Process Cartridge With a Movable Image Bearing Member as Well as a Contactable Member, and an Image Forming Apparatus Having the Same

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an image transfer type electrophotographic copying machine or laser beam printer, more particularly to such an apparatus using an image forming process comprising a uniform charging step in which an image bearing member such as a rotatable photosensitive drum and an endless belt is uniformly charged, wherein the image bearing member is repeatedly usable.

Referring first to FIG. 4, there is shown a known transfer type electrophotographic copying machine using a drum type photosensitive member.

The photosensitive drum is indicated by a reference numeral 3 and is rotated at a predetermined peripheral speed in a direction indicated by an arrow about a shaft 3b. The photosensitive drum has a conductive layer and a photoconductive layer thereon. During the rotation of the photosensitive drum, it is uniformly charged to the positive or negative polarity by a charger 18, and then the photosensitive drum is exposed to image light L at an exposure station 39 by an unshown image exposure means (slit exposure or a laser beam scanning exposure or the like). By this, an electrostatic latent image is formed corresponding to the light image projected onto the surface of the photosensitive drum.

The electrostatic latent image is developed with toner by a developing device 5, and the toner image is transferred onto a transfer material S which has been transported from an unshown sheet feeding station to between the photosensitive member 3 and the transfer device 13 in a timed relation with the image formed on the photosensitive member.

The transfer material S having received the image, is separated from the photosensitive member surface and then is introduced into an image fixing device where it is subjected to an image fixing operation, so that a copy is produced and is discharged outside the apparatus.

The surface of the photosensitive member 3 is cleaned by a cleaning device 6, so that the residual toner is removed to be prepared for the next image forming operation. As for the charging device 13 for charging the photosensitive member 3, a known corona charging device having a wire electrode is widely used.

Such a corona charging device is used also for pre-exposure, by which the surface of the photosensitive member 3 is uniformly discharged before the repetitively usable photosensitive member is uniformly charged prior to the image exposure. After the image forming operation, a whole surface exposure step is required to remove the remaining potential by exposing the photosensitive member to uniform light.

More particularly, in order to repetitively use the photosensitive member 3, the potential contrast by the previous latent image remaining on the photosensitive member 3 is required to be dissipated before the next charging step. Otherwise, if the photosensitive member is charged without dissipating the potential contrast of the previous latent image, the surface of the photosensitive member is not uniformly charged when it is charged by a corona charging device, with the result that the potential contrast of the previous electrostatic latent image remains and appears in the next image as a ghost image.

Also, it is required that after the image forming operation, the apparatus is stopped after the potential on the photosensitive member 3 is dissipated, since otherwise the sensitivity, or the like, of photosensitive member may vary during the rest period.

In the apparatus of FIG. 4, a whole surface exposure device (eraser) 19 is disposed between the charging device 18 and the cleaning device 6 to discharge the photosensitive member 3 for the above described purpose. Since the photosensitive member 3 is subjected to the whole exposure operation by the whole surface exposure device 19 before it is charged by the charging device in each of the image forming cycle in the repetitive image forming cycles, and therefore, the surface of the photosensitive member can be uniformly charged by the charging device 18. After the image forming operation, the charging device 18 is stopped, and then the photosensitive member 3 is rotated through one full turn (post-rotation), during which, the entire surface of the photosensitive member is exposed to the uniform light by the whole surface exposure device 19, so that the entire surface of the photosensitive member is electrically discharged, and only then the rotation of the photosensitive member is stopped.

However, the provision of the whole surface exposure device 19 makes the apparatus bulky and complicated.

Further, when the charging is performed by a corona discharging device, a high voltage such as several KV has to be applied to its wire electrode, and the discharging device itself becomes bulky since the distance must be maintained large between the wire electrode and the shield electrode to prevent leakage to the shield electrode or the body of the discharging device. Additionally, the corona discharge produces ozone which influences the apparatus or deteriorates the photosensitive member, resulting in a blurred image.

In view of the above, it is now considered that the corona discharger having the above described problems is not used, but a contact type charging means is used by which a charging member is contacted to the photosensitive member to charge it. By doing so, the problem of the high voltage application and the problem of the production of ozone can be solved. The contact type charging device is such that a conductive member such as a conductive fiber brush or a conductive and elastic roller is contacted to the surface of the photosensitive member with a DC voltage of the order of 1 KV or superimposed DC voltage and AC voltage applied to the conductive member, by which the surface of the photosensitive member is charged to a desired potential.

