1-53. (canceled)
54. A hemispherical target comprising a metal layer and defining a hollow inner surface, the hollow inner surface having an internal apex and a distance of less than about 15 \u03bcm between two opposing points of the internal apex.
55. The target of claim 54, wherein the distance is less than 10 \u03bcm.
56. The target of claim 54, wherein the distance is less than 5 \u03bcm.
57. The target of claim 54, wherein the distance is less than 1 \u03bcm.
58. The target of claim 57, wherein the target is operatively connected to a silicon support structure.
59. The target of claim 54, wherein the metal layer has a thickness of between about 1 \u03bcm and about 20 \u03bcm.
60. The target of claim 54, wherein the metal layer has a thickness of at least about 8 \u03bcm.
61. The target of claim 54, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of Au, Ti, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pd, Pt, and Ag.
62. The target of claim 54, wherein the metal layer comprises a first metal layer and a second metal layer.
63. The target of claim 62, wherein the first metal layer comprises Au the second metal layer comprises at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Ti, Cu, Mo, Ni, Ta, W, Pd, Pt, and Ag.
64. The target of claim 62, wherein the first and second metal layers are adjacent.
65. The target of claim 62, wherein the first and second metal layers are separated by another layer.
66. The target of claim 54, wherein the target is operatively connected to a silicon support structure.
67. The target of claim 54, wherein the target is formed by etching a silicon wafer.
68. An array comprising a plurality of the targets of claim 54.
69. The array of claim 68, wherein the plurality of targets are operatively connected to one another.
70. The target of claim 54, wherein the target is at least substantially freestanding.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
an image carrying member onto which electrostatic latent images and developer images are formed;
a charge unit that charges the image carrying member in a non-contact manner using a charge roller;
a development unit that develops the electrostatic latent images on the image carrying member with a developer transported by a development roller;
a transfer unit that transfers the developer images on the image carrying member onto a transfer medium;
a cleaning unit that removes a transfer-residual developer remaining on the image carrying medium after the developer images are transferred onto the transfer medium, using a cleaning blade making contact with the image carrying member;
a first gap member having electrical insulation properties that is fixed onto one end of the charge roller and pressed onto an outer peripheral surface of the image carrying member, thereby forming a charging gap; and
a second gap member having electrical insulation properties that is fixed onto the other end of the charge roller and pressed onto the outer peripheral surface of the image carrying member, thereby forming a charging gap,
wherein the first and second gap members are fixed onto the charge roller so that the positions of the outer edges of the first and second gap members correspond to the positions of corresponding edges of the charge roller,
wherein discharge dead zones are disposed between the inner edges of the first and second gap members and both ends of a developer-developing area on the development roller, and
wherein the cleaning blade is disposed such that the ends of the cleaning blade are positioned outside of the inner edges of the first and second gap members.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ends of the cleaning blade are positioned outside of the outer edges of the first and second gap members.
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein axial lengths between the ends of the cleaning blade and corresponding inner edges of the first and second gap members are set so as to be larger than axial lengths of the discharge dead zones.
4. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
an image carrying member onto which electrostatic latent images and developer images are formed;
a charge unit that charges the image carrying member in a non-contact manner using a charge roller;
a development unit that develops the electrostatic latent images on the image carrying member with a developer transported by a development roller;
a transfer unit that transfers the developer images on the image carrying member onto a transfer medium;
a cleaning unit that removes a transfer-residual developer remaining on the image carrying medium after the developer images are transferred onto the transfer medium, using a cleaning blade making contact with the image carrying member;
a first gap member having electrical insulation properties that is fixed onto one end of the charge roller and pressed onto an outer peripheral surface of the image carrying member, thereby forming a charging gap; and
a second gap member having electrical insulation properties that is fixed onto the other end of the charge roller and pressed onto an outer peripheral surface of the image carrying member, thereby forming a charging gap,
wherein discharge dead zones are disposed between the inner edges of the first and second gap members and both ends of a developer-developing area on the development roller,
wherein the cleaning blade is disposed such that the ends of the cleaning blade are positioned outside of the inner edges of the first and second gap members, and
wherein axial lengths between the ends of the cleaning blade and corresponding inner edges of the first and second gap members are set so as to be larger than axial lengths of the discharge dead zones.