Abstract: The static charge eliminator includes a charger including one or more charging units, and a grounded needle-shaped conductor. The charger is configured to charge an insulating film such that the absolute value of the surface potential of the insulating film is 3 kV or more. The needle-shaped conductor is arranged to generate a corona discharge between the needle-shaped conductor and the insulating film charged by the charger. Thereby, the static charges on the insulating film can be reliably eliminated.

Abstract: An electrophotographic device equipped with a negatively-charged laminated electrophotographic photoreceptor that can be charged by a scorotron charging method, and includes a conductive substrate, and a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer sequentially provided on the conductive substrate, wherein the charge generation layer contains a charge generation material and a resin binder that is a poly(vinyl butyral) resin binder, and the charge transport layer contains a charge transport material that is either or both of stilbene compounds represented by Formula (1) and Formula (2), a binder resin, and an oxidation inhibitor that is tribenzylamine represented by Formula 3, wherein the conductive substrate is cylindrical, the electrophotographic photoreceptor has a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of a surface potential in a circumferential direction, after exposure to ozone at an exposure dose of 100 ppm·h, that is 12 V or less.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a photoconductor, a motor, a charging member, a cleaning blade, and an abnormality determining unit. The motor is configured to drive the photoconductor to rotate. The charging member is configured to charge the photoconductor. The cleaning blade is configured to contact the photoconductor and remove residual toner from a surface of the photoconductor. The abnormality determining unit is configured to determine abnormality of the cleaning blade based on a motor current flowing in the motor and a gap between the photoconductor and the charging member.

Abstract: The charging device includes a charging roller, a bush and a case. The charging roller is configured to come into contact with or be close to a surface of an image carrier and configured to charge the surface of the image carrier. The bush is configured to support an end portion of the charging roller in a rotatable manner. To the case, the end portion of the charging roller is attached along a predetermined attachment direction by the bush. The case includes a pair of guide walls standing along the attachment direction so as to guide the bush. The bush includes a bearing part and a restriction part. The end portion of the charging roller is inserted into the bearing part. The pair of guide walls is put between the bearing part and the restriction part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holder; a developing device that creates a toner image by developing a latent image held on the image holder; and an application member that scrapes a lubricant from a solid lubricant and applies the scraped lubricant onto the image holder, wherein a surface of the application member is a fabric member that holds toner.

Abstract: A sheet cassette includes a housing, multiple cassettes stacked and provided in the housing, and a rotary cam. The cassettes store a recording sheet. The rotary cam includes multiple pins provided at opposite positions across the axis of rotation of the rotary cam. Adjacent cassettes are offset relative to each other in an offset direction. First receiving parts for receiving the pins are provided one in each of the adjacent cassettes at a first end thereof in the offset direction. The rotary cam rotates with at least one of the pins being in at least one of the first receiving parts of the adjacent cassettes to move the cassettes as connected.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photoreceptor having a photosensitive layer formed on a surface; a charging device that electrically charges the surface of the photoreceptor through electric discharge between the charging device and the photoreceptor; and a hardware processor that: calculates a peak-to-peak voltage to be applied to the charging device, using a measured value of a relative dielectric constant of the charging device, the relative dielectric constant having been measured in advance; and controls a voltage to be applied to the charging device, to apply the peak-to-peak voltage calculated by the hardware processor to the charging device.

Abstract: Techniques related to printing using a metal-surface charge element. A metal-surface charge element includes at least one metal charge roller to deposit electric charge on an imaging surface. Each metal charge roller includes a metal external surface in charge-transferring relation with the imaging surface and in a glow discharge regime during operation of the printing system for printing.

Abstract: A roller for an image forming apparatus is provided. The roller includes a shaft rotatable on the basis of one axis, an elastic layer covering an outer circumference of the shaft, and a coating layer formed on the elastic layer. The coating layer is a material in which a mixture containing acryl polyol and ?-caprolactone polyol is cross-linked by isocyanate.

