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:
Apr. 24, 2007
Filed:
Aug. 23, 2004
Takaaki Tawada, Yokohama, JP;
Shinichi Kawahara, Tokyo, JP;
Takeo Suda, Tokyo, JP;
Chohtaroh Kataoka, Tokyo, JP;
Keiichi Yoshida, Kawasaki, JP;
Haruji Mizuishi, Tokyo, JP;
Takaaki Tawada, Yokohama, JP;
Shinichi Kawahara, Tokyo, JP;
Takeo Suda, Tokyo, JP;
Chohtaroh Kataoka, Tokyo, JP;
Keiichi Yoshida, Kawasaki, JP;
Haruji Mizuishi, Tokyo, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member configured to bear a toner image on a surface thereof. A charging mechanism is configured to uniformly charge the surface of the image bearing member. An intermediate transfer mechanism is configured to transfer the toner image from the image bearing member onto an image receiver. A cleaning mechanism is configured to clean the surface of the image bearing member after the toner image is transferred onto the image receiver. A lubricant supplying mechanism is configured to supply a lubricant contained therein onto the surface of the image bearing member and form a thin layer using a lubricating blade. The lubricant supplying mechanism is disposed between the cleaning mechanism and the charging mechanism.