Abstract: A device that improves the effectiveness of a corona charging element cleaner by forcing it to travel to the end-limits of the outboard end of the corona charging element to ensure that the corona charging element is completely wiped clean. The device uses a pawl and rack to affect a ratchet-like motion, the direction of which permits travel in the opposite direction only after the limit of travel is reached.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a rotary image bearing member; a charging roller for charging the outer circumferential surface of the image bearing member by rotating in contact with the image bearing member; a brush roller for cleaning adhered matters on the outer circumferential surface of the charging roller by being held in contact with the charging roller due to its own weight and rotating; a driving mechanism for drivingly rotating the brush roller to have a linear velocity difference to the charging roller; and a moving mechanism for reciprocating the brush roller along the longitudinal direction thereof.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a charging wire for charging a photosensitive member and a cleaning member for cleaning the charging wire. When the cleaning member moves from a first position to a second position while sliding on the charging wire, a moving member in a third position is moved to a fourth position. However, the moving member remains in the fourth position when the cleaning member moves from the second position to the first position.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus 1, disposed are: a photoreceptor drum 2; a charging roller which rotates following the photoreceptor drum 2; and a cleaning member 21 which is rotatable with being in contact with surfaces of the photoreceptor drum 2 and the charging roller 3 in an upstream side with respect to the charging roller 3 in a rotation direction of the photoreceptor drum 2. The cleaning member 21 includes a rotational shaft 21a and a brush portion 21b, rotates in a driven direction with respect to the charging roller 3 and a linear-velocity ratio of the cleaning member 21 to the charging roller 3 is smaller than 1.

Abstract: A cleaning element for a printer is described. The cleaning element may include a brush, which is used for an image forming apparatus. The brush roller may include a support structure and brush filaments extending therefrom. The brush filaments may be configured to contact a surface of a-member to be cleaned. Thus, it is possible to provide a cleaning lement capable of removing material adhering to the surface of the member to be cleaned. The cleaning element is capable of providing long-term effective cleaning of a member of an image forming apparatus during extended use.

Abstract: Along a rotational direction of a photoreceptor, a cleaner unit for cleaning a surface of the photoreceptor, a lubricant applying apparatus for applying a lubricant to the surface of the photoreceptor, and a charging device for charging the surface of the photoreceptor are disposed in this order. Further, the lubricant applying apparatus applies the lubricant to the surface of the photoreceptor which has been cleaned and has not been charged. As a result, it is possible to uniformly apply the lubricant to the surface of the image carrier for an extended period of time with stability.

Abstract: High torque causing machine failures and motor damage are corrected by the embodiments of this invention. Springs are put on both ends of the lead shaft and the windings around the lead shaft are reduced to substantially reduce the torque created during a power on-power off situation in addition to during normal operations.

Abstract: A cleaning device is disclosed which includes a cleaning member to clean the surface of a charging roll that charges an image carrier. The cleaning member is fixed at one end thereof and contacts at a free end side surface with the surface of the charging roll. The free end of the cleaning member is inserted in between the image carrier and the charging roll. Also disclosed is an image forming apparatus including the cleaning device.

Abstract: An image forming method and apparatus is disclosed. The method may include charging a rotating latent image bearing member with a rotating charger selected from at least one of contact chargers and short range chargers; irradiating the rotating latent image bearing member with imagewise light to form an electrostatic latent image on the latent image bearing member; developing the electrostatic latent image with a developer including a toner having a charge to form a toner image on the latent image bearing member; transferring the toner image onto a receiving material; and forming an electric field between the charger and the latent image bearing member after the toner image transferring such that charged materials present on the surface of the charger fly toward the latent image bearing member.

Abstract: An electrostatic charging member includes a base material; and an outermost layer that contains a porous filler and a resin and has a gel fraction of at least about 50% and a surface roughness Rz in a range of about 2 ?m to about 20 ?m.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) useful in printing for charging a photoconductor and for cleaning a scorotron grid is disclosed. The apparatus can include a scorotron frame (110) and a scorotron charge member (120) coupled to the scorotron frame, where the scorotron charge member can be configured to generate an electric field. The apparatus can include a scorotron charging grid (130) coupled to the scorotron frame, the scorotron charging grid having a length axis, a width axis, and a height axis, and the scorotron charging grid including a scorotron charging grid surface having a plurality of openings. The apparatus can include a scorotron charging grid cleaner (140) coupled to the scorotron charging grid, where the scorotron charging grid cleaner can be configured to travel along the scorotron charging grid length axis and clean the scorotron charging grid.

Abstract: A cleaning device of a wire includes: a first cleaning member that cleans a wire when the first cleaning member comes into contact with the wire; a second cleaning member that wipes off the wire when the second cleaning member comes into contact with the first cleaning member while the wire is being interposed between the first and the second cleaning member; and a holding and moving body that holds and reciprocates the first and the second cleaning members in a direction in which the wire is stretched. The second cleaning member is contacted with the wire at a protruding portion in which the second cleaning member protrudes from a rear end portion of the first cleaning member in the direction at least at the time of a going-back movement of the first cleaning member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a charging roll that charges the image bearing member by rotating in contact with the image bearing member, and a cleaning member that removes materials adhered to the surface of the charging roll by contacting the surface of the charging roll. The cleaning member includes a foam body having an average cell diameter of 0.18 mm to 1.0 mm, and a ten point height of irregularities (Rz: JIS B0601-1982) of the charging roll is 1 ?m to 17 ?m.

Abstract: A segmented cleaning member for removing particulate from a charge roller of a media processing device. The cleaning member in one embodiment includes a substrate and an open-cell foam cleaning pad disposed onto the substrate. The cleaning pad is segmented by a plurality of cuts into a plurality of longitudinal sections capable of contacting the charge roller for removing the particulate from the charge roller. Various cut patterns made be used to form the sections. The cleaning member can be used in media processing device and cartridge therefor for removing the particulate from the charge roller.

Abstract: A photoconductor unit for forming a toner image in an image forming device is disclosed. The photoconductor unit comprises a photoconductor drum, a charge roller and a first charge roller wiper. The photoconductor drum receives toner particles for forming the toner image that is transferred onto a media sheet. The charge roller charges the photoconductor drum. A first charge roller wiper is disposed substantially parallel to path along which the charge roller moves between a working position and a storage position. The first charge roller wiper is configured to peripherally contact and clean the charge roller when the charge roller assumes a working position. A second charge roller wiper may be provided adjacent the storage position and disposed substantially perpendicular to the path along which the charge roller moves.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for corotron cleaning management in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving an input from the corotron cleaning counter, determining if the corotron cleaning counter exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein if it is determined that the corotron cleaning counter exceeds the predetermined threshold, notifying a maintainer that the corotron requires cleaning, determining if corotron cleaning has been performed, wherein if it is determined that corotron cleaning has been performed, resetting the corotron cleaning counter.

Abstract: A charging apparatus includes a corona charger which includes a discharging wire and a grid electrode that are configured to charge a member to be charged, a cleaning device configured to clean an inner surface of the grid electrode, and a discharging device configured to electrically discharge the grid electrode before the cleaning device cleans the grid electrode.

Abstract: A grid wire cleaning mechanism is provided to prevent a reduction in image quality due to the surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier not being uniformly charged as a result of corona products adhering unevenly to the surface of the grid wires to extend the life of the grid wires and grid wire contact member. A first abrading member 71 abrades grid wires 224. A movement device 73 moves the first abrading member 71 in the same direction as the direction of extension of the grid wires 224. A humidity measurement unit 741 measures the humidity near the grid wires 224. The operation control unit 743 operates the movement device 73 when cleaning the grid wires 224, but does not operate the movement device 73 when the humidity measured by the humidity measurement unit 741 exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A charging device, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus are provided. The charging device includes a charging roller configured to charge an image carrier and a cleaning roller configured to clean the charging roller while making contact with a surface of the charging roller. The charging device further includes a bearing member including a first portion configured to rotatably support a rotational shaft of the charging roller and a second portion configured to rotatably support a rotational shaft of the cleaning roller. The charging device also includes an elastic member provided outside of the second portion of the bearing member with respect to an axial direction of the rotational shaft of the cleaning roller such that the charging roller makes contact with the image carrier when the first portion of the bearing member is pressed by the elastic member.

Abstract: A corotron cleaning assembly includes a self-seating, spring-loaded locating pin drivingly connected to a drive unit that is used to drive a wire cleaning head that is located within a CRU. This assembly allows for easy separation of the drive unit from the cleaner when the CRU that contains the wire is replaced. The bullet shaped pin rides on a worm drive and when the pin is driven into the cleaner head, the bullet hits an inclined ramp and is biased downward until such a point that the pin hits a recessed receptacle. Once the pin is in the receptacle, the pin is capable of driving the wire cleaning head. When the cleaning head is removed, the act of removal separates the pin from the receptacle.

Abstract: There is provided a corona generating device for a printing machine, including a conductor; a frame for supporting the conductor; a cleaning assembly, within the frame, for cleaning the conductor, the cleaning assembly includes a cleaning carriage, a drive system for translating the cleaning carriage along the length of the conductor in a path of movement, the cleaning assembly further includes a cleaning pad, means for engaging a portion of the clean pad into contact with conductor, and means for translating the cleaning pad from an used portion to an unused portion of the cleaning pad.

Abstract: This is a device for cleaning a corona grid used in electrostatic printing or copying machines. This device has a cleaner pad that cleans the outer surface of the grid, that is the surface closest to the photoreceptor surface. This pad is located between the outer surface of the grid and the surface of the photoreceptor. It can be used together with a cleaner pad that cleans the inner surface of the grid.

Abstract: The invention delivers a charging roller which is capable of preventing current leakage to a photoreceptor throughout life-time and which has a stable resistance value throughout life-time. The charging roller contains a metal core and a rubber layer formed on the core. The rubber layer is an epichlorohydrin-based rubber base material to which an electronic conductive agent and an ionic conductive agent are added. The rubber layer is subjected to surface processing by spraying the surface with a solution containing an isocyanate compound and heating. The amount of the electronic conductive agent added to the rubber base material is limited so that a volume resistivity when only the electronic conductive agent is added to the rubber base material is 1.46×106 ?·cm or greater. In addition, the amount of the added ionic conductive agent is increased so that a volume resistivity when the electronic conductive agent and the ionic conductive agent are added to the rubber base material is 1.93×106 ?·cm or less.

Abstract: A cleaning device has: a cleaning member contacting a body-to-be-cleaned at a predetermined nip width, and cleaning a surface of the body-to-be-cleaned; and a supporting member supporting a peripheral surface of the cleaning member. The cleaning member is supported with predetermined degrees of freedom by the supporting member and a surface of the body-to-be-cleaned.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a photoconductive drum, a discharge electrode which discharges corona onto a surface of the photoconductive drum, and a cleaning member which cleans the discharge electrode by moving on the discharge electrode. The image forming device further includes a detection device, which is arranged on one of a first side and a second side in a moving direction of the cleaning member, and detects a current value of an electric current discharged from the discharge electrode.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a cleaning component that cleans the surface of a charging component that charges an image carrier that has a surface on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed. The cleaning component is a hollow body that cleans the surface of the charging component while being rotated by rotation of the charging component.

Abstract: A charging device includes a long electrode, a cleaning member, a timing device, a drive source, a load measuring device, and a control device. The drive source moves the cleaning member in the outward direction for a first time period after the outward passage time and then reverses the cleaning member in the homeward position. The load measuring device measures driving load imposed on the drive source while the cleaning member is being moved. The control device controls motion of the drive source to turn the cleaning member from the outward direction to the homeward direction at a predetermined objective point near the second end, based on sum of driving loads imposed on the drive source while the cleaning member is being moved from the first point to a second point located along the outward direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatic corotron cleaning in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving a first dynamic current reading, the dynamic current being the current supplied to a photoreceptor of the image production device, determining if the first dynamic current reading exceeds a predetermined threshold, the predetermined threshold being a threshold set on the allowable variation in the dynamic current value, wherein if it is determined that the first dynamic current reading exceeds the predetermined threshold, sending a signal to a cleaning device to clean the corotron, determining that the corotron has been cleaned, receiving a second current reading, determining if the second dynamic current reading exceeds the predetermined threshold, wherein if it is determined that the second dynamic current reading exceeds the predetermined threshold, sending a signal to prompt a user to replace the corotron in the image production device.

Abstract: Blades, printing apparatuses, replaceable cartridges and methods of treating substances on surfaces are disclosed. An embodiment of a blade for treating a substance on a surface of a component includes a body having a free end portion with a surface, and which is comprised of an elastomeric material. A bi-material spring is adapted to apply a load to the body such that the surface of the body treats the substance on the surface of the component.

Abstract: An electrostatic charger according to the present invention includes a needle electrode, a support, and a cleaning member. The needle electrode has a linear array of needles. The support can move along the linear array. The cleaning member is supported by the support rotatably on an axis perpendicular to the linear array. While the support is moving with the cleaning member along the linear array, the cleaning member rotates, with the needles sinking in order into and subsequently coming in order out of the cleaning member. When the cleaning member makes each rotation while moving with the support, some of the needles sink in positions into the cleaning member where any other needles did not sink when the cleaning member made the previous rotation.