Where, however, the contact type charger is used, the surface of the photosensitive member is not charged uniformly, but spot-like nonuniformity results. The inventors have proposed in (now U.S. Pat. No. 4,851,960) that a vibrating voltage such as an alternating voltage having a peak-to-peak voltage which is larger than twice the absolute value of the charge starting voltage to the photosensitive member is applied to the charging member, whereby the photosensitive member is uniformly charged. The present invention is a further improvement where such a contact type charging member is incorporated into an image forming apparatus.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus using a contact type charger.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a image forming apparatus which is small in size, simple in structure and/or low in cost.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus provided with a charging device which does not require a high voltage as in a corona discharger having a wire electrode, which has a high efficiency and which produces a relatively small amount of ozone when it charges or discharges a member.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus provided with a contact type charging means, in which an image bearing member is uniformly and stably charged, so that a good image can be produced.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus comprising of a main assembly, a process cartridge detachably mountable to the main assembly, the process cartridge including a movable image bearing member and a contactable member contactable to the image bearing member, and a means for applying a voltage periodically changing and having a peak-to-peak voltage not lower than twice and absolute value of a charge starting voltage between the image bearing member and the contactable member.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus comprising of a movable image bearing member, a contactable member contactable to the image bearing member, and means for applying voltage between the image bearing member and the contactable member, wherein the voltage periodically changes and has a peak-to-peak voltage not lower than twice an absolute value of a charge starting voltage.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a laser beam printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view further illustrating the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an apparatus according to another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating an example of a conventional apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating an apparatus according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are graphs illustrating vibration of the charge potential of the photosensitive drum in the area where the charging roller and the photosensitive drum are cross to each other.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing a relationship between the potential of the photosensitive drum prior to the charging and that after the charging.

FIGS. 9 and 14 are graphs showing relationships between a peak-to-peak voltage Vpp of the applied voltage and th surface potetial V of the photosensitive member when an OPC photosensitive drum and an amorphous silicon photosensitive drum is used, respectively.

FIGS. 10 and 13 are graphs showing relationships between a DC voltage Vdc and the surface potential of the photosensitive member V when an OPC photosensitive drum and an amorphous silicon photosensitive drum are used, respectively.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view illustrating a gap between the photosensitive layer and the charging roller.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing a relationship between the Paschen's curve and a gap voltage.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an image forming apparatus (a laser beam printer) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus comprises a sheet feeding station A and a laser beam printing station B in combination.

First, the structure of the printer station B will be described. The printer station B is provided with an outer casing 1. The front side of the apparatus is shown in this Figure as the righthand side. The outer casing 1 includes a front plate 1A which is pivotable about a hinge 1B disposed at a bottom portion, so that the front plate 1A may be opened as shown by chain lines or closed as shown by solid lines in this Figure. When the printer station B is serviced or when a process cartridge 2 is mounted into or dismounted from the main assembly of the printer, the front plate 1A is opened to allow wide access to the inside thereof.

The process cartridge 2 in this embodiment includes a cartridge housing 2a and contains therein a photosensitive drum 3, a charging roller 4, a developing device 5 and a cleaner 6 as image forming process means. It is detachably mountable into the printer casing 1 at a predetermined accommodating position when the front plate 1A is opened as shown by chain lines. The present invention is conveniently usable when the process cartridge 2 contains at least a photosensitive drum 3 (an image bearing member) and a charging roller 4 (charging member). However, one of the photosensitive drum 3 and the charging roller 4 may be substantially permanently fixed in the main assembly of the apparatus. In any event, the present invention is applicable where the developing device 5 or the cleaning 6 is not contained in the cartridge 2 or where another process means is contained in the cartridge. When the process cartridge 2 is mounted correctly at the predetermined position in the printer, mechanical and electrical couplings are established by coupling members (not shown) between the mechanical driving systems and electrical circuit systems between the cartridge side and the main assembly side.

The outer casing 1 contains a laser beam scanner 7 disposed at a rear side therein, and the laser beam scanner 7 includes a semiconductor laser, a scanner motor 7a, a rotatable scanning mirror 7b such as a polygonal mirror, a lens system 7c and others. The laser beam L from the scanner 7 travels substantially horizontally through an exposure window 2b of the cartridge housing 2a of the cartridge mounted therein, the laser beam L further travels between the cleaner 6 and the developing device 5 disposed at upper and lower sides, respectively. It reaches the left side of the photosensitive drum 3 at the exposure station 3a. By the rotation of the mirror 7b, the photosensitive drum 3 surface is scanned in the direction of its generating line and is exposed to the laser beam.

The apparatus further comprises a multi-feeding tray 8 which extends out of the front plate 1A and which is inclined upwardly toward outside. A plurality of sheet materials S can be set therein.

The apparatus further includes a sheet feeding roller 10 disposed at a lower portion inside the front plate 1A, a conveying roller 12 in rolling contact with a left side of the feeding roller 10, an image transfer roller 13 disposed above the feeding roller 10 inside the front plate 1A, a couple of image fixing rollers 15a and 15b disposed at an upper portion inside the front plate 1A, a sheet guiding plate 14 disposed between the transfer roller 13 and the fixing roller couple 15a and 15b, a sheet material discharging roller 16 disposed at a sheet outlet side of the fixing roller couple 15a an 15b and a tray 17 for receiving the sheet materials discharged from the apparatus.

When an image formation start signal is inputted into the control system of the printer, the photosensitive drum 3 is rotated at a predetermined peripheral speed in the clockwise direction as indicated by an arrow. During the rotation, the periphery thereof is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity, positive or negative by the charging roller 4. The charging roller 4 is of a conductive material to which a predetermined voltage is applied. The photosensitive drum 3 is charged by the roller contacted thereto. The charging roller 4 may be driven by the contact of the photosensitive drum 3 or may be positively rotated in the opposite directions. Also, the charging roller 4 may be non-rotatable. However, it is preferable that the charging roller 4 is positively rotated in the same peripheral direction and at the same peripheral speed as the photosensitive drum 3, or that the charging roller 4 follows the photosensitive drum 3 to rotate. This is because then the friction between the roller and the drum is smaller than when there is a peripheral speed difference therebetween, and therefore, the problem of the wear and the scraping or the drum of the roller is reduced.

Then, the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 having been uniformly charged is exposed, at the exposure station 3a, to the laser beam L bearing time series picture element signals representing image information to be printed produced by the laser beam scanner 7, so that the photosensitive drum 3 surface is subjected to the main scan operation by the laser beam L in the direction of the generating line of the drum, by which an electrostatic latent image of the image information is formed on the photosensitive drum 3 surface.

The electrostatic latent image thus formed on the photosensitive drum 3 is sequentially developed with a developer carried on a developing sleeve (or roller) 5a of the developing device 5 into a toner image. The developing device 5 includes a toner accommodating chamber 5b for accommodating the developer (toner). In this embodiment, the latent image is formed by projecting a laser beam spot L at the image area of the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 which has been uniformly charged, so that the charge is removed from the photosensitive drum 3. Therefore, the developing operation is a reversal development by which the developer having the same polarity as the polarity of the charge remained on the photosensitive drum 3, so that the toner is deposited at the portion exposed to the laser beam.

On the other hand, the topmost sheet of the sheets (transfer material) S accommodated in the multi-feeding tray 8 is introduced into the printer by the feeding roller 10 which is rotating in the direction indicated by an arrow. The sheet is conveyed into the nip formed between the feeding roller 10 and the conveying roller 12 and is advanced at a constant speed substantially equal to the peripheral speed of the photosensitive drum into the contact area between the photosensitive drum 3 and the transfer roller 13 constituting a transfer station. The sheet S fed into the transfer station receives the toner image from the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 during its passage between the photosensitive drum 3 and the transfer roller 13 by the function of the voltage of a polarity opposite to that of the toner applied to the transfer roller 13 and the pressure between the transfer roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 3. The application of the voltage to the transfer roller 13 starts when the leading edge of the sheet S reaches the contact portion (transfer portion) between the photosensitive drum 3 and the transfer roller 13. In this embodiment, a transfer roller is employed as the transfer means, however, a corona charger may be used in place thereof.

The transfer sheet S having passed through the transfer portion, is separated from the photosensitive drum 3 surface, and is guided by the guiding plate 14 to the fixing roller couple 15a and 15b. Of the rollers 15a and 15b, the roller 15a is adapted to be contacted to such a side of the transfer sheet as bears the transferred image and is provided with a halogen heater to constitute a heating roller, whereas the roller 15b is adapted to contact the back side of the sheet material and is made of an elastic material to constitute a pressing roller. The sheet material now having the transferred image is fixed while being passed through the nip between the rollers 15a and 15b, by which the toner image is fixed on the surface of the sheet material by heat and pressure into a permanent image. The sheet is then discharged onto the tray 17 by the discharging roller 16 as a print or copy.

The surface of the photosensitive drum 3 after the toner image is transferred is subjected to the cleaning operation by the cleaner 6 having the cleaning blade 6a, so that the residual toner or other contaminations are wiped out to be prepared for the next image forming operation.

In this apparatus, a cassette 40 of the sheet feeding device A is usable in place of the multi-feeding tray 8. When this is used, the topmost sheet material in the cassette 40 is picked up and advanced to the registration rollers 28 and 55 by the pickup roller 26 and is transported to between the feeding roller 10 and the conveying roller 12, in the manner described above.

Referring to FIG. 2, the apparatus of this embodiment is schematically shown, in which the same reference numerals are assigned to the corresponding elements.

In this embodiment, the photosensitive drum 3 is made of OPC (organic photoconductor), but may be of amorphous silicon, selenium ZnO or other photosensitive material. As described hereinbefore, the charging of the photosensitive member is effected by the charging member contacted to the surface of the photosensitive member.

The charging roller 4 includes a core metal 12 a conductive rubber layer thereon. At least the surface of the charging roller 4 is electrically conductive, and the resistance is 10.sup.2 -10.sup.8 ohm preferably. In this embodiment, a conductive urethane rubber roller having the resistance 10.sup.5 ohm is used. Here, the resistance is the one from the core metal to the roller surface per 1 cm.sup.2 of the roller surface area. As the material of the roller, EDDM, NBR and CR are usable. The charging roller 4 is always press-contacted to the surface of the photosensitive member 3 under a predetermined pressure, for example, a line pressure of 0.01-0.2 kg/cm. In this embodiment, the charging roller 4 follows the photosensitive member 3 to rotate.

