Abstract: An electrostatic charger according to the present invention includes a needle electrode, a support, and a cleaning member. The needle electrode has a linear array of needles. The support can move along the linear array. The cleaning member is supported by the support rotatably on an axis perpendicular to the linear array. While the support is moving with the cleaning member along the linear array, the cleaning member rotates, with the needles sinking in order into and subsequently coming in order out of the cleaning member. When the cleaning member makes each rotation while moving with the support, some of the needles sink in positions into the cleaning member where any other needles did not sink when the cleaning member made the previous rotation.

Abstract: A cleaning device is disclosed which includes a cleaning member to clean the surface of a charging roll that charges an image carrier. The cleaning member is fixed at one end thereof and contacts at a free end side surface with the surface of the charging roll. The free end of the cleaning member is inserted in between the image carrier and the charging roll. Also disclosed is an image forming apparatus including the cleaning device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is constituted by an image bearing member; a corona charging member including a wire; a heat generating member for generating heat by energization; a shielding member, including the heat generating member, capable of shielding a portion of the corona charging member opposing to the image bearing member from the image bearing member by being moved between the corona charging member and the image bearing member; an energization control member for controlling energization of the heat generating member; and moving member for moving the shielding member to a first position at which the shielding member shields the portion and a second position retracted from the first position. When the shielding member is located at the first position, at least a part of the heat generating member is disposed between the corona charging member and the image bearing member.

Abstract: A roll includes a shaft, and a foamed material coating the shaft that includes a first section that extends from the shaft to a surface of the foamed material and has electrical resistance, a value of which is within a first range, and a second section that extends from the shaft to the surface of the foamed material and has electrical resistance, a value of which is within a second range different from the first range.

Abstract: In a xerographic printing apparatus, feedback on surface charge at a plurality of locations across a length of a photoreceptor may be desirable to assess charge uniformity, for example, to ensure color consistency across multiple marking engines in tightly integrated parallel printing architectures. A cross process charge uniformity scanner may include at least one micro-electro-mechanical based electrostatic voltmeter device for measuring surface charge at a plurality of locations along the length of the photoreceptor. The charge uniformity scanner may allow the xerographic printing apparatus to initiate charge device cleaning and/or control the intensity of the charge applied to the surface of the photoreceptor. Exemplary embodiments may include an electrostatic voltmeter moveably mounted along the length of the photoreceptor in the fast scanning direction, or may include a plurality of electrostatic voltmeters disposed at spaced apart locations along the length of the photoreceptor.

Abstract: There is provided a charging member cleaning roller including: a core body; and an elastic layer that is provided on a peripheral surface of the core body and includes a polyurethane foam obtained from at least a polyester polyol, a foam stabilizer, and a catalyst. Moreover, there is provided a charging member cleaning roller including: a core body; and an elastic layer that is provided on a peripheral surface of the core body and includes a urethane foam having an open-cell structure, a resilience of approximately 15% to 30%, and a hardness of approximately 150N to 230N.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus in which a developing portion is provided with a mechanism capable of forming a developing agent image and recovering residual developing agent left remained on an image carrier, and an electrification portion of an image-forming unit disposed at a second stage further provided with a developing agent-removing member which is in contact with an electrifying member, thereby enabling a developing agent which is reversely transferred from a transferred image of a preceding stage and recovered by the electrification portion to be removed from the electrification portion.

Abstract: A cleaning device of a charging roller has: a cleaning member contacting a charging roller which charges an image carrier which carries an image, and cleaning a surface of the charging roller; and a holding structure holding the cleaning member such that the cleaning member is movable at least between a first position and a second position along a peripheral direction of the charging roller. The holding structure holds the cleaning member such that an amount of compression of the cleaning member at a contacting portion of the charging roller and the cleaning member is greater at the second position than at the first position.

Abstract: An image forming device is disclosed which has: an image holding member which rotates; a charging roller press-contacting and being rotated by the image holding member, and charging the image holding member; and a cleaning roller press-contacting and being rotated by the charging roller, and cleaning the charging roller. The cleaning roller has a core whose both end portions are rotatably supported, and a cleaning member which is formed from a roller-shaped porous elastic body and is provided at a peripheral surface of the core. Axial direction end portion sides of the cleaning member are formed to be thicker than an axial direction central portion of the cleaning member.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a cleaning roller, a supporting portion and a guiding portion. The cleaning roller has a core and a cleaning member provided around the core, the cleaning member contacting and cleaning a charging roller by rotation of the cleaning roller, the charging roller charging an image carrier carrying an image. The supporting portion supports the core rotatably in a state in which the cleaning member is in contact with the charging roller. The guiding portion movably guides the core, which is supported by the supporting portion, in a direction different from a direction of a straight line passing through a rotational center of the charging roller and a rotational center of the cleaning roller.

Abstract: A charging roller cleaning device is provided for removing impurities attached on a charging roller that charges a photosensitive medium to a uniform electric potential. Such a cleaning device includes: a cleaning roller arranged to rotate, while contacting the charging roller to remove the impurities attached on the charging roller; and a cleaning member arranged to scrap off impurities attached on the cleaning roller.

Abstract: Along a rotational direction of a photoreceptor, a cleaner unit for cleaning a surface of the photoreceptor, a lubricant applying apparatus for applying a lubricant to the surface of the photoreceptor, and a charging device for charging the surface of the photoreceptor are disposed in this order. Further, the lubricant applying apparatus applies the lubricant to the surface of the photoreceptor which has been cleaned and has not been charged. As a result, it is possible to uniformly apply the lubricant to the surface of the image carrier for an extended period of time with stability.

Abstract: An image forming device includes an image forming unit that includes an image carrier which carries an electrostatic latent image, a developing unit which forms a developing nip by contacting with the image carrier and develops the latent image by using toner, a transfer unit which forms a transferring nip by contacting with the image carrier and transfers a toner image onto a recording paper, and a first driving unit which rotates the image carrier, the developing unit and the transfer unit. The image forming device also includes a laser scanner unit that includes a polygon mirror and a second driving unit which rotates the polygon mirror.

Abstract: A charge roll disposed in an image forming apparatus, for charging an image carrier for carrying an image, and to be cleaned by a cleaning member, the charge roll including: a shaft and an electrically conductive layer provided around the shaft, an axial end portion of the electrically conductive layer in an area in contact with the cleaning member being formed into skin layer portions thinner than other portions of the electrically conductive layer, is provided.

Abstract: A grid cleaner 35 is fixed to a fixing holder 41 of an apparatus main body in such a way that a wet sponge 38 faces a grid 33. When a charging device 3 is made to slide in the direction indicated by arrow A, the wet sponge 38 comes into contact with a surface of the grid 33, thereby removing extraneous matters therefrom. Reference numeral 40 denotes a stopper projection that prevents the charging device 3 from being disconnected from the apparatus main body at times other than during cleaning. The stopper projection 40 extends toward a gap roller 39 side so as to serve as a guide portion 42 that prevents the wet sponge 38 of the grid cleaner 35 and the gap roller 39 from rubbing against each other.

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.

Abstract: A needle electrode and a cleaning member are provided. A plurality of needles are arrayed upon the needle electrode in a straight line, and protrude towards a surface of a photoreceptor. The cleaning member is disposed movably along the array direction of the plurality of needles between the surface of the photoreceptor and the needle electrode. When the cleaning member moves, the tip portion of each of the plurality of needles in the arranged order, after having been embedded from the surface of the cleaning member into its interior, then exits to the exterior of the cleaning member.

Abstract: A charging device including: a charging roller having a metal cylinder and an elastic layer located on the metal cylinder; a cleaner configured to clean the charging roller, which includes an electroconductive brush roller including a roller having a shaft; and hair located overlying the roller, wherein the hair includes a fiber which has a width of from 0.1 to 20 denier, and a length of from 0.3 to 2.5 mm and which is planted at a density of from 7,000 to 46,000 lines/cm2, and a member configured to impart substantially the same potential as that of the charging roller to the electroconductive brush roller when a bias voltage is applied to the charging roller. A process cartridge and an image forming apparatus including the charging device are also provided.