Abstract: A charging member includes a cylindrical or columnar conductive substrate, an elastic layer provided on the conductive substrate, and a surface layer provided on the elastic layer. When in analysis of a circumferential direction period of a surface shape of the elastic layer, a maximum amplitude value in a period region of less than 5 mm is Ae, and when in analysis of a circumferential direction period of a surface shape of the surface layer, a maximum amplitude value in the period region of less than 5 mm is As, the charging member satisfies As/Ae?0.9.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image carrier that carries an image; a charging unit that includes a rotatable charging member that charges the image carrier; a developing unit that supplies developer to the image carrier that is charged, the developer containing at least toner and a carrier, an external additive being added to the toner; a transfer unit that includes a transfer member that transfers the image formed on the image carrier to a transfer material; and a cleaning unit that cleans a surface of the image carrier. In the image forming apparatus, during image non-formation, the external additive is supplied to the image carrier that rotates, and the image carrier and at least the transfer member are separated from each other.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a textile-based energy generator includes first and second electrode substrates, each of the first and second electrode substrates including a textile structure and an energy generation layer between the first and second electrode substrates, the energy generation layer on at least one of the first and second electrode substrates, the energy generation layer configured to generate electrical energy by at least one of generating friction between different materials and contacting and separating the different materials.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a conductive support including a surface having an arithmetic average roughness Ra1 of 0.3 ?m or more and 1.0 ?m or less, an average length RSm of a roughness profile curve element of the surface in an axial direction of the conductive support being 400 ?m or less, and a photosensitive layer disposed on the conductive support, the photosensitive layer including a surface having an arithmetic average roughness Ra2 of 0.05 ?m or more and 0.8 ?m or less.

Abstract: A benzidine derivative is represented by general formula (1). In the general formula (1), R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, and R10 each represent, independently of one another, a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an optionally substituted alkyl group having a carbon number of at least 1 and no greater than 6, an optionally substituted alkoxy group having a carbon number of at least 1 and no greater than 6, or an optionally substituted aryl group having a carbon number of at least 6 and no greater than 14. n represents an integer of at least 0 and no greater than 2.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus in which an electrostatic latent image is developed using developer to which externally added particles have been added. In the image forming apparatus, a cleaning operation in which the developer borne by an intermediate transfer member is transferred to an image bearing member and removed from the surface of the image bearing member with a cleaning member can be executed in a non-image-formation period in which the development of the electrostatic latent image is not performed. The image bearing member is in contact with a developer bearing member and the intermediate transfer member at least within a period in which the cleaning operation is executed within the non-image-formation period.

Abstract: A controller sets an AC voltage Vac, applies the voltage to a charging roller, and measures a DC component of a charging current flowing from the charging roller to a photosensitive drum. When it is determined that an absolute value of a measured value of the DC component in the charging current is lower than a prediction value, the controller sets an AC voltage Vac that differs from the AC voltage Vac set in step S4, and applies the voltage to the charging roller. Thereby, a charging current capable of performing sufficient charging can be flown to the photosensitive drum, and the photosensitive drum can thereby be charged to a desired surface potential.

Abstract: A charging device includes a charging member including an endless cylindrical flexible base member and conductive contactors provided along an outer peripheral surface of the base member, the charging member being attracted to a charged member in a pressure applied state by electrostatic attraction force responsive to a charging voltage applied to the charging member or by the electrostatic attraction force and self-weight of the charging member, the charging member charging the charged member; and a voltage applying member that applies the charging voltage to the charging member.

Abstract: A tubular member includes a resin layer containing a thermoplastic resin and a conductive material, and the resin layer forming a sea part in which the thermoplastic resin becomes a matrix phase, wherein an area ratio of the sea part to a portion in a range of 5 ?m respectively to a front surface portion side and a rear surface portion side with a central portion of the resin layer in a thickness direction as a center is greater by 3% to 15% than a greater area ratio between an area ratio of the sea part to a portion in a range of 10 ?m from a front surface portion of the resin layer in the thickness direction and an area ratio of the sea part to a portion in a range of 10 ?m from a rear surface portion in the thickness direction.

