Patent Publication Number: US-8126367-B2

Title: Scorotron apparatus for charging a photoconductor

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is related to the application entitled “XEROGRAPHIC CHARGING DEVICE HAVING PLANAR TWO PIN ARRAYS,”, which is commonly assigned to the assignee of the present application, and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Disclosed herein is a scorotron apparatus for charging a photoconductor in a printing system. 
     Presently, in a xerographic printing process, a scorotron is used to charge a photoreceptor so that an electrostatic latent image may be applied to the photoreceptor. The electrostatic latent image is developed to form a visible image, which is then transferred to media to generate an image on the media. 
     For example, a scorotron charges the photoreceptor by driving charged particles onto it. The charged particles are generated by the scorotron by creating an electric potential using a conductor having points or a conductor with a high curvature, such as a narrow diameter wire. The conductor concentrates the electric field and causes it to split the molecules in the air to distribute electrons off of the molecules in the air. The electrons are drawn by the electric field in one direction and the ions go in the other direction. A negative polarity can be used to cause the electrons and negatively charged ions to go toward the photoreceptor and the positive ions can be neutralized through a high voltage connection. Electrical potentials of hundreds or thousands of volts can be applied to drive charged particles to the photoreceptor to prepare the photoreceptor for image production. A laser or other device can then be used to apply the image to the photoreceptor and the image can be transferred to media. 
     A charging device such as a scorotron is necessary for charging the photoreceptor in such a process. A scorotron is relatively complex and expensive to assemble. Furthermore, a scorotron takes up precious space in a printing device. A pin array can be used in a scorotron to increase the scorotron efficiency. The pin array also makes assembly of the scorotron more complex and costly. 
     Thus there is a need for an improved apparatus useful in charging a photoconductor for printing. 
     SUMMARY 
     An improved apparatus useful in charging a photoconductor for printing is disclosed. The apparatus can include a scorotron insulator having a longitudinal axis, where the scorotron insulator can have a first insulator end at one end of the longitudinal axis and a second insulator end at an opposite end of the longitudinal axis. The scorotron insulator can include at least one first spring integrated into the scorotron insulator at an insulator end and at least one second spring integrated into the scorotron insulator at an insulator end. The apparatus can include a scorotron charging grid coupled to the at least one first spring at an insulator end of the scorotron insulator and coupled to another insulator end of the scorotron insulator, where the scorotron charging grid can include an electrical connector. The apparatus can include a scorotron charge member including a first scorotron charge member end coupled to the second spring at an insulator end of the scorotron insulator and the scorotron charge member including a second scorotron charge member end coupled to another insulator end of the scorotron insulator. The scorotron charge member can be configured to generate an electric field. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order to describe the manner in which advantages and features of the disclosure can be obtained, a more particular description of the disclosure briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the disclosure and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIGS. 1 and 2  are exemplary isometric views of an apparatus; 
         FIG. 3  is an exemplary side view of an apparatus; 
         FIG. 4  is an exemplary top view of an apparatus; 
         FIGS. 5 and 6  are exemplary end views of an apparatus; 
         FIG. 7  is an exemplary cross-sectional view of an apparatus; 
         FIGS. 8 and 9  are exemplary isometric views of a scorotron insulator; 
         FIG. 10  is an exemplary illustration of an end of a scorotron insulator; 
         FIG. 11  is an exemplary illustration of an end of a scorotron insulator; 
         FIG. 12  is an exemplary side view of a scorotron insulator; 
         FIG. 13  is an exemplary top view of a scorotron charging grid; 
         FIG. 14  is an exemplary top view of a scorotron charging member; and 
         FIG. 15  is an exemplary illustration of a printing apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The embodiments include an apparatus useful in charging a photoconductor in printing. The apparatus can include a scorotron insulator having a longitudinal axis, where the scorotron insulator can have a first insulator end at one end of the longitudinal axis and a second insulator end at an opposite end of the longitudinal axis. The scorotron insulator can include at least one first spring integrated into the scorotron insulator at an insulator end and at least one second spring integrated into the scorotron insulator at an insulator end. The apparatus can include a scorotron charging grid coupled to the at least one first spring at an insulator end of the scorotron insulator and coupled to another insulator end of the scorotron insulator, where the scorotron charging grid can include an electrical connector. The apparatus can include a scorotron charge member including a first scorotron charge member end coupled to the second spring at an insulator end of the scorotron insulator and the scorotron charge member including a second scorotron charge member end coupled to another insulator end of the scorotron insulator. The scorotron charge member can be configured to generate an electric field. 
