Method and apparatus for image forming capable of effectively performing a charging process
First Claim
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- a charge carrier configured to carry a charge;
an AC voltage calculator configured to calculate a value of an alternating-current voltage of an application voltage based on first and second alternating-current voltages, first and second alternating currents, and a predefined reference alternating current capable of evenly charging a surface of the charge carrier;
a charging device configured to charge the surface of the charge carrier, the charging device comprising;
a charge-applying device arranged parallel to and facing the charge carrier,a power controller configured to apply to the charge carrier the application voltage including a direct-current voltage and the alternating-current voltage superimposed onto the direct-current voltage,an alternating-current detector configured to detect an alternating current flowing through the charge carrier when the charge-applying device applies the application voltage to the charge carrier, anda voltage value controller configured to determine the value of the alternating-current voltage of the application voltage based on at least two alternating currents detected by the alternating-current detector; and
an instructing mechanism configured to generate an instruction, whereinthe voltage value controller is configured to determine the alternating-current voltage value of the application voltage in accordance with the instruction generated by the instructing mechanism,the at least two alternating currents include the first and second alternating currents detected when the power controller applies the first and second alternating-current voltages, respectively, of the application voltage to the charge-applying device, andthe first and second alternating-current voltages are different from each other and each have a value at least double a discharge-start voltage that initiates an electrical discharge from the charge-applying device to the charge carrier.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and an apparatus of controlling a charge voltage including the steps of applying, charging, detecting, and determining. The applying step applies an application voltage having a direct-current voltage and an alternating-current voltage superimposed onto the direct-current voltage to a charge-applying member to charge a charge carrier. The changing step charges the alternating-current voltage of the application voltage. The detecting step detects an alternating current flowing through the charge carrier when the charge-applying member applies the application voltage to the charge carrier. The determining step determines a value of the alternating-current voltage of the application voltage based on at least two alternating currents detected by the alternating-current detector.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
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a charge carrier configured to carry a charge; an AC voltage calculator configured to calculate a value of an alternating-current voltage of an application voltage based on first and second alternating-current voltages, first and second alternating currents, and a predefined reference alternating current capable of evenly charging a surface of the charge carrier; a charging device configured to charge the surface of the charge carrier, the charging device comprising; a charge-applying device arranged parallel to and facing the charge carrier, a power controller configured to apply to the charge carrier the application voltage including a direct-current voltage and the alternating-current voltage superimposed onto the direct-current voltage, an alternating-current detector configured to detect an alternating current flowing through the charge carrier when the charge-applying device applies the application voltage to the charge carrier, and a voltage value controller configured to determine the value of the alternating-current voltage of the application voltage based on at least two alternating currents detected by the alternating-current detector; and an instructing mechanism configured to generate an instruction, wherein the voltage value controller is configured to determine the alternating-current voltage value of the application voltage in accordance with the instruction generated by the instructing mechanism, the at least two alternating currents include the first and second alternating currents detected when the power controller applies the first and second alternating-current voltages, respectively, of the application voltage to the charge-applying device, and the first and second alternating-current voltages are different from each other and each have a value at least double a discharge-start voltage that initiates an electrical discharge from the charge-applying device to the charge carrier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
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a charge carrier configured to carry a charge; a charging device configured to charge a surface of the charge carrier, the charging device comprising; a charge-applying device arranged parallel to and facing the charge carrier, a power controller configured to apply to the charge carrier an application voltage including a direct-current voltage and an alternating-current voltage superimposed onto the direct-current voltage, an alternating-current detector configured to detect an alternating current flowing through the charge carrier when the charge-applying device applies the application voltage to the charge carrier, and a voltage value controller configured to determine a value of the alternating-current voltage of the application voltage based on at least two alternating currents detected by the alternating-current detector; and an instructing mechanism configured to generate an instruction, wherein the voltage value controller is configured to determine the alternating-current voltage value of the application voltage in accordance with the instruction generated by the instructing mechanism, the charge-applying device is configured to rotate with the charge carrier, the image forming apparatus includes a run detector configured to detect a travel distance of a surface of the charge-applying device by a rotation thereof, and the voltage value controller is configured to determine the alternating-current voltage value of the application voltage when the travel distance of the surface of the charge-applying device reaches a predetermined value.
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12. A charging device, comprising:
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a charge carrier configured to carry a charge; a charging device configured to charge a surface of the charge carrier, the charging device comprising; a charge-applying device arranged parallel to and facing the charge carrier, a power controller configured to apply to the charge carrier an application voltage including a direct-current voltage and an alternating-current voltage superimposed onto the direct-current voltage, an alternating-current detector configured to detect an alternating current flowing through the charge carrier when the charge-applying device applies the application voltage to the charge carrier, and a voltage value controller configured to determine an alternating-current voltage value of the application voltage based on at least two alternating currents detected by the alternating-current detector, wherein the at least two alternating currents include first and second alternating currents detected when the power controller applies first and second alternating-current voltages, respectively, of the application voltage to the charge-applying device; and an AC voltage calculator configured to calculate the alternating-current voltage of the application voltage based on the first and second alternating-current voltages, the first and second alternating currents, and a predefined reference alternating current capable of evenly charging the surface of the charge carrier, wherein the first and second alternating-current voltages are different from each other and each has a value at least double a discharge-start voltage that initiates an electrical discharge from the charge-applying device to the charge carrier when a direct-current voltage is singularly applied as the application voltage to the charge-applying device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification