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. 18, 2007
Filed:
Aug. 01, 2005
Takashi Suzuki, Hitachinaka, JP;
Kenji Nakamura, Hitachinaka, JP;
Hirobumi Ooyoshi, Hitachinaka, JP;
Yoshitaka Fujinuma, Hitachinaka, JP;
Masato Miwa, Hitachinaka, JP;
Takashi Suzuki, Hitachinaka, JP;
Kenji Nakamura, Hitachinaka, JP;
Hirobumi Ooyoshi, Hitachinaka, JP;
Yoshitaka Fujinuma, Hitachinaka, JP;
Masato Miwa, Hitachinaka, JP;
Ricoh Printing Systems, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A cleaning device is disposed substantially vertical above a photosensitive drum for the purpose of constructing a compact electrophotographic printer. The cleaning device includes a housing that accommodates an auxiliary toner conveying part and a sheet-like resilient member. A cleaning brush is also disposed in the housing so that a gap of 1-3 mm is formed between the cleaning brush and the auxiliary toner conveying part and resilient member. During an image forming operation, toner accumulates between the cleaning blade and the cleaning brush and is conveyed upward through the gap between the cleaning brush and the auxiliary toner conveying part and resilient member. The toner drops onto the cleaning brush near the top thereof and is conveyed by the cleaning brush to a screw. The screw discharges the toner from the cleaning device.