A voltage application source 21 for the charging roller 4 includes a DC source 22, an AC source 23 and a switch 24. During the pre-rotation period in which the photosensitive member 3 is rotated and during each of the image forming cycles, the switch 24 of the voltage source 21 is contacted to an A side, by which the charging roller 4 is supplied with a vibrating voltage which is a combination of a DC voltage VDC provided by the DC source 23 and an alternating voltage V.sub.AC provided by the alternating source 23, so that the charging roller 4 is supplied with a superimposed DC voltage and AC voltage, V.sub.DC +V.sub.AC. Here, the vibrating voltage is a voltage which changes periodically with time. Here, "center of vibration" is defined as (Vmax+Vmin)/2, that is, the middle of the maximum voltage and the minimum voltage in one period. In this embodiment, the DC source produces -700 V DC voltage, whereas the AC source produces an AC voltage V.sub.AC having a peak-to-peak voltage Vpp=1500 V and a frequency of 1000 Hz. The waveform of the vibration is in the form of a sine curve.

It should be noted that in this embodiment, there is no whole surface exposure means for uniformly discharging the surface of the photosensitive drum 3.

With this structure, it has been confirmed as a result of repetitive image forming operations that while the potential contrast of the previous electrostatic latent image remains upstream of the charging roller 4 because of the non-existence of the whole surface exposure means, the surface of the photosensitive member immediately downstream of the charging roller 4 is uniformly charged to -700 V despite the non-uniformity of the surface potential before the charging roller 4; and therefore, no ghost image results from the previous electrostatic latent image without the pre-exposure which has been required in the conventional apparatus.

The uniform potential is achieved by the feature of the voltage settings, a charge starting voltage V.sub.TH when only a DC voltage is applied to the charging roller and the peak-to-peak voltage Vpp of the AC voltage component satisfy Vpp.gtoreq.2.vertline.V.sub.TH .vertline..

The charge starting voltage is determined in the following manner. Only a DC component is applied to the charging member contacted to the image bearing member (photosensitive member) having a zero surface potential. The voltage of the DC component is gradually increased. The surface potentials of the photosensitive member are plotted with respect to the DC voltage applied thereto with a predetermined increment of the voltage, for example, 100 volts. The first point of the voltage is the one at which the surface potential of the photosensitive member appears, and about ten surface potentials are plotted at each 100 volt increment, for example. Using a least square approximation, a straight line is drawn from the plots. The DC voltage reading at which the straight line and the line representing the zero surface potential is the charge starting voltage. FIGS. 10 and 13 are the graphs produced in the above-described manner.

The requirements of Vpp.gtoreq.2.vertline.V.sub.TH .vertline. will be explained in detail.

(1) When a DC voltage is applied to the charging roller:

In this case, the photosensitive layer 1b of the photosensitive drum includes a CGL (carrier generating layer) of azo pigment and CTL (carrier transfer layer) having a thickness of 19 microns and containing a mixture of hydrazone and resin. The photosensitive layer is an OPC (organic photoconductor) layer of a negative property. The OPC drum is rotationally driven, to the surface of which the charging roller 4 is contacted. The charging roller 4 is supplied with a DC voltage V.sub.DC to effect the charging to the OPC photosensitive drum in the dark. The surface potential V of the OPC photosensitive drum 1 charged by the charging roller 4 and the DC voltage V.sub.DC applied to the charging roller 4 were measured.

FIG. 10 shows the results of measurements. The charging action involves a threshold concerning the DC voltage V.sub.DC applied. The charging effect starts at approximately 560 V. The provided surface potential V by the applied voltage higher than the charge starting voltage is linear with respect to the applied voltage as shown in FIG. 10. The property is substantially immune to ambient conditions, that is, generally the same results are confirmed under high humidity and high temperature conditions (32.5.degree. C. and 85%, for example) and under low humidity and low temperature conditions (15.degree. C. and 10%, for example).

Namely, Vc=Va-V.sub.TH

Va: DC voltage applied to the charging roller 4;

Vc: potential of the surface of the OPC photosensitive drum;

V.sub.TH : charge starting voltage.

The equation derives from the Paschen's law.

Referring to FIG. 11 showing a model of microscopic clearances between the surface of the photosensitive drum and the charging roller 4, the voltage Vg across the microscopic gap Z between the OPC photosensitive layer 1b and the charging roller 4 is expressed by the following equation:

Va: applied voltage

Vc: surface potential of the photosensitive layer

Z: gap

Ls: thickness of the photosensitive layer

Ks: dielectric constant of the photosensitive layer

On the other hand, the air gap break-down voltage Vb can be expressed by a linear expression of the basis of the Paschen's law where the gap Z is more than 8 microns, as follows.

The equations (1) and (2) are plotted on a graph in FIG. 12 which shows air gap break-down voltage or gap voltage as a function of the gap Z. In the graph, reference numeral 1 designates a Paschen's curve which is convex-down, and reference numerals 2, 3 and 4 designate the gap voltages Vg curves which are convex-up with a parameter of Va-Vc.

