# US 10,503,113 B2 · Image forming apparatus having rubbing member in contact with image bearing member

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- Number: US 10,503,113 B2
- Document ID: US10503113B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/253,685
- Filed: 2019-01-22
- Published: 2019-05-23
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2016-07-29
- Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Hiroyuki Kidaka
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10503113B2

## CPC

- G03G 15/75: {Details relating to xerographic drum, band or plate, e.g. replacing, testing (electrographic recording members per se G03G5/00)}
- G03G 5/047: characterised by the charge-generation layers or charge transport layers {(G03G5/0433 and G03G5/0436 take precedence)}
- G03G 5/0525: {Coating methods}
- G03G 5/147: Cover layers
- G03G 5/14717: {obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds}
- G03G 15/5008: {Driving control for rotary photosensitive medium, e.g. speed control, stop position control}
- G03G 21/0094: {fatigue treatment of the photoconductor}
- G03G 21/0076: {Plural or sequential cleaning devices}
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY

## Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a charging member, an exposing device, a developing device, a transfer member, and a rubbing member. The image bearing member includes a plurality of recess portions on a surface thereof. The rubbing member is configured to come into contact with the image bearing member to form a rubbing nip portion between the rubbing member and the image bearing member. The recess portions each have an opening portion whose maximum length in the rotational direction is 20 μm to 120 μm. When a linear speed of the image bearing member in the rubbing nip portion is S1 and a linear speed of the rubbing member in the same direction as the linear speed of the image bearing member in the rubbing nip portion is S2, a relationship of a linear speed ratio of S2/S1<1.0 is satisfied.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image bearing member comprising a plurality of recess portions on a surface thereof and configured to rotate;
a charging member configured to charge the image bearing member;
an exposing device configured to expose the image bearing member charged by the charging member to form an electrostatic image;
a developing device configured to develop the electrostatic image formed on the image bearing member with toner;
a transfer member configured to form a transfer portion between the transfer member and the image bearing member and configured to transfer a toner image formed on the image bearing member onto a transfer material at the transfer portion; and
a rotatable rubbing member disposed downstream of the transfer portion and upstream of the charging member with respect to a rotational direction of the image bearing member, the rubbing member including a surface layer formed from an elastic body, and configured to come into contact with the image bearing member to form a rubbing nip portion between the rubbing member and the image bearing member,
wherein the surface layer has an ASKER FP hardness of 40 to 90,
wherein the recess portions each has an opening portion whose maximum length in the rotational direction is 20 μm to 120 μm, and
wherein, in a case in which a linear speed of the image bearing member at the rubbing nip portion is S1 and a linear speed of the rubbing member in the same direction as the linear speed of the image bearing member at the rubbing nip portion is S2, a relationship of a linear speed ratio of S2/S1<1.0 is satisfied.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the linear speed ratio satisfies a relationship of −1.0≤S2/S1.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recess portions each has a depth of 0.5 μm to 6.0 μm.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in each of the recess portions, the maximum length of the opening portion in the rotational direction is equal to or less than 100 μm.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an area ratio of a total area of opening portions of the plurality of recess portions to a surface area of an image forming region of the image bearing member is 3.00% to 3.52%.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of recess portions each has an independent circular shape.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the surface layer is formed from an elastic foam body.