Roller Patents (Class 399/357)
  • Patent number: 11314193
    Abstract: A foreign substance collection apparatus includes: a frame body; a photosensitive drum; a cleaning roller which collects foreign substances from a surface of the photosensitive drum; a collecting roller which further collects the foreign substances having been collected by the cleaning roller from the cleaning roller; and a scraping member which scrapes off the foreign substances from the collecting roller. A foreign substance collecting portion included in the frame body has, in a posture during use: a first inner bottom surface which is positioned below the scraping member in a gravity direction; an outer bottom surface which is positioned further below the first inner bottom surface; and a connecting surface which intersects the first inner bottom surface and the outer bottom surface and which connects the first inner bottom surface and the outer bottom surface with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noriyuki Komatsu, Tomonori Mori, Teruhiko Sasaki, Makoto Hayashida, Shunsuke Uratani, Yuuki Nakamura, Satoru Motohashi
  • Patent number: 10534292
    Abstract: An example method of performing a null cycle in a liquid electrographic printer is described. The method involves collecting, at a photo imaging plate cleaning station, imaging oil deposited on a photo imaging plate during a print cycle. During a null cycle, the photo imaging plate cleaning station is controlled to apply the collected imaging oil to the photo imaging plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: HP Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: Shmuel Borenstain, Shahar Stein, Asaf Anufa
  • Patent number: 10281832
    Abstract: A positively chargeable toner includes toner particles each including a toner mother particle and an external additive adhering to a surface of the toner mother particle. The external additive includes first resin particles each having a surface to which a cationic surfactant adheres and second resin particles each having a surface to which an anionic surfactant adheres. Respective number average primary particle diameters of the first resin particles and the second resin particles are at least 60 nm and no greater than 100 nm. A detachment ratio of the first resin particles in a dispersion of the toner subjected to five-minute ultrasonic treatment is no greater than 20% in terms of a peak intensity percentage in a fluorescent X-ray spectrum plotted for the dispersion of the toner. A detachment ratio of the second resin particles in the dispersion is at least 30% and no greater than 60% in terms thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Ryotaro Komada
  • Patent number: 10241435
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a main body, an attaching/detaching section, an uneven part, and a cleaning member. A conveyance path is formed inside the main body. The attaching/detaching section housed in the main body is detachably drawn out with respect to the main body along the conveyance path. The uneven part has a convex part and a concave part and is arranged in the attaching/detaching section. The cleaning member arranged in the main body is slidable with the convex part in a direction in which the attaching/detaching section moves along the conveyance path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoji Sato
  • Patent number: 10116823
    Abstract: A cleaning device includes a removal roller, a collecting roller, a blade, and a toner storage section. The removal roller and the collecting roller do not have relationship such that a rotation speed or a diameter of one of the removal roller and the collecting roller is an integral multiple of a rotation speed or a diameter of the other removal roller and collecting roller. A first outer circumferential region having a first surface roughness and extending in an axial direction of a second rotary shaft and a second outer circumferential region having a greater second surface roughness than the first surface roughness and extending in the axial direction of the second rotary shaft are provided on an outer circumferential surface of the collecting roller in a circumferential direction thereof. A width of the second outer circumferential region is smaller than a width of the first outer circumferential region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Tomohisa Ono
  • Patent number: 9690250
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer; a charger to charge a surface of the image bearer; an exposure device to expose the surface of the image bearer and form an electrostatic latent image on the image bearer; a developing device to adhere electrically charged toner to the electrostatic latent image on the image bearer, to thereby form a toner image; a microprocessor to control rotation of the image bearer; and a sensor to detect temperature and humidity. In a state of suspended rotation of the image bearer, the microprocessor controls the image bearer to rotate a predetermined amount at a predetermined interval and determines whether a rotation operation of the image bearer is to be performed, based on a detection result of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiko Saito, Toshiya Satoh, Norio Kudoh, Hiroyuki Uenishi, Daisuke Tomita
