Abstract: A smart control device is provided. The smart control device and a display panel of a smart TV are separately provided. The smart control device includes: a lifting unit, and a charging unit, and a main control unit including a main control circuit board configured to control the display panel. The lifting unit includes a bearing platform configured to bear a target object, an infrared sensor, and a lifting motor. The main control unit is configured to control an operation of the lifting motor and adjust a position of the bearing platform according to a detection signal of the infrared sensor. The charging unit is configured to charge the target object upon receiving a preset position signal generated in response to a determination that the bearing platform reaches a preset position.

Abstract: A printer device has a two-sided printing function and a circulatory transporting path for transporting a printing medium. The printer device is configured such that after creating a set of print data for a first recording surface to be printed with two-sided printing, the printer device adds a set of dummy print data for a second recording surface corresponding to a back side of the first recording surface to the set of print data for the first recording surface.

Abstract: In a charging device, a holding member holding a discharge electrode is provided in a shield case. The holding member includes a first guide and a second guide defining a slit therebetween. In the slit, the rear face of the discharge electrode other than a first long side is fixed to the internal side face of the first guide. The holding member holds the discharge electrode so that the entire surface of the discharge electrode and the rear face of the first long side are positioned in an air path extending from the air inlet to a gap and the first long side faces a grid electrode.

Abstract: An electrophotographic imaging device includes a charging device, a cleaning device, and a fuser member that each include hydrophobic carbon nanotubes. The use of hydrophobic carbon nanotubes can increases the charging device's, the cleaning device's, and the fuser member's durability, conductivity, and contaminants deposition.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes: a developing section which includes a developer bearing member which bears toner to be supplied to an image bearing member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; and a developer regulating section which regulates a layer thickness of the toner borne by the developer bearing member, the developer regulating section being electrically connected to the charger case, the developer regulating section being at least partially electroconductive.

Abstract: A charged particle generator includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an insulating material that is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode. Charged particles are generated by discharge that occurs between the first and the second electrodes. The first electrode, the insulating material, and the second electrode are arranged in a first direction. The second electrode has a shape that does not intersect a path along which the charged particles move in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: An electrostatic charger (32A) of an image forming apparatus (1) takes the air not containing dust inside from the outside of an image forming unit (101) by an air current generator (632A), and delivers an air current through a passage (43A) to an air-intake opening (524A) formed in a bottom face (521A) of a case (52A). The air current taken inside the case (52A) from the air-intake opening (524A) is directed by a guide plate (56A) and an air barrier (57A) to a tip portion (531A) of a discharge electrode (53A), and then passing the tip portion (531A), it is exhausted via an opening (520A) of the case (52A) through an exhaust duct (62A) from an air-exhaust opening (63A) to the outside of the image forming unit (101).

Abstract: Disclosed is a corona charging apparatus for electrically charging a surface of an image bearing member to which the corona charging apparatus faces and which is rotatably provided in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the corona charging apparatus including: a discharging electrode; a shield case that covers the discharging electrode, the shield case being opened at least in a region where the discharging electrode and the image bearing member face each other; and a sheet-like member being made from aluminum and being attached to a first surface of the shield case which first surface faces the discharging electrode.

Abstract: A charging device capable of improvement in charging uniformity on an object to be charged, an image forming apparatus having the charging device, and a discharge electrode forming method are provided. The charging device has a discharge electrode which is disposed in an interior space of a shield case, has a plurality of projections aligned in one direction from which a stream of ions is generated, the projections each being so constituted that a widthwise direction thereof makes a predetermined angle with respect to a first imaginary plane including an arrangement direction C of the projections on a second imaginary plane which includes the arrangement direction C and is perpendicular to the first imaginary plane in order that streams of ions generated from the projections that are arranged adjacent to each other in a lengthwise direction of the shield case can overlap each other when viewed in a widthwise direction of the shield case.

Abstract: In a plate-like grid electrode of a charging device that controls the charged potential of a surface of a photoreceptor drum, a vibrating portion that vibrates itself to make the plate-like grid electrode vibrate is formed. The vibrating portion is a piezoelectric bimorph element in which two piezoelectric elements are bonded to each other and a base portion is provided between the two piezoelectric elements. When a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric bimorph element, a free end is curved to vibrate the piezoelectric bimorph element.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide charging systems and methods for effectively delivering charges onto a receptor. The charging system can include a low velocity gas stream, an emitter assembly for providing cathode-to-anode field bias to generate charges from the low velocity gas stream, and an emitter-to-receptor (e.g., photoreceptor) electric bias to enhance the charge delivery to the receptor. The disclosed charging systems and methods can be used to achieve an optimal charging performance at a low projected cost for any suitable receptor that needs to be charged. Exemplary receptors can include a photoreceptor (PR) such as a belt PR or a drum PR, a toner layer, a sheet of media on which toner can be deposited, or a transfer belt in an electrophotographic printing machine.

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.

Abstract: A charging apparatus is provided in which electrodes can be protected from corrosion induced by water content in the air, ozone, nitrogen oxide and the like and thereby lack of uniformity in charged potential on photoreceptor surface can be prevented, and in which a charged potential on photoreceptor surface can be kept in an adequate range for a longer period of time. As an electrode disposed in the charging apparatus for charging photoreceptor surface, an electrode formed with a protective layer made of nickel and phosphorus for surface protection is used. In the protective layer, phosphorus concentration and thickness proportion are each set to fall within a specified range.

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.

Abstract: A charging device capable of improvement in charging uniformity on an object to be charged, an image forming apparatus having the charging device, and a discharge electrode forming method are provided. The charging device has a discharge electrode which is disposed in an interior space of a shield case, has a plurality of projections aligned in one direction from which a stream of ions is generated, the projections each being so constituted that a widthwise direction thereof makes a predetermined angle with respect to a first imaginary plane including an arrangement direction C of the projections on a second imaginary plane which includes the arrangement direction C and is perpendicular to the first imaginary plane in order that streams of ions generated from the projections that are arranged adjacent to each other in a lengthwise direction of the shield case can overlap each other when viewed in a widthwise direction of the shield case.

Abstract: In a xerographic printing apparatus, including a charge receptor, the charge receptor being movable in a process direction; and a charge device for applying a charge to a surface of the charge receptor, the charge device having a corona member including a pin array being oriented and extending substantially non perpendicular to the surface of the charge receptor in the process direction.

Abstract: A charging device has a stainless steel sheet electrode for charging an image bearing member, and a cleaner for cleaning the stainless steel sheet electrode. The stainless steel sheet electrode has a thickness within a range from 50 ?m to 60 ?m and comprises aligned triangular pins. Each of the triangular pins has a vertex angle within a range from 10 degrees to 30 degrees. The cleaner has two grinding members comprising abrasive grains having an average diameter within a range from 2 ?m to 9 ?m, and the two grinding members are in contact with, respectively, both main surfaces of the sheet electrode. The cleaner and the sheet electrode are moved relative to each other at a constant speed by a force equal to or less than 2N.

Abstract: A needle electrode having a pointed section is provided so as to face a charge-target object, and a voltage to be applied to the needle electrode is set so that 2?(E2·S2)/(E1·S1)?5 is satisfied, where an ionization area A1 indicates an area where ionization occurs to oxygen molecules in an atmosphere; a dissociation area A2 indicates an area where dissociation occurs to the oxygen molecules in the atmosphere (excluding the ionization area A1); E1 indicates an average electric field strength in the ionization area A1; E2 indicates an average electric field strength in the dissociation area A2; S1 indicates square measure of the ionization area A1 on a plane which includes a straight line connecting the needle electrode and the charge-target object so that a distance between the needle electrode and the charge-target object becomes a shortest distance; and S1 indicates square measure of the dissociation area A2 of the plane.

Abstract: There is provided a charging device having high durability, of which controllability of charged potential of a photoreceptor is hardly impaired even with a some amount of contaminants such as a toner so that control of charged potential of a photoreceptor can be stably carried out to fall in an appropriate range over a long period of time, and moreover which is inexpensive. As a grid electrode, one prepared by forming a composite plated layer composed of three layers of an Sn plated layer, an Sn—Co plated layer and a Ni plated layer is used. More preferably, an upper layer is an Sn plated layer, an intermediate layer is an Sn—Co plated layer and a lower layer is a Ni plated layer.

Abstract: A charging device has a stainless steel sheet electrode for charging an image bearing member, and a cleaner for cleaning the stainless steel sheet electrode. The stainless steel sheet electrode has a thickness within a range from 50 ?m to 60 ?m and comprises aligned triangular pins. Each of the triangular pins has a vertex angle within a range from 10 degrees to 30 degrees. The cleaner has two grinding members comprising abrasive grains having an average diameter within a range from 2 ?m to 9 ?m, and the two grinding members are in contact with, respectively, both main surfaces of the sheet electrode. The cleaner and the sheet electrode are moved relative to each other at a constant speed by a force equal to or less than 2N.

