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, 2004
Filed:
Aug. 01, 2002
Applicant:
Inventor:
Akiyo Namiki, Kanagawa, JP;
Assignee:
Ricoh Company, Tokyo, JP;
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G03G 1/501 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G03G 1/501 ;
Abstract
An intermediate image transfer type, tandem color image forming apparatus of the present invention includes four photoconductive drums assigned to black, yellow, magenta and cyan, respectively. In a black mode, the drums assigned to the colors other than black are released from an intermediate image transfer belt. As soon as the trailing edge of a black toner image is transferred to the intermediate image transfer belt, the above drums are again brought into contact with the belt. The drums and intermediate image transfer belt therefore wear little despite contact thereof and deteriorate little despite pressure acting therebetween.