Abstract: A needle electrode and a cleaning member are provided. A plurality of needles are arrayed upon the needle electrode in a straight line, and protrude towards a surface of a photoreceptor. The cleaning member is disposed movably along the array direction of the plurality of needles between the surface of the photoreceptor and the needle electrode. When the cleaning member moves, the tip portion of each of the plurality of needles in the arranged order, after having been embedded from the surface of the cleaning member into its interior, then exits to the exterior of the cleaning member.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a pair of bilateral cleaning members arranged with an interval in a length direction of a wire rod, an intermediate cleaning member located on an opposite side of the pair of bilateral cleaning members via the wire rod and arranged at an intermediate position between the bilateral cleaning members in the length direction of the wire rod, a wire rod contact unit that controls at least one of the plurality of cleaning members so that the plurality of cleaning members contacts with or separates away from the wire rod, and a cleaning movement unit which moves the plurality of cleaning members along the length direction of the wire rod in the state where the plurality of cleaning members are in contact with the wire rod by the wire rod contact unit.

Abstract: A cleaning device of a charging roller has: a cleaning member contacting a charging roller which charges an image carrier which carries an image, and cleaning a surface of the charging roller; and a holding structure holding the cleaning member such that the cleaning member is movable at least between a first position and a second position along a peripheral direction of the charging roller. The holding structure holds the cleaning member such that an amount of compression of the cleaning member at a contacting portion of the charging roller and the cleaning member is greater at the second position than at the first position.

Abstract: A cleaning member including a core bar, an elastic coating layer, and high-friction coefficient parts provided on both ends of the cleaning member, wherein the cleaning member is roller-shaped and configured to clean a surface of a roller member to be cleaned in contact therewith.

Abstract: A charging device includes: a charged body; a charging member that extends parallel to the surface of the charged body, a charging voltage being applied between the charging member and the charged body; a cleaning member that is in contact with the charging member, and that moves in an extending direction of the charging member to remove matters adhering to the charging member; and an air introduction path that introduces airflow flowing in one orientation with respect to the extending direction of the charging member at a position along the charging member, the cleaning member being in contact with the charging member in a case where the cleaning member moves in the one orientation, and the cleaning member being separated from the charging member in a case where the cleaning member moves in an orientation opposite to the airflow in a state in which the airflow is generated.

Abstract: Provided are a developing device and an image forming apparatus which employ a hybrid development method, have a toner-collecting developer supporting member and keep toner collecting ability stable for a long period of time to form high-quality images without development hysteresis (ghost) over a long period of time. A toner separation member abutting the toner-collecting developer supporting member through a toner-collecting developer layer is provided, and the toner separation member is applied with a bias voltage to form an electric field in such a direction as to pull toner away from the toner-collecting developer supporting member to prevent the toner from accumulating on the surface of the toner-collecting developer supporting member.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a cleaning roller, a supporting portion and a guiding portion. The cleaning roller has a core and a cleaning member provided around the core, the cleaning member contacting and cleaning a charging roller by rotation of the cleaning roller, the charging roller charging an image carrier carrying an image. The supporting portion supports the core rotatably in a state in which the cleaning member is in contact with the charging roller. The guiding portion movably guides the core, which is supported by the supporting portion, in a direction different from a direction of a straight line passing through a rotational center of the charging roller and a rotational center of the cleaning roller.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying an electrical charge to a charge retentive surface, wherein a bias charge roll member is situated proximately to a surface to be charged such as, a photoreceptor having a cleaning system which includes a web material in contact with the bias charge roll to remove containments thereform.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying an electrical charge to a charge retentive surface, wherein a bias charge roll member is situated proximately to a surface to be charged such as, a photoreceptor having a cleaning system which includes a web material in contact with the bias charge roll to remove containments thereform.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: an image carrier that carries an image; a charge roll that charges the image carrier; and a cleaning member that contacts the charge roll and cleans the charge roll, wherein the cleaning member is configured to include a surface layer that is formed by an elastic body and contacts the charge roll, an inner layer that is configured by an elastic body softer than the surface layer and supports the surface layer, and a support member that supports the inner layer and causes the surface layer to contact the charge roll.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a corona discharger including: a stylus electrode; and a cleaning member capable of slidably moving along a longitudinal direction of the stylus electrode in the state that the stylus electrode is sandwiched in the cleaning member, wherein the cleaning member includes: a movable body attached to a case section of the corona discharger so as to be movable along the longitudinal direction of the stylus electrode; a first slidably-contacting member and a second slidably-contacting member which are supported by the movable body and between which the stylus electrode is inserted; and an urging unit interposed between the movable body and the first slidably-contacting member so as to elastically urge the first slidably-contacting member to the second slidably-contacting member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is constituted by an image bearing member; a corona charging member including a wire; a heat generating member for generating heat by energization; a shielding member, including the heat generating member, capable of shielding a portion of the corona charging member opposing to the image bearing member from the image bearing member by being moved between the corona charging member and the image bearing member; an energization control member for controlling energization of the heat generating member; and moving member for moving the shielding member to a first position at which the shielding member shields the portion and a second position retracted from the first position. When the shielding member is located at the first position, at least a part of the heat generating member is disposed between the corona charging member and the image bearing member.

