EP0515164A2 - Aufladevorrichtung mit Aufladeblatt und damit versehenes Bilderzeugungsgerät und Arbeitseinheit - Google Patents

Aufladevorrichtung mit Aufladeblatt und damit versehenes Bilderzeugungsgerät und Arbeitseinheit Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0515164A2
EP0515164A2 EP92304561A EP92304561A EP0515164A2 EP 0515164 A2 EP0515164 A2 EP 0515164A2 EP 92304561 A EP92304561 A EP 92304561A EP 92304561 A EP92304561 A EP 92304561A EP 0515164 A2 EP0515164 A2 EP 0515164A2
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
charging
charging blade
blade
voltage
image bearing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP92304561A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0515164A3 (en
Inventor
Norihisa C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Hoshika
Takeo C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Shoji
Yasushi c/o Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Shimizu
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Canon Inc
Original Assignee
Canon Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP14532391A external-priority patent/JPH04343373A/ja
Priority claimed from JP20547491A external-priority patent/JPH0527551A/ja
Application filed by Canon Inc filed Critical Canon Inc
Publication of EP0515164A2 publication Critical patent/EP0515164A2/de
Publication of EP0515164A3 publication Critical patent/EP0515164A3/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/02—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for laying down a uniform charge, e.g. for sensitising; Corona discharge devices
    • G03G15/0208—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for laying down a uniform charge, e.g. for sensitising; Corona discharge devices by contact, friction or induction, e.g. liquid charging apparatus
    • G03G15/0216—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for laying down a uniform charge, e.g. for sensitising; Corona discharge devices by contact, friction or induction, e.g. liquid charging apparatus by bringing a charging member into contact with the member to be charged, e.g. roller, brush chargers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a charging device having a charging member to be contacted to a member to be charged such as a photosensitive member or the like to electrically charge or discharge it, to an image forming apparatus having such a charging device and to a process cartridge having such a charging device and detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus.
  • a corona discharger in the form of a corotron or scorotron having a wire electrode and a shield electrode, are widely used since they provide uniform charging property.
  • the corona discharger involves the defects that it requires an expensive high voltage source, that it requires a relatively large space for the discharger itself, the high voltage source and the shielding space, that a relatively large amount of corona products such as ozone or the like results so that additional means for mechanism is required to dispose of the corona products and that the additional means or mechanism results in bulkiness and high cost of the apparatus.
  • a contact type charging device is considered in place of the corona discharger.
  • a contact charging member conductive member
  • the contact charging member is supplied with a voltage, by which the surface of the image bearing member is charged to a predetermined potential.
  • It includes a roller charging type (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 91253/1981), a blade type (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 194349/1981 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 147756/1985), a charging-cleaning type (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 165166/1981).
  • the voltage applied to the charging member there are a type in which only a DC voltage (1 - 2 KV) is applied and a type in which an oscillating voltage such as an AC biased DC voltage is applied, as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 149669/1988.
  • the contact charging using only the DC voltage is advantageous in that the level of the applied voltage is low and that the voltage source is simple and inexpensive. However, it involves defects that non-uniform charging spots are easily produced, that the charging performance is easily influenced by contamination of the charging member and that the tolerable range for the uniform charging is narrow.
  • the oscillating voltage is desirably a DC voltage biased with an AC voltage having a peak-to-peak voltage which is not less than twice the charge starting voltage for the member to be charged.
  • the charging noise has a frequency which is twice the frequency of the AC component in the voltage applied to the charging member, for example. If the frequency of the applied voltage is low, for example, 200 Hz or lower, the noise is not harsh. However, with the increase of the frequency, it becomes a harsh noise. From this standpoint, the frequency is desirably 200 Hz or lower.
  • the non-uniformity has the pitch: (process speed (mm/sec))/(frequency (Hz)) mm
  • the pitch is about 0.1 mm, the non-uniformity is not conspicuous, but if it is 0.15 or larger mm, it becomes conspicuous, and therefore, the image quality is degraded.
  • the process speed is required to be not more than 30 mm/sec in order that the pitch non-uniformity is not conspicuous and that the charging noise is not harsh (not more than 200 Hz).
  • most of the electrophotographic machines have the process speeds which is greater than 30 mm/sec. In such actual image forming machines, if the contact type charging with the use of the oscillating voltage is used, it is desired that the charging noise is reduced or is not harsh.
  • the charging noise varies depending on the configuration and the material of the charging member.
  • the charging member is in the form of a blade (charging blade) fixed to the member to be charged
  • the charging noise is greater than in the case of the charging member is in the form of a roller rolling on the member to be charged.
  • FIG. 5 there is shown a prior art contact type charging device using a charging blade for the charging member.
  • Designated by a reference numeral 1 is a member to be charged.
  • the member to be charged is a photosensitive drum of an electrophotographic machine. It is rotated in the clockwise direction A (arrow) at a predetermined process speed (peripheral speed).
  • the charging blade is designated by a reference numeral 10 as being made of electrically conductive rubber having a controlled resistance, for example.
  • the charging blade 10 is mounted on a blade supporting metal plate 16, the free end of the blade is contacted on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 (the member to be charged) at a predetermined contact pressure, by properly fixing the blade supporting metal plate 16 on a stationary member 50.
  • the charging blade 10 is counterdirectionally contacted to the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 at a position of angle ⁇ ° from the horizontal position with a contact angle of ⁇ ° with respect to the tangential line O.
  • a back electrode 21 of the charging blade 10 is electrically connected to the conductive blade supporting metal plate 16 through a conductive paint.
  • a predetermined oscillating voltage is applied from a voltage source E to the blade supporting metal plate 16, by which the charging blade 10 is supplied with electric voltage so that the surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 1 is electrically charged.
  • Designated by a reference character L is a free length of the blade from the edge a of the blade supporting plate 16 to the free end of the charging blade.
  • the charging noise tends to increase with increase of (phantom) sinking amount of the charging blade into the photosensitive member and with increase of a nip width w with the photosensitive member.
  • a certain degree of pressure is required.
  • At least 0.3 mm of the sinking amount is desired, in consideration of the variation of the amount, 0.7 mm will be possible. In this case, the charging noise is significant.
  • the sinking amount is a distance from the surface of the member to be charged to the free edge of the blade when the member to be charged is removed.
  • Figure 1 is a sectional view of a major part of an image forming apparatus using a contact type charging device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the contact type charging device shown in Figure 1.
  • Figure 3 is a sectional view of a major part of a device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 4 is a sectional view of a major part of a device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 5 is a sectional view of a conventional contact type charging device.
  • Figure 6 is a graph showing a relation between a rubber hardness of a charging blade and a permanent deformation rate.
  • Figure 1 is a sectional view of a major part of an image forming apparatus using a contact type charging device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the image forming apparatus comprises an image bearing member in the form of a rotatable photosensitive drum, which is an electrophotographic photosensitive member having an aluminum conductive drum base 1b and an OPC photosensitive layer 1a having a thickness of 25 microns and a dielectric constant of approximately 3, in this embodiment. It is rotated in the clockwise direction A at a predetermined process speed.
  • the image bearing member 1 is in the form of a drum, but it may be a rotatable belt or the like. In either case, it may be a seamless type, or may have a seam. In the latter case, the copying process steps are executed with synchronizing signals.
  • the image forming apparatus further comprises an array 2 of short focus lenses as an exposure means for forming a latent image on the photosensitive drum 1, developing means 3 for developing the latent image with toner, transfer means 4 in the form of a transfer roller, timing rollers (registration rollers) 6 for feeding a transfer material P fed in seriatim from an unshown sheet feeding station to between the photosensitive drum 1 and the transfer roller 4 (transfer station) in synchronism with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 1, and a transfer guide disposed between the timing rollers 6 and the transfer roller 4 to guide the transfer material P.
