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. 13, 2007
Filed:
May. 21, 2004
Noriyuki Kimura, Kawasaki, JP;
Nobuhiko Umezawa, Yokohama, JP;
Takeroh Kurenuma, Yokosuka, JP;
Hideyuki Takemoto, Kawasaki, JP;
Noriyuki Kimura, Kawasaki, JP;
Nobuhiko Umezawa, Yokohama, JP;
Takeroh Kurenuma, Yokosuka, JP;
Hideyuki Takemoto, Kawasaki, JP;
Ricoh Company Limited, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus including an image bearing member bearing latent images; a developing unit including plural developing devices developing the latent images with developers to form visual images, each developing device including a developer bearing member bearing the developer to develop the latent image, and a developer thickness controlling member contacting the developer bearing member to control the thickness of a developer layer on the developer bearing member; and a driving device including at least one driving source, a forward rotation driving member rotated by the driving source to drive the developer bearing members to forwardly rotate to develop the latent images, and a reverse rotation driving member rotated by the driving source to drive the developer bearing members to reversely rotate when the developing operation is not performed, wherein the forward rotation driving member and the reverse rotation driving member can operate at the same time.