Process for transferring electrostatic latent images

A process of transferring an electrostatic latent image for electrophotography comprising the steps of:

• a. forming the electrostatic latent image on a dielectric layer on the front face of a photoconductive plate having on its rear face an electrically conductive layer substantially grounded while the photoconductive plate is being driven by a drive member;
• b. bringing copy paper onto the latent image bearing surface of the photoconductive plate by a first member grounded through a high resistance to advance the copy paper with a small gap maintained between the paper and the plate, the copy paper having on its rear face an electrically conductive lining layer having a high electric resistance of 10.sup.5 to 10.sup.10 ohms and on its front face a dielectric layer, the first member serving substantially as a high resistance element having a higher resistance than the conductive lining layer, the transfer of the high potential portion of the latent image being initiated as the copy paper advances between the plate and the first member and being limited by the resistance of the first member;
• c. injecting a transfer charge into the copy paper travelling along the photoconductive plate with a small air gap maintained therebetween by a second member grounded and having a lower electric resistance than the conductive lining layer of the copy paper, the low potential portion of the latent image being transferred to the copy paper as it traverses the second member whereas the copy paper is spaced from the latent image surface by the small air gap of at least 10 microns;
• and
• d. separating the copy paper from the photoconductive plate after the plate has passed over the second member.