  • Patent number: 9280080
    Abstract: A charger is provided. The charger includes a discharge electrode, a cleaner, and a holder. The discharge electrode is composed of a wire, and the wire has a surface plated with palladium. The cleaner removes foreign substances adhered to the discharge electrode. The cleaner includes a first cleaner composed of a glass-containing resin and a second cleaner. The first cleaner scrapes off the foreign substances by press-contacting the wire while moving, and the second cleaner wipes off the foreign substances by press-contacting the wire while moving. The holder movably holds the cleaner in a direction parallel to the discharge electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Uenishi, Toshiya Sato, Norio Kudoh, Tomohiko Saito
  • Patent number: 9213307
    Abstract: A drum cartridge and a method are disclosed. An example drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a first cleaning roller positioned to a side of the photosensitive drum. The drum cartridge includes a lever positioned at an outer surface of the drum cartridge. The outer surface of the drum cartridge is positioned toward the side of the photosensitive drum. The lever is extendable in a second direction different from the first direction, and the lever is pivotable with respect to the outer surface of the drum cartridge about a second axis extending in the first direction. The lever is pivotable between an extended position and a retracted position. The drum cartridge includes an engagement portion movable with pivoting of the lever between an engaged position when the lever is in the extended position and a disengaged position when the lever is in the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Abe, Hideaki Deguchi
  • Patent number: 9020388
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first process unit and a second process unit. The first process unit includes: a first photosensitive member configured to carry a first developer image to be transferred onto a transfer medium; and a blade member configured to scrape substances attached to a surface of the first photosensitive member off the surface of the first photosensitive member. The second process unit includes: a second photosensitive member configured to carry a second developer image to be transferred onto the transfer medium having the first developer image transferred thereon; and a holding member configured to remove substances attached to a surface of the second photosensitive member from the surface of the second photosensitive member, temporarily hold the substances and return the substances to the surface of the second photosensitive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Isao Fukuchi, Atsushi Fukui, Masanori Tsuruko, Akihiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8995870
    Abstract: A belt cleaning device includes a collection roller, a cleaning blade, a sealing member, a first thrust mechanism, and a second thrust mechanism. The collection roller collects remaining toner on an intermediate transfer belt. The cleaning blade extends along the collection roller and scrapes off the toner of a surface of the collection roller. The sealing member softly comes into contact with the surface of the collection roller and prevents counterflow of the toner. The first thrust mechanism displaces the collection roller in its rotating shaft direction by a rotational driving force transmitted to the collection roller and the second thrust mechanism thrusts the cleaning blade in the rotating shaft direction of the collection roller in a thrust cycle shorter than that of the collection roller based on the first thrust mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Documents Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroki Morishita
  • Patent number: 8989618
    Abstract: A cleaning member for an image forming apparatus includes a core member, a foamed elastic layer in which two or more strip-shaped foamed elastic members connected together at one or both of longitudinal end portions are spirally wound around the outer peripheral surface of the core member from one end of the core member to the other end thereof, and an adhesive layer for bonding the core member and the foamed elastic layer together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kawai, Fuyuki Kano, Makoto Nishimura, Makoto Takemoto
  • Patent number: 8989646
    Abstract: A cleaning device includes a rotary member, a sheet member, and a toner conveying member. The rotary member is held in contact with a cylindrical surface of an image carrier above a rotation axis of the image carrier. The sheet member is in contact at a distal end thereof with the cylindrical surface of the image carrier above the rotation axis of the image carrier and upstream of a contact position of the rotary member with the cylindrical surface of the image carrier in a direction of rotation of the image carrier. The toner conveying member is disposed above the sheet member and facing the peripheral surface of the rotary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Masaki Kadota, Shigeki Tsukahara, Koichi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8965240
    Abstract: A cleaning device includes a housing, a cleaning member, a contact member, a torque limiter, and an urging member. The housing has an opening that opposes an image carrier and a waste toner receiver. The cleaning member includes a rotation member that is rotated in a forward rotation direction. The cleaning member is positioned near the opening in the housing and removes residual toner from the surface of the image carrier. The contact member is positioned so as to be in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the rotation member. The torque limiter is located on a rotation shaft of the rotation member and is capable of rotating independently of the rotation shaft when a torque that is greater than or equal to a predetermined torque is applied to the torque limiter. The urging member applies an urging force to the torque limiter in a reverse rotation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Satoru Yonemoto
  • Patent number: 8965262
    Abstract: When filler particles are added to a surface layer of a fixing member in order to enhance a toner releasing property, if the filler particles are randomly oriented, chemical affinity between the surface layer of the fixing member and toner is enhanced and a sufficient effect cannot be accomplished. Therefore, whisker-shaped filler particles are added to the surface layer of the fixing member, and the filler particles are oriented to approximately follow a rotation direction of the fixing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroki Muramatsu
  • Publication number: 20150016855
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first image forming unit including a first image bearing member and a first rotating member configured to rub a surface of the first image bearing member; a second image forming unit including a second image bearing member and a second rotating member configured to rub a surface of the second image bearing member; and a transfer unit configured to convey a sheet between the first image bearing member and the second image bearing member and transfer a developer on the first image bearing member and the second image bearing member, onto the sheet. The first image forming unit is disposed upstream of the second image forming unit in a sheet conveying direction. A force of the second rotating member rubbing the surface of the second image bearing member is less than a force of the first rotating member rubbing the surface of the first image bearing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Aya Adachi
  • Patent number: 8923744
    Abstract: A cleaning device includes: a cleaning rotating body 160; a scraping member 130; a toner restriction face 141; and a downstream side restriction portion 140. The cleaning rotating body 160 is arranged in sliding contact with the surface of the image carrying body 2. A front end portion 131 of the scraping member 130 is arranged in contact with or in proximity to a surface of the cleaning rotating body 160. The scraping member 130 is a plate-like member and includes a toner receiving face 133 to which the toner is carried from the front end portion 131. The toner restriction face 141 is arranged to be orthogonal to the toner receiving face 133. The downstream side restriction portion 140 restricts movement of the toner to a downstream side in a rotational direction of the cleaning rotating body 166.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshimi Shimizu, Takahiko Murata, Ai Takagami
  • Publication number: 20140376964
    Abstract: An electrophotographic imaging device includes a charging device, a cleaning device, and a fuser member that each include hydrophobic carbon nanotubes. The use of hydrophobic carbon nanotubes can increases the charging device's, the cleaning device's, and the fuser member's durability, conductivity, and contaminants deposition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Liang-Bih Lin, David H Pan, Daniel Levy, Jin Wu
  • Patent number: 8918039
    Abstract: A cleaning device includes a first cleaning roller and a second cleaning roller. The first cleaning roller contacts a member to be cleaned, rotates, separates any matter to be removed that is stuck on the member to be cleaned from the member to be cleaned, and causes the matter to be removed to adhere to the first cleaning roller. The member to be cleaned rotates or circulates. The first cleaning roller has an elastic peripheral surface. The second cleaning roller has a peripheral surface whose hardness is higher than that of the first cleaning roller. The second cleaning roller pushes the first cleaning roller and rotates while causing the first cleaning roller to be elastically recessed, to separate the matter to be removed that is stuck on the first cleaning roller therefrom and cause the matter to be removed to adhere to the second cleaning roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiichiro Arikawa, Hiroko Furukata, Masahiro Ishino, Junichi Uchiyama
  • Publication number: 20140356041
    Abstract: A drum cleaning device includes a toner supply roller, a toner layer restricting member, and a toner receiving member. The toner layer restricting member includes an inclined portion formed in a lateral region outside of an image forming region to incline gradually away from a surface of a cleaning roller with increasing distance from an inner side of the lateral region. The toner receiving member includes a lower-level upper end portion provided in the lateral region outside of the image forming region, the lower-level upper end portion being located below a second contact region where the cleaning roller and the toner supply roller come into contact with each other. The inclined portion is disposed in a region overlapping the lower-level upper end portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Katsuya Ota, Jun Nakai
  • Patent number: 8897665
    Abstract: A photosensitive member unit includes a photosensitive member, first and second side walls, a rotatable body and a unit electrode. The photosensitive member defines an axis extending in an axial direction, and has first and second end portions in the axial direction. The first side wall rotatably supports the first end portion and the second side wall rotatably supports the second end portion. The rotatable body is rotatably disposed between the first and the second side walls. The rotatable body confronts and contacts the photosensitive member in a prescribed direction perpendicular to the axial direction to be movable in the prescribed direction. The unit electrode is provided at the first side wall and supports the rotatable body, the first side wall supporting the unit electrode to permit the unit electrode to be movable in the prescribed direction in conjunction with movement of the rotatable body in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoya Kamimura
  • Patent number: 8892021
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes at least: an image bearing member; a protective layer forming unit including at least a protective agent supplying member and an image bearing member protective agent; and a rotational speed controlling unit. In at least one embodiment, the protective agent supplying member includes a core material and a foam layer including a plurality of cells, and a number of cells n existing at a contact portion between a surface of the image bearing member and the protective agent supplying member is greater than 9 and less than 23. Further, a traveling speed V of the cells with respect to the surface of the image bearing member at the contact portion is greater than 837 cells/mm2/s and less than 4,670 cells/mm2/s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunio Hasegawa, Hiroshi Nakai, Takuya Sekine
  • Patent number: 8867964
    Abstract: A first rotary body is configured to rotate by a drive force input from an external source and has a first outer peripheral surface. A second rotary body has a second outer peripheral surface and is configured to rotate by following a rotation of the first rotary body through a friction generated between the first outer peripheral surface and the second outer peripheral surface. A first gear is configured to rotate together with the first rotary body. A second gear is configured to rotate together with the second rotary body and is directory engaged with the first gear. The first gear has a first pitch circle and the second gear has a second pitch circle. A radius of the first pitch circle is smaller than a radius of the first rotary body, and a radius of the second pitch circle is larger than a radius of the second rotary body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Hashimoto, Koji Abe, Masatoshi Shiraki, Yasushi Okabe, Aya Tamura
  • Patent number: 8831468
    Abstract: An optical scanner includes a plurality of automatic cleaning units which automatically cleans dust-proof glasses. The automatic cleaning units include screw shafts threadedly coupled to holding units that hold cleaning members. When the holding members are moved by rotationally driving the screw shafts of the automatic cleaning units at the same time, the height of the cleaning member of at least one of the automatic cleaning units with respect to the dust-proof glasses becomes different from the height of the cleaning members of the remaining automatic cleaning units with respect to the dust-proof glasses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Uohashi Yuki
  • Patent number: 8831471
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit having a plurality of photoconductor drums arranged in tandem; an intermediate transfer belt arranged opposite to the photoconductor drums and configured to receive developer images formed on the photoconductor drums and to transfer the developer images onto a recording sheet; a cleaning unit comprising a cleaning member positioned in contact with the intermediate transfer belt and configured to collect substance adhering to the intermediate transfer belt, and a receptacle configured to store the substance collected by the cleaning member, wherein the cleaning unit is arranged on the same side as the image forming unit with respect to the intermediate transfer belt; and a support member configured to support the image forming unit and the cleaning unit and to be pulled out from a main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Susumu Sakuma
  • Patent number: 8824913
