Exposure Or Charging (e.g., Fatigue Treatment) Patents (Class 399/128)
  • Patent number: 8064799
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a cartridge supporting member movable between an inside position inside the main assembly of the apparatus and an outside position outside the main assembly, a light source, a light guide member, on the cartridge supporting member, for guiding the light from the light source to electrically discharge charge remaining on a drum after a developed image on the drum is transferred onto recording material when the cartridge is in an image forming position, an interrelating member for moving the light source to an operating position where the light enters the light guide member in interrelation with movement of the cartridge supporting member from the outside to the inside positions, and a positioning member positioning the light source at the operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriaki Tanaka, Tsuyoshi Otake
  • Patent number: 8055156
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photoreceptor including a photosensitive layer, an exposure unit for irradiating the electrophotographic photoreceptor with light, a pressing member pressed against the photosensitive layer of the electrophotographic photoreceptor to remove a deposit from the photosensitive layer, and a static eliminating unit for eliminating the static electricity of the deposit to be removed by the pressing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Katsumi Okuda
  • Patent number: 8055153
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an electrophotographic photoreceptor including a conductive support and a photosensitive layer including an outermost surface layer capable of transporting a charge, the layer being farthest from the conductive support and containing a resin having a crosslinking structure; a charging unit that charges the electrophotographic photoreceptor; a first exposure unit that exposes the electrophotographic photoreceptor to form an electrostatic latent image on the electrophotographic photoreceptor charged; a developing unit that develop the electrostatic latent image with a toner to form a toner image; a transfer unit that transfer the toner image from the electrophotographic photoreceptor to a medium to be transferred; and a second exposure unit that uniformly expose the electrophotographic photoreceptor, the outermost surface layer absorbing exposure light of the second exposure unit and having a maximum absorbance of about 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Nukada, Wataru Yamada, Yukiko Furushiro, Takayuki Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8041261
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive body, a light scanning lamp, and a lamp controller. The image forming apparatus has a surface capable of accepting an electric potential. The light scanning lamp can scan a lamp light toward the photosensitive body to change the electric potential of the photosensitive body. The lamp controller moves between a blocking position to block the lamp light from reaching the surface of the photosensitive body, and an unblocking position that is spaced from the blocking position and allows the lamp light to reach the surface of the photosensitive body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji-won Moon, Hyun-wook Bae
  • Publication number: 20110249987
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus is equipped with a neutralization light source that is disposed between a primary transfer position and the cleaning unit, in a direction of rotation of the first image carrier that composes the image-forming unit; irradiates a first neutralization light from a position opposing the primary transfer position on a first image carrier up to a position opposing the cleaning unit; and irradiates a second neutralization light from a position opposing the developer unit for a second image carrier that composes an image-forming unit disposed adjacent to the image-forming unit at a downstream side in the direction of transfer belt rotation, up to a position opposite the primary transfer position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahito Ishino, Masaki Kadota, Akane Tokushige
  • Publication number: 20110243609
    Abstract: In the charge-removing device, the light guide portion extends in a first direction. The light guide portion guides light from the light source toward the surface of the image-bearing member. A charge on the surface of the image-bearing member is removed by the light emitted from the light guide portion. The first surface of the light guide portion opposes the light source. The rear surface is an opposite surface of the confronting surface and has a rough surface part that reflects, toward the confronting surface, the light from the first surface. The closer a position of the increasing portion is to the second surface, the larger the length of the increasing portion becomes. The closer a position of the decreasing portion is to the second surface, the smaller the length of the decreasing portion becomes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukiko TAKAMI, Takashi SHIMIZU, Junichi HASHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20110217076
    Abstract: Disclosed are a light guide member, a charge eliminating unit and an image forming apparatus and/or an image reading apparatus having the same. The light guide member may include an incidence face through which light is introduced, an irregular reflection portion arranged along a longitudinal direction of the light guide member for irregular reflection of the light introduced through the incidence face and an emission face arranged opposite the irregular reflection portion for emission of the light. At least one recess may be formed in the incidence face for diffusion of the light introduced through the incidence face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyung Rok Kim, Yong Geun Kim, Hyun Surk Kim
  • Patent number: 8010018
    Abstract: A discharger is provided, which can eliminate charge from a surface of a photoconductor. The discharger includes: a light source; and a light guide member which extends in a first direction to be opposed to the surface of the photoconductor in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction. The light guide member has a plurality of holes, each defined by a hole surface. At least a portion of the hole surface is curved. The hole extends in an orthogonal direction substantially orthogonal to the first and second directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasushi Okabe
  • Patent number: 8005401
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus may be provided with a belt configured to move in the predetermined direction and face a photoreceptor, a charge removal member, and a conductive member. The charge removal member may be configured to remove charge of the belt. The conductive member may be located at the downstream side of the charge removal member in the predetermined direction. The conductive member may include a surface facing the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Furukawa, Katsuyuki Yokoi, Kensuke Miyahara
  • Patent number: 8005380
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member; a charging device; an exposure device device; a developing device; a transfer charger; a pre-exposure device; a current detector; a calculating device; and a correcting device. The calculating device determines a property formula on the basis of currents, detected by the current detector, flowing between said transfer member, or the charging device, and an area of the photosensitive member charged by the light discharger. The calculating device calculates a correction amount of the correcting device on the basis of the property formula and a current flowing between said transfer member and an area of the photosensitive member charged by the charging device which is supplied with a predetermined DC voltage with discharging by the pre-exposure device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Norihiko Kubo
  • 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: 7979003
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus including: a photoconductor provided with a charge generation layer and an overcoat layer; a first charging unit charging the photoconductor when an image is formed; an exposure unit irradiating the photoconductor with light having a wavelength to which a relative sensitivity of the charge generation layer is larger than a relative sensitivity of the overcoat layer; a development unit developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor by the first charging unit and the exposure unit with toner; a transfer unit transferring an image developed on the photoconductor to a medium; a light irradiation unit irradiating the photoconductor with light having a wavelength to which the relative sensitivity of the overcoat layer is larger than the relative sensitivity of the charge generation layer; and an erasing unit erasing a charge from the photoconductor irradiated with light by the light irradiation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taku Aoshima, Yutaka Kanai
  • Patent number: 7965960
    Abstract: Disclosed are a light guide member, a charge eliminating unit and an image forming apparatus and/or an image reading apparatus having the same. The light guide member may include an incidence face through which light is introduced, an irregular reflection portion arranged along a longitudinal direction of the light guide member for irregular reflection of the light introduced through the incidence face and an emission face arranged opposite the irregular reflection portion for emission of the light. At least one recess may be formed in the incidence face for diffusion of the light introduced through the incidence face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung Rok Kim, Yong Geun Kim, Hyun Surk Kim
  • Publication number: 20110129254
    Abstract: A neutralization device includes a light emitter, an optical conductor and multiple diffusion portions. The light emitter emits light for neutralizing an object. The optical conductor, which is opposed to the object and extends in a longitudinal direction, directs and applies the light to the object. The diffusion portions are arranged on the optical conductor in a zig-zag manner from one end of the optical conductor to the other and diffuse the light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: OKI DATA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukiyoshi Oda, Akihiro Yamamura, Masahiro Kawano, Ken Nozawa, Toshiharu Sato
  • Patent number: 7920810
    Abstract: Embodiments of an electrophotography device are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Gadi Oron, Dror Kella, Eran Gonen
  • Patent number: 7907871
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that is more capable of preventing the occurrence of image quality deterioration caused by defective charging of a photoreceptor than the conventional one. As a charging device, there is used a member which has: a conductive sheet that causes the surface thereof applied with a predetermined bias to abut against the surface of the photoreceptor after passing through a primary transfer nip obtained by abutment between the photoreceptor and an intermediate transfer belt and before entering a development step performed by a developing device; a conductive brush member that applies a predetermined bias to the surface of the photoreceptor obtained after passing through the position of abutment with the sheet and before entering the development step; and a charging roller that uniformly charges the surface of the photoreceptor after passing through the position of abutment with the brush and before entering the development step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Sakagawa, Tetsumaru Fujita, Yuji Nagatomo
