US5221946A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image forming apparatus
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1991-05-02
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Granted: 1993-06-22
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Expires: 2011-05-02
Abstract
Abstract An image forming apparatus for forming a toner image. The apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a laser device for forming a latent image on the photosensitive drum, a developing device for developing the latent image with a toner agent/and for cleaning the toner agent remaining on the photosensitive drum therefrom while the latent image is developed, a transfer device for transferring the developed image on the photosensitive drum to a recording medium such as a paper sheet, a disordering and charging device for disordering the toner agent remaining on the photosensitive drum after transfer of the developed image by the transfer device so as to render the developed image unreadable or nonpatterned, and for charging the photosensitive drum at a predetermined potential while the toner agent remaining on the photosensitive drum is disordered and a bias source for supplying the disordering and charging device with a bias voltage having an AC bias voltage.
Inventors
- 👤 Mitsuaki Kohyama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 12:08
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/02; G03G15/0208; G03G15/0216; G03G15/0225; G03G21/00; G03G21/0005; G03G21/0064; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/16; G03G2215/1647; G03G2215/1652; G03G2221/00; G03G2221/0005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: means for forming a latent image on an image bearing member; developing-cleaning means constituted as a single unit for developing the latent image with a non-magnetic, one-component developing agent, and for simultaneously removing residual developing agents remaining on the image bearing member therefrom, the developing-cleaning means having an elastic developing roller contacting the image bearing member, for carrying the non-magnetic, one-component developing agent to the image bearing member; means for transferring the developed image on the image bearing member to a recording medium; charging-disordering means constituted within a single unit for disordering the residual developing agent remaining on the image bearing member after the transferring of the developed image by the transferring means, so as to render the residual developed image unreadable or nonpatterned, and for simultaneously charging the image bearing member at a predetermined potential during the disordering of residual developing agent on the image bearing member, the charging-disordering means having a conductive member contacting the image bearing member; and means for supplying the charging-disordering means with a bias voltage having an AC component for transferring toner accumulated on the charging-disordering means onto the image bearing member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: means for forming a latent image on an image bearing member; developing-cleaning means constituted as a single unit for developing the latent image with a non-magnetic, one-component developing agent, and for simultaneously removing residual developing agents remaining on the image bearing member therefrom, the developing-cleaning means having an elastic developing roller contacting the image bearing member, for carrying the non-magnetic, one-component developing agent to the image bearing member; means for transferring the developed image on the image bearing member to a recording medium; charging-disordering means constituted within a single unit for disordering the residual developing agent remaining on the image bearing member after the transferring of the developed image by the transferring means, so as to render the residual developed image unreadable or nonpatterned, and for simultaneously charging the image bearing member at a predetermined potential during the disordering of residual developing agent on the image bearing member, the charging-disordering means having a conductive member contacting the image bearing member; and means for supplying the charging-disordering means with a bias voltage having an AC component for transferring toner accumulated on the charging-disordering means onto the image bearing member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductive elastic body has conductive fibers on its exterior surface for said charging and disordering.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the conductive fibers has a length of about 2 to 10 mm and a thickness of about 30 to 100 μm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the conductive fibers has a resistance of about 10 3 to 10 9 Ω/cm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the developing and cleaning means has a means for charging the developing agent having a charge with the same polarity as the charge on the image bearing member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the AC bias voltage has a frequency of about 1 to 5 KHz and a peak-to-peak AC voltage of about 800 to 2,000 V.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-06-21 | 1996-12-21 | 1997-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-06-21 | 2000-12-21 | 2001-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-06-21 | 2004-12-21 | 2005-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |