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:
Oct. 26, 2004
Filed:
Jul. 10, 2002
Hajime Kitano, Kodaira, JP;
Gaku Yakushiji, Higashiyamato, JP;
Bridgestone Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
The present invention provides a conductive member used for a charging unit a development unit, a transfer unit, and a cleaning unit, which are used for electrophotographic apparatus or an electrostatic recording process. The conductive member includes an elastic layer and a resin layer, wherein the resin layer is formed on the outer side of the elastic layer directly or indirectly via another layer. When the surface of the resin layer being in a state not containing any conductive agent is charged due to corona discharge generated by applying a voltage of 8 kV to a corona discharger disposed with a gap of 1 mm put between the surface of the resin layer and the corona discharger, a surface potential of the resin layer after an elapse of 0.3 sec is in a range of 50 V or less and a surface potential of the resin layer after an elapse of 10 sec is in a range of 5 V or less. The present invention also provides an electrophotographic apparatus including a charging unit, a development unit, a transfer unit, and a cleaning unit, each of which uses the conductive member.