Charging Member (e.g., Corona Wire) Patents (Class 399/100)
  • Patent number: 8218997
    Abstract: A cleaning member includes a core bar, an elastic coating layer, and high-friction coefficient parts provided on both ends of the cleaning member. The high-friction coefficient parts include an elastic material. Outer peripheries of the high-friction coefficient parts are inclined with respect to an axial direction of the core bar. The cleaning member is roller-shaped and is configured to clean a surface of a roller member to be cleaned in contact therewith. A charging device and a process cartridge also include the cleaning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takatsugu Fujishiro, Hiroshi Saitoh
  • Publication number: 20120163854
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akiko KIMURA, Kanji WATANABE, Yuzo ICHIKAWA, Tomoya ICHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 8204399
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatic corotron cleaning in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving a first dynamic current reading, the dynamic current being the current supplied to a photoreceptor of the image production device, determining if the first dynamic current reading exceeds a predetermined threshold, the predetermined threshold being a threshold set on the allowable variation in the dynamic current value, wherein if it is determined that the first dynamic current reading exceeds the predetermined threshold, sending a signal to a cleaning device to clean the corotron, determining that the corotron has been cleaned, receiving a second current reading, determining if the second dynamic current reading exceeds the predetermined threshold, wherein if it is determined that the second dynamic current reading exceeds the predetermined threshold, sending a signal to prompt a user to replace the corotron in the image production device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Arnold Gross, Michael Nicholas Soures, John Chinnici
  • Patent number: 8204400
    Abstract: A charging device includes a charging roller, a drive transmission device, and a charging roller cleaner. The charging roller opposes an image carrier driven to rotate and rotates to charge the image carrier. The charging roller cleaner contacts the charging roller to clean the charging roller. The drive transmission device transmits torque from the image carrier to the charging roller, and includes an image carrier gear and a driven gear. The image carrier gear and the driven gear form a gear train to drive the charging roller in response to rotation of the image carrier. The charging roller cleaner is disposed facing a rear surface of the charging roller to prevent displacement of the charging roller due to a force generated by a pressure angle formed between the image carrier gear and the driven gear when the charging roller rotates in response to rotation of the image carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Shinya Karasawa, Takatsugu Fujishiro, Takaaki Tawada, Hiromichi Ninomiya, Takeshi Tabuchi, Naohiro Kumagai, Akira Fujimori
  • Patent number: 8200116
    Abstract: A cleaning element for an image forming apparatus, such as a printer. The cleaning element may include a brush, which may include a support structure and brush filaments extending therefrom. Each of the brush filaments has a tip at the distal end from the support structure and may be configured to contact a surface of a member to be cleaned. An inorganic microparticle may be bonded at or proximate to the tip by a discharge product as an adhesive. Thus, it is possible to provide a cleaning element capable of removing material adhering to the surface of the member to be cleaned. The cleaning element is capable of providing long-term effective cleaning of a member of an image forming apparatus during extended use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: KYOCERA MITA Corporation
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 8185010
    Abstract: Cleaning performance of a cleaning pad for cleaning a charging wire is maintained so that the charging voltage of an image carrier by a charging wire is stabilized. A charging wire cleaning apparatus is provided with a cleaning pad for cleaning a charging wire which charges an image carrier, a slider which is a supporting body for supporting the cleaning pad, and a screw shaft which is a moving mechanism for reciprocating the slider in parallel to the charging wire. When the slider is at a predetermined position of the reciprocation range, the cleaning pad and the charging wire are separated, and the cleaning pad is adapted to be shifted with respect to the charging wire in this state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Kuze, Hirokazu Yamauchi, Toshiki Takiguchi, Kazuhiro Matsuyama, Hiroyuki Murai
  • Publication number: 20120107012
    Abstract: A charging device, which is incorporable in a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus, includes a charging roller and a cleaning device. The charging roller charges an image bearing member having a surface on which an electrostatic latent image is formed. The cleaning device cleans the charging roller. The cleaning device includes a cleaning roller, a shaft, and support members. The cleaning roller contacts the surface of the charging roller to clean the surface. The support members rotatably support the cleaning roller, each of which including a slot. The slot allows a variable distance between the charging roller and the cleaning roller, and is inclined, in the direction of rotation of the charging roller, relative to a straight line connecting the rotation center of the charging roller and the rotation center of the cleaning roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ken Amemiya, Michiya Okamoto, Takuma Iwasaki, Shinya Karasawa, Yuta Azeyanagi
  • Patent number: 8170440
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for corotron cleaning management in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving an input from the corotron cleaning counter, determining if the corotron cleaning counter exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein if it is determined that the corotron cleaning counter exceeds the predetermined threshold, notifying a maintainer that the corotron requires cleaning, determining if corotron cleaning has been performed, wherein if it is determined that corotron cleaning has been performed, resetting the corotron cleaning counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David Sekovski, Evan Kastner, Robert Arnold Gross, David Kenneth Ahl, Alfred Claflin, Douglas McKeown, John Chinnici
  • Patent number: 8160470
    Abstract: A cleaning roller for cleaning a charging roller in an image forming apparatus is disposed in contact with an outer peripheral surface of a charging roller to remove foreign matters attached to the outer peripheral surface of the charging roller. The cleaning roller has a metal core and a polyurethane foam layer covering an outer peripheral surface of this metal core. The polyurethane foam layer includes a number of cells. The number of cells per inch is 40 or more and 80 or less, and an open ratio of a wall surface of cells is 3% or more and 50% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Junpei Shouno, Yohei Nakade, Ichiro Demizu
  • Publication number: 20120082475
    Abstract: A charging device includes: a charging component, and a cleaning member for the charging component, containing a substrate and an elastic layer that contains a silicone oil and is arranged in a spiral form on an outer surface of the substrate, the charging device being satisfying a following formula: A?6 atomic % wherein A is a maximum value of the contents of Si atom constituting a siloxane skeleton with respect to total atoms at a contact part where the charging component is brought into contact with the elastic layer and at a non-contact part where the charging component is not brought into contact with the elastic layer, in which the contents of Si atom are obtained by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of a surface of the charging component after preparing the elastic layer of the cleaning member for the charging component in an initial state and the charging component in an initial state to bring into contact with each other for 24 hours.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takeshi KAWAI
  • Publication number: 20120076528
    Abstract: A cleaning unit includes a shaft that is rotatable; an elastic layer that is spirally wound around and fixed to the shaft, the elastic layer contacting and cleaning the object to be cleaned; a pressed portion that protrudes from each end portion of the elastic layer in an axial direction of the shaft, in a part of the each end portion with respect to a width direction of the elastic layer; and a pressing member that is arranged at an end portion of the shaft in the axial direction, the pressing member pressing the pressed portion between the pressing member and the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro NONAKA, Takeshi KAWAI
  • Publication number: 20120076530
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keiichi AOYAGI, Tomonori SATO, Yuya KATO, Masami TANASE
  • Publication number: 20120076529
    Abstract: A cleaning body is provided including: a rotating axial member; an elastic layer, fixed to the axial member, contacting a body to be cleaned and cleaning the body to be cleaned; a held portion projecting out towards the axial member axial direction outside from an axial direction end portion of the elastic layer; a holding member provided at an axial direction end portion of the axial member and holding the held portion between the holding member and the axial member; and a cleaning portion including an incision formed in a width direction central portion of the end portion of the elastic layer, formed such that the incision is open by the held portion being held by the holding member, the cleaning portion contacting an end portion of the body to be cleaned and cleaning the end portion of the body to be cleaned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventor: Ichirou KAWAHARA
  • Patent number: 8145090
    Abstract: A cleaning device of a wire includes: a first cleaning member that cleans a wire when the first cleaning member comes into contact with the wire; a second cleaning member that wipes off the wire when the second cleaning member comes into contact with the first cleaning member while the wire is being interposed between the first and the second cleaning member; and a holding and moving body that holds and reciprocates the first and the second cleaning members in a direction in which the wire is stretched. The second cleaning member is contacted with the wire at a protruding portion in which the second cleaning member protrudes from a rear end portion of the first cleaning member in the direction at least at the time of a going-back movement of the first cleaning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masami Tanase
  • Publication number: 20120070183
