Contaminant preventing structure for image forming apparatus and process cartridge
AssigneeBrother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsFumikazu Sato, Hideaki Deguchi, Naoya Kamimura, Mitsuru Horinoe, Makoto Ishii, Tsuyoshi Suzuki
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Abstract
A device for preventing contamination of a print sheet and the reduction in the effectiveness of a scorotron type charger by free toner and paper particles. The device includes a paper dust eliminator extending the length of a photosensitive member and a wiping mechanism at each end of the photosensitive member for removing free toner that has accumulated there. Further, a partition that separates the developing section from the charger can be provided to further reduce free toner from attaching to the charger.
Claims22
A cartridge, comprising:
- a photosensitive member including an image forming area;
- a charging wire to charge the photosensitive member;
- a grid electrode provided over the charging wire;
- and
- a grid cover provided adjacent each end of the photosensitive member which is out of the image forming area, each grid cover being over a corresponding end of the grid electrode and not over a corresponding end of the charging wire.
A contamination reducing device for use with an electrostatic printer having a removable processing cartridge mounting a detachable developing cartridge, the contamination reducing device comprising:
- a holder extending parallel to a photosensitive member of the printer;
- a conductive plate mounted to the top of the holder and having a substantially L-shaped cross-section;
- a charge capturing electrode attached to the conductive plate at one end and extending across a charging device of the electrostatic printer at an opposite end;
- a urethane film extending from a bottom edge of the holder and contacting the photosensitive member, the urethane film and the holder defining a paper dust chamber;
- a brush like member mounted to a leg of the conductive plate above the urethane film and extending along the photosensitive member;
- a sheet member mounted to the conductive plate and extending along and contacting the photosensitive member;
- a non-woven cloth attached to the sheet member at an edge contacting the photosensitive member;
- and
- a pair of grid covers mounted to the sheet member at each end of the photosensitive member, each grid cover extending over but separated from the non-woven cloth.
A cartridge, comprising:
- a photosensitive member;
- a charging device for charging a surface of the photosensitive member, the charging device including a charging wire and a grid electrode provided over the charging wire;
- a paper dust removing device that contacts the surface of the photosensitive member, the paper dust removing device being disposed upstream of the charging device;
- and
- a grid cover provided adjacent a corresponding end of the photosensitive member, each grid cover being over a corresponding end of the grid electrode and not over a corresponding end of the charging wire.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.