METHOD AND APPARATUS USING ENDLESS WEB FOR FACILITATING TRANSFER OF MARKING PARTICLE IMAGE FROM INTERMEDIATE IMAGE TRANSFER MEMBER TO RECEIVER MEMBER

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce pre-nip transfer and pre-nip ionization at the time of transfer. SOLUTION: The reproduction method and apparatus include a primary image forming member (12, 103, 503, 603), and an intermediate image transfer member (20, 108, 508, 608), whereby a marking particle image formed on the primary image forming member can be electrostatically transferred to the intermediate image transfer member (ITM). An endless web arrangement (34, 116, 416, 516, 616) is provided. A transfer electric field is provided to electrostatically transfer the marking particle image to the receiver member. The overlap portion of the endless web on the peripheral edge of the ITM is preferably greater than a nip length or nip region to ensure intimate contact of the receiver member in the nip and reduce the pre-nip transfer and the pre-nip ionization. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI