Toner Removal Patents (Class 399/99)
  • Publication number: 20120057895
    Abstract: A cleaning cartridge insert is provided for removing residual paper debris and toner from a laser printer in between printer cartridge removal and replacement. The cartridge comprises a modified laser printer cartridge with an internal cavity lined with an adhesive material, a plurality of air inlet tubes and a drive gear having an adhesive outer surface. With the lid of the printer cartridge loading cavity in an open state, the cartridge is placed therein into a working position, as would a replacement cartridge. Compressed air is then forced into the nozzles of the air inlet tubes, stirring paper dust, residual toner and debris from the interior of the printer and onto the adhesive cavity of the cartridge device. The lid is then closed, which initiates the drive gear of the cartridge roller, which cleans debris from the bias transfer roller via rotation during the machine initializing stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventor: Paul Ottaviani
  • Patent number: 8126340
    Abstract: The toner transporting section is provided with a plurality of toner discharge portions, selectively discharges a waste toner from any one of the plurality of toner discharge portions, and stores the waste toner in a waste toner container to which the waste toner discharged from the selected toner discharge portion is to be stored. Accordingly, it is possible to exchange the waste toner container corresponding to the toner discharge portion not used for discharging the waste toner. Therefore, it is possible to exchange the waste toner containers without stopping an image forming operation in an image forming apparatus provided with a cleaning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Bito, Hitoshi Nagahama
  • Patent number: 8099004
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image carrier that carries a first latent image. A first charging section charges the first image carrier. A first exposure section exposes the first image carrier charged by the first charging section. A first developing section develops the first latent image formed on the first image carrier in the first exposure section using a first liquid developer containing a carrier and first toner particles. A first primary transfer section transfers a first image developed in the first developing section onto a transfer medium. A second image carrier carries a second latent image. A second charging section charges the second image carrier. A second exposure section exposes the second image carrier charged by the second charging section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Imamura, Kunihiro Kawada, Nobuyuki Mizushima, Ken Ikuma
  • Patent number: 8086132
    Abstract: A charge roller wiper for photoconductor unit for forming a toner image in an image forming device. The photoconductor unit comprises a photoconductor drum, a charge roller and a first charge roller wiper. The photoconductor drum receives toner particles for forming the toner image that is transferred onto a media sheet. The charge roller charges the photoconductor drum. A first charge roller wiper is disposed substantially parallel to path along which the charge roller moves between a working position and a storage position. The first charge roller wiper is configured to peripherally contact and clean the charge roller when the charge roller assumes a working position. A second charge roller wiper may be provided adjacent the storage position and disposed substantially perpendicular to the first charge roller wiper and directly in the path along which the charge roller moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Alan Askren, Benjamin John Goebel, Christian Blair Miller
  • Patent number: 8081912
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus operates in a marginless print mode in which the toner image is formed on a first region on a first image bearing member corresponding to a sheet size and a second region on the first image bearing member outside the first region. Reverse-transfer efficiency TR1 and reverse-transfer efficiency TR2 satisfy TR1<TR2. TR1 is a percentage of a mass/area, of toner back-transferred from the sheet onto the second image bearing member by a second transfer member to a mass/area, of toner transferred from the first region onto the sheet by a first transfer member. TR2 is a percentage of a mass/area, of toner back-transferred from a sheet feeder onto the second image bearing member by a second transferring means to a mass/area, of the toner transferred from the second region onto the sheet feeder by the first transfer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiro Saito, Keisuke Mitsuhashi, Michio Uchida, Tomonori Shida
  • Patent number: 8078075
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a case, a printing medium feeding unit disposed in the case to feed printing media, an image forming unit disposed in the case to form images on a printing medium fed from the printing medium feeding unit using developer and to include at least one portion being stained when the images are formed, and a control portion to control the image forming unit to form the images in a plurality of print modes. The control portion sends a cleaning command to clean the at least one stained portion when the amount of the developer used by the image forming unit reaches a reference amount of the developer or when the number of the printing media supplied by the printing medium feeding unit reaches a reference value of the number of the printing media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young-min Kim
  • Publication number: 20110299877
    Abstract: Toner is removed, after a selected time interval, from a skive mount in a dry electrophotographic printer. An end block is disposed at one end of the rotatable development member, and a skive mount disposed adjacent to the development member connects a skive to the end block. A timing device measures a time interval of printer operation. At the selected time interval, a controller causes a backup bar to lift away from the photoreceptor, then, after a selected time delay, causes the backup bar to make physical contact with at least one point on the end block, so that the backup bar applies a selected force to the end block to cause toner on the skive mount to be removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Edward M. Eck, Alfred J. Gonnella
  • Publication number: 20110299876
    Abstract: Toner is removed from a skive mount in a dry electrophotographic printer. An end block is disposed at one end of the rotatable development member, and a skive mount disposed adjacent to the development member connects a skive to the end block. A timing device measures time intervals of printer operation. A process-control time interval and a cleaning time interval that is a non-negative multiple of the process-control time interval are selected. Prints are made until the process-control time interval elapses. A process-control patch is produced in a process-control frame. Once the cleaning interval has elapsed, in the process-control frame, a backup bar is lifted lift away from the photoreceptor, then, after a selected time delay, brought into physical contact with at least one point on the end block, so that toner is removed from the skive mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Edward M. Eck, Alfred J. Gonnella
  • Publication number: 20110293315
    Abstract: An upper conveyance guide is provided at an apparatus main body. A guide surface of a lower conveyance guide is provided facing a guide surface of the upper conveyance guide, and can be drawn out in the direction intersecting the sheet conveyance direction with respect to the apparatus main body. A cleaning unit is provided on the back side in the drawing-out direction of the lower conveyance guide, moves together with the lower conveyance guide when the lower conveyance guide is drawn out from the apparatus main body, and cleans the guide surface of the upper conveyance guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8068750
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cleaning portion for collecting waste toner from various locations within the image forming apparatus. Waste toner collected by the cleaning portion is routed to a waste toner collecting container. The waste toner collecting container includes a waste toner receptacle for storing the waste toner, a waste toner collector for leading the waste toner collected by the cleaning portion into the waste toner receptacle, and a flexible joint that couples the waste toner collector and the waste toner receptacle. The waste toner collecting container is removably mounted to the image forming apparatus. The flexible joint has the function of extending and contracting itself to enable the waste toner receptacle to move relative to the waste toner collector. A detector may be provided to detect an amount of waste toner collected in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideaki Kadowaki
  • Publication number: 20110262174
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a developing roller that faces an image carrier at a development position; a housing that supports the developing roller, supplies a developer to the developing roller and includes an opening portion formed in a wall surface of the housing; and a pipe that communicates with the opening portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Eiji GUMBE
  • Publication number: 20110243597
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a charging device and a photoreceptor adjacent the charging device. The charging device transfers a charge to the photoreceptor. Also, a charge patterning device is adjacent the photoreceptor. The patterning device patterns the charge on the photoreceptor to form a latent image charge. Additionally, an automated cleaning device is adjacent the charging device. The charge patterning device periodically moves by the charging device and the charge patterning device to simultaneously clean the charging device and the charge patterning device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventor: John Roy Washington
  • Publication number: 20110229185
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having an image carrier that carries a toner image; an opposed member that is provided so as to be opposed to the image carrier; an application device that applies a bias to the opposed member; and a control device that controls the application device to apply a first bias and thereafter a second bias to the opposed member so as to remove toner from the opposed member. The first bias has an absolute value that is large enough to cause discharge from the opposed member into air. The second bias has an absolute value that is too small to cause discharge from the opposed member into the air, and has a reverse polarity to the first bias.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoru SHIBUYA, Hidetoshi Noguchi, Kazuyoshi Hara
  • Patent number: 8023855
    Abstract: A development device includes a developer carrier configured to carry developer and disposed in a development case, partly exposed from an opening of the development case facing an image carrier, a developer-transporting member configured to transport the developer to the developer carrier, and a discharging member housing a discharging space including a communicating path connecting to an area where the developer carrier faces the developer-transporting member, from which air is discharged into the discharging space, and a discharging port that opens in a longitudinal direction of the developer-transporting member, from which air is discharged from the discharging space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Yoshio Hattori, Keiichi Yoshida, Hiroyuki Uenishi
  • Patent number: 8019248
    Abstract: An upper conveyance guide is provided at an apparatus main body. A guide surface of a lower conveyance guide is provided facing a guide surface of the upper conveyance guide, and can be drawn out in the direction intersecting the sheet conveyance direction with respect to the apparatus main body. A cleaning unit is provided on the backside in the drawing-out direction of the lower conveyance guide, moves together with the lower conveyance guide when the lower conveyance guide is drawn out from the apparatus main body, and cleans the guide surface of the upper conveyance guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8010014
    Abstract: A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus wherein cartridges are detachably mountable to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, includes a supporting member for supporting the cartridge, movable between an inside position and an outside position; an outer wall; an opening provided in the outer wall, the opening being passed through by the supporting member, when the supporting member moves between the inside position and the outside position; a guiding member for supporting the supporting member movably so that the supporting member moves linearly between the inside position and the outside position, wherein when the supporting member is in the outside position, the guiding member supports the supporting member, so that a downstream side thereof is pivotable downwardly about an upstream side of the supporting member with respect to a movement direction to the outside position from the inside position, wherein in the state that the downstream side is pivoted downwardly about an upstream side
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomio Noguchi
  • Publication number: 20110188881
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus is capable of collecting discharged toner satisfactorily even when a power source for discharging toner from a voltage application member to a moving member and a power source for collecting the discharged toner from the moving member onto an image bearing member are provided in common.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoo Akizuki, Keisuke Ishizumi, Seiji Saito
  • Patent number: 7991318
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developer carrier arranged to face the image carrier to form a developing nip portion, which carries developer containing toner for developing a latent image formed on the image carrier, a developing unit having a developer regulating member that regulates a thickness of a layer of the carried developer, an air sending duct having an air sending path provided on the developing unit, which sends air to the developer carrier and a suction duct having a suction path provided on the developing unit, which sucks air from the developer carrier. The developer regulating member is arranged on an air sending duct side, and the air sending and suction paths are arranged to be connected by forming a space surrounded by a surface of the developer carrier, the developer regulating member and a wall forming the suction path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, INc.
    Inventors: Nobuyasu Tamura, Yutaka Miyasaka, Kazutoshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7991304
    Abstract: A diagnostic system that provides a service technician with service information during servicing of an image processing apparatus includes at least one counter that is incremented during operation of the image processing apparatus, a pressure detecting unit that detects a pressure at a point in an air flow path on the condition that the at least one counter is reset to zero after initial servicing of the image processing apparatus, a determining unit that determines whether a difference between the detected pressure and a fault threshold pressure is less than a predetermined margin, and a display unit that displays a fault code indicating additional servicing of the image processing apparatus is recommended on the condition that the determining unit determines that the difference between the detected pressure and the predetermined threshold pressure is less than the predetermined margin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Steven Pozniakas, Michael Nicholas Soures, Robert A. Gross
  • Patent number: 7974548
    Abstract: A developing device of the present invention has a toner supply opening in a first carrying path and in the upstream of the developer carrying direction of a first carrying screw which is further from a developing roller; and a moquette member having feathers on its surface, and being provided, along the developer carrying direction, on the first carrying path. With this arrangement, it is possible to realize a compact developing device having a simple arrangement in which the supplied toner is speedily mixed with the preexisted developer, and the stable toner which is uniformly dispersed and charged can be speedily supplied for development.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryosuke Mano, Koichi Mihara, Masatoshi Kaneshige, Hiroshi Kubota
  • Publication number: 20110142484
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit including a plurality of photoconductor drums arranged in tandem; a conveyor belt arranged opposite to the photoconductor drums and configured to convey a recording sheet; and a cleaning unit including a cleaning member positioned in contact with the conveyor belt and configured to collect substance adhering to the conveyor belt, and a receptacle configured to store the substance collected by the cleaning member. The cleaning member is arranged on the same side as the image forming unit with respect to the conveyor belt and upstream from the image forming unit as viewed in a sheet conveyance direction along which the recording sheet is conveyed on the conveyor belt, and the image forming unit and the cleaning unit are pulled out together from a main body of the image forming apparatus toward an upstream side of the sheet conveyance direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Susumu SAKUMA
  • Publication number: 20110129249
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, in which a toner collection section is disposed in an air pathway between a ventilation duct and suction blower, and the toner collection section and a recovery container are connected via an opening and closing device, has a control device to control the opening and closing device to close the opening and closing device when the suction blower is suctioning air and to open the opening and closing device so that the recovery container recovers the toner collected by the toner collection section after the suction blower is stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventors: Yasushi Koshimura, Daiki Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 7937016
    Abstract: A transfer device includes: an image carrier belt; a first roller around which the image carrier belt is wound; a second roller around which the image carrier belt wound around the first roller and shifted; a first transfer roller contacting the first roller via the image carrier belt; a second transfer roller contacting the second roller via the image carrier belt; and a transfer belt wound around the first transfer roller and the second transfer roller. A width L3 of the image carrier belt and a width L4 of the transfer belt have the relationship of L3>L4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Kamijo, Ken Ikuma
  • Publication number: 20110097103
    Abstract: A developing device includes an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a developing member facing the image carrier to supply a developing agent to the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier, a rotary member facing the outer circumference of the image carrier in a non-contact state to collect toner scattered from the developing member, and a gear train to drive the rotary member. An effect that the developing member is subjected to by the driving of the rotary member is minimized, thereby preventing deterioration of image quality. Also, the scattering of the developing agent is effectively prevented by adjusting the drive rotational velocity of the rotary member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Jong Hyun Park
  • Patent number: 7933546
    Abstract: In a lubricant applying device, a position adjusting member adjusts relative positions of a lubricant and a rotating member. The rotating member rotates while in contact with the lubricant, receives the lubricant, and applies the lubricant to an image carrier in an image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Fukao, Mitsuru Takahashi, Kazuchika Saeki, Kazuosa Kuma, Tsutomu Katoh, Nobuto Yokokawa
  • Patent number: 7925186
    Abstract: A developing device includes (a) a developing member; (b) a developer container; (c) a partition member that partitions an interior of the developer container into a primary chamber and a secondary chamber; and (d) a developer-conveying unit that is disposed in the primary chamber, the developing device defining a collected-toner-receiving port through which a collected toner that is collected from a toner image carrier is received into the developer container; and a migration opening through which a developer held in the primary chamber is migratable to the secondary chamber, the developing device further including (e) a capturing unit that is disposed at the migration opening and captures a foreign material which migrates through the migration opening together with the developer; and (f) a foreign-material-removing unit that is disposed at the developer-conveying unit and moves the foreign material out of the developer container in accordance with the rotation of the developer-conveying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Miyata, Kei Hirata, Takashi Sakamoto, Kiyoshi Chatani
  • Patent number: 7917051
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus wherein a printing medium can be prevented from being stained with toner leaking out of a developing device. As a photosensitive drum rotates in a direction, an air flow in the rotating direction is generated around the photosensitive drum. Guides that define a part of a sheet path are disposed to guide a sheet to between a transfer roller and the photosensitive drum. The guides are located in positions downstream from the developing device and upstream from the transfer roller with respect to the rotating direction of the photosensitive drum and face the photosensitive drum. A fan is disposed to generate an air flow passing below the guides. An air passage for directing part of the air flow generated around the photosensitive drum to the air flow passing below the guides is made in a position upstream from the sheet path and downstream from the developing device with respect to the rotating direction of the photosensitive drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazushi Kusakabe
  • Patent number: 7917047
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner image forming means for forming a toner image on a belt member, a stretching member that stretches the inside of the belt member, a transfer member, a fur brush, and a controller. The transfer member presses against the stretching member through the belt member, forming a transfer portion for transferring a first toner image onto a recording material. The controller applies a first voltage of a predetermined polarity to the stretching member to transfer the first tone image onto the recording material. During an ejecting operation, the toner image forming member forms a second toner image which is not transferred to the recording material, and the stretching member is supplied with a second voltage that has the predetermined polarity and an absolute value smaller that an absolute value of the first voltage, and subsequently the fur brush electrostatically cleans the transfer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeki Takishita
  • Publication number: 20110064451
    Abstract: A fixing device to fix a toner image on a sheet of recording media, the fixing device includes a fixing rotary member to heat the toner image on the sheet of the recording media, a pressure rotary member pressed against the fixing rotary member, a conveyance guide member arranged to a fixing nip at the upstream side of a conveyance direction of the sheet to support the sheet going to the fixing nip, a scraper arranged to the conveyance guide member at the opposite side on the basis of the conveyance direction. The end of the conveyance guide member contacts with the scraper, when the conveyance guide member turns on a rotary axis of the guide member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventors: Yoshiki YAMAGUCHI, Masanao Ehara, Naoki Iwaya, Yutaka Ikebuchi
  • Publication number: 20110064450
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating source; a heating member heated by the heating source; a pressing member contacting the heating member to form a fixing nip therebetween, at which an unfixed image of toner on a recording sheet is fixed to the recording sheet; a first charging member located at an entrance of the fixing device, from which the recording sheet bearing the unfixed toner image enters the fixing device, so as to face the unfixed toner image. The first charging member is not contacted with the heating member and pressing member, and has a charge with a polarity opposite to a polarity of a charge of the toner to collect floating particles of the toner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Ishii, Tadashi Ogawa, Satoshi Ueno, Hiroshi Seo, Masanao Ehara
  • Publication number: 20110058843
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a latent image forming device; a developing device; an electrode which faces to the image carrier; an electric power source, a toner contamination detecting device for detecting toner contamination onto the electrode; an electrode cleaning device for cleaning the electrode; and a controlling section, wherein the control section controls the electric power source to apply at least an alternating current voltage to the electrode so that toner image is rearranged by reciprocally moving toner of the toner image between the image carrier and the electrode control section and allows the electrode cleaning device to clean the electrode when the toner contamination detecting device detects toner contamination on the electrode, and performs the toner rearrangement by the electrode from which the toner contamination is removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Akita, Seiko Itagaki, Natsuko Minegishi, Hiroyuki Saito
  • Patent number: 7899384
    Abstract: An image forming equipment, e.g., a laser printer includes a photoconductive (PC) drum and an associated charge roller and incorporates a conductive polymer cleaner blade having an electrical potential to sufficiently charge contamination particles on the PC drum to electrically repel from a charged surface, such as the charge roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew David Heid, James Christopher Piotrowski, Joshua Carl Poterjoy, Donald Wayne Stafford
  • Publication number: 20110038644
    Abstract: A control unit separately drives an image carrier driving unit that drives an image carrier motor, a developing roller driving unit that drives a developing roller motor, a developer stirring member driving unit that drives a developer stirring member motor, and a fan driving unit that drives a fan motor. The control unit causes the fan driving unit to operate if the image carrier driving unit or the developer stirring member driving unit is operating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kei Onishi
  • Patent number: 7885584
    Abstract: An apparatus and related method for a self-cleaning toner roller device adjacent a toner roller. The cleaning device having one or more shields to capture the toner debris from the toner roller, a toner debris receptacle to collect the toner debris, and a controller to move the applicator from an operational mode to a self-cleaning mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Philip A. Stern, Edward M. Eck, Paul E. Thompson, Timothy Reynolds, Gerard M. Darby
  • Publication number: 20110013927
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for cleaning including, scraping off, agitating, or capturing, in non-contact with a belt surface, a visualizing material present on the belt surface and fiber or powder different from the visualizing material, coming into contact with the belt surface and scraping off, agitating, or capturing the visualizing material present on the belt surface and the fiber or the powder different from the visualizing material, and being located in contact with the belt surface at predetermined pressure and scraping off the visualizing material present on the belt surface and the fiber or powder different from the visualizing material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshihiko SUGIYAMA
  • Patent number: 7873298
    Abstract: A cleaning device including a polarity control unit to control a charge polarity of residual toner particles, a cleaning member, a surface of which is movable, to electrostatically remove the residual toner particles, provided on a downstream side from the polarity control unit relative to a surface moving direction of an image bearing member, a toner collecting unit to collect the residual toner particles on the cleaning member, and a neutralizing member to neutralize the image bearing member, provided on a downstream side from the polarity control unit and an upstream side from the cleaning member relative to the surface moving direction of the image bearing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Yamashita, Hidetoshi Yano, Oasamu Naruse, Naomi Sugimoto, Kenji Sugiura
  • Patent number: 7869751
    Abstract: An endless belt is supported by a plurality of rollers. A transfer roller comes in contact with an outer surface of the belt to form a transfer nip. An auxiliary member makes contact with a recording medium on an upstream side of the transfer nip in a movement direction of the belt, to cause the recording medium to be in close contact with the outer surface of the belt. A bias applying unit applies to the auxiliary member a bias for electrostatically transferring a toner adhered to the auxiliary member to the outer surface of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tomoya Adachi, Takeshi Yamashita, Takafumi Miyazaki, Yuuji Meguro
  • Patent number: 7853171
    Abstract: A developing apparatus is provided with: a developing roller; and a recovering roller that is arranged so as to oppose the developing roller, recovers scattered toner, and stores negatively chargeable toner, wherein the recovering roller has its surface coated with a fluorine resin or a silicone resin, and is provided with a blade that removes the scattered toner, and a difference (A?C) between a work function (A) of the resin and a work function (C) of the blade is greater than or equal to 0.10 eV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Kenshi Matsui
  • Publication number: 20100310269
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photoconductor; a light source configured to generate light forming an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor through an optical path; a shield on the optical path configured to guard the light source from dust; a shutter configured to move with respect to the shield to interrupt the optical path; and a cleaner configured to move together with the shutter to wipe the shield along a moving track excluding an edge of the shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshihisa MASUDA
  • Publication number: 20100296834
    Abstract: In a dispersed toner removing method, a suction port of a suction duct is provided close to a developer carrying body, and a suction device is provided downstream of a suction route of the suction duct with a toner collecting device between the suction device and the suction duct. The dispersed toner at the development area is sucked and removed by the operation of the suction device during the process of development. The control factor related to toner dispersion amount is monitored, and the suction force of the suction duct is modified based on the result of monitoring of the control factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Yuichi OMORI
  • Patent number: 7822356
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which the cleaning performance of a cleaning brush is preserved over time while affording a smaller apparatus main body. During a print job, toner recovered from a charging roller to a cleaning brush is transferred from the cleaning brush to a cleaning auxiliary roller, thereby preventing excessive accumulation of toner in the cleaning brush. During non print job times, toner accumulated in the cleaning brush is transferred to the charging roller directly and via the cleaning auxiliary roller, whereby the cleaning brush becomes clean while preserving its cleaning performance. Also, toner transferred to the charging roller is transferred to a photosensitive unit is recovered into a developing device, which does away with the need for a dedicated recovery toner holding portion for recovering residual toner, thereby reducing the size of the apparatus main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Sakagawa, Tetsumaru Fujita, Yuji Nagatomo
  • Patent number: 7809304
    Abstract: A duct for an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, the duct includes a discharge opening for discharging air; a fan, mounted to a neighborhood of the discharge opening, for discharging the air; first and second openings for suction of air; a first guiding portion, having first and second openings, for guiding the sucked air; a separation member, provided in the first guiding portion, for separating a flow of the air sucked by the first opening and a flow of the air sucked by the second opening; a second guiding member, disposed overlapped with the first guiding portion, for guiding the air guided by the first guiding portion; a first interconnection opening for feeding the air from the first opening to the second guiding portion; a second interconnection opening for feeding the air from the second opening to the second guiding portion, wherein the first interconnection opening is disposed closer to the discharge opening than the second interconnection opening, and wherein the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fukashi Hatano, Kiyoshi Oyama
  • Publication number: 20100239305
    Abstract: A developer cartridge provided in an image-forming device has a developer side casing that includes a toner-accommodating chamber and a developing chamber; and a plate wall disposed in the developing chamber for partitioning a thickness-regulating blade from the toner-accommodating chamber. When a thickness-regulating blade scrapes excess charged toner off the developing roller, the plate wall prevents this charged toner from returning to the toner-accommodating chamber. A flexible wiper for cleaning toner detection windows is attached to an agitator for stirring toner in the toner-accommodating chamber via a fixing member. The fixing member includes a support plate and a gripping plate disposed opposite each other with a slit formed therebetween. The wiper is inserted into the slit and is fixed to the fixing member when a boss protruding from a restricting plate becomes inserted into a through-hole formed in the wiper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeyuki Takagi
  • Patent number: 7801466
    Abstract: A developing device includes a container, a stirring and transferring unit, a replenishing unit, and a discharging mechanism. The container contains developer including toner and carrier. The stirring and transferring unit is located in the container to mix and stir the toner and the carrier, and circulates the developer in the container. The replenishing unit replenishes the container with developer from an opening of the container. The discharging mechanism discharges surplus developer out of the container, and is located on a rotation shaft of the stirring and transferring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Hiroya Hirose
  • Patent number: 7796911
    Abstract: An image-forming device has a developer-carrying member, an image-carrying member, a belt, and a cleaning unit. The developer-carrying member has an outer surface including a layer forming region for carrying a thin layer of developer. The layer forming region has a first width in a widthwise direction. The layer forming region includes an effective image forming region used for forming an image on a recording medium. The belt is configured to circulate in a moving direction orthogonal to the widthwise direction and transfer the developer image onto the recording medium. The cleaning unit cleans the developer on a cleanable region, which has a second width which is greater than the first width. The cleanable region is placed with respect to the thin layer forming region so that each widthwise end of the second width is positioned outside of each widthwise end of the first width in the widthwise direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Kato, Hiroshi Nakano
  • Patent number: 7783220
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a predetermined period different from a fixing process period in which fixing of toner to recording paper is carried out is set as a toner removal period, and during the toner removal period a hot roller and a pressure roller are intermittently rotated, and separation claws in contact with the rollers are caused to vibrate by the intermittent rotation of the rollers such that toner adhered to the separation claws is caused to drop due to this and is removed. Also, faces of the separation claws that oppose the surfaces of the hot roller and the pressure roller are set in a convex shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Tateishi, Yasuhiro Takai
  • Patent number: 7778566
    Abstract: A belt cleaning device includes a cleaning roller, a backup roller, and a roller-pressing-state setting mechanism. The cleaning roller is disposed in confrontation with a surface of a belt. The backup roller is disposed in confrontation with the cleaning roller with the belt interposed between the cleaning roller and the backup roller. The roller-pressing-state setting mechanism selectively sets a state of the backup roller to a first state in which the backup roller is pressed against the cleaning roller via the belt, allowing a first pressure to be applied between the cleaning roller and the surface of the belt, and a second state in which a second pressure is applied between the cleaning roller and the surface of the belt. The second pressure is less than the first pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazushi Fukuta, Tsunemitsu Fukami
  • Publication number: 20100202795
    Abstract: This is a toner control system for use in a cleaning station of a xerographic marking apparatus. A sensor is located in the air conduits of the system to measure airflow throughout the system. The sensor is in contact with a controller that is configured to adjust the blower speed to normal conditions (i.e. sea level and clean filter conditions) as the flow rate is reduced due to normal apparatus use. The system has an air blower(s), a filter(s), air conduits, a sensor(s) and a controller(s) in communication with the sensor(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: ALI R. DERGHAM, Francesco Zirilli, Glenn Bennett, Jorge Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20100196044
    Abstract: An upper conveyance guide is provided at an apparatus main body. A guide surface of a lower conveyance guide is provided facing a guide surface of the upper conveyance guide, and can be drawn out in the direction intersecting the sheet conveyance direction with respect to the apparatus main body. A cleaning unit is provided on the backside in the drawing-out direction of the lower conveyance guide, moves together with the lower conveyance guide when the lower conveyance guide is drawn out from the apparatus main body, and cleans the guide surface of the upper conveyance guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20100196025
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a receiving part for receiving an image forming request, a conveyor belt for rotating and conveying a recording paper, a charging part for applying charges to the conveyor belt, and an image forming part for forming an image on the recording paper is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes a cleaning part configured to clean a surface of the conveyor belt by rotating the conveyor belt and setting a contacting member in contact with the surface of the conveyor belt when a bias voltage of the charges is reduced. The cleaning part is configured to clean the surface of conveyor belt when a printing process and a post-printing process are completed by the image forming part and no subsequent image forming request is received by the receiving part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventor: Yoshimitsu OGURA