# US 2017/0255121 A1 · Charging device, and image carrying member unit and image forming apparatus therewith

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- Number: US 2017/0255121 A1
- Document ID: US20170255121A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/425,347
- Filed: 2017-02-06
- Published: 2017-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2016-03-01
- Assignees: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
- Applicants: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
- Inventors: Yoshimasa OKURA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170255121A1

## CPC

- G03G 15/0216: {by bringing a charging member into contact with the member to be charged, e.g. roller, brush chargers}
- G03G 21/1821: {means for connecting the different parts of the process cartridge, e.g. attachment, positioning of parts with each other, pressure/distance regulation (G03G21/1825 takes precedence)}
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY

## Abstract

A charging device has a charging member, a pair of bearing members, and a frame. The charging member makes contact with an image carrying member to electrostatically charge the surface of the image carrying member. The bearing members rotatably support both end parts of the rotary shaft of the charging member. The frame supports the bearing members movably in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction. The bearing members are arranged selectively at a first position where they are arranged to keep the charging member in contact with the image carrying member or at a second position where they are arranged to keep the charging member apart from the image carrying member. In the bearing members, a restricting portion is formed which, at the second position, makes contact with the inner face of the frame to restrict the movement of the charging member in the axial direction.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A charging device comprising:
a charging member in contact with an image carrying member, the charging member electrostatically charging a surface of the image carrying member;
a pair of bearing members rotatably supporting both end parts of a rotary shaft of the charging member; and
a frame supporting the pair of bearing members movably in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction,
wherein
the bearing members are arranged selectively at a first position where the bearing members are arranged to keep the charging member in contact with the image carrying member or at a second position where the bearing members are arranged to keep the charging member apart from the image carrying member, and
in the bearing members, there is formed a restricting portion making contact with an inner face of the frame when the bearing members are arranged at the second position so as to restrict movement of the charging member in the axial direction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The charging device of claim 1, wherein
the restricting portion has a restricting face that makes contact with the inner face of the frame and that is inclined relative to an axial direction of the charging member.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The charging device of claim 1, further comprising:
a contact/non-contact switch lever having an elongate hole-form engagement groove with which an engagement portion of the bearing members slidably engages, the contact/non-contact switch lever being slidable in a longitudinal direction of the charging member; and
a biasing member biasing the bearing members in a direction in which the bearing members move away from the contact/non-contact switch lever,
wherein
in the contact/non-contact switch, lever, there is formed a protruding portion along a circumferential edge part of the engagement groove, and
as the contact/non-contact switch lever slides in a first direction, the engagement portion runs off the protruding portion under a biasing force of the biasing member so that the bearing members are arranged at the first position and, as the contact/non-contact switch lever slides in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the protruding portion runs on the protruding portion against the biasing force of the biasing member so that the bearing members are arranged at the second position.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The charging device of claim 3, wherein
the bearing members and the biasing member are formed of an electrically conductive material so that a voltage is applicable to the charging member via the bearing members and the biasing member.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The charging device of claim 1, wherein
the bearing members are movable in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the frame by slidably engaging with a slit formed in a side face of the frame, the bearing members having an engagement claw preventing the bearing members from coming out of the slit.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

An image carrying member unit comprising:
the charging device of claim 1; and
the image carrying member having a surface thereof electrostatically charged by the charging member so that an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

An image forming apparatus comprising the image carrying member unit of claim 6.