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:
Apr. 27, 2010
Filed:
Sep. 20, 2004
Kazuhiko Imamura, Tokyo, JP;
Takefumi Adachi, Kawaguchi, JP;
Masaaki Tsuda, Yokohama, JP;
Ricoh Company Limited, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes an optical writing device. The optical writing device includes an optical writing unit that emits laser light beams toward image carriers, an outer case that accommodates the optical writing unit, and air supplying devices that supply air into the outer case. The outer case includes openings through which the laser light beams pass. Another image forming apparatus includes an optical writing device that emits laser light beams toward image carriers to form latent images thereon, partition members that are interposed between the image carriers and the optical writing device and that have openings elongating along a scanning direction of the optical writing device, and shutter mechanisms including shutter members to open and close the openings. The laser light beams are emitted from the optical writing device toward the image carriers through the openings.