Abstract: An image forming unit includes a charging roller, a cleaning roller, a bush member, and a shifting mechanism. A first journal portion of the bush member allows the charging roller to shift in a direction of abutment against and separation from a photosensitive drum and journals the charging roller with play in the direction of abutment and separation when the charging roller is free from nip with the photosensitive drum. When the charging roller forms a nip with the photosensitive drum by the movement of the bush member actuated by the shifting mechanism, the first journal portion journals the charging roller so that the charging roller is pressed by the photosensitive drum to shift to a position within the first journal portion close to the cleaning roller.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a developing roller having a conductive support base, a surface of which is covered with a resin layer, wherein the resin layer contains conductive fine particles and soluble nylon serving as a binder resin, and the resin layer surface has a surface roughness Ra of at least 0.4 ?m, a waviness curve cycle of 50 to 400 ?m, and a waviness curve height of 2 to 10 ?m.

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: It is an object of the present invention to provide an electroconductive member for electrophotography capable of suppressing image density unevenness caused by the adhesion of foreign matter. Provided is an electroconductive member for electrophotography, including at least: an electroconductive support, and a surface layer formed on an outer side of the electroconductive support, in which the surface layer includes a porous body, and in which the porous body satisfies the following conditions (1) to (3): (1) the porous body has a co-continuous structure including at least a skeleton that is three-dimensionally continuous and a pore that is three-dimensionally continuous; (2) the porous body has electroconductivity; and (3) an average diameter of a maximum inscribed circle of an opening of the pore on a surface of the porous body is 3 ?m or more and 8 ?m or less.

Abstract: A volume resistivity RA of an elastic layer of an intermediate transferrer is larger than a volume resistivity RB of a base layer of the intermediate transferrer under a HT/HH environment, and is smaller than RB under a LT/LH environment. A transfer device includes the intermediate transferrer. A volume resistivity RC of a transfer member of the transfer device is smaller than RA and RB under any temperature or humidity environment. An image forming apparatus includes the transfer device. The apparatus can suppress the occurrence of a transfer failure due to a change in temperature or humidity.

Abstract: A charging member includes a conductive support, and a conductive elastic layer that is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the conductive support and includes a rubber material and inorganic particles, and in which an average dispersion degree of aggregates of the inorganic particles is 95% or greater and a maximum particle diameter of the aggregates of the inorganic particles is 200 ?m or less.

Abstract: The roller member has a substrate and an electroconductive elastic layer. The elastic layer has a crown shape of which an outer diameter at the middle in the lengthwise direction is larger than those at its both ends. The elastic layer includes a bowl-shaped resin particle. The surface of the roller member has concavity derived from an opening of the bowl-shaped resin particle and a protrusion derived from an edge of the opening of the resin particle. The relation in the restoring rate for elastic deformation between at the middle of the roller member and at its both ends is such that: on the surface of the elastic layer the restoring rate is larger at both ends than that at the middle, and at the position of depth t ?m from the elastic layer surface the restoring rate is larger at the middle than that at both ends.

Abstract: There is described an a bias charge roller including an electrically conductive core and an outer layer axially supported on the core. The outer layer includes a continuous raised pattern above a non-contact surface wherein the continuous raised pattern includes a contact surface having a height of from about 10 microns to about 40 microns above the non-contact surface. The outer layer transitions from the contact surface to the non-contact surface over a minimum linear distance of 100 microns or greater. The contact surface is configured to contact a charge-retentive surface of an electrophotographic imaging member so as to charge the charge-retentive surface.

