The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 23, 1993
Filed:
Oct. 22, 1990
Takashi Shimazaki, Tokyo, JP;
Seiichiro Fushimi, Tokyo, JP;
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Kawasaki, JP;
Abstract
In an image forming apparatus has a photosensitive drum, the drum is charged by a main charger. A light beam bearing image information is applied to the drum by an exposure system to form a latent image on the surface of the drum. The latent image is developed by a developing unit, using a toner to form a toner image on the drum surface. The toner image is transfered to the surface of a paper sheet by a transfer charger. The developing unit serves to remove, simultaneously with the development of the latent image, the toner remaining on the drum surface after the transfer by the transfer charger. Before the removing of the remaining toner, the drum is in sliding contact with a brush member. The remaining toner is temporarily attracted to the brush member by the bias voltage applied to the brush member, with the result that the remaining toner becomes easy to separate from the drum. In the apparatus, the drum and at least the brush member are integrated as one process unit. The process unit is removably insertable into a predetermined operative position in the body of the apparatus. Accordingly, when the drum is removed from the operative position, the toner attracted to the brush member is prevented from scattering in the body by removing the brush member with the drum.