Apparatus for transferring a developed image from a photosensitive member to a receiver

Claim 1

Apparatus for transferring a toner image from an element, comprising a photoconductive insulating layer overlying a translucent conductive base, to a receiver, the toner image being formed of toner particles having a charge of a first polarity thereon which create forces of attraction between the toner particles and the photoconductive insulating layer, said apparatus comprising: a. a corona discharge electrode for applying an electrostatic charge of said first polarity to the toner image on said photoconductive insulating layer; b. means, including a rotatable cylinder and an opposed backing roller forming a nip there between, for bringing the toner image on said photoconductive insulating layer into face to face relationship with the receiver along at least a line of contact, said line of contact and the respective central axes of said cylinder and said roller lying in a common plane; c. a source of direct current potential for applying an electrical potential of a second and opposite polarity to the receiver at said line of contact to attract the toner image to the receiver; d. a source of illumination for exposing said photoconductive insulating layer to actinic radiation through said translucent conductive base to reduce the forces of attraction between the toner particles and said element ; and e. means for separating said element From the receiver as the receiver passes from said nip along an exit plane, wherein the included angle between said common plane and said exit plane is less than 90*.