Abstract: A corona generator including a body and a first support secured to the body is disclosed. The first support and the body include a plastic. The corona generator further includes an electrode and a second support secured to the body and spaced from the first support. The electrode is mounted to the first support and to the second support. The first support and the electrode are both operatively connected to the body by one or more welds.

Abstract: A corona charger includes a housing; a corona wire; and a wire replenisher located in the housing, the wire replenisher includes (i) a reversible motor; (ii) a rotatable shaft driven by the motor; (iii) a supply spool supporting a length of the corona wire; (iv) a tension mechanism tensioning corona wire supplied by the supply spool; and (v) a take-up spool located on the shaft.

Abstract: A corona charging method of charging a chargeable material by corona charging in an ozone-generation hindering atmosphere including a non-ozone-generating gas, such as carbon dioxide. The corona charging method can be used, for example, in an image formation apparatus, in at least in one of a charging process, an image transfer process, or a charge quenching process for use therein.

Abstract: The specification discloses an electrophotographic image forming system. The system includes a photoconductor connected to a first electric potential constituting substantially an elongated cylindrical drum provided for rotating around an axis along an elongated direction of the cylindrical drum having an external charging surface disposed thereon. The electrophotographic system further includes a non-contact charger which includes a plurality of mutually insulated conductive films each having a sharp edge pointing perpendicularly to the charging surface. The non-contact charger further includes a packaging frame for securely attaching to and supporting the plurality of mutually insulated conductive films thereon. The plurality of mutually insulated conductive films are connected to a second electric potential different from the first electric potential for activating an electric discharge between the sharp edges of the conductive film and the charging surface.

Abstract: A charge unit 26 includes a charge wire 71. The wire 71 has a wire body 71A and a layer 82 coated on the outer peripheral surface of the wire body 71A. The layer 82 is formed from a cellulose resin binder 81 in which is dispersed particles of electrically conductive molybdenum disulfide. The charge unit 26 is used for forming a uniform charge on the surface of a photosensitive drum 25 in a process unit 7 of a laser printer 1.

Abstract: A support mounting supports the corona generating electrode of a corona generating device. A corona generating assembly includes a corona generating electrode member having an elongated length defining a plurality of support openings spaced along the length of the corona generating electrode member, a primary support member having integral, outwardly extending support projections for supporting the corona generating electrode member, with the integral support projections arranged on the primary support member at positions corresponding to the support openings formed in the corona generating electrode member for cooperative engagement therewith, and a secondary support member adapted to define support projection receiving openings corresponding to the support projections of the primary support member for interlocking engagement therewith, such that said corona generating electrode member is sandwiched between the primary support member and the secondary support member.

Abstract: A high slope charging device including a DC portion followed by an AC portion. The high slope device includes an insulative shell housing, an electrode and a corona wire. The electrode is coupled to direct current power source which supplies a constant potential to the electrode thereby generating a corona at the electrode. An alternating current power source supplies an alternating voltage to the corona wire. The high slope device beneficially is designed such that both the electrode and the corona wire charge a charge retentive surface to the same potential.

Abstract: A low-cost non-contact type charging device having excellent uniform charging performance and long stable charging characteristic includes an insulating support body having an insulating surface, first electrodes, to which a first voltage is applied, and second electrodes, to which a second voltage is applied. The first electrodes and the second electrodes, isolated from each other, are alternately formed, in non-parallel to a relative moving direction between a charging member and a charged body. Further, the first electrodes and the second electrodes are provided at respective positions in a width in the relative moving direction of the charging member, and moved close to the charged body in a non-contact state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive unit having a surface portion of negatively charging property and moved in a predetermined direction; a first charging device disposed opposite to the photosensitive unit with a first spacing therebetween and for charging the surface of the photosensitive unit to a first charged potential of negative polarity by a negative voltage; a second charging device disposed opposite to the photosensitive unit with a second spacing therebetween at a position downstream of the first charging device in a movement direction of the photosensitive unit and for charging the surface of the photosensitive unit charged by the first charging device to a second charged potential of negative polarity by a positive voltage, the second charged potential having an absolute value smaller than an absolute value of the first charged potential; an electrostatic latent image forming device for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive unit; and a developer carrying de

Abstract: An imaging module mounting structure is used for mounting an imaging module to an imaging device that has a support member and a rotatable photoreceptor. The imaging module includes an imaging bar and a corona generating device. The imaging module mounting structure includes a pair of pivot block devices which are pivotably connected to the support member in a spaced apart relationship. The imaging bar and the corona generating device are secured to each one of the pair of pivot block devices. Each pivot block device includes a cam follower element. The pair of pivot block devices are operative to flex independently of one another while the photoreceptor rotates so that the respective cam follower elements remain in contact with the rotating photoreceptor to compensate for photoreceptor run out. A method for practicing the present invention is also described.

