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. 02, 2004
Filed:
Jan. 10, 2002
Image forming apparatus and image forming process unit with developer carried on a developer carrier
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a developing device including a rotatable, nonmagnetic developer carrier and a magnetic field forming device. In a developing region where the developer carrier faces an image carrier, the magnetic field forming device causes a developer made up of toner and magnetic grains to rise on the developer carrier in the form of a magnet brush. In the developing region, the magnet brush on the developer carrier is caused to move at a higher speed than the surface of the image carrier in the same direction as and in contact with the surface of the image carrier, thereby developing the latent image. The toner of the developer is magnetic toner. Flux density set up in the developing region outside of the surface of the developer carrier in a normal direction has an attenuation ratio of 50% or above.