Electrifying method and electrifying apparatus used therefor

Abstract

An electrifying method which uses a electrifying a material wherein the contact-type electrifying member comprises a flexible and electrically conducting endless sheet and a brush which supports said endless sheet and imparts a pressing force thereto at a position where said endless sheet is in contact with the material to be electrified, said endless sheet which is impressed with an electrification voltage is driven or is moved at a speed which is substantially in synchronism with the material to be electrified, and the brush and the endless sheet are maintained at dissimilar speeds. This method makes it possible that homogeneously and uniformly electrifying a material to be electrified such as a photosensitive material or a like material without causing it to be damaged or worn out, even when the material electrifying member is rugged or even when a foreign matter is adhered on the surface of the photosensitive material, and a toner filming is not formed on the surface of the photosensitive material, and maintaining a uniformly contacting state between the electrifying member and the photosensitive material even with a relatively small force, as a result, accomplishes homogeneous electrification while preventing the photosensitive material from being worn out.