Abstract: A door open/close switch mechanism, which turns on and off predetermined power of an image forming apparatus in conjunction with an open/close operation of an open/close portion of the image forming apparatus, includes an operating member, a switch and an on/off member. The operating member moves in a first direction when a first open/close portion of the image forming apparatus is opened/closed while the operating member moves in a second direction when a second open/close portion of the image forming apparatus is opened/closed. The switch is provided to turn on and off the predetermined power of the image forming apparatus. The on/off member is integrally provided with the operating member and turns the switch on only when the on/off member moves to a predetermined position after moved in both the first and second directions.

Abstract: A binder resin which forms a resin powdery product such as a toner for developing electrostatic latent images. The binder resin comprises a biodegradable resin comprising a polyhydroxyalkanoate produced by culturing a microorganism and having as a specific monomer unit a 3-hydroxyalkanoic acid such as 3-hydroxy-5-phenylvaleric acid. This binder resin has very good properties as a binder resin and also has a high safety to human bodies and environment. Also disclosed are a toner for developing electrostatic latent images which contains such a binder resin, and an image-forming method and an image-forming apparatus which make use of the toner.

Abstract: A process is proposed for the double-sided printing and/or coating of a substrate using at least one liquid or dry toner that has at least one polymer. It is provided that at least one toner layer or a first image that has at least one toner layer is transferred onto a first side of the substrate. Then, the toner is heated up to at least its glass transformation temperature, and fixed onto the substrate. In the process, the original glass transformation point of the toner shifts to a higher temperature level as a result of the cross-linking of its polymer chains, and the viscosity is increased. In a second processing step, at least one toner layer or a second image is transferred onto the second side of the substrate and heated up to a temperature that is equal to or greater than its glass transformation temperature.

Abstract: In a solid state radiation detector, an electrode layer, to which an electromagnetic wave for retrieval is irradiated, is formed by alternately arranging a first stripe electrode for transmitting the electromagnetic wave for retrieval and a second stripe electrode for shielding the same. Upon recording a radiation image, discharge breakdown of the first and the second stripe electrodes owing to application of a direct-current voltage is avoided.

Abstract: A method of improving the quality of sounds produced from a device provided with a mechanical drive mechanism and the like is provided. In this method, by using either one of or both of units for suppressing noise of a noise source produced in said device and of its transmission path, a discomfort index S of a sound obtained by inputting a value of loudness and a value of sharpness of psychological sound parameters obtained from a sound at a position apart by 1 meter from the exterior of said device into the following equation (a): S=0.01024269×(loudness value)2+0.30996744×(sharpness value)−2.1386517  (a) will satisfy the following condition (b): S<−0.

Abstract: When a photoreceptor unit and a developing unit are combined with each other, the photoreceptor does not come into direct contact with the developing unit. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent generation of scratches on the surface of photoreceptor, and lowering of electrostatic sensitivity due to scratches may be prevented. As a result, an excellent image will be formed. It improves the efficiency in the manufacture of image forming apparatus. A method of manufacturing an image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a process of applying a toner to the surface of developing roller and a process of making the developing roller with the toner applied thereto come into contact with the photoreceptor to combine the developing unit and the photoreceptor unit with each other. Preferably, the manufacturing method further includes a process of performing functional tests of a finished image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A method of producing and using an artists chalk from dry copier toner is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a holder having a cavity for holding the toner, the cavity having a shape which, at least approximately, defines the shape of the finished chalk; and heating the toner at a temperature high enough and for a period long enough to sinter the toner into a chalk. Pressure is not applied to the toner particles. The temperature is in the range of, approximately, 150° F. to 220° F., and the time is in the range of, approximately, 3 to 60 minutes. The holder typically includes a paper tube which forms part of the finished chalk. Typically, the temperature is in the range of 180° F. to 185° F., and the time is in the range of 7 to 11 minutes. For harder chalks higher temperatures and shorter times are used. For softer chalks, lower temperatures and longer times are used.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which forms an image on a recording mateial, which has: a writing section to write according to the image data; an oscillator to generate a synchronized synchronizing clock signal; a spreading clock generator to spread the band of a synchronized reference clock and generate spreading clock signals; and a plurality of control circuits to control the image forming apparatus and each section of the image forming apparatus including a writing control circuit to control the writing section. More than one control circuits in the control circuits other than the writing control circuit are driven by the spreading clock signals, and the writing control cirucit is driven by the synchronizing clock signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recycling marking surfaces such as office paper is described. The system scans a marking surface, determines the location of printing on the marking surface and deposits erasing material directly over the printing. Because the distribution of erasing material is confined to the printed areas, the use of erasing material is minimized. The described system can be easily adapted for use in traditional copying systems to recycle paper.

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: An apparatus for removing printing material from a recording member on which an image is recorded by the printing material is provided with a releasing member and a separating device. The releasing member has a plane surface with which the surface of the recording member recorded with the printing material comes into contact. The releasing member moves to a predetermined direction with the recording member held thereon. The separating device is disposed on the plane surface of the releasing member for separating the recording member from the releasing member. A separation line between the releasing member and the recording member is angled with respect to the front end of the recording member.

Abstract: A method of producing and using an artists chalk from dry copier toner is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a holder having a cavity for holding the toner, the cavity having a shape which, at least approximately, defines the shape of the finished chalk; and heating the toner at a temperature high enough and for a period long enough to sinter the toner into a chalk. Pressure is not applied to the toner particles. The temperature is in the range of, approximately, 150.degree. F. to 220.degree. F., and the time is in the range of, approximately, 3 to 60 minutes. The holder typically includes a paper tube which forms part of the finished chalk. Typically, the temperature is in the range of 180.degree. F. to 185.degree. F., and the time is in the range of 7 to 11 minutes. For harder chalks higher temperatures and shorter times are used. For softer chalks, lower temperature and longer times are used.

Abstract: An apparatus according to the present invention removes printing material from a recording member on which an image is recorded by the printing material. The apparatus comprises a releasing member and heating member. The releasing member comes into pressure contact with the recording member, adheres to the printing material on the recording member, and then separates from the recording member to release the printing material from the recording member. The heating member heats at least any one of the contact surface of the recording member to the releasing member or the contact surface of the releasing member to the recording member.

Abstract: This specification discloses a sheet feeding device for feeding a sheet comprising sheet supporting means for supporting the sheet thereon, a sheet feeding roller for contacting with the sheet supported on the sheet supporting means and feeding the sheet, and cleaning means for contacting with that portion of the sheet feeding roller which contacts with the sheet, and cleaning the contacting portion, the sheet feeding roller having a cut-away portion which does not contact with the sheet, secondary cleaning means for cleaning the cleaning means being provided in the cut-away portion. The specification also discloses an image forming apparatus provided with such sheet feeding device.

Abstract: Carbonless papers manufactured as grain-short paper and wherein the grain direction is parallel to the direction of feed when a toner image is transferred upon in electrophotographic copiers, copier/duplicators, and laser printers results in reduced paper jams, reduced paper curl, and allows the use of lower basis weight papers and the use of non-xerographic grade papers than that normally used in electrophotography.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for reusing an image recording material wherein a releasing property is imparted to at least a substrate surface of an image recording material on which an image has been formed of an image forming material containing a heat fusible ingredient, a heat fusible material is added or attached onto the image recording material, a stripping member is contacted under pressure with the heat fusible material while heating the heat fusible material together with the image recording materials to fuse, and the image recording material is peeled off from the stripping member to transfer the image forming material together with the heat fusible material to the stripping member, thereby reusing the image recording material. The materials for imparting a releasing property to the substrate surface include silicone compounds such as silane compounds, preferably those silane compounds containing fine particles such as silicone resins.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a machine body provided with a cartridge mounting portion, and a process cartridge removably mounted in the machine body for forming images on a recording paper. The process cartridge is provided with a first terminal, whereas the machine body is provided with a second terminal for contact with the first terminal when the process cartridge is loaded at the cartridge mounting portion. Further, the machine body is also provided with a charge removing member which comes into contact with the first terminal when the process cartridge is mounted at the cartridge mounting portion but before the first terminal comes into contact with the second terminal.

Abstract: In a sheet handling machine having a frame, and a cut sheet handling system including a sheet path, a stalled sheet pulling and crushing apparatus for reducing a sheet, stalled across an interface between a withdrawable and a fixed component of a cut sheet handling system into a shape and size suitably enabling reliable removal of the stalled sheet through a relatively narrow gap between the withdrawable and fixed components of the sheet handling system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing high quality folded greeting cards or the like is described as is a package of receiver sheet stock used for making such cards. A toned image is formed on an image supporting member using preferably an electrostatographic recording apparatus. A discrete receiver sheet is fed into engagement with the image supporting member to transfer the image to the receiver sheet. The receiver sheet is of a card stock of the type having a weight of no less than 28# bond. The grain of the sheet is in the grain short direction and the receiver sheet is fed into transfer relationship with the image supporting member by movement of the sheet in a direction coincident with the direction of the longer edges of the sheet. The receiver sheet is further characterized by one or more scoring lines which extend generally parallel to and intermediate the shorter edges of the sheet to facilitate folding of the receiver sheet after formation of an image thereon.

Abstract: A network interface board which breaks out the functionality of a digital copier, namely scanning functionality and printing functionality, and makes that functionality available to local area network users. The functionality is made available to the local area network users in a multi-tasking environment by which different functionality is available to the different users concurrently. Specifically, a digital copier which includes a scanner part and a printer part includes an interface bus by which image data for the scanner part and the printer part is accessible. A multi-device controller is connected to the interface bus such that the multi-device controller provides interface to the scanner part and to the printer part. The multi-device controller also provides an interface to additional option boards via an MDC bus and a video bus. A network interface board is connected on one end to the MDC bus and to the video bus and is connected on the other end to a local area network.

Abstract: The outer circumferential portions of the opposite ends of a cylindrical photosensitive body provided with a photosensitive layer on a substrate is supported while the photosensitive body is driven. The rotation of the photosensitive body is controlled by control members which are a roll member, a tracking roll, an electrification roll member or the like. The substrate may be shaped into a cylinder by rolling up a metal strip or a metal plate and TIG-welding a joint portion thereof.

Abstract: A sheet of paper, plastic or the like on which an image has been formed using a toner that is photochemically decolorizable by absorption of near infrared rays is illuminated with near infrared rays under the state wherein the image is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the glass-transition temperature of a binding resin of the toner. The color of the toner can thereby be easily and rapidly eliminated. This enables the reuse of the sheet to be realized easily and at a low cost.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for removing an image forming substance such as toner from an image holding member such as a sheet of transfer paper, an unstabilizing agent is provided to the image holding member. An attaching state between the image forming substance and the image holding member stably attaching the image forming substance on a surface thereof is changed to an unstable state by the unstabilizing agent. The image forming substance is separated and removed from the image holding member by making a separating member come in close contact with the image forming substance on the image holding member having the provided unstabilizing agent. A processing situation mark showing a processing situation of removal of the image forming substance is formed in the image holding member. The processing situation mark can be removed from the image holding member by the image forming substance removing processing.