Abstract: An image forming device includes an image forming unit that includes a photoconductive drum which carries an electrostatic latent image, a developing roller which forms a developing nip by contacting the photoconductive drum and develops the latent image by using toner, and a transfer roller that forms a transferring nip by contacting the photoconductive drum and transfers a toner image onto a recording paper. A transferring voltage impressing circuit impresses to the transfer roller, a voltage of an opposite polarity to a polarity of a transfer process, for a prescribed period of time during a period when the recording paper is absent in the transferring nip. A developing voltage impressing circuit impresses to the developing roller, a voltage of a same polarity as a developing process and lower than the developing process when a field impressed with the voltage of the opposite polarity by the transferring voltage impressing circuit passes the developing nip.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a paper dust removing device used in an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus has a latent image member that receives the latent image produced by a charge differential on the surface of the latent image device. A developing agent, or toner, is then applied to the latent image creating a visible image. The toner image is transferred to a paper as it passes between the latent image member and a transferring roller or device and subsequently processed to adhere the toner image to the paper. The apparatus further has a paper dust removing device that removes paper dust from the latent image member. A biasing device applies an electrical bias to the paper dust removing device to produce a potential difference between the latent image member and the paper dust removing device.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, after the development of a latent image formed on an image carrier effected by using toner, which has a volume mean grain size of 5 ?m to 10 ?m and in which 60 number percent to 80 number percent of toner grains have a grain size of 5 ?m or below, and the transfer of the resulting image to a recording medium, a cleaning device of the present invention removes the toner left on the image carrier with a fur brush. The fur brush is capable of contacting the surface of the image carrier with density high enough to block the toner grains having the above grain size.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a photosensitive member that holds an image formed by a developing agent, a charging device that charges a surface of the photosensitive member, a voltage applying device that applies a voltage to the charging device, a first cleaning element that contacts the surface of the photosensitive member, a second cleaning element that contacts a surface of the first cleaning member, and a first voltage controlling device, connected to the charging device, the first cleaning element and the second cleaning element, that generates a predetermined potential difference between the first cleaning element and the second cleaning element based on the voltage applied to the charging device.

Abstract: When image forming is repeated with cleanerless image forming apparatus “positive ghost” which means that the preceding image is slightly left occurs because residual toner is not recovered by developing means. Even if an image forming apparatus with an electrically conductive brush or auxiliary means repeats image forming or continuously forms image with a high image ratio, resistance of the brush increases because residual toner is deposited on the electrically conductive brush. In the results, advantages of the electrically conductive brush which erases traces of the preceding image are lost. Therefore, they are provided, an image forming apparatus which does not let image traces leave and an image forming apparatus which prevents the resistance of auxiliary means and cleans auxiliary means.

Abstract: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of reliably removing an untransferred residual toner from the surface of an intermediate transfer drum which is covered with an elastic layer, thereby enabling to form a recorded image having a high image quality with no ghost image, and capable of continuing to form recorded images having the high image quality over a long period of time without causing damage to the intermediate transfer drum. The intermediate transfer drum is structured such that the periphery of a metal base is covered with an elastic layer. As a toner discharging member for capturing a toner adhered to the intermediate transfer drum and discharging the toner as waste into a recovery box, there are provided a recovery roll that rotates while being in contact with the intermediate transfer drum and a scraper for scraping off a toner adhered to the surface of the recovery roll.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing charged particles from a surface, the surface being capable of movement, including: a preclean corotron having a first polarity; and a first cleaning brush for cleaning charged particles from the surface, having a second polarity different from the first polarity of the preclean corotron; a second cleaning brush for cleaning the charged particles from the surface, having a predefined polarity, the second cleaning brush being located downstream from the first cleaning brush, in the direction of motion of the surface; and a controller for changing the predefined polarity of the second cleaning brush from the first polarity to the second polarity.

Abstract: A cleaner for removing contaminates. Sensors detect a position of the cleaner with respect to a substrate, a proper rotation of components within the cleaner, and a proper electrical bias of the components. The components include a fiber brush, a detoning roller, and an auger.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a fixing apparatus that has a fixing rotating member for holding and conveying a recording material supporting an unfixed image to perform fixation, driving device for driving the fixing rotating member, a cleaning rotating member for cleaning the fixing rotating member, and contact/separation device for bringing the cleaning rotating member into contact with and away from the fixing rotating member, wherein the driving device drives the fixing rotating member at a predetermined fixing speed during fixation and at a cleaning speed lower than the fixing speed at the time of cleaning by the cleaning rotating member.

Abstract: A cleaning device in an image forming apparatus, which performs cleaning, includes a roll-shaped electrically conductive brush grounded via a varistor (non-linear resistor element), a flicker metal rod which is put in pressure contact with the electrically conductive brush and connected to have a potential equal to a potential of the electrically conductive brush, and a cleaning blade formed of an elastic material.

Abstract: A cleaning unit having a brush roll with a myriad of slidingly scrubbing bristles upright relative to a rotation shaft for slidingly scrubbing the surface of a rotation body with the brush roll for removing toner deposited on the rotation body. When the brush roll is out of contact with the rotation body, the tips of the slidingly scrubbing bristles are inclined in the circumferential direction and when the brush roll is placed in contact with the rotation body, the brush roll does not rotate by itself and is rotated with rotation of the rotation body. The linear speed of the brush roll at the contact position is made different from that of the rotation body.

Abstract: A method and structure for a conductive fur brush cleaner assembly for an image processing apparatus is disclosed. The cleaner assembly includes a plurality of rotating components, an insulated outer cover surrounding the rotating components and a conductive inner cover surrounding the rotating components. The insulated outer cover prevents a charge from being bled from the conductive inner cover. The conductive inner cover accumulates a charge from the waste particles within the cleaner assembly such that the inner cover becomes biased.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, after the development of a latent image formed on an image carrier effected by using toner, which has a volume mean grain size of 5 &mgr;m to 10 &mgr;m and in which 60 number percent to 80 number percent of toner grains have a grain size of 5 &mgr;m or below, and the transfer of the resulting image to a recording medium, a cleaning device of the present invention removes the toner left on the image carrier with a fur brush. The fur brush is capable of contacting the surface of the image carrier with density high enough to block the toner grains having the above grain size.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a cleaning apparatus to clean an image bearing member used in electrophotographic process and an image forming system equipped with the cleaning system. The cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning roller being either conductive or semi-conductive and in contact with an image bearing member carrying charged toner; a constant current source to apply a bias voltage, having a polarity opposite to that of toner utilized for a developing operation performed on the image bearing member, onto the cleaning roller and a cleaning blade contacting the image bearing member and located at a downstream side of the cleaning roller in a moving direction of the image bearing member.

Abstract: A developing device of the type using a developing liquid and applicable to an image forming apparatus includes a developing roller and a sweep roller. The developing roller is pressed against a photoconductive drum to thereby form a nip. The sweep roller is positioned downstream of the nip in the direction of rotation of the drum and pressed against the drum in such a manner as to sandwich a developed toner layer. The surface of the sweep roller moves at substantially the same speed as the surface of the drum. A bias voltage (250 V) close to the surface potential (100 V to 200 V) of the toner layer formed on the drum is applied to the sweep roller. The bias causes the sweep roller to attract stray excess toner present on the background of the drum after development, thereby preventing a toner image from being blurred.

Abstract: A cleaning device for removing toner remaining on an image carrier carrying a toner image after toner on the image carrier has been transferred to another material, the cleaning device including: a conductive brush roller to which a bias voltage of a polarity that is the same as the proper polarity of toner for use in development is applied in order to remove that portion of the toner remaining on the image carrier after the image transfer process whose polarity has become opposite to the proper polarity of toner for use in development; a roller electrode which comes into contact with the bush roller and to which a bias that is of a polarity opposite to that of the brush roller is applied to electrostatically attract the toner adhering to the conductive brush; and scraping device for scraping off the toner adhering to this roller electrode, wherein that portion of the toner remaining on the image carrier after the image transfer process whose polarity has become opposite to the proper polarity of toner is rem

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a brush member is formed from a brush made from acrylic resin that has not been subjected to conductivity-enhancing processes. The brush member is attached to a conductive plate. A resistor is provided in series with the conductive plate and a fixed power source. The fixed power source applies a predetermined high voltage to the conductive plate.

