Abstract: To provide a structure in which, even when the space between a grid and a photosensitive member is narrowed so as to improve charging efficiency, wear of a shutter due to rubbing against the grid during movement of the shutter is suppressed. There is provided a mechanism that withdraws the grid to the discharge electrode side when the opening is covered with the shutter.

Abstract: A charging device includes a corona charger including a grid electrode, a cleaning member configured to clean the grid electrode, a sheet-type shutter configured to open/close an opening of the corona charger, and a drive source configured to drive both the cleaning member and the shutter in a longitudinal direction of the corona charger, wherein the cleaning member is provided such that a cleaning ability thereof is higher in a case where the cleaning member and the shutter are moved in a closing direction of the opening of the corona charger than in a case where the cleaning member and the shutter are moved in an opening direction of the opening of the corona charger.

Abstract: A charging device includes a housing, a charging roller, and a brush roller. The housing is disposed adjacent to an optical path of light emitted an the exposure device to irradiate a photoconductor. Charging roller is rotatably supported in housing, and is configured to charge a circumferential surface of the photoconductor through contact. Brush roller is rotatably supported in housing together with charging roller, has multiple brush hairs flocked on a base shaft thereof extending in a longitudinal direction of the charging roller, and is configured to clean a surface of charging roller when brush hairs are brought in contact with charging roller. Furthermore, a predetermined segment of housing is located in a space within a predetermined distance toward a side of housing from the optical path, and is formed from a material having a charge property equivalent to that of the brush hairs.

Abstract: A cleaning member includes a core member, a foamed elastic layer in which fillers are filled in bubbles of a foamed elastic layer that are present at a surface of a side opposing to an outer circumferential surface of the core member in at least one side or both sides of ends in a longitudinal direction in the foamed elastic layer that is disposed so as to helically wind a strip shaped foamed elastic member from one end of the core member to the other end thereof in the outer circumferential surface of the core member, and a bonding layer that bonds the core member and the foamed elastic layer.

Abstract: A reference value of an electric current flowing through each charging member is determined and recorded in a memory unit at a predetermined time by a reference value recording unit. A voltage application unit is caused to start applying a voltage to the charging members upon startup of an image forming apparatus, and a measurement value of an electric current flowing through each charging member is determined by a measurement unit. A charging member of which the measurement value is such that an absolute value of a difference between the reference value and the measurement value is not smaller than a predetermined value is marked by a determination unit. If there is at least one marked charging member and at least one not-marked charging member, a notification produced by a messaging unit is given through a notification unit.

Abstract: A bias charge member is pulsed into contact with a photoreceptor at high frequency as a mean to reduce contamination and wearing on both the bias charge member and photoreceptor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes: at least one photosensitive element; a plurality of chargers configured to charge the at least one photosensitive element; a voltage applying circuit commonly connected to the plurality of chargers and configured to apply a voltage to the plurality of chargers; a current detecting unit configured to detect a current sum of current that flows to the plurality of chargers from the voltage applying circuit; and a control device configured to control the voltage applying circuit so that the current sum detected by the current detecting unit becomes equal to or larger than a reference value.

Abstract: A charging device includes a charging member and a cleaning member. The charging member is driven and rotated while in contact with an outer peripheral surface of an image carrier which rotates, and charges the image carrier. The cleaning member is driven and rotated while in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the charging member and cleans the outer peripheral surface of the charging member. In the charging device, a radius of the charging member is less than a radius of the cleaning member.

Abstract: There is provided a charging device including: a discharge electrode extending in a first direction; and a cleaning member configured to move in the first direction to clean the discharge electrode. The cleaning member includes a rigid member in contact with the discharge electrode, and a cushion member supporting the rigid member. The cushion member is positioned opposite to the discharge electrode with respect to the rigid member.

Abstract: A photosensitive member unit includes: a first image forming unit including a first photosensitive member rotatable on a first axis line; and a second image forming unit including a second photosensitive member rotatable on a second axis line parallel with the first axis line and disposed in parallel with the first image forming unit at a first side in an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the first and second axis lines. The first image forming unit includes a charger and a cartridge containing portion. The charger includes: a charging member; a cleaning member for cleaning the charging member; and an operating member for operating the cleaning member. The operating member is inoperable when the developing cartridge is installed in the cartridge containing portion, and is exposed to be operable in the cartridge containing portion when the developing cartridge is removed from the cartridge containing portion.

Abstract: A charging device includes a corona charger including a grid electrode, a cleaning member configured to clean the grid electrode, a sheet-type shutter configured to open/close an opening of the corona charger, a drive source configured to drive both the cleaning member and the shutter in a longitudinal direction of the corona charger, and a control unit configured to control drive of the drive source such that, when the shutter is moved in a closing direction of the opening of the corona charger after image formation is finished, the cleaning member and the shutter are driven at a first speed, and when the shutter is moved in an opening direction of the opening of the corona charger at least from when power is turned on until image formation is started, the cleaning member and the shutter are driven at a second speed higher than the first speed.

Abstract: A charging device includes a charging member that includes a rotating shaft and charges a surface of a charging object while rotating in contact with the charging object, a cleaning member that includes a rotating shaft and removes unwanted matter from a surface of the charging member while rotating in contact with the charging member, and a bearing member that includes first and second receiving portions each having an open part on one side thereof and a substantially concave-shaped bottom on another side thereof. The first and second receiving portions receive circumferences of the rotating shafts of the charging member and the cleaning member, respectively, at the bottoms thereof. The open parts of the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion face respectively different directions. A part of an inner surface of the second receiving portion forms a part of an outer surface of the first receiving portion.

Abstract: A charging device includes a discharge electrode that charges a surface of a rotatable image carrier and extends along the image carrier, a case that extends along and encloses the discharge electrode with a side thereof nearest to the image carrier being open, a grid electrode provided between the image carrier and the discharge electrode, a cleaning member that cleans at least one of the discharge electrode, the case, and the grid electrode by moving along the case, a regulating portion that is provided between the cleaning member and the case and regulates a distance between the cleaning member and the case in a direction orthogonal to the direction of movement of the cleaning member by coming into contact with the cleaning member or the case, and a supporting portion that supports the regulating portion and allows the regulating portion to move away from the cleaning member or the case.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a corona charger, including a charging electrode, for charging a photosensitive member; a cleaning member for cleaning the charging electrode; a shutter in the form of a sheet for opening and closing an opening provided between the charging electrode of the corona charger and the photosensitive member; a driving unit for driving the shutter and the cleaning member; a fan for supplying the air toward the photosensitive member through the opening of the corona charger; and a controller for controlling the fan such that an air supply operation of the fan is stopped before the shutter operates to close the opening.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an electrophotographic photoconductive member, a charging unit, a delivery unit and a cleaning unit. The charging unit is disposed in contact with the surface of the photoconductive member and the delivery unit disposed in contact with the surface of the charging unit. The delivery unit applies a layer of functional material to a surface of the charging unit and the charging unit in turn applies a layer of the functional material onto the surface of the photoconductive member. The cleaning unit is disposed in contact with a surface of the charging unit to clean the charging unit and reduce contamination of a surface of the delivery unit. The cleaning unit is disposed in an upstream direction of the delivery roller relative to a rotation direction of the charging unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, which includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a recording medium, a cleaned body that is an intended body to be cleaned, a cleaning member configured to clean at least attached matter, which is generated in image formation by the image forming unit, on the cleaned body, a backup member disposed to face the cleaning member across the cleaned body, a voltage supply unit configured to supply the backup member with a cleaning voltage having a polarity identical to a charge polarity of the attached matter, in an operation of cleaning the cleaned body, a detector configured to detect an electric quantity of the cleaning member when the cleaning voltage is supplied to the backup member by the voltage supply unit, and a controller configured to control the detected electric quantity of the cleaning member to be a predetermined value.

Abstract: A vibration-assisted bias charge roll cleaning system includes a bias charge roll cleaning member connected to an actuator for causing the cleaning member to vibrate. The actuator is controlled to vibrate according to a predetermined pattern, and at desired frequencies at particular modes. The cleaning member is configured to be movable to a contact-cleaning position and a cleaning member cleaning position at which the cleaning member is separate from the charge roll.

Abstract: A charger according to an embodiment includes: a discharge member which faces an image carrier; a case which supports the discharge member and comprises an air hole in a first surface; a cleaner which contacts with the discharge member; and a cleaner support member which comprises an inlet port and an outlet port connecting with the air hole and a ventilation unit, supports the cleaner, and slides in relation to the case on the first surface.

Abstract: There is described a delivery member for use in an image forming apparatus. The delivery member includes a support member, an inner layer comprising a elastomeric matrix and a functional material dispersed therein, the inner layer disposed on the support member and an outer layer disposed on the inner layer. A method for manufacturing the delivery member and its function are described.

Abstract: An image formation unit includes a rotatable image carrier, a charge member configured to electrically charge a surface of the image carrier, a charge cleaning member including cell marks in a surface layer thereof and configured to clean a surface of the charge member, a first cleaning member configured to clean the surface of the image carrier, and a second cleaning member including cell marks in a surface layer thereof and provided downstream of the first cleaning member in a rotation direction of the image carrier. The cell density of the charge cleaning member is equal to or more than the cell density of the second cleaning member.

Abstract: A cleaning member includes a columnar body; and a strip-shaped body made of an elastic porous material, the strip-shaped body being helically wound around a peripheral surface of the columnar body. In a width direction of the strip-shaped body, a height of a surface of the strip-shaped body from a central axis of the columnar body is larger at a first end of an exposed part of the strip-shaped body than at a second end of the exposed part.

Abstract: When printing, an image forming apparatus determines, based on a threshold voltage corresponding to a print speed during printing, whether or not a corona wire of a charger needs to be cleaned. On the basis of whether or not a monitoring voltage corresponding to a current value of a charged bias, which is applied to the corona wire by a charged-bias high-voltage power supply, is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold voltage corresponding to the print speed during printing, the image forming apparatus determines whether or not the corona wire needs to be cleaned.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus for forming an image by electrophotography, a charging device is comprised of a needle electrode in which a plurality of saw teeth are arrayed in one direction; a cleaning rubber roller that cleans the needle electrode; a cleaning member supporter; a moving portion that moves the cleaning member supporter; and a control portion that controls the charging device, and the control portion includes a function to increase a saw-tooth current value by increasing print cumulative count; and a function to decrease the saw-tooth current value at the time of performing cleaning.

Abstract: In a configuration in which a carriage jumps at an end of a screw without using a sensor for detecting a position, when a load for moving the carriage in a longitudinal direction is increased, the carriage jumps at an unintended position of a charging wire. An urging member is regulated not to be displaceable greater than a difference between a concave portion and a convex portion of the screw when the regulation member is at a regulation position, and is displaceable greater than the difference between the concave portion and the convex portion of the screw when the regulation member is at a retreat position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with an image bearing unit, an intermediate transfer unit, a primary transfer unit, a pre-transfer charger, and a control portion. The pre-transfer charger is located downstream of the primary transfer unit and upstream of the secondary transfer unit in a revolving direction, faces the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer unit along a perpendicular direction perpendicular to the revolving direction, and charges the intermediate transfer unit when voltage is applied. The control portion, at time when determination is made as to the necessity of cleaning the pre-transfer charger, secondarily transfers a cleaning assessment toner image by switching between a state in which the voltage is applied to the pre-transfer charger and a state in which the voltage is not applied to the pre-transfer charger, the cleaning assessment toner image being in a uniform density.

Abstract: A charging device includes a charging member and a pulling device. The charging member charges a surface of an image carrier and includes a charging member body and axial-end members. The charging member body is arranged so as to face the image carrier and extends along an axial direction of a rotation shaft of the image carrier. The axial-end members are supported at both ends of the charging member body in the axial direction and do not extend through the inside of the charging member body in the axial direction. The pulling device pulls the charging member in the axial direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearer, a charging member to contact a surface of the image bearer and charge the image bearer, an exposure device to expose the image bearer and form a latent image, a developing device to develop the latent image on the image bearer into a toner image, a transfer device to transfer the toner image from the image bearer onto a transfer medium, and a cleaning blade to contact the surface of the image bearer and remove toner from the image bearer after image transfer. The charging member has surface unevenness created by projections and recesses extending in a direction of rotation of the image bearer. The cleaning blade is configured to abrade projections formed on the surface of the image bearer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having an image carrier that carries a toner image; an opposed member that is provided so as to be opposed to the image carrier; an application device that applies a bias to the opposed member; and a control device that controls the application device to apply a first bias and thereafter a second bias to the opposed member so as to remove toner from the opposed member. The first bias has an absolute value that is large enough to cause discharge from the opposed member into air. The second bias has an absolute value that is too small to cause discharge from the opposed member into the air, and has a reverse polarity to the first bias.

Abstract: A cleaning member includes a shaft body and a spiral portion including a contact portion that is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the shaft body, protrudes spirally, and comes into contact with a body to be cleaned with the rotation of the shaft body, steps that are formed on the contact portion and face a rotation direction of the shaft body and an end portion that is positioned on a side where the contact portion comes into contact with the body to be cleaned first in a width direction of the contact portion and of which the height from the shaft body is gradually reduced from the height of the contact portion so that the end portion does not come into contact with the body to be cleaned.

Abstract: A driving device includes a drive source that generates a force for moving a cleaning member that cleans an elongated member while moving in a longitudinal direction of the elongated member; an overload limiter disposed between an input side and an output side of a transmission unit that transmits the force from the drive source to the cleaning member, the overload limiter interrupting transmission of the force if a magnitude of the force reaches a predetermined magnitude; and a rotation detector disposed in the transmission unit on an output side of the overload limiter, the rotation detector detecting rotation caused by the force.

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: A carrier removing apparatus, including: an electrode, having a plurality of openings through which a carrier passes, disposed to oppose an image carrier, and a power source to apply a voltage onto the electrode so as to separate the carrier on the image carrier from the image carrier, wherein the electrode has a surface along a surface of the image carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly, an image forming portion for forming a toner image using an electrophotographic process, an air supply opening for fluid communication between an inside and an outside of the main assembly, and an air supply device for supplying ambient air into the main assembly through the air supply opening. In addition, an exhausting device discharges air from inside of the main assembly, and a mounting portion selectively mounts, to the air supply opening, one of a cooling device for taking the ambient air in and for decreasing a temperature of the air taken in, and a cover for partly blocking the air supply opening and forming an air passage portion. When the cooling device is mounted to the mounting portion, the air supply device supplies the cooled air into the main assembly, and when the cover is mounted to the mounting portion, the air supply device supplies the ambient air directly into the main assembly through the air passage portion of the cover.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a device body, a cleaning member, and a support member. The device body is moved in a longitudinal direction of a plate-like grid member of a charging device. The cleaning member is disposed in the device body and cleans a first face of the grid member while pressing against the first face when the device body is moved. The support member is provided in the device body and has a support surface that is in contact with and supports a second face opposite to the first face of the grid member pressed by the cleaning member. The support surface is in contact with a mesh portion and a non-mesh portion of the grid member.

Abstract: A shutter that suppresses accumulation of discharge products on a photosensitive member is disposed between a grid and the photosensitive member. In this structure, to suppress corrosion of the grid due to the discharge products for a long time, first and second protective layers are provided. The first protective layer is provided on a surface of a base member of the grid that faces the discharge electrode. The second protective layer is provided on a surface of the base member that faces the shutter. The second protective layer is thicker than the first protective layer.

Abstract: A grid of a charging device is cleaned without causing the grid to contact a member to be charged. In this structure, to suppress non-uniform charging due to wear of the grid, which is pulled toward a discharge electrode, for a long time, first and second protective layers are provided. The first protective layer is provided on a surface of a base member of the grid that faces the cleaning member. The second protective layer is provided on a surface of the base member that faces the pressing member. The second protective layer is thicker than the first protective layer.

Abstract: An electrostatic charger device according to this invention includes a cleaner member, an operating rod, a guide portion, and a bending member. The cleaner member is configured to clean an electrode housed in a housing by pressing against the electrode. The operating rod has one end in a longitudinal direction to which the cleaner member is fixed. The guide portion is disposed at one end of the housing in a primary scanning direction and has a through-hole through which the operating rod extends in the longitudinal direction, the guide portion supporting the operating rod to enable the cleaner member to reciprocate between a first position and a second position. The bending member is configured to bend the operating rod in such a manner that an intermediate portion of the operating rod projects away from an image bearing member when the cleaner member is in the first position.

Abstract: A roller according to one example embodiment includes a rotatable shaft and a plurality of strips wrapped around the shaft in an alternating relationship. The strips differ from each other in at least one of material, height and width. In one embodiment, the strips are spirally wrapped around the shaft. Each strip may be formed, for example, from a foam material, a felt material or a brush material.

Abstract: A charging device includes a charger facing a rotatably supported image carrier and configured to charge the image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed, and a movement mechanism configured to move the charger between a charging position at which the charger is close to the image carrier and a retracted position at which the charger is retracted away from the image carrier. The movement mechanism includes a support member supporting the charger that has been moved to the retracted position by the movement mechanism, and a movable member configured to move when a driving force from a drive source is transmitted thereto. The movable member moves to the charging position or the retracted position when the movable member is moved in a direction of a rotational axis of the image carrier while being in contact with the support member.

Abstract: A cleaning body has: a shaft; a cleaning member that is spirally wound around the shaft, and that has an elastic layer and an adhesive layer whose obverse is adhered to the elastic layer and whose reverse is adhered to the shaft; and a contacting member that is provided at least one end portion in an axial direction of the shaft, and that contacts the adhesive layer at a position away from an circumferential surface of the shaft. The cleaning body causes the elastic layer to contact a body to be cleaned, and cleans a body to be cleaned.

Abstract: A cleaning member 100 is constituted, for example, by a roll-shaped member having a shaft 100A and an elastic layer 100B. The elastic layer 100B is spirally disposed on the surface of the shaft 100A. A space 100C enclosed by the spirally disposed elastic layer 100B (side surface thereof) and the shaft 100A (outer circumferential surface thereof) is provided and a filling member 100D for filling the space 100C is disposed in a portion of the space 100C.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a charge roller, a cleaning brush and a distance changing mechanism. The charge roller includes a surface having protrusions and depressions and to electrically charge the image carrier. The cleaning brush includes a brush part cleaning the surface of the charge roller and a main body part supporting the brush part. The brush part includes a top end part and a belly part being nearer to the main body part than the top end part. The distance changing mechanism changes a distance between the charge roller and main body part so that, by adjusting the distance to a first distance, the top end part contacts with the depression and, by adjusting the distance to a second distance shorter than the first distance, the belly part contacts with the protrusion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment includes an image carrier which is irradiated with a laser beam to form an electrostatic latent image, and a charging device which is disposed in parallel to the image carrier and includes an electrode that charges an electric charge to the image carrier. The charging device has a cleaning device which includes a container accommodating a cleaning member abutting an end portion of a discharge side of the electrode, moves the container along the longitudinal direction of the electrode, removes foreign matter attached to the electrode by the cleaning member, and accommodates the foreign matter in the container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cleaning member for cleaning a grid electrode of a corona charger and includes a sheet-like member for opening and closing an opening of the corona charger. The cleaning member is located above the sheet-like member with respect to a direction of gravitation, and wherein the sheet-like member is present right below the cleaning member when the cleaning member is present in an image formation range with respect to a longitudinal direction of the grid electrode.

Abstract: A charging device has a charging member to charge an object, an applying unit to apply a voltage to the charging member for generating an electric discharge from the charging member, so that the object is discharged by the charging member, a detecting unit to detect an emission of light of the electric discharge, an output unit to output a detection result by the detecting unit, a cleaning unit to clean the charging member, and a controller to control the cleaning unit to clean the charging member when the detection result is out of a predetermined range.

Abstract: A discharger includes a discharger main body that is adapted to be attached to and detached from a holding member of an image forming apparatus, a first electrode member that is formed of a wire rod, a second electrode member, a voltage for discharge being applied between the first and second electrode members, an electrode cleaning member that cleans the first electrode member, a detected portion that is integrally disposed to the electrode cleaning member, a detecting member that detects the detected portion while the electrode cleaning member is in a predetermined reference position, a cleaning member conveyer that conveys the electrode cleaning member in both directions which toward and away from the reference position, and a movement control unit that controls a movement of the cleaning member conveyer by the conveyer.

Abstract: A charging device includes a charging member that charges an outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical latent-image carrier; an electrode member including a curved portion that is formed by press working so as to extend along the outer peripheral surface of the latent-image carrier, the curved portion having an electrode to which a voltage is applied, the electrode being disposed between the charging member and the latent-image carrier; a cleaning member that is movable along the curved portion in an axial direction of the latent-image carrier and that cleans the electrode; and a receiving portion formed in the curved portion at a position outside the electrode, the receiving portion receiving the cleaning member to release a contact pressure between the curved portion and the cleaning member.

Abstract: A method and system include using a scanner to copy a document containing an original image and an embossment. The method includes first scanning a front face of the document from which the original image is visible to form a first image, wherein the first scanning is conducted with a sensitivity such that the embossment is essentially not visible in the first image; increasing a sensitivity of the scanner; second scanning the document to create a second image, wherein the embossment is visible in the second image; combining the first and second images so as to obtain a reproduction image of the original image containing the embossment.

Abstract: A cleaning member includes a core member, a foamed elastic layer in which fillers are filled in bubbles of a foamed elastic layer that are present at a surface of a side opposing to an outer circumferential surface of the core member in at least one side or both sides of ends in a longitudinal direction in the foamed elastic layer that is disposed so as to helically wind a strip shaped foamed elastic member from one end of the core member to the other end thereof in the outer circumferential surface of the core member, and a bonding layer that bonds the core member and the foamed elastic layer.

Abstract: A charging device includes a charging member that includes a rotating shaft and charges a surface of a charging object while rotating in contact with the charging object, a cleaning member that includes a rotating shaft and removes unwanted matter from a surface of the charging member while rotating in contact with the charging member, and a bearing member that includes first and second receiving portions each having an open part on one side thereof and a substantially concave-shaped bottom on another side thereof. The first and second receiving portions receive circumferences of the rotating shafts of the charging member and the cleaning member, respectively, at the bottoms thereof. The open parts of the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion face respectively different directions. A part of an inner surface of the second receiving portion forms a part of an outer surface of the first receiving portion.