US5061966A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of cleaning an image retainer
Assignee: Konica Minolta Inc
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Filing: 1990-05-18
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Granted: 1991-10-29
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Expires: 2010-05-18
Abstract
Abstract A method of cleaning an image retainer by removing remaining toner particles from the retainer after transferring a multi-color toner image which is obtained by a multi-color toner image forming process wherein charging, image writing-in, and developing steps are repeated at least twice, abutting a cleaning member against the retainer after a final image writing-in step of the image forming process has been completed, and releasing the cleaning member from abutment after the cleaning has been completed but not during the image writing-in step for forming a next multi-color toner image.
Inventors
- 👤 Satoshi Haneda
- 👤 Hisashi Shoji
- 👤 Seiichiro Hiratsuka
- 👤 Tadao Kishimoto
- 👤 Toshifumi Isobe
- 👤 Hiroyuki Maruyama
- 👤 Jun Yokobori
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:51
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/01; G03G15/0105; G03G21/00; G03G21/0005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of cleaning an image retainer by removing remaining toner particles from said retainer after transferring a multi-color toner image which is obtained by a multi-color toner image forming process wherein charging, image writing-in, and developing steps are repeated at least twice, said method comprising abutting a cleaning member against said retainer after a final image writing-in step of said image forming process has been completed, and releasing said cleaning member from said abutment after said cleaning has been completed but not during an image writing-in step for forming a next multi-color toner image wherein, an initial image writing-in step for a next multi-color toner image is started after said abutting and completed before said releasing and a second image writing-in step for said next multi-color toner image is started after said releasing.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of cleaning an image retainer by removing remaining toner particles from said retainer after transferring a multi-color toner image which is obtained by a multi-color toner image forming process wherein charging, image writing-in, and developing steps are repeated at least twice, said method comprising abutting a cleaning member against said retainer after a final image writing-in step of said image forming process has been completed, and releasing said cleaning member from said abutment after said cleaning has been completed but not during an image writing-in step for forming a next multi-color toner image wherein, an initial image writing-in step for a next multi-color toner image is started after said abutting and completed before said releasing and a second image writing-in step for said next multi-color toner image is started after said releasing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said abutting is started after said developing step for developing a final latent image formed after a final image writing-in step has been completed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said image retainer comprises a photoconductive material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 3 wherein a second image writing-in step is carried out in the presence of a first toner image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein an image exposure light of said image writing-in step is a dot light.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising controlling a supplemental cleaning member by interconnection with said cleaning member.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
214 words
A method of forming a multi-color toner image comprising, in sequence, the steps of; forming a first color toner image on an image retainer by a multi-color toner image forming process wherein charging, image writing-in and developing steps are repeated at least twice during plural rotations of the image retainer, transferring said first color toner image formed on said image retainer to a transfer material, removing toner particles remaining on said image retainer after transferring, forming a second color toner image on said image retainer by said multi-color toner image forming process, and transferring said second color toner image formed on said image retainer to the transfer material, wherein the plural image formation and transferring steps are carried out during continuous rotations of said image retainer said method further comprising abutting a cleaning member against said image retainer for the toner particle removing step after a final image writing-in step of said image forming process has been completed, and releasing said cleaning member from said abutment after said cleaning has been completed, wherein abutting is not carried out during the image writing-in step in said second color toner image forming step and an initial image writing-in step in said second color toner image forming step is carried out after said releasing of the abutment.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
214 words
A method of forming a multi-color toner image comprising, in sequence, the steps of; forming a first color toner image on an image retainer by a multi-color toner image forming process wherein charging, image writing-in and developing steps are repeated at least twice during plural rotations of the image retainer, transferring said first color toner image formed on said image retainer to a transfer material, removing toner particles remaining on said image retainer after transferring, forming a second color toner image on said image retainer by said multi-color toner image forming process, and transferring said second color toner image formed on said image retainer to the transfer material, wherein the plural image formation and transferring steps are carried out during continuous rotations of said image retainer said method further comprising abutting a cleaning member against said image retainer for the toner particle removing step after a final image writing-in step of said image forming process has been completed, and releasing said cleaning member from said abutment after said cleaning has been completed, wherein abutting is not carried out during the image writing-in step in said second color toner image forming step and an initial image writing-in step in said second color toner image forming step is carried out after said releasing of the abutment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said abutment is carried out after a final developing step in said first color toner image forming step.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 7 wherein a first charging step in said second color toner image forming step is carried out after said releasing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said image retainer comprises a photoconductive material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 10 wherein a second image writing-in step is carried out in the presence of a first toner image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 7 wherein an image exposure light of said image writing-in step is a dot light.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising controlling a supplemental cleaning member by interconnection with said cleaning member.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-10-28 | 1995-04-29 | 1995-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-10-28 | 1999-04-29 | 1999-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-10-28 | 2003-04-29 | 2003-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |