The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 29, 2019
Filed:
Nov. 02, 2017
Takehide Mizutani, Tokyo, JP;
Naoto Kochi, Tokyo, JP;
Katsuhito Haruno, Kanagawa, JP;
Atsushi Nakamoto, Kanagawa, JP;
Masakazu Imai, Kanagawa, JP;
Osamu Ichihashi, Kanagawa, JP;
Takehide Mizutani, Tokyo, JP;
Naoto Kochi, Tokyo, JP;
Katsuhito Haruno, Kanagawa, JP;
Atsushi Nakamoto, Kanagawa, JP;
Masakazu Imai, Kanagawa, JP;
Osamu Ichihashi, Kanagawa, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a developing device, an image bearer, a transfer rotator, a blade contacting a surface of the transfer rotator, and a controller to control the developing device, the image bearer, and the transfer rotator. A first toner pattern image is formed on the image bearer, transferred onto the transfer rotator, and passed past the blade at least twice together with rotation of the transfer rotator in at start-up of the image forming apparatus. A second toner pattern image is formed on the image bearer after the start-up and during passage of a non-image area in which toner images are not formed. A range of the first toner pattern image is wider than a range of the second toner pattern image in a width direction perpendicular to a direction of travel of the image bearer.