Abstract: Provided is a charging member for suppressing the vibration of a charging roller which occurs owing to a difference in circumferential speed in a longitudinal direction when the roller is rotated to follow a photosensitive member, and suppressing a banding image caused by the vibration of the charging roller over a long period of time. The charging member includes a substrate and an elastic layer. The elastic layer contains a rubber having a polar group and hollow particles each having a shell containing a crystal of calcium carbonate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: an image bearing member; a charging unit; an exposure unit; a developing unit; a transfer unit; a fixing unit; and a cleaning unit including a cleaning blade, wherein the charging unit includes a charging roller that is brought into contact with the image bearing member for charging, the charging roller abutting the image bearing member at a pressing force of 10 mN/cm to 1,000 mN/cm, wherein the cleaning blade includes an elastic member that abuts the surface of the image bearing member to remove a residue attached to the surface of the image bearing member, and wherein an abutment part of the elastic member, which abuts the surface of the image bearing member, includes a cured product of an ultraviolet curable composition containing a (meth)acrylate compound having an alicyclic structure having 6 or more carbon atoms in a molecule.

Abstract: A charging roll includes a cylindrical base member that has a metal-containing surface, a conductive adhesive layer that includes a halogen atom-containing resin and has surface roughness Rz in a range of 0.5 ?m to 8 ?m on an outer peripheral surface side on the base member, and a conductive elastic layer that is disposed to be brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the conductive adhesive layer and includes a halogen atom-containing rubber.

Abstract: Printers, methods, and apparatus to form an image on a substrate are disclosed. An example disclosed charge roller includes a dielectric outer layer (104) comprising an inner surface (106) and an outer surface (108), the outer surface (108) to be charged by a first external surface and to discharge onto a second external surface, and the dielectric outer layer (104) to substantially prevent charge transfer between the inner surface (106) and the outer surface (108), and an electrically conductive inner layer (102) to direct electrical charge toward and away from the inner surface (106) of the outer layer (104), and to be coupled to an electrical source to control a transfer of the electrical charge.

Abstract: A charging member includes a conductive elastic layer, and a conductive surface layer that is disposed on the conductive elastic layer, is in contact with an image holding member, and contains a resin, porous resin particles, and silicone oil, wherein a content of the porous resin particles is from 3 parts by weight to 25 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the resin, and a content of the silicone oil is from 0.1 part by weight to 10 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the resin.

Abstract: A charging device includes a charging member that charges a surface of an image bearing body. The charging member includes a rotation shaft applied with a voltage, and a resilient conductive layer provided on an outer circumferential surface of the rotation shaft. The resilient conductive layer charges the surface of the image bearing body. The resilient conductive layer has a plurality of high resistance regions arranged at intervals in an axial direction of the rotation shaft.

Abstract: Apparatus, printers, and charge roller assemblies are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a roller to charge a printer surface when closer to the printer surface than an upper threshold, and a damper to reduce movement of the roller and to keep the roller closer to the printer surface than the upper threshold.

Abstract: The present invention provides a charging member which has a low compression set and which can suppress the generation of image defects. A layer of an unvulcanized rubber composition including an unvulcanized acrylonitrile butadiene rubber and N,N?-methylenebis(1,4-phenylene)dimaleimide is vulcanized.

Abstract: Provided is a charging unit including a charging member that is provided and comes in contact with a surface of an image holding member holding an image to charge the image holding member, a cleaning member that is provided and comes in contact with a surface of the charging member to clean the charging member, and a support member that includes a first support portion which is provided with an opening portion that opens in a direction intersecting rotating shafts of the charging member and the cleaning member, and which supports one end of the charging member is inserted through the opening portion to support the one end of the charging member, and a second support portion which is formed by being connected to the first support portion and which supports one end of the cleaning member which is inserted from the opening portion through the first support portion.

Abstract: In a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus and including a photosensitive member and a charging roller, a spacer member for spacing the charging roller from the photosensitive member during the transportation and the displaying is recessed relative to the photosensitive member. The spacer member receives a driving force from the main assembly of the apparatus, by which the spacer member is disengaged to contact the charging roller to the photosensitive member.

