Patent US5534344A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5534344A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Charging member having a loosely supported charger portion
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1993-01-29
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Granted: 1996-07-09
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Expires: 2013-01-29
Abstract
Abstract A charging member contactable to a member to be charged to electrically charge it includes a charging portion contactable to the member to be charged; a supporting portion for supporting the charging portion, the supporting portion including an elastic layer and a supporting member for supporting the elastic layer; wherein the charging portion is movable toward and away from the supporting portion, and an inside diameter of the charging portion is larger than an outside diameter of the supporting portion.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroki Kisu
- 👤 Masaharu Ohkubo
- 👤 Kazushige Sakurai
- 👤 Michihito Yamazaki
- 👤 Erika Asano
- 👤 Yasushi Shimizu
- 👤 Hiroaki Ogata
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:34
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/02; G03G15/0208; G03G15/0216; G03G15/0233; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/25
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A charging member contactable to a member to be electrically charged, said charging member comprising: a charging portion contactable to the member to be electrically charged; and a supporting portion for supporting said charging portion, wherein said supporting portion and said charging portion are substantially independently movable, said supporting portion comprising an elastic layer and a core for supporting said elastic layer, said supporting portion urging said charging portion to the member to be electrically charged.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
A charging member contactable to a member to be electrically charged, said charging member comprising: a charging portion contactable to the member to be electrically charged; and a supporting portion for supporting said charging portion, wherein said supporting portion and said charging portion are substantially independently movable, said supporting portion comprising an elastic layer and a core for supporting said elastic layer, said supporting portion urging said charging portion to the member to be electrically charged.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
84 words
A charging member contactable to a member to be electrically charged, said charging member comprising: a charging portion contactable to the member to be electrically charged, said charging portion comprising a surface layer contactable to the member to be electrically charged and an elastic layer at a backside of said surface layer; and a core for supporting said charging portion, wherein said core and said charging portion are substantially independently movable, said core urging said charging portion to the member to be electrically charged.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
84 words
A charging member contactable to a member to be electrically charged, said charging member comprising: a charging portion contactable to the member to be electrically charged, said charging portion comprising a surface layer contactable to the member to be electrically charged and an elastic layer at a backside of said surface layer; and a core for supporting said charging portion, wherein said core and said charging portion are substantially independently movable, said core urging said charging portion to the member to be electrically charged.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A charging member according to claim 1, wherein the member to be electrically charged is capable of bearing an image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A charging member according to claim 3, wherein said charging member is usable with a process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, and wherein said charging member and the member to be electrically charged are contained in the process cartridge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A charging member according to claim 1, wherein said charging member is in the form of a roller.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A charging member according to claim 5, wherein said charging portion is in the form of a tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A charging member according to claim 1, wherein said elastic layer comprises a sponge material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A charging member according to claim 1, wherein said charging portion comprises in order a conductive layer and a resistance layer, said resistance layer having a volume resistivity larger than said conductive layer in a direction toward the member to be electrically charged.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A charging member according to claim 1, wherein said charging member is in the form of a blade.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A charging member according to claim 5, wherein the relationship 2<d/t<500 is satisfied, where t is a thickness of said charging portion, and d is a distance from a rotational axis of said charging member to a surface of said supporting portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
A charging member according to claim 1, wherein the relationship VH/VT>0.3 is satisfied, where VT is a volume of said charging member, and VH is a volume of a cavity in said charging member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A charging member according to claim 1, wherein said core is adapted to be supplied with an oscillating voltage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A charging member according to claim 1, wherein said charging member has an Asker-C hardness in the range of 3 to 70 degrees.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
A charging member according to claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of said charging member increases toward a longitudinal center thereof from each of the longitudinal ends thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A charging member according to claim 12, wherein the oscillating voltage has a peak-to-peak voltage that is not less than twice a charge starting voltage for the member to be electrically charged.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
A charging member according to claim 1, further comprising a limiting member, adjacent a longitudinal end of said charging member, for limiting relative movement in the longitudinal direction between said charging portion and said supporting portion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
A charging member according to claim 1, wherein said charging portion and said supporting portion are substantially independent movable, and wherein a part of said charging portion and a part of said supporting portion are bonded with each other.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
A charging member according to claim 17, wherein a ratio w of an area where said charging portion and said supporting portion are not bonded with each other to an area where they are faced or contacted with each other, satisfies the relationship w≧0.2.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A charging member according to claim 2, wherein the member to be electrically charged is capable of bearing an image.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
A charging member according to claim 19, wherein said charging member is usable with a process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, and wherein said charging member and the member to be electrically charged are contained in the process cartridge.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
A charging member according to claim 2, wherein said charging member is in the form of a roller.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
A charging member according to claim 21, wherein said charging portion is in the form of a tube.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
A charging member according to claim 2, wherein said elastic layer comprises a sponge material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
A charging member according to claim 21, wherein the relationship 2<d/t<500 is satisfied, where t is a thickness of said charging portion, and d is a distance from a rotational axis of said charging member to a surface of said core.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
A charging member according to claim 2, wherein the relationship VH/VT>0.3 is satisfied, where VT is a volume of said charging member, and VH is a volume of a cavity in said charging member.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
A charging member according to claim 2, wherein said core is adapted to be supplied with an oscillating voltage.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
A charging member according to claim 2, wherein said charging member has an Asker-C hardness in the range of 3 to 70 degrees.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
A charging member according to claim 2, wherein an outer diameter of said charging member increases toward a longitudinal center thereof from each of the longitudinal ends thereof.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
A charging member according to claim 26, wherein the oscillating voltage has a peak-to-peak voltage that is not less than twice a charge starting voltage for the member to be electrically charged.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
35 words
A charging member according to claim 2, further comprising a limiting member, adjacent a longitudinal end of said charging member, for limiting relative movement in the longitudinal direction between said charging portion and said core.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
37 words
A charging member according to claim 2, wherein said charging portion and said core are substantially independently movable, and wherein a part of said charging portion and a part of said core are bonded with each other.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
43 words
A charging member according to claim 31, wherein a ratio w of an area where said charging portion and said core are not bonded with each other to an area where they are faced or contacted with each other, satisfies the relationship w≧0.2.
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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) | 1999-07-09 | 2000-01-08 | 2000-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-09 | 2004-01-08 | 2004-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-09 | 2008-01-08 | 2008-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |