EP0439145A2 - Elément de chargement avec une structure comprenant une électrode faisant office de pont et dispositif de chargement avec un tel élément utilisé dans une unité de traitement amovible d'un appareil de formation d'images - Google Patents

Elément de chargement avec une structure comprenant une électrode faisant office de pont et dispositif de chargement avec un tel élément utilisé dans une unité de traitement amovible d'un appareil de formation d'images Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0439145A2
EP0439145A2 EP91100831A EP91100831A EP0439145A2 EP 0439145 A2 EP0439145 A2 EP 0439145A2 EP 91100831 A EP91100831 A EP 91100831A EP 91100831 A EP91100831 A EP 91100831A EP 0439145 A2 EP0439145 A2 EP 0439145A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
charging
blade
supporting
electrode layer
supporting member
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP91100831A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0439145A3 (en
EP0439145B1 (fr
Inventor
Hiroyuki C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Adachi
Norihisa C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Hoshika
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
Application filed by Canon Inc filed Critical Canon Inc
Publication of EP0439145A2 publication Critical patent/EP0439145A2/fr
Publication of EP0439145A3 publication Critical patent/EP0439145A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0439145B1 publication Critical patent/EP0439145B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • G03G15/0233—Structure, details of the charging member, e.g. chemical composition, surface properties

