Device for transporting sheet members using an alternating voltage

A device for transporting a sheet member having a substantial flat surface, comprising:

• a transporting member made of a dielectric for transporting the sheet member while holding the flat surface of the sheet member in contact with a surface of said transporting member;
• an electrode held in contact with said transporting member for forming a charge density pattern on said surface of said transporting member;
• and
• voltage applying means for applying an alternating voltage to said electrode in order to form said charge density pattern;
• the alternating voltage comprising a non-uniform alternating voltage.

A device for transporting a sheet member having a substantial flat surface, comprising:

• an endless belt transporting member made of a dielectric for transporting the sheet member while holding the flat surface of the sheet member in contact with a surface of said transporting member;
• an electrode held in contact with said transporting member for forming a charge density pattern on said surface of said transporting member;
• a roller supporting said endless belt and located to face said electrode;
• and
• voltage applying means for applying an alternating voltage to said transporting member in order to form said charge density pattern;
• wherein a position where the sheet member is fed to said endless belt is located downstream of a position where said roller faces said electrode with respect to an intended direction of movement of said endless belt and in a range where said endless belt contacts said roller.

A color image forming apparatus having a device for transporting a paper sheet in a reciprocating motion to transfer a plurality of developed color images from a image carrier to said paper sheet one upon another, said device comprising:

• an endless transport belt made of a dielectric material for transporting the paper sheet to an image transfer position by retaining said paper sheet;
• a pair of roller means for passing over and supporting said transport belt, said roller means comprising a drive roller for driving said transport belt in the reciprocating motion and a conductive roller connected to ground;
• an electrode contacting said transport belt and facing said conductive roller with the intermediary of said transport belt for forming, when said transport belt is in a forward and a backward movement, a charge density pattern on a portion of said transport belt;
• and
• voltage applying means for applying an alternating voltage to said electrode to form said charge density pattern on said portion of said transport belt wherein said paper sheet remains uncharged.

A device for transporting a sheet member having a substantial flat surface, comprising:

• a transporting member for transporting the sheet member while holding the flat surface of the sheet member in contact with a surface of said transporting member, said transporting member comprising an endless belt which is made of a dielectric and has a continuous solid layer;
• an electrode held in contact with said transporting member for forming a charge density pattern on said surface of said transporting member;
• and
• voltage applying means for applying an alternating voltage to said electrode in order to form said charge density pattern wherein the sheet member remains uncharged.

A device for transporting a sheet member having a substantial flat surface, comprising:

• a transporting member made of a dielectric for transporting the sheet member while holding the flat surface of the sheet member in contact with a surface of said transporting member;
• an electrode held in contact with said transporting member for forming a charge density pattern on said surface of said transporting member;
• and
• voltage applying means for applying an alternating voltage to said electrode in order to form said charge density pattern,
• said transporting member comprising an endless belt which comprises a conductive layer provided over an entire inner periphery of said endless belt, said conductive layer being connected to ground.

A device for transporting a sheet member having a substantial flat surface, comprising:

• a transporting member made of a dielectric for transporting the sheet member while holding the flat surface of the sheet member in contact with a surface of said transporting member;
• an electrode held in contact with said transporting member for forming a charge density pattern on said surface of said transporting member;
• and
• voltage applying means for applying an alternating voltage to said electrode in order to form said charge density pattern;
• said transporting member comprising an endless belt which comprises a transport belt for transporting a document along a glass platen of a copier or similar equipment, said transport belt and a surface of the glass platen being spaced apart by a clearance which is greater than a maximum thickness of documents usable with the equipment.

A device for transporting a sheet member having a substantial flat surface, comprising:

• a transporting member made of a dielectric for transporting the sheet member while holding the flat surface of the sheet member in contact with a surface of said transporting member;
• an electrode held in contact with said transporting member for forming a charge density pattern on said surface of said transporting member;
• and
• voltage applying means for applying an alternating voltage to said electrode in order to form said charge density pattern;
• said charge density pattern having a pitch of 0.1 mm to 20 mm.

A device for transporting a sheet member having a substantial flat surface, comprising:

• a transporting member made of a dielectric for transporting the sheet member while holding the flat surface of the sheet member in contact with a surface of said transporting member;
• an electrode held in contact with said transporting member for forming a charge density pattern on said surface of said transporting member;
• and
• voltage applying means for applying an alternating voltage to said electrode in order to form said charge density pattern;
• the alternating voltage being higher than a charge starting voltage by at least 500 V in terms of peak-to-peak voltage.