US 12,405,560 B2
Charge-eliminating apparatus and image forming system
Takuya Masaki, Chiba (JP); and Toshifumi Oikawa, Ibaraki (JP)
Assigned to CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Jan. 26, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/423,716.
Claims priority of application No. 2023-011637 (JP), filed on Jan. 30, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0255882 A1, Aug. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. G03G 15/00 (2006.01); B65H 37/00 (2006.01); G03G 21/16 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/6573 (2013.01) [B65H 37/00 (2013.01); G03G 15/5012 (2013.01); G03G 15/55 (2013.01); G03G 21/1619 (2013.01); B65H 2301/5133 (2013.01); G03G 2215/00417 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A charge-eliminating apparatus configured to be connectable downstream of an image forming apparatus with respect to a conveyance direction of a sheet, and configured to eliminate charge of the sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus, the charge-eliminating apparatus comprising:
a conveying member including a roller and configured to convey the sheet conveyed from the image forming apparatus;
a non-contact charge eliminating unit including electrode portions and configured to eliminate charge of the sheet in a non-contact state with respect to the sheet conveyed by the conveying member;
a frame configured to accommodate the conveying member and the non-contact charge eliminating unit;
an indicator configured to indicate indication contents indicating that maintenance is required for the non-contact charge eliminating unit based on a predetermined signal output from the non-contact charge eliminating unit, the indicator being mounted on an upper surface or a front surface of an exterior surface of the frame; and
a controller configured to perform a maintenance required determination control to determine whether the maintenance is required or not for the non-contact charge eliminating unit after a charge eliminating operation in which the non-contact charge eliminating unit eliminates the charge from a plurality of sheets that are conveyed in succession is completed,
wherein the controller stores a maintenance detection result of the maintenance required determination control in a storage unit, and
wherein in a case where the maintenance detection result, stored in the storage unit when power is turned on to the charge-eliminating apparatus or when a door of the charge-eliminating apparatus is opened or closed, indicates that the maintenance is required for the non-contact charge eliminating unit, the controller performs the maintenance required determination control again.