Abstract: Embodiments pertain to a novel imaging member, namely, an electrostatic latent image generating member, and methods for using the same, that can generate an electrostatic latent image through charge acceptance control and without the need for conventional post charging photodischarge, eliminating process steps and avoiding limitations in system speed due to the transit time of charge carriers after light exposure.

Abstract: The electroconductive member has an electroconductive support and a surface layer formed on the electroconductive support, wherein the surface layer has a porous body having a continuous open pore, and the electroconductive member satisfies the following (1) and (2): (1) in a specific condition, a surface potential of the electroconductive member, after an elapse of 10 seconds since a completion of a discharge is 10 V or more; and (2) when applying a direct voltage between a polyethylene terephthalate film as a member to be charged and the electroconductive member, and charging the polyethylene terephtalate film, |Vd|?|Vin|?|Vth| is satisfied within a range of |Vin|>|Vth|, wherein, Vd represents a charge potential of the polyethylene terephtalate film, Vin represents a voltage applied between the electroconductive member and the polyethylene terephtalate film, Vth represents a discharge starting voltage.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer member that includes a crosslinked poly(ether ether ketone) polymer, an optional conductive component, an optional polymer, and an optional release additive.

Abstract: To provide a charging member that can not easily cause faulty cleaning on a photosensitive member while having a flexibility high enough to form a nip between it and the photosensitive member in a sufficient width. The charging member has an electro-conductive support and an elastic layer that is a surface layer, which elastic layer has at its surface a region having been cured by irradiation with electron rays, where this region supports spherical polyethylene particles in such a state that the spherical polyethylene particles are exposed to the surface of the elastic layer, thereby making the surface roughened.

Abstract: The present invention directs to provide a charging member having a protrusion to which smear is difficult to adhere even in a long-term used, and as a result being capable of exhibiting stable charging performance. The charging member has an electro-conductive substrate and an electro-conductive surface layer, wherein the surface layer includes a binder resin and a resin particle including a plurality of electro-conductive domains inside thereof, the surface layer has a protrusion derived from the resin particle, and the electro-conductive domains are localized in the vicinity of the surface of the resin particle.

Abstract: A conductive member includes a conductive supporting body and an electrical resistance adjustment layer laminated on the conductive supporting body and comprising a resin composition. The resin composition comprises a thermoplastic resin having an ether group as a component of a resin matrix, and at least a polyketone fiber and an electrolytic salt are dispersed within the resin matrix.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a photoconductive body, a charging unit which charges a surface of the photoconductive body and a developing unit which forms a toner image. The charging unit includes a shaft which applies a charging voltage and which has a central axis parallel to a rotating axis of the photoconductive body, a tubular member of a conductive material which surrounds the shaft, a current carrying member which applies an electric current to the shaft and the tubular member, and a damping member which is disposed between the shaft and the current carrying member. The shaft has a middle portion which is thicker than opposite end portions in a longitudinal direction along the central axis.

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: This invention provides an electrically conductive roller capable of forming an image without fogging even in a low humidity environment and an image-forming device. Specifically, the invention relates to an electrically conductive roller has an elastic layer formed on an outer circumferential surface of a shaft and a urethane coat layer formed on an outer circumferential surface of the elastic layer, wherein the urethane coat layer includes a urethane resin, and at least one ionic liquid selected from the group consisting of pyridinium ionic liquids and amine ionic liquids, in an amount from 1 to 20 parts by mass to 100 parts by mass of the urethane resin; and an image-forming device equipped with the electrically conductive roller.

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 charge applying member includes a conductive roller and a shaft. The conductive roller includes a first region in contact with a member to be charged and facing an image forming region of the member to be charged and a second region next to a longitudinal end of the first region and facing a region of the member to be charged outside the image forming region and is configured to apply a charge to the member to be charged. The shaft formed of a metallic material inserted into the conductive roller and configured to be given a voltage from a power supply. A region plated with a metal having a lower ionization tendency than the shaft is formed as a plated region on a surface portion of the shaft corresponding to the first and second regions and a non-plated region is formed on a surface portion of the shaft corresponding to the second region.

