Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic apparatus including decreasing means for decreasing the potential difference between the potential of the toner-adhering portion of the photosensitive body and the potential of the toner-non-adhering portion of the photosensitive body after the development by the developing means and before the transfer by the transferring means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pre-transfer system of an image forming apparatus wherein the pre-transfer efficiency is enhanced by a pre-transfer lamp (“PTL”) being placed upstream of the delivering path of a recording paper and the light emitted from the PTL being directly scanned to a photosensitive drum. The PTL is placed upstream of the delivering path of the paper, a lens is disposed opposite to a light emitting portion of the PTL, the lens spreading the light emitted from the PTL in the scanning direction of the photosensitive drum and, at the same time, collecting the light in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction, and a light guide member is disposed at an angle with respect to the lens and the photosensitive drum, the light guide member guiding the light spread and collected by the lens to the surface of the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: A xerographic printer includes a rotatable photoreceptor which is exposed, with each cycle, by a regular exposure device to create an image desired to be printed. Elsewhere along the photoreceptor is disposed a supplemental discharge device which discharges only those small areas on the photoreceptor which were not discharged by the regular exposure device within the cycle. In this way, every small area of the photoreceptor is evenly discharged within each cycle, and thus every small area of the photoreceptor experiences the same amount of aging. The system is particularly useful for full-color xerographic printers, in which the photoreceptor is repeatedly discharged by different exposure devices within each cycle.

Abstract: Disclosed is image forming apparatus, including a photoconductor, a charger charging the surface of the photoconductor, a light source exposing the charged surface of the photoconductor to light to form a latent image, a developing unit supplying a liquid developing agent containing a liquid component and a solid component onto the photoconductor so as to convert the latent image into a visible image, a liquid component adjusting unit for adjusting the weight of the liquid component of the liquid developing agent on the surface of the photoconductor to meet the relationship of 0.1≦Ml/Ms≦4.0, where Ms represents the weight of the solid component of the developing agent supplied onto the photoconductor, and Ml represents the weight of the Liquid component of the developing agent, and a transfer unit transferring the visible image onto an image carrier.

Abstract: A multicolor printer uses toner of two polarities applied on a photo conductor layer prior to the two toners being applied to a carrier. The photo conductor layer is provided with an image-wise illumination with regions of different illumination to form regions of different potentials. The regions of different potentials are developed by applying the toner of two polarities. Further colors of toner may be used, provided illumination with corresponding different illumination and provided charging of the photo conductor layer to change relative potentials is performed. An overall illumination of the photo conductor layer between developing steps changes potential levels on regions not covered by toner but not in areas covered by toner.

Abstract: Prior to the transfer process, the pre-transfer charging is conducted on the recording image formed on the electrostatic recording body by the development process, and the potential difference generated in the air gap between the recording medium and the recording image at the time of transfer, is made smaller than the Paschen discharge potential difference.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the type sequentially forming toner images of different colors on an image carrier while sequentially transferring them to an intermediate transfer body one above the other, and then transferring the resulting composite toner image from the intermediate transfer body to a paper or similar recording medium. Dot toner images different from desired toner images are formed on the image carrier. The dot toner images are transferred from the image carrier to the intermediate transfer body and then to the recording medium. The individual toner images are transferred from the image carrier to the intermediate transfer body in accurate register with each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the type sequentially forming toner images of different colors on an image carrier while sequentially transferring them to an intermediate transfer body one above the other, and then transferring the resulting composite toner image from the intermediate transfer body to a paper or similar recording medium. Dot toner images different from desired toner images are formed on the image carrier. The dot toner images are transferred from the image carrier to the intermediate transfer body and then to the recording medium. The individual toner images are transferred from the image carrier to the intermediate transfer body in accurate register with each other.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic photograph forming apparatus including a supplying roller, a developing roller, a charging roller, a laser scanning unit (LSU), a transferring roller, an organic photoconductive (OPC) drum, a pre-transfer lamp (PTL), a controller, and a power supply. The organic photoconductive drum is charged by the charging roller. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the organic photoconductive drum by the laser scanning unit, and the electrostatic latent image is changed into a visible image by toner supplied from the developing roller. The pre-transfer lamp reduces the attached force of toner attached to the organic photoconductive drum to a predetermined level. The controller varies the voltage of the transferring roller according to a predetermined standard so that toner remaining on the transferring roller is transferred to the organic photoconductive drum while the organic photoconductive drum and the transferring roller are raced.