Abstract: A cleaning member includes a contact portion that is in contact with a cleaning target, at least the contact portion is made of melamine resin foam that is obtained by heating and compressing an original form. Because the heated and compressed melamine resin foam is used, the wearing out of the cleaning target member is extremely less, and the cleaning capability is maintained at an adequate state for a long period of time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided capable of solving such problem of abrasion or load caused by the unevenness of installation position of cleaning member and capable of realizing excellent cleaning performance. A cleaning section in the image forming apparatus has a cleaning member with board shape which contacts with the surface of the charging roller through it's a first surface; and a fixing member which supports the cleaning member at least at an upstream side than a contact position between the charging roller and the cleaning member with respect to the rotation direction of the charging roller, the fixing member is formed so as to not contact with the cleaning member in an area of a second surface which is opposite to the contact part of the charging roller and the cleaning member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image carrier, a charging roll and a support member. The image carrier has a surface on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed. The charging roll follows rotation of the image carrier. The charging roll charges the surface of the image carrier at a predetermined potential. The support member is in contact with the charging roll at a contact point. The contact point is on a downstream of a nip portion between the image carrier and the charging roll in a rotation direction of the charging roll. The contact point is on an upstream of a plane, which contains an axis line of the charging roll and is perpendicular to a plane defined by an axis line of the image carrier and the axis line of the charging roll.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a rotary image bearing member; a charging roller for charging the outer circumferential surface of the image bearing member by rotating in contact with the image bearing member; a brush roller for cleaning adhered matters on the outer circumferential surface of the charging roller by being held in contact with the charging roller due to its own weight and rotating; a driving mechanism for drivingly rotating the brush roller to have a linear velocity difference to the charging roller; and a moving mechanism for reciprocating the brush roller along the longitudinal direction thereof.

Abstract: An image formation device includes an image-bearing body that rotates, a charging roller that contacts the image-bearing body and is rotated by the rotation of the image-bearing body, and charges the image-bearing body, a cleaning roller that contacts the charging roller and is rotated by the rotation of the charging roller, and cleans the charging roller, and a first auxiliary roller that is provided coaxially with the charging roller, contacts the image-bearing body and is rotated by the rotation of the image-bearing body. The image formation device satisfies the following relation: F1>F2>F3 where F1 represents a friction force between the first auxiliary roller and the image-bearing body, F2 represents a friction force between the image-bearing body and the charging roller and F3 represents a friction force between the charging roller and the cleaning roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: an image carrier that carries an image; a charge roll that charges the image carrier; and a cleaning member that contacts the charge roll and cleans the charge roll, wherein the cleaning member is configured to include a surface layer that is formed by an elastic body and contacts the charge roll, an inner layer that is configured by an elastic body softer than the surface layer and supports the surface layer, and a support member that supports the inner layer and causes the surface layer to contact the charge roll.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a cleaning roll and an intervening member. The cleaning roll contacts the surface of a charge roll that charges a photoconductor, rotates, and cleans the surface of the charge roll. The intervening member is intervened between the charge roll and the cleaning roll and causes the charge roll and the cleaning roll to separate from each other. The intervening member may be spacers that are intervened at both end portions of the charge roll and the cleaning roll and form a gap between the charge roll and the cleaning roll. The intervening member may also be a lubricant.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a cleaning component that cleans the surface of a charging component that charges an image carrier that has a surface on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed. The cleaning component is a hollow body that cleans the surface of the charging component while being rotated by rotation of the charging component.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for a rotatable brush that contacts upon or slides along a carrier of electrostatic latent images in order to apply an electric potential to the carrier of the electrostatic latent images, includes, an elastic foam body pressed by the bristles of the rotating brush provided downstream in a direction of a rotation of the rotating brush from a position of contact with the carrier of the electrostatic latent images, and a slide member pressed by the bristles of the rotating brush downstream in the direction of the rotation of the rotating brush from the elastic foam body, wherein the elastic foam body has a contact face that presses the rotatable brush, a discharge face that discharges developer or the like that enters the elastic foam body, and all faces other than the contact face and the discharge face are sealed.

Abstract: A charging device including a charging roller having a metal cylinder and an elastic layer located thereon, and a cleaner for cleaning the surface of the charging roller. The cleaner includes a driving shaft and a cleaning roller which is rotatably mounted on the driving shaft. The cleaning roller is made of a non-cellular foam resin having a density of from 5 to 15 kg/m3 and a tensile strength of from 1.2 to 2.2 kg/cm2.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing contamination of an image transfer surface in an image transfer device includes a charging device for charging the image transfer surface. An airflow control system ventilates the charging device and restricts airflow adjacent the image transfer surface.

Abstract: After an application of a first AC voltage for selecting a peak-to-peak voltage of a charging AC voltage for charging an image forming area of an image bearing member and before an application of a charging AC voltage, there is applied a second AC voltage having a peak-to-peak voltage larger than a peak-to-peak voltage of the first AC voltage.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member, a charging member that is contactably provided to the image bearing member and that charges the image bearing member with a voltage containing an AC component and a DC component; and a control device that makes selection on whether a mode, in which a rotation time of the image bearing member is prolonged and in which a voltage is applied to the charging member in the prolonged rotation time, is performed or not. As a result, the image forming apparatus is provided which performs charging with high stability.

Abstract: A metal holder has a V-shape in cross-section formed by two arm sections. PET sheets are attached to mutually opposed surfaces of respective arm sections, and part of each PET sheet extends toward the electrically-conductive roller beyond the arm section. Flocked sheets are attached to the surfaces of the respective PET sheets opposite the electrically-conductive roller, and contact the electrically-conductive roller.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus includes a brush member to be brought into contact with a member to be cleaned to remove toner particles attached to the member. The brush member includes a conductive material.

Abstract: A charging device including: a charging roller having a metal cylinder and an elastic layer located on the metal cylinder; a cleaner configured to clean the charging roller, which includes an electroconductive brush roller including a roller having a shaft; and hair located overlying the roller, wherein the hair includes a fiber which has a width of from 0.1 to 20 denier, and a length of from 0.3 to 2.5 mm and which is planted at a density of from 7,000 to 46,000 lines/cm2, and a member configured to impart substantially the same potential as that of the charging roller to the electroconductive brush roller when a bias voltage is applied to the charging roller. A process cartridge and an image forming apparatus including the charging device are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention drives cleaning member moving devices for moving cleaning members of a plurality of chargers at the same time by a single cleaning motor to miniaturize an image forming apparatus and reduce the cost. Further, at the end time of cleaning, all the cleaning members are shifted to a predetermined area by the cleaning member moving devices, and the cleaning motor is stopped, thus the cleaning members remain in a charging area, and uneven charging is prevented.

Abstract: A charger in one embodiment of this invention includes an electrode cleaning mechanism having a film-like elastic sheet which is deformed by a provided predetermined stress, wherein deposits deposited on the edge of a sawtooth electrode are removed, and a potential above a certain level can be given to the surface of a photoconductor drum.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the force of a tension spring returning to its original position is utilized to vibrate or impact a conductive member using a predetermined timing, one end of the conductive member being fixed and the other end of the conductive member being connected to a knob via a tension spring. This serves to remove attachments adhering to the tips of the conductive member.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a brush roller that removes deposit from a surface of a member to be cleaned by rotating due to a movement of the surface of the member. The brush roller includes a rotary shaft element and a brush provided on the rotary shaft element. The brush abuts the surface of the member due to a weight of the brush roller. The brush includes filaments, and the brush roller satisfies the inequation Y/X?2.8, where Y is a diameter (denier) of each of the filaments, and X is a length (mm) of each of the filaments. The filaments slant with respect to a normal direction of the rotary shaft element.

Abstract: A charging device including a charging roller having a metallic cylinder with an elastic layer disposed thereon, and a cleaner for cleaning the surface of the charging roller. The cleaner includes a driving shaft and a cleaning roller rotatably mounted on the driving shaft. The cleaning roller is made of a non-cellular foam resin having a density of from 5 to 15 kg/m3 and a tensile strength of from 1.2 to 2.2 kg/cm2.

Abstract: A charging device of the present invention includes a charging member and a body to be charged forming a nip therebetween. Charge-promoting conductive grains, frictionally charged to polarity opposite to the polarity of a voltage applied to the charging member, are held at the above nip. The charging device is operable in a cleaning mode for cleaning the body to be charged.

Abstract: A charger in one embodiment of this invention includes an electrode cleaning mechanism having a film-like elastic sheet which is deformed by a provided predetermined stress, wherein deposits deposited on the edge of a sawtooth electrode are removed, and a potential above a certain level can be given to the surface of a photoconductor drum.

Abstract: In a xerographic printing apparatus, a corotron having a wire is used to apply a charge to a photoreceptor. The wire is cleaned by a motorized shuttle which travels in two directions along the wires. The shuttle is controlled by detection of an increased current consumption associated with the motor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a charging device including a charge roller formed with annular grooves at opposite end portions thereof and configured to charge an image carrier. Annular gap forming members each are fitted in the annular grooves for forming a gap between the charge roller and the image carrier. The gap forming members each have an area of 1.0×10?6 m2 to 3.0×10?6 m2 in a section containing the axis of the charge roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier (1), a corona charger (5) in which a discharge electrode (11) is arranged in a conductive shield (9) having an open face on a side facing the image carrier (1) and a face in which a first ventilation opening (10) is formed, and a duct (6) arranged adjacent to the corona charger (5), has an airflow opening (7). The conductive shield is provided with a wall member (22) at an end thereof on the downstream side in the direction of airflow created through the first ventilation opening and is provided with a second ventilation opening (23) in a face on the downstream side in the rotational direction of an image carrier and the duct has a third ventilation opening (24) facing the second ventilation opening and a fourth ventilation opening (25) in a face of the duct.

Abstract: An image forming device is provided with a photosensitive body which applies a toner on a media, an electrode which charges the photosensitive body to a prescribed potential, and a cleaning member which removes contaminants from the electrode using a polishing agent. The cleaning member includes an inner region having a first amount of the polishing agent, and an outer region radially outward from the inner region and having a second amount of the polishing agent, wherein the first amount is less than the second amount.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus wherein a wire of a charger is cleaned while a process unit is attached to or removed from a casing. A cleaning unit pinches the wire of the charger therein slidably, and reciprocates to clean the wire when the process unit is attached to or removed from the casing.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a movable image bearing member, a charging member opposed to the image bearing member in a charging portion, a transfer member for transferring an image formed on the image bearing member to a transferred member, and a cleaning mode for applying a voltage to the transfer member, and when other area on the image bearing member differing from a surface potential changing area on the image bearing member which is changed in surface potential by the application of this voltage is located in the charging portion, applying a voltage to the charging member, thereby cleaning the transfer member and the charging member. Thereby, the cleaning of the charging member can be effected well.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image bearing member and a second shiftable image bearing member. A first transferring member transfers a toner image formed on the first image bearing member to the second image bearing member at a first region. A second transferring member transfers a toner image formed on the second image bearing member to a transferring material at a second region. A first electrifier is provided downstream of the second region and upstream of the first region in a shifting direction of the second image bearing member. A second electrifier is provided downstream of the second region and upstream of the first electrifier in the shifting direction. A voltage applying unit applies a voltage to the first and second electrifiers to transfer toner adhered to the first and second electrifiers onto the second image bearing member.

Abstract: A cleaning device including a brush roller that contacts the surface of a charge roller for cleaning it and an image forming apparatus including the cleaning device are disclosed. The brush roller has a brush contacting the charge roller due to the weight of the brush roller. The brush roller rotates by following the rotation of the charge roller. The cleaning device has a simple configuration while the brush roller has high durability.

Abstract: The present invention relates in general to a corona charger for use in an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus or the like, and more particularly to a cleaning mechanism for the corona wires of a corona charger. According to one aspect, a corona wire assembly is provided having a corona wire and a cleaning pad with a hole, the corona wire extending through the hole. According to another aspect, a method for cleaning a corona wire is provided wherein relative movement is generated between a corona wire and a cleaning pad having a hole, the corona wire extending through the hole. According to a further aspect, a cleaning mechanism for cleaning the surface of a corona wire within a corona charger is provided having a cleaning pad, a corona wire passing through the cleaning pad and positioning the cleaning pad in at least one direction lateral to the corona wire, and a holding member holding the cleaning pad without restraining the cleaning pad in the at least one direction lateral to the corona wire.