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuichi Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20120063804
    Abstract: A charging device includes a charging member that is arranged close to a rotating charge target member, and charges a charge target surface of the charge target member while rotating, a cleaning member that makes friction contact with the charging member to cause the charging member to be driven and rotated, and cleans a surface of the charging member, and a cleaning member driving part to rotate and drive the cleaning member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicants: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Daisuke Yamashita, Takeshi Watanabe, Masashi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8126354
    Abstract: A charging device includes a charging roller and a cleaning roller configured to make contact with the charging roller. The cleaning roller is rotated following the charging roller. A dynamic friction coefficient of a surface of the charging roller measured by a Euler belt method is equal to or larger than 0.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Shuji Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8116655
    Abstract: A segmented cleaning member for removing particulate from a charge roller of a media processing device. The cleaning member in one embodiment includes a substrate and an open-cell foam cleaning pad disposed onto the substrate. The cleaning pad is segmented by a plurality of cuts into a plurality of longitudinal sections capable of contacting the charge roller for removing the particulate from the charge roller. Various cut patterns made be used to form the sections. The cleaning member can be used in media processing device and cartridge therefor for removing the particulate from the charge roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin John Goebel, Christian Blair Miller
  • Publication number: 20120027452
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ginga Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20120027437
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes: at lease one photosensitive element; a plurality of chargers configured to charge the at lease 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi MARUYAMA, Masahito HAMAYA, Katsumi INUKAI
  • Patent number: 8095031
    Abstract: A charging device is provided. A needle-like electrode for charging the surface of a photoreceptor drum is formed with a vibrating portion for vibrating the needle-like electrode by the vibration. The vibrating portion is a piezoelectric bimorph element in which two piezoelectric elements are bonded together and a base portion is formed therebetween. When a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric bimorph element, a free end thereof is curved to vibrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masanobu Deguchi
  • Publication number: 20120002998
    Abstract: A cleaning member for an image forming apparatus includes a core and an elastic layer that is formed by a strip-shaped elastic member helically wound around an outer peripheral surface of the core. The cleaning member satisfies the following formula (1): 0.7<t/T<1.0??(1) where t (mm) denotes a thickness of the elastic layer, the thickness being taken in a central portion in a helical width direction of the elastic layer, and T (mm) denotes a thickness of the central portion of the strip-shaped elastic member in a width direction before wound around the outer peripheral surface of the core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takeshi KAWAI
  • Publication number: 20120002999
    Abstract: An image forming device including an accommodating member, a moving section, a driving section, a transmitting section, and first and second switching sections. The accommodating member is movable between an accommodating position and a pulled-out position. A charger includes a charging wire and a wire cleaner movable therealong. The moving section is configured to move the wire cleaner. The driving section is configured to generate a drive force to move the moving section. The transmitting section is movable to one of a first path on which the transmitting section is drivingly connected to the driving section and a second path on which the transmitting section is disconnected from the driving section. The transmitting section is configured to transmit the drive force from the driving section to the moving section when the transmitting section is moved to the first path. The first switching section is configured to switch a position of the transmitting section from the second path to the first path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nao ITABASHI
  • Patent number: 8090287
    Abstract: A charging member cleaning unit, that contacts a charging member that charges the surface of an image holding member provided in an image forming apparatus, and is used for cleaning the surface of that charging member, has an elastic layer, and has an amine content within the elastic layer of not more than approximately 60 ppm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takuro Hoshio
  • Patent number: 8090288
