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. 11, 2003
Filed:
Nov. 15, 2000
Megumi Ohtoshi, Kanagawa, JP;
Masumi Sato, Kanagawa, JP;
Hitoshi Ishibashi, Tokyo, JP;
Yoshinori Ozawa, Kanagawa, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of image carriers sequentially arranged in a direction of paper conveyance. Developing devices each form a toner image of particular color on one image carrier associated therewith. Cleaning devices each remove residual toner left on the surface of the associated image carriers after the transfer of the toner image to the recording medium. A toner recycling device is provided between the cleaning device located at the most upstream position in the direction of paper conveyance and the developing device associated therewith, but not provided between the cleaning device located at the most downstream position the developing device assigned therewith. With this configuration, the apparatus obviates troubles ascribable to the mixture of toner of different colors occurring in the most downstream developing device. In addition, at a time other than the time of transferring toner images from the image carriers to the recording medium, a controller activates a mixed toner consumption mode such that any one of the developing devices, other than a developing device located at most upstream position in the direction of conveyance of the recording medium, is caused to deposit toner on the image carrier which is than transferred to a recording medium carrier and then cleaned to remove the toner.