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:
Feb. 22, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 09, 1998
Hiroshi Sakakibara, Anjyo, JP;
Hiroshi Fukao, Toyokawa, JP;
Mineyuki Sako, Toyokawa, JP;
Kuniya Matsuura, Toyohashi, JP;
Shingo Hirota, Kobe, JP;
Minolta Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus, such as a printer or photocopier, has a cleaning device for cleaning an image carrier. The efficiency with which the cleaning device cleans the image carrier is varied in dependence upon the image forming conditions, to thereby reduce wear on both the cleaning device and the image carrier. In one embodiment, cleaning efficiency is varied by changing the contact pressure between a cleaning blade and the image carrier. In a color apparatus with multiple image-forming units, the image forming conditions relate to whether the image to be formed is monochrome, composite color or simul-color.