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:
Sep. 06, 2011
Filed:
Mar. 05, 2008
Shoichi Sakata, Osaka, JP;
Takahisa Nakaue, Osaka, JP;
Toyotsune Inoue, Osaka, JP;
Akihiro Watanabe, Osaka, JP;
Masashi Fujishima, Osaka, JP;
Yukihiro Mori, Osaka, JP;
Shoichi Sakata, Osaka, JP;
Takahisa Nakaue, Osaka, JP;
Toyotsune Inoue, Osaka, JP;
Akihiro Watanabe, Osaka, JP;
Masashi Fujishima, Osaka, JP;
Yukihiro Mori, Osaka, JP;
Kyocera Mita Corporation, , JP;
Abstract
A developing unit has a voltage-applicator () to apply a developing bias voltage to a developing roller (). The voltage-applicator () applies the developing bias voltage for a first duration to apply an AC voltage having a rectangular waveform, and a second duration to stop applying the AC voltage. The AC voltage has a duty ratio of 50% or more in a direction for causing toner to develop an electrostatic latent image. The number of cycles of the AC voltage in the first duration is two or more, and the AC voltage has a voltage in a direction for pulling the toner back to the developing roller, just before transition to the second duration. The developing unit suppresses occurrence of image unevenness due to a fluctuation in developing gap. Thus, an image forming apparatus equipped with the developing unit forms a high-quality image while suppressing image unevenness.