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member configured to form a toner image thereon, a corona charger located opposite the photosensitive member and including a discharging wire and a grid electrode, a bias applying unit configured to apply a bias to the corona charger, a cleaning unit configured to perform cleaning processing by sliding in a longitudinal direction of the grid electrode to rub an inner surface of the grid electrode, and an execution unit configured to execute a cleaning mode for performing the cleaning processing by the cleaning unit while applying a bias of a polarity equal to a normal charging polarity of toner to the grid electrode by the bias applying unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masami Hano
  • Patent number: 8090289
    Abstract: A charging device has a sheet electrode with triangular pins aligned in a first direction and a cleaner unit for cleaning the sheet electrode while moving in the first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The cleaner unit has a grinding member for grinding the sheet electrode, a first collecting member, which is disposed downstream in the first direction from the grinding member, for collecting extraneous matter, a second collecting member, which is disposed downstream in the second direction from the grinding member, for collecting extraneous matter, and a switching section for changing a contact state of the first collecting member with the sheet electrode and a contact state of the second collecting member with the sheet electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Osamu Maeda, Shunichi Takaya
  • Publication number: 20110318045
    Abstract: A cleaning element for an image-forming apparatus, includes: a shaft; a strip-shaped sheet which is disposed helically on an outer circumferential surface of the shaft; and an adhesive layer which is disposed between the shaft and the strip-shaped sheet and binds the shaft and the strip-shaped sheet, the strip-shaped sheet having, on a surface thereof facing the shaft, an unbound region in which the adhesive layer is absent, at an end in a width direction of the strip-shaped sheet which faces a downstream side in a rotation direction of the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji TERAI, Makoto NISHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20110318046
    Abstract: There is provided a cleaning device including: a cleaning member disposed that cleans the discharge member; a guide member disposed along the length direction of the discharge member and guides the cleaning member in the length direction of the discharge member; and a drive device which, when executing a cleaning operation where the drive device reciprocally moves the cleaning member along the guide member from a standby position set on one length direction end portion of the discharge member or a return operation where the drive device returns the cleaning member along the guide member to the standby position, applies to the cleaning member a driving force in an opposite direction of a moving direction in which movement of the cleaning member is to be started and thereafter applies to the cleaning member a driving force in the moving direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Yuzo Ichikawa, Yasuo Takayama
  • Publication number: 20110318047
    Abstract: A cleaning member for an image forming apparatus includes a core and an elastic layer helically put on an outer peripheral surface of the core and including a first elastic layer and a second elastic layer, the first elastic layer being the outermost layer and the second elastic layer being located closer to the core than the first elastic layer and having a compression set smaller than that of the first elastic layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro NONAKA, Takeshi KAWAI, Makoto TAKEMOTO
  • Patent number: 8086132
    Abstract: A charge roller wiper for photoconductor unit for forming a toner image in an image forming device. The photoconductor unit comprises a photoconductor drum, a charge roller and a first charge roller wiper. The photoconductor drum receives toner particles for forming the toner image that is transferred onto a media sheet. The charge roller charges the photoconductor drum. A first charge roller wiper is disposed substantially parallel to path along which the charge roller moves between a working position and a storage position. The first charge roller wiper is configured to peripherally contact and clean the charge roller when the charge roller assumes a working position. A second charge roller wiper may be provided adjacent the storage position and disposed substantially perpendicular to the first charge roller wiper and directly in the path along which the charge roller moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Alan Askren, Benjamin John Goebel, Christian Blair Miller
  • Patent number: 8086141
    Abstract: An electric charging apparatus charges a surface of a charging object. The electric charging apparatus includes an electric field forming device including two electrodes facing each other that form an electric field therebetween. An electron discharging member is provided at a portion of one of the two electrodes that faces the other electrode and discharges electrons into the electric field. The electric charging apparatus also includes a voltage applying controller that controls a voltage applied to the two electrodes. The voltage applying controller selects two or more nonzero intensities of the electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukimichi Someya, Eiichi Ohta, Naomi Sugimoto, Takuro Sekiya, Yasuo Katano, Shohji Tanaka, Yoshihiko Iijima, Toshihiro Ishii
  • Patent number: 8064791