Abstract: When filler particles are added to a surface layer of a fixing member in order to enhance a toner releasing property, if the filler particles are randomly oriented, chemical affinity between the surface layer of the fixing member and toner is enhanced and a sufficient effect cannot be accomplished. Therefore, whisker-shaped filler particles are added to the surface layer of the fixing member, and the filler particles are oriented to approximately follow a rotation direction of the fixing member.

Abstract: A charging roll includes a cylindrical base member that has a metal-containing surface, a conductive adhesive layer that includes a halogen atom-containing resin and has surface roughness Rz in a range of 0.5 ?m to 8 ?m on an outer peripheral surface side on the base member, and a conductive elastic layer that is disposed to be brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the conductive adhesive layer and includes a halogen atom-containing rubber.

Abstract: An image forming unit includes a charging roller, a cleaning roller, a bush member, and a shifting mechanism. A first journal portion of the bush member allows the charging roller to shift in a direction of abutment against and separation from a photosensitive drum and journals the charging roller with play in the direction of abutment and separation when the charging roller is free from nip with the photosensitive drum. When the charging roller forms a nip with the photosensitive drum by the movement of the bush member actuated by the shifting mechanism, the first journal portion journals the charging roller so that the charging roller is pressed by the photosensitive drum to shift to a position within the first journal portion close to the cleaning roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a charge roller, a cleaning brush and a distance changing mechanism. The charge roller includes a surface having protrusions and depressions and to electrically charge the image carrier. The cleaning brush includes a brush part cleaning the surface of the charge roller and a main body part supporting the brush part. The brush part includes a top end part and a belly part being nearer to the main body part than the top end part. The distance changing mechanism changes a distance between the charge roller and main body part so that, by adjusting the distance to a first distance, the top end part contacts with the depression and, by adjusting the distance to a second distance shorter than the first distance, the belly part contacts with the protrusion.

Abstract: Techniques related to printing using a metal-surface charging element. A printing system includes a metal-surface charging element and a power supply. The charging element is disposed to deposit electric charge on an imaging surface. The power supply may provide electric power with an alternating current (AC) component and a direct current (DC) component to the charging element.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof, a charging roller being in contact with the photoreceptor to uniformly charge the surface thereof, a developing device forming a toner image on the photoreceptor, and a cleaning device cleaning contaminants on a surface of the charging roller, in which the charging roller has a conductive elastic layer formed around an axis and a direction of polishing marks on the surface of the charging roller is in a circumferential direction.

Abstract: To provide a charging device and an image forming apparatus that can restrict generation of a winding-seam irregularity of a roll brush for a long period. A charging device 2 is configured so that, when first and second charging members 21a and 21b perform charging processing on a rotating photosensitive member 3, a region 40a on a surface of the photosensitive member 3 facing a winding seam 35a, which is a seam of a base cloth 31 serving as a base material of the first charging member 21a, is not superposed on a region 40b on the surface of the photosensitive member 3 facing a winding seam 35b, which is a seam of a base cloth 31 serving as a base material of the second charging member 21b.

Abstract: A developing device includes a static latent image supporting member having a photosensitive layer and being arranged to be rotatable; a developer supporting member arranged to be rotatable for developing a static latent image formed on the static latent image supporting member using developer to form an image; a developer supplying member arranged to contact with the developer supporting member and be rotatable for supplying developer; and a drive transmission unit disposed on a side of same end portions of the developer supporting member and the developer supplying member for rotating the developer supporting member and the developer supplying member in a same rotational direction. The developer supplying member is formed so that an outer diameter thereof on a side of the drive transmission unit becomes smaller than an outer diameter thereof on an opposite side.

Abstract: A conductive roller includes a roller body, a spindle, and at least one groove. The roller body contacts with an outer circumferential surface of an image carrier, and is conductive. The spindle is provided in a center of the roller body. The groove is formed in each of side walls of the roller body at opposite ends in an axis direction of the roller body, and extends outward in a radial direction from the spindle.

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 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: A charging member includes a conductive support, and a conductive elastic layer that is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the conductive support and includes a rubber material and inorganic particles, and in which an average dispersion degree of aggregates of the inorganic particles is 95% or greater and a maximum particle diameter of the aggregates of the inorganic particles is 200 ?m or less.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a charge roller (1) particularly but not exclusively for charging a photoconductor in a liquid electro-photograph (LEP) image-forming apparatus. The charge roller includes a cured composition of an epichlorohydrin/ethylene oxide/allyl glycidyl ether terpolymer, a lithium salt and carbon black.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a new charge roller particularly but not exclusively for charging a photoconductive element in a liquid electro-photograph (LEP) image-forming apparatus. The charge roller includes a cured composition of an aromatic diisocyanate, a polycarbonate polyester polyol, a matte agent, a surface energy modifier, and a conductive agent.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an electrophotographic photoconductive member, a charging unit, a delivery unit and a cleaning unit. The charging unit is disposed in contact with the surface of the photoconductive member and the delivery unit disposed in contact with the surface of the charging unit. The delivery unit applies a layer of functional material to a surface of the charging unit and the charging unit in turn applies a layer of the functional material onto the surface of the photoconductive member. The cleaning unit is disposed in contact with a surface of the charging unit to clean the charging unit and reduce contamination of a surface of the delivery unit. The cleaning unit is disposed in an upstream direction of the delivery roller relative to a rotation direction of the charging unit.

Abstract: There are provided an image-forming apparatus that inhibit the occurrence of a longitudinal streak image attributed to a cleaning failure, and a process cartridge. The image-forming apparatus and the process cartridge each have a charging member with a surface having a concavities derived from an opening of the bowl-shaped resin particle, and a protrusions derived from an edge of the opening of the bowl-shaped resin particle, the coverage ratio X1 of a surface of the toner with the silica fine particles is 50.0 area % or more and 75.0 area % or less, and when a theoretical coverage ratio of the toner by the silica fine particles is X2, a diffusion index represented by the formula 1 satisfies the formula 2: diffusion index=X1/X2??(formula 1) diffusion index??0.0042×X1+0.

Abstract: There are provided an image forming apparatus in which the generation of lateral streak images due to a decrease in the in-nip discharge intensity is suppressed while at the same time the generation of spot-like images due to abnormal discharge caused by smudges on the surface of a charging member is suppressed, and a process cartridge. The image forming apparatus and the process cartridge each has: a charging member containing a resin particle having a plurality of pores inside thereof; and a toner in which the coverage ratio X1 of a surface of the toner with silica fine particles is 50.0 area % or more and 75.0 area % or less, and when a theoretical coverage ratio with the silica fine particles is X2, a diffusion index represented by formula 1 satisfies formula 2. diffusion index=X1/X2??(formula 1) diffusion index??0.0042×X1+0.

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: Provided is a charging member capable of suppressing occurrence of compression set while having flexibility enough to ensure a nip with a photosensitive member. The charging member comprises a support and an elastic layer, wherein the elastic layer has an MD-1 hardness of from 55 to 85° at the surface thereof, and has a universal hardness of 2.0 to 20.0 N/mm2 at an indentation depth of 5 ?m from the surface thereof.

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 includes an electrophotographic photoconductive member and a delivery unit. The delivery unit is disposed in contact with a surface of the photoconductive member to apply a layer of functional materials to the surface of the photoconductive member, wherein a cylindrical axis of the delivery unit is angled with respect to a cylindrical axis of the photoconductive member to increase uniformity of the functional materials layer. An image forming apparatus an electrophotographic photoconductive member, a charging unit and a delivery unit disposed in contact with the surface of the charging unit, wherein the delivery unit applies a layer of functional materials to the surface of the photoconductive member.