Abstract: Electrostatic printing processes utilize corona-charging units. When those units wear out or become faulty, they need to be replaced. This embodiment provides a tool that can be used to remove a faulty electrode wire assembly from the unit. This same tool when loaded with a new wire assembly can insert a new wire assembly into the emptied corona charging unit, sometimes referred to as a dicorotron unit. The tool, therefore, is used both to remove or insert a wire assembly from or into a dicorotron unit.

Abstract: A guide is used to protect a corona cartridge during shipping and during insertion into an electrostatic marking apparatus. The guide has dimensions that will permit the cartridge to fit therein and has a locking mechanism that securely holds the cartridge in place during shipment or movement. When the cartridge is to be removed from the guide and inserted into an electrostatic marking system, a handle attached to a latch is used to free the latch from a groove in the guide. The groove in the guide is located between two upwardly protruding ramps having a slidable side and a locking side that abuts the latch and holds it in place until activation when the latch handle frees it from the groove.

Abstract: A sheet transport device and an image forming apparatus using the sheet transport device are disclosed. The sheet transport device includes a transport belt rotating around rollers that transports a sheet by attaching the sheet to the transport belt by an electrostatic force, and a charging unit that is unitized by including a charging member for charging the transport belt. The charging unit includes a unit case containing springs for pushing the charging member onto the transport belt. An Ac bias voltage is applied to the transport belt via the charging member.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including: an image carrier carrying an image; a charging roll charging the image carrier; a cleaning member configured to be brought into contact with the charging roll for cleaning the charging roll; a first holding portion detachably provided in an apparatus main body for holding the image carrier; and a second holding portion provided within the apparatus main body independently from the first holding portion, for holding the cleaning member.

Abstract: A charging mechanism for an electrophotographic reproduction system has a charger cartridge inserted into a charger sleeve. The charger cartridge has multiple facets, each with a corona charger. The charger cartridge is positioned in the charger sleeve to have the corona charger of one facet adjacent to a photoconductor in the electrophotographic reproduction system. The charger cartridge may be repositioned in the charger sleeve to have another corona charger from another facet adjacent to the photoconductor.

Abstract: A corona wire cartridge includes: a reel around which a corona wire is wound; a reel holder that rotatably supports the reel; a casing having a receiving portion which receives the reel and the reel holder and a wire drawing opening through which the corona wire is drawn; and an elastic member that movably connects the casing to the reel holder.

Abstract: An image carrier unit that is removably loaded into a main body of an image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier on which an image is formed; a charge roll that charges the image carrier; a biasing member that causes the charge roll to be pressed against the image carrier; and a separation cover provided with a cover portion that covers the charge roll by a latching portion thereof being caused to latch into a body frame of the image carrier unit and the cover portion being rotated toward the charge roll, and a hook portion disposed on the cover portion, that is inserted between the charge roll and the image carrier and is hooked onto the charge roll when the cover portion is rotated toward the charge roll so as to cause the charge roll to separate from the image carrier.

Abstract: A charging device includes magnetic particles, a magnetic particle carrying member that magnetically carries the magnetic particles into contact with a member to be charged, and a magnetic particle adjusting unit for adjusting an amount per unit area of magnetic particles carried on the magnetic particle carrying member so that the amount per unit area of magnetic particles carried is larger in end regions of the magnetic particle carrying member in the longitudinal direction than in a central region of the magnetic particle carrying member in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A photosensitive member cartridge includes a charger that includes a wire that generates a corona discharge, and a first fixing portion that secures at least one end of the wire in a longitudinal direction of the wire, wherein the first fixing portion includes a first positioning member that positions the wire in a first direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wire, and a second positioning member that positions the wire in the longitudinal direction of the wire and in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming process and a process cartridge, in which the image quality and the durability of the photoconductor may be enhanced, images may be formed stably even after the repeated usages, and higher quality and higher stability of images may be established due to the superimposed alternating voltage as well as decrease of the charging hazard on the photoconductor. Specifically, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises a photoconductor, latent electrostatic image forming unit, developing unit a transferring unit, and fixing unit, wherein the charging member is of roller shape disposed proximate to the photoconductor, the photoconductor is charged at the charging nip portion formed between the photoconductor and the charging member, in a condition that satisfies the following Equation: 4.4×1014?[(Number of Charged Particles)÷(Circumferential length of the photoconductor)]?17.

