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:
Jul. 05, 2016
Filed:
Nov. 06, 2015
Kenji Honjoh, Fujisawa, JP;
Takeshi Shintani, Kawasaki, JP;
Nobuo Kuwabara, Yokohama, JP;
Yasuhiro Maehata, Hachioji, JP;
Yasuhito Kuboshima, Hachioji, JP;
Yusuke Ishizuka, Yokohama, JP;
Kenji Honjoh, Fujisawa, JP;
Takeshi Shintani, Kawasaki, JP;
Nobuo Kuwabara, Yokohama, JP;
Yasuhiro Maehata, Hachioji, JP;
Yasuhito Kuboshima, Hachioji, JP;
Yusuke Ishizuka, Yokohama, JP;
RICOH COMPANY, LTD., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A lubricant supplying device includes a lubricant supplier contacting an image bearer, a solid lubricant contacting the roller, a detector detecting a lubricant amount, and a controller controlling a supplying of the roller based on a detector detection. The detector outputs to the controller a first signal of a near-end state when the amount reaches a first amount, a second signal of an end state when the amount reaches a second amount smaller than the first amount, and a third signal of an absolute end state when the amount reaches a third amount smaller than the second amount. The controller temporarily stops the supplying when the second signal is output, cancels a roller temporary stopped state even when lubricant replacement is not completed after this state, stops the supplying when the third signal is output, and maintains a roller stopped state until the replacement is completed after this state.