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:
Aug. 04, 2015
Filed:
Aug. 06, 2014
Akira Asaoka, Kanagawa, JP;
Toshiya Sato, Kanagawa, JP;
Norio Kudoh, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroyuki Uenishi, Kanagawa, JP;
Fumihito Itoh, Miyagi, JP;
Akira Asaoka, Kanagawa, JP;
Toshiya Sato, Kanagawa, JP;
Norio Kudoh, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroyuki Uenishi, Kanagawa, JP;
Fumihito Itoh, Miyagi, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A cleaning device, which is included in a process cartridge or an image forming apparatus, includes a cleaning member including a brush rotary body that is disposed in contact with an image carrier provided in an image forming apparatus and that removes toner on the image carrier and holds the toner thereon, a toner conveying rotary body to collect and convey the toner removed by the cleaning member, a flicker contacting the cleaning member to flick off the toner held on the cleaning member, and an agitator that has a free end contacting the toner conveying rotary body and vibrating due to rotation of the toner conveying rotary body. The agitator further has a trajectory being formed between the opening and the toner conveying rotary body by movement of the free end. Alternatively, the free end of the agitator is disposed facing the flicker.