  • an array 2 of short focus lenses as an exposure means for forming a latent image on the photosensitive drum 1
  • developing means 3 for developing the latent image with toner
  • transfer means 4 in the form of a transfer roller
  • timing rollers (registration rollers) 6 for feeding a transfer material P fed in seriatim from an unshown sheet feeding station to between the photosensitive drum 1 and the transfer roller 4 (transfer station) in synchronism with
  • Conveying means 8 for guiding the transfer material P having received the image between the photosensitive drum 1 and the transfer roller 4 to an unshown fixing means.
  • the apparatus further comprises cleaning means 9 for removing residual toner or the like from the photosensitive drum 1 after the image transfer, a cleaning blade 9a for scraping off the residual toner, a container 9b for receiving the residual toner removed by the cleaning device 9a, a charging member in the form of a blade contactable to the photosensitive drum 1 at the position after the cleaning means to uniformly charge the photosensitive drum 1.
  • the charging blade 10 will be described in detail hereinafter.
  • the four process means i.e., the photosensitive drum 1, the developing device 3, the cleaning device 9 and the charging blade 4, are included in the process cartridge 20 at a predetermined positional relations among them.
  • the process cartridge 20 may be inserted into the main assembly of the image forming apparatus along supporting rail (not shown) in the direction perpendicular to the sheet of the drawing. It may be retracted out of the main assembly.
  • the process cartridge 20 is sufficiently inserted into the main assembly, the mechanical and electrical couplings between the main assembly and the process cartridge 20 are established to enable the image forming apparatus.
  • the process cartridge comprises at least the photosensitive drum 1 and the charging blade 10.
  • FIG 2 is an enlarged view of the charging blade.
  • the charging blade 10 is fixed to and supported on one of arm plates of a blade supporting metal plate 15 which is swingable about a shaft 23.
  • a charging blade urging spring 24 is stretched between the other arm plate of the metal plate 15 and a stationary cleaning blade supporting plate 25, so that the blade supporting plate 15 is normally urged in the counterclockwise direction B about the supporting shaft 23, by which the free end of the charging blade 10 is press-contacted to the surface of the photosensitive drum 1.
  • the charging blade 10 in this embodiment is contacted to the photosensitive drum 1 (the member to be charged) counterdirectionally (with acute contact angle) with respect to the rotation of the photosensitive drum at a position of an angle ⁇ 0 from the horizontal direction with a contact angle ⁇ 0 with respect to the tangential direction of the photosensitive drum 1 at the position a degree.
  • the contact angle is an angle, at the contact point between the drum and the blade, between the blade and such a portion of the tangential line as is downstream of the contact point with respect to the movement direction of the drum surface.
  • the position angle ⁇ degree is properly selected depending on the locations of various process means and the diameter of the photosensitive drum.
  • the contact angle ⁇ degree of the charging blade 10 is preferably not more than 30 degrees from the standpoint of the charging stability.
  • the counterdirectional contact is not inevitable. However, the counterdirectional contact is preferable in that even if the toner or other residual matter reaches the blade edge portion, they are blocked by the blade edge so that the amount of the residual matter reaching the downstream of the edge portion is reduced, and therefore, the charging of the photosensitive drum is more uniform than with a co-directional contact.
  • a back electrode 21 is mounted and is electrically connected with the charging blade 10.
  • the voltage from a voltage source E is applied to the charging blade 10 through the conductive blade supporting metal plate 15, an electrically conductive print 22 electrically connected with the back electrode 21, and the back electrode 21.
  • the pressure of contact between the charging blade 10 and the photosensitive drum 1 is adjustable by changing a spring constant of the pressing spring 24.
  • the line pressure thereof is preferably 5 - 40 g/cm. If it is less than 5 g/cm, non-uniformity of contact along the longitudinal direction tends to occur although it depends on the edge accuracy or the waving of the edge of the charging blade 10. If this occurs, spotty non-uniformity of the charging occurs in a halftone image at the portions where the contact is sufficient. If the line pressure is larger than 40 g/cm, the charging noise becomes harsh, and the friction between the photosensitive drum 1 and the charging blade 10 is so large that the wearing of the photosensitive drum 1 increases together with the increase of the driving torque required.
