IP Library Granted Patent US 7,463,849
Granted Patent B2
US 7,463,849 · App. 11/337,463 · Granted Dec 9, 2008

Image forming apparatus including static pre-eliminator

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,463,849
App. No.
11/337,463
Granted
Dec 9, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member being movable in a predetermined direction; a charging roller that charges a surface of the photosensitive member; and a static pre-eliminator that eliminates static electricity by irradiating the surface of the photosensitive member with light, the static pre-eliminator located on an upstream side of the charging roller in a direction of movement of the photosensitive member; wherein an arrangement and an exposure amount of the static pre-eliminator are set to satisfy E ≦0.025×exp(t/τ) where τis a residual time constant of a photo carrier generated in the photosensitive member by the static pre-eliminator, t is a time period from a time when the photosensitive member passes through the static pre-eliminator to a time when the photosensitive member is charged by the charging roller, and E is a normalized exposure amount of the static pre-eliminator.

Claims (20)

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a photosensitive member being movable in a predetermined direction;

a charging roller that charges a surface of the photosensitive member with a predetermined potential, the charging roller being disposed so as to come into contact with the surface of the photosensitive member; and

a static pre-eliminator that eliminates static electricity from the surface of the photosensitive member by irradiating the surface of the photosensitive member with light, the static pre-eliminator being located on an upstream side of the charging roller in a direction of movement of the photosensitive member;

wherein an arrangement and an exposure amount of the static pre-eliminator are set to satisfy

E≦ 0.025×exp( t /τ)

where τ is a residual time constant of a photo carrier generated in the photosensitive member by the static pre-eliminator, t is a time period from a time when the photosensitive member passes through the static pre-eliminator to a time when the photosensitive member is charged by the charging roller, and E is a normalized exposure amount of the static pre-eliminator which is obtained by normalizing the exposure amount of the static pre-eliminator by half-value exposure amount of the photosensitive member.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the charging roller having a specific resistance value not higher than 5×10 4 Ω·cm is used under an environment with guaranteed temperature and humidity.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the photosensitive member has a belt-like shape.

4. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a photosensitive member being movable in a predetermined direction;

a charging roller that charges a surface of the photosensitive member with a predetermined potential, the charging roller being disposed so as to come into contact with the surface of the photosensitive member; and

a static pre-eliminator that eliminates static electricity from the surface of the photosensitive member by irradiating the surface of the photosensitive member with light, the static pre-eliminator being located on an upstream side of the charging roller in a direction of movement of the photosensitive member;

wherein an arrangement and an exposure amount of the static pre-eliminator are set to satisfy

E≦ 0.025×exp(10 ×t )

where t is a time period from a time when the photosensitive member passes through the static pre-eliminator to a time when the photosensitive member is charged by the charging roller, and E is a normalized exposure amount of the static pre-eliminator which is obtained by normalizing the exposure amount of the static pre-eliminator by half-value exposure amount of the photosensitive member.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 ,

wherein the charging roller having a specific resistance value not higher than 5×10 4 Ω·cm is used under an environment with guaranteed temperature and humidity.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 2, 2009
From: RICOH PRINTING SYSTEMS, LTD.
To: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 022191/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2006
From: TAKUMA, YASUO; YAMAMOTO, MASASHI; FUJITA, MASANARI
To: RICOH PRINTING SYSTEMS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 017489/0112 →