EP0089224A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conductive charge/discharge device
Assignee: Schlegel Corp
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Filing: 1983-03-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-03-15
Abstract
Abstract Both charging and discharging devices (16, 26, 28, 48) for an electrostatic xerographic and other types of electrophotographic copiers or printers are constructed in the form of a filament brush (30), the fibers of which are each electrically conductive and connected to a potential voltage source whereby the individual fiber tips (33) will function as a corona discharge source to charge or discharge the photoconductive surface of an electrostatic copier but with substantially reduced power requirements.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard S. Clouthier
- 👤 Thomas A. Rogers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 14:41
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G21/06; G03G15/00; G03G15/02; G03G15/0208; G03G15/0216; G03G15/0233; G03G15/14; G03G15/16; G03G15/163; G03G15/1635; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/16; G03G2215/1604; G03G2215/1642
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
1 . In a copying/printing apparatus of the type having a photoconductive surface (12), a charging station (A) to impart an electrostatic charge distribution to at least a portion of said photoconductive surface (12), an exposure station (B) to impose an image on said portion of said surface (12), to thereby influence the charge distribution, a development station (C) at which a developing material is deposited on said portion of said surface (12) to form a pattern corresponding to the image to be reproduced, a transfer station (D) having means (26,38) for transferring the pattern to a sheet means and a discharge station (E) for dissipating electrostatic charge on said portion of said surface (12), said photoconductive surface (12) and said stations (A,B,C,D,E) being relatively movable whereby a portion of said photoconductive surface (12) is locatable adjacent a selected station, characterised in that at at least one of said charging, transfer and discharge stations (A,D,E) the respective station includes means (16,26 or 28) having a support surface (35 or 36) and a plurality of conductive fibers (33 or 32) extending therefrom to a substantially uniform height in the direction of but spaced from a said portion of said photoconductive surface (12), said support surface (35 or 36) having conductive means connected to a potential voltage source (18,38 or 40).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
219 words
1 . In a copying/printing apparatus of the type having a photoconductive surface (12), a charging station (A) to impart an electrostatic charge distribution to at least a portion of said photoconductive surface (12), an exposure station (B) to impose an image on said portion of said surface (12), to thereby influence the charge distribution, a development station (C) at which a developing material is deposited on said portion of said surface (12) to form a pattern corresponding to the image to be reproduced, a transfer station (D) having means (26,38) for transferring the pattern to a sheet means and a discharge station (E) for dissipating electrostatic charge on said portion of said surface (12), said photoconductive surface (12) and said stations (A,B,C,D,E) being relatively movable whereby a portion of said photoconductive surface (12) is locatable adjacent a selected station, characterised in that at at least one of said charging, transfer and discharge stations (A,D,E) the respective station includes means (16,26 or 28) having a support surface (35 or 36) and a plurality of conductive fibers (33 or 32) extending therefrom to a substantially uniform height in the direction of but spaced from a said portion of said photoconductive surface (12), said support surface (35 or 36) having conductive means connected to a potential voltage source (18,38 or 40).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that said respective station is the charging station (A) or the transfer station (D) and includes charging means (16) in which the plurality of conductive fibers are in the form of linearly arranged fibers (33) with a distribution of from 6 to 84 fibers per lineal inch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
109 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 characterised in that said respective station is the discharge station (E) and includes a discharging means (26) and having a support surface (35 or 36) which has a plurality of closely positioned conductive fibers (33 or 32) extending therefrom to a substantially uniform height in the direction of but spaced from a said portion of said photoconductive surface (12), said support surface (35 or 36) of said discharge station (E) having conductive means (33 or 32) connected to a potential voltage source (40) with a polarity different from that of said potential voltage source (18) of said charging means (16).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that said transfer station (D) includes means (26)for charging said sheet means, said sheet means charging means including a support surface (35 or 36) and a plurality of conductive fibers (33 or 32) extending therefrom to a substantially uniform height in the direction of but spaced from a said portion of said photoconductive surface (12), said support surface (35 or 36) having conductive means connected to a potential voltage source (38).
