Electrophotographic image forming apparatus, process cartridge and discharge preventing mechanism
US7062192B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 28, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jun 13, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 4, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2221/166
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus on which a process cartridge is detachably mountable forms an image on a recording medium, and has a main body electrical contact electrically connected to a cartridge electrical contact when the cartridge is mounted on an apparatus main body, an electrically grounded electrically conductive discharge preventing member for effecting discharge between it and a charged foreign substance to thereby prevent discharge from occurring between the foreign substance and the main body electrical contact when the foreign substance has entered the apparatus main body on which the process cartridge is not mounted. The discharge preventing member is movable between a first position located in the entry route of the cartridge and a second position retracted from the first position and located outside the entry route. The apparatus also has an actuating member for moving the discharge preventing member from the first to the second position.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.