Patent ID: 6463237
Filing Date: 2002-10-08
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
An image forming apparatus comprising:an image carrier configured to be driven such that a surface thereof moves; a charge roller comprising a core and an elastic body affixed to a periphery of said core, and configured to charge a surface of said image carrier by being applied with an AC-biased DC voltage while rotating in contact with said surface, wherein a major component of said elastic body is rubber; an exposing device constructed to expose the surface of said image carrier charged by said charge roller imagewise to thereby form a latent image on said surface; a developing device constructed to develop the latent image with toner to thereby form a corresponding toner image; and a fixing device constructed to fix the toner image transferred to a recording sheet; and wherein: stearic acid is added to rubber constituting said elastic body in an amount of 1 wt % or less, and an AC component of a current charge is fed to said charge roller with an effective value of 1.1 mA or less.