Abstract: An optical photoreceptor belt is rotated by a pair of belt drive rollers. The belt is positively charged by a main-charger. Latent images having a low electric potential are formed on the belt by exposing the positively charged belt by laser diode units, In developer units, ink having positive electric charge is moved by electrostatic force from develop rollers having a high electric potential to spots of the latent images on the belt having a low electric potential to form the images. The optical photoreceptor belt with images formed thereon passes through a dying unit and is recharged by a sub-charger. The images are transferred onto a transfer roller applied a negative voltage and then transferred onto the paper when a paper passes through between a transfer roller and a fixing roller.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus containing an imaging member with an electrostatic latent image formed thereon, the imaging member containing a surface capable of supporting marking material; an imaging device for generating the electrostatic latent image on the imaging member wherein the electrostatic latent image includes image areas defined by a first charge voltage and nonimage areas defined by a second charge voltage distinguishable from the first charge voltage; a marking material supply apparatus for depositing marking material on the surface of the imaging member to form a marking material layer thereon adjacent the electrostatic latent image on the imaging member; a charging source for selectively delivering charges to the marking material layer in an imagewise manner responsive to the electrostatic latent image on the imaging member to form a secondary latent image in the marking material layer containing image and nonimage areas corresponding to the electrostatic latent image on the imaging member; and a

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus includes a photosensitive member and an electrostatic image forming apparatus for forming an electrostatic image on the photosensitive member. The electrostatic image forming apparatus includes a charging device for electrically charging the photosensitive member and an exposure device for exposing the photosensitive member charged by the charging device. A developing device forms a toner image by developing the electrostatic image with toner. A transfer device electrostatically transfers the toner image onto a transfer material, wherein the photosensitive member has characteristics such that a rate of change of surface potential of the photosensitive member relative to a change of an exposure amount of the photosensitive member, is smaller in the case of a first exposure amount than in the case of a second exposure amount which is larger than in the first exposure amount.

Abstract: A method for multicolor electrophotographic printing includes a photoconductive layer system having surface elements or surface regions that are provided with an initial negative potential, then are exposed to varying degrees and developed with negatively charged toner particles of a color. A uniform light source is arranged closed to the photoconductive layer system and then the surface elements are developed with a second color toner. In particular, the image being printed has image elements of different colors which correspond to different surface elements of the photoconductor. These surface elements are differently illuminated to achieve different potentials and are developed by color particles by depositing the color particles on the respective surface elements. The charge potential of ones of the surface elements is increased and then surface elements not covered by color particles are illuminated to reduce the charge potential there prior to subsequent development of further surface elements.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided in which the anti-blocking property of the ink is largely improved, while maintaining high bonding strength of the ink to the printing paper. The latent image formed on the photosensitive belt 1 by a laser or the like is developed by a developing roller 3 using an ink 2 composed of toner particles dispersed in a specified solvent. After development, a designated amount of the solvent of the ink 2 is removed by a squeezing roller 4, and the surface of the photosensitive belt 1 is coated with a cross-linking material a for cross-linking the molecular structure of the ink 2 by a vessel 10 storing the cross-linking material a and a roller 8 which are disposed in contact with the photosensitive belt 1 between the squeezing roller 4 and a transfer roller 5. The ink used for development on the photosensitive belt is cross-linked and dried to be fixed on the printing paper 7 inserted between the transfer roller 5 and the fuser roller 6, both of which have an internal heater.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus, comprising an imaging member with an electrostatic latent image formed thereon, said imaging member containing a surface capable of supporting marking material; an imaging device for generating the electrostatic latent image on said imaging member, wherein the electrostatic latent image includes image areas defined by a first charge voltage and non-image areas defined by a second charge voltage distinguishable from the first charge voltage; a marking material supply apparatus for depositing marking material on the surface of said imaging member to form a marking material layer thereon adjacent the electrostatic latent image on said imaging member; a charging source for selectively delivering charges to the marking material layer in an imagewise manner responsive to the electrostatic latent image on said imaging member to form a secondary latent image in the marking material layer having image and nonimage areas corresponding to the electrostatic latent image on said imaging member; a

