Electrophotographic recording apparatus having reverse-charged toner removing means

Claim 2

An electrophotographic recording apparatus which removes a reverse-charged toner that is mixed with a normal-charged toner, the reverse-charged toner having a polarity opposite to a polarity of the normal-charged toner, comprising: a photosensitive body; a charger for imparting a uniform charge to a surface of said photosensitive body; a first power supply coupled to said charger and applying a voltage to said charger for the application of the uniform charge; a writing unit located adjacent to said photosensitive body and forming an electrostatic latent image on the uniformly charged surface of said photosensitive body; a developing unit located adjacent to said photosensitive body and causing a mixture of the normal-charged toner and the reverse-charged toner to adhere to a portion of the surface of said photosensitive body bearing the electrostatic latent image; a carrier belt that transports a recording medium to and from said photosensitive body; a transfer unit located in a region of said carrier belt and causing the toner adhering to the surface of said photosensitive body to transfer toward said carrier belt; a second power supply coupled to said transfer unit and selectively applying to said transfer unit a first voltage, and a second voltage having a polarity opposite to a polarity of the first voltage; a controller coupled to said second power supply and controlling an operation of said second power supply so that said second power supply applies the first voltage to said transfer unit during an image-forming stage, thereby causing the normal-charged toner adhering to the surface of said photosensitive body to be transferred to a recording medium on said carrier belt, and applies the second voltage to said transfer unit during a reverse-charged toner removing stage, thereby causing the reverse-charged toner adhering to the surface of said photosensitive body to be, transferred to said carrier belt; and a carrier belt cleaner located adjacent to said carrier belt, and removing the reverse-charged toner located thereon.

Claim 3

The electrophotographic recording apparatus of claim 1, wherein the normal-charged toner has a negative polarity, the reverse-charged toner has a positive polarity, the first voltage is positive, and the second voltage is negative.

Claim 4

The electrophotographic recording apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first voltage is applied to said transfer unit before or after the second voltage is applied to said transfer unit.

Claim 5

The electrophotographic recording apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sensor coupled to said controller, said sensor detecting a passing of the recording medium past a predetermined position, and generating and outputting a detection signal to said controller, wherein said controller controls said second power supply on the basis of the detection signal.

Claim 6

The electrophotographic recording apparatus of claim 1, wherein said carrier belt is comprised of an endless and seamless plastic film.

Claim 7

The electrophotographic recording apparatus of claim 1, wherein said carrier belt has a surface resistance between 10 10 ohms and 10 14 ohms.

Claim 8

The electrophotographic recording apparatus of claim 1, wherein said transfer unit comprises a transfer roller in contact with said carrier belt.

Claim 9

The electrophotographic recording apparatus of claim 1, wherein said carrier belt cleaner comprises a cleaning blade, and a waste toner tank, said cleaning blade having a leading edge that is forced against said carrier belt, thereby removing the reverse-charged toner located thereon and causing the reverse-charged toner to fall into said waste toner tank.

Claim 10

The electrophotographic recording apparatus of claim 1, wherein the voltage applied by said first power supply to said charger comprises a third voltage, said first power supply additionally applying a fourth voltage, of opposite polarity to the third voltage, to a charger and causing any reverse-charged toner adhering to a surface of said charger to be transferred to the surface of said photosensitive body.

Claim 11

The electrophotographic recording apparatus of claim 9, wherein the normal-charged toner has a negative polarity, the reverse-charged toner has a positive polarity, the third voltage is negative, and the fourth voltage is positive.

Claim 12

The electrophotographic recording apparatus of claim 9, wherein said developing unit comprises a developing tank that contains the toner, and a developing roller in communication with said developing tank and supplying the toner from said developing tank to the surface of said photosensitive body; said electrophotographic recording apparatus further comprising a third power supply coupled to said developing roller and applying a fifth voltage to said developing roller that causes any normal-charged toner adhering to a surface of said developing roller to be transferred to the surface of said photosensitive body, and applying a sixth voltage to said developing roller, having a polarity opposite to the fifth voltage, for preventing the reverse-charged toner adhering to the surface of said photosensitive body from being transferred to said developing roller.

Claim 13

The electrophotographic recording apparatus of claim 11, wherein the normal-charged toner has a negative polarity, the reverse-charged toner has a positive polarity, the fifth voltage is negative, and the sixth voltage is positive.

Claim 14

The electrophotographic recording apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a cleaning roller located adjacent to said photosensitive body and temporarily capturing the reverse-charged toner adhering to the surface of said photosensitive body; and a third power supply coupled to said cleaning roller and applying to said cleaning roller a third voltage that causes the reverse-charged toner adhering to the surface of said photosensitive body to be transferred to a surface of said cleaning roller, and applying to said cleaning roller a fourth voltage, of opposite polarity to the third voltage, that causes the reverse-charged toner adhering to the surface of said cleaning roller to be transferred to the surface of said photosensitive body.

Claim 15

The electrophotographic recording apparatus of claim 13, wherein the reverse-charged toner has a positive polarity, the third voltage is negative, and the fourth voltage is positive.

