IMAGE-FORMING MACHINE HAVING CHARGER CLEANING ACTIVATION AFTER AN ARCING FAULT AND RELATED METHOD

摘要

The present invention provides an electrophotographic (EP) image-forming machine (100) and related method having activation of a charger cleaner in a corona charger (200) after an arcing fault. The corona charger (200) has corona wires (205) connected to a high voltage potential supply (220), preferably providing a voltage in the range of about 5 to 11 kva or in the range of about 13,000 to 22,000 volts peak-to-peak. A corona voltage detection circuit (225) is connected to measure current changes in the high voltage potential supply (220). A grid (215) has a preselected electric potential to control the charge. The grid (215)has a preselected electric potential to control the charge. The grid (215) may be grounded, but preferably is connected to a power supply (235) providing a voltage in the range of about 300 to 900 volts. A grid voltage detection circuit (240) is connected to measure current changes in the power supply (235). The voltage detection circuits provide a voltage signal to a microprocessor (230). When arcing occurs, the microprocessor (230) cycles the EP image-forming machine (100) into a standby mode. The charger cleaning apparatus is activated to clean the charger (200). When the cleaning is completed, the EP image-forming machine (100) returns to normal operation. In a further aspect of the present invention, the image-forming process stops when arcing occurs. The charger is cleaned. Any prints affected by the arcing are disposed. The image-forming process restarts at the image frame where the arc occurred.