The electric discharging action occurs when the curves 2, 3 or 4 crosses the Paschen's curve 1. At the point of the discharge start, a discriminant of a quadradic of Z given by Vg=Vb=0, that is,

That is, ##EQU1##

When the dielectric constant 3 of the OPC photosensitive layer and the thickness of 19 microns of the CTL layer are substituted into the right side of the equation (3), the following results:

This is generally the same as the equation obtained from experiments.

Paschen's law relates to a discharge in the gap. Even in the charging using the charging roller 4, the production of a small amount of ozone is recognized at a position very close to the charging portion (1/100-1/1000 of the case of corona discharge), so that it is considered that the charging by the charging roller involves a discharge phenomena in one way or another.

FIG. 13 is a graph showing the results of measurements of the DC voltage applied to the charging roller 4 and the surface potential of the photosensitive drum after being charged by the charging roller 4, when the photosensitive layer of the photosensitive drum is replaced by an amorphous silicon photosensitive drum.

To minimize the influence of the dark decay, the experiments were carried out without exposure to light prior to the charging step. The charging starts at V.sub.TH =approx. 440 V, and with the higher voltage a linear relationship was confirmed like the OPC photosensitive drum case as shown in FIG. 10.

When Ks=12 and Ls=20 microns of an amorphous silicon photosensitive drum are substituted for Ks and Ls of the equation (3), V.sub.TH =432 V, which is substantially the same as results of experiments.

When a DC voltage is applied to a charging roller 4, the surface of the photosensitive member is charged with the properties described above. When the resulting electrostatic pattern is visualized by a known developing method, a spotty pattern results due to the spotty charging.

For the purpose of eliminating the non-uniformness of the charging, the inventors applied a vibratory voltage provided by a DC voltage and an AC voltage superposed therewith to the charging roller. As a result, it has been found that it is effective for elimination of the non-uniformness by superposing to the DC voltage and AC voltage having a certain level of peak-to-peak voltage. D This will be explained in detail.

(2) When a vibratory voltage provided by superposed DC and AC voltage to the charging roller:

The OPC photosensitive drum and amorphous silicon photosensitive drum or the same as the ones used in paragraph (1).

A vibratory voltage (V.sub.DC +V.sub.AC) provided by superposing a DC voltage V.sub.DC and an AC voltage V.sub.AC having a peak-to-peak voltage Vp-p is applied to the charging roller 4 to contact-charge the amorphous silicon and OPC photosensitive drum, respectively. The peak-to-peak voltage and the charged potential of the surface of the photosensitive drum were measured.

FIGS. 9 and 14 show the results.

In the area of small Vp-p, the potential increases substantially linearly proportionally with Vp-p. When it is beyond a certain level, the potential levels of substantially at the V.sub.DC level of the DC component of the applied voltage and becomes substantially constant irrespective of increase of Vp-p.

The inflection point .alpha. with respect to Vp-p is approx. 1100 V as shown in FIG. 9 in the case of OPC photosensitive drum, and approx. 900 V in the case of the amorphous silicon drum as shown in FIG. 14. These are approximately twice the charge starting voltage V.sub.TH when the DC voltage is applied (paragraph (1)).

Even if the frequency of the AC voltage and the voltage level V.sub.DC of the DC component of the applied voltage are changed, the position of the inflection point .alpha. with respect to Vp-p is constant, although the level-off point of the charged potential changes with the variation of V.sub.DC. Also, the results shown in FIGS. 9 and 14 remain unchanged even when the frequency of the applied voltage is changed to 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 1500 Hz and 2000 Hz.

The surface of the photosensitive drum is charged by the charging roller, which is supplied by the superposed DC component.

When the level of Vp-p is small, that is, when there is a linear relationship between Vp-p/2 and the charged potential (inclination is 1), a spotty charging results like when a DC voltage alone is applied to the charging roller 4. However, where the peak-to-peak voltage higher than the inflection point .alpha. is applied, the charged potential level is constant, and the resultant visualized image is uniform, that is, the charging is uniform.

That is, in order to obtain uniform charging, it is preferable to apply between the photosensitive member and the charging roller a vibratory voltage having a peak-to-peak voltage which is not less than the absolute value of the charge starting voltage V.sub.TH when a DC voltage determined on the basis of the various properties, or the like, of the photosensitive member which is a member to be charged. The surface potential of the photosensitive member provided is dependent on the DC component of the voltage applied.

The relationship among the uniformness of the charging, the peak-to-peak voltage Vp-p of the vibratory voltage and the charge starting voltage V.sub.TH, more particularly, the uniform charging is provided when Vp-p.gtoreq.2 V.sub.TH is exemplarily confirmed. This is theoretically supported as follows.

With respect to the relation between the surface potential and the Vp-p change, the inflection point .alpha. is considered to be a starting point where the electric charge starts to transfer back from the photosensitive member to the charging roller under the vibratory field between the photosensitive member and the charging roller, provided by the vibratory voltage application.

