Image forming method

Claim 2

An image forming method of irradiating light onto a side of a photosensitive body having a photoconductive layer and a conductive layer, supplying a conductive developing agent to the photosensitive body while a bias voltage is applied between the conductive layer and the developing agent, and forming an image of the developing agent on the photosensitive body in accordance with the light irradiating the photosensitive body, comprising the sequentially performed steps of: starting supplying said photosensitive body with the developing agent from the side opposing the light irradiated side of said photosensitive body and starting driving of said photosensitive body in a direction of image formation, which sub-steps are performed in any order; starting application of the bias voltage between said photosensitive body and the developing agent; stopping application of the bias voltage after irradiation of the light is completed and stopping driving of said photosensitive body, which sub-steps are performed in any order; and stopping supplying said photosensitive body with the developing agent.

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1, wherein the steps of the method are performed in a nonimaging area of said photosensitive body.

Claim 4

A method according to claim 2, wherein said nonimaging area of said photosensitive body has a surface having the same color as that of the developing agent.

Claim 5

A method according to claim 2, wherein said nonimaging area of said photosensitive body has a high resistivity.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 1, wherein an image formed by the developing agent on said photosensitive body can be visually observed.

Claim 7

An image forming method of irradiating light onto a side of a photosensitive drum having a photoconductive layer and a conductive layer, supplying a conductive developing agent to the photosensitive body while a bias voltage is applied between the conductive layer and the developing agent, and forming an image of the developing agent on the photosensitive body in accordance with the light irradiating the photosensitive body, comprising the steps of: upon completion of image formation, stopping application of the bias voltage when irradiation of the light is completed, and separating the developing agent from said photosensitive body and stopping driving of said photosensitive body, which sub-steps are performed in any order; and upon start of image formation, starting driving of said photosensitive body and starting bringing the developing agent into contact with said photosensitive body from the side opposing the light irradiated side of said photosensitive body, which sub-steps are performed in any order, and starting application of the bias voltage between said photosensitive body and the developing agent, thereby forming an image on said photosensitive body.

Claim 8

An image forming method of irradiating light onto a side of a photosensitive drum having a photoconductive layer and a conductive layer, supplying a conductive developing agent to the photosensitive body while a bias voltage is applied between the conductive layer and the developing agent, and forming an image of the developing agent on the photosensitive body in accordance with the light irradiating the photosensitive body, comprising the steps of: upon completion of image formation, stopping application of the bias voltage when irradiation of the light is completed, and separating the developing agent from said photosensitive body and stopping driving of said photosensitive body, which sub-steps are performed in any order; and upon start of image formation, starting driving of said photosensitive body and starting bringing the developing agent into contact with said photosensitive body from the side opposing the light irradiated side of said photosensitive body, which sub-steps are performed in any order, and starting application of the bias voltage between said photosensitive body and the developing agent, thereby forming an image on said photosensitive body.

Claim 9

A method according to claim 6, wherein the developing agent is separated from said photosensitive body by separating a developing agent carrying member from said photosensitive body.

Claim 10

A method according to claim 6, wherein at least the steps other than stopping application of the bias voltage are performed in a nonimaging area of said photosensitive body.

Claim 11

A method according to claim 7, wherein said developing agent carrying member transfers the developing agent after stopping application of the bias voltage.

Claim 12

A method according to claim 9, wherein said developing agent carrying member transfers the developing agent before starting bringing the developing agent into contact with said photosensitive body.

Claim 13

A method according to claim 8, wherein said nonimaging area of said photosensitive body has a surface having the same color as that of the developing agent.

Claim 14

A method according to claim 8, wherein the surface of said nonimaging area of said photosensitive body has a high resistivity.

Claim 15

An image forming method of irradiating light onto a side of a photosensitive body having a photoconductive layer and a conductive layer, supplying a conductive developing agent to the photosensitive body while a bias voltage is applied between the conductive layer and the developing agent, and forming an image of the developing agent on the photosensitive body in accordance with the light irradiating the photosensitive body, comprising the sequentially performed steps of: starting supplying said photosensitive body with the developing agent from the side opposing the light irradiated side of said photosensitive body; starting application of the bias voltage between said photosensitive body and the developing agent; stopping application of the bias voltage when image formation is completed; stopping driving of said photosensitive body; and stopping supplying said photosensitive body with the developing agent.

Claim 16

An image forming method of irradiating light onto a side of a photosensitive body having a photoconductive layer and a conductive layer, supplying a conductive developing agent to the photosensitive body while a bias voltage is applied between the conductive layer and the developing agent, and forming an image of the developing agent on the photosensitive body in accordance with the light irradiating the photosensitive body, comprising the sequentially performed steps of: starting supplying said photosensitive body with the developing agent from the side opposing the light irradiated side of said photosensitive body; starting application of the bias voltage between said photosensitive body and the developing agent; stopping application of the bias voltage when image formation is completed; stopping driving of said photosensitive body; and stopping supplying said photosensitive body with the developing agent.

Claim 17

A method according to claim 1, wherein the sub-steps of starting supplying said photosensitive body with the developing agent and starting driving of said photosensitive body are performed substantially simultaneously.

Claim 18

A method according to claim 1, wherein the sub-steps of stopping application of the bias voltage and stopping driving of said photosensitive body are performed substantially simultaneously.

Claim 19

A method according to claim 1, wherein the sub-steps of starting supplying said photosensitive body with the developing agent and starting driving of said photosensitive body are performed substantially simultaneously and the sub=steps of stopping application of the bias voltage and stopping driving of said photosensitive body are performed substantially simultaneously.

Claim 20

A method according to claim 6, wherein the sub-steps of separating the developing agent from said photosensitive body and stopping driving of said photosensitive body are performed substantially simultaneously.

Claim 21

A method according to claim 6, wherein the sub-steps of starting driving of said photosensitive body and starting bringing the developing agent into contact with said photosensitive body are performed substantially simultaneously.

Claim 22

A method according to claim 6, wherein the sub-steps of separating the developing agent from said photosensitive body and stopping driving of said photosensitive body are performed substantially simultaneously and the sub-steps of starting driving of said photosensitive body and starting bringing the developing agent into contact with said photosensitive body are performed substantially simultaneously.

Claim 23

A method according to claim 6, wherein an image formed by the developing agent on said photosensitive body can be visually observed.

Claim 24

A method according to claim 13, wherein an image formed by the developing agent on said photosensitive body can be visually observed.