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:
Aug. 16, 2011
Filed:
Jan. 15, 2008
Hiroomi Harada, Kawasaki, JP;
Hiroomi Harada, Kawasaki, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a lubricant applicator and a process cartridge using the same. The lubricant applicator includes a solid lubricant, a lubricant retainer, a lubricant holder, a lubricant application mechanism, a pressure mechanism, a friction resistance reduction mechanism. The lubricant retainer holds the solid lubricant. The lubricant holder stores the solid lubricant and the lubricant retainer. The lubricant application mechanism applies the solid lubricant to an object. The pressure mechanism is provided between the lubricant retainer and the lubricant holder, and presses the lubricant retainer to push the solid lubricant from the lubricant holder. The friction resistance reduction mechanism is disposed at a position where the lubricant retainer and the lubricant holder come into contact in a frictionally sliding manner. The friction resistance reduction mechanism includes a protrusion provided on at least one of a surface of the lubricant retainer and an inner wall of the lubricant holder.