  • Publication number: 20110058850
    Abstract: When a charging member charge a photosensitive member by being applied with a direct-current voltage, a gap between the charging member and the photosensitive member is exposed to light with a constant light amount. However, if the process speed is lowered, charging non-uniformity occurs. Therefore, when the process speed is low, the amount of light radiated to the charging gap is made higher than that when the process speed is low.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenichi Shibuya
  • Patent number: 7899363
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is constituted by a rotatable image bearing member; a charging member for electrically charging the image bearing member in contact with the image bearing member; developing member, containing polishing particles, for collecting toner from the image bearing member and effecting development on the basis of an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member; a transfer member for transferring a toner image formed on the image bearing member onto a transfer material; an auxiliary charging member, located downstream from a transfer portion and upstream from the charging member with respect to a movement direction of the image bearing member, for electrically charging toner remaining on the image bearing member after the transfer by contact with the image bearing member; and control means for performing a discharging mode, for discharging polishing particles from the auxiliary charging member onto the image bearing member on the basis of an image ratio of an image to be for
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Ishida
  • Patent number: 7894749
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a plurality of photosensitive members on which electrostatic latent images are formed; a plurality of charge units to charge the respective photosensitive members with an electric potential; at least one exposure unit which irradiates light to the respective photosensitive members; a plurality of developer supply devices, which adhere a developer to the respective photosensitive members, to form visible images on a surface of the respective photosensitive members; a transfer unit, which transfers the visible images formed on the respective photosensitive members to a transfer medium; and a plurality of exposure lamps which are mounted between the plurality of photosensitive members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun Sun Jung, Jin Cheol Kim, Yoo Seok Yang
  • Publication number: 20110020034
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying body having a surface on which a toner image is formed. A charger charges the surface body and a charge eliminator removes charge from the surface. The charge eliminator includes light sources to generate charge elimination light and a light guide to guide the charge elimination light onto the surface. The light guide includes a first portion to guide the charge elimination light onto an axial central portion of the image carrying body and a second portion to guide the charge elimination light onto axial end portions of the image carrying body. The second light guide portion allows charge elimination light that is incident on the first light guide portion to travel into the second light guide portion, but restricts charge elimination light that is incident on the second light guide portion from traveling into the first light guide portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiro Tsutsumi
  • Publication number: 20110013937
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is constituted by a rotatable image bearing member; a charging member for electrically charging the image bearing member in contact with the image bearing member; developing member, containing polishing particles, for collecting toner from the image bearing member and effecting development on the basis of an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member; a transfer member for transferring a toner image formed on the image bearing member onto a transfer material; an auxiliary charging member, located downstream from a transfer portion and upstream from the charging member with respect to a movement direction of the image bearing member, for electrically charging toner remaining on the image bearing member after the transfer by contact with the image bearing member; and control means for performing a discharging mode, for discharging polishing particles from the auxiliary charging member onto the image bearing member on the basis of an image ratio of an image to be for
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yusuke ISHIDA
  • Patent number: 7848679
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a standard exposure device (1) adjusted to emit light of a predetermined light quantity, and a control device configured to determine light quantity of the pre-charge exposure device in an image-forming period based on the first and the second charging current values, wherein first charging current value is detected when an area on a photosensitive member surface is recharged by the contact charging member, in a case where the photosensitive member is exposed by turning on the standard exposure device without turning on a pre-charge exposure device, and second charging current value is detected when an area on the photosensitive member surface is recharged by the contact charging member, in a case where the photosensitive member charged by applying a predetermined voltage by the contact charging member is exposed by turning on the pre-charge exposure device without turning on the standard exposure device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryosuke Kanai, Yosuke Kishi
  • Patent number: 7848678
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising an image holding member that is rotationally driven, the image holding member comprising, on a substrate, a subbing layer and a photosensitive layer, a volume resistance value of the subbing layer decreasing in a rotation axis direction of the image holding member, from one end portion of a light source side of the image holding member towards another end portion of the image holding member, a charging unit, a latent image formation unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, and a charge removal unit comprising a light source that, after transfer of the toner image, irradiates the surface of the image holding member from one side thereof, in a rotation axis direction of the image holding member, with charge removing light, to remove the charge from the surface of the image holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Shibata, Makoto Nishimura, Takahiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7844200
    Abstract: An inexpensive image forming apparatus, which can suppress a ghost to obtain an image maintaining satisfactory density and gradations for a long time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryosuke Kanai, Yosuke Kishi
  • Patent number: 7831176
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is constituted by a rotatable image bearing member; a charging member for electrically charging the image bearing member in contact with the image bearing member; developing member, containing polishing particles, for collecting toner from the image bearing member and effecting development on the basis of an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member; a transfer member for transferring a toner image formed on the image bearing member onto a transfer material; an auxiliary charging member, located downstream from a transfer portion and upstream from the charging member with respect to a movement direction of the image bearing member, for electrically charging toner remaining on the image bearing member after the transfer by contact with the image bearing member; and control means for performing a discharging mode, for discharging polishing particles from the auxiliary charging member onto the image bearing member on the basis of an image ratio of an image to be for
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Ishida
  • Patent number: 7805094
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a charge removal device thereof capable of evenly irradiating light to a photosensitive body are disclosed. The charge removal device includes a charge removal lamp, which may be mounted outside the length of the photosensitive body, and the optical axis of which forms an angle with respect to the surface of the photosensitive body, and a lens provided between the photosensitive body and the charge removal lamp. The lens can collimate or make less divergent the light beam emitted by the charge removal lamp, and directs the collimated or less divergent light beam onto the surface of the photosensitive body. The light beam from the lens may be incident upon an area of the surface extending across the length of the photosensitive body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin Kwon Chun
  • Patent number: 7761034
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of reducing white streaks in gray images and an image forming method using the same are provided. The image forming apparatus including a charging means, a developing means, a transferring means, and a discharging means which are arranged in sequence around a monolayer type electrophotographic photoconductor. The charging means is a means for positively charging the surface of the monolayer type electrophotographic photoconductor, and the pre-charging means has a conductive brush composed of a conductive substrate and conductive brush filaments and is arranged between the charging means and the discharging means. The conductive filaments on the surface of the photoconductor have a bending ratio that is calculated so that the conductive brush filament tips are properly curved near the surface of the photoconductor so as to reduce abnormal discharge between the conductive brush and the surface of the photoconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Shishido, Shiho Okawa
  • Patent number: 7734204
    Abstract: The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to imaging members useful in electrostatography. More particularly, the embodiments pertain to an improved development systems for electrophotographic imaging and printing apparatuses and machines in which ghosting print defects are reduced, and more particularly, is directed to a method for reducing positive ghosting in such systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph H. Rowe
  • Patent number: 7725054
    Abstract: An electrifying apparatus, a processing unit including the electrifying apparatus, and an image formation apparatus including the electrifying apparatus. The electrifying apparatus includes a conductive sheet for electrifying at least one of a surface of a photoconductor and toner adhered to the surface. The conductive sheet is specified to have a pure-water contact angle equal to or greater than 108 degrees, and to have a shore D hardness equal to or less than 65.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsumaru Fujita, Yoshio Sakagawa, Yuji Nagatomo
  • Patent number: 7711278
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus in which a DC bias is applied to charge a photosensitive drum, when a charge eliminating device is in deterioration or failure, there are some cases where a proper charging is not made, and thus poor imaging occurs. A DC bias is applied to a charging member in the charge eliminating operation area of an image bearing member where the charge eliminating device makes charge eliminating operation; and based on the values of an electric current passing through the image bearing member on that occasion, a DC bias application is switched between by constant-current-control and by constant-voltage-control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shiro Sakata
  • Patent number: 7693433
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier that rotates and carries a toner image by a surface layer disposed on a surface thereof; a charging roll that charges the surface layer while the image carrier completes one or more rotations; a power supply unit that supplies a current to the charging roll; a detector that samples and detects the current that the power supply unit outputs; a leak current detector that detects a leak current included in the current that the detector has detected; a layer thickness calculating unit that calculates a numerical value relating to the thickness of the surface layer on the basis of the current that the detector has detected; and a current leak state determining unit that determines a current leak state on the basis of the current that the detector has detected and the leak current that the leak current detector has detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Ohmori, Chikaho Ikeda, Hideki Moriya, Hidehiko Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20100074634
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer housing that holds a developer; a lubricant supply brush that rotates when in contact with the developer housing, and that supplies a lubricant to a surface of the developer housing; a lubricant that is in contact with the lubricant supply brush; a first voltage supply unit that supplies an AC voltage on which a DC voltage is superimposed to the lubricant supply brush; a determination unit that determines whether or not a usage state of the developer housing is a state at an initial stage; and a controller that controls the first voltage supply unit to supply the AC voltage on which the DC voltage is superimposed to the lubricant supply brush, prior to start of execution of an image forming operation if the determination unit determines that the usage state of the developer housing is the state at the initial stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Shigeo Ohno, Tomoya Ichikawa, Yoji Yamaguchi, Kuniaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7684732
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes at least a latent image carrier, a latent image forming mechanism, a developing mechanism and a charger. The latent image carrier bears a latent image. The latent image forming mechanism forms the latent image on the latent image carrier. The developing mechanism develops the latent image on the latent image carrier with toner. The charger includes a conductive member supplied with a bias voltage while contacting a surface of the latent image carrier, and charges at least one of the surface of the latent image carrier and a toner adhering to the surface thereof through the conductive member. A tensile strength of the conductive member at break is no less than 10 MPa and no more than 40 MPa, and a contact pressure between the conductive member and the latent image carrier is no less than 4 kN/m2 and no more than 15 kN/m2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsumaru Fujita, Yoshio Sakagawa, Yuji Nagatomo
  • Patent number: 7664430
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that rotates in a predetermined direction so as to carry a toner image, a charging member that charges the image carrier by a discharge operation, a toner holding member that is disposed to be in contact with the image carrier so as to hold toner in a portion being in contact with the image carrier and that removes a discharge product generated on the image carrier, and a holding amount adjusting unit that adjusts a toner holding amount of the toner holding member. The holding amount adjusting unit includes an estimation unit that estimates a current toner holding amount of the toner holding member, and a correction unit that corrects the toner holding amount of the toner holding member on a basis of an estimation result obtained from the estimation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Yamashita, Yutaka Kiuchi
  • Publication number: 20090324287
    Abstract: A discharger is provided, which can eliminate charge from a surface of a photoconductor. The discharger includes: a light source; and a light guide member which extends in a first direction to be opposed to the surface of the photoconductor in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction. The light guide member has a plurality of holes, each defined by a hole surface. At least a portion of the hole surface is curved. The hole extends in an orthogonal direction substantially orthogonal to the first and second directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasushi OKABE
  • Publication number: 20090324286
    Abstract: A discharger is provided, which can eliminate charge from a surface of a photoconductor. The discharger includes: a light source; a light guide member; a cover which covers the light guide member to expose at least an opposed surface of the light guide member to the photoconductor; and an adhesive tape which uses nonwoven fabric as a substrate, which is disposed between the light guide member and the cover so that the opposed surface of the light guide member is disposed between the tape and the photoconductor, and which bonds the light guide member and the cover to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasushi OKABE
  • Patent number: 7580654
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a movable bearing member; a charging device for electrically charging the image bearing member at a charging position; a transferring device for contacting the image bearing member at the transfer position and for transferring a toner image from the image bearing member onto a transfer material; a transfer device separating mechanism for effecting a separating operation by which the transferring device and the image bearing member contacted to each other are separated from each other; and a discharging device for electrostatically discharging the image bearing member; and a controller for controlling the discharging device to electrically discharge regions of the image bearing member so as to avoid an electrical discharge when the transfer device and contacting device and separating member are separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Okubo
  • Patent number: 7574159
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a method of preventing a carrier from adhering to a photosensitive drum are provided. The image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by an exposure unit, a main motor which rotates the photosensitive drum, an eraser unit which removes a potential charged on the photosensitive drum, and a controller which controls the eraser unit to remove a potential of the photosensitive drum while the photosensitive drum rotates due to an inertial force after the main motor stops rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeong-jai Choi
  • Patent number: 7558506
    Abstract: An image-forming device according to the present invention includes an electrophotographic photoreceptor including a photosensitive layer, a pressing member pressed against the photosensitive layer of the electrophotographic photoreceptor to remove a deposit from the photosensitive layer, and a static eliminating unit for eliminating the static electricity of the deposit to be removed by the pressing member. Another image-forming device according to the present invention includes an electrophotographic photoreceptor including a photosensitive layer and an electroconductive pressing member that comes into contact with a deposit on the photosensitive layer of the electrophotographic photoreceptor to eliminate the static electricity of the deposit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Katsumi Okuda
  • Patent number: 7555241
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which can exhibit an excellent charge eliminating effect by erasing a transfer memory using a precharging device with optimized conditions even when a positively-charged single-layer-type electrophotographic photoconductor is used as a photoconductor. In the image forming apparatus which sequentially arranges a charging device, a developing device, a transfer device, and a charge eliminating device around a single-layer-type electrophotographic photoconductor, the charging device charges a surface of the single-layer-type electrophotographic photoconductor with a positive polarity, a precharging device having a conductive member is arranged on an upstream side of the charge eliminating device, the conductive member is brought into contact with the electrophotographic photoconductor, and a current density Ib (?A/m2) of the injected current into the photoconductor from the conductive member is set to a value of 700 (?A/m2) or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Shishido, Shiho Okawa, Eiichi Miyamoto, Yasufumi Mizuta
  • Patent number: 7522862
    Abstract: A neutralization device is disposed in an image forming apparatus having an image carrier so as to face the image carrier. The device comprises: a light irradiation section that irradiates neutralization light onto the image carrier; a case member that accommodates the light irradiation section and is opened to a side facing the image carrier; and a buffer member that is provided between the case member and the image carrier and prevents the light irradiation section from abutting against the image carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Suganuma
  • Publication number: 20090097880
    Abstract: A light irradiation element includes a cavity through which light passes and a translucent light conduit bordering the cavity, allowing light to pass therethrough and transmitting the light passed through the cavity, the light irradiation element being disposed along a longitudinal direction of an image bearing body on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and directing the light passed through the light conduit to irradiate the image bearing body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ichirou Kawahara, Masaki Suto, Hiroshi Shokaku
  • Publication number: 20090087219
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus including: a photoconductor provided with a charge generation layer and an overcoat layer; a first charging unit charging the photoconductor when an image is formed; an exposure unit irradiating the photoconductor with light having a wavelength to which a relative sensitivity of the charge generation layer is larger than a relative sensitivity of the overcoat layer; a development unit developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor by the first charging unit and the exposure unit with toner; a transfer unit transferring an image developed on the photoconductor to a medium; a light irradiation unit irradiating the photoconductor with light having a wavelength to which the relative sensitivity of the overcoat layer is larger than the relative sensitivity of the charge generation layer; and an erasing unit erasing a charge from the photoconductor irradiated with light by the light irradiation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Taku Aoshima, Yutaka Kanai
  • Publication number: 20090074458
