning direction, the developer carrying area becomes narrower from an upstream side in the developer transport direction toward the position along the developer transport direction.

Abstract: A developer supply device, comprising a casing having: a developer reservoir at a bottom part of the casing; a developer amount adjustment chamber provided close to a side of the developer reservoir to communicate with a top portion of the developer reservoir; and a communication part through which the top portion of the developer reservoir and the developer amount adjustment chamber communicate with each other, and further comprising: a carrying substrate having electrodes arranged along a developer transport path to carry a developer through a traveling electric field, each of the electrodes having a longer side extending in a width direction of the developer reservoir, and a developer providing unit to provide the developer into the developer reservoir, and wherein the carrying substrate comprises an upper carrying substrate on an inner wall of the casing on an opposite side of the communication part to carry the developer upward.

Abstract: A toner supply apparatus 6 is configured to be able to supply a charged toner T to a latent image forming surface LS of a photoconductor drum 3. The toner supply apparatus 6 houses a toner electric field transport body 62. The toner electric field transport body 62 has first portions and second portions which differ in toner T transport force. The first portions and the second portions differ in structural feature, such as relative dielectric constant or thickness. By means of such a structural difference, the state of transport of the toner T on the toner transport surface TTS is appropriately set.

Abstract: A disclosed developing apparatus employs a flare roller that is a toner carrier in which electrodes of two different phases are provided at fine intervals. Density irregularities or scumming in a developed image due to a potential difference between the flare roller and a latent image carrier are prevented by maintaining a constant potential on the flare roller surface. A voltage is applied to the electrodes on the flare roller such that an electric field that varies with time is generated between the electrodes, whereby a toner cloud is produced by the movement or hopping of toner over the flare roller. Thereby the toner attaches to a latent image on the latent image carrier, thus developing the latent image. In one embodiment, a bias with an average potential equal to an average potential of the bias applied to the electrodes is applied to a toner layer thickness regulating member.

Abstract: There is provided an image formation device comprising an developer holding body having a holding surface parallel with a main scanning direction and holding thereon developer; an developer supplying unit to carry developer along a carrying path, wherein the developer supplying unit comprises first carrying electrodes arranged along the carrying path and serving to carry the developer in a carrying direction; second carrying electrodes arranged along the carrying path to face the first electrodes and serving to carry the developer in the carrying direction; a first voltage applying unit to apply a first carrying voltage having a first frequency to the first carrying electrodes; and a second voltage applying unit to apply, to the second carrying electrodes, a second carrying voltage having a second frequency different from the first frequency.

Abstract: A developing device comprises a latent image carrier that carries a latent image, a toner carrier opposing the latent image carrier while carrying toner to develop the latent image, and plural electrodes arranged in a prescribed direction insulated from each other on the surface of the toner carrier to create an electric field therebetween. An alternating voltage supplying device is provided to supply n number of phases (n ?2) of an alternating voltage to the plural electrodes, respectively. The alternating voltage changes the electric field to cause the toner to hop and form toner cloud on the surface of the toner carrier. The toner hopping is halted at a prescribed time period during the toner cloud formation.

Abstract: A development device provided with a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer, which are laminated so as to overlap one another in a normal direction with respect to the surface of the roller part of the toner bearing roller. A plurality of openings are provided in the second electrode layer, over the entire latent image bearable area of a photosensitive body in the orthogonal-to-movement direction. The toner on the surface of the roller part is caused to hop between a plurality of spots directly beneath the openings that respectively exist directly beneath the plurality of openings in the second electrode layer, and a plurality of spots between the openings that respectively exist between the plurality of openings in the second electrode layer, within the entire area of the first electrode layer which is uniformly formed in the roller circumferential direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing a latent image on a latent image carrier includes a toner carrier and multiple electrodes arranged at intervals on a surface of the toner carrier. A potential difference is formed between even-numbered electrodes and odd-numbered electrodes of the electrodes by applying a first pulse voltage to the even-numbered electrodes and a second pulse voltage to the odd-numbered electrodes so that toner on the surface of the toner carrier moves back and forth between the electrodes, where the first and second pulse voltages are in different phases, and the toner moving back and forth between the electrodes is conveyed to a position facing the latent image carrier by movement of the surface of the toner carrier and thereby caused to adhere to the latent image on the latent image carrier.

