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:
Mar. 01, 2011
Filed:
Oct. 27, 2006
Kazuchika Saeki, Atsugi, JP;
Mitsuru Takahashi, Kawasaki, JP;
Kazuosa Kuma, Yokohama, JP;
Takeshi Fukao, Yokohama, JP;
Tsutomu Katoh, Kawasaki, JP;
Yoshiharu Kishi, Yokohama, JP;
Kazuchika Saeki, Atsugi, JP;
Mitsuru Takahashi, Kawasaki, JP;
Kazuosa Kuma, Yokohama, JP;
Takeshi Fukao, Yokohama, JP;
Tsutomu Katoh, Kawasaki, JP;
Yoshiharu Kishi, Yokohama, JP;
Ricoh Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transferor, a fixing unit, and a guide. The image carrier carries a toner image. The transferor opposes the image carrier to form a transfer nip and transfers the toner image on the image carrier onto a recording medium at the transfer nip. The fixing unit fixes the toner image on the recording medium. The guide guides the recording medium bearing the toner image from the transferor toward the fixing unit and includes a surface portion directly contacting the recording medium. The surface portion includes a material for charging the recording medium to have a polarity opposite to the polarity of a toner forming the toner image.