Conductive charge/discharge device

Claim 1

In a copying apparatus of the type having a photoconductive surface, a charging station to impart an electrostatic charge distribution to at least a portion of said photoconductive surface, an exposure station to impose an image on said portion of said surface, to thereby influence the charge distribution, a development station at which a developing material is deposited on said portion of said surface in a pattern corresponding to the image to be reproduced, a transfer station having means for transferring the pattern to a sheet means and a discharge station for dissipating electrostatic charge on said portion of said surface, said photoconductive surface and said stations being relatively movable whereby a portion of said photoconductive surface is locatable adjacent a selected station, the improvement comprising said charging station including a charging device comprising an elongated, linear distribution of conductive fibers mounted on a conductive support means and extending across said charging station, with from 6 to 84 fibers per lineal inch and means connecting said fibers to a potential voltage source, said discharge station including a discharging means including an annular core having an exterior cylindrical surface which is covered with a plurality of closely positioned conductive fibers extending generally radially therefrom, means mounting said core of said discharging station for rotation adjacent to but with said fibers spaced from a said portion of said photoconductive surface at said discharge station and means connecting said fibers to a potential voltage source with a polarity different from that of said potential voltage source of said charging means.