Abstract: Control signals are input to the gates of a P-MOS transistor and an N-MOS transistor of a CMOS drive circuit from respective control signal generating sections. The CMOS drive circuit drives a piezoelectric member as a capacitive element and the piezoelectric element is used in an ink jet head. A substrate of the P-MOS transistor is provided with a voltage higher than a power supply of the CMOS drive circuit. A first potential difference is supplied between terminals of the piezoelectric element and thereafter, a second potential difference of a polarity opposite to the first potential difference is further supplied between the terminals. A discharge operation is inserted in a time period from the time when supply of the first potential difference is completed till the supply of the second difference gets started. The discharge operating time period is set to a proper value at which a desired operating speed, high reliability and low power consumption are achieved.

Abstract: A charging device which charges a body to be charged. At least a pair of linear electrodes is provided on a substrate so as to be close to each other. Walls are provided near the linear electrodes. Each of the walls has a height larger than a line width of each of the linear electrodes. The linear electrodes are surrounded by the walls and the substrate. The charging device alternatively includes a plurality of dielectrics and electrodes disposed along a first direction facing a drum so that the plurality of dielectrics sandwich the plurality of electrodes along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the dielectrics have a height larger than a height of the electrodes along the first direction, and at least two neighboring electrodes have different shapes.

Abstract: A method of providing at least part of a diaphragm and at least a part of a back-plate of a condenser microphone with a hydrophobic layer so as to avoid stiction between said diaphragm and said back-plate. The layer is deposited via a number small of openings in the back-plate, the diaphragm and/or between the diaphragm and the back-plate. Provides a homogeneous and structured hydrophobic layer, even to small internal cavities of the microstructure. The layer may be deposited by a liquid phase or a vapor phase deposition method. The method may be applied naturally in continuation of the normal manufacturing process.

Abstract: A charging apparatus includes a charging member for being supplied with a voltage to charge a member to be charged, the charging member including an elastic member for forming a nip with the member to be charged, and said elastic member having a surface provided with a plurality of projections; wherein a speed A of a surface of said charging member (mm/sec) and a speed B of a surface of the member to be charged (mm/sec) satisfy: when B−A>0, said projections are inclined toward upstream with respect to a movement direction of the surface of the member to be charged in said nip, and when B−A<0, the projections are inclined toward downstream with respect to a movement direction of the surface of the member to be charged in said nip.

Abstract: A charging apparatus for use in an image forming apparatus includes a charge roller configured to adjoin to a photoconductive member to provide a charge to a surface of the photoconductive member. The charge roller includes a plurality of roller layers. One of the plurality of roller layers has a resistance ratio with which a roller surface potential is raised by a charge movement. In this case, the resistance ratio has a value such that a time period in which a charge moves within the one of the plurality of roller layers is sufficiently smaller than a time period in which an arbitrary point of the surface of the charge roller moves across a discharge region formed between the charge roller and the photoconductive member.

Abstract: The invention is a device which electrostatically charges external sides of at least one moving web. The invention includes a pair of rollers, each roller having an outer coating of limited electrical conductivity and an inner core in contact with the outer coating with the outer coating of each roller being spaced apart to define a gap through which the at least one moving web passes so that the outer coating of each roller contacts one of the external sides of the at least one web to transfer electrical charge from the outer surface coating to the moving web; and a high voltage power supply which applies electrical charge to the outer coating with one polarity of the power supply being grounded and electrically connected to a part of the core and another polarity of the power supply being electrically connected to a corona charging electrode which transfers the electrical charge to the outer coating of each roller.

Abstract: A conducting member is disposed in contact with an electrophotographic photosensitive member to which a voltage is to be applied and includes a support and a coating layer formed on the support. The coating layer contains a conducting agent having been subjected to surface treatment and the surface of the conducting member has a coefficient of static friction of 1.0 or lower.

Abstract: In order to apply bias to a charging roller for charging a surface of a photoconductive drum uniformly, a power supply roller, which rotates while contacting with a surface of the charging roller, is provided. Brushes may be provided on the surface of the power supply roller. Further, by providing a member for removing a toner and sheet particles adhering to the surfaces of the charging roller and the power supply roller, the surface of the charging roller can be maintained in a clean condition and the surface of the photoconductive drum can be charged statically and uniformly.