Abstract: A charging device for electrically charging a photosensitive member includes a charging member for electrically charging the photosensitive member by being supplied with a voltage, and a supporting member for supporting the charging member so as to press-contact to the photosensitive member. The charging member includes an electroconductive support, an elastic base layer supported by the electroconductive support, and an elastic surface layer, provided on a surface of the elastic base layer, being harder than the elastic base layer. The elastic surface layer is provided with projected portions and recessed portions. The projected portions are elastically deformable in contact with the photosensitive member, leaving electrically dischargeable gaps between the recessed portions of the elastic surface layer and the photosensitive member.

Abstract: A charging member includes a contact section and a supported section. The contact section is in contact with a charged body. The supported section is integrated with the contact section and is supported by a support member. The supported section has a lower hardness than the contact section.

Abstract: A charging blade for charging a surface of an image bearing drum by contacting thereto includes a charging portion for effecting electric discharge to the surface of the drum; a non-charging portion not effecting the electric discharge to the surface of the drum, wherein the non-charging portion can contact the drum to provide a dischargeable gap between the charge portion and the drum, and at least a part the non-charging portion is made of a substance having a resistance higher than that of the charge portion to prevent no discharge occurs from the non-charging portion to the surface of the drum; and a support for the non-charging portion and the charge portion, wherein the non-charging portion and the charge portion are separation members and are not contacted to each other.

Abstract: A blade-like charging member comprises a charging portion, a non-charging portion, and an electrode portion. The non-charging portion is capable of contacting the image bearing member while maintaining an electrically dischargeable gap therebetween. To prevent electric discharge between the non-charging portion and the surface of the image bearing member, at least part of the non-charging portion is made of material having a higher resistance than that of the charging portion. The non-charging portion contacts and slides on the surface of the image bearing member over a range that exceeds the length of the charging portion. A shortest distance between the discharge position and an end portion of the electrode portion with respect to a longitudinal direction of the image bearing member is longer than a shortest distance between the discharge position and a central portion of the electrode portion with respect to the longitudinal direction of the image bearing member.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrophotographic member capable of more definitely suppressing occurrence of a C set image. The electrophotographic member has a surface layer including a modified polysiloxane having a structure represented by the following formula (1). In the formula (1), G represents a bivalent group having an ethylene oxide chain represented by (—O—C2H4—) and L represents polysiloxane having at least a SiO4/2(Q) unit or a SiO3/2(T) unit.

Abstract: A remanufactured laser printer toner cartridge, and methods, having an added primary charge roller cleaning roller assembly. In an exemplary embodiment, the cleaning roller assembly engages the bare ends the primary charge roller shafts; installation of the cleaning roller assembly into the cartridge is accomplished by reinstalling the primary charge roller, with the assembly, into the cartridge's primary charge roller shaft saddles. The cleaning roller may be adapted to rotate through contact with the primary charge roller.

Abstract: A blade-like charging member for charging a surface of an image bearing member by contacting the image bearing member and by being supplied with a voltage. The blade-like charging member includes a charging portion for effecting electric discharge to the surface of the image bearing member, and a non-charging portion not effecting the electric discharge to the surface of the image bearing member. The non-charging portion is capable of contacting the image bearing member while maintaining an electrically dischargeable gap between the charging portion and the image bearing member. At least a part of the non-charging portion is made of a material having a higher resistance than that of the charging portion so as to prevent electric discharge between the non-charging portion and the surface of the image bearing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a contact charging unit that is in contact with a photoreceptor and electrically charges the photoreceptor by causing electric discharge; a bias applying unit that applies an AC bias to the contact charging unit; and a superposing unit that superposes a DC bias onto the AC bias, the DC bias having a same polarity as a charge polarity of the photoreceptor. The AC bias has a same waveform as a rectangular wave bias during a period in which an absolute value of the AC bias is smaller than an absolute value of a predetermined boundary voltage, and the absolute value of the AC bias increases at a slower rate than an absolute value of the rectangular wave bias during a period in which the absolute value of the AC bias is equal to or greater than an absolute value of a discharge start voltage.

