Combined Or Plural Functions By Single Component Patents (Class 399/148)
  • Patent number: 11318770
    Abstract: A cleaning device cleans a conveyance face of a conveyance member conveying a sheet. The cleaning device includes a delivery roller, a pressure roller, a fixed roller and a winding roller. The delivery roller supports a web roll that a belt shaped web is wound into a roll. The pressure roller brings the web delivered from the web roll into pressure-contact with the conveyance face. The fixed roller keeps an extending angle of the web passed from between the conveyance member and the pressure roller constant. The winding roller winds the used web passed the fixed roller into a roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Yusuke Tamekuni, Takeshi Watanabe, Kenichi Satake, Masato Usui, Yuzuru Yuasa, Yasuhiro Michishita, Shinobu Ohata, Shunsuke Yamasaki, Naoto Miyakoshi, Hiroki Sakane, Hiroatsu Tamai
  • Patent number: 10268135
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a detection unit (control unit) configured to detect operation information of the image forming apparatus and a controller (control unit) configured to apply an AC voltage to a charging roller by a charging power source during a non-image-forming operation of the image forming apparatus. The controller is configured to control the duration for which the AC voltage is applied on the basis of the operation information detected by the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9921514
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a detection unit (control unit) configured to detect operation information of the image forming apparatus and a controller (control unit) configured to apply an AC voltage to a charging roller by a charging power source during a non-image-forming operation of the image forming apparatus. The controller is configured to control the duration for which the AC voltage is applied on the basis of the operation information detected by the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8971761
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an inclining device for inclining the endless belt so as to keep the an endless belt in a normal range in a widthwise direction of the belt; a blade member for pressing against the belt at a pressing portion to clean it; a detecting portion for detecting deviation of the belt from a normal range in a widthwise direction thereof; and an executing portion for executing an operation in a mode in which a lubricant is supplied to the pressing portion, when the detecting portion detects that the belt is deviated from the normal range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takao Yuasa
  • Patent number: 8913924
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes: a developing section which includes a developer bearing member which bears toner to be supplied to an image bearing member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; and a developer regulating section which regulates a layer thickness of the toner borne by the developer bearing member, the developer regulating section being electrically connected to the charger case, the developer regulating section being at least partially electroconductive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toyoka Aimoto
  • Patent number: 8913934
    Abstract: A system to combine the transfer and fixing xerographic steps of a xerographic printer into one, as well as to eliminate the need for an electrical field for transfer. The image is transfixed directly from a photoconductor to the paper or other suitable substrate. Appropriate pressure is applied during this step to cold-pressure fix the toner on the paper, taking into account the type of substrate and type of toner. The cold pressure transfix can be done either directly from a photoreceptor, without an intermediate transfer belt (ITB), eliminating all electrostatic transfer subsystems and a fusing operation. Alternatively, for engines with an intermediate transfer belt (ITB), the cold pressure transfix could replace a needed second transfer and fuser system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: George C Cardoso, John F Knapp, Rachael L Mcgrath, Dale R Mashtare
  • Publication number: 20140105643
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for carrying a toner image, a movable intermediary transfer member for receiving the toner image from the image bearing member, a primary transfer member for primary transfer of the toner image from the image bearing member onto the intermediary transfer member, a secondary transfer member for being supplied with a voltage and for secondary transfer of the toner image from the intermediary transfer member onto a transfer material, and a first toner charging member. A first charging member rubs a surface of the intermediary transfer member with movement thereof, and a second charging member moves in contact with the intermediary transfer member, thereby transferring toner remaining on the intermediary transfer member after the secondary transfer back to the image bearing member from the intermediary transfer member simultaneously with the primary transfer at the primary transfer station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventors: Seiji Saito, Takuma Abe, Masaru Shimura, Ken Nakagawa, Kenji Kanari, Takamitsu Soda, Takaaki Akamatsu, Kazuhiro Doda, Takashi Shimada, Shuuichi Tetsuno
  • Publication number: 20130149007
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes: a developing section which includes a developer bearing member which bears toner to be supplied to an image bearing member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; and a developer regulating section which regulates a layer thickness of the toner borne by the developer bearing member, the developer regulating section being electrically connected to the charger case, the developer regulating section being at least partially electroconductive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
  • Patent number: 8313190
    Abstract: A stripper blade system has been developed for high throughput inkjet printers. The stripper blade system includes a metallic blade having a leading edge that is less than 0.06 mm in thickness, a blade holder to which the metallic blade is mounted, and an actuator that is associated with the blade holder to move the metallic blade into and out of contact with an intermediate imaging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Ruddy Castillo, Daniel J. McVeigh, Donald M. Bott, Barry P. Mandel
  • Patent number: 8095042
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of first image carriers on which different color toner images C are respectively formed, a transfer fixing member onto which a multicolor toner image A consisting of the toner images C is transferred, a heater located configured to fuse the toner image A on the transfer fixing member, a pressurizer pressing against the transfer fixing member, an image carrier located upstream of the transfer fixing member in a direction in which the recording medium is transported, on which a toner image B is formed, and a transferer facing the image carrier. The toner image A is transferred from the transfer fixing member and fixed on a recording medium in a nip formed between the transfer fixing member and the pressurizer. The toner image B is transferred from image carrier onto the recording medium before the toner image A is transferred thereonto and fixed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirohmi Tamura
  • Patent number: 7837320
    Abstract: A liquid droplet ejection apparatus comprising a liquid droplet ejection head that ejects liquid droplets, a conveyor belt that retains and conveys a recording medium while causing the recording medium to face the liquid droplet ejection head, and a charge roll that causes the recording medium to be electrostatically attracted to the conveyor belt. The charge roll and the conveyor belt are configured not to contact each other, and a gap between the charge roll and the conveyor belt is less than the thickness of the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Mohri, Hiroaki Satoh, Koichi Saitoh
  • Patent number: 7835028
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holding member, a toner image forming unit, a color forming information applying unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit and a color forming unit, the color forming information applying unit exposing a toner image formed on a surface of the image holding member from a back surface side of the image holding member, light transmitted through the image holding member applying color forming information to the toner image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Isao Ito
  • Patent number: 7751752
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable brush in contact with an image bearing member at a position downstream of transfer means and upstream of charging means in a rotational direction of the image bearing member. The rotational brush is configured to supply electrical charge to residual toner that remains on the image bearing member. The image forming apparatus executes a mode for removing toner particles attached to the brush by setting a peripheral speed of the brush to be lower than that of the image bearing member during an image forming time period and setting the peripheral speed of the brush to be higher than that of the image bearing member during at least part of a non-image forming time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Isao Komatsu
  • Patent number: 7725046
    Abstract: Ions generated by the ion generating section are discharged from a paper sheet conveyer belt nozzle and an intermediate transfer belt nozzle, so that (i) a toner image transferred from a photosensitive drum onto an intermediate transfer belt and having yet to be transferred from the intermediate transfer belt onto a recording paper sheet and (ii) a paper sheet conveyer belt are charged. This makes it possible to more appropriately transfer a toner image onto a recording paper sheet from a photosensitive drum in an image forming apparatus, including a conveyer belt for conveying a recording paper sheet, in which a toner image formed on an image carrier is transferred onto an intermediate transfer body and the toner image is transferred from the intermediate transfer body onto a recording material; and to simultaneously prevent an increase in size of the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Masuda
  • Patent number: 7711300
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier for bearing a visible image thereon, an endless transfer-fixing belt stretchedly disposed between a plurality of spanning members, a pressure member for pressing the transfer-fixing belt to the image carrier while contacting a backside of the transfer-fixing belt at the transfer nip, and a heater for heating the visible image. The visible image on the image carrier is transferred onto the front surface of the transfer-fixing belt at the transfer nip and is transported to the transfer-fixing nip while heated by the heater, where the visible image is transferred and fixed on a recording member. The transfer-fixing belt is stretchedly arranged such that the transfer-fixing belt travels in a direction substantially perpendicular to a pressure direction of the pressure member in the proximity of the transfer nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Nakafuji, Takashi Fujita, Shin Kayahara, Hiromitsu Takagaki, Takashi Seto, Katsuaki Miyawaki, Kazumi Suzuki, Hirohmi Tamura
  • Patent number: 7636532
    Abstract: A charging device that switches and executes a first mode which brings a magnetic brush into contact with a photosensitive member to charge a surface of the photosensitive member and a second mode which collects a two-component developing agent including a toner and a carrier, which remains on the surface of the photosensitive member. The charging device includes a magnetic brush carrying roller, a toner collecting roller, a toner removing member, and a regulating member. The toner collecting roller is located further on a downstream side than the regulating member and further on an upstream side than a contact position of the magnetic brush and the photosensitive member in a moving direction of a roller surface of the magnetic brush carrying roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keiji Yuge
  • Patent number: 7593669
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an exposure device for exposing an electrically charged surface of an image bearing member to light to form an electrostatic image; a developing device capable of collecting a transfer residual developer remaining on the image bearing member; a transferring device for transferring a developer image from the image bearing member onto a transfer medium at a transfer position; and a controller for executing, during non-image formation, a developer collecting mode in which a developer of an opposite polarity is collected into the developing device by driving the image bearing member and by causing the developer carrying member to stop its rotation or rotate at a speed slower than a rotational speed thereof during image formation while generating a potential difference capable of transferring the developer of the opposite polarity from the image bearing member onto the developer carrying member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Shigehiro
  • Patent number: 7526220
    Abstract: An apparatus produces a member having hidden information in which a sheet of conceal paper for hiding the information and a sheet of recording paper having an image recorded thereon are bonded releasably. The apparatus includes a recording paper supply section, a conceal paper supply section, and a fixing section. The recording paper supply section supplies the sheet of recording paper. The conceal paper supply section supplies the sheet of conceal paper. The fixing section fixes the image, which is formed on the sheet of recording paper supplied from the recording paper supply section, onto the sheet of recording paper, and bonds the sheet of conceal paper supplied from the conceal paper supply section to the sheet of recording paper simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu Tsuda, Koichiro Shinohara
  • Publication number: 20080096118
    Abstract: A polyester resin has a molecular weight distribution (MWD) of approximately from 1.0 to 2.2, wherein molecular weight distribution (MWD) is a weight-averaged molecular weight (Mw)/a number-averaged molecular weight (Mn); and a luminosity (L*) of from approximately 97.0 to 100 when the polyester resin is molded in a diameter of 5 cm and a thickness of 2 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fumiaki Mera, Tetsuo Ohta
  • Publication number: 20080019733
    Abstract: To provide a technique that can realize recycling of a developing agent without deteriorating productivity in a charging device capable of switching and executing charging processing for a photosensitive surface of a photosensitive member and collection processing for a developing agent remaining on the photosensitive surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keiji Yuge
  • Patent number: 7317883
    Abstract: A color image forming apparatus in which a developing portion is provided with a mechanism capable of forming a developing agent image and recovering residual developing agent left remained on an image carrier, and an electrification portion of an image-forming unit disposed at a second stage further provided with a developing agent-removing member which is in contact with an electrifying member, thereby enabling a developing agent which is reversely transferred from a transferred image of a preceding stage and recovered by the electrification portion to be removed from the electrification portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Watanabe, Masashi Takahashi, Mitsuaki Kouyama
  • Patent number: 7218879
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a charging device configured to uniformly charge a surface of the image carrier with a charging member applied with a bias of a first polarity (e.g. a negative polarity) for charging. A latent image forming device forms a latent image on the surface of the image carrier uniformly charged. A developing device develops a latent image by depositing toner grains of the first polarity on the latent image to thereby form a corresponding toner image. A transferring device forms an electric field between the image carrier and a moving member that serves as a movable contact with the image carrier to thereby transfer the toner image from the surface of the image carrier to the moving member or to a recording member nipped between the image carrier and the moving member. A polarity controlling device sets residual toner to a second polarity (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Enoki, Koji Suzuki, Yasushi Koichi, Osamu Ariizumi, Kumiko Hatakeyama, Koichi Kato, Masahide Yamashita, Toshiyuki Kabata, Jun Yura
  • Patent number: 7174125
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the invention at least includes: a transport control component for controlling a transporting component so that transporting of the continuous paper is stopped when a print job is finished, the continuous paper is back-transported to an image formation start position of the next print job, and after that, the continuous paper is transported again; and a control component that, when a print job is executed in the case where a pattern image exists in a back-transported area which is set after the continuous paper is back-transported, controls the image formation controlling component so as not to correct the image formation position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoya Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 6975823
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier rotatable in a predetermined rotative direction, a charging unit for charging a surface of the image carrier, a precharging device disposed upstream from the charging unit with respect to the predetermined rotative direction of the image carrier for precharging the surface of the image carrier; and a voltage supply unit for supplying a voltage to the precharging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventors: Akihito Onishi, Takao Mizutani, Masayuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6957028
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus which is small-sized and is able to keep a longtime and stable cleaning function. The image forming apparatus includes an image carrier; a blade member contacting elastically with the image carrier; a semi-conductive member installed on the blade member; and a power unit for adding a voltage to the semi-conductive member. Further, the semi-conductive member is set apart from the contacting portion of the blade member by a predetermined isolation distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Serizawa, Hiroaki Sato
  • Patent number: 6924905
    Abstract: A composite system including a printer having a carriage capable of interchangeably holding a print cartridge and a reader cartridge, and a host computer to which print software and read software are installed, capable of selectively realizing a print function or a read function, and a method for launching the selected function. When a detection mechanism provided in the carriage detects attachment of a cartridge, it outputs a signal indicative of the attachment and type of the cartridge. The host computer automatically launches either the print software or the read software depending upon the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shoji Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 6686114
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a photoreceptor configured to bear an electrostatic latent image while rotating in a direction, wherein the photoreceptor includes an electroconductive substrate, a photosensitive layer located overlying the substrate, and a protective layer located overlying the photosensitive layer and including a filler; a latent image former configured to form the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor; an image developer configured to develop the electrostatic latent image with a developer including a toner; an image transfer device configured to transfer the toner image onto a receiving material; a cleaner configured to remove the toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor while contacting the surface of the photoreceptor; and a surface condition controller configured to control a surface condition of the photoreceptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohta Sakon, Hiroshi Nagame, Narihito Kojima, Hiroshi Ikuno
  • Publication number: 20030049555
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a photoreceptor configured to bear an electrostatic latent image while rotating in a direction, wherein the photoreceptor includes an electroconductive substrate, a photosensitive layer located overlying the substrate, and a protective layer located overlying the photosensitive layer and including a filler; a latent image former configured to form the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor; an image developer configured to develop the electrostatic latent image with a developer including a toner; an image transfer device configured to transfer the toner image onto a receiving material; a cleaner configured to remove the toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor while contacting the surface of the photoreceptor; and a surface condition controller configured to control a surface condition of the photoreceptor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: Yohta Sakon, Hiroshi Nagame, Narihito Kojima, Hiroshi Ikuno
  • Patent number: 6529698
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member and a charging device for charging the image bearing member. An electrostatic image forming device selectively removes charges on the image bearing member charged by the charging device to form an electrostatic image. A developing device develops the electrostatic image with toner as a toner image. The toner image on the image bearing member is transferred by a transfer device onto a transfer material. The charging device temporarily collects residual toner after transferring the toner image. A return bias applying device applies a return bias for returning the toner collected in the charging device to the image bearing member in a nonimage forming period. The length of a return bias applying time period of the return bias applying device is variably controlled by a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naohisa Nagata
  • Publication number: 20010031149
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising an image bearing member and electrostatic image forming means including electrification means which is disposed in contact with the above described image bearing member at an electrification location for injection electrification of the image bearing member, and configured to set a peripheral speed different between the above described electrification means and the above described image bearing member which is smaller when an area of the image bearing member to be an image forming area is at the above described electrification location than that when at least a portion of an area of the image bearing member to be a no-image forming area is at the electrification location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Inventors: Yasushi Shimizu, Junichi Kato, Hiroshi Sato, Masahiro Yoshida, Hiroyuki Ohba
  • Patent number: 6272301
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing an electrostatic image; a developing device for developing the electrostatic image on the image bearing member with toner into a toner image; a transfer device for transferring the toner image onto a transfer material; a charging and cleaning device for removing residual toner after image transfer from the image bearing member and for charging the image bearing member; wherein the charging and cleaning device includes a rotatable member which has an electroconductive foam for retaining electroconductive particles and which is rotatable while rubbing the image bearing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaya Kawada, Toshiyuki Ehara, Harumi Ishiyama
  • Patent number: 6215967
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing a toner image and a transfer device for transferring the toner image from the image bearing member onto a transfer material. A charging member contacts a surface of the image bearing member from which residual toner is not removed to electrically charge the image bearing member. The charging member is capable of temporarily collecting the residual toner. A cleaning device applies, to the charging member, a cleaning voltage for returning the toner to the image bearing member. An image forming device forms an electrostatic image on the image bearing member having been charged by the charging device. A developing device develops the electrostatic image on the image bearing member and collects the toner from the image bearing member. A controller controls the cleaning device to vary a cleaning condition of the charging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Takeda, Fumiteru Gomi, Kouichi Hashimoto, Yoshiyuki Komiya
  • Patent number: 6134405
    Abstract: A member for use in an electrostatographic printing machine is adapted to transfer a charge from a charging source to a surface adapted to receive a latent image. The member is also adapted to clean at least one of marking particles and contamination from the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Michael F. Zona
  • Patent number: 6006055
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a movable image bearing member, a charging member, a developer, and an auxiliary member. The charging member contacts the image bearing member to electrically charge the image bearing member. The developer develops, with toner, an electrostatic image formed on the image bearing member using a charging operation of the charging member. The developer is capable or removing residual toner from the image bearing member simultaneously with its developing operation for the electrostatic image. The auxiliary member is disposed upstream of the charging position and downstream of a transfer position where the toner image is transferred from the image bearing member onto a transfer material with respect to a movement direction of the image bearing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kashia