Claim 6
Independent Claim
35 words
The apparatus as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 characterised in that said support surface (35 or 36)of said charging means (16) includes a metal base connected to said potential voltage source (18).
Claim 7
Independent Claim
72 words
The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims characterised in that said plurality of closely positioned conductive fibers are in the form of a pile fabric (32) having a fabric base (34) from which said fibers (32) extend, said fabric base (34) being coated on its side opposite the side from which said fibers extend with a conductive coating, said fabric base being carried on said support surface (36).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
192 words
A copying apparatus of the type having a photoconductive surface (12), a charging station (A) to impart an electrostatic charge distribution to at least a portion of said photoconductive surface (12), an exposure station (B) to impose an image on said portion of said surface (12), to thereby influence the charge distribution, a development station (C) at which a developing material is deposited on said portion of said surface (12) in a pattern corresponding to the image to be reproduced, a transfer station (D) having means (26) for transferring the pattern to a sheet means and a discharge station (E) for dissipating electrostatic charge on said portion of said surface (12), said phot- conductive surface (12) and said stations (A-E) being relatively movable whereby a portion of said photoconductive surface is locatable adjacent a selected station, characterised in that said charging station (A) includes a charging device (16) comprising an elongated, linear distribution of conductive fibers (33) mounted on a conductive support means (35) and extending across said charging station (A), with from 6 to 84 fibers per lineal inch and means (35) connecting said fibers to a potential voltage source (18).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
192 words
A copying apparatus of the type having a photoconductive surface (12), a charging station (A) to impart an electrostatic charge distribution to at least a portion of said photoconductive surface (12), an exposure station (B) to impose an image on said portion of said surface (12), to thereby influence the charge distribution, a development station (C) at which a developing material is deposited on said portion of said surface (12) in a pattern corresponding to the image to be reproduced, a transfer station (D) having means (26) for transferring the pattern to a sheet means and a discharge station (E) for dissipating electrostatic charge on said portion of said surface (12), said phot- conductive surface (12) and said stations (A-E) being relatively movable whereby a portion of said photoconductive surface is locatable adjacent a selected station, characterised in that said charging station (A) includes a charging device (16) comprising an elongated, linear distribution of conductive fibers (33) mounted on a conductive support means (35) and extending across said charging station (A), with from 6 to 84 fibers per lineal inch and means (35) connecting said fibers to a potential voltage source (18).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
109 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 7 characterised in that said discharge station (E) includes a discharging means (42) including an annular core (46) having an exterior cylindrical surface which is covered with a plurality of closely positioned conductive fibers (44) extending generally radially therefrom, means mounting said core (46) of said discharging station (E) for rotation adjacent to but with said fibers (44) spaced from a portion of said photoconductive surface (12) at said discharge station (E) and means connecting said fibers (44) to a potential voltage source (40) with a polarity different from that of said potential voltage source (18) of said charging means (A).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
81 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 or 8 characterised in that said transfer station (D) includes means (26) for charging said sheet means, said sheet means charging means including a charging device comprising an elongated, linear distribution of conductive fibers (33) mounted on a conductive support means (35) and extending across said transfer station, with from 6 to 84 fibers per lineal inch and means connecting said fibers of said sheet means charging means to a potential voltage source (38).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
67 words
lO. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or 9 characterised in that said plurality of closely positioned conductive fibers (44) is in the form of a pile fabric having a fabric base from which said fibers extend, said fabric base being in the form of a sleeve having an interior surface opposite the surface from which said fibers extend which is coated with a conductive coating.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims characterised in that said fibers (32, 33 or 44) are a conductive metal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 characterised in that said fibers are copper stainless steel or aluminium filaments.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
19 words
The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1-10 characterised in that said conductive fibers are carbon filaments.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1-10 characterised in that said conductive fibers are carbon-coated synthetic fibers.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1-10 characterised in that said conductive fibers are natural fibers coated with a conductive metal.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1-10 characterised in that said conductive fibers are silver-coated synthetic fibers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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