Claim 16

The electrophotographic recording apparatus of claim 13, wherein said developing unit comprises a developing tank that contains the toner, and a developing roller in communication with said developing tank and supplying the toner from said developing tank to the surface of said photosensitive body; said electrophotographic recording apparatus further comprising a fourth power supply coupled to said developing roller and applying a fifth voltage to said developing roller that causes any normal-charged toner adhering to a surface of said developing roller to be transferred to the surface of said photosensitive body, and applying a sixth voltage to said developing roller, of opposite polarity to the fifth voltage, for preventing the reverse-charged toner adhering to the surface of said photosensitive body from being transferred to said developing roller.

Claim 17

The electrophotographic recording apparatus of claim 15, wherein the normal-charged toner has a negative polarity, the reverse-charged toner has a positive polarity, the fifth voltage is negative, and the sixth voltage is positive.

Claim 18

The electrophotographic recording apparatus of claim 1, wherein said developing unit comprises a developing tank that contains the toner, and a developing roller in communication with said developing tank and supplying the toner from said developing tank to the surface of said photosensitive body; said electrophotographic recording apparatus further comprising a third power supply coupled to said developing roller and applying a third voltage to said developing roller, and wherein said controller is coupled to said third power supply and controls an operation of said third power supply so that said third power supply applies the third voltage to said developing roller during a first stage to cause normal-charged toner adhering to a surface of said developing roller to be transferred to the electrostatic latent image on the surface of said photosensitive body, and during a second stage to cause reverse-charged toner adhering to the surface of said developing roller to be transferred to the surface of said photosensitive body.

Claim 19

An electrophotographic color-image recording apparatus which removes a reverse-charged toner that is mixed with a normal-charged toner, the reverse-charged toner having a polarity opposite to a polarity of the normal-charged toner, comprising: a plurality of image-forming sections for applying different colors; a carrier belt for transporting a recording medium to and from said sections; a carrier belt cleaner for removing any reverse-charged toner adhering to said carrier belt; and a controller that controls an operation of said apparatus; each of said image-forming sections comprising: a photosensitive body; a charger for imparting a uniform charge to a surface of said photosensitive body; a first power supply coupled to said charger and applying a voltage to said charger for the application of the uniform charge; a writing unit located adjacent to said photosensitive body and forming an electrostatic latent image on the uniformly charged surface of said photosensitive body; a developing unit located adjacent to said photosensitive body and causing a mixture of the normal-charged toner and the reverse-charged toner to adhere to a portion of the surface of said photosensitive body bearing the electrostatic latent image; a transfer unit located in a region of said carrier belt and causing the toner adhering to the surface of said photosensitive body to transfer toward said carrier belt; and a second power supply coupled to said transfer unit and selectively applying to said transfer unit a first voltage, and a second voltage having a polarity opposite to a polarity of the first voltage; wherein said controller is coupled to said second power supply and controls an operation thereof, so that said second power supply applies the first voltage to said transfer unit during an image-forming stage, thereby causing the normal-charged toner adhering to the surface of the photosensitive body to be transferred to a recording medium on said carrier belt, and applies the second voltage to said transfer unit during a reverse-charged toner removing stage, thereby causing the reverse-charged toner adhering to the surface of said photosensitive body to be transferred to said carrier belt for subsequent removal by said carrier belt cleaner.

Claim 20

An electrophotographic color-image recording apparatus which removes a reverse-charged toner that is mixed with a normal-charged toner, the reverse-charged toner having a polarity opposite to a polarity of the normal-charged toner, comprising: a plurality of image-forming sections for applying different colors; a carrier belt for transporting a recording medium to and from said sections; a carrier belt cleaner for removing any reverse-charged toner adhering to said carrier belt; and a controller that controls an operation of said apparatus; each of said image-forming sections comprising: a photosensitive body; a charger for imparting a uniform charge to a surface of said photosensitive body; a first power supply coupled to said charger and applying a voltage to said charger for the application of the uniform charge; a writing unit located adjacent to said photosensitive body and forming an electrostatic latent image on the uniformly charged surface of said photosensitive body; a developing unit located adjacent to said photosensitive body and causing a mixture of the normal-charged toner and the reverse-charged toner to adhere to a portion of the surface of said photosensitive body bearing the electrostatic latent image; a transfer unit located in a region of said carrier belt and causing the toner adhering to the surface of said photosensitive body to transfer toward said carrier belt; and a second power supply coupled to said transfer unit and selectively applying to said transfer unit a first voltage, and a second voltage having a polarity opposite to a polarity of the first voltage; wherein said controller is coupled to said second power supply and controls an operation thereof, so that said second power supply applies the first voltage to said transfer unit during an image-forming stage, thereby causing the normal-charged toner adhering to the surface of the photosensitive body to be transferred to a recording medium on said carrier belt, and applies the second voltage to said transfer unit during a reverse-charged toner removing stage, thereby causing the reverse-charged toner adhering to the surface of said photosensitive body to be transferred to said carrier belt for subsequent removal by said carrier belt cleaner.

