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:
Mar. 24, 1998
Filed:
Apr. 17, 1996
Koichi Hiroshima, Kawasaki, JP;
Katsuhiko Nishimura, Yokohama, JP;
Shinichi Tsukida, Yono, JP;
Toru Kosaka, Machida, JP;
Yasuo Yoda, Kawasaki, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
In an image forming apparatus a toner image is transferred onto a transfer material using an intermediate transfer member. The image forming apparatus has an image bearing member; a toner image forming unit for forming a toner image on the image bearing member; an intermediate transfer member movable along an endless path in contact with the image bearing member; a bias voltage applicator for applying a bias voltage to transfer the toner image from the image bearing member onto the intermediate transfer member at a first transfer position of the intermediate transfer member; and an image transfer device for transferring the toner image from the intermediate transfer member onto the transfer material at a second transfer position of the intermediate transfer member, a residual toner charge for charging residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member after image transfer therefrom, to a polarity opposite from a regular polarity of the toner to permit the residual toner to transfer back, simultaneously with a next image transfer at the first transfer position, to the image bearing member when the residual toner passes through the first transfer position.