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. 26, 2017
Filed:
Jul. 29, 2016
Mitsutoshi Kichise, Osaka, JP;
Takeshi Yamashita, Osaka, JP;
Kazuki Matsumoto, Kanagawa, JP;
Emi Kita, Kanagawa, JP;
Naoki Nakatake, Tokyo, JP;
Takeshi Sakashita, Tokyo, JP;
Takuya Akiyama, Kanagawa, JP;
Mitsutoshi Kichise, Osaka, JP;
Takeshi Yamashita, Osaka, JP;
Kazuki Matsumoto, Kanagawa, JP;
Emi Kita, Kanagawa, JP;
Naoki Nakatake, Tokyo, JP;
Takeshi Sakashita, Tokyo, JP;
Takuya Akiyama, Kanagawa, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A process unit includes a rotatable image bearer, an optical writing head to expose the image bearer within an maximum exposure range in an axial direction of the image bearer, a developer bearer, spacers disposed in axial end portions of the image bearer to determine a position of the optical writing head relative to the image bearer and slidingly contact the image bearer, a cleaner disposed downstream from the developer bearer in an image bearer rotation direction, and a remover to slidingly contact the axial end portion of the image bearer to remove a substance adhering thereto. In the axial direction, inner ends of the spacers are positioned inside a toner layer range of the developer bearer extending beyond a largest sheet width. The remover is disposed downstream from the cleaner and crossing a line extending from the inner end of the spacer perpendicularly to the axial direction.