DRUM CLEANING PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY

摘要

Charging, imaging, developing and transfer units are operatively arranged about the circumference of a rotary photoconductive drum, the developing unit comprising a magnetic brush. A discharge unit is disposed between the transfer unit and the developing unit and comprises a light source and a corona discharge element to simultaneously illuminate the drum causing photoconduction and expose the drum to an electric field thereby neutralizing any residual charge on the drum and residual toner particles remaining on the drum after the transfer operation. The residual toner is subsequently removed by the magnetic brush of the developing unit.