Claim 21

The electrophotographic color-image recording apparatus of claim 18, wherein the normal-charged toner has a negative polarity, the reverse-charged toner has a positive polarity, the first voltage is positive, and one second voltage is negative.

Claim 22

The electrophotographic color-image recording apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first voltage is applied to said transfer unit before or after the second voltage is applied to said transfer unit.

Claim 23

The electrophotographic color-image recording apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a sensor coupled to said controller, said sensor detecting a passing of the recording medium past a predetermined positions, and generating and outputting a detection signal to said controller, wherein said controller controls said second power supply on the basis of the detection signal.

Claim 24

The electrophotographic color-image recording apparatus of claim 18, wherein said carrier belt is comprised of an endless and seamless plastic film.

Claim 25

The electrophotographic color-image recording apparatus of claim 18, wherein said carrier belt has a surface resistance between 10 10 ohms and 10 14 ohms.

Claim 26

The electrophotographic color-image recording apparatus of claim 18, wherein said transfer unit comprises a transfer roller in contact with said carrier belt.

Claim 27

The electrophotographic color-image recording apparatus of claim 18, wherein said carrier belt cleaner comprises a cleaning blade, and a waste toner tank, said cleaning blade having a leading edge that is forced against said carrier belt, thereby removing the reverse-charged toner located thereon and causing the reverse-charged toner to fall into said waste toner tank.

Claim 28

The electrophotographic color-image recording apparatus of claim 18, wherein the voltage applied by said first power supply to said charger comprises a third voltage, said first power supply additionally applying a fourth voltage to said charger, of opposite polarity to the third voltage, that causes any reverse-charged toner adhering to a surface of said charger to be transferred to the surface of said photosensitive body.

Claim 29

The electrophotographic color-image recording apparatus of claim 26, wherein the normal-charged toner has a negative polarity, the reverse-charged toner has a positive polarity, the third voltage is negative, and the fourth voltage is positive.

Claim 30

The electrophotographic color-image recording apparatus of claim 26, wherein each said developing unit comprises a developing tank that contains the toner, and a developing roller in communication with said developing tank and supplying the toner from said developing tank to the surface of said photosensitive body; each of said image-forming sections further comprising a third power supply coupled to a respective developing roller and applying a fifth voltage to said developing roller that causes any normal-charged toner adhering to a surface of said developing roller to be transferred to the surface of said photosensitive body, and applying a sixth voltage to said developing roller, the sixth voltage having a polarity opposite to the fifth voltage, for preventing the reverse-charged toner adhering to the surface of said photosensitive body from being transferred to said developing roller.

Claim 31

The electrophotographic color-image recording apparatus of claim 28, wherein the normal-charged toner has a negative polarity, the reverse-charged toner has a positive polarity, the fifth voltage is negative, and the sixth voltage is positive.

Claim 32

The electrophotographic color-image recording apparatus of claim 18, wherein each of said image-forming sections further comprises: a cleaning roller located adjacent to the respective photosensitive body and temporarily capturing the reverse-charged toner adhering to the surface of said photosensitive body; and a third power supply coupled to said cleaning roller and applying a third voltage to said cleaning roller that causes the reverse-charged toner adhering to the surface of said photosensitive body to be transferred to a surface of said cleaning roller, and applying to said cleaning roller a fourth voltage, of opposite polarity to the third voltage, that causes the reverse-charged toner adhering to the surface of said cleaning roller to be transferred to the surface of said photosensitive body.

Claim 33

The electrophotographic color-image recording apparatus of claim 30, wherein the reverse-charged toner has a positive polarity, the third voltage is negative, and the fourth voltage is positive.

Claim 34

The electrophotographic color-image recording apparatus of claim 30, wherein each said developing unit comprises a developing tank that contains the toner, and a developing roller in communication with said developing tank and supplying the toner from said developing tank to the surface of said photosensitive body; each of said image-forming sections further comprising a fourth power supply coupled to a respective developing roller and applying a fifth voltage to said developing roller that causes any normal-charged toner adhering to a surface of said developing roller to be transferred to the surface of said photosensitive body, and applying to said developing roller a sixth voltage, of opposite polarity to the fifth voltage, for preventing the reverse-charged toner adhering to the surface of said photosensitive body from being transferred to said developing roller.

Claim 35

The electrophotographic color-image recording apparatus of claim 32, wherein the normal charged toner has a negative polarity, the reverse-charged toner has a positive polarity, the fifth voltage is negative, and the sixth voltage is positive.

Claim 36

The electrophotographic color-image recording apparatus of claim 18, wherein each respective developing unit comprises a developing tank that contains the toner, and a developing roller in communication with said developing tank and supplying the toner from said developing tank to the surface of said photosensitive body; each of said image-forming sections further comprising a third power supply coupled to a respective developing roller and applying a third voltage to said developing roller; and wherein said controller is coupled to said third power supply and controls an operation of said third power supply so that said third power supply applies the third voltage to said developing roller during a first stage to cause normal-charged toner adhering to a surface of said developing roller to be transferred to the electrostatic latent image on the surface of said photosensitive body, and during a second stage to cause reverse-charged toner adhering to the surface of said developing roller to be transferred to the surface of said photosensitive body.