Abstract: A charging apparatus for applying a uniform electrostatic charge to a charge retentive surface is provided. The charging apparatus is operably electrically connectable to a power supply for supplying an electrical bias to the charging apparatus. The apparatus includes a housing and an electrode mounted to the housing and positioned adjacent the surface in a non-contact relationship therewith. The apparatus also includes an electrical connector, electrically connected to the electrode and electrically connectable to the power supply. The electrical connector provides an electrical bias to said electrode. The electrical connector extends from the electrode and is integral therewith.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a charging device applies a voltage to charge an image bearing member. The charging device is provided with a charging means to which a voltage is applicable to charge said image bearing member, said charging means being provided with a magnetic particle carrying member for carrying and conveying a magnetic particle layer contacting with said image bearing member during the charging operation; a container contains magnetic particles therein; and a replacing device replaces the magnetic particles carried on the magnetic particle carrying member with the magnetic particles contained in the container. A developer develops a latent image produced on the image bearing member by the charging device using a toner to produce a toner image.

Abstract: A charging module for applying a uniform electrostatic charge to a charge retentive surface is provided. The charging module is operably electrically connectable to a power supply for supplying an electrical bias to the charging apparatus. The charging module is mountable into a process cartridge. The process cartridge includes a cartridge mounting surface for cooperation with the charging apparatus. The apparatus includes a housing including a housing mounting feature and an electrode. The electrode is mounted to the housing and is positioned adjacent the surface in a non-contact relationship therewith. The housing mounting feature is adapted to be cooperable with the cartridge mounting surface to secure the placement of the charging module into the cartridge without the need for any installation tools.

Abstract: A charging device is provided which is suitable for use in a compact electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The charging device includes: a pair of support members spaced a predetermined distance; and a discharge wire stretched between the pair of support members with one end thereof being fixed to one of the support members and with a middle portion thereof being supported by the other support member. One end of a coil spring is connected to the other end of the discharge wire, and the other end of the coil spring is received by a hooking portion of an electrode. The electrode is fixed in the vicinity of one of the support members.

Abstract: A corona charger in an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus includes a coronode and a power supply applying a voltage to the coronode. A detector detects pre-arc noise in the operation of the coronode and issues a signal that is used to adjust operation of the power supply to avoid arcing and/or to indicate a malfunction condition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for achieving optimum noise control of multiple coronode wires in a copier/printer involves optimizing phase relationships of the voltage on the wires in such a way so as to steer the maximum part of the noise distribution profile in the direction best suited for absorption or dissipation. In a two corotron charging system, the coronodes are preferably charged to where the phase angle, charge frequency and spacing between wires are optimized. If desired, a sound absorption material could be added to the charging system.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus for forming image through the electric charging of a photosensitive material drum, exposure to light, developing and transfer, wherein a developing device also works to clean the toner remaining on the photosensitive material; an electric charge for effecting the electric charging has a scorotron charger located within .+-.45.degree. from a perpendicular downwardly drawn from the center of the photosensitive material drum, and has a hole on the side opposite to the opening for charging; and an electric field E.sub.1 between a wire and a grid in the scorotron charger is set to be stronger than an electric field E.sub.2 between the wire and a shield.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a sawtooth AC charger (10) in which an AC voltage signal applied to sawtooth blades (12) has a duty cycle greater than 50%. Duty cycles above about 70% increase the uniformity of negative charging without significantly increasing the peak voltage to the sawtooth blades.

Abstract: The relationship between a discharge gap and a surface potential, and a relationship between a discharge gap and a surface potential variation are obtained. Then, a range of a discharge gap is obtained (approximately 5.about.10 mm) satisfying a range of the required surface potential (-600 V) and the tolerable surface potential variation (30 V). The relationship of the discharge gap with respect to the surface potential and the surface potential variation is varied by reducing the applied current. The discharge gap is converged to one value (approximately 7.5 mm) in response to the range of the discharge gap being reduced.

Abstract: Printing machines and systems which incorporate recharging stations comprised of two corona generating devices which act together to recharge a previously developed photoreceptor to a predetermined potential. The first corona generating device recharges the photoreceptor's surface to a greater absolute potential than a predetermined potential which the surface is to have after being recharged. The second corona generating device reduces the photoreceptor's surface to the potential that it is to have. The second corona generating device is comprised of a plurality of spaced apart coronodes which each can impress charges on the photoreceptor's surface. The second corona generating device receives electrical inputs and applies DC potentials to the coronodes such that adjacent coronodes have opposite polarities.

Abstract: A charging device for contact-charging a member to be charged. A charging device for charging a movable member to be charged includes a contacting member adapted to contacting the member to be charged, and means for forming a vibratory electric field between the member to be charged and the contacting member, the vibratory electric field forming means applying between the members a vibratory voltage having a peak-to-peak value not less than twice an absolute value of a charge starting voltage to the member to be charged. The member to be charged can be uniformly charged.