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:
Jan. 02, 2018
Filed:
Nov. 01, 2016
Takeshi Sakashita, Tokyo, JP;
Kenji Nakamura, Kanagawa, JP;
Masanari Fujita, Tokyo, JP;
Yuuji Meguro, Kanagawa, JP;
Takahiro Seki, Hyogo, JP;
Naoki Takai, Tokyo, JP;
Takuya Akiyama, Kanagawa, JP;
Takeshi Sakashita, Tokyo, JP;
Kenji Nakamura, Kanagawa, JP;
Masanari Fujita, Tokyo, JP;
Yuuji Meguro, Kanagawa, JP;
Takahiro Seki, Hyogo, JP;
Naoki Takai, Tokyo, JP;
Takuya Akiyama, Kanagawa, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image bearers, a plurality of developing devices, a plurality of first transfer devices disposed opposite the plurality of image bearers, a second transfer device, a cleaning device to remove toner remaining on the intermediate transferor after a secondary transfer process, and a processor to control the plurality of developing devices to perform a refresh process to discharge toner from the plurality of developing devices to the plurality of image bearers. Among toner of the colors, toner having a first circularity first reaches the cleaning device and toner having a second circularity higher than the first circularity subsequently reaches the cleaning device in the refresh process.