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. 30, 2011
Filed:
Feb. 06, 2009
Masaki Sukesako, Kawasaki, JP;
Nobuyuki Koinuma, Yokohama, JP;
Kazuhisa Sudo, Kawasaki, JP;
Kazuhiko Yuki, Kawasaki, JP;
Hiroaki Takahashi, Atsugi, JP;
Takehide Mizutani, Sagamihara, JP;
Ryuji Yoshida, Yokohama, JP;
Masaki Sukesako, Kawasaki, JP;
Nobuyuki Koinuma, Yokohama, JP;
Kazuhisa Sudo, Kawasaki, JP;
Kazuhiko Yuki, Kawasaki, JP;
Hiroaki Takahashi, Atsugi, JP;
Takehide Mizutani, Sagamihara, JP;
Ryuji Yoshida, Yokohama, JP;
Ricoh Company Limited, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a transfer device, a voltage applicator, a current sensor, and a discharge detector. The transfer device transfers a toner image from one surface to another by developing an electrical field across a transfer gap when provided with a transfer bias. The voltage applicator applies a stepped test voltage to the transfer device. The current sensor senses a current flowing to the transfer device during application of the test voltage the discharge detector detects an electrical discharge occurring in the transfer gap based on a rate of increase of the sensed current.