Abstract: A toner supply apparatus 6 is configured to be able to supply a charged toner T to a latent image forming surface LS of a photoconductor drum 3. The toner supply apparatus 6 houses a toner electric field transport body 62. The toner electric field transport body 62 has first portions and second portions which differ in toner T transport force. The first portions and the second portions differ in structural feature, such as relative dielectric constant or thickness. By means of such a structural difference, the state of transport of the toner T on the toner transport surface TTS is appropriately set.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner-layer filling-rate lowering unit that causes a toner layer of toner images to be formed on an image carrier so that the toner layer has sufficient optical transparency for exposing and the toner-layer filling rate is set relatively low; and a toner rolling rate adjusting unit that rolls the toner images at a predetermined toner rolling rate in accordance with the toner-layer filling rate when the toner images are transferred to the transferring/fixing unit.

Abstract: Each transport electrode has its longitudinal direction intersecting with a sub-scanning direction. Transport electrodes 133a are disposed in parallel with each other and are arrayed along the sub-scanning direction. A transport-electrode electricity supply wiring section is connected to root portions of the transport electrodes. The root portions are one end portions of the transport electrodes with respect to the longitudinal direction. Toner transport guide members are disposed in such a manner as to cover the transport-electrode electricity supply wiring section and opposite end portions of the transport electrodes; i.e., the root portions and distal end portions.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus, which is able to prevent the adherence of toner on the surface of toner controlling means and around a toner passage hole, and to stably carry out toner passage ON/OFF control when forming an image using the direct recording method. This image forming apparatus includes: a toner carrier; recording medium means; toner controlling means, disposed between the toner carrier and recording medium means, and having a plurality of toner passage holes; and cloud electrode means disposed between the toner carrier and toner controlling means, a toner cloud being formed by applying an AC bias between the toner carrier and cloud electrode means.

Abstract: A development device configured to develop an electrostatic latent image on an image carrying member with a two-component developer having a toner and a carrier, the development device including: a developer carrying member to carry the two-component developer to a development region in which the developer carrying member faces the image carrying member; a developer control member to control a volume of the two-component developer; a plurality of electrodes to be separately disposed in a direction parallel to a rotation axis of the developer carrying member while separated from a surface of the developer carrying member and located between the developer control member and the development region in a rotation direction of the developer carrying member; and a power source to apply a power to the plurality of electrodes to form a periodically changing electric field generating an external force to convey the two-component developer in the rotation axis direction.

Abstract: A powder transferring apparatus provided with a powder electrostatic transferring device includes a plurality of transferring electrodes configured to generate an electric field for transferring the powder by an electrostatic force including a powder transferring amount detecting device to detect an amount of powder on a surface of the powder electrostatic transferring device.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide a roll member that includes one or more piezoelectric tape and methods for making and using the roll member. The piezoelectric tape can be flexible and include a plurality of piezoelectric elements configured in a manner that the piezoelectric elements can be addressed individually or as groups with various numbers of elements in each group. In an exemplary embodiment, the disclosed roll member can be used as a donor roll for a development system of an electrophotographic printing machine to create controlled and desired toner powder cloud for high quality image development, such as an image on image development in a hybrid scavengeless development (HSD) system.

Abstract: A hybrid type developing apparatus and method forms a magnetic brush of non-magnetic toner and a magnetic carrier on a circumference of a magnetic roller forms a uniform toner layer on the circumference of a donor roller using only toner from the magnetic roller, and develops an electrostatic latent image on an image receptor. The hybrid type developing apparatus includes: a plurality of electrodes on the circumference of the donor roller; first and second brush electrodes in an upstream area and a downstream area, respectively, of the donor roller facing the magnetic roller with respect to a direction of rotation; and a bias applying device for applying a recovery bias to the first brush electrode to remove toner from the donor roller and a supply bias to the second brush electrode to supply toner from the magnetic roller to the donor roller.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus including a first-color developing unit configured to form a toner image on the photoconductive belt; and a second-color developing unit and successive developing units, at least the second-color and successive developing units each include an electrostatic developing unit including, an electrostatic toner conveying device including a plurality of electrodes, and a toner feeding device configured to feed the toner to the electrostatic toner conveying device, wherein voltages applied to the plurality of electrodes form a traveling-wave electric field for electrostatically transferring the toner, an electric field for causing the toner to electrostatically move toward the latent image formed on the photoconductive belt is formed, and toners not moved toward the latent image are directly conveyed to the toner feeding device by the electrostatic toner conveying device.

Abstract: An improved development system for an electrophotographic system includes a reload defect detector for generating a signal corresponding to a potential for reload defect detected in an image to be developed by an electrophotographic system; and a magnetic roll speed selector for selecting a rotational speed for a magnetic roll in a development system of the electrophotographic system, the selected rotational speed corresponding to the generated reload defect potential signal. The speed of the magnetic roll is selected to be a lower speed in response to the potential for reload defect being relatively low. The slower rotation of the magnetic roll prolongs the life of the developer and extends the operational life of the development system before corrective action is needed.

Abstract: A developing device including a latent image supporter. Powder is adhered on the latent image supporter to develop a latent image on the latent image supporter and a transporting member is arranged opposite to the latent image supporter. A plurality of electrodes are formed in the transporting member for generating a traveling-wave electric field to move the powder, and n-phase voltages are applied to the electrodes of the transporting member to form an electric field in a first direction so that the powder moves towards the latent image supporter at an image portion of the latent image and in a second direction so that the powder moves in a direction opposite to the latent image supporter at a non-image portion of the latent image.

Abstract: A printer apparatus includes a photoreceptor, a magnetic roll, an electrode, a current source coupled to the electrode, the current source having a signal generator coupled to an input winding of a transformer that exhibits a parasitic capacitance; and a current measurement circuit. The current measurement circuit includes a simulation capacitor having a capacitance proportional to the parasitic capacitance, the simulation capacitor having a first electrode coupled to a hot terminal of the output winding of the transformer and a second electrode coupled to a first node, a second sense resistor coupled between the first node and ground so current flowing through the simulation capacitor flows through the second sense resistor, a first sense resistor coupled to a second node, and a differential amplifier having an inverting input coupled to the first node and a non-inverting input coupled to the second node.

Abstract: Electron charging of particles, as may be associated with electrographic and/or xerographic image forming devices, powder coat finishing devices and/or guns, or the like, is performed by subjecting a stream of particles to electron bombardment from at least one electrode overcoated with nanotubes, such as carbon nanotubes. An alternating electric field may be employed to reduce the possibility of charged particles being deposited on opposing electrodes in an electron charging zone defined by the electrodes. Particles of varying sizes, and of irregular shapes, may be uniformly charged while required input voltages to the system are reduced based on efficiencies gained through nanotube technology.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing in a development zone a latent image recorded on a surface, including a housing defining a chamber storing at least a supply of toner therein; a donor member disposed of at least partially in the chamber of the housing and spaced from the surface, the donor member being adapted to rotate about a longitudinal axis to transport toner to the development zone in a region opposed from the surface; and a wire assembly module mounted the development zone and extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis, the wire assembly module including a wire and a drive system for translating portions of the wire in the development zone, and power supply for electrically biasing the wire to detach toner from the donor member so as to form a toner powder cloud in the development zone with detached toner from the toner cloud developing the latent image.

Abstract: A classifier having a simple constitution for classifying powder with a high accuracy is provided. The classifier is provided with a transfer board having a plurality of electrodes for generating electric fields for transferring and hopping the powder by an electrostatic force. The classifier is further provided with an opposite roller generating an electric field for transporting and attaching the powder (toner) transferred and hopped on the transfer board to the opposite roller, which is opposite to the transfer board.

Abstract: The invention provides a developing apparatus, an image forming apparatus and a toner replenishing method that can restrain deterioration of toner and can stably form high quality image. Replenishing bias voltage is applied to a developing roller and a replenishing roller to charge conductive toner kept on a surface of the replenishing roller to a predetermined amount of charge. By electric field generated between the developing roller and the replenishing roller on the basis of the applied replenishing bias voltage, charged conductive toner is made fly and replenished from the replenishing roller to the developing roller. An appropriate amount of conductive toner is kept in a toner transporting body formed on a surface of the developing roller and is supplied to a photoconductor roller.

Abstract: A developing device including a latent image supporter. Powder is adhered on the latent image supporter to develop a latent image on the latent image supporter and a transporting member is arranged opposite to the latent image supporter. A plurality of electrodes are formed in the transporting member for generating a traveling-wave electric field to move the powder, and n-phase voltages are applied to the electrodes of the transporting member to form an electric field in a first direction so that the powder moves towards the latent image supporter at an image portion of the latent image and in a second direction so that the powder moves in a direction opposite to the latent image supporter at a non-image portion of the latent image.

