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. 14, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 31, 1999
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus of the type depositing a developing liquid on a developing sleeve in the form of a thin layer, developing a latent image formed on a photoconductive element with the liquid and transferring the resulting toner image to a recording medium is disclosed. The developing sleeve is implemented as a conductive hollow tubular member. A drive roller is rotatably disposed in the bore of the developing sleeve and extends in the axial direction of the sleeve. A cleaning blade is pressed against the outer periphery of the sleeve for pressing the drive roller via the sleeve. The drive roller and cleaning blade cooperate to cause the sleeve to rotate. An applicator roller applies the liquid to the outer periphery of the sleeve. An electric field for development is formed in a developing region between the photoconductive drum and the sleeve. The liquid is transferred from the sleeve to the latent image formed on the drum for thereby developing it.