Abstract: There is described an applicator for use in an image forming apparatus. The applicator includes an applicator comprising an elastomeric matrix and a functional material dispersed therein. The applicator includes an actuator for moving the applicator between a first position having the applicator in contact with a surface, and a second position. The actuator moves the applicator from the first position to the second position at a frequency of from about 10?5 Hz to about 10 kHz wherein the functional material diffuses from the elastomeric matrix to the surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a charging member that suppresses abnormal discharge which induces charging unevenness, and that has little contamination on a surface layer, to thereby enable uniform charging over a long period. The charging member includes a substrate, an elastic layer and a surface layer, wherein the surface layer contains a polymer compound having constitutional units represented by the following general formula (1), chemical formula (2) and general formula (3), and having a Si—O—Ti bond, a Ti—O-M bond and a Si—O-M bond. M is any atom selected from the group consisting of V, Nb and W.

Abstract: The presently disclosed embodiments relate generally to an image forming apparatus comprising a delivery member in contact with either the surface of an imaging member or in contact with the surface of the bias charge roller, wherein the delivery member is fabricated as a polymer matrix impregnated with functional materials, such that the functional material is transferred onto the imaging member or bias charge roller from the delivery member. Embodiments also pertain to an improved electrophotographic imaging member comprising a very thin outer layer on the imaging member surface, where the outer layer comprises functional materials, such as paraffin, that act as a lubricant and/or a barrier against moisture and/or surface contaminants. The improved imaging member exhibits improved xerographic performance, such as reduced torque, reduced friction, and deletions in high humidity conditions.

Abstract: Provided is a charging member whose surface is suppressed to adhesion of toner or an external additive and is not contaminated easily, and which is less likely to occur a track due to the contact between the charging member and a photosensitive member in an electrophotographic image. The charging member comprises a support, an elastic layer, and a surface layer, wherein the surface layer comprises: a constitutional unit represented by the following general formula (1); a constitutional unit represented by the following general formula (2); a polymer compound having a bond of Si—O—Ti; and phenyl-modified silicone oil having a particular structure.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrophotographic electrically conductive member in which conductivity needed for a charging member is secured, and defects in an image attributed to uneven discharging can be minimized independently of a long-term use and an environment of use. An electrophotographic electrically conductive member comprising an electrically conductive support and an electrically conductive layer, wherein the electrically conductive layer includes an ion conductive resin having a quaternary ammonium ion in a molecule structure as a binder resin, and a carrier molecule represented by the following formula (1) or (2): (wherein n1 and n2 each independently represent an integer of 1 to 4).

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus which includes multiple charging rollers and which can suppress accumulation of deposits such as external additives onto a charging roller without reducing productivity of the image forming apparatus. A changing voltage is applied to a first charging roller. A voltage obtained by superimposing an alternating voltage on a direct voltage is applied to a second charging roller disposed on the downstream side of the first charging roller in the rotation direction of a photosensitive member. During image formation, the changing voltage applied to the first charging roller is changed so that the magnitude relationship between the potential of the photosensitive member which has been charged by using the first charging roller and which has reached a position at which the photosensitive member is charged by using the second charging roller and the direct voltage applied to the second charging roller is alternately switched.

Abstract: In the formation of a conductive roller 1, a compound forming an elastomer by curing through an electron beam irradiation or a ultraviolet ray irradiation is applied onto an outside of a shaft member 2 to form an elastomeric coating layer 3R and then the elastomeric coating layer is cured through an irradiation of an electron beam or a ultraviolet ray to form an elastic layer, whereby the elastic layer can be formed cheaply without sacrificing precision of peripheral dimension to largely reduce the cost of the conductive roller.

Abstract: Provide herein is a bias charging member that includes a conductive core, and an outer surface layer disposed on the conductive core. The outer surface layer includes carbon black and polycarbonate.

Abstract: A bias charge roller includes an electrically conductive core. An outer layer is axially supported on the core. The outer layer is either conductive or semi-conductive. The bias charge roller further includes a continuous raised pattern on the outer surface of the outer layer. The continuous raised pattern is configured to contact a charge-retentive surface of an electrophotographic imaging member so as to charge the charge-retentive surface. The bias charge roller can be employed in an image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A charge applying member includes a conductive roller and a shaft. The conductive roller includes a first region in contact with a member to be charged and facing an image forming region of the member to be charged and a second region next to a longitudinal end of the first region and facing a region of the member to be charged outside the image forming region and is configured to apply a charge to the member to be charged. The shaft formed of a metallic material inserted into the conductive roller and configured to be given a voltage from a power supply. A region plated with a metal having a lower ionization tendency than the shaft is formed as a plated region on a surface portion of the shaft corresponding to the first and second regions and a non-plated region is formed on a surface portion of the shaft corresponding to the second region.

Abstract: The conductive member has a conductive support and a conductive elastic layer. The elastic layer is a mixture containing an electron conductive agent and a binder polymer, or a cured product thereof, and the electron conductive agent contains a carbon black satisfying the following characteristics: (i) an average primary particle diameter is 20 nm or more and 30 nm or less; (ii) a DBP oil absorption is 40 ml/100 g or more and 70 ml/100 g or less, and the total amount of CO and CO2 generated by temperature programmed desorption/mass spectrometry is 0.30 mass % or more and 0.80 mass % or less with reference to the carbon black; and (iii) the amount of SO2 generated by the temperature programmed desorption/mass spectrometry is 0.05 mass % or more with reference to the carbon black.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a brush roller, rotatable in a predetermined rotational direction, contacted to the image bearing member; and an applying device for applying a bias to the brush roller. The brush roller includes a shaft and a woven fabric brush including fibers planted in a strip-like base material, which is wound helically about the shaft with a helical winding gap. The woven fabric brush is subjected to fiber slanting processing so that the fibers of the helically wound woven fabric brush are slanted, so as to cover the helical winding gap, from a downstream side toward an upstream side with respect to a longitudinal direction in which a helically extending widthwise edge of the base material appears to be moving when the brush roller rotates in the predetermined rotational direction.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide materials and methods for bias charging members including an outer surface coating overlaying an outer base layer, wherein the outer surface coating can include conductive fillers combined with one or more polymers to provide desirable surface, electrical, and/or mechanical properties.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has: a positively-charged single layer type electrophotographic photoreceptor; a charging device with a contact charging roller for charging a surface of the photoreceptor; an exposure device for exposing the charged surface to light to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoreceptor; a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image; and a transfer device for transferring the toner image to a transferred body. The photoreceptor has a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer that contains a charge generating agent, a charge transport agent and a binder resin. The binder resin has a yield point strain of 9 to 29%, and the contact charging roller has a conductive layer with a thickness of 1 mm to 3 mm. The image forming apparatus is environmentally responsive and having a long-lasting positively-charged single layer type photoreceptor and charging roller.

Abstract: A method includes moving a first end portion of a charging member with respect to a photoconductive member to obtain a first electrical discharge event corresponding to conduction of an electrical current from the charging member to the photoconductive member. The method also includes identifying a first adjustment value corresponding to a distance in which the first end portion moved toward the photoconductive member to obtain the first electrical discharge event. The method also includes moving a second end portion of the charging member with respect to the photoconductive member to obtain a second electrical discharge event corresponding to conduction of an electrical current from the charging member to the photoconductive member. The method also includes identifying a second adjustment value corresponding to a distance in which the second end portion moved toward the photoconductive member to obtain the second electrical discharge event.

Abstract: There is described an applicator for use in an image forming apparatus. The applicator includes an applicator comprising an elastomeric matrix and a functional material dispersed therein. The applicator includes an actuator for moving the applicator between a first position having the applicator in contact with a surface, and a second position. The actuator moves the applicator from the first position to the second position at a frequency of from about 10?5 Hz to about 10 kHz wherein the functional material diffuses from the elastomeric matrix to the surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a positively-charged single layer type electrophotographic photoreceptor, a charging device with a contact charging roller for charging a surface of the photoreceptor and an exposure device for exposing the charged surface of the photoreceptor to light to form an electrostatic latent image thereon. A developing device develops the electrostatic latent image into a toner image and a transfer device transfers the toner image to a transferred body. The charging roller is made of electrically conductive rubber having an Asker-C rubber hardness of 62 to 81°. A roller surface roughness of the charging roller has an average distance (Sm) between asperity peaks on a cross-sectional curve of 55 to 130 ?m and that a ten-point average roughness (Rz) is 9 to 19 ?m. The image forming apparatus is capable of preventing carrier trapping, film peeling and uneven charging in the photoreceptor.

Abstract: Printers, methods, and apparatus to form an image on a substrate are disclosed. An example disclosed charge roller includes a dielectric outer layer (104) comprising an inner surface (106) and an outer surface (108), the outer surface (108) to be charged by a first external surface and to discharge onto a second external surface, and the dielectric outer layer (104) to substantially prevent charge transfer between the inner surface (106) and the outer surface (108), and an electrically conductive inner layer (102) to direct electrical charge toward and away from the inner surface (106) of the outer layer (104), and to be coupled to an electrical source to control a transfer of the electrical charge.

Abstract: The present invention provides a charging member having an elastic layer on a surface thereof in which occurrence of compression set is reduced. The charging member includes an electro-conductive support and an elastic layer provided on the support as a surface layer, wherein the elastic layer is a rubber layer made of a crosslinked product of a rubber mixture including acrylonitrile butadiene rubber and polybutadiene, the polybutadiene includes 1,2-syndiotactic polybutadiene, and the elastic layer is formed by irradiating a surface of the rubber layer with electron rays.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus having a toner transfer station, including a donating member for donating toner forming an image; and a transfer roll which serves to form a transfer nip in which toner is transferred from the donating member to a media sheet disposed in the transfer nip between the donating member and the transfer roll, wherein a product of a resistivity of the transfer nip and a dielectric constant thereof is greater than or equal to a product of a resistivity of the media sheet and a dielectric constant thereof.

Abstract: A roller for electrophotography is provided which has an electrically conductive support and an elastic layer as a surface layer, where the elastic layer holds spherical particles each having a plane on their peripheral surfaces, in such a way that part or the whole of the plane comes exposed to the surface of the elastic layer, and the plane of each of the spherical particles standing exposed to the surface of the elastic layer and a plane that is i) orthogonal to a straight line passing through an axis of a section orthogonal to an axis of the roller for electrophotography and being directed toward the peripheral surface of the roller for electrophotography and is ii) tangential to the peripheral surface of the roller for electrophotography forms an acute internal angle.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a positively-charged single layer type electrophotographic photoreceptor, a charging device with a contact charging roller for charging a surface of the photoreceptor and an exposure device for exposing the charged surface of the photoreceptor to light to form an electrostatic latent image thereon. A developing device develops the electrostatic latent image into a toner image and a transfer device transfers the toner image to a transferred body. The charging roller is made of electrically conductive rubber having an Asker-C rubber hardness of 62 to 81°. A roller surface roughness of the charging roller has an average distance (Sm) between asperity peaks on a cross-sectional curve of 55 to 130 ?m and that a ten-point average roughness (Rz) is 9 to 19 ?m. The image forming apparatus is capable of preventing carrier trapping, film peeling and uneven charging in the photoreceptor.

Abstract: There is provided a charging member having charging performance that is not easily changed even by long-term use. The charging member includes an electro-conductive support, an elastic layer, and a surface layer. The elastic layer contains particles in such a manner that at least a part of the particles are exposed from the elastic layer, and thus a surface of the elastic layer is roughened. The particles are high-molecular-weight polyethylene particles. The surface of the elastic layer is covered with the surface layer in such a manner that the surface shape of the elastic layer is reflected in the surface shape of the charging member. The surface layer contains a high-molecular compound having a specific constitutional unit.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer member including an optional supporting substrate, and in contact with the supporting substrate in the configuration of a layer a polyarylsulfone, a polyetheramine, and nano-size zinc oxide particles.

Abstract: Provided is a charging member capable of stably charging an object to be charged while suppressing adhesion of toner or an external additive onto a surface of an elastic layer and compression set of an abutting portion of the elastic layer. The charging member is a charging member, comprising a mandrel; and an electro-conductive elastic layer, wherein: the elastic layer has a universal hardness decreasing from a surface toward a depth direction thereof; and the hardnesses at a central portion and both end portions in a longitudinal direction of the charging member satisfy the relationships: in the surface of the elastic layer, the hardnesses at the both end portions are higher than that at the central portion; and at a position having a depth of t (?m) from the surface of the elastic layer, the hardness at the central portion is higher than those at the both end portions.

Abstract: An electrically conductive roller is provided which has a stable roller resistance with little batch-to-batch variation in roller resistance and substantially without influence of environmental conditions and the like, and is unlikely to contaminate the photo receptor. The electrically conductive roller (1) includes a roller body (2) made of a crosslinking product of an electrically conductive rubber composition prepared by blending a potassium salt of an anion having a fluoro group and a sulfonyl group in its molecule and a crosslinking component in a base polymer which is a mixture containing an epichlorohydrin rubber E and a diene rubber N in a mass ratio E/N of 50/50 to 80/20, and an oxide film (6) formed in an outer peripheral surface (5) thereof by irradiation with ultraviolet radiation.

Abstract: A roll supporting mechanism rotatably supports an electrically-conducted roll. The roll supporting mechanism includes an electrically-conducting portion that contacts with a circumferential portion of an outer periphery of the electrically-conducted roll to conduct electricity to the electrically-conducted roll, and an insulating portion that contacts with the other circumferential portion of the outer periphery of the electrically-conducted roll at a contact portion smaller than a contact portion of the electrically-conducting portion and that is formed by an insulating material.

Abstract: A charge element includes an element body in parallel to a photoreceptor element and biased to the photoreceptor element by an elastic element, and a gap retainer unit provided on the element body, contacting with an outer face of the photoreceptor element to constantly retain a gap between an outer face of the element body and the outer face of the photoreceptor element, and comprising a first gap retainer element provided on the element body and a second gap retainer element provided on the first gap retainer element and made of a material softer than that of the first gap retainer element and that of the outer face of the photoreceptor element.

Abstract: Disclosed is a charging apparatus usable with an image forming apparatus that includes a body to be charged; a housing to rotatably support the body to be charged, a charging member to charge a surface of the body to be charged to a predetermined electric potential, a cleaning member to clean foreign materials remaining on the surface of the body to be charged, and a cleaning member supporting bracket disposed in the housing to support the cleaning member and the charging member.

Abstract: A charging member, a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus are provided which have been so made as for any C-set images to be kept from occurring; the C-set images occurring in a charging member of an electrophotographic apparatus where the charging member and an electrophotographic photosensitive member have been left to stand in contact with each other over a long period of time. In a charging member having a conductive support and a surface layer, the surface layer is incorporated with a specific compound.

Abstract: A charging member is provided which can not easily cause vibration and can stably charge a photosensitive member, even where a high-frequency alternating-current voltage is applied thereto. It is a charging member having an electrically conductive substrate, an electrically conductive elastic layer and a surface layer, and the elastic layer has, in the order from the substrate side, a first rubber layer and a second rubber layer laminated to the first rubber layer, and, where the natural vibration frequency of the first rubber layer is represented by f1 and the natural vibration frequency of the second rubber layer is represented by f2, has a natural vibration frequency ratio, f2/f1, of from 2.35 or more to 10.0 or less.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a charging roll includes forming an adhesive layer, which has elasticity such that the adhesive layer is compressed up to 50% of the thickness and recovers up to 90% of the thickness after the compression is released, on an outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical base material and extruding a material of a conductive elastic layer along with the base material having the adhesive layer formed thereon by the use of an extrusion molding machine to form the conductive elastic layer on an outer peripheral surface of the adhesive layer.

Abstract: A charging apparatus including a charging tube which has an outer surface contacting a photoconductive medium and electrically charges a surface of the photoconductive medium, a shaft which is disposed in the charging tube and to which a charging voltage is applied, and a conductive member which is connected to the shaft and contacts an inner surface of the charging tube. A friction coefficient between the conductive member and the inner surface of the charging tube may be less than a friction coefficient between the photoconductive medium and the outer surface of the charging tube, so that a slip phenomenon of the charging tube is prevented.

Abstract: To provide a charging member that can not easily cause faulty cleaning. A charging member having a conductive support and an elastic layer that is a surface layer; the elastic layer having on its surface a region having been cured by irradiation with electron rays, where the region having been cured supports at least one type of spherical particles of spherical silica particles, spherical alumina particles and spherical zirconia particles in such a state that the spherical particles are exposed at least in part to the surface of the elastic layer so as to make the surface roughened.

Abstract: Provided is an electro-conductive member in which a C set hardly occurs. The electro-conductive member is an electro-conductive member including an electro-conductive substrate and a porous rubber elastic layer, in which the porous rubber elastic layer includes closed cells including particles, and the particles are not fixed to inner walls of the closed cells.

Abstract: A charging member includes a conductive substrate and a conductive resin layer. The conductive resin layer includes a binder, conductive fine particles, and bowl-shaped resin particles each of which has an opening. The bowl-shaped resin particles are contained in the conductive resin layer in such a way as not to be exposed to an outer surface of the charging member, and the surface of the charging member has concavities derived from openings of the bowl-shaped resin particles and protrusions derived from edges of the openings of the bowl-shaped resin particles. The bowl-shaped resin particles each has a roundish concavity and includes inner walls lined with the conductive resin layer.

Abstract: Provided is a charging member which hardly causes a cleaning failure in a photosensitive member while having such flexibility that a sufficient nip width can be formed with respect to a photosensitive member. The charging member comprises: an electro-conductive support; and an elastic layer as a surface layer, wherein: the elastic layer has a hardened region formed by irradiation with an electron beam; and the hardened region supports a composite particle in a state in which the composite particle is exposed on the surface of the elastic layer, thereby roughening the surface of the elastic layer, and wherein: said composite particle includes a silica-containing porous particle whose surface is coated with a carbon-containing film.

Abstract: A roll member includes a core; and an elastic layer which contains a rubber composition having a thiourethane bond represented by Formula (1) on the core: —(S—C(?O)—N(—H))—.

Abstract: Provided a charging member which can prevent any contaminants deposited on a cleaning member from adhering thereto by making low a surface free energy and coefficient of friction thereof.

Abstract: A charging member is provided which has a surface layer that can more surely keep bleeding from occurring. It is a charging member having a substrate, an elastic layer and a surface layer; the surface layer containing a high-molecular compound having a constituent unit represented by the following formula (1) and a constituent unit represented by the following formula (2), and having an Si—O—Zr linkage.

Abstract: The present invention aims to achieve compatibility between high conductivity and durability against the application of a DC voltage in the charging member of an electrophotographic apparatus for maintaining the image quality of the electrophotographic apparatus in association with an increase in speed of the electrophotographic apparatus and more severe use conditions thereof in recent years. Provided is a charging member having a conductive support and a conductive elastic layer, in which: the elastic layer contains a polymer having an alkylene oxide chain in a molecule thereof, an ion conductive agent, and a polyrotaxane; and the polyrotaxane has a structure in which a linear molecule penetrates the inside of the ring of a cyclic molecule having an ionic group, the linear molecule has two block groups, and the block groups are placed at both terminals of the linear molecule to prevent the cyclic molecule from leaving the linear molecule.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having: an image carrier configured by a positively charged single-layer electrophotographic photosensitive body; a charging device which is based on a contact charging method for charging a circumferential surface of the image carrier while making contact with the circumferential surface of the image carrier; a developing roller which is disposed so as to oppose the image carrier and carry and convey toner on the circumferential surface; and a voltage application unit which applies a developing bias to the developing roller, wherein the frequency of an AC component of the developing bias applied by the voltage application unit is 2.6 to 4.2 kHz.

Abstract: Provided is a charging member provided with a surface layer capable of suppressing the bleeding of a low-molecular weight component from an elastic layer with improved reliability. The charging member comprises a support, an elastic layer, and a surface layer, and the surface layer contains a polymer having an Si—O—Ta bond and having a structural unit represented by the following structural formula (1) and a structural unit represented by the following structural formula (2).

Abstract: Provided are the following charging member and a method of producing the charging member. The charging member has an improved charging ability and hence alleviates, in particular, a positive ghost. The charging member can maintain resistance to the adhesion of toner, a toner external additive, or the like over a long time period. The charging member for an electrophotographic apparatus comprises an electro-conductive support, an electro-conductive elastic layer, and a surface layer, wherein the surface layer comprises a polymer compound having an Si—O—Ti linkage in a molecular structure thereof, and the polymer compound has each of constitutional units represented by a formula (1), a formula (2), and a formula (3) defined in the description. The method is a method of producing the charging member.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printer includes a rotatable member and a carriage rotatable around an axis. Two rotatable chargers are mounted on the carriage, each for charging the rotatable member. A carriage drive rotates the carriage to bring the first charger into contact with the rotatable member and the second charger into operative arrangement with a cleaner, or vice versa. A charger drive rotates the charger in operative arrangement with the cleaner at a speed greater than a selected speed or with a torque greater than a selected torque, and the rotatable member rotates the rotatable charger in contact therewith at the selected speed with the selected torque.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a drum; a rotatable roller including a first shaft end portion and a second shaft end portion; a bearing member for rotatably supporting ends of a shaft of the rotatable roller; an urging member for urging the rotatable roller via the bearing member in a drum contact direction; a cartridge frame for rotatably supporting the drum and for movably holding the rotatable roller via the bearing member; a movable guide member movable in an axial direction of the shaft of the rotatable roller and including a first contact portion; and a fixed guide member including a second contact portion. At least one of the first contact portion and the first shaft end portion has an inclined surface inclined with respect to the axial direction of the rotatable roller, and at least one of the second contact portion and the second shaft end portion has an inclined surface inclined with respect to the axial direction of the rotatable roller.

Abstract: Provided is a charging member having an elastic layer to which components derived from a developer hardly adhere even when the charging member is used for a long time period and in which elastic layer the occurrence of compression set is suppressed The charging member includes: a electroconductive support; and a electroconductive elastic layer, in which the elastic layer is formed through irradiation of an electron beam onto a surface of a rubber layer formed of a crosslinked product of a rubber mixture containing an acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber and a styrene-butadiene rubber; the styrene-butadiene rubber has a 1,2-vinyl bond, and at least one selected from a cis-1,4 bond and a trans-1,4 bond; and a ratio of the numbers of moles of the 1,4 bonds to a total number of moles of the 1,2-vinyl bond, the cis-1,4 bond, and the trans-1,4 bond is 31 mol % or more and 61 mol % or less.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a charge roller with improved resistance to defects from prolonged periods of nonuse. The charge roller includes an outermost coating layer including a coating material and filler particles. The filler particles have an average particle size larger than an average thickness of the outermost coating layer in a portion without the filler particles. Furthermore, the filler particles are harder and have a higher glass transition temperature than the coating material.

Abstract: A charging roller for an imaging device may include a shaft having a shaft length; a cylindrical foam layer partially covering the shaft and having a foam thickness, a first foam end and a second foam end, the cylindrical foam layer having a foam length less than the shaft length; a skin layer covering the cylindrical foam layer; and first and second retention members, the first retention member disposed adjacent to the first foam end and the second retention member disposed adjacent to the second foam end.

Abstract: A charging member that achieves a high level of compatibility between the suppression of the bleeding of a low-molecular weight component from its elastic layer to its surface and charging performance for an electrophotographic photosensitive member. The charging member has a substrate, an elastic layer, and a surface layer. The surface layer contains a polymer having a Si-O-Ti bond, and the polymer has a constitutional unit represented by the following general formula (1) and a constitutional unit represented by the following general formula (2).