Patent ID: 8185000
Filing Date: 2012-05-22
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An electrostatic charging apparatus, comprising: an endless-shaped electrostatic charging belt having electrical conductivity, the electrostatic charging belt being arranged in a state of having a predetermined contact zone being in contact with a moving to-be-charged body and moving in the same direction as a moving direction of the to-be-charged body; a plurality of electrode members including at least a first electrode member and a second electrode member, the plurality of electrode members being provided inside the electrostatic charging belt, and the first and second electrode members being provided on both sides of the contact zone of the electrostatic charging belt in the moving direction thereof so as to press the electrostatic charging belt against the to-be-charged body and forming gaps that permit electric discharge between the to-be-charged body and an outer surface of the electrostatic charging belt, the gaps being adjacent to the respective sides of the contact zone of the electrostatic charging belt; and a bias application unit that applies mutually different electrostatic charging biases to the respective plurality of electrode members such that an AC component of a first electrostatic charging bias applied on the first electrode member is smaller than an AC component of a second electrostatic charging bias applied on the second electrode member, the second electrode member being located downstream of the first electrode member in the moving direction of the to-be-charged body, and wherein the bias application unit supplies the AC components to both of the first electrode member and the second electrode respectively.