Abstract: A safety tripping system is controlled to prevent electrical arcing during use of high voltage apparatus, in particular an electrostatic coating product applicator. The safety tripping system is activated if at least one current parameter reaches a threshold. The threshold is varied as a function of the value of the high voltage in accordance with a predetermined law.

Abstract: A charging device or a transfer device used for an electrophotographic printer includes a charging unit. In this charging unit, a shaft is loosely encased by a conductive elastic cylinder. Further, the conductive elastic cylinder is loosely encased by a seamless charging tube. As to the charging device, the charging unit is pressed against a photosensitive drum. The seamless charging tube and the conductive elastic cylinder are driven to rotate in association with a rotation of the photo sensitive drum. A charging voltage is applied between the seamless charging tube and the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: A reverse biasing apparatus is used to remove short-circuited portions in a solar battery module having multiple strings of solar cells each including a first electrode layer, a photovoltaic semiconductor layer and a second electrode layer formed on a glass substrate, by applying a reverse bias voltage between the electrodes of adjacent solar cells. The reverse biasing apparatus comprises probes to be in contact with the electrodes of adjacent three or more strings of solar cells, an actuator for actuating the probes up and down, and a relay switch for selecting, from the probes, a pair of probes for applying the reverse bias voltage between the electrodes of an arbitrary pair of adjacent solar cells. The use of the reverse biasing apparatus can ensure an efficient reverse biasing process on a solar battery module having integrated multiple strings of solar cells.

Abstract: A charging apparatus includes a charging member arranged to be adjacent to a photoconductive member with a gap having a tolerance in a charging region relative to the photoconductive member and applied with a voltage including a direct current voltage under a constant voltage control including an alternating current element to apply a charge to the photoconductive member. The alternating current element has a peak-to-peak voltage at least twice as great as a charge-start voltage to be applied to the charging member at a maximum gap within a range of the gap having the tolerance.

Abstract: In one corona charging arrangement described in the specification, a coronode supplied with AC voltage is contacted by an insulating member in the form of a mesh of insulating filaments or an imperforate dielectric insulating member or filaments wound around an insulating member and retaining the coronode in fixed position with respect to the insulating member. In another embodiment, the insulating member is a layer of dielectric material coated on a coronode in the form of a corona wire and a capacitor is connected between the AC voltage source and the coronode. By providing an insulating structure for a coronode and applying a DC biased AC voltage to the coronode, improved charging efficiency with respect to prior art arrangements is obtained while reducing generation of ozone and nitrates and increased charging currents are obtained to provide high charging rates without arcing.

Abstract: A charging device is formed of a member to be charged, a charging member disposed so as to form a nip with the member to be charged, and electroconductive particles disposed so as to be present at the nip between the photosensitive member and the member to be charged. A uniform direct injection charging performance is realized by providing the charging member with a fine network-textured surface having concave cells giving a total cell edge perimeter per unit area of 15 mm/mm2 to 60 mm/mm2.

Abstract: The plastic film electrostatic adsorption apparatus and electrostatic adsorption method of the present invention disclose a plastic film electrostatic adsorption apparatus comprising an electrostatic adsorption electrode, an insulated dielectric layer that covers the electrostatic adsorption electrode and has a center line average roughness of the adsorption surface on which the plastic film is placed of 0.5 &mgr;m or less, and a power supply electrode that applies a voltage to the electrostatic adsorption electrode. According to this plastic film electrostatic adsorption apparatus and electrostatic adsorption method, surface treatment can be performed even in a vacuum without requiring tedious work such as application or removal of adhesive.

Abstract: A charging apparatus for charging a member to be charged, the charging apparatus includes a charging member for electrically charging the member to be charged; and electroconductive particle supplying means for loosening electroconductive particles stored in the form of granules each comprising aggregated electroconductive particles and supplying the loosened electroconductive particles to the charging member.

Abstract: A corona charger and integral latch member device includes a corona charger having a longitudinally ending wall and a corona generating electrode extending generally parallel with the longitudinally extending wall and spaced a predetermined distance therefrom. A latch member has a portion integrally molded with the wall proximate one end of the charger to define part of a bearing surface for engaging a first axially directed member of a roller. The bearing surface is spaced from the wall so as to determine a location of the corona-generating electrode relative to the axially directed member.

Abstract: An image forming method includes (i) a charging step of using a charging device including conductive magnetic particles, a rotatable conductive-magnetic-particle carrying member for carrying and conveying the conductive magnetic particles, and a plurality of magnetic-field generation means provided within the conductive-magnetic-particle carrying member, and charging a surface of an image bearing member by applying a voltage to the conductive-magnetic-particle carrying member and causing the conductive magnetic particles to contact the image bearing member, (ii) a latent-image forming step of forming an electrostatic latent image on the charged surface of the image bearing member, and (iii) a developing step of using a developing device facing the image bearing member and including a two-component developer including a toner and magnetic carrier particles, a developer carrying member for carrying the two-component developer, and a plurality of magnetic-field generation means provided within the developer carr

Abstract: A broom type particle collector has a particle pick-up assembly joined to an elongated handle. The pick-up assembly has a non-electrical conductive foam plastic member accommodating a cathode for imparting negative charges or particles and an anode for collecting the charged particles. An electrical power supply located within the handle provides electric power to the cathode and anode.

Abstract: A charging member has a conductive core, a conductive elastic layer formed on the surface of the conductive core, and a wearing surface layer to be used also as a resistance controlling layer formed on the surface of the conductive elastic layer, and comprising a surface layer-forming resin and a resistance controlling conductive filler, developing conductivity by electron conduction and having a specific wearing amount of 5.0×10−4 (mm3/N·km) or more, the charging member capable of preventing deterioration of the charging performance of a charging member caused by contamination of the surface layer of the charging member, and maintaining stable and satisfactory uniform charging property and image quality for a long period of time, and always keeping the surface clean by positively wearing the surface layer of the charging member.

Abstract: A charging member for amorphous silicon photoreceptors which can be supplied with a uniform and stable resistivity, exhibits an excellent durability and is insusceptible to variation of resistivity against environmental conditions, pinhole leak and contamination on the photoreceptors, showing a good quality and a long life. An electrophotographic charging member for charging a photoreceptor (preferably, mainly composed of amorphous silicon), which comprises a porous anodized aluminum film formed by anodically oxidizing a support the surface of which is made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. In the charging member, it is preferred that the pores in the porous anodized aluminum film be filled with a metal or an electrically conductive material made of an oxyacid salt of transition metal or pure water be attached to the inner wall of the pores in the porous anodized aluminum film. The charging member of the present invention may comprise a surface protective layer on the porous anodized aluminum film.

Abstract: When electrostatic capacity Cf [F/m2] per unit area of an elastic member when an ac voltage of an arbitrary frequency f [Hz] is applied is given by Cf=C1k·(f/1000)−a, using electrostatic capacity C1k [F/m2] per unit area when an ac voltage of 1 kHz is applied and using a rate of change a, electrostatic capacity C of a micro-region of an elastic member per unit area is substituted with Cf per each frequency component which forms a voltage of a rectangular pulse equivalent to a voltage applied to a charge system. Then, the elastic member is made of such a material that the rate of change a falls within a range of a ≦−0.1544·log(C1k/C0) +0.0307, and further, within a range of a ≦−0.146·log(C1k/C0) −0.0688.