Abstract: The methods and systems for efficiently transferring images from an image bearing member include placing a release layer over the image bearing member before placing the toner layer over the release layer. The release layer reduces the adhesiveness of the toner layer to the image bearing member and, therefore, promotes efficient transfer to another substrate without applying heat. Release layer materials include, for example, a clear toner layer, a clear fluid layer and a wax layer.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a developing device develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier with a developing liquid to thereby produce a corresponding toner image. The toner image is transferred from the image carrier to an intermediate transfer body. To increase a transfer ratio from the intermediate transfer body to a paper or similar recording medium, charge applying device applies to the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer member a charge identical in polarity with toner particles forming the toner image. A roller member faces the surface of the intermediate transfer body to which the toner image is transferred for cleaning the transfer body and removing a carrier liquid. The roller member also controls the amount of carrier liquid on the intermediate transfer body.

Abstract: The invention is an electrostatographic printer and a method of printing with such a printer. The printer includes a transfer member that is driven along a continuous path, and a toner image depositor that deposits a toner image in powder form on the transfer member. A substrate is fed into contact with the transfer member, and the toner image on the transfer member is heated in advance of the transfer; the transfer member is cooled following the image transfer to a temperature below the glass transition temperature T.sub.g of the toner; then further toner images may be deposited on the transfer member. A controlling pressure roller is positioned in opposition to the transfer member to form a transfer nip, through which the substrate passes, the substrate wrapping partially around the pressure roller both in advance of and following the transfer nip.

Abstract: A contact electrostatic printing image separator having a substrate; and thereover a conformable layer with a conductive or semiconductive polymer; and an optional outer release layer positioned on the conformable layer, and contact electrostatic printing apparatuses including the image separator are included.

Abstract: A color electrophotographic printer that prepares a composite toner image for transfer by exposing an image area containing the composite toner image to an erase lamp and then running the composite toner image by an AC scorotron.

Abstract: In a color image forming apparatus provided with a photoreceptor having a rotatable peripheral surface; plural sets of a charging device, an imagewise exposure device, and a developing device, each set of the plural sets is provided separately from other sets around the peripheral surface of the photoreceptor so that plural color component images are formed one after another by the plural sets and are superimposed so as to form a color image on the peripheral surface during a single rotation of the peripheral surface. The developing device has a casing and the imagewise exposure device and the developing device of each set are arranged such that a portion on the peripheral surface locating at an imagewise exposing position moves into the casing of the developing device before the electric potential V1 of the portion is lowered to the half of V1 (V1/2).

Abstract: When image areas pass the pre-transfer eraser, a control unit sets the light quantity of the pre-transfer eraser so that the potential of the background areas changes to reduce the difference from the potential of the visible image areas. A pre-transfer surface potential of the background areas in the image areas is controlled to a level that prevents the central parts of letters from missing and restrains the spread of toner in the periphery of letters. When the non-image areas pass the pre-transfer eraser, the control unit sets the light quantity of the pre-transfer eraser so as to be larger than that of the case when the image areas are exposed. Specifically, the control unit sets the light quantity of the pre-transfer eraser so that the surface potential of the non-image areas is reduced to the residual potential level of the photoreceptor surface having passed a charge removing unit.

Abstract: An engine unit for an image forming apparatus transfers a toner image without corona discharge by adjusting a quantity of light radiated from pre-transfer lamps (PTLs). In the engine unit, a charge roller forms a uniform charge on an organic photoconductive (OPC) drum, and an exposure unit exposes the OPC drum to a light beam to form an electrostatic latent image. The PTLs apply a predetermined intensity of light to a non-image area on the OPC drum to change a potential of the non-image area to a value similar to a potential of an image area on the OPC drum, by adjusting a resistance value of resistors connected to the PTLs, so as to prevent a toner from remaining at a border between the image area and the non-image area. A transfer roller transfers the toner attached to the OPC drum to a recording sheet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing high quality toner images in an electrostatic printing machine. The method using the apparatus includes (a) (a) forming an initial developed toner image on a photoreceptor using a first toner image forming assembly including a charging device for uniformly charging the photoreceptor, and a development assembly, including charged toner solids having a single polarity, for image-wise applying a layer of the toner solids to the latent image to form an initial developed toner image; (b) refining the initial developed toner image using an air breakdown charging assembly, including a relatively large magnitude voltage biasing source and a nip forming roll coupled thereto, for image-wise recharging of the single polarity toner solids layer forming the initial developed toner image.

