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:
May. 15, 2007
Filed:
Nov. 26, 2002
Tomoe Aruga, Nagano-Ken, JP;
Nobumasa Abe, Nagano-Ken, JP;
Yujiro Nomura, Nagano-Ken, JP;
Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus comprises: an image transfer carrying meanshaving flexibility and having an endless sleeve-like shape; a plurality of image forming meanswhich are arranged along the image transfer carrying meanssuch that respective image carriersthereof are in contact with the image transfer carrying meanseach image forming meanscomprising a latent image forming meansfor forming a latent image on the image carrier and a developing means for developing the latent image formed on the image carrier; and transfer bias applying meanswhich are disposed on the back of the image transfer carrying means at positions where the respective image carriers are in contact with the image transfer carrying means for applying transfer bias. The image transfer carrying meansis laid around at least two rollers with certain tension and is positioned to be in contact with the image carriersto have predetermined nip width therebetween and each transfer bias applying means abuts the image transfer carrying meansto have a contact area narrower than the nip width for applying transfer bias. At gradually increasing spaces at the entrance end and the exit end of each nip portion of the image transfer carrying means, even with high transfer bias voltage, the discharge phenomenon and an undesired phenomenon of toner image scattering from predetermined positions are prevented, thus preventing the deterioration of image quality.