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. 17, 2016
Filed:
Jul. 15, 2015
Takahiro Sanada, Hyogo, JP;
Takahiro Sanada, Hyogo, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A process unit includes a latent image bearer, a developer bearer, a regulator, a supplier, and at least one voltage applicator. The latent image bearer bears a latent image on a surface thereof. The developer bearer supplies a developer onto the latent image bearer to make the latent image a visible image. The regulator regulates a thickness of a layer of the developer on the surface of the developer bearer. The supplier supplies the developer to the developer bearer. At least one voltage applicator applies a voltage to the developer bearer and the latent image bearer. After the developer bearer rotates with no voltage or a same amount of voltage applied to the developer bearer and the regulator in a non-image-formation period, to perform a removal operation to remove a residual developer from the developer bearer, the developer bearer rotates with a voltage applied to the developer bearer and a latent image bearer rotates with the latent image bearer applied with a voltage and exposed with an irradiator, to perform a delivery operation to deliver the residual developer.