EP0299502A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process unit for image forming apparatus
Assignee: Fujitsu Ltd
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Filing: 1988-07-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-07-15
Abstract
Abstract A process unit (10) for an image forming apparatus (20), the process unit (10) being loadable into and removable from the image forming apparatus (20) as a single integral unit, the unit (10) comprising a unit case (3) housing at least a photosensitive member (12), for example a drum or a belt, on a surface of which a latent image is formed when the process unit (10) is loaded into the image forming apparatus (20) and the apparatus put to use, and a conductive brush type charger (2, 2a, 2b), for electrostatically charging the latent image formation surface of the photosensitive member (12), the charger (2, 2a, 2b) comprising a plurality of conductive brush fibers (2a) having tips arranged for contacting the latent image formation surface substantially perpendicularly, for application of charging voltage through the fibers.
Inventors
- 👤 Masahiro Fujitsu Limited Wanou
- 👤 Kunihiko Fujitsu Limited Sato
- 👤 Masatoshi Fujitsu Limited Kimura
- 👤 Junzo Fujitsu Limited Nakajima
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 16:03
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/02; G03G15/0208; G03G15/0216; G03G21/00; G03G21/16; G03G21/1642; G03G21/1652; G03G21/18; G03G21/1803; G03G21/1814; G03G2221/00; G03G2221/16; G03G2221/1606; G03G2221/1615; G03G2221/1651; G03G2221/166; G03G2221/1669; G03G2221/1693; G03G2221/18; G03G2221/183
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A process unit loadable into an image forming apparatus, the process unit comprising:- a photosensitive member transferable in a first direction; a conductive brush type charger comprising a plurality of conductive brush fibers, arranged in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction, for electrostatically charging a surface of the photosensitive member uniformly by making the tips of the conductive brush fibers touch to the surface of said photosensitive member and applying a charging voltage to the surface of the photosensitive member through the conductive brush fibers; and a unit case for housing the photosensitive member and the conductive brush type charger.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
A process unit loadable into an image forming apparatus, the process unit comprising:- a photosensitive member transferable in a first direction; a conductive brush type charger comprising a plurality of conductive brush fibers, arranged in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction, for electrostatically charging a surface of the photosensitive member uniformly by making the tips of the conductive brush fibers touch to the surface of said photosensitive member and applying a charging voltage to the surface of the photosensitive member through the conductive brush fibers; and a unit case for housing the photosensitive member and the conductive brush type charger.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process unit according to claim 1, wherein the conductive brush type charger further comprises a conductive base, fixed to an inner surface of the unit case, on which the conductive brush fibers are provided.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
A process unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unit case is electrically non-conductive, the electrically non-conductive unit case comprising a base part protruded towards the surface of the photosensitive member from an inner surface of the unit case, the base part being coated with conductive material and the conductive brush fibers being provided on a surface of the base part.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
134 words
A process unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductive brush type charger further comprises:- a conductive base bar on which the conductive brush fibers are provided, the base bar being placed perpendicularly to the first direction; thrust means for urging the base bar towards the surface of the photosensitive member; and stopper means for retaining the bar against the thrust force of the thrust means so that the tips of the conductive brush fibers uniformly touch to the surface of the photosensitive member; and the base bar and stopper means being such that spacer means can be inserted between the base bar and the stopper means, for providing a space between the tips of the conductive brush fibers and the surface of the photosensitive member, the spacer means being insertable and removable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
211 words
A process unit as claimed in claim 1, the conductive brush type charger further comprising:- a conductive base bar on which the conductive brush fibers are provided so that the conductive brush fibers are directed towards the surface of the photosensitive member, the conductive base bar being arranged in the second direction and placed in parallel with the surface of the photosensitive member, the conductive base bar comprising a first sliding surface parallel to the surface of said photosensitive member for positioning the conductive base bar so that the tips of the conductive brush fibers uniformly touch to the surface of the photosensitive member when the first sliding surface is contacted by an appropriate second sliding surface when the process unit is loaded into image forming apparatus, the second sliding surface being, for example, provided on a bar protruded from the image forming apparatus; and means for urging the conductive base bar away from the surface of the photosensitive member, providing a space between the tips of the conductive brush fibers and the surface of said photosensitive member when the process unit is not loaded in image forming apparatus, and providing firm contact between the first and second sliding surfaces when said process unit is loaded into the image forming apparatus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
A process unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductive brush type charge comprises a rotatable conductive body, rotatable around an axis placed perpendicularly to the first direction, with the conductive brush fibers fixed around the rotatable conductive body so that the tips of the brush fibers uniformly contact with the surface of the photosensitive member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
A process unit as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising, housed in the unit case, developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image so as to form a toner image on the surface of the photosensitive member; cleaner means for cleaning toner left on the surface of the photosensitive member after transcription of the toner image from the photosensitive member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A process unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the photosensitive member is a photosensitive drum comprising a conductive rotatable drum, rotatable in the first direction, and a photosensitive layer provided around a wall surface of the drum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A process unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the photosensitive member is a photosensitive belt transferable in the first direction, the photosensitive belt comprising a belt body on which conductive material is coated, and a photosensitive layer provided on the conductive material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the conductive brush fibers are carbon-dispersed chemical fibers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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