Abstract: A process cartridge including a housing having walls defining a process chamber and a photoreceptor mounted to the walls within the process chamber and having a closed loop path and an imaging area having a given length. The process cartridge also includes plural process components acting along the closed loop path for producing imaging affects on the photoreceptor for forming on, and for transferring from, the photoreceptor, a toner image. The process components include a charging component that includes a pin-array charge emitting device having an acting region precisely only as long as the length of the imaging area, in order to avoid occurrence of "dark bands" towards edges of a formed and transferred toner image. The process components also include a developer roll for applying charged toner particles to the imaging area. The developer roll has an acting region centered relative to, and extending slightly beyond, each end of the length of the imaging area.

Abstract: A charging apparatus includes a rotatable charging member, contactable to a member to be charged, for charging the member to be charged, the rotatable charging member is provided with a rotation shaft; an electroconductive elastic member for urging the rotatable charging member to the member to be charged, wherein the rotatable charging member is capable of being supplied with a voltage through the elastic member; wherein a part of the elastic member and a peripheral surface of the rotation shaft are contacted to electrically connect the elastic member with the rotation shaft.

Abstract: The door (3) of a laser printer (1) is pivoted to the frame (1c) of the printer by a pin (21) of hinge (19). When the door is shut, link (33) is rotatably connected to the hinge at a location above the pin. Link 33 has an elongated slot (33a) at its end opposite the hinge in which a pin (51) does not encounter the edge of the slot when the door is closed. Spring (31) therefore rotates U shaped link 11 around its pivot point (15) to the frame to bring charge roller (9) into contact with photoconductor drum (5). When the door is manually opened, spring 31 provides an upward force, link 33 is moved forward where the slot engages pin 51, which pivots both link 13 and door 3 upward. Force of the charge roller against the drum is by the spring as the only active element, thereby providing a controlled force.

Abstract: A charging apparatus includes a charging surface for charging a member to be charged, wherein a voltage is applied between the charging apparatus and the member to be charged; and projections for contacting the charging apparatus substantially at three positions to the member to be charged to closely face a charging surface to the member to be charged.

Abstract: A spacer apparatus for providing separation between a photoconductor drum and a charge roller in an electrophotographic printing system prior to first use includes a first and a second spacer member pivotally mounted to the shaft of the charge roller. Attached to the first and the second spacer members are, respectively, a first and a second spacer cam which contact the photoconductor drum in a region outside of the electrostatic latent image forming area of the photoconductor drum. Prior to the first rotation of the photoconductor drum, the first and second spacer cams maintain separation between the photoconductor drum and the charge roller. After the first rotation of the photoconductor drum, the first and second spacer cams rotate about the shaft of the charge roller and permit the charge roller to be engaged against the photoconductor drum by the compression springs.

Abstract: At least a photosensitive drum 2 and charge roller 9 are attached to a unit 8 so that the photosensitive drum 2 and charge roller 9 can be freely attached to and detached from an apparatus body 1 in unison with the unit case 8, and the charge roller 9 can be freely brought into and out of contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 2. The apparatus body 1 is provided with pressure cams 5a and 5b adapted to cause the charge roller 9 to be brought into and out of contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 2.