Appeal No. 1998-0126 Application 08/272,700 electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising: a discharge member having sharp dicharge ends, wherein at least each discharge end portion including said discharge end is coated with a material having a high electric resistance. 5. A corona discharge device used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising: a discharge member having a plurality of sharp discharge ends arranged in a row, wherein a distance D (mm) of a space between a discharge end and a charge receiving member to be charged in said image forming apparatus or between said discharge end and a path of said charge receiving member, and a pitch P (mm) between said discharge ends are determined to establish a relationship of 4#D/P#6. 6. A corona discharge device used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising: a discharge member having sharp discharge ends, wherein at least each discharge end portion including said discharge end is made of an electrically conductive material containing nickel in a range from 8% to 15% and chromium in a range from 16% to 20%, and is coated with a material having a high electric resistance. The Examiner relies on the following references: Compton et al. 3,691,373 Sep. 12, 1972 Myochin et al. 4,574,326 Mar. 4, 1986 Woell et al. 5,241,122 Aug. 31, 1993 3-3-Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 NextLast modified: November 3, 2007