Abstract: A printing machine composed of: (a) an electrographic imaging member including a substrate layer and a charge accepting layer selected from the group consisting of a silicone elastomer and a grafted elastomer composed of a polyorganosiloxane bonded to a fluoroelastomer; (b) latent image generating apparatus for recording an electrostatic latent image on the imaging member; (c) developer apparatus for depositing marking material on the imaging member to produce a marking material image; (d) a heating device for heating the imaging member so as to form a tackified marking material image thereon; and (e) transfer apparatus for transfering the tackified marking material image from the imaging member to a recording sheet

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an image forming unit to form a developer image on an image carrier, a transfer unit to transfer a developer image on an image receiving medium, a conveyor belt provided in contact with the transfer unit to carry and convey the image receiving medium with a developer image transferred by the transfer unit and a voltage applying portion to apply voltage to the transfer unit. This image forming apparatus further includes a controller to control voltage to be applied by the voltage applying portion to at least either one of the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion of the image receiving medium in the direction conveyed by the conveyor belt so that it becomes higher than voltage to be applied to the middle portion in the conveying direction of the image receiving medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing high quality toner images in an electrostatic printing machine. The method using the apparatus includes (a) forming an initial developed toner image on a photoreceptor using initial developed toner image forming assemblies including a first charging device for uniformly charging the photoreceptor, and a development assembly including charged toner solids having a single charge polarity; and (b) refining the initial developed toner image using reverse charge printing (RCP) assemblies including a second charging device for reversing charge polarity on unwanted toner solids in background areas of the initial developed toner image, and for removing such unwanted toner solids from such background areas, thereby producing a high quality final toner image having sharp image area edges and highly clean background areas.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a photosensitive drum on whose surface a toner image is formed, and image formation is carried out by transferring the toner image onto a transfer material such as paper or OHP sheet which is caused to electrostatically adhere to a surface of a transfer drum while being guided to the photosensitive drum. Alternatively, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum may be once transferred onto an intermediate transfer drum, then transferred from the intermediate transfer drum onto the transfer material. In the image forming apparatus, a light projecting device for projecting light onto the photosensitive drum is provided on an upstream side to a toner image transfer position and on a downstream side to a development position on the photosensitive drum. Execution and suspension of the light projecting operation of the light projecting device is controlled depending on a toner type.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an image on a recording sheet having low toner pile height is disclosed. A latent image is formed on an imaging member. A developer unit develops the latent image with a less than monolayer of toner particles on the imaging member. The developed image is transferred to a compliant intermediate member whereupon a filming station spreads the toner particles to form a film layer. The station includes a heater for heating the less than monolayer of toner particles to a temperature sufficient to cause the toner particles present on the intermediate member to soften; and a roller for spreading the less than a monolayer of toner particles to generate the thin film layer. The above process is repeated for subsequent colored toners to produce a multi film layer color image. Thereafter, the multi film layer color image is transferred from the intermediate member onto a recording sheet.

Abstract: An electrophotographic machine has a photoreceptive member supporting a composite color toner image formed of multiple layers of different colored toners. The composite toner image is pre-transfer charged at a first voltage level and recharge at a second voltage level less than the first voltage level. The background toner is preferentially charged by the second charging to reduce transfer of the background toner to the substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing high quality liquid toner images in an electrostatic printing machine. The method using the apparatus includes (a) forming in a first stage, an initial developed toner image on a photoreceptor using toner image forming assemblies including a charging device; and exposure device; a development unit;; and (b) refining in a second stage, the initial developed toner image using a contact electrostatic printing (CEP) assembly including a bias source and a conductive CEP roll for biasing and applying compressive and tensile forces to the initial developed toner image to enable easy separation of image areas from background areas of the initial developed toner image, and for separating and removing unwanted toner solids from the background areas, thereby producing a high quality final toner image having sharp image area edges and highly clean background areas.

