Temperature dependence of the dispersion parameter determined from transient photocurrent traces has been numerically examined for various localized-state distributions in amorphous semiconductors. It is found that the dispersion parameter is proportional to temperature even for non-exponential distributions. This result indicates that the existence of the exponential distribution of localized state cannot be concluded only from the proportionality relationship between the dispersion parameter and temprature.

View full abstract

High print quality, better than popular electrographic page printer, is commonly expected from today's DTP (Desk Top Publishing) systems, in addition to compactness and easy maintenance.
To meet these requirements, we have developed the FMT (Fine Micro Toning) Development Process, which is highly improved compared the ordinary monocomponent process. The special feature of this process is that a conductive flexible developer sleeve is used for the soft contact between the photoconductor and the sleeve surface at the developing region.
Consequently, high-quality printouts without edge effects, almost equivalent to the commercial printing quality, can be obtained by this process. This process was adopted for the imaging cartridge of Minolta's compact type page printer SP3000 and SP 3500.

View full abstract

A probe is used for a non-contact measurement of the surface potential of photoconductors in printers and copiers. A new probe with limit effect was developed. The sensor was located at the side of the guard-case so that a beam of exposure can go into from the back and reach the photoconductor directly through the open window (aperture). Since a transparent electrode is not used, the partial absorption or the reflection of lights does not occur. We confirmed the measurement is done only in the area just under the window. We also confirmed the measurement depends little on the gap between our probe and the photoconductor. Moreover we analyzed several properties of our probe the oretically, using the map of electric lines of force obtained by the experiment called 'fulid mapper'.

View full abstract

Electrophotographic full-color imaging process causes the enlargement of machine size and the limitation in copying speed because full-color image is formed by sequential processes of charging, exposing, developing, transferring of each color component and there must be several developing units and transfer medium. To solve this problem, the non-contact developing process using thin-layer magnetic brush and one-shot direct transfer process from OPC drum to paper without using transfer medium has been proposed. By using this process, we can achieve the down sizing of machine and the high copying speed. However, compared with the current contact develping process, the stability of development is more severely required. In this report, the mechanism and stability of non-contact development is studied and the results are as follows.
1) The physical adhesion force between toner and carrier influences on the development of toner in this proscess.
2) The impact resistant toner binder with hard segment in main frame and long soft segment in its side is nesessary to stabilize the development.
3) To reduce the change of physical adhesion force it is nesessary to design the optimum additive size on the surface of toner and the releasing-agent domain size in it.

View full abstract