Patent ID: 6032005
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
A method for removing positively charged toner particles from a contact charger of an electrophotographic apparatus, comprising the steps of:sending a signal representing a contact charger cleaning command to a controller in response to manual manipulations by a user of an operation panel on the electrophotographic apparatus having a photosensitive drum, said contact charger, a developer, and a transfer unit, said controller initiating a contact charger charger cleaning operation in response to receiving said signal, said contact charger cleaning operation comprising the steps of:applying a negative charging voltage in the range of approximately about -1.2 kilovolts to approximately about -1.5 kilovolts to said contact charger to generate a voltage in the range of approximately about -500 volts to approximately about -600 volts on a surface of said photosensitive drum;cutting off said charging voltage being applied to said contact charger and brining said contact charger to a neutral charge to transfer the positively charged toner from said contact charger to said photosensitive drum bearing a negative voltage;applying a negative transfer voltage on said transfer unit to transfer the positively changed toner from said photosensitive drum to a sheet of paper;said contact charger cleaning operation reducing the amount of ozone generated due to the voltage employed by the process.