# US 2008/0187359 A1 · Image Forming Apparatus

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- Number: US 2008/0187359 A1
- Document ID: US20080187359A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 11/781,042
- Filed: 2007-07-20
- Published: 2008-08-07
- Earliest claimed: 2006-07-21
- Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Inventors: Shinichi Kamoshida; Tadahiro Mizutani
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080187359A1

## CPC

- G03G 15/751: {relating to drum (G03G15/757 takes precedence)}
- G03G 2215/00957: Compositions
- G03G 2215/02: Arrangements for laying down a uniform charge
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY

## Abstract

Provided is an image forming apparatus which includes a cylindrical image carrier, on which at least an electrostatic latent image is formed, and a charge roller for non-contact charging the image carrier with a predetermined charge gap, and applies at least an alternating current (AC) voltage to the charge roller to non-contact charge the image carrier, wherein a predetermined number of partition members for partitioning an internal space of the image carrier into a plurality of sub-spaces are arranged at a central position of an axial direction of the image carrier or in the vicinity of the central position of the axial direction of the image carrier, in the image carrier.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image forming apparatus which includes a cylindrical image carrier, on which at least an electrostatic latent image is formed, and a charge roller for non-contact charging the image carrier with a predetermined charge gap, and applies at least an alternating current (AC) voltage to the charge roller to non-contact charge the image carrier,
wherein a predetermined number of partition members for partitioning an internal space of the image carrier into a plurality of sub-spaces are arranged at a central position of an axial direction of the image carrier or in the vicinity of the central position of the axial direction of the image carrier, in the image carrier.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the partition members are arranged so as to be linearly symmetrical to the central position of the axial direction of the image carrier.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the partition members are arranged at least at the central position of the axial direction of the image carrier.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the partition members are formed of an elastic porous member.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the elastic porous member is a sponge.