FIG. 6 shows a waveform of the applied voltage to the charging roller in the area where the charging roller is close to the photosensitive member (solid line) and the surface potential of the photosensitive member (broken lines). For the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that the vibratory voltage waveform is such that a DC component V.sub.DC and an AC component Vp-p of a sine wave, the Vmax and Vmin of the vibratory voltage are expressed as follows:

When the voltage of Vmax is applied, the photosensitive member, by the equation Vc=Va-V.sub.TH, is charged to the following surface potential:

In the process of the applied voltage to the charging roller relative to the surface potential approaching the minimum Vmin, when the potential difference becomes beyond the charge starting voltage V.sub.TH, the excessive charge on the photosensitive member is transferred back to the charging roller.

The fact that the transfer and the back transfer of the charge between the charging roller and the photosensitive roller are carried out under the existence of the threshold V.sub.TH, means that the transfer of the charge therebetween is determined on the basis of the gap voltage, and therefore, the charge transfer is directionally equivalent.

For this reason, in order that the back transfer occurs, the following is to be satisfied:

That is,

This agrees the above described experimental equation.

In other words, even if excessive charge is deposited locally on the photosensitive member to provide a high potential, the back transition of the charge make the potential uniform. On the contrary, even if no charge is deposited locally, the transition of the charge makes the potential uniform.

By the formation of the vibratory electric field by the vibratory voltage between the charging roller and the photosensitive member, the charge transfers and transfers back therebetween, wherein the charge transfer is depedent on the threshold V.sub.TH. If it is assumed that the charge movement occurs when a potential difference not less than the threshold V.sub.TH in a certain determined distance, in the area where the charging roller and the photosensitive drum are close to each other, the charge potential of the photosensitive drum vibrates in the manner shown in FIG. 6 by broken line, which is similar to a pulse wave. As seen from the Figure, the amplitude is Vp-p/2-V.sub.TH.

In FIG. 6, before the potential of the charging roller 4 reaches from V.sub.DC (applied DC voltage) to Vmax, the difference between the initially applied voltage to the charging roller and the surface potential of the photosensitive member is larger than V.sub.TH. Therefore, the transition of the charge occurs until the potential differences reaches V.sub.TH, so that the surface potential of the photosensitive member increases. After the voltage reaches Vmax, the potential difference between the applied voltage and the surface potential of the photosensitive member becomes smaller than V.sub.TH, so that no charge transition occurs between the charging roller 4 and the photosensitive member, and therefore, the surface potential of the photosensitive member is maintained. When the applied voltage further reduces, approaching Vmin, the difference between the applied voltage and the surface potential of the photosensitive member becomes larger than V.sub.TH. Then, the back transition of the charge from the photosensitive member to the charging roller occurs, so that it approaches V.sub.TH. When the applied voltage becomes Vmin, and the difference between the applied voltage and the surface potential of the photosensitive member becomes V.sub.TH, the charge transition does not occur. By repeating those actions, the surface potential of the photosensitive member vibrates in the waveform somewhat like a pulse wave as shown by broken lines having an amplitude of (Vpp/2-V.sub.TH). Here, because of its definition the threshold voltage V.sub.TH is the potential difference in the closest portion where the charge transition occurs, and is dependent on the distance. More particularly, the threshold voltage V.sub.TH required for the charge to transit increase with a gap between the charging roller 4 and the photosensitive member. This is supported by the Paschen's low shown in FIG. 12 wherein the air gap break-down voltage increases with the distance. Therefore, in the structure wherein the distance between the charging roller and the photosensitive member increases toward the downstream side of the photosensitive member with respect to its peripheral movement, the surface potential of the photosensitive member having vibrated in the somewhat pulse-like waveform having an amplitude of (Vpp/2-V.sub.TH) converges to zero in its amplitude together with increase of the threshold voltage V.sub.TH, in the distance increasing period. In the area where they are spaced apart with a distance sufficient to suppress the transition or back transition of the charge, the surface potential of the photosensitive member surface is substantially equal to the DC voltage component, i.e. V.sub.DC. Therefore, even if the potential contrast by the previous latent image remains on the photosensitive member, the surface of the photosensitive member is uniformly charged irrespective of the previous potential, by charging the photosensitive member by the charging roller. This will be understood from FIG. 8, if the comparison is made between when the potential before the charging and the potential after the charging in the case where the OPC photosensitive drum is charged by the charging roller.

If, however, the charge starting voltage V.sub.TH and the peak-to-peak voltage Vpp of the AC component satisfy Vpp.ltoreq.2.vertline.V.sub.TH .vertline., when the applied voltage to the charging roller exceeds Vmax, as shown in FIG. 7, the difference between the applied voltage and the surface potential of the photosensitive member does not exceed the voltage V.sub.TH, so that no charge transition occurs. As a result the surface potential of the photosensitive member becomes smaller than the DC component voltage V.sub.DC. Therefore, even if it is attempted to charge the surface of the photosensitive member to V.sub.DC, the resulting surface potential becomes smaller than that. From this standpoint, Vpp.gtoreq.2.vertline.V.sub.TH .vertline. is preferable.

