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:
Oct. 07, 2008
Filed:
Nov. 18, 2005
Wakako Murakami, Tokyo, JP;
Nobuo Kuwahara, Yokohama, JP;
Atsushi Sampe, Yokohama, JP;
Yoshiyuki Kimura, Tokyo, JP;
Hiroyuki Nagashima, Yokohama, JP;
Hiroshi Hosokawa, Yokohama, JP;
Wakako Murakami, Tokyo, JP;
Nobuo Kuwahara, Yokohama, JP;
Atsushi Sampe, Yokohama, JP;
Yoshiyuki Kimura, Tokyo, JP;
Hiroyuki Nagashima, Yokohama, JP;
Hiroshi Hosokawa, Yokohama, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus, incorporating a process cartridge, capable of determining optimum light exposure conditions suitable for both a charging potential and a film thickness of image bearing member, and performing the image formation even during the period from initiating to completing the setting of light exposure conditions. The image forming apparatus includes at least a charger unit, a light exposure unit, a developer unit, a detection unit, and a control unit. The detection unit is adapted to detect the total of rotation of the image bearing member. The control unit computes light exposure conditions to operate the light exposure unit based on an estimated thickness for a film of the image bearing member, which is calculated from the total of rotation obtained by the detection unit, and a first target uniform charging potential to control a uniform charging potential of the image bearing member, and to control the light exposure unit to be brought into the light exposure conditions.