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:
May. 15, 2012
Filed:
Aug. 17, 2009
Shinichi Kawahara, Tokyo, JP;
Masumi Sato, Yokohama, JP;
Nobuyuki Koinuma, Yokohama, JP;
Kazuhisa Sudo, Kawasaki, JP;
Tokuya Ojimi, Kawasaki, JP;
Kazuhiko Yuki, Kawasaki, JP;
Kohsuke Yamamoto, Numazu, JP;
Takehide Mizutani, Sagamihara, JP;
Masaki Sukesako, Kawasaki, JP;
Ryuji Yoshida, Yokohama, JP;
Shinichi Kawahara, Tokyo, JP;
Masumi Sato, Yokohama, JP;
Nobuyuki Koinuma, Yokohama, JP;
Kazuhisa Sudo, Kawasaki, JP;
Tokuya Ojimi, Kawasaki, JP;
Kazuhiko Yuki, Kawasaki, JP;
Kohsuke Yamamoto, Numazu, JP;
Takehide Mizutani, Sagamihara, JP;
Masaki Sukesako, Kawasaki, JP;
Ryuji Yoshida, Yokohama, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes multiple image forming units disposed adjacent to and horizontally aligned with each other to form respective single non-black color images, a first transfer member to sequentially transfer and overlay the respective single non-black color images thereon for forming a composite color image, a black image forming unit disposed separately from the multiple image forming units including a black image carrier and a black image developing unit, a second transfer member to transfer the black image from the black image forming unit onto a recording medium, a first cleaning unit to clean the surface of the black image carrier, and a second cleaning unit to clean the surface of the second transfer member. The black toner removed from the surface of the black image carrier is collected to the black image developing unit.