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:
Dec. 25, 2007
Filed:
Aug. 27, 2004
Kuniaki Tanaka, Nagano, JP;
Nobuyuki Mizushima, Nagano, JP;
Hiroshi Miyazawa, Nagano, JP;
Keiichi Taguchi, Nagano, JP;
Toshiya Takahata, Nagano, JP;
Kuniaki Tanaka, Nagano, JP;
Nobuyuki Mizushima, Nagano, JP;
Hiroshi Miyazawa, Nagano, JP;
Keiichi Taguchi, Nagano, JP;
Toshiya Takahata, Nagano, JP;
Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An electrostatic latent image is formed on a rotary image carrier. A developer is provided with at least one developing roller which is separatably abutted on the image carrier at a developing position to supply toner onto the image carrier to make the latent image visible as a toner image. An intermediate transfer member is adapted to temporarily hold the toner image. A transferer applies a transfer bias to primarily transfer the toner image on the image carrier to the intermediate transfer member. A first cleaner is always abutted on the image carrier to remove toner remaining thereon. A second cleaner is separatably abutted on the intermediate transfer member to remove toner remaining thereon. The toner image includes a first toner image which is not to be transferred onto the recording medium and a second toner image which is to be secondarily transferred onto a recording medium. The second cleaner is separated from the intermediate transfer member so as to avoid the first toner image.