Abstract: A cleaning device removes residual toner on the outer surface of a photosensitive element by bringing a brush into contact with the outer surface of the photosensitive element after an electrostatic latent image on the outer surface of the photosensitive element is developed into a toner image by the reversed development method. The electric resistance value between the brush and photosensitive is in the range of 103 to 108 &OHgr;cm, and the density thereof is in the range of 30000 to 100000 bristles/(inch)2. A DC voltage having a polarity opposite from the charging polarity of the toner and being in the range of 100 to 300 V in absolute value is applied to the brush after an AC voltage having a frequency of 100 to 2000 Hz and an interpeak voltage of 400 to 700 V is superimposed thereon. Further, the brush is rotated in a direction opposite from the rotating direction of the photosensitive element in its portion held in contact with the photosensitive element.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing electrostatically charged particles from a surface such as the backside of an image bearing belt of the type found in an electrostatographic printing apparatus or a drive roller supporting an image bearing belt. The apparatus includes an electrically biased brush having a substrate and a multiplicity of conductive fibers extending outwardly to contact the surface to be cleaned, a supporting device, and a cleaning device for removing collected particles from the brush. The supporting device for the brush rotates, thereby moving the brush and causing clean fibers to contact the surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: An electrically biased cleaning belt brush removes oppositely biased particles from a surface. The belt brush, which is entrained about supporting members, includes a substrate to which is attached a multiplicity of conductive brush fibers. Particles adhering to the conductive fibers are removed from the brush fibers at a detoning station. The cleaning belt brush is biased to alternating regions of positive and negative polarities.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing residual charged toner particles from a charge retentive surface characterized by a self-biasing pyroelectric cleaner brush and a detoning member for removing the charged particles from the self-biasing pyroelectric cleaner brush. The brush includes a pyroelectric polymer supported by a conductive roll with resistive fibers attached to one surface of the pyroelectric polymer. Heating and cooling of a pyroelectric polymer induces thermal expansion or contraction which create surface charge density charges that are used to supply charge to the resistive fibers. The oppositely charged resistive fibers contact the toner particles on the charge retentive surface to thereby remove them from the charge retentive surface.

Abstract: A device for cleaning a transfer belt of an image-forming machine in which the transfer belt is wound around a drive roller and a driven roller that are disposed at a predetermined distance, in parallel with each other and is positioned opposite a photosensitive material drum in a transfer zone. A fur brush which has an electrically conducting property is rotated in contact with the surface of the transfer belt. A bias voltage is applied to the fur brush, the bias voltage having a polarity the same as the polarity for electrically charging the toner of a toner image formed on the photosensitive material drum. An opposed electrode is disposed opposite the fur brush and in contact with the back surface of the transfer belt.

Abstract: An electrostatographic imaging apparatus and method for cleaning remnant toner. An intermediate transfer member (ITM) is in transfer relation to a primary image-forming member to transfer the toner image from the primary image-forming member to the ITM. The ITM then transfers the image to a receiver sheet. A cleaning brush including plural individual brush fibers in engagement with the ITM removes residual toner from the ITM. The fibers each include an electrically conductive core and a surrounding substantially nonconductive annular portion. An electrically conductive backing secures the fibers and is adapted to electrically induce a potential from the backing to the cores of the fibers. The backing is substantially electrically insulated from the electrically conductive cores of the fibers. An electrical potential is established on the backing which is induced upon the cores of the fibers to attract remnant toner from the ITM to the brush.

Abstract: A cleaning device capable of ensuring prevention of extraneous substances, such as the toner, paper powder and so on, from releasing outside an extraneous substance removing region, and an electrophotographic apparatus having the cleaning device. The cleaning device for an electrophotographic apparatus includes an extraneous substance removing arrangement for removing extraneous substances, such as toner, paper powder and the like, from a surface of a member to be cleaned; an extraneous substance containing arrangement for collecting the extraneous substances removed by the extraneous substance removing arrangement; and a barrier forming arrangement for preventing the extraneous substances from releasing out of an extraneous substance removing region, the barrier forming arrangement being located in the extraneous substance removing region where the extraneous substance removing arrangement acts on the member to be cleaned.

Abstract: An electrostatographic reproduction apparatus and method for cleaning remnant toner and carrier particles. An intermediate transfer member (ITM) is in transfer relation to a primary image-forming member to transfer the toner image from the primary image-forming member to the ITM. The ITM then transfers the image to a receiver sheet . A fiber cleaning brush includes plural individual conductive brush fibers in engagement with the ITM to remove residual toner and carrier particles from the ITM. A detoning member includes an electrically conductive surface that contacts the brush fibers and is electrically biased to electrostatically remove toner particles from the fiber brush. The detoning member includes magnets for attracting remnant carrier to the detoning roller and for attracting a skive blade of magnetic material into engagement with the detoning roller.

Abstract: An apparatus and printing machine that contain a cleaner brush with long sweeper fibers orientated along the overall width of the brush, and having a greater length than the majority of fibers of the brush to remove the particles that adhere to the cleaner housing and thus, prevent toner droppings.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus for forming an image includes an endless belt member and an inner face cleaning member which is provided on an inner face of the endless belt member. The cleaning member captures deposits deposited on the inner face of the endless belt member and holds the captured deposits. The inner face cleaning member includes fibers densely arranged and projecting radially outward from the inner face cleaning member. The inner face cleaning member is fixed in a contact state so that a contact face does not move while the endless belt is moving.