By way of explanation, when the photosensitive member is charged only by the DC voltage, the surface potential of the photosensitive member reaches -700 V when a DC voltage of -1200 to -1300 V is applied, but the uniformity of the charge is not good. And, when the photosensitive member 1 is repeatedly used, the potential contrast in the previous electrostatic latent image remains with the result of ghost image produced.

On the other hand, after the photosensitive member 3 is repeatedly used for image formation, and the repeated image formations are completed, it is desired that the surface of the photosensitive member 3 is electrically discharged to make it suitable for resting. To accomplish this, only an AC component is applied to the charging roller 4 with the DC component being zero. More particularly, after completion of the image forming operation, the switch 24 of the power source 21 is switched to contact B and is maintained, during the post-rotation which continues at least one full turn of the photosensitive member. In the system according to this embodiment wherein the charging member is contacted to the image bearing member to charge it, the voltage applied to the charging member is small, so that the switching is easier than when a corona discharging device requiring a high voltage is used. By the switching, the voltage applied to the charging roller 4 switches from the superposed AC and DC voltage to an AC voltage V.sub.AC only. In other words, the center of the vibration changes from V.sub.DC to zero, in the photosensitive member discharging operation. When the DC component of the applied voltage to the charging roller 4 is zero, and only AC voltage component is supplied, the surface potential of the photosensitive member 3 becomes uniformly zero substantially. It has been confirmed that the surface of the photosensitive member is discharged similarly when the frequency of the AC component is 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 1500 Hz and 2000 Hz. As described hereinbefore, when the absolute value of the charge starting voltage is not less than twice the peak-to-peak voltage of the vibrating voltage, the surface potential of the photosensitive member becomes substantially equal to the voltage of the DC component applied, and therefore, it is preferable that Vpp.gtoreq.2.vertline.V.sub.TH .vertline. is satisfied. This is understood from the graph of FIG. 9 illustrating the relationship between Vpp and the surface potential of the photosensitive member. It is desirable that the AC voltage component is not changed when the photosensitive member discharging operation is effected since then the structure of the apparatus is simple. However, it may be changed as long as Vpp.gtoreq.2.vertline.V.sub.TH .vertline. satisfied. However, if it is satisfactory that the surface potential of the photosensitive member does not reach 0 V upon the discharging operation and/or that a relatively small nonuniformity remains, Vpp<2.vertline.V.sub.TH .vertline. is satisfactory.

The photosensitive member discharging operation continues for at least one full turn of the photosensitive member, so that the entire surface of the photosensitive member 3 is electrically discharged. Thereafter, the AC voltage is shut, and the rotation of the photosensitive member 3 is stopped.

In this embodiment, the potential remaining on the photosensitive member is attenuated before the apparatus is stopped or it is put into stand-by state, after the image forming operation using the photosensitive member is repeated. To do this, the voltage applied to the charging roller is changed to a vibrating voltage having a center of vibration equal to D zero (a pure AC voltage). However, the level of the DC voltage component may be changed from -700 V (image forming operation) to, for example, -100 V upon discharging operation. More particularly, during the post-rotation period after the image forming operation, the charging roller 4 is supplied with a superposed voltage of a second DC voltage V.sub.DC (-100 V) and a sine wave AC voltage V.sub.AC having the peak-to-peak voltage of Vpp of 1500 V and the frequency of 1000 Hz. In other words, the center of the vibrating voltage is changed from -700 V to -100 V, and therefore, the absolute value of the center of the vibrating voltage is reduced upon the photosensitive member discharging operation.

By doing so, the surface potential of the photosensitive member 3 reduces to -100 V in its entire surface. It has been confirmed that the same results are provided when the frequency is 500 Hz, 1500 Hz and 2000 Hz. The potential of -100 V is comparable to the potential when the photosensitive member is discharged by the whole surface exposure.

Thereafter, all the voltage applications are stopped, and the rotation of the photosensitive member 3 is stopped. Because of this post-rotation, the property of the photosensitive member does not change even if they are kept rested. As will be understood from the graph of FIG. 9, it is preferable that Vpp.gtoreq.2.vertline.V.sub.TH .vertline. is satisfied. It is also preferable that the AC voltage upon the photosensitive member discharging operation is the same as that upon the charging operation. However, it may be changed as long as Vpp.gtoreq.2.vertline.V.sub.TH .vertline. is satisfied.

In the above, the center of the vibratory voltage after the image formation is set -100 V, but it may be changed depending on the photosensitive members used, so that the property of the photosensitive member does not change even if it is kept unused. Preferably, however, the potential is set lower than the potential resulted when the photosensitive member is substantially discharged by exposure to strong light. Here, the potential resulted by the strong exposure is the saturated potential. When a photosensitive member having electric charge is exposed to light, the surface potential thereof attenuates; and the surface potential decreases with the intensity of the light; however, the surface potential does not change at a certain point even if the intensity is increased; and this is called the saturated potential. For usual photosensitive members of various materials, there would be no problem if the absolute value of the center of the vibrating voltage is not more than 100 V.