  • the charging blade 10 comprises two layers, i.e., an intermediate resistance layer 10a and a coating layer 10b.
  • the voltage applied to the back electrode 21 forms an electric field sufficient for the charging across a fine space between the charging blade 10 and the member to be charged (photosensitive drum 1), through the intermediate layer 10a and the coating layer 10b of the charging blade 10.
  • the intermediate resistance layer 10a is of epichlorohydrin rubber or EPDM or the like added with conductive material powder such as carbon black powder, metal oxide (zinc oxide, titanium oxide) powder so as to provide a volume resistivity of 1x106 - 1x109 ⁇ cm.
  • conductive material powder such as carbon black powder, metal oxide (zinc oxide, titanium oxide) powder so as to provide a volume resistivity of 1x106 - 1x109 ⁇ cm.
  • the thickness thereof is preferably 1 - 3 mm.
  • the coating layer 10b is usable if the surface resistance thereof is not less than 5x107 ⁇ / ⁇ , and the thickness thereof is 3 - 100 microns. From the standpoint of the coating stability, it is preferably not less than 10 microns in consideration of the variation of the thickness of the coating layer, because if the thickness is not more than 5 microns, there may occur no coated portion due to the coating variation.
  • the material of the coating layer 10b preferably has a flexibility, good surface properties, low friction coefficient and anti-wearing property.
  • the intermediate resistance layer 10a was prepared by dispersing zinc oxide in epichlorohydrin rubber material so as to provide a volume resistivity of 1x108 ⁇ cm (under application of 1000 Vdc).
  • the coating layer 10b was prepared by dispersing carbon in PTFE dispersion paint (Emraron 345, available from Nihon Achison) so as to provide 1.7x108 ⁇ / ⁇ (1.0 KV).
  • the coating layer was applied in 30 microns thick by dipping.
  • the coating layer 10b has far lower friction coefficient than the epichlorohydrin rubber of the intermediate resistance layer 10a, and therefore, the sliding property is remarkably improved. Therefore, so-called "turn-up" of the blade edge which tends to occur at the initial stage of the photosensitive drum 1 rotation, can be effectively prevented. In addition, the required torque and the wearing can be remarkably reduced.
  • the charging blade 10 has a two layer structure.
  • the surface resistance of the intermediate resistance layer 10a is not less than 5x107 ⁇ / ⁇ . If the friction coefficient thereof is low enough not to turn up, the coating layer 10b is not inevitable, and therefore, a single structure charging blade is satisfactory.
  • the unevenness of the image was evaluated on halftone images produced through a regular development both at the initial stage of the operation and after 3000 prints were produced.
  • the charging noise was measured by a noise meter ("NL-02", available from RION Kabushiki Kaisha) placed 1 m away from the front side of the apparatus.
  • the image unevenness were evaluated on the basis of stripes appearing on the image and extending in the direction of the transfer material movement.
  • the sink amount is not more than 0.5, and that in order to maintain the evenness of the image after the durability test run, the sink amount is desirably not less than 0.5. In order to satisfy both of them, the sink amount is limited within a very narrow range about 0.5.
  • the cause for the increased unevenness of the image after the durability test run is considered as being the reduction of the contact pressure due to the wearing of the charging blade which leads to the unevenness of the contact.
  • charging noise is at the satisfactory level if the contact pressure is not more than 40 g/cm, and the image evenness is satisfactory after the durability test run if the contact pressure is not less than 5 g/cm. Accordingly, the contact pressure is selectable in a very wide range.
  • the reason why the image evenness is maintained even after the durability test run is considered as being that even if the charging blade 10 is worn, the contact pressure is assured by the spring 24 so that the even contact pressure is maintained.
  • the electric resistance thereof is desirably intermediate, and in order to provide the electric conductivity, the addition of conductive powder is desired. Since the usable resistance width is narrow, and therefore, the property of the rubber material can not be significantly changed. For these reasons, any remarkable improvement in the creep property in an attempt to reduce the wearing of the charging blade 10, is difficult.
  • the rubber material can be modified mainly in consideration only of the electric properties of the charging blade.