Abstract: An elastic member of a semiconductive polymer comprising a conductive composition containing a conductive polymer and binder polymer, wherein the elastic member satisfies both characteristics of (A) a variation of 1.5 digit or less between the electrical resistance at an applied voltage of 1V and the electrical resistance at an applied voltage of 133V under an environment of 25° C. and 50% RH, and (B) a variation of one digit or less between the electrical resistance at an applied voltage of 10V under an environment of 15° C. and 10% RH and the electrical resistance at an applied voltage of 10V under an environment of 35° C. and 85% RH.

Abstract: An amount of toner transfer on a reference pattern is calculated by using an optical detecting unit that detects both regular reflection light and diffuse reflection light from a detection target simultaneously, based on a relative ratio between a value obtained by subtracting a result of multiplying a “diffuse reflection output” by a “minimum value of a ratio between a regular reflection output and the diffuse reflection output” from the “regular reflection output” of the density detection reference pattern, and a value obtained by subtracting a result of multiplying the “diffuse reflection output” by a “minimum value of a ratio between the regular reflection output and the diffuse reflection output” from the “regular reflection output” in the background of a transfer belt or an intermediate transfer body.

Abstract: In a xerographic printing apparatus, a small footprint charging device may provide uniformity of charge and/or long life in a small diameter photoconductive drum. A grid to be parallel to the drum surface and including small wing shields may reduce or even prevent leakage of corona current to the photoconductor around the grid region, which may otherwise detract from charge uniformity.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a charging member opposed to an outer circumferential surface of a rotating object to be charged. The image forming apparatus has a voltage applying section for applying a pulsating voltage Vsp between the charging member and the object to be charged. The pulsating voltage Vsp is obtained by superimposing a voltage component of a direct current on a voltage component that periodically changes. The image forming apparatus is made to satisfy a relation of Vpp?|Vth|, where Vpp is a peak-to-peak voltage value of the pulsating voltage Vsp and Vth is a charging start voltage value of the object to be charged. The relation prevents opposite charge from being imparted to residual toner on the object to be charged.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a charging member for electrically charging the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, wherein the charging member is supplied with a charging bias voltage received from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus; and a charging member rubbing member having an insulative property and provided contacted to the charging member along a longitudinal direction of the charging member; wherein the charging member is contacted within a longitudinally extending range to electrically charge the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and wherein the charging member rubbing member is disposed between the electroconductive member and the charging member beyond an end of the range to prevent leakage of

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the force of a tension spring returning to its original position is utilized to vibrate or impact a conductive member using a predetermined timing, one end of the conductive member being fixed and the other end of the conductive member being connected to a knob via a tension spring. This serves to remove attachments adhering to the tips of the conductive member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a charging device including a charge roller formed with annular grooves at opposite end portions thereof and configured to charge an image carrier. Annular gap forming members each are fitted in the annular grooves for forming a gap between the charge roller and the image carrier. The gap forming members each have an area of 1.0×10?6 m2 to 3.0×10?6 m2 in a section containing the axis of the charge roller.

Abstract: In a case where a rotating speed of an intermediate transfer member is reduced during the process of image formation, carriers may adhere to a photosensitive member before the rotating speed of the intermediate transfer member stabilizes. To cope therewith, in changing an image formation speed in accordance with a conveying speed of a recording material on completion of primary transfer, a developing rotary is rotated so as to keep any developing device off a developing position. Consequently, a situation in which the carriers adhere to an image bearing member can be avoided. At the same time, stopping a charging operation of a charger enables a longer service life of the image bearing member.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a charge generating material and a charge transfer material. The charge transfer material contains a triarylamine compound synthesized from an amine compound and an aryl halide in the presence of a catalyst comprising a phosphine compound represented by formula (1) and a palladium compound: wherein Ar1 to Ar3 are each independently an alkyl or aryl group which may have a substituent group, and at least one of Ar1 to Ar3 is an aryl group. A process cartridge includes the electrophotographic photosensitive member.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printer including a transfer roller having a first movable spacer for temporarily creating a gap between the transfer roller and a photo conductor.