    Abstract: A charging device includes a rotatable charging member for electrically charging a photosensitive member; and a brush, rotating along a rotational direction of the charging member by contacting the charging member to receive a force, including fibers for cleaning the charging member. The fibers have been subjected to fiber-tilting treatment so that the fibers are tilted in a direction counterdirectionally with a rotational direction of the brush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kei Imaizumi
  • Publication number: 20110274459
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Yoshihiko Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8050590
    Abstract: This is a device for cleaning a corona grid used in electrostatic printing or copying machines. This device has a cleaner pad that cleans the outer surface of the grid, that is the surface closest to the photoreceptor surface. This pad is located between the outer surface of the grid and the surface of the photoreceptor. It can be used together with a cleaner pad that cleans the inner surface of the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Bruce J Parks
  • Publication number: 20110262179
    Abstract: A cleaning roller cleaning a surface of a cleaning component, wherein the cleaning roller is provided in a roller configuration having a cylindrical shape and has a portion in contact with the cleaning component, the portion being made of a melamine resin foam having a continuous foam structure, the melamine resin foam being provided by heating compression from an original configuration in a radial direction, and wherein the portion in contact with the cleaning component has a continuous foam structure and a tensile strength in a range of 1.7±0.5 kg/cm2, and an image forming apparatus incorporating the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Haruji MIZUISHI, Tokuya Ojimi, Toshio Koike, Takeshi Shintani, Yuji Arai, Takuzi Yoneda, Ken Amemiya, Takaaki Tawada, Masami Tomita, Masanori Kawasumi, Takaya Muraishi, Hiroomi Harada, Hiromichi Ninomiya
  • Patent number: 8036565
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanobu Nakajima, Takahiro Nakase, Naoyuki Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20110243597
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a charging device and a photoreceptor adjacent the charging device. The charging device transfers a charge to the photoreceptor. Also, a charge patterning device is adjacent the photoreceptor. The patterning device patterns the charge on the photoreceptor to form a latent image charge. Additionally, an automated cleaning device is adjacent the charging device. The charge patterning device periodically moves by the charging device and the charge patterning device to simultaneously clean the charging device and the charge patterning device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventor: John Roy Washington
  • Patent number: 8032050
    Abstract: The charge assembly according to the present invention includes a charge member having a conductive support body on which a resistance adjusting layer and a surface layer covering the resistance adjusting layer are formed, to rotate a surface of the image support body to electrically charge the image support body, the surface layer having a static friction coefficient of 1.0 or more; and a cleaning member rotating the surface layer of the charge member in contact therewith to remove foreign particles on the surface layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Nakamura, Yutaka Narita, Tadayuki Oshima, Taisuke Tokuwaki, Hiroki Furubayashi
  • Publication number: 20110236052
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a member to be cleaned and a cleaning roller driven by contact with the member to be cleaned, and the apparatus is configured such that abrasive grains and at least one of a release agent and a solid lubricant are supplied to the member to be cleaned and that the supplied abrasive grains and the supplied at least one of a release agent and a solid lubricant move on a surface of the member to be cleaned in an axial direction of the cleaning roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro TAKAGI, Tetsuya TAGUCHI, Hirokazu HAMANO
  • Patent number: 8027611
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including: an image carrier carrying an image; a charging roll charging the image carrier; a cleaning member configured to be brought into contact with the charging roll for cleaning the charging roll; a first holding portion detachably provided in an apparatus main body for holding the image carrier; and a second holding portion provided within the apparatus main body independently from the first holding portion, for holding the cleaning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomokazu Kurita, Junichi Ozawa, Ryota Kubo, Mitsuhiro Matsumoto, Shigeo Ohno
  • Publication number: 20110229185
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoru SHIBUYA, Hidetoshi Noguchi, Kazuyoshi Hara
  • Publication number: 20110222900
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuichi Makino
  • Publication number: 20110222897
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a corona charger, including a charging electrode, for charging a photosensitive member; a cleaning member for cleaning said charging electrode; a shutter in the form of a sheet for opening and closing an opening provided between the charging electrode of said corona charger and the photosensitive member; driving means for driving said shutter and said cleaning member; a first fan for supplying the air toward said photosensitive member through the opening of said corona charger; and control means for controlling said fan such that air supply operation of said first fan stopped before said shutter operates to close the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuichi Makino