     The embodiments further include a scorotron useful in charging a photoconductor in printing. The scorotron can include a scorotron insulator having a longitudinal axis, where the scorotron insulator can have a first insulator end at one end of the longitudinal axis and a second insulator end at an opposite end of the longitudinal axis. The scorotron insulator can include at least one first spring integrated into the scorotron insulator at an insulator end and at least one second spring integrated into the scorotron insulator at an insulator end. The scorotron can include a scorotron pin array including a first pin array end coupled to the second spring at an insulator end of the scorotron insulator and the scorotron pin array including a second pin array end coupled to another insulator end of the scorotron insulator. The scorotron pin array can be configured to generate an electric field to produce corona. The scorotron can include a scorotron charging grid coupled to the at least one first spring at an insulator end of the scorotron insulator and coupled to another insulator end of the scorotron insulator. The scorotron charging grid can include an electrical connector and can include a plurality of openings along a length of the scorotron charging grid. The scorotron charging grid can be configured to diffuse the corona from the scorotron pin array through the plurality of openings along the length of the scorotron charging grid. 
     The embodiments further include apparatus useful in printing. The apparatus can include a media transport configured to transport media and a photoconductor configured to generate an image on the media. The apparatus can include a scorotron insulator having a longitudinal axis. The scorotron insulator can have a first insulator end at one end of the longitudinal axis and a second insulator end at an opposite end of the longitudinal axis. The scorotron insulator can include at least one first spring integrated into the scorotron insulator at an insulator end and at least one second spring integrated into the scorotron insulator at an insulator end. The apparatus can include a scorotron charging grid coupled to the at least one first spring at an insulator end of the scorotron insulator and coupled to another insulator end of the scorotron insulator. The scorotron charging grid can include an electrical connector. The apparatus can include a scorotron pin array located on an opposite side of the scorotron charging grid from the photoconductor. The scorotron pin array can include a first pin array end coupled to the second spring at an insulator end of the scorotron insulator and the scorotron pin array can include a second pin array end coupled to another insulator end of the scorotron insulator. The scorotron pin array can be configured to generate an electric field. The scorotron charging grid and the scorotron pin array can be configured to generate a surface potential on the photoconductor. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  are exemplary isometric views of an apparatus  100 .  FIG. 3  is an exemplary side view of the apparatus  100 .  FIG. 4  is an exemplary top view of the apparatus  100 .  FIGS. 5 and 6  are exemplary end views of the apparatus  100 .  FIG. 7  is an exemplary cut-away view of the apparatus  100  along section A-A of  FIG. 3 . The apparatus  100  may be a scorotron useful for charging a photoconductor in a printing device such as a xerographic machine or other printing device that uses a photoconductor. Accordingly, as used herein, a “scorotron” is defined as any device that is configured to provide an electrical charge to a photoconductor surface in a printing device. The apparatus  100  can include a scorotron insulator  200 , a scorotron charging grid  300 , and a scorotron charge member  400 . 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  are exemplary isometric views of a scorotron insulator  200 .  FIG. 10  is an exemplary illustration of an end  201  of the scorotron insulator  200 .  FIG. 11  is an exemplary illustration of an end  202  of the scorotron insulator  200 .  FIG. 12  is an exemplary side view of the scorotron insulator  200 . The scorotron insulator  200  can have a longitudinal axis  210 . The scorotron insulator  200  can have a first insulator end  201  at one end of the longitudinal axis  210  and a second insulator end  202  at an opposite end of the longitudinal axis  210 . The scorotron insulator  200  can include at least one first spring  220  integrated into the scorotron insulator  200  at an insulator end and at least one second spring  224  integrated into the scorotron insulator  200  at an insulator end. Also, as used herein, “integrated” is defined as being molded as a part of an element using the same material as the element. The first insulator end  201  can be an outboard insulator end and the second insulator end  202  can be an inboard insulator end and the at least one first spring  220  and the second spring  224  can be integrated into the insulator  201  at the outboard insulator end  201 . An inboard insulator end can be an end configured to be coupled inside of a printing apparatus and an outboard insulator end can be an end can be an end closer to an accessible area of a printing apparatus. 