Abstract: An electrically conductive latex/antioxidant coating for a corona charging device that is capable of absorbing effluents created during the electrostatographic or xerographic process, a method for making the coating, and applying the coating are described herein.

Abstract: A corona charging device cleaning apparatus and method of cleaning a corona charging device includes a support member that includes two side surfaces that face in opposite directions. A side shield cleaning member is attached to each side surface to clean an inner surface of a side shield of a corona device. The support member of the corona charging device cleaning apparatus may also include a concavity and a cavity portion. A screen grid cleaning member may be attached to the concavity of the support member to clean a screen grid of the corona charging device. A charging-component cleaning member may be disposed inside the cavity portion of the support member to clean a charging component of the corona charging device.

Abstract: A charging roller, adapted to face an image carrier at a predetermined charging gap and charge the image carrier in a non-contact state, including: a conductive shaft, provided with a pair of annular concave portions formed on an outer circumferential surface at both ends thereof; a conductive layer, formed on the outer circumference surface at a center portion of the conductive shaft defined between the pair of concave portions; and an insulating layer, formed on the outer circumferential surface at outer portions of the conductive shaft from the pair of annular concave portions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image carrier, a charging roll and a support member. The image carrier has a surface on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed. The charging roll follows rotation of the image carrier. The charging roll charges the surface of the image carrier at a predetermined potential. The support member is in contact with the charging roll at a contact point. The contact point is on a downstream of a nip portion between the image carrier and the charging roll in a rotation direction of the charging roll. The contact point is on an upstream of a plane, which contains an axis line of the charging roll and is perpendicular to a plane defined by an axis line of the image carrier and the axis line of the charging roll.

Abstract: An image formation device includes an image-bearing body that rotates, a charging roller that contacts the image-bearing body and is rotated by the rotation of the image-bearing body, and charges the image-bearing body, a cleaning roller that contacts the charging roller and is rotated by the rotation of the charging roller, and cleans the charging roller, and a first auxiliary roller that is provided coaxially with the charging roller, contacts the image-bearing body and is rotated by the rotation of the image-bearing body. The image formation device satisfies the following relation: F1>F2>F3 where F1 represents a friction force between the first auxiliary roller and the image-bearing body, F2 represents a friction force between the image-bearing body and the charging roller and F3 represents a friction force between the charging roller and the cleaning roller.

Abstract: A charging roller cleaning device is provided for removing impurities attached on a charging roller that charges a photosensitive medium to a uniform electric potential. Such a cleaning device includes: a cleaning roller arranged to rotate, while contacting the charging roller to remove the impurities attached on the charging roller; and a cleaning member arranged to scrap off impurities attached on the cleaning roller.

Abstract: A charging device includes a charging roller and a cleaning roller configured to make contact with the charging roller. The cleaning roller is rotated following the charging roller. A dynamic friction coefficient of a surface of the charging roller measured by an oiler belt method is equal to or larger than 0.5.

Abstract: A charging device includes a charging roller, a drive transmission device, and a charging roller cleaner. The charging roller opposes an image carrier driven to rotate and rotates to charge the image carrier. The charging roller cleaner contacts the charging roller to clean the charging roller. The drive transmission device transmits torque from the image carrier to the charging roller, and includes an image carrier gear and a driven gear. The image carrier gear and the driven gear form a gear train to drive the charging roller in response to rotation of the image carrier. The charging roller cleaner is disposed facing a rear surface of the charging roller to prevent displacement of the charging roller due to a force generated by a pressure angle formed between the image carrier gear and the driven gear when the charging roller rotates in response to rotation of the image carrier.