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:
Nov. 20, 2012
Filed:
Dec. 04, 2009
Takeshi Shintani, Kawasaki, JP;
Nobuo Kuwabara, Yokohama, JP;
Satoshi Hatori, Yokohama, JP;
Daisuke Tomita, Yokohama, JP;
Akio Kosuge, Yokohama, JP;
Yoshinori Ozawa, Atsugi, JP;
Shinichi Kawahara, Tokyo, JP;
Takaya Muraishi, Kawasaki, JP;
Yasushi Akiba, Yokohama, JP;
Takeshi Shintani, Kawasaki, JP;
Nobuo Kuwabara, Yokohama, JP;
Satoshi Hatori, Yokohama, JP;
Daisuke Tomita, Yokohama, JP;
Akio Kosuge, Yokohama, JP;
Yoshinori Ozawa, Atsugi, JP;
Shinichi Kawahara, Tokyo, JP;
Takaya Muraishi, Kawasaki, JP;
Yasushi Akiba, Yokohama, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A cleaning unit, which can be incorporated in a process cartridge removably installable in an image forming apparatus, includes a lubricant applicator to apply lubricant to an image carrier, a first blade disposed upstream from the lubricant applicator in a direction of rotation of the image carrier with its distal end held in contact with the image carrier to remove residual toner remaining on the image carrier, a second blade disposed downstream from the lubricant applicator in the direction of rotation of the image carrier with its distal end held in contact with the image carrier to regulate the amount of lubricant applied to the image carrier, a temperature measuring member to measure a temperature of or near the second blade, a heater, and a temperature controller to control the heater to heat the second blade so that the measured temperature falls within a given set temperature range.