Abstract: An electrostatic transportation device is provided with a transporting base plate having a plurality of electrodes which generate an electric field which performs transporting and hopping of fine particles by an electrostatic force, wherein a width of each of the electrodes in a travelling direction of the fine particles is set to be in a range of 1 time to 20 times an average particle diameter of the fine particles, a pitch between the electrodes in the travelling direction of the fine particles is set to be in a range of 1 time to 20 times the average particle diameter of the fine particles, and driving waveforms of n phases or more (n is an integer of 3 or more) are applied to respective electrodes.

Abstract: A classifier having a simple constitution for classifying powder with a high accuracy is provided. The classifier is provided with a transfer board having a plurality of electrodes for generating electric fields for transferring and hopping the powder by an electrostatic force. The classifier is further provided with an opposite roller generating an electric field for transporting and attaching the powder (toner) transferred and hopped on the transfer board to the opposite roller, which is opposite to the transfer board.

Abstract: On surfaces of insulating layers 1b and 1c of a transportation member 1, a protective layer 1d having a volume resistivity of 1010 ?·cm to 1017 ?·cm is so laminated that a sum of thickness of the insulating layers 1b and 1c is less than intervals between adjacent ones of progressive wave generating electrodes 2. With this arrangement, it is ensured that a progressive wave electric field generated by the progressive wave generating electrodes 2 is exposed beyond a surface of the transportation member 1. Even if developer T and the transportation member 1 contact each other, a surface potential of the transportation member 1 is not changed. Moreover, firm adhering of the toner T to the surface of the transportation member 1 is prevented. It is therefore possible to certainly transport the developer T to a development position always stably.

Abstract: A developing device including a latent image supporter. Powder is adhered on the latent image supporter to develop a latent image on the latent image supporter and a transporting member is arranged opposite to the latent image supporter. A plurality of electrodes are formed in the transporting member for generating a traveling-wave electric field to move the powder, and n-phase voltages are applied to the electrodes of the transporting member to form an electric field in a first direction so that the powder moves towards the latent image supporter at an image portion of the latent image and in a second direction so that the powder moves in a direction opposite to the latent image supporter at a non-image portion of the latent image.

Abstract: A non-interactive development system generates a toner cloud in a development zone by an AC biased stationary electrode positioned in contact with the back surface of a movable toned dielectric donor belt having a patterned electrode structure on the front surface thereof. The AC biased electrode produces AC fringe fields near the edges of the patterned electrode structure that cause the generation of a toner cloud for developing an electrostatic latent image. The donor belt is partially wrapped around a magnetic brush to produce a toner loading zone. Isolated patterned electrodes on the donor belt near the entrance region of the toner loading zone are biased to cause unloading of toner from the donor belt, while isolated electrodes near the exit region of the toner loading zone are biased to cause toner reloading of the donor belt.

Abstract: An electrostatic transportation device is provided with a transporting base plate having a plurality of electrodes which generate an electric field which performs transporting and hopping of fine particles by an electrostatic force, wherein a width of each of the electrodes in a travelling direction of the fine particles is set to be in a range of 1 time to 20 times an average particle diameter of the fine particles, a pitch between the electrodes in the travelling direction of the fine particles is set to be in a range of 1 time to 20 times the average particle diameter of the fine particles, and driving waveforms of n phases or more (n is an integer of 3 or more) are applied to respective electrodes.

Abstract: A donor structure for developing toner images to an image receiving surface, said structure including a core structure; end caps including journal portions attached to said core structure;a bearing for operatively supporting said donor structure in an imaging device; and electrically isolating coatings carried by said journal portions, said electrically isolating coatings being interposed between said journal portions and said bearings.

Abstract: When developing an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image support by use of mist-like charged particles, a developing electrode is provided at a space from the electrostatic latent image support to extend substantially in parallel to the surface of the electrostatic latent image support on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. A gap control member is provided on the perimeter of the developing electrode to extend toward the surface of the electrostatic latent image support from the periphery of the developing electrode so that the space between the gap control member and the surface of the electrostatic latent image support is smaller than the space between the developing electrode and the surface of the electrostatic latent image support. Thus a developing space defined by the electrostatic latent image support, the developing electrode and the gap control member is formed.