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: A corona charger including a corona discharge electrode and a control electrode is provided. A layer including a zeolite, a conductive agent, and a binder resin is formed on a surface of the control electrode.

Abstract: A charging apparatus is provided in which electrodes can be protected from corrosion induced by water content in the air, ozone, nitrogen oxide and the like and thereby lack of uniformity in charged potential on photoreceptor surface can be prevented, and in which a charged potential on photoreceptor surface can be kept in an adequate range for a longer period of time. As an electrode disposed in the charging apparatus for charging photoreceptor surface, an electrode formed with a protective layer made of nickel and phosphorus for surface protection is used. In the protective layer, phosphorus concentration and thickness proportion are each set to fall within a specified range.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a corona charger having an opening, a shutter configured to open and close the opening of the corona charger, a humidity sensor configured to detect humidity, and a control unit configured to control the so that time from ending an image forming process to closing the opening using the shutter is reduced when the humidity detected by the humidity sensor increases.

Abstract: A corona charger conventionally includes a sheet-like shutter and a holding member configured to hold an end of the shutter, and the replacement of a charging electrode is difficult. To solve this problem, the holding member configured to hold the end of the shutter is set to be movable along the longitudinal direction of a shield to a winding member of the shutter more than a supporting member configured to replaceably support the charging electrode.

Abstract: A charging device includes a corona charger; a shutter of a sheet for shielding an opening of said corona charger, the sheet having such a property that it is curled about an axis when said shutter absorbs moisture; and a winding-up device for winding up the shutter. The axis and a winding-up direction in which the shutter is wound up by the winding-up means form an angle therebetween from 45 degrees to 135 degrees.

Abstract: The present invention provides a charging device which can suppress the deterioration of a photosensitive member and the occurrence of an image deletion phenomenon on an electrophotographic image due to an electric discharge product having deposited on a charger shutter, even when having been used for a long period of time. The charging device has an image bearing member which bears an image thereon, a charging member which charges the image bearing member, and a shielding member which shields the charging member from the image bearing member, wherein the shielding member includes a specific material.

Abstract: In a xerographic printing apparatus, including a charge receptor, the charge receptor being movable in a process direction; and a charge device for applying a charge to a surface of the charge receptor, the charge device having a corona member including a pin array being oriented and extending substantially non perpendicular to the surface of the charge receptor in the process direction.

Abstract: A charging device is provided. A charging device includes a charging section and a discharge product adsorption removal section. The charging section includes a shield case having a shield opening, a discharge electrode, and a rotation shaft which is parallel to a rotation axis of a photoreceptor. The discharge product adsorption removal section has an adsorption layer that adsorbs a discharge product and is disposed downward in a vertical direction of the photoreceptor. The charging section is displaceable about an axial line of the rotation shaft from a position where the shield opening opposes to the photoreceptor to a position where the shield opening opposes to the discharge product adsorption removal section.

Abstract: This is a titanium shield that fits into a discorotron and helps to eliminate destructive effluents. The shield conforms to the shape of the discorotron housing and has side portions that extend beyond the side portions of the discorotron housing. On this extended portion, a grid is attached over the open surface of the discorotron. The extended portions are called ears. These ears have notches to mate with apertures in the grid. The exposed ends of the ears are covered by a guard to prevent the ears from making contact with a photoreceptive surface. Below the ears are upstanding electrical contacts which when viewed from an end view form an H-like configuration with the ears.

Abstract: A charging device includes a corona charger for electrically charging a photosensitive member; a shutter, having first surfaces at which the shutter opposes the corona charger and having second surfaces at which the shutter opposes the photosensitive member, for covering and uncovering an opening of the corona charger with respect to a longitudinal direction of the opening; and a retracting device for retracting the shutter when the opening is uncovered. The retracting device retracts the shutter in a state in which the first surfaces contact each other so that the first surfaces and the second surfaces do not contact each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising an image holding member that is rotationally driven, the image holding member comprising, on a substrate, a subbing layer and a photosensitive layer, a volume resistance value of the subbing layer decreasing in a rotation axis direction of the image holding member, from one end portion of a light source side of the image holding member towards another end portion of the image holding member, a charging unit, a latent image formation unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, and a charge removal unit comprising a light source that, after transfer of the toner image, irradiates the surface of the image holding member from one side thereof, in a rotation axis direction of the image holding member, with charge removing light, to remove the charge from the surface of the image holding member.

Abstract: A coronode charging device includes a support member, a filament, an adjustment mechanism and a voltage source. The lament is disposed along the support member in a configuration that creates a plurality of active regions and a plurality of inactive regions of the filament. The active regions are simultaneously positionable adjacent the photoreceptor. The inactive regions may be farther from the photoreceptor than the active regions. The adjustment mechanism moves the filament such that portions of the filament that correspond to the active regions are moved to positions that correspond to the inactive regions, and some portions of the filament that were in the inactive regions are moved to positions that correspond to the active regions. This operations extends the life of the coronode charging device.

Abstract: The present invention is related to preventing dust agglomeration on a sharp electrode which is used for generating corona. According to certain aspects, the invention includes a dust shroud which decreases or prevents dust accumulation on the sharp electrodes. The dust shroud changes the gas flow path so as to reduce the amount of gas passing near the sharp electrode. An advantage of the shroud is that it prevents dust from building up on the electrodes. The shroud is a simple, passive addition to the electrostatic pump, such that the pump is otherwise able to operate normally throughout its life. In embodiments, the shroud can be used to protect a corona electrode used in heat sink applications especially in electronics cooling. It can also be used in electrostatic precipitators for cleaning dust or chemical or microbe particles from air.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive member, a charger, a frame and a block member. The charger charges the photosensitive member and includes a charging wire and a grid electrode, which is provided between the charging wire and the photosensitive member, and which has an opening area in a surface opposing the photosensitive member. The frame supports the photosensitive member and the charger. The block member is provided between the charging wire and an end portion of the grid electrode in a longitudinal direction thereof and prevents a marginal area of the grid electrode from facing the charging wire in a direction with a minimum distance therebetween, the marginal area being defined between an end of the grid electrode and an end of the opening area.

Abstract: A charging device comprises first and second electrodes forming a charging zone. A plurality of nanostructures adhere to at least one of the first and second electrodes. A charging voltage supply couples to the electrodes to support the formation of gaseous ions in the charging zone. An aperture electrode or grid proximate to the first and second electrodes is coupled to a grid control voltage supply which grid control voltage supply, in turn, controls a flow of gaseous ions from the charging zone to thereby charge a proximately-located receptor. In one embodiment, the charging voltage supply is arranged to provide a pulsed-voltage waveform. In one variation of this embodiment, the pulsed-voltage waveform comprises a pulsed-DC waveform. In another embodiment, the charging voltage supply is arranged to provide an alternating-current waveform. In one embodiment, the charging device itself is comprised in an image forming device.

Abstract: In a corotron device system, a moving element moves via a guide unit. A corotron having a corotron element and a corotron shield is provided. The corotron element is arranged relative to the moving element such that a distance from, and a parallel position of, the corotron element relative to the moving element substantially do not change.

Abstract: There is provided a charging apparatus having high durability, in which no rusts etc. are generated, and by which a potential of a photoreceptor drum being charged can be controlled stably within an appropriate range for a long period of time owing to hardly impaired controllability of the potential of the photoreceptor drum being charged even with a some amount of contaminants such as toner that may be deposited on, and which is inexpensive as well. A charging apparatus includes a needle electrode, a holding member, two cleaner members, a support member, a moving member, a shield case, and a platy grid. On the surface of the needle electrode is formed a nickel layer containing tungsten.

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 charging device includes a corona charger for electrically charging a photosensitive member; a sheet-like member for covering and uncovering an opening of the corona charger; regulating device for regulating a shape of the sheet-like member so that a central portion of the sheet-like member protrudes toward the corona charger with respect to a widthwise direction of the sheet-like member; and a winding-up device for winding up the sheet-like member such a surface of said sheet-like member as is remote from the photosensitive member is inside.

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: The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to imaging members useful in electrostatography. More particularly, the embodiments pertain to an improved development systems for electrophotographic imaging and printing apparatuses and machines in which ghosting print defects are reduced, and more particularly, is directed to a method for reducing positive ghosting in such systems.

Abstract: There is provided a charging apparatus which has high durability and suffers from no rust etc. and of which controllability of charged potential of a photoreceptor is hardly impaired even with a some amount of contaminants such as a toner so that control of charged potential of a photoreceptor can be stably carried out to fall in an appropriate range over a long period of time, and moreover which is inexpensive. A charging apparatus includes a needle electrode, a holding member, two cleaner members, a support member, a moving member, a shield case, and a grid electrode. A length in minor axis of a secondary aggregate of polytetrafluoroethylene contained in a polytetrafluoroethylene-containing nickel layer formed on a surface of the needle electrode is twice or less than a layer thickness of the nickel layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a charging device for charging the surface of a rotating image carrier. The charging device includes a shielding case having an opening at a location facing toward the image carrier, a corona electrode hung within the shielding case to extend in a direction perpendicular to the rotating direction of the image carrier, a control electrode disposed at a location of the opening. The shielding case as a pair of side plates opposed to each other in the rotating direction of the image carrier. At least one of the side plates has a portion that outwardly bulges at a location in the vicinity of the opening.

Abstract: An analog control application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) apparatus for a high voltage power supply (HVPS) in an image for apparatus, and a method for controlling the HVPS are provided. The HVPS includes a transformer transforming an AC signal to a high voltage signal and a voltage doubler outputting a DC high voltage for the HVPS. The ASIC includes an analog control circuit configured as a one-chip ASIC that converts a predetermined DC level signal to a high frequency switching signal using a switching component and outputs the converted high frequency switching signal to a primary winding of the transformer. If the high voltage output signal output from the voltage doubler is not feedbacked, the switching component high frequency switches a received driving signal of a gate driver, and outputs the high frequency switched signal to the transformer.

Abstract: An image formation device for forming an image on a print medium by an electrophotographic process comprises a photosensitive body on which a developer image to be transferred to the print medium is formed by the electrophotographic process including charging of the photosensitive body, a charging unit which includes a charging wire and a grid and thereby electrically charges the photosensitive body, a charging power unit which applies wire potential to the charging wire, a wire potential measuring unit which measures the wire potential, and a charging control unit which controls the amount of electric charge supplied from the charging unit to the photosensitive body by controlling the wire potential based on the wire potential measured by the wire potential measurement unit. The charging control unit includes a control range restricting unit which restricts a control range of the wire potential within a prescribed electric potential.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a latent image carrier; a first charging unit which charges the latent image carrier; a second charging unit which supplies a charge having a reverse polarity of the charged polarity of the toner; a toner carrying roller which carries a toner layer containing both a contact toner which comes in direct contact with the surface of the toner carrying roller and a non-contact toner which comes in contact with the contact toner and does not come in contact with the surface of the toner carrying roller; an electric field forming unit which develops the electrostatic latent image by the toner by generating an alternate electric field as a toner fly electric field between the latent image carrier and the toner carrying roller; and a transfer unit which transfers a toner image formed by developing the electrostatic latent image to a transfer medium.

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: The present invention is made to provide a pretransfer charging device, which allows (i) reduction of generation of discharge products such as ozone and nitroxide, (ii) excellent uniform charging, (iii) continuous stable charging for a long period of time, and (iv) restraint of distortion of a toner image. The pretransfer charging device includes (i) ion generation needles each provided face to face with an image carrier such as a photoconductor drum or an intermediating transfer belt, and (ii) a high-voltage power supply for applying a negative voltage to each of the ion generation needles. The voltage to be applied from the high-voltage power supply is not less than an ion production threshold voltage but is less than a corona discharge threshold voltage. With this, no corona discharge occurs but negative ions can be generated. This makes it possible to solve various problems caused due to the corona discharge.

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: An image forming apparatus that includes: plural photosensitive members; plural charging units respectively opposed to the plurality of photosensitive members; a high-voltage power supply unit which applies a voltage to the charging unit; and a discharge detecting unit which detects discharge of the charging unit and detects abnormality of the charging unit, wherein the plural charging units are connected to the discharge detecting unit in parallel.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide materials and devices for a corona charging. Specifically, carbon nanotube yarns can be used as corona wires (or coronode) in a corotron-type or scorotron-type charging device. The carbon nanotube yarns can provide small diameters, and desired electrical, mechanical and thermal properties. The carbon nanotube yarns can have a diameter of about 100 microns or less for a low operating voltage of the charging device.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus of the present invention, a scorotron charging device has a meshed grid electrode which is meshed more coarsely in a high-speed apparatus than a meshed grid electrode in a low-speed apparatus according to a circumferential velocity of a photoreceptor. With this arrangement, it is possible to charge the photoreceptor at a predetermined potential in the high-speed apparatus, without increase of the amount of ozone generation and upsizing of the image forming apparatus.

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 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 photoconductive drum unit includes a frame, a photoconductive drum, and a scorotron charging unit. The charging unit includes a pair of mounting members, a discharging electrode filament, a shield casing, a grid, and a connecting member. The mounting members are mounted and fixed at both end portions of the frame. The discharging electrode filament extends between the mounting members in a tensioned state. The shield casing is supported by being connected between the mounting members and covers the discharging electrode filament. The grid extends between the mounting members in a tensioned state and is arranged in an opening of the shield casing. The connecting member connects the mounting members and the shield casing in a state in which a slight displacement is permitted between the mounting members and the shield casing.

Abstract: A corona charger including a corona discharge electrode and a control electrode is provided. A layer including a zeolite, a conductive agent, and a binder resin is formed on a surface of the control electrode.

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: A corona discharge device (10) comprises a discharge electrode (1) for causing electric discharge, a discharge product removing member (4) provided around the discharge electrode (1), and containing a material capable of removing a discharge product, and a shield plate (3) interposed between the discharge electrode (1) and the discharge product removing member (4), having a through-hole (3a) open toward the discharge electrode (1), and having a surface opposed to the discharge electrode (1) and at least the surface being made of a metallic material. With this, a corona discharge device, a photoreceptor charger, and a method for making a discharge product removing member which realize high trapping efficiency for discharge products and a long life of a discharge product removing filter are provided.

Abstract: A charging member having a support, a conductive elastic layer formed on the support and a surface layer formed on the conductive elastic layer, wherein the surface layer contains a polysiloxane having an acrylic group and an oxyalkylene group. This provides a charging member to the surface of which toners and external additives used in the toners can not easily cling even because of repeated use over a long period of time and which therefore enables charging and image reproduction which are stable over a long period of time, even when used in the DC contact charging method; and further provides a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus which have such a charging member.

Abstract: A charging system for uniformly charging an imaging surface moving in a predefined path including a dicorotron for charging the imaging surface; a discorotron, adjacent to and downstream from said dicortron, for charging the imaging surface; the discorotron including a coronode, a grid and a shield a first power supply for biasing the grid and the shield; a second power supply for energizing each of the coronode; means for determining a voltage level of the imaging surface and generating a feedback signal of the voltage level; and a controller, responsive to the feedback signal and in communication with the first power supply, for controlling the energiziation of the grid and the shield.

Abstract: To a toner used in an image forming apparatus is added an external additive whose main components are oxide fine particles in which dimethylsilyl groups are introduced to surfaces thereof, and whose volatilizing amount of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane in a first volatilizing test is 0.2 ?g or less. Consequently, it is possible to prevent foreign matters from attaching to a discharging electrode included in the image forming apparatus. The first volatilizing test is performed in such a manner that 2 g of the external additive is put in a sealing container and the inside of the sealing container is kept at 120° C. for 10 minutes so that octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane volatilizes from the external additive.

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: A charger of a process cartridge may be configured so that a charging wire is laid across an upper frame. An upper frame may be provided with a stopper at which one end of the charging wire is caught, and with a wire pulling member that pulls the charging wire at the other end. The wire pulling member may include a coil spring portion and an engaging portion capable of engaging with the other end of the charging wire, so that the engaging portion may rotate on a centerline of the coil spring portion. The wire pulling member may be held in the upper frame so that the centerline of the coil spring portion may be substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of an extended portion of the charging wire.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units and a plurality of transfer units. The image forming units have corresponding image carriers and charging units. The image forming units form toner images of different colors on the corresponding image carriers. The transfer units face the corresponding image carriers to form transfer areas between the transfer units and the image carriers, and press a transfer member to the corresponding image carriers to transfer the toner images onto the transfer member at the transfer areas. The charging units include at least one corona-type charger and at least one contact-type charger. The image forming apparatus sets a first transfer condition for the transfer unit(s) corresponding to the image carrier(s) charged by the at least one corona-type charger and a second, separate transfer condition for the transfer unit(s) corresponding to the image carrier(s) charged by the at least one contact-type charger.

Abstract: A liquid transfer apparatus includes a first cylinder, second cylinder, target liquid transfer body, guide device, and corona discharge processing device. The first cylinder is supported rotatably. The second cylinder is arranged to oppose the first cylinder and supported rotatably. Liquid is transferred to the target liquid transfer body when the target liquid transfer body travels between the first cylinder and the second cylinder. The guide device is conductive at least partially and arranged more upstream of the target transfer body in its traveling direction than the first cylinder and the second cylinder, and guides the target liquid transfer body. The corona discharge processing device is arranged to oppose the guide device and performs corona discharge for the target liquid transfer body traveling by being guided by the guide device.

Abstract: A discharger includes: a discharge electrode member that is placed opposedly to a member to be charged; an opposed electrode member that is placed opposedly to the discharge electrode member; and a power source circuit that applies a discharge voltage for generating a discharge between the discharge electrode member and the opposed electrode member, and the electrode member having a surface that includes a covered layer covered by a covering material is formed on a surface opposed thereto, and the covering material containing a carbon atom, or a carbon atom and another atom or other plural atoms as a main component, and having an SP3 structure by a carbon atom.

Abstract: An improved coronode assembly includes pin guards that are positioned closely spaced from and extending above a coronode in order to provide protection for a user reaching past the coronode to remove a sheet jam, and prevent coronode damage when the coronode is handled during servicing by a field service technician. The closeness of the pin guards to the coronode also serves to produce a more uniform field.

Abstract: This is a charging assembly that is useful in marking processes with an electrostatically charged surface. The assembly includes, besides the charger, a controller and an electric field probe. Charge and current flows can be detected by the probe and corrected immediately after detection of flaws by the probe and conveyed to the controller. If flaws in the charger are determined by the probe, corrections are made to the output by a controller; this is done before a final copy or print is made. The term flaws as used means any non-uniform appearing region in the printed image or any void region within the printed image including any otherwise unacceptable defect such as a jagged line that is visible to an end user. The probe is enabled to detect and indicate flaws and the controller which is in communication with the probe takes corrective action on the flaws. The probe used is a novel probe having two sensing elements surrounded by one or more reference electrodes.

Abstract: In a xerographic printing apparatus, a charge device is used to apply a charge to a photoreceptor. The shuttle includes a wiper that cleans a sidewall of the charge device. A tab is disposed adjacent the sidewall to retain toner or dirt accumulated by the scraper. The tab is electrically insulative, and effectively covers the accumulated toner or dirt, to lower the possibility of arcing within the charge device.