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image formation device configured to form images on a recording sheet is provided with a belt unit having an endless belt wound around a first roller and a second roller, a cleaning unit facing the endless belt and collects particles adhered on the endless belt with use of an electrostatic attractive force, a first voltage being applied to the cleaning unit, a backup unit arranged to face the cleaning unit with the endless belt being located therebetween, a second voltage that is different from the first voltage being applied to the backup unit, an electric wiring unit provided to the belt unit and electrically connected with the backup unit, and an electric current detection unit configured to detect an current value of an electric current flowing through the electric wiring unit. The electric wiring unit is electrically independent from other electric wiring units provided to the belt unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masato Makino
  • Patent number: 8805240
    Abstract: There is provided a cleaning device for removing residual toner on an image carrier. The cleaning device includes a housing to cover a specified region of an image carrier. A first cleaning section and a second cleaning section are respectively placed in upper and lower parts of the housing partitioned by a partition member. The first cleaning section includes a first cleaning brush and a first regulating member. The second cleaning section includes a second cleaning brush and a second regulating member. The partition member substantially extends in a continuous manner with respect to a horizontal direction from the specified region to at least a position equivalent to an end portion on a housing sidewall side of the first or the second regulating member. A clearance exists between the housing sidewall and an end portion on the housing sidewall side of the partition member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Katsumi Shirai, Hideji Higashimura, Morihisa Kawahara, Takumi Michibata
  • Patent number: 8792815
    Abstract: A cleaning device includes: a collection member configured to contact a photosensitive member, on which an electrostatic latent image is configured to be formed, and collect foreign substances on the photosensitive member; a shaft configured to attract the foreign substances from the collection member so as to make the foreign substances cling thereto; a scraping member configured to contact the shaft and scrape the foreign substances cling on the shaft; and a housing configured to accommodate the collection member and the shaft, wherein the scraping member is mounted to the housing. The scraping member includes: an elastic member; and a fiber member configured to be adhered to the elastic member and slidingly contact the shaft. The elastic member is configured to press the shaft to such an extent that fibers of the fiber member are pressed and compressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenta Tosuji
  • Publication number: 20140178107
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming device in which the cost needed for a roller member as a whole can be reduced, as well as a manufacturing process of the roller member can be simplified, and a method of manufacturing the roller member. Provided is an image forming device comprising, on the outer periphery of a shaft, at least two types of rollers each having an elastic layer composed of polyurethane foam of the same composition, in which the at least two types of rollers are selected from the group consisting of a toner feed roller, a transfer roller and a cleaning roller. At least one of the at least two types of rollers is preferably subjected to a heat pressing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru Masuyama
  • Publication number: 20140169826
    Abstract: An image formation unit includes a rotatable image carrier, a charge member configured to electrically charge a surface of the image carrier, a charge cleaning member including cell marks in a surface layer thereof and configured to clean a surface of the charge member, a first cleaning member configured to clean the surface of the image carrier, and a second cleaning member including cell marks in a surface layer thereof and provided downstream of the first cleaning member in a rotation direction of the image carrier. The cell density of the charge cleaning member is equal to or more than the cell density of the second cleaning member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Toshimasa HIGAKI
  • Patent number: 8755710
    Abstract: A cleaning member includes a columnar body; and a strip-shaped body made of an elastic porous material, the strip-shaped body being helically wound around a peripheral surface of the columnar body. In a width direction of the strip-shaped body, a height of a surface of the strip-shaped body from a central axis of the columnar body is larger at a first end of an exposed part of the strip-shaped body than at a second end of the exposed part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Aoyagi, Tomonori Sato, Yuya Kato, Masami Tanase
  • Patent number: 8745870