       FIG. 13  is an exemplary top view of a scorotron charging grid  300 . The scorotron charging grid  300  can be coupled to the at least one first spring  220  at an insulator end of the scorotron insulator  200  and coupled to another insulator end of the scorotron insulator  200 . The scorotron charging grid  300  can include an integrated electrical connector  310 . The electrical connector  310  can be a tab configured to be coupled to a terminal in an image output terminal at the inboard insulator end  202 . The scorotron charging grid  300  can be substantially symmetrical across a longitudinal axis of the scorotron insulator  200 . The scorotron charging grid  300  can also be substantially symmetrical along the longitudinal axis  210  of the scorotron insulator  200 . The scorotron charging grid  300  can include a plurality of openings  320  along a length of the scorotron charging grid  300 . For example, the scorotron charging grid  300  can have a plurality of openings  320  in the form of a screen, a plate having a mesh pattern of holes, a series of uniform openings formed by beams or wires, or any other openings useful for a scorotron charging grid. 
       FIG. 14  is an exemplary top view of a scorotron charging member  400 . The scorotron charge member  400  can include a first scorotron charge member end  401  coupled to the second spring  224  at an insulator end of the scorotron insulator  200  and the scorotron charge member  400  can include a second scorotron charge member end  402  coupled to another insulator end of the scorotron insulator  200 . The scorotron charge member  400  can be configured to generate an electric field. The scorotron charge member  400  can be substantially symmetrical across a longitudinal axis of the scorotron insulator  200 . The scorotron charge member  400  can also be substantially symmetrical along the longitudinal axis  210  of the scorotron insulator  200 . The scorotron charge member  400  can be a scorotron pin array  400  configured to produce corona. For example, a corona can be due to electrical breakdown that ionizes surrounding air adjacent to the surface of an electrical conductor at high voltage. The scorotron pin array  400  can produce corona by emitting corona ions. The scorotron charge member  400  can also be a wire or other element used to produce corona in a scorotron. The scorotron pin array  400  can include pins  410  on a first side of the scorotron pin array  400  and pins  420  on a second side of the scorotron pin array  400  opposite from the first side of the scorotron pin array  400 . 
     The scorotron pin array  400  can be configured to produce a charge and the scorotron charging grid  300  can be configured to diffuse the charge from the scorotron pin array  400  through the plurality of openings  320  along the length of the scorotron charging grid  300 . For example, the scorotron charging grid  300  can include an opening pattern to control potential from the scorotron pin array  400 . The charge potential of a surface of a photosensitive body can thus be controlled so as to be uniform by applying a high voltage to the scorotron pin array  400  and simultaneously applying an appropriate voltage, such as the desired voltage of the photosensitive body, to the scorotron charging grid  300 . 
     The scorotron charging grid  300  can be electrically separated from the scorotron pin array  400  by the scorotron insulator  200 . The first spring  220  of the scorotron insulator  200  can be configured to provide tension to the scorotron charging grid  300  along the scorotron insulator  200 . The second spring  224  of the scorotron insulator  200  can be configured to provide tension to the scorotron pin array  400  along the scorotron insulator  200 . Thus, tensioning functions can be integrated into the scorotron insulator  200 . For example, springs  220  and  224  of the scorotron insulator  200  can provide tension so the parts will stay stretched out straight even under gravity, electrostatic attraction, and other forces. Providing tension on elements such as the scorotron charging grid  300  and the scorotron charge member  400  can provide for compactness of a scorotron. 
     The scorotron insulator  200  can include an integrated first lip  230  in proximity to one insulator end and an integrated second lip  232  in proximity to another insulator end. The scorotron pin array  400  can be coupled to the integrated first lip  230  and the integrated second lip  232 . The scorotron charging grid  300  can be located a distance from the scorotron pin array  400 . The distance can be affected in part according to tension of the scorotron pin array  400  over the integrated first lip  230  and the integrated second lip  232 . For example, a gap between the pin array  400  and the grid  300  can be determined by tensioning the pin array over a lip  230  and  232  at each end  201  and  202 . An electrical field can be determined by the difference in electrical potential between the grid  300  and the pin array  400 , which is based on the voltage of each divided by a distance between the two. A smaller distance can provide a stronger electric field and a larger distance can provide a weaker electrical field. The grid  300  can be held at one voltage and the pin array  400  can have larger voltage to create a field between the two. To achieve a desired electric field, a larger voltage can be applied if pin array  400  is farther from grid  300  and a smaller voltage can be applied if the pin array  400  is closer to grid  300 . 
     The scorotron pin array  400  can include a pin array slot  430  along a portion of a length of the scorotron pin array  400 . The scorotron insulator  200  can include an integrated shield  240  extending from the scorotron insulator  200  along the longitudinal axis  210 , where the integrated shield  240  can be configured to be inserted into the pin array slot  430 . Also, the scorotron pin array  400  can include pins  410  on a first side and pins  420  on a second side opposite from the first side. The scorotron pin array  400  can be configured to produce corona. The integrated shield  240  can be configured to at least partially isolate corona from pins  410  on the first side of the scorotron pin array  400  from pins  420  on the second side of the scorotron pin array  400 . The integrated shield  240  can also provide support and stiffness against tension incurred on the scorotron insulator  200  from the scorotron charging grid  300  and the scorotron pin array  400 . 
     The at least one first spring  220  can be integrated into the scorotron insulator  200  at the first insulator end  201  and the second spring  224  can be integrated into the scorotron insulator  200  at the first insulator end  201 . The scorotron charging grid  300  can be coupled to the at least one first spring  201  at the first insulator end  201  and the scorotron charging grid  300  can be coupled to the second insulator end  202 . The first pin array end  401  can be coupled to the second spring  224  at the first insulator end  201  and the second pin array end  402  can be coupled to the second insulator end  202 . The springs  220  and  224  may be located at the same end as each other or at opposite ends from each other on the scorotron insulator  200 . 
     The second insulator end  202  can include a second insulator end tab  250  and the least one first spring  220  can includes a first spring hook  221 . The scorotron charging grid  300  can include a first scorotron charging grid end  301  and the scorotron charging grid  300  can include a second scorotron charging grid end  302  at an opposite end of the scorotron charging grid  300  from the first scorotron charging grid end  301 . The first scorotron charging grid end  301  can include a first scorotron charging grid aperture  331  coupled to the first spring hook  221  and the second scorotron charging grid end  302  can include a second scorotron charging grid aperture  332  coupled to the second insulator end tab  250 . The first scorotron charging grid end  301  can be substantially symmetrical with the second scorotron charging grid end  302 . 
     The second spring  224  can include a second spring aperture  225 . The first pin array end  401  can include a first tab  403  coupled to the second spring aperture  225 . The first pin array end  401  can be substantially symmetrical with the second pin array end  402 . For example, the second insulator end  202  can include a second insulator end aperture  256 , such as a hole, and the second pin array end  402  can include a second tab  404  that can be coupled to the second insulator end aperture  256 . The second tab  404  can also act as an integrated electrical connector. 
