Toner spreading device for a charging roller of an image forming apparatus
US5799229A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 11, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 25, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 11, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G15/0225
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An image forming apparatus including a photoconductive drum, a charging roller which is held in pressured contact with the photoconductive drum, and a holder which holds a spreading blade having a free or unsupported end which is held in contact with the charging roller to spread toner and other particles which adhere to the surface of the charging roller. Preferably, there is a thin flexible film between the holder and the spreading blade. The spreading blade is held by the holder such that when the charging roller rotates, a frictional force pulls the spreading blade relative to the holder. This frictional force imposes a rotational moment on the spreading blade which reduces the force of the spreading blade against the charging roller when the charging roller rotates. In order to extend the life of the spreading blade and to achieve a uniform distribution of the particles on the charge roller, the spreading blade may be moved in a reciprocating motion along a plane tangential to the surface of the roller and/or along the length of the roller. The spreading blade spreads the toner and other particles which adhere to the surface of the charging roller into a thin uniform layer so …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.