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a charging member and a charging device for charging a member to be charged, an image forming apparatus, such as an electrophotographic apparatus or the like, having the charging device, and a process unit detachable relative to the apparatus.
  • a corona discharger such as a corotron, a scorotron or the like, having a wire electrode and a shield electrode surrounding the wire electrode and having an excellent charging unifomness has been widley used as a means for uniformly charging the surface of an image carrying member, such as a photosensitive member, a dielectric member or the like, serving as a member to be charged in an image forming apparatus, such as an electrophotographic copier, an electrophotographic printer, a recording apparatus or the like.
  • an image carrying member such as a photosensitive member, a dielectric member or the like
  • the corona discharger has the following problems: An expensive high-voltage power supply is needed. Space is needed for the charger itself, as shield space for the high-voltage power supply, and the like. A large amount of corona products, such as ozone and the like, are produced, and hence additional means and mechanisms are needed in order to deal with the corona products. These factors result in a large and expensive apparatus.
  • contact charging by contacting a contact charging member, to which a voltage (for example, a DC voltage of about 1 - 2 kV (kilovolts), or a superposed voltage composed of a DC voltage and an AC voltage) is applied from a power supply, to the surface of an image carrying member, serving as a member to be charged, the surface of the image carrying member is charged at a predetermined potential.
  • a voltage for example, a DC voltage of about 1 - 2 kV (kilovolts), or a superposed voltage composed of a DC voltage and an AC voltage
  • the blade charging method is particularly effective for a small image forming apparatus because it provides for an inexpensive and compact apparatus.
  • One of the problems associated with the contact charging methods including the blade charging method is as follows: If a pinhole portion (a surface defect portion in a member to be charged) is present in an image carrying member, such as a photosensitive member or the like, a spark discharge is apt to occur between a contact charging member, to which a voltage is applied, in contact with the surface of the image carrying member in order to charge the suface of the image carrying member and the pinhole portion in the image carrying member.
  • FIGS. 6(A) and 6(B) illustrate a model for explaining the charge leak phenomenon.
  • a photosensitive member 1 serves as an image carrying member (a member to be charged) whose surface moves in the direction of the arrow. Pinhole portions P are present in the photosensitive member 1.
  • a blade member 2 (hereinafter termed a "charging blade") of a contact charging member to which a voltage is applied is in contact with the surface of the photosensitive member 1 in order to charge the surface.
  • FIG. 6(B) is an equivalent circuit of FIG. 6(A).
  • the pinhole portions P in the photosensitive member 1 have lower resistance values than other portions. Hence, when the charging blade 2 contacts the pinhole portions P or the surface of the charging blade 2 comes close to the pinhole portions P, spark discharges S are apt to occur between the charging blade 2 and the pinhole portions P. When the discharges S occur, potentials V A , V B , --- V Z at respective portions applied on the surface of the photosensitive member 1 in the direction of the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive member 1 (the direction of the generatrix of the photosensitive member 1) become almost 0 V (volt). As a result, electric charges cannot be held on the surface of the photosensitive member 1 over the entire surface of the contact charging region including the pinhole portions P in contact with charging blade 2.
  • the pinholes P are apt to be produced, for example, during the production of an image carrying member (a member to be charged), such as a photosensitive member or the like, due to scratching, or due to dielectric breakdown. It is rather difficult to completely eliminate pinholes.
  • the distance (the free length of the blade) between the distal end of a rigid blade supporting member made, for example, of sheet metal and a portion of the charging blade 2 in contact with the member to be charged must be considerably larger than the thickness of the blade 2. Accordingly, when a voltage is applied from the blade supporting member to the blade 2, the voltage drop in the blade 2 becomes large, causing a decrease in the potential of the portion of the blade 2 in contact with the member to be charged. Hence, it is necessary to attach a back electrode to the charging blade 2, but there has been no excellent means for producing a charging blade having a back electrode.
  • the present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described problems.
  • the nvention in one aspect pertains to a charging member for charging a member to be charged, comprising a blade member, a supporting member for supporting the blade member, and an electrode layer primarily provided on the blade member and secondarily on the supporting member to establish an electrical connection therebetween by means of said electrode layer, wherein the electrode layer is formed after connecting the blade member to the supporting member.
  • the invention in a further aspect pertains to a charging device for charging a member to be charged comprising a blade member for contacting the member to be charged, a supporting member for supporting the blade member, and an electrode layer primarily provided on a surface of the blade member opposite to a surface contacting the member to be charged and secondarily on the supporting member to establish an electrical connection therebetween by means of said electrode layer, wherein the electrode layer is formed after connecting the blade member to the supporting member.
  • the invention in yet a further aspect pertains to a process unit detachable relative to an image forming apparatus, comprising an image carrying member, and charging means for charging the image carrying member in order to form an image on the image carrying member, the charging means comprising a blade member for contacting the image carrying member, a supporting member for supporting the blade member, and an electrode layer primarily provided on a surface of the blade member opposite to a surface contacting the supporting member and secondarily on the supporting member to establish an electrical connection therebetween by means of said electrode layer, wherein the electrode layer is formed after connecting the blade member to the supporting member.
