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:
Sep. 28, 1999
Filed:
Aug. 28, 1998
Koji Ida, Tokyo, JP;
Toyokazu Shiraishi, Tokyo, JP;
Oki Data Corp., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An electrophotographic printer includes a rotating photoconductive drum, a developing unit, a transfer roller, and a neutralizer. The neutralizer neutralizes a second area of the surface of the photoconductive drum different from a second area in which the toner is applied. A sensor may be provided along the transport path to detect a leading end and a trailing end of the print medium passing along the transport path. In accordance with the sensor output, the neutralizer neutralizes the second area (i.e., top margin and bottom margin) on the photoconductive drum adjacent the leading end and the trailing end of the print medium. A neutralization data generator may be added. The neutralization data generator searches the bit map data for dots which should be printed, and produces neutralization data on the basis of the dots. Then, the neutralizer illuminates only the second area (i.e., areas in which toner is absent) in accordance with the neutralization data. The neutralization data generator inverts bit map data produced by a controller to produce the neutralization data and the neutralizer includes light emitting elements energized in accordance with the neutralization data to illuminated the area in which toner is absent. The neutralization data generator produces the neutralization data such that there is a buffer area surrounding the first area having a predetermined width. The buffer area is not neutralized.