Abstract: An electrostatic charging device is provided according to which an edged electrode plate can be inserted into and removed from the charging device easily merely by sliding the edged electrode member and cleaning of the electrode edges formed on the edged electrode plate can be cleaned easily.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a process cartridge capable of satisfying both a high quality image and an excellent maintenance property with a simple configuration. A photosensitive member and a charging roller that is a member rotating in contact with the photosensitive member are brought into contact with each other in the image forming process. When an image forming operation starts from a standstill, the charging roller is rotated before the photosensitive member starts to be rotated. Furthermore, before the photosensitive member stars to be rotated, a reversed bias voltage that is a voltage opposite to the bias voltage at usual development time is applied between the members rotating in contact with the photosensitive member and the photosensitive member. The time for which the charging roller is rotated before the photosensitive member starts to be rotated is set to be 0.01-2.

Abstract: A remanufacturing method for a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes the steps of separating first and second units of the cartridge, dismounting from the second unit a developing blade mounted to the second unit, filling developer into a developer accommodating portion of the second unit through a developer supply opening for supplying a developer roller of the second unit from the developer accommodating portion, mounting the dismounted developing blade to the second unit with a facing orientation opposite from a facing orientation before the developing blade dismounting step, and coupling the first and second units.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus with an image bearing member and a charging member for contactably charging the image bearing member. The charging member is provided within an exchangeable unit. An electric power containing an AC component is applied to the charging member, and adjustments are made to the magnitude of the AC component. When the exchangeable unit is exchanged, the magnitude of the AC component is returned to an initial value thereof, so as to extend the life of the image bearing member in situations where the exchangeable unit is exchanged and the AC component might otherwise have a magnitude inappropriate for the new unit.

Abstract: A corona cartridge for charging a photoreceptor in high-speed electrophotographic applications may include a comb-like corona charging device electronically connected to operate with the photoreceptor, and one or more excess comb-like corona charging devices stored on a shaft or in a dispenser that may be advanced automatically to replace the electronically connected corona charging device when it wears out. The number of excess comb-like corona charging devices (including the electronically connected corona charging device) may be tailored to last as long as the photoreceptor, which may run many months even in high-use operations. Accordingly, the high-speed electrophotographic applications may need to be serviced only when the photoreceptor wears out, thus significantly reducing the maintenance frequency without the side effect of increased ozone production, as in the case of wire-type corona charging devices.

Abstract: To prevent deterioration of charge performance, which is caused by wear of a gap control member that keeps a charge roller into non-contact with the image carrier, the charge roller is brought into contact with a surface of a photosensitive drum via a pair of tape members as the gap control member that contacts with a coat and non-charge portion of the photosensitive drum. A gap G can be formed between an effective charge width portion of the charge roller and the surface of the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: A corona cartridge for charging a photoreceptor in high-speed electrophotographic applications may include a comb-like corona charging device electronically connected to operate with the photoreceptor, and one or more excess comb-like corona charging devices stored on a shaft or in a dispenser that may be advanced automatically to replace the electronically connected corona charging device when it wears out. The number of excess comb-like corona charging devices (including the electronically connected corona charging device) may be tailored to last as long as the photoreceptor, which may run many months even in high-use operations. Accordingly, the high-speed electrophotographic applications may need to be serviced only when the photoreceptor wears out, thus significantly reducing the maintenance frequency without the side effect of increased ozone production, as in the case of wire-type corona charging devices.

Abstract: A semiconducting member has a water-soluble polyaniline having an acidic group, and an aqueous polymeric compound. The semiconducting member has a volume resistivity of from 104 &OHgr;·cm to 1012 &OHgr;·cm.

Abstract: A nonbleeding bias charging member having an outer layer on a supporting substrate with fluorinated carbon and zinc oxide dispersed in the outer layer material, where bleeding of contaminants to imaging members is decreased or eliminated.

Abstract: In a corona discharging apparatus for use in an electrophotographic printing apparatus, a wire spring-like member having the torque limiter function is used for the cleaning member to conduct the power transmission of the screw shaft, and by releasing the load larger than a predetermined value, the deformation of the gear and deviation of the shaft are eliminated, and the lock of the motor is prevented from being generated.