    Abstract: A regenerated elastic rollers manufacturing process is provided. The process includes the step of removing an agglutinated stain of toner adhered to the surface of an elastic roller including a mandrel and an elastic layer. The step further includes the steps of: (1) pressing a pressing roller against the surface of the elastic roller so as to crack the agglutinated stain on the surface of the elastic roller; and (2) removing the agglutinated stain cracked in the step (1) from the surface of the elastic roller by means of an adhesive roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kunimasa Kawamura, Masahiro Watanabe, Kazuaki Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 8699934
    Abstract: A cleaning mechanism includes a rubbing roller, a bearing, a toner amount restricting plate, and a bracket. The rubbing roller is abrasively contacted with the surface of a photosensitive drum. The bearing rotatably supports the rubbing roller. The toner amount restricting plate restricts the amount of toner adhered to the surface of the rubbing roller. The bracket holds the toner amount restricting plate in a state that the toner amount restricting plate is contacted with the rubbing roller. The bracket has a bearing holding portion which holds the bearing, and a toner amount restricting plate mounting portion to which the toner amount restricting plate is fixedly mounted. The bearing holding portion and the toner amount restricting plate mounting portion continue to each other via a first bent portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kei Wakayama
  • Patent number: 8676109
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning blade configured to abut with a surface of the image carrier member, and to remove residual toner from the surface of the image carrier member; a cleaning roller rotatably configured to attach residual toner removed by the cleaning blade to the surface and make abrasive contact with the surface of the image carrier member; a toner layer regulating member configured to regulate residual toner attached to the cleaning roller to a predetermined toner layer thickness and scrape and remove excess residual toner; a frame member configured to store residual toner scraped and removed from the cleaning roller; and a toner supply member configured to make contact with the cleaning roller to attach residual toner stored in the frame member to the surface, and to attach residual toner attached to the surface to the cleaning roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kei Wakayama
  • Publication number: 20140044464
    Abstract: An image-forming device includes photosensitive drums arranged parallel to each other and extending in a first direction; developing units corresponding to the photosensitive drums; a belt in contact with the photosensitive drums and moving in a second direction crossing the first direction; a cleaner for cleaning waste toner on the belt; a first conveying unit extending in the first direction; a second conveying unit extending in the first direction separately from the first conveying unit in a third direction orthogonal to the first and second directions; and a connecting unit connecting the first and second conveying units. The toner is conveyed by the first conveying unit to pass through the connecting unit, and conveyed by the second conveying unit. One of the developing units includes a toner container. The connecting unit is positioned on one end side of the photosensitive drums and overlaps the container in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Susumu Sakuma
  • Publication number: 20140037326
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a supply roller; and a cleaning roller. The developing roller supplies developer to the photosensitive drum. The supply roller supplies developer to the developing roller and has a supply roller body. The cleaning roller collects developer on the photosensitive drum and has a cleaning roller body. Axial end faces of the cleaning roller body and axial end faces of the supply roller body are at the same position in the axial direction, or the axial end faces of the cleaning roller body is positioned outward of the axial end faces of the supply roller body in the axial direction. The cleaning roller rotates in one of a forward direction and a reverse direction at a contact portion where the cleaning roller contacts the photosensitive drum. The cleaning roller rotates at a peripheral speed slower than a peripheral speed of the photosensitive drum when rotating in the forward direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Junichi Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20140037320
    Abstract: A roller according to one example embodiment includes a rotatable shaft and a plurality of strips wrapped around the shaft in an alternating relationship. The strips differ from each other in at least one of material, height and width. In one embodiment, the strips are spirally wrapped around the shaft. Each strip may be formed, for example, from a foam material, a felt material or a brush material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Inventor: JENNY MARIE BERENS
  • Patent number: 8639152