Abstract: The method for making the surface of a window or windshield of a vehicle hydrophilic improves visibility for the operator of the vehicle during rain or fog. The method includes exposing the window or windshield surface to a corona discharge from at least one moving electrode that passes over the surface, especially at least one electrode associated with the rubber wiper blade (22) of a wiper apparatus for the window or windshield. The degree of hydrophilization of the surface is controlled by adjusting the level and/or the frequency or the duration of the high-frequency alternating current voltage applied to the moving electrode to produce the corona discharge. Alternatively the degree of hydrophilization of the surface is controlled by adjusting the spacing (a) of the at least one electrode from the surface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus implementing a technique for electrostatically transporting a particle through a medium. In general, one implementation includes a substrate; a first insulation layer formed on the substrate; a plurality of electrodes arranged in a sequence on the insulation layer, where the electrodes are divided into a plurality of groups and the electrodes are arranged by group; a second insulation layer over at least one of the electrodes; and a phase shift circuit connected to the electrodes which supplies a voltage wave-form to each group of electrodes, where each voltage wave-form for each group is phase-shifted relative to the other phase-shifted wave-forms.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a roller-shaped charging brush includes a first member for raising the brush pile and cleaning it while rotating in contact with the roller-shaped charging brush and a second member located at a position following the first member in the rotation direction of the roller-shaped charging brush, for shaping the brush pile raised by the first member while contacting with the roller-shaped charging brush. A combination of the first and second members can provide a satisfactory charging function at all times.

Abstract: A charged roller type electrophotographic copying apparatus capable of operating over a long term, in which durability of the apparatus is increased by bringing the charged roll into surface-contact with the photosensitive drum at low contact pressure will be supplied. In a charged roller type electrophotographic copying apparatus, the charged roller is endless tubular film of polyamide elastomer having a surface resistance value of 103 to 1013 &OHgr;/□, and is provided so as to come into surface-contact with a photoreceptor at its contact width therewith of 1.5 to 7 mm during copying.

Abstract: A voltage applying apparatus for applying from a power source a voltage to a rotatable charging member for charging a body to be charged, includes first and second conductive members brought into contact with a peripheral surface of a rotary shaft of the charging member to form a first electric supply path for applying the voltage to the peripheral surface of the rotary shaft through the first conductive member from the power source, and to form a second electric supply path for applying the voltage to the peripheral surface of the rotary shaft through the second conductive member from the power source. A first portion at which the first conductive member is brought into contact with the peripheral surface of the rotary shaft and a second portion at which the second conductive member is brought into contact with the peripheral surface of the rotary shaft, are so provided as to be overlapped with each other in an axial direction of the rotary shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging a web. The apparatus includes a charging electrode disposed on one side of the web and an insulating roller for supporting the web. The insulating roller is disposed on the other side of the web and is in contact with the web. A discharging electrode is provided in contact with the insulating roller for removing charge from a surface of the insulating roller as the roller rotates. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the charging electrode is held at a first constant potential, and the discharge electrode is held at a second constant potential.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, such as a color image forming apparatus using a transfer roller or similar transfer electrode, and a constant current power source. The transfer roller is made of a material to which ion agents are added. The constant current power source applies the electric current to the transfer electrode so as to implement an image transfer operation. An electric resistance of the material satisfies a formula log R (Va)-log R (10.times.Va).ltoreq.0.5, such that a quality of the image transfer operation is not corrupted when a relatively little amount of toner is transferred, or a relatively large amount of toner is transferred.

Abstract: A charging apparatus includes a charging member, to which a voltage is applicable, for charging a member to be charged; the charging member including: a flexible member for forming a nip with the member to be charged, wherein the flexible member is moved with a peripheral speed difference between surfaces of the flexible member and the member to be charged at the nip; and electroconductive particles in the nip.

Abstract: A particularly configured aperiodic grid for a grid-controlled AC corona charger for uniformly charging a dielectric member, of an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus, moving along a travel path in operative relation to the corona charger. The corona charger includes an insulating housing and an electrically biased grid, in which the grid transparency is larger than a nominal transparency at the upstream edge of the charger grid, transparency is nominal at the center of the grid, and transparency is smaller than nominal at the downstream edge of a charger grid. The invention, which has been demonstrated for negative primary charging, preferably uses a trapezoidal AC waveform having a DC offset for corona excitation, and may be practiced over a large range of process speeds. The invention is also practiced using trapezoidal waveforms having negative duty cycles in the range 50% (conventional AC) to 90% (negative DC).

