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. 21, 2013
Filed:
Mar. 11, 2011
Hideyuki Kurahashi, Toyokawa, JP;
Takashi Gonda, Toyokawa, JP;
Yoshiki Omichi, Toyokawa, JP;
Tatsuyuki Sasaki, Toyokawa, JP;
Masashi Kawai, Toyohashi, JP;
Fumio Masuda, Sakai, JP;
Hideyuki Kurahashi, Toyokawa, JP;
Takashi Gonda, Toyokawa, JP;
Yoshiki Omichi, Toyokawa, JP;
Tatsuyuki Sasaki, Toyokawa, JP;
Masashi Kawai, Toyohashi, JP;
Fumio Masuda, Sakai, JP;
Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc., Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a developing device that uses a developer carrier to advance to an image carrier a developer including a toner and a carrier and supplies the toner to the image carrier by applying a developing bias between the developer carrier and the image carrier. In the image forming apparatus, the following operation is performed before the developer in the developing device is taken out. The toner is supplied to the image carrier by applying the developing bias between the developer carrier and the image carrier, the developing bias increased in a direction to supply the toner to the image carrier. The toner supplied onto the image carrier is not transferred to a transfer receiving material but is advanced into a toner recovery device for recovery. The recovered toner is prevented from being returned to the developing device.