    Abstract: A cleaning member 100 is constituted, for example, by a roll-shaped member having a shaft 100A and an elastic layer 100B. The elastic layer 100B is spirally disposed on the surface of the shaft 100A. A space 100C enclosed by the spirally disposed elastic layer 100B (side surface thereof) and the shaft 100A (outer circumferential surface thereof) is provided and a filling member 100D for filling the space 100C is disposed in a portion of the space 100C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaaki Yamaura
  • Patent number: 8634746
    Abstract: A photosensitive drum cartridge and an image forming apparatus including the photosensitive drum cartridge are provided. The photosensitive drum cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum; a primary cleaning roller which is configured to contact a surface of the photosensitive drum to remove an attached matter on the surface of the photosensitive drum; a first gear which is configured to rotate together with the photosensitive drum; a second gear which is configured to rotate together with the primary cleaning roller; and a third gear which is configured to mesh with the first gear and the second gear, and which has a rotation axis, a position of which is fixed such that a distance from a rotation axis of the first gear is constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoya Kamimura, Fumikazu Sato
  • Patent number: 8543049
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus is provided with a cleaning roller that is positioned so as to be in contact with a photosensitive drum, and with a toner layer thickness regulating member that regulates the thickness of a toner layer adhering to the surface of this cleaning roller. The toner layer thickness regulating member is formed by a toner layer thickness regulating roller that rotates in contact with the cleaning roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Kobayashi, Takahiko Murata, Ai Takagami, Yoshimi Shimizu, Mitsuhiro Goda, Susumu Hanano, Hirofumi Tsuji, Chisato Hatakeyama, Katsuya Ota
  • Patent number: 8515304
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cleaning member for an image forming apparatus, including: an axle; and a belt-like elastic medium that is wound on the outer circumferential surface of the axle in a spiral shape and that includes a first edge portion in at least one of both ends in the width direction thereof and a second edge portion coming in contact with a surface to be cleaned at an angle different from that of the first edge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuro Hagiwara, Masaaki Yamaura
  • Patent number: 8498551
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit having a plurality of photoconductor drums arranged in tandem; an intermediate transfer belt arranged opposite to the photoconductor drums and configured to receive developer images formed on the photoconductor drums and to transfer the developer images onto a recording sheet; a cleaning unit comprising a cleaning member positioned in contact with the intermediate transfer belt and configured to collect substance adhering to the intermediate transfer belt, and a receptacle configured to store the substance collected by the cleaning member, wherein the cleaning unit is arranged on the same side as the image forming unit with respect to the intermediate transfer belt; and a support member configured to support the image forming unit and the cleaning unit and to be pulled out from a main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Susumu Sakuma
  • Patent number: 8494404
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a member to be cleaned and a cleaning roller driven by contact with the member to be cleaned, and the apparatus is configured such that abrasive grains and at least one of a release agent and a solid lubricant are supplied to the member to be cleaned and that the supplied abrasive grains and the supplied at least one of a release agent and a solid lubricant move on a surface of the member to be cleaned in an axial direction of the cleaning roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Takagi, Tetsuya Taguchi, Hirokazu Hamano
  • Patent number: 8478157
    Abstract: An image forming device in a continuous mode forms monochrome images on a plurality of recording media in succession. A transfer member is disposed in confrontation with a plurality of photosensitive members. In the continuous mode, a control unit controls a reverse-transfer unit to perform a reverse-transfer operation on at least one of a plurality of collecting members such that the excrescences are transferred from the at least one of the photosensitive members onto the transfer member in a medium interval. A switching unit sets a contact state to a first contact state during the reverse-transfer operation in the continuous mode such that one of the developing rollers for black contacts one of the photosensitive members for black and that remaining ones of the developing rollers are separated from remaining ones of the photosensitive members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshio Furukawa
  • Patent number: 8467697
