US5499078A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Charge roller and image forming apparatus using the same
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing: 1994-09-09
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Granted: 1996-03-12
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Expires: 2014-09-09
Abstract
Abstract A charge roller rotatable in contact with a photoconductive element in the form of a drum or a belt and applied with a voltage for charging the element, and an image forming apparatus using the same. The surface of the charge roller is ground in order to remove toner particles and other impurities firmly deposited thereon, as needed. The charge roller is capable of uniformly charging the photoconductive element at all times.
Inventors
- 👤 Junji Kurokawa
- 👤 Kazuo Nojima
- 👤 Norimasa Sohmiya
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:27
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/02; G03G15/0208; G03G15/0216; G03G15/0225
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
46 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a charger roller for charging said photoconductive element; and a cleaner having a hardness higher than a predetermined hardness for removing a toner and other impurities deposited on a surface of said charge roller, wherein said cleaner comprises an abrasive paper.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
46 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a charger roller for charging said photoconductive element; and a cleaner having a hardness higher than a predetermined hardness for removing a toner and other impurities deposited on a surface of said charge roller, wherein said cleaner comprises an abrasive paper.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a charger roller for charging said photoconductive element; and a cleaner having a hardness higher than a predetermined hardness for removing a toner and other impurities deposited on a surface of said charge roller, wherein said cleaner is higher in hardness than the surface of said charge roller and the toner and other impurities.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a charger roller for charging said photoconductive element; and a cleaner having a hardness higher than a predetermined hardness for removing a toner and other impurities deposited on a surface of said charge roller, wherein said cleaner is higher in hardness than the surface of said charge roller and the toner and other impurities.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
An image forming apparatus having a photoconductive element, comprising: a charge roller for charging said photoconductive element; and grinding means for grinding a surface of said charge roller.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An image forming apparatus having a photoconductive element, comprising: a charge roller for charging said photoconductive element; and grinding means for grinding a surface of said charge roller.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said charge roller charges said photoconductive element only with a DC voltage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said charge roller comprises a metallic core, and an elastic layer of epichlorohydrin rubber covering said metallic core and having a rubber hardness higher than 40 (JIS A) and an electric resistance of 10 7 -10 10 Ωcm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said elastic layer has a surface roughness of 3 μm to 10 μm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprising: grinding means for grinding the surface of said charge roller; sensing means for sensing a charging condition; and control means responsive to an output of said sensing means for causing said grinding means to grind the surface of said charge roller.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising display means, said control means causing, in response to the output of said sensing means, said display means to display a time for grinding said charge roller.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprising: counting means for counting sheets used for image formation; and control means responsive to an output of said counting means for causing said grinding means to grind the surface of said charge roller.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising display means, said control means causing, in response to the output of said counting means, said display means to display a time for grinding said charge roller.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said charge roller comprises a metallic core, an elastic layer of epichlorohydrin covering said metallic core, and a layer of fluorine-contained resin/epichlorohydrin rubber mixture covering said elastic layer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said charge roller has a surface roughness of 3 μm to 10 μm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: sensing means for sensing a charging condition of said charge roller; and control means for controlling a grinding operation of said grinding means in response to an output of said sensing means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising: counting means for counting sheets used for image formation; and control means for controlling a grinding operation of said grinding means in response to an output of said counting means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
62 words
An image forming apparatus having a photoconductive element, comprising: a charge roller for charging said photoconductive element only with a DC voltage; display means for displaying various kinds of information; sensing means for sensing a charging condition; and control means responsive to an output of said sensing means for causing said display means to display a time for grinding said charge roller.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
62 words
An image forming apparatus having a photoconductive element, comprising: a charge roller for charging said photoconductive element only with a DC voltage; display means for displaying various kinds of information; sensing means for sensing a charging condition; and control means responsive to an output of said sensing means for causing said display means to display a time for grinding said charge roller.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said charge roller comprises a metallic core, and an elastic layer of epichlorohydrin rubber covering said metallic core and having a rubber hardness higher than 40 (JIS A) and an electric resistance of 10 7 μcm to 10 10 μcm.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said elastic layer has a surface roughness of 3 μm to 10 μm.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
64 words
An image forming apparatus having a photoconductive element, comprising: a charge roller for charging said photoconductive element only with a DC voltage; display means for displaying various kinds of information; counting means for counting sheets used for image formation; and control means responsive to an output of said counting means for causing said display means to display a time for grinding said charge roller.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
64 words
An image forming apparatus having a photoconductive element, comprising: a charge roller for charging said photoconductive element only with a DC voltage; display means for displaying various kinds of information; counting means for counting sheets used for image formation; and control means responsive to an output of said counting means for causing said display means to display a time for grinding said charge roller.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said charge roller comprises a metallic core, and an elastic layer of epichlorohydrin rubber covering said metallic core and having a rubber hardness of higher than 40 (JIS A) and an electric resistance of 10 7 μcm to 10 10 μcm.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said elastic layer has a surface roughness of 3 μm to 10 μm.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
50 words
A charge roller for charging a photoconductive element only with a DC voltage, comprising: a metallic core; and an elastic layer of epichlorohydrin rubber covering said metallic core and having a rubber hardness higher than 40 (JIS A) and an electric resistance of 10 7 Ωcm to 10 10 Ωcm.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
50 words
A charge roller for charging a photoconductive element only with a DC voltage, comprising: a metallic core; and an elastic layer of epichlorohydrin rubber covering said metallic core and having a rubber hardness higher than 40 (JIS A) and an electric resistance of 10 7 Ωcm to 10 10 Ωcm.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
A charge roller as claimed in claim 21, wherein said elastic layer has a surface roughness of 3 μm to 10 μm.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
A charge roller for charging a photoconductive element only with a DC voltage, comprising: a metallic core; an elastic layer of epichlorohydrin rubber covering said metallic core; and a surface layer covering said elastic layer and made of a fluorine-contained resin/epichlorohydrin rubber mixture.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
43 words
A charge roller for charging a photoconductive element only with a DC voltage, comprising: a metallic core; an elastic layer of epichlorohydrin rubber covering said metallic core; and a surface layer covering said elastic layer and made of a fluorine-contained resin/epichlorohydrin rubber mixture.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
A charge roller as claimed in claim 23, wherein said surface layer has a surface roughness of 3 μm to 10 μm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-03-12 | 1999-09-11 | 2000-03-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-03-12 | 2003-09-11 | 2004-03-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-03-12 | 2007-09-11 | 2008-03-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |