Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that has an image bearing body for bearing a toner image, a conveying member for bearing and conveying a recording material, and a transferring member for transferring a toner image on the image bearing body to the recording material conveyed by the conveying member by the application of a voltage, wherein the transferring member has ion conductivity.

Abstract: A pivotally movable abutment mechanism is provided, which includes an abutment member for abutting against a member to be abutted over the longitudinal direction, a supporting member that supports the abutment member and is pivotally movable about a pivotal axis, a pressing member for pivotally moving the supporting member in the direction in which the abutment member is pressed against the member to be abutted, and a pivotal axis moving mechanism capable of changing the position of the pivotal axis by a pressing operation by the pressing member.

Abstract: An inage forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing an image; a movable recording material carrying member for electrostatically carrying the recording material; transfer means for electrostatically transferring the image from the image bearing member onto the recording material carried on the recording material carrying member at a transfer position, the transfer means being located at a position across from a side of the recording material carrying member carrying the recording material; and control means for controlling timing of start of change of a current flowing through the transfer means in accordance with a kind of the recording material so that the current reaches a level effective to transfer the image from the image bearing member onto the recording material carried on the recording material carrying member within a period in which a non-image formation area of the recording material at its leading edge is passing the transfer position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising the following. That is, four photosensitive drums provided in a line along the transport path of a recording sheet, four transfer rollers respectively provided in positions opposite to the photosensitive drums, via the transport path. Here, when voltages are applied to the transfer rollers, each of them generates an electric field for transferring a toner image formed on the surface of the corresponding photosensitive drum onto the recording sheet. A constant voltage power supply, and a voltage distributing circuit by which an outputted voltage as it is from the constant voltage power supply is applied to one of the transfer rollers, while different voltages are applied to the remaining three transfer rollers by dividing the outputted voltage by means of three zener diodes.

Abstract: In the conventional types of Active Transfer Voltage Control (ATVC) system, it is assumed that transferring material has definite impedance. When a toner image is transferred to the transferring material which is in a condition where only the top of the transferring material has high impedance, the conventional ATVC system maintains a transferring current higher than the critical transferring current value with the top of the transferring material and applies a bias voltage at a corrected level, whereby the ATVC system may supply an excessive current to a portion of the photosensitive drum corresponding to a location which is other than the top having the high impedance and at which a toner image is not formed. Therefore, it is provided, an image forming apparatus which is capable of favorably transferring a toner image regardless of impedance of a transferring material.

Abstract: A transfer charging device is arranged with dual transfer-assist blades consisting of a pressure blade and a halo blade. The pressure blade is arranged for contacting and thereby urging a substrate against an image-bearing photoreceptor. The pressure blade is formed of a relatively conductive material. The halo blade is formed of a dielectric material. The halo blade is positioned between the transfer charging device and the pressure blade to shield the pressure blade from being charged-up by the transfer charging device.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a potential deposited on the rear of a transfer body is selected to be zero or of the same polarity as the charge of an image carrier at least at a part of a nip formed for image transfer. In this condition, image transfer conditions allowing a minimum of toner scattering to occur at the time of image transfer are set up against, e.g., a change in the resistance of the transfer body ascribable to aging. Therefore, an image with a minimum of toner scattering is achievable.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a high weight percent of silicone within the silicone-urea block polymer for use with or as a dielectric layer material for electrostatic printing. The high weight percent comprises between about 66 and about 94 weight percent.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with an image carrier that carries a visible image thereon, a transfer support element that conveys a sheet to which the visible image is transferred from the image carrier at a transfer nip portion, and a transfer member that applies a transfer bias to the transfer support element. The transfer member is in contact with an inner layer of the transfer support element at an edge of the transfer nip portion. The transfer member has a medium inherent volume resistance which is less than an inherent volume resistance of the inner layer of the transfer support element. Further, a plurality of transfer members may be provided, in which case the transfer member closest to the transfer nip portion has the medium inherent volume resistance.

Abstract: An electro-photographic copying apparatus includes a conveyor system for moving a transferring device between a first position of engaging a conveyor belt against a photosensitive drum and a second position of the conveyor belt being spaced apart from the photosensitive drum. In the first position, an image on the photosensitive drum may be transferred to an image receiving member. In the second position, the copying apparatus is waiting to make a copy. A tension maintaining mechanism may maintain a constant tension on the conveyor belt when the transferring device is in the first or second positions. The copying apparatus may include a discharge system for discharging the conveyor belt when a transfer roller is positioned at the second position. The copying apparatus may also include a cleaning device for cleaning the transfer roller when the transfer roller is positioned at the second position.

Abstract: A copier includes a transfer charger for electrostatically transferring a toner image which is formed on a surface of a photoelectric drum to a sheet and a separation charger for separating the sheet with a toner image transferred thereto from the drum surface. A transfer guide is provided on a conveying path upstream of the transfer charger to guide the sheet toward a transfer point provided relative to the photosensitive drum. A separation supporter for supporting the sheet is provided above the separation charger.

Abstract: A biasable member having a fluorinated carbon filled polyimide layer which exhibits controlled electrical conductivity is disclosed, along with embodiments wherein the fluorinated carbon filled polyimide layer is a substrate, embodiments wherein the fluorinated carbon filled polyimide is a substrate having thereon a filled fluoropolymer outer layer, and embodiments wherein the fluorinated carbon filled polyimide layer is a substrate having thereon an intermediate metal layer, and an outer polymer layer.

Abstract: A transfer device including a transfer electrode to which a voltage of a polarity opposite to that of a charged toner is applied, and an insulating support member which makes pressure contact with the image bearing body and supports the transfer electrode in a manner such that the transfer electrode is out of contact with the image bearing body and in contact with a copy sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring a plurality of toner images having a charge thereon from a photoconductive member to a receptor sheet, the transferring device including a first corona generator for applying a charge to the sheet of polarity opposite to that of the charge on the corresponding toner image and for transferring the toner image from the member to the sheet, a second corona generator, located after the first corona generator, for applying a charge to the toner image on the sheet of a polarity equal to that of the charge on the toner image for increasing the charge thereof, and a grounding electrode opposite to the second corona generator for electrically grounding the opposite side of the receptor sheet.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, toner images respectively formed on a plurality of photosensitive components set along a transport belt are transferred onto a recording sheet transported on the transport belt by means of electric fields generated by a plurality of transfer devices set corresponding to the plurality of photosensitive components. The toner images are superimposed to form a color image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for electrostatically bearing a toner image; a dielectric member movable along an endless path through a transfer position of the image bearing member; an electroconductive member in contact with the dielectric member at a side remote from the image bearing member, wherein the electroconductive member is supplied with a voltage having a polarity opposite from that of a charge polarity of the toner image to transfer the toner image from the image bearing member onto the dielectric member at the transfer position; wherein the electroconductive member is electrically grounded to generate an electric field for transferring the toner from the dielectric member to the image bearing member at the transfer position.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a potential deposited on the rear of a transfer body is selected to be zero or of the same polarity as the charge of an image carrier at least at a part of a nip formed for image transfer. In this condition, image transfer conditions allowing a minimum of toner scattering to occur at the time of image transfer are set up against, e.g., a change in the resistance of the transfer body ascribable to aging. Therefore, an image with a minimum of toner scattering is achievable.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a transfer material by using an intermediate transfer member, having a first transfer bias power supply for applying transfer bias to a first transfer unit to generate first transfer bias between a photosensitive member and an intermediate transfer member, when toner images are successively firstly-transferred onto the intermediate transfer member, and a second transfer bias power supply for providing constant current to generate second transfer bias between the intermediate transfer member and the secondary transfer electrode, and wherein the second transfer bias power supply applies, in an overlap fashion, transfer bias of current having a current value greater than a current value of the transfer bias to be applied to an upstream image area of the transfer material and having the same polarity as that of the latter transfer bias to at least a non-image area of the transfer material at an end portion thereof in a transfer mate

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which prevents transfer memory from occurring and achieves a desired potential of an image carrier (photosensitive body) when forming an image in next cycle, thereby to obtain a high-quality output image.In order to achieve the object described above, the image forming apparatus of the invention has a belt grounding device 21 which makes contact with a transfer belt 5 and is capable of switching between grounded state and ungrounded state according to the size of copy paper P. With this configuration, because only a portion not covered by the copy paper P can be grounded according the size of the copy paper P, excessive current can be prevented from flowing into a photosensitive drum 1 at this portion, thereby preventing transfer memory from occurring.

Abstract: A conveying member for conveying a recording medium carrying a toner image transferred thereto from an image carrier, an image transferring device including the conveying member, and an image forming apparatus including the image transferring device are disclosed. The conveying member has its surface resistivity so regulated as to prevent toner from being scattered on a recording medium. Also, the range of the surface resistivity or the relation between the surface resistivities of front and rear layers constituting the conveying members is so selected as to insure the conveyance of the recording medium and obviate defective images ascribable to defective image transfer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising an image bearing member on which a toner image is formed, transfer material carrying structure for carrying thereon on a transfer material, a transfer charger for performing an image transfer operation for transferring electrostatically the toner image formed on the image bearing member to the transfer material carried on the transfer material carrying structure at an image transfer position, wherein the transfer charger performs the image transfer operation a plurality of times on the same transfer material, the transfer charger means being supplied with a voltage of a polarity opposite from that of the toner image, and a discharger device, having a first discharger disposed adjacent to the transfer material carrying side of the transfer material carrying structure and a second discharger opposed to the first discharger with the transfer material carrying structure therebetween, wherein the first and second dischargers are not operable during a period between an image tr

Abstract: Electrographic printing apparatus for forming a toner image on a recording medium, includes: a magnetic brush having a rotatable magnetic core and a stationary outer shell; a developer supply for supplying a magnetic developer powder including toner to the magnetic brush. A print head on the outer shell forms a plurality of parallel lines of developer. Toner is selectively transferred from a plurality of electrodes within each line to a receiver. A receiver electrode is arranged in spaced relation to the print head to define a recording region through which the receiver can be moved.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the type transferring a toner image from a photoconductive element to a recording medium by way of an intermediate transfer belt is disclosed. Toner images of different colors are sequentially transferred from the photoconductive element to the intermediate transfer belt one above the other, forming a full-color image. When the full-color image is to be transferred from the intermediate transfer belt to a paper or similar recording medium, a secondary transfer belt is brought into contact with the portion of the intermediate transfer belt contacting a secondary transfer roller. As a result, the secondary transfer belt deforms complementarily to the shape of the secondary transfer roller, forming a nip between it and the intermediate transfer belt. In this condition, the secondary transfer belt contacts the intermediate transfer belt evenly and prevents an excessive pressure from acting locally on the toner image existing on the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for robust transfer of toner images using toner particles having a volume average diameter between about 2 .mu.m and about 9 .mu.m is described. Surprisingly good electrostatic transfer is obtained when the surface charge density of the toner is between 3.0.times.10.sup.-9 coul/cm.sup.2 and 6.5.times.10.sup.-9 coul/cm.sup.2 and when this toner is used in conjunction with a compliant transfer intermediate.

Abstract: An image formation system which includes a latent image support drum 11 on which a latent image is formed, an image formation unit 30 for forming a latent image on the latent image support drum 11, a developing device 14 for developing the latent image formed on the latent image support drum 11, an intermediate transfer medium belt 16 for receiving transfer of the toner image formed on the latent image support drum 11, a transfer charger 15 for transferring the toner image formed on the latent image support drum 11 onto the intermediate transfer medium belt 16, electric field giving means 25 for causing a force in an attraction direction toward the intermediate transfer medium belt 16 to act on the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer medium belt 16, a secondary transfer roll 24 for transferring the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer medium belt 16 onto a recording medium 23, and a fuser for fixing the toner image transferred onto the recording medium 23.

Abstract: The present invention is a printing apparatus, in which toner images on a latent image bearing member are electrically transferred onto an intermediate transfer member, for recording onto a recording medium, comprising charging the surface of the intermediate transfer member in the same polarity as the toner image whenever each of the toner images is transferred from the latent image bearing member onto the intermediate transfer member.The present invention can present a printing apparatus and printing method for suppressing the reverse transfer of the toner images onto the photosensitive element when the toner images are transferred in lamination onto the intermediate transfer member, for example, in an electrophotographic printer.

Abstract: A transfer means has a film lightly contacting a back surface of a transfer medium and applying a transfer field thereto. The film rises rapidly with respect to a contact portion with the back surface of the transfer medium on the upstream side of the direction of movement of the transfer medium relative to the film, and slopes gently from the contact portion in a continuous curve on a downstream side of the direction of movement. The film is capable of displacement between a support and an image carrier, and contacts and disengages the transfer medium according to the presence or absence of electrostatic adsorptive force due to the supply or withdrawal of an electric current.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming unit to form a first developer image on a first image carrier, a second image forming unit to form a second developer image on a second image carrier, a conveyor belt to convey an image transfer medium to the first and the second image carriers in order, a first transferring roller provided in contact with the conveyor belt facing the first image carrier with the conveyor belt put between to transfer the first developer image on the image transfer medium and a second transferring roller provided in contact with the conveyor belt facing the second image carrier with the conveyor belt put between to transfer the second developer image on the image transfer medium on which the first developer image has been transferred.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus which comprises an image bearing member, a recording material bearing member for holding and conveying a recording material to a transfer portion, a transfer charge member for transferring an image from the image bearing member to the recording material born by the recording material bearing member, and an urging means for urging the rear surface of the recording material bearing member in the vicinity of the transfer portion. The transfer charge member being contacted with a rear surface of the recording material bearing member opposite to a front surface on which the recording material is held at the transfer portion.

Abstract: A small particle toner image is formed on a primary image member (11), such as a photoconductor; electrostatically transferred to an intermediate transfer member (22); and then electrostatically transferred to a receiving sheet. The intermediate transfer member includes a base of a relatively compliant material having an embedded coating of beads with a volume weighted average diameter of less than about 3 microns, and preferably between 0.5 and 1.0 micron. These beads cover at least 40% of the intermediate image member.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a toner image is formed on an image carrier and the toner image thus formed is transferred onto a transfer material. The image forming apparatus solves troublesome matters of image quality and a transfer material conveying quality due to temperature and/or humidity variations without employing a separate temperature/humidity sensor. The transfer conveying belt includes at least two layers which are, a first layer having a surface resistance rate of 1-10.sup.10 .about.1-10.sup.16 and a second layer having a surface resistance rate of 1-10.sup.7 .about.1-10.sup.11, and the second layer is constructed with a rubber material having a temperature/humidity variation of electric resistance which is larger than a temperature/humidity variation of electric resistance of the first layer. Such a transfer conveying belt itself is then used as a temperature/humidity sensor.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus comprising an image bearing member for bearing an image thereon, and a transfer device for transferring the image from the image bearing member to a recording material at a transfer station. Wherein a limit value of electric power supplied to the transfer device is changed between a case where an imaged portion of the image bearing member is positioned at the transfer station and a case where a non-imaged portion of the image bearing member is positioned at the transfer station.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member, and a transfer material support having a circumferential length an integer multiple of that of the image bearing member for supporting and transporting a transfer material. An image formed on the image bearing member is transferred at a transfer position onto the transfer material supported by the transfer material support. The image forming apparatus also includes a press member for pressing the transfer material support against the image bearing member at the transfer position. A varying device varies a relative position between the peripheral surfaces of the image bearing member and the transfer material support without shifting the transfer material support away from the image bearing member. A release device releases pressing of the transfer material support against the image bearing member by the press member when the varying device varies the relative position of the image bearing member and the transfer material support.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus comprising an image bearing means for bearing an image, a transfer material bearing member for bearing and conveying a transfer material, and a transfer member for transferring the image on the image bearing means onto the transfer material born by the transfer material bearing member, the transfer member being arranged to contact with a surface of the transfer material bearing member opposite to a surface on which the transfer material is born. The transfer member comprises a first layer contacting with the transfer material bearing member and a second layer not contacting with the transfer material bearing member, and the first layer has coefficient of kinetic friction smaller than that of the second layer.