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US 2003/0190171 A1Published application
Electrostatic charging device
AssigneeToshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorKeiji Yuge
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AssigneeToshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorKeiji Yuge
Estimating the term…
An electrostatic charging device is provided according to which an edged electrode plate can be inserted into and removed from the charging device easily merely by sliding the edged electrode member and cleaning of the electrode edges formed on the edged electrode plate can be cleaned easily. A discharging electrode assembly 20 having a number of tooth-like electrode edges 5 disposed in array is slidable along a guide groove 6A formed in a discharge stabilizing shielding case 3 of an electrostatic charging device 1. The electrode edges 5 are arranged above a control grid 7 when charging a photosensitive OPC 2. During maintenance, the discharging electrode assembly 20 is moved sliding along the guide groove 6A by means of an insulating attachment which is then engaged with the edged electrode plate 8. During this movement, the edged electrode plate 8 is sandwiched by a pair of rotatable rollers 13a, 13b which are then driven to rotate by the sliding movement, so that electrode edges 5 attached with carbon particles due to corona discharging can be cleaned. Thus, the discharging electrode assembly 20 can be inserted and removed easily with the electrode edges 5 thereof being cleaned simultaneously without removing a charger case or the control grid 7 from the device proper.
An electrostatic charging device for charging a photosensitive drum comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
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For laying down a uniform charge, e.g. for sensitising; Corona discharge devices: provided with means for the maintenance of the charging…
For laying down a uniform charge, e.g. for sensitising; Corona discharge devices: corona discharge devices, e.g. wires, pointed electrodes, means…
By coronas: using pointed electrodes
Electrography
Term end not estimated
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrostatic charging device for charging a photosensitive drum of an electrophotographic apparatus by utilizing corona discharge, and more particularly to a structure which enables removal and replacement of a corona discharging electrode.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the basic structure of an electrostatic charging device according to the present invention applicable to an electrophotographic apparatus;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of an edged electrode plate in the charging device according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of an edged electrode plate in the charging device according to the present invention;
The following will describe an embodiment of the invention by way of a corona discharging device as an example which is used for charging a photosensitive body of an electrophotographic apparatus while having reference to the drawings. The embodiment of the charging device according to the invention is so constructed that replacement of discharging electrode can be performed easily by replacement of a less number of parts. More specifically, it is so arranged that the replacement can be accomplished merely by removing the discharging electrode from the charging device.
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the basic structure of an electrostatic charging device according to the present invention applicable to an electrophotographic apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of an edged electrode plate in the charging device according to the present invention. The charging device 1 is disposed in facing relation to an OPC 2 and extends along the longitudinal direction of the OPC 2, or in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. The charging device shown in FIG. 1 includes a discharge stabilizing case or shielding case 3 with an inverted channel shape in cross-section for shielding the area of discharge by corona discharging so that the discharging occurs in the area along the longitudinal direction of the OPC 2, a discharging electrode assembly 20 disposed within the recess defined by the shielding case 3 for generating corona discharge, insulating molded cases 6, 6′ supporting the discharging electrode assembly 20 slidably in a guide groove 6A, and a control grid 7 disposed between the shielding case 3 and the OPC 2 for controlling the charge potential of the OPC 2.
The discharging electrode assembly 20 includes a conductive edged electrode plate 8 having formed on the side thereof facing the OPC 2 a plurality of sawtooth-like electrode edges 5 and a electrode plate holder 4 which is made of insulating material and to which the edged electrode plate 8 is fixedly mounted.