  • the waveform of the oscillating voltage component may be a sine wave, a rectangular wave, a triangular wave or the like.
  • the oscillating voltage may be provided by periodically turning on and off the DC voltage source (rectangular waveform).
  • the oscillating voltage applied between the photosensitive drum 1 and the charging blade 10 desirably has a peak-to-peak voltage which is not less than twice the charge starting voltage between the charging blade 10 and the drum 1.
  • a charging blade 10 comprising epichlorohydrin rubber in which carbon black is dispersed as the conductive powder, so that the volume resistivity thereof is 1x106 ⁇ cm.
  • the contact angle between the charging blade 10 and the drum 1 ( ⁇ ) was 20 degrees.
  • the contact pressure therebetween was 20 g/cm (line pressure) (initial setting).
  • the contact pressure between the charging blade 10 and the drum 1 was initially 20 g/cm.
  • the contact pressure gradually decreases.
  • the term of guarantee of the process cartridge detachably mountable to the image forming apparatus is two years. In view of this term of guarantee, it is required that the contact pressure of 5 g/cm approximately is maintained to assure proper charging even after two years.
  • FIG. 6 is a graph showing a relation between the rubber hardness of the blade and the permanent deformation rate when they were kept on the shelf for five days.
  • the permanent deformation (rate) is determined as follows: The blade is kept on the shelf at 45°C for five days while the edge thereof is kept deformed by 1 mm by pressure. Thereafter, the pressure is removed, and the deformation of the blade is measured within 1 minute after the release. If 0.1 mm deformation remains, the permanent deformation (rate) is 10 %. If 0.5 mm deformation remains, it is 50 %. If 1 mm deformation remains, it is 100 %. From Figure 6, it will be understood that the permanent deformation of the blade 10 increases with increase of the rubber hardness, and increases with decrease of the rubber hardness.
  • the minimum pressure for the desired stabilization of the blade contact is 5 g/cm, and therefore, in order to maintain the 5 g/cm contact pressure even after the charging blade is kept pressed with the initial setting of 20 g/cm at 45 °C for five days, it is required that the permanent deformation is not more than 75 %.
  • the rubber hardness is not less than 55 degrees.
  • Process cartridges 20 in which the charging blades 10 are press-contacted to the drums 1 were placed under 35°C and 90 % humidity conditions for one week, and thereafter, the images were formed, and the image qualities were evaluated.
  • the rubber hardness is desirably not less than 55 degrees.
  • the charging blade 10 was supplied with DC voltage of -700 V biased with an AC voltage of 1.4 KV - 2.4 KV.
  • the charging performance was evaluated on the basis of the image quality.
  • the rubber hardness was changed in the range of 55 - 83 degrees (8 points).
  • the AC voltage was selected as being not less than 1.4 KV, because if it is lower than that, the uniforming effect of the AC voltage decreases with the result of roughened images. In consideration of variations in the individual transformers, ⁇ 10 % margin is preferably provided.
  • the preferable rubber hardness is 50 - 80 degrees.
  • the reason why the improper charging occurs when the AC voltage is high is as follows.
  • the instable contact of the charging blade which is originally in stick and slip contact, is increased by the large AC voltage, and the increase of the rubber hardness deteriorates the followability relative to the rotation of the surface of the drum, and therefore, the tolerable range for the charging performance is narrowered.
  • the rubber hardness is preferably 55 - 80 degrees to provide stabilized images for a long term.
  • the electric resistance of the blades having the different hardness are maintained constant by ajusting the content of the conductive powder.
  • the used rubber was only epichlorohydrin rubber, and the conductive powder is added to provide the electrically conductive rubber.
  • the reason for this is that the resistance of the epichlorohydron rubber is relatively low as compared with the other rubber materials. Because of the low resistance nature of this rubber, the required amount of the conductive powder to provide the same electric resistance may be smaller, and therefore, the influence to the rubber property can be minimized.
  • the permanent deformation nature of the epichlorohydron rubber is slightly poor, and therefore, it is effective to add urethane rubber, EPD (tercopolymer of ethylenepropylenediene) to improve the permanent deformation nature or the like. It is a possible alternative that the surface of the epichlorohydron rubber is coated with a resistance layer of urethane resin containing dispersed titanium oxide or another electrically conductive powder so as to provide,a resistivity of 1x109 ⁇ / ⁇ and having a thickness of approximately 30 microns. The resistance layer is contacted to the photosensitive drum 1.
  • the provision of the resistance layer is effective to stabilize the charging property even in case where the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is damaged for one reason or another to produce a low durable voltage portion, a pin hole or holes are produced. With such a damage or pin hole, the electric current may be concentrated on the damage portion or the pin hole without the resistance layer.
  • the natures of the blade are similar to those described above.
  • the relations between the permanent deformation rate or the charging performance and the rubber hardness are the same even if the thin resistance layer is applied or bonded only at an end portion of the blade 10.
  • such natures are dependent on the base layer, that is, the epichlorohydron rubber hardness.
  • Embodiment is different from Figure 2 embodiment only in the pressing means for the charging blade 10.
  • the urging means is in the form of a tension coil spring only for the purpose of urging the charging blade 10. Therefore, electrode for applying the voltage to the charging blade 10 and contact for receiving electric power from the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, are required.
  • a primary charging contact 26 for receiving electric power supply from the main assembly of the image forming apparatus is in the form of a leaf spring which is fixed on a cartridge frame 28.
  • the leaf spring is partly (26a) exposed to function as electric power receiving contact of the process cartridge, and the inside portion thereof is projected as a leaf spring portion 26b (urging means) for rotationally urging the blade supporting metal plate 15.
  • the end of the projected portion is contacted to the supporting plate 15.
  • the supporting plate 15 is normally urged in the counterclockwise direction B about the shaft 23 to contact the free end of the charging blade 10 with a predetermined pressure.
  • the voltage required for the charging action is supplied to the charging blade supporting metal plate 15 through the primary charge contact 26a, the leaf spring portion 26b.
  • the charging blade 10 also functions as a cleaning blade of the cleaning device 9.
  • the charging blade is disposed in the upper opening of the cleaning device 9.
  • the charging blade 10, the charging blade supporting metal plate 12, the sealing member 31, the cleaner container 9b and the receiving sheet 9c, constitute the cleaning device 9.
  • the charging blade 10 also functions as the cleaning blade to remove the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 after the image transfer.
  • the charging blade 10 is fixed and supported on one of arm plates of the blade supporting plate 15 which is swingable about a shaft 23.
  • the pressure spring 30 for the charging blade 10 is in the form of an electrically conductive compression spring disposed between the other arm plate of the supporting plate 15 and an electrode plate 32 mounted on the inside surface of the process cartridge frame 28.
  • the spring 30 is effective to normally urge the blade supporting plate 15 about the shaft 23 in the counterclockwise direction B, by which the free end of the charging blade 10 is abutted to the photosensitive drum 1, and the pressure-contact state therebetween is maintained.
  • the voltage from the voltage source E is applied to the charging blade 10 through the electrode plate 32, the conductive compression spring 30, the conductive supporting metal plate 15, electrically conductive paint and a back electrode 21.
  • the sealing member 31 is fixed to the top of the cleaner container 9b and fills the space between the supporting plate 15 and the container 9b to prevent the toner leakage from the cleaning device 9.
  • the charging blade 10 also functions to clean the photosensitive drum 1, and therefore, the contact pressure of not less than 20 g/cm is desirable. Because of the dual function of the charging blade 10, there is no need of the cleaning blade upstream of the charging blade 10 with respect to the movement direction of the surface of the drum 1. Therefore, a simpler structure of the process cartridge is enabled. Therefore, the low cost small cartridge can be provided.
  • the cleaning with the blade supplied with the AC voltage is preferable because the toner particles strongly attached to the surface of the photosensitive drum by coulomb force can be electrically discharged or charged to the opposite polarity, and therefore, better cleaning effect can be expected.
  • the rubber material of the charging blade is relatively easily worn.
