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:
Jun. 26, 2012
Filed:
Dec. 10, 2009
Masanori Kusunoki, Tokyo, JP;
Masanori Kusunoki, Tokyo, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus for forming an image includes a recording head, a nozzle, an ink repellent layer, and an elastic wiper blade. The nozzle is provided in the recording head and includes an ink discharge surface including a substantially elongated discharge opening from which ink is ejected. The ink repellent layer is formed on the ink discharge surface of the nozzle. The elastic wiper blade moves over the ink discharge surface to wipe away ink adhering to the ink discharge surface while slidably contacting the ink discharge surface. The wiper blade moves in a long axis direction of the ink discharge opening as the wiper blade wipes away ink adhering to the ink discharge surface of the nozzle.