Patents Examined by Joan Pendegrase
  • Patent number: 6263175
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a rotatable member configured to bear an image, a charging member configured to charge a surface of the rotatable member, and a cleaning member in sliding contact with a surface of the charging member. The surface of the cleaning member includes convex portions which engage with convex portions on a surface of the charging member so as to clean the surface of the charging member. Further, the surface of the charging member includes a surface roughness having a directivity set to a forward direction relative to a rotating direction of the rotatable member and set to a backward direction relative to the surface of the cleaning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Sawada, Masumi Sato