Abstract: An apparatus and method develops an electrostatic latent image directly from an imaging member to a final substrate, such as paper or the like. An image development apparatus and method creates a first electrostatic latent image on an imaging member and deposits a toner layer on the imaging member. The image developer then generates a second electrostatic latent image in the toner layer in response to the first electrostatic latent image on the imaging member. The second electrostatic latent image can be generated by either a broad source ion charging device or an air breakdown charging device. Next, the latent image bearing toner layer is selectively separated and developed such that the image areas are developed directly from the imaging member onto a final substrate and the non-image areas remain on the imaging member.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus operable in a monochrome mode and color mode wherein toner images are sequentially formed on an image carrier by toner of a plurality of colors. The toner images of different colors are sequentially transferred to a single transfer member one above the other to complete a color image. In the color mode when toner of two or more colors are to be transferred to the transfer member one above the other, at least one of the color images on the image carrier is discharged before the transfer to the transfer member. In the monochrome mode the image is not discharged before transfer.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a rotating photosensitive drum, a developing unit, a neutralizing device, and a transferring device. An electrostatic latent image is formed on a charged surface of the rotating photosensitive drum, the electrostatic latent image being developed by a developing unit and subsequently transferred by a transferring device to a print medium. The neutralizing device neutralizes the charged surface of the photosensitive drum at the point on the surface disposed downstream of the developing unit and upstream of the transferring device with respect to rotation of the photosensitive drum. A controller controls the neutralizing device according to characteristics of the print medium such as size, material, insulation, and transparency. The neutralizing device may be operated in different modes. For example, the neutralizing device may neutralize an entirety of the charged surface of the photosensitive drum only if the print medium is of a predetermined characteristic, i.e.

Abstract: An AC recharging device is provided for recharging a photoreceptor in a liquid xerography system in preparation for generating and developing another electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor. The AC recharging device is useful for all types of liquid developing systems that generate two or more toner images on a photoreceptor, including image-next-to-image, image-on-image, highlight and other types of systems. A method is also provided for recharging a support having a liquid developed image in preparation for generating and developing a second electrostatic image on the support.

Abstract: The undesirable image defect of dragout of liquid ink development (LID) toned images generated from the development zone, formed by an imaging member and a metering/development member, can be prevented. Background development of the toned images is suppressed in an image enhancement zone. With the aid of an enhanced electrostatic field, created by an electrode biased at a voltage other than normal development bias in the metering zone, the toned layer can resist higher viscous forces. Image dragout, due to the viscous shear from liquid ink, can therefore be eliminated.

Abstract: An image development method and apparatus, wherein a support member is provided with a layer of marking material thereon, and an electrostatic latent image is created in the layer of marking material via image-wise charging of the layer of marking material. A selectively controllable charging device for directing a charge stream toward the support member having the layer of marking material coated thereon. The image-wise charge stream corresponds 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: An electrophotographic printer includes a rotating photoconductive drum, a developing unit, a transfer roller, and a neutralizer. The neutralizer neutralizes a second area of the surface of the photoconductive drum different from a second area in which the toner is applied. A sensor may be provided along the transport path to detect a leading end and a trailing end of the print medium passing along the transport path. In accordance with the sensor output, the neutralizer neutralizes the second area (i.e., top margin and bottom margin) on the photoconductive drum adjacent the leading end and the trailing end of the print medium. A neutralization data generator may be added. The neutralization data generator searches the bit map data for dots which should be printed, and produces neutralization data on the basis of the dots. Then, the neutralizer illuminates only the second area (i.e., areas in which toner is absent) in accordance with the neutralization data.

Abstract: A printing machine and method for efficiently forming toner images such that a quantity of unused toner applied to a photoreceptor of the machine is significantly diminished are provided.

Abstract: An electrostatographic method and apparatus of forming a toner image on a receiver. In order to improve transfer of a pigmented toner image to a receiver, a clear toner layer is applied to a support member. The pigmented toner image is applied over the clear toner layer. The pigmented toner image is sintered and the sintered pigmented toner image is then transferred to a receiver sheet.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a toner images are sequentially formed on an image carrier by toner of a plurality of colors. The toner images of different colors are sequentially transferred to a single transfer member one above the other to complete a color image. When toner of two or more colors are to be transferred to the transfer member one above the other, at least one of the color images on the image carrier is discharged before the transfer to the transfer member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an image memory unit for storing image information, an image rotation unit for applying predetermined rotation to the image information read from the image memory unit, an image forming unit for forming an image on an output medium based on the image information derived directly from the image memory unit or by the image rotation unit, and a control unit for controlling the rotation of the image by the image rotation unit such that a staple position of the output medium formed by the image forming unit comes to a predetermined position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a latent image forming unit to form an electrostatic latent image on a charged image carrier, a developing device to form a developer image by developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier by a developer and a charge removing unit to discharge the image carrier before transferring the developer image and reduce the electrostatic adsorbing power of the developer image to the image carrier. The charge removing unit includes a charge removing light source to apply the charge removing light to the image carrier and the developer image and the charge removing charger to remove the charge by discharging the image carrier and able to control the discharge output. The charge removing unit is controlled to be adjusted a charge removing capacity.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printer including: a photosensitive belt moving along a circular path and supported by a plurality of rollers; a main corona device for increasing an electrical charge potential on a surface of the photosensitive belt to a predetermined level for development; first, second, third and fourth laser scanning units for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive belt by color; first, second, third and fourth developing units for individually developing the electrostatic latent image using first, second, third and fourth developing solutions of different colors; a drying roller pressing the photosensitive belt for removing carrier from the developing solutions developed on the photosensitive belt, the drying roller being frictionally charged positively through contact with the photosensitive belt; an eraser for removing an electrostatic charge remaining on the photosensitive belt after development to uniformly electrify the surface of the photosensitive belt with exposing cha

Abstract: A multi-color image forming apparatus is capable of decreasing the amount of ozone generation which occurs during the formation of a multi-color image. For this purpose, a charged latent image having a tri-level electric potential is formed on a positive charging photoconductor by a charging means and an exposing means. A first color toner having one of a positive polarity and a negative polarity is caused to adhere onto one of the charged latent images having the highest electric potential level at a first developing unit of the apparatus, and a second color toner having the other polarity is caused to adhere onto the other of charged latent images having the lowest electric potential at a second developing unit of the apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for printing images on generally cylindrical objects, such as cans, including: an image bearing surface having an image thereon; and an impression guide which is generally parallel to and spaced from the image bearing surface, which guide supports the cylindrical objects in rolling contact with the image bearing surface, whereby images are transferred from the image bearing surface to surfaces of the cylindrical objects in contact therewith.

Abstract: Charged toner is transferred from an image member to a web of imagable material, such as paper, using an impression cylinder without toner back scatter even at high speed (e.g. more than 150 feet per minute) movement of the paper. A nip is provided between the image member and the impression cylinder. Toner having a first polarity is applied to the image member, and a second face of a paper web is moved into contact with the image member adjacent the nip so that toner transfers from the image member to the web face. An electric potential of a first polarity is applied to the web at the first face prior to and adjacent the nip, the potential of sufficient intensity so as to substantially prevent back scatter. The electrical potential may be applied using an electrical conductive electrode biased (e.g. with a spring) into contact with the first face of the paper web, and connected up to a power supply of a first polarity.

Abstract: An apparatus which forms a discharge electric field in order to discharge an object. The apparatus includes an electrode member facing and separated by a preselected gap from the object, and a power source which applies a discharge voltage to the electrode member to thereby cause discharge to occur between the object and the electrode member. Further, the electrode member at the gap includes a material selected in association with the gap so that a functional relationship between the discharge voltage and a discharge current caused by the discharge voltage is a continuous function.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed in a prescribed region on an image carrier corresponding to an original document with a charged developer to form a developer image on the image carrier, a transfer charger for transferring the developer image onto an image receiving medium from the image carrier, and a pre-transfer charger for applying an electric charge having the same polarity as that of the charged developer to the image carrier before transferring the developer image onto the image receiving medium. The apparatus further includes a controller for controlling the pre-transfer charger so that the electric charge is applied only to a given area extending from a front end of the prescribed region on the image carrier on which the developer image is formed, the given area smaller than the prescribed region.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and method in which the flow of a toner image formed on an image carrier is prevented at the time of removing a surplus liquid developer and at the time of transfer of the image onto a transfer material. The apparatus includes an image carrier, a device for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the image carrier, and a developing section for supplying a liquid developer onto the electrostatic latent image so as to form a toner image. The apparatus also includes a device for removing a surplus liquid developer remaining on the surface of the image carrier after the toner image is formed. A transfer device transfers the toner image onto a surface of a transfer material. An electric charge giving device, which is disposed between the developing section and the device for removing the surplus liquid developer, applies an electric charge to the toner image in a same polarity as that of the toner image.