US5168309A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image forming apparatus having a charging member and a cleaning member and a process cartridge detachably mountable to same
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1991-04-26
•
Granted: 1992-12-01
•
Expires: 2011-04-26
Abstract
Abstract An image forming apparatus includes a cleaning blade for cleaning a photosensitive member and a contact charging blade for charging the photosensitive member. The contact charging blade is contacted to the photosensitive member with a frictional coefficient which is smaller than the frictional coefficient at which the cleaning blade is contacted to the photosensitive member. The photosensitive member and the blades are protected from wearing and damage even if the contact charging blade is contacted to such a portion of the photosensitive member which is free from residual matter due to the function of the cleaning blade. In addition, the service life of the contact charging blade can be expanded to be substantially equal to that of the cleaning blade, and therefore, the present invention is particularly effective when both of the blades are provided in a process cartridge detachably mountable into a main assembly of the apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroyuki Adachi
- 👤 Noribumi Koitabashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 10:01
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G21/16; G03G21/18; G03G21/1803; G03G21/1814; G03G15/00; G03G15/02; G03G15/0208; G03G15/0216; G03G21/0005; G03G21/0011; G03G2221/00; G03G2221/16; G03G2221/1618; G03G2221/1651; G03G2221/1654; G03G2221/1669; G03G2221/1693; G03G2221/18; G03G2221/183
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a movable image bearing member for carrying a toner image; a cleaning member in the form of a blade for contacting said image bearing member to clean said image bearing member by removing residual toner therefrom, wherein a contact portion of said cleaning member has a first frictional coefficient; a charging member in the form of a blade for charging said image bearing member, said charging member contacting said image bearing member at a position downstream of said cleaning member with respect to a moving direction of said image bearing member, wherein a contacting pressure of said charging member on said image bearing member is 5-20 g/cm, and wherein a contact portion of said charging member has a second frictional coefficient which is smaller than the first frictional coefficient; and voltage application means for applying a voltage to said charging member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a movable image bearing member for carrying a toner image; a cleaning member in the form of a blade for contacting said image bearing member to clean said image bearing member by removing residual toner therefrom, wherein a contact portion of said cleaning member has a first frictional coefficient; a charging member in the form of a blade for charging said image bearing member, said charging member contacting said image bearing member at a position downstream of said cleaning member with respect to a moving direction of said image bearing member, wherein a contacting pressure of said charging member on said image bearing member is 5-20 g/cm, and wherein a contact portion of said charging member has a second frictional coefficient which is smaller than the first frictional coefficient; and voltage application means for applying a voltage to said charging member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said charging member contacts said image bearing member at a first contact angle, and said cleaning member contacts said image bearing member at a second contact angle wherein the first contact angle is smaller than the second contact angle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first contact formed downstream of a position where said charging member contacts said image bearing member with respect to a moving direction of said image bearing member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second contact angle is formed downstream of a position where said cleaning member contacts said image bearing member a moving direction of said image bearing member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the contact angle of said charging member relative to said image bearing member is not more than 20 degrees.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said voltage application means applies a vibratory voltage to said charging member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said vibratory voltage is provided by superposing a DC voltage and an AC voltage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the vibratory voltage has a peak-to-peak voltage which is not less than twice an absolute value of a charge starting voltage to said image bearing member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said charging member is of rubber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said charging member includes a low frictional coefficient layer of resin material contactable to said image bearing member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said resin layer is nylon resin.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said charging member has a resin layer at a portion contacting said image bearing member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said resin layer is nylon resin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
167 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a movable image bearing member for carrying a toner image; a cleaning member in the form of blade for contacting said image bearing member to clean said image bearing member by removing residual toner therefrom, wherein a contact portion of said cleaning member has a first frictional coefficient; a charging member is the form of a blade for charging said image bearing member, said charging member contacting said image bearing member at a position downstream of said cleaning member with respect to a moving direction of said image bearing member, wherein a contacting pressure of said charging member on said image bearing member is 5-20 g/cm, and wherein a contact portion of said charging member has a second frictional coefficient which is smaller than the first frictional coefficient; voltage application means for applying a voltage to said charging member; and supporting means for supporting said charging member and said cleaning member, said supporting means being detachably mountable to said image forming apparats.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
167 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a movable image bearing member for carrying a toner image; a cleaning member in the form of blade for contacting said image bearing member to clean said image bearing member by removing residual toner therefrom, wherein a contact portion of said cleaning member has a first frictional coefficient; a charging member is the form of a blade for charging said image bearing member, said charging member contacting said image bearing member at a position downstream of said cleaning member with respect to a moving direction of said image bearing member, wherein a contacting pressure of said charging member on said image bearing member is 5-20 g/cm, and wherein a contact portion of said charging member has a second frictional coefficient which is smaller than the first frictional coefficient; voltage application means for applying a voltage to said charging member; and supporting means for supporting said charging member and said cleaning member, said supporting means being detachably mountable to said image forming apparats.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said charging member contacts said image bearing member at a first contact angle, and said cleaning member contacts said image bearing member at a second contact angle wherein the first contact angle is smaller than the second contact angle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the first contact angle is formed downstream of a position where said cleaning member contacts said image bearing member with respect to a moving direction of said image bearing member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the second contact angle is formed downstream of a position where said cleaning member contacts said image bearing member with respect to a moving direction of said image bearing member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the contact angle of said charging member relative to said image bearing member is not more than 20 degrees.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said voltage application means applies to vibratory voltage to said charging member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said vibratory voltage is provided by superposing a DC voltage and an AC voltage.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the vibratory voltage has a peak-to-peak voltage which is not less than twice an absolute value of a charge starting voltage to said image bearing member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said charging member is of rubber.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said charging member includes a low frictional coefficient layer of resin material contactable to said image bearing member.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said resin layer is nylon resin.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said supporting means includes a process cartridge detachably mountable to said image forming apparatus.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said charging member has a resin layer at a portion contacting said image bearing member.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said resin layer is nylon resin.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said supporting means further comprises an image bearing member.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
145 words
A process cartridge detachably mountable into a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, comprising: a movable image bearing member for carrying a toner image; a cleaning member in the form of a blade for contacting said image bearing member to clean said image bearing member by removing residual toner therefrom, wherein a contact portion of said cleaning member has a first frictional coefficient; and a charging member in the form of a blade for charging said image bearing member, said charging member contacting said image bearing member at a position downstream of said cleaning member with respect to a moving direction of said image bearing member, wherein a contacting pressure of said charging member on said image bearing member is 5-20 g/cm, and wherein a contact portion of said charging member has a second frictional coefficient which is smaller than the first frictional coefficient.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
145 words
A process cartridge detachably mountable into a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, comprising: a movable image bearing member for carrying a toner image; a cleaning member in the form of a blade for contacting said image bearing member to clean said image bearing member by removing residual toner therefrom, wherein a contact portion of said cleaning member has a first frictional coefficient; and a charging member in the form of a blade for charging said image bearing member, said charging member contacting said image bearing member at a position downstream of said cleaning member with respect to a moving direction of said image bearing member, wherein a contacting pressure of said charging member on said image bearing member is 5-20 g/cm, and wherein a contact portion of said charging member has a second frictional coefficient which is smaller than the first frictional coefficient.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
46 words
A cartridge according to claim 29, wherein said charging member contacts said image bearing member at a first contact angle, and said cleaning member contacts said image bearing member at a second contact angle wherein the first contact angle is smaller than the second contact angle.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
37 words
A cartridge according to claim 30, wherein the first contact angle is formed downstream of a position where said charging member contacts said image bearing member with respect to a moving direction of said image bearing member.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
37 words
A cartridge according to claim 30, wherein the second contact angle is formed downstream of a position where said cleaning member contacts said image bearing member with respect to a moving direction of said image bearing member.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
A cartridge according to claim 30, wherein the contact angle of said charging member relative to said image bearing member is not more than 20 degrees.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
13 words
A cartridge according to claim 29, wherein said charging member is of rubber.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cartridge according to claim 29, wherein said charging member includes a low frictional coefficient layer of resin material contactable to said image bearing member.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
13 words
A cartridge according to claim 35, wherein said resin layer is nylon resin.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
22 words
A cartridge according to claim 29, wherein said charging member has a resin layer at a portion contacting said image bearing member.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
13 words
A cartridge according to claim 37, wherein said resin layer is nylon resin.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
141 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a movable image bearing member for carrying a toner image, said image bearing member having an organic photoconductor layer on an outer surface thereof; a cleaning member in the form of a blade for contacting said image bearing member to clean said image bearing member by removing residual toner therefrom, wherein a contact portion of said cleaning member has a first frictional coefficient; a charging member in the form of a blade for charging said image bearing member, said charging member contacting said image bearing member, wherein a contacting pressure of said charging member on said image bearing member is 5-20 g/cm, and wherein a contact portion of said charging member has a second frictional coefficient which is smaller than the first frictional coefficient; and voltage application means for applying a voltage to said charging member.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
141 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a movable image bearing member for carrying a toner image, said image bearing member having an organic photoconductor layer on an outer surface thereof; a cleaning member in the form of a blade for contacting said image bearing member to clean said image bearing member by removing residual toner therefrom, wherein a contact portion of said cleaning member has a first frictional coefficient; a charging member in the form of a blade for charging said image bearing member, said charging member contacting said image bearing member, wherein a contacting pressure of said charging member on said image bearing member is 5-20 g/cm, and wherein a contact portion of said charging member has a second frictional coefficient which is smaller than the first frictional coefficient; and voltage application means for applying a voltage to said charging member.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said charging member contacts said image bearing member at a first contact angle, and said cleaning member contacts said image bearing member at a second contact angle wherein the first contact angle is smaller than the second contact angle.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the first contact angle is formed downstream of a position where said charging member contacts said image bearing member with respect to a moving direction of said image bearing member.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the second contact angle is formed downstream of a position where said cleaning member contacts said image bearing member with respect to a moving direction of said image bearing member.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said charging member includes a low frictional coefficient layer of resin material contactable to said image bearing member.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said resin layer is nylon resin.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-12-01 | 1996-06-01 | 1996-12-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-12-01 | 2000-06-01 | 2000-12-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-12-01 | 2004-06-01 | 2004-12-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |