| abstract |
A charging roll which is held in contact with an outer circumferential surface of an image bearing medium for charging the surface of the image bearing medium by application of a DC voltage and an AC voltage which is superimposed on the DC voltage, the charging roll comprising: a center shaft (12, 22); an electrically conductive base layer (14, 24) formed on an outer circumferential surface of the shaft; an outer structure (16, 18; 26, 28, 30) formed on an outer circumferential surface of the conductive base layer; and the charging roll having Asker C hardness of less than 48 degrees as measured upon application of 1kg load thereto and micro rubber hardness in a range of 65-85 degrees as measured upon application of 33.85g load thereto. |