Abstract: A process cartridge is disclosed which includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a photosensitive layer and a charging means. The charging means has a charging member which is provided in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive member to charge the photosensitive member electrostatically by applying a voltage formed by superimposing an alternating-current voltage on a direct-current voltage. The photosensitive member has a surface layer which contains at least one of a polyarylate resin having a weight-average molecular weight of 7.5×103 to 3.7×104 and having a specific structural unit of Formula (1) and a polycarbonate resin having a weight-average molecular weight of 7.5×103 to 3.7×104 and having a specific structural unit of Formula (2). The photosensitive member further contains fluorine-containing resin particles. Also, an electrophotographic apparatus having the photosensitive member is disclosed.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a process cartridge and a discharging device. The process cartridge includes a photo-receptor and a charging device. A toner image is formed on the photo-receptor. The charging device is configured to uniformly charge a surface of the photo-receptor. The discharging device is provided outside of the process cartridge and configured to emit light to discharge the surface of the photo-receptor. The process cartridge also includes a light incidence opening to pass the light emitted from the discharging device therethrough, and the light incidence opening is formed to regulate the passed light so as to irradiate an area of the surface of the photo-receptor.

Abstract: A charging apparatus charges a moving body to be charged, which has a charging member for coming in contact with the body to be charged to charge the body to be charged, and contacting/separating device for contacting the charging member with and separating the charging member from the body to be charged, wherein the contacting/separating device converts a moving force of the body to be charged into a force for contacting/separating the charging member.

Abstract: A process cartridge has an electrophotographic photosenstive member and a conducting member disposed in contact with the electrophotographic photosenstive member and to which a voltage is to be applied. The electrophotographic photosensitive member and conducting member are supported as one unit and are detachably mountable to the main body of an electrophotographic apparatus. The electrophotographic photosenstive member has a support, and provided thereon are a charge generation layer and a charge trasport layer in this order. The charge transport layer having a thickness of from 12 &mgr;m to 40 &mgr;m and the conducting member has a conductive support and a covering layer provided thereon. The time constant &tgr; of electric current of the conducting member is 0.1 second or shorter.

Abstract: A corona generator including a body and a first support secured to the body is provided. The corona generator also includes a second support secured to the body and spaced from the first support. The corona generator also includes an electrode mounted to the first support and to the second support.

Abstract: An OPC 2, a charger 9, a cleaner 10 for cleaning the charger 9, a holder 11 for holding the charger 9, a support frame 12 for supporting the holder 11, a pair of springs 13 and 14 and a driver 15 for driving the holder are accommodated in a single process cartridge 8. The cleaner 10 can be brought into contact with the charger 9 and separated from the same. The driver 15 moves the cleaner 10 between a position of contact at which the cleaner 10 is brought into contact with the charger 9 and a position of separation at which the cleaner 10 is separated from the charger 9.

Abstract: An electrically conductive member comprising an electrically conductive elastic layer and a coating layer formed thereon, characterized in that said coating layer is formed from a polyurea resin as a cured product resulting from reaction between a polyamine compound and a polyisocyanate compound. It has a coating layer which readily conforms to elastic deformation of rubber or the likes, has long durability, and has good properties in protection of the photosensitive body from staining and prevention of toner sticking, control of the toner charging and a low coefficient of friction.

Abstract: In an imaging cartridge for forming images at least including a corona charging device and an object to be charged, a discharging electrode unit in the corona charging device is supported in such a manner that the electrode unit can be separately detached therefrom and installed thereto without being obstructed by the object to be charged or by a grid electrode from a side opposite to the member to be charged.

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 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 image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a charger detachably mountable with respect to a main body of the image forming apparatus and having a charging wire, a wire electrode for receiving a voltage to be supplied to the charging wire, a grid, and a grid electrode for receiving a voltage to be supplied to the grid, a wire power-feeding contact arranged to come into contact with the wire electrode, and a grid power-feeding contact arranged to come into contact with the grid electrode, wherein, in mounting the charger in the image forming apparatus, the wire electrode comes into contact with the wire power-feeding contact after the grid electrode comes into contact with the grid power-feeding contact.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus employs an image carrier (photoreceptor) cartridge having protective covers of which surface is coated with conductive shield in order to prevent frictional charging that will bring on sparking between a photoreceptor and covers. Further, the photoreceptor cartridge is equipped on its surface with an elastic member which is a foam body having a plurality of foam cells for catching foreign matter such as paper particles in order to prevent the foreign matter from damaging the surface of the photoreceptor. Moreover, the photoreceptor cartridge is also equipped with a flick member for flicking off toner deposited on a conductive brush in order to prevent the brush from becoming dirty. Owing to the above-mentioned construction, the image forming apparatus can avoid degradation in image quality.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrostatic charging member excellent in dispersibility of electrically-conducting agent and uniformity in resistance which causes no contamination of the material to be charged for a prolonged period of time. The present invention relates to an electrostatic charging member which electrostatically charging uniformly the surface of a material to be charged such as photoreceptor and dielectric material while pressing the material. An electrostatic charging member 1 has a two-layer structure comprising an electrically-conductive elastic material layer 1b formed on an electrically-conductive substrate 1a, and a resistance-controlling layer 1c covering the elastic material layer 1b. The resistance-controlling layer 1c comprises an electrically-conducting agent such as carbon black having a pH value of not more than 6 dispersed in an amine-modified polyurethane resin as a base polymer.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in a gravure press or other reproduction apparatus, comprising a roller apparatus which is at least partly electrically conductive and at least one electrical transfer device adjacent the surface of the roller and connected to a power source, in use, to enable a charge to be applied to the surface of the roller by each such transfer device, and means for moving the transfer device relative to the surface of the roller, in use, whereby to mitigate the adverse image-patterning effects on gravure printing, or other reproduction, of any spatial discontinuities in the level of charge transfer from the spaced transfer devices onto the roller.

Abstract: A charging apparatus for applying a uniform electrostatic charge to a charge retentive surface is provided. The charging apparatus is operably electrically connectable to a power supply for supplying an electrical bias to the charging apparatus. The apparatus includes a housing and an electrode mounted to the housing and positioned adjacent the surface in a non-contact relationship therewith. The apparatus also includes a shield connected to the housing and at least partially surrounding the electrode. The apparatus also includes an electrical connector, electrically connected to the shield and electrically connectable to the power supply for providing an electrical bias to the shield. The electrical connector extends from the shield and is integral therewith.

Abstract: A method of cleaning is used to remove residual toner in an electrophotographic printer. After a printing operation, some amount of normally-charged toner and reversely-charged toner is left on the photoconductive drum and rollers such as charging rollers, transfer roller, and cleaning roller in contact with the photoconductive drum. A potential difference is applied between two members, for example, the cleaning roller and the photoconductive drum in electrical contact with each other so as to cause the residual toner to migrate from one member to the other. The potential differences are applied at specific timings so that the residual toner migrates properly onto the rotating photoconductive drum and is carried to the developing section for reuse.

Abstract: A cleaning assembly for polishing debris from a corona wire is disclosed. The cleaning assembly includes a seat movably mounted within a housing to slide along the length of the corona wire. The seat has a polishing element configured to deflect the corona wire from an operating position. The assembly further includes a handle protruding from the housing whereby as the handle is pulled away from the housing along a plane defined by the length of the corona wire, the polishing element deflects the corona wire and polishes the taut wire to clean the corona wire.

Abstract: A charging module for applying a uniform electrostatic charge to a charge retentive surface is provided. The charging module is operably electrically connectable to a power supply for supplying an electrical bias to the charging apparatus. The charging module is mountable into a process cartridge. The process cartridge includes a cartridge mounting surface for cooperation with the charging apparatus. The apparatus includes a housing including a housing mounting feature and an electrode. The electrode is mounted to the housing and is positioned adjacent the surface in a non-contact relationship therewith. The housing mounting feature is adapted to be cooperable with the cartridge mounting surface to secure the placement of the charging module into the cartridge without the need for any installation tools.

Abstract: According to this invention, the contact and separation conditions between an OPC drum and a charger roller are controlled by utilizing a tension spring, which is connected between a frame and a bearing through which the shaft of the charger roller extends, for separating a driving gear of the OPC drum and a driven gear of the charger roller by a predetermined distance in order that the OPC drum and the charger roller can be separated while the OPC drum is at standstill, in order to prevent the charger roller from deforming or contaminating the OPC drum. The force of the tension spring is overcome by the force generated by the driving gear engaging the driven gear to enable the OPC drum and the charger roller to again contact each other while the OPC drum is rotated.

Abstract: The present invention describes a charging device pressed against the surface of a body to be charged in a state of being applied with a voltage so as to charge the body. The charging device includes an electrically conductive support to which a voltage is to be applied; an electrically conductive elastic body layer fixed on the electrically conductive support; a resistance regulation layer covering the electrically conductive elastic body layer; and a protective layer laminated on the resistance regulation layer, having hardness of 6 H or more in pencil hardness, and made from a silicon compound.