Image forming apparatus having an irradiator irradiating a photoconductor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10488808-B2
Application number	US-201816235450-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 28, 2018
Priority date	Jan 10, 2018
Publication date	Nov 26, 2019
Grant date	Nov 26, 2019

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes: a transferer that transfers a toner image formed on a surface of a photo-conductor onto an image carrier; and an irradiator that irradiates the surface of the photo-conductor before transfer with light such that a potential of an image area where the toner image has been formed and a potential of a non-image area where the toner image has not been formed in the photo-conductor before transfer satisfy formula (1):

0≤| Va|−|Vb |≤200 [V]  (1)
where |Va| represents the potential of the image area after the surface of the photo-conductor before transfer is irradiated with light, and |Vb| represents the potential of the non-image area after the surface of the photo-conductor before transfer is irradiated with light.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a transferer including a plurality of image forming units, wherein each of the image forming units transfers a toner image formed on a surface of a photo-conductor onto an image carrier, and one of the image forming units transfers a toner image of cyan; and
an irradiator that irradiates the surface of the photo-conductor before transfer with light such that a potential of an image area where the toner image has been formed and a potential of a non-image area where the toner image has not been formed in the photo-conductor before transfer satisfy formula (1):
0≤| Va|−|Vb|≤ 200 [V]  (1)

where |Va| represents the potential of the image area after the surface of the photo-conductor before transfer is irradiated with light, and |Vb| represents the potential of the non-image area after the surface of the photo-conductor before transfer is irradiated with light,
the irradiator being disposed only in the one of the image forming units that transfers a toner image of cyan.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the irradiator irradiates the surface of the photo-conductor before transfer with light such that the potential of the image area and the potential of the non-image area satisfy formula (2):
0≤| Va|−|Vb|≤ 100 [V]  (2)

where |Va| represents the potential of the image area after the surface of the photo-conductor before transfer is irradiated with light, and |Vb| represents the potential of the non-image area after the surface of the photo-conductor before transfer is irradiated with light.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the irradiator irradiates the surface of the photo-conductor before transfer with light such that the potential of the image area and the potential of the non-image area satisfy formula (3):
5≤| Va|−|Vb|≤ 200 [V]  (3)

where |Va| represents the potential of the image area after the surface of the photo-conductor before transfer is irradiated with light, and |Vb| represents the potential of the non-image area after the surface of the photo-conductor before transfer is irradiated with light.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the irradiator irradiates the surface of the photo-conductor before transfer with light such that the potential of the image area and the potential of the non-image area satisfy formula (4):
5≤| Va|−|Vb|≤ 100 [V]  (4)

where |Va| represents the potential of the image area after the surface of the photo-conductor before transfer is irradiated with light, and |Vb| represents the potential of the non-image area after the surface of the photo-conductor before transfer is irradiated with light.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
an overcoat layer containing a polymer compound is disposed on a surface of a charge transport layer of the photo-conductor.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising
a post-transfer static eliminator that eliminates a charge remaining on the surface of the photo-conductor after transfer.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
a peak of a wavelength of the light emitted by the irradiator is 800 nm or more.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
a peak of a wavelength of the light emitted by the irradiator is 820 nm or more.

Assignees

• Konica Minolta Inc

Inventors

• Ishida Takeshi
• Kuramochi Kazuhiro
• Maeda Seisuke

Classifications

• G03G15/0898

  for preventing toner scattering during operation, e.g. seals (sealing the donor member G03G15/0817; sealing the magnetic brush G03G15/0942) · CPC title

• G03G21/06

  Eliminating residual charges from a reusable imaging member · CPC title

• G03G5/1473

  Polyvinylalcohol, polyallylalcohol; Derivatives thereof, e.g. polyvinylesters, polyvinylethers, polyvinylamines · CPC title

• G03G15/161

  with means for handling the intermediate support, e.g. heating, cleaning, coating with a transfer agent · CPC title

• G03G21/08 Primary

  using optical radiation · CPC title