Abstract: A toner set for electrostatic image development includes a cyan toner, a magenta toner, and a yellow toner, wherein the Vicat softening temperatures of the toners are respectively in the range of from about 30° C. to about 60° C., and among the toners, the difference between the Vicat softening temperature of the toner having the highest Vicat softening temperature and the Vicat softening temperature of the toner having the lowest Vicat softening temperature is from about 1° C. to about 5° C.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member for forming a latent image; a charging member, press-contacted to the image bearing member at a predetermined urging force, for electrically charging the image bearing member by being supplied with a charging bias; a developing device for developing the latent image by supplying a polymerized toner to the image bearing member; and a cleaning blade for removing the polymerized toner deposited on the image bearing member in contact with the image bearing member. The charging member includes: an electroconductive support; one or more elastic layer formed around the electroconductive support; and projected portions and recessed portions provided on a surface of the charging member. The projected portions are elastically deformable in contact with the image bearing member, leaving electrically dischargeable gaps between the recessed portions of the charging member and the image bearing member.

Abstract: There is described an image forming apparatus including an imaging member having a charge retentive-surface for developing an electrostatic latent image thereon, a substrate and a photoconductive member disposed on the substrate. A bias charge roller for applying an electrostatic charge on the charge retentive surface to a predetermined electric potential is included in the image forming apparatus. The bias charge roller includes a first circumferential area in contact with the photoconductive member (CC[contact]), and a second circumferential area (CC[non-contact]) spaced a distance of from 1 ?m to 1 mm from the photoconductive member. The image forming apparatus includes a power supply for supplying an oscillating voltage signal to the bias charge roller wherein the oscillating voltage signal has a frequency Am[fAC] and an amplitude Am[VAC]. The following relationship is met: (CC[contact]/CC[non-contact])?(Am[fAC]/Am[VAC])?(CC[non-contact]/CC[contact]) by the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: Printer charging blades and printers are disclosed. An example charging blade for a printer includes an insulating layer to contact a photo imaging surface at an angle to apply pressure to the photo imaging surface, the pressure to control an amount of material present on the photo imaging surface, and a conductive layer attached to a side of the insulating layer, the conductive layer to be charged and to apply a first charge to the photo imaging surface.

Abstract: A charging apparatus includes a latent image bearing member having a charge generating layer for generating an electric charge by receiving light energy; a light source for emitting light energy for generating the electric charge in the charge generating layer; an electrode; a bias voltage applying portion for applying a bias voltage to the electrode; and an elastic member, which is insulative and transparent, for contacting the electrode to a surface of the latent image bearing member. The electric charge is generated in the charge generating layer by reception of the light energy emitted from the light source, and the surface of the latent image bearing member is electrically charged by applying the bias voltage from the bias voltage applying portion to the electrode. The electrode is provided on the elastic member and is contacted to the surface of the latent image bearing member in a contact area and does not extend to an outside of the contact area.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus, including: an image carrier configured by a positively charged single-layer electrophotographic photosensitive body; a charging device which is based on a contact charging method for charging a circumferential surface of the image carrier while making contact with the circumferential surface of the image carrier; and a transfer unit which transfers a toner image on the circumferential surface of the image carrier to a transfer receiving body by gripping the transfer receiving body with the image carrier, wherein the transfer unit includes an application unit to which a transfer bias is applied, and a region having a volume resistivity of 107 to 109 ?·cm exists between the image carrier and the application unit.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide materials and methods for bias charging members including an outer surface coating, wherein the outer surface coating can include carbon nanotubes combined with polymer(s) to provide desirable surface, electrical, and/or mechanical properties.

Abstract: A fixing device including: an endless fixing belt that conveys a sheet-like medium having a toner image formed thereon; a heating member on which the fixing belt is wound and which includes a heater therein; a fixing member on which the fixing belt is wound; a pressing member that is disposed so as to face the fixing member with the fixing belt interposed therebetween; a separator that comes into contact with the surface of the pressing member and prevents the sheet-like medium from being wound on the pressing member; and a polisher that polishes the surface of the pressing member.

Abstract: Provided is an electrophotographic member, which hardly changes in performance even when being left to stand for a long time period. The electrophotographic member comprises a support, an elastic layer formed on the support, and a surface layer covering a surface of the elastic layer and containing a urethane resin, and in which the urethane resin comprises a reaction product of: a hydroxyl group-terminated prepolymer obtained by reacting a polyester polyol with a polyisocyanate; and an isocyanate-terminated prepolymer obtained by reacting a polyester polyol with a polyisocyanate.

Abstract: A charging member includes a contact section and a supported section. The contact section is in contact with a charged body. The supported section is integrated with the contact section and is supported by a support member. The supported section has a lower hardness than the contact section.

Abstract: Provide herein is a bias charging member that includes a conductive core, and an outer surface layer disposed on the conductive core. The outer surface layer includes carbon black and polycarbonate.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes an image carrier that has an electrically chargeable film formed on a surface thereof and that carries an image and a charging section that charges a surface of the film on the image carrier. The charging section includes a first charging member that applies a direct-current voltage between the first charging member and the image carrier and a second charging member that applies a direct-current voltage between the second charging member and the image carrier to charge the film on the image carrier to a predetermined surface potential after the first charging member charges the film on the image carrier. The voltage applied by the first charging member is decreased such that the surface potential of the image carrier after the voltage is applied by the first charging member is decreased as the film on the image carrier becomes thinner.

Abstract: Printer charging blades and printers are disclosed. An example charging blade for a printer includes an insulating layer to contact a photo imaging surface at an angle to apply pressure to the photo imaging surface, the pressure to control an amount of material present on the photo imaging surface, and a conductive layer attached to a side of the insulating layer, the conductive layer to be charged and to apply a first charge to the photo imaging surface.

Abstract: A charging device includes a charging member including an endless cylindrical flexible base member and conductive contactors provided along an outer peripheral surface of the base member, the charging member being attracted to a charged member in a pressure applied state by electrostatic attraction force responsive to a charging voltage applied to the charging member or by the electrostatic attraction force and self-weight of the charging member, the charging member charging the charged member; and a voltage applying member that applies the charging voltage to the charging member.

Abstract: A discharge wire anchoring mechanism that is includable in an image forming apparatus together with an image carrier and a charger including at least one replaceable discharge wire to uniformly charge a surface of the image carrier. The discharge wire anchoring mechanism includes a wire holder to retain the at least one discharge wire with tension in preparation of anchoring the at least one discharge wire and separating from the at least one discharge wire after the at least one discharge wire is anchored to the charger.

Abstract: A charging apparatus including a charging tube which has an outer surface contacting a photoconductive medium and electrically charges a surface of the photoconductive medium, a shaft which is disposed in the charging tube and to which a charging voltage is applied, and a conductive member which is connected to the shaft and contacts an inner surface of the charging tube. A friction coefficient between the conductive member and the inner surface of the charging tube may be less than a friction coefficient between the photoconductive medium and the outer surface of the charging tube, so that a slip phenomenon of the charging tube is prevented.

Abstract: An electrostatic charging apparatus includes: an electrostatic charging member that has a discharge face causing discharge between the electrostatic charging member and a to-be-charged member having a charge retention part to hold a charge, and comes in contact with the to-be-charged member so as to charge upon the application of voltage; and an adjusting unit that adjusts an angle between the to-be-charged member and the discharge face.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printer includes a rotatable member and a carriage rotatable around an axis. Two rotatable chargers are mounted on the carriage, each for charging the rotatable member. A carriage drive rotates the carriage to bring the first charger into contact with the rotatable member and the second charger into operative arrangement with a cleaner, or vice versa. A charger drive rotates the charger in operative arrangement with the cleaner at a speed greater than a selected speed or with a torque greater than a selected torque, and the rotatable member rotates the rotatable charger in contact therewith at the selected speed with the selected torque.

Abstract: A blade-like charging member for charging a surface of an image bearing member by contacting thereto and by being supplied with a voltage, includes a charging portion for effecting electric discharge to the surface of the image bearing member; a non-charging portion not effecting the electric discharge to the surface of the image bearing member; non-charging portion capable of contacting the image bearing member with maintaining an electrically dischargeable gap between the charging portion and the image bearing member, wherein at least a part of the non-charging portion is made of a material having a higher resistance than that of the charging portion so as to prevent electric discharge between the non-charging portion and the surface of the image bearing member, and the non-charging portion is contacted to and slidable on the surface of the image bearing member over a range not less than a longitudinal dimension of the charge portion, and wherein when the surface of the image bearing member is charged, a cl

Abstract: To provide a charging member showing a high charge injection efficiency, the charging member has an electro-conductive substrate and electro-conductive fibers one ends of which stand bonded to the electro-conductive substrate, and the electro-conductive fibers each have a core portion composed of a thermoplastic resin and a sheath portion with which the core portion stands covered, where the sheath portion contains a thermoplastic resin and a plurality of carbon nanotubes standing entangled one another, and the carbon nanotubes stand exposed to the surface of the electro-conductive fibers each at their tip portions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable photosensitive member, a charging member, an applying device, an irradiation device, and a controller. The charging member contacts the photosensitive member to charge the photosensitive member. The applying device applies a direct-current voltage to the charging member. The irradiation device irradiates with light an upstream charging gap located upstream of a contact portion between the photosensitive member and the charging member in a rotation direction of the photosensitive member. The controller controls the irradiation device to irradiate with a first light amount when the photosensitive member rotates at a first speed, and to irradiate with a second light amount that is larger than the first light amount when the photosensitive member rotates at a second speed that is lower than the first speed.

Abstract: Provided is a charging member which hardly causes a cleaning failure in a photosensitive member while having such flexibility that a sufficient nip width can be formed with respect to a photosensitive member. The charging member comprises: an electro-conductive support; and an elastic layer as a surface layer, wherein: the elastic layer has a hardened region formed by irradiation with an electron beam; and the hardened region supports a composite particle in a state in which the composite particle is exposed on the surface of the elastic layer, thereby roughening the surface of the elastic layer, and wherein: said composite particle includes a silica-containing porous particle whose surface is coated with a carbon-containing film.

Abstract: A charging member is provided which can uniformly charge a photosensitive member without requiring any pre-exposure means in a low-, medium- or high-speed electrophotographic apparatus, and has a sufficient charging performance. An electrophotographic apparatus and a process cartridge are also provided which can keep multi-color ghost images from occurring and can form high-grade electrophotographic images stably. The charging member has a substrate, an elastic layer and a surface layer, which surface layer contains a high-molecular compound having an Si—O—Nb linkage; the high-molecular compound having a constitutional unit represented by the following formula (1) and a constitutional unit represented by the following formula (2).

Abstract: A remanufactured laser printer toner cartridge, and methods, having an added primary charge roller cleaning roller assembly. In an exemplary embodiment, the cleaning roller assembly engages the bare ends the primary charge roller shafts; installation of the cleaning roller assembly into the cartridge is accomplished by reinstalling the primary charge roller, with the assembly, into the cartridge's primary charge roller shaft saddles. The cleaning roller may be adapted to rotate through contact with the primary charge roller.