     The apparatus  100  can be mounted and located relative to a photoconductor (not shown). The scorotron charging grid  300  can be located between the scorotron pin array  400  and the photoconductor. The scorotron charging grid  300  and the scorotron pin array  400  can be configured to generate a surface potential on the photoconductor. For example, the scorotron charging grid  300  and the scorotron pin array  400  can generate a surface potential on the photoconductor by charging the surface of the photoconductor. Other elements may be incorporated into the apparatus  100 . For example, cleaning elements can be incorporated into the apparatus  100  in addition to the scorotron insulator  200 , the scorotron charging grid  300 , and the scorotron pin array  400 . A cleaning function can be more of a maintenance function, whereas the scorotron insulator  200 , the scorotron charging grid  300 , and the scorotron pin array  400  can provide the primary function of a scorotron. 
     According to a related embodiment, the scorotron charging member  400  can be a unified dual pin array  400 . Tensioning of the scorotron charging member  400  can be integrated into the insulator  200 . Electrical plugs can be integrated into the pin array  400  and the grid  300 . Thus, all of the core functionality of a scorotron, excluding cleaning and other ancillary functions, may be captured with 3 parts. This can provide assembly benefits, not the least of which is reduced cost. Assembly can be further streamlined if the pin array  400  and the grid  300  are made symmetrical, as in the illustrative examples presented herein. Further, a unified dual pin array  400  can provide for a lower profile for greater flexibility in the layout of higher-level systems. 
     Further variations can incorporate other considerations. One consideration can be airflow where the illustrative design is very open and a wide range of airflow options may be applied. Another consideration can be mounting and locating the scorotron  100  relative to a photoconductive drum. Another consideration can be the characteristics of the living springs, such as springs  220  and  224 , where several geometric parameters can allow independent design of the assembled position, assembled force, and spring constants for the types of spring where these or other choices can ensure that the grid  300  and pin array  400  tension is balanced from one side to the other. For example spring constants, in other words, the sensitivity of the force to the position, can be adjusted by changing the thickness, the radius, and/or the location of the springs  220  and  224 . The material of the springs  220  and  224  can be the same as the all of the insulator  200 . A bending stiffness can be achieved based on the insulator material, the spring geometric parameters, and the geometric parameters of the main cross section so tension can be maintained on the grid  300  and pin array  400  without excessive deformation of the main body of the insulator  200 . Stiffness of the living springs  220  and  224  can be determined so the springs  220  and  224  apply the proper amount of tension to the grid  300  and the pin array  400 . 
     Another consideration can be establishing a high electrical impedance between the pin array  400  and the grid  300 . Another consideration can be the choice of material compatible with the living spring  220  and  224  design. For example, polypropylene can offer high resistivity and good performance under large deflection. The material can be an electrical insulator to a sufficient degree. Another consideration can be bending stiffness where appropriate design of the cross-section and mounting strategy could avoid any need for an insert. The insulator  200  can be able to tolerate at least a few cycles of deformation without damage and can be able to take any applied strains. The insulator  200  can be simultaneously stiff enough and flexible enough, which can be controlled by the geometric properties of the areas that need the different properties. For example, the flexible areas can be thinner. Also, the stiffer areas can have a higher bending moment of inertia, which can mean that at least in some directions, the areas can be thicker. As a further example, a T-beam  260  can be used to create a higher bending moment of inertia in desired directions. The T-beam  260  can include the vertical shield  240 . 
     Another consideration can be uniformity, such as whether the insulator  200  should back the pin array  400  along its full length. Also, the insulator  200  in the illustrative example design may be molded without slides, so tooling cost can also be reduced. All of the considerations above can be implemented using a mold without slides. 
     As a further example, the grid  300  can fit over a tab  250  on the inboard end  202  of the insulator  200  and over two hooks  221  and  222  on the living spring features  220  of the insulator  200 . The grid  300  shown can include side shields  340  along its length. The grid  300  can directly contact a terminal in an image output terminal via an integrated tab  310  on its inboard end  302 . The grid  300  can be symmetrical and can include extra holes corresponding to the holes  331  and  332  that can be used for manipulating the grid  300  for assembly. 