Abstract: A preconditioning process and dual electrostatic brush cleaning apparatus for reducing adhesion of toner particles on the photoreceptor surface such that cleaning of the photoreceptor is enhanced. Preconditioning of the brush and/or the photoreceptor in the cleaning apparatus allows for cleaning of dual polarity toners, CAD toners and DAD toners. The preconditioning of the brush does not need replenishing once the print operation begins due to the electrostatics that maintain a constant predetermined level of toner in the brush.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image-bearing member, latent image-forming unit for forming an electrostatic latent image on the first image-bearing member, developer for developing the electrostatic latent image with a toner to form a toner image, an intermediate transfer member for receiving the toner image by primary transfer and transferring the toner image onto a second image-bearing member by secondary transfer, a charging member for charging a residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member after the secondary transfer, and a recovery member for recovering the charged residual toner at a recovery position by voltage application. The intermediate transfer member exhibits a charging characteristic such that it has a surface potential of at most 500 volts as an absolute value at the recovery position.

Abstract: An electrostatographic recording apparatus and method includes recording of electrostatic images and a patch area on an endless imaging member. The recording is operative in accordance with adjustable parameters to adjust density of the patch area. A development station is operative in accordance with another parameter for adjusting density of the images and the patch area. A sensor senses density of a toned patch area and generates a first signal representing density of the toned patch area. A transfer station transfers images on the image member to a transfer medium. A cleaning station located downstream of the sensor and the transfer station cleans remnant toner and the patch area on the imaging member. The cleaning station is adjustable to alter cleaning performance.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning charged triboelectric negative toner residual particles from the photoreceptor surface. A positive bias is applied to two electrostatic brushes in the dual cleaning system or to a single electrostatic brush. The rotational speed of the single positive brush is increased, over that of the individual brushes in a dual brush cleaner, to clean charged triboelectric negative toner particles.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing particles from a cleaner brush used to clean a photoreceptive surface. The apparatus and method include a cleaning brush or other cleaning device and a ceramic coated detoning roll resistive to wear. The detoning roll consists of a low electrically conductive coating over a conductive substrate material having a short electrical relaxation time constant.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning particles from the imaging surface of the photoreceptor is by having a DC biased electrostatic brush remove the majority of the residual particles on the imaging surface with an AC biased brush as a follow-up for removal of residual particles. These particles have a predominant electrical polarity of right or wrong sign charge. The degree to which this AC biased brush removes each sign toner is controlled by the duty cycle. The responsibility of the first brush, in the direction of motion of the photoreceptor, is reduced by reducing the brush biases, the speed or the photoreceptor interference (BPI) of the first brush, in the direction of motion of the photoreceptor and allowing the second brush to take on higher percentage of the cleaning load. This enables longer brush life and reduces detoning stress. Alternatively, the second brush may increase in latitude, leaving the first brush parameters unchanged, enabling superior cleaning performance or reduced brush costs.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for increasing brush life and reducing emissions by removing accumulated toner using detoning cycles. A further embodiment of the disclosure is a method for periodic brush-reversing detoning cycle occurring during a standby condition.

Abstract: A method to evaluate the cleaning performance of brush cleaners by measuring the brush to photoreceptor nip width (e.g cleaning footprint or contact zone) using an ESV sensor or ETAC sensor. This nip width measurement is automatically made using one of the sensing devices. The nip width measurement is converted into diagnostic information using a software algorithm or similar mode of conversion. The diagnostic information can be used in a variety of ways such as a diagnostic tool for a technical representative to warn against the end of brush life, to adjust cleaner biases for automatic changes in setup to achieve better cleaning, to predict brush replacement, to correct brush BPI (i.e. brush to photoreceptor interference) for an under or over engaged brush.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning triboelectric negative toner particles from the photoreceptor surface without the need of a preclean corotron. To remove the residual particles, a first cleaning brush, in the direction of motion of the photoreceptor, is negatively biased to remove the positive (+) toner and charge the toner particles negative. Then, the second brush, in the direction of motion of the photoreceptor, is positively biased to remove the residual negative toner particles from the surface as the second brush contacts the surface.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, during the course of recording, a cleaning roller is rotated together with an image carrier. The roller frictionally charges toner left on the image carrier after image transfer to the same polarity. A cleaning member electrostatically collects the charged toner. At the same time, a voltage is applied to the cleaning member by a voltage applying device in order to cause it to attract the charged toner, thereby cleaning the image carrier. Hence, even when the toner remaining on image carrier is charged partly to the positive polarity and partly to the negative polarity, the toner can be entirely transferred to the cleaning member by a simple construction.

Abstract: A bias cleaning system has an electrically conductive brush roller for collecting toner which has to adhered a transfer belt by scrubbing the toner off the transfer belt under a condition in which a direct current voltage of the opposite polarity to the charge of the toner is applied to the brush roller. A corona charger is also provided for decreasing the amount of charge on the toner on the transfer belt in a region of the belt up-stream of the electrically conductive brush roller in the moving direction of the transfer belt.