Control of tone reproduction characteristics by time constant of development roller in monocomponent development

The authors describe the relationship between the resistance of a development roller and the development characteristics of a monocomponent development system. To investigate this relationship the authors developed an electric field neutralization model by considering a virtual electrode determined by the time constant of a resistive layer on a development roller. From a simulation model and experimental results, the authors find that the tone reproduction curve for development γ is strongly dependent on the layer time constant. When the time constant is smaller than the development time, γ is determined by neutralization of the development electric field. When the time constant is larger than the development time, γ is determined by a counter charge left on the development roller after toner is deposited on the photoreceptor. It became possible to vary the tone curve over a wide range by the time constant of development roller in monocomponent development