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:
Jul. 12, 2011
Filed:
Dec. 23, 2008
Kazuoki Fuwa, Kawanishi, JP;
Yoshihiro Mikuriya, Nishinomiya, JP;
Hideaki Yasunaga, Ibaraki, JP;
Yoshitaka Sekiguchi, Nishinomiya, JP;
Hiroaki Kato, Nagaokakyo, JP;
Kazuoki Fuwa, Kawanishi, JP;
Yoshihiro Mikuriya, Nishinomiya, JP;
Hideaki Yasunaga, Ibaraki, JP;
Yoshitaka Sekiguchi, Nishinomiya, JP;
Hiroaki Kato, Nagaokakyo, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
Provided is an image forming apparatus including at least a latent image bearing member, a latent electrostatic image forming unit, a developing unit which includes at least a developing roller and a supply roller, and a transfer unit, wherein both of a diameter R (mm) of the developing roller and a diameter R' (mm) of the supply roller are 12 mm or less; the toner contains at least a binder resin, a wax, and a colorant with the wax having a melting point of 75° C. or less; an amount of the wax exposed on a surface of the toner is 10 mg/g to 30 mg/g; and when a diameter (mm) of the developing roller is represented by R the toner has a torque T (mNm) satisfying the inequation, 20/R<T<27/R, at a void rate of 58% as measured by a torque measurement method using a conical rotor.