Referring to FIG. 3, another embodiment of the present invention will be described, wherein the photosensitive member discharging during the post-rotation of the photosensitive member 3 is effected by switching the potential of the charging roller 4 to the ground potential. During the pre-rotation of the photosensitive member 3 and during the image forming cycle, the switch 24 of the source 21 is maintained at the contact A, whereby the charging roller 4 is supplied with a superposed DC voltage and AC voltage V.sub.DC +V.sub.AC to uniformly charge the photosensitive member 3, as in FIG. 2 embodiment.

During the post-rotation for at least one full-turn of the photosensitive member after the image forming cycle terminates, the switch 24 is switched to the contact B, that is, the grounded contact, and this is maintained. By this, the charging roller 4 is grounded. By the grounding, the surface potential remaining on the photosensitive 3 is reduced by the charging roller 4, similarly to the case that only the AC voltage is applied to the charging roller 4. The charging effect is weaker than the case where the AC voltage is positively applied. However, the entire surface of the photosensitive member is satisfactorily discharged by setting the number of the post-rotations to be plural. Generally speaking, the photosensitive member 3 is supposed to rotate through plural turns after the image forming operation is completed and before the last transfer sheet S is fixed and discharged. During this plural turns, the photosensitive member discharging operation can be performed, by which the photosensitive member 3 is sufficiently uniformly discharged in its entire surface.

In this example, the charging roller is grounded upon the photosensitive member discharging operation. However, the photosensitive member can be discharged by applying a DC voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the potential of the photosensitive member remaining charged. In this case, the resultant surface potential of the photosensitive member is more or less non-uniform.

In the foregoing embodiments, the photosensitive member discharging operation is performed during the post-rotation of the photosensitive drum (image bearing member) after the image forming operation is completed, but it may be performed during the pre-rotation. For example, in the case of a regular development wherein the portion of the photosensitive member corresponding to an image portion of an original is exposed to light after the photosensitive member is uniformly charged; and the charge of the exposed portion is removed; and a developer charged to a polarity opposite to the polarity of the charge is deposited onto the charge remaining portion, it is desirable that a charge does not remain in the non-image area. This is because if the unnecessary portion receives the developer by the remaining charge, the load of the cleaning device or the like is increased. Also, when the transfer material is jammed during an image forming operation, the apparatus stops with the charge remaining on the photosensitive member. If this occurs, it is desirable that the photosensitive member is electrically discharged by at least one full-turn of the photosensitive member before the resumption of the image formation, so as to dissipate the charge on the photosensitive member. This may be effected, substantially simultaneously with the main switch of the image forming apparatus being turned on. Also, in the case of the regular development in the repeated image forming cycle, the electric charge is retained on an area of the photosensitive member between the first image and the second image, for example, the charge retaining portion is developed although it is not desired. Therefore, it is preferable to electrically discharge the photosensitive member between adjacent images, in the case of the regular development.

In the foregoing embodiment, the charging roller is in contact with the photosensitive member to charge or discharge the photosensitive member. However, it is possible that a conductive rubber blade used in place of the roller. The blade is somewhat less durable than the roller. However, the blade is advantageous from the standpoint of manufacturing cost.

In the foregoing embodiment, a sine wave used for the waveform of the vibratory voltage, but it may be a pulse wave, a triangular wave or rectangular wave.

Also, the image forming process is not limited to a so-called Carlson process employed in the foregoing embodiments, but the present invention is applicable to various processes known as including a step of uniformly charging the image bearing member. The image exposure means may be of a type wherein an original supporting platen is moved or an original supporting platen is fixed with an optical system movable, and may be of LED array control type, a liquid crystal array control system or other various means.

As described in the foregoing, according to the present invention, the charging means and charge removing means actable on the image bearing member can be one and a common member. When the photosensitive member is discharged, the charging member is supplied with a vibratory voltage having a center of vibration which has an absolute value smaller than the absolute value of the center of vibratory voltage at the time of charging operation, preferably, the vibratory voltage having the center of vibration of zero, it is connected with the ground potential, whereby it is not necessary that pre-discharging means exclusively for the pre-charge and post discharging device exclusively for the post discharge are both employed, whereby the image forming apparatus of this type can be made smaller, simpler and less expensive in cost or the like.

Since the charging means is a charging member supplied with a vibratory voltage contacted to the image bearing member, such a high voltage as has to be employed in a corona discharger for charging and discharging the image bearing member is not required, whereby the charging efficiency is increased, and the production of the ozone is decreased, and the charging and discharging becomes uniform and stabilized.

While the invention has been described with reference to the structures disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth and this application is intended to cover such modifications or changes as may come within the purposes of the improvements or the scope of the following claims.