    Inventor: Tadashi Furuya
  • Patent number: 6002899
    Abstract: A blotter/charging device is provided for simultaneously removing excess liquid carrier from a developed toner image and recharging a photoreceptor in preparation for generating and developing another electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor. The blotter/charging device is useful for all types of liquid developing systems that generate two or more toner images on a photoreceptor, including image-next-to-image, image-on-image, highlight and other types of systems. A method is also provided for generating a plurality of toner images on a support wherein excess liquid carrier is removed from a developed toner image simultaneous with recharging of the support in preparation for generating and developing a second electrostatic image on the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond W. Stover, James E. Williams, Gerald M. Fletcher
  • Patent number: 6002907
    Abstract: A reliable non-sliding transfusing assembly is provided for receiving liquid toner images from an image bearing member. The transfusing assembly includes a continuous intermediate transfer belt forming a belt loop and having an inner surface and a toner image carrying outer surface; a first backing roller having a first diameter and mounted into contact with the inner surface of the belt loop for forming a toner image receiving nip between the belt loop and an image bearing member; and a second backing roller mounted oppositely from the first backing roller and into contact with the inner surface of the belt loop for forming a transfusing nip between the belt loop and an external roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: John S. Berkes
  • Patent number: 5999773
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member and a contact-charging member which contacts a surface of the image bearing member. The contact-charging member can charge the image bearing member by applying a predetermined voltage to the contact-charging member so that a potential of the contact-charging member is changed to a required potential for transferring a residual toner that is stuck on a surface of the contact-charging member facing the image bearing member onto the image bearing member while the image bearing member stops rotating. A method for removing residual toner sticking onto a contact-charging member that contacts a surface of the image bearing member changes a potential of the contact charging member to a required cleaning potential for transferring the residual toner sticking to a surface of the contact-charging member facing the image bearing member onto the contact-charging member while the image bearing member stops rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kei Yasutomi, Hidetoshi Yano, Masako Yoshii, Nobuto Yokokawa
  • Patent number: 5876890
    Abstract: A surface layer of a photosensitive layer contains a resin comprising a structural unit represented by the following general formula (1), and at least one compound of a triarylamine compound represented by the following general formula (2) and a styryl compound represented by the following general formula (3): ##STR1## wherein, X is --CR.sub.13 R.sub.14 --, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkylidene, substituted or unsubstituted .alpha.,.omega.-alkylene, single bond, --O--, --S--, --SO-- or --SO.sub.2 --, wherein R.sub.13 and R.sub.14 are each hydrogen, trifluoromethyl, or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or aryl, and R.sub.1 to R.sub.12 are each hydrogen, halogen, or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or aryl; ##STR2## wherein Y is hydrogen, halogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or alkoxy, or ##STR3## wherein R.sub.15 ' to R.sub.24 ' are each hydrogen, halogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or alkoxy, R.sub.15 to R.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Wataru Kitamura, Hidetoshi Hirano, Kimihiro Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 5805960
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an electrostatic image bearing member for bearing an electrostatic image; a developer carrying member for carrying developer containing toner; a voltage source for applying to said developer carrying member, an oscillating voltage of a predetermined frequency: a toner image forming device for forming a toner image on said electrostatic image bearing member using said voltage source; a transferring device for transferring the toner image onto transfer material; and a removing device for removing, using said voltage source, the toner remaining on said electrostatic image bearing member after the use of said transferring device: the voltage satisfies: ##EQU1## V.sub.pp ?V!: peak-to-peak voltage of oscillating voltage V.sub.f ?Hz!: frequency of oscillating voltageV.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Suzuki, Masahiro Itoh, Kenichiro Waki, Ryo Inoue
  • Patent number: 5752129
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image illuminating section having an illuminating lamp for projecting an image and a heater-type fixing device. In the image forming apparatus, the image illuminating section and the heater-type fixing device are adjacent to each other, and the fixing device is heated by the heat of the illuminating section. This prevents a waste of energy, shortens the rise time of the fixing device and the operating time of a heater for heating a heating roller of the fixing device, and obtains good fixing properties even in a low-temperature environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhide Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 5749030
    Abstract: A cleaning device of an electrophotographic processor having a conductive cleaning blade for performing both charging and cleaning operations. The cleaning device of an electrophotographic processor includes a conductive cleaning blade installed at the cleaning device for removing residual toner remaining on an outer surface of a photosensitive drum, and a high pressure unit electrically connected to the conductive cleaning blade for applying voltage to the conductive cleaning blade to charge the surface of the photosensitive drum during charging operation and to subsequently clean the surface of the photosensitive drum from residue toner during cleaning operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyoung-Koo Park