     The unified dual pin array can have an integrated tab  403  and  404  on each end  401  and  402 , respectively. One tab  403  can hook into a hole  225  in the living spring feature  224  on the outboard end  201  of the insulator  200  and the other tab  404  can hook into a hole  256  on the inboard end  202 . The inboard tab  404  can extend beyond the insulator  200  for direct contact with an image output terminal. The gap between the pin array  400  and the grid  300  can be determined by tensioning the pin array  400  over a lip  230  and  232  on each end of the insulator  200 . In the illustrative example design, the insulator  200  can support the pin array  400  along its entire length, but an alternative embodiment design may only partially support the pin array  400 , such as at the pin array ends  401  and  402 . A vertical shield  240  can extend through a slot  430  in the pin array  400  in order to partially isolate the corona from each row of pins  410  and  420 , respectively. The presence or design of the shield  240  may be different in alternate embodiments. 
     The springs  220  and  224  and holes  225  and  256  can be designed to allow for a mold without slides for the insulator  200 . The grid  300  and the pin array  400  can be respectively symmetrical. The first row of pins  410  can be staggered by half of a pitch with the second row of pins  420  to improve uniformity. Integrating the two rows  410  and  420  into the same part can simplify its implementation. 
     According to a related embodiment, the apparatus  100  can be a scorotron including a scorotron insulator  200  having a longitudinal axis  210 . The scorotron insulator  200  can have a first insulator end  201  at one end of the longitudinal axis  210  and a second insulator end  202  at an opposite end  202  of the longitudinal axis  210 . The scorotron insulator  200  can include at least one first spring  220  integrated into the scorotron insulator  200  at an insulator end and at least one second spring  224  integrated into the scorotron insulator  200  at an insulator end. The apparatus  100  can include a scorotron pin array  400  that can include a first pin array end  401  coupled to the second spring  224  at an insulator end of the scorotron insulator  200  and the scorotron pin array  400  can include a second pin array end  402  coupled to another insulator end of the scorotron insulator  200 . The scorotron pin array  400  can be configured to generate an electric field to produce corona. The apparatus  100  can include a scorotron charging grid  300  coupled to the at least one first spring  220  at an insulator end of the scorotron insulator  200  and coupled to another insulator end of the scorotron insulator  200 . The scorotron charging grid  300  can include an electrical connector  310 . The scorotron charging grid  300  can include plurality of openings  320  along a length of the scorotron charging grid  300 . The scorotron charging grid  300  can be configured to diffuse the corona from the scorotron pin array  400  through the plurality of openings  320  along the length of the scorotron charging grid  300 . 
     The at least one first spring  220  can be configured to provide tension to the scorotron charging grid  300  along the scorotron insulator  200 . The at least one second spring  224  can be configured to provide tension to the scorotron pin array  400  along the scorotron insulator  200 . The scorotron insulator  200  can include an integrated first lip  230  in proximity to one insulator end and an integrated second lip  232  in proximity to another insulator end. The scorotron pin array  400  can be coupled to the integrated first lip  230  and the integrated second lip  232  to provide tension to the scorotron pin array  400 . The scorotron pin array  400  can include a pin array slot  430  along a portion of a length of the scorotron pin array  400 . The scorotron insulator  200  can include an integrated shield  240  extending from the scorotron insulator  200  along the longitudinal axis  210 . The integrated shield  240  can be configured to be inserted into the pin array slot  230 . 
       FIG. 15  is an exemplary illustration of a printing apparatus  500 . The printing apparatus  500  may be a printer, a multifunction media device, a xerographic machine, a laser printer, or any other device that uses a scorotron to charge a photoreceptor to generate an image on media. The printing apparatus  500  can include a media transport  530 , a photoconductor or photoreceptor  510 , and the apparatus  100  from the previous figures. The media transport  530  can transport media  535 . The photoreceptor  510  can be a belt or drum and can include a charge-retentive surface for forming electrostatic images thereon. The photoreceptor  510  can rotate in the process direction P and can generate an image on the media  535 . 