Abstract: A color laser printer is provided with a first exhaust duct for exhausting ozone generated by a charging unit etc. inside a housing to the outside of the housing. The first exhaust duct is therein provided with a catalytic honeycomb filter for ozone gas treatment and an ion emitting unit for emitting negative ions into an atmosphere. Most of an ozone gas component is decomposed and/or absorbed by the catalytic honeycomb filter for ozone gas treatment. Furthermore, the residual ozone gas component is decomposed by the negative ions generated by the ion emitting unit. This arrangement makes it possible to provide a new ozone removal device which is different from an ozone decomposing filter or a heat source.

Abstract: A charging device comprises first and second electrodes forming a charging zone. A plurality of nanostructures adhere to at least one of the first and second electrodes. A charging voltage supply couples to the electrodes to support the formation of gaseous ions in the charging zone. An aperture electrode or grid proximate to the first and second electrodes is coupled to a grid control voltage supply which grid control voltage supply, in turn, controls a flow of gaseous ions from the charging zone to thereby charge a proximately-located receptor. In one embodiment, the charging voltage supply is arranged to provide a pulsed-voltage waveform. In one variation of this embodiment, the pulsed-voltage waveform comprises a pulsed-DC waveform. In another embodiment, the charging voltage supply is arranged to provide an alternating-current waveform. In one embodiment, the charging device itself is comprised in an image forming device.

Abstract: There is provided a charging apparatus having high durability, in which no rusts etc. are generated, and by which a potential of a photoreceptor drum being charged can be controlled stably within an appropriate range for a long period of time owing to hardly impaired controllability of the potential of the photoreceptor drum being charged even with a some amount of contaminants such as toner that may be deposited on, and which is inexpensive as well. A charging apparatus includes a needle electrode, a holding member, two cleaner members, a support member, a moving member, a shield case, and a platy grid. On the surface of the needle electrode is formed a nickel layer containing tungsten.

Abstract: There is provided a charging apparatus which has high durability and suffers from no rust etc. and of which controllability of charged potential of a photoreceptor is hardly impaired even with a some amount of contaminants such as a toner so that control of charged potential of a photoreceptor can be stably carried out to fall in an appropriate range over a long period of time, and moreover which is inexpensive. A charging apparatus includes a needle electrode, a holding member, two cleaner members, a support member, a moving member, a shield case, and a grid electrode. A length in minor axis of a secondary aggregate of polytetrafluoroethylene contained in a polytetrafluoroethylene-containing nickel layer formed on a surface of the needle electrode is twice or less than a layer thickness of the nickel layer.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) useful in charging a photoconductor in printing is disclosed. The apparatus can include a scorotron insulator (200) having a longitudinal axis, where the scorotron insulator can have a first insulator end at one end of the longitudinal axis and a second insulator end at an opposite end of the longitudinal axis. The scorotron insulator can include at least one first spring integrated into the scorotron insulator at an insulator end and at least one second spring integrated into the scorotron insulator at an insulator end. The apparatus can include a scorotron charging grid (300) coupled to the at least one first spring at an insulator end of the scorotron insulator and coupled to another insulator end of the scorotron insulator, where the scorotron charging grid can include an electrical connector.

Abstract: A charging apparatus having a corona electrode is provided which exhibits high durability against ozone and moisture in the air, which can charge a surface of a photoreceptor drum stably throughout the life of an image forming apparatus, and which can be manufactured at a low cost. In a charging apparatus including corona electrode having a flat plate section and a pointed projection section, a support member, a shield case, and a grid electrode, a coating layer including a material different from the material of the corona electrode is formed at least on part of the surface of pointed projections constituting the pointed projection section.

Abstract: In a xerographic printing apparatus, including a charge receptor, the charge receptor being movable in a process direction; and a charge device for applying a charge to a surface of the charge receptor, the charge device having a corona member including a pin array being oriented and extending substantially non perpendicular to the surface of the charge receptor in the process direction.

Abstract: There is provided a charging apparatus having high durability, in which no rusts etc. are generated, and by which a potential of a photoreceptor drum being charged can be controlled stably within an appropriate range for a long period of time owing to hardly impaired controllability of the potential of the photoreceptor drum being charged even with a some amount of contaminants such as toner that may be deposited on, and which is inexpensive as well. A charging apparatus includes a needle electrode, a holding member, two cleaner members, a support member, a moving member, a shield case, and a plate-like grid. On the surface of the needle electrode is formed a nickel layer containing boron.

Abstract: A charging device includes a plurality of electrode elements disposed in parallel to each other and a power supply for providing a voltage to the electrode elements. Each electrode element has a plurality of discharging tips arranged in a line, wherein the discharging tips of two adjacent electrode elements are positioned interlacedly. Therefore, when the charging device is implemented to charge a photoconductor of a printing device, the charging can be more uniform and the time needed to charge the photoconductor to a predetermined voltage level can be shortened. Moreover, the voltage applied to the electrode elements is not necessary to be as high as the voltage (4000-7000V) applied on conventional corona charging devices.