  • the stabilized contact and the stabilized cleaning performance can be maintained with less variation of the contact pressure.
  • the coating layer 10b of the charging blade may be provided only at the edge of the charging blade 10, because most of the materials for the coating layer 10b have a high hardness as compared with the intermediate resistance layer 10a and do not show the rubber property.
  • the contact type charging blade supplied with the oscillating voltage produced less noise and stabilized contact between the charging blade and the member to be charged or discharged in a long term use, thus providing stabilized uniform charging operation.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electrostatic Charge, Transfer And Separation In Electrography (AREA)
EP19920304561 1991-05-20 1992-05-20 Charger having charging blade, image forming apparatus having same and process cartridge having same Withdrawn EP0515164A3 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP145323/91 1991-05-20
JP14532391A JPH04343373A (ja) 1991-05-20 1991-05-20 接触帯電装置
JP20547491A JPH0527551A (ja) 1991-07-22 1991-07-22 接触帯電ブレード
JP205474/91 1991-07-22

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0515164A2 true EP0515164A2 (de) 1992-11-25
EP0515164A3 EP0515164A3 (en) 1993-11-03

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EP19920304561 Withdrawn EP0515164A3 (en) 1991-05-20 1992-05-20 Charger having charging blade, image forming apparatus having same and process cartridge having same

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0629928A2 (de) * 1993-05-31 1994-12-21 Ricoh Company, Ltd Rolle, Aufladegerät und Bilderzeugungsgerät unter Verwendung derselben
US5860046A (en) * 1996-07-09 1999-01-12 Minolta Co., Ltd. Charging method and charging device

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2892973A (en) * 1955-01-26 1959-06-30 Gen Dynamics Corp Apparatus for imparting electrostatic charges in electrophotography
JPS60147756A (ja) * 1984-01-13 1985-08-03 Toshiba Corp 帯電装置
EP0312230A2 (de) * 1987-10-05 1989-04-19 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Bilderzeugungsgerät
JPH0313973A (ja) * 1989-06-13 1991-01-22 Nec Corp 電子写真印刷装置
JPH03100675A (ja) * 1989-09-14 1991-04-25 Canon Inc 接触帯電装置
US5095335A (en) * 1989-09-19 1992-03-10 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Copier with retractable charging unit to prevent damage to drum when removing process cartridge

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2892973A (en) * 1955-01-26 1959-06-30 Gen Dynamics Corp Apparatus for imparting electrostatic charges in electrophotography
JPS60147756A (ja) * 1984-01-13 1985-08-03 Toshiba Corp 帯電装置
EP0312230A2 (de) * 1987-10-05 1989-04-19 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Bilderzeugungsgerät
JPH0313973A (ja) * 1989-06-13 1991-01-22 Nec Corp 電子写真印刷装置
JPH03100675A (ja) * 1989-09-14 1991-04-25 Canon Inc 接触帯電装置
US5095335A (en) * 1989-09-19 1992-03-10 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Copier with retractable charging unit to prevent damage to drum when removing process cartridge

Non-Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 15, no. 131 (P-1186)29 March 1991 & JP-A-03 013 973 ( NEC CORP ) 22 January 1991 *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 15, no. 292 (P-1230)24 July 1991 & JP-A-03 100 675 ( CANON INC ) 25 April 1991 *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 9, no. 320 (P-413)(2043) 14 December 1985 & JP-A-60 147 756 ( TOSHIBA K.K. ) 3 August 1985 *

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0629928A2 (de) * 1993-05-31 1994-12-21 Ricoh Company, Ltd Rolle, Aufladegerät und Bilderzeugungsgerät unter Verwendung derselben
US5619311A (en) * 1993-05-31 1997-04-08 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Roller charging apparatus and image forming apparatus using the same
EP0629928A3 (de) * 1993-05-31 1998-07-29 Ricoh Company, Ltd Rolle, Aufladegerät und Bilderzeugungsgerät unter Verwendung derselben
US5860046A (en) * 1996-07-09 1999-01-12 Minolta Co., Ltd. Charging method and charging device

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