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:
Dec. 09, 1997
Filed:
Sep. 11, 1995
Iwao Matsumae, Musashino, JP;
Kazuhiro Yuasa, Zama, JP;
Shuichi Endoh, Isehara, JP;
Yoshiaki Tanaka, Kawasaki, JP;
Hiroshi Hosokawa, Yokohama, JP;
Mugijiroh Uno, Isehara, JP;
Hiroshi Saitoh, Kanagawa, JP;
Eiji Takenaka, Isehara, JP;
Toshihiro Sugiyama, Atsugi, JP;
Tetsuo Yamanaka, Tokyo, JP;
Eisaku Murakami, Hiratsuka, JP;
Satoru Komatsubara, Atsugi, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus including a developing device having various components with specific relationships between their lengths. There is an image bearing member such as a photoconductive drum or belt having a photosensitive layer. The photosensitive layer has a length A. A first toner transporting roller has two ends, the length between the two ends being defined as B. Additionally, there is a second toner transporting roller, disposed between and contacting both the image bearing member and the first toner transporting roller. The length of the second toner transporting roller being defined as C. The components of the image forming apparatus are constructed such the length of the second toner transporting roller is less than or equal to the lengths of both the first toner transporting roller and the photosensitive layer of the image bearing member. This means that the relationships A>C and B>C may exist. As an alternative, B is approximately equal to C with A being greater than both B and C. As a further alternative, A, B and C are each approximately equal to each other.