Toner image transfer system

• US 4,491,407 A
• Filed: 05/26/1982
• Issued: 01/01/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Mitsuyama, Akira, Imanaka, Yoshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Gonzales, John F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pendegrass, J.
• Application Number:
  US06/382,123
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 355/3 TR, 355/3 SH, 355/3 CH, 355/3 R, 355/3 TE, 355/14 TR, 355/14 CH, 355/14 SH, 361/212, 361/214, 430/126
• US Class Current: 399/316
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/165 Arrangements for supporting or transporting the second base in the transfer area, e.g. guides
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/169 with means for preconditioning the toner image before the transfer G03G15/095 and G03G15/11 take precedence

Abstract

A metal paper guide is disposed near the transcription section for leading a copy paper into the transcription section. The metal paper guide is grounded in the normal operational mode at the normal humidity condition. When the copying machine is placed in a high humidity condition, the metal paper guide is isolated from the grounded terminal for preventing the leakage of charges supplied on the copy paper through the metal paper guide.

Claims

1. A toner image transfer system in an electrophotographic copying machine comprising:

a transfer corona charger unit disposed at a predetermined position around a photosensitive drum;

a copy paper feed mechanism for supplying a copy paper to a clearance formed between the photosensitive drum and the transfer corona charger unit, said copy paper feed mechanism including a paper guide for guiding copy paper to said clearance;

said paper guide being constructed of metal and secured to the body of the electrophotographic copying machine with the intervention of an insulating member; and

a switching system for selectively grounding said paper guide or electrically isolating said paper guide from the body of said electrophotographic copying machine;

wherein said switching system includes manual switch means for enabling an operator to selectively control characteristics of copies produced by said machine wherein said manual switch means may be switched on in a high humidity condition in order to electrically isolate said paper guide from said body of the electrophotographic copying machine and may be switched off in a normal humidity condition or in a low humidity condition in order to connect said paper guide to a grounded terminal.

2. The toner image transfer system of claim 1, wherein said transfer corona charger unit includes a shielding metal housing, and which transfer system further comprises a second switching system for selectively grounding said shielding metal housing of said transfer corona charger unit or connecting said shielding metal housing to the grounded terminal via a resistor, wherein said second switching system is placed in a condition where said shielding metal housing is grounded when said manual switch means is switched off, and is placed in the other condition where said shielding metal housing is connected to the grounded terminal when said manual switch means is switched on.

3. The toner image transfer system of claim 2, which further includes an erase corona unit having a shielding metal housing and which transfer system further comprises a third switching system for selectively grounding said shielding metal housing of said corona erasing unit or connecting that shielding metal housing to the grounded terminal via a resistor, wherein said third switching system is placed in a condition where said shielding metal housing of said corona erasing unit is grounded when said manual switch means is switched off, and is placed in the other condition where said shielding metal housing of said corona erasing unit is connected to the grounded terminal when said manual switch means is switched on.

4. The toner image transfer system of claim 1, which further includes an erase corona unit having a shielding metal housing and which transfer system further comprises a switching system for selectively grounding said shielding metal housing of said corona erasing unit or connecting that shielding metal housing to the grounded terminal via a resistor, wherein said switching system is placed in a condition where said shielding metal housing of said corona erasing unit is grounded when said manual switch means is switched off, and is placed in the other condition where said shielding metal housing of said corona erasing unit is connected to the grounded terminal when said manual switch means is switched on.