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a charge removal device thereof capable of evenly irradiating light to a photosensitive body are disclosed. The charge removal device includes a charge removal lamp, which may be mounted outside the length of the photosensitive body, and the optical axis of which forms an angle with respect to the surface of the photosensitive body, and a lens provided between the photosensitive body and the charge removal lamp. The lens can collimate or make less divergent the light beam emitted by the charge removal lamp, and directs the collimated or less divergent light beam onto the surface of the photosensitive body. The light beam from the lens may be incident upon an area of the surface extending across the length of the photosensitive body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD
    Inventor: JIN KWON CHUN
  • Publication number: 20090060574
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising an image holding member that is rotationally driven, the image holding member comprising, on a substrate, a subbing layer and a photosensitive layer, a volume resistance value of the subbing layer decreasing in a rotation axis direction of the image holding member, from one end portion of a light source side of the image holding member towards another end portion of the image holding member, a charging unit, a latent image formation unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, and a charge removal unit comprising a light source that, after transfer of the toner image, irradiates the surface of the image holding member from one side thereof, in a rotation axis direction of the image holding member, with charge removing light, to remove the charge from the surface of the image holding member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi SHIBATA, Makoto NISHIMURA, Takahiro SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 7498559
    Abstract: In an optical discharge apparatus used in an electrographic image forming apparatus, by forming, on a light guiding member, a diffusing reflecting face for reflecting light from an LED lamp towards a photosensitive drum, and by supplementing the amount of light by altering the height of the diffusing reflecting face to the light emitting face and the width of the diffusing reflecting face in accordance with their distance from the light source, the light intensity distribution of the irradiating light that is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum is made uniform. An optical discharge apparatus may include a light guiding member arranged facing a photoreceptor; and a light source, a diffusing reflecting face for reflecting the light from the light source toward the photoreceptor is formed on the light guiding member, and a reflecting member is arranged on an upper face in the vicinity of an end portion of the light guiding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Nishimura, Toshiaki Ino, Mitsuru Tokuyama, Kiyofumi Morimoto, Takashi Kitagawa
  • Publication number: 20090022517
    Abstract: An inexpensive image forming apparatus, which can suppress a ghost to obtain an image maintaining satisfactory density and gradations for a long time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryosuke Kanai, Yosuke Kishi
  • Patent number: 7463849
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member being movable in a predetermined direction; a charging roller that charges a surface of the photosensitive member; and a static pre-eliminator that eliminates static electricity by irradiating the surface of the photosensitive member with light, the static pre-eliminator located on an upstream side of the charging roller in a direction of movement of the photosensitive member; wherein an arrangement and an exposure amount of the static pre-eliminator are set to satisfy E ?0.025×exp(t/?) where ?is a residual time constant of a photo carrier generated in the photosensitive member by the static pre-eliminator, t is a time period from a time when the photosensitive member passes through the static pre-eliminator to a time when the photosensitive member is charged by the charging roller, and E is a normalized exposure amount of the static pre-eliminator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Printing Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Takuma, Masashi Yamamoto, Masanari Fujita
  • Publication number: 20080292358
    Abstract: An optical scanning unit that includes a first optical device that forms collimated light from light radiated from a light source, a second optical device that focuses the collimated light onto a deflector, and an imaging optical device that focuses light deflected by the deflector onto an exposure object. The optical scanning unit further includes a refraction unit and a diffraction unit, and the power of the refraction unit is ?r, the power of the diffraction unit is ?d, and the ratio ?r/?d is such that 0.5<?r/?d<1.3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: JONG-WUK KU
  • Patent number: 7428388
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes an imaging light source, a photosensitive body and a correction light source. The imaging light source outputs light modulated in accordance with image data representing an image. An electrostatic latent image is formed at the photosensitive body by the light output from the imaging light source. The correction light source is provided separately from the imaging light source, and outputs light toward the photosensitive body for correcting one of variations in potential on the photosensitive body and irregularities in density distribution of an image, which image is to be formed in accordance with the electrostatic latent image that is formed on the photosensitive body by the imaging light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Matsuyuki Aoki, Satoshi Tanaka, Akira Ishii, Hiroshi Ono, Hideki Kashimura, Kohei Shioya