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:
Mar. 01, 2016
Filed:
Apr. 16, 2014
Tsutomu Kato, Kanagawa, JP;
Hirokazu Ishii, Tokyo, JP;
Takehide Mizutani, Kanagawa, JP;
Shinya Tanaka, Kanagawa, JP;
Yasufumi Takahashi, Kanagawa, JP;
Osamu Ichihashi, Kanagawa, JP;
Yuji Kato, Kanagawa, JP;
Tsutomu Kato, Kanagawa, JP;
Hirokazu Ishii, Tokyo, JP;
Takehide Mizutani, Kanagawa, JP;
Shinya Tanaka, Kanagawa, JP;
Yasufumi Takahashi, Kanagawa, JP;
Osamu Ichihashi, Kanagawa, JP;
Yuji Kato, Kanagawa, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A transfer device includes a transfer member and a bias applicator. The transfer member contacts a surface, on which a toner image is borne, of an image bearing body, to form a transfer nip. The bias applicator applies a DC voltage and an AC voltage as transfer bias to transfer the toner image on the image bearing body to a recording sheet in the transfer nip. The bias applicator applies a DC voltage having a same polarity as the DC voltage of the transfer bias and an AC voltage having an amplitude smaller than the AC voltage of the transfer bias or applies the DC voltage having the same polarity as the DC voltage of the transfer bias without applying an AC voltage, when an inter-sheet area that exists on the image bearing body passes through the transfer nip during a continuous image formation period.