  • the invention in still another aspect pertains to an image forming apparatus comprising an image carrying member, an image forming means for forming an image on the image carrying member, and charging means for charging the image carrying member in order to form the image on the image carrying member, the charging means comprising a blade member for contacting the image carrying member, a supporting member for supporting the blade member, and an electrode layer primarily provided on a surface of the blade member opposite to a surface contacting the image carrying member and secondarily on the supporting member to establish an electrical connection therebetween by means of said electrode layer, wherein the electrode layer is formed after connecting the blade member to the supporting member.
  • the invention in another aspect pertains to a charging member for charging a member to be charged, comprising a blade member, a supporting member for supporting the blade member relative to the member to be charged, and an electrode layer formed primarily on said blade member and secondarily on the supporting member wherein an electrical connection is established between the blade member and the supporting member by the electrode member.
  • the invention in yet another aspect pertains to a method for making a charging member comprising the steps of providing a blade member, providing a supporting member, connecting the blade member to the supporting member, and forming an electrode layer primarily on the blade member and secondarily on the supporting member after the blade member and the supporting member have been connected to establish an electrical connection therebetween by means of the electrode layer.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the configuration of a principal part of an image forming apparatus which incorporates a contact charging device using a contact charging member according to the present invention as the charging processing means for an image carrying member.
  • a rotating-drum-type electrophotographic photosensitive member (termed hereinafter a "photosensitive drum”) serves as an image carrying member.
  • the photosensitive drum 1 is composed of an organic photoconductive layer 1a which is a surface layer, and a grounded conductive substrate 1b made, for example, of aluminum for supporting the organic photoconductive layer 1a.
  • the photosensitive drum 1 is rotatably driven in the clockwise direction as shown by arrow A at a predetermined circumferential speed (process speed).
  • the photosensitive drum 1 is uniformly charged at a predetermined polarity and a predetermined potential during its rotation by a charging blade 2 serving as a contact charging member of a contact charging device (to be described later).
  • the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is subjected to exposure L (for example, exposure by an analog optical system for imaging and exposing the image of an original, scanning exposure by a digital optical system including a laser-beam scanner, an LED array or the like) in accordance with object image information at an exposing portion.
  • exposure L for example, exposure by an analog optical system for imaging and exposing the image of an original, scanning exposure by a digital optical system including a laser-beam scanner, an LED array or the like
  • the formed latent image is then subjected to normal or reversal development using toner by a developing unit 7.
  • a transfer material Pa is fed from a paper feed mechanism (not shown), and is supplied to a space (transfer portion) between the photosensitive drum 1 and a transfer roller 8 (for example, a corona charger may also be used), serving as transfer means, with a predetermined timing by registration rollers 10.
  • the developed image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 is sequentially transferred to the fed transfer material Pa.
  • the transfer material Pa passing through the transfer portion is separated from the surface of the photosensitive drum 1, and is guided into a fixing unit (not shown) by feed means 11.
  • the image on the transfer material Pa is fixed in the fixing unit.
  • Unnecessary particles remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after image transfer are removed by a cleaning unit 9, and the photosensitive drum 1 is repeatedly used for forming images.
  • the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment is constituted as a process unit 6 wherein the four process devices, that is, the photosensitive drum 1, the charging blade 2, the developing unit 7 and the cleaning unit 9, are incorporated as a unit with a predetermined mutual positional relationship.
  • the unit 6 can be mounted by inserting it into the main body of the image forming apparatus along supporting rails 12, 12' in the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 2.
  • the unit 6 is also detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus.
  • the process unit 6 may comprise the photosensitive drum 1 and the charging blade 2.
  • the main body of the apparatus and the unit 6 are mechanically and electrically coupled with each other, and the image forming apparatus assumes an operable state.
  • FIG. 1 is a model diagram of the contact charging device portion of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2.
  • the substrate of the charging blade 2 is, for example, an elastic rubber blade 2a 1 - 2 mm thick made of hydrin, EPDM (ethylene/propylene/diene terpolymer), urethane or the like whose volume resistivity is controlled to about 107 - 109 ⁇ ⁇ cm.
  • the base portion of the charging blade 2 is mounted on a conductive rigid supporting member 4, made of a steel plate or the like, as a unit using an adhesive or the like.
  • the charging blade 2 and the supporting member 4 are molded and held as a unit by injecting the blade material into a metal mold.
  • the distal end of the blade 2 contacts the drum 1 in the counter direction (the contact angle is an acute angle) relative to the rotation of the photosensitive drum 1.
  • the contact of the charging blade 2 with the photosensitive drum 1 may also be in the forward direction (the contact angle is an obtuse angle) relative to the rotation of the drum 1.
  • the contact charging member includes the charging blade 2 having the rubber blade 2a and the electrode layer 3, and the supporting member 4.
  • a power supply 5 for applying a voltage to the charging blade 2 applies to the conductive rigid supporting member 4 of the charging blade 2, for example, a DC voltage corresponding to a potential necessary for the photosensitive drum 1, or a bias voltage obtained by superposing an alternating voltage having a peak-to-peak voltage at least twice the discharge starting voltage (V TH ) determined from the charging blade 2 and the photosensitive drum 1 with the DC voltage in order to obtain uniform charging.
  • V TH discharge starting voltage
  • the above-described superposed bias voltage is a voltage whose value periodically changes. It may, for example, be a sinusoidal-wave AC voltage, or a rectangular-wave AC voltage which is formed by periodically switching on and off a DC power supply.
  • a rubber blade 2a serving as the substrates of charging blade 2 is sized to provide two sheets of charging blades having a predetermined size. If the rubber blade 2a is cut along its longitudinal central axis C - C, two substrates of charging blades having the predetermined size are obtained.
  • Conductive rigid supporting members 4, 4' are connected to the left and right side portions of the rubber blade 2a having the size for two sheets as one body symmetrically relative to the axis C - C using an adhesive or the like.
  • a back electrode layer 3 having a volume resistivity of 102 - 103 ⁇ ⁇ cm and having a cross-like patterned region, as shown by hatching, is formed symmetrically relative to the longitudinal central axis C - C by printing with a conductive paint made, for example, of polyurethane and the like on the back of the rubber blade 2a having the size of two sheets. Any material having a volume resistivity of 105 ⁇ ⁇ cm or less may be used for the electrode layer 3.
  • the supporting members 4, 4' and the electrode layer 3 are electrically connected by forming part of the back electrode layer 3 so as to extend on respective surfaces of the previously connected supporting members 4, 4'.
  • two charging blades are obtained by cutting the rubber blade 2a having the size for two sheets along the longitudinal central axis C - C.
  • the supporting members 4, 4' and the blade 2a can be electrically connected at the same time as the electrode layer 3 is provided.
  • the production process of the charging member is simplified. If the charging member is formed by connecting the electrode layer and the supporting member so as to superpose with each other after forming the electrode layer on the rubber blade, and the photosensitive drum is rotatably moved while contacting the charging blade to the photosensitive drum, the connected portion may easily peel according to a state wherein the electrode layer is formed, or the positional accuracy of the blade or the electrode layer relative to the drum may decrease.
  • the adhesive if an adhesive is used for connecting the electrode layer and the supporting member by superposing them, the adhesive must be conductive. Hence, the usable range of adhesives is limited. Accordingly, by forming the electrode layer 3 over the blade 2a and the supporting members 4, 4' after connecting the blade 2a to the supporting members 4, 4', as described above, the connecting force between the blade and the supporting member can be stabilized for a long period, and the positional accuracy of the blade relative to the drum increases. As a result, it is possible to perform stable charging. In addition, the usable range of adhesives is increased.
  • the back electrode layer 3 need not be formed on the entire surface of the back of the blade 2a, but it is sufficient if there are a back portion of the blade 2a corresponding to the distal-end portion of the blade 2a in contact with the member 1 to be charged, and a connecting portion for electrically connecting that portion to the supporting member 4, serving as the voltage supply side, as the T-like pattern (the pattern after cutting along the axis C - C) in the present embodiment.
  • an electrode layer 31 is formed by coating an electrode-layer material on the back of the rubber blade 2a after the connection/cutting, as shown in FIG. 3(B), electric charge leaks may occur in some cases, for example, due to the movement of the coated electrode-layer material in the neighborhood of the contact portion, as shown by reference numeral 3z in FIG. 3(C).
  • the width of the blade 2a may be increased by ⁇ and ⁇ at its right and left end sides, respectively, the supporting members 4, 4' may be attached to the blade 2a, and the electrode layer 3 may then be formed. Subsequently, the blade 2a may be cut along its central axis C - C, and the extra widths ⁇ and ⁇ at the right and left end sides may be removed by cutting along lines U1 - U1 and U2 - U2.
  • FIG. 5(B) an excellent finish accuracy for the right and left end sides of the blade 2a can be obtained, as shown in FIG. 5(B), and it is possible to eliminate the trouble of electric charge leaks due to the movement of the electrode-layer material onto the right and left end sides.
  • the pattern of the electrode layer 3 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5(A) and 5(B) has a ⁇ -like shape composed of a portion along the distal-end side of the blade 2a and portions along the right and left end sides of the blade 2a on the back of the blade 2a.
  • the electrode layer 3 may be coated on the entire surface of the back of the blade 2a.
  • the electrode layer 3 may be first formed on the entire surface of the back of the blade 2a using spray coating followed by the above-described cutting process.
  • the blade 2a may be cut along its center line C - C.
  • the charging blade may also be composed of a sheet material or a film material.
  • the back electrode layer 3 may be formed and configured in the same manner as explained above.
  • the present invention has the following effects: By forming an electrode layer on a charging blade, serving as a contact charging member, after connecting the blade to its supporting member as one body, it is possible to stabilize the connecting force between the two members for a long period, to accurately contact the blade to a member to be charged and thereby perform stable charging, and to simplify the production process of the charging member.
  • a charging member for charging a member to be charged includes a blade member, a supporting member which supports the blade member, and an electrode layer which is provided on, the blade member and is connected to the supporting member. The electrode layer is formed after connecting the blade member to the supporting member.
  • a charging device uses the charging member.
  • a process unit including the charging device is detachable relative to an image forming apparatus.

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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)
EP19910100831 1990-01-24 1991-01-23 Elément de chargement avec une structure comprenant une électrode faisant office de pont et dispositif de chargement avec un tel élément utilisé dans une unité de traitement amovible d'un appareil de formation d'images Expired - Lifetime EP0439145B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2014095A JP2767951B2 (ja) 1990-01-24 1990-01-24 接触帯電部材
JP14095/90 1990-01-24

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0439145A2 true EP0439145A2 (fr) 1991-07-31
EP0439145A3 EP0439145A3 (en) 1992-12-09
EP0439145B1 EP0439145B1 (fr) 1996-09-04

Family

ID=11851556

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19910100831 Expired - Lifetime EP0439145B1 (fr) 1990-01-24 1991-01-23 Elément de chargement avec une structure comprenant une électrode faisant office de pont et dispositif de chargement avec un tel élément utilisé dans une unité de traitement amovible d'un appareil de formation d'images

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0439145B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2767951B2 (fr)
DE (1) DE69121731T2 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0439143A3 (en) * 1990-01-24 1992-12-09 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Charging member featureing a cut edge, and charging device employing same for use in a detachable process unit in an image forming apparatus
US5192974A (en) * 1991-02-06 1993-03-09 Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha Contract charger
US5278614A (en) * 1992-05-15 1994-01-11 Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha Contact charger and image forming apparatus incorporating the contact charger

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP5677068B2 (ja) * 2010-12-14 2015-02-25 キヤノン株式会社 帯電部材および画像形成装置

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3885830T2 (de) * 1987-09-14 1994-06-16 Canon Kk Aufladevorrichtung.
DE3889708T2 (de) * 1987-10-05 1994-09-22 Canon Kk Bilderzeugungsgerät.
US5353101A (en) * 1990-01-24 1994-10-04 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Charging member featuring a cut edge, and charging device employing same for use in a detachable process unit in an image forming apparatus

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0439143A3 (en) * 1990-01-24 1992-12-09 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Charging member featureing a cut edge, and charging device employing same for use in a detachable process unit in an image forming apparatus
US5353101A (en) * 1990-01-24 1994-10-04 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Charging member featuring a cut edge, and charging device employing same for use in a detachable process unit in an image forming apparatus
US5192974A (en) * 1991-02-06 1993-03-09 Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha Contract charger
US5278614A (en) * 1992-05-15 1994-01-11 Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha Contact charger and image forming apparatus incorporating the contact charger

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0439145A3 (en) 1992-12-09
JPH03217874A (ja) 1991-09-25
DE69121731T2 (de) 1997-02-06
EP0439145B1 (fr) 1996-09-04
DE69121731D1 (de) 1996-10-10
JP2767951B2 (ja) 1998-06-25

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