     The apparatus  100  can be a scorotron that can include a scorotron insulator  200  having a longitudinal axis  210 . The scorotron insulator  200  can have a first insulator end  201  at one end of the longitudinal axis  210  and a second insulator end  202  at an opposite end of the longitudinal axis  210 . The scorotron insulator  200  can include at least one first spring  220  integrated into the scorotron insulator  200  at an insulator end and at least one second spring  224  integrated into the scorotron insulator  200  at an insulator end. The apparatus  100  can include a scorotron charging grid  300  coupled to the at least one first spring  220  at an insulator end of the scorotron insulator  200  and coupled to another insulator end of the scorotron insulator  200 . The at least one first spring  220  can be configured to provide tension to the scorotron charging grid  300  along the scorotron insulator  200 . The scorotron charging grid  300  can include an electrical connector  310 . The apparatus  100  can include a scorotron pin array  400  located on an opposite side of the scorotron charging grid  300  from the photoconductor  510 . The scorotron pin array  400  can include a first pin array end  401  coupled to the second spring  224  at an insulator end of the scorotron insulator  200  and the scorotron pin array  400  can include a second pin array end  402  coupled to another insulator end of the scorotron insulator  200 . The at least one second spring  224  can be configured to provide tension to the scorotron pin array  400  along the scorotron insulator  200 . The scorotron pin array  400  can be configured to generate an electric field. The scorotron charging grid  300  and the scorotron pin array  400  can be configured to generate a surface potential on the photoconductor  510 . 
     In a more detailed operation, the apparatus  100  can charge the photoreceptor  510  surface by imparting an electrostatic charge on the surface of the photoreceptor  510  as the photoreceptor  510  rotates. A raster output scanner or other relevant device can discharge selected portions of the photoreceptor  510  in a configuration corresponding to the desired image to be printed. For example, a raster output scanner can include a laser source  514  and a rotatable mirror  516  which can act together to discharge certain areas of the surface of photoreceptor  510  according to a desired image to be printed. Other elements can be used instead of a laser source  514  to selectively discharge the charge-retentive surface, such as an LED bar, a light-lens system, or other elements that can discharge a charge-retentive surface. The laser source  514  can be modulated in accordance with digital image data fed into it, and the rotating mirror  516  can cause the modulated beam from laser source  514  to move in a fast-scan direction perpendicular to the process direction P of the photoreceptor  510 . 
     After certain areas of the photoreceptor  510  are discharged by the laser source  514 , a developer unit  518  can develop the remaining charged areas, which can cause a supply of dry toner to contact or otherwise approach the surface of photoreceptor  510 . A transfer station  520  can then cause the toner adhering to the photoreceptor  510  to be electrically transferred to media  535 , such as paper, plastic, or other media, to form the image thereon. The media with the toner image thereon can then be passed through a fuser  522 , which can cause the toner to melt, or fuse, into the media to create the permanent image. A cleaning blade  524  or equivalent device can remove any residual toner remaining on the photoreceptor  510 . 
     Embodiments can provide for a scorotron that can use only three parts to satisfy the scorotron functionality by integrating tensioning functions into the scorotron insulator  200 , and integrating electrical plugs into a scorotron pin array  400  and the scorotron charging grid  300 . The insulating material can also be used as a spring. This can simplify assembly and reduce cost. The scorotron pin array  400  can also permit a lower profile for greater flexibility in the layout of higher-level systems. 
     Embodiments may preferably be implemented on a programmed processor. However, the embodiments may also be implemented on a general purpose or special purpose computer, a programmed microprocessor or microcontroller and peripheral integrated circuit elements, an integrated circuit, a hardware electronic or logic circuit such as a discrete element circuit, a programmable logic device, or the like. In general, any device on which resides a finite state machine capable of implementing the embodiments may be used to implement the processor functions of this disclosure. 
     While this disclosure has been described with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, various components of the embodiments may be interchanged, added, or substituted in the other embodiments. Also, all of the elements of each figure are not necessary for operation of the embodiments. For example, one of ordinary skill in the art of the embodiments would be enabled to make and use the teachings of the disclosure by simply employing the elements of the independent claims. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of the disclosure as set forth herein are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. 
     In this document, relational terms such as “first,” “second,” and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “a,” “an,” or the like does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element. Also, the term “another” is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including,” “having,” and the like, as used herein, are defined as “comprising.”