Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha

Hideya Nishise

Masaru Imaizumi

Katsuhiko Takeda

Toshiyuki Sakai

Susumu Sakakibara

Akihiro Nishida

Hideo Kitakubo

Kouji Ito

Masao Shimizu

Nobuyuki Mabuchi

An image forming apparatus provided with a mechanism for causing an intermediate transfer member to be in contact with a photoconductor while a toner image formed on the photoconductor after development is firstly transferred onto the intermediate transfer member and otherwise keeps the transfer member away from the photoconductor. The mechanism for causing contact or separation keeps the intermediate transfer member away from a cleaner by its function of contacting the intermediate transfer member with the photoconductor, and keeps the intermediate transfer member in contact with the cleaner by its function of keeping the intermediate transfer member away from the photoconductor.

Image forming method and apparatus having intermediate transfer member

An image forming apparatus using the electrophotographic process in which a toner image on a photoconductive drum is transferred onto a secondary transferring belt and the transferred toner image is further transferred onto a copy paper provides a sensor for detecting an occurrence of a paper jam before the copy paper reaches the secondary transferring belt and resumes the copying operation from the action suspended by the paper jam as soon as it is recovered from the paper jam.

Image forming apparatus with jam recovery function

An image forming apparatus comprising a toner image retaining member having an electrically conductive substrate and a dielectric layer formed thereon is disclosed. In the image forming apparatus, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to an image of a document is formed on a photoconductive member, and the electrostatic latent image is developed with a toner so as to form a visible toner image on the photoconductive member. Thereafter, in the primary transfer process, the dielectric layer is electrified and the electrified dielectric layer is brought into contact with the photoconductive member so as to transfer the toner image onto the toner image retaining member, and in the secondary transfer process, the transferred toner image is transferred onto a paper.

Image forming apparatus with and method using an intermediate toner

A color image forming method using a toner image retaining member is disclosed. In the color image forming method, a plurality of electrostatic latent images corresponding to respective color components of an image of a document are formed sequentially on a photoconductive member, and the electrostatic latent images are developed sequentially with respective toners of different colors so as to form the corresponding visible toner images on the photoconductive member. Thereafter, the toner images are transferred sequentially onto the toner image retaining member by electrifying the toner image retaining member every transfer process for each of the toner image so as to form a color image thereon, and the color image is transferred onto a paper.

Color image forming method

A agitating and supplying device arranged in a powder developer cyclic path of a developing apparatus comprises a pairs of flanges, a plurality of first supplying members and a plurality of second supplying members, all supplying members being arranged between both of the flanges. By rotation of the agitating and supplying device, a developer is transferred while being agitated in the axial direction and the centrifugal direction thereof and supplied on the surface of a magnet sleeve roller. A mold for molding the agitating and supplying device, comprises a plurality of mold members opening in the radial direction with respect to the axis of the device, the number of said member being the same as those of the first supplying members. The flanges, the first supplying members, and parts of the second supplying members of the agitating and supplying device are molded integrally by the mold.

Agitating and supplying device and a mold for molding same

A toner supplying device of the present invention has a toner storage tank having a toner supply opening in its bottom for accommodating a toner therein; a first toner transport member disposed within the storage tank and drivingly rotatable for transporting the toner; a second toner transport member disposed within the storage tank in parallel with the first toner transport member and drivingly rotatable for transporting the toner in a direction opposite to the direction of transport by the first toner transport member; and a cover covering the first toner transport member and the toner supply opening, yet only partially covering the first toner transport member. With this device, an excess of toner is prevented from flowing out from the storage tank through the opening since the cover is provided at an intermediate portion of the path of transport of the toner for covering the first toner transport member and the toner supply opening.

Toner supplying device

The present invention relates to a transfer sheet guiding device. The transfer sheet guiding device includes a separator for separating one lateral side of the transfer sheet from a photosensitive drum and a guiding plate for guiding the transfer sheet in a direction away from the photosensitive drum. The guiding plate extends in an adjustably inclined position with one lateral side thereof adjacent the separating means disposed at a level lower than the other lateral side thereof.

Transfer sheet guiding device

At least one developing unit of the magnetic brush type is disclosed opposite to an electrostatic latent image carrier, said developing unit having a developing sleeve in which is housed a magnetic roller having a weak-magnetic or non-magnetic portion. The developing unit also has drive means for rotating the magnetic roller and the developing sleeve a specified degree, whereby the magnetic roller is so rotated that its weak-magnetic or non-magnetic portion is allowed to pass a position opposite to a level regulating member, and whereby the developing sleeve is subsequently so rotated until its outer peripheral portion opposite to the weak-magnetic or non-magnetic portion reaches a position opposite to the electrostatic latent image carrier. Thus, a developing powder present on the outer periphery of the developing sleeve is shunted away from a developing zone on the outer periphery. Such shunting of the developing powder is carried out with any of the developing unit other than one selected for developing operation.

Growing community of inventors

Osaka, Japan

Hideya Nishise