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:
Jun. 16, 2009
Filed:
Apr. 26, 2006
Masashi Hirai, Katano, JP;
Kuniaki Nakano, Kyoto, JP;
Masanori Yamada, Nara, JP;
Takahiko Yoshida, Kashihara, JP;
Kazuaki Ishikawa, Nara, JP;
Hiroshi Tachiki, Nara, JP;
Toshio Yamanaka, Yao, JP;
Masashi Hirai, Katano, JP;
Kuniaki Nakano, Kyoto, JP;
Masanori Yamada, Nara, JP;
Takahiko Yoshida, Kashihara, JP;
Kazuaki Ishikawa, Nara, JP;
Hiroshi Tachiki, Nara, JP;
Toshio Yamanaka, Yao, JP;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A transfer unit includes: an intermediate transfer belt that (i) holds a toner image that has been transferred from a photoreceptor drum and (ii) moves a surface holding the toner image; and a secondary transfer belt that comes into contact with the intermediate transfer belt. The transfer unit (i) transfers the toner image from the intermediate transfer belt to a sheet conveyed to the secondary transfer part and (ii) includes a cleaning unit that removes and collects toner from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt. The transfer unit also includes a power source for sequentially applying, to the secondary transfer belt, (i) a first voltage for generating an electric field that transfers normally-charged toner from the secondary transfer belt to the intermediate transfer belt and (ii) a second voltage for generating an electric field that transfers oppositely-charged toner from the secondary transfer belt to the intermediate transfer belt.