Abstract: The invention is to suppress a fluctuation in resistance of a charging member due to the environment and the applied voltage, and to suppress the charging potential of a photosensitive article to realize uniformity in charging by preventing generation of leakage at a part of a low resistance on the surface of the photosensitive article. The charging member may have a conductive core material, a conductive elastic layer formed on a surface of the conductive core material, and a resistance adjusting layer for adjusting a resistance between the conductive core material and the surface of the article to be charged, formed on a surface of the conductive core material, have a material for forming the resistance adjusting layer and a conductive filler for adjusting resistance that exhibits conductivity by electronic conduction, and having a volume resistivity of 5.times.10.sup.5 .OMEGA..multidot.cm or more at an electric field of 5.times.10.sup.4 V/cm.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming unit for forming a toner image on a recording material, the image forming unit including an image bearing member for bearing a toner image, and a charging device provided with a magnetic particle layer contactable to the image bearing member to charge the image bearing member; and a determining device for determining an image forming condition of the image forming unit in accordance with a physical quantity relating to a toner amount introduced in the magnetic particle layer or deciding prohibition of the image forming operation of the image forming unit.

Abstract: A charging or image transfer unit for use in an image formation process including the steps of charging, image formation exposure, image development, image transfer, image fixing and cleaning, for applying an electric field to the surface of an electrophotographic photoconductor by coming into contact therewith, and also for controlling surface properties of the electrophotographic photo-conductor. The unit includes an electric field application member applying the electric field to the surface of the electrophotographic photoconductor and a lubricity-imparting member for controlling a friction coefficient of the surface of the electrophotographic photoconductor wherein the electric field application member includes an electrophotoconductive material and a lubricity-imparting member includes a fluoroplastic material.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved electrifying member capable of that can have an electric voltage applied to it to electrify a surface of another member which is to be electrified. In particular, said electrifying member comprises an electrically conductive elastomer obtained by vulcanizing a mixture containing a nitryl rubber, a liquid nitryl rubber, and a non-polar polymer. Therefore, the invention provides an improved electrophotograph apparatus employing the above improved electrifying member, which has a relatively uniform electric resistance and uniform electrifying characteristics, has almost no change in its characteristics even if it has been used for a long time period, and is non-viscous and thus will not stick to a photosensitive body (to be electrified) so that it will not contaminate the photosensitive body.

Abstract: A charge roller has a steel shaft and conductive outer cylindrical body which is formed by curing with heat a blend comprised of epichlorohydrin rubber, mineral-oil-free zinc oxide dispersion, stearic acid as a lubricant, accelerators and a sulfur donor. The roller has a long useful life and does not express oil while inactive.

Abstract: A biasable component having a fluorinated carbon filled polymer foam layer which exhibits controlled electrical conductivity and improved hardness is set forth.

Abstract: A charge unit 26 includes a charge wire 71. The wire 71 has a wire body 71A and a layer 82 coated on the outer peripheral surface of the wire body 71A. The layer 82 is formed from a cellulose resin binder 81 in which is dispersed particles of electrically conductive molybdenum disulfide. The charge unit 26 is used for forming a uniform charge on the surface of a photosensitive drum 25 in a process unit 7 of a laser printer 1.

Abstract: A charging apparatus includes a charging roller, contactable to an object to be charged, for charging the object to be charged, the charging roller being provided with a rotation shaft, an electroconductive bearing for supporting the rotation shaft, a contact member for urging the bearing to press-contact the charging roller to the object to be charged, wherein a first electric energy supply path is established from the contact member to the rotation shaft through the bearing to supply electric energy from the contact member to the rotation shaft, a power supply contacted to a peripheral surface of the rotation shaft, wherein the contact member urges the power supply to press-contact the power supply to the peripheral surface of the rotation shaft, wherein a second electric energy supply path is established to supply electric energy from the contact member to the rotation shaft through the power supply member, and the power supply member is movable in a direction of urging of the contact member independently

Abstract: This invention relates to an electrostatic charger and discharger which can realize ozone-less, non-contact charging that can prevent the member to be charged or the member to be charge-removed from deteriorating upon irradiation of an electromagnetic wave. Each of the charger and discharger has an electric field forming system with a specific structure for efficiently forming an electric field that causes ions produced by an electromagnetic wave to become attached to the major surface of the member to be charged or the member to be charge-removed in a space.

Abstract: A charging member including an elastomeric member including an elastomeric material. The elastomeric material has a double oxide contained therein, the double oxide being a solid solution compound of oxides of at least two different metals formed by crystal lattice substitution. The at least two different metals have different valences, whereby the double oxide has an electroconductivity that is larger than that of either one of the oxides of at least two different metals when not in solution.

Abstract: A charging device includes a charging member to which a voltage is applicable to charge a member to be charged; an electroconductive particle supply member for supplying electroconductive particles, wherein the supply member produces the electroconductive particles by abrasion of itself, and the thus produced electroconductive particles are fed to the nip formed by the charging member and the member to be charged.

Abstract: A charging apparatus for charging a member to be charged includes an elastic member, the elastic member being press-contacted to a surface of the member to be charged, and electroconductive particles carried on the surface of the elastic member to which a charging voltage is applied, wherein a triboelectric charging property of the member to be charged relative to the elastic member is the same as a charging polarity of the charging apparatus.

Abstract: System for treating gases or liquids by corona discharge, comprising: a) a corona discharge space through which the gases or fluids to be treated are guided; b) a corona wire inside the corona discharge space; c) a source for supplying high voltage pulses, whereby the output of the source is connected to the corona wire; d) sensors for measuring the power dissipated in the corona discharge space; e) an electromagnetically compatible case.

Abstract: A charging roller for use in a machine in which an electrical bias is applied to a surface of a member is provided. The charging roller includes a shaft, a foam material surrounding at least a portion of the shaft, and a thermoplastic material. The thermoplastic material surrounds at least a portion of the foam material. The foam material is adapted to provide for greater compliance to prevent vibration of the roller against the surface.

Abstract: An erasing device includes a sheet-like erasing member. The erasing member is supported by an electric charger in contact with the image bearing member for erasing a residual electric charge from the image bearing member. Preferably, the erasing member is supported by a supporting member which in turn is supported by the electric charger. Therefore, the erasing member can be disposed relative to the image bearing member with a greater precision without using any additional rigid member. Also, the image bearing member can be erased without any defect, which results in that the image bearing member is uniformly charged in the subsequent charging.

Abstract: The invention provides a charging roller for electrically charging a photoconductor by placing the roller in contact with the photoconductor and applying voltage between them. The roller has an elastic shaft and an outermost layer of less than 30 .mu.m thick containing an aqueous fluorocarbon resin. The charging roller is effective for providing a constant supply of electric charge to the photoconductor and preventing residual toner from depositing onto the roller.

Abstract: A charging apparatus includes a rotatable charging roller contactable to a member to be charged to electrically charge the member to be charged. The eharging roller includes a foam member and is supplied with a voltage including an oscillating component. A control means is provided for constant-current-control of the oscillating component. When the constant-current-control is carried out, a response time of the constant-current-control is longer than time required for a width to be charged to pass through a discharge area between the charging roller and the member to be charged.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electric charging member for charging a body to be charged by bringing the electric charging member in contact with the body to be charged and applying a voltage between the electric charging member and the body to be charged, including: an elastic layer; and a covering layer formed on the outer side of the elastic member directly or through another layer; wherein the covering layer is formed of a coating having a storage modulus (G') in a range of 1.times.10.sup.7 dyn/cm.sup.2 or less, and also having tan .delta., expressed by a ratio (G"/G') of a loss modulus (G") to the storage modulus (G'), in a range of 0.01 to 0.4. The electric charging member is allowed to suppress occurrence of compressive deformation and to reduce noise due to electrification.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printing apparatus has two charging bodies that are held at different potentials. The first charging body makes contact with the surface of a photosensitive drum; the second charging body makes contact with the first charging body. Toner particles that have acquired an electrostatic charge opposite to their normal charge are attracted from the drum surface to the first charging body. These toner particles are then attracted from the first charging body to the second charging body, whereby the first charging body is kept clean and able to charge the surface of the photosensitive drum to a uniform potential.