  • Patent number: 8019249
    Abstract: A charging device includes a first charging member held in contact with an image carrier, a toner image formed thereon, a bias showing a polarity same as that of the charged potential of toner applied thereto, a second charging member arranged downstream relative to the first charging member as viewed in the moving direction of the image carrier and held in contact with the image carrier, a bias showing a polarity opposite to the charged potential of toner applied thereto, a collection member held in contact with the second charging member to collect the toner adhering to the second charging member, a bias being applied thereto and a collection member bias control unit for controlling the bias applied to the collection member according to image forming conditions information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masaru Kobashi
  • Publication number: 20110200352
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor, a charging roller and a guide member. The guide member is disposed near an outer circumferential surface of the charging roller, and extends in an axial direction of the charging roller, a cleaning member for cleaning the charging roller is engaged with and disengaged from the guide member, and the guide member guides the cleaning member in the axial direction of the charging roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Yamashita, Takeshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8000627
    Abstract: The present invention provides a charging device which comprises a charging roller (14a) and a cleaning component (14b). The charging roller charges a surface of an image-recording medium (11) with a voltage which is applied from an external source. The cleaning component cleans a surface of the charging roller. The charging roller includes a resistance adjustment layer which is made of a resin composite and formed on an outer periphery of a core metal. The hardness of the charging roller is 45 degrees or more in JIS D hardness. The cleaning component has a portion which is in contact with the charging roller. This portion is made of resin foam which has a continuous foam structure. The density of the resin foam is 5 to 15 kg/m3 and its tensile strength is 1.7±0.5 kg/cm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruji Mizuishi, Tokuya Ojimi, Toshio Koike, Takeshi Shintani, Yuji Arai, Takuzi Yoneda, Ken Amemiya, Takaaki Tawada, Masami Tomita, Masanori Kawasumi, Takaya Muraishi, Hiroomi Harada, Hiromichi Ninomiya
  • Patent number: 7995947
    Abstract: The invention provides a charging device used in an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a fax machine, a printer or the like, the charging device including: a gold-plated discharge wire for charging an image carrier such as a photoconductive member or the like; and a cleaning member, having an abrasive, for cleaning the discharge wire, with the gold plating being maintained over time satisfactorily, and provides a process cartridge having this charging device. The cleaning member has an abrasive containing alumina and/or silicon, the grain size of which ranges from #6000 to #8000. The discharge wire is a tungsten wire on which a plating film is formed by gold plating, such that the thickness of the plating film is not smaller than 1.5 ?m, and the diameter of the tungsten wire is not smaller than 30 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaoru Yoshino, Takaya Muraishi, Akio Kosuge, Takeshi Shintani, Yasushi Akiba, Satoshi Hatori
  • Patent number: 7983587
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which includes a first image forming portion including a first photosensitive member, a first charging member for electrically charging the first photosensitive member to form an image thereon, and a first cleaning brush for cleaning the first charging member, a second image forming portion including a second photosensitive member, a second charging member for electrically charging the second photosensitive member to form an image thereon, and a second cleaning brush which has a longer brush length than that of the first cleaning brush for cleaning the second charging member, a driven mechanism for causing the first cleaning brush to be rotatably driven by the first charging member which is rotatably driven along with rotation of the first photosensitive member, and a drive coupling mechanism configured to drivably couple the second charging member and the second cleaning brush to transmit a driving force from the second charging member which is rotatably driven along with the rotat
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kei Imaizumi
  • Patent number: 7983586
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey M Fowler, Michael A Doody
  • Publication number: 20110170897
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cleaning member for an image forming apparatus, including: an axle; and a belt-like elastic medium that is wound on the outer circumferential surface of the axle in a spiral shape and that includes a first edge portion in at least one of both ends in the width direction thereof and a second edge portion coming in contact with a surface to be cleaned at an angle different from that of the first edge portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD
    Inventors: Takuro HAGIWARA, Masaaki YAMAURA