Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Kiyozo Hashizume

Koichi Suzuki

Tatsuo Tani

Toshiaki Higaya

Masaaki Ogura

Yasumori Nagahara

Toshiyuki Ogawa

Nachio Seko

Takato Yano

Sakae Ohta

The cleaning method for use in an electrophotographic copying apparatus of the type removing toner images remaining on the surface of a photoconductor by a cleaning blade which includes the steps of bringing the cleaning blade into pressure contact with the photoconductor at least prior to the movement of the photoconductor, and moving the cleaning blade away from the surface of the photoconductor after the movement of the photoconductor is stopped with completion of copying process.

Cleaning method for use in electrophotography

The powder material transportation apparatus for transporting powder materials such as developer powder, by a rotating member such as a coil is provided with an agitator for destroying a bridge of powder material which is apt to be formed in an upper portion of the rotating member. The diameter or pitch of a rotating coil member is designed to be greater in a transportation termination portion than in a transportation initiation portion, whereby the powder material transportation force is increased in the transportation termination portion and formation of the bridge of powder material is prevented.

Powder material transportation apparatus

Growing community of inventors

Tokyo, Japan

Kiyozo Hashizume