Abstract: A needle electrode having a pointed section is provided so as to face a charge-target object, and a voltage to be applied to the needle electrode is set so that 2?(E2·S2)/(E1·S1)?5 is satisfied, where an ionization area A1 indicates an area where ionization occurs to oxygen molecules in an atmosphere; a dissociation area A2 indicates an area where dissociation occurs to the oxygen molecules in the atmosphere (excluding the ionization area A1); E1 indicates an average electric field strength in the ionization area A1; E2 indicates an average electric field strength in the dissociation area A2; S1 indicates square measure of the ionization area A1 on a plane which includes a straight line connecting the needle electrode and the charge-target object so that a distance between the needle electrode and the charge-target object becomes a shortest distance; and S1 indicates square measure of the dissociation area A2 of the plane.

Abstract: Non-contact corona charging of a small radius moving surface to a desired surface voltage with a single corona charging system with a first corona generator applying a first charge through a screen grid having a first bias voltage to initially charge the surface to more than half of the desired voltage, and then a second corona generator applies the remainder of the desired surface charge through a separate screen grid having a second bias voltage. The two corona generators may be spaced pin arrays angled relative to one another and substantially perpendicular to their adjacent moving surface areas. The two screen grids may be electrically planar and angled relative to one another, substantially parallel to their adjacent moving surface areas.

Abstract: In a charging device having saw-tooth electrodes for generating corona discharges, an amount of dust, toner, or paper dust attached to the tip end portions of saw-tooth electrodes is reduced. First to third pairs of saw-tooth electrode plates are disposed in a side-by-side fashion along the periphery of a photosensitive drum in which the first pair is disposed at an upstream side with respect to a direction in which the photosensitive drum rotates, the third pair at a downstream side, and the second pair at a central portion between the remaining two. A current flowing per a unit length of the second pair is set to 1.3 to 3 times as much as a current flowing per a unit length of each of the first and third pairs. The currents flowing per a unit length of the first and third pairs are set to be equal to each other.

Abstract: An improved coronode assembly includes pin guards that are positioned closely spaced from and extending above a coronode in order to provide protection for a user reaching past the coronode to remove a sheet jam, and prevent coronode damage when the coronode is handled during servicing by a field service technician. The closeness of the pin guards to the coronode also serves to produce a more uniform field.

Abstract: This is a charging assembly that is useful in marking processes with an electrostatically charged surface. The assembly includes, besides the charger, a controller and an electric field probe. Charge and current flows can be detected by the probe and corrected immediately after detection of flaws by the probe and conveyed to the controller. If flaws in the charger are determined by the probe, corrections are made to the output by a controller; this is done before a final copy or print is made. The term flaws as used means any non-uniform appearing region in the printed image or any void region within the printed image including any otherwise unacceptable defect such as a jagged line that is visible to an end user. The probe is enabled to detect and indicate flaws and the controller which is in communication with the probe takes corrective action on the flaws. The probe used is a novel probe having two sensing elements surrounded by one or more reference electrodes.

Abstract: In a xerographic printing apparatus, a charge device is used to apply a charge to a photoreceptor. The shuttle includes a wiper that cleans a sidewall of the charge device. A tab is disposed adjacent the sidewall to retain toner or dirt accumulated by the scraper. The tab is electrically insulative, and effectively covers the accumulated toner or dirt, to lower the possibility of arcing within the charge device.

Abstract: A charger is opposed to a charging subject member and charges the charging subject member by generating corona discharge. The charger includes: a discharge electrode; and a pair of facing electrodes that are disposed to face with each other being the discharge electrode interposed therebetween and arranged to be distant from the discharge electrode, wherein the facing electrodes are arranged that an interval between the facing electrodes gradually decreases towards the charging subject member.

Abstract: A charging apparatus having high durability, with no occurrence of rusts or the like, scarcely impaired for the controllability of the charged potential even when contaminants such as a toner are deposited more or less, capable of stably controlling the charged potential on the photoreceptor in an appropriate range for a long time and being inexpensive as well, is provided. A charging apparatus includes a needle electrode, a holding member, two cleaner members, a support member, a moving member, a shield case, and a grid electrode. In the charging apparatus, a nickel plating layer containing polytetrafluoroethylene particles is formed on the surface of the grid electrode.

