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. 10, 2013
Filed:
Nov. 10, 2010
Tomonari Hokkyoh, Ibaraki, JP;
Takashi Suzuki, Ibaraki, JP;
Koutarou Yamada, Ibaraki, JP;
Katsuhiro Akinaga, Ibaraki, JP;
Tomonari Hokkyoh, Ibaraki, JP;
Takashi Suzuki, Ibaraki, JP;
Koutarou Yamada, Ibaraki, JP;
Katsuhiro Akinaga, Ibaraki, JP;
Ricoh Company, Limited, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A developing device in an image forming apparatus includes: a first developer carrier that rotates in a same direction as a rotating direction of an image carrier of the image forming apparatus so as to supply developer to the image carrier; and a second developer carrier that rotates in a direction opposite to the rotating direction of the image carrier so as to supply the developer to the image carrier. The developing device simultaneously performs a refreshing operation of performing replacement of the developer and a filming removal operation of causing the image carrier to rotate idle while forming an image for use in the refreshing operation and causing the first and second developer carriers to rotate in their respective rotating directions.