Image forming apparatus with holding unit for charging electrode

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image forming unit configured to form a toner image to be transferred onto a sheet;
• and
• a fixing unit configured to fix the toner image on the sheet, wherein
• the image forming unit includes
• a photoreceptor configured to hold, on a surface thereof, an electrostatic latent image on which toner is supplied to form the toner image,
• a charging electrode that extends in a width direction of the photoreceptor and is configured to charge the surface of the photoreceptor, the charging electrode including a base portion and a discharging portion disposed between the base portion and the photoreceptor and from which electricity is discharged towards the photoreceptor, and
• a holding unit that holds the charging electrode and deforms the charging electrode, and
• the holding unit includes
• a first end portion having a surface that is inclined with respect to the surface of the photoreceptor, against which the base portion of the charging electrode is pressed so that the distance between the discharging portion and the surface of the photoreceptor at a first end of the photoreceptor is smaller than the distance between the discharging portion and the surface of the photoreceptor at a more central position of the photoreceptor, and
• a second end portion having a surface that is inclined with respect to the surface of the photoreceptor, against which the base portion of the charging electrode is pressed by a spring so that the distance between the discharging portion and the surface of the photoreceptor at a second end of the photoreceptor is smaller than the distance between the discharging portion and the surface of the photoreceptor at a more central position of the photoreceptor.

An image holding module comprising:

• a photoreceptor configured to hold an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof;
• a charging electrode that is configured to charge the surface of the photoreceptor;
• and
• a developing member that is in contact with the photoreceptor and configured to press against the photoreceptor when supplying toner to the photoreceptor, wherein
• the photoreceptor is deformed when a non-uniform pressing force is applied thereto by the developing member,
• the charging electrode includes a base portion and a discharging portion that is disposed between the base portion and the photoreceptor and from which electricity is discharged towards the photoreceptor, and
• the charging electrode has a shape corresponding to the deformation of the photoreceptor when the non-uniform pressing force is applied thereto by the developing member, such that a distance between the discharging portion and the surface of the photoreceptor is different along the width direction of the photoreceptor when the photoreceptor is not deformed.