Abstract: There is provided a charging apparatus which has high durability and suffers from no rust etc. and of which controllability of charged potential of a photoreceptor is hardly impaired even with a some amount of contaminants such as a toner so that control of charged potential of a photoreceptor can be stably carried out to fall in an appropriate range over a long period of time, and moreover which is inexpensive. A charging apparatus includes a needle electrode, a holding member, two cleaner members, a support member, a moving member, a shield case, and a grid electrode. A length in minor axis of a secondary aggregate of polytetrafluoroethylene contained in a polytetrafluoroethylene-containing nickel layer formed on a surface of the needle electrode is twice or less than a layer thickness of the nickel layer.

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 xerographic printing device, including a charging device having a shield. In some embodiments of the shield of the charging device in the xerographic printing device, three slots are provided with one slot in the upstream process direction and the other two slots sharing a common axis in downstream process direction and neither an overlap nor a gap existing between the ends of any of the slots in a longitudinal direction. In another embodiment, a plurality of holes are included in the shield. The charging device can be a corotron, a dicorotron, a scorotron, a discorotron, a pin corotron, a pin scorotron, or any other known or later developed charging device of that type.

Abstract: In a xerographic printing apparatus, a scorotron places a uniform charge on a photoreceptor for forming electrostatic latent images. Three conductive pin arrays are disposed in a housing defined by sidewalls and a screen adjacent the photoreceptor. There can be provided insulative walls between adjacent pin arrays. The screen and a surface of the housing can be curved to correspond to a curvature of the photoreceptor.

Abstract: In a xerographic printing apparatus, a scorotron places a uniform charge on a photoreceptor for forming electrostatic latent images. Two conductive pin arrays are disposed in a housing defined by sidewalls and a grid adjacent the photoreceptor. For each array, the distance to the adjacent sidewall is 1.0 to 1.5 the distance to the grid.

Abstract: Systems and methods for setting up grid voltage for a tandem pin charging device for charging a photoreceptor in a xerographic printing machine. A charge-generating emitter ratio of a first charging unit is determined and a first grid voltage is set based on the charge-generating emitter ratio of the first charging unit. A charge-generating emitter ratio of a offset voltage is then determined and a second grid voltage is set, based on the determined charge-generating emitter ratio of the offset voltage. A final voltage of a photoreceptor is then compared with a final target voltage.

Abstract: A charging apparatus has a discharging member with a plurality of protrusions and an auxiliary member for assisting discharges by the discharging member, and an insulating member formed among the plurality of protrusions of the discharging member, so that discharge is made between the discharging member and the auxiliary member upon application of a voltage between the discharging member and the auxiliary member. Where an interval among distal ends of the plurality of protrusions of the discharging member is denoted as P and an interval between the discharging member and the auxiliary member is denoted as D, P is at least equal to or greater than D.

Abstract: By varying corona producing element height/projection, a more uniform charge potential is achieved. Elements, such as pins or teeth, are shorter at the edges of an element array and grow longer as one moves toward the center of the array. Such variation in height/projection overcomes shielding from adjacent teeth, as well as other effects, to yield the more uniform charging potential.

Abstract: A corona generating device, includes a conductor; a grid having a curved surface; and a frame for supporting the grid.

Abstract: By varying corona producing element height/projection, a more uniform charge potential is achieved. Elements, such as pins or teeth, are shorter at the edges of an element array and grow longer as one moves toward the center of the array. Such variation in height/projection overcomes shielding from adjacent teeth, as well as other effects, to yield the more uniform charging potential.

Abstract: A charging device assembly used within a reprographic machine having a hollow shell containing the charging device, an attachment mechanism that retains the charging device relative to the hollow shell in a predetermined position, a pair of end covers at either end of the hollow shell and an electrical connector on the shell coupled to the charging device. The hollow shell can be conductive or insulative and is formed with features that facilitate easy mounting and removing of the elements of the charging device assembly.

Abstract: An electrostatic charging device is provided according to which an edged electrode plate can be inserted into and removed from the charging device easily merely by sliding the edged electrode member and cleaning of the electrode edges formed on the edged electrode plate can be cleaned easily. A discharging electrode assembly having a number of tooth-like electrode edges disposed in array is slidable along a guide groove formed in a discharge stabilizing shielding case of an electrostatic charging device. The electrode edges are arranged above a control grid when charging a photosensitive OPC. During maintenance, the discharging electrode assembly is moved sliding along the guide groove by means of an insulating attachment which is then engaged with the edged electrode plate.

Abstract: An electrostatic charging device is provided according to which an edged electrode plate can be inserted into and removed from the charging device easily merely by sliding the edged electrode member and cleaning of the electrode edges formed on the edged electrode plate can be cleaned easily.