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cleaning member for an image forming apparatus, including: a shaft body; and an elastic material that is wound on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body in a spiral shape, the elastic material satisfying the following expressions. (A1): 1<Tb/Ta<1.75. (A2): 0.5<Ta<4.0. In expressions (A1) and (A2), Ta represents a thickness of a center portion in the spiral width direction of the elastic material in millimeters, and Tb represents a thickness of both end portions in the spiral width direction of the elastic material in millimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kawai, Masato Ono, Akihiro Nonaka, Taketoshi Hoshizaki
  • Publication number: 20130121740
    Abstract: A remanufactured laser printer toner cartridge, and methods, having an added primary charge roller cleaning roller assembly. In an exemplary embodiment, the cleaning roller assembly engages the bare ends the primary charge roller shafts; installation of the cleaning roller assembly into the cartridge is accomplished by reinstalling the primary charge roller, with the assembly, into the cartridge's primary charge roller shaft saddles. The cleaning roller may be adapted to rotate through contact with the primary charge roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: Wazana Brothers International, Inc., d/b/a Micro Solutions Enterprises
    Inventor: Wazana Brothers International, Inc., d/b/a Micro Solutions Enterprises
  • Patent number: 8417175
    Abstract: A toner image formed on an image bearing member is transferred onto a recording material so as to overflow from an edge portion of the recording material, thereby enabling the toner image to be formed so as to extend to the edge portion of the recording material. To suppress the deposition of the toner in the edge portion of the recording material, a cleaning member for cleaning the edge portion of the recording material obtained after the fixing is provided. In order to make a trailing edge of the recording material come into contact with the cleaning member, the recording material which has passed through a fixing apparatus is temporarily switched back, thereby allowing the trailing edge portion of the recording material to collide with the cleaning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Yamashita, Hisayuki Tomura, Kiyoharu Yoshioka, Michio Uchida, Tomonori Shida, Keisuke Mitsuhashi, Takuma Abe, Takao Nada
  • Publication number: 20130084103
    Abstract: A first rotary body is configured to rotate by a drive force input from an external source and has a first outer peripheral surface. A second rotary body is configured to rotate by following a rotation of the first rotary body through the friction generated between the first outer peripheral surface and the second outer peripheral surface. A first gear is configured to rotate together with the first rotary body. A second gear is configured to rotate together with the second rotary body and is directory engaged with the first gear. The first gear had a first pitch circle and the second gear has a second pitch circle. A radius of the first pitch circle is smaller than the radius of the first rotary body, and a radius of the second pitch circle is larger than the radius of the second rotary body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventors: Junichi HASHIMOTO, Koji ABE, Masatoshi SHIRAKI, Yasushi OKABE, Aya TAMURA
  • Patent number: 8404423
    Abstract: The presently disclosed embodiments relate generally to layers that are useful in imaging apparatus members and components, for use in electrophotographic, including digital apparatuses. Embodiments pertain to an improved electrophotographic imaging member used in customer replaceable units (CRU) comprising a very thin outer layer on the imaging member surface, where the outer layer comprises healing materials that act as a barrier against moisture and/or surface contaminants. The improved imaging member exhibits improved xerographic performance, such as reduced wear and deletions in high humidity conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Woo Soo Kim, Gaetano J. Lavigne, Cuong Vong, Johann Junginger, Vladislav Skorokhod, Nan-Xing Hu
  • Patent number: 8406678
    Abstract: A cleaning roller has a core and a polyurethane foam layer covering the core to form a peripheral surface of the cleaning roller adapted to be in contact with a peripheral surface of the toner image bearing member. The polyurethane foam is designed so that the number of cell per inch thereof is 30 or more and 60 or less and an open ratio of cell walls thereof is 3% or more and 50% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Junpei Shouno, Yohei Nakade, Ichiro Demizu
  • Patent number: 8404422
    Abstract: The presently disclosed embodiments relate generally to layers that are useful in imaging apparatus members and components, for use in electrophotographic, including digital, apparatuses. Embodiments pertain to an improved electrophotographic imaging member comprising a very thin outer layer on the imaging member surface, where the outer layer comprises healing materials that act as a barrier against moisture and/or surface contaminants. The improved imaging member exhibits improved xerographic performance, such as reduced wear and deletions in high humidity conditions. Embodiments also pertain to methods for making the improved electrophotographic imaging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Woo Soo Kim